Sia's Chandelier Video

I have been hopelessly in love with Sia since I first heard Breathe Me.  That love just got elevated to a whole new level when I saw the video for her new single Chandelier.  Not only do I totally dig the song, but the choreography and the little girl performing it are nothing short of RIDICULOUS!

Watch it now - I dare you to try to not watch it again after that.

Blinging With BettyRay

If you know me, you know I can't resist some good bling. So you can imagine my excitement when I was introduced to BettyRay - an online shop out of Montreal filled with amazing pieces at amazing prices (win/win!!!). I kid you not - everything on the site is super cute and covet-worthy - you must check it out - seriously go. right. now!  I couldn't resist these double gold band rings, perfect for wearing separate or stacked on the same finger and this stunningly unique double stone adjustable ring. And since I seem to have a thing for all things triangles as of late - these large and small gold necklaces quickly found their way into my shopping cart.  

Already coveting a few pieces? I've got you covered! Get 20% off your purchase with code: lbb20.

The Best Harem Pants & How To Wear Them

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Each season, there is always something that I can't seem to live without. This past winter I lived in chunky mock neck sweaters and in the fall my distressed overalls rarely left my body.

This spring (if you want to even call it that), I've got a major hankering for all things harem pant. Structured or slouchy, solid or patterned, extreme drop crotch or subtle pleating - I'm loving them all. Besides being the most comfortable item of clothing in my closet, they just exude this effortlessly cool vibe that doesn't exist with some of my other coveted pieces.

Last week, I purchased the holy grail of harem pant perfection - the Eileen Fisher Jersey Harem Pant. If you are in the market for a pair, I highly recommended the splurge.  They are worth every single penny.

Check out these other awesome pairs that are sure to please!

Wondering what to wear them with?  You can't go wrong with a great cotton tee.  High/low styles work really well allowing you to tuck in the front without too much extra fabric.

Then top it with a great cropped jacket.

Delicious Passover Hazelnut Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

The ultimate test of a good Passover cookie is whether I'd eat it outside of Passover. These Hazelnut Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies from Smitten Kitchen certainly fit that criteria. They're wonderfully chewy on the inside and the roasted hazelnuts pair perfectly with the chocolate topping (obviously). This girl's giving these two thumbs up.

Full recipe here.

Week in Links #4

Pick of the week: *Aromatherapy Candles from Target  - on my recent trip to Target I couldn't resist roaming the isles in search of - well anything really! I stumbled on these adorable positive thought tin candles. They'd be perfect next to your bed for some morning affirmations.

Must read: *Why I Don't Wear Make-up - I've always adored Leandra Medine (aka The Man Repeller) but lately I adore her more for her intelligent witty writing then her ability to mutil-layer the unexpected and pull off just about anything.  Recently, she penned this essay in response to some very negative comments she's been receiving about her looks - give it read and tell me you don't love her?

You gotta make this: *Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken Drumsticks - I made this last Sunday night on a whim and was floored by how good it was.  The best part? I was able to throw my frozen drumsticks directly into the slow cooker! The acidity of the balsamic vinegar worked really well with the rest of the asian flavours.

Totally share worthy: *Beyonce's XO Remix  - it's Queen B, do you really need a better reason than that to listen? Download and put it on your iPod now.

How to:  *Style a Jumpsuit - love a good jumpsuit but have no idea how to pull it off? The Glitter Guide rounded up 7 killer looks to get you inspired and help you find a style that right for you.

Best Find: Target Maples Fretwork Rug

It's taken a couple of months but the quest to find a new rug for our living room has officially ended! The best part? The search ended with a random find from Target - which means we spent way less than we had planned and I seriously couldn't be happier with the way it looks.  

Love it as much as I do? Get it here.

Precious girl seems to love it too as she was fast asleep on it within minutes of us laying it down. 

Can't believe its from Target? I know right?  Check out these other awesome area rugs I found...

Week In Links #3

Pick of the week: *10 Crosby Derek Lam 2 in 1 Combo Top - pretty sure this is the best top I have laid my eyes on in a long time. And who can resist a good 2fer?

Must read: *5 Powerhouse Women Paying It Forward - get inspired by these amazingly motivating women and hear first hand what being a mentor means to them.

Totally share worthy: *Lana Del Ray's Meet Me In the Pale Moonlight - it's everything you would expect from her yet so much more. Equal parts ethereal lounge queen & pumped up perfection all wrapped into the perfect single.

Make this: *Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Banana Bread - I've made this a few times now - it's been a real winner with my hubbie. I actually played around with the ingredients and replaced the brown sugar with applesauce as I don't love my banana bread too sweet.  The result was super moist - but I did have to cook it a bit longer than what was called for.

How to: *Get The Perfect Beach Curls - I'm constantly working on achieving the perfect beachy waves. This tutorial has just 5 easy steps and I love the fact that it features a DIY organic beach curl concoction. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie + Top 5 Smoothie Recipe Round-Up

Chocolate + banana + peanut butter = my kind of delicious morning.  Whenever I'm rushed to get out the door in the morning, this tried and true smoothie recipe never lets me down.  The key to making it rich and creamy without being too thick to make it through the straw is freezing your banana the night before and omitting the ice.

Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipe:
1 cup almond milk
1 frozen banana
1/2 tbsp chia seeds
1 heaping scoop of chocolate Sunwarrior Protein Powder
1 tbsp PB2 (you could also just use 1 tbsp of your favourite peanut butter)

Bored with your current smoothie recipes? I've rounded up my top 5 picks for delicious and nutritious smoothies packed with loads of interesting flavours that are sure to perk up your morning routine.

1. Toasted Coconut Coffee Smoothie from KitchenTreaty.com
2. Apple Pie Shake from MilkingAlmonds.com
3. Chocolate Strawberry Almond Protein Smoothie from TheHealthyFamilyandHome.com
4. Peanut Butter Bomb Smoothie from OhSheGlow.com
5. Blackberry Coconut Smoothie from ScalingBackBlog.com

All You Need Is Love & A Good To-Do List

Things have been so crazy at work lately that I've found myself making to-do lists of my to-do lists. And while my love affair with Evernote (its installed on every device I own) is stronger than ever - I must say that nothing will ever truly beat the feeling of putting pen to paper and actually crossing items off my never ending lists.

Maybe the only thing better than that is finding a super cute notebook that's just begging to be used.  I picked up this Eccolo stunner at Indigo yesterday and quickly put it to good use. The cover just makes me smile - an added bonus on a stressful busy day.

Here are some other great finds I've come across the web:

Sneaks & Roses

Shoes - Aldo (similar here + here),  Voluspa Makassar Ebony & Peach candle, China Glaze polish (similar here), Benefit They're Real mascara, Sephora lipstick in Serial Dater, Benefit creaseless cream shadow in birthday suit and busy signal.

Week In Links #2

Pick of the week: *Essie Polish in Find Me An Oasis - This pastel blue polish with an opaque white base from Essie's spring collection is everything!

Must read: *Style Lessons from Rihanna - She's one badass beautiful, sexy and stylish bitch and the recipient of this year's CFDA Fashion Icon Award. We could all learn a thing or two from her approach to personal style.

Blog lovin': *MailModels.com - If you're anything like me, ie: a major sucker for letterpress and pretty stationary, you'll love this blog! Get lost in Erika's "written wardrobe" of beautiful notes.

You gotta make this: *Toasted Garlic Naan with Tomato Anchaar & Raita - Much of what's come out of my kitchen as of late has come from BigGirlsSmallKitchen.  Cara's recipes never disappoint and I have a strong feeling this deliciousness will be no different. Let me know if you make it.

Totally share worthy: *Billy Joel & Jimmy Fallon Form A 2-Man Doo-Wop Group - I think the title speaks for itself - just do yourself a favour, stop what you're doing and watch this right now! Then click replay again and again. (PS, I totally need to download this app.)

How to:  *How To Style A Kitchen Island - Even your kitchen island deserves a little sass! The uber darling and ever creative Renee Reardin gives us a step-by-step run down of how to make our kitchens look like they belong in a magazine.

Pink Pinspiration & Zara Mini City Bag

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If I had a dollar for every time I've said "I'm not a pink person"… 

You can see where I'm going with this. Anyone who knows me knows I own/wear very little pink and it's certainly not my first choice if given the option. Looks like I need to eat my words this season. I can't get enough of all the soft pastel pinks, blush tone nudes and dusty roses filling up my Pinterest newsfeed.

My first foray into pink is this utterly awesome Zara Mini City Bag in light pink.  I must have added it to my cart a half dozen times before making this purchase and I am so happy I finally did! It's boxy tote shape with great zipper details totally channels a Celine vibe but with a price tag I don't feel guilty about.

So what's next on my pink wish list? I've got my eyes these:

Spring Lip Line-up

When in doubt - apply lipstick.

It's a motto I live by - especially since I keep the rest of my make-up routine pretty neutral.  My growing collection of lipstick is a mixed bag of true blue reds, deep burgundies, outrageous oranges and hot pinks and you're more than likely to catch me lugging around at least 6 tubes at any given time (one time the count got up to 11!). With spring's palette of soft pastels and pale pinks, I've realized my lips could use a mini makeover, so I'm fishing out some tried and trues and introducing a few new hues.

*Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Lodhi - Unlike their velvet matte lip pencil (Damned is my fav), this finish glides on remarkably smooth. And let's talk about the actual colour!  It just might be the perfect 'not-to-bright but just bright enough' peach for spring. It really brightens my face without screaming "hey, look at my lips".

*Rimmel  Show Off Liquid Lacquer in Celestial - I'd been eyeing these at Shoppers for a while now after reading about them on several beauty blogs.  I resisted the urge to grab vibrant reds and pinks and instead opted for this beautiful shade of dusty pink.  I actually surprised myself with how much I loved the colour on my skin tone.

*Benefit Silky Finish Lipsticks in Skinny Dip (nude) and My Treat (warm pink with a hint of coral) - I really can't say enough about these Benefit lipsticks.  They're so moisturizing, it's almost like applying a lip balm but with all the saturated colour of a satin finish lipstick.

*Essence Stay Matte Lip Cream in Smooth Berry - $2.99! Need I say more? But if I must, I'll tell you this - the formula is super rich and jam packed with pigment. Don't let the price tag fool you, this budget buy delivers intense long lasting colour and the fact that it smells like fresh baked vanilla cupcakes is literally icing on the (cup)cake.

ELIZABETH MAYVILLE "TOP KNOT" PRINT

If you're the observant type, you may have gleamed from my profile pic that I dig a good top knot. I also have a thing for water colour illustrations - I've even dedicated a whole pinterest board to said love. So what would happen if top knot met water colour? I give you exhibit A - Elizabeth Mayville "Top Knot" prints.  Available on Waiting for Martha (here + here)

Trying to achieve that perfect 'I woke up like 'dis' messy top knot? Try your hand at this tutorial.

This Week in Links

Pick of the week: *LoveFresh Key Lime Coconut Lotion - this stuff literally smells like keylime pie. Besides the delectable scent, it's all natural formula, rich with avocado oil is incredibly moisturizing leaving my skin feeling hydrated and smooth.  

A must read: *Why adults should embrace glitter nail polish - Confession, this is an internal struggle I battle with all the time.  I love glitter polish! I swoon over others #notd pics. I want to wear it but when I finally decide to do, I walk around all week feeling like a 12 year old.  Say it with me - 'embrace your glitter side!'

You gotta make this: *Flourless Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies with Sea Salt - Did she just say "chickpea blondies"?  Hell yeah I did.  And I'll make you this promise, if you make these insanely delicious squares of heaven this weekend, you will 100% not regret it.

Totally share worthly: *A bulldog is a girl's best friend -Warning, cute overload. Pretty sure, I've gone back to this article about half a dozen times this week just because it makes me smile. 

How to wear it: *Find your orange lipstick soul mate - Yesterday, I professed my love for orange lips. If you're looking to jump on the band wagon, Refinery29 just did a brilliant round up of orange lipsticks for every skin tone.  

Lip Talk: Hourglass Liquid Lipstick in Riviera

Its been a cruel cold winter filled with endless days of heavy coats and clunky boots - some days it seems like the only way to inject a little bit a life into sub-zero temperatures is with a bold bright lip. For me, Hourglass Opaque Rouge liquid lipstick in Riviera is as bold and bright as they come. I mean, holy colour Batman! They describe the colour as tangerine and it totally appears that way on the wand - however once applied I feel like the colour is really more of a vibrant coral red.  The texture is super rich and highly pigmented with a velvety matte finish which I truly love about the product.  If you're not used to wearing a heavily pigmented lipstick - you might find the application a little tricky at first. I recommend starting with a clean bare lip that's been treated with a moisturizing balm (great options here + here). After applying, keep your lips apart for 10-15 seconds to let it set.  Resist the urge to press your lips together - you might feel silly but I promise its necessary for ensuring longer wear.  I can't say it delivers the 14 hours of promised long lasting wear but it certainly packs some serious staying power. Pair your orange pout with black liquid liner (I'm constantly replenishing my Stila Stay All Day liquid eye liner) and volumizing mascara (try Benefit They're Real mascara).

Above: swatches of Hourglass Opaque Rouge liquid lipstick in Riviera.  Top swatch is a light application, smudged to achieve a stain while the bottom swatch is a full application to achieve maximum pigmentation.

The Best Boyfriend Jeans & What to wear with them

Ah, the boyfriend jean...  I'll admit, it took me some time to properly embrace the true glory of their fabulousness.  When they first grew in popularity, I struggled to find a pair that looked cool but still flattered my figure.  Once I found the right style, there was no turning back.  They're perfect for a casual weekend of running errands but with the right accessories can certainly be amped up for dinner with the girls or a hot date.

Wondering how to style your boyfriend jeans? Here's my four step foolproof equation...

1. Find a pair of boyfriend jeans that work for your body type (the level of distressing is a matter of choice).

2. Pair them with a simple top.  If your boyfriend jeans have exaggerated ripping and distressing, stick with a slouchy white tee or a grey sweatshirt. A crisp white button down will look great with almost any pair, especially when tucked in the front.

3. Top it with a cute coat! A retro varsity jacket will keep the look laid back while a tailor peacoat in classic navy or a great print will up the chic factor.

4. Complete the look with great accessories. Add a punch of colour to your otherwise neutral look with a red tote and don't forget a killer heel or bootie.

A Striped Affair

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I've never met a stripe tee I didn't like. They are an essential closet staple and probably get the most wear out of any top I own.  But why stop there - a good stripe makes for a unexpected sneaker like this Tory Burch pair or these slip-ons from Joe Fresh  - a steal for only $24.  For a super chic effect, try layering your stripes. Don't be shy, throw on your bold stripe coat over your favourite striped tee - just be sure the stripes have a good variance in their thickness.

OOTD: TEES & SPOTS

PINSPIRATION: Pale Purple Hair

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Colourlust: Black, White & Red

Shoes - Vince, Tee - J.Crew (similar here + here), glasses - J.Crew, skirt - Joe Fresh (similar here), notebook - Kate Spade, cosmetic pouch - Forever 21