Repetto, Paris

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I made a point to visit Repetto in Paris.  Rose Repetto started the French ballet shoe company in 1947.  It’s not just ballet shoes, they sell handcrafted flats and heels, that are oh so beautiful.  Made for dancers, Repetto knows how to make a comfortable heel.  I bought the black t-straps, and I love them.  Much cheaper to buy them here than in boutiques in Vancouver, you can request your tax back too and they’ll give you receipts to send in to get that money back.  There was a bit of a line to get into the store, but the wait was less than 10 minutes, and the service inside was excellent.  They know their stuff!  Wrapped in pink tissue and a beautiful black shoebox, and put inside a shopping bag with pink ribbon at the top was a special little touch.  I am a fan of a good deal of course, but sometimes you can’t beat the quality of a well-made shoe, and after 65 years in business Repetto is still going strong!

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Montmartre, Paris

By Jo in food, real life No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , ,

If you’re in Paris, make sure you visit the Montmartre area, the cobble stone roads up to the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur, the big and beautiful church at the top of the hill.  The walk up there at night is gorgeous, you’ll see the Eiffel Tower across the city and when it’s lit up at night, it’s unreal.  The Boulevard de Clichy is one of the main roads, take Rue Lepic from there.  Nearby is the Moulin Rouge, which many people say the area is a bit seedy, but it’s not – it’s just a bit busy.  Get passed that, walk up to the church, and try one of the little restaurants, and it’s a great time.  We went to Le Petit Parisien, and it was so delicious.

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Paris Street-wear Do and Don’t

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DO!

Classic trench, scarf, simple flats.  Classic cross-body bag, and a fun, printed scarf.   Still comfortable and put together, gold star for you stranger!  Not sure about the socks with the flats, but hey – overall, good call.

DON’T!

Yikes, that is WAYYYYYY too much animal print, and this girl could barely enjoy herself wearing those heels.  I’m all about the fun footwear but maybe not at the Eiffel tower and more importantly, not with this George of the Jungle dress.  Very cute girl, but bad dress….I think by Babyphat….enough said.

 

London day 5, Paris day 1

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London day 5 was actually Paris day 1 since we had to catch the train pretty early in the morning.  At this point I am still dealing with jet lag, which is so irritating because I am literally sleep walking, falling asleep…as a I walk….during the day.  I am someone who is and has always been affected by sleep or lack there of, so on this day when we arrived in Paris in the a.m. I was somewhat awake, but then after a lot of walking and getting on the city tour bus I was out.  In fact I missed most of the bus tour, ok all of it.

After I got a handle on my sleeping pattern, Paris was great.  Basically the first day was just to explore a bit, buy some metro passes, and make some plans.  We used airbnb to book an apartment instead of a hotel.  That was a great idea, half the price of a hotel for a great place in a good area.

That’s it for now, no pics on this day unless you want to see me dozing off on the train, dozing off on the tour bus, and dozing off while walking the sidewalks of Paris.  I bet you would wouldn’t you?

Bye for now,

Jo

London, day 4

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Shopping day!

I love finding good places to shop when traveling….obviously.  I really like COS in London, stands for Collection of Style and started in 2007.  Check out their website here.

I couldn’t leave without the navy and grey striped dress, and if you’re  pear shape like I am, it’s a great fit.  Goes in at the waist and flares at the bottom so as to hide the JLo booty, exactly what I need!

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London, day 3

By Jo in food, real life, stores I've visited No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Wow, there was a HUGE gap between London day 2 and day 3.  Sorry about that, WiFi isn’t always so accessible when traveling.  Hmm, ok so where was I?  yes, right day 3 in London!  How about some cupcakes from Hummingbird Bakery?!!  So you know my two FAVE cookbooks of all time Cake Days, and Hummingbird?  Well they are based on the actual bakery on Portobello Rd in Notting Hill, London.  I have been told, or rather, I have read that cupcakes are out of style?!  Wait…what?  How can something so delicious go out of style?  I mean, it’s not as if we’re talking about slouch socks or stone washed denim, which sadly are being employed by ultra cool hipsters these days….but cupcakes?  out of style?  I don’t buy it!  What I will buy, and gladly pay for are two deliciously delicious cupcakes from a world famous bakery, well Shane bought…but you catch my drift.  Yum, yum, yummy!

So it sounds like all we did on day 3 was eat cupcakes doesn’t it? hah!  Well besides that, we did a lot of walking in Notting Hill and that was amazing, definitely one of my favourite areas in London, if you come here for a visit make a point to get to this location.  There’s a market that is on Saturdays and it’s worth checking out, beautiful jewerly, scarves, and goodies!  Can you believe I didn’t buy anything?!  Well, my biggest priority was the cupcake of course.  I also walked into Sienna Miller’s Twenty Eight Twelve shoppe.  Very cute, small (as expected) and a bit overpriced.  Love her style though, and it was neat to see in person.

Bye for now,

Jo

 

 

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London, day 2

By Jo in food, real life, Shoes No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , ,

To sum it up for you:  sleep in, italian, selfridges, hyde park, holland park, pub, ice-cream

Well, today was a great day.  The sun came out and we got to see a lot of the city, it was beautiful.  Though this isn’t my first time in London, the last time I was here I was so sick I do not have too much recollection of my experience, so this time I felt fully aware of my surroundings, especially when we walked though the very beautiful Hyde park.

First, the sleep in.  I do enjoy a vacation sleep in, there’s nothing better than waking up without an alarm going off in your ear, it was perfect (I did wake up at 5 am) but soon after my early morning blog post, I fell right back to sleep.

So after a good sleep in, some breakfast and coffee at the home-base, we were off.  First stop was to run an important errand at the Eurostar ticketing centre, which was located at  St.Pancras train station, which was great because by the time we were done we were ready for lunch, and upstairs was a great little Italian place called Carluccio’s.  I am craving proper Italian food like you wouldn’t believe, I haven’t been so lucky in Vancouver in the realm of amazing pasta dishes.

What do you do after a delicious Italian meal?  You walk it off at Selfridges, and believe me you will need some energy when you visit this wonderland of consumerism.  I could have spent 2 hours alone in the shoe department, um..er. excuse me…the “shoe galleries”.  I could barely step away from the dinnerware section, completely distracted by the beautiful tea cups I had to stay focused…shoes: today’s focus, another day could be dedicated to dinnerware.

The Shoe Galleries were pretty much a dream, a whole floor dedicated to shoes, and not just any shoes, model shoes, the ones you see in magazines, the ones that buy for yourself after getting that big raise, for your wedding, or just because you saw them on the feet of an actress!  I was unleashed in a sea of beautiful footware, and I intend to go back because I put a pair of Allsaints pumps on hold, a guaranteed excuse to get back to Selfridges ;)

 

Look closely at this window display, it’s made out of pots and pot lids!

And another giant shoe.

Regular sized shoes, but still pretty damn cute!

These photos barely scratched the surface of the amount of shoes that were there.  They are not called the “shoe galleries” for nothin’!  Ok, so on to some other departments in Selfridges.  The candy department, you ask?  Well, it didn’t disappoint.  I especially loved the giant jellybean man.

Yes, he’s made out of jelly beans, no seriously.

How pretty are these mini cakes?  I love them!

So after Selfridges, I worked up quite a sweat of excitement.  We walked through Hyde Park then Holland Park to cool off before we hit the pub.

Take a look:

The sun came out today, it was a lovely day in London with great company.  What better to end the day on even a higher note?  Enjoying a bowl of ice-cream as we speak, talk tomorrow…

 

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London, day 1

By Jo in food No Comments Tags: , , ,

Day 1 in London

After a long-ish flight we arrived in the hustle and bustle of London.  This city is so fast paced, even compared to Vancouver, you quickly learn to become a part of that pace, or get out of the way!  Rainy and cold when we arrived, but don’t worry because I definitely remembered to bring my floral umbrella with the ruffle border!  We got the warmest of welcomes of course, from Shane’s sis and brother in law, and after a bit of champagne drinking, we went off to grab a bite to eat at this lovely little pizza place Called Pepe, best known for their “italian street food”.

After the food we went to the last showing of All New People, Shane’s big sis is co-producer of the show.  That was great fun, but more on that later!

shellac

By Jo in real life No Comments Tags: , , , ,

I decided to get the shellac done again before our trip to Europe in two days!  My friend D did this cute colour called “romantic” with the sparkles just on the ring finger nail, love it!  The ladies sitting next to me in the salon also approved, and got the exact same set “didn’t you know that painting your ring finger nail a different colour is all the rage?”  I asked the mid 50′s woman that didn’t want any other colour but “clear”.  Thank God I got that woman out of her comfort zone, she’s probably been eating dry bologna sandwiches for the last ten years….anyway, it’s just nail polish ladies, it only lasts two weeks, so have fun with it!  I guess we’ll see how long this shellac set lasts, I’ll take pictures along the way and keep you all updated!

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oh, baby!

By Jo in Uncategorized 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

I love that it’s that time that friends and family are having babies!  I have to be honest that when I first became an auntie, I would walk in to a store looking for a gift and would get totally confused, “is that a breast pump, or a telephone?”  haha Now I’m a little better at knowing what gifts to get.  I know practical gifts are good, but I’ve always been a fan of decorative or sentimental things.  Since my best friend just delivered a beautiful baby boy to this world, I have been thinking of what gift to get, and I thought I would share some good suggestions with you!  I have to say that monogram pendants, such as the ones below (Potterybarn Kids) are so cute.  Get the baby’s initials, and it’s such a cute keepsake for mama-bear!  The plush letters from Anthropologie make adorable wall art for the nursery, and the classic letter blocks are a nice touch of decor too.  The little tin at the bottom includes all the supplies needed for a homemade hand or footprint (clay included)!  I love it, also from Anthropologie!  Lastly, the oversized handbag is actually a diaper bag, with all the necessary compartments, and if the mom-to-be is super stylish this is a great gift for her (from allmodern.com).  My favourite gift though, has got to be the necklace because what new mom doesn’t want some fancy new jewels after pushing out a baby?  Am I right ladies, or am I right!?

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las tortas, vancouver

By Jo in food No Comments Tags: , , ,

We went to Las Tortas, a little restaurant that sells gourmet mexican sandwiches (on Cambie and 18th).  I loved it, it has a cute atmosphere, though not much room to sit and it’s definitely a fast food kind of place, but the food was amazing.  I thought their ordering system was neat too, you check off what you want on a brown paper bag (see pic below), write your name on it and when your food is ready it gets put in that bag and you’re on your way!  Kind of a fool proof method, and gets the customer involved, pretty clever actually.  This one definitely makes my list of recommendations.

mini, midi, or maxi?

By Jo in outfit of the week, real life, Uncategorized No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In my “garden love” post for Style Nine to Five, I showcased this lovely crochet and floral dress from Free People ($118), and I loved it so much well, er, I ordered it online.  It’s so bright, painterly, and feminine.  It goes perfectly with my floral crown and the locket that I bought ages ago.  The dress comes in a pretty yellow and mauve version too!  The handbag is old Anthro, but there are several places to get a bright bag these days, just make sure you don’t take a short cut, a good quality bag is noticeably good quality, go to Winners and you might be lucky and find something great for a good price, look for good stitching and try to stay away from hardware that is overly shiny.  You can barely see my nail polish, but I’m wearing Mint Sorbet by Sally Hansen and it’s my must-have nail colour this season!

First, identify what your plans are this summer, then find the perfect dress to match your lifestyle.   Are you going to a lot of weddings?  Are you planning on going on a lot of hot dates ;) ?  Or, are you planning on long walks by the water?   If all of the above sound good, well then girl you got some shopping to do ;)  Keep in mind your height when shopping for specific lengths of dresses, if you’re petite you can wear a maxi, but make sure you’re wearing a cute pair of heeled wedges.  You long-legged gals be careful with the mini dress, don’t wear too high of a pump.  Keep it classy, ladies!

Happy hunting for your favourite summer dress this year!

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i know, i know…

By Jo in outfit of the week, real life No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dear readers:

I know you’re upset that I haven’t posted anything in 5 days, and I’m sorry!  This gal has been busy, no not too busy for you (well, maybe a little).  Anyway the week is coming to a close, which I’m ok with.  I don’t know where you are in the world, but today the sun is out and it’s beautiful.  Wear something bright, attract positive energy, and have a great weekend everyone!

Crochet top, Anthropologie (sale) $69.95  |  Skinny jeans, Big Blue (Plenty) $79  |  Peep toe heels, B.Makowski (last year)  |  Sunglasses and bag, Aldo Accessories $12 and $25

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, HAPPY HUNTING…for whatever it is you’re looking for ;)

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organizing my vanity: before & after

By Jo in DIY, housewares No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

BEFORE

Eek, I almost didn’t want to show this, it’s so messy!  It was in SERIOUS need of a clean up, and I got rid of a few things that I didn’t use, like the (too embarrassed to say how old) bobbi brown blush that I got much, much too long ago.  It feels SO good to let go of things you don’t need, I really recommend it. Yes those are all my belts, and before you judge me, I do wear them all!  One day my future daughter or granddaughter will have the best time playing dress up with my treasures!

I organized all my eye shadows, lipsticks, and powders in this drawer.  Before this drawer was holding random receipts,  and the odd bobby pin, but now it has a clear function, and instead of throwing all of this into a makeup bag doing it this way allows me to see fully the colours that I own.  I do have a separate spot for my jewellery, but I wanted a little dish to house my everyday favourites.  I bought this little dish from the japanese dollar store, for $2!  The little glass container is now holding all my bobby pins, isn’t it pretty?  The letter mug is holding all my brushes, and eyeliners.  I suggest you do this as a cute and organized way to house brushes, the mug itself is only $8 from Anthropologie (but it’s the old version of their letter mug, the new version is actually prettier anyway).

Lastly, use your pretty things as display and decor.  My glittery headbands are draped on the corner of the mirror.  The last photo is the AFTER, so much better isn’t it?  It got a good dusting and the mirror got a good windex’ing!  I bought my vanity from IKEA, and then changed the little knobs to make it a bit more feminine.  I recommend getting a vanity with a high gloss for easy cleaning, especially if you use powders – that stuff is hard to clean and gets everywhere!

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floral, lace, and snakeskin (you read that right)!

By Jo in real life No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I found this embroidered floral treasure at Front and Company, though I’m not sure what era it’s from it’s definitely vintage inspired.  The black lace bell-sleeve blouse was a sale purchase from Anthropologie, the black Big Blue skinnies are from Plenty, they are my FAVOURITE skinnies right now, and you know my love for skinny jeans – these ones make the tush look good y’all!  Do you think the shoes are Jeffrey Campbell?  They are an Aldo knock off, on sale for $50, and they are so comfy – ok and before I get any emails, obviously they are not as comfy as your worn in running shoes – but if you wore running shoes with skinnies (actually anywhere but the gym for that matter) you have some life choices to reconsider.  So no you can’t run a marathon in these shoes, but you can walk in them comfortably and confidently for hours!  My collection of bracelets are a mix of real jewellery and costume jewellery.  The gold bangles are real, and are special to me because they’re truly vintage (from my wonderful mom), purchased from Lebanon years ago!  I love incorporating my mediterranean heritage in some ways with the gold accessories I’ve collected over the years, and they will never go out of style.  The handbag was a $16 find, again at Front and Company here in Vancouver, and that’s all folks.  I hope you’re inspired to be adventurous with your style.

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well aren’t you a peach

By Jo in outfit of the week No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Besides mint green, peach is a popular colour this season!  Make sure you pick the right peachy tone for your own skin.  For example, my mediterranean heritage and yellow undertones means that I need to go for more of a pink-peach, the muted peaches work well for you blonde bombshells!  Can we talk about how cute those AG polka dot jeans are?  I love them!  Yes, they are a little pricey, but you can wear them tons!  They are the perfect alternative to the everyday denim, and honestly you can wear them with any colour, and almost any pattern (stripes and floral will definitely work).  Always balance your look, there are a lot of feminine elements in this outfit, so the wooden wedge sandal in cheetah print adds a bit of edge.  Even better, if you have a masculine bomber jacket, that would work here too.  Happy hunting for your spring colours, and remember to buy the colour that’s right for you!

1.  wooden wedge sandal, Jessica Simpson for Piperlime: $98  |  2.  sleeveless blouse, Topshop: $70  |  3.  floral print sunglasses, A.J. Morgan for Ruche: $15  |  4.  polka dot denim, AG for Anthropologie: $178  |  5.  striped bow hair elastic, Forever 21: $1.50  |  6.  push-lock handbag, Melie Bianco for Ruche: $100

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can we just be friends?

By Jo in Blog No Comments Tags: , , , ,

It’s not you, it’s me.  It’s all the places I love to shop, and you can see my favourite places in Vancouver, and everywhere else via google maps.  Do you want to know where I collect all my prized possessions?  Well, visit my Hunter & Hare Facebook page, and click “like” no option for “love” sorry, but we can be in in like with each other, just not in love with each other.  If you join the Hunter & Hare Facebook page, then you will always know where I am (but not in a creepy, stalker kind of way….k? thanks).

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thrifty style for spring

By Jo in outfit of the week, Trending No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are you desperate for new spring pieces, but your wallet seems to be a little skinny lately?  Well you don’t need a wallet stuffed with c-notes to look adorable, and the outfit below is a perfect example for that.

The  MIZIA bracelets from Aldo are $12 | moto striped shorts from Topshop are $50 | embroidered button-down from Anthropologie is $30 | studded mini bag from Free People is $48 | braided t-strap sandals from AE are $30.

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laurelhurst market, portland

By Jo in food 2 Comments Tags: , ,

In Portland, we visited Laurelhurst Market (restaurant and butcher shop).  Very easy to find and a lovely atmosphere, it was quite nice.  I was impressed that the waitress really knew what she was talking about in terms of wine pairings and how the food is prepped etc, so that was great.  If you feel like a good steak or a 12-hour brisket, I recommend this place!

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what to wear on a stroll to powell’s books, portland

By Jo in real life, stores I've visited No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , ,

It was a little chilly in Portland, nothing I’m not used to since the weather was very similar to that of Vancouver.  Layers are key, and I kept nice and cozy with my multicolour beanie from American Eagle $20, and my bedouin scarf from Allsaints $90 (purchased over a year ago).  My bomber jacket is a staple in my closet, purchased from Aritzia for $150, boots (also in previous post), are Aldo $60, black skinny jeans are Big Blue purchased from Plenty $79, and the leather studded handbag is an old purchase from Anthropologie, $50.

Did you know that Powell’s books is one of the largest bookstores in the world?  It was fun being inside, all sections were color-coded, and if you go to Portland make sure you take all your old books with you because they will buy them, and you get to use a store credit to buy new ones, what an amazing idea!

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Ace Hotel, Portland

By Jo in Hotels No Comments Tags: , , ,

In Portland we stayed at the Ace Hotel.  Take a look at the pictures below.  Our stay was very comfortable, and Ace is located downtown near the Pearl district, so you’re close to a lot of shoppes and restaurants.  I loved the little parking pass they give you (top right), it’s the best way to describe the vibe at this hotel.  The lobby was always full of people reading, drinking delicious lattés from Stumptown (right next door with lobby access), and chatting.  Ace has a real easygoing appeal to it, and I highly recommend this hotel if you are in Portland.  So that was the sweet, here’s the bitter:  I did find that the gentlemen checking us in was not as talkative as I was expecting.  Usually when visiting a hotel, I always look forward to chatting about what cool things to do in the city, local recommendations, etc, but he quickly checked us in, explained the parking scenario, and that was pretty much it.  I will say that everyone was dressed well, very professional, and the check in process was very quick and easy, so that is definitely good, and when we checked out the same non-talkative gentlemen was quite chatty (on the way in would have been a little better though).  Overall, I loved the hustle and bustle of the lobby, and the amazing smell of fresh coffee grinds coming from Stumptown, it was so relaxing.  This hotel gets my recommendation!

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going out for dinner in Portland

By Jo in real life No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Packing enough items when you travel is always hard for me, so I always make sure I take versatile pieces.  I got so much wear out of my trusted denim jacket (anthropologie), and my Rachel Comey knock off booties (aldo).  ALWAYS take items that work dressed up or dressed down, and if you think a denim jacket is only to be worn casually, I’m here to tell you that’s not true!

lace dress: plenty $45 | long cardi: free people $99 | statement necklace: anthropologie $58 | lace up boots: aldo $60

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mace pepper gun

By Jo in Uncategorized No Comments Tags: , ,

Ok so you all know that hunter&hare is up there on my list of what’s important in my life, and it’s mostly about being your fashionable, amazing self, dinner with friends, great finds, and great places to visit (going to Portland this weekend!)  With all the frilly, flowery, girly things I like to talk about, this particular item fits the bill.  When I am not wearing pumps and pearls, I like to go out for a walk or a jog in my neighbourhood, and before I had Alvin (who is more fierce than he looks by the way) I would encounter some strange people, not surprising Vancouver is a city after all.  My good friend Anna, suggested I get myself one of these pink mace pepper guns!  No, no, I am not someone who has a floral print tool set, and no I don’t dress Alvin in little man suits (although that might be cute), and no I don’t wear sparkle eye shadow in purple and baby blue (and I’m not saying those things are bad, they are just not me) but come on people, sometimes a gal needs to kick some ass, and it wouldn’t hurt to have some extra help with a gun-shaped can of mace, in a lovely pink hue no less!

Sometimes feisty lebanese Jo comes out to play, but jogging alone you need more than good comebacks and a death stare, although that usually works!  Mom I know you’re reading this, don’t worry, it’s not like I go jogging at night – sheesh I’m 28 yrs old, loosen your grip woman! haha…kidding…love you…yes my doors are locked…and I will drive safely, and my seat belt will be on, and no I’m not talking and driving, you’re on speaker phone. (feisty lebanese jo has a feisty lebanese mom)

anyway, you can get this from defend thyself, for $80.  Get it here.

 

Abigail’s Party of Two

By Jo in food No Comments Tags: , , , , , , ,

Recently I reconnected with a dear old friend, whom I haven’t seen for years.  We made plans to go for dinner, and since she is new to the city I chose the place to eat.  I knew we’d be doing a lot of catching up, and I knew we’d be enjoying a glass of wine two.  I wanted to dine at a restaurant that is sweet, quaint, comfortable, and a good menu of course.  Well, Abigail’s Party is that place, a perfect mix of cozy and fancy, it’s the kind of place to wear your new silk blouse and skinnies while holding a glass of wine,  and reconnecting with an old friend,catching up for hours over what has happened over the last six years.

Appetizers were necessary, since we knew we had so much to talk about, we definitely wanted to pace ourselves.  These amazing deep-fried pickles and the moroccan-spiced mixed nuts were the perfect starters to the evening, and between sips of wine and the “really, you did that?” and the “wow, nothing has changed!” they were perfect!

…and the main courses, presented by chef Graham, the Coq Au Vin and the Duck.  We rated these quite high, though I had a taste of Leanne’s duck and I think the Coq Au Vin is the way to go, it was quite delicious.

Duck Confit: Yarrow Meadows duck leg confit, roasted fingerling potatoes, caramelized onions, crispy brussel sprouts, grainy mustard sauce.

Coq au Vin - Maple Hills chicken, red wine, thyme, fingerling potatoes, green beans, kalamata olives.

chocolate mousse? Absolutely.

I loved seeing Leanne, it has been way too long!  We had a great time at Abigail’s Party, and it was so convenient to book a reservation online using opentable, I truly recommend visiting this restaurant – look at the menu here, and make a reservation here.

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happy valenTIMES day

By Jo in Uncategorized 4 Comments Tags: , , , ,

How many people do you know that totally butcher words in the English language?  Ok, sometimes I am one of those people, but there is one particular word that drives me nuts, and it’s so appropriate to talk about it today.  ValenTIMES day!  For all of you who say ValenTIMES instead of Valentine’s day, thank you – because without you, Shane would not have made me this sweet card.  He knows just how much I love/hate Valentine’s.  From this day forward it will now be known as valenTIMES day.  Also, it’s SPAGHETTI, not PASGHETTI, ESPRESSO not EXPRESSO, and LIBRARY, not LIBARY – and if you’re not a toddler, you have no business saying things that make you sound less intelligent (I draw the line at 5 years old).  Just saying! For your own good!  Love you mom, because I know you still say CINNANOM instead of CINNAMON, and I think it’s adorable, just never host a cooking show ;) haha ok, folks that’s all the bitching I will do in February (I promise) and secretly I think all the language butchering is kinda cute.

To all of my amazing readers, enjoy today (and everyday), have a very loving and happy valenTIMES day.

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a girl’s guide to looking fab while standing in the pouring rain, begging the tow truck driver not to tow her car…

By Jo in Trending 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Okay everyone, we all know of the popular proverb “when it rains, it pours” and if I’m going to be honest with all of you lovely readers, mother nature has been raining on my parade for a few months now.  Since I have already thrown myself a pity party, watched “you’ve got mail” and countless “gilmore girls” reruns it’s time to take that proverbial bull by the horns and take action, and today was a good reminder that if and when it rains and pours, just be prepared and have an umbrella, or a cute hooded anorak.

Let me start this post with a true story, it begins in Chapters where I was helplessy wandering in the self-help aisle.  On my hunt for an epiphany in the middle of Chapters, alternating between sips of my americano misto and the delicious lemon poppyseed loaf I treated myself to, I happened to run into a friend of mine, the time was 2:56 pm.  After about ten minutes of chatting I heard my car alarm, realizing that I parked at a meter I knew immediately why my car alarm was going off -  my car was about to be towed, my parking meter expired at 2:57pm.  I put down the scented candle, stuffed animals for my nieces, and valentine’s day card, and ran down the escalator and outside in the pouring rain with my worried friend behind me.  My faithful dog, Alvin, who was patiently waiting for me to hurry up and reach enlightenment in my local bookstore, was looking at us through the window tail wagging, and eyes questioning.  I ran up to the tow truck guy and said:

“Please don’t tow my car, I will cry right now, I will cry my eyes out!”

He looked a little surprised with what I said, only because (to be frank) I was sick and tired of the rain (literally and figuratively) I need a little sunshine these days.  I begged, I stomped my black sequins Toms on the pavement, and said again – I will buy you a coffee please put down my car”  With the help of my friend and a passerby who said “Bro, you can’t take her dog bro!” and after stepping back and realizing what kind of embarrassing scene I was creating, especially after the perfect comedic timing of Alvin’s tail wagging and the car alarm going off, all we could do was laugh – laugh until my eyes filled with tears, laugh LOUD the kind that comes from the pit of your stomach, laugh because of the irony of me (a grown woman) threatening to ball my eyes out if my car got towed and minutes earlier perusing the self-help aisle of Chapters, and having everyone on the street watch, yes these are problems of the privileged I know.  In the grande scheme of things no problem at all right?  Well, I’m just glad I looked cute when I stomped my foot, pouted, and wined (I got my way, thankfully).  Thanks tow truck man ;)   So ladies, when it rains (figuratively and literally) – here’s the outfit I think you should wear!!!!!!!!

1.  dot umbrella $29 | urban outfitters 2.  marc jacobs heart charm necklace $58 | piperlime  3.  high-low sweater $50 | anthropologie  4.  navy anorak $196 | abercrombie  5.  tulle lace skirt $39 | piperlime  6.  striped navy toms classics $60 | toms

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perfect pairs

By Jo in Trending No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bright colours, basket weave, and espadrilles, oh spring how I love thee (maybe not as much as fall, but after a long rainy winter these shoes and bags are a good enough substitute for the sun…for now).  My must have from this list you ask?  Definitely the bright deep-sea blue Seychelles t-strap wedges!  I love them, and how cute would they be with a little sun dress or a pair of cuffed light denim?  So cute!  1.dolce vita espadrille $79 | piperlime  2. vanessa bruno handbag $153 | shopbop  3. seychelles t-strap wedges $110 | anthropologie  4.  asos handbag $64 | asos  5. vegan bag $115 | matt & nat  6. toe cap wedges $89 | modcloth

 

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i heart you

By Jo in Uncategorized No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Who is Valentine’s day really for?  I have to admit that I have always thought that  romantic gestures on Valentine’s day are SO cheesy, aren’t they?  Come on folks, show the love all year, not just on Feb 14th.  With that said, I think it’s sweet to share little goodies with girlfriends, sisters, moms, coworkers…basically the females in your life.  Growing up, my sister and I always received candy and a teddy bear from our cute mom, and I like that little tradition.  Do I expect Shane to rent a limo and send a dozen roses to my workplace?  He better not, will I say no to a picnic and an afternoon walk (no, but we can do that any time right?)  So ladies, stop putting so much pressure on the men in your life (ahem or man, singular not plural) and have a romantic day with your girlfriends instead! Here are some sweet little ideas for you,.  These are my personal picks, making the stressful hunt for gifts easy.  At the end of the day, a batch of red velvet cupcakes would be perfect too….recipe for that soon ;)

Happy hunting,

Jo

1.  tarina tarantino makeup brush set $69 | sephora  2.  sleep set $30-$60 | aerie  3.  paul & joe makeup palette $36 | urban outfitters  4.  sweet almond soap with tin case $9 | lather bee rich  5.  fingerless gloves $25 | modcloth

 

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wide-leg denim

By Jo in real life No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , ,

If you’re petite and you think you can’t wear wide leg denim, think again!  Just make sure you wear them with a pair of heels or wedges, and pairing them with a tailored cropped jacket adds height too.  I love this time of year because it’s still cool enough to layer, but warm enough to wear your favourite sandals.  Ring in spring with texture, and colour.  What are you favourite pair of jeans this season, are you into floral or bell-bottom, can’t seem to get away from the skinnies?  Let me know what you find, happy hunting!

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casual day

By Jo in real life 3 Comments Tags: , , , , ,

It can be so easy to take a casual outfit to the next level, with the right accessories.  I bought this cute knit sweater on sale at American Eagle, $40!  Instead of jeans, I wanted to kick it up a notch with a pair of green skinny pants, from Zara also $40.  The Michael Kors boots are a few years old now, purchased at Holt Renfrew, the Theodora and Callum scarf is from Anthropologie, on sale for $80.  For me it’s all about the details, and combining texture with colour makes your look more interesting.  Casual doesn’t  need to mean baggy jeans and a hoodie, putting yourself together and looking good will make you feel good!  You can ditch the heels if you want, this outfit would be equally as cute with a pair of riding boots, or ballet flats.

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Natalie

By Jo in real life No Comments Tags: , , , , , , , ,

I love Natalie’s look today.  The high-waisted jeans, the skinny belt, bright cropped blazer, and platform wedge shoes, Nat knows what’s up! I appreciate that underneath the wide pant leg and above the hot shoes, is a secret little anklet that matches the statement necklace no less.  All these pieces are affordable, the jeans and shoes are from urban outfitters, and the blazer is from H&M.  Nat’s basic black long-sleeve tee is from Plenty.  Hunt for those pieces that will make you look like a million bucks, not like you spent a million bucks!

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ready for spring

By Jo in real life No Comments Tags: , , , , , , ,

I am so ready for spring!  All items I’m wearing are from last spring, except for the butterfly blouse (jessica simpson at the Bay, $59), and the beaded necklace, which was a sale purchase recently from American Eagle.  This goes to show that a good pair of white jeans goes a long way.  I always like to go up a size with white jeans, because I feel like tight when wearing white just isn’t right! Did you like that one?! haha, and if you cuff them and wear with a pair of hot wedges, then you’re golden.

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orange and turquoise: an unexpected pair

By Jo in real life 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

I love my new tunic from Aritzia, originally priced at $225 – it went on sale for $75!  The burnt orange colour, with the turquoise and gold jewellery looks so regal.  The charm necklace was a purchase during my last trip to Lebanon, I actually chose all the charms myself and had the goldsmith attach them all (it’s actually a charm bracelet attached to another chain to make it into a necklace).  The gold bracelets are my favourite, they are a gift from my little mama – she’s had them for more than 20 yrs and gave two bangles to me and two to my sis.  I love them, not only because they’re beautiful, but because when I was small I always knew when my mom was home because I could hear the clinking of her gold bangles!  Thanks, Mom!  The belt is a purchase from a trade show a few years ago, and it’s handmade out of reused leather.  The cropped blazer is from Anthropologie 2009, and the wedge sandals are from Aldo for $25!    The earrings (bottom right) are used often in my outfits, so much so that one of the jewels fell out!  I still love the soft, daintiness of them, and love the colour palette – they go with everything, I bought them from Artworks in Edmonton.

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