Prospect Park

Usually when I pack for a trip I throw a bunch of random items into my suitcase last minute and hope that some of the pieces will workout somehow. I am the worst packer. For my New York trip I tried to be a little more prepared and actually planned outfits by day and event, then threw in a couple extra "maybe" items just in case. I'd been dying to break out my leather skirt in NYC (found it at a clothes swap then had it altered a bit), but the weather was not cooperating. I ended up switching around a few outfits, but finally decided that I should just go for the skirt on Friday. It probably wasn't the best choice because Friday was hot and humid and my skirt was sticking to me like glue. Mikhaila had the right idea. A light, flowing skirt paired with a tank top and moccasins. 

Outfit Details

leather skirt found at swap and altered by Notsoseemless

Wilfred Free t-shirt

polkadot bow from IFB Conference

necklace borrowed from Shaina

Aldo bracelets

Tahari flats (find similar here)

Eight Years & A Birthday

Well, there is another interruption in the last few New York posts. I promise I will finish them eventually!

This past week has been so busy, but fun! It was mine and JP's eight year anniversary (do people still celebrate that after they are married???), and my birthday!! The week was packed with events and mini celebrations. It started out with catching a band, Braids, with a couple friends on Tuesday night, then JP and I went out for dinner and the Pearl Jam concert on Wednesday night. Thursday Mel, Mack, Hayley and I celebrated my birthday by having a girls night in. We made sushi, tempura, avocado chicken cakes, drank wine, and Mel made a delicious birthday cake! Friday I met up for tea with Mack and Hayley in Kensington. I had a chai tea latte made with almond milk! We then wandered around Kensington checking out the consignment store. Later that night JP and I went out for dinner. We were going to do the typical date night, dinner and a movie, but there weren't any movies that we wanted to see so we stayed in and watched movies at home. We ended the week with friends at Mel's baby shower. Oh yeah! JP bought me the prettiest watch, which I'll have to show off in an upcoming outfit post. To top the week off JP and I went car shopping, and I'm hoping to be getting a new car (well, new to me) today! 

Phew!!! And that's the anniversary/birthday week recap. Here are a couple photos of mine and JP's adventures together so far, and a few instagram photos from the week. 

2008 California trip

2011 Cabo - whale watching!!!

From left to right - Pearl Jam concert, sushi girls night,
tea lattes, JP and I at Mel's baby shower 

Williamsburg & the Seaport

Back to New York posts. 

Mikhaila and I had so much fun wandering around NYC on the Thursday of my trip. We spent the majority of the day checking out different areas of Brooklyn. I wanted to see Beacon's Closet, so we headed to Williamsburg for the afternoon. We had fun sifting through and trying on clothes, but surprisingly neither of us left with any purchases! There were a few things that I wanted, but thinking back on our first night in Brooklyn, lugging 20 pound suitcases eleven blocks in torrential rain discouraged me from adding anything else to my already overstuffed bags! After checking out Beacon's Closet we ate lunch at Caracas, and it was seriously such an amazing place! There was a little garden patio in the back which was gorgeous, and the food was to die for! After lunch we took the subway into Manhattan and met Mihaila's sister Shaina at the South Street Seaport. We grabbed pumpkin spice lattes, chatted and took a few photos. Afterwards we headed back to Brooklyn for Japanese food, and then out to SoHo for Fashion's Night Out! 

Lions Lace and a Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Outfit Details

J Brand 811 mid rise skinny jeans in Royal Blue 

T. Babaton silk blouse

Cardigan borrowed from Mikhaila

Wilfred leopard print tank top

Tahari flats (find similar here)

Stella & Dot On The Mark Necklace

photos by myself, Mikhaila, and Shaina

Church My Style

Sunday I attended, Church, My Style, a fun fashion, style, and empowering event for women created by Kim Flanagan a stylist in Calgary. Kim says she started Church out of "pure frustration" and as her business grew she became overwhelmed and a bit lost. "I was wiped out, and in the closets of other wiped out women and thought to myself, “this is bullshit!” I wanted a mentor or some release or some something that I was missing. I also wanted to get or give the feeling of “it” back to more than one woman at a time and also back to myself... It’s up to us ladies, we need to kick the ass in the world, we have the power, we just need to be reminded. I will remind you, not perfectly, just my style." 

This past Sunday, Church, My Style consisted of musical performances by Jocelyn Alice, a runway show with outfits created from Southcentre Mall, a motivational talk on health and wellness by Kim Barnouin, and a closing runway show by local designer Lara Presber. 

I definitely found the event to be inspirational and empowering. Kim Barnouin, the star of the show and author of the "Skinny Bitch" book series told the audience about her personal journey of discovering healthy food and learning to cook for herself. Don't be mislead by the title of her books. They are in no way about becoming "skinny" or a "bitch", but rather about learning about the harmful effects preservatives and additives can have on our health, learning how to read food labels, becoming aware of what we are putting into our bodies, learning how to cook healthy meals, and becoming an overall better person through the choices we make. I had only perviously skimmed her books before, but after Kim's talk I immediately bought Skinny Bitch, Home, Beauty and Style and Skinny Bitch, Ultimate Everyday Cookbook. I've started looking through the cookbook and the beginning section has some great tips including, what foods are affected most by pesticides and which are not, buying foods in season to cut grocery costs, and the top preservatives to avoid. Kim also has a website, healthybitchdaily.com which covers everything from food, health, fitness, style and beauty. 

EC Academy

wardrobe and Bronwyn

coffee with KD and Katrina before Church

Jocelyn Alice Music

Right: Ksenia 

Bronwyn of Queen BM

Kim Bardouin author of the "Skinny Bitch" series 

questions for Kim

Ending the show with local designer Lara Presber and Jocelyn Alice Music

ModSwap!!!

I still have a bunch of photos from mine and Mikhaila's New York adventures, but I'm skipping ahead because I couldn't wait any longer to post this.

Probably my favourite event of my New York trip was the Modcloth/Swapaholics ModSwap. It was held at a pub called the Black Door in the Chelsea area. Everyone brought two items to swap, and when we walked into the event we were told to head over to the Modcloth rack and pick out any item we choose! How exciting, hey? I snagged a cute blue dress with little bows on it called the "hold my hand dress" from Modcloth, a lace top with a peter pan collar from Jess a Modcloth Stylist, and a floral romper from Jen of Jennifhsieh.

I think it's so funny that Mikhaila captured this moment! I was posing on the side walk, getting ready for Mikhaila to take my outfit photos when Jen of Jen Loves Kev walked past with a knowing smile and a look like, "I know you are a blogger and taking outfit photos". It took me a couple seconds for it to sink in, and I started laughing and running towards Mikhaila to tell her what just happened! I was tempted to run after Jen and say hi, but I didn't want to appear too crazy and I figured that she would be at the ModSwap later on, and she was! We got to chat for a little bit and she is seriously one of the sweetest people ever! Mikhaila and I also got to meet and talk with Julie of Orchid Grey, and Amy of Punky Style, and they are also such sweethearts (and soooo adorable in person!!) Seriously so happy to have met these girls. 

Check out Mikhaila's post HERE

All the pretty Modcloth dresses to choose from!

Another highlight of the night was getting to finally meet Tieka of Selective Potential and Andrea of Blonde Bedhead. Tieka and I had been emailing for a little while trying to plan a time to meet up in New York, and I'm so glad it worked out! Tieka and Andrea are both such kindhearted and inspirational women! Selective Potential was actually one of the very first blogs that I started reading, and through Tieka's blog I discovered so many other amazing bloggers like Andrea, Julie, and Jen. 

Tieka of Selective Potential, Mikhaila of From Aprons to Polkadots,
Jen of Jen Loves Kev, Andrea or Blonde Bedhead  and me!
(last five photos via Swapaholics)

This might sound silly, but the one regret that I have is that I didn't meet more bloggers. It's so much easier to go up to a blogger that you recognize and strike up a conversation than it is to walk up to a complete stranger and ask them about their blog. If I get the chance to attend another fashion week in New York I'm making it my goal to find and talk to as many bloggers as I can, whether I recognize them or not. 

Outfit Details

Joe Fresh silk t-shirt

Wilfred pants via Aritzia

Aldo bracelets

Necklace borrowed from Shaina

Tahari flats via Winners (later changed into Aldo suede wedges)

IFB Conference & KMS After Party

Wednesday Mikhaila and I attended the IFB Conference. Our day started bright and early again, as the conference started at 9 A.M at Milk Studios in Chelsea. It was a long day, but I can definitely say that I learned quite a bit of new information, and it was a good opportunity to network with other bloggers. The one critique that I have is that, although there were different topics for each panel, all panels ended up hashing out the same discussions over and over. Twitter vs Facebook. Being Authentic. Organic/Original ideas. I'm not sure if the topics were too similar, if the panelists were getting off topic, or if they got an idea/word stuck in their head after hearing previous panelists speak. Otherwise it was an informative and fun day.  It was interesting to hear Joe Zee speak about bloggers from the perspective of a magazines creative director, I got to speak briefly with Keiko Lynn, and Morgan from Morgan and Lua showed Mikhaila and I the Chelsea market. After the conference we hopped onto a party bus which took us to the Rivington Hotel for an After Party hosted by KMS California! We mingled with more bloggers, met Annie from The Style Shift, grabbed some champagne and snacks, all while KMS stylists showed us how to style our hair from day to night. Later we had the chance to get our own hair done! We left the party with a gift bag full of amazing KMS hair products. 

IFB CONFERENCE

Aldo Shoes, Missoni for Target

Magnum Ice Cream was doing nails and handing out gold crackle nail polish!

KMS CALIFORNIA AFTER PARTY

Mikhaila with Annie of The Style Shift

Before

After! Me with my amazing KMS Hair Stylist, Michael Noragon from Salt Lake City