It's the pretty things in life…

all me a shopaholic, but when I see something that's so pretty and at a good price, I just can't pass up on it. I was out running errands this afternoon- picking up a birthday gift for my girl friend and my twin sister and as always, I got distracted by all the pretty things I saw. First stop- Chapters/Indigo. I swear, that place is dangerous for me. Especially when they are having a sale.

Here's what I got at Chapters/Indigo:

I saw this pretty notebook (left) with gold foil embossing. They are really promoting all things
Canadiana with their stationery supplies right now. The pink thing to the right is a sticky
note set.

Here's a close-up of the cover. This was $6.50CAD.

The pages are lined inside and there are 3 sections divided by craft paper (you can see
it on the left of the lined page). I'm planning to use this notebook when I go back to work.

This is the Canada Owls Sticky Note Set. Isn't the cover pretty?
Chapters/Indigo also had a blue version of a sticky note set with a different graphic,
but I liked this one better.

Here's the inside with all the different-sized sticky notes. I love the owl-print lining.

Here's a close-up. I'm also planning on using this when I go back to work.
This was $10CAD.

I love love love Voluspa candles. They smell amazing and the packaging is just to die for.
However, it is expensive. That's why I always wait until they go on sale at Chapters/Indigo
before I purchase these.

I got Eden & Pear (my favourite scent out of the 2) and Crème de Pêche. 

They were originally $12CAD, but I got them on sale for $6CAD each.
The great thing about these candles are that I can use the jars after I'm finished with
the candle to store stuff in.

I picked up votive candles to put inside my next purchase. This was $4.75CAD, down from
$9.50CAD. There's no scent to these, but I wasn't sure if my regular tealights
would fit in my next purchase.

I got 2 of these beautiful, mercury glass votives. It's just stunning in person.

The insides are gold and they glimmer in the light.

These were $4.50CAD each.
I'm even thinking of storing some of my jewelry inside the votive. It looks so pretty with
my Voluspa candle.

So this is what I actually went into Chapters/Indigo for- a gift for my girl friend.
I'm going out tomorrow night for my friend's birthday and I wanted to pick up
something for her. I don't really like buying clothes and shoes for friends because
I never know what size they are and I don't know if they will really like what I get.
To be safe, I always get home goods.
I got this initial mug with her first name initial (it was $8CAD or 2 for $12) and an
organic green tea canister from Harney & Sons. This was originally $10CAD, but I got
it on sale for $5CAD. Score!

I then went to the mall to see if I could find something for my twin sister. Our birthday is coming up- August 12 and I noticed she was walking around with flats that were almost threadbare. She is pregnant with her second child right now so I want to make sure she has good flats to walk on. 

From J Crew Factory:

I wish they had the nude colour ones still available, but I still like this persimmon-coloured
ones. I hope she likes them too. I'm more daring when it comes to dressing so I know
I would rock these, but I'm not sure if she would… I think they are so pretty!
These were originally $115CAD, but they were super marked down. I got them for just
under $40CAD with tax. I wish they had it in my size…

As always, I can't help myself from going to HR2. Their stock is always changing so I like going there to see if there's anything new and if things I liked in the past are further marked down. Lo and behold it was! Remember the Echo scarf I talked about earlier here? Well, they were on sale for $39CAD.

I wanted to take better photos, but the scarf is super long. Maybe I'll do an OOTD
photo in a future post.

Shopping, shopping, shopping

orry for the lack of updates. June flew by and July has been a crazy month with my daughter's 1-year birthday party, my son's 4-year birthday party and hosting my inlaws for 2 weeks. I have a couple of weeks left before I go back to work :'-(
I was initially supposed to start work on July 22, but I'm taking 2 weeks vacation before I go back. It's good because that means I can have a period of rest before I start work. After I had my first (in 2009), I started work right after my son's 1-year birthday party so I was so drained and tired. This time I wanted to use up some of my vacation time. That also means I can spend more time with my little ones before I become a working mom. I know how much I'm going to cry when my daughter starts daycare… Even though I experienced putting my son in daycare after my first mat leave it doesn't make it any easier… August will be a depressing month for me.

In a lighter note, I've been doing a lot of shopping in preparation for work. Here's some of the stuff I've acquired in the past couple of weeks:

I've been wanting these Zara skort ever since I first saw them on fashion blogs.
I finally got it in white. They are super comfortable! They are still available online in
white, black and red. I even saw a gray pinstripe one in store today. These white ones
were $49.90CAD.

I got a few bottoms at HR2 a couple of weeks ago.

I got my first pair of Alice + Olivia shorts. They were marked down to $65CAD, down
from $176CAD.

These Rag & Bone Jodhpur jeans were $98CAD, down from $335CAD. You can still
find these on Shopbop in all black, but they are not on sale.

Got these gorgeous, bright jade trousers from Vince Camuto. They were $48CAD, down
from $98CAD.

I also got this Anzie necklace from HR2 last week. It's a silver disc necklace with my first
name initial. It also has a clear topaz charm attached to the chain.

Initially I wanted to get my kids initials- A & K and layer them on, but the chain is not
adjustable and it just looked messy when I had both of them on.

I wish it came in gold because I tend to wear gold jewelry more, but I really love this
necklace regardless. This was $63CAD, down from $300CAD.

I picked up 2 Gorjana rings from HR2 as well. They were $13CAD each, down from $30CAD.
I'm planning to wear them together. I don't think there is anything wrong with mixing metals.

I picked up this silk top from Aritzia today. It was on sale for $39.99CAD, down from $110CAD.
It's quite sheer so I need to wear it with a nude bra. It's also pretty loose. I got a size
small, but I think I could have gone down to XS.
I'm wearing the top with my new Alice + Olivia shorts.

I ordered these Zara ankle strap sandals online last week and I had them shipped to my
local Zara store. I picked these up today and I couldn't be happier! They are just gorge!

They are super high, but surprisingly comfortable. It's not real leather, but the price was
great at $49.99CAD. I plan on buying Zara shoes online in the future because I always
have a hard time finding my size (size 6) in stores. Plus, if you have it shipped to the
store there is no shipping fee (and shipping is free if it's over $50CAD before taxes).

While I was picking up my shoes in store I fell in love with a simple black top. I know
it doesn't look like much, but it's so lightweight and the back is why I fell in love with this
top. The front neckline is high, while the back is low.
You can see how the shoes, skort and shoes look in this look.

See what I mean? This was $19.90CAD.

Here is my Aritzia top with my Vince Camuto 

Here's how the Rag & Bone jeans look on me.

The leather panels (white) gives the illusion of thinner calves. I love that! I have fat
calves so I was pleasantly surprised when I tried these on.

Live Colorfully

on't you love checking things off your wish lists?

If you guys follow my blog you'll know that I've been eyeing this Kate Spade watch for a while now. Well, I was absolutely shocked when I got my belated birthday present from my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. The reason why it took so long for it to get to me (my birthday was on August 12) was because this particular style was out-of-stock. I'm just in shock at their generosity and for getting the best gift ever!

Here is the beautiful watch. It's a too big so I have to get some links removed.
Isn't it gorge? If you guys want to know the style it is the Gramercy Grand in gold.

Here is the box it came in.

Look at the beautiful tissue it was wrapped in. I'm going to keep it. 

It was bound by a beautiful, gold Kate Spade sticker.

The watch came with a cute card. It's printed in a card stock. I think I'm going to
frame it and display it somewhere.

And here she is.

So classic and beautiful.

I love their packaging. The inside of the box has gold polka dots and the bottom of
the box says 'Live Colorfully.'

Even the back of the watch face says 'Live Colorfully.'

Close-up of the card.