Rare Treasure

What to Wear//Denim on Denim Version

2012-02-01T07:17:00.012-05:00

denim jacket-levi's

silk shirt-vintage

jeans-jbrand

shoes-UO

accessories-all vintage

This outfit has not been worn yet, but will be soon, I think. I love the canadian tuxedo! Actually, I think I just love that an all denim outfit is called that. I picked up this cropped Levi's jacket the other day at Sally Ann for 5 bucks and it planted the seed of a double denim outfit. Potentially too much blue, but I think if the shirt is tucked in to the jeans, and only peeks out of the jacket, it will be alright. A bit of colour with the scarf rolled up and used as a hairtie, and my other all-time favorite, the owl necklace. I have many of these, some vintage, some not and I love them all. I've owned these jeans for a while, but rarely wear them because they require a really tall shoe, but I am going to try and change that this year. They are too cute to just sit in my closet!

Teenage Inspiration

2012-01-30T14:12:00.001-05:00

This is one of my favorite books. I received it as christmas gift many years ago, and I pulled it from the bookshelf today to have another look. I watched the movie The Wackness last week (which, ps. if you were a teen in the 90s you may enjoy, as I did) and since then have been having some kind of teen nostalgia or something. It's funny, because my own teenage years were not the type depicted in movies or books full of crazy, wild times. In fact they were quite the opposite, so it's sort of a nostalgia for a time that never existed in my reality.

The photographer is Joe Szabo, who was a high school photography teacher from 1972-1999. So many great images, some you may have seen before including the smoker who was on a Dinosaur Jr album cover (another piece of 90s nostalgia!). My style quite often tries to emulate the late 70s, early 80s girl and I love the casual vibes, the tough attitudes, the cavalier smoking...all of it really. You can check out more of his amazing work here.

Vintage Look//60s Style

2012-01-27T07:55:00.004-05:00

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Love the eyes! If only I were bold enough to try it...(and maybe 10 years younger.)

Have a super weekend! xo R

The Best

2012-01-23T17:13:00.002-05:00

Last monday was especially 'january-ish' for me. One of those cold, ugly days that seem never ending. I knew what I needed to make myself feel better. I allow myself special january treats like getting a tan (which is generally something I never, ever do) good takeout lunches, and fancy lipsticks. (You gotta do what you gotta do to get through the winter, right?) So last monday I decided it was the day for a fancy lipstick and I bought this Bobbi Brown one. And I must say, it is probably the best red lipstick I've ever had. Not too blue, not too orange, simply red. I've been wearing it all week, and getting lots of "oh, red lipstick really suits you!" It does when it is the perfect red! Two other candidates for my January best... Tocca 'Stella' solid purfume. A christmas gift from the mister, and it is the perfect everyday scent. Floral and slightly sweet, it smells just like springtime to me. And the best winter hand cream out there, in my opinion. Very moisturizing, but not too greasy, in a cute daisy tin. It may seem silly, but sometimes, especially in these winter times, small little treats like these really do make a difference. Got any winter must haves I should know about? Do tell!

Apartment Envy

2012-01-16T22:26:00.001-05:00

iWow, imagine if that sunset view was yours every night? Uh-mazing. See more here.

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Vintage Look//Have a Chill Weekend

2012-01-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

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Hey guys, hope you have a swell weekend! Mine is set to be pretty low key. I have plans to make croissants from scratch, and that is pretty much all that is on the agenda. I'm super excited about this, but also nervous, because there are like a million steps and it is going to take forever. But, I hope it is worth it...I will let you know the results next week! talk to ya soon, xo Robyn

4 Favorites

2012-01-11T07:08:00.001-05:00

A few things that have caught my eye recently....

1. Marbled cat coasters by Ann-ya. Need these in my life!

2. Milk Bar Cookbook. I received this as a christmas gift and have been reading it nightly like a novel. So many good recipes to try.

3. Beautiful geode necklaces by Nobletown Vintage

4. Vintage ankle boots from James Rowland shop. I've been wearing ankle boots everyday this winter, I think I'm ready for a second pair to change it up a bit.

Ways to Tolerate Winter

2012-01-09T22:01:00.000-05:00

Best way to beat the winter blah, blah, blahs?....cozy hangouts with friends in places with warm lighting and good beer (even if said place feels like it has no heat)....

...and delicious meals with lots of laughs and a vanilla bourbon cocktail. Last weekend, some friends and I waited the 1 hour to get a table at Grand Electric, and I have to tell you--so worth the wait! I thought about that meal the entire next day and cannot wait to go back. This winter has been pretty easy so far...not really cold, no snow. But even still, winter still gets me down, so it's nice to spend some time with quality peoples. What are your tricks for beating winter? I'd love to hear, I need all the help I can get!

Vintage Look//Friday Edition

2012-01-06T09:04:00.001-05:00

January days can feel so long (even though they are technically so short)....who's ready for the weekend?

I know I sure am!

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See you next week! xo Robyn

New Fave

2012-01-04T09:12:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, while I was christmas shopping, I came across this beauty of a necklace. Usually, when I totally fall in love with an object, it's always way out of my price range, but I was happy to discover this was not the case and I quickly snatched it up. I love the shiny gold panels and its art deco vibe. Made by Wolf & Moon, definitely a shop to check out, there are lots of great pieces, and all very affordable.

Hello 2012

2012-01-03T16:32:00.001-05:00

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Hey, Happy New Year! I hope you guys had a fun weekend, filled with all the best new year's has to offer! I have to admit, I am having a hard time getting back into the swing of things post-holidays. Too many wines, cookies, cheeses, and all that over the last two weeks has left me feeling a little bit lazy. But, trying my best to get back on track! I love the fresh start of a new year. It's an anything is possible kind of moment and I hope to make some good progress with some goals I have for myself this year. Also hoping to keep up with blogging a bit more. I'm sure I have said this before, but I am going to give it my best try to really do it this time....and so with that in mind, I will say see you tomorrow!

Holiday Greetings

2011-12-29T00:11:00.000-05:00

This holiday has been great. Christmas celebrations were low key and fun, and no one even got annoyed with each other. I've still got my holiday appetite which means I'm hungry about every 2 hours, and only want to eat things like peppermint bark and sugar cookies. Wine has been flowing freely for days and I just spent a ridiculous amount on cashmere socks. It's the season of excess, and I am fearing January 2nd when this all comes to an end, let me tell you! I hope you are having a lovely holiday and I will see you in the new year! xoxo

Future Forecast

2011-12-23T08:51:00.002-05:00

Cancer

These astrology vignettes from Russh magazine are so good! I first spotted one in this post, and immediately had to check out the rest. Most of my time at work is spent setting up little compositions of vintage objects, not unlike these, so I feel a lot of love for these scenes. That, and I can't get enough of the astrological predictions! Do you believe? I think they are pretty accurate most of the time, and Susan Miller, who did these reports, is awesome. I read my AstrologyZone forecast every month, and then secretly get freaked out if things start to come true. I guess that means I probably shouldn't be reading them every month, but I can't help it, I'm addicted. Check out the rest here.

Virgo

Leo

Pisces

Partytime, excellent.

2011-12-19T12:39:00.000-05:00

Last week I spent most of my spare time planning and preparing for our annual christmas party we held on Saturday. And I have to say, I think the hard work paid off because it was a super fun time enjoyed by all! Most of the preparation time went into the food. I baked dulce de leche eclairs, sugar cookies, and made this amazing peppermint bark. There was a full spread of appetizers too....cheddar toasts with bacon jam and pear, arepas with pulled pork and pickled onion, puff pastry with goat cheese and cranberry chutney and more. Oh and punch! I made this pomegranate champagne punch. What can I say, I am an overachiever when it comes to party planning! Unfortunately, I took no pictures of any of this because my camera was being used for our photo booth. We set it up in a quieter area of the party, and had the camera hooked up to the tv, so anytime a picture was taken, you would see it on screen in the main room of the party. This is always a big hit and this year was no exception. Here's a few peeks....getting weirder as the night wore on, no question!

Winter Wishlist

2011-12-06T14:51:00.000-05:00

It took me so long to choose what to wear yesterday. I hate when that happens. I recently did a major purge on my closet, and I am quickly realizing that maybe I was a bit hasty with the cuts I made because now it feels like there is nothing left. So I am thinking about adding some useful pieces back into the mix. Of course, my first stop is going to be the thrift store, but if I was feeling fancy, here are a few things I might choose!

1. lady-like red blouse 2. my favorite item at the moment--the poncho 3. warm winter dress 4. fancy skirt 5. graphic tee 6. cute backpack 7. wintery fair isle tights

Rainy Nights, Grey Days

2011-11-28T23:35:00.001-05:00

In the middle of summer, when it's so hot and humid and unbearable and it seems like there will never be any relief, this is the time of year that I wish for. And somehow, we are here again. Cozy fall nights, the light that is soft and warm, rain and wind outside, leaves collecting on the curb....it's pretty perfect if you ask me.

I also think Fleetwood Mac is the best fall soundtrack. It's all vaguely depressing and lonely sounding...and that sounds just about right. :)

The Goods//Suburban Thrifted Loot

2011-11-16T11:21:00.002-05:00

Whoah, totally fell off there on the blogging front...sorry dudes! I've spent the past couple of days in my hometown, and of course I made sure to get a moment in at the thrift shop. Since no one I know around there enjoys an adventure rooting through other people's discarded junk, and I don't have my own wheels to get there myself, I had to compromise. I spent about 20 minutes in a mad power shop, driving my cart up and down the aisles in a frenzy, while my mother hung out in the book section waiting for me. The outcome? Not the most successful trip, but I did find a few pretty cute things. Want to take a look?

Ok, full disclosure, I didn't actually find the brownie camera there. It belonged to my friend's grandmother, and they had no use or desire to hang on to it anymore so it was offered to me. Um, yes please!! Such a great gift! I am still thinking about where to display it in my house, although I love the packaging too, so I can't decide if it should be in the box or out.

I love this psychedelic pattern fabric so much. I am thinking about making some pillows from it, maybe a curtain, it is a big piece so the options are good. A couple other basic finds, and finally picked up a macrame plant hanger. There was also this massive orange one, which I am kicking myself for not buying, but you know how it goes at the thrift, I was standing there debating $3.99, because all the other ones were .99, it didn't seem worth it at the time. Oh well.

Oh, and check out these bonkers lamps. I saw them from literally the other end of the store and had to beeline over there to check them out. They are so ugly but so good.

Autumn Afternoon

2011-11-04T22:37:00.000-04:00

top-fred perry

shorts-bdg

belt-thrifted

tights-AA

boots-frye

Hey, it's friday! How 'bout that?! I still have to work tomorrow, but I am happy the week is almost done, it's felt like a long one. This morning I was feeling pretty casual, not unlike most mornings, to be honest, but I had some new items in my closet that I was excited to wear. I found this vintage, Fred Perry top at Salvation Army earlier this week. It was $2.99, and as I am a sucker for vintage athletic wear, especially of the terry cloth variety, it felt like a pretty great find. The denim shorts are also from Salvation Army, purchased for a cool $3.99. I don't know how you feel about shorts and tights, I know there are a lot of haters out there, but personally I love it and know I will be wearing these guys a lot this fall. Oh and my boots. Man, I love these boots. They were actually gifted to me from a co-worker because they didn't fit. I really couldn't believe it. They are seriously the perfect boot. I felt like a lucky lady that day, that is for sure!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T13:55:00.000-04:00

As I have said before, we love halloween around here so this weekend was full of spooky fun. Friday night we went to a horror movie watching party at a friend's place. I didn't really have a costume for that night, but improvised with a cape and some pink makeup and stick-on pearls for a sort of spacey look. I made red velvet cupcakes and topped them with my marshmallow ghosts.

Saturday night we pulled together some scary costumes and went dancing. I did a ghosty look and Joe went with his usual skull face man, with a western twist! I have to say, I think we looked pretty spooky. Tonight we are going to drink pumpkin beer and watch Halloween, and I may even make these pumpkin muffins. How was your weekend? Do anything halloween-y?

Ghosts!

2011-10-25T22:31:00.002-04:00

(p.s. this is really what our table looks like right now. Skull candle, fallen leaves and all!)

I am definitely feeling in the halloween spirit this year. Pumpkins purchased this morning, marshmallow ghosts made this afternoon! It was my first attempt at marshmallows, and it was pretty easy. I just flavored them with vanilla, but I think you could easily get creative and come up with some great flavor combos. I found my recipe in a grocery store flyer, and it is very close to this recipe. All you need to do to make them into ghosts is take the whipped marshmallow and pipe it out of a pastry bag into ghost-like shapes. Faces added with melted chocolate. Simps! Next on my marshmallow list: cinnamon chocolate--these sound amazing!

Have a cool weekend!

2011-10-21T08:00:00.006-04:00

Because it's friday...treat yo' self. You deserve it. :)

Little Details

2011-10-19T22:22:00.000-04:00

A favorite necklace,

a graphic patterned skirt,

silly posing with a new haircut,

...sometimes it's the little details that make the look.

A Few Faves

2011-10-17T11:08:00.000-04:00

Hi guys! How was your weekend? Yesterday was super gloomy, so I braised shortribs and made hasselback potatoes to go with it. Verdict? Pretty darn tasty! Today I thought I might share with you a few things I am loving right now. So here they are...a few of my current faves!

1. Big Vegan-I am not even vegetarian, let alone vegan but this cookbook has me hooked. What I really like about it is there are not many recipes that rely on faux meat products, or special ingredients. Here are some examples of recipes: Eggplant Walnut Strudels, Winter Squash and Sundried Tomato Lasagna, Smoky Chipotle Salsa...sounds good, right? Highly reccommended!

2. Rachel Comey Mars Boots-These boots are haunting me. I was very close to buying them when I received a coupon code for a 20% off one day only sale. But even at 20% off, it's still a lotta bucks. When I showed a friend I was considering them, she loudly gasped at the price. And then I came to my senses, do you really need a $300 boot Robyn? But damn, a white boot would be so hot!

3.Vampire Teeth Bottle Opener-we love Halloween in this house, so I knew this bottle opener had to find a place in our home. And it's been doing double duty as a spot to hang my keys. Ya!

4. Kavinsky Nightcall-New fave for sure. I have always liked those synth-y, 80s electro sounds that have been popular over the past several years. This song has a creepy slowness and feels dark and moody, well suited for spooky fall nights. p.s. It's on the Drive soundtrack, which if you haven't seen yet, do it-you won't regret it!

Autumn Times

2011-10-10T19:42:00.000-04:00

Fall! What a great season. No complainers about how hot and humid it is, no grumps about being freezing cold, we can all just enjoy. I like that. This weekend was fun times. I had a pre-thanksgiving feast with some friends, made apple cider donuts (p.s. amazing!), ate a delicious thanksgiving dinner , and went on a long bike ride on a sunny afternoon. I like where this October is headed! Next up, planning my Halloween costume. Halloween is serious business in this house.
How was your weekend?

snacks on a hill

bike shadows

on the train

bridge view

A Basic Day

2011-09-27T20:47:00.000-04:00

jacket-thrifted

jeans-h&m

tee-so old, its origin unknown

boots-vintage, bought at the clothing show

Sometimes the outfits I like the best aren't really much of anything at all. It's my day off today, and I've been biking around doing various errands so the look is pretty basic, but I still like it. This Wrangler jacket I stumbled upon at Goodwill after searching kensington market trying to find a vintage Levis jean jacket with no luck. Well, that isn't exactly true. I found ones I liked, but they were all $50. No thanks! I just couldn't do it, knowing there had to be a cheaper one out there somewhere. Good thing I waited, because this fine version was a cool $8. oh yes! It's oddly thrilling for me to find something I've been looking for almost exactly when I want it at a thrift store. I guess that gives you some insight about how exciting my life is! ha!

90's Again

2011-09-19T16:28:00.000-04:00

Wow, how 90's are the shoes this season!? I know this has been a trend for a while now, but it seems to have reached a high point this fall. And I have to begrudgingly admit I am a sucker for this trend. I know, why right?!! I think it has to do with my nostalgia for the 90s. (Again, why I am I even saying this!??) But it does bring me back to the early days of living in Toronto, when everything was new and fresh and exciting...house music, crazy outfits, late nights, bad haircuts....ahh, the memories. I hate how everything makes me feel old now. I know it has been said that if you wore it the first time around you shouldn't wear it the second, but I think there should be an amendment to that rule. Just don't wear it the same. If I do end up in a pair of 90's style platform heels this fall, they won't be the bonkers ones I most certainly would have chosen at 19. This time around I will go for a more subtle version, something a bit more refined. Hmm, maybe I'm just fooling myself that I can make this work. Anyways, here are some of my favorite fall "screaming 1997" shoes.

find them here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Vintage Collection//Cookbooks

2011-09-13T18:07:00.000-04:00

There are two things that always catch my eye and I have a hard time not buying when hitting the yard sales or thrift shops. The first is glassware-my collection is ever growing-but I am happy to report I have gained some control over the situation and have started getting rid of some of the less loved pieces. The second is cookbooks. I am obsessed with vintage cookbooks. Not only the look of them, which is for the most part pure amazingness (check out this creepy doll baking montage!) but also for the weird recipes.

One of the books I have has a section called "Invalid Recipes" which I had to read three times because I kept thinking-why would they want to publish in-valid recipes..d'oh!....ohhhh, now I get it! One of my newest additions "The New Joys Of Jell-o" has such crazy things as Jellied Turkey Salad, and Spanish Tuna Salad. Terrifying! I love all the swirly fonts and yellow tinted photos that make everything look kind of inedible. I may try a recipe or two but more than the actual usefulness of the books, I like that they are little portraits of a time told through food.

Essential Elements

2011-09-07T21:47:00.003-04:00

Wow, so it really feels like summer is over around here. Somewhere between sunday night and monday morning it got COLD and it's been grey days ever since. Kind of perfect timing. Not that I mind so much, really. It's all sort of a novelty still. Wearing tights and a sweater feels like dressing up, not the chore it becomes mid winter.

This is what I wore to work today. I'm really loving this skirt right now. I haven't had it very long, but it feels like one of those pieces that is going to become a wardrobe essential. It's a wrap skirt and I love how the buttons are both decorative and functional. Such a cute detail. My only complaint is with a wrap skirt I always have a tiny fear that at some point half the skirt is going to end up tucked into my tights or something and I wont notice. It always seems possible.

sweater, skirt, necklace-all vintage

tank-thrifted

shoes-UO

tights-AA

neighbourhood view

Lunch Date

2011-08-31T11:27:00.000-04:00

An afternoon patio lunch with two of my favorite ladies, followed by amazing pastries in the park and a walk downtown. Even squeezed in some outfit photos. Not bad for a random tuesday!

Friday Cools

2011-08-26T22:23:00.000-04:00

Oh friday, hello!

Got any good plans for the weekend? I am super stoked to attend the Cat Show at the Ex this weekend. I'm not sure what it is going to be like exactly. Cats just being walked around like in Best in Show? Doing tricks? Either way, I'm sure it is going to be excellent. :)

The other night Joe and I watched Tenebre. Normally, I am not a horror movie fan. Not at all. The problem is if things are too scary, I'll never get to sleep that night and the terrorizing parts will just repeat in my head every time I shut my eyes. No fun! But Dario Argento films are an exception. They are stylish and cool, and just a tiny bit frightening so I can deal. And they have great soundtracks. Listen to the theme song in this trailer. So good. (p.s don't old movie trailers seem so odd now? They are so long and seem to give away the entire plot!)

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Fall Thoughts

2011-08-24T21:15:00.002-04:00

Two things I won't miss about summer: 1. the fruit flies that have invaded my kitchen, and 2. the scent of garbage which is currently permeating Toronto. Seriously, it's everywhere. And it's sick.
Even so, I'm not quite ready to let go of summer just yet. There are still too many summertime things I want to do. I did however, try on a cute pair of boots last week that reminded me how fun it is to dress for fall. Layers, denim jackets, boots, tights. Good times, right? I end up wearing the same few things over and over again, so I want to invest in some quality pieces this fall. Ones that I will wear for more than one season. Here are a few things on the radar.

love. from here.

this bag is such a beaut! by Opelle

ok, so this is way beyond my budget, but if I had the means, this jacket would be mine!

The Goods//Vintage Zodiac

2011-08-16T09:43:00.000-04:00

I know not everyone is into horoscopes and the zodiac, but personally I love it. It's always so true! (Well, almost always.) Apparently, mercury is in retrograde this month, which basically means a lot of screw ups, miscommunications and mistakes. Ugh, yep... unfortunately, that's been kinda true to life.
I also really love all the vintage zodiac paraphernalia that's out there. Most of it was made in the 70s, during the whole "what's your sign?" era and it is fantastic. Bright colours, psychedelic, a little bit tacky...yes! Here are some cool pieces that I recently found browsing Etsy.

amazing print

puzzle in the cutest box

cookbook

iron on transfer!

adorable cocktail picks

little address book

sagittarius mug

Summer Essentials//The Perfect Short

2011-08-10T23:29:00.001-04:00

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Last summer I wore rompers all the time, but this year I feel like a fool in them. It's possible I may have crossed the age line on rompers, which is a bit of a bummer but it had to happen sometime I guess. I still have no probs wearing shorts though. They are my summer staple. I love simple denim cutoffs, but I also have a pair of high waisted, nautical style shorts that I wear all the time. They are perfect. I also really like these, these and these. How do you feel about shorts? Yay or nay?

Summer Essentials//The Easy Summer Hairdo

2011-08-01T11:25:00.000-04:00

This summer is good. I know it is easy to complain about the heat, and believe me I do it too (how can you not when temps are hitting 50˚ with humidex!) but I am really loving this endless summer feeling that is going on. It's always gone in a flash, so why not really enjoy every minute of it. There are many things that I seem to repeatedly going back to this summer, my ways to beat the heat, and I thought it might be fun to share a few with you guys. Over the next little bit, I'll be letting you in on some of my summer essentials, the things that are making this summer pro!
First up: the easy summer hairdo. This is my take on the gibson roll. It's classy! It's simps to do, and I think it is a bit more fun than wearing a basic ponytail all the time. Although I did get told I looked like I belonged on the tv show Big Love the last time I wore this style, so just take from that what you will! Here's how to get the look.

Tools:
very basic. Bobby pins, hairspray, and if I am feeling fancy, I will add some Dust It, which is a texturizing powder. It's great if you've got fine hair like me-it's a little sticky and keeps the style from totally just falling apart.

Step One: Start by taking a section of hair, (I usually start around ear level) and twist it close to the head. Bobby pin into place.

Step Two: Continue to hold this section of hair and add more to it by grabbing hair from underneath and adding it to the roll. Bobby pin as you go along.

Step Three: When you've reached about the halfway point, it's time to switch sides. If you've bobby pinned well as you've been going along, no worries because this half will stay put!

Step Four: Repeat step one and two on the other side until you meet up with the center. At this point, it should be easy to roll and tuck in any hair that is left into the center of the roll. Hairspray to set.

That is it! I have really fine hair, and have always had trouble wearing any sort of braid or updo, but this works, and doesn't have to be perfect to look good. Oh, and if you are interested in a hilariously 80s throwback to the gibson roll, check out this vid! It's kind of the best.

Endless Summer//Vintage Swimsuits

2011-07-18T22:17:00.000-04:00

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Holy heat wave! It is so freaking hot here right now. I've been just loafing around the house for the past couple of hours too heat dazed to move. And the cat! Oh, our poor little feline friend is so depressed in this weather. I'm dying to hit the pool. I know it's a little late in the season to find the perfect bathing suit, but this heat has me thinking about how a vintage inspired number would be the perfect thing right now. My current suit is shapeless and totally unflattering. I love how swimsuits actually had a shape back in the day, and were not simply two triangles of spandex for the top and a micro size bottom. Here's a bit of my vintage bathers inspiration. I die for that Grace Kelly look. So pretty!

Hope you are keeping cool in your neck of the woods!

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July So Far...

2011-07-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

sunday sangria and reading on the balcony

homemade strawberry jam

grilled pizza. This is so easy, and so good. I'm obsessed and could eat it everyday.

outdoor brunching

patio beers

and one hot, depressed cat.

July has been pretty great so far. The weather is awesome, so much outdoor living, long days and warm nights....this is what I have been waiting for and plan on enjoying every day. How has your summer been?

Home Inspirations

2011-07-06T22:15:00.001-04:00

Every couple of months or so, I get interested in sprucing up my apartment. This fever usually lasts a few weeks, and a project or two may get dealt with before I lose interest again. And I feel like I am back in that mode right now! Mostly, I just want a new coffee table and I saw a most perfect specimen today. It was vintage, with white metal legs with a yellow metal table top. Pretty fantastic, and pretty out of my budget at $495. I am determined to find a similar, more affordable version though. It has to be out there, right? In the mean time, I plan on re-arranging some artwork and painting a couple of little things for a bit of a change. Here are some favorites right now...mostly inspired by the 70s, big surprise!

I love this room. Love it sooooo much! Actually, the entire house is basically my dream home.

Check it out here.

So cozy. Another room from the dream home.

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This balcony is uh-mazing! I am realizing what I really need are more pillows. Pillows are key!

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Most adorable vintage room.

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I like that this room has lots of colour, but the white walls keep it airy and light.

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This is super cute, and a small enough project that I will actually complete it. On this weekend's to-do list!

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Lune Shop

2011-06-29T22:21:00.000-04:00

weeping moon fringe top by lune

I think I have found the perfect summer top. (I love the little feather fringe details) Lune is a recent discovery for me and I'm smitten! There are so many lovely things in this shop, it's spot on 70s bohemian style. And on top of this, Lune has a traveling trailer shop. Can you say living the dream!?

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The Weekend//Life's A Beach

2011-06-27T11:41:00.000-04:00

This weekend was so fun. Saturday was a good friend's backyard wedding, which was just perfect, with so many cute handmade details. And Sunday we hopped in a car with a few pals and headed to the beach. Port Dover is just a couple hours from Toronto, but far enough to feel like you are really road trippin'. As we went to pick up the car, there were huge grey clouds taking over the sky, and it began to feel like our usual road trip curse of rain was about to come true. But luckily the skies cleared and it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon. On the way home we stopped at Hewitt's Dairy Bar for ice cream and drove home with that beachy, sun hangover that makes you all sleepy and dazed. Best times. How was your weekend?

The Goods//Recent Acquisitions

2011-06-21T10:33:00.000-04:00

In the past few weeks I've splurged on a few items I've been stalking online forever. This Yarn Over Movement sweater is superb. I love the colours, the style, the softness of the wool-everything. I am so glad I finally picked this up. I've worn it many times already, and I'm sure it will on heavy rotation this summer.

The clogs-I finally just went for it. They were 20% off for one night only, so it was kind of a now or never moment. They are glorious, but I am sad that they killed my feet the first night wearing them. The leather is so stiff I guess they need to be worn a few times to break them in or whatever. I still have hope!
The rest are some thrifty finds that I've picked up in my travels. Just a little bit of summer fun.

On The Radar...

2011-06-12T21:26:00.000-04:00

Things that I am liking these days.

Colour

source

Thick eyeliner.

source

70s casual style. (liking that always, really)

source

Slowly getting closer to my perfect haircut.

source

What I Wore//Red Shorts

2011-06-07T00:46:00.001-04:00

Sunday afternoon I tore through the St Lawrence Market Antique Market in about 10 minutes on my way to a party, and I found a bunch of good stuff including a perfectly worn leather+suede bag, brass necklace and collection of cheap but fun earrings. I can't believe that was the first time I've ever been there. I was really expecting some outrageous prices, but to my surprise everything was pretty affordable. Yay to that! Quite unlike the yard sales I've been attending in my neighbourhood. An example of typical pricing: $30 for a small vintage bag. ?? I get that it is very old, and super cool, but it's a yard sale, not an antique store! C'mon! I did however find this 'I Want it All' mug for 50 cents at a yard sale this weekend, so there is some hope.

blouse,shorts,belt,shoes,bag,necklace,sunglasses-all vintage

The weather here has been a dream lately and summer has taken on its super speed. I don't know about you, but as soon as the weather turns I can't keep up. It's go go go all the time and its seems like time just slips away. Not that I am complaining. I love this time of year, and am going to take advantage of every warm second!

Summertime

2011-05-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

photo by: scouts honor

The rain finally stopped on sunday night, and it seems like the summer heat is here for good. I am super stoked! Beach days, bbqs, road trips, late nights, pitchers of summery cocktails.....bring it!!

The Goods//Harlequins

2011-05-25T18:37:00.000-04:00

After reading this awesome post on spooky romance novels, I made sure to check out the book section of the last thrift shop I was in, just to see if I could spot any around here. No spooky novels to be found, but I did come across two of the best titles in Harlequin history I do believe! This first one made my laugh out loud. Dear Tyrant (Original title: Beloved Tyrant) Personally, I woulda gone with Beloved Tyrant, but I also love that they thought it was necessary to add that title below in parentheses. And Reluctant Relation. Somehow I don't imagine this one being as steamy as a typical Harlequin. Or maybe too steamy? I guess I will have to read it to find out!

What I Wore//New Favorites, Old Standbys

2011-05-23T15:19:00.000-04:00

It's been a pretty great weekend. BBQs, some moments of sunlight, beers and good pals. The countdown to summer is on! I think the entire neighbourhood is feeling this too, because there were a lot of people outside and outdoor parties happening.

In fact, last night I was woken up at 4:00am by some partying neighbours behind us, yelling with drunken enthusiasm. It's a holiday today, so no biggie, but I couldn't help but feeling like an oldie, lying in my bed thinking-why won't these people just end this party already?! haha. Because of the lack of sleep, I am feeling really lazy today and will probably just hang around the house and ignore all the things on my to-do list.

It's also an easy going outfit kind of day. My favorite old vintage tee, super soft and faded to the perfect grey. A skirt I found at a thrift store for $2.50. A necklace I pieced together yesterday afternoon. And my new vintage shoes. Which I love, by the way. The pop of white makes any ol' outfit feel new.

t shirt-vintage

skirt-forever 21, thrifted

shoes-vintage

necklace-made by me :)

Vintage Look//Shades

2011-05-18T08:02:00.001-04:00

photo source

The Weekend//Rain Day

2011-05-16T12:52:00.000-04:00

market goods

I try to get out to the Aberfoyle Antique Market at least a couple of times a season. It is close enough Toronto that it doesn't take more than an hour to get there, but involves a car and a day trip, which always is fun for people like me who stick mostly to places that are accessible by bicycle. It is also a bit of a joke around our house that every time we rent a car it rains. This trip was no exception. Downpours all day long, wind, cold, the works! But it was still plenty fun, even though we basically powered through the market in an hour. Ah well, there is always next time for the sun! Here's a bit of a peek. (p.s. my camera straight up died this week, so all these photos are courtesy of the lovable Son of The Coelacanth. Thanks 'canth!)

the rain+the wind.

the only logical thing to do when you get rained out. enjoy a sampler of beers!

The Goods//New Loot

2011-05-11T11:46:00.000-04:00

The thrift shop is a weekly obsession of mine, as I have noted many times before. And while I usually start out with a cart such as the one above, I have gotten pretty good at whittling down the selection for myself to only the few things I really can't go home without. Today I thought I would share a couple of my favorite new treats. Oh, and the best part of course, all totaled...less than $10 bucks!

Sunny Days

2011-05-09T13:03:00.000-04:00

The weather has been gorgeous the past few days. So perfect. Green trees, green grass, blue skies...finally! I'm going to take some time this week to spruce up our balcony, it is in rough shape! We spend a lot of time out there during the summer, and this year I want it to look CUTE, not just be a place with a few chairs and a bbq. So that is my #1 plan for the next few days. That and maybe find a cute pair of summer shoes. I realized the other day every pair of shoes I wear on a semi-regular basis are a lace up bootie type. Time for a change, I think. Here are a couple of cute ones I'm considering.

source

What I Wore//The Tale of The Mushroom Cap Head

2011-05-04T13:43:00.000-04:00

My bf likes to call me Toad (referring to the SuperMario character) when my hair looks like this. Can't say I disagree, haha. I didn't really have intentions of creating a mushroom cap for a hairstyle, but here we are. Anyways, I think this is going to be my last posed outfit post. I like the idea of sharing what I wore, but I always feel wack posing for these kind of shots. (hence the sporadic nature of these types of posts!) So I think I will take quick snapshots of an outfit in a more natural setting if I like the look of it from now on, instead of trying to do the whole photoshoot idea. Now off for some afternoon bike riding/thrifting! Have a great wednesday!

blouse-vintage

belt-my mom's old belt from the 80s!

jeans-H&M

shoes-Chinese Laundry

sunglasses-$7 pair from Kensington Market

Vintage Look//Summer Perfection

2011-05-03T12:03:00.000-04:00

source

Quiet Time

2011-04-27T23:32:00.000-04:00

april 24, 6:15am, waiting for the streetcar.

Last weekend I headed out of the city to spend some time at my mom's place. (at 6am on a sunday morning too, which is pretty tough for a non-morning person!) Toronto seems to have this way for me where it's all go go go, and it's hard to allow myself the time to just sit back and relax. So it's nice to be able to take myself out of this space and hit the reset button, if you will. I've only been back a few hours but I feel like my mind is clearer, ready for whatever is up next. And it seems like in the few days I've been gone, spring has really and truly appeared. Yes!!!!

Pysanky

2011-04-21T08:00:00.002-04:00

source

After reading this fun post on how to make Pysanky eggs, I was inspired to create my own. I remember these making an appearance around Easter at my grandmother's house as a kid. I loved them. The colours, the shiny shellacked finish, the delicate detail work that you could tell was hand drawn. So amazing. However, it took me about 4 minutes to realize I was not going to have enough time to make them this week. Bummer. But it's on the list of crafts I need to try, for sure! And while no where near as cool as the eggs, here's a little Pysanky inspired look.

here's info on all the items!

Good Things About This Week So Far....

2011-04-19T11:50:00.000-04:00

Seeing a lawn full of flowers.

(Maybe not the prettiest lawn, but still!full of flowers, which is something considering these cold temps we've been dealing with around here.)

Mastering a family recipe that has previously always been a fail for me.

Homemade french manicures.

Thrifting success.

How 'bout yourself? Hope your week is shaping up nicely!

Runnin' Wild With The One I Love

2011-04-14T22:39:00.000-04:00

Tonight, the mister picked me up from work and we hopped on our bikes and headed out to the 'burbs for a little beer tasting. But not before stopping to do some bird watching in High Park! Well, it wasn't really me doing the bird watching. I decided that was a good time to whip off my jacket and photograph my new sweater. I love these 70s bell sleeve sweaters. I've seen them many times in various shades of red and brown with space dyed wool, but never such a neutral version. It's pretty great. On the way home, we biked along the water at sunset and were home before 9pm. Perfect thursday night! (although claiming that being home by 9pm is a perfect night makes me feel really, really old! bah!)

sweater-vintage

jeans-levis

tee-american apparel

necklace-vintage

belt-vintage

boots-vintage

Minnow Bathers

2011-04-11T20:48:00.000-04:00

Could these swimsuits be any more perfect? Minnow Bathers is a new discovery for me, and I am totally in love with this vintage+modern style of suit. And they are located in Toronto too. Amazing!

April Days

2011-04-05T14:06:00.000-04:00

Is there a better song for a chilly, grey day than Rhiannon? I believe not! This is our new record player/boom box. Kind of the best, right? I'm super stoked for summer evenings on the balcony with a gin cocktail +records. I have the most pathetic collection though. Like maybe 10 records in total. I need to get on changing that quick.

I am pretty much broke right now though, so the records will have to wait. Rent, taxes, bills. Ugh, why can't I just get to spend money on the fun stuff? Since I have no dough, I am spending more time at home, but hanging out with this sweet girl all day isn't so bad really. :)

Spaced Out

2011-03-31T22:35:00.000-04:00

space leggings

space dress

space cat

space ring

A little intergalactic love this fine thursday evening!

A Few Favorites

2011-03-28T11:55:00.000-04:00

It's about that time. The bitter end of winter, when my skin looks like a haggard beast. I know we are very close to warming up now, but all the months of cold have done their damage. Needless to day, makeup is on my mind a lot more than usual right now! I don't have a lot of beauty products I use faithfully, but there are a couple of things that I love and thought I'd share. Do you have any favorites? Do tell! I need all the help I can get right now. :)

My number one helper in the makeup department is this luminizing powder. It makes you look fresh faced even if you feel like a real winterized deady. This one in particular is not super glittery, so is great for everyday use, which is exactly how often I use it.

I also really love this cheek stain by Benefit. Something I've realized as I've gotten a bit older is blush is the key! I don't really do a full face of makeup, but a bit of cheek colour combined with a luminizing powder is the perfect combo for me.

And finally, my winter skin saver! An affordable moisturizer with SPF that does not leave my skin feeling coated in a film. And available just about anywhere, yay to that!

Spring Cleaning

2011-03-21T20:58:00.000-04:00

Over the past few years I feel like my style has slowly been turning more conservative and well, frankly kind of boring. When I was in my early twenties I would wear any crazy thing, and it felt easy. I didn't question what I wore. Now, I pause a lot more and think...Does this make me look like I am trying too hard? Does this make me look like I am trying to be 21 but failing miserably? I think it's a challenge dressing fun and modern and in the now, without it becoming too over the top youthful. That's my challenge anyways. And I think that's how I ended up with all these boring clothes that I am not really into. I would like to post more outfits on the blog, but what happens more times than not is I will look back at the photos on my computer and think-oh what a bore! Forget it! So one of my goals for this spring is to get back to myself style wise. Bring back the fun, but in a more refined way. And clear out all that boring stuff. Here's a few looks I'm finding inspirational right now.

the sartorialist

facehunter

hel-looks

A Small Collection

2011-03-15T21:52:00.001-04:00

Surprise! The shop is back...sort of. I've really missed running the Rare Treasure shop over the past few months, so I have tried to figure out a way to get back to it somehow. I decided the best way to make it work for me (and my limited space situation) would be to have small collections that are only available for a limited time. This time around I've gone for some pieces to add a bit of fun and colour to your spring wardrobe...here's a little preview. I've started adding a few items tonight, about 30 more on the way later this week. Check it out, if you please!

Etsy Love

2011-03-14T10:17:00.000-04:00

Some spring Etsy vintage faves for this sunny morning. Once I get looking on Etsy I could be there for hours, there are so many great shops! p.s. I may have a shop announcement of my own (fingers crossed that everything comes together!) later this week....stay tuned!

ramona west

nick and nessie

santoki vintage

the orange collective

oma vintage

secret lake

Old Baltimore

Who wants to go to the beach?

2011-03-09T16:18:00.000-05:00

Leave it to the grossest rainy/snowy day to have me thinking about days at the beach. When? oh when will they be here??? I usually wear a one piece, but this bikini is so cute! I love the high waist.

anthropologie

30 Pictures

2011-03-03T22:29:00.002-05:00

I've seen a 30 pictures post on a number of blogs this week, and I love it every time! Isn't it such a great idea? I thought it would be fun to join in and reveal my own 30, so here they are...If you feel like doing the same, leave a link in the comments, I would love to see yours!

01/someone I spend a lot of time with:

02/ a picture of myself:

03/ a picture of someone in my family:

04/ a picture of something that makes me happy:

05/ an old picture of myself:

06/ a picture of my sibling:

07/ a picture I never posted on my blog before:

08/ a picture of a person I miss:

09/ a relative of mine:

10/ a picture of my favorite place:

11/ a person I can tell everything:

12/ a picture of my everyday life:

13/ a picture from a place I love:

14/ a picture which reminds me of old times:

15/ a picture from my childhood :

16/ a picture of myself:

17/ an unusual picture:

18/ a picture of my spare time:

19/ a picture I'm satisfied with:

20/ a picture of the people who are closest to me:

21/ someone(s) who are always there for me:

22/ a picture from a time in life I miss:

23/ a picture from last summer:

24/ a picture that makes me happy:

25/ a person who always makes me happy:

26/ someone(s) I'm always having fun with:

27/ a picture I always laugh about:

28/ a crazy picture:

29/ the latest picture of myself:

30/ someone I will never let go of:

Film & Fashion: Carrie

2011-02-28T11:47:00.000-05:00

Thursday me and the mister went to a screening of Carrie at the Bloor Cinema. It was a 35mm print, so it had lots of scratches and had faded into a dreamy pink and gold tint, which suited the mood of this film perfectly. This was one of the first horror movies I ever saw, and I've always held it as a favorite, but watching it years later, it's funny because I have such a different feeling about it. It was like I was watching a totally different movie from what I remember. I found it to be less of a terrifying story, and more of a really heartbreaking one about a lonely, isolated girl. And even though I know the ending, I kept thinking "Well, maybe it won't be so bad...the pig's blood and all...maybe she'll be ok."

And, of course, I would easily wear any of the clothing the girls wore. Loved. it. all. And the hair too. Especially Nancy Allen's, who played the meanest of the mean girls. She had this poufy, bouncy wave thing, that would never be possible for my super straight hair, but it was pretty awesome.

It played out almost like an after school special, things just falling into place as they should...until, well, you know. The prom scene was just right, everything all glittery and shiny, yellow pastel dresses, and flowing chiffon. Loved it.

And when it finally gets crazy, and the whole thing literally goes up in flames, I loved the use of split screen and the colour shift to red. This movie has style from start to finish and for me at least, definitely has proven to stand the test of time. I'm really glad I got to watch this one in the theatre.

Some Pretty Things

2011-02-23T07:46:00.002-05:00

A sampling of some spring inspiration, all found via Pinterest. Do you ever check out that site? For me, I find it's much like Twitter, in that I am interested and visiting non-stop for a while, and then completely forget about it for another long while. Anyways, I totally want those clogs! And I think I am just going to splurge and get them, because they are my perfect summer shoe. But then I guess I'm getting ahead of myself....

Hello Friday!

2011-02-18T21:40:00.001-05:00

It was such a glorious, warm and sunny friday. I loved it. Seeing the sun really does make a big difference in the mood of a day for me. Back to winter tomorrow, big surprise right?! Even now, the wind has picked up soooo strongly the windows are rattling. Eek! It's this time of year where the cute factor in regards to the winter gear is so over. But checking out these lovely images from Hel-Looks is totally inspiring me to not give up on style for the last kick of cold weather. I love the way some of these gals incorporated brights into their winter look. Super fun!

all images: Hel-Looks

A Day At The Falls!

2011-02-14T19:54:00.001-05:00

There was a moment about 2 weeks ago when I felt like I really needed an escape from the city. It was just swallowing me up and I had to get out. But where do you go when you are too broke to fly away to some warm, tropical paradise? Well, if you are me you jump on a greyhound bus with your mister and head straight to Niagara Falls! When we arrived, we started out at a craft brewery for some tasty beers and giant sandwiches (see below!) and the salty food and the alcohol just kept flowing all day long.

There were the necessary self portraits at the falls.

And at some novelty attractions too. (P.S I could not be convinced to enter ANY of these haunted houses!)

Oh, and even a little win at the casino. A pretty great Sunday for the middle of February, just the mini escape needed to make it through the rest of the month. :)

A Wide Leg Jean

2011-02-10T08:52:00.000-05:00

image: free people

It's been a while since I've worn wide legged jeans, but I found an great pair last weekend at a used clothing sale for a mere $8. Amazing! After so many years of normally wearing skinny jeans, they have a really fresh feel to me. I think they are going to be awesome for spring and summer and I can't wait to wear them! How do you feel about the wide leg denim? Yay or nay?

An Archival Outfit

2011-02-07T14:11:00.000-05:00

No, I have not been magically transported to the land of green grass and sunshine! Still right here in the snow globe. :) I was looking through some photos on my computer the other day and came across this set. I had planned to do an outfit post on this look many months ago, but didn't really like the photos when I looked at them later that day. Funny though, now in the dead of winter with all the slush and the boots and the hats and the gloves, these photos seem like a bright hit of colourful happiness and I don't mind them at all. I can't wait for days like these to return!

top-vintage

jeans-thrifted

shoes-thrifted

sunglasses-vintage

belt-vintage

Snow Bomb

2011-02-01T23:05:00.000-05:00

So right now, this city is waiting for a supposed massive snowstorm that should be appearing overnight. It's kind of funny that the hype on weather seems to be bigger than the actual weather these days. But who knows, maybe it will be crazytown. I really, really am hoping for a snow day, but am not holding my breath. I'm over you winter....so over you! I keep looking at all these spring lookbooks, and getting excited about dresses and short sleeves and sunglasses. I loooove the Samantha Pleet collection. This is exactly how I hope to be dressing when the weather warms up. So pretty and fun! Only 46 days until spring, whoooo!

Tough Days

2011-01-31T11:31:00.000-05:00

I must admit it's been a rough couple of days. Our cat died on Thursday. If you would have told me one year ago that I would be sitting on the couch a year later with a roll of toilet paper by my side to stop the seemingly unending stream of tears over our cat, I never would have believed it. I didn't even want to get the damn cat! But somehow, with his silly, loving, hilarious cat ways, I developed a real love for the guy. It's funny that this cat made me realize I don't necessarily have myself all figured out. I don't know about you, but I feel like as I've gotten older, I've just come to believe that I really know who I am, and how I feel about stuff. It's nice to know there is still more to discover. So here's to Man. My silly, little (actually quite large) kitten. You will be missed.

Shoe Love

2011-01-26T07:28:00.000-05:00

Ooh, I just read Swedish Hasbeens have teamed up with H&M for a spring collection of cutie clogs. Amazing! I have stared at pairs of Hasbeens in the the shop beside my work on several occasions. They are cute as a button, but dang! they are expensive. I've never been super hyped on any of the H&M designer collaborations before, but this one has me excited. I especially enjoy the slip-on wedge on the right. Absolutely adorable. Spring, when will you be here?

photo: fashionetc

Weekending

2011-01-24T08:03:00.000-05:00

It was the mister's birthday this weekend, so we met after work on Saturday for dinner at Volo. It is one of Joe's favorite places to go, mainly for the large selection of craft beer, but also the food there is really delicious. I was looking forward to this meal all day! We both ordered pure comfort foods-I had a pasta and Joe a steak and mushroom pie. So delish. I also tried a barley wine, which... psyche! is actually beer. There was a very knowledgeable explanation given of what exactly it is (thank you Joey!) but I won't try to explain it...Napoleon and other historical elements are involved and I'm not prepared to tackle that right now! But do try a barley wine if you have the opportunity. It is quite tasty!

After dinner, we walked over to Kensington Market for drinks with some friends. I always find it so hard to go out in the winter, especially in the frigid temperatures we are dealing with right now, but once I actually get to where I'm going those winter nights end up being the most cozy. Maybe because places usually have the heat cranked, but I'll take it! 'cause I'm always freezing this time of year.

Yup, just a good ol' birthday on a Saturday night. Fun times indeed. What did you do this weekend?

It's Still January

2011-01-19T09:29:00.000-05:00

I took these photos minutes before it started to rain yesterday. Even though it was a warmer day, it is still pretty uncomfortable in the winter chill without a jacket. (hence the sort of angry/sad expression on my face!) I don't know how people do it, I see all these great outfit photos of gals just hanging out in the snow, like it ain't no thing, but I get freeeeeezing cold after about ten minutes and just call it a day. Ah well, only 2 more months of winter to go, right? Right?

shirt-Ralph Lauren, thrifted

skirt-thrifted

harness-Norwegian Wood

boots-vintage, Santoki Vintage

bag-vintage Coach, Pascal Vintage

beret-thrifted

tights-AA

These are some of my favorite pieces right now. The top is silk and it is so dreamy. I know I will be wearing it well into the year with many different looks. My boots are from Santoki Vintage. They were my first purchase of vintage shoes online, which I was kind of worried about for size, but it turned out they fit perfectly and were even better in person than the photos. Yay!

Sunday Dins

2011-01-17T15:30:00.000-05:00

In the winter I love to spend my sundays inside cooking and baking an over the top, indulgent dinner. It's too cold to go anywhere, so why not? It's one of my favorite things to do, and I honestly will spend most of saturday thinking about what I want to make the next day. This weeks menu: chicken enchiladas, lemon yogurt cake, and strawberry margaritas. There were plans for a side of cilantro rice but things took a little longer than I expected as I decided to go ahead and make my own enchilada sauce-soaking dried chiles, blending, straining etc etc-and I just didn't care about a side by the time I should have made it. Verdict: The enchiladas were delicious, even better for lunch today. :) Also, I remembered after one margarita that I don't really like the taste of tequila, so I switched it up for vodka and it was a really enjoyable beverage! I'm by no means a master of drink mixing, but I thought I might share my recipe for a strawberry cocktail. It is the prettiest pink, and the perfect summertime treat in the dead of winter. Enjoy!

Whatcha Need:
box of strawberries
sugar
tequila, vodka or alcohol of your choice!
triple sec, or other orange liqueur
limes
ice
cocktail shaker

1. Prepare the strawberrries by cutting off the tops and chopping into halves or quarters. Toss them in the blender (or if your blender is broken like mine is a food processor will work just fine). Blend to a fine puree. At this point I chose to add a little simple syrup that I had in the fridge, but if your strawberries are sweet, no need.
2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add 1 1/2 oz tequila, 1/2 oz triple sec, 1 oz of strawberry puree and 1oz of lime juice
(I also added about 1/2 oz simple syrup, because I was wanted an over the top, summertime sweetness)
3. Shake away!
4. Strain into a glass and drink up :)

Dreamin'

2011-01-12T21:18:00.000-05:00

Anyone else dreaming of spring? It took one day of super slushy snow combined with an extra long bus ride to have me wishing for days of warm spring sunshine. I'm loving the ASOS spring vintage femme lookbook. It is totally what I want to be wearing when it heats up. Maxi dresses, cute shades and soft colours. LOVE.

Style Resolutions

2011-01-07T22:12:00.000-05:00

I've been enjoying reading the new year's resolutions I've seen posted on some blogs this week. It gave me hope for the vague ideas about a resolution or two of my own. Something about taking better care of myself...but....already this week I've polished off a bottle of wine solo, eaten a large selection of sweets and come no where near any kind of workout. So I guess that plan was over before it even started! I was also inspired by Modcloth's style resolutions and I think that is just the kind of plan I can actually follow through on. So here are my style resolutions for 2011!

1. Lose the denim crutch
I like that my work's attitude towards wardrobe is casual but cool, however I have found more and more for me that becomes relying on wearing jeans pretty much everyday. Khakis probably aren't the best example of stepping up the professional factor, but rest assured this year I'm ditching the daily denim, and wearing more dresses too!

Aryn K

2. Heels will be a part of 2011
I'm generally a flats kind of gal. I ride my bike pretty much everyday, and it is just way easier in flats, but I plan to dress it up at least once a week with heels this year. (maybe a wedge is the easiest way to ease into this idea)

elizabeth and james

3. Creative Layers
In winter, I am always freezing! I need many layers, but lately I have been gravitating to my cozy granny sweaters (which I love!) but make me look a little frumpy. Goodbye to the frump in 2011! I am inspired in this quest by the queen of layers, Queen Michelle!

Kingdom of Style

Have you made any resolutions this year? Or do you think they are just a wack idea?

Kooky Sweater Day

2011-01-03T22:50:00.000-05:00

Oh January. Honestly, it really isn't bad at all. I can wear cute high heel boots! And I took this photo outside without a coat on! How amazing! I have to admit though, I fell victim to the January 2nd melancholy. I swear that must be the most depressing day of the year. It's the deflating of all the holiday fun times, you can't hide...it is just January. So today I felt like I needed a little bit of cheeriness in my wardrobe, and what better than a kooky sweater?! This has to be my best thrifting find of the past 6 months. The white knit of the fox actually wraps itself around the back of the neck and there are 2 gold buttons for eyes and gold thread for whiskers. Amazing.

I bought it in a frenzied run through my local thrift shop, so I just thought it was random 80s embellishments on the shoulders until I tried it on at home, at which point I was super happy about that score! My hat was another thrifty find that I adore-it is a very plush faux fur that is super warm, especially for winter bike riding. And if this is the kind of winter we are going to have this year, well who knows I may even become of fan of the season!

sweater-vintage

hat-vintage

jeans-vintage levis

boots-vintage

purse-pendleton

belt-thrifted

2010, not so sad to see you go.

2011-01-01T11:50:00.000-05:00

photo

First lesson learned in 2010: If you can't afford real champagne, under no circumstances should you substitute with a $14 bottle of "sparkling wine". You will pay for that mistake. Oh how you will pay! The rest of the year followed suit, with many screw ups and costly errors, but I feel like I am ready to jump into 2011 with a new attitude. I'm ready to put in the work to make it better, every day. Off to a good start though-no hangover, and I was up at 6am (not sure why or how that happened!). Here's to a year of many great things yet to be discovered! xoRobyn

Holiday Time Suckage

2010-12-15T09:37:00.001-05:00

image: weheartit

I don't know about you guys, but for me, time is slipping away this December in an alarmingly brisk fashion. I can't believe it is December 15th! I can't believe it is 9:30 am! bahh, I've got to get to work. Anyways, I hope to be back here soon with more fun stuff to show you. Hope you are having a wicked holiday season, see you soon!

Make it! Tuxedo Necklace Tutorial

2010-12-08T06:05:00.003-05:00

My ultimate New Year's Eve outfit is a tuxedo dress and patent leather heels. It's classy and dressed up in a very 1982 kind of way. Unfortunately I've never been able to find this elusive garment, but I thought of a way to go for the tuxedo look-sans the dress. A braided necklace with a little bow worn with a white blouse and leather skirt just might do the trick! This necklace took very little time to put together, and I think it would be a cute accessory for any holiday parties you may have coming up. Here's how you do it.
p.s. this is my first go at posting a tutorial here, I hope it all makes sense! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Start by cutting your leather into three strips about 22 inches long, and maybe an inch wide. As you can see, I did not cut these strips very straight (I blame the scissors!) but it doesn't matter too much. Once they are braided you won't be able to tell they are wonky.

Wrap the three leather pieces and a length of chain with an elastic. I do this just when I start a braid to make sure everything stays neat and secure, and then remove it later. For this necklace, I placed one strip of leather with the reverse side up to add a bit of texture to the finished piece. When you finish the braid, trim the end straight across.

Use pliers to secure a little end cap thingy to the braid. Sorry, I have no idea what these are called and they are not on the materials list!(but they are available at a bead supply store) Remove the elastic from the other side, and do the same over there too.

Now's time for a jump ring and some chain. You can just go freeform here and add as much or little as you want, I have about 3 inches on each side here. Then a little lobster clasp to finish it off.

On to the bow! I cut a rectangle of leather about 3 inches wide by 3 1/2 inches long, and smaller piece for the center about 3/4 inch wide by 2 1/2 long.

I'm lazy so I just added a line of glue to one end and secured it to the opposite side to create a tube of sorts. (You could certainly use a needle and thread here if you do not have the lazy problem.) Then just tightly wrap and glue the smaller piece of leather around the tube in the center and voila, you have a bow!

To attach the bow to the braid, I used a combo of a bit of glue, and a few stitches just to make sure it is not going anywhere. And there you have it-the tuxedo necklace!

A Gift Guide for your Lovely Ladies

2010-12-06T11:41:00.001-05:00

I woke up this morning with snow on the lawn! The first snow of the year is always so pretty, while also a bit shocking to me--we are back to winter already?! But it really does amp up my holiday spirit, and now I am ready to drink apple cider, listen to christmas tunes, decorate my place and get into some holiday gift giving. Now I suppose to be completely honest, this list should really be titled my wish list, but I hope I might give you an idea or two for a lovely lady in your life as well!

Vintage Coach Purse by Pascal Vintage

So classic. You really can't go wrong with a coach purse. In fact I am fighting myself not to buy this one right now.

Nantucket Cowl by Yokoo

Yokoo has so many amazing knits it's hard to pick a favorite, but this nantucket warmer seems like the most cozy thing to have for winter.

Heart Shoe Clips by Ban.do

Cute as a button shoe clips that would look awesome on a pair of black patent heels on New Year's Eve.

Kaleidoscope Necklace by Biko

I saw this necklace at the One Of A Kind Show this weekend, and it is such a beauty. And the kaleidoscope actually works!

Carry Along Blanket by Pendleton

A splurge worthy classic! I love that you can just roll it up and carry this blanket with you. I would definitely take this along for afternoons spent lounging under trees in the park.

Diana F+ Camera by Lomography

Going back to film feels like a retro treat, even though it wasn't that long ago we stopped using it. And how adorable is this Diana camera?!

Chilly Faves

2010-12-03T07:17:00.032-05:00

It hasn't snowed here yet, but it feels freakin' COLD! I think it is the first few days of real chilly temps that are the worst, before your brain and bod have completely numbed to the fact that we are in it for another 4 months or so. Gawd! Remind me why I live here again? I am excited to wear all my winter coats though. Somehow, over the past year I have developed a little collection of vintage coats. Not sure how that happened, but at least it will make going out in sub zero weather a bit more fun! Here are a few of my current cozy inspirations for the week. Have a great weekend!!

copenhagen street style, lion heart vintage

style scout, the sartorialist

Holiday Inspiration

2010-11-29T00:30:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about decorating for the holidays for weeks now. Too soon, I know, but for some reason I am really in the mood for the season this year. Right now I can't decide if I want to go the bright, cheery colours route, or stick to a more traditional palette. I LOVE this room of crochet. Those granny squares are soooo cute. It might be fun to create a garland of little granny squares to hang from my mantle, but I am going to get real and say that it would probably take me until next Christmas to actually complete that project! Here are a few more of my holiday inspirations, technicolour style.

Spring Inspiration

2010-11-23T13:58:00.000-05:00

all images: fashonising

I've never considered myself much of a J.Crew girl, but I am really enjoying the styling on the spring 2011 collection.

All these mussed up ponytails make me want to have long hair again!

A Bit of Beautification

2010-11-21T22:52:00.000-05:00

Lately I can't stop thinking about ways to fancy up my apartment and make it look pretty. I have to admit, it has been fairly neglected design-wise over the past year. But today my new couch arrived and that has me feeling some momentum! I am in LOVE with this giant doily rug. Sadly it is out of my price range right now, but it is such a beauty, and something I can totally see working in my space. It's on the list. One day doily rug...you will be mine!

handmade rug, ladies and gentleman

Bunny Sweater

2010-11-18T08:15:00.012-05:00

Yesterday I think the weather shifted for reals. From the sunny and cool autumn with beautiful leaves gently rustling in the wind, to the barren trees and huge gusts that almost knock you down foreshadowing of what's to come. I broke out my cashmere sweater, and I think there is no going back. In the colder months I live in oversized, warm knits. I am always freezing, so a huge sweater and bulky scarf is the way to go for me. I love this adorable rabbit version. It has all the elements for major warmth, plus it's super cute too!

knit sweater, modcloth

And you may call me Holmes.

2010-11-16T07:06:00.003-05:00

cape-vintage, thrifted

jeans-BDG, thrifted

shoes-vintage, thrifted

gloves-Isotoner, thrifted

Sunday afternoon was a grey one, super damp and chilly, but I biked around in my new cape and it was surprisingly warm. I guess I'm just used to wearing synthetic fibers all the time, I forgot that wool is super cozy. This cape is the best! I love that it looks all Sherlock Holmes-y. And I love that it kind of flies behind me in the wind when I ride my bike. It was one of my thrifting wins when I was visiting my mom in Windsor last week. Actually my entire outfit is thrifted, and I have to say that most times those are my favorite looks. They just seem to come together so naturally, whereas when I have a brand new piece it always takes me a while to figure out how to incorporate it into my wardrobe.

Foggy Night

2010-11-14T13:15:00.000-05:00

I have to admit I was once a person who would get anxious about not leaving the house on a Friday night. What was I missing out on? What kind of fun things were happening out in the world while I was at home? I am happy to report this is no longer the case, and in fact a Friday night at home with my fella is one of my favorite things. This past Friday, sometime in the afternoon Toronto got all foggy and misty, where you couldn't really even see across the street. Isn't fog the best?! It is so spooky, yet strangely also very cozy, so I knew late in the day I was ready to spend friday night at home. After work, I scooped Joey up from his job and we picked up some cheese, bacon, and booze. Perfect friday night dinner! I made grilled cheese sandwiches with maplewood smoked cheddar, bacon and grainy mustard on potato chive bread. We hung out on our indoor picnic blanket (we are looking for a new couch at the moment) and watched The Fog, which was pretty fun and actually had some cool 1982 fashions. And you know I love me a 1982 outfit!

Adrienne Barbeau, what a babe!

Jamie Lee Curtis made an appearance too, in an outfit I love head to toe!

The camel coloured brown paired with red and denim is just perfect.

From the Archives

2010-11-12T07:40:00.008-05:00

I've said it before, but I'll say it again--you can't beat the 1970s. Evidence: Check out these British Vogue covers from the decade. All amazing, but my favorite of the group is the January 1974 with Anjelica Houston and Manolo Blahnik modeling. It's decadence and glamour and romance, all with that brilliant 1970s hazy tint. Just lovely. Happy friday friends!

January 1974, models: Anjelica Houston, Manolo Blahnik

all images: vogue.com uk

December 1974, model Twiggy

March 1974, model Bianca Jagger

December 1975, model Marie Helvin

51 Days

2010-11-10T10:13:00.001-05:00

Only 51 days left in 2010. Can you believe that? I still feel like we are somewhere in the middle, but clearly that is not the case! I am still keeping up with my daily photo project, although, as I have said before, there are some missing days. Mostly the boring ones, but also some more exciting days too when I forgot to bring along my camera. This project has definitely made me see more, and my camera is whipped out of my bag to take a photo way more than it ever was before. I love that. It's not even that the images are especially groundbreaking or anything. They are more just records of my days, some boring and out of focus, once and a while really cool. But I like the reminder of what was happening, because even after a few months have past things just sort of start to blur and melt together.

photoshoot at Mrs Huizenga Junction. Oct 5

a sunday night feast. oct 17

wires that resemble a weird, scary creature. oct 18

caught buying 4 Candace Bushnell books at Value Village. Nov 8

Bold Red

2010-11-08T07:53:00.002-05:00

photo: refinery29

Red lips are getting mad hyped this fall, and I must declare I am a fan! I do have to say though, sometimes on myself, I feel a touch Cruella DeVille with the super bright hue. Wearing an otherwise naked face, and going for a cream based red instead of a matte finish seems to have helped me with aging factor, I think. (I hope!) I do love the pop of colour from a bold lip, so I think I will be continuing to wear this look, even if it does make me look like an ancient crone!

Shoe Love

2010-11-03T21:02:00.001-04:00

clogs: durbuy

Hmm, seems I'm on a bit of a shoe kick this week, but how can you not adore these bee-oo-tiful clogs? Absolutely delightful. I would wear these with some opaque chocolate coloured tights and maybe a knee length plaid skirt and wooly cardigan. Oh, and a beret too, for a perfectly Nancy Drew style look. Cute!

skirt:modcloth

sweater: j crew

tights: we love colors

glasses: illesteva

bag: b store

beret: hats in the belfry

Granny Boots

2010-11-01T17:11:00.000-04:00

The Jeffrey Campbell Lita boot seems to be everywhere lately, but I've never totally been on board with this style. While I do love a high platform, the side view just killed it for me. I feel like the huge weight at the front seems disproportionate to the rest of the shoe. That said, I caught a glimpse at this tapestry version, and I just might have changed my mind! The over the top nature of the granny print somehow balances out the mega weight at the front of the shoe. I imagine these with an all black outfit so the boot takes center stage. Pretty adorable!

photo: bona drag

Etsy Crush

2010-10-29T21:11:00.000-04:00

I've got a big ol' crush on this vintage dress from Victorious Youth. That patchwork skirt is too dreamy! Sadly, it's far too tiny to fit me. :( The vintage on etsy these days is really great. I keep finding new shops that I love. Got any etsy faves I should know about?

Halloween Talk

2010-10-27T21:46:00.005-04:00

True or false: I will get hated on if I dress as a mime at Halloween. My mister Joe claims people hate mimes, and I will surely be despised by all for this costume, but I don't really get it. Why all the mime hate? I don't find them offensive at all, but I think what I like best about them is their classic look! While my outfit for this weekend is going to be decidedly thrifted, I put together a little collection of items for that high fashion mime. haha! Are you dressing up this weekend? What's your costume?

striped shirt- opening ceremony

pants-bottega veneta

shoes-jeffrey campbell

beret-john lewis

white gloves-labour of love

suspenders-see jack shop

Autumn is fab, don't get me wrong...

2010-10-25T19:58:00.001-04:00

but I'd love to have this picnic right now. And be wearing this perfect outfit too!

photo: the jewels of new york

the wednesday

2010-10-21T22:46:00.000-04:00

Looking at photos of this outfit, I realize it is a bit of an updated version of how I dressed at about age 5. I probably had on some thick gum rubber soled shoes though. In brown, of course. I think that was standard issue for the chill'uns in 1983. This is a style and colour palette I go back to again and again, I just can't get enough of that early 80s vibe! I have a few Sears catalogues from about that era, and I want to buy everything in it!

I also want to point out those little chalk drawing people beside me. There is a little girl that lives in the apartment downstairs, and often I will see her and her dad with a pail of sidewalk chalk in different spots around the house. One morning when I went to get my bike from the backyard, I found these little guys, and I have to say they just crack me up.

Shop News

2010-10-18T20:40:00.001-04:00

A little bit of shop news today...time for shakin' things up! I am going to be leaving my studio at the end of the month, which means Rare Treasure will be without a home. When I started the shop, it was all based out of my apartment but as things got going, there was just no room for everything. Dang these storage space-less downtown apartments! So the shop is in a bit of a limbo state.

ralph lauren cord skirt

It's so much fun to me, I don't really want to give it up. I love searching for cool vintage, I love styling the outfits, I love hearing from girls happy with their purchases. But another part of me thinks this is a business, and there are just so many vintage shops out there, maybe I should just leave it to the pros-the ones who are really successful and I should put my energy into something else. I honestly don't know. So the shop is going on a temporary vacation starting November 1. I am in the process of doing a bunch of markdowns, so take a peek over the next few days. I'd love to see as much stock find homes before the month end. I am toying with the idea of doing a small collection for the holidays, but I am not sure right now if that will be possible. My shop will be in vacation mode starting November 1, but you can leave your email with etsy at the Rare Treasure page and they will notify you when I return, if you are interested of course!
I want to say thank you SO much to everyone who has supported my shop over the past 2+ years! You guys are the best, and it seriously made my day anytime I received an email about something you bought and loved or a comment about the shop. Really, you are the best!
xo Robyn