O U T F I T  D E T A I L S  :  DIY KIMONO (SIMILAR, LOVE THIS)  |  CHIFFON CAMI  |  URBAN PLANET DENIM SHORTS (SIMILAR)  |  LACE UP FLATS  |  BAG (BUDGET FRIENDLY OPTION)  |  NECKLACE

Tulips have been my favourite flower for as long as I can remember, and every year Ottawa hosts the most beautiful festival.  It attracts tons of tourists but it's also fun to go down and check out all the beautiful blooms if you're from the area.  While I'm a little late with this post, there are so many great, Summer activities coming up where you want to look pulled together, be comfortable and keep cool, and I think something like this is perfect for those occasions.

I'm a huge fan of light-weight kimonos and you're going to be seeing a lot more of them on the blog this Summer--they such an easy, Summer staple that you can throw on and go.  It's less structured than a blazer, cooler than a cardigan, but still offers a bit of coverage when you need it.  I made mine last year after having the fabric sit in my fabric box for over a year, essentially by tracing a kimono I already have, and surging the edges.  If you'd be interested in a video tutorial, leave me a comment down below.



O U T F I T  D E T A I L S  :  F21 OFF THE SHOULDER TOP (SIMILAR, SIMILAR)  |  WHITE SKINNIES  |  HEELS  |  BAG  |  CHOKER  |  SUNGLASSES  |  EAR CLIMBER

Summer is a great time to experiment with your look and this is definitely something I'd wear for a date night or a night out with the girls.  It's comfortable, elevated and stylish with the off-the-shoulder.  These shoulder-baring tops are everywhere right now and I've already scooped up a few to add to my closet.  

Whether fitted or flow--my preference--pair these tops with skinny jeans, flared denim, skirts and a personal fave, distressed denim shorts to an easy, stylish look.  Dressed down with flat gladiator sandals looks great or pair with heels like I did and you're ready for a night on the town.



Hi ladies!  Hope you had a great weekend--I meant to get these snaps up sooner but it's just been 'one of those weeks' thus far but here we are so onto the recap...




On Saturday morning, I was up and off to New York state to pick up several items at the post office I had shipped there.  Normally Marco and I make the trip together--it's about an hour drive--but he was in a golf tournament and I couldn't wait any longer for my items.

It was a beautiful day and the drive was great. 



O U T F I T  D E T A I L S  :  CROCHET KIMONO  |  DYNAMITE DRESS -- OLD (SIMILAR, LOVE THIS)  |  LACE UP HEELS  |  ALDO STUDDED CLUTCH -- OLD (SIMILAR, HOT PINK)

When I picked up this kimono the other day, I kept envisioning it with this snug, white dress from my closet... that I never wear.  Seriously, you ladies know, tight is not really my thing when it comes to tops and dresses (okay, sometimes it's my thing), but I knew it would be the perfect date night look and so almost, ethereal and pretty.

I picked up this dress for a Vegas trip a couple years ago and love it with the soft, flowy kimono.  Since then, I've paired this kimono with skinnies and a chiffon cami and know it's going to get tons of play this Summer in similar looks or with shorts.  Such a beautiful and affordable statement piece.



O U T F I T  D E T A I L S  :  DISTRESSED CROP TANK  |  SPORTS BRA  |  HIGH-WAISTED LEGGINGS  |  HIGH TOP SNEAKERS

I have been obsessed with high-waisted leggings for about six months now, specifically for the gym.  They keep you held in, are uber flattering and if the seaming is right, give the booty some shape.

I wanted to share my new leggings, which I'm slightly obsessed with--I love that they have a bit of a sheen to them, but not so much that it's shiny.  They are thick but not warm, very high waisted (perfect especially if you're tall) and super long--I have been rolling mine up to create a cropped look for Summer.  The perfect pair to add to my collection (and to motivate me to get to the gym!).


Hi ladies, hope my American friends had a great Memorial Day long weekend and hope it was a great weekend for everyone else.  Apologies on the delay for the Weekend Snaps--this weekend seriously zapped me of energy and I think I need a weekend to recover from my weekend!  Sheesh.  With that, onto the Snaps!



On Friday evening, I had full intentions of going to the gym, but after several hours of (successful) shopping, I wanted to just head home and unwind.

I went to the mall & also the outlets and grabbed a few new pieces which I'll share in my upcoming Spring/Summer Haul (just waiting on a couple items to get delivered!).





LACE UP FLATS -- ON SALE!

TGIF!  Who's excited for the weekend?  We are heading to Toronto for something exciting so follow along on Snap to see it play out (I hope!) -- I'm acoest1984.

Hope you have a great one and here are some fun links from around the web to kick it off...




A pretty DIY silk cami.

Man perms are a thing.  #braceyourselves

Just ordered these.

And lastly, Uber Eats just came to Ottawa, and we have no-joke ordered it four times in the last two weeks!  #ramenfix  That said, here's $10 off.



A few posts you may have missed:



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O U T F I T  D E T A I L S  :  F21 BLACK DRESS (SIMILAR)  |  SKIRT (WORN BACKWARDS)  |  PEEP-TOE BOOTIES (BUDGET FRIENDLY)  |  H&M CHOKER (SIMILAR, LOVE THIS)

I'm a sucker for neutrals, and black is one colour I'm not willing to give up despite the temperatures rising.  I love Summer-izing my black pieces and it's the perfect time to show a little skin and also keep things edgy.

I've had this flowy shift dress for a year and while the tail is long, the front is a little on the short side for me, so I always pair it with a body-con style skirt underneath for a bit more coverage.  Depending on where I'm going, I can pull the skirt down to offer more coverage, or up like here for a night out. 

The key to making your black pieces work for Summer is to keep the fabrics lighter--think crochet, linen, chiffon & lace--and looser and show a little leg or bare the shoulders, etc.  Work with the warm weather, not against it.



April was a busy month for travel and work and so better than late than never, here's what went down...

At the beginning of the month, I did a morning segment on CTV Live for the first time--I was so nervous, but it went well, and I presented some Spring trends and shared an upcoming event that I was hosting at the mall I work with.  A couple weeks later, I styled and hosted the shoe fashion show that took place.

I shared a crochet crop top with high-waisted denim (did you see the super similar option I posted on the A.Co FB page last week?  Such a great price and comes in black too), a 70's inspired look with flared denim and a DIY off-the-shoulder top (love that post).

I picked up some new heels, which I've been wearing a ton, shared my must-have shoe for Summer and Marco and I took a weekend trip to Toronto where we took in a Raptors game and Jays game.


Finally, Marco and I were able to take a trip to Cancun for a week doing literally nothing, which was totally needed.  You can see a full recap of our trip + all the outfits I wore and details.

KIMONO  |  CAMI  |  SKINNY JEANS -- OLD (SIMILAR)  |  LACE UP HEELS

Happy Monday ladies!  I'm still in weekend mode, with it being a holiday in Canada, but I know a lot of you don't have a long weekend until this one coming up, so wanted to get the Weekend Snaps up today.

I shared this photo on the A.Co Facebook page on Friday with the details to the kimono.  I just scooped it up and wanted to share the link while it is still available.  I often share that sort of thing there, and always share different things on each social media channel, so follow along if you'd like.


Happy Friday!  We made it!

What are your plans for the weekend?  We are heading to Toronto to watch the Raptors tomorrow and when we get back on Sunday, we are hosting my family for my Mom's birthday dinner.  Hope you have a great and relaxing long weekend!



I played model on CTV Live yesterday morning.

Loving this remix.

Made me LOL (introverts unite).


Looking for a wedding venue in Ottawa this Summer? 

Ellen pranks Drake -- amazing.

There are a ton of sales happening right now:


    * Neiman Marcus has 40% off (debating these again)




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O U T F I T  D E E T S  :  H&M PALM PRINT ROMPER -- LAST YEAR (SIMILAR, LOVE THIS BLACK ONE)  |  THRIFTED WHITE DENIM JACKET -- OLD (LOVE THIS ONE)  |  FRINGE HEELS  |  BAG (LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION)  |  H&M CHOKER (SIMILAR)  |  SUNGLASSES

I am totally late to the party with this romper, but there is a mini success story behind it...

I was coveting this little one-piece all Summer last year (remember that weekend?) but never pulled the trigger... until happening upon it, super discounted in the Fall!  It was a total fluke, there was one left, in my size... with a broken zipper.  I finally took it to my Tailor the week before we went to Mexico (hello, perfect vacation piece, right?) and completely forgot to pick it up before we left  #ugh

Needless to say, it's going to get a ton of play this Summer and just goes to show that sometimes holding out for a good deal is worth it... when it pans out!



Hi ladies!  I know these snaps are so late, it's been a bit of a busy week but I'm sharing what went down since the weekend, so grab a coffee and tuck in...


ALDO SUNGLASSES (SIMILAR)  |  CHOKER


On Friday night, I went to the Justin Bieber concert with my bestie, but first we stopped at Central Bierhaus for dinner on the patio, which didn't disappoint.





Happy Friday ladies--it's finally the weekend!  What are your plans?  I'm going to see Justin Bieber tonight with the bestie, which was a total fluke--she half-jokingly asked me if I wanted to go with her two weeks ago and the answer was an obvious yes.  I didn't even know she had tickets, and I kind of love his latest album, so very excited. 

 Otherwise, a BBQ with friends to celebrate National Caesar Day.  Hope you have a great weekend, here are some fun links from around the web to get things started.



Lusting after these designer sneaksThe pink ones are cute too.


Loving this recently as part of my night time skin routine.


How to be a good boss.

Swooning over this home.


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O U T F I T  D E E T S  :  TEE  |  WHITE FLARED DENIM  |  SUEDE CHOKER  |   FRINGE BAG    |  SUNNIES

White has been my favourite colour for years, but it's rare that I'll wear it head-to-toe.  I usually like to throw other neutrals into the mix but I'm totally feeling this fresh look for Spring.

I recently picked up these slightly distressed white flares and am obsessed.  They are stretchy and comfortable and for my tall ladies, long enough!  I scored these while shopping in Toronto last month and am so glad I pulled the trigger.  I definitely could have went a size smaller because they stretch out after some wear but the length tends to be a smidge longer as you go up in sizes so...

This tee is definitely on the pricier side but the fit doesn't compare to the many white tees I own and have purchased in the past.  I love the deep neckline, the fit, length and overall feel--I've never been one to splurge on a t-shirt, but this one definitely got me all heart-eyed-emoji.




O U T F I T  D E E T S  :  TANK (WANT THIS)  |  SPORTS BRA  |  PANTS  |  HIGH-TOPS -- ON SALE! (ALSO IN WHITE, HAVE THIS STYLE AS WELL)

I've shared bits and pieces of my fitness routine here on the blog, and while I love being healthy, sometimes even the best of us can fall into a rut.  Recently, during and after our trip to LA, I ended up  taking a non-planned two week hiatus from the gym, and I ain't mad about it.  Sometimes you just need a break.  However, when I did return, it was that much harder to lift the weight and I kind of wanted to walk out halfway through my workout!

Instead, I pushed through, and although it wasn't my best workout, I broke the streak and got back into my routine.  The first time back is always the hardest, so today I wanted to share my top 9 tips to get motivated...




H&M TOP  |  SKINNIES (SIMILAR)  |  IRO WEDGES -- OLD (SIMILAR, SPLURGE)

Happy Monday ladies, how was your weekend?  On Friday night I had full intentions to hit the gym but ended up spending much longer at the mall--and buying nothing #womp--so went straight to my spray tan appointment and then home for dinner.  

Thanks to all you girls who weighed in on this dress I tried on.  I didn't end up going back for it but might have picked up some new shoes at Saks instead... #shhhh



DOLLARAMA PANAMA HAT (SIMILAR)  |  URBAN PLANET ROMPER -- OLD (SIMILAR)  |  BIKINI TOP  |  GLADIATOR SANDALS (SIMILAR)  |  SUNGLASSES (SIMILAR)

Today I'm sharing all the outfits I wore in Cancun while on vacation a couple weeks ago.  I definitely love to pack colourfully for vacation, which is a change to my usual neutrals at home.  While I'm a fairly strategic packer, this time around, there wasn't much time so it was a lot of throwing things into the suitcase without much planning.  Needless to say, while I did pack a little much, I never ran out of clothes #optimisticspin

Hope you enjoy the recap of what I wore--I'm sharing links to everything that's still available plus options to similar items so you can scoop them if you'd like.  As always, thanks for reading!

All the outfits after the jump...


O U T F I T  D E E T S :  SWEATER  |  KNIT FLARES - ON SALE!  |  IRO HEELS (SIMILAR)  |  FAUX SUEDE CHOKER NECKLACE  |  BAG - COLOUR SOLD OUT (LESS EXPENSIVE)

Now that the warmer weather is here, including dry streets, it's time to break out the flared pants!  I have been wearing these indoors since getting them while I was in Tampa, back in January (haul video here), but I'm so excited to finally bring them outside.  Knit flared pants are really like the ultimate chic-girl pant: stylish and comfy all in one.

I love the idea of pairing them with a soft sweater, but they would also work with your favourite tee and denim jacket or a contrasting, stiffer fabric, like this blouse.  If you remember the grey pair I picked up last Fall, I have paired those with a duster cardigan and also a grey top for a more streamlined look.  Since the fabric is soft and casual, you want to keep it elevated with accessories and heels--less pyjama, more street style. 



Happy Monday ladies!  Sorry for the slight delay in the snaps, I was helping a friend unpack her new home last night, got home late and then Game of Thrones (!!!)--need I say more?

Onto the snaps...



We tend to eat out quite a bit, making time to cook hasn't been a strong suit of late, but after indulging in Mexico for a week, I was determined to get back on the clean eating train.  That said, we agreed if we ate healthy week, we'd get a special dinner on Friday! 

We got Thai take-out, and while this isn't my personal fave (it's totally Marco's though!), I especially enjoyed this time--perhaps one too many chicken + salad combos all week.


More photos after the jump...



We spent last week in Cancun for a full on vacation.  It's the first vacation we've taken as a couple since Italy, this time last year.  It was well needed, and we had a really nice time.  

We stayed at the Grand Moon Palace, and had beautiful weather all week.  The beaches and pools were beautiful, the drinks were great and we spent an entire afternoon playing beach volleyball one day.  We weren't overly thrilled with the food at the resort, hence the lack of food shots, but still fortunate to get away and enjoy some sunshine.

I'll be sharing all my vacation outfits in a separate post with all the details, but for this, I'll let the photos speak for themselves...





O U T F I T  D E E T S :  PANAMA HAT (SIMILAR)  |  MAXI DRESS  |  BIKINI TOP  |  CHOKER (TIED IN THE BACK)  |  FLIP FLOPS  |  VINTAGE BEACH TOTE (SIMILAR, SIMILAR, LOVE THIS)

Before heading to Mexico, I spent a full evening shopping for a few new items.  I wanted to bring some new pieces with me to wear on our trip and I left almost empty handed--almost as if when you're ready to treat yo' self, you find nothing!  However, I did find this maxi dress and did a little dance when it was long enough.  

I paired the dress over my suit one day but it would be really pretty for evening with a wide bandeau underneath in white, yellow or mint.  I also love how this choker looks wrapped around multiple times and tied in the back--another great way to wear one of Spring's trends I'm loving.




Hi ladies!  I'm back from a sunny week in Mexico and if you follow along on Snapchat (I'm acoest1984), you've already seen a ton of my week, and I'll be back tomorrow with some photos of our trip and a follow up post with the outfits and details.

Today, I'm sharing a new video on how to use Snapchat.  I know a ton of my friends are using it, but there are still so many people who don't know what it does or how it works.  Snapchat is great for real life stuff--it's beyond the pretty filters of Instagram, it's not curated and it's regular ol' life.  I share outfits, what I'm eating, outings with Marco and of course my fave, the cat-selfie (see it after the jump).

Hope you find this quick video helpful if you're new to Snap and please leave your user name in the comments so I can follow you!

Watch the video after the jump...

O U T F I T  D E E T S  :  F21 OFF THE SHOULDER TOP (SIMILAR, LOVE THIS)  |  DENIM -- DISTRESSED MYSELF (SIMILAR)  |  PERFORATED HEELS  |  BAG  |  CHOKER (SIMILAR)

When I picked up these heels a month ago, they were a bit of a 'on a whim' purchase.  Since then, I've been wearing them slightly non-stop, everywhere from the office, out on weekends when the weather permits and even brought them down to Mexico with me.  If that doesn't say true love, I don't know what does.

I've talked about the huge trend we are seeing with this style of shoe this year, and I'm all about the strap-back peep-toe heel.  The chunky heel makes them sturdy and easy to walk in, they come in tan and black and they are uber comfy despite being somewhat high.  I've paired mine with leather pants, flared denim and of course, these dark distressed skinnies.



O U T F I T  D E E T S :  DENIM JACKET -- OLD & DIY BLEACHED (SIMILAR, LOVE THIS ONE)  | WILLOW & THREAD LONGLINE VEST (SIMILAR)  |  MADE 4 EACH OTHER TANK (SIMILAR)  |  BRALETTE (LOVE THIS)  |  DISTRESSED WHITE SKINNIES (SIMILAR)  |  HEELS (MORE SIZES)  |  BAG (SIMILAR)

Longline vests--aka a sleeveless trench/coat--are a super hot trend right now.  I paired mine underneath a denim jacket to dress it down, but it would look equally as great paired with a billowy blouse or tank with some wide legged dress pants.

These distressed white skinnies are my absolute fave.  I know I've said it before, but you don't necessarily have to spend a fortune on denim to find a great fit.  These are under $30 and I grab them way more than my Paige white skinnies.  I cut the knees out & hem myself last Spring and they are getting that perfect fray to them.  I always encourage my friends to buy what feels and looks best, not necessarily what brand you feel you 'should' buy.  That being said, I do have some pricier denim that I love, but I love these just as much.




Happy Monday ladies!  It was a super busy weekend so let's jump into the snaps!

On Friday night, I met up with my Blogger friend, Katrina for drinks at Supply & Demand.  We had a couple drinks and some great conversation.  No photos because I totally dropped the ball like that.

On Saturday, I was off to host an event...


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