You're Nobody Until You're Talked About

Eeeek! Did anyone recognize the quote I used as my post title? WARNING: Don't read this if you're planning on watching the series finale of Gossip Girl.... well... you can look at the first two pictures, but don't read the text.

Details:

Sweater: H&M (Dartmouth)

Belt: Gap (Halifax)

Jeans: Guess (Moments, Truro)

Boots: Steve Madden (Toronto)

Necklace: American Eagle Outfitters (Halifax)

Bracelets: Forever 21 (San Francisco)

I love wearing metals and I think this sweater looks great with gold.

And speaking of gold..... did you see Serena's dress?

Source

She looks so beautiful! I love her hair (when do I not love her hair?) That Georges Chakra Couture dress is amazing on her, but I think very few ladies could pull it off.

Everyone who belonged together ended up together... Blair and Chuck, Serena and Dan, Rufus and ... Lisa Loeb? Sure, why not!?

The first hour with all the cast interviews and scenes from NYC was fun to watch. I'll look forward to The Carrie Diaries (pre-Sex and the City!) although I doubt it'll be glamorous like GG.

Were you a fan of Gossip Girl?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Rudolph Pants

Wow, these pants are intense! Congrats Joe Fresh on making such a great item. I wore this to an early evening staff party at The Red Stag (I figured I'd match my pants to the restaurant name).

Details:

Pants: Joe Fresh (Halifax)

Tank: Old Navy (Halifax)

Cardigan: Le Chateau (Halifax)

Shoes: Cole Haan (Freedman's Shoes, Vancouver)

Bracelet: Gift

I feel like I am constantly apologizing for the quality of my photos. My excuses this time? Poor quality clinic hallway lights and a camera-phone. Shadows galore.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Sparkling with the Statue

Is there a size limit to what is considered a statue? This is half the size of me, so I think it's bigger than a figurine but not quite statuesque.... either case, I think he's checking me out.

Details:

Cardigan: Kensie (Margolians, Truro)

Tank: Mexx (Crimson Clover, Halifax)

Belt: Dynamite (Halifax)

Earrings and Bracelet: Gift

Jeans: Calvin Klein (Costco, Halifax)

This photo was taken in the lovely home of our friends who invited us to a Christmas party. Note the lack of footwear? That's good manners people... I don't care if they did it in Sex and the City.... I think it's rude to wear your shoes in someone else's house.

I'm linking up with longdistanceloving for a post on "serious sparkle". Hmmm...the lighting isn't picking up on it, but my tank is pretty flashy!

Are you incorporating any shimmer, sparkle, or glitter in your holiday ensembles?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Chill

 

Details:

Cardigan: Forever 21 (San Francisco)

Shirt: H&M (Toronto)

Jeans: Guess by Marciano (Vancouver)

Boots: Le Chateau (Halifax)

Belt and bracelet: Gifts

Necklace: Tiffany & Co. (Gift)

Scarf: Gap (Halifax)

Hat: Element (Margolians, Truro)

My thoughts while this photo was being taken:

- OMG, it's freezing out here
-Why didn't I put on my coat?
- My boots are sinking into the lawn
- I hope the neighbours don't think I'm crazy
- I don't care if the sun is shining a weird patch on my face
- I'm so cold
- No, I don't need more than one take
- I want to go inside now

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Houndstooth for the Holidays

For a girls-only get together, I wanted to look pulled together but still relaxed and comfy. The stretchy pants were a must as I knew there would be more than a few munchies!

Details:

Shirt: Forever 21 (San Francisco)

Pants: Uniqlo (San Francisco)

Boots: Le Chateau (Halifax)

Bracelet: Suzy Shier (Truro)

Necklace: Joe Fresh (Halifax)

Ring: Gift

Is anyone else stressing a bit over wrapping presents? I'm not the worst wrapper in the world, but not the best either. Over the years I've discovered how easy gift bags are to use compared to wrapping paper. There's still prep work that needs to be done when using bags though. You basically have to lay out all your gifts and see what size bags you need. One year I made the mistake of just buying a bunch of random bags and then had to go back to the store because I didn't have enough medium sized bags. Then you have to make sure you have the right color tissue paper to match the bags...sigh. Where can I buy my own personal elf?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Unnatural

I'm linking up with longdistanceloving and talking about two things that are unnatural:

1) This vest (and I love it).
2) This lighting (and I hate it).

I miss summertime.... when it stays light outside past 4:30 p.m and pictures are much more fun.

Details:

Vest: Zara Kids (San Francisco)

Sweater: Kensie (Moments, Truro)

Shirt: Kersh (Moments, Truro)

Jeans: Guess (Moments, Truro)

Boots: Call it Spring (Halifax)

Bracelets: Macy's (San Francisco)

Bag: Coach (Edmonton)

I wore this for a day of very productive shopping.... for someone other than me! Shocking, I know. I was asked to help someone pick out a holiday party outfit, boots, jeans, and casual clothes. It was a great success! She got everything she was looking for. Thanks for the fun afternoon J... and for the Big Apple iced tea from DAVIDsTEA!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Style Spotlight: Lo Bosworth

It's been a long time since I've done a style spotlight post. Here are some great outfits from one of my favorite reality (hmmm...was the Hills real? we'll never know) girls.

Hey there, Lo!

www.peoplestylewatch.com

Stripes? Nude shoes? Super bright skirt? I love this!

My mission for the near future is to find a pair of nude pumps. I have nude sandels but they are super tall, I can't walk in them, and I fear ankle fracture every time I put them on. These ones still look too tall for clumsy me, but they're really pretty.

Navy and turquiose look great together. End of story.

www.stylebistro.com

Not so long ago, I would have charged Lo with a fashion crime for wearing this. I used to have a huge problem with mixing neutrals (no black and brown, no grey and brown) but since I started style blogging, I've adopted a totally different attitude and I think mixing neutrals (with care and purpose) is a great way to inject style into a casual look.

www.stscelebblog.blogspot.ca

Sigh. I love a simple white top. This is such a classic look, and that pink bag adds just the perfect amount of color.

www.peoplestylewatch.com

OK... I'm not completely decided on the addition of the outermost layer. However, if you're a regular reader of my blog, you know I have a bit of a thing for faux fur this season (I may have added to my obsession via a furry collar at H&M on the weekend...).

Lo - you're pulling this off, but it's a good thing you're so tiny... on anyone else it would add serious pounds. Lesson learned - not every outfit can be successfully copied.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Hiding from the Holidays

Welcome to December everyone! It's the month full of good eats, get-togethers with family and friends, social calender chaos, and of course.... mall mayhem.

These photos were taken on Saturday when I was determined to get some shopping done while avoiding crowds as much as possible. Therefore, I opted to drive ten minutes further out of the city to go to a (hopefully) less busy place.

It worked! Shhh...Halifax people... don't tell anyone that Bedford Commons is way less crowded than Bayers Lake.

Details:
Jacket: Mac & Jac (Moments, Truro)
Turtleneck: Costa Blanca (Dartmouth)
Scarf: Old and unknown
Skirt: Old Navy (Halifax)
Tights: Joe Fresh (Halifax)
Booties: Call it Spring (Halifax)
Earrings and Bracelet: Gifts (both from Missy, xo)

This clock always says 2:55 (note to self: buy batteries)

Do you mind the December crowds? I have to be in a certain mood to deal with them. Good thing I have only a bit of shopping left to do!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

My Style

One of the most challenging things for me to do is to try to explain my style. It's a question I get asked a lot, and I always do a lot of "umming and ahhing." The problem is, my style is completely mood-based. I can flip from quasi-boho (I can never succeed in pulling off full-on boho), trendy, edgy, and preppy classic all in a matter if hours. It's rare that I actually change clothes throughout the day though. Usually I make myself stick to one....or two if I have evening plans!

Despite my fluctuating style, a look I gravitate towards a lot is casual with an edge.... often acheived by the addition of leather.

 

Details:

Jacket: Danier (Halifax)

Sweater: Old Navy (Halifax)

Pants: Lucky Brand (Toronto)

Booties: Gap Factory Store (Halifax)

Belt: Gap (Halifax)

Scarf: Joe Fresh (Truro)

Headband: J Crew (San Francisco)

Bracelets: Forever 21 (San Francisco)

Earrings: Gift

 

I had to show a close-up of this cute headband. I'm sure it will be in high rotation during the holidays.



Can't believe this was only $7. Nothing is ever $7 at J Crew....

I'm linking up with longdistanceloving again for My Friday's Fancies. The theme this week is "Express Yourself".... hence all the above reflections on how I define my style.

Can you define your own style if you were asked to?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Eye Experiment

Disclaimer: I am not great at make-up application.

I saw this eye tutorial in the November Issue of Glamour and decided to try it out.... and take pictures along the way for everyone's amusement.

I don't have a professional camera, so these shots aren't that clear. Knowing nothing about lighting sure doesn't help either.



Here's the instructions (Glamour, Nov. 2012)

Step 1: The lightest color from my Stila eye shadow trio in Gold Glow was what I used all over the lid.

 

 

 

Step 2: I used MAC eyeshadow in Embark in the crease.

 

 

 

Steps 3 and 4 I lined my eyes with MAC eyeliner in Phone Number.

 

 

 

Step 5: White eyeliner wasn't to be found in my makeup bag, so I used the closest thing I had - Stila Kajal Eye Liner in Topaz. This isn't a color I would have chosen to purchase. It was part of a Sephora gift set.

 

 

 

Step 6: I used Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express mascara in Blackest Black (why do they spell "volume" that way???). I wouldn't purchase this again. It flakes.

 

 

Here's the end result.

 

 

 



The lighter of the eyeliners wasn't very visible (and didn't show up at all in the photos). I might pick up a true white eyeliner and try this look again.

CREEPY!

Yes, I know I'm bad at lining and using mascara on the bottom lashes. I never do it, so therefore I am completely inept.

I'm sure no one from Sephora is going to hunt me down to be their newest make-up artist, but this task was kind of fun and I may do another one sometime in the future. It's a good excuse to try different looks.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Glymm November 2012

I love the snakeskin texture of the black bag this month!

Lys Parisien Moisturizing Shampoo and Moisturizing Balm

I've used these twice since they arrived, and I can honestly say they are an excellent hair product. I'm a big fan of argan oil but had never tried it in shampoo form.  You can see from the picture that not a lot of product is gone from the bottles (picture taken after two uses), so I think I'll get at least 15 uses out of these. They make my hair really soft, and I can get three days between washings easily with them.

The New Black nailpolish

I'm such a fan of mini nailpolishes. I have a shoebox that is FULL of nailpolish, and I can sneak in the tiny ones without overflowing it. I haven't tried this on my nails yet, but it looks like a  vibrant tomato red that will be nice for the holidays.

Dirt Sweet + Spicy Sugar Scrub

Body scrubs are always welcome in my shower as I often use sunless tanners and need to get the old tan off. This is the second sample of Dirt I've received from Glymm. I admit I haven't tried either one-  not because I don't want to - I'm trying to use up some Body Shop stuff first.

The Beehive -  Honey Blossom

This is a soft and sweet scent that is great for everyday wear. I'm not loyal to a particular perfume and I like to mix things up, so I really like perfume samples.

Glymm has impressed me this month! I'll probably purchase the shampoo and conditioner to have in addition to my usual Redken Extreme.

If you'd like to sign up for the monthly Glymm treats, please use my link below. They make fabulous and unique Christmas gifts that continue to give after the holidays. There's a Glymm Man line for the fellas too!

http://www.glymm.com/share/jennifermerlin

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Black Friday Fashion

Happy day-after-Thanksgiving to all my American readers! I hope you're all stuffed, content, and getting some amazing deals in the stores.

Canada has joined in with the Black Friday sales (to try to keep the dollars on this side of the border). They are happening all weekend for the most part, and I plan on doing some Christmas shopping with my mom.

Details:

Cardigan: Kensie (Margolians, Truro)

Shirt: Forever 21 (San Francisco)

Jeans: Calvin Klein (Costco, Halifax)

Boots: Call it Spring (Halifax)

Bag: H&M (Halifax)

Necklace: (American Eagle Outfitters, Halifax)

Earrings: Gift

Bracelets: Macy's (San Francisco)

Isn't my bag quirky? I had a strange attraction to it when I saw it at H&M and the attraction grew stronger when I saw the $10 red sticker on it. It has room for lots of things, and it can convert to a crossbody.

I'm linking with longdistanceloving today, so the fact that I'm wearing this shade is no coincidence. She asked us to put together a black outfit for Black Friday. I can't wait to see what the other bloggers come up with!

Please gloat to me about your deals! I love hearing about all the shopping fun!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Past the Pastel Season

No boys (and you know who you are....), these are not my pyjamas.

Details:

Sweater: American Eagle Outfitters (Halifax)

Shirt: Gap (Halifax)

Jeans: Mossimo at Target (San Francisco)

Boots: Call it Spring (Halifax)

Necklace: Forever 21 (LA)

Bracelet: Suzy Shier (Truro)

The colors in this outfit aren't exactly fall-ish, but I hope I pulled it together and made it look winter cozy and not like sleeping attire.

These skinnies were a great way to dip my toes in the floral jeans pool without breaking the bank on a perhaps fleeting trend.

Do you think floral and printed denim are going to stick around?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

So You Like Owls?

Owls, sparrows, and birds of all sorts have been making an appearance in my wardrobe over the past few seasons.

Details:

Vest: Zara Kids (San Francisco)

Sweater and hat: Smart Set (Halifax)

Tank: Zara (NYC)

Cords: MOTO (Margolians, Truro)

Owl necklace: Forever 21 (South Portland)

Bird necklace: American Eagle Outfitters (Halifax)

Shoes: Miz Mooz (Town Shoes, Toronto)

Bracelets: Macy's (San Francisco)

Why the owls? I'm not sure... I had a scary owl encounter once. I was driving with my friend Jen to my other friend Jen's wedding (yes, three Jens), when a huge owl swooped down from the sky and flew about a foot in front of my windshield. I'm pretty sure he was big enough to crash right through the glass of my brand new car had we hit him. We were stunned speechless for a few minutes, but no owls were harmed that day.

Other animals I'm drawn to are alpacas, giraffes, kangaroos, dogs with squished faces (especially french bulldogs and pugs), and potbellied pigs. Perhaps I owned a zoo in a former life.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Autumn Treats

Do you ever have wardrobe recycling regrets? Have you ever wanted to climb into the giant mailbox of a donation bin and rescue your item?

 

This skirt was almost a giveaway regret. It was thiiiis close to being donated, but then I had a change of heart. Why would I give this away? Let me count the reasons:

 

1) It's seven years old.

2) The thing is so lightweight that the slightest wind sends it skyward (note to self: wear cute undies).

3) I hadn't worn it in over a year.

 

Why did I save it?

 

1) I have a crazy emotional connection to it because I bought it in Australia.

2) It IS cute.

3) The cardigan acts like an anchor, keeping it on my thighs where it belongs.

 

 

 

Details:

Skirt: One Teaspoon  (somewhere in Sydney, Australia, 2005)

Shirt: Kersh (Moments, Truro)

Cardigan: Dynamite (Halifax)

Belt: Forever 21 (South Portland)

Leggings: Gift

Necklace: H&M (San Francisco)

Boots: Steve Madden (Toronto)

Polka dots are my favorite manicure!

I'm linking up with longdistanceloving for another Fridays Fancies post on autumn treats. What expensive bakery did this big boy come from?

Viola.... the Superstore cupcake in Triple Chocolate. I snagged this sweetness for a mere $2. It was worth all 200 pennies and then some. I classify this as an all season treat, not just for autumn. I have yet to get a Starbucks red cup (I'll have to remedy that soon...)

What are some of your favorite fall treats?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Novel-Tea: Part 15

Happy Hump Day!

Isn't November a fabulous month for reading? Holiday season isn't quite upon us yet, and it's too cold to be doing a whole lot outdoors -the perfect opportunity to curl up on the couch with a good book. Keep reading to find out one of my recent favorites!


I get a lot of my outfit inspiration from other bloggers. I really love the look of a blazer and a white shirt, but it's not the kind of thing I often feel like wearing. The occasions when I do should be immortalized in a photo.

Details:

Blazer- Ann Taylor (Wrenthem)

Shirt: Smart Set (Toronto)

Jeans: 7 For All Mankind (Century 21 kids section, NYC)

Necklace: Joe Fresh (Halifax)

Bracelet: Suzy Shier (Truro)

Watch: Guess (Vancouver)

Shoes: DV Dolce Vita (Macy's, San Francisco)

When I was in San Francisco I had a fantasy of buying Frye boots, but I didn't see a pair I fell in love with. These shoes were love at first sight! I really wanted a cap toe flat and I like the stud detail.


Vanilla Orchid is a recent release from DAVIDsTEA, and I love how delicate the flavour is. It's a sweet oolong and a pleasant break from the in-your-face tastes I usually go for.


I enjoyed reading Where We Belong while sipping on my Vanilla Orchid. I always look forward to a new read by Emily Giffin. She's the author that (in my dreams) I'd love to be compared to someday. Her books flow so well, and while the endings are expected, the journey there is always a surprise.

Where We Belong is a story told from the perspective of two people- a woman who chose to give her child for adoption and the eighteen year old daughter who finds her biological mom.




Have you read anything fantastic lately? Keep the recommendations coming!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl