Friday, October 28, 2011

San Francisco

Evening everyone! What a crazy time it's been: midterms, projects, quizzes and... a last minute weekend getaway to San Francisco! Sometimes, you just need a quick break from your hectic routine. But I can't believe I forgot my camera!Time to sleep! Tomorrow will be an early day full of surprises, shopping, spending time with family, train rides on the Bart and eating delicious food. Hello from San Francisco everyone!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Portobello Road, London

I've never been to London. Actually I've never even been to England! I have been to Scotland once. Anyways, if I was making the trip, I'd visit Portobello Road, the world's largest antiques market: vintage silverware, books, old cameras, decorative tassels, the old printing shop, walls of vintage sewing machines, fine china, silverware... it seems like a fun, eclectic and definitely colourful place to visit...Remember this? I loved watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks!


Photo sources (aside from a Google image search): Decorati Access, Oleg Skrinda, and Souvlaki for the Soul.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Voluspa Candles

Evening everyone! Yesterday was my dear friend Jessica W.N.'s birthday and it was such a lovely, cozy celebration. We ate delicious Lebanese food followed by three different desserts (pie, flan and cake!), got loud with a solid game of Taboo (it's the best ice breaker and the most fun way to lose your voice), and opened birthday presents while drinking the specially created tea for the birthday girl from her boyfriend (if Jessica were a tea, that tea was the aroma and flavours she would be, he said).
Now my gift was not quite as tasty or sweet as a personal tea but luckily it was a big hit with the star of the night: a Voluspa candle.These luxury candles smell amazing and are packaged beautifully! They really do add a bit of luxe to the everyday routine and your home. Created by husband and wife team, Traci and Troy Arnsten, Voluspa candles are clean burning and made from coconut wax! My favourites so far are the Baltic Amber and Vervaine Olive Leaf scents. Next time you see these in store, take a whiff!I bought it at Anthropologie but you can also find them in bookstores such as Chapters.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The Smokey Eye

As promised, a much lighter topic for this busy busy week's first post. Who doesn't love the classic smokey eye? Here's another great tutorial by my lovely Jessica W.N. of MUAHjwn. Enjoy and have fun with your makeup. I've got more great photos from the Interior Design Show West coming soon.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Give Up Tomorrow

Hola mis amigos! How are you all? I am, as usual, plowing through work and school (it never ends). I have to get a little serious with today's post.
On Thursday I saw one of the most incredible and heartbreaking films I have ever seen: Give Up Tomorrow (*warning: some of the images in the film trailer/website can be graphic).It is a true story about a high profile rape/murder case in the Philippines that brought out the worst and most frustrating of corruption and cronyism. Paco Larrañaga (along with six others) was accused and pronounced guilty of the crime which he could not have possibly committed.

"Amnesty International, the government of Spain, Fair Trials International, and the United Nations are unequivocal in the belief that for more than a decade, Paco has been paying with his freedom for a crime he did not commit. Indeed, some 40 people including classmates and teachers from the culinary school he attends – along with photographic evidence – place him hundreds of miles from the grim crime scene."

It's difficult to sum up a two hour film that sums up a 14 year case in one blog post but please take a moment to check out the film website. Please help free Paco with you support.
Thank you and more pleasant topics to come!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Design*Sponge at Anthropologie, Vancouver

Well, as I expected, Grace Bonney's book signing event at Anthropologie was fabulous. Everything about the event was inspiring: the book, the author, the people in attendance (great outfits all around), the employees (so friendly and cheerful), the products and their displays! I couldn't resist taking a few snapshots. Enjoy!

I wasn't the only one with my camera out! And how I would have loved to bring that bolero home... and an initialled mug!Lots of fun outfits walking around the store. Glittery gold shoes, double panelled leggings, and my favourite look of the whole evening: The Girl with the Lace Skirt. (Click to zoom)
As this adorable young boy was reaching for cupcakes, I couldn't resist snapping his picture! Let me share the dialogue that happened just before he reached:

Boy: I want anothew cupcake
Mother: Well, you can have another one now but then no ice cream later. You choose.
Boy (short pause and with a thoughtful expression): Hmm... that's okay. I'll just have the cupcakes now instead of the ice cweam!

Yes. That table is made of rolled up magazines... I think! And there's a lot of great shoes in this shot...
I love this cutlery set! If I needed more cutlery, I would have bought these.