It's been that kind of week...

Lovelies,


I'm not going to write a lot...I've been in a terrible mood this week so I worry that anything I write will just turn into a b*tch-fest...and you don't want to hear that! (Trust me.)


So I'll focus on the clothes. Clothes make everything better.


Here's what I wore on Tuesday...

Striped Top: Joe Fresh Style | White Cropped Jeans: Gap

Vintage Faux Pearls: Vendor at Great Glebe Garage Sale | Sandals: Payless (old!)

I have become re-obsessed with friendship bracelets. (I say re-obsessed because I was all over these things when I was a kid!) 

Last summer while travelling Peru and Bolivia, D and I picked up all kinds of bracelets cos they were so dirt cheap (like 30cents for 5 kind of cheap!) and we tied one on in each town we visited. By the time we got home we had an armful of bracelets, but they were pretty gross and stretched out so I sadly cut them off. But while digging through crap this weekend, I rediscovered a baggy full of them from Bolivia (including left and right above) and tied them on...nothing says summer like colourful friendship bracelets! To top it off, my manager's neice came into the office a few days this week and brought with her a rainbow of coloured floss and proceeded to spend her days knotting us all bracelets (middle above - I've since added another of her colourful creations to my wrist!)...we were all over that shiz! I just *love* it! Something nice and colourful (and so simple, really) to help get through such a crummy week.

xo J.

Packing

Thanks to this 4-day weekend, I had plenty of uninterrupted time to pack for my trip. So I had a little fun with it. I turned on some jams (hellloooo UK playlist!) and played dress up for a bit putting some outfits together for my days and nights in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. 


Here's what I packed for two weeks in the UK:

five tanks

(Top-Bottom):  lace-backed tank - Smart Set; blue tank - F21; navy henley tank - F21; fuchsia tiered tank - Old Navy; watercolour tank - American Eagle

three tees

(L-R): white v-neck tee - K by Kersh; grey v-neck tee - American Eagle; peach artist tee - JCrew

five long-sleeved tops

(L-R): striped tunic - Jules and James; striped button top - F21; navy striped top - Zara; black crop top - American Apparel; v-neck rolled sleeve top - TNA

(PS: I only packed three striped tops...I have about 7 and had originally planned to bring 2 more!)

two 'other' tops

pink shirt-sleeved sweater, lace linen tunic - both H&M

two cardigans

both Old Navy

two 'going out' outfits

Paisley Tunic - H&M; Black Mini-Dress - Urban Behaviour

(Note: I don't plan on going out only twice...I just plan on hitting up casual pubs more than dress-up clubs...I think.)

two pairs of jeans and one pair of shorts:

white cropped jeans - Gap; dark jeggings - Old Navy; khaki cuffed shorts - Gap

(Not pictured - three pairs of black leggings - essential!)

two jackets

green army-inspired jacket - H&M; black rain jacket - Columbia

two scarves

leopard-print scarf - Gap; pink scarf - gift from D's parents

four pairs of shoes

OTK boots - Suzy Shier; gladiator sandals - Target; flats - Spring; chucks - these puppies are so old I can't remember where I bought them! 

three bags

black canvas cross-body bag - H&M (I bought this when was on exchange in Tampere, Finland in 2005 and I've brought it on every trip I've taken since then); small brown saddle bag - XOXO via Beyond the Rack; black leather clutch - Gap

too many accessories

silver bangle - F21; silver chandelier earrings - Expression via The Bay; silver teardrop earrings - Expression via The Bay; large pearl studs - F21; bronze half-moon earrings - Smart Set; Indian-inspired green loops - gift from J; black lace earrings - H&M; bohemian leaf earrings - F21; gold peacock earrings - H&M; sunnies - F21; b&w feather earrings - Aldo; long charm necklace - Target; long gold leaf necklace - F21

And for fun? My ipod (I've finally jumped on the Angry Birds bandwagon...I know, about time right?!), The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (my book club's next pick) and The Rough Guide to Britain (after 2 strikes with 2 separate Lonely Planet's, I'm trying something new).

And so that's it lovelies. As of tomorrow afternoon I'm off! I didn't have time to organize posts while I'm away, so please stay tuned and I'll be sure to come back as soon as I can! Have a lovely couple of weeks!

xo J.

FBFF - Friend Friday: Spring Trends

After a hiatus last week, I'm back to FBFF this week. And I'm super excited about the topic - Spring Trends!


What are the top 5 Spring trends that you are looking forward to seeing/sporting this season? 


Not sure how much of these are on the Official Spring 2011 Trend Alert, but here are 5 things I'm loving this spring: 





FBFF - Friend Friday: Spring Trends by TheJMay featuring crop tops


Leopard Print 
I just love the little hints of leopard print that have popped up this year. I think adding just a hint of it adds some fierceness to what could be an otherwise drab outfit. 


Wide Leg Jeans 
After years of skinny jeans, it's refreshing to see some flare again. I love the look of huge jeans with an awesome pair of platforms underneath. Kendi and Krystal both rock this look. 


Stripes 
I know this isn't a trend new for 2011, and stripes have been around for a while, but I still see them everywhere and I still wear them allthetime. I don't know what it is about them, but I just love the classic French look. 


Earth Tones 
Colour blocking is huge this season, but it's not a trend I've been able to master myself. But thankfully spring 2011 seems to be a dual-colour-palette year and earth tones are also hugely popular. 


Mulberry 
I just love love love the Mulberry bags I've seen all over the place. Must. Find. Acceptable. Knockoff Inspired Piece.


xo J.

Breathe

Today's outfit was inspired by a photo a co-worker sent me of an outfit she loved from Anthropologie. Here's Anthro's version:

And here's my version:

Apologies for the super wrinkled skirt - this was after an unbelievably long day.

Striped Top: Target

Khaki Skirt: Zara

Belt: Urban Behaviour

Flats: Spring

Bracelets: Expression (The Bay)

Apparently the themes of the week are frustration, stress and stupidness. And today was no exception. Thanks to a certain someone at work, the washing machine on my floor that ate both my loonies, the drunk guy on the bus who chose to pick a fight with the driver, and my panty hose.

But instead of focusing on the bad today, to keep my sanity, I've made a list of all the things that made me happy today:

1. My new skirt.
2. My new shoes (although these started hurting my feet by the end of the day).
3. Wearing a spring coat for the first time this year.
4. (Most of) the fabulous people I work with. 
5. Homemade soup.
6. Homemade lavender cookies.
7. Coming home to watch episodes of my favourite 1990s British sitcom, Keeping Up Appearances. 
8. This video, courtesy of one of my besties Ray-Ray, which explains how I felt at approximately 2:00 this afternoon:

Inhaaaaale......Exhaaaaaaaaaaale.


xo J.

Bleh

This has been a tough week, ladies. A hectic, busy and frustrating week. But have no fear...I have lots of excellent things planned for the weekend to make up for it :)


Here's what I wore to work Monday:

Striped Turtleneck: Pure by Alfred Sung for Zellers
Skirt: George
Belt: Free with a Smart Set skirt
Shoes: Aldo
Faux Pearl Studs: F21


Keep trying to remind myself to breathe...only 3 days left in the week...and 2 weeks left in this month! Inhale..........exhale.


xo J.