Let's Just Pretend it's Spring, Ok?

No, it is most definitely not spring around these parts but then a complaint from me about our bi-polar seasons has become a bit cliché so I'll switch things up and keep it all on the positive tip!

So here's this months (super random) list of stuff I'm digging....

I took the leap and had my darling Vietnamese nail-guru file and shape me up a set of stiletto nails. Of course I had to scale down the length and sharpness...I'm not Rihanna over here.

Good bye square/oval french tips, till we meet again...

I've been feeling a strong attraction to pants lately. Not jeans, or leggings. Pants. As in trousers or "slacks" as my dad calls them.

Vince Camuto's boldly colorful pants with a flat, high waist and tapered leg are flattering and perfect for summer. I grabbed a cobalt blue pair from Winners for $39.00...

{I'll be rockin' the color block....just as soon as the snow melts and stuff. Ugh}

Moving on to TV talk, I'm just plain bummed that Showtimes House of Lies is over for the season.
 I loves me some Marty Kann (Don Cheadle) and Jeannie Van Der Hooven (Kristen Bell).  It is just so so soooo good. The writing is original and beyond clever. If you're not watching it already then start. You've been told.  (click the link above to get the 411 on it.)

What can I replace this with?!   Suggestions please...

Ok next...it's no secret that I really dislike camo clothing on women (and children) but straight military green/olive is a favorite of mine. I finally tracked down a decent anorak jacket that's perf for spring from Old Navy.

{manly? maybe, but cute too!}

And finally I'll tell the world how I'm super into the cutest little Hawaiian crooner around, Bruno Mars.

YES his music is overplayed to death but his talent is so under-rated. I caught him on an SNL re-run a few weekends ago from the show he did back in October.
The boy was born to perform and entertain...kinda like Justin Timberlake (but shorter, ha!)

Cheekbones, Adele and Contouring Magic...

What makeup magic illusion technique can give more bang for the buck than a bucket-full of Botox and Juvaderm combined?....contouring and highlighting.  

Strategic placement of bronzer and highlighting powder/cream creates definition, impact and the all important slender-ization of the face. The right balance of product application and angle can create shadows, lightness and the illusion of supermodel-like cheek bones.

It may be an 80's/early 90's idea but well placed contouring can lift your cheekbones to the heavens!

{These girls know what time it is...time to contour}

Most recently Kim K. has been the poster-child for the power of contouring and we've all seen the amazing skill of her makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic.

She's no little lady but Adele always looks gorgeous with flawless classic makeup and a hefty amount of strategic face contouring. Her cheek-bones could cut someone at this years Oscar's...

She is proof-positive that the right tone of contouring powder does not have to make you look like you rolled in a bowl of Cheetos. 

I personally prefer a matte finish contouring powder without shimmer or glitter. A beige-brown tone tends to work better than an orange-brown tone and it should be mentioned that a contour product is not the same as a bronzer.

 Bronzing accentuates the places that the sun would hit your face naturally...cheek apples, bridge of nose, forehead. 

Contouring accentuates hollows and curves of the face creating definition and dimension. 

My go-to contouring products are...

Benefit Hoola, a perfect mid-tone matte contouring powder

Nars Laguna Bronzer. Overpriced but popular.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. Smells like hot cocoa heaven...

NYC Sunny Bronzer. A fairly decent dupe for Benefit Hoola and about $20 cheaper!

Of course contouring is nothing without the right brush. My current most-used brush is this Real Techniques Core Collection powder brush. I pinch the brush bristles together to create a really intense line under my cheek bones then buff it out with a fluffy kabuki brush to minimize any harsh lines. 

So have you discovered the magic of face contouring? 

Who wouldn't want the appearance of a lifted chin, a refined nose and amazingly defined cheek bones? 

....and is Adele not a vocally-gifted-Oscar-award-winning-British-goddess-of-beauty?

Yay, Nay or BURN?

What's cool and what's not is pretty darn subjective, especially when it comes to clothes and makeup.  Here's some looks that have been on my radar, some that I'm on the fence about and some that can just rot in you know where...

Ok so jazz up those jazz-hands! Why not get creative on the forth finger with an accent nail...provided you don't have shaky hands (like me) it's a chance to get crayzay with your manicure....

But what about the long pointy-style, sharply filed Stiletto nails that are everywhere. Is this a go or a no? Maybe for Rihanna and Gaga but for everyone else?...

Spring doesn't arrive for another 3 months in these parts but floral blazers are perfect for knocking out my winter funk...

This is a carry-over from last spring and I might be late to the party but I love sequin tribal print skirts. SO cute, but so short? Vero Moda had a great one last season...should have grabbed it when I had the chance.  :(

Mac's Rebel lipstick. This is THE colour this spring...in my mind anyway. It's bold, berry bright and fabulous.

It's seriously dark looking in the tube, but don't let that scare you ...the impact it creates is amazing.

via the gorgeous Camila Coelho

Look at how pretty it is on,,, I can barely stand it!

A few almost perfect (and wayyy cheaper) dupes instead of MAC are Wet n' Wild's 908C and Covergirl's 335 Embrace.

I dare you to try something this bright and bold...

Ok, moving on to a trend that I'm really on the fence about, the wedge sneaker. 

Yay or Nay? I do not know...

They're in the stores everywhere but I've yet to see even ONE person wearing them. Obviously its a casual look but what do you wear them? Skinny jeans and....???

So now can we talk about a true fashion travesty that has to be stopped. Like stopped right now.

The crop top.

Shield your eyes and hide your children.  

Yes, I'm talking to you Miley Cyrus. You're a cutie but stop wearing this shiz right now. 

BURN your crop tops, or else I'll tell daddy Billy-Ray to step in and send you to your room for a time out... 

So what trends are a Yay, Nay or BURN for you this spring??

Greatest gowns ever...promise!

Christmas is done and dusted and my mind is starting to dream about spring fashion already. {Though let's not get ahead of ourselves, we're still trudging through snowbanks and slush in these parts.} 

 Pastels, florals and bright color is only a few months away but until then I'll distract myself with all of the completely gorge gowns that are cropping up during this years award season.

Let's discuss the man who can design no wrong... Lebanese born, Zuhair Murad. 

His dresses are beyond ah-mah-zing with JLo, Blake Lively, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and Sofia Vergara included in his club of loyal celeb devotees.
 His use of color, bead-work, draping and lace are all beyond the beyonds.... 

via

via

Everyone that dons his designs end up on best dressed lists. You literally cannot go wrong if you throw on one of his dresses!?
Take note cuz I'm talking to you -Nicki Minaj, Christina Aguilera, Shenae Grimes, LeAnn Rimes, and Kathy Griffin....

The List: The best part of Christmas

Yup, only five more sleeps till the Man in Charge arrives so there's plenty of Christmas everything all up in this place.

Our real tree is decorated, our not-so-classy Christmas lights are on outside and the kids obsession with the upcoming holidays is just about maxed.

Like everyone else, this month has been crazy busy. We've had concerts, kids x-mas parties, birthday celebrations, a baptism (as always?) and a bridal shower and we're just getting warmed up!

{Mantle magic...}

{Christmas cocktails...}

{Christmas concert Super Star...}

Even though it's hectic, here are a few things that are especially GOOD about this time of year:

• The (behavior modifying) Elf on The Shelf is working double time.
• Egg Nog is on sale...the kids love that stuff?!
• Mama's done her shopping. That's right, the mall can sook it! I'm not going anywhere near it, till next year...
• I've had no qualms about eating Baked Brie three times already this week.
• Christmas break begins tomorrow. Bitches be SLEEPIN' IN...
• You can never get tired of the smell of Apple Cinnamon candles burning. NEVER.
• "Last Christmas" by Wham.  'Nough said. 
• Candy Cane Martini's and Champagne can be classified as their own food group. 
• Sequin's, heels and glitter are in charge of all fashion. 

{Elf Shenanigans never get old around here....}

{O Tannenbaum...}

And through all the busyness I've still found time to apply quickie candy cane mani's. 

Good Lawd I have an un-steady hand!

The trick is to keep your fingers moving so no one can focus on the crappy application...

We got a family Christmas party coming up on Sunday night,

I'm thinking about wearing something like this..

I'll tone down the accessories and sadly won't be wearing heels in the house (since that's no bueno here in Canada...) 

Hope you all survive this Christmas season and are able to slow down for a bit and enjoy it with those you love.  

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...

November Loves!

Ok, truly, November is absolutely flying by. Wasn't Halloween a few days ago? No?...so I guess this means it's almost time to start thinking about all things Christmas. 

 It feels early still but this week is American Thanksgiving (Canadian TG was last month) and it's my mental marker that Santa is soon to be live and in full effect!

I'm gonna throw at you a list of the things that have been making me really happy lately. I'm always a fan of talking about the little things in life that make your day awsome-er.  (strictly material items only...we're keeping this super superficial...) 

I'm really liking a bright blue-ish pink lip colour. Demi Lovato has been wearing this sort of look a lot this fall and I think it's striking with a bold, winged out eye liner.  NYX's Matte Shocking Pink is the perfect shade.

{Ok, ignore the pink hair tips and focus on her makeup,  young and fun right?  Though since I'm old I promise to leave my spiky jean jacket at home.}

The darker the nails the better! I went ahead and had a Shellac gel set done a few months back. I liked it but prefer to be able to paint over my regular french gel nails with whatever colour I choose...and right now deep burgundy/black is my fave.

When will I get tired of these RayBan Aviators? Apparently never.  They're classic and seem to go with just about everything I wear.

 Money. Well. Spent.

Even though I'm becoming more of a red wine lover this time of year cuz it's cold as heck and something about red wine says winter,  I'm still loving Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand.  New Harbor is my affordable favorite at the moment. It's fresh, crisp and super drinkable. This beverage brings me JOY. cheers.

{Watch- Michael Kors, Spike Bracelet- Aldo Accessories, Feather Friendship Bracelet-Winners}

Here's my current wrist stack. I change up the number of pieces and bangles every so often. 

5 years ago if you would have told me that I would wear this much gold I would have scoffed at the thought. 

The ancient Egyptians were brilliant about a lotta things, including their love of gold jewelry stacked up the arm. More is more!

{ignore janky iPhone self-pic}

I'm still ga-ga for my hair weave. Extensions are magical strands of happiness sent from above.  I've had my weave tightened once already and decided to chop them by an inch as they were way too long. (Yes I understand the whole point is to have longer hair but they seemed a bit unmanageable at 14 inches.)

Once you get past the headaches from the tightness of the cornrow braids along the back of your head, it's really not too bad...no pain no gain?

And finally, I'll ask the angels to stop singing for just a moment while I mention these almond brown, tall,  Tory Burch Amanda riding boots.  A new T.B. store open in Chinook Mall this fall here in Calgary and it really is the Mother Ship for all things wonderful.  

If only there wasn't already snow on the ground, I'd wear these everyday everywhere...shopping, working, eating, sleeping...etc.

What's your favorite "thing" this month? A hair product, lipstick, pair of shoes or something else completely? Share!