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"LOVE + MARK’D Stationery"
{ Wearing: Marvin Richards coat, BCBG long navy sweater (c/o), American Apparel leggings, Cougar Pillow Boots (c/o), Zara bag, Aritzia mittens, C.C Exclusives angora beret (c/o Barefoot Contessa – which has new Valentines LOVE + MARK’D cards in stock! }
Thoroughly enjoying a few days away in Whistler’s winter wonderland. Everything is white (much the same as Vancouver right now!), and there are enormous icicles hanging on rooftops. Women are dressing up their cozy looks with cute hats, fabulous scarves and chic winter boots. I’ll take this over a beach any day.
This Tuesday at 7:30am catch me on Breakfast Television for a fashionable segment on how to dress thin – find the right fit for the right occasions! Just after me will be our Mayor, Gregor Robertson!
TGIF! Happy Friday to all of you who are able to celebrate this weekend with no work, a frisky Saturday night and a delightful Sunday mid-morning brunch! Not me, unfortunately, but I will be preparing for a four day trip to Whistler! I love a getaway as much as anyone, but the timing of this one has me stressing. One week after we come home, (me and my boyfriend), we move. Together, to a wonderful new apartment in the heart of downtown. (So excited!) So, this means packing, sorting through old clutter and that a lot of my girlie stuff has got to go (my choice), like the very floral baskets in which I store my makeup in the bathroom. And little tiny decorative accents that men don’t quite understand, like these decorative jugs (for sale! Also for sale is my bed, this couch and a pair of Betsey Johnson heels.) I’m rather looking forward to a home with a new look. And to make it even more ours, we have paint plans! The apartment is currently a sad looking deep apricot color. We’re painting it an off white and then accenting various walls, starting with the bedroom. I plan to paint two opposing walls with grey stripes, much like this image (from Pinterest), sans the cream mini-stripes.
I think my mirrored furniture is going to look just perfect next to the grey! In the living room I think I’d like to do a feature wall in a warm taupe, but I’m not completely certain on this yet.
* I’ve got a real fever to sew something lately, I think my first project will be this dress
* I recently applied to be a vendor at the Make It show – do you make and sell your own goods? Check it out!
* Monika of The Doctor’s Closet just featured her favourite Valentines cards, LOVE + MARK’D is proud to be among them!
* Speaking of Valentines, I’ve just launched the LOVE + MARK’D “For Best Friends & Best Loves” Valentines collection! (A set of 4 different cards, and different from the above mentioned card)
* The perfect nautical top, available here
Up tomorrow the DIY project I mentioned a little while ago! Have a fabulous Friday!
{ Wearing: Zara leather bomber jacket w/ attached fur capelet (a DIY!), Cynthia Rowley petal-collar blouse, Zara belt, Jason Wu skirt, Browns ID shoes, vintage Raybans, Franchi clutch, Fossil rose gold watch, Bfrend bracelets (c/o) }
After quickly shooting my mood-fitting outfit this afternoon I am back at work, happily filling LOVE + MARK’D orders. The Valentines collection will be published tomorrow, and I’ll think you’ll find them just delightful. Many thank-you’s to Monika who sent over these adorable Bfrend bracelets! She definitely got my colors right!
A helpful winter hint: If you’re like me, you despise going to the tanning salon. Lying in that plastic bed, and then having your skin feel all tacky afterwards as you try and pull up your jeans. I much rather a St. Tropez spray-tan session with Cindy Leyland at Yaletown’s Beauty Mark! She gave me the perfect glow just before the holidays and my seasonal dresses never looked better. I highly recommend her services. Find Cindy on Twitter here!
Just flouncing about in English Bay…
My last post featured this new treasure: a Kate Spade that I just adore. And it was chalk of my “necessities!” As my second to last post of 2011, here is my second “what’s in my bag?” post! (Here is the first - WHOA look at that hair!)
{ From top left: LOVE + MARK’D cards: I always carry these now as people tend to ask what they’re about, much easier to show than to tell! Anna Sui lipstick: this is such a pretty and feminine pink, Chanel Chance lotion, Vaseline to cure those rough winter lips and hands, Benefit Hoola matte bronzing powder, Gal Collection Vaselina lip balm (c/o Barefoot Contessa), Essential Beauty brush, Pout blush in Pearly Queen: my most under-used beauty piece of 2011, Coach wallet, Blackberry (how I loathe thee), The Drake Hotel pen & Poppy Coach pencil (from a set) }
{ Echinacea: for trumping that sore throat! Mail: I am constantly at the post office sending off packages of pretty cards! Gallery Leather scheduler, uh ohh… need a new one in 2 more days! I would fall apart without this thing. Fossil watch. Keys with a Coach key chain that makes them remarkably easy to find, a Chanel USB stick (c/o a gift bag at a Chanel event about a year ago), Armani sunnies and oodles of stamps }
Thoughts… Looking into your bag and comparing it year upon year is rather interesting. My how life can change! And as we go into this new year, a perfect time for fresh starts, may I remind you that you most certainly CAN do anything you want. Just four months ago I was crazy enough to quit my job and pursue a little dream and selling my stationery. I had more than a few “grown-ups” with “real jobs” (a.k.a. conventional) roll their eyes at me. And fair enough, my vision may not pan out. But why not take the chance? Do whatever it is you dream of, there is near nothing more rewarding. (Or call me crazy. ;)) Bisous!
{ Another shot from the photo shoot with Jamie Lauren this past week – setting up this business was a huge goal for 2011! Wearing: H&M mens sweater, New Look shirt, Joe Fresh sequin shorts, Browns ID booties, Fossil watch, Storey Design leather bow bracelets }
With this impending new year comes the opportunity to redefine yourself! This is what I love about a new year, there’s something rather satisfactory about the idea of a fresh start. Deciding to re-organize your life or take on a new look is somehow less exciting in say, October. (Although, September does have a bit of the same allure, as Candy Pratts Price famously said in The September Issue: “September is the January of fashion.”) And so, I’m going to spend the next few days thinking about what I want my life to look like in 2012. I’ll start now:
1. I am going to commit to staying with an exercise routine. A classic example, yet somehow so hard to maintain! But having a job that entails sitting at a computer all day encourages the pounds to hit and stick, particularly around the waist and hip regions. Pounds be gone this new year!
2. I will be proactive with new ideas and get them going immediately, not sit them on a shelf in my brain where they will inevitably be lost. An idea is just never as good a month later. Maybe they have shelf lives.
3. I would like to write a book. I don’t know about what (there’s a mother of a problem) and I don’t know if it’ll really be my strength, but I have always dreamt of writing a book. I’m going to have to sit myself down and start scribbling.
4. I will NOT leave the house in sweat pants this new year. Now, it only happened a handful of times, but nonetheless it is unacceptable. I will not give up my Uggs though.
5. I will not procrastinate. Yeah right – that’s setting myself up for failure. Okay, I will procrastinate less! And not on the important things. I will be aggressive, be, be aggressive.
6. I will read more books (both novels and real-life accounts) so as to broaden my worldly knowledge and increase my vocabulary.
There we have it so far, the list that I hope will keep me in check in 2012 and make it a big, very-accomplishing type of year! Tell me, what have you got on the agenda books for 2012??
{ Wearing: Basix II dress, Chanel shoes }
I spent a good portion of today doing a shoot with Jamie. The shoot was for both StyleStruck – mega fashion, and LOVE + MARK’D! I can’t wait to show you all the rest of the shots!
OH MY HEAVENS IT’S ALMOST CHRISTMAS. Santa, please make my Christmas sparkly. Oh! And LOVE + MARK’D tweets now! Have a wonderful Wednesday night – you deserve it. Xx.
{ Monolo Blahniks worn last week (purchased in 2008) }
Checkout my Instagram gallery: detail shots from my past two weeks.
And find me on Instagram! Bisous!
P.S. I will be contacting recipients of the LOVE + MARK’D cards giveaway today!
You know what I love about Tuesdays? Well, this particular Tuesday? One, it is meant to snow today here in Vancouver (yes, yes, yes!! My Tretorn winter boots have been dying to go outside for aaages!) and two, today is Presents Tuesday!
I love you, you readers. You put the frosting on my cupcake, the sparkle in my diamond, the meow in my Marie. (Hahaa.) And I want to treat you! As you have been told a good many times may have heard I started up a little stationery biz and as such, I believe it is wonderful to send charming cards to those you love. So I want to send 25 of you a sweet note. Yes, 25! #LoveInBulk. Plus your very own card to go with it that you may send to your favourite person, and thereby as my my favourite hashtag goes: #SendSomeLove. = a pretty package in the mail from me.
{ I made this one for myself… }
{ Same case for this one, but I bet it applies to you too… oui? }
When was the last time something très jolie landed in your mailbox?? I want to make it happen! So let’s do this.
Two quick things to get your cards!: Comment on this blog post that you’d like to receive a card with your email address and “Like” LOVE + MARK’D Stationery on Facebook! Easy peasy.
And of course! Extra shots (think of it as stuffing the ballot box): Tweet, tweet, tweet! “@StyleStruck #SendMeSomeLove this year with a @LOVEandMARKD card! http://bit.ly/vHcFQA”
Stationery for all! Oh, sweet treats, they just make my day! I hope to make yours! xx
Fine print: Ends on Friday. Enter as many times as you like! Bisous.
{Wearing: vintage fur vest (once belonged to Mum), Talula army jacket, JNBY sweater dress (c/o), Fidelity denim, Converse sneakers, bag from Aldo. Yankees hat by New Era, aviators from H&M. Nameplate necklace was a gift.}
Spending the day attending appointments, a Main St. meeting and making cards. One fab thing about my line of work: everyday can be casual Monday, or dressy Wednesday – it just depends on what the boss says (me).
FYI – The next and last shipment of LOVE + MARK’D Christmas orders will mail on Thursday, arriving in the Vancouver, Lower Mainland area by Monday, Dec. 21.
The Christmas festivities are well underway: Saturday night was spent at Stanley Park’s Bright Nights Christmas Train! See picture tweeted here. (Wearing pink fur earmuffs from Holt Renfrew, coat from H&M.)
P.S. In case you missed it on Friday, here is my #FF feature on VanCity Buzz!
P.P.S. I wanna know, would you wear this outfit? If not, how would you wear the pieces? Tell me! Above, where it says comments. I dig your input.
And to continue with “All StyleStruck & Barefoot Contessa, all the time” programming, their blog is currently featuring my top picks for hostess gifts! (Along with a few well-placed Qs & As!) My giveaway with Barefoot Contessa for the delightful angora beret ends tomorrow! Comment to enter the giveaway here!
Thank you for all of your support. Xx.
