Somewhere

Elle Fanning in Interview Magazine






So looking forward to seeing Somewhere, the new Sofia Coppola movie with Elle Fanning playing Stephen Dorff's daughter; I've never met a Sofia movie I didn't like. I think she looks so lovely and pure in these photos from Interview.

Holy Crap: Dry Shampoo That Will Change Your Life

Usually a product won't work so well that it compels me to immediately open up my laptop to gush about it, but today that happened. If you know me, you might know how much I dislike washing my hair. It's not that I'm disgusting or I like the greasy look, it's just that I hate having to always re-style my hair and decide where I'm going to part it and whether or not I will blow-dry it and...it's exhausting.

Enter: dry shampoo. I started using dry shampoo two years ago when it first came out in Canada. My first purchase was Ojon Rub-Out dry cleanser from Sephora. I really liked it but when I went back to buy another bottle it had been discontinued. Apparently it had to be re-formulated or something (it's back now), so I opted instead for Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray also from Sephora. It was ok but I found that I had to use a lot of it and the small bottle I bought was gone in less than a month. That was the end of my dry shampoo story for a while because the Ojon and Oscar Blandi were so expensive. Then came Tresemme Freshstart Dry Shampoo. I was so impressed with how cheap it was (about $7 and available everywhere) that I immediately bought it. The problem with the Tresemme was that it was smelly (think chemicals) and cakey. When I used it, my hair would be gross and grimy by the end of the day. It also left my hair really matte as if I'd used loads of hairspray.

Now, my friends, I think my dry shampoo search has come to an end with my recent purchase of Batiste Dry Shampoo (pictured above).

Pros:

• It sprays on really easily
• It makes a loud "shhhh" sound (not sure why that's a "pro" but I found it really satisfying?)
• It goes on dry (unlike Tresemme)
• Smells really good
• My 2-day-old hair looks totally clean and SHINY and I can usually NEVER go two days without washing it
• It honestly looks like I washed my hair this morning
• Only costs ~$8

Cons:

• Ummmm...
• Not a big deal but it goes on a little white-ish. I was alarmed at first but all it took was a little brushing (see below) to get my hair back to its shiny, light brown colour.

So there you have it, my new favourite! Just make sure to follow the directions on the bottle; It says to spray it from 30cm away, massage in with your fingers and brush out with a natural-bristle brush. I think that last part is key because it avoids the piecey look you might get if you used a plastic brush/comb.

EDIT: I bought it at this weird store in BC called Army and Navy but I've seen it available at drugstores like London Drugs and Shoppers Drug Mart (Canadian stores!)

U-Pick

HEY everyone reading this right now (all three of you...)! I need you to help me pick a dress from ASOS.com! Right now they're having a free-shipping event PLUS 20% off all ASOS's own brand! I swear they didn't pay me or offer me anything to promote them, I'm just super stoked on sales. So here are the dress contenders. I took the liberty of plastering my face over the models so you could really have a GOOD idea of which one looks best.


the Stud and Eyelet Batwing dress (that's my sexy face)


the Hook and Eye V-Neck Jersey Dress

and finally...

the Pretty Tea Dress (this one called for a more demure expression obviously)
So there you have it folks. Yes I know they're all black/navy. I was totally trying to find a nice bright red dress but none of the other styles ~spoke~ to me. There was one I was contemplating but then I watched a model wear it down the ASOS runway (they have a nifty little feature for each garment where you can see it in action!) and she was slouching so badly that I was turned off for life.
HELP: which one should I get?

Leelee lady of the 90's

Remember when Leelee Sobieski was in The Glass House and everyone thought she looked like a younger Helen Hunt and all that stuff? Well, here's something completely different:



I looooove her hair! So harsh and 90's supermodel, no?

She's actually kind of always been an under-the-radar fashion plate, like when she was Aldys in Never Been Kissed:



I am sitting here trying to figure out where I would get a headband like that, seriously. And the glasses chains?

And then more recently:



I love how it totally looks like she's wearing a Hanes men's t-shirt instead of some perfectly-draped T by Alexander Wang or something. Also the shoes.

recipe: Potato Pancakes with Paprika-Dill Cream

I made these potato pancakes for brunch this morning and was so impressed. I couldn't believe it only took me 20 mins start-to-finish! I usually make them with regular yellow onion but the green onion added such a nice freshness and this paprika-dill cream I dreamed up turned out really well. This is pretty enough to serve for a fancy brunch (you could make smaller-sized pancakes), but I just made it for myself.

Potato Pancakes with Paprika-Dill Cream

Makes four medium sized pancakes, serves 2 (or 1 if you’re hungry)

Ingredients:
1 large Russet potato
1 stalk of green onions, chopped
2 large eggs
¼ cup of pancake mix (I used gluten-free)
Salt and pepper to taste
Generous amount of olive or vegetable oil

3 tablespoons of plain yogurt (sour cream works too)
3 tablespoons of mayonnaise (I used ½ fat mayo)
½ tsp of paprika
1 tsp dried dill (I would use fresh chopped dill if on hand)

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them lightly. Peel the potato and shred it. Work quickly because it tends to go brown! Once shredded, squeeze the water out of the potato using cheesecloth or layered paper towel. Add the potato, green onion, pancake mix, and salt & pepper to the eggs and mix well. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, use a measuring cup (I used ¼ cup) to scoop out pancakes and place them in the pan. Cook on each side until golden brown (about 5-6 mins).

Sauce: Mix yogurt, mayonnaise, paprika, dill and salt and pepper to taste.

Serve pancakes with a dollop of cream and garnish with your favourite fresh herb.

Tell me if you make it and how it turns out! Potato pancakes are the single best way to consume potatoes in my opinion!

hairy part 2

The title "hairy" kind of makes me think of pubes? Ok sorry to gross everybody out before I post pictures of my HAIR on my HEAD. Here goes...

First, a reminder of my inspiration (also, can I get her eyes and cheekbones?):


(note, she is holding a MuchMusic mic! Canadians unite!)

And now for the pictures of my own cut! I have much thicker hair than hers but Ruby thinned it out lots so I hope that lasts...

Straight and blown-out:


After I had curled it a little:


I think I like it with a little texture in it more than straight and sleek, what do you think? This also bring me to another question:

Does anybody have any product recommendations for shorter hair? Stuff that will make my waves stand out and texturize everything?

hairy part 1

For the past week or so, I've been consumed with thoughts of a new hairstyle. When I have these ideas, you know, ideas that are actually do-able and not something like "HEY, DYE YOUR HAIR PINK, YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE", they become all I can think of. I decided to book a hair appointment upon finding the perfect cut-inspiration: Ashley Olsen's bob.

So today I went in for my appointment (to the lovely Rubi at Hennessey Salon+Spa, Oakridge) with this collage in hand:



Yeah, saying I went a little overboard is an understatement...I literally scoured google images and getty images for every appearance she ever made with that hair. You know, so I could see how she styled it/how it...moved?

Anyway, spoiler alert, it turned out really nice. I'm super pleased with the results, and plan on posting pictures tomorrow! SEE, being totally obsessive and overbearing with your hair stylist pays off!


If you want to be here when I post the pictures tomorrow, follow my blog with bloglovin, google, or click below to bookmark me!

lollipop lollipop

I'm absolutely obsessed with this editorial I saw on the Stylish Wanderer (originally from Vogue Germany) last month. I have really never seen anything like it. I think that the 1970's is "my decade" in that I think if I could choose any decade to be alive in, it would have been that one.

Things I love about this:

• The hair: it's so glossy that it almost looks like straw. I think shaped, directional hair is coming back and I may or may not be craving a bob...
• The heavily saturated colours. Makes me want to buy a juicer?
• Obviously the clothes. Buttoned-up-all-the-way anyone? Cute collars? Sparkly sunglasses on a chain?

See for yourself...

lol

Does this photo give anybody else the lol's?



I saved it a while ago as "so funny" and just found it on my computer. Who approved this photoshoot? Not a good look

obsessed

Pantspiration and hairspiration extraordinaire.

Garance Dore and jak&jil

HaLLoWeEeEeEnToWn

Happy Halloween everyone! The other day, in anticipation for this awesome holiday, Stu and I decorated the outside of his house for the trick-or-treaters! I came over in my best fall clothes: my favourite cape, my brown lace up booties and my denim shirt (buttoned all the way up of course). We put up fake spiderwebs, skull garland and a cute green skeleton. Tonight we're having pizza and beer and watching the Shining, which I have NEVER seen (don't make fun of me guys). I love Halloween, what did everyone dress up as?

Stu is my favourite: upon opening the first package of spider webs, he went over to the bushes and placed it like this. I had to instruct him in the art of actually spreading out the cotton so it looks somewhat like a real spiderweb, he didn't know.

Melita in the Sand Dunes

These are some images from a shoot I styled a while ago. This shoot was a crazy experience; the "sand dunes" you see are actually huge hills of sand on a construction site (which apparently has public access). I was unfortunately SO windy and SO hot that day so the makeup artist was a wreck. I was also a wreck about the clothes getting ruined but they were luckily fine! I couldn't get into the shower soon enough after this shoot, it wasn't nice sand that you find at the beach, it was really dusty, fine sand that caked on my feet and clothes and hair.

Crop-top from Guess, Shorts from H&M, Boots from Forever 21, Turban is my own from Urban Outfitters a long time ago.

Photographer: Kevin Kinisky
Makeup Artist: LucyAnne Botham
Model: Melita Ellis

Kate Moss for Topshop, the final collection

She is SMOULDERING in these. My two faves.

drinks at Drink

Tonight, Stu and I went for drinks at Drink, a cute little cocktail lounge in New Westminster. We went out to celebrate him finishing midterms for the year! He's in third year microbiology so he has to work HARD, I don't envy him but I do admire his drive.

We suited up in our most wind-proof gear and walked over to Drink for margarita's (me) and dark beer (him).

He's making a faaaaaaace

sorry about my atrocious posing...

I wore my new (to me, second hand) pink suede bomber. I bought it in hopes of getting it dry-cleaned but to my chagrin, no dry cleaner would take it! They said
- if they tried to clean it, the pink would fade
- the chemicals would melt the suede
- they could send it away for cleaning but it would cost $70-$80!
Considering that is 4 times what I paid for this sucker, I declined. It isn't terribly stained or gross, the colour is just a little bit dull from wear. It still works though, Stu even called it "badass" so, there you have it.

Showing off my new Joe nailpolish, in Jade. Their formula is so great, super easy to apply and nice and opaque!

the New Look

No, not that New Look, MY new look. It's all coming together guys...
While browsing Proenza Schouler Fall 2010 on style.com for Buying class, I had a lovely revelation that this will be my fall look. I browsed the collection when it came out in February but, as the cycle of fashion/collections goes, I was still looking forward to Summer clothes. Now that Summer is...ahem... coming to and end (sorryyyyyy) I can look forward to cute, heavier clothes like these! I will so miss my cutoff jean shorts though.







So, to summarize:

• Painfully cool black and white prints with FLASHES of electric blue
• Shear black (always)
• Sign me up for that orange belt
  
• Technicolor fur ANYONE?
• Wine lips (fall staple every year)
• Do I need to fashion myself an itsy bitsy leather collar? Yes, I think I do. I think I actually will, it's too good.
  

Don't try to push any other looks to me for all of Fall, I'm too ADD and way too easy to influence.

so into

these:



and this:



both from Opening Ceremony

I don't think I would ever buy anything if I went to Opening Ceremony because I get overwhelmed when every piece of clothing or pair of shoes in one place is WONDERFUL. I think I would just generally feel poor and out of place among the gorgeous stuff. That being said, I would totally order these loafers and this Boy by Band of Outsiders skirt online, where things are simpler and require less browsing and therefore less feeling bad. Does anyone want to send me a pre-paid credit card?