My closet: a brand new week

Last week was such a crazy one, filled with end of the year good-byes, packing, moving, and a lot of time (and hot dogs) at Ikea. Tomorrow I move into my new home and I'll be getting a jump on decorating as soon as I can. I can't wait to share it all with you! 

This past weekend I went out for a dinner-time stroll with my mom and sister, and we picked up food from the grocery store. I wore this outfit that day and it was perfect for  an afternoon of tea time, blogging and watching Friends.  

Yesterday, Louisa was sweet enough to feature me for her series 'Sunday Afternoon With..' and I'd love for you to check it out, if you'd like :) Her blog is adorable! 

I (finally) found an apartment!

After a long and torturous search, my roommate and I finally found an apartment for the summer! And we are in love with it. This week has been super busy with moving out of my old place and into the suite, but I can't wait to be settled in and able to really relax and call my new place home. I spent a large portion of this week at Ikea, and then putting together my new bed. It's finally done now and I can't wait for the lovely sleeps that I'll have on my comfy new mattress. 

These pictures are all images that I pinned, and they have been inspiring me while shopping and decorating the new place. I'm super excited to show you guys what the new place looks like in a few days when we are all set up! 

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend. Happy Saturday! 

My closet: a case of the mondays

I promise to have more words tomorrow, but today I am still recovering from the chaos of the last week! Potential news to share tomorrow.. keep your fingers crossed for me!

Happy Monday, lovelies! 

Bits & bites.

1. Delicious nachos that my boyfriend and I enjoyed when we went to a poetry slam last week.

2. Taking a stroll through a lovely little neighborhood.

3. Beautiful, and long lasting flowers to brighten up this busy time.

4. I drew bunting flags on my to-do list in an effort to make it seem a little less daunting.

5. The other dish we shared last week, yummy tortellini. 

6. A snapshot from the fashion showcase I had the privilege of attending this week.. more to come on that!

7. My weekend trip home last week consisted on lots of stripes, denim, and polka dots. 

Happy Friday! I'm off to keep studying for my last exam!

My closet: crazy days

These days, my life consists of:

1. Apartment hunting

2. Final exams

3. Finding found a job!

Needless to say, things have been a little hectic! I have four apartment viewings today.. please cross your fingers that at least one is lovely/they actually will give it to my roommate and I!

Happy Thursday!

DIY: painted wooden spoons

After seeing colorful wooden spoon sets all over my favorite stores and Pinterest, I decided it was time to try my hand at making my own. So, I picked up some wooden spoons and three paint colors that I thought would pair nicely together, and set to work. Care to make these yourself?

Here's what you'll need:

1. Wooden spoons; I bought matching ones but you could round up all of the random  spoons around your kitchen and make a set that way as well. 

2. Paint in your favorite colors.

3. Clear shellac spray; this stuff will make your spoons safe around food and people. 

4. Masking tape, to limit where the stripe of paint will go. 

5. A paintbrush!

All you need to do, is tape off where the paint should end, then go to town painting! I let the spoons dry upside down in mugs so that the paint wouldn't get messed up. I did 4 coats for each brush, to make sure the color was even. 

It's really quite simple, and you end up with an adorable little set for your kitchen! You could of course make as many spoons as you'd like. I also think they look cute stored in a clear glass jar. 

Will you try this DIY? Have you been loving the colored spoons that are popular lately?

My closet: messy hair and easy skirts

Lately I've been balancing out my favorite little skirts with messy hair that makes the look a little more day-appropriate for me. I wore this last weekend for a day of traveling back home, and it was so comfy! The jersey fabric on the skirt kept me happy when I was napping on my boyfriend's shoulder. The tie front blouse made me feel like a chic lady from the 40's and the yellow belt added a fun pop of color. 

How has your week been going? Any fun stories to tell?

My closet: cherry blossoms are my favorite

This weekend I took a little break from my end of semester studies, and headed to Vancouver Island for some relaxation and visiting. I spent a couple of nights there, including a lovely dinner at my boyfriend's family's house and some catch-up time with family and friends. It was such a beautiful and sunny weekend, and I tried to soak up as much of it as I could. 

I wore this outfit when I went for tea with my best friend Katie, spent some time with my parents, and dinner at my boyfriend's. The Gap pants (which are on sale!) kept me feeling comfy, while the little wedge heels made it feel more polished. My blouse (similar one here) has little polka dots and bows.. two of my very favorite things! So, naturally I was quite content in this little outfit all-day Saturday. 

What did you get up to this weekend? Are any of you busy studying for final exams like I am? What are you doing to maintain your sanity? 

A little tidbit for your friday.

This week has been pretty crazy, what with finishing up 2 of my classes and attempting to sort out a new apartment for the summer (!) and because of all of this, I didn't get a chance to put together a Bits & Bites post for the week, but I promise I'll be back at it next week! 

I made this poster the other day and I really think it symbolizes our kind of lady quite well. As a firm believer that we all have to earn our own sense of style, I try and constantly strive to wear both the trends and the classics in new and creative ways. That is really what this blog is about in a sense. Always challenging yourself to try something new and to maybe step outside of your comfort zone a bit! I think that Spring is such a great time to figure out what sorts of new and exciting things you want to do! I love making lists so I usually will write down a few goals for the upcoming months and tack it up on my fridge (with pretty washi tape!) so it's always there for me to aspire to. Currently I want to challenge myself to pull out all of my old summer dresses and style them in ways that I have never tried before. Also, I want to buy a piece of furniture from a thrift store for my new apartment and re-paint it. I always think it's so fun to challenge yourself in these little ways. 

What are you going to challenge yourself to do? Do you like writing lists of goals and new things you want to try? 

My closet: pretty neighborhoods and a poetry slam!

On Monday night my boyfriend and I took the train into town and made our way to a little cafe nestled in one of the coolest neighborhoods that served amazing food. Before dinner we took a walk around and admired all of the gorgeous houses.. I don't think I've ever said "look! look at that one!" so many times in my life :) At the cafe, we ordered a big plate of nachos and a delicious bowl of ravioli and watched as people read out poems that they had written! It was such a fun experience and I can't wait to do it again after final exams are over and life gets a little less crazy.

I wore a comfy outfit that consisted of some of my favorite go-to's at the moment. These pants from The Gap are a really different material but they're cropped and look sweet with little ballet flats. My blazer has served me well during this transition weather and this blouse is one of my favorite because of the pattern, and the fact that there is a huge pocket on the side! You can't see it in these picture, but check it out here. Also, I picked up this little head piece at American Apparel last weekend and I'm so in love with it! It looks like a scarf but actually has wire inside that makes it much easier to form to your head, and it doesn't slip off as easily as fabric alone. 

What sort of adventures have you been on lately? Do you have go-to pieces in your wardrobe right now?

Weekend recap.

my sister, me, mom/ flower pots outside a gorgeous old hotel/ my boyfriend and I/ Easter themed cookie house that we decorated on Saturday/ my dad and I.

This will be short and sweet, because I have to wake up for my (last) 8:30am lecture in a short 6 hours. But this weekend was a splendid one, filled with lots of yummy food and time with a few of my favorite people. I spent the majority of the weekend downtown exploring new areas of the city, that I am now in love with. Tomorrow is my last day of classes this semester, and thus the end of my 3rd year of university. I still can't believe how fast it is going by. 

Happy Tuesday!

My closet: easter weekend

This weekend turned out to be incredibly lovely. The sun was shining and I broke out the (very pale) bare legs for the first time this year. Going without tights was just a treat and it made the day even better. Brunch, city explorations, shopping, and copious amounts of tea ensued. Not to mention, a far amount of chocolate was consumed! 

The pieces that I wore on Sunday are some of my absolute favorites these days. The red skirt makes me feel like a lady, the blazer is incredibly versatile, and the striped tie front top reminds me of something that Allie would wear in The Notebook. 

How was your weekend? I'd love to hear about any adventures you had!

Bits & bites.

Finals are looming and my head is spinning. I did a big presentation this week that went well, and I am very glad to have it over with. But between now and next week, I need to finish 3 major assignments, including a website design, and 2 essays. Thankfully, this weekend is Easter and I will spend some of the time with family, so that should make up for my surplus of work and the potential late nights that are most likely on the horizon. In other news, here are some of the highlights lately:

1. Amazing frozen yogurt that I found recently. Sadly, it's on the other side of the city.

2. Eggs benedict. Enough said. 

3. The bench in a restaurant I ate in a couple weekends ago. How awesome is the pink and red??

4. Beautiful spring blooms in a window box on a sunny street. 

5. Well designed brunch menu that I couldn't wait to dig into. 

Don't forget to link up your own Bits & Bites in the comments! 

Happy weekend! Have a lovely Easter if you celebrate!

The prettiest clothes resemble easter eggs.

teacup / skirt / journal / blouse / shoes / bracelets are sold out! here's something similar / polishes

Every year, as Easter approaches, I start to crave pastel variations on my favorite colors. I think this phenomenon can mostly be attributed to the copious amount of mini eggs that are consumed around this time. Not to mention, I used to love getting new spring shoes for Easter when I was little. These pieces are all so sweet and would make me feel like I was completely ready for the egg hunt, or at least the tea party after! 

Are you feeling the pastel trend these days? Any other pieces that you found which have you excited for spring? Please, share!

The most mesmerizing thing I've ever seen.

I'm not sure that I can convey in words just how much I love these images. They absolutely captivate me! The intricate folds just makes my head spin. I have already stared at these for so long, and even while I type this I can't help pausing and taking all of the beauty in. Wouldn't these look amazing framed on a wall in your home? I would want a HUGE one, and then I would just lie on the floor and gaze at it whenever I wanted. There is nothing better than small, simple things that produce extraordinary amounts of beauty. So stunning. 

See you back here tomorrow, when I will have one less huge assignment to do. I also plan to be the proud owner of a little bit more sanity. 

Gorgeous images found via Pinterest, as per usual.