The Liebster Award

Being told that someone appreciates your blog is the best feeling, is it not? Thank you so much Kenzie for giving me that warm fuzzy feeling by nominating me for the Liebster Award! If you're not sure what this award is all about, here is the quick lowdown:

 The Liebster Award is generally given to bloggers with less than 200 followers to give them some much deserved recognition! When you are nominated you share 11 facts about yourself, answer 11 questions from the blogger who nominated you, then nominate 11 bloggers and give them 11 questions to answer. This is going to be a long one, so buckle up and enjoy the ride!

GET THE FACTS:

Fact 1: I am a massive animal lover, but the only pet I've ever had was a fish.
Fact 2: I was a serious dancer for 14 years until I moved away from my studio for university.
Fact 3: I have amazing coworkers. I was so blessed to find a wonderful job right out of school.
Fact 4: I love graphic design, but I have next to no talent for drawing or painting. It's a struggle.
Fact 5: I've had the same best friend since I was in kindergarten (that's twenty years!)

Fact 6: I volunteer with a local charity called Southern Africa Embrace Foundation, and it is the most fulfilling work that I have ever done.
Fact 7: I am currently on vacation in Orlando and the thing I'm looking forward to the most is visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Fact 8: I have one older brother and we have always gotten along surprisingly well for siblings.
Fact 9: My cottage is probably my favourite place on earth.
Fact 10: If I could live anywhere in Canada, it would probably be Vancouver, but I'm too much of a home-body to take the plunge.
Fact 11: I recently created a new Twitter & Instagram account for my blog! Don't mind my shameless self promotion.

 

QUESTIONS FOR ME:

1. Where were you born?
Toronto, Canada.
2. What is the furthest you have been from home?
I traveled to Paris and London back in high school, but I'm planning a trip to Eastern Europe for next summer!
3. If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would it be?
It's a toss up between Australia and Ireland. Both are beyond beautiful in very different ways.
4. Favourite childhood memory?
That's a tough one, I have so many, but I have some pretty awesome memories about the various Halloween parties my parents threw when I was growing up. This particular year everyone dressed as a different character from Peter Pan. I was John, my Mum was Mr. Darling. My parents are awesome.

5. What is your favourite dessert?
Pie. I love pie. Blueberry and Key Lime are my absolute favourites!
6. Do you prefer cooking, dine-in, or take out?
If I'm being honest, I'm not so much into cooking unless it is a group activity. I love getting dolled up and going out to eat. 
7. What is your favourite song currently?

8. What is your favourite colour?
Teal/Turquoise is my power colour.
9. Do you think your zodiac sign fits your personality?
According to what I just read about Cancer's on Astrology.com, it sounds fairly accurate overall.
10. Any item(s) of jewelry you consistently wear?
I wear my Elsa Peretti ring everyday. 90% because I love it to death, and 10% because if it every came off my finger I would definitely lose it.
11. The most important question: Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry? 
Definitely Vanilla. I'm not much of a chocolate person, and I could take or leave strawberry.

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU:

1. Are you a texter or a caller?
2. How long have you known your closest friend?
3. What is one product that you recommend to everyone?
4. Are you an online or in store shopper?
5. What is your most worn item of clothing?
6. What is your favourite holiday?
7. What is one material possession you couldn't live without?
8. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
9. Are you a hot or cold beverage person?
10. What colour do you think suits you best?
11. What has been your biggest learning since starting your blog?

Up Next:
Ele of Inspirationele
Alyssa of Alyssa Goes Bang
Aimee of Aimlessly Elegant
Angela of Syntaxx Errorrr
Emily of Beauty Blether
Megan of Megan Joy
Mary-Katherine of Gold Hatted Lover
Lexi of Streets of Gold
Kelly of Glitter Diaries
Laura of Life with Lolo
and you!

I can't wait to read all of your posts! Who would you nominate for the Liebster Award?

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Leather & Lace

Even though in this post I talked about how this dress was a little too short to wear as an actual dress, that doesn't mean that I haven't found ways to wear it. For this week's Creative Closet it made the transformation into a lace top with the addition of a belt to help gather the fabric.

Dress: H&M {similar} | Leggings: Express {exact} | Belt: Forever 21 {similar} | Sandals: Nine West {similar}

Adding a little bit of edginess to balance out the femininity of the lacey top, I paired it with some faux leather leggings that I bought last season and saw a surprising amount of wear. Since there is aready a lot of texture going on in this look, I kept the accessories very simple. A red belt to add in a pop of colour, a silver chain bracelet, and tan strappy heels. Tyler loved this look, so I have a feeling it will be repeated for a date night or two this fall! The heels can easily be replaced with booties as the weather cools down.

Are you a fan of leather and lace?

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Looking Back: Top 5 Posts

Since I recently hit my 100 post milestone, I thought this would be a good time to take a look back at some of the favourite posts I've written so far on this blog.  In other news, I leave for my vacation to Orlando tonight! I've prewritten content for next week so you'll still see some posts from me, but if you want to keep up with me on my trip follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Without further ado, let's get into it!

This is one from way back in the archives, but is something that I loved sharing. This DIY Custom Phone case is still something I use every day and I love having the freedom to switch up the look of my phone without buying a whole new case!

If you're weary of thrift store shopping, I wrote some tips and tricks for thrifting like a pro back in the day. If you've kept up with my outfit posts you'll have seen some of the fruits of my thrifting labour over the past few years. I highly suggest making the trip to your local thrift store this weekend!

This post on breaking in flats (specifically from my experience with the Tory Burch Revas) has been the most popular post on this blog. Let me tell you, this process really worked for me. My Revas are now probably my most comfortable flat, and if you've ever warn a pair, you know that's saying something.

This outfit post was my first ever with my new camera, so I was blown away at how the photos looked once I got them onto my computer. It was also my first Creative Closet look, which has come to be the posts I love doing the most!

And finally, my Q&A with Tyler was one of the most fun posts I've written. He is so supportive of this little space and it just warmed my heart to see him get involved with it. He's agreed to put together a gift guide for men as we get closer to the holidays, so get excited for that, I know I am!

 

Blogging has truly become a passion of mine and I just wanted to take a minute to thank all of you who read and interact with me here on this little blog of mine. I have learned so much from the blogging community and I am so grateful for it!

Sappiness aside, what is your favourite post you've ever written? Link it up in the comments!

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True Colours

As I was reviewing this for publishing I just realized this is my 100th post on The View Is Beautiful! It seems fitting that it is a post for the Creative Closet, because these posts have become some of my very favourites to do! If you aren't already linking up with Maegan and Jana, I highly suggest you take the plunge and join in with the fun. It's a great way to mix up your look and maximize your closet.

Glasses: Clearly Contacts | Necklace: Forever 21 | Dress: Thrifted BCBG | Bracelet: J. Crew | Belt: Winners

This week's prompt was "Bold & Bright" and I immediately knew this dress would be taking front seat. This is one of my all time favourite thrift store finds, a BCBG dress for under $20 was an absolute steal! I've had it for almost two years now, but had fallen into a rut of wearing it the same way every time it left my closet.

This theme inspired me to change it up and add this chunky jade necklace and my favourite coloured frames from Clearly Contacts to give the look a bit more of a pop.

The final touch, a little bit of subtle sparkle in the form of this bracelet from J. Crew. Even though it is a lot of colour, I think ended up working well together. What do you think?

What's your favourite way to add a bit more brightness to your look?

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The Lust List: Fall 2014 Edition

As much as I hate to admit it, and as Pinterest and every retail store in North America loves to remind me, Fall is on its way and there's nothing I can do to stop it. On the bright side, while it may only last for a month or two in my neck of the woods, the cooler temperatures do make for some delicious outfit possibilities. Here is a peek at what I have my eye on adding to my fall wardrobe this year.

Believe it or not I have yet to find the perfect chambray shirt, but I am determined to find one to call my own for this season. Between chambray and plaid flannel I feel I'll be set for transitional temperatures and a variety of looks.

Burgundy is my absolute favourite colour for fall/winter - it is rich but deep, and looks great with light hair and dark clothing. I have a feeling I might be buying some burgundy wool for my wonderful Grandma to whip into an infinity scarf this Fall.

A pair of grey or taupe boots has been on my wish list for a few seasons now, but if you couldn't tell already I'm pretty picky with my purchases. I'm hoping that this elusive creature will make an appearance in my wardrobe this season.

Finally, even though I love my Longchamp Le Pliage to death (literally, it's finally starting to show some wear), I feel like it would be ideal to have a smaller cross-body bag for when I don't need my entire life to tag along with me. This Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac may or may not find its way home with me from Orlando.

What's #1 on your fall fashion lust list?

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Friday Favourites - Blog Lovin

I thought I would switch things up a little for this Friday's post, and share some love to some fellow bloggers that make my days just a little bit better with their amazing content. I love reading all kinds of blogs - lifestyle, beauty, fashion, design, so I thought I'd link up with Amanda and share with you some of my recent favourites! If you're looking for some help to get your blogging life organized, check out these awesome tips to keep organized by Carly at Carly Blogs Here! I know I could use all the help I can get in the organizational category.

image via Carly Blogs Here

If you haven't already seen Mia's tutorial on this Bronze Glam look, get yourself over to Make Me Up Mia and learn how to achieve this beautiful look yourself! It's glamorous but totally achievable which makes for a winning combination in my books.

image via Make Me Up Mia

Tami wrote a great post this week about how to deal with uncomfortable conversations that is both so true and hilarious. I could definitely learn a thing..or five about this subject.

You all know how I feel about sparkle, so how could I not love this look from Jana for the Creative Closet last week? Is that not the most amazing shirt you've ever seen?

image via Life Could Be a Dream 

And finally, this amazing bedroom overhaul by Jenna Sue is so inspiring. You have to see it if just for the incredible before and after!

image via Jenna Sue

I find so much inspiration and gain so much new knowledge through reading blogs, I just couldn't resist passing these on! I'm always looking for a great new read, what are some of your favourite recent posts? Share a link with me in the comments and spread the love for your favourites! keep up with me: bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest | twitter

WIW: All White Everything

All white is a look I've seen and loved on so many other people in blogland, but never really thought I could pull off myself. This is why I am loving participating in The Creative Closet - it makes me try outfit combinations I might never have picked out of my own wardrobe. 

Dress: Forever 21{similar / similar} | Blazer: H&M {old} | Lipstick: Rimmel Apocalyptic {exact}| Watch: Michael Kors {similar} | Necklace: Nadri {exact}

I don't have a ton of white pieces in my closet so it was pretty slim pickings after I already wore this white lace number a couple of weeks ago.

Humidity hair, just the most flattering.

This simple white cotton dress has been a summer staple for me for years now - it's light, comfortable and breathable, so perfect for summer heat waves. The crochet on the neckline and zipper front help to add a bit of texture. I added a cropped blazer, my favourite simple necklace and white/rose gold watch and topped it off with a raspberry lip to bring in some colour.

All together it took a casual cotton dress to summer dinner-date appropriateness, and I couldn't be happier to find another way to wear one of my staple pieces! What are your favourite white pieces?
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Linking up to: The Pleated Poppy, Transatlantic Blonde

Products I Regret Buying vol. 2

Being a product junkie there will always be times when I buy things that I don't end up liking or using. As much as I like favourites posts, I think posts like these are equally as helpful. If you missed it, here is the first round of products I didn't get along with. Do you own any of these products and love them? Let me know how you use them!   

L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray has an amazing reputation among hairstylists and everyday users alike, so I decided to pick up a full size bottle a couple of years ago. Don't get me wrong, this hairspray does work, really well actually, but I just could not handle the smell. "Old lady perfume" is not a scent I generally go after, and the scent really does linger in your hair for hours. It now comes in unscented which I highly recommend!

Back when I was trying to hop on the nude lip bandwagon I purchased the Revlon Peach Petal lipgloss because it was being raved about as the best nude gloss in the drugstore. Super nudes never worked on me as hard as I tried so this hardly ever saw the light of day, and to be honest I didn't love the formula either. I know many people were sad to see this shade go, but I was definitely not one of them.

MAC Paradisco eyeshadow must have been some sort of impulse purchase because I can't even remember why I would have picked up this particular colour. While it is pretty in the pot, I haven't used it for years because it doesn't even have great pigmentation. I'm sure at this point you could find  a similar shade from a drugstore range and skip the price tag of a MAC shadow.  

This one might be a bit controversial, but I really did not see what the big deal was about the NARS Pro Prime. It definitely does work, but I found the herbal eyeshadow primer from Palladio (found at Sally's) does the exact same thing for me at less than a third of the price.  

Once upon a time I received a sample of Benefit's Benetint and I fell in love with it. Even before I had finished the sample, I rushed out to Sephora and shelled out $30+ for the full size product. Bad decision. The results of this product on the lips is pretty, but I just got over the messy and uncomfortable application - the brush seriously tickles my lips, who even knew that was possible? It was an expensive product that I just can't be bothered using on a regular basis.
What are some products you regret purchasing?

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Move On Out

I'm a big fan of keeping the majority of my work life and my personal life separate, but working in digital marketing with a recent focus on social media has made it a little more difficult. Now that the VP is following along on my accounts I decided it was about time that this little blog of mine grew up, moved out, and gave me back some personal space.

 

Without further ado, anyone interested in following along with me, head on over to the brand spanking new Twitter and Instagram pages both @TVIBblog!

which at the moment are feeling very sad and lonely

For anyone who already followed me on Twitter feel free to stick around if you have a similar passion for marketing and design, since that is probably the majority of what I will be talking about. I hope it's not terribly inconvenient and you can understand where I'm coming from. 

 

Leave your accounts in comments so these newborns can find some friends! Have a great weekend!

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Loving Lately.. July Favourites

Can we just talk for a minute about how it's already August? I feel like this has been the most non-existent summer in years, so I am so sad to see that its end is already on the horizon! July wasn't terribly exciting for me on the beauty front, but I thought I would still go ahead and share some of my favourites for the month and link up with Mia!

Even though there haven't been a ton of swim worthy days this month, I have still spent most of my weekends hanging out at the cottage in one of my Victoria's Secret Bandeaus. I know they are on the expensive side for a bathing suit, but these are the most flattering bikini tops I have ever owned. This cobalt blue one was a purchase this year and I love the added detail of the rope straps! On the days it has actually gotten to regular summer temperatures it has been incredibly humid here in Toronto. To combat the frizz that my hair is prone too, I've been using my John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start Conditioner. I talk more about it in my summer proof hair routine, but this stuff really works and smells amazing. Speaking of smelling amazing, I picked up this Bath & Body works hand soap in the scent Rainforest Sugarcane and I am officially obsessed. It's sweet without being too sickly or overwhelming. If it's still available near you definitely go give it a sniff! A few weeks back I was helping my Mum with an outdoor sale and we got hit by some pretty strong winds we weren't exactly prepared for. The lovely Scentsy rep in booth next door helped us get everything tied down, and I ended up leaving the day with two Scentsy Bars that I am in love with. Zen Garden, which is a really beautiful relaxing floral scent that reminds me a bit of lilacs, and Jet, Set Go!, which is a tropical beachy scent perfect for summer. If you are in the GTA definitely check out Taryns site! Last but not least, between the humidity and the occasional lake dips, if I was wearing eyeliner this last month it was always one of the MUFE Aqua Eyes. These things are serious when they say waterproof, they will last for hours without budging. Especially if you're looking for something for the waterline, I 100% recommend checking out one of their many colours! I have the black and charcoal and am thinking about picking up some more. What colour would you go for? What have you been coveting this past month? keep up with me: bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest | twitter

OOTD: All That Glitters

After a wifi shortage and distractingly nice weather for a long weekend at the cottage, this post comes to you a day late for my regular schedule but just in time for the The Creative Closet - a fantastic link up about exploring what you have in your wardrobe!

This weeks' prompt was "All That Glitters", and if you know anything about me you'll know this is right up my alley! I love me some sparkle, but I decided not to get carried away and focused on accessorizing a neutral outfit with a little bit of bling.

Top: Forever 21 {exact} | Cardigan: H&M {similar} | Skirt: H&M {exact}

This outfit is super versatile because it can easily be dressed up with a pencil skirt and some heels, or dressed down like I did here with a skater skirt and casual sandals. 

Earrings: Joe Fresh {similar} | Necklace: Nyguard {similar} | Bracelets: Nygaurd/Joe Fresh {similar}

I mixed some of my jewelry staples with some newer pieces that were added to my collection in the last few months. While it is a lot of sparkle, I don't think it's too blingy to be appropriate for day. What's your favourite way to add a bit of glitter to your look? Linking up to: Transatlantic Blonde, The Creative Closet & The Grits Blog
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Trash Talk - July Empties

With it being summer I'm using much less product in my daily rotation. I skipped out on last month's Trash Talk post and you can see from this month's round up that the amount of products I've finished up so far this summer is pretty minimal. Regardless, let's get into it so I can go and take out the trash.

By now you're probably sick of hearing me talk about Batiste Dry Shampoo, so I'll just keep it brief. If you're new to these parts check out my What Are They Good For post on Dry Shampoo and that should tell you everything you need to know. I wish I could repurchase this right now, but I can only find it at Ulta in the US now.

This Garnier Gel Moisturizer has also featured heavily in my Trash Talk posts in the past - it's the perfect summer moisturizer for those with combo-oily skin and so I go through it like water. Will repurchase over and over for the foreseeable future. 'Nuff said.

This Vinyl Gloss in East End Snob from Rimmel may not be even close to empty, but it's hitting the trash regardless because it's been in my collection for far longer than I care to admit. I believe they still sell this, and if you're a lip gloss person it may be something to consider. A beautiful nude-pink with a bit of a pearl shine to it, it is great to add to the centre of a nude lip to bring back some dimension. I wouldn't repurchase because I hardly ever wear lip products, but if you do I highly suggest checking it out.

This L'Oreal EverCreme conditioner was just so-so. I didn't find it to be as "intensely nourishing" as it claims, but it was an alright run-of-the-mill conditioner. I will say that the smell is definitely the most intense part about it. I loved it at first, but after using it for months in my rotation I started to get sick of the overwhelming sweet caramel-esque scent. I probably wouldn't repurchase, but not because it was a bad product.

This Equate (Walmart brand) Nail Polish remover met an early death because my clumsiness knocked the last little bit all over my carpet - lovely.  Since it didn't do any permanent damage, I'm not really sorry it happened. This stuff wasn't all that great anyway. I wouldn't buy the same kind again, even though it was delightfully inexpensive. I can never seem to make myself spend money on something as disposable as nail polish remover, but I've heard so many good things about the Zoya formula. Anyone tried it?

And finally, unfortunately ending on a sour note - this Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm was pretty awful. It may feel nice going on your lips, but don't let that deceive you. About two minutes later all of the moisture was gone and my lips almost felt drier than they were before I used it, forcing you to reapply approximately seven hundred times a day. Don't waste your money, there are so many other lip balms out there that actually do something. You can check out my recommendations here. 
And that wraps up this month's Trash Talk! Happy Civic Holiday weekend for all my Canadian friends!
What products have you finished up in July?
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