Tag: fashion

work it! work it real good!

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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

2016

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NYE

Happy New Year everyone! Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy start to 2016!

I’ve decided no resolutions this year. Resolutions tend to get forgotten a few months into the new year, so instead of resolving to eat healthier and go to the gym more, I’ve decided to actually continue to do the things I would typically have resolved to do. I actually started my 2016 resolutions in 2015 to be able to keep up what I started- so far so good!

My 2016 “Faux”-solutions this year are:

  1. Maintain the healthy eating I started last year
  2. Save!
  3. Continue to go to the gym and find new and fun ways to stay fit
  4. YOLO- it up! Life has a way of flying by without us even seeing it happen, this year I want to take advantage or every opportunity and miss out on nothing (or as little as possible anyway)

What are you guys resolving to do in the new year?

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

Monday Mood

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“Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life.” —Bill Cunningham

  1. Frends Headphones
  2. Michael Kors Sunglasses
  3. Bath & Body Works Shea Butter Hand Cream
  4. Nars Lip Pencil
  5. MAC Lipglass
  6. David Yurman and Tiffany’s Rings

xx-aboutthesmallthings

falling into fall

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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

better than basic

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Have you ever had those mornings where you stand in front of a closet full of clothes and no matter how hard you try you can’t find a thing you want to wear? Well I suffer from that constantly. It will be 7 am and the clock is ticking away but I can’t settle on anything. If I could forever have a revolving wardrobe I would, but the reality is I’m not made of money and that’s not feasible in any way. (a girl can dream)

it’s on these mornings where lines blur together in a sea of clothing that i have a contingency plan in place for these such occasions. these are what i call “the LBD moments”. an LBD moment doesn’t necessarily mean you grab the first black dress you see and sulk out of your apartment, it means that everyone should have a series of basic key pieces that they can reach to in times of need. my LBD moment items include an amazing little grey dress from Wilfred Free, a million denim on denim combos, and a few solid dresses from H& M, Forever and Zara that i can always reach for in a clinch. to avoid feeling “basic” on these sad clothes mornings, i also have my arsenal of accessories to save the day

to take any LBD from basic to edgy or fun, i grab a great statement necklace or even layer a few thinner pieces to create some depth and interest. it  makes a basic piece feel a bit more fun and a little more memorable

pictured above (top to bottom): J Crew Statement Necklace/ Michael Kors Spring 2015 Chevron Necklaces and Heart Pendant

Other great accessory places include H & M, Forever 21 and Club Monaco if you’re looking to spend a bit more

xx- aboutthesmallthings

summer lovin’

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summer

i love the summer. i’ve lived in Canada my entire life and have still not gotten used to the cold and the snow. i count down the days from the first snowfall until i can see the sun again. (it’s a long and painful count let me tell you). i just stocked up on some more of my summer faves and wanted to share them!

  1. PINK by Victoria Secret Bathing Suit (on sale! best steal)
  2. Daisy by Marc Jacobs Roller Ball
  3. Kerastase Hair Serum- amazing for summer frizz and hydrating curly hair
  4. Michael Kors Champagne Beach Sunglasses
  5. Frends Headphones- they look amazing and are completely noise cancelling

What are your cannot-live-without summer faves?

xx- aboutthesmallthings

edited

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i know i’ve mentioned before my dislike of packing. i’m really no good at it. i always forget something or decide once i’m there that the outfit i absolutely need to wear is the one i left at home. the worst packing experience for me though is when i combine a work trip with a personal one. remembering to pack enough outfits for both components while not overpacking is like playing an annoying game of luggage tetris.

since i do take these combined trips fairly often, i’ve come up with the basics that have to come with me no matter what. i then build from there. that way, at least, i have a solid outfit foundation each time.

my travel go to’s?

  1. My favorite distressed skinny jeans (i picked up a pair of Sevens at a crazy discount- i live in them now)
  2. converse
  3. a pair of amazing heels (Michael Kors London Open Toe in this case)
  4. my makeup essentials
  5. plain t’s (you can never go wrong with a great basic t shirt)
  6. at least 1 dress (you never know when you’re going to need to dress up a bit)
  7. for my summer trips my vintage levi’s always make the cut

What are your travel musts?

xx-abouthesmallthings

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

Cheater!

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Spring is slowly making an appearance but taking it’s time to get here. we’re slowly being eased into the warmer days with the promise of sunshine but the reality of chills. i’ve decided winter is over (wishful thinking) so i’ve retired the winter jacket and bulky sweaters and i’m opting to integrate my spring pieces into the lesser-than-warm days we’ve been experiencing. while moving towards sunshine and warmth, i’ve been cheating to keep warm while slowly shedding the winter wardrobe

How can you cheat your way to Spring?

  1. Layers, layers, layers! Opt for a light leather jacket or letterman jacket with an oversize scarf to keep the warm in
  2. Thigh highs instead of tights. This keeps your legs toasty but feels less like fall and more like Spring. You also get to show a bit of leg instead of being fully covered
  3. Textures. Textures are often done in thicker fabrics so they keep you warmer than a light weight cotton. You can add texture in a jacket, skirt, dress or fabulous pair of pants in a great pattern to get the feel of Spring without freezing your butt off.

this outfit was my Saturday night casual dinner quick and easy grab. i paired a printed Forever 21 long sleeve t with a Zara printed skirt for an effortless look that wasn’t the usual winter jeans and a sweater. i used my thigh high trick to keep my legs warm but not feel as though i’ve abandoned hope of Spring

xx-aboutthesmallthings