Hello! I'm a chronic closet raider, whether it be from my sister, mom or even my dad (for his oversized sweaters of course), I raid closets. This bag, in all its beautiful luxury, obviously does not belong to me, but instead, of course, it to my beautiful mother. I'm lucky she lets me raid her closet so frequently, but when I'm financially independent and making money of my own I hope to invest in one of these myself. However, I think that period might be a long time away.
Outfit: Shirt Club Monaco, Skirt Club Monaco, Shoes J. Crew, Bag Chanel
Today is a fancy day! Honestly, I don't really know what to say about this outfit, other than the fact that it makes me feel fashionable and sharp. Isn't that what clothes are supposed to do? It's great when you find a outfit and makeup combination that makes you feel like you knocked it right out of the park.
I'm a huge fan of monochrome, and honestly in this case, this outfit is a true representation of my closet. My clothing is literally probably 90% black or grey. In order to spice up this outfit I tried to match the leather details in the shirt with a "leather" skirt.
Both the shirt and the skirt are from Club Monaco and are pretty adorable. The shirt is still in stores, but the skirt was from their last fall collection, so the sizes available online are a bit sparse. You guys don't have to worry about me being sponsored by them though, I just have a serious shopping problem.
Although the leather on the collar is real, the skirt is pleather for "easy care." The perforated pattern and the scalloped edge really make the skirt an "any season" piece. The beauty is in the details!
I finished the whole outfit off with this pointed suede shoes, a recent purchase from J. Crew, that I've been wearing everywhere. They're actually crazy comfortable as well, I have to stand around a lot for my job and these shoes have been given a surprising amount of work wear.
The purse shown here is part of Chanel's Fall 2011 collection and is called the "Boy Bag." The shape is inspired by the cartridge bags that hunters carried when going into the woods. Very different from the traditional quilted Chanel bags that you've seen in the past, the boy bag is made out of smooth, sleek glazed calf leather. There's still the iconic love letter pocket inside, but I think you'll find the new design to be simple and a bit masculine. The boy bag can be worn two ways: with the strap across the body, like above, or with the strap doubled up and placed over the shoulder, like below.
Excuse my ugly face
The details really elevate the simplistic design of this bag, with the mixed chain and leather strap, the thicker masculine silver chain, and the "Chanel" embossed along the spine, the bag is beautiful and fun to carry around. When my family and I first saw it in the store, it looked a bit like a book of "Chanel" waiting to be opened up. It also has ample room to store belongings, which is a necessity in any bag. The only thing that I will say against the boy, is that I'm terrified of scratching it or damaging the leather. The front, back, and interior of the bag are so glossy and delicate that I only borrow this bag with extreme caution.
Ever since it's debut, I think the boy bag has been rolled out in new color combos, materials and textures. In fact, I think I've already seen one that uses Chanel's iconic quilting. ;) Hopefully I'll be able to invest in a nice bag one day. ^__^
As for the purse, I always feel it's best to buy it from a store...I feel with these sorts of things it's too easy to get ripped off online. However, Gilt, Lxr & Co. and Net A Porter are some great places to start looking for vintage luxury items on the net. =)
Wearing: Hibou Boots, Michael Kors Bag, Zara Jacket, Aritzia/Wilfred Free T-shirt Dress, NET scarf, Momo hat
Aritzia! It's definitely the most popular brand in Vancouver and I see girls wearing clothing from here everywhere. Which makes sense, because not only was Aritzia started her locally in Vancouver, as the Hills of Kerrisdale, but it has quickly grown to have locations all across North America. I've avoided buying from them for a long time, given the saturation and the expensive price point, but I've finally succumbed to the Aritzia fever after five years.
Derp Face
I can see why people like to buy from them! Their clothes are trendy, form fitting, and flattering. The price range is actually more affordable than I previously thought, although the quality on some of the items is questionable, I can see myself buying from them more in the future.
As for my first purchase from them, a darker grey t-shirt dress, is one of those things that can be dressed up or down, but always a chic casual. Just to add some character to the outfit, I put on my little rabbit hat.
However, I must say, because of the super clingy fabric I would definitely suggest wearing the correct underwear. I'm an old lady, I still blush when I go to the lingerie store and try to get some thongs. I mean the very last time I was at Victoria's Secret, I was working up my courage to buy some thongs and some little, peppy, twelve year old girls pushed passed me and just started grabbing a bunch. However, if you like grandma panties like me beware the awkward panty-line now and then. I swear I'm not that chunky though. =)
Thank you for kissing my boo-boos. Thank you for wiping away the tears of my first heartbreak. Thank you for taking care of me when I was ill. Thank you for your support in everything that I do. Thank you for letting me be "independent", but caring enough to cast a safety net just in case. Thank you for forgiving me every time we fight.
A million thank yous and all my love can't makeup for everything you've done for me. Thanks for being my mom. Even though it was fate that brought us together, and though we can have our rough patches at times, I love you with all my heart. I'll do my best to make every day Mother's Day. =)
Love,
Justine
Happy (soon to be) Mother's Day all! Although gifts are often very personal, I thought I would share some great and thrifty finds with you! When I give gifts, I try to keep in mind that there should either be a utilitarian or sentimental value to the gifts that are being given. The worst gifts are always the one's with the least thought put into them! So even though sometimes people can be tough to buy for, as long as you put some effort into it, you're sure to be rewarded with a smile. Although these may show a bias to my own mom (Hi mom!) I think many of you will find these gifts suitable for your own mothers as well. All the gifts I've chosen are under $25 dollars!
My mom loves tea, especially the loose leaf kind, but you have to hand wash teapots, prep the tea strainer, and then deal with the used tea refuse. Sometimes these mundane tasks become so tedious that the little prepackaged teas just make more sense, but why deny yourself a simple everyday luxury?
The Ingenuitea teapot takes all the stress out of hand washing delicate porcelain teapots or even heating up hot water over the stove. The BPA-free plastic can be heated up in the microwave for a quick brew and even thrown in the dishwasher for a quick clean. Best of all, you can just dump the used up gunky leaves straight out into the garbage after you're done. At around $19, depending what retailer you buy it from, it's definitely a utilitarian, albeit specialized, mother's day present. Did that sound too much like an infomercial?
Momism #1: Once my mom told my sister and I that she was giving up tea for lent and within the same hour made a cup of tea and drank it by accident. Lent was very long for her that year. ><
Another thing that moms are masters of is the domain of organization. One thing that is super striking about my mom is her perfect handwritten script. I could recognize that handwriting anywhere, especially when they're secret notes tucked in lunch boxes, clues to scavenger hunts, or even notes from a "secret" Valentine (from the time before I had a boyfriend.)
My mom already has notebooks and notebooks of recipes, homeopathic cure alls, and general facts that she wants to remember; so I know if I present her this notebook it'll get a lot of use. To add a personal touch to the plain notebook, I'd write a little love note to her, include a picture of my sister and I, and copy down a script of her favourite poem: William Blake's "Auguries of Innocence." For only $15 dollars there's a lot of room to make this simple gift personal and special for your mom!
Momism #2: My mother is a true lover of the literary arts. =) She says that everyone should memorize at least one poem for the rest of their lives. Of course, she chose "Auguries of Innocence."
I think everyone in the world likes decorating their bodies with something; whether it be clothes, jewelry, or hair stuffs. This section is dedicated to the little bits and bobbles that make us smile, especially moms! =P My mom is incredibly particular about her jewelry, not only about the style and design, but also about the material. Sterling silver is an alloy made out of silver and copper, although it does tarnish, it is easy to clean and much more durable than fine silver, making it easy on the wallet and ideal for everyday wear.
This simple statement piece can be worn alone or layered. I think the infinity sign is also an understated way to say "I love you forever" or "Infinite Love." Cause lord knows, for a woman who cleans up your vomit when you're little and sick deserves as much love as "infinity" can hold! I think that $22 is a good price for a carefree, elegant statement necklace!
Now for the mom that has a lot of charm necklaces already, you can always give her a simple layering necklace! That way, she can wear her beloved charm statement pieces without having them fighting for attention; or, if she's feeling simple that day, she can just wear this silver bar all on its own. Again this piece is made of sterling silver and requires no "real" extra care. Coming in at $20, I think that this piece is also really affordable.
If you're a fan of customization, or if the charm or bar don't appeal to you, you can always gift you mom a customized sterling silver letter of her name. I think it's something simple and cute enough that she can wear it everyday, but at the same time simple, understated and mature. This is definitely a far cry from those full name necklaces that were popular once upon a time!
Momism #3: My mom loves jewelry so much, making it became her hobby! Her favorite material to work with has always been sterling silver. <3 nbsp="" p="">
If your mom isn't a jewelry lady, she might enjoy these cute hair pieces from Brydferth, a cute Etsy boutique. This boutique has all manner of accessories from pretty hair clips and elegant headbands to luxurious sashes and adorable shoe clips that all revolve around the owner, Hailey Rose's, hand sewn rosettes that are both elegant and cute.
Color Palette and Size Guide (Photo taken from Brydferth)
Honestly, all headbands and hair accessories are adorable, I've been thinking of getting some items from them for a while now. Headbands for the ladies with longer hair, starting from $20 and going to $95, and cute barrettes for girls with shorter hair (or long hair), starting from $8.50-$30, you can't lose! However, one thing that I would definitely buy for my mother is something that one usually wouldn't think of....
Shoe clips! As you can tell in this photo, again courtesy of Brydferth, this is one of their best sellers. It's a cute girly way to dress up some flats and I really feel that my Mom would like them. It's a simple way to spice up some flats, sandals or even some plain pumps. =) Again starting at $14 dollars, these little shoe clips are a unique and adorable gift.
Momism #4 : My Mom Martha Stewart-ed some shoe clips herself once and she was actually devastated when they fell off after a day of vigorous walking.
Nom Noms
For nom noms, I have a fool proof recipe that even newbies won't be able to mess up. After all, I am a total amateur myself. ;) With minimal kitchen cleanup, a simplistic recipe and customizable aesthetic this cake is definitely a home run. I mean look at it!
Would you believe that this cake only requires two ingredients to make?
Just six eggs and four chocolate bars. Easy, peasy. Now I have to tell you that making this cake, especially in this "double decker" form, was a happy accident. I was inspired by this video, originally made by the beautiful Ochikeron of YouTube, where she created a beautifully simple cake with only two ingredients.
However, the pan that I used was actually too large in diameter and, by accident, I created a thin, thin version of her original thick, lush cake. However, to amend this mistake, I simply repeated the process another time, and instead of dusting the whole concoction with powdered sugar, I layered my two cakes together and frosted them with a simple whipped cream. Unfortunately, the strawberries I was going to use to decorate the cake and add a layer of "tartness" to the recipe had molded. =( However, I think the sweet chocolate and cream base of this cake would stand up well to any sort of fruit addition whether it be strawberries, raspberries or even cherries!
If you want a very clear, cute, articulate video tutorial of what you should do check out the video above! I've taken some photos of what I did here:
Recipe
Divide the egg whites and the egg yolks, while melting 160 grams of chocolate in a double boiler.
After the chocolate has melted and cooled whisk in the yolks...
...until it is fully combined.
Whip the eggs until they form firm peaks and add half of the whipped eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until fully combined.
Add the other half of the whipped egg mixture and fold it in gently with a spatula.
Line the pan with parchment paper, pour in the batter, drop it a couple of times to get rid of the air bubbles and bake at 330 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes (more or less depending on your oven)! If in doubt, always perform the toothpick test, by sticking in a toothpick or knife into your cake and seeing if it comes out clean.
With this cake I spent around $14.50 to get the ingredients, but I already had the baking materials at home to whip up this simple recipe. Best of all, this cake is also gluten-free (depending on what chocolate you use)! =)
Momism #4: As of late my mother has really, really gotten into the world of gluten-free baking. Which is amazing! Especially since I get to eat all the goodies she makes, however, she never follows the recipe exactly after the first time. She could make the most amazing, mouth wateringly delicious cake ever, but she'll never make that iteration again...she'll either add or take out ingredients to see what they do to the overall recipe. Honestly, mom, I love you, but JUST MAKE IT THE WAY YOUR ORIGINALLY MADE IT. IT'S DELICIOUS. LEAVE IT BE.
Experience
Some of my mother's favourite movies, with her favorite nail color, our most used clay face mask and some moisturizer
Honestly, my mom loves family the most. Last year my sister and I, created a scavenger hunt around the house that ultimately culminated in a "spa session", that included, a manicure, pedicure, massage and facial, and the whole family watching her favorite movie, "Kate and Leopold" with some popcorn. Best thing about this is, is that you can use items already found in your house, you just have to make the experience special and relaxing for your mom. Create an atmosphere! Light some candles, dim the lights, play the movie, and look up some Youtube massage videos. :)
Some drugstore face masks that I've heard good things about are:
available for around $7-$8, online and in stores. So you can use these guys for a thrifty and relaxing way to spend the evening.
It's also a great opportunity to try out some home made face masks and face scrubs. Of course, there are recipes all over the internet and YouTube, but I'm going to link some that intrigued me down below!
And I couldn't have a post in homage to my mother without her favorite TV Guru Dr. Oz. You can check out his recipes and homemade spa treatments here!
Momism #5: We tried to surprise her with a "movie sesh" in several iterations, but the scavenger hunt plan worked out the best. At first we tried to get her to "work out" with us, because she just bought one of those "exercise at home and lose ten pounds" dvds, and she never came. Even though my sister and I were using the workout session as a reuse, my mom completely avoided the two of us with chores, errands, and other mom-ly duties just so she could get out of exercising.
Crafty Ladiez
I must say although my mother is super crafty and amazing, none of those genetics passed down to me. So for those DIY-ers that can knit your mom something, origami a wish jar, draw or paint her something, and compose or sing for her....I'm jealous. For me, I definitely need to lean heavily on the crutch of technology.
My mom's office is quite sparse, so I thought I would combine her love for Vogue, fashion, and knitting, with making some small framed posters from the covers of Vogue Magazines. The internet can find everything now-a-days, so I've found some vintage Vogue Covers from her birth year and birth month. However, the only thing I would be careful about is image size. Unfortunately, even with all the magic of technology, you cannot maintain image quality if you're trying to resize a smaller image to a larger one. Do you best to find the largest image you can find on the internet or even go old school and go to the thrift shops about down to look for some old magazines with nice covers.
I printed the below images out on some glossy photo paper and framed them with some spare frames lying around the house. Photo paper seems to average around $13 dollars online, but you can even print your images on plain paper and then dress them up with the frames. =)
I'm too afraid to take out the little prints that I did, for fear that my mom will see them, but I'll let you guys know how her gifts were received.
Finally, perhaps the best gift of all is probably being nice to your mom. I know that my relationship with my mom can get pretty rocky sometimes, because we're both stubborn and headstrong, but be patient, kind, and pleasant. All the things your mom was to you when you were throwing up, ill, leaning some new math formulas or practicing piano...thank you mom. I love you! My mom deserves the world for dealing with all of my crazy. <3 div="" nbsp="">
As stated in the title, this blogpost is a contest entry for Nerdwallet's Mother's Day Contest, where you choose gifts under $25 to honor your mom. I encourage you all to apply and good luck to all the entrants!
I think she fits right in with the Vogue ladies! =)
