Boots, boots, boots

Let's be real, best part of the weather cooling down? BOOTS. Boots with leggings, jeans, skirts, dresses; you name it, I will pair boots with it. Wedge, stacked heel, ankle, calf, over the knee, suede/leather/mystery material; I don't discriminate. 

Let's Hear it for The Boys

This one is a loong overdue post, please forgive me.

It should come as no surprise to any that I like a well-dressed fella. I don't mean wearing every label possible & visibly, or -shudder- bedazzled shirts (not now, not 4 years ago, not ever.). I mean, classy; well put-together, stylish, and sophisticated. I tend to gravitate more towards the slightly preppy, slightly hipster (slightly.), Hamptons-esque look. With the accessories (glasses, scarves, beanies, watches, etc.), colors, patterns and textures available to have fun with, allowing your personality to show in your clothes, while looking very sharp is not only 100% doable, it is so very easy. Just as pattern mixing and genre mixing works for ladies, the same goes for men: Have fun with what you are wearing, add layers, add pops of color or mix around with your textures. Give old jeans a new look by rolling them up once or twice and showing off your shoes; add a chunky scarf, sport some glasses. Have fun with it; don't be afraid to really get creative, funky, or done up. Gone are the days of fashionable men = gay men. You know who still believes that load? Guys who wear bedazzled shirts; can you say irony?! Below I've done a wee little collage of items I think every guy needs to own for this Fall season. The pieces are versatile, inter-changeable and neutral. And best of all? Easy to pair and work together, because you may be a fashionable dude already, but I know enough men in my life to know that you're not spending 20 minutes figuring out an outfit, you're doing a sniff & match test.

"Sniff sniff, yep this smells clean."..."Does this match? Pretty sure this matches." and you're done.



I can't be the only person who loves this look, but if I am, just humor me: Oxfords/Sneakers/Boat shoes and rolled up jeans (only one or two cuffs). Bonus points? Add some funky socks poking out. Not even necessarily funky, they can match the rest of the ensemble, add a pattern to a seemingly neutral outfit, whatever you want. I don't mean white athletic socks poking out; because nice try, but that doesn't count. I say try it out, if you fail miserably I will totally take all responsibility, but I don't think you'll have that issue. You know why? Because it looks hot.

Wanted: No nonsense, furry companion.

I don't like bugs. I used to (o_O), but now they freak me out. Make my head itch, blech. Not a fan. I realize they are all a vital part to our Eco system (side-eyeing you mosquitos, don't know how you've managed to make the cut), so I ignore them, they ignore me, and it's all perfect harmony. This all went to hell last night. I'm in bed watching TV, and I hear this weird flutter from my window. I looked over, saw nothing, thought nothing of it and went back to watching Friends (because, duh). Well, out of the corner of my eye I see antennas, probably 2 inches long. Attached to these antennas was a Big. Ass. Beetle. No, No no no. I'm sitting in bed watching this new housemate of mine walking along my windowsill, and I'm weighing my options: 1. I need to flush it, that is the adult thing to do. No, you are not going to release it back into the wild, he'll go tell his other buddies that you're a softy and then they'll all come to party. Also, you're going to capture this thing in your hand and walk downstairs to let it out? As IF.  2. If you don't kill it because you're a chicken, there's a good chance he'll make a bed in your blonde hair and you'll have a snuggle buddy to wake up to in the morning, how does that sound? So obviously, time to put on my big girl shoes and eliminate this sucka.

WELL.

That ninja beetle was having none of it. Obviously toilet paper was not going to do the job, so thankfully I had a Ziploc container upstairs - for emergencies like this.  It's like he heard me plotting his death. I slowly climb out of bed to grab my container; come back? Beetle's gone. Now he's on the opposite side of the room, walking along a ledge. So, I cup him with my container and let him stew for a second, wondering how I'm now going to transport him to his watery grave without him actually touching me. I grab a piece of paper to slide over and act as a shield, and as soon as I move the container you know what happened? Motherf-cker HISSED at me. Cue shrill screams and jumping back on to my bed like a good old fashioned stereotype. So alright hombre, you want to do this? Let's do this. Second attempt, I go down to the container and he's on his back, legs up, done. defeated. Well that was easy! No no no, like I said, this was a stealth beetle. He faked me out! As soon as I lifted the container, the hissing was back and he was pissssed off. "Why you playing me like this girl? I just wanted to hang out." is what I imagined him thinking. Somehow in my heroic bravery I managed to transport him to the toilet, where I flushed him with a very dignified "peeeace sucka!" BUT. I just flushed him alive, what if he came back with back up, UP MY TOILET?! These are the things I think about being home alone, I'm going to have a beetle war on my hands. So I squeezed a good amount of toilet bowl cleaner in, and shut the lid. Fume them out, that'll teach them. Clearly I can't use that toilet for a week or so just to make sure, so thank goodness I have two bathrooms in my house, the second one clearly for emergency situations such as this.

~Barely does it any justice. This thing was the size of my pinky and double the width. aka HUGE.

What does this all have to do with my need for a furry companion? You think a CAT would let that kind of riff raff in their home? Heck no! Especially not a cat named Henry. He means business, he's no nonsense. Also, you know what a beetle is to a cat? Nature's protein, that's what it is. Finally, cat's are such little a-holes, I could use the entertainment.

Dear Miley.

Oh, this is not good. Also, ain't nothing but a G thang? Your dad sang Achy Breaky Heart, who do you think you're fooling? We get it, you're "grown up" now. Slow clap for you, no one will associate you with Hannah Montana anymore. now staahhp it. You're making the other grown ups super uncomfortable.

life's too short to wear boring clothes.

Or be boring. Clearly, I learned this at a young age. Work it, Girl.

Items to buy this Fall

One of the best things about early fall is a lot of the clothes you already have can be worn still, whether you just add a sweater, tights, boots, you name it. It's still warm enough to get away with them, so you only need to add a few key pieces to continue the transition. 

1.  T-shirt maxi dress. You can wear it with a jean vest through til October, and then add boots, a scarf and a blazer for the colder months. Very versatile, very comfortable, and very necessary. I just got this one in black, and love it.


2. Brown ankle boots. I don't think anything says Fall more to me than brown ankle boots. Why? I have no idea, but they just do. Wear them with your skinny jeans rolled up a cuff or two, underneath your maxi dress, with tights and a skirt, they're here to compliment you.


3. Structured bag


4. Blazer in a color that screams "Autumn is here!"


5. Pleather Skater Skirt - or leather, if you're fancy like that.


6. Fun pullover sweater. It's chilly, you need to bundle up a little bit; why not in a fun print? Bonus points if it's a "This pattern is so bizarre but it goes with everything" print


7. Baseball Tee - You can dress it up with a blazer and a skater skirt, or you can go casual with jeans and your perfect ankle boots. It's a win win, and if you can't find any to suit your liking, the men's section ALWAYS has some good ones.


8. Art Deco Statement Necklace. They spice up any outfit casual or dressy, and you can't sneeze in a store without seeing some form that should tickle your fancy.

And to make up for my lack of actual "what I wore" posts, here is a scattering of recent outfits:  ~Harem Pants worn around my hips. Feel like sweatpants, Look like trousers. Hellohhh. ~Stripes! Cannot get enough. ~The selfie inception.
~ The T-shirt maxi, your new BFF!

Random Things Friday

1. I have a job this weekend: Turn my house upside down looking for loonies and toonies to sponsor buying this sweater. Think I'll find $90 worth? Here's hoping, because I am in LOVE.


2. The new McDonald's commercials that are somehow trying to convince their consumers that their new egg-white breakfast sandwich is healthy pisses me off so bad. Probably more than it should. Being an organic nut, I know that isn't healthy (or even EGG), so stop trying to re-word what you're really trying to say: People know we use chemicals to preserve all of our "food" so we can keep it forever and sell it cheap, so we're now covering our bums to take off some of the heat. Eat up! #Liars.


3. The weather is cooling down and I am one happy little chicka, there are not enough days to wear all the outfits dancing around in my head.


4. This commercial is absolutely hysterical. Hump Daaaay!


5. Remember that amazing toner I talked about and how it smelled like a fruit salad? Well, I got the brightening face moisturizer recently, as well as their microdermabrasion scrub. My face is in Heeeeaven, and smells yummy enough to eat. I'm hooked. Check out their products here, you can find them at health food stores. If you see me and my delicious smelling face, don't bite, I bruise like a peach ;).


6. And one final thought: always remember your worth, and know what you are bringing to the table is something unique, and special. Not one other person can be all the things that you are, so don't sell yourself short. Love yourself inside and out, because happiness attracts happiness. And we can all use a bit more joy in our lives, dontcha think?

Happy Friday, you made it through another week! :)

Sweat, baby, sweat.

I've had that song in my head for two days now. Do you know the one? Bloodhound Gang? Hopefully it gets in your head too, and I won't be alone in this. I'm generous like that.

Anywho, a commercial I saw yesterday pissed me right off. Why? Because the marketing is so blatantly misleading. McDonald's is trying to spin that they have a new "healthy" breakfast sandwich, because it's made with egg whites. First off: My ass those are real eggs, let alone egg whites. How do I know this? Because the last time I had a McDonald's breakfast, it was with someone who was allergic to eggs, and guess what? The sandwich didn't bother him whatsoever. So, what is actually in the eggs they're selling? Gross.

Second, if you're solely counting calories, then ya, have at er and eat that thing. If that's the case, eat a tablespoon of frosting for breakfast! You're still going to stay well under 200 calories, and it's tasty as all get out. But I think we're now getting to a point in our society where the actual health of the food is overriding the calorie count of it. Do you honestly think that McDonald's cares about the nutritional content of any of their food? Of course not! They want to make sure it lasts a long time, it can be made for super cheap, and it tastes good. The bottom line is they want to make money off of it, not contribute to the health of our society. They're not the only culprits though, all fast food is the same. GMOs, Chemicals, Fillers, they all use them, because then they can sell their food, for cheaper.

I used to be in the mindset that if you were skinny, you were obviously healthy. You were skinny! I used to smoke, eat McDonald's all the time, eat WalMart brand food, and think nothing of it. Because I was "skinny". Couldn't run to save my life and god forbid I actually had to lift something, but I was skinny. My health? I shudder now to think the chemical shitstorm I put my body through, and I'm scared to know about any lasting consequences that will come with being a young dummy.

The micro-mullet.

~A dress with good swing, this is a quality to always be on the lookout for. dress: quiksilver (on sale!), flats: ardenes, jewellery: stella&dot

I am not a fan of mullet dresses (as seen on my face above, apparently), we aren't on good terms. This dress though, it's enough to make me forget about all my pre-conceived notions of mullets, because it is the bomb. That's right, I said it. This is my bomb dress.

Celfie

Do you know what problems a Celfie t-shirt can't fix?

Neither do I. But I expect wine can come in to pick up the slack.

Things I'm Loving Lately: Summer Edition

LIPS:

• Pucker Ups Coconut Lip Balm. There are two things I am obsessed with: lip balm and anything coconut. Well hello, match made in heaven. I love these balms, you can get them at Sally beauty, and they have a thicker texture, as opposed to really slippery balms, so I feel like I'm getting way more out of it. I could be out to lunch on that one, but it works for me.


• MAC Candy Yum Yum. Okay, I bought this lipstick for a night one a few weeks ago. And then promptly lost it at the end of the night. Needless to say, that was a very sad day. Thankfully it was found a few weeks after, and it's been stuck to me like glue since. The perfect blue-based pink, it can be layered to neon level, or worn overtop of lipbalm to neutralize it down a bit (my go-to.) Word of warning though, once it's on, it's on all day.


• MAC Rebel. Upon first viewing in the tube, this looks like a 90's goth girl's dream color. But it's deceiving, and is actually a gorgeous berry, that's universally flattering. If you hadn't noticed yet, anything blue-toned for my lips is a winner, they make your teeth look whiter!

FACE:

• Benefit Watts Up! Makeup & I don't get along very well in the summer, because I'd prefer to go bare faced than pack on the long-wearing masks for everyday wear, so this highlighter goes to town for me. It introduces my cheekbones to the world, brightens up my eyes and even highlights my cupid's bow. Without making me feel shiny. It allows me to go bare-faced, without feeling 100% naked.


• Maybelline FIT Foundation Stick with Oil Control. Hello flashback. When was the last time you saw foundation in a stick form? I believe it was 1995 for me, and I was stealing it from my sister's make-up bag. I'm generally a foundation snob, and I only use it on my t-zone. With my skin getting more tanned, all of my usuals just made my skin look chalky, and I needed a quick fix for the next few weeks to get my through. For under $10, this stuff did not dissapoint. It's not exactly crazy mattifying & long-wearing, but with a touch of setting powder it does the job pretty darn well!


• NOW Products Microdermabrasion


• NOW Products

HAIR:

• Bumble & Bumble Coco Masque. I recently went blonde. Bloooonde blonde. My virgin hairs was none too pleased with me, and did not hide their frizzy tempers. Enter this amazing hair masque. Use once a week (I leave mine on for 15 minutes), and say hello to happy strands again. Also, it smells like Hawaii.


• Bumble & Bumble Styling Lotion

Pun Fun Friday

You know what Friday's always need, other than wine and or tequila? A good pun. Aka, my favorite type of joke. For real, I love these. 

Have a great weekend!

B

 

Fall 2013 Trends & What to Update, Part 1.

It's the most wonderful time, of the year. FALL Shopping. This is every girl's Superbowl. September Issues, Layers, Autumn Colors and Boots. If you are a layer loving queen, then the slow transition from Labor Day to Thanksgiving makes for some very fun ensembles. This fall we see some returns of old loves, even if you forgot you loved them - looking at you, turtlenecks.

BASICS

Your closet needs these items. they're versatile, comfortable, and can be worn multiple times in all different capacities - casual, dressed up, office.

• Long sleeved maxi (or short-sleeved, but sleeved none the less) - fabrics like cotton or jersey


• Striped long-sleeved dress


• Turtleneck


• Harem pants


• Coated pants


• Black maxi skirt


• Oxfords & Loafers


• (Fake) Fur! I have a fur stole (sup, Grandma), and a fur vest I'm literally itching to wear.


• Rich hues & Ornate patterns. Think tartan, brocade, floral; burgundy, navy, olive and mustard.


• Brown leather ankle boots, preferably with a stacked heel or laces.


• Structured Bag

Keep on Rocking:

• Animal Print! (Thank God) this trend seems to never go out of style, it'll be a really sad day for me if and when it does.


• Camo & Military Inspired Colors


• White chucks


• Bright hues, think cobalt, orange, emerald & pinks.


• Crochet Cardigans & Tops

Below are a few mock-ups of the outfits I cannot wait to start wearing. August, feel free to fly by, I've got my sights set on Fall.

First up to make this transition easiest? Harem pants. On first look they appear to be chic sweatpants, but oh my they are so much more. They are the perfect amount of breezy casual to wear to a BBQ, but throw on a pair of killer heels and a silk blouse, and you're one fine-looking date. While these used to be worn high-waisted, trying wearing them lower on your hips with a structured jacket. Added bonus? They're so comfortable.

 



Next up? Turtlenecks! Fall is sweater season, and turtlenecks are equal parts elegant & comfortable. Note, this is not an excuse to bust out that Dickie you've had for years. That thing should be burnt. 



Next up, investment pieces to get you through the chillier temperatures!

Happy Shopping,

B

 

Chocolate, Guilt-Free Muffins

the return of the messy baker. she is but tiny, but the messes she can make know no bounds. ... Did that title get your attention yet? It should have. Last week I went for a mini road trip with my mama to Kamloops to visit my Aunt. After lunch, she brought out these muffins. You guys, they tasted like the Costco chocolate muffins. You know the ones, they're really just a well-marketed individual chocolate cake. Delicious and so bad for you. But these, were healthy. Not just healthy, mega healthy! She gave me the link where she found it, over here at Tutti Dolci, and I was pretty stoked to see how many alternatives I could make with the ingredients, not that I really even had to! they taste like cupcakes, are ridiculously healthy, and very satisfying.

Chocolate, Guilt-Free Muffins

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 16 mins

Total time: 26 mins

Serves: 12

Makes: 12; Calories per Muffin: 125

Ingredients

• 1¼ cups Bob’s Red Mill gluten free baking flour (subbed in for regular all-purpose)


• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa


• 1 tsp baking powder


• 1 tsp baking soda


• Pinch of cinnamon


• ¼ tsp salt


• ¼ cup buttermilk or soured milk (I didn’t have either, so I used coconut milk)


• 1 large egg, lightly beaten (I used the chia substitute at the bottom, b/c I didn’t have eggs)


• ⅓ cup honey


• 2 Tbsp coconut oil (instead of vegetable oil. I use coconut oil for everything.)


• 1 tsp vanilla extract


• 1 large ripe banana, mashed


• 1 cup grated zucchini, unpeeled


• ⅓ cup semisweet chocolate chips, plus about 50 to sprinkle on top

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking cups; lightly coat baking cups with cooking spray. Set aside.


2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the mixture.


3. Combine milk, egg, honey, oil, vanilla, banana, and zucchini in a medium bowl; add to flour mixture and stir just until combined. Stir in ⅓ cup chocolate chips. Don’t overmix, but do ensure there are no dry flour bits left.


4. Divide batter over 10-12 muffins cups (make sure you coated them with cooking spray or these muffins will be sticky!), then sprinkle a few individual chocolate chips over muffins for effect :)


5. Bake for 14-16 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let muffins cool in pan for 2 minutes before removing.


6. Serve warm or store at room temperature for 2-3 days.

Notes

This recipe doubles well and freezes well. I made these substituting a “chia egg” for the egg – 1 Tbsp chia seeds + 3 Tbsp water, let sit for 3 minutes to gel, mix once really well and use as you would use an egg.

3.2.1251

 

I froze the majority of these to save as needed; and in the future I'll puree the zucchini, I don't mind it grated but they would probably look more inviting that way! Now, stop wasting time & go make these.

Enjoy, and share the love!

B