heatherlovesit

urban outfitters home

2012-01-28T15:45:00.000-08:00

when am i too old to shop at urban outfitters?

that's a valid question, since they carry a lot of hipster crop tops and neon jammers. but i'm a rules-shmules kind of girl, so i say "never!" especially because they have great home items that don't all scream "college dorm!" or "first apartment!" they are, however, made for small spaces, and draw on mid-century design. furniture quality varies, so thoroughly read the online reviews or visit the nearest store with a home section {ie. three stores in seattle}.

here are a few of my favourites...

velvet tufted headboard {various colours} $349

zigzag curtain {various colours} $39 / zigzag duvet cover {various sizes} $69-99 / zigzag wood base dress form $300 / zigzag printed rug {various colours} $39-74 / zigzag shower curtain {various colours} $44 / ziggy chair $279

rocky mountains wall mural $140 / marquee alphabet light $179 / woven wall hanging $99 / marquee arrow light $199

ikat duvet cover {various colours} $79-99 / indigo ikat slipper chair $329 / reversible ikat pillow $44 / ikat rug {various colours} $59 / ayana storage bench {various colours} $299

vintage floor lamp {various colours} $119 / brimfield bookcase {various colours} $79 / coil side table {various colours} $79 / loop de loop side table {various colours} $49

madeline chair {various colours} $349 / mid-century sofa {various colours} $479 / mid-century rocker chair {various colours} $289 / night and day convertible sofa {various colours} $589

draper media console $199 / hairpin coffee table $129 / industrial rolling side table $99

week·ly round·up #5

2012-01-22T17:13:00.002-08:00

things always seem to get messy before they get better - both figuratively and literally. i often joke that i should be an unlicensed therapist, similar to jason schwartzman's unlicensed craigslist private eye character on bored to death {RIP}. i think i'd call it "telling it like it is with heather". i'd be tough, but fair, and quite reasonably priced. plus, it would be the perfect excuse to buy a chaise lounge. you know "for my patients." if this whole production and writing thing doesn't work out, thank goodness i have a back-up plan, you guys!

i promise i didn't bring up the life is messy stuff to get you down; i was just thinking about how much i love compiling my week·ly round·up posts - they really cut down on the messiness that is my excessive number of open browser tabs. that's the problem with being a curious soul - a lot of open browser tabs. and a degree in journalism. and a desire to tell it like it is ... and get paid for it under the table. {any takers?} just kidding, let's get on to the roundup!

1. favourite blog of the week :: heart explosion by courtney lewis
2. brand new neighbourhood coffee shop of the week :: matchstick coffee
3. music mix of the week :: gotye's best of 2011
4. bon appétit travel guide of the week :: nashville: the coolest, tastiest city in the south
5. quirky & inspiring film of the week {psst. it's on netflix} :: tiny furniture
6. beautiful vancouver concert posters of the week :: everything is easy by lindsey hampton
7. creative motion graphics video of the week :: 29 ways to stay creative
8. pretty darn useful home & cooking ideas of the week :: 25 clever ideas
9. human portrait video of the week :: my friend maia

10. necklace obsession of the week :: verameat wishbone {available at vincent park}

music monday #13

2012-01-16T22:58:00.002-08:00

i'm back like backstreet y'all! and what better way to kick off the new year than with music monday? is that, literally, music to your ears? speaking of the classic tune backstreet's back, it came up on my iphone at the gym the other morning and it put me in the best mood. mostly because i couldn't stop laughing. thanks heather's workout mix... you never disappoint me. maybe because i made you? but i digress. there will be no more talk about backstreet after this, except to encourage you to add it to your own workout playlist. you won't regret it. especially at 6am.

check out two {free!} albums i'm digging right now...

here are a few things i know about jessie baylin... she has the best leather jacket i've ever seen on stage. she also has a new record coming out tomorrow called little spark. she recently moved to nashville - a transition she writes about on her new album. she's married to nathan followill, the drummer-brother from kings of leon. her wedding photos were taken by one of my favourite photographers, tec petaja. she sang on the matt wertz track "back in june". she's been friends with scarlett johansson - who directed the upcoming music video for "hurry hurry" - since childhood. she co-wrote for her new album with another of my favourite nashville artists, thad cockrell. she's got a great blog. oh and she's wearing the aforementioned leather jacket on the cover of her new album.

{download or stream pleasure center EP here}

*to download, click the downward-facing arrow at the right edge of each track line

here are a few things i know about paper route... they also live in music city, usa. they've called themselves "the black sheep in nashville". their new album, the peace of wild things, will be out early this year. one of their songs was featured in the film 500 days of summer. they've toured with lights, owl city, paramore and passion pit. oh and they've been in my itunes library for a good six years.

{download or stream absence here}
*to download, provide your e-mail address & postal code, then check your inbox

PS. unlike every highrise building, i refuse to skip #13. thus, music monday #13, coming out mere days after friday the 13th. trivia: there are three friday the 13ths in 2012, and they're each 13 weeks apart. i bet that just improved your day. unless, of course, you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia - the fear of friday the 13th - in which case things just took a turn for the worse. but fear not! look on the bright side! i ask you what could be terrible about a day that birthed mary-kate and ashley olsen?

PPS. i know i said i wouldn't mention them again, but i lied. who was your favourite backstreet boy? it says so much about a person. confessing your favourite backstreet boy was the best personality identifier pre-sex and the city "i'm a carrie/samantha/charlotte/miranda" craze. let the record show: i was a brian. and a carrie.

[top photos via jessie baylin & andy barron]

week·ly round·up #4

2011-10-18T18:40:00.001-07:00

i'm writing in my beloved neighbourhood coffee shop, which - not gonna lie - may have influenced my choice in apartment location. sometimes you just have to get out of the house to (a) be inspired and (b) get things done. i read a newspaper article yesterday that asked authors where they write. their answers spanned from harvard to their bedroom floor to a sugar shack in the woods {how very bon iver}. speaking of where people write, an article that created quite a fuss online last week suggested that writers whose "offices" are their local coffee shop buy something once an hour, which is a lot {here are a few good posts on the topic, if you're interested: malcolm gladwell / lifehacker / hello giggles}. i'm sitting pretty at one french press coffee in an hour and change, and i'm feeling okay about it, in case the etiquette police are lurking.

speaking of places where we "do life", a favourite blog/source of inspiration of mine is the selby. i love connecting people with their spaces to get a better sense of them and their story, so to speak. the selby {aka photographer todd selby} features the homes and studios of creative people, focusing on objects in their space as opposed to the space as a whole. every post includes illustrations and a handwritten q&a with the subject(s). a post i love features colin tunstall, one of the owners of saturdays surf nyc {aka one of my favourite store/coffee shops in new york}. not only do i love his wallpaper, i love his answer to this question:

Q. what has coffee taught you?

A. it's like bacon to me...i can have it with anything.

on that glorious note, let's get to some other things i loved this week...

1. french album that even non-frenchies will love of the week :: blonde by coeur de pirate
2. pant rolling guide {for guys} of the week :: tame the roll
3. british super duet of the week :: up by james morrison & jessie j
4. exhaustive french press brewing guide of the week :: sprouted kitchen
5. recipe i'm dying to try of the week :: roasted tomato soup with broiled cheddar
6. gorgeous striped tote of the week :: clare vivier hot streak tote
7. interactive pop music video of the week :: keep your head up by andy grammer
8. super cool online shop {for gals & home} of the week :: beklina
9. american-made enthusiasts max wastler & joe gannon's tv demo of the week :: made right here
10. best darn flower shop blog of the week :: saipua brooklyn

portland by train

2011-10-04T09:56:00.001-07:00

oh portland. like any budding relationship, you stole my heart in february and kept me wanting more. you played hard to get, since you're just far enough away that it requires a little effort to get to you. you wined and dined me and strung me along with no sales tax and bearded men who make a mean and cheap old fashioned between the happiest hours of 4 and 6pm. you kept things simple with bike lanes and dollar beers. you son of a gun, portland, i think i like you.

the train

i'm not going to sugarcoat the train experience for you: it leaves at 6:40am and it takes eight hours. as long as you can handle those realities, it's awesome. there's free wifi {which works most of the time, and is strong enough to send e-mails or read blogs & articles}, a café car, sweet people watching and beautiful scenery. i'd definitely take the train again. note: bicycles cost an extra $10 per person. when in ~~rome~~ portland...

the ace

i've stayed at the palm springs ace many times, but this was my first stay at their portland hotel. jenn, ashley and i shared a basic triple - the perfect room for travelling with friends. it has three single beds, costs $95/night and, oh yeah, has no bathroom. you have to walk down the hall for that, which is pretty hilarious in the morning on the way to the shower, but they supply sweatshirt robes, which make the trip a little less awkward. i must mention one other thing about the ace {besides the awesome collection of magazines in our room, including one for female drummers & another about alcohol} they have wonderful staff who know where to send you for whatever your heart desires. and they wear suspenders, just in case you were curious about the dress code.

happy hour @ clyde common

clyde common is the bar & restaurant off the lobby of the ace. it's also my favourite happy hour in portland. they have a delicious bourbon drink, friendly bartenders and a daily grilled cheese. i mean... right? we definitely went here twice on this trip. yes we did.

$1 beers @ the hungry tiger, dinner @ screen door, drinks @ central

a lengthy pre-trip debate about the pros & cons of bringing our bikes ended peacefully when we found out the ace rents bikes to hotel guests for free. after happy hour, we rode down to the river, across one of portland's million bridges and up the other side, where we encountered some friendly portlanders who told us about $1 beers down the street. oh portland. there was very little space to lock our bikes because every stitch of fence and post was already occupied with bikes. oh portland. we then rode up a few blocks to screen door, where we had the best fried chicken, mint juleps and fried green tomatoes of my life. we made it back to the ace with only four minutes to spare before the bikes turned into pumpkins, and then, at the suggestion of the front desk staff, wandered down to central, a speak easy-style bar on a roped-off street with picnic tables, strung lights and live music. everybody now: oh portland.

coffee @ ristretto roasters, breakfast @ tasty n sons, happy hour @gruner, shopping @ canoe

everybody and their dog and their blog told us to eat at tasty n sons. and... it was amazing. potatoes bravas, sweet biscuits, bacon-wrapped dates with maple syrup, moroccan chicken hash and goat cheese & beet fritatta - are you dying yet? be sure to peruse the neighbourhood and stop by the cute shops and ristretto roasters for coffee. breakfast was followed by shopping at three of my favourite portland shops: canoe, alder & co and frances may, where we had the loveliest time trying on clothes and shoes and chatting with our new portland friend ashley, the shop assistant.

beer fest @ deschutes, andrew belle & the milk carton kids @ the doug fir

a festival in the pearl district with live music and food carts with beer pairings? yes please. a show at portland's best music venue with one of my favourite nashville singer/songwriters? yes please. the milk carton kids were awesome too and you can download their album for free on their website {linked above}.

frolicking in the pearl, putting a bird on it @ clyde common, breakfast @ byways, shopping in the alphabet

we went on walkabout through the pearl and the alphabet district and fell in love with both neighbourhoods. we found a kitschy diner, a vintage shop, an urban outfitters and a trader joe's. we also ended up back at clyde common, which wasn't much of a surprise to anyone.

coffee @ stumptown, dinner @ whiskey soda lounge & pok pok

one of my favourite things about the pacific northwest is the coffee. portland's stumptown is one of my top three favourites, with locations off the ace lobby and downtown. pok pok is basically the hottest restaurant in portland. it began as a food cart and expanded into a thriving restaurant with two offshoot locations - pok pok noi in the alberta neighborhood and whiskey soda lounge down the block from pok pok. upon arrival, we were told there would be a 2-2.5 hour wait. say wha? we walked down the street to whiskey soda lounge to wait, where we drank pok pok som {an amazing fruit & vinegar-based drink} and ate miang kham and pad thai. when we were finally summoned to pok pok, we had their famous chicken wings. Here's my tip: skip pok pok if there's a long wait and just eat at whiskey soda lounge, where they carry many of the same menu items and are much friendlier. And be sure to pop across the street to the super cute d-street food carts.

*many thanks to grace bonney for your portland suggestions!

music monday #12

2011-09-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

one complaint i have about living in vancouver is that independent artists often skip playing here to avoid crossing the border. i've been to many shows in seattle, driven home at 1am and gone to work the next morning. the glamourous life of a music fan... it's not just vancouver; all west coasters could complain about the many bands who won't cross the great midwest divide. one place they will stop, however, is a small city in america's heartland: rock island, ill. this town on the illinois/iowa border is home to the country's largest weapons arsenal - and daytrotter.

daytrotter sessions are stripped-down recordings by artists who fall somewhere between established and up-and-coming. the sessions aren't over produced; they make you feel like you're listening in on an intimate house show. and the best part is that you can download the sessions for free.

here are 15 of my favourite daytrotter sessions, by date:

grace potter & the nocturnals / sept 13th 2011

the civil wars / aug 9th 2011

jill andrews / aug 10th 2011

andrew belle / jul 9th 2011

madi diaz / jun 23rd 2011

the head & the heart / jun 17 2011

dawes / jun 7th 2011

raphael saadiq / may 3rd 2011

cults / oct 20th 2010

local natives / jul 26th 2010

the temper trap / may 17th 2010

william fitzsimmons / apr 8th 2010

mat kearney / oct 24th 2009

diane birch / may 21st 2009

bon iver / jul 21st 2008

*note: to get these free sessions, you must login and get the daytrotter download manager. it's easy and only takes a few minutes to set up. or you could just listen to them online.

palm springs living / side trips

2011-09-18T09:51:00.002-07:00

part three :: side trips

san jacinto mountains / cabazon dinosaurs

allow me to recount a conversation i eavesdropped on while sitting at a restaurant bar this weekend:

man #1 {customer/friend}: hey man, how's your lady?

man #2 {french bartender}: she's completely burned out. that's what happens when you work for the money and not for the love.

deep words from the french bartender. sounds like his lady needs a vacation. a vacation where she can relax and recharge. but let's say the french bartender wants to get away too. i bet he'd get bored just sitting around relaxing all day. so what are the french bartender and his lady to do - take separate vacations?

that's crazy talk! here's what they should do: meet in the middle, so to speak, and take mini trips within their trip. kind of like inception with the dreams within the dream ;-) my favourite way to vacation is to relax and recharge and have adventures.

the perfect place to do this is palm springs, where you can spend your morning lying by the pool and your afternoon hiking in joshua tree or the indian canyons, or road tripping to the salton sea or the san jacinto mountains, or braving the dinosaurs and the outlet mall crowds in cabazon. the world - or at the very least the coachella valley - is your oyster!

- future palm springs retiree {and part-time adventurer}

allow me to recount another conversation:

heather: let's drive up here, it looks fun.

jenn: road, where are you taking us?

heather: higher and higher.

jenn: oh my god, we're going to heaven. it's our time, heather. we're going to reach the gates.

we never made it to the gates; we turned around. but the gorgeous, winding drive into the san jacinto mountains, where this thrilling conversation took place, is conveniently located mere blocks from j.crew, anthropologie and kate spade {perfect afternoon. i mean... right?}. from palm desert, drive south on the aptly named pines to palms highway towards idyllwild - aka. hometown to american idol's casey abrams. since we drove this highway on a whim, we never made it to idyllwild - or heaven - but no matter how far you get, you'll have some gorgeous valley views.

when i'm driving, i often spot cool things on the side of the road and keep driving. but half the fun of a road trip is stopping. be spontaneous! don't be in a hurry! on this trip, jenn and i committed to pulling over for anything fun. if we hadn't done this, we never would've gone to a hare krishna festival, been offered a dodgy thai massage or visited the cabazon dinosaurs. the world's biggest dinosaurs on the side of the interstate - why wouldn't you stop?

history lesson

the dinosaurs have appeared in such "classic" films as pee wee's big adventure and the wizard (holla jenny lewis) and music videos for tears for fears and brad paisley. they were created by knott's berry farm sculptor claude k. bell, who built them to draw people to his truck stop diner, the wheel inn. after bell's death, the new owners of the dinosaur park expanded it to include a gift shop and museum, and use the dinosaurs as a means to promote creationism {we just went for the photo ops}.

{previous palm springs living posts here and here}

week·ly round·up #3

2011-08-22T22:56:00.007-07:00

i'm an addict.

a bookmark addict.

it once got to the point where my safari browser was all "hey you, i'm going to delete your old bookmarks if you keep adding new ones," and i was all "oh yeah? i'm getting a new computer." i showed that browser. with 64 tabs open as i type, i might also be a digital hoarder {don't even get me started on my twitter favourites}.

speaking of hoarding, i once considered working on the show animal hoarders, but i think it would have made me too sad. remember how sad we all were when oprah told us about puppy mills?

~~speaking of puppy mills,~~ grab a glass of vinho verde and have a peek through this week's links, full of music, video, food and blogs.

ps. if the city of portland passed me a note that said "do you like me? tick yes or no" i'd tick yes and probably find a way to incorporate a heart into my tick mark. stay tuned for a post about my recent trip back to the city of roses {and bearded boys on bicycles}. also coming up soon: palm springs, los angeles, fall accessories and my new obsession with skirts {i mean...who am i?}.

1. perfect {crisp & cheap} summer wine of the week :: vinho verde
2. band playing in a hotel room video of the week :: barcelona at the ace hotel portland
3. canadian blog discovery of the week :: beckerman bite plate
4. delightful song/crazy music video of the week :: baby by devendra banhart
5. prettiest darn food blog of the week :: honey & jam
6. tv series preview {starring my celebrity best friend crush rachel bilson} of the week :: hart of dixie
7. free summer pop song download of the week :: bone dry by a b & the sea
8. anti time-lapse video of the week :: brooklyn in extreme slow motion
9. delicious agua fresca recipe of the week :: watermelon mint agua fresca
10. food critic vs. restaurant gq article of the week :: diner for schmucks

palm springs living / shop & eat

2011-08-10T00:35:00.001-07:00

part two :: shop & eat
trina turk residential / resale therapy / el gallito / native foods

have you ever noticed how when we describe our favourite cities, we always talk about the food? {yes, i just went there with the royal "we".} and what usually comes next, at least when i'm telling the story, is the shopping. when i'm not lying by the pool in the desert sun, riding a cruiser past gorgeous mid-century ranchers, or getting in touch with my inner hippie in joshua tree, i'm probably enjoying the air conditioned interiors of restaurants and boutiques. ain't no vacation like a palm springs vacation! here are two fun shops and two delicious {and affordable} restaurants, with photos from my most recent trip.

- future palm springs retiree {aka snowbird in training}

this store is a palm springs must-stop. unless of course you're not into a bright, colourful and amazingly curated shop filled with missoni towels, mid-century art, jonathan adler ceramics, trina turk pillows and other fabulous finds. trina turk residential is the designer's only home store, and it's located next to her original boutique, which, like the viceroy hotel, was designed by kelly wearstler.

shopping in the back room at resale therapy, conveniently located across the street from the parker hotel, makes you feel like you're in a movie montage where the two main characters try on silly clothes while dancing to an 80s song. i picked up a pair of round sunglasses, a pucci scarf and an elizabeth arden new york caftan. i wonder which fabulous palm springs ladies wore my new treasures?

history lesson

while she's famous for her cosmetics brand, elizabeth arden entered the fashion business in the 1940s. trivia time: one of her designers was none other than oscar de la renta. arden was born florence nightingale {no joke} in ontario, but reinvented herself with a more "glamorous" name, which she borrowed from an old business partner {elizabeth} and a tennyson poem {arden}. here's a little piece of inspiration: arden didn't achieve any success until her thirties. she went on to run one of the most successful brands in the world. oh, and she was briefly married to a prince, so that's something to aspire to. wink, wink.

palm springs isn't just chain restaurants and fine dining. the following restaurants are recent off-the-beaten-path discoveries, thanks to some poolside eavesdropping at the ace hotel and a little help from yelp. el gallito is located just east of palm springs in cathedral city, which appears to have all of the car dealerships in all of the desert. this kitschy-cute family-run restaurant is filled with locals who don't even need a menu to order, and rice and beans you'll devour! native foods is a vegan restaurant whose patio spills out into the courtyard of a strip mall. what it lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in lavender lemonade. holy hannah, i've been putting lavender in everything ever since. also, best sweet potato fries ever. you won't even miss eating meat, i tell you!

{previous palm springs living / hotels post here}

palm springs living / hotels

2011-07-25T19:30:00.003-07:00

part one :: hotels

the ace / the parker / the viceroy

one response to my oft-received question, what do you DO in palm springs? is visit hotels. palm springs is a collection of small and diverse resorts, each with an identity and clientele of its own. i stay at the ace hotel for its atmosphere, price and now familiarity, but i love to cycle over to nearby properties and stop in for cocktails, a meal or just a snoop. while many are worth mentioning, here are three of my favourite palm springs hotels, with snapshots from my most recent trip.

- future palm springs retiree {aka snowbird in training}

sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name... the ace hotel and swim club is my third place. the hotel, a renovated howard johnson, is one of four ace hotel properties, which also include seattle, portland and new york. it has a mid-century, bohemian, minimalist camp vibe and amenities like a restaurant, a bar, two pools, free cruiser bikes, communal fireplaces, a spa, amazing rudy's barbershop products and a killer poolside soundtrack that will have you shazam-ing every fifth song. it's dog friendly, so you'll be competing for lounge chairs {and occasionally even pool time} with pups, as well as cool LA peeps on bridget jones-style mini break.

one day, i'm going to stay at the parker palm springs, where i'll lounge poolside with rachel zoe and hang out in a mini villa named "lola". until that day, i'll continue to pop by the 13-acre resort for brunch al fresco and drinks around the fire pit. this gorgeous and delightfully eccentric hotel was designed by new york designer and potter jonathan adler. it boasts two restaurants, three pools, tennis courts, giant chess, yoga retreats, a spa and a to-die-for lobby and entryway. it's pricey, but if you go during low season - and keep an eye on travel flash-sale sites - you can get lucky. croquet and celebrity sightings, anyone?

history lesson

the property was california's first holiday inn before becoming gene autry's melody ranch. it was later purchased by merv griffin and run as the givenchy hotel and spa during the 90s. if you recognize the parker name, their original property, new york's le parker meridien, was the official hotel of the rosie o'donnell show {it's scary how advertising stays with us}. staff and guests of the parker were also featured in a six-episode bravo series called welcome to the parker.

the kelly wearstler-designed viceroy palm springs sits conveniently behind downtown palm springs. the hollywood regency-style resort is a yellow, black and white love letter to the desert city's golden age. while the hotel feels intimate, it's deceivingly large, with three pools, a spa and a gorgeous little restaurant. i can't wait to stop by for poolside dinner under lanterns and lemon trees.

{stay tuned for more palm springs posts. past palm springs posts: 1 / 2 / 3}

week·ly round·up #2

2011-07-12T20:58:00.011-07:00

"my life is family, dogs, clothes, food, and coffee. FFCCD. You'd think it was an html color code."

- fancy treehouse

i've been leading my own version of a color code life lately, but i'd add a second {shortened} layer of color: BMBSB. sadly, the last three letters do not stand for my favourite boy band, since i missed their show this weekend. instead, my life is boxes, music, boxes, sunshine, boxes. that about sums up my move and my week. new neighborhood, same roommate {though to be clear, it's friends first, roommates second. if i didn't mention that, i'd get almond milk thrown in my face. i kid...}.

a friend called me a "woman of the world...wide web" this week. in the spirit of my new moniker, enjoy this week's links. and regarding the NKOTBSB shows this past weekend, i can't say i'm too disappointed i missed out based on the crowd i encountered pushing their way onto the eastbound train after the show. they were all f-bombs, boobs and layered white and black eyeliner. that said, how fun is this song?

1. summertime coffee brewing method of the week :: iced cold brew coffee

2. blogger-photographer collaboration of the week :: bri emery & angela kohler style column
3. free download cover of the week :: bon iver "i can't make you love me"
4. pretty blog discovery of the week :: colour my life
5. can't-stop-listening free download of the week :: brandi carlile sampler
6. long-anticipated tv show of the week :: project runway australia season 3
7. oh so LA/oh so coppola movie rental of the week :: somewhere
8. rabbit food inspiration of the week :: 101 simple salads (via nytimes)
9. can't-beieve-it's-real iphone accessory of the week :: iphone SLR mount
10. men's style blog of the week :: ben there, done that

week·ly round·up #1

2011-06-05T10:20:00.006-07:00

clickity-clack :: the sound of me walking in stilettos on a polished concrete floor or the sound of me clicking every link on the internet? it could very well be either, but it's most likely the latter. who wore it best? click it. ten biggest songs of the summer? click it. NSFW wardrobe malfunction? click it. the meaning of NSFW? click it.

not only am i click happy, but i also like to share. so get ready for a new {semi-regular} feature called week·ly round·up, where i link to some of the best things i read or saw online during the week. i say semi-regular just so i don't get your hopes up if i miss one here or there. this was one of my favourite things to post in my early days blogging on xanga. {xan-what now? whoa, memories.}

disclaimer :: these are links that i, for whatever reason, find fascinating, pretty, mysterious, helpful, etc. i can't promise you'll like everything. some things will be more for the ladies, some will swing both ways like the unisex bathroom in ally mcbeal and some will be more for the gents. let's do this!

1. album of the week by a band with an awesome name :: cults by cults
2. condiment of the week :: noble maple syrup (in vancouver at thomas haas & old faithful shop)
3. single of the week by one of my favourite live bands :: every teardrop is a waterfall by coldplay
4. gorgeous canadian blog rediscovery of the week :: fieldguided
5. restaurant substitutions policy controversy of the week :: gjelina vs. gordon ramsay
6. old sad song of the week :: keep me in your heart by warren zevon
7. perfect printed summer tote of the week :: berkeley tote by twelfth st by cynthia vincent
8. cute kid video of the week :: kid gives speech after learning to ride a bike
9. new appalling yet addicting bravo show of the week :: million dollar decorators
10. deeelightful celebrity blog of the week :: zooey's miscellany by zooey deschanel

music monday #11

2011-05-16T07:40:00.007-07:00

artist: mike edel

album: the last of our mountains

victoria-based singer-songwriter mike edel is a treat to listen to and see live. i caught his show at the media club last month, and ever since his album has been on constant rotation in the apartment, in the car and on the ipod. we like it that much.

do yourself a favour and...

download a free track here.
stream the whole album [and buy it for $5] here.
watch a short video i iphoned of the show here.

see him live in bc and alberta next month here.

* * * * * * * * * *

artist: middle brother
album: middle brother

middle brother is a side-project band that brings together the lead singers of delta spirit, deer tick and dawes. their music is fun, their lyrics often humorous and a little irreverent, and their live show undoubtedly a party.

do yourself a favour and...
download a free track here.
watch a video from sxsw here.
download the album for $10 on itunes or here.

fredrik :: black fur :: free download here

brett dennen :: hard times :: listen here
mat kearney :: hey mama :: listen here

jessie j :: who you are live :: watch here
bootstraps :: fortyfive :: watch here

dawes :: if i wanted someone :: free download here

and finally...
this is a great mix i found via old faithful shop.

bootielicious (i couldn't help myself)

2011-04-08T00:31:00.008-07:00

one thing i love about fall is boots. and one thing i love about spring is booties. i love 'em so much that i marched up the block to gravity pope, tried on a $600 pair and thought, i could justify these, right? you know the expression "my eyes are bigger than my stomach"? it's more like "my eyes are bigger than my bank account" when it comes to booties. so instead of the gorgeous $600 acne boots, i left with a much more reasonably priced pair of filippa k's. crisis averted...ish.

if you can't stomach the term booties, you may prefer to call them ankle boots. or maybe even shoe boots. but by then you might as well just call them shbooties, right?

i mean...how much do you love all the peach booties?

clockwise from top left: rachel comey miner bootie, alexander wang dakota lace-up bootie, reed krakoff desert boot, h by hudson mia canvas ankle boot, topshop pippin ankle boot

clockwise from top left: rag & bone classic newbury canvas bootie, a.p.c. suede ankle boot, rag & bone harrow boot, acne cypress leather bootie, rachel comey mars boot, acne pistol heeled zip boot

clockwise from top left: rachel comey fraction bootie, opening ceremony joelle ankle clog boot, swedish hasbeens high heeled jodhpur, swedish hasbeens combat boot

clockwise from top left: repetto neo lace-up wedge ankle boot, topshop ailish wedge shoe boot, filippa k bella laced bootie, madewell sidewalk wedge, loeffler randall june lace-up bootie

clockwise from top left: sam edelman louie ankle boot, ash jalouse ankle boot, paul smith vera almond toe boot, gravity pope safari ankle boot, rodarte for opening ceremony pull-on western boot

clockwise from top left: forever 21 suede engineer boot, dv by dolce vita pascal ankle boot, shellys elvaston ankle boot, zara suede ankle boot, forever 21 suedette studded ankle boot, gap design editions peep-toe wedge bootie, forever 21 lace-up bootie

now just for fun, and so i can look back on this in 10 years and think, i miss those shbooties, or maybe even, what was i thinking?

[top images via heatherlovesit *favourites* the sartorialist & fancy treehouse]

oscar fashion smashion 2011

2011-03-01T12:52:00.004-08:00

strike me down for fashion blasphemy if you must, lord, but dare i say i preferred the fashion at this year's golden globes to the oscars? it wasn't a disaster - just a little boring (kind of like the ceremony itself). thank goodness anne hathaway changed so often; otherwise we'd have little to discuss.

i watched a red carpet interview with nicole kidman once, where she said she always brings peanut m&m's to the oscars in her purse. if you think four hours is excruciating for us viewers, think of how hungry all those in attendance are from the time they get in their limos (can toyota make a stretch prius already?) to the time they hit the party circuit and get their hands on some sliders. do you ever think about the limo ride to awards shows? i always imagine the women are lying down lengthwise on the seats so as not to crease their dresses. why oh why can't we have limo cams?

speaking of behind the scenes at the oscars, rachel zoe was a busy little nine months pregnant stylist this year. anne was rachel's only client at the oscars proper, but she dressed cameron diaz, liv tyler and eva mendes for the parties.

i’m kind of surprised natalie didn’t join team lavender, since that’s all she wore in no strings attached with ashton kutcher. seriously – watch it and you’ll see. but she chose wisely and appropriately by going with rodarte, who made her costumes in black swan. left to right: cate blanchett in givenchy couture, mila kunis in elie saab haute couture, scarlett johansson in dolce & gabbana, natalie portman in rodarte.

the oscars demand glamour, and what’s more glamourous than sparkles and metallics? am i the only one who thought gwyneth was dressed like an oscar statuette, albeit a lovely one? left to right: mandy moore in monique lhuillier, helen mirren in vivienne westwood couture, emma roberts in jenny packham, gwyneth paltrow in calvin klein collection.

this girl deserves a category all to herself. between the red carpet, hosting duties and parties, i counted anne hathaway in eight looks. she even had a nail polish change backstage. and why not, right? clockwise from left: vintage valentino, givenchy haute couture, oscar de la renta, lanvin, atelier versace, vivienne westwood, armani privé, tom ford.

my friend katrina pointed me to lainey gossip, who brilliantly compared jennifer lawrence’s dress to baywatch: “i’m not saying she didn’t look good. she looked great. gorgeous. super sexy. but you can’t deny that’s exactly the same shade of red. and it’s cut exactly like an elongated swimsuit. she could be running in slow motion down the beach…which…well…it’s not exactly the spirit of the oscars, you know?” left to right: jennifer lawrence in calvin klein collection, rosario dawson in diane von furstenberg, sandra bullock in very wang, michelle williams in chanel haute couture.

these are some seriously stunning couples. besides the famous men folk, the wives/baby mamas were the ones who shone here. it doesn’t hurt that they’re gorgeous too. plus, mark ruffalo’s wife’s name is sunrise, and that’s all kinds of california awesome. left to right: mark ruffalo in neil barrett with sunrise coigney in jean paul gaultier, mark wahlberg in giorgio armani with rhea durham in naeem khan, matthew mcconaughey in dolce & gabbana with camila alves in kaufman franco.

overall: cate blanchett, michelle williams, mandy moore
on anne hathaway: fringed oscar de la renta, blue armani privé, white & gold givenchy

and finally, it's true what they say: converse sneakers really do go with everything.

(all photos via justjared & fabsugar)

music monday #10

2011-02-14T07:00:00.002-08:00

are you a thing or experience person? i think i'm a little of both, but i lean more towards experience. isn't it better to create a memory and tell a story than have a possession? it reminds me of a line from eat, pray, love (yes - i'm going there) where she says: "wow, my whole life fits in a 12-foot square box, wow" and the storage facility guy says "you know how many times i hear that in a day? and most of them never come back for their whole life." wow.

my recent trip to portland was so quick because i had to make it back to vancouver for a show on saturday night. for christmas this year, my friend jenn and i gave each other concert tickets. i bought tickets for brooke fraser and she bought tickets for grace potter and the nocturnals. wow and wow. on stage, grace potter mentioned her friends dawes were playing later that night at another local venue. dawes in town? i love dawes. so after the show, jenn and i strolled on down to the media club and caught their show for a mere $16. yes please. i love a little spontaneity, especially when accompanied by good music.

free download #1 :: hot summer night

free download #2 :: apologies

[also available on itunes]

i really want a tambourine after seeing grace potter. she wore a caftan and sequined hot pants, and she alternated between the piano, guitar and tambourine, with a few dance breaks in between. i felt like i was living in the 1970s, and it was spectacular. here's a video from the show - don't even try to tell me you don't want to play the tambourine and hang out in laurel canyon after watching this. two whiskey sours, please, bartender.

free download #1 (w/ mailing list sign-up) :: when my time comes

free download #2 :: love is all i am

[also available on itunes]

i mentioned dawes in music monday #6 - for their contribution to the voice project where they covered edward sharpe and blake mills - and music monday #8. so here's something crazy... during their show in vancouver a fight broke out. keep in mind it was so-cal folk rock, and they were singing a song called "love is all i am". check out what happened after the flight, in one of the best moments of the night, on youtube. they're touring with the lovely brett dennen this spring. that will be a fantastic show... everyone needs a little california in their lives.

happy st. valentine

2011-02-13T16:27:00.004-08:00

i have a hot date on valentine's. it's been planned for over a month... with my dentist. don't cry for me, argentina. who doesn't like a gal with great teeth? i heard a story once about a guy in vancouver who makes reservations at all the best restaurants on valentine's day and then sells the reservations to less forward-thinking gentlemen at the last minute. swindler or genius? i'll let you decide.

speaking of planning for v-day, whether you're going to the dentist, going on a hot date, staying in and cuddling up with a movie or catching a reading of the vagina monologues, here are a few lovely things to get you in the spirit...

clockwise from top left: kate spade crystal kaleidioscope necklace $295, kate spade date night ring $55, smythson be mine leather notebook $60, paul smith love too wall hanging £1,585, chef's choice heart waffle iron $50, crate and barrel valentine tulip spatula $7, barefoot contessa red velvet cupcake and frosting mix $12, cath kidston heart paper garland £4, smythson leather heart keyfob $60, urban outfitters party banner $14, wild fox sequin heart top $248, urban outfitters heart in my hand whisk $12, village for like ever poster $tbd (at very top: valentino patent peep-toe couture pump $645)

missed the snail mail cut-off? it's not too late to send an e-card!
there are tons of cute ones to choose from at kate spade.
if you like your cards a little sassier, click on over to someecards.

p-p-p-portland face

2011-02-07T23:26:00.003-08:00

i ticked off one of my 2011 travel resolutions a couple weeks ago by finally driving down to portland, oregon. it was getting a bit ridiculous, all this talk and no follow through. much like my two-day trip to paris 10 years ago, this two-night stay in the city of roses was way too short. it was amuse-bouche travel; just a taste to whet the appetite. speaking of appetite, portland should be called the city of food. and the city of cute boys in coffee shops, but that's another topic altogether.

unless you hit seattle traffic or border waits, portland is about five hours south of vancouver. seattle lies smack in the middle, and the emerald city is the perfect place to stop and stretch your legs - and go to madewell (when in rome!). you can also travel to portland via amtrak, which takes about eight hours, but you can watch a movie, drink american beer or sierra mist, and there's some pretty amazing people watching. plus you can bring your bike, and i've never seen a more bike-friendly city than portland. sidenote: you'd better be riding a vintage fixie or don't even bother. just kidding(ish). if you want to ride a mountain bike, that's cool ... about as cool as drinking starbucks in portland. zing.

we stayed at the jupiter hotel, a renovated motel in the east burnside neighbourhood, that's also home to the doug fir lounge, a great live music venue. i love the ace, conveniently located just across the bridge in the pearl district, but oh so sad, it was booked. ain't nobody gonna hold us down, so we drank stumptown coffee in the ace lobby and happy houred at clyde common - both of which i highly recommend. but more on that later. sidenote: both hotels are dog friendly, so we brought along nacho. side/sidenote: nacho got recognized on the streets of portland from his twitter. he's gone viral!

happy hour is a beautiful thing - especially at clyde common. and especially when followed by a late dinner at irving st kitchen. portland's big into beer, bourbon and charcuterie, along with their famous donuts (à la voodoo) and coffee culture (à la stumptown & coava). sidenote: voodoo does weddings. i've said it before and i'll say it again: donuts are the new cupcakes, y'all. and don't worry, you can work off the calories by walking or cycling alongside the willamette river.

[all photos by me, @tripstyler & @nate_fri]

endnote: if you haven't watched the new series portlandia on ifc, check out the clips on their website for much laughter. and if you want to go to portland, call me. i'll make myself available. we can do local, organic, fair trade portlandy things together.

there's something in the water :: palm springs weekend

2011-01-24T19:18:00.007-08:00

there's a movie from the 60s that i'm dying to see called palm springs weekend (trailer here). college kids descend on palm springs for a wild spring break - much to the chagrin of the chief of police, but not to his daughter (if you're picking up what i'm putting down...). but maybe you're more of a 90s fan, in which case we can't forget the classic television event saved by the bell: palm springs weekend (watch it here), which i definitely watched tonight, since i own it on dvd. obviously. this was the two-episode arc where jessie's dad marries the aerobics instructor at his palm desert hotel, and jessie tries to sabotage the wedding. or maybe you liked your 90s television a little saucier, and you remember the beverly hills, 90210 episode, also called palm springs weekend (watch it here). that was the one where brenda and dylan plan to take it to the next level and donna rocks a classic betsey johnson daisy dress. obviously.

:: now onto my palm springs weekend with beth & jenn ::

:: view past palm springs trip photo blogs: #1 / #2 / #3 ::

golden globes fashion smashion

2011-01-18T23:27:00.008-08:00

if the oscars are prom, the golden globes are winter formal and the independent spirit awards are the sexy pool party at jeff's house while his parents are out of town. each event has its own personality and stylists and stars best be on their game.

here are a few trends i picked up on at sunday's show: sparkly numbers awash with sequins, rhinestones, crystals and paillettes, all shades of emerald and a sea of pink from blush to magenta. other trends on the red carpet this year were long sleeves, shoulder pads and backless dresses. the men were looking fine in classic tuxes that often incorporated navy and textured elements. in the words of my friend katrina, "navy is a great alternative for the golden globes. black is more oscar." i agree!

we don't change much from when we were babies - we're always going to be attracted to shiny things. these lovely ladies were no exception in a trend that's been kicking around all fall and winter. clockwise from top left: anne hathaway in armani privé, scarlett johansson in elie saab, olivia wilde in marchesa, carey underwood in badgley mischka and sandra bullock in jenny packham.

i remember coming home one time in university with a new kelly green handbag. my roommate asked me: "do you need it?" and i replied: "yes, i don't have a purse in this colour." want...need...they're subjective. needless to say, i loved seeing this colour on the red carpet. left to right: mila kunis in vera wang, angelina jolie in atelier versace, elisabeth moss in donna karan and catherine zeta-jones in monique lhuillier.

pantone's colour of 2011 is honeysuckle, and it's already showing up on the red carpet. this will inevitably be a popular colour, like turquoise and bright yellow before it. do you remember this scene from the devil wears prada? well... cerulean was pantone's colour of the year in 2000. left to right: lea michele in oscar de la renta, emma stone in calvin klein collection, natalie portman in viktor & rolf and claire danes in calvin klein collection.

while most ladies adorned themselves in van cleef & arpels and lorraine schwartz, these ladies stuck out. i love how julianne moore's bulgari necklace and lanvin dress came together like they were made for each other, while kyra sedgwick's jewelry was a breath of fresh air and the perfect complement to her emilio pucci dress.

if i were in charge of award show invitations, i'd always invite these actresses - one a little daring and the other a lot kooky. january jones, the new face of versace, wears a swishy number she special ordered in red; helena bonham carter is all mismatched in vivienne westwood - a name you don't normally see on the red carpet. check out the shoes!

we can't leave out the boys - especially when they spent 45 minutes getting ready. note the lack of shaving on many of them. i guess you've got to kick it up a notch somehow for the oscars and the emmys. clockwise from top left: jake gyllenhaal in classic burberry, matthew bomer in tom ford, joseph gordon-levitt in slim cut gucci, robert pattinson in navy gucci, robert downey jr in grey and red prada, harry shum in age-appropriate anto and kill city and ryan gosling in velvet ferragamo and lanvin.

who did you love?
what were your favourite trends?
here are my picks for best dressed: #1 / #2 / #3
i also loved eva longoria and heidi klum (but i wouldn't have chosen it for the red carpet)

(all photos via justjared)

music monday #9

2011-01-03T21:45:00.004-08:00

the first song i listened to in 2011 was auld lang syne by mariah carey. yup ... startin' things off with a bang. have you seen the music video? it's somethin' - especially when it kicks into high gear. i highly recommend it for a laugh. "happy new year, baby." [if you can't shake that image, see here for my favourite mariah song. from way back when mariah was on fi-ya.]

here are a few artists i've had on repeat over the past few weeks amongst a steady diet of christmas music. i've included some free downloads, since free is always good, especially after gift-giving and sale season!

new discovery from australia. she was on australian idol, but don't let that deter you...

music videos: oh! hark! / coin laundry / clean white love / neopolitan dreams

free downloads: coin laundry / neopolitan dreams

[coin laundry single available on itunes]

i've had their album for 10 years & recently started listening to it again. so good...

music videos: don't mess with my man / dance tonight

free downloads: don't mess with my man (talib kweli remix) / dance tonight

[album available on itunes]

lovin' their new album & the video for tighten up. watch for them on SNL this weekend...

music video: tighten up

free downloads: tighten up (april 2010) / the go getter / never gonna give you up (#103)

[album available on itunes]

ps. did you see my iphone video of the little drummer boy from christmas eve? yes, i videod in church. and i wasn't the only one. he got a standing ovation. i hope it didn't go to his little four-year-old head...

[top sparkler photos via weheartit]

holiday gift guide :: part 2

2010-12-17T23:19:00.002-08:00

"last christmas i gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away"

[last christmas / wham]

- george michael :: the original re-gifter? -

"i don't care about the presents underneath the christmas tree"

[all i want for christmas is you / mariah carey]

- really, mariah? nick cannon must be saving a ton on gifts this year -

top row: pentax vintage edition digital camera, fisher price record player, grizzly ukulele kit, heath ceramics bud vase, voluspa candle / middle row: keep calm bandages, ihome rechargeable mini speakers, crosley portable usb turntable, heyday design porcelain jar, avoca cashmere & wool throw / bottom row: the head massager, lomography diana + parisian camera, restoration hardware luxury plush throw

top row: anthropologie squirrely bottle stopper, zoku popsicle maker, david's tea starter kit, russian doll measuring cups / middle row: barefoot contessa cookbook collection, umami taste no 5, crystal head vodka, lee valley muddler, stumptown coffee, alfi modern classic carafe / bottom row: jonathan adler utopia elephant mug, whisky stones, bodum double wall pavina tumbler, nest 8 bowls, serendipity frrrozen hot chocolate mix

"holiday, oh holiday, and the best one of the year"

[holiday / vampire weekend]

holiday gift guide :: part 1

2010-12-12T16:30:00.005-08:00

december: the month of top-10 lists and gift guides. oh right, and the reason for the season. just a minor detail. the best and worst part about shopping for others is that it's better to give than to receive, but that just could be because you buy what you want while you're shopping for other people. or is that just me? it's hard to ask santa for a burberry scarf - i'm not sure the elves have got what it takes. i mean, are they even italian?! here's part one of my two-part gift guide. family: don't look too closely. consider this your "spoiler alert".

top row: biko telescope necklace, anthropologie cozy plaited headwrap, proenza schouler wallet, michael kors rose gold runway watch / middle row: stila artist's inspiration palette, ban.do sequin heart shoe clips, kate spade glittery charm heels, couture fashion illustration by paperfashion / bottom row: dr bronner use it for absolutely everything soap, bath & body works vanilla bean noel lotion, kate spade book clutch, deborah lippmann happy birthday nail polish, tweezerman betsey johnson tweezers, egyptian magic use it for absolutely everything skin cream, louboutin fashion illustration by annasee

top row: laptop cool feet, food for the hungry goat (or other donations to world vision or ijm), band of outsiders tie, estwing hammer / middle row: unity scarf, paul smith socks , restoration hardware original disposable flask / bottom row: toms classics, a million miles in a thousand years book, saturdays surf nyc tee, temple bags dopp kit

[header image source]

brand crush/band crush #1

2010-11-14T21:34:00.004-08:00

brand :: madewell

band :: school of seven bells

madewell previewed their spring collection this week in new york, where they served donuts (like anyone needed any more reason to go). madewell is the casual, denim-centered, slightly less expensive little sister to re-ignited retail darling j.crew. besides growing to 19 stores and counting, madewell gained a little extra cred this year by partnering with uk it girl alexa chung. they ship to canada and the closest location to vancouver is seattle's uvillage, where i bought - and loves - my suede booties and elbow patch cardy.

according to creative director kin ying lee, the ideal madewell girl "is very savvy, she's very worldly. she reads the blogs...she's pushing for newness, but we're not taking her away from her comfort level." look out for lots of layering, mixed prints, pleats and a little boyfriend and nautical tossed in here and there. the inspiration for spring 2011? "we're absolutely in love with street style in new york."

fittingly, school of seven bells (sviib) is a new york band, whose dreamy indie pop music makes perfect background music. they were originally a trio, comprised of benjamin curtis and twins alejandra and claudia deheza, but claudia left the band last month, which is unfortunate because their music has the most beautiful harmonies. the perfect music to pop on your ipod and then stroll on down to the closest madewell store. or donut shop. (oh ok...or play in your itunes and then visit madewell.com - and...add to cart).

download #1 - I L U / download #2 - heart is strange / download #3 - connjur*

(*originally posted in music monday #3)

join up!

2010-10-29T23:00:00.006-07:00

[friend jenn in funktional available at vincent park & sister trish in joe fresh]

DIRECTIONS TO A TREND

begin at army surplus, take a left at last year's safari jacket, take a right at marc jacobs s/s 10 and another right at marc by marc f/w 10 to arrive at your destination. utility, field, military ... no matter what you call this style of jacket, it should basically be called the jacket of fall 2010 - for ladies and fellas. military ain't new, but isn't it funny how long it takes for a trend to trickle down? a year and a half ago, michelle williams was wearing her military-inspired jacket all over new york. other female celebs who "joined up" early include kate moss, rachel bilson, gwen stefani and the olsens. and now ... available at a mall or boutique near you.

LADIES

under $100

top to bottom, left to right: aryn k zipper jacket $92 / obey blackbird army jacket $85 / dolce vita gi jacket $79 / g1 convoy coat $99 / sweet romeo hooded twill utility jacket $68

under $200

william rast military jacket $175 / kenna-t field jacket $108 / free people military shirt jacket $138 / eight sixty drawstring waist military cargo jacket $128 / blu moon militant jacket $198 / aqua studded anorak $128

under $400

dolce vita darryl coat $238 / twenty8twelve blythe jacket $315 / diesel drawstring parka $337 / vince utility jacket $395 / splendid double face gauze anorak $238 / marc by marc jacobs uniform jacket $298

$400+ (a girl can dream...)

rag & bone leigh jacket $475 / dress & co sleeping bag stole $745

FELLAS

under $150

reclaimed vintage italian army jacket $101 / old navy brushed twill military jacket $50 / lands end canvas men's corps jacket $100 / gap utility jacket $98 / obey iggy jacket $136

$150+

evisu military jacket $472 / paul smith jeans field jacket $302 / acne mighty field coat $350 / steven alan relwen shawl field jacket $398 / firetrap long load parka jacket $227

OH AND BY THE WAY

** this style isn't just for shoulder seasons; many of my favourite designers, like marc jacobs and rebecca taylor, are doing military-inspired parkas for winter as well. and don't even get me started on your options with wool.

** did you see my fashion friday guest post on tripstyler today? all about what to wear on your fall weekend escape :-)

music monday #8

2010-10-12T23:01:00.004-07:00

lord knows i love a little katy perry in the summertime, but one thing i love about fall is all the new music. stream and download the songs below (almost all available on itunes), get in your car, find a country or coastal road and let the music (music, music) get down in your soul...

[due to canadian thanksgiving, music monday is appearing on tuesday. it goes very nicely with turkey sandwiches.]

jessie baylin // brooke fraser

hurry, hurry // something in the water

listen here // watch video here

eliza doolittle // the real efforts of real people

skinny genes // ink and tight jeans

watch video here // listen here

the mynabirds // dan black

numbers don't lie // symphonies

download here // download here (scroll to bottom)

king charles // dawes

love lust // when my time comes

watch video here // download here (scroll halfway down)

shoutout to the lovely oliver & lilly's and their stuck in our head sundays for introducing me to eliza doolittle and king charles - keep 'em coming leighann :-)

speaking of katy perry, don't you think california gurls vs. tik tok is the new halo vs. already gone? the same darn songs! seriously, have a listen.

all's well that ends wellie

2010-09-19T22:01:00.003-07:00

rain rain go away, come again another day

but if by chance you're here to stay

i might as well look cute to play

- a famous poem...and me

we're no forks, WA, but vancouver gets its ~~fair~~ generous share of rain. and while i normally fool myself into believing i can leave the house in ballet flats and a cardy, sometimes even i have to kick it up a notch. thus... the stylish rain boot. this season, designers like chloe, valentino, gucci, givenchy, michael kors and celine have gotten into the wellie game. i recently came across the new loeffler randall rain boots online, and i'm in love! three colours... back zipper... under $200... i die. are you in love too? i'm hoping the block gets some in [hint hint] ;-)

loeffler randall back zip rain boot $195 / rain bootie $165

did you know?

don't worry about whether or not your wellies are appropriate - just tell people that they have their roots in british aristocracy and were popularized by the first duke of wellington. that oughta get you through the door in your rubber boots.

did you know?

put on your dancing shoes... gumboot dancing began in the gold mines of south africa in the 1800s. miners worked in darkness and were often forbidden from speaking, so they invented their own language by slapping their gumboots. this form of communication, combined with tribal dancing, became gumboot dancing. [watch here]

here are a few more rain boots, where fashion meets function...

HUNTERS

left to right: hunter boots andora wedge boot $175 / hunter boots regent savoy quilted glossy boot $175 / hunter boots original gloss knee boot $150 / hunter boots boa snake embossed boot $225

RIDING

pour la victoire ben boot $213 / aquatalia unison boot $223 / chloe belted boot $495 / givenchy riding boot $250

LACE UP

urban outfitters bdg laced boot $28 / see by chloe lace-up wellington boot $215 / ilse jacobsen tall boot $189 / tory burch buckled rubber boot $225 / chooka lace-up boot $79 / l.l.bean signature l.l.bean boot $149

BOOTIES

vivienne westwood for melissa slip-on bow ankle boot $160 / tretorn skerry vinter boot $60 / jeffrey campbell vee boot $50 / ilse jacobsen short boots $159

ADJUSTABLE & STRETCHY FIT

le chameau vierzon lady boot $160 / pacablz by amaort thunder boot $128 / jeffrey campbell marsha boot $65

a few tips...

rain boots aren't just for fall and spring - smarten up and buy a pair of fleece wellie socks to stretch your purchase into winter. then there's my clever friend katrina, who brought her wellies to costa rica despite the fact that she only packed a carry-on and they took up half her bag. but it was rainy season, and apparently the best decision she ever made ;-)
wear your wellies with everything - jeans... skirts... dresses. always wear your boots over your pants, unless they're wide legged.
the problem with rain boots for many a lady is fit in the calves. there's nothing worse than a saggy wellie! [oy] try a pair of lace-up tall boots, booties or stretch boots.
some pairs of hunters get white marks on them - wipe them with a cloth or purchase a hunter care product.
fellas... you too can get your wellie on. if you think tall boots make you look like a gardener or stable hand, try the hunter short boot or the l.l.bean signature waxed lace-up boot or lands' end duck boot.

octopus balls and other suburban delights

2010-08-17T13:32:00.005-07:00

how have i never visited the richmond night market before now? it's bananas! (and yes, they serve delicious deep fried bananas!) where else can you listen to teen korean rap, get your cell phone unlocked, eat octopus balls and buy a sword? it's fun to go with friends or on a first date - you can eat exotic foods, they can buy you stuff... i mean, right?!

here are a few things that caught my eye...

britney spears stickers circa 1999 / fake ramen piggy banks / "sexty check pattern" leggings (though the market is a legitimately good place to buy cheap leggings)

live and taxidermied reptiles and other attractive animals ;-)

is that sean lennon on those t-shirts?! / jenn bought a $10 hoodie that says: "superior quality for ideal pleasure." yup...

go hungry - there's a ton of awesome food to sample, all around $1-$5 each...

the octopus balls (which i learned aren't actual octopus balls, just seafood balls that include octopus!) / spicy lamb kabobs

korean fish-shaped custard-filled waffles / korean shaved ice with fruit and mango ice cream / rice burgers (yum!)

the market is open friday to sunday, 7 til midnight, and is located just north of the richmond ikea. there's no charge to enter, and free street parking is available if you're down with a 10-min walk from east or west. note: there's a night market in chinatown as well.

* check out missy's rundown of the evening on gillianyoung.com *

clotheshorse

2010-08-16T21:39:00.007-07:00

clotheshorse :: [a] a person excessively or obsessively interested in clothes, often to a humorous extent; [b] a frame upon which clothes are hung after washing to enable them to dry.

there's no such thing as a "sure thing" in life or in fashion; you can't trust a brand you love to make gorgeous clothes 100% of the time. a couple weeks ago i posted about the gorgeous fall 2010 collection by leifsdottir, but as i was browsing anthropologie yesterday, i came across the $328 leifsdottir sweater shown below. i can't imagine anyone wearing this, unless they're a children's entertainer with money to burn or the town eccentric. what's that expression about beating a dead horse? i think i'd prefer to beat this sweater...

doesn't it remind you of a hobby horse? in fact, i have a crafty & budget-conscious DIY idea:

sweater - lands' end $69.50 / hobby horse - brookite $23.50 / total = $93 / savings = $235 USD

speaking of horses, did you see the "caped crusader" spread in august vogue? fall makes me think of boots, falling leaves and pumpkin lattes. i guess it makes vogue editors think of capes and horses. (ooh, capes!)

(more images here)

i'm not much of a horse person - the last time i rode a horse was possibly 20 years ago - but i can't deny their beauty. i recently read that cindy crawford and aurélie claudel both started modeling to make enough money to buy a horse. little did they know... horses come with the job description - especially if you book a job with vogue or harper's bazaar:

(top collage by me / photos via weheartit; bottom collage by me / photos via thefashionspot)

hands-free handbags (part 2)

2010-08-08T12:42:00.006-07:00

"i love anything that keeps my hands free." - donna karan

cross body bags are perfect for riding bicycles. i should start a new blog called "handbags and bicycles" i love them both so much. speaking of, today's the day i buy my new bike. how environmentally responsible of me. and it's only taken me two months to choose one! [sarcasm] sometimes there is such a thing as over researching. oh well, at least i put that journalism degree to use by investigating the cutest bike at the lowest price. or at least i think i did... oh dear.

clockwise from left: anthropologie uber-urbane bag $290 / lucky back in the saddle $149 / rebecca minkoff foldover buckle cross body bag $395 / topshop hard leather shoulder bag $80 / marni leather cross-body bag $995 / topshop small leather pattern bag $70 / what goes around comes around vintage stitched hippie bag $178

clockwise from left: alexander wang diego bucket bag $825 / topshop leather pouch cross body bag $55 / olivia harris mini drawstring leather bag $255 / deux lux cross body pouch $48

clockwise from left: hobo international vintage rina crossbody bag $79 / see by chloe rodas bow flap crossbody bag $320 / anthropologie knotted satchel $78 / en shalla fringe bag $295 / rebecca minkoff stud rocker $330

[top photos found on we heart it]

hands-free handbags (part 1)

2010-08-06T19:53:00.004-07:00

i'll never forget my first.

it was a brown leather betsey johnson hobo and i still adore it five years later (pictured above).

purchasing it, unfortunately, was a nightmare. i was in san francisco, butterflies in my stomach over my purchase, and my card was denied thanks to the SUPER employees at my hotel, who put a hold on my credit card for the full room amount. (sidebar: when i went to complain, the desk agent told me: "well, i'd apologize, but i'm not the one who did it, so..." hotel adagio: great location, great style, horrendous service.) the staff at betsey, however, were lovely and put it on hold for me back in vancouver. success!

i have a self-professed designer handbag addiction (in moderation!) and i'm a huge fan of the cross body bag, which just happens to be everywhere right now. fancy that!

here are a few lovelies at various price points / in various styles / for various needs...

clockwise from left: deena & ozzy pony purse $48 / foley & corinna disco city leopard $215 / rebecca minkoff mac croc embossed clutch $330 / topshop leopard tassel cross body bag $60 / see by chloe leopard-print leather clutch $360

clockwise from left: asos leather slot through satchel $110 / proenza schouler PS1 medium $1,595 / mulberry alexa oak soft buffalo $1,150

clockwise from left: marc jacobs paradise kate messenger bag $950 / street level 78214 $60 / marc by marc jacobs petal to the metal flap $228 / linea pelle dylan messenger $385 / opelle ballet bag $206 / rebecca minkoff rocker crossbody mini bag $195 / valhalla brooklyn alberta bag $265

[check back later this weekend for part two]

fashion finnish

2010-07-28T16:39:00.002-07:00

leifsdottir is urban outfitters inc's newly launched wholesale lifestyle concept brand designed by anthropologie's design director/finland native johanna uurasjarvi. the line, whose name means "daughter of leif", is romantic, feminine and old worldy, but with modern touches. leifsdottir has been available in anthropologie stores for a couple years, but has recently expanded to nordstrom, saks fifth avenue, bloomingdales, neiman marcus, bergdorf goodman, bluefly and holt renfrew in canada. shoes and handbags coming in 2011!

here are a few of my favourite pieces...

caballito cardigan $248 // plumada blouse $228 // barcelona slims $158

elysian silk dress (sale) $189.95 // andalusian horse dress $298 // silk summer twilight dress $298

louisiane skirt (sale) $94.95 // kerala suede blazer (sale) $199 // acadiana ruffle skirt (sale) $99.95

shibori silk dress (sale) $149 // paseo ruffled skirt $448 // jubilant blouse (sale) $99.95

*update on the anthropologie in vancouver situation: lord knows i love anthropologie, which currently has stores in toronto and edmonton, plus calgary opening in the fall. apparently they've been scouting in vancouver for the past year, but still no word. fingers crossed for vancouver 2011!

music monday #7

2010-07-27T15:52:00.001-07:00

i've got good news and bad news. the bad news is that this week's music monday is on a tuesday (oops), but the good news is that it's all free downloads. if you follow music monday, you may have guessed by now that i have eclectic taste. i won't be put in a box! (sometimes i am so difficult.) so here's a little something for everyone...

jenny and johnny // thad cockrell

scissor runner // to be loved (EP)

big wave // * two-week free (or tip) download

doom and gloom // ben rector

the big one (demo) // summer singles coming soon (EP)

victory laps and crashes (demo) // * buy his new EP "summer candy" on itunes

delta spirit // kid cudi, best coast, rostam
golden state // all summer

♥ happy ~~monday~~ tuesday ;-) ♥

bonus: listen to "point me at lost islands" from tired pony (aka. members of belle & sebastian, REM, snow patrol w/ zooey deschanel) here. *you can probably search and download it free here.

music monday #6

2010-07-19T12:34:00.005-07:00

confession: i went to a jessica simpson concert. it was during her newlyweds/chicken of the sea 15 minutes of fame, and i got free box seats. her opening act was ryan cabrera - aka. spiky haired pop singer ex-boyfriend to ashley simpson and audrina patridge - and i remember thinking he and his guitar were dreamy. but then, that wasn't long after i was into o-town and defended their song liquid dreams for being about water. but i digress... i had such high hopes for jessica's better-than-britney vocal chops, but she was terrible. she lip synched most of the show and she did a tribute to the US troops. in vancouver.

it used to be that you had to go to a concert to see what a singer or band is really made of, but thanks to the internet, we can watch live concert footage and exclusive sets online. just think, i could have avoided the jessica simpson fiasco! (except who am i to turn down free pop music and a sushi platter? i'd still accept a free ticket to go see her in all her high-waisted denim country glory today)

here are a few websites that feature online exclusive shows with great musicians. they're like the musical equivalent of an afternoon tea and cookies break.

so settle in and stay awhile... and i promise: no jessica simpson, ryan cabrera or o-town.

la blogothèque
paris / usa

* edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros
* phoenix
* delta spirit
* mumford and sons
* jamie lidell
* vampire weekend (kids)
* jason mraz
* sufjan stevens
* bon iver #1 / #2
* horse feathers
* jens lekman
* fleet foxes
* sigur ros

the black cab sessions
london / usa

* winter sleep
* band of horses
* vv brown
* little boots
* fanfarlo
* holly miranda
* au revoir simone
* ed harcourt and graham coxon
* slow club

the voice project
international

* peter gabriel
* bedouin soundclash
* gary go
* priscilla ahn
* dawes
* steel train
* brett dennen

- free mp3 remix of "home" by edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros with the gulu women's choir

- did you know that edward sharpe accordion player nora kirkpatrick also appears on the abc family series greek? i've compared her two polar opposite looks here

vintage flicks #1

2010-06-22T10:44:00.004-07:00

do you ever wish you lived in another decade? i'm in love with the 1960s - and i've barely started the mad men box set. the music, clothes, furniture and films are a gas (that's 60s slang for the sh*t, right?!). i know i'm romanticizing the decade - perhaps i've been wooed by my trips to palm springs (1 / 2 / 3). my home and closet are being taken over by midcentury items like a vintage starburst clock, an antique mirrored bar and scarves and baubles a plenty. and lately, i've been watching lots of films from the 60s - you know, the lighthearted ones centered around two or more ridiculous misunderstandings, where the stars of the film also provide the soundtrack. here are three films starring real-life couple/heatherlovesit favourites bobby darin and sandra dee...

come september
1961
rock hudson, gina lollobrigida, sandra dee, bobby darin, walter slezak
trailer

american millionaire robert talbot (husdon) spends every september at his villa in portofino with his with his one-month-a-year girlfriend lisa fellini (lollobrigida). however this year he arrives unannounced in july and discovers that his head of household, maurice (slezak), has been using the villa as a hotel the rest of the year. talbot demands that the guests - six american teenaged girls and their chaperone - leave immediately. but before he can evict them, the chaperone slips on a champagne cork and injures her back, and talbot is stuck with his guests. then four american college boys arrive at the "hotel" and begin courting the girls. [hilarity ensues]
"the bedroom is like a wedding gown; it's bad luck to let the fella see you in it before you marry him"
"houses are like women; the older they get, the more paint they need"
listen to bobby give the plot details in this vintage recording
gina lollobrigida is not just fun to say, she's also the poor man's sophia loren, according to me [love her!] plus, rock hudson is a total stud in this movie

if a man answers
1962
sandra dee, bobby darin, micheline presle, john lund
trailer

chantal stacey (dee), daughter of a french mother (presle) and an american father (lund), meets and falls in love with commercial photographer eugene wright (darin). they marry, but when eugene begins to take chantal for granted, she turns to her mother for help, who instructs her to train her husband as if he were a dog. eugene responds well enough until he learns of the "dog theory" and attempts to get back at her. [hilarity ensues]
"men develop appetites when they are twelve, muscles when they are sixteen and principles only after they are married"
bobby talks about his character in this recording

that funny feeling
1965
sandra dee, bobby darin, donald o'connor, nita talbot
trailer

aspiring actress joan howell (dee), who makes her living as a maid, has a number of accidental encounters with publishing executive tom milford. after one such meeting, she invites him to her apartment, but, ashamed of her tiny place, she borrows the apartment of one of her employers whom she has never seen and believes to be out of town. tom (the employer, who canceled his trip) is surprised when joan takes him back to his own apartment, but he goes along with the ruse. [hilarity ensues]
watch a video of bobby singing the theme song here
sandra and bobby's last film together

sandra dee & bobby darin trivia

dee and darin met in italy filming come september. according to dee, darin showed up in portofino in a ridiculous canary yellow suit and said "hi, i'm bobby darin. you're gonna be my wife." she thought he was abrasive, cocky and insulting, but after awhile, he won her over and when she arrived back in the states after filming, he greeted her with an emerald-cut engagement ring. they married december 1st, 1960 at a friend's home in new jersey at 3am. she was 18, he was 23. they had one son and divorced in 1967.
sandra dee was born alexandra zuck and bobby darin was born walden cassotto
their son dodd wrote a biography about them called dream lovers
the 2004 kevin spacey film beyond the sea is based on their story
if you come to my house, expect to see one of the above movie posters shortly - you can buy them at moviegoods
if a man answers and that funny feeling are available to rent at videomatica in vancouver and all films are available on netflix for you lucky americans

music monday #5

2010-06-21T00:31:00.004-07:00

"songs are not copyright. songs are emotions."

- terry mcbride, ceo & founder, nettwerk music

we live in a world that believes music should be free. we're already paying $250 for an ipod - why should we pay for the music to fill it, right? well to each their own, but i like to pay for my music. maybe it's because i know too many struggling musicians or maybe it's something a little closer to a moral high ground. itunes may look like the majority shareholder* of the corporation otherwise known as my monthly credit card bill ($0.99, $0.99, $1.29, etc.), but i like free music too. so here are a few free & legal song downloads to spice up your music library...

levi's pioneer sessions

it's almost like levi's peeked into my itunes and created a collection of free songs from a handful of my favourite musicians. they've dubbed this project the 2010 revival recordings, and each artist has recorded a cover of a classic song that inspired their music. to download, just click on the artists and register your name and e-mail address and receive the download links in your inbox.

available now: the swell season / colbie caillat / she & him

nas / the shins / dirty projectors / bomba estereo / jason mraz

coming soon: rachael saadiq / the kills

john legend & the roots / passion pit

spinner bonnaroo artists

a branch of aol music, spinner canada is a great website for free legal downloads that i've included once before. the site recently released a collection of free mp3s from artists who played this year's bonnaroo festival, including dr dog, lissie, phoenix, local natives, angus & julia stone, the xx and more.

*speaking of shareholders, it would probably be smart to buy apple stock with the amount i already give them. or i could just put that money towards the new weepies, janelle monae and jamie lidell albums. hmm... financial responsibility - another topic for another day.

[images via we heart it / quote via rollo & grady]

sunday always comes too late, but friday never hesitate

2010-06-18T13:37:00.013-07:00

i don't care if monday's blue

tuesday's gray and wednesday too

thursday i don't care about you

it's friday...

[the cure]

i can't wait for the weekend ... only five more hours, halle-freaking-lujah. speaking of weekends, had the best one last week - trained down to bellingham to see my friend beth, strolled the farmers' market, brunched with a heaping side of world cup soccer, went to target and trader joe's of course (my american musts), drove to vancouver at 2am, sunday brunched with the amazing lavender lattes at cafe medina and lounged at the beach until the tide came up and hit our blanket. ahh, weekends. bring it on. [oh, it's already been broughten]

{ bellingham }

{ vancouver }

[i love that this is down the block]

enjoy your weekend :-)

spotlight on LA (part 2)

2010-06-11T11:55:00.001-07:00

when i think of LA shop & stay, i think pretty woman (i mean... am i right?!). shopping on rodeo drive and staying at the “reg bev wil” has got to be every woman’s dream, except for the, uh, premise of the film. no but seriously, whether you’re budget conscious or prefer the finer things, LA’s got you covered. here are just a few suggestions...

*this post was originally written for Trip Styler. check it out for tons of great travel tips and my original Spotlight :: LA Shop & Stay post.

part two :: shop & stay

venice

abbot kinney blvd. is one of my favourite streets in all of LA. this strip is all about the local boutiques. grab a latte from intelligentsia and don’t miss firefly for books, stationary, knickknacks, accessories, clothing, etc.; milkmade and steven alan annex for men’s and women’s clothing; madley for baubles and vintage frocks; and surfing cowboys for mid-century modern furniture and surf memorabilia (say what?).

santa monica

the third street promenade is like the top 40 to abbot kinney’s indie rock. home to major chain stores, street performers, movie theatres and large crowds, the promenade is basically an open-air mall. shops include: anthropologie, banana republic, barnes & noble, forever 21, gap, h&m, j.crew, quiksilver, urban outfitters and zara. I find this street a little overwhelming, so be sure to head down to the pier and stroll along Ocean Avenue for a break.

west LA – boutiques

if your budget and tastes stretch a little beyond the gap, check out tenoversix for a well thought-out collection of clothing and accessories for women, men and home. another great shop is opening ceremony, where by just walking through the doors you feel like you’ve enrolled in “how to be cool without trying – or at least look the part 101”. look for labels like band of outsiders, alexander wang and OC’s eponymous brand. other faves include: tarina tarantino for baubles and marc by marc jacobs for everything from carry-alls to condoms (say what? #2).

west LA – malls

two big malls dominate these areas – the beverly center and the grove. i’m partial to the latter, which has a certain manufactured je-ne-sais-quoi in the form of a dancing fountain, train, celebrity sightings and valet parking. this is LA after all. but if you choose to self park with the common folk, don’t forget to get your parking validated and pay close attention to where you parked to avoid a seinfeld moment. top shops include: nordstrom, anthropologie, forever 21, crate & barrel, barneys co-op and the adjacent farmers market.

near LAX

i hate rushing to the airport. you have to worry about traffic, returning the rental car, finding food since they don’t feed you on flights anymore… these just add to the inherent stress of travel. if you have some room left in your suitcase – and on your credit card – and want to head out towards the airport a little early, pop into the promenade at howard hughes center for nordstrom rack or westfield at culver city for target. and it doesn’t hurt that there’s a trader joe’s on sepulveda, a couple blocks from the airport – peanut butter-filled pretzels anyone?

bonus jonas!
#1: try your luck at the rose bowl flea market or the long beach flea market.
#2: the best LA-area urban outfitters is in studio city. don’t act like you don’t shop there.

i usually book LA through priceline or hotwire and choose 3.5 or 4-star hotels. since there are an overwhelming number of fabulous hotels in LA, there’s no point giving an exhaustive list, but…

a few of the more affordable options:
- farmer’s daughter hotel
- hollywood heights hotel
- best western sunset plaza
- inn at venice beach
- the standard downtown

a few of the more posh options:
- beverly hills hotel
- hyatt century plaza
- viceroy santa monica
- chateau marmont
- oceana santa monica

the best bet is to choose your area first. besides, you can always stop by the iconic hotels for a $20 cocktail and a george hamilton sighting – if you’re lucky. the most affordable hotels tend to be around LAX and downtown, and the most popular areas are beverly hills, west hollywood and santa monica. besides the area, how much time are you going to spend in the hotel? some are great for lounging at the pool and dining, while others are just a place to catch some sleep. keep this in mind, especially in LA, and you’ll be set. i’m jealous already!

** follow @tripstyler and @heatherlovesit on twitter. you know, if you want. **

spotlight on LA (part 1)

2010-06-09T23:27:00.013-07:00

let's say you're at a party. one of those mildly pretentious, overly self aware yet enjoyable gatherings you love to attend and love to hate. now let's say you throw out that you just got back from new york and you just loved it and would live there if it weren't for immigration/apartment prices/work/weather/etc. everyone around you would likely agree and off you'd go in conversation talking about cool-sounding new york topics like the bowery, the newest banksy and how cookies are the new macarons which were the new cupcakes. now let's say you throw out that you just got back from los angeles and you just loved it and would live there if it weren't for immigration/traffic/work/pollution/etc. NOW what's the reaction? we're supposed to love NY and hate LA, right? well call me crazy, but i love LA. oh sure i don't love that cars are a necessity, or that everyone looks up when you enter a room to see if you "matter", but here are a few things i do love...

*this post was originally written for Trip Styler. check it out for tons of great travel tips and my full Spotlight :: LA Food & Fun post.

part one :: food & fun

coffee
intelligentsia
silver lake location: 3922 W sunset blvd.
venice location: 1331 abbot kinney blvd.
*the best coffee in LA – and the best looking coffee shops (in both design and customers). don’t be discouraged by the line!

casual chic
gjelina
location: 1429 abbot kinney blvd.
*this might be my favourite street in all of LA, and this might be my favourite restaurant on that street. great thin-crust pizza, wine list, people watching (sit at the communal table to overhear some sweet conversations), brunch and bloody beer.

sushi

sushi katsu-ya
original location: 11680 ventura blvd.
*incredible sushi in a strip mall in studio city? YES! order off the specials board. you *must* order the crispy sesame tuna and spicy tuna on crispy rice. worth. the. wait.

café
joan’s on third
location: 8350 W 3rd st.
*eat in or take out, this adorable café has baked goods, deli items, sandwiches and specials, plus a gourmet market. don’t miss out on the caramel-covered marshmallows – they’re to die for!

cupcakes
sprinkles
various locations
*great selection with flavours like banana, red velvet (vegan or gluten-free options), peanut butter chocolate, chai latte or good ol’ vanilla. check the cupcake calendar online to see if your favourite flavour is in that day.

frozen yogurt
pinkberry
various locations
*it’s an LA institution, only a few years in the making. i like the original flavour with fruit toppings, but you can choose your own – that’s the beauty of it!

indian
bollywood cafe
original location: 11101 ventura blvd.
second location: 737 cahuenga blvd.
*the vegetarian samosas, complimentary papadums and courteous service keep me coming back.

restaurants on my "to eat" list:
animal, flore, wurstkuche, pace, elf café, village idiot, umami burger, the griddle café, shaved ice truck, kogi bbq truck

** more LA food suggestions on Trip Styler **

griffith park
location: 2800 E observatory rd.
*stunning city views. stroll around the observatory and hike the trails - it will feel like you’ve left the city!

the getty center
location: 1200 getty center dr.
*another spot for city views, but this one comes with world-class art, architecture and a groovy tram. admission is free, but parking is $15, except on saturdays when it’s all free. beautiful way to spend a beautiful day.

hollywood bowl
location: 2301 N highland ave.
*home of the LA philharmonic and seasonal concerts. box seating down low and bleacher seating up high. go early and bring a picnic – it’s BYOW(ine)! oh and don’t park in the overpriced parking at the bowl – it’s stacked and takes forever to get out.

venice canals
location: between ocean ave. & pacific ave. / S venice blvd. & 28th ave.
*stroll along the lemon tree-lined canals and peek into people’s modern homes or kitschy bungalows you just WISH were yours.

places on my "to do" list:
lacma, dodgers game, rose bowl flea market, movie at the hollywood forever cemetary, moca, music at the hotel café

** more LA fun suggestions on Trip Styler **

what am i missing? what are your LA faves for food & fun? share the love in the comments section...

no more itsy bitsy teenie weenie... (part 2)

2010-06-04T17:06:00.004-07:00

this summer's hottest swimsuit style is arguably the monokini [a name that's almost as good as jeggings!]. as much as i like the idea of the monokini, i'm sticking to one-piece suits with a little more coverage and class. if you want a trend suit, go for a one-shoulder number, retro style or bright print. and if you're at the pool, you'll need a hat, towel and bag. pass the spf 30 y'all!

part two :: one pieces and accessories

one pieces

left to right, top to bottom: prints - rosa cha watercolor maillot $298, j.crew palermo paisley tank $88, gottex reflection swimsuit $134, tory burch swimsuit $195, rachel pally yellow brick maillot $168 / ruffles - billabong runway ruffle one piece $120, miraclesuit camila one piece $142, marc by marc jacobs ruffled swimsuit $173, spanx one-shoulder one piece $134, spanx bandeau one piece $134 / create-a-waist - marc by marc jacobs underwire maillot $177, dkny draped solid maillot $108, zimmerman thorn corset swimsuit $230, marc by marc jacobs strapless one piece $173, eres swim faro jet lag swimsuit $500 / retro - lulu letty beach blanket bingo one piece $90, merona bandeau shirred one piece $35, diane von furstenberg carmen retro swimsuit $345, j.crew lomellina retro tank $115, juicy couture beach ruffled swimdress $150 / the big v - jean paul gaultier for target metallic gold swimsuit $25, marc by marc jacobs disco-stripe swimsuit $182, lenny ebbing tide maillot $89, issa color-block plunge-front swimsuit $250, karla colletto high dive maillot $238 / just fo' fun - la blanca by rob beattie bandeau swimsuit $109, fables by barrie sailor swimsuit $98, pez d'or calypso one piece $128, loeffler randall lace-up one piece $215, michael kors clear insert swimsuit $226

accessories

left to right, top to bottom: hats - marimekko keisarin hat $129, bop basics sunhat $98, gap floppy straw hat $30, eugenia kim striped hat $196, eugenia kim straw fedora $315, juicy couture pompom tassels hat $88 / etc. - sea bags sail tote $160, halsea kona koi large tote $135, jacobs for marc jacobs canvas jacobs tote $28, trina turk beach bag $198, deck towel $40, pendleton oversized towel $48, missoni beach towel $205

words of wisdom

a safe bet for all body types is a one-piece swimsuit with a deep v and shirred middle.
dark one-tone suits can be flattering, but bold colour blocking is just as effective for camoflaging "problem areas" and redirecting eyes towards your better assets.
golden rule: darkest colours go on places you want to hide; bright colours go on places you want to show off.
prints aren't always no-nos! however, small prints get lost on larger bodies, so choose wisely.
never buy a swimsuit because it's cheap, on sale or you just don't feel like looking anymore. wait for the right one that makes you feel fabulous.
the tankini is not your friend.
if you don't got it, don't flaunt it.
look for good construction (ie. underwire) and fabric (ie. thick).
padding is your friend. you're going in water, ladies!
use cover-ups effectively - make sure they cover up the parts that need covering.
yes, heels elongate the leg, but they look a little "try hard". try some cute gladiators instead.
don't be afraid to shop online. buy a few and return the ones that don't work (just check the return policy!).

no more itsy bitsy teenie weenie... (part 1)

2010-05-30T22:49:00.003-07:00

i've often joked that my personal motto is "keep it clean." sometimes i feel like the unofficial chief of the modesty police. maybe that's why i love this season's trend toward one-piece and retro two-piece bathing suits. i think it's better to leave a little up to the imagination... which must be why i'm including some adorable cover-ups and beachy accessories too!

part one :: retro bikinis and cover-ups

retro bikinis

left to right, top to bottom, low to high: j.crew top & bottom $114 / cuchè @ oliver & lilly's $175 / ave @ anthropologie $176 / juicy couture $179 / rachel pally @ anthropologie $196 / michael kors $265 / diane von furstenberg $295 / prada $395 / oscar de la renta $413

cover-ups

left to right, top to bottom, low to high: roxy $50 / roberta roller rabbit @ piperlime $55 / topshop $70 / topshop $80 / anne pinkerton @ anthropologie $88 / marc by marc jacobs @ shopbop $124 / marimekko $135 / trina turk $179 / antik batik $445

these almost make you want to wear a swimsuit. hmm, what's that? oh just the beach calling my name. thank goodness it's just down the block!

[stay tuned for part two :: one-pieces and accessories]

mirror mirror on the dresser

2010-05-18T18:06:00.008-07:00

the next time you're in LA, you must try the pizza at gjelina, my favourite restaurant in venice. it's to die for! (but more on that another time.) while enjoying a margarita pizza and a glass of riesling before heading to LAX recently, i fell in love with the restaurant's patinated mirrored bar. since i don't see a custom mirrored bar in my near future, i can tide myself over with some fabulous mirrored furniture in the meantime.

it may require a little saving up, but mirrored furniture is within your - and my - reach. if you live in a small space like me, this is a great option because mirrored pieces occupy less visual space in the room. by creating the illusion of depth, they enlarge the perception of space (wow that's a mouthful). plus, just like wall mirrors, they reflect light.

my picks for budget & splurge-worthy pieces

under $500

left to right, top to bottom: west elm faceted mirror side table $200 / target mirrored tray $30 / the cross beveled mirror frame $40 / pier 1 imports hayworth bedside chest $350 / the cross deco mirrored cube $395 / pier 1 imports hayworth nightstand $200 / urban barn reflection console table $470 / target accent table $90

over $500 and then some

left to right, top to bottom: the cross jonathan console table $2,850 / inside avenue mirror side table $1,300 / horchow hannah mirrored chest $1,000 / the cross curved leg mirrored console $675 / graham & green 50s style mirrored chest of drawers £900 / parliament hand cut mirror panel $2,000 / pottery barn park mirrored dresser $800 / abc carpet & home ercole ornella nightstand price upon request

where to buy

vancouver
* chintz & company
* the cross
* parliament
* urban barn

online and/or usa
* target
* pier 1 imports
* west elm
* pottery barn
* horchow
* inside avenue
* tanya's
* venfield
* graham & green

DIY: my handy-factor extends about as far as a paintbrush, a screwdriver and a hammer, but if you've got the time and the skills, you could spruce up a thrift store gem with a custom mirrored top. summer project!

palm springs video

2010-05-17T10:59:00.007-07:00

what a beautiful weekend. shout out louds show and two walks to granville island with jenn on saturday and kj on sunday for jj bean and catching up. plus a ride on the false creek ferries - just because.

i'm convinced it's good for the soul to be out on the water. *must find friend with boat this summer* i think i've figured out the best way to do this: we need to start eating lunch on the patio at yacht clubs and, you know, smile pretty. but until then, false creek ferries it is.

et finalement la piece de resistance...

palm springs / may 2010

2010-05-14T09:30:00.009-07:00

i went back to palm springs with my friend jenn last week (our first trip to PS was documented here). oh what? three times in eight months? yup, that's how i roll... and since i don't fit the old or gay stereotypes of palm springs, and everyone asks all the time, i've compiled a list of *why* i like going there... it's very thorough (so thorough i felt the need to add that it's both hot and f-ing hot. plus it seems i'm very partial to the ace hotel, the food & the shopping - quelle surprise).

did you know?

back in the day, in the golden era of film, actors under contract had to be within two hours of LA in case of last minute shoots. this legendary "two-hour rule" or "100-mile clause" of hollywood studios put palm springs on the map as a perfect escape.

more photos here.

[watch our trip video here]

music monday #4

2010-05-10T22:40:00.011-07:00

people often think a good mix should rise & fall, but people are wrong. it should be all rise, baby. now prepare yourselves for an audio journey into the white hot centre of adrenaline. -barney stinson on the perfect mix cd (how i met your mother)

last week i drove from LA to the desert & back, and the key to a good road trip (besides friends, food & roadside attractions) is a good mix. and the key to a good mix is a combination of new songs & surprises that everyone can sing along to. here are a few tracks from my desert mix cd, and some others i've been listening to this week.

[if you prefer an all rise mix - check out barney's "get psyched" playlist here]

king of anything / go outside

sara bareilles / cults

listen here / free download

website / pitchfork

pull my heart away / flashlight

jack peñate / castledoor

youtube / free download

website / myspace

go do / make her say

jónsi / kid cudi ft. kanye west & common

vimeo / youtube

website / website

in the sun / we're all in this together

she & him / katie herzig

youtube / free album download

website / website

seventeen hands / forever young (continued/v.2)

the maccabees / bob dylan

youtube / youtube (parenthood)

website / website

bonus #1:
tonight's today
jack peñate
free download-----------..

bonus #2:
time to pretend (mgmt cover)
jónsi
free download

searching for my golden ticket

2010-04-30T10:41:00.006-07:00

i'm off to the desert again with a friend this weekend. and since i'm the palest shade of pale, i'll need to go heavy on the sunscreen. pale may be having its 15 minutes thanks to vampire mania, but when i'm not channeling the cullens or lying by the pool in palm springs, i opt for self tanner.

if a drugstore is like a chocolate factory, just call me charlie (roll with me here). i'm always trying a new self-tanning product in the vain hope that maybe, just maybe, i'll find that golden ticket product. sadly, i'm often disappointed.

take, for example, the moisturizer/tanner trend. it still smells bad, streaks and it's not all that moisturizing. but what about all those mischa barton neutrogena ads that were everywhere telling me it was, like, the best thing ever? (you know ... before her stint in the psych ward for "exhaustion" or "mercury poisoning" or whatever the kids are calling it these days.) why would i take her tanning moisturizer advice in the first place? it's not like she doesn't get a spray tan an hour before her shoot. for that matter, why would i buy something just because a celebrity endorses it at all? oh right - cuz i'm a sucker. but i digress...

maybe not everyone shares my high sunless tanner expectations, but let's keep in mind that i'm fair, so everything shows up. and when i say fair i mean,

salesgirl: hmm, i think this shade of foundation is too dark

me: no worries, let's go lighter

salesgirl: that's the lightest shade

i wonder if sweden exports cosmetics? are there special cosmetics for really really white people, like there are for asians, east indians, etc? or is that just every other brand? but i digress...

the product i've had the most luck with in the past is clarins, but it's better suited to someone with a medium skin tone. i found a great product that i've been using all year. this product will have you looking golden faster than you can say "skin cancer".

i-bronze self-tanning cloths by marcelle come in three types: fair to medium, medium to dark and sun-kissed glow moisturizing cloths (see? we still can't get away from the moisturizing trend). bonus: they're hypo-allergenic and perfume free. the cloths cost around $1/cloth. similar products are made by l'oreal and tantowel for about $2/cloth, as well as kate somerville at sephora for $6/cloth.

how to

i usually apply before bed. think about applying self tanner like applying nail polish; never go to sleep immediately after application or it'll crease. wait at least 15 minutes. and don't forget to wash your hands, because that would be so 1998. and in my experience, there's no such thing as too much blending.

look like linds

i haven't received a press release on the "look-like-mischa miracle face lotion" yet, but i've spotted lindsay lohan's tanning mist on sephora. so now you can have a "lotan" just like lindsay. i think that's my cue to stop.

*vintage beauty blog post

i'm ready for my close-up

2010-04-28T23:49:00.030-07:00

"it’s on air not because it’s done, but because it’s time" - lorne michaels on SNL

you can debate the quality of the jokes, but you can't deny the quality of the portraits. one of my favourite parts of saturday night live is the weekly host photos taken by entertainment photographer mary ellen matthews. if i were an actor, i'd host the show just for the photographs.

here are just a few of my favourites...

which ones are your faves?

mary ellen matthews has been taking the saturday night live "photo bumpers" since 1999, but she's been part of the SNL team since 1993. besides taking the weekly host photos, she creates a stylized look for each season. she also took photos for tina fey, kate hudson and liv tyler's weddings, and at one point toured with aerosmith. [she's so rock and roll - i bet she has great stories. i want to hang out with her at her place in east hampton and drink whiskey sours - i know, it's a specific dream, but i'm just putting it out there - into the world wide web. you never know ;-)]

** for more amazing saturday night live photos, click here and here.

** to find out more about the photographer, click here and here.

UPDATE: "live from new york: a decade of portraits" is on display may 10-august 3 at the john varvatos store on bowery (between bleecker and east 2nd). talk about timing!

who gives a **** about an oxford comma?

2010-04-11T18:45:00.007-07:00

there were photos online this week of katie holmes trotting around new york in camel and black oxfords (above). fancy that, since i bought the exact same camel pair this week! ok, so hers are probably chloe and mine are gravity pope, but still... someone got a better deal (ps. it was me!)

how to wear: with everything. they look especially cute with rolled-up BF jeans, skinnies, short dresses or skirts (with or without tights). try to balance the menswear look with something feminine.

i'm going to keep this category a little loose, so call them what you will: oxfords, brogues, wingtips, derbys, spectators, jazz shoes... they're all cute.

:: LOW ::

franco sarto  // steven  // jeffrey campbell
henley  // jezebell  // uniform
$79  // $100  // $115

lucky penny  // sam edelman  // boutique 9
felidae  // cory  // ronnie
$118  // $129  // $130

sam edelman  // gravity pope  // joie
evie  // toe cap flat heel  // louie louie
$148  // $155  // $198

:: MID ::

dieppa restrepo  // j.crew  // pour la victoire
breezy cali  // camden leather brogues  // colbi
$232  // $250  // $254

:: HIGH ::

moschino cheap & chic  // american retro  // co-op barneys new york
henry  // max derby  // uma
$300  // $310  // $315

burberry  // opening ceremony  // church's
tumbled leather brogues  // gladiator oxford  // classic burwood brogues
$375  // $415  // $425

co-op barney's new york // repetto // jil sander
laser-cut oxford  // rodarte marbled ziti  // leather mesh brogues
$430 // $455 // $545

christian louboutin
fred leather lace-ups patent  // glitter
$595

[i die for this last pair of louboutins!]

*** april 12 update: talk about timing! check out today's trendcentral newsletter: oxford circus

i love the ones by this etsy seller and the ones by osborn.

preppy without the pompous (part 2)

2010-03-26T23:19:00.017-07:00

my love affair with oxford & gingham continues with l.l.bean signature. just looking at these clothes makes me want to go to a clam bake - which i've never been to - though i imagine if i did go, i'd wear these clothes. and take that male model as my date, naturally.

L.L.BEAN SIGNATURE // ABOUT
** "it's not just town, it's not just country. it can be both."
** the first pair of bean boots were sold in 1912 by founder leon leonwood bean - shocker he went by l.l. ;-)
** creative director alex carleton is also founder/designer of rogues gallery
** signature launched march 16th 2010
** the company is based in freeport, maine
** video lookbook

A FEW FAVOURITE LOOKS // WOMEN

chambray shirt dress --- mariner leather purse

$79.00 --- $155.00

blue, white, red --- navy, brown

2-18 --- one size

pintuck print shirt --- lightweight cotton plaid tunic

$69.00 --- $65.00

light print, bright print --- one colour

2-18 --- 2-18

belted twill jacket --- stretch denim blazer

$99.00 --- $119.00

khaki, navy, grey, blue, camel --- dark indigo, white

2-18 --- 2-18

ballet flat shoes --- stacked heel shoes

$79.00 --- $99.00

navy, brown, turquoise, stone --- navy, brown, blue, red

6-11 --- 6-11

poplin dress --- madras plaid sundress

$109.00 --- $119.00

navy, red --- one colour

2-18 --- 2-18

A FEW FAVOURITE LOOKS // MEN

waxed canvas maine hunting shoe --- trench

$129.00 --- $185.00
marsh brown --- dark khaki
7-14 (limited availability) --- s-xxl

5 pocket jean --- cashmere cardigan

$59.00 --- $185.00
dark indigo, vintage wash --- grey, red, navy
30-44 waist / 29-36 inseam --- s-xxl

madras plaid shirt --- hunter's plaid shirt

$59.00 --- $69.00
3 colours --- navy, blue, red, green
s-xxl --- s-xxl

NOTES // ONLINE SHOPPING

** return anything at any time if unsatisfied
** returns are free to any l.l.bean store
** returns cost the price of shipping or $6.50 per prepaid label (to be taken off your return)
** regular shipping within the US is $4.95-$9.95 / $4.50-$12.95 to canada + taxes/brokerage fees
** free shipping on exchanges

[buying in store: l.l.bean signature is only available in the tysons corner, VA store at this time]

preppy without the pompous (part 1)

2010-03-21T23:09:00.048-07:00

i confess i have a soft spot for the blonde bad boys in boat shoes & pink polos in classic '80s films (can't buy me love or sixteen candles anyone? buuuueller?). there's a romanticism to american sportswear, and while plaid shirts, knit caps and dirty denim may be the twentysomething male uniform du jour, i already see a quiet return to classic (day i say preppy?) styling - for men & women.

l.l.bean & lands' end recently launched contemporary collections with a focus on attracting younger buyers nostalgic for their parents' catalogues & summers in maine. but who says you have to be off to nantucket for an excuse to dress preppy? gingham & oxford never go out of style. (holla andy bernard!)

today's post features lands' end canvas. check back later this week for l.l.bean signature. and i promise - no pink polos or bow ties (despite them making my heart flutter...)

LANDS' END CANVAS // ABOUT
** "designed in wisconsin, inspired by the world around us"
** "east coast prep meets west coast casual"
** lands' end began in 1963 as a sailing outfitter
** canvas launched november 11th 2009
** VP of design suzanne bryant came from michael kors; design director ernesto ramirez came from abercrombie & polo ralph lauren
** video lookbook

A FEW FAVOURITE LOOKS // WOMEN

gingham poplin shirt --- sport utility jacket
0-14 --- xxs-l
coral, violet, green, blue, navy --- white, khaki
$44.50 --- $69.50

pleat front dress --- bangles
0-14 --- one size, various styles
navy, yellow, white >--- gold- or silver-plated brass
$89.50 --- $39.50-$69.50

pocket dress --- mac pea coat
0-14 --- xs-xl
pink, navy --- yellow, khaki, navy
$59.50 --- $79.50

white slim leg jeans --- super slim jeans
26-32 --- 26-32
white --- indigo
$49.50 --- $59.50

chino utility shorts --- canvas riding boot
0-14 --- 6-10
grey, khaki, white, navy, stone --- brown
$34.50 --- $350

suede skinny belt --- leather bridle belt
xs-xl --- xs-xl
various colours --- tan
$29.50 --- $49.50

ragtop snap tote --- paisley cotton cover-up
one size --- xxs-l
orange, blue --- one colour
$49.50 --- $39.50

A FEW FAVOURITE LOOKS // MEN

heritage cardigan --- denim workshirt
s-xl --- s-xl
navy, grey --- light, medium
$59.50 --- $39.50

leather boat shoe --- stripe pincord shorts
8-13 --- 29-38
brown --- navy/white
$79.50 --- $39.50

cotton gingham tie --- aviator shirt
one size --- s-xl
blue/white --- grey, navy, white
$39.50 --- $39.50

NOTES // ONLINE SHOPPING
shipping to usa...
** unlike many online retailers, the more you buy, the higher the shipping charges ($5.95-$18.95)
** returns are $6.95
** free shipping on exchanges for size or colour
** return for free to any sears location that sells lands' end products

shipping to canada...
** returns are price of shipping via your shipper of choice
** shipping $5.95-$18.95 + duty/taxes and brokerage fees

[lands' end canvas is also available at some US sears locations - check online.]