Stick this!

With the gift-giving season just past, I had to wrap many presents. Instead of traditional tape, this year I used glue for a cleaner finish. This glue bonds paper to paper in under one minute and has a precision tip for easy application. I can't wait to use it for my card-making adventures!

Quick-Dry Adhesive by Scotch

Rain, rain, go away

Whenever I feel like checking out some unique shoe designs, John Fluevog's creations never fail me. Mostly I just ogle the fun shapes and heels, but sometimes I spot something I really want. These yellow patent leather boots definitely fall into the latter category!

Mirella by Fluevog

Walking on the wild side

This dress has a simple silhouette, but the rest of it really is not so simple... There is ruching at the waist, a daring 7" slit, and of course the large leopard print. Rowr!

Magenta animal print dress by Just Cavalli

Fit for royalty

As someone who makes jewellery, I am very careful about not buying jewellery that I can make myself. That's why this necklace has me all atwitter. The soft watery green amethysts, better known as prasiolites, have a good depth to allow lights and shadows to show off the facets. How lovely this would be paired with a cocktail dress!

Green amethyst princess necklace by Anzie

Wear with tights

I once cut a picture of a yellow dress with a scalloped bottom out of a magazine and kept it for years and years until I lost it one day. This skirt reminds me of the dress except it has four layers of scalloping and is a different primary colour. Still, it is quite cute isn't it?

Scalloped elegantine skirt by Fred Flare

Next, they'll be eating sushi

If you want a stylin' baby, these adorable onesies are a must-have... They are teeny tiny kimonos for little ones up to 14 months and have snaps at the bottom for easy diaper changes. They even come in a variety of fabrics for the baby fashionistas!

Chichoo by Babymaci

Smooth moves

I can't rave about this gadget enough! Recommended by one Miss Brandy Bernard, this machine has 72 rotating tweezers to pull out unwanted hair by the roots, leaving a smooth finish. It is a great investment for those who wax regularly since it will pay itself off after just a few uses!

Emagine epilator by Emjoi

By any other name

A former coworker once told me that when a man gives a woman a gift, it should smell good, feel good, or look good. I would say this is a strong contender for the first and third, and it makes me feel mighty good! It has a lovely floral scent of rose, peony, and jasmine, with bits of clementine, cassis, and vanilla thrown in. How perfect!

Kimono rose eau de parfum by Thymes

Reuse, reduce, recycle...

Here is a neat way to show how you follow the first of the three Rs, environmental edition. A Brazilian cooperative committed to fair trade practices employs local artisans to crochet handbags using pull tabs from used pop cans. If I had this bag I would definitely (re)use it all the time!

Lenilda by Escama Studio

Quick cleaning

What's a girl to do when she's got fourteen million things to do and little time to freshen up her hair before heading out on a hot date? It's dry shampoo to the rescue! Made with natural starches to absorb oil, a little bit of this lemon verbena scented powder goes a long way.

Pronto dry shampoo by Oscar Blandi

Seeing things in a different way

Any of my friends would be able to point out that I have a thing for fish. I normally subscribe to the bigger-is-better philosophy when it comes to tanks, but this six gallon beauty is so unique that I would make an exception. The idea is to fill the water all the way to the top (there is room for air exchange inside the column) to allow for viewing even from the top - how cool is that? If I had my own, I would probably stock it with some algae-loving shrimp since the opening is too small to allow a regular thorough cleaning, so low-waste inhabitants would be the way to go.

Fluval Edge by Hagen

A glass to unwind

I spotted these recently and can't get them out of my mind... The light scent was lovely and I was intrigued with the idea of a candle that smells like wine instead of fruits, flowers or desserts. The lizard embossed packaging is also a very nice touch!

Chardonnay scented candle by Zinnia

Carefree casual

Comfortable clothing does not have to be boring and this coat is a great example. It is effortlessly stylish and the belt cinches in at the waist to give a defined shape:

Coat by Three Stones Clothing

Pink'd

These shoes may look like a mohawk, but when they are worn the pleated ruffles hug either side of the foot for a sexy fashion statement!

Pink satin sandal by Bruno Frisoni

Take me out

Lately I have become concerned with not only the environmental impact of using the disposable chopsticks that come with Asian take out food, whether they are for pho or sushi, but also with the cleanliness of the mass production process. So when I spotted red cutlery with heart-shaped ends, I knew they were keepers and snagged them right away!

Heart cutlery by Daiso

A ray of sunshine

There is something very cheerful about this bright yellow handbag and the extra large circular handle makes me happy for some reason:

Small pebble hobo by Bodhi

Under the table

I am always on the lookout for the unusual and stylish and this table fits the bill perfectly. The rope is impregnated with resin before being sculpted into the perfect foundation for a glass top.

Knoop table by Josh Urso Design

Lady in red

This poppy coloured dress is great in a professional office and can be pulled off the shoulders for drinks after work! Instant va-va-voom!

Off shoulder Camilla sheath dress by Black Halo

Oh ship!

Parties usually require ice, but why rely on the generic bagged cubes when you can use fun conversation starters? The silicone tray also does double duty and can be used to make little ship and iceberg jellos!

Gin & Titonic by Fred Home

Feather me this

Fascinators can have feathers, beads, rhinestones, lace, tulle, and flowers... What's not to love? This lovely white headpiece has goose, ostrich, rooster, and coque feathers and a vintage earring:

Reid fascinator by Lo Boheme

Lacy nothings

How cute is this little black dress? I love the criss-cross detail on the bust and the modesty piece in lace. It's girly and sexy at the same time.

Lace cocktail dress by BCBG

Hush little baby

I went to a baby shower yesterday afternoon where the food, fun, and laughs were plentiful. I brought a multi-item gift and one of the pieces was this adorable growth chart, which has space for attaching photos:

Growth chart by Rag & Bone Bindery

Grape, orange, raspberry, lime

I love to wear dark neutral colours and then dress it up with colourful accessories, and these 22kt gold rings would be perfect!

Candy rings by Marie Hélène de Taillac

Pour les vêtements

What a neat way to customize furniture! Instead of traditional nobs or pulls, words were cut out of wooden planks with a scroll saw and attached to a rescued dresser:

Le French Dresser by Wary Meyers

Where Joan is known as Miss of Arc

When I like a show, I like to tell everyone about it, and when it gets cancelled, it is a very sad day indeed. Clone High was a short-lived show that should have been around for a few more seasons and will be forever treasured.

Complete season of Clone High

Da da da da

iTunes is great for discovering music that would otherwise remain undiscovered. Today I found Martina Topley Bird, who has a lovely voice and worked with Tricky. This is her second solo effort:

The Blue God by Martina Topley Bird

Getting ready for fall

I love shoes. But I am very picky about comfort and arch support and non-slippery soles, as well as style of course. So when I saw these today I knew I had to make them mine. One day...

Thebna from Nine West

Drink me hot

My last week has been consumed with watching True Blood - what a show! It's well written, interesting, and I just can't get enough. This silk top with ruffled sleeves reminds me of the vampires and blood on the show, but it is so much prettier:

Wine short sleeved shell top from J by Jasper Conran

Look smart!

Although it is the middle of summer, I can't help but think of the wonderful fall fashions that are coming soon. And that leads me to my coat obsession, because there is nothing that makes me feel more stylish than when I am wearing a smart coat. I really like the simple lines of this design, which comes in a poly/wool blend with leather trimming:

Hilary from Mackage

Getaway

My former coworker Tatiana is organizing a girls weekend at her cabin, which reminded me that I need new luggage since my own pieces have been banged up on my trips to Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Europe. For weekenders, I prefer using the smallest bag possible to avoid unnecessary empty space (especially when there will be no possibility of shopping) and this 17.5" suitcase with light-up wheels would be perfect:

xcase Mini from Heys

Celebrate good times, come on!

Tonight I will be going to my good friend Elisse's stagette (aka bachelorette party aka hen night in some parts of the world) to celebrate her last few days of singlehood. Although we are dressing up for a sophisticated evening out, what would be better for a celebration than party tights? Wear these with a mini to maximize their wow factor:

Hanalei tights from ModCloth

Snowbunnies

Joe Mimran, a heavyweight in the Canadian fashion world and probably best known for co-founding Club Monaco, showed off the Fall 2009 collection from his Joe Fresh line at LG Fashion Week in Toronto earlier this year. Although I have doubts as to whether this down skirt would look good on anyone who is not model sized, there is something quite cute and innocent about it:

From Joe Fresh

Retro styling

I really like this little purse, from the vintage design to the beading to the wooden disc on the front. Although it's not shown in the picture, the bag has two metal rings on either side, to which the scarf-like handle is tied. Perfect for a summer evening on a patio!

Beaded flower print bag from Jamin Puech

Sweetness

It's about time I mention my jewellery line since I feature pretty things left and right anyway. And there's no better time to start since I am, in a way, writing about someone who likes the Kirsten earrings from my shop at aileen.etsy.com.

I got a message from Melissa, who was lucky enough to snag an Etsy treasury listing, which is a short term member-curated gallery to feature whichever items they want. And she chose my earrings! Here is a screenshot of her lovely gallery:


I was pretty excited to discover that Melissa also has her own shop of pretty things and I love this adorable crocheted hat with a satin bow:

Whipped cream from Crocheted4Kids

iWant

With the gamut of iPod chargers and docking stations available on the market, it can be hard to find something truly unique. Then along comes this ingenious piece... Made with wood from a forest in New York, this charger fits all iPod devices aside from the shuffle.

iPhone/iPod docking station from woodtec

In the wild

Sure, it's easy to get toys or clothes when you are invited to a baby shower, but why not find something that the adults can love too? These cute animal pillows are made with wool felt and are available individually or as a set.

Animal attraction pillows from Modern Dose

Bandage me up, please!

One shoulder dresses have always been at the bottom of my dress style list, along with bubble dresses and pouffy eighties prom dresses, but this black and white frock is truly stylish and sexy:

Assymmetric bandage dress from Hervé Léger

How's this for healthy?

I consider myself to be a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to instant noodles since I have tried a lot of the stuff. Oh, I turn my nose up at Mr. Noodles and other western store brand varieties, but if you take me to an Asian grocery store, I could kill serious time in the noodle aisle.

So I am very excited to share my new favourite, which comes from a major snack product giant. It has a fish soup base, is not fried (a rarity in the instant noodle world), and does not contain MSG. Although the writing is in Korean, the North American packaging has English and the name is the Korean onomatopeia for slurping:

HooRooRook from Nong Shim

Lace and l'amour

Lace is usually associated with weddings, nuns, and boudoir fun (what a combination!), but there are other ways to use it, like in this beautiful fan. I can just picture the titular character from Bizet's Carmen swishing this about and she flirts with Don José.

Red lace fan from El Havanico

Lounge affair

There is something incredibly indulgent about spending the entire day in pajamas. Whether anything is accomplished or not, it makes the time much more relaxing. These black and white hipster bottoms with wide legs would be perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon:

Promenade pant from Kushcush

Let there be light

My fascination with lighting did not surface until I visited my friend Tania in Toronto last May. When we were shopping along Queen Street East, I noticed a lighting store and was transfixed by the beautiful designs I saw through the window. Unfortunately the store was closed that day, but I knew right away that if I lived in Toronto I would pick my lighting from there.

This glamourous long chandelier from the Luminous collection suits me well because it combines simplicity with a little, (okay, a lot of) sparkle. Perfect for a dining room table!

Crystal chandelier from Vienna Full Spectrum

For the dames

Love the look of cat eye glasses but don't want to look like a librarian? This adorable black acrylic ring just may be the thing then!

Spectacles ring from Isette
PS - The shop also carries an equally amusing mustache ring!

Bat this!

I find fascinators fascinating. There's something about the feathers, sometimes the lace or tulle, and the obligatory floofiness of the whole design. If I was a cat I might bat at them. And I would definitely bat at this one since it matches a dress I will be wearing to a wedding in August:

Sin roses on comb from Monsoon

Trip to Brazil

The Brazilians really know how to start trends, from bikinis to, well, the brazilian! This sizzling two-piece has a croc print and the halter can be worn around the neck or criss-cross like this:

Britney from Poko Pano Couture by Paola Robba

Eye candy

Eyewear is truly my best friend and my worst enemy. I got my first pair of glasses at age nine and aside from the occasional pair of contacts, I have worn frames ever since. Laser surgery is not happening in the near or distant future, so I have made peace with the dents on either side of the bridge of my nose. In the last few years, dark plastic frames have been my calling card, but these ones in "pink" are super pretty (as are the ones in "havana" and "mandarine"):

Model 2929 from Gucci

Tie me up, pin me down

Accessories are like the icing on a cupcake: done wrong and it can ruin everything. But done right, it pulls your whole image together. Pair this ring with a little black dress for example... The 18kt white gold and pavé diamonds means you are serious about quality, but the design shows you don't always take things too seriously.

Safety pin ring from Ileana Makri

Fallen leaves

Although it was meant to be a short wedding dress, I think it would also work as a cute frock for any fancy occasion. My favourite part is the appliquéd leaves on the tulle dress (naturally).

Leif from Claire Pettibone

Slither my way

Who doesn't love animal prints? This clutch in shiny faux python is something to behold!

From Carla Mancini

Simply divine

Although all the songs are amazing on Torontonian Divine Brown's latest release, The Love Chronicles, it is the collaboration with Nelly Furtado that has me tapping my toes the most. Check out the song Sunglasses!

The Love Chronicles from Divine Brown