Fashion Friday- Cottage Nights

Today can not end quick enough!! After work, I am heading to the lake and counting down the hours until I am reunited with my cousins at the cottage!! Summer to me has always meant time at the cottage with cousins- so many happy memories!! As the years have passed, and we've all grown older and moved on with our lives, we are spending less and less time together at the cottage. I am so looking forward to this weekend!!

Time at the cottage is pretty simple: day spent on the beach, drinks on the deck, dinner in the cottage, and back down to the beach. Cottage nights are one of my favourite things in the world- family, sunsets, evening dip in the lake, and bonfires!!

Bathing suit// Tank top // Shorts // Sunglasses // Sweatshirt // Flip flops // Beach towel

If you haven't taken a sunset dip in one of the Great Lakes, you must add that to your Bucket List! This bathing suit is perfect for such an occasion! I love the colour- and fringe- of this Jessica Simpson bathing suit.

After (or before) a swim in the lake, this tank top and shorts are great for hanging out on the beach. How cute and perfect for the beach is this tank? Love the colour of these Tommy Hilfiger shorts.

Sunglasses and sunsets just go hand and hand. Watching the sun set over one a lake is one of the most beautiful views. Love these Ralph Lauren sunglasses!

At the cottage, usually around the bonfire, it gets a bit chilly. A sweatshirt is perfect to pullover a tank top. Plus I love the sweatshirt and shorts combo, especially if I get to rep my Alma Mater- Brock University!!

Flip flops are really the only acceptable footwear for the cottage. Havaians are hands down the most comfortable flip flops ever. 

Generally speaking, I love Hudson Bay stripes...they are so iconic to Canada and there are so many images around campfires, at cottages, with a Hudson's Bay stripped blanket. Pictured is a beach towel, which is great for your post swim or to snuggle under while toasting marshmallows! 

This weekend is also a long weekend in Canada. While it's great to have a long weekend, it also means that summer is quickly coming to an end- not many cottage nights- or days- left. Enjoy them while you can...I know I will!!

Book Club: The Girl Who Was Saturday Night

 

Book: The Girl Who Was Saturday Night

Author: Heather O`Neil

Amazon Summary: 
Finalist for the 2014 Scotiabank Giller Prize
From the author of the international bestselling, award-winning Lullabies for Little Criminals, a coming-of-age novel set on the seedy side of Montreal’s St. Laurent Boulevard.

Gorgeous twins Noushcka and Nicolas Tremblay live with their grandfather Loulou in a tiny, sordid apartment on St. Laurent Boulevard. They are hopelessly promiscuous, wildly funny and infectiously charming. They are also the only children of the legendary Québécois folksinger Étienne Tremblay, who was as famous for his brilliant lyrics about working-class life as he was for his philandering bon vivant lifestyle and his fall from grace. Known by the public since they were children as Little Noushcka and Little Nicolas, the two inseparable siblings have never been allowed to be ordinary. On the eve of their twentieth birthday, the twins’ self-destructive shenanigans catch up with them when Noushcka agrees to be beauty queen in the local St. Jean Baptiste Day parade. The media spotlight returns, and the attention of a relentless journalist exposes the cracks in the family’s relationships. Though Noushcka tries to leave her family behind, for better or worse, Noushcka is a Tremblay, and when tragedy strikes, home is the only place she wants to be.

With all the wit and poignancy that made Baby such a beloved character in Lullabies for Little Criminals, O’Neill writes of an unusual family and what binds them together and tears them apart. The Girl Who Was Saturday Night is classic, unforgettable Heather O’Neill.

 

What I have to say: 
I had heard so many great things about this book, that I added it to my reading list last year. Back in February, I bought a copy of the boo. And, finally, two weekends ago, I had the chance to read it. This was another book that I devoured in less than 24 hours. I couldn't- and didn't want to- put this book down. I enjoyed following Noushcka on her journey, as she fell in love and attempts to leave her twin brother and start her own family. Noushcka was a relateable character...we have all struggled at one time or another to discover who we really are.

While the story was beautifully written, there were times that I wondered what a description or incident had to do with the plot. I don't necessarily enjoy this...it didn't take away from the overall plot. On top of that, this pieces of the story were still well written.

Final verdict: I plan to re-read this to pick up on earlier plot points and see how they fit in to the overall plot. This book will not be for everyone, but I will encourage people to check it out. I have already lent my copy to my brother's girlfriend.  

Hey, It's Ok

That my apartment is a disaster. I have piles of stuff everywhere. I need to buckle down and get organized...just sort through everything, throw stuff away and put everything else back where it belongs.

To finally get pictures from the Pan Am Opening Ceremony on my computer!! I still need to go through and edit them before I can share them on the blog, but great first step in getting them on my computer!!

That I am super excited to be partnered with Lindsay from The Flynnigans for a beauty swap!!

To be looking forward to the long weekend. Party at the cottage with a lot of my cousins, including my B.C. cousins!!! 

That sometimes you just have to revert back to your old ways, no matter how bad of an idea it is.

Fashion Friday- Beach Attire

Happy Friday!! I can't believe how quickly this week went!!! Work was super busy and full of meetings. I'm getting the chance to be part of some really exciting projects- even though it's taking me away from my regular work. 

This has been a busy week and I haven't had a chance to go through- or share- any of my Pan Am Games pictures or experiences. I was hoping to have the chance to go to the Closing Ceremony this weekend, but it just wasn't in the cards. I'm thankful that I got to experience the Opening Ceremony...some people don't get to experience either, and I had the chance to experience both. 

If I'm not attending Pan Am, what am I doing this weekend? Going to the beach of course!! I thought I would do a little Fashion Friday based on beach attire.

Hat // Flip Flops // Towel // Sunglasses // Beach Cover Up // Beach Bag // Bathing Suit

A bathing suit is the foundation of great beach attire. There are so many great choices, but how cute is the Tommy Hilfiger one pictured above?!

Another key piece is a cover up, just something you can throw on quickly to run into a store or restaurant. I prefer cover ups with longer sleeves, just to provide some extra protection from the sun. This one is from Old Navy, which has tons of great options- some of their shirts in an XXL also make great cover ups.

Flip flops are the best AND the only appropriate beach footwear. I can live in my Havaianas, they are so comfortable.

I have a pair of Ralph Lauren sunglasses that I take with me everywhere- love them!! Plus they are red, my favourite colour.

Hat to provide some protection from the sun...and of course, I pick a hat that shows my love for my loves aka the New York Rangers!!

Beach bag is a must to store all of your beach essentials. This Lilly Pulitzer bag is on my wish list. I should have picked one up when I was in the Lilly store last week. 

Finally, a beach towel! This Hudson Bay, with the iconic stripes, is a classic and Canadian favourite. 

 

I'm looking forward to my beach weekend and I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!

Fab Fit Fun- Summer 2015 Box

I love a subscription box just as much as the next girl, and I have to say that I love Fab Fit Fun! This is currently the only subscription box I subscribed to. 

Fab Fit Fun is a seasonal box that is $49.99 a quarter or $179.99 a year. I bulked a little bit at the price tag, but the value of the boxes are amazing and you get full size products. Also, I like that Fab Fit Fun is not just a beauty box, they send a variety of products.

Something that I like is that they include a card with product information and price. Unfortunately, my box this time around didn't include the card, which was disappointing. Also disappointing is that one of my products leaked in the box...not the end of the world and it could be worse.

My Subscription Addiction did post the reveal card, so I was able to get the product information from that.

So, what did I get?

The Everyday Wireless Speaker by FabFitFun- I was so excited to receive this!! Created by FabFitFun, this is a portable, wireless speaker with an FM radio, smartphone compatibility and bluetooth with microphone! The sound is actually pretty good too. I'm going to get a ton of use out of this.
Value $29.99

Scratch Limited Edition Nail Wraps- I am not a fan of nail wraps...I just don't like them. I will be gifting these to someone.

Value $12

Hello Konjac Cleansing Sponge- "a secret remedy from Korea"...this sponge exfoliates and cleanses. You can use it with your cleanser or own it's own, which is what I'll do. I've heard a ton about these sponges and I'm excited to finally try one!!

Value $12

Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer in Aloe Smooth (Sponsored)- FabFitFun includes sponsored items to off-set the cost of the box. This by far the best sponsored item I've received to date. This product claims to hydrate dry skin (HUGE issue for me) and sooth skin after a day in the sun.

Value $7.99

Gorge "I'll Make You Look Amazing" Daily Spray- This is a leave in conditioner, which sounds like you can use it on damp or dry hair. I'm not crazy about leave in conditioners, as they usually leave my hair looking greasy. But I'll give this one a try...it claims not to leave a residue and to repair all hair issues. I have crazy fizzy hair in the summer- thanks naturally curly hair and Ontario humidity!!- so we'll see what this product can do to help.

Value $24.95

Wren 14Kt Gold and Black Sapphire Necklace- As a subscriber, I actually had a choice between yellow or rose gold, and moon, heart or horseshoe. I thought I picked the horseshoe...but I ended up with the moon, which I might have picked. I also thought I picked yellow gold, but ended up with rose gold. I LOVE black sapphires, but the sapphire is super tiny. Still a pretty necklace!!

Value $100

Inkling Scents Roll-On Oil Perfume in Sultry- This product actually leaked...while it was a nice scent to meet me when I opened the box, not so pleasant to have the oil on some of the other products. I'm kind of meh when it comes to perfume samples, generally not liking them. But this one, I like!! "Sultry is a blend of creamy sandalwood, white amber, lotus flower, orchid, Bulgarian rose, and silky vanilla." It smells so good and will be something that I will actually wear! 

Value $25

Tarte LipSurgence Lip Gloss in Envy- Subscribers had the chance to pick the colour that they wanted. This is a deeper pink and great for my skin tone. Bonus that I actually like Tarte as a brand. 

Value $19

FabFitFun x CosmoBody Jump Rope- The past few boxes, the "fit" portion has been a workout DVD, so it was nice to get something a bit different. I like to think that I will use this, but I live in an apartment, and I'm not sure the people below me will be too happy. But we'll see...maybe I'll use it anyway. 

Value $14
 

Headsapce 3-Month Subscription- Generally, I'm not a fan of gift cards or trial subscriptions, just because I know I won't use them. Usually the value isn't enough to buy anything or there is fine print with the trial, so I just don't bother. This subscription, actually appeals to me and may actually use it! This is an app with guided mediation, I've been meaning to get back into guided meditations...this might just be the kick I need to get started again.

Value $38.85

Total Value $275.79 (not including sponsored item)

Another great box with a fantastic value!! There is only one item- the nail wraps- out of ten that I won't use/don't like. 

Like what you see? You can order your own Summer 2015 Box.

I've Got To Bid You Adieu

One of my favourite songs this summer, and one that I cannot get out of my head or stop singing is this song:

Honey I'm Good by Andy Grammar

Now I'm going to have this song stuck in my head all day. The goal is to get the photos form Pan Am from my phone to my computer tonight, so that tomorrow I can share some Pan Am details. 

 

Hope everyone has a fantastic Wednesday!!

Hey, It's Ok

That Johnny Mac is my favourite Big Brother houseguest this season. He's hilarious and I hope he wins!

To have had a blast at the Pan Am events that I was able to attend last week! I will be doing full recaps of the events I went to later this week and next.

That I hope I get to go to the Pan Am Closing Ceremony...I'm working on it! It would be cool to go, but if I can't go, it's not the end of the world.

To have FINALLY read The Girl Who Was Saturday Night. It's been on my reading list forever and I bought the book back in February. Highly recommended and full review coming soon.

That I had a blast this past weekend...I got to spend it with my brother, his girlfriend, and my university roommate...this weekend was the epitome of summer.

To miss Daniel. Summer isn't the same without him.

Fashion Friday: Pan Am Games

I was lucky enough to attend the first four days of the Pan Am Games, and even luckier to attend the Opening Ceremony!! Last Friday, I shared what I wore to the Opening Ceremony, which you can find here, and today I thought I would share what I wore Day 1-4. 

Don't know what the Pan Am Games are? You can find out more here...they are basically the pre-Olympics aka kind of a big deal.

So, what did I wear?

 

Skirt  //  Dress  //  Skirt  //  Earrings  //  Flip Flops  //  Necklace  //  Top  //  Top  //  Top

 

I attended the Canoe and Kayak events, which took place during the first four days of the Pan Am Games. Taking place in the morning and outdoors, since they are flatwater sports, I wanted to look classic, put together, yet relaxed. Being outdoors, I wanted some protection from the sun, but I also wanted to be comfortable and keep cool in the heat- hello skirts and light, breezy tops!

 

There wasn't a ton of walking to be done, as the venue was fairly small. I basically walked from the parking lot to the venue, and then between the grandstand and the VIP area (more about that next week). In the summer, I live in flip flops, and didn't see any reason to stray from my footwear of choice. They were so comfortable, went with my outfits and helped keep a laid back feel to my outfits. 

The dress was super comfy, although a bit dressy for the venue and events. I did get quite a few compliments on it, as well as the blue shirt.I kept my accessories to a minimum and didn't use a purse. If it didn't fit in my pockets, I didn't bring it. I wanted to make going through security as hassle free as possible and didn't want to worry about keeping track of a purse at the events.

I wore a lot of blue, but tried to incorporate some red into my outfits to show my Team Canada support. As mentioned in last weeks Fashion Friday post, I don't actually own the necklace pictured but it is the perfect accessory for the Games, these outfits and to show support for Canada. 

These outfits would not have been possible without the help of Robyn from LePrix Clothing. I met Robyn through work about a year ago. She is so nice, a ton of fun and has great style. I had never worked with a stylist before and thought it would be fun to work with Robyn for the Pan Am Games. I can't wait to work with her again!! Not only does Robyn do personal styling, but she also has a great collection of clothes and accessories, that you can shop online for. You can find Robyn and LePrix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

 

Next week, I'll be sharing details about the Chairman's Reception, Opening Ceremony and Day 1-4 of flatwater events, including the athletes I got to meet. 

Hope everyone has a FANTASTIC weekend!!

Pan Am Games: What Are They?

We are in the midst of the 2015 Pan Am Games, being hosted by Toronto. I was fortunate enough to attend the Opening Ceremony (more on that next week) as well as some events during the first four days (again, more on that next week). If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you have seen some pictures from the events I attended. I would love to attend more of the games, but, sadly, I don't think I'll be able to make it happen.

 

Before going into what I did at the Games, I thought I would do a super brief overview of what the Pan Am(erican) Games are!

 

• In 2015, there are 41 countries form the Americas (North, Central, South) and the Caribbean participating
• Over 6,000 athletes are competing
• Pan Am is affiliated with the Olympics; as a result, the games, celebrations and traditions very similar to the Olympics
• Pan Am Games are held the summer before the Summer Olympics
• There are almost 50 different summer sports at the Games, a full list can be found here. 
• Some of the Pan Am sporting events are actually qualifiers for the Olympics...so you get to see Olympians and future Olympians compete, which is kind of cool

Basically, Pan Am is like the pre-Olympics.

A couple of things to note about the Toronto 2015 games:

• Pachi, a porcupine, is the official mascot. He  has 41 quills, in the Pan Am colours, to represent the 41 countries competing
• The games run from July 10 until July 26 and will be followed by the Para- Pan Am Games
• The Para-Pan Am medals, for the first time ever, have Braille on them
• While Toronto is the Host City, there are 13 municipalities that will be hosting events as part of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games
• About 45% of the competitors will be female, the most ever for a multi-sport event
• There are 7 events making their Pan Am debut, including Women C1 Canoe- which I got to see!!

It's a pretty exciting event and I'm so happy that I got to experience some of it in person. I can't wait to share my experience (and pictures!) in the next week or so.

Hey, It's Ok!

 

To not be sure how I feel about this seasons Big Brother cast. A lot of the houseguests annoy me. Also, I feel that this season tried to find houseguests that matched the Canadian version; poker player, university football player, 'nerdy' guy that reminds everyone of a previous houseguest...

That I recently worked with personal stylist and loved it!! It was so much fun shopping with her and everything I bought was not only nice, but versatile and things I can wear again and again. I plan working with her again.

To have taken a break from this link up and blogging. Life is busy, and things take over. I love blogging and I miss it when I'm not doing it...I just need more hours in a day!

That I work for a FANTASTIC organization. It is hands down the best place I have ever worked for. The Corporate Culture is amazing and they treat their employees so, so, so well. I really love working there. 

To love the show Friends. Even after all these years, it's still funny. I'm in the process of re-watching every season...again.

This week's quote:

Book Club: Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Book: Where's You Go, Bernadette

Author: Maria Semple

Amazon Summary: 
Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.

Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle--and people in general--has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.

To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence--creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.

 

What I have to say: 
I had heard so much about this book and it's been on my reading list for years. I finally got around to reading it last weekend, and I read it in two days. This was such a fun and funny read! Not only that, the storyline was so unique and original. There are also a lot of great and interesting characters, which only add to the enjoyment of this book. I have read a number of books that use the same format- story told through letters, emails, documents, etc...I really enjoy this format, but it's not for everyone.

Final verdict: A fantastic read that should be on everyone's reading list.  

Fashion Friday: Pan-Am Opening Ceremonies

Not only is today Friday (yea!) today is also the Opening Ceremonies for the Pan-Am Games. The Games are being held in Toronto this year- and in various cities near Toronto. I will be attending some of the games this weekend and early next week, which should be pretty fun. Do you know what else should be fun? The Opening Ceremonies!! 

I am very, very, very lucky to have been invited as a guest to the Opening Ceremonies tonight in Toronto. I will have a recap of the Opening Ceremonies (and the Chairman's Reception, which I will also be a guest at) later in the week. 

It has been ages since I have done a fashion post, I thought I would do one today and share with you what I'll be wearing to the Chairman's Reception and Opening Ceremonies. 

Dress (similar) // Shoes // Earrings // Necklace // Purse

First of all, how adorable is this dress?!?! I also have the dress is red (with white polka dots). I feel in love with it the minute I saw it. I got this dress from my favourite boutique, Hive, which is located in Bayfield, Ontario. 

The shoes...I actually got them from Payless!! They are pretty comfortable too and go perfectly with this outfit. 

Red stud earrings keep the outfit classy and timeless. I'll be wearing ruby earrings, but any red gemstone would work.

I don't own the necklace pictured, so I obviously won't be wearing it. If I did own this necklace, it would be the perfect addition to this outfit! It's a ruby (to match the earrings) maple leaf...for Canada! The maple leaf is a symbol of Canada...what a great way to show support of Canada and our Canadian athletes at the Games.

The purse came from a Le Chateau Outlet.It's a cream coloured canvas with red faux leather edging. It goes so well with this outfit! It has a gold chain strap or your can use it as a clutch.

I'm also bring a white cardigan with me (not pictured) in case it gets a bit cold. I couldn't find my cardigan online, but this is a similar one.

In the next couple of weeks, I'll share the rest of the outfits that I wore to the Games, as well as highlights for the events I attended. For a sneak peek, be sure to follow me on Instagram. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

The Young Professional- Hiatus

Happy Monday!! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!! Last week, we had a day off in the middle of the week because of Canada Day. I spent last weekend, Tuesday-Wednesday and this past weekend at the beach. It was fantastic!!

Work (which is going amazingly well!!), weekends away, a personal situation, some changes, and some prior commitments have pulled my focus from blogging. While I will still/be going back to blogging on a regular basis, but decided to but The Young Professional series on hiatus until the fall. Who wants to think about work during the beautiful, sunny, beach worthy months? Not this girl!

In other news, the Pan-Am games start this week!! I'll be attending some of the games early next week and I'm excited to share the experience with all of you. Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see what I get up too. 

Oh Canada, Eh

Happy Canada Day!! This is probably one of my favourite holidays, simply because I love Canada so much! I went to the fireworks last night- you can find some pictures on my instagram. I'm hoping the weather will be warm enough and rain-less to spend it outside, hopefully at the beach.

I am blessed to live in Canada and to call this country my home. I am proud of everything that Canada stands for and represents. I'm thankful for our rights and freedoms, our mosaic, and that Canada is such a forward thinking, progressive country. I love Canada and I love being Canadian. 

Plus, do you have any idea how beautiful of a country Canada is? You can check out my Pinterest board dedicated to Canada to see how pretty it is.

Or you can just watch this video:

Happy 148th Birthday, Canada...you look kid. Hope you have a fantastic day!!!