Fashion Post | Her name is Tassles

This past Friday night marked the 2nd annual Lucha Libra Celebration- essentially where we get down in the name of all the lovely libras in our lives; 5 in particular are in my circle of friends. After the bar, my roommates and I hosted an afterparty that was meant to be small, but we are fun lovers, so it ended up being huge.



At one point my friend Caitlin and I decided to have an impromptu photoshoot to capture the wonder that is this jacket- I call her Tassles; and she’s sassy! Caitlin is the one who found this gem; initially it was for her but it didn’t fit her properly. So, once again, my broad shoulders saved the day, and the jacket was mine!



We also decided that the debut of Tassles was the perfect opportunity for a photo shoot with just the 2 of us, since the jacket was a gift from Caitlin to me; complete with ground shots, standing shots and all sorts of poses. I spared you the duds- some are FAR too embarrassing for my memory card, let alone the world wide web- and I shared the best shot of the bunch!



A short and sweet post; just like the tassles dangling from my divine new jacket;)


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Weekend Color: O.P.I Nail Color in “Jewel of India”

Nail polish is my new favorite thing! Since painting my nails last week- after having not painted them in years- I am completely in love with colored nails. Where I once used to pass the nail care and polish aisle, I now stop and linger, imagining what colors would go with what outfits- the possibilities are absolutely endless.

This week’s color comes from O.P.I once again; why? Because O.P.I has an amazing color selection AND it applies/dries really quickly and evenly; which is key for last minute applications before walking out the door. I wanted to go with a bolder color this week, because last week’s nail paint was matte and didn’t pop quite as much, suede-like if you will. Last week’s color mantra was “mute”, this week’s mantra is “drama”!

At my thanksgiving dinner this past Sunday, so many people complimented my nails; even making mention to the fact that they hadn’t seen my nails painted in…ever. It really has been that long. I’ve enjoying painted nails so much, that last week I broke the rules slightly and kept the polish on all week- a major kitchen NO NO. But in life, some rules are made to be broken or- at the very least- slightly bent;)

xoxo
bianca

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Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

This weekend was thanksgiving and the occasion of thanks got me thinking. Last year at thanksgiving, I was hating where I was in my life- I was broke and I had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up. In short I wasn’t thankful for much (and yes I realize how much of princess I sound like, seeing as I had and always have had a lot to be grateful for).

But what a difference a year makes!

Every year my grandmother hosts thanksgiving and usually we go around the room and each person has to say what they are most grateful for; this year, however, we didn’t. So I thought I would start the tradition here!

Bianca’s Gratitude List
My family~ this one obviously goes without saying, but it’s something that bears repeating as much as possible. I love my family sooooo much, they are amazing; EVERY.SINGLE.DAY I am grateful for them and how they have molded me.

My friends~ another “goes without saying” one, but- again- it bears repeating. When I moved back to Edmonton from Toronto, I was so defeated; but I held on to the thought that there HAD to be a reason that I was coming back; and undoubtedly the reason was the amazing friends I have made and reconnected with since returning home 3 years ago. Among these wonderful people I have found dreamers, supporters and some of the truest gems ever- these people are the family I have chosen!

Clarity~ throughout my 24th year- more than any other year before- I felt so completely lost; I didn’t know who I was or who I wanted to be and I felt like a stranger in my own life. I thought I knew what I wanted but I didn’t and I didn’t even know where to begin figuring myself out. Throughout the year there were many growing pains, but now having gotten through the gauntlet, I feel like I am- finally- figuring out who it is I want to be- and it feels so amazing!

*Note that I am also grateful for the small things, like the roof over my head, the clothes on my back, the car I drive and so forth; but I wanted to keep the list to the big stuff.*

For the longest time I thought life was about the destination and I was getting fed up with the journey; but I finally figured out that life IS the journey. Cheesy I know, but so damned true!

And one more cheesy moment, I am thankful for you- the people who choose to read the words I write and take time to comment- it means a lot. I have grown so much through blogging and writing, the whole process has ignited so many things inside me that I never knew existed. I always thought I was the type of person that couldn't commit and it just happened that I needed to find something that I felt committed to- this place has shown me that. So thank you again for stopping by!

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving and have many things/people/experiences to be thankful for.

Indian Summer

Cree, Iroquois or Sarcee; however you say it, we have been enjoying our very own Indian summer here in Edmonton; and I’m ever so grateful for it. Our summer was atrocious, wet and cold- not just chilly but straight up cold; so I was hoping, with my fingers and toes crossed, that fall would deliver us a season we could proudly enjoy!

Way to go Mother Nature, you’re grumpy phase has passed and you’re finally in a better mood!

This past weekend, I dusted off the ye olde Sprinter-my sweet bicycle- and the ladies and I went for a ride at dusk, admiring all the lovely fall leaves and taking in the sweet and warm fall air! We also enjoyed some wine on the patio- an Indian summer must! I find it amazing to see the trees barren yet the weather is above 20degrees Celsius; like 2 seasons in 1, the beauty of fall but the warmth and enjoyment of summer!

When I saw the sunshine, I knew right away that I was going to wear this striped button up top from the swap; being the fall season and all, it was slightly chilly so for the bike ride, I paired it with- yet another swapped item- a taupe sweater. The swap really is the gift that keeps on giving!

Here hoping that this weekend is exactly- degree for degree- like the last!

Happy Friday wonderful people!

xoxo

bianca

Autumn Leaves

Autumn, Autumn, Autumn...I love you!

Autumn Leaves~ Nat King Cole

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

…beautiful.

xoxo
bianca

Weekend Color: O.P.I Suede in You Don’t Know Jacques

I love painted nails; the right nail polish can complete a look. But since I work around food from Wednesday to Friday, I was depriving my nails of the pleasure of polish; until this weekend! My roommate Suzy said the simple statement “paint your nails on Saturday and take it off by Wednesday”- so simple, yet I never even thought of it. I immediately got painting!

I painted my nails with O.P.I Suede nail polish; and I’m finding myself posing my hands, so I can admire the paint job! This amazing polish dries in only 10 minutes- maybe even less- and the color is so dynamic.

All this time without polish, I had almost completely forgotten how much I like my hands!

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Meals with Friends

One of my favorite ways to spend my time is enjoying meals with my friends. There is nothing like a good meal shared between great friends.

I have the wonderful pleasure of being with my friends around food all the time; we love to meet for lunch, we plan dinners on the regular and we love wine; and wine- naturally- goes best with food.



This past week I went to Café Select with my lovelies Caitlin and Suzy, and if you follow my Twitter, you would have know that I was all a-twitter over our delicious French feast! Café Select has the most amazing French food, we dined on Mac & cheese, steak tartar, grilled romaine salad and baked goat’s cheese; washed down ever so nicely with the best Sangiovese red wine I have ever tasted!



My lovely friends Tiffany and Danielle hosted myself and 2 others to a pasta feast- oh and what a feast it was. Goat’s cheese (noticing a cheese trend?!) on warm baguette, spring green salad with balsamic glaze, homemade lasagna, garlic bread and macaroons for dessert; and of course wine- gimme a break, I’m in my twenties!



Saturday was unseasonably warm in Edmonton, so, naturally, I met up with Sarah and Tony on the patio at Café Leva- the coolest euro style coffee café- for a sandwich and a latte! I was really hoping Edmonton would be gifted with an Indian Summer, as summer was complete bubkus this year; and we did! If we get 1 or 2 more weekends like the last, I will be forever grateful. I hope you heard that Mother Nature.



And, lastly, the spread the ladies and I enjoyed at the swap- Italian meats and cheese, bread, bruschetta salad, wine AND Caesars!


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