Tag: affordable

work it! work it real good!

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forever

most people’s biggest challenge with working out is the motivation to get up and go. i find that my biggest challenge with working out has been finding affordable but cute workout clothes. i know what you’re thinking, silly problem right? but i’ve always found that i’m more motivated to go to the gym when i look and feel good going. just because you’re working out doesn’t mean you have to give up on fashion.

over the last few months on occasion, if i’m lucky i’ve come across fashionable workout clothes but more often than not the price tag has turned me off. fortunately, i stumbled upon the recently revamped active collection at Forever 21! they have a huge section now dedicated to affordable, fashionable pieces. i left the store having spent under $100 for 4 items. i would highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the market for some new gear!

some other suggestions where i’ve been lucky are Aritzia and Victoria Secret. The price tag is a bit higher but their active collections are super cute.

xx- aboutthesmallthings

girl gang gifts

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gang

photo reposted from Elle Ferguson of theyallhateus

there are different categories of people that we have to shop for over the holidays. one of the best categories to gift is your girl gang. these are your thick as thieves, ride or die, would commit murder for you ladies. they also happen to be the most fun to shop for. these are the people that you can shop for in any direction- sentimental, funny, practical, impractical, and they’ll love anything and everything you get

what’s really nice this year is that different brands are encouraging the girl gang theme and you’re able to find gifts that represent all different kinds of squads. Elle Ferguson and Tash Sefton of the blog They All Hate Us have come up with the perfect example of these kinds of girl gang gifts. They first came out with the best friend t’s that are bought as a set. these are perfect to keep one for you and gift one to your bestie. now they have teamed up with the Australian brand Girl Gang Girls and have come out with a line of t’s and accessories. buy the sets and get one for you, one for your squad or buy a single and keep it for yourself

one of my other favourite best friend gifts are bringing back the old school best friend necklaces or pendants. they’ve come out with some gorgeous high end options that subtly show your united best friend front without being over the top. you can also go the really classic route on  and go for the full best friend necklace or even a bit edgier and be part of the best bitches crew. i found the necklace below and Etsy and it’s well under the $50 price point.

etsy

you can’t forget about the most crucial members of the girl gangs- the ones that moved away (sad face). these ladies hold a special place on the gift giving front because they aren’t around most of the year. these ladies are always just a phone call or a facetime away, but deserve a little more love over the holidays. Etsy has been another great place for me to find gifts for my long distance friends. the mug seen below is one of my all time favourites. customize them or leave them generic but they make one hell of a cute way to drink your morning coffee

etsy 2

these are only a few of many possible gift ideas for your squad. the possibilities are endless and stores are definitely capitalizing on this theme this holiday season!

xx- aboutthesmallthings

it’s that time of year again!

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Holiday

it’s the most wonderful time of the year! the holiday lights are up, Christmas displays in full effect and holiday music galore! (ok so i could do without the holiday music but that’s just me). my favourite thing about this time of year though has to be gift giving. i always have a hard time buying for myself but love nothing more than to surprise people with a great gift. i’m really not into gift cards (not that there’s anything wrong with that) because i like trying to figure out the perfect present for someone. getting someone the perfect gift is like figuring out a tricky puzzle- you never know the final picture until all the pieces are put together

the challenge each year? how to get everyone the most epic of presents without going bankrupt… i’ve come up with a strategy and solid game plan that has worked for me every year. so i plan to share that plan with you guys over the next few posts! Stay tuned for my Holiday 2015 Gift Giving Guides, Tips and Tricks!

xx- aboutthesmallthings

OOTD

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Just Black Denim/ Forever21 Sweater/ Timbaland Boots/ Alexander Wang Rocco Duffle

What’s your favourite cold weather staple? Mine are definitely my fleece lined Timbs to keep my feet warm and dry in the cold.

xx- aboutthesmallthings

hats off to you

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it took a while for me to decide on my number 1 Fall Must Have. it was actually quite hard for me to narrow down all of the fall fashion to only 5 quick points. Fall is by far my favourite season for fashion and these 5 must haves sum it up pretty well for me. now, on to #1- un beau chapeau!

Fall Must Have #1: A great Hat- How many of you have had that morning where you wake up, know you have somewhere to be, don’t have time (or don’t want) to do your hair and are sick and tired of the sad ponytail. i know it happens to me, and that’s when i go for my arsenal of hats. the great thing about Fall is that almost all retailers are beginning to sell a great assortment of hats in all shapes and sizes. i have trouble finding ones that fit my head (i’m a very small size) but i’ve gotten very lucky at American Eagle and on occasion H & M. H & M has a tendency of selling of of sizes faster but it’s because they’re prices are better than most. other affordable finds come from Forever 21 and Zara, if you’re OK to spend a bit more Aritzia has good options to chose from as well

so whether its a beanie, a baseball hat or a trilby, a hat has a good way of adding interest to an outfit without breaking the bank

xx- aboutthesmallthings

well covered

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cape

photo cred @zaracanada

part of the reason this post has taken so long is that this must have has been elusive this fall season. i’ve been on the hunt for the perfect fall coat but still haven’t had any success. (sad face)

Fall Must Have #2: A killer Coat– Although i am hesitant to admit that winter is upon us, i’m no fool in admitting that it’s getting cold out there. so begins another 7 months of adorable outfits covered up by the warmest winter coats known to man. during the short interim period i have, i do my best each year to find a few fall coats that don’t just keep me warm, but add to the overall outfit.

this year has been tricky though- i’ve successfully replaced my old leather jacket (RIP) with a great outlet find at Michael Kors. An olive green moto jacket adds the perfect oomph to my outfits while keeping me cozy. coloured leather is all the rage this season and I strongly suggest finding an affordable coloured coat to compliment any outfit.

So what am i still searching for? there are a few styles that have made the list, but have been challenging to locate. I am definitely on the hunt for a cape coat but am having trouble finding an affordable version. zara has a few good options but i’m having commitment issues… i would also love a fur lined (faux) pea coat of sorts but i am also not having much luck. something fabulous and embroidered would also add great texture to an outfit while keeping me warm. this option I’m having a bit of trouble justifying due to it’s trend status.

What are your thoughts? any suggestions to help me with this Fall Must Have?

xx- aboutthesmallthings

falling into fall

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IMG_6801

fall is here again, and again i’m not ready for it. the season comes with my favorite styles and trends by far, but i know the snow is coming back sooner than i’m ok with

so i hold on to summer for as long as i can, slowly layering in coverups, jackets and thigh highs in place of the inevitable thick knits that will take over my life from November-March

my current (and long lasting) go to fave is thigh highs with vintage levis. this keeps my summer vibe going strong, but also prevents the inevitable freezing of fall

current look includes levi’s cut offs, forever 21 tank, urban outfitters flannel and american apparel thigh highs. if you’re looking for other options, h&m and forever 21 have a whole assortment of affordable socks, tights and thigh highs

xx and happy falling!- aboutthesmallthings

the truth behind forever

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i’ve always loved to shop.i mean, what girl doesn’t right? when i was in my early twenties the issue i had was that i didn’t realize that my life priorities would change later on and i would spend without thinking. designer jeans? sure why not! new shoes? OK! even though it was fun at the time, fast forward a few years and my bank account had taken quite the hit. what i also realized is that my wardrobe wasn’t as amazing as i had thought it was at the time. when you’re spending up to $300 on a pair of jeans, you’re only buying one at a time, so you end up having a lean selection of expensive things to chose from.

once i started living on my own and realizing that i still wanted a killer wardrobe at a fraction of the cost, i started to really hunt down the best deals possible. it takes longer to find great pieces, but you feel way more accomplished when you do. my wardrobe is now made up of really great “finds” that i’m proud of how i came to obtain them

my most recent shopping success story is on a trip to Forever 21. the truth behind Forever is that it’s always super hit or miss and if you don’t go on repeated trips you’ll almost never find anything. that’s been my experience lately with them- i’ll go in ready to discover and all i come up with is a lot of cheesiness.

not on this trip! the summer graphic t’s and tanks right now at Forever are amazing. they’ve done a really great job of creating easy inexpensive pieces that will be great weekend wear! with all of the summer festivals and concerts taking place it’s key to have a good arsenal of fun tops that aren’t super expensive. the ones i found were all between $19-$23 and i happen to be there while they were having a sale- so they were all 30% off!

i would highly recommend having a look- i also found some really cute dresses and throws but decided to focus on one thing at a time (baby steps on shopping rehab!)

xx- aboutthesmallthings

dilly of a pickle

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IMG_5415

i’ve been saying for months that i was going to make homemade pickles. (odd craving i know) i finally found a quick and easy recipe that I tried out this past weekend. I made my jar on Saturday and i’m already almost finished it! it makes the perfect salty snack instead of chips when i’m looking for that end of day fix

Recipe

Ingredients
  • 1¾ cups (415 ml) water
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons (90 ml) distilled white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt flakes
  • ½ teaspoon whole peppercorns
  • 5 whole juniper berries
  • 3 whole allspice berries
  • 3-5 cloves garlic, peeled (this depends on how much you like garlic flavour in your pickles)
  • 7-10 Kirby cucumbers (also called Pickling cucumbers) cucumbers (about 625 to 675 g), washed and ends slightly trimmed
  • ½ oz (15 g) fresh dill leaves (on the stem), rinsed (optional; this not only increases the dill flavor,but is also there for looks- I don’t love dill so I omitted it from my version and they were still delicious)
  • 1 teaspoon dill seed (see note below)
  • Purified water, as necessary

**Another option of you don’t have all of the spices readily available it to buy a pickling spice mix. You just have to be careful when adding it to your water because your measurements aren’t as precise as the recipe

Instructions
  1. Add 1¾ cups water, the vinegar, and the salt to a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the salt, and then turn off heat. Add the peppercorns, juniper berries, and allspice berries and cool to room temperature. (Or for less pronounced flavours, add the spices to the liquid once it’s already cooled.)
  2. Meanwhile, sterilize a 1 L glass jar.
  3. Cut the cucumbers into spears by cutting them in half lengthwise, and then cutting each half lengthwise into 2 or 3 equal pieces, depending how large you like your pickles.
  4. Put 2-3 cloves of garlic in the bottom of the jar. Add the cucumber spears and fresh dill (if using), and then add the remaining garlic and the dill seed on top.
  5. Pour in the vinegar mixture (with the spices), then add enough purified water so that the cucumbers are completely covered, leaving about 1 inch of free space at the top.
  6. Cover the jar and store refrigerated for 48 hours before eating. Stored in the fridge, these pickles will keep for up to a couple weeks.

hope you enjoy!

xx- aboutthesmallthings

something old, something new, something borrowed?

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zara

wedding season is upon us! the sun is shining, flowers are in bloom, and everyone is tying the knot! every week to two weeks there is another hair appointment to be made and outfit to be selected. the challenge with this is remaining creative and fresh in a world where instagram and facebook showcase every outfit worn. finding a new outfit for each and every occasion (because inevitably with each wedding comes and engagement party, bridal shower and bachelorette party) can be challenging and expensive.

so, what have i done avoid falling into the black dress abyss? here a few of my wedding season secrets to stay ahead of the fashion game while not eating ramen

  1. Invest in a few great pairs of high heels- a great pair of shoes will make your outfit and last forever
  2. i never spend more than $100 on the dress- it takes a lot of digging and can be a bit frustrating but i’ve been very lucky in finding dresses that look expensive at a lower price point. my most successful store is always Zara. if i can’t find anything there i move on to some of the smaller boutiques in my city because they often have sales and really interesting unknown designers
  3. when looking for a dress, i never go too fancy. that way i can re-wear it to work or on the weekends. it’s never fun to buy something that only gets worn to one occasion
  4. Accessories, accessories, accessories. if you do need to go for your staple LBD make sure to add interesting accessories to avoid it looking like the last time you wore it. you can find some great statement necklaces for under $20 if you’re patient and have the time to look (my go-to’s are Aldo Accessories and Forever 21)
  5. Borrow! most girls are in the same boat as you are. ask a friend if they have something that would fit you. you end up spending no money at all and won’t feel guilty about wearing the dress once

wedding season can be a lot of fun- it’s a great excuse to get dolled up and dance the night away. there’s no reason why it can’t also be affordable!

(the dress in the picture is my most recent find- $49 at Zara!)

xx-aboutthesmallthings