WHAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE...

New beginnings

2010-11-13T14:22:00.007-05:00

Picture source

Everything runs its course and it's time this blog came to an end.

Follow Nathalie's blog - crafty stuff.

Follow Diana's blog - just stuff.

Happy reading,

Nathalie & Diana

The Lime Shop in Toronto this weekend

2010-10-22T10:31:00.001-04:00

Diana and I will be in Toronto this Sunday Oct 24th for Canzine (held at The Great Hall). Come by and say hi. We'll have a small run of the Mr. Robot 2.0 grocery shopper (exclusive for events). German Shible, my brother and the artist of this charming robot image will also be there selling his illustrations and small press comic. Be sure to stop by his table.

My linoleum block printed bookmarks for Canzine. Made out of heavy weight cold press paper and acrylic paints.

Current reads and inspiration: Marc Jacobs by Bridget Foley and Rob Ryan's This Is For You.

Hope to see you this weekend.

::: Nathalie

Sales Don't Come From Lies

2010-10-12T12:43:00.008-04:00

Dear Beyond The Rack,

I ain't a hater. I realize no one's perfect, but you gotta start upping your game if you want people to stop saying crap about you on the internet. How about treating the people who pay for your products better? I also suggest you stop blatantly lying to your customers about what's in stock on your site. On more than one instance, you've displayed a graphic of an item that you're not even selling. Lame!

Check yourself before you wreck yourself,
D

MAC's Venomous Villains, Out Today

2010-09-30T08:20:00.006-04:00

Disney's evil bunch, Cruella De Vil, Evil Queen, Mileficent and Dr. Facilier all have their colours for MAC Cosmetics debuting today. The collection includes Beauty Powder (which I'm not keen on), Lipgelée, Lipglass, Lip Stick, Eyeshadow, Eyeliner, Blush, Nail Lacquer, Greasepaint Stick, Magically Cool Liquid Powder all in the characters signature colours.

You can bet I'll be at MAC early to get first dib's on the Evil Queen's Toxic Coral Lipstick and Bite of an Apple Blush. (It seems fitting since she was a favorite of mine growing up.) Be sure to get yours soon because these will probably sell out quick.

::: Nathalie

The Clothing Show 2010

2010-09-26T09:29:00.001-04:00

Day One: Shop set up. We changed the layout again one hour before doors open.

New product alert! We introduced our collection of handmade, handprinted tea towels at the show.

It's our last day at the Clothing Show and while we're sad to leave, we're just looking forward to going home and relaxing for the remainder of the weekend. Thanks to everyone who's stopped by.

Nathalie & Diana

From UGGly to UGGliest

2010-09-13T17:51:00.002-04:00

Seems like the world's ugliest boots, which are also bad for your feet are back with a redesign.

UGGs have collaborated with Jimmy Choo designers to create this monstrosity, which will be available October 21, 2010 at Holt Renfrew.

Honestly, why won't this trend die?

-D

MJ ONLINE!

2010-09-12T16:19:00.004-04:00

According to the Marc Jacobs Twitter, which is written my company prez Robert Duffy, the online shop will launch this fall. For the first six months he said they will only be shipping to the US, but will expand shortly after.

He also said that you can call any MJ store and order anything from the website and they will ship it to you regardless of location. That's kinda cool.

-D

2010-09-10T22:22:00.003-04:00

Ashley. Love her.

source: http://olsensanonymous.blogspot.com/

Nudie fragrance's for your man

2010-08-18T11:45:00.006-04:00

Sometime I feel like I live in a cave. I subscribe to 5 magazines and pick up more off the newstands each month, but apparently it's not enough to keep me informed. I just found out about Marc Jacobs new men's fragrance, Bang.

I recall Diana telling me about a contest on MJ's facebook page and how one of her friends won a Marc Jacobs Stam bag. Diana neglected to tell me about his new fragrance. Knowing Diana's bag envy, she was probably more focused on her friend having won an MJ bag.

::: Nathalie

PS - I should comment how Geoff always laughs at men's fragrance ads. He wants to know who exactly they're targeted towards, seeing as your typical straight male probably doesn't respond to these ads (teehee).

The Cosmetic Gods Have Forsaken Me

2010-08-11T19:32:00.004-04:00

Like a lot of Asian girls, I have stick straight eyelashes that require a lot of effort to curl. The slightest hint of humidity or rain makes them droop. It's really difficult to find products that ensure that my lashes stay curled looking all day long - so when I find something that works, I really stick to it.

For almost 9 years I've used L'Oreal's Le Grand Curl. I had the same tube for 4 months (I know, bad girl) and earlier this month I went to buy a new one. To my surprise my local drugstore didn't have it. I went to several others and they didn't have it either. One of the cosmeticians at Shopper's Drug Mart told me it was discontinued and I almost lost my marbles. Not only was it cheap but it was effective in helping me look like I actually have decent eyelashes. I've tried every brand from Dior to Maybelline and nothing holds a candle to this stuff. I recently purchased MAC's Opulash ($16 CAD) and while it's sufficient, it takes a lot of manipulation with my eyelash curler to achieve what was extremely easy with Le Grand Curl.

So yeah, I'm pretty bummed out. If you've got any tips on a good mascara that holds curl to stick straight lashes, please let me know.

With droopy lashes,

Diana

The Impromptu Picnic

2010-08-10T09:08:00.004-04:00

Paint splattered chambray shirt; Current/ Elliot. Linen Skirt; See By Chloe.

Bracelet; The Lime Shop. Gold Watch; Michael Kors. Suede Zippered Bag; Alexander

Wang. Crosses Shopper; The Lime Shop. Yellow Sandals; Steve Madden.

Hanging out at Kensington Market with Diana last Friday downing Coke's and beef patties in coco buns. Sitting on my Lime shopper to keep my SBC skirt clean. There's yet another use for your tote bags.

-Nathalie

We Return to Regularly Scheduled Programming

2010-08-07T18:31:00.004-04:00

We're going to pretend that Nathalie and I haven't been absent from this blog. Hi!

What's New?
- The Lime Shop website is up and running! If you're looking for eco-friendly goods for you, your home or your friends, this is your one stop shop.
- I got a LV Damier Speedy 30. Obviously it's a classic bag that I'll love forever, but I find that it's an abyss that makes it impossible to find anything.
- In a moment of weakness, I purchased YSL Baby Doll Perfume without testing it. I sprayed it on my wrists and nape and am now trying my best not to vom.
- Guess I've been living under a rock, because I went to my first Zumba class this morning. Um, amazing much? They say you can burn between 500-1000 (yes, a thousand) calories per session. I'm planning to go again tomorrow.

Back with a vengance,

Diana

Net-A-Porter Sale

2010-06-15T22:06:00.004-04:00

Net-A-Porter is having an awesome sale with further reductions and new reductions and reductions on reductions! (Can you tell I'm salivating?)

I got the Rebecca Taylor Dotted Denim Jacket for 50% off. I wanted some other stuff but my size seems to be selling fast. Probably for the best.

::: Nathalie

Review: Pantene Pro-V Aerosol Hairspray for Medium/Thick Hairstyles

2010-06-12T21:54:00.003-04:00

I really wanted to like this hairspray from Pantene Pro-V's new line, which is just under $5 on sale at Shopper's Drug Mart. It promises to lock out humidity, give you all day hold and add shine. Sadly, the only thing I really liked about it was the smell.

I curl my hair every morning and hairspray is essential to my every day routine. I styled my hair as I always do and applied this hairspray throughout my 'do. What I found is that it made strands of my hair HARD. When I first started using hairspray in high school, I thought having clumps of stiff hair was normal when using these kinds of products. After using so many kinds of hairspray from different brands, I find it's only inferior products that does that to your hair.

After an 11 hour work day Nathalie and I went to see Sex and the City 2, which was as disappointing as this hairspray. Lindy West's review is probably the most hilarious review I've ever read.

Back to the hairspray.

While observing myself in the theatre washroom, I noticed that my locks were looking lackluster. The curl has begun to droop and though it wasn't raining nor very humid, my hair looked a little frizzy. I asked Nathalie what she thought and she said that my hair looked mediocre at best.
Sorry Pantene, I really like your Shampoos and Conditioners, but your new hairspray is really a flop.

Turns out that if you're not satisfied with any of their new products, Pantene will refund the cost of your purchase and double it. That's pretty cool, so props to Pantene for good customer service.

Back to Ojon,
Diana

Beachy Waves

2010-06-12T21:06:00.003-04:00

This one's for Steph. A picture of my 'beachy waves'.

Promise I'll post a video eventually, but in the meantime here are my suggestions on how to achieve a similar hairstyle.

• Get a really good curling iron. I've bought DOZENS of curling irons and if they're cheap, they won't hold the curl and you've just wasted more money. My suggestion is to save for a hardcore one. Mine's a Babyliss Pro Curling Iron. Honestly, I've had it for over a year and I feel stupid for not buying one sooner. It holds the curl so well.
• Use the curling iron upside down and wrap your hair around the iron instead of wrapping the iron around you hair.
• Hairspray is essential. The better is it, the longer your curls will last. I've mentioned Ojon's Tunu Hairspray on more than one occasion. I've tried a lot of hairsprays and a lot just don't cut it. This one does.
• Run your fingers through your style after applying the hairspray to make it look more natural.

That's it for now. Promise I'll post a vid soon.

Doing my part for better hair everywhere,

Diana

Review: Jonathan's Finish Hold Firm Hold Hairspray

2010-06-09T22:43:00.003-04:00

People are constantly asking me how I do my hair. I really should take a picture to show you and I know this sounds like I'm bragging, but I've honestly mastered the look of 'beachy waves'. Promise I'll post a 'how to' vid on YouTube one of these days when I'm not so busy.

In the meantime, I gotta talk to you about Jonathan's Finish Hold Firm Hold Hairspray. I can't seem to find it on their website, which leads me to believe it's discontinued (WTF is up with my luck, seriously?!)

A few months ago, Nathalie got a few samples from the Jonathan line at Holts and she went on and on about how incredible their conditioner was. For almost a year I've been using Ojon Tunu Finishing Hairspray. Though I'm a huge fan of the product itself, I'm really upset that the last three bottles I've purchased have crapped out on me halfway through due to a faulty spray nozzle. I looked it up and apparently a lot of people have a similar problem. When I saw Jonathan's Finish Hold Firm Hold Hairspray for $5.99 at StyleSense, I couldn't pass it up (along with a pair of Juicy Couture aviators, but that's another story all together). First thing I noticed is that the product is vegan, which I know is a big deal to a lot of you and of course I give props to companies that take our animal buddies into consideration.

What I noticed immediately when I started to use it is that it doesn't have a super strong smell like most 'firm hold' hairsprays (Elnett, I'm looking at you). The scent is actually quite pleasant. Also, it gives off incredible shine. I like the fact that the amount of hold is buildable and doesn't make your hair rock hard immediately. It hasn't been humid recently, but I think this stuff will hold up to the humidity. Overall, a solid product. Now I've gotta go to all the StyleSense locations in the area to make sure that I have a few bottles on hand. At just under $6 a pop, you can't really go wrong. Now I kinda wish I didn't write this cause I want 'em all to myself.

Too tired for a witty sign-off,
Diana

Lady Gaga, Alejandro

2010-06-09T17:24:00.004-04:00

Man, isn't Lady Gaga just intriguing?

Fragrance Follies

2010-06-08T21:21:00.006-04:00

Damn Marc Jacobs and his limited edition splash fragrances. I've been wearing his summer scent Rain for just over a year now. It's so good that I've been stopped in stores and cornered in hallways asking what perfume I wear.

But no, Marc can't keep making it. He had to release it two years in a row to tease us and now he's moved onto apple, biscotti and pomegranate splashes. Nice try, they're just not as good. Never will be.

In effort to look for a new scent that I love as much, I picked up this Vacation in a Bottle set from Michael Kors. Get this, these 7ml rollerballs were on sale at Shopper's Drug Mart for $20! Each of the fragrances was inspired by a tropical locale: Fiji, Capri, Hawaii and Bermuda. So far, Bermuda's my fav! It's light, feminine yet kind of exotic. Thing is, they all smell good and I'm sure they'd be great layered as well. And guess what, they're limited edition too. WTF. I guess it's just me. It sucks, because they really do smell amazing. Don't hesitate to pick 'em up if you see them around.

Destined to smell mediocre,
Diana

Got my mind on a Mulberry and a Mulberry on my mind

2010-06-08T21:03:00.007-04:00

I want a Mulberry bag so much it hurts. But right now, I really don't have $1K+ to spend on accessories. WAA! So you can imagine how much I freaked out when I found out that they're doing a collabo with Target! I wonder what they're going to do? If they're are going to make amazing, affordable accessories that will quell my deep rooted (and disturbing) desire to own one of these pieces or if they'll be super disappointing (please don't be!)

After reading about it, I promptly emailed Nathalie at work and told her to take vacation time on October 20th. Then she informed me that renewing our passports would be necessary to cross the border. Crap. Guess it's true when they say that the good stuff never comes easy.

Dreaming of English Leather (wow that sounds wrong),
Diana

Photo courtesy of the Purse Blog.

Classic: brown Gucci and Wayfarers

2010-06-04T17:03:00.008-04:00

Friday afternoon I got off work early. Picked up the bff and drove to the Yorkville Anthro. Returned stuff. Went to Gap. Returned stuff. Stopped by Holts for the sale. Bored, bored, bored. Bought Ray-Ban's to go with the new Gucci. Never thought I'd be into Wayfarers or a classic brown leather handbag. Never say never.

::: Nathalie

Call In Sick, There's a Sale at Holts!

2010-06-03T14:40:00.003-04:00

Looks like Holt's has gotten rid of their infamous 'Now or Never' Sales. Don't fret, cause it looks like you can still pick up cool, discounted stuff at their Designer Sale on now.

Sorry I've been AWOL. I got my wisdom teeth out last week and have been a vegetable since. Percocets ain't your friend, yo.

Back from a oxycotin haze,
Diana

Guide: Summer Skin Essentials

2010-06-03T07:05:00.005-04:00

Nathalie's Summer Skin Care

Just because we love her personal style - here's Olivia Palermo and her pretty minimal makeup.

Summer is here and with it comes the sweaty melty face from wearing a little too much makeup in the hot weather. My solution is to keep it as light and minimal as possible.

A.M. Facial Care

After washing with Neutrogena's Facial Cleansing Bar, I prep my skin with Cucumber Herbal Alcohol Free Toner. Then I dab on Abyssine eye cream, which "diminishes the look of fatigue" and doubles as a wrinkle preventive. I give this a few seconds to absorb before applying Ultra Facial Tinted Moisturized with SPF 15 in medium. I've blogged about it before- this stuff is awesome! It's replaced my M.A.C foundation and I use it year round.

Summer Makeup

Like I said, keep it light and everything will be good. My olive skin is prone to dark under eye circles and some minor discoloration so I use YSL's Touche Éclate in #2 to even out the skin tone. This concealer is pricey at $50 but it stays in place and doesn't fade, which is nice. I set everything with Korres Multivitamin Oil-free Powder in MVP3. For sunny cheeks, I use Korres Monoi Oil Bronzing Powder in Sunglow Light, which is the best bronzer I've tried. It gives a nice colour, not too orange, not too brown and stays on for hours. After applying L'Oréal's Original Voluminous mascara in Black, I curl the lashes with M.A.C's eyelash curler. Finally I finish with a tinted moisturized lip by using either Korres Lip Butters or Kiehl's Lip Gloss. When I don't care for the tinted mouth, I prefer the original Rosebud Salve.

P.M. Facial Care

Wash and tone as usual. At night I prefer Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. Then I follow with a light moisturizer - Neutrogena's Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin. I like it since it's light and doesn't have unnecessary fragrances. When my skin is feeling particularly oily, I'll use Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque, which nicely gets rid of the slick-fest.

::: Nathalie

Blair's dress on Gossip Girl, 322

2010-05-20T12:10:00.003-04:00

While Diana is obsessed with the upcoming Banana e-store, I'm obsessed with Blair Waldrof's dress on Gossip Girl's season finale, "Last Tango, Then Paris" (E. 322).

The dress is by New York designer, Sariah Carson, and you can find it in her Fall 2010 collection. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for this one!

But seriously, how good was the finale?! Season 4 needs to start NOW!

::: Nathalie

Bad Banana for Diana

2010-05-17T21:19:00.003-04:00

Aw crap, Banana Republic et al. will have an eCommerce presence in Canada super soon. Like I didn't have enough problems with my online spending. Yikes.

-Diana

Review: MBMJ Zippy Heart Tote

2010-05-14T18:13:00.005-04:00

I got my Zippy Nylon Tote today and it SUCKS! I spent $25 on stupid customs only to return it.

My brother said "That's Marc Jacobs? It's like he's playing a joke on everyone."

Before knowing it was MBMJ, Amy said "Ooo! That bag looks cheap. Return it."

After I told her it's MBMJ, Amy said "Whaaat?! You can get something like that at Pacific Mall for $10!"

Marc by Marc Jacobs Zippy Heart Tote Review:

Thin cheap looking nylon.
Unlined.
No pockets
The cute little bobbles keeping falling to the bottom because the zipper doesn't secure it in place.
Thought the heart pouch was removable, but it's not. It only acts as a pouch to hold the nylon tote inside. Even then, it's hard to zip up.
Disappointing. My brother said it best: It's as if Marc is playing a mean trick on us.

For $168 USD girls, save your money and put it away for a rainy day. This one's going back.

::: Nathalie

Imitation Limitation

2010-05-14T17:53:00.006-04:00

I've been lusting after a Mulberry bag for longer than I'd care to admit, particularly the Alexa model. Reality is I just don't have the cash to spend on it.

It makes complete sense that I was drawn to this blatant rip off from ASOS. It's made from 100% leather, costs just over $100 USD and looks like it could be well made, but I'm torn. Can I really buy something knowing fully well that it's a total copycat?

-Diana

Complain for a Happy Ending

2010-05-08T00:18:00.007-04:00

This evening I came home to this box:

And inside were these:

And it didn't cost me a thing.

About a year ago, I purchased a pair of Michael Kors Flats. I loved them, but after a little while the seams at the bottom of the shoe began to unravel. I was annoyed and figured it was a loss, until Nathalie told me that I should contact MK customer service.

I sent them pictures of my damaged shoes and explained that I also have a Michael Kors bag that has ripped on more than one occasion. Luckily the bag was purchased as Holt Renfrew and they've been gracious enough to make the repairs necessary. However, my shoes were purchased on a random trip to NY. I maintained that I'm a huge fan of the MK brand, but can't continue to purchase his products unless I know that they take quality seriously.

I received a response a few days later from one of their customer service supervisors, who said that the shoe I purchased is no longer in production, but they'd send me a pair of equivalent value. Having worked in customer service during high school/university and now in eCommerce, I'm highly aware of how seriously people take these things. Well, good companies anyway.

Gotta give props where they're due - so Michael Kors, thanks for making my experience with you a pleasant one. We all know how crazy a scorned girl with a blog can be, and it's no much nicer writing a happy ending.

-Diana

Emotional Shopping

2010-05-05T22:11:00.008-04:00

MBMJ Zippy Heart Tote - the heart shaped leather pocket unzips to a pouch.

Sometimes I fall for a bag, or a pair of shoes or whatever for no apparent reason. That's how I feel about the Marc By Marc Jacobs Zippy Heart Tote.

I've been looking for it at Holts, but with their limited selection of cool shit, it's no wonder they don't have it. Shopbop is pretty good with their stock but we Canadians get slammed with duty taxes.

This is how I justified my new purchase:

I've been super stressed at work, I won't be getting the MBMJ Mousy Flats (Marc Jacobs shoes just don't fit my feet!), I have tote bag envy since Diana bought her MBMJ and I had a 15% off coupon at Shopbop that ends tonight.

So, I hit the checkout button on my iPhone.

I feel better now. Sorta. I'll feel much better once I get some sleep.

::: Nathalie

Shopbop Coupon Code: INTHEFAMILY15. I do believe the coupon ends tonight. It was a 2 day deal.

Stencil Fun!

2010-05-03T22:59:00.003-04:00

Stenciled my tote bag the other day. YAY! Check out the tutorial on the Lime Shop blog.

::: Nathalie

Shoe Score: D:2 N:1

2010-04-28T17:12:00.011-04:00

Diana is the proud new mommy of DVF's.

Diana's man, Zach, canoodling her shoes.

Nathalie's next conquest: MBMJ's LOVE I FLATS from SSense

Diana and I have a sick habit of bragging about our conquests to each other. Shopping conquests that is. After 5 seasons of obsessively collecting the latest handbags, we've moved on to a new infatuation; shoes. (The Michael Kors' in our shoe collection don't count. We're talking fresh start.)

It started with my Miu Miu's. Then Diana got Tory Burch's. And in the meanwhile, we were both on the hunt for the perfect Gucci flats. I'm also saving for Marc Jacobs navy grosgrain mousey flats. (Diana thinks mousey flats are lame. Whatever.)

The next shoe purchase would have been mine. But then, Diana emailed me pictures from her iPhone. She bought DVF's! Argh!

Diana's designer shoe collection: 2

Nathalie's designer shoe collection: 1

::: Nathalie (signing off with shoe envy)

Quitters Never Win (Unless They're Smokers)

2010-04-23T21:18:00.005-04:00

My Dad was a smoker for many years. I have memories of driving around in our Toyota Tercel and him smoking with the window open and having the ashes drift into the back and into my hair. Gross, I know. You'd think I would've known better, but I started smoking when I was in first year university. Funny thing is I didn't even like it! I would often leave full packages of cigarettes on the subway vowing never to buy another pack because they made me nauseous. Over time I started smoking entire packs and eventually, I was actually addicted. Bummer.

I've tried to quit several times and actually managed for six months straight a little over a year ago. That was until I started a new job, got stressed, bummed a smoke from a coworker and the rest is history. When I really think about it, the thing I like most about smoking is talking to other smokers. It serves as an excellent excuse for a break and ask any smoker - we almost automatically have a bond.

My BF HATES CIGARETTES for all the obvious reasons. Probably because his Dad smoked too. Unlike me, he was never stupid enough to start. So, for our four year anniversary, he got me an electronic cigarette. Apparently they're not available in Canada because Health Canada is under the impression that people will end up suffering from nicotine poisoning or addition (hey, wait, aren't smokers already addicted???)

The e-cig is a pretty neat device. The individual stick consists of a rechargeable battery, an atomizer, and a cartridge filled with liquid nicotine. You simply press on the black button on the center, inhale and release. What comes out of your mouth looks just like cigarette smoke and you can get the liquid in any flavour you like (right now I have apple and kiwi). The silver case holds an additional battery, an additional atomizer and two cartridges filled with fluid.

It's awesome because I get to go outside with the smokers, but I'm not filling my lungs with crazy toxins. I'm pretty low-key so I try to make it look like I'm smoking a regular cig and most times I succeed. Other times I have to explain what it is and usually people are quite fascinated. Best part? I can smoke it indoors because it leaves absolutely no scent behind. I'm also satisfied afterward because I've ingested the nicotine I was craving. A little while ago, I smoked a real cigarette and found that it's not all that pleasant. I know this'll sound weird, but inhaling the real thing is really hot and pretty gross. With the e-cig, it's a fairly nice experience.

I know that there are less expensive models around, but this one is just under $200 with the liquids. I don't think I would've purchased this for myself (hello, shoes? purses?!)
However, I think it's a pretty awesome device and is worth trying for those serious about quitting.

Smoking the future,

Diana

Turning Into A Bag Lady

2010-04-14T20:10:00.006-04:00

At the end of next week, I'll be the only full-time writer at work. The other writer decided to bail and gave her two weeks on Monday. Though I totally support it, it's kinda stressing me out. It means I'm solo till they find a replacement and I'll have to train someone new.

What does Diana do when she's buggin'? She starts spendin'.

I got the pictured MJ tote on sale at Holts and I justified with:
"Oh, it's almost summer and it's lightweight. I'm stressed out. If I'm stressed I'll eat, but if I buy this I won't eat because I won't have money and then I won't gain weight. Yes. Yes. I should buy it."

Totally F'd, I know, but I don't regret it. It's big enough for everything I was squeezing into my much smaller purse. However, part of me wishes I had waited and purchased this:

I found out about Jack & Marjorie after looking for online retailers that may be interested in carrying Lime Shop stuff. Their bags are made from recycled materials and the design is just killer. I dunno, I might just pass on eating for the rest of the week, because I really want that bag!!!

Crazy About Canvas,
Diana

Always Use Protection

2010-04-13T12:20:00.007-04:00

I bought my Alexander Wang Tina Zip Clutch back in February and meant to protect it's soft, beautiful, navy suede skin with Danier Leather's leather and suede protector. I just never got around to it.

I would pull crazy things like switching my purse last minute if I woke up to a rainy morning. Even better, if I happened to have the purse on me and it would start to rain, I would wear it cross body style underneath my coat and look like either a misshaped pregnant lady, or someone who was going to bust out something crazy underneath her coat. I didn't care. As long as my purse was covered from water, that's all that mattered.

We got some pretty heavy rain last week. My brother and I had driven back to my place together and as I unlocked the front door of the house, he took the gentlemanly courtesy of unloading the car with our bags, including my purse, which usually rides in my back seat when I have a passenger. Anyway, my brother's a smart man and knows my handbags are my babies, (I have issues, I know) and so he sandwiched my purse between two other bags.

Unfortunately, it was somehow exposed to some drops of rain which have left permanent markings. I've since taken the time to spray it, but the damage is done. Remember ladies (and gents), always, always, ALWAYS use protection.

::: Nathalie

Denim Goodness

2010-04-08T13:03:00.008-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. My mind has been occupied with baking and crafting. I better watch out or I'll be joining Diana at Booty Camp... (no offence D. It's awesome you're going.)

Anyhow, I've been meaning to post about my latest fashion obsession. BLUE! Denim shorts, chambray shirt dress, blue and white striped sundress, blue and white striped cropped, loose t-shirt. I'm not kidding. Those are the last few items of clothing I've bought. If it's blue and denim, I want it! (I'll post pics soon, promise.)

But guess what I saw today on Shopbop? The MBMJ Quilty Denim Lila Satchel. So adorable! Would I look like a total freak in all blue?

::: Nathalie

If It's Supposed to Make You Stronger, It Could Probably Kill You

2010-04-07T21:00:00.011-04:00

There's no way I'm wearing a bikini this summer. But, when I started seeing tweets and blog posts about Booty Camp Fitness and how their program can get you bikini-ready in 8 weeks I couldn't help but be intrigued. I don't want to say this because it makes me sound weak and cliche, but I've got some issues with my body. I lost some weight last year, only to gain a little under half of it back. I'm hella pissed at myself, but at least I'm starting to do something about it.

I signed up for a 4 week session with Booty Camp Fitness about a month ago and today was my first class. We were told to introduce ourselves within the group and find a buddy. You and your buddy are supposed to see the instructor together, then get weighed and measured. Luckily, the girl I paired up with was really nice and not judgmental at all. We talked about our body issues and turns out we both have a food problem (um, y'know, eating too much of it?). After sitting around waiting for everyone else to complete their weigh-in/measurements, we started the workout. I was seeing a personal trainer and going to hot yoga quite a bit, so I'm totally cool with working hard and being in wicked pain. This boot camp takes it to an entirely new level. The class was held in an auditorium and we were forced to do intense exercises from one end to the other. I drank my entire bottle of water 15 minutes into the class.

To be totally honest, it was brutal but I know this kind of workout twice a week is sure to get you results. A few of the girls were complaining that the pace was too much, and that they had attended the same boot camp before and were eased into the exercises. I've got to agree. I'm not in the best shape, but I generally don't have difficulty keeping up in intermediate aerobics classes so I know this was tough. I even found myself sitting out on one set of exercises due to be lightheaded but that's my fault, I ate a small lunch and didn't have a snack before I went.

Overall, a positive experience. I had a rough time walking around to buy groceries after the class (so awkward, walking like the first time I went horseback riding - but that's another story for another day). All my parts hurt, but I can't wait to go back. And when I want to eat that 600 calorie muffin for breakfast, all I gotta do is look at my weight and body measurements to deter me (ouch!).

Not Dead Yet,
Diana

Making Friends Can Be Too Easy

2010-04-01T12:49:00.004-04:00

Dear Blog,

I'm really sorry I've been neglecting you. My personal and professional life have been kinda, well, crappy. Just when things were starting to normalize, I made new 'friend'. This friend has made an unwelcome, pestering impression and now I'm doing my best not to let it get to me.

This 'friend' is actually a distrubing pimple that's made a home above my left eyebrow. It's such a bummer, especially because my bangs fall on the right side of my face, making it look even more prominent.

I'm pretty good with my skin care routine. Recently, I've been using Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser, Cucumber Herbal Toner, Ultra Facial Cream, and Avocado Eye Treatment (yeah, I kinda went crazy at Holt's a few weeks ago, don't judge me!). Anyhow, the rest of my skin looks pretty awesome, except for that one dreaded spot. WAA.

Blog, I'll try my best to write more. I know you get sad when we're not around.

Love,
Pimple Girl

With A Little Love

2010-03-24T22:26:00.006-04:00

I got my Little City order yesterday of Yulanda Yee's Cinnamon Hearts.

I remember instantly falling for the simplicity of this photograph. Yulanda always had a way of capturing inanimate objects and making them absolutely beautiful by breathing life into them.

Anyway, I'd intended on buying this piece when Yulanda was still with us and it broke my heart to purchase them the day after she passed.

The Little City folks okay'ed it with her family first, and once approved, I was notified and told that proceeds would go to the Lymphoma Foundation of Canada.

I bought 2 pieces, one for myself and one for Diana, who had known Yulanda for years from their younger blogger days.

I'm glad to have this piece to always remember her by. Even if, I don't think I could forget her. She was an amazing, talented, good person. I miss our dear friend a lot.

::: Nathalie

Meet the new addition to my family.

2010-03-21T20:19:00.007-04:00

I have an announcement.

I am the proud mother of a brand new pair of Miu Miu Buffalo Ribbon Cocco's. I picked them up at discount rack at Browns, from $475 down to $199.

Diana saw them first and nearly lost her mind. Size 6 1/2 sitting with the size 8's. When she showed them to me, I nearly lost it.

Now when someone says, "Cute shoes." I can respond with, "Thanks." (This is my queue to flip my hair like I'm the shit.) "They're Miu Miu."(Just kidding.)

::: Nathalie

(I realize the jeans in the fourth picture are completely inappropriate for these babies.)

Who needs "influence"?

2010-03-16T22:35:00.010-04:00

The real deal, MBMJ Petal to the Metal Cross Body

Alexander Wang rip off bags at H&M, $14.95

The real deal, Nathalie's Alexander Wang Tina Zip Clutch

If you read our blog, you'll know that Diana and I are handbag snobs. It just kinda happened one day. After buying our first designer bag, there was no way we could go back to anything else. Since then, we've been able to spot which designer "influenced" the significantly less expensive version.

This past weekend, we ducked into Town Shoes for a quick look. Diana handed me a bag that looked strikingly like the Marc by Marc Jacobs Petal to the Metal Cross Body.

"When did they start selling MBMJ?" I asked. But it wasn't. It was their house brand.

Then today, at H&M, we walked by a display of Alexander Wang Tina Zip Clutch "influenced" bags. I'm gonna pull the snob card here and tell you that I have the real deal in my closet. So I asked Diana "Am I a sucker for spending big bucks on my bag or does H&M suck for replicating it?" Diana's a good friend and told me H&M sucked. Plus, their version is pretty awful as "influenced" items goes. Apparently $14.95 gets you the latest "it" bag.

::: Nathalie

Bye Bye FCUK (kinda)

2010-03-16T13:04:00.003-04:00

When I was considerably heavier (we're taking 20 pounds here), I could go into an French Connection store and fit into a size 8 or 10. Um, vanity sizing much? Some of the pieces were cute and it made a chubster feel pretty awesome. Their garment measurements make absolutely no sense. Some of their pieces are teeny tiny, while others could easily fit a family from a third world country (not mine, we're not that small). I haven't shopped there in over a year and kinda forgot about the place in general.

Today, I found out that they're closing all but six of their American stores.

They usually have decent sales, so I can only imagine what it'll be like in the upcoming weeks.

-D

Nail Wars: Liberty of London for MAC & American Apparel

2010-03-15T12:55:00.005-04:00

I was very excited when I heard about the Give Me Liberty of London MAC collection a few months back. The time has come and the collection debuted last week. The colours are lovely - vivid, but with a relaxed feel. I wanted to buy the whole lot, but responsible adults don't spend their paycheques on cosmetics now do they?

I opted for both the Nail Lacquers, Vestral White and Blue India. I've never cared for white nails but I instantly fell for this one. I was a bit fearful it'd resemble white out, but I don't believe it does and I did get some compliments. While Diana always vocalizes her distaste for MAC nail polish, I rather like it. My favorite long-wear formula is still Essie (in my opinion, nothing compares), but as long as MAC keeps pumping out awesome colours, I'll continue to buy them.

On another nail polish related note, Diana blogged about American Apparel's collection back in December. Turns out the first run of bottles were prone to breaking, therefore anyone who bought the first run can go back to AA and get a 2 for 1 replacement deal. Not too shabby.

Since Diana had bought 5 bottles, she was looking forward to collecting an extra 5 new colours. But once in the store, she was told her 2nd bottle had to be the same colour as the first. LAME.

Three of her colours were replaced with a second of the same. Her fourth colour, Office, wasn't available so they left her get 2 different ones, Berries and Passport Blue. The fifth colour, Factory Grey, also wasn't available, but she kept the original bottle because she really likes this one. She walked in with 5 bottles and walked out with 9. It's a plus for me since I get to inherit her repeats.

::: Nathalie (and Diana)

MBMJ S/S 2010

2010-03-10T22:00:00.006-05:00

I realize the next few words are going to sounds crazy, especially coming from me, but the first time I saw the Marc by Marc Jacobs S/S 2010 collection I thought, "Wtf. I could never wear this shit".

But after a trip to Holts this evening, and seeing the amazing blue flowered dress (pictured last), I get it. In the RTW world, I would wear that dress with my hair down, sans the massive bow, and with a pair of nude coloured ankle strap sandals (though the red ones are pretty cool). I'll definitely be waiting for that dress to hit the reduced rack. I can shell out the money for a good handbag, but not for a $560 cotton dress. (Sorry Marc.)

Now talk to me about those Blue Leather Rope Sandals (last row). Drool! He did something similar years ago when I never thought I'd own anything Marc Jacobs. I'll have to grab them as soon as they're available.

::: Nathalie

Picture source: Shopbop, Neiman Marcus, Style.com

Ugly Flooring, Masculine Shoes Part 2

2010-03-10T17:58:00.004-05:00

As per Diana's previous post, we were downtown Toronto this weekend and shopped for all sorts of things. Since the desert boots I really wanted weren't available, I bought the Clarks Original Moccasins Diana wanted. Shoe swap!

Oh comfortable footwear, how I love you.

::: Nathalie

About F'n Time

2010-03-10T10:55:00.001-05:00

So, um, Topshop's delivering to Canada now.

Excuse me as I have an aneurysm.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,
D

Source: LOULOU twitter

Ugly Carpets, Masculine Shoes

2010-03-10T07:24:00.005-05:00

Saturday: Nathalie and I bought materials for the friendship bracelets sold on our Etsy site, got produce in Kensington, and we both purchased Clark's shoes.

It's kinda funny and mean that I got desert boots, since Nathalie was the one obsessing over them. They didn't have her size, so boo hoo and I win. They're pretty comfortable, but I find that they dig into the back of my ankles which sucks (probably just have to break 'em in). I've been pairing them with floral dresses and cardigans and pencil skirts with baggy sweaters.

I work in the suburbs (lame), so I'm not really surprised at the reaction I'm getting to my new footwear. Some people are nostalgic, while others are confused as to why I'm wearing 'butch' shoes (ha!). Whatevs, I dig and that's all that matters.

The crappy picture was taken in my cubicle. I'm pretty sure one of my coworkers saw me taking it, but didn't want to ask what I was doing. It's ok, they think I'm weird anyway.

Gonna be late for work (again),
D

Manicure Beauty Minute

2010-03-07T23:27:00.003-05:00

We've been putting this off for WAY too long.
I did this one without Nathalie on my iPhone (hence the subpar quality). I gotta say, trying to talk about something in 60 seconds or less is pretty tough. I channel my inner Six every time I do one of these.

I've had a headache for three days now and it's really starting to bum me out.

ZZZ,
D

P.S. Nathalie's been blogging up a storm at The Lime Shop blog. Make sure to check it out.

Review: hydraSense Nasal Care

2010-03-03T20:44:00.004-05:00

So I'm sitting in a boardroom in a meeting that I don't really want to be in, when my coworker sits down beside me. No biggie. We engage in idle chit chat before the meeting starts. Then, SHE COUGHS ON ME. Hello, huge deal-breaker. I felt a tiny splatter of her saliva hit my cheek and a little part of me died. Or at least my immune system did, cause now I've got the first symptoms of a cold.

I have no time for illness of any variety, so I drove over to the nearest Shopper's Drug Mart after work. A few weeks ago, a coworker (not the one who got me sick, thanks for nothing btw) told me about a nasal spray that cleaned her out real nice - mucous, dust and all. It was a pretty horrifying story but I stood there mesmerized thinking "I gotta get me some of that". Today, I did.

hydraSense® claims that it will relieve and moisturize your nasal cavities and help you breathe easier. They also did a study saying that using it while having a cold will reduce symptoms. I was all over it, and it was on sale for $12. My throat was feeling pretty gross all day, but after using hydraSense, it feels better. I've used it three times in total. I'm not sure if it's that or the echinacea based cold meds I'm taking, but I swear I feel better. Also, my office is a dust yard and I'm always congested, so I have a feeling this will come in handy.

So you wanna know how it works? You stick the nozzle parallel to your septum and tilt your head in the direction opposite of where you've placed the nozzle. You spray lightly and the liquid travels up your sinuses and comes out the other nostril (it feels super weird, but kinda satisfying). You repeat on the other side, then blow your nose. I know this isn't for everyone, but it's kind of like using a Biore strip. It's kinda gross, but you know you're getting rid of the bad stuff so you can justify it.

Grade: A (but ask me again tomorrow, it might go up or down).

Gotta sleep this cold away,
D

I Can't Spare The Moisture

2010-02-28T23:33:00.005-05:00

This weekend: went to Ikea with Nathalie to pick up new furniture, watched 1/4 of Le Divorce, picked up my Dad at the airport, cleaned my room like a crazy lady, slept too little, ate too much, watched Shutter Island and The Vanishing (Dutch, not American) with the BF, and thought about which lip balm is my favourite.

I used to love lip gloss, but these days I just can't be bothered. The dry, winter air makes my entire face feel so tight, and all I want is moisture, moisture, moisture.

There are times I want colour, and that's when I turn to Korres Lip Butter. It's $13 bucks and gives me a tint that lasts for a decent amount of time. Best of all, it keeps my lips feeling hydrated. I use the shade Quince (a medium pink shade that I'm sure would look great on all skin tones). In the past I purchased Wild Rose (too red for my liking, imagine it would look great on fair skin) and Mango (slightly orange, completely beautiful!).

Every morning, I use Vichy Lipdiose Lip Balm. I'm also a big fan of Rosebud Salve (the name of which had my friend Chris and his BF in hysterics for like an hour) and Kiehl's. I like Vichy more because using my fingers to apply balm makes me feel unhygienic. Also, I usually find myself realizing I need lip balm when I'm driving, making the stick form essential. Gotta warn you, the Vichy is kinda pricey at $16 (purchased at Shopper's Drug Mar t). Totally worth it though.

What are your lip balm recommends?

While cleaning, I found a card from Nathalie that said "Happy 19th birthday! Can you believe it?! Next thing you know, we'll be 30." Ugh.

Need my sleep (cause I'm getting old),
D

The Lime Shop blog

2010-02-24T21:04:00.004-05:00

Diana and I have decided to create a new blog just for The Lime Shop.

Check it out for updates on new products and the things that inspire us: crafts, foods, cakes, housewares and everything in between.

Thanks peeps and keep reading!

::: Nathalie & Diana

Spring footwear: Desert Boots

2010-02-23T22:49:00.012-05:00

The inspiration: Free People's Desert Boots

My ideal spring wardrobe
Striped top, Elizabeth & James. Bag, MBMJ. Pants, Current/ Elliot.
Desert boots, Clark's Original. Silver Beaded Bracelet, The Lime Shop.

For the office, I prefer a 3.5" high heeled shoe. But for everyday, I much prefer flats - loafers, riding boots, sandals, and my new obsession, desert boots.

I first saw them on Free People site, and became obsessed. I'll probably shell out a bit more to get the Clark's Original at Get Outside Toronto. I just need to start saving...

::: Nathalie

*MBMJ, Elizabeth & James, Current/ Elliot pics from Shopbop.

Using your Lime Shop case

2010-02-23T20:58:00.005-05:00

Ok, first things first - making videos like this kinda sucks.
1. I get why lighting is so important. Getting it to look right sucks.
2. Shooting a video without having your hands shake sucks.
3. Finally getting Nathalie to decide what accessories her hands should wear sucks.
4. Trying to sound coherent, when I never do, really sucks.

But it turned out well for a quick shoot (only three tries! ok, four).
And now you get to see our cases in action, which is pretty neat.
You can get one here: thelimeshop.etsy.com.

Hungry & tired & sleepy,
D

Scenes From A Mall

2010-02-22T20:08:00.008-05:00

1. Unsuspecting lady gets her photo taken and she's being attacked by a Nike ad.
2. Diana successfully mocks the Olympic mannequins as onlookers shoot her concerned glances.
3. Nathalie refuses to line up to use the mirror, which is where iPhone cameras prove to be awesome yet again.

Scent of a Weirdo

2010-02-18T21:34:00.004-05:00

When I smell a perfume I really like, I have all the symptoms of having a stroke. Scents have the ability to transport me to places I've never been and make me happier than I'm usually capable. About 2 weeks ago, I purchased the Tocca fragrance at Anthroplogie. It's a nice, clean fragrance but it wasn't the one I've been dreaming of.

I smelled the pictured perfume from Jacob almost a year and a half ago, but never purchased it. Every time I would enter the store, I would sample it and think how fabulous it was. I finally caved and bought it today. It's $30 for 30ml, which is decent. I wish I was one of those people who could talk about perfume like a pro, but I'm not. So I'm gonna lift from a Jacob PR doc that describes this scent:

"A cosmopolitan mélange of earthy delights, it was created in Provence by Jean-Marie Santantoni, an international perfumer from the prestigious house of Charabot who has created some of the world's most renowned fragrances."

My take?
It reminds me of a day years ago when my boyfriend and I were sitting on a bench, drinking coffee, both reading. It was kind of cold out and he leaned over and said "You're really weird and I really like you."

In short - it smells like awesome, happy times.

Nostalgic,
D

Fashion Gluttony

2010-02-18T20:10:00.008-05:00

Why did I leave this shirt at the store? Helmut Lang, only one left, my size, perfect fit, ON SALE! Dammit!

(I'm not a narcasist. I took this picture because Diana was in the washroom and sometimes, we need each others approval. Or what I should say is, we need to justify our unnecessary spending to one another, in order to buy yet another grey silk shirt, or designer bag,or what have you. We need to justify the buy as special and worthwhile and to not feel like we're gluttonous fashion hoarding women... But most importantly what's with my right leg and WHY am I posing?)

::: Nathalie

Wide Eyed

2010-02-18T06:57:00.002-05:00

I want large saucer eyes. Can you get this done in a cosmetic procedure? Ha - kidding. (Kinda...)

Take a couple of minutes to check out this blog: olsensanonymous.blogspot.com. All Olsen twins, all the time. It's where I go on the days I need a little inspiration with my wardrobe.

::: Nathalie

Ashley Olsen Source

The Gluttony That Ensued

2010-02-17T21:03:00.006-05:00

I've been a bad, bad girl.

Have you ever seen the movie Julie and Julia? If not, we highly recommend it. However, I would advise dieters to be careful, because watching it made me go WAY over the 1500 calories I'm supposed to eat a day.

Nathalie had me over for dinner tonight (because a good bff always feeds a bff). We had pasta and lemon drizzle cake. Here's the thing, when people say 'cake' they usually mean a slice (or two if you're being bad). We took bad to an entirely new level and ate an entire cake between the both of us.

Now our breathing is labored and Nathalie's threatening to vomit lemon.
It's a good thing that I'm wearing a skirt, because if I was wearing pants I'm pretty sure I wouldn't fit in them.

With a heavy heart (and body),
D

Accessorize your iPhone with The Lime Shop

2010-02-16T19:10:00.003-05:00

A small run of iPhone cases were added to our Lime Shop today. Check it out.

::: Nathalie

J'adore

2010-02-15T23:25:00.000-05:00

I adore this outfit. Over the knee socks makes it.

Source

Post Valentines Day

2010-02-15T18:53:00.006-05:00

It's been a busy and emotional weekend and somehow, for my own sanity, I've managed to accomplished a fair bit.

Valentines Day was sweet: a trip to the AGO, dinner at home and renting Revolutionary Road. Our meal consisted of seared tilapia served on Swiss chard with steamed carrots and pan fried baby potatoes with a light olive oil lemon sauce. Dessert - classic red velvet cake.

And finally, just this evening, Diana and I managed to finally get our Etsy shop up and running - thelimeshop.etsy.com. Similar to our previous online shop, Lime., we're featuring handcrafted iPod and iPhone (coming soon) cases, along with a variety of other accessories.

We would love it if you checked out our shop.

We hope you enjoy the rest of your long weekend.

::: Nathalie

Yulanda, we'll miss you.

2010-02-12T06:47:00.004-05:00

Part of the reason this blog exists is because of Yulanda Yee. I met Yulanda online years ago, and gravitated towards her incredible photography and sweet nature. When she started her fashion blog, I sent the link to Nathalie who felt a connection to her style & writing like many all over the world. Nathalie and Yulanda became fast friends.

Yesterday, Yulanda lost her battle with lymphoma. I want to send my condolesnces to her family and friends. She was an incredible gal and she'll be forever missed.

I saw a note on her facebook page from a friend that made me sad, but it was really beautful:
"Take some photos there and send them back okay?"

We miss you. <3 <3 <3

Alexander McQueen found dead

2010-02-11T11:05:00.003-05:00

Diana just emailed me: Alexander McQueen died!
He apparently hung himself in his London apartment and found dead at 5am this morning, Toronto time.

What a great loss for the fashion world.

When Your Eyebrows Make You Say 'Ew'

2010-02-09T06:52:00.005-05:00

I don't let a lot of people touch my face. When I do, it's for a pretty good reason and up until a few days ago, I thought threading was one of them.

My mom introduced me to threading a couple of years ago, and found that it was a cheap and efficient way to get my eyebrows did. The results were consistent, until last Friday when the lady who did my brows did an amazing job of f'ing them up.

I was hella pissed, but the weekend was pretty excellent, so I've managed to chill out a lot. However, I'm writing this post as a reminder to myself and a warning to you guys.

1. If you regularly get threaded, ALWAYS GO TO THE SAME LADY, THE ONE WHO DOESN'T GIVE YOU AN ARCH ON ONE SIDE AND A DEFORMED BROW ON THE OTHER.
2. When it stings, say so. I just ignored it and realized when I got home that there were cuts above each eyelid. EW.
3. Look at your brows carefully before leaving. I took off pretty quickly cause I had somewhere to be, but now I wish I'd taken a good look. I definitely wouldn't have paid for this crap job.

Dammit, late for work,
D

Sale at SSENSE!

2010-02-08T10:22:00.003-05:00

SSENSE is having a secret sale!
Type in SECRET20 at the checkout to get 20% off select items!

If you haven't heard about SSENSE, it's a great luxury online store based in Montreal. Awesome for us Canadians who hate being charged those pesky duties and customs charges (ew).

Sorry for the short post, being at work kinda hinders blogging right now.

<3,
D

Cheap Thrills

2010-02-04T12:30:00.005-05:00

While Diana is a menace for luxury hair care, I could care less and would much rather do with what the drug store has to offer.

I went to Shoppers in search for a remedy to cure my frizzy, damaged, residue coated hair and came out with three products - Neutrogena's Anti- Residue Shampoo, Aveeno's new Conditioning Leave-In Treatment and Baléa's Deep Moisture Hair Mask.

Here the results for my hair type (long, thick, spilt ends, easily prone to frizz, wavy/ curly in nature):

Neutrogena's Anti- Residue Shampoo ($8.99)
Pros:
- It really worked. My hair was so clean and shiny after - like new!
- Great price point and since it's only supposed to used once a week, I could see it lasting a year.
- Frizz free hair! Product build up must have accounted for my former frizzy mane.
- My hair was so easy to manage after. Using the flat iron was a breeze.
- Highly recommend. This will become a staple item in my hair care routine.

Cons:
- Odd detergenty like scent that lingers. I could smell it on my hair the morning after my wash.

Aveeno's new Conditioning Leave-In Treatment ($8.99)
Pros:
- A little goes a long way (and I have a lot of hair).
- Spray pump design that's easy to distribute through out the hair.
- Makes hair so much easier to comb when it's wet.
- Pleasant clean scent that's not over powering.
- Highly recommend and would buy again.

Cons: None.

Baléa's Deep Moisture Hair Mask, exclusive to Shoppers ($3.99)
Pros:
- Ridiculously cheap price point.
- Leaves hair frizz free and easy to manage, even when I let my hair air dry - my typically frizzy locks turn into soft waves.

Cons:
- I like my conditioners to feel like conditioner in the shower. Do you know what I mean? That coat that goes over your hair and instantly makes it softer? Well this doesn't do that. It seems to disappear in my hair and as a result, I end up using more product than I probably should.
- Haven't developed high faith in this product. Would only buy this product again if I was short on cash.

::: Nathalie

We Love Marc!

2010-01-28T12:23:00.004-05:00

I was excited to see this email from Holts. I'll definitely be checking out this tshirt!

Miss Marc ♥'s Canada
Marc by Marc Jacobs is showing Canada the love with the new limited-edition Mr. and Miss. Marc Ski Lift Tee, launching exclusively worldwide at Holt Renfrew on January 25, 2010.

The sweet sketch of Mr. and Miss. Marc on a Ski Lift will bring back those warm and fuzzy winter feelings. And what's more, the tee comes enclosed in a Marc by Marc Jacobs Gift Box!

The Mr. and Miss Marc Ski Lift Tee is available in White and Dapper Grey, sizes XS-L, and will retail for $65.

::: Nathalie

14k Gold Plated Goodness

2010-01-27T17:29:00.006-05:00

Geoff and I don't typically celebrate (what I call a sham of a holiday) Valentines Day, but I thought it might be fun to this year. Along with a trip to the AGO and dinner at the yummiest vegetarian chinese place, I've convinced him that we should swap gifts.

He doesn't it know it yet, but he just got me some brilliant House of Harlow 1960 jewelry - the long key necklace and horseshoe stacking ring from Shopbop.

I'm now really looking forward to Valentines Day this year! Any suggestions on gifts for men?

::: Nathalie

Shopping Tip of the day:

Remember Canadian kids, pick the 6-10 day shipping method from Shopbop. It takes a little longer and there's no tracking along the way, but the custom taxes are considerably less.

Distaste: Cross border shopping taxes and Nordstrom sales people

2010-01-26T12:18:00.005-05:00

I previously posted about my missed opportunity on the See by Chloe Rise & Shine cross body bag. Determined to find it, I picked up the phone and started calling Nordstroms in the Michigan area where I eventually stumbled across a seemingly helpful salesperson at Twelve Oaks Mall, who located one for me.

Since Diana and I have sorta become experts on cross border shopping, and on which shipping methods incur the least customs and duty taxes, I requested the bag be shipped a certain way.

Unfortunately, the Nordstrom sales person didn't listen.

A yellow UPS notice waited for me at the door the next day, with a Brokerage C.O.D charge of $165.71!!!!! What?! Was the decimal point put in the wrong place? How could this be? $165 is nearly $200! Why?

Well, there was no way I was paying $165.71 on customs and taxes! INSANITY!
I had to decline the package.

Annoyed at the sales person for not having listened, I called Nordstrom. Her manager nonchalantly told me they'd refund the bag and the shipping, upon receiving it back. Not much of a consolation for me, I really wanted this bag! (These sales people should know how women are with handbags. It's our lively hood.)

Well, I got my refund yesterday but I'm still pissed. While Nordstrom messed up, it's insane that Canadians are treated unfairly with absurd taxes. Our countries are so similar, and so close, I just don't see why it's necessary.

::: Nathalie

Love Cats? How About Fashion Parodies?

2010-01-19T14:36:00.004-05:00

If so, this site's for you: http://thecatorialist.blogspot.com/

Drinking cold coffee and kinda hating my life,
D

Branching Out

2010-01-18T14:55:00.002-05:00

I love the first line from Nylon Mag's article announcing that leSportSac is coming out with a shoe line: "What's a bag without its sole mate?" Ha!

I'm not a huge fan of leSportSac, but I do enjoy that this affordable line often collaborates with designers for new and interesting merch. From the first look pics, looks like some of the stuff could be promising.

-D

Review: Ojon Products

2010-01-17T00:08:00.002-05:00

I'm not very nice to my hair.

It's naturally black, but I dye it light brown. It's not quite wavy, so I'm constantly straightening or curling it.

After speaking to a coworker about how dry my hair is, she suggested I try Ojon products. A couple of months ago, I purchased Ojon's Hydrate and Restore Collection.

Likey:
• It has exceptional moisturizing properties. All of Ojon's products are formulated with Ojon Oil, which is known for it's restorative properties.
• No more tangles, which is suffer from when I decide to curl my hair.
• Depending on whom you speak to, the smell. After a couple of weeks, I stopped using the products and gave them to my Mom. She went on and on about how she loves the smell, but I didn't really enjoy it that much.

No Likey:
• After washing my hair, I found that Ojon products made it look kind of greasy. My scalp felt oily too. While I hated this, my Mom was into it because she has a super dry scalp/hair.
• It's kind of pricey. Doesn't matter where you look, this stuff costs a lot more than most hair products.

Overall:
While I wasn't too keen on these products in the end, I can understand why some people are obsessed with it. It's probably amazing for those with coarse, curly hair and I know it's good for those with dry locks. I'm one of those people who can't function if I feel like my scalp or hair is greasy, so I wouldn't recommend it for those with hair related OCD tendencies.

Grade:
From me: C
My mom: B+

Going back to Pantene Brunette Expressions,
D

Why I Hate My BFF (Volume 1)

2010-01-16T17:28:00.006-05:00

Ok, so I don't REALLY hate Nathalie, but I have issues.

I've struggled with my weight and am currently the reigning queen of yo-yo dieting, while Nathalie has effortlessly remained a size 2.

While we're only a year apart, it seems that she's transitioned into being an adult much easier than I.

But these things don't really bother me. What drives me crazy is her ability to overshadow me with accessories or clothing, no matter the occasion.

A few weeks ago, I acquired the delicious pink Michael Kors watch pictured on your right. I drooled, Nathalie drooled, even her husband Geoff drooled. All in all I felt pretty good. Today we took a trip to Holts (where I was accosted by a sales attendant, but that's another story for another day). Nathalie returned a Christmas present and traded it in for the gold Michael Kors watch pictured under my pink one. WAAAAA. So much nicer than my watch and I really wanted it too! WAAAAA!

Good thing we're BFF and they gave her extra links for her watch, cause you know I'm gonna be stealing this baby for a borrowing session one of these days.

Peace Out.

Admittedly Jealous,
D

Bag Lust

2010-01-13T08:57:00.004-05:00

Even if the recession is over according to the media, I'm still crazy ass broke. I saw a financial planner the other day who pretty much told me that if I want to meet my goals, I gotta earn more money simmer down on the spending. Standard advice, I know, but it still hurt. WAAAA.

What hurts more is knowing that I can't afford this delicious Alexander Wang bag right now. The closest I'm gonna get to it is via a JPG on my desktop. WAAAA.

I'd post an image, but I'm at work and for some reason my computer hates my guts.

P.S. For Canadians who have a penchant for 'luxury' online shopping but hate the customs and fees that come with shopping in American sites, here's a tip: Visit SSENSE. They're based in Montreal and have great shipping rates.

-D

Filling Our Closets with Free People

2010-01-10T17:40:00.004-05:00

We have a shopping problem, which I'm sure you're aware of if you've read this blog.

Till Monday (tomorrow, hurry friends!) Free People is having 25% off all of their sale items. Here's a few images of what we purchased.

Diana's Shopping Cart:

Nathalie's Cart:

xoxo,
Diana & Nathalie

Get Naked

2010-01-10T13:17:00.005-05:00

M.A.C's Blissed Out Nail Lacquer

With a preference for dark and crazy colored nails, I was surprised to find myself drawn to a nail polish so close to my skin tone (from M.A.C.'s new Warm & Cozy collection of muted pinks and browns). Impressed how it complimented my olive skin, I also picked up a tube of Light That Fire! Lipglass.

Nothing like the pick me up of new cosmetics.

::: Nathalie

Beauty Tip: OPI's Start to Finish Formaldehyde Free Base & Top Coat is awesome for making manicures last long.

House of Harlow: Metal & Leather Wrap Bracelet

2010-01-08T12:15:00.005-05:00

I loooove this bracelet.

Where are you?

2010-01-02T18:19:00.004-05:00

How is it possible that in the vast world of online shopping, this bag is sold out everywhere?! I am going bananas here and have wasted half my afternoon looking for this bag. If anyone sees it out there, let me know! It's the See By Chloe Rise and Shine Cross Body Bag in black. *sigh.

::: Nathalie

Fashion Oh-No!: Sheer Leggings

2009-12-31T20:53:00.003-05:00

I was at the check out of the grocery store today and happen to look up (to my dismay) and accidently checked out a girls bum. I'm talking butt crack, thong and everything, fully out there on display through her sheer leggings. (Poor girl, she didn't have a clue.) Sadly, this is the second time this month that I've encountered a full moon through what-should-have-been-opaque tights.

Please ladies, if you're going to wear leggings as pants, let's make sure that our leggings are completely opaque. AND please, wear a shirt past your naughty bits, there's no need to put it all on display.

Thank you and have a safe and happy New Year everyone! Diana and I have been slacking hardcore but we promise regular postings soon.

::: Nathalie

Picture sourc ed through Google images.

Review: American Apparel Nail Polish

2009-12-25T08:06:00.007-05:00

It seems all I'm really interested in these days is nail polish.
Last night, I received my order of nail polishes from American Apparel.
I purchased the following shades (from left): mouse, hunter, office, peacock and factory grey.

Having the patience of an 4-year-old, I applied peacock roughly 3 minutes after tearing open the package. I was going to post a picture, but my hands look pretty rough (Canadian winter, yo) and I didn't want them to look like the model from the Free People website.

Anyhow, here are my initial reactions:

1. Colours are incredible. They're vibrant & opaque (I HATE HATE HATE SHIMMER).
2. The formula dries at an average rate (no where near as close as Gosh but faster than Essie).
3. I didn't apply a top coat, and there appears to be some chipping. But I really think that would happen with any nail polish when not prepped and finished properly.
4. They're free of DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde. Always a plus.
5. Each is $6 bucks, which is pretty decent if you ask me - especially for shades of this caliber.

Long story short: buy 'em (but only if you wanna).

-D

Update Feb 11, 2010:
Sorry this is late, but turns out that the nail polishes are off the shelves due to quality issues with the glass the nail polishes were placed in. Mine are still a-ok, and I'm still a fan.

Nails, Nails, Nails

2009-12-17T12:15:00.003-05:00

I dunno what it is, but I'm nail polish crazy recently. As many issues as I have with American Apparel, I'm kinda pumped that they're coming out with a new nail polish line.

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. Nathalie and I are being lazy, but we promise that we're gonna do a new beauty minute soon.

-D

Paul Smith Evian

2009-12-06T23:05:00.004-05:00

I was out grocery shopping with my mum the other day and nearly lost it when I saw the 2010 Evian bottle designed by Paul Smith. It's gorgeous!

It's nicely displayed on my buffet table beside the Lacroix bottle. (Gaultier didn't make the cut - for such a colorful and exciting designer, his bottle was too boring.)

::: Nathalie

PS - Note the beautiful metal tiled mirror in the background, hand crafted by my super talented husband. He's got them on sale at Elliot & Ward in Toronto. Check out this lovely home furnishing shop if you're looking for some chic, sophisticated and unique items for your home.

iPhone Case

2009-12-06T16:24:00.006-05:00

It's been about three years since we last made an iPod case, but it's time again. I just made this model for my iPhone - wool houndstooth, beads, and gold feathers. I quite like it.

::: Nathalie

Happy Bday!

2009-12-05T23:31:00.004-05:00

Diana celebrated her birthday this past Wednesday.

We threw a dinner for her Saturday night: spaghetti and chicken parmesan and toasted with pink sparking wine. Homemade Red Velvet Cupcakes were served for dessert. Yum!

Happy Birthday Diana!!!

::: Nathalie

Rough Around the Edges

2009-11-24T18:04:00.002-05:00

We were pretty pumped to learn from Yulanda that Free People offers decent shipping rates to Canada.

I really want the ring pictured to the left - but check out the model's nails. That's rough! Free People, dontcha think it's important to prep your peeps before taking pictures?

Just a word to the wise.

-D

Tips for your TIPS

2009-11-22T22:22:00.004-05:00

In a facebook convo, Steph asked me if I thought there was a difference between high and low end nail polishes.

I'm not really sure what Nathalie (who is a crazy nail polish fiend) would say, but I'm of the opinion that it really depends on the brand.

For example, I really dislike MAC's nail polishes. I always find their colours to be very limited and the formula never stays as long as I'd like. Also, I find that it takes a very long time to dry. Considering that they retail for rougly $16 after taxes, I expect more.

I'm sure you've seen Sally Hansen nail polishes at your local drugstore. At the moment, I'm particularly fond of their Xtreme wear line, which is boasting some really fun colours. They cost around $4 after taxes and I find that I can go an entire week without any chipping, which is insane. On the downside, I find that some of their shades (like 'Blue Me Away'', pictured) tend to stain my nails (but that's really my fault for being too lazy to wear a base coat).

I know that Nathalie's a huge fan of essie nail polishes. The colour range is fairly good, and they come out with some interesting sets during the holidays. They are also moderately priced, and I find that the formula goes on easily, doesn't streak and dries quickly. Nathalie has complained on more than one occasion about being unable to find these nail polishes, but I see them fairly frequently at Trade Secrets and at the occasional Shopper's Drg Mart. essie nail polishes are usually $10 - $12, depending on where you pick them up.

On a quick note to end this post, I gotta say in general OPI makes great nail polishes. However, the polishes they've done for Sephora are inferior in quality.

-D

Tiffany & Co. Yorkdale bracelet

2009-11-18T12:24:00.003-05:00

The new Tiffany's Yorkdale bracelet donates proceeds (but at what percentage?) to Sick Kids hospital.
Marketing at it's finest. The bracelet retails for $295 and goes on sale tomorrow, Nov 19th, at limited quantities.

Wonderful cause, pretty bracelet. If I didn't already have a Tiffany's charm bracelet, I'd be all over this.

::: Nathalie

Thanks for Diana for keeping her eyes peeled about this.

Source

What's On The Inside

2009-11-09T14:20:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the contents of my purse.

What's in yours?

In Mine:

• Bag: Michael Kors

• Wallet, change purse, perfume, eye glasses and sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs (I know, I have a problem)

• Mac Lipgloss

• Philosophy Lipgloss

• Joe Fresh gloves

Old Brand, New Vision

2009-11-09T13:39:00.005-05:00

I am completely obsessed with Burberry's Art of the Trench, where stylish folk, young and old pay hommage to the brand's quintessential piece, the Trench Coat. Props to whoever came up with this idea, because it's social media at its finest.

-D

From Prime Time to Pop

2009-11-08T20:27:00.002-05:00

So this is news to me: Leighton Meester is attempting to pursue a music career?!
Feel free to gossip about it. Har Har.

-D

Feist at Holts

2009-11-07T09:13:00.003-05:00

Feist playing Mushaboom at Thursday's window unveiling.

Small Wonder

2009-11-07T09:00:00.003-05:00

Been meaning to post this for a while.
Was highly amused by this vid from Grazia Daily,where one of their peeps tries to determine which pieces from the Stella McCartney's Holiday 2009 Collection for Gap Kid s would fit an adult body.

-D

Comme des Garçons, Beatles Collection

2009-11-06T17:58:00.010-05:00

What what what?! Commes des Garçon colleboration with The Beatles?

What fun! The small collection consists of travel

bags, shirts and tshirts ranging from $115 - $680.

Designer Rei Kawakubo will be using non-leather,

animal friendly PVC materials for the bags out of

personal preference and respect for Sir Paul

McCartney. Bags will be made in Japan.

The collection will roll out slowly, launching at the

Trading Museum in Tokyo on Nov 20 and later at

the Dover Street Market on Nov 27th.

Commercial release is set for 2010.

Check out source for more info.

::: Nathalie

Holts Window Unveiling P.2

2009-11-05T22:04:00.010-05:00

Oh the Holts window unveiling.

Due to people bailing and bad timing, I arrived "late". Like an hour before close "late". The ET Canada stage was empty, Feist was long gone and people were already at work tearing it down. No one was left.

Oh, except for Dylan Lauren on the third floor. I didn't bother chatting her up or asking her to take a photo with me. Boring.

I did though, get the new L.A.M.B. Zip wallet. I've been without one since my Marc Jacobs was stolen from my gym locker in July. Otherwise, uneventful hour. I missed all the fun.

(Thanks for coming with me Geoff! I owe you one.)

::: Nathalie

Outfit: Hat and scarf, H&M. Trench, Joe Fresh. Bag, See By Chloé. Watch, Michael Kors. Tights, H&M. Shoes, Modern Vintage.

Wearing Intimates to Work

2009-11-04T10:48:00.002-05:00

Partially inspired by Joe Fresh's Spring 2010 Collection, where models were strutting down the runway in their undergarments, I started to think about wearing intimates outside of the bedroom.

I purchased this flannel nightie from American Eagle in three colours and fully plan to wear it to work. No one has to know what section I got it from, right?

-D

Heeled Oxford Bootie?

2009-11-03T22:29:00.009-05:00

Nine West Talynn boot - black suede, 3.5" heel, brilliant menswear style that I've been searching for. Should I... ?

::: Nathalie

PS - I dropped my iPhone a couple of weeks back and the camera hasn't been the same since. Follow this advice carefully - invest in a good case. Your iPhone will thank you.

Holts Window Unveiling

2009-11-02T22:22:00.003-05:00

Yes, they've done us bad in the past but we can't help but still love them. This Thursday Diana and I will be at the Bloor Holts for the 5th Annual Window unveiling and to get a jump start on some holiday shopping. Let's get in the spirit of retail!

::: Nathalie

Garance Doré does Celine

2009-10-30T10:44:00.002-04:00

Stripe me

2009-10-29T18:32:00.003-04:00

I have a major weakness for stripes so how could I resist the Velvet Yvette V Neck Top from Shopbop? I had a gift certificate but it's too bad I didn't take advantage of last weeks coupon. Darn.

::: Nathalie

September Issue premiers in Toronto

2009-10-29T12:22:00.004-04:00

The September Issue premiers today at the Varsity on Bloor Street. The movie will open in three other theaters in Scarborough, Toronto and Mississauga tomorrow. What will you be doing this weekend?

::: Nathalie

Winter Wear

2009-10-29T07:08:00.003-04:00

This years winter wish list will be kept to the absolute necessities: fabulously warm parka and hardcore winter boots. Slippery streets and bitterly harsh cold winds will mean nothing to me.

::: Nathalie

MBMJ Flap Pouchette

2009-10-28T18:46:00.003-04:00

I was surprised that to find the Marc Jacobs flap pouchette is sold out at a majority of online shops. I called the nearest Holts in a panic. They had 2 black pouchettes in stock. With some coaxing, Geoff finally broke and bought it for me. Of course I don't get it till December (Happy Bday/ Xmas to me!)...

::: Nathalie

Nine West Talynn booties
	YES
	NO

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