My Fall Fab 10 Wishlist...

So I was just sitting here thinking about clothes (yes, what else is new?) and I happened to see an email regarding a major fall trend: fur (Or at least faux fur!). This reminded me of Zara in Edmonton where I saw this faux fur vest and I was hard-core coveting it until I showed it to my sister, who totally kaiboshed it. BOO. She took one look at me and said "Really?". But now that I'm thinking about it...I really want it. I mean, who knows when or where I would wear it, but I believe that we all need at least one outrageous piece of fashion in our closets. Don't you? And now that I know that it's going to be big for fall, I'm just kicking myself for not getting it!! It was actually pretty nice, it had kind of a flowy cut-away vibe to it and I swear if I see it again, I'm SO getting it. Damn it!

Anyways, so scouring my favorite fashion blogs and shopping websites, I've come up with my own Fall WishList.

1. That fur vest from Zara obvi...I think it would look good with everything from jeans, to dress pants. Yes.

2. Oxfords. And not those flimsy, ballet-ish ones. I want nice wing tips. Menswear-ish inspired, but still lady-like and fashionable. I know they're out there.

3. A camel coat/jacket. Preferably in a swing/peacoat type design. This over some slim black pants and black top (or dark grey monochrome outfit). Very sleek!

4. Red driving gloves. I just happened to watch this show called Gok Fashion Fix or something or other and he made up this outfit which I totally got inspired by and now I want red gloves.

5. This YSL clutch.

6. Anything gunmetal grey (or pewter): pants, sweaters, tops, etc...

7. Leopard print something. (a good leopard print though, not the cheapy-cheapy kind, if you know what I mean?) I'm thinking either a shoe, scarf or gloves and preferably something with texture. Garance Dore said she loved her leopard print flats because "since they go with nothing, they go with anything..." So true. (PS. I ADORE Garance Dore and her blog. She's totally my idol).

8.  Those teal boots from a previous post.

9. This Hermes bag: (and it's even my FAVE color Perpel!)

10. Nail polish in taupe-ish, khaki-ish, brown-ish, mauve-ish colors. I'm digging Merino Wool and Chinchilly from Essie and Metro Chic and Already Famous from Sephora by OPI.

I just talked to my sister. She still thinks I'm ridiculous for wanting that fur vest. Perhaps I am.

But then again, it's MY totally fab life. So there.

A delicious end to our vacation...

After Edmonton, my husband and I were picked up by my other cousin Jeff and his fiance, Tracy (from Calgary) and we chilled in Calgary for 2 more days! We checked out Southcentre mall - where (yay!) they had a Cassis, and I was able to pick up 2 more tops. We also went to Cross"Tron" Mills - which is Calgary's answer to the Primm outlets of Las Vegas. A half mall/half outlet mall type of deal. It was also good to me. I got a couple more tops from H&M and a couple tops from Gap Outlet. I also got these "neck-injury inducing" necklaces for 50% off. Seriously fab, but I need an appointment with a good chiropractor now. Still, I've been telling everyone that one must suffer for fashion! hehe.

Anyhoo...we also had some very good eats in Calgary! We checked out Milestones for lunch. I had a delicious "Grilled Shrimp California Benedict" with avocado and shrimp and yes, it tasted marvelous!

Then for dinner we went to this placed called Mercato. OMG it was so good. We had a caprese salad and the cheese was so soft and smooth - it was like a pillow of goodness, along with the sweet tomatoes and salty olive tapenade...it was seriously to die for.

For our entree we ordered "Bistecca" (Steak) and "Tonno" (Tuna) with "Fagioline" (green beans) and they served it "Family style" (that is - they put it in the middle of the table and everyone just digs in)...Delicioso!

It was on to Cheesecake Cafe for dessert! My husband had the Red Velvet Cheesecake and I had the Turtle Cheesecake...mmmm...

The following day, we hung out in Downtown Calgary (we even took the bus AND train!) but the highlight was going to "D" Haute (actually it was called QHaute, but I couldn't stop calling it D Haute) for lunch. This was a gourmet french restaurant, that was fancier than I thought it would be (only because, my cousin's fiance, Tracy kept saying that lunch was only going to be $15 and it included a starter AND an entree!) For that price I kept thinking that we were not going to be eating much, especially at a fancy restaurant like this...well I was wrong.

 We all ordered the soup of the day which was the Carrot and Cardamom soup.  We were thinking it would come out in a little cup (considering the price). Nope. It came out like this:

Our entrees were also quite good. I had the linguine with shrimp in a white wine butter sauce.

mmm...

My husband and Tracy both had the duck confit. (Duck Confit for $15.00!! I never heard!)

fancy shmancy!

Since the meal was only $15, my husband decided to order one more meal so he ordered the Caesar salad and Saffron and Tiger Prawn Risotto which the 3 of us shared.  I'm serious when I say that this tiger prawn was THE most flavorful piece of shellfish that I have ever eaten.

risotto done right...

rum baba w/ strawberries and gelato

And of course we just HAD to have dessert...We chose the rum baba ( which I think we chose because of the name) and the espresso brulee that came with some kind of tart that I don't recall the name of and some vanilla bean gelato. Wunderbar! All in all, definitely good eats and a great time in Calgary as well. I lived there for 4 months and I never knew. Craziness!!

espresso brulee w/ tart and gelato

PS. Thanks to all my family in Alberta (Edmonton and Calgary) for the wonderful time! You guys are the best! 

"Reunited and it feels so good..."

So it's been about a week since we got home from our family reunion, and I've had some time to compose my thoughts (read: get over the hangovers, sleep deprivation and shopping highs). As always, we had a great time partying, and hanging out with my cousins (from my mom's side)! Our reunions always mean: good food, staying up late, and most of all: DRINKING. Now you all know (and I've said it many times) that I'm a cheap drunk. But our rallying call was "Shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot, shot - EVERYBODY!" Once you heard that, you knew what was up. However, I was able to get through 3 nights of this, by drinking Pellegrino and OJ (w/ the tiniest hint of vodka) as my regular drink. As you can see by the picture, there was a LOT of "rallying calls". LOL

after 4 nights...

But there was always some kind of shnackeroonie (ie. snack) that we could munch on too. Karaoke also helped. We spent half the time singing and the other half laughing! It was really fun. My cousins Ed and Julian were the emcees (and frequent singers) and they kept us entertained along with an occasional aunt who would climb up on a chair to dance to the tunes! LOL. Or someone's girlfriend who was woefully out of tune. (Seriously, could she not hear herself?)

We also had the famous "US vs. Canada" B-ball Game that is played at every one of our reunions (Canada has won the last 4x! Sorry Seattle...maybe next time!) They are however, getting older now, so there were slightly more "injuries" than in previous years. It was seriously hilarious to watch the guys all come down the stairs one by one, limping or holding on to their backs, and groaning in pain.

We never went to sleep earlier than 4:00am but we were always up and ready to go... shopping! And boy did I shop. When we first arrived in Edmonton, we went to South Edmonton Common (I was the winner. I bought a sweater and 2 tops right off the bat at H&M and a pair of pants from the Gap Outlet.) Day of Lucky indeed! At WEM, I picked up another sweater at H&M and 4 tops from a new fave store I discovered called Cassis. I love shopping when it's "My Day of Lucky".

But the best thing was re-connecting with my family, my cousins again. It always seems that no matter how long it's been since we've seen each other, we always have a good time. We may be older, but we still know how to partay!! Also, our family has grown (what with everyone having kids) and soon we won't be the "youngs" anymore! Though I refuse to let us be thought of as the "olds" - our parents are still the "olds"!!! (Then again, after seeing those guys after the b-ball game maybe they are the olds...hahaha!) Seriously though..when I see the new generation of youngs - my nephew and my other cousins' kids - it warms my heart to know that  they too will eventually grow up, grow closer and re-connect with each other at future family reunions. I know they too will have just as much fun as we do! A never-ending cycle of fun times...

I hear our next family reunion might be in Hawaii...can't wait!!

Being Shy is NOT Fabulous

Well hello there, my fellow fab lifers! I know, I promised to post more often but then I went out of town for a family reunion so it was pretty much impossible for me to keep up my posts! However, I'm back now and I just know you are all dying to hear about my fabulous trip! A lot happened so I'm probably going to have post about it in many parts...

So, to start off...I don't know if you all remember that I really, really wanted to go and see BSB but no one would go with me? I finally convinced my husband to go, but then I realized the concert was the night before we were leaving on our trip and I just had too much to do, what with planning outfits, packing and the general running around that happens before a trip. So we didn't go. BUT...

The next morning we went to the airport. We were just about to check-in and my husband suddenly said "YO! There's a Backstreet Boy!!" I turned and saw...Brian!! I wanted to get a picture, but he was with his family (his wife and kid) and was surrounded by a few more people and what I assume was his bodyguard? Anyways, we checked in and pretty much followed him up the escalator (I didn't realize he was so short). But alas, he went straight to security. It was still too soon for us to go through security so we sat out by the food court. Actually I sat in front of those tv screens that list the arrivals and departures and tried to figure out which possible flight he could be taking. I didn't see the rest of the BSB's, so I figured they left already. Hm...he was checking in @ Air Canada so the only possible flights that he might have been going on was Thompson/Gillam or somewhere up North. He couldn't possibly be going on MY flight could he? I was perplexed as to why he would go in so soon. But I figured I would never see him again so I sat there regretting the fact that I didn't get a pic. Not even a stolen shot. I called my sister-in-law Carol who pretty much berated me for not getting a pic. She said "If you go in through security and he's still there, you BETTER get a picture!!!" and I (because I'm extremely brave when I don't think there's a chance of something happening), agreed.

So...when it was time to go through security, though I had the regret of not taking a pic with Brian of BSB, it pretty much left my mind that the BSB's were even here. So I walked to our gate, and didn't bother looking around. (FYI - I'm kind of a zoner when I walk around, so if you happen to pass me in the mall and think I snubbed you because I walked past you and didn't say hi, don't be offended. I probably didn't see you....or I did and I really did try to ignore you and then pretend I didn't see you...but whatever). Anyhoo, again, my husband (who must have some sort of boy-band radar) called me and said "Yo, you just walked past the rest of the Backstreet Boys!" I was like "AH-WHAT?!" And then I saw them...Nick and AJ (I didn't see Howie, though I might have been looking right at him and didn't know it). They were pretty much sitting right in the front - waiting for their plane. Scanning the rest of the crowd I saw Brian too. He wasn't sitting with the rest of them. At this point, I had walked in front of them twice now. So then I felt too shy to go up and talk to them and ask them for a picture...UGH. Why? you may ask - well, first, Nick was wearing his earphones (not earbuds, but those gigantor ear phones that look like high-tech earmuffs) and had his laptop out. He didn't really look like he wanted to be bothered. Then AJ was full out, hoodie on, trying to be like "I hope no fans recognize me". I had no idea where Howie was and Brian was again with his family...

We were pretty much sitting just on the other side of the pillar from them, but no one was going up to them (or even seemed to recognize them). And I, trying to look like the "I'm not really impressed by your fame" type of fan, sat there, having an internal debate with myself (and an external debate with my sister) about going up to ask for a picture. Finally, their flight was called for boarding. I said to my sister "This is our chance! Let's go!" But then, some other girl, who probably was having the same debate, but decided a split second earlier than me, went up to AJ. She got a picture with him and we thought it would be our chance...but then this girl asked AJ to say something on camera while she videotaped it. And right after that, he started to board his plane.

My husband was able to take a quick stolen shot of Nick. But it was just too late. We weren't able to get any pics with the BSB's. So sad! I lamented over the missed opportunity all the way to Edmonton. UGH. That was my chance. It wasn't very fabulous of me to let it go. I still can't even believe I didn't do it! I always do it! But for some reason I didn't. And now I will regret it forever. BOO.

Epilogue: Perhaps all is not lost! One of my BFF's told me the BSB's and NKOTB are joining forces for an upcoming tour...AH-WHAT?! I have another chance!?!! If that is true, I'm SO going to book a trip the day after their concert, just so I can see them at the airport again. That, or just go to their concert. Whichever.

Pre-Fall Preview: Jewel Tones

Wow, I can't believe it's already August. In a few weeks it will be September and fall will soon be upon us. But you know what this means?! Back-to-School Clothes! I just love seeing those back-to-school commercials. They're so fun and upbeat and it almost makes you want to go back to school because it looks like so much fun! It also reminds me of going to Grand Forks to buy school supplies and Trapper-Keepers and "first day of school" outfits. (FYI, I can tell you what outfit I wore on the first day of school from Grade 7 up to 1st year University. If you don't believe me, I can list them for you...)

Even though I haven't been in school in like, FOREVER, I still love the feeling of "starting" a new year. Right now, I'm getting inundated with emails of "Pre-Fall wear" and "the top 10 trends for fall". Whenever I think of fashion for fall I always think of jewel tones, greys, browns, corduroy, and plaid. It's all very "Love Story" Jenny and Oli. (BTW, have you seen this movie? It's a classic tear jerker! Seriously. "Love means never having to say you're sorry..." I'm tearing up already!) Anyways...

In keeping with the jewel tone theme of fall, I am currently obsessed with these teal colored boots. (Wait - could teal be considered a "jewel tone" if there are not really any teal jewels?) Well, whatever. It seems to be in the same color palette as burgundy, or hunter green. Anyhoo... I'm SO loving the color. How do we feel about these? Maybe under a pair of dark jeans, a grey wool sweater shawl, a plaid newsboy cap and a "I see you admiring my Teal colored boots" look?? That would be an awesome "first day of school" outfit. Too bad I'm not in school...

However, for these boots, I would consider going back!

You know what's annoying? Vol.1

Those days when you're getting ready and you just know it's gonna be one of those great days where your outfit works, your hair is perfect, you're lookin good and feelin good and you go out and you don't see anyone you know and you go home and you're like "What a waste". But then on the one day you go out lookin like a slob, thinking "I'm just goin out for a second" and you suddenly see everyone and their dog (including your ex) and you're like "Great".

Or how about when you inadvertently and effortlessly have a great outfit/hair day and then you try to re-create it on another day when you know you're going to see people and it doesn't work. So you try to remember what you did that other day and your hair gets all greasy because you're trying so hard to style it and your outfit just looks wrong because it really only worked that day that you had the great hair which only worked because you didn't think about it?

Or people who talk loudly on the bus or restaurant or theatre because they think they're cool, and they think that you'll think they're cool, but you really just wish they'd shut up.

Or when you're walking around in the mall or somewhere and someone stinky has just been there, and now they're gone but you walk into that wall of stink? That sucks! Same with if you go into a public washroom and there is no one in there but whoever was just in there totally deuced and so you try to hurry up and get out before someone else comes in and you almost make it but someone comes in just as you're washing your hands and they give you this look like "Gross. What the hell did you do in here?!" And you're trying to look all sympathetic like "I know, hey? It wasn't me!" and emphasizing it with crinkling your nose and even though you know it WASN'T you and you will probably never see this other person again, you can't stand it because that person totally thinks you were the one who had the stinky poo.

  

Yeah. That's annoying.

Another update on my shopping love life...

So guess what? I went to the mall (again) yesterday and was walking through the Bay,when my eyes caught a glimpse of a sign. I thought I saw something with a 5 on it, but I couldn't be sure. Once I got closer though, I noted with a sinking feeling, the price on my jacket had gone...DOWN. Again.

Instead of 40% off, it was 50% off!!

There is no worse feeling than the feeling that you overpaid for something. Luckily though, I was within 7 days and I was able to get a price adjustment. I actually got almost $28.00 back! Ridiculous. So my jacket was now actually 75% off the regular price!!! CRAZY.

See? My life is changing already.