Hey you! Homes, clothes and some Stikki

Peeps, I haven’t been in touch in forevaaa! Life has been too hectic/crazy/amazing to sit down... here’s a short recap: Hubby and I bought our first home. Wait, that totally deserved more exclamation points... let me start over: Hubby and I bought our first home!!!!!!! It’s a done friggin’ deal. Can you believe it? After months and months of searching, we fell in love. The move in date is August and although that seems quite far away, I know time will fly.

I’ve also been blessed with some epic girl-time and you know what that means! Shopping! Below, you’ll find a few of my fave new purchases.

Vero Moda’s kakhi jacket with faux leather sleeves ... if it's got faux leather sleeves, I'm buying it. Period. / Kate Spade Winking Georgie clutch (it ACTUALLY winks... hello awesomeness!) / My fave conditioner by Kiehl’s / Rebelle Rouge Coco Shine by Chanel / Lemon coloured iPad cover by Coach / Art geek alert! I purchased Urban Outfitter’s Curtis Kulig iPhone cover. This totally kills my street cred, but I think it’s worth the risk.

 

And since I appear to be on a spending roll (guys, guys, this didn’t all happen in one day... I haven’t written in a while, remember?) I also purchased this awesome new silkscreen print by the Montreal artist Stikki Peaches. For those following my Instagram, you know I’m a fan. Come on ladies! Batman and James Bond rolled into one? Printed on crinkled kraft paper? Ohhh... so badass I couldn’t resist. Being an art historian has its perks, so I was able to purchase this print before its release date... it should be available soon by clicking HERE.

 

Stikki Peaches’ BatBond (edition of 50) soon available at Station 16.

 

How have you been?

 

Review: Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector

I’m not sure what this says about my willpower, but most of what goes on my “Currently Craving” posts becomes mine. My latest purchase? Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector, which was described by The Beauty Editor as blowing “BB Creams out of the water.” Sold!

 

 

I, for one, never jumped on the BB cream wagon. I’m not a fan of its greasy finish... In my opinion, Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector does what BB only hopes to achieve... but for a whooping 68 CAN$. Ouch.

 

Once you get your hands on this product (bite the bullet and doooo it), shake the bottle, place two or three drops on your fingers and simply let them glide on your face. I’m telling you: it’s like giving yourself a massage with fairy dust! It’s by far the lightest foundation on the market. It goes on smooth, like thin fluid oil... Now, if the word “oil” just made you cringe with visions of breaking out, relax. Maestro is noncomedogenic, which means that it won’t block pores. Your skin will feel nourished and soft (oh sooo soft!). As for coverage, I’d be lying if I said it was a one stop shop. I won’t be giving up by Boi-ing Benefit concealor (to camouflage a late night outing) or even my faithful Cover FX to powder my nose. But here’s what I will guarantee: if you try this product, you’ll get a gorgeous glow, long lasting coverage and incredible comfort!

Let me know if you’ve tried it or if you have a new fave product!

 

 

 

Weekend Snapshots

Don’t Saturday and Sunday feel so far away already? Monday has a mysterious effect, capable of crushing our spirit. (See? That’s the Monday effect. It makes us overly dramatic...) That being said, my weekend was absolutely lovely, filled with great activities such as brunch with MC, a hint of shopping, some blogging, fun dinners with friends, and possibly a little wine.

Here are a few snapshots:

1. New purchases: More stripes, H&M pizzazz & Marie Claire’s September issue (P.S. I’m feeling a little sad about Miley’s new hair-chop...) / 2. Beets! Hubs and I cooked yellow beets for the first time. Delish! / 3. Simple Sunday breakfast / 4. Spring cleaning... A few precious souvenirs were stored under a lovely glass dome / 5. Beets again. But this time as a salad! Seriously: how pretty are they? / 6. Street art at the corner of Rachel and St-Denis.

 

I’d love to hear what you were up to this weekend!

 

Top 10: Fall Edition

Yesterday afternoon, Montreal was hit with torrential downpours. This morning, the city woke up to a beautiful crisp fall morning. Hubby and I will walk downtown to breathe in the change of season... and I’ll be stocking up on a few beauty essentials. You’ve read my “Top 10” beauty posts, but here is September’s updated version:

 

1. FOUNDATION: Cover FX, pressed mineral powder foundation with SPF 10 / 2. LIPSTICK: Orange Flip by Revlon. I often layer mine with Artdeco’s pale pink Lip Brillance #64 / 3. BROW PENCIL: Lancôme's all-in-one essential for natural-looking brows: Le Crayon Poudre / 4. CONCEALER: The miraculous Boi-ing by Benefit / 5. PRIMER: It’s smooth sailing with Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer / 6. EYELINER: I can’t live without eyeliner and Stila’s has proven the test of time / 7. MASCARA: Artdeco All-in-one Mascara. I have it in black and blue, layering both shades / 8. NAIL POLISH: Geranium by Essie is a great “in between seasons” shade / 9. EYE CREAM: Kiehl's creamy eye treatment with avocado... now that I’m 30, I’m realizing that eye cream is not a luxury purchase. Pout. / 10. DRY SHAMPOO: The best of the best is Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo.

 

Bright Summer Nails

My sister-in-law, Melanie, brought me the ULTIMATE hostess gift: nail polish! Now that’s a woman who knows me well! One of the shades was this gorgeous orange: Paisley Attention To Me. What do you think? Here are a few suggestions if, like me, you fell hard for this summer look: 

Sephora by OPI: Paisley Attention To Me is an opaque tangerine orange / Dior’s Riveria is a bright orange coral / Westbourne Grove by Nails inc. is a bright neon orange with a hint of yellow / Revlon ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel in Marmalade is a bold coral.

Good Day Sunshine

On this über hot day, what did you do to stay cool?

Top: Bedo / Pants & Shoes: Zara / Arm Candy: Isabelle May

What's In My Medicine Cabinet

(Hubby spotted me in the bathroom, and asked:  “Umm... Em? What are you doing?”  Taking a picture of my side of the medicine cabinet!  “Why?”  Because girls like to know things like this!   He responded with a bewildered look and walked off.) 

I’ve been asked by friends and PMT readers if I’ve tested the beauty products I recommend on this blog.  Here’s the proof that I have not only tested them – I actually own them...  and many more.

1. Degree “Fresh Energy”: Not glamorous, but hey, important! / 2. Nivea eye makeup removal cream for those days when I think waterproof is a good idea... / 3. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner: I loved the tester so much, I purchased the full-size bottle / 4. Avène’s Micellar Lotion (being allergy-prone, this is my fav makeup remover) / 5. I’m not a perfume aficionado. But I do love Chance by Chanel and enjoy testing out scents by Jo Malone. In the background, you can also spot Jennifer Aniston’s fragrance... I think my next purchase will be Beach by Bobbi Brown / 6 . Avène Gentle Purifying Scrub: To be honest this is not ideal for people with rosacea. But a monthly scrub feels nice! / 7. Clinique’s Redness Solution: This was my go-to moisturizer until I discovered number eight / 8. Kiehl’s Panthenol Protein Moisturizing Face Cream (looove it!) / 9. Dental floss! I like Crest Glide / 10. You’ve read about my love for Bio-Oil when I named my Top 10 beauty products (did you buy it yet?)

What are your favourite beauty products?

Currently Craving (Floral Dress)

My new obsession is floral dresses. In the spirit of my Alex McLeod post, I’m thinking that this little number would be a perfect fit! What are you craving this week?

You can purchase this one at H&M. I also recommend this dress from ZARA.

Mine!

A while back, I fell hard for these sandals:

Image via

Seriously, how gorgeous are they? I finally hunt them down at Zara’s and now they’re MINE! Woot! Woot! Did you make any fun purchases this weekend?

How to wear coloured pants

As I unpacked my suitcase, I came across my new green pants. Sooo cool, I thought. But what am I going to wear them with? Coloured jeans are a hot trend right now, so here are a few pointers to rock the look. Remember that spring is a season to have fun! Spring (and life!!!) is way too short to be scared of mixing bold patterns and bright pants. Believe me; no one will care if you mess it up. People will just assume that you are an avant-garde fashionista... which you are, of course!  

1. TopShop black boyfriend blazer (also seen here) & Rupert Sanderson High Heel Pumps / 2. Jil Sander Navy Sleeveless Print Shirt & Kate Spade Coral handbag / 3. Equipment Signature Star Bright White Printed Silk Blouse & Louboutin Balinodono patent-leather ballet flats / 4. H&M floral blouse & JCrew purse

I'm back

I’m back from New York! Although I’m a little disappointed to find Montreal so chilly and grey, it’s good to be back with Hubby. That being said, my trip with the girls was nothing short of amazing. A whole five days of walking, shopping, talking, shopping, eating and museums: I was in heaven! New York’s classic Easter Parade, a Cindy Sherman solo exhibition at MoMA and fantastic sunny weather made the trip that much greater.

One thing is certain: after walking the streets of NYC, I was all the more convinced that a lot more colour needed to be added to my wardrobe. I thus filled my suitcase with green pants, an orange silk blouse, two shades of tangerine lipstick, all sorts of floral patterns and an assortment of statement necklaces. On my arrival to the airport, they marked my bag with a large green tag which read: “ATTENTION: HEAVY.” (Yup, that’s how I roll.) ...Did you read my post about packing? Live and learn people! Pack less. Pack a lot less. Because you will need the room when you return!

I also wanted to thank you all for your suggestions via blogspot, twitter and facebook. I tried to follow as many as I could. I have to admit that the shopping in SoHo was EPIC. The food was out of this world: the TAO, Le Cirque and Becco did not disappoint. This week, I promise to post a few pictures of our trip – so stay tuned.  

Get some colour in your wardrobe! Image via

Ju Things

For those who have followed PartyMixTape since day one, you’ve heard of my friend AJ. She is a creative, hard-working, bubbly beam of sunshine! Imagine my delight when she told me that she was working on a jewellery and accessories line for Etsy! Inspired by the “60’s, vintage, mod style and pop art,” her collection, aptly named Ju Things, is great for any occasion!

Check out this great combo: Karine Bassal’s Audrey painting next to a photograph of AJ, modeling her blue and gold button earrings.

If you’ve been lusting over Banana Republic’s Mad Men collection, get yourself a pair of Ju Things earrings or bobby pins to complete the look!

Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow

The mild temperature has encouraged me to go through my wardrobe and bring back some much needed colour. Seeing the great red, yellow and blue items that I had stored over the winter, I got to thinking that if I added a little white, I could be a Mondrian painting!  Sure, Yves Saint-Laurent and many others like DVF and Kate Spade have used Mondrian’s bold graphic imagery for their clothing lines in the past, but these suggestions are a little more subtle!

1. Jimmy Choo Gladis lace-up sandals / 2. Emilio Pucci blazer / 3. H&M Little White Tee / 4. Minnie pants from JCrew / 5. My new Kate Spade Melinda Flicker bag: I’m in love! / 5. Pied à Terre skirt / 7. Vintage Chanel / 8. Toywatch / 9. Patent leather belt by JCrew / 10. Givenchy Shopper in blue

Piet Mondrian, Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow, 1921, Oil on canvas, 39 x 35 cm

Colour Block

Knowing that Bedo’s spring collection was in, I just had to go see. Of course, I ended up purchasing a wonderful colour block dress in shades of tangerine, pink and black. For those unaware of this trend, colour blocking is the pairing of two or more contrasting colours. For example, you could wear a red shirt with a pink skirt to the office, or go out with friends rocking a yellow tank top and a purple clutch… Try playing with the clothes you have, or go shopping and pick out one of these daring combos:

Outfit 1: Cashmere sweater from JCrew with shoes from Zara / Outfit 2: Oasis t-shirt with shoes from Top Shop / Outfit 3: Alice + Olivia Dress with shoes from Zara

Monday, Monday

Here’s a visual recap of my wonderful weekend. It started off with a pre-made gin & tonic waiting for me in the fridge. Now that’s service! For all you makeup lovers out there, I finally purchased Naked Palette 2 by Urban Decay. Why I debated this purchase now blows my mind. I’m in love. Other great purchase: BeneFit’s Boi-ing concealor. I’m looking bright eyed and bushy tailed!

All images via

Pass the sizzurp

I have many things on my art-related wish list:  A work on paper by Betty Goodwin, a Serge Lemoyne painting, a Jim Dine heart sculpture, anything by General Idea... (Pleeeease let me win the lottery soon!) But one piece on my wish list that is not out of grasp is a silkscreen by the young and oh-so-hip street artist WhatisAdam:

WhatisAdam, Maple Sizzurp, Edition of 16

The French-Canadian in me just can't help but love this maple syrup can look-alike. It’s as if Andy Warhol had tailored a print to my cultural heritage. FUN FACT: I heard through the grapevine that Dominion & Grimm, the trademark owners of the original maple syrup can, spotted WhatisAdam’s Maple Sizzurp and send him an email. Surprisingly, this email did not include a cease and desist threat... Nope. Just a simple request: In exchange for a print, they would provide the artist with a full licensed agreement and a case of maple syrup. Now that is, quite literally, a sweet deal.