Lilly Pulitzer Backgrounds

The recent increase in summer storms has sent me jonesing for a new umbrella. I seem to have misplaced my trusty Monet umbrella, so I'm stuck with dripping hair and soaked clothing when caught in a storm.  I must admit I'm a bit picky when buying umbrellas, mainly because few have been able to withstand the heavy winds of Kingston.  So if anyone has found a sturdy, stylish, and affordable umbrella, or has tried one of the following umbrellas, please do tell! Compact Umbrellas: I love that compact umbrellas can be stuffed easily into a tote or backpack, but every compact umbrella I've ever used has been quickly inverted, bent, or torn apart. However, since I'm now living in Ottawa, which doesn't get such absurd wind speeds, I may be safe with something a little less sturdy. Of course this  Lilly Pulitzer umbrella is cute as a button and exudes happiness.  Pink and petite, it would easily go with the myriad of pink pieces in my closet and brighten up a rainy day. ...

I hope everyone has been enjoying the weekend and managed to avoid any summer storms.  We had a rather eerie day where the air was cool and crisp, the sun was a little weak, and a sweater was required even in the afternoon.  I'm hoping it was only a fluke, because I'm sure not ready for fall just yet! I want to hold on to my Lilly sundresses and flip flops for as long as I can! But without further ado, the winners of the giveaway are (using an online random number generator): For the eyeliner - Vanessa And for the lipstick - Suburban Princess Suburban Princess and Vanessa, I will be forwarding your email addresses to Margaret to let her know that you've won.  She's incredibly kind and helpful, and will help you find your perfect shades. Thank you so much to everyone who entered, and a great big thank you to Margaret who is providing the Mary Kay goodies!  xoxo,

For those of us not finding ourselves sitting in the front rows of Paris Fashion Week runway shows, visiting fashion exhibits in museums is the closest we can get to the magical couture runway experience. While some exhibits merely present the clothes on static mannequins, providing a rather dull retrospective, the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit was an animated and stimulating delight!  From the moment I walked up the stairs I was greeted with animated mannequins dressed to the nines in iconic Jean Paul Gaultier nautically inspired garb and mermaid-like ensembles. The Jean Paul Gaultier mannequin, as seen above, actually introduced himself and spoke about the exhibit in both English and French.   Incroyable ! This was perhaps my favorite piece, and one I most certainly wish could makes its way into my wardrobe.  With the ostrich feathers flowing from the bottom, it's a luxurious update on a classic striped nautical dress, and yet still alluringly simple.  Moving from roo...

Over the Canadian long weekend my family took a day trip to Montreal to do a little shopping, snap pictures of beautiful architecture, and peruse the vast retail offerings.  First thing in the morning, while my dad headed over to the Canadian Centre for Architecture, my mom and I giddily checked out the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.  Knowing we'd be visiting the exhibit, we made sure our attire for the day fit the spirit of designer, whose striped nautical shirt has become utterly iconic. We had a swell time venturing from room to room, gazing upon superb works of fantastical art. Luckily we were allowed to take pictures, so keep an eye out for my next post, to be filled with some of my favorites from the exhibit! And don't forget to enter the Mary Kay Giveaway to win two of my favorite beauty staples! xoxo,

A while back I won a navy weekender eye pencil from  SGL 's own Mary Kay giveaway (with the goodies provided by her sister Margaret, a Mary Kay beauty consultant).  Margaret very kindly included many samples along with the weekender pencil. I fell in love with the Sunny Citrus lipstick and eyeliner samples and stocked up on both.  After a couple of email exchanges,  Margaret has very generously offered to provide my favorite Mary Kay products as part of a giveaway to my readers! One lucky reader will get to choose any shade of the Creme Lipstick .  I have recently fallen in love with bold bright lips.  Most of my current lipsticks are from MAC, but unless it's matte, my lipstick seems to wear off the second my lips touch a cup of coffee. I was pleasantly surprised by how long the Mary Kay Creme Lipstick lasted. And even once the original color creme layer began to wear off, it did so very gradually, so I rarely had to reapply it.  So whether you'r...

Ever had something really good happen to you that you just knew to be too good to be true?  That something would inevitably ruin it?  Well that somewhat happened to me.  I had a job offer I was utterly ecstatic about, but after having too much difficulty attaining a work visa to the US, the job had to be given to someone else.  Such is life.  It happened to my brother after law school, and now it happened to me.  Thankfully it all worked out in the end for my brother (who is now working for one of the largest law firms in Miami, married to his law school sweetheart, and incredibly happy), so hopefully it will all work out for me too. The last month or so I've spent much time in self-reflection, trying to figure out what I want to do, where I want to work, and what my skills are after all these years of schooling.  Part of me wants to simply pack up and move to Europe, and another part of me is worried about not finding work after not hearing back from ...