Clothing & Accessories Haul!

As mentioned in my Makeup Haul, I was in Vegas a few weeks ago and I did some shopping (as always).  Anyone who knows me, knows I absolutely love shopping…for almost anything, but particularly makeup and clothing/accessories.  So I thought it might be fun to share some of other the deals I scored, even despite the low Canadian dollar!  I’ve also added in a few things I got here in Canada too.

When in Vegas, I always make a point of visiting the North Premium Outlet Malls and the Fashion Show Mall.  The Outlet Malls are about a $20/$25 cab ride (one way) off the Las Vegas strip and offer 175 outlets and stores.  I’ve been to a few outlet malls but this is one of the best I’ve been to, especially given that they’ve recently expanded.  My favourite shops here include Loft Outlet, Kate Spade and Saks on 5th.

The Fashion Show Mall is at the end of the north end of the Las Vegas strip and offers 250 stores and 8 department stores.  It’s a traditional, indoor mall (yay air conditioning!) and some of my favourite stops include Macy’s, Ann Taylor, The Limited and Lucky Brand.

First up, here’s what I got at the Outlets:

Guess Factory Hatti Denim Shorts (Dark Wash) – $22.50 USD: When shopping in the US I tend to stay away from any stores that are also available in Canada, however on this trip I didn’t pack enough shorts and I needed another pair.  After wandering through the entire outlet mall and not finding anything, I stopped in the Guess Factory store as a last resort.  I can’t remember the last time I shopped in here – I think that once I entered my 30’s it just seemed a little too young for me.    However I was pleasantly surprised with these shorts.  They fit so well, are the perfect length and are super comfy!  I actually visited my local store here afterwards and picked up a pair in Black (and actualy paid less in Canadian than I did in US dollars – damn it!)

Guess Factory Elin Twill Shorts (Dry Moss) – $22.49 USD: I didn’t expect to find one pair of shorts, never mind two here so that was a bonus.  These have a little more length on them when compared to the denim ones above and I like the stretchy fabric.  They have stretched out a bit so I could have easily gone down a size.  I wanted to pick up another pair but my local store only had the white left which were a bit too see-through for my liking.

Loft Outlet Tanks (not available online) – $8.10 USD each:  Not much to say here – basic tanks in basic colours but staples in my wardrobe.  I always pick up at least a couple tanks or tees at the Loft Outlet because they’re cheap but pretty good quality.

Loft Outlet Floral Print Dress (not available online) – $29.99 USD: I literally needed another dress like I needed a hole in the head but this was such a flattering cut I couldn’t pass it up.  Plus the floral print was so pretty and feminine.

Kate Spade Pave Bow Ring (not available online) – $13.80 USD: I’ve been wanting a bow ring for the longest time and I went into the store hoping to find exactly this.  This came in gold and silver too but I ultimately decided on the rose gold.  This is my favourite purchase!

And from the Fashion Show Mall:

Ann Taylor Relaxed Linen V-Neck Top (Navy Blue) – $10 USD: I rarely buy loose fitting tops like this – I always feel like they make me look bigger.  And if I had been shopping online, I wouldn’t have even looked twice at this given some of the styling on the models.  But I tried this on and it was so comfortable I couldn’t pass it up.  I love the look of linen (one of my fave fabrics for t-shirts) and this looks great with jeans or leggings, but will likely be worn more around the house than anything.

Ann Taylor Modern Skinny Ankle Jeans (Quiet Grey) – $20 USD:  I have legs that are too short for regular length pants yet too long for petites so I really struggle finding jeans and pants that fit.  And I hate taking things to the tailor!  So I’m praying that skinny ankle jeans never go out of style.  These are the perfect length, fit well and I couldn’t pass up the “Quiet Grey” colour.

Miken Draped Tank Coverup – $12.87 USD:  I never shy away from colour, especially anything that’s swimwear related! This is a very vibrant neon pink – the colour isn’t coming across in the photo as much as it does it person.  The material is pretty thin but it’s also really soft and it looks super cute on!  Even if this only lasts me a few wears I can’t really complain given the price.

Chinese Laundry Gweneth Metallic Flat Sandal (Gold) – $39.99 USD: These were a last minute purchase – we were going out for the night and my feet just couldn’t take another night in the heels I had brought with me.  I wanted flats but they needed to have sparkle or some kind of embellishment to fancy them up a bit.  These were cute and comfortable and did the job – not sure I would pay full price for them though.

And a few things I picked up here at home:

Lucky Brand Tie Dye Twist Strap Dress (not available online) – $50.09 CAD: I actually purchased this dress a few months ago but I’ve been wearing it non-stop every since.  This is my go-to style for dresses in the summer – I love the soft, stretchy cotton and the drawstring waist.  It’s super flattering and comfortable.  While this isn’t available online, I saw it in-store at the outlet in Las Vegas, as well as in my local Lucky Brand Outlet.  Pick it up while it’s still around!

Sam Edelman Espadrilles – $52.50 CAD: I can’t decide if I should keep these or not – I really wanted them in black but they were sold out.  I like the pattern but when it comes to everyday shoes I usually prefer solids as they’re easier to match with outfits.  Plus they’re slightly wide for my feet.  Still deciding!

Are you a shopaholic like me?  Where are your favourite places to shop?

This & That Fridays – June 3

Happy June and Happy Friday everyone!

What’s been going on with me:

Wow it’s been a while since I did a This & That Friday post…and a bit since I posted regularly.  The last few weeks have been a little mad around here.  I was completing a course and purging and organizing my house for an upcoming garage sale and then we headed out on a one week vacation to Mexico to celebrate our anniversary.  I had fully planned on doing up some posts while on vacation but the internet was spotty and I got frustrated and gave up on that idea.  Which actually wasn’t a bad thing!  I checked Instagram and Twitter once in a while but for the most part I spent a lot of time reading books and just relaxing.  The problem being that when I got back I had lost my motivation to blog.  Does that ever happen to you?  Despite being really behind on posts, I just had no desire to sit down and type up anything.  Thankfully I seem to have cleared that hump now and I’m looking forward to getting back into it!  Note that I’ve changed up the format of my This & That Fridays posts – let me know how you like it!

As mentioned above, I was completing a course back in May that was keeping me pretty busy; in line with my 2016 Goals, I registered for and completed a course in Graphic Design.  It was a lot more work than I expected but I absolutely loved it!  I plan on continuing on with the program and I will potentially have an exciting related update later on this year so stay-tuned!

Have you seen this?

Apple’s Cookie Monster commercial?  🙂 Love it!  If so, then you need to watch the bloopers.  Cookie Monster was always my favourite Sesame Street character.

A collection of 25 No-Bake Peanut Butter Desserts…those Kitkat Crunch Bars are just calling my name.  You’re welcome!

Did you hear?

That Victoria Secret is discontinuing their swimwear line?  I seriously wanted to throw an adult temper tantrum when I heard this – WHY??? WHY???  Apparently they’re not making enough money off of it.  I mean, their quality could sometimes be hit and miss, but I’d be willing to pay a little more if it mean they’d keep it around.  VS is my go-to for swimwear as they typically have cute styles for a reasonable price so I’m sort of at a loss of where I’ll shop for swimwear going forward.  On the bright side I picked up a new top and bottoms for pretty cheap a few weeks ago as they were clearing out their stock.  Sad! 😦

What I’ve bought recently:

Gap Print Halter Romper – I brought this with me to Mexico and it was so comfy and so cute!  Very easy to dress up or down, based on the shoes and accessories.

Tarte Eyelash Curler – I needed a new eyelash curler and it was a toss-up between this one and Shu Umera’s version.  I ended up going with this one and I’m so glad I did.  I used one of these years ago and I forgot how much I love it!  I have a bad habit of pinching my eyelids with my eyelash curler and this eliminates that completely.  Plus it’s so comfortable in my hand and it fits my eye shape perfectly.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream – 2 months after purchase I finally received my order of this CC cream from the Shopping Channel (don’t get me started…) and I hate to say it, but it was worth the wait!  It’s been the only thing I’ve used on my face for the last 2 weeks and I don’t really care to use anything else right now.  I’ll be doing a full review on this in a bit so keep an eye out for it!

What I’m currently coveting:

Gap Linen Surf Shorts – I’ve been having a lot of success at Gap lately and I really like these cozy shorts in Palm Springs Pink.

Glo Brilliant Teeth Whitening Device – I really want something to whiten my teeth – the problem being my teeth are SUPER sensitive with little enamel left on them, so I can’t use simple things like whitening toothpaste or strips.  I hate the price of this but all the reviews say it works with little to no sensitivity.  If you have any other suggestions please share below!

Ikea Falkhojden Desk: I’m looking for a desk for my office and I’ve fallen in like with this one – but I hate that it has zero storage, even with the add-on unit.  Also considering the Kimpen/Lalle.

That’s it for this week – have a great weekend!

March Loves & Letdowns

I’m a little behind on this month’s favourites – but on the bright side I’m actually doing it this month.  I completely forgot to do February favourites!  Oops!

I’m going to jump right in – here’s what I loved this month:

Gap Open Front Cardi: I love cardi’s any time of year, but especially for Spring and Summer.  This one is super lightweight so it’s perfect to throw overtop of a t-shirt or tank in the morning when it’s still a little chilly out.  They offer this sweater in a wide variety of colours; I selected it in Heather Grey colour but I’m tempted to pick up another in Turquoise or Blue.

Bath & Body Works Cinnamon Spiced Vanilla Hand Soap: I can’t get enough of this hand soap – it smells exactly like my favourite warm drink from Starbucks – their Cinnamon Dolce Hot Chocolate.  Love it!

Tarte Maracuja Oil: This was included in a Tarte set I bought on Black Friday and I was a little hesitant to use it as I haven’t really had much success with using oils on my face.  My skin is super sensitive and I usually break out when I try to use them.  This one is different though!  I’ve been using this off and on throughout the month as a night-time moisturizer and mixed into my foundation in lieu of primer and it works so well!  I totally expected it to leave me greasy and oily by the end of the day when I mixed it into my foundation but it just made my skin look glowy and healthy and my foundation applied like a dream.  Used as a nighttime moisturizer, I couldn’t believe how supple and smooth my skin felt the next day.  I’m about halfway through my little mini bottle of it but I plan on purchasing the full size, or at least another of the same size.

CoverGirl TruBLEND Blush (Light Rose): This might be one of the best drugstore blushes I’ve ever tried.  Be warned this particular shade is quite light so it probably wouldn’t work well for those with darker skin tones.  But for any of my fair-skinned friends, I’d recommend this.  It’s a really soft pink-ish peach and you can build it to your desired intensity.  On top of that the formula is great – it’s silky, soft and buttery.  Highly recommend this!

Frilly Lilly Argentinian Lemon Shea Butter Creme:  I’ve found my new favourite hand cream!  Frilly Lilly is a local mani/pedi/waxing boutique with locations in Alberta & British Columbia, and California.  I’ve been using this cream for probably a month and a half and it has really helped my chronically dry hands.  It’s not at all greasy – it absorbs quickly but moisturizes really well.  I also love that it doesn’t leave white marks on darker clothes if you touch them before it’s absorbed (one of my biggest pet peeves with hand cream!).  I picked up the Argentinian lemon scent and at first I wasn’t sure about it but I’ve grown to really like it – it’s very refreshing.

NYX Butter Gloss (Angel Food Cake / Strawberry Cheesecake): I’ve talked about how much I love the NYX Butter Glosses before and that hasn’t changed.  I gravitate towards lip glosses and these are some of the best I’ve tried.  They’re glossy and pigmented and so easy to wear.  Angel Food Cake is a lovely nude/mauve shade and Strawberry Cheesecake is a warm medium pink.  I really haven’t been wearing any other lip products aside from these this month!

L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer (Blonde):  I have to admit I’m kind of lazy when it comes to brows – half the time I forget to do them.  However this eyebrow pencil is so good I’ve pretty much done my brows every day this month.  I can’t believe the difference between this and my previously beloved e.l.f eyebrow pencil – they don’t even compare!  Not only is the shade perfect for me, the precise tip makes it so easy to fill and define my brows (hence the name).  I’ve heard others say that this is a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz – not having tried it, I can’t confirm but if that’s true, but I see why everyone was going crazy over them if they are indeed similar.

Letdown:

NYX HD Concealer: I’ve been researching new concealers for a while and I had heard some good things about this one.  Unfortunately this did not work for me.  The reason: it’s ridiculously drying!  It seemed a little dry when I initially applied it but it only got worse as the day went on.  I used this to cover blemishes so I can’t imagine using this as an undereye concealer – it would totally emphasize and enhance any fine lines.  So this was a disappointment and the search for a new concealer continues…

Maggie’s love: Pet Kind Wild Pacific Salmon Treats

Maggie wanted to join in and share her love for the month.  She’s really been enjoying these salmon treats that I found at Homesense for $6.99.  Love that these are a Canadian product and made with wild pacific salmon.  And they stink so of course Maggie just loves them.  This is the second bag we’ve gone through and I haven’t seen these again at Homesense, so I’m going to have to track down a retailer here that sells them.

What were your loves and letdowns for March?

Thanks for reading!

Gift Guide for Her

I couldn’t do a Gift Guide for Him and not do a Gift Guide for her.  Most of these are things I have previously received as gifts or similar to things I have purchased for myself – and love.  And if I don’t have them, I know I’d enjoy them.  And I think others would enjoy them too!

1. Gap Cozy Plaid Scarf ($34.95 CAD) – I purchased one of these a month ago and I’m in LOVE with it.  It’s so soft and the perfect size – large enough to use as a shawl but not too big that it’s bulky when used as a scarf.  The colour above was in stock yesterday and is now sold out so if you want one of these, get yourself to GAP asap!
2. Victoria’s Secret Fireside Long Jane Pajamas ($54.50 CAD): Victoria’s Secret always has the cutest, coziest pj’s!  Love the colourful print on these.
3. Project Candy Box – 3 Month Subscription ($70.50 CAD): For the sweet tooth on your list!  A box full of candy on your doorstep each month.  Sign me up!  Bonus that this is a Canadian company and charges in Canadian funds!
4. Tiffany Notes Alphabet Disc Charm Pendant and Chain ($165 CAD): You can never go wrong with anything from Tiffany’s.  But who wouldn’t love this monogrammed pendant?  Simple yet elegant.
5. Saje AromaOm Ultrasonic Nebulizer ($89.95 CAD): I received one of these a few years ago at Christmas and it’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever received.  In addition to the numerous benefits of aromatherapy, this purifies, humidifies, and reduces dust and other allergens in the air.
6. Ugg Classic Wired Ear Muff ($90 CAD): I am not a touque wearer and sometimes a hood is too warm, which is why I love these Ugg Wired Ear Muffs.  They don’t mess up my hair, and they keep my ears and head toasty warm.  Plus you can connect them to your phone or iPod and they double as ear phones.  I’m on my second pair of these as I lost my first pair (which was sad).
7. Sephora Gift Card: No-brainer here.
8. Fossil Jacqueline Beige Leather Watch ($197.64 CAD): I prefer dainty, feminine watches and the face on this one is gorgeous and unique.  A good option if you’re looking to splurge!
9. Ugg Fluff Flip Flop II Slipper ($98 CAD): I’m big on UGG stuff, if you haven’t noticed.  Mainly because in their case (which isn’t always the case!), $$$ equals quality.  I’ve never not been impressed with anything I’ve purchased from Ugg.  And their slippers are the best.  I own the Ansley ones and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.  These are basically winter flip flops.
10. Saje Relaxation Diffuser Blend ($44.95 CAD): This would pair nicely with the nebulizer above, or as a lovely gift all on its own.  You can use these in a oil warmer as well.  All of these smell great, but Spa Spirit is my favourite.  It smells like walking into your favourite spa.
11. Color Me Calm Adult Coloring Book ($15 CAD): Adult colouring books are all the rage and are a great way to unwind and relieve stress.  I try to do a bit in mine every night just to ease in shutting my brain down before I head to bed.
12. Set of 24 Coloured Pencils ($15 CAD): A must-have to accompany the colouring book!
13. Britney Spears Fantasy Gift Set ($21.99 CAD): Okay this is slightly embarrassing to admit, but this is one of my favourite fragrances.  Yes I know it’s Britney Spears.  But I get so many compliments when I wear this AND it’s super cheap.  And the bottle looks so pretty on a vanity!
14. Bath & Body Works Lavender Vanilla Luxury Bath ($16.50 USD): This is the best bubble bath ever.  It is super thick and creamy and makes the foamiest bubbles ever.  The scent is gentle and light and just so relaxing.  You can’t go wrong with gifting this.

If you haven’t finished up your shopping yet, I wish you luck and patience braving the crowds!

Happy Shopping!