Black & White

 oh yea, hi! It's been awhile. No excuses, just pure laziness. And busyness I guess.

My favorite part of the year is coming to an end. Oh, how I will miss summer.  And wearing dresses and not having to deal with wearing tights and heavy winter jackets. No matter how hard I try, I can not for the life of me find a happy medium between stylish and warm winter clothing. I much rather wear dresses, but as the temperatures get cooler I find the need to cave in and wear pants and tops. Of course, I always find I don't have enough items in this department so I did an little bit of online window shopping this morning at F21 Canada. Apparently, I am liking black and white this season.

xo,

melissa

New couch phase one...

Ikea Karlstad Sofa

When I moved from my old house to my new house I did not take a lot of furniture with me. Instead, I've been picking up pieces here and there.  Mostly second hand finds aside from a few new things like the lamps in my living room and now this new sofa.  I have been searching for a long time (as Jana can attest to) for a new sofa that was within my budget yet fit my style.  As you already might know, anything that has a mid-century modern styling (new or old) can be pricy.  Enter IKEA, known for it's streamlined, budget friendly furniture.  Somewhere in cyber space I found this couch from IKEA that a few people have 'hacked' to make it look even more like a mid-century modern piece. 

This Karlstad sofa hack from My So-Called Handmade Life is my inspiration for my sofa.

I already ordered the custom, tapered legs from Uncle Bob's workshop (in Early American stain) and they should arrive in mid-February.  Next up with be attempting some faux tufted buttons for the back cushions.  But first I need IKEA to get the Karlstad pillow cover back in stock so I can use the fabric to cover the buttons. 

Hopefully this all goes to plan and I will have a semi-custom mid-century piece at a fraction of the cost of any of the ones that I have been drooling over online.

In the meantime, I think it looks great as is!

Ps. IKEA online shopping tip: IKEA will ship anywhere in Canada or the US (the closest one is about eight hours from me), but the shipping can be pricy.  I think the standard truck delivery rate for my area was 129$.  It's definitely worth the wait to order a few things at once so you can save on shipping.  I also ordered a makeup vanity that I will blog about later.

xo,

melissa

Fooooooooooooood!!

I love to cook, and I defnitely do not get to cook as much as I would like to.  Most of my meals are quick dinners because I find it so rushed after work as we only get home at 5 pm and Avery goes to bed at 7 pm. Rush Rush!!  I also don't really follow recipes.  I find inspiration or think of things that I would like to put together and basically just make it up as I go along and do everything to taste. 

Above is chicken skillet supper.  Whole Grain Rice, diced chicken breast, corn niblets, salsa, a variety of veggies, topped with cheese and finished off in a skillet in the oven.

 Maple Glazed Salmon with whole grain rice and asparagus.  The glaze is soy sauce, minced garlic and maple syrup.

 Jalapeno burger in a lettuce wrap.  Added jalapenos (de-seeded) to ground beef along with onion powder and garlic salt. SO SPICY! I want to try a turkey burger version of this.

 Sweet Chili Shrimp and veggies over rice noodles.  I sauteed up a variety of veggies and shrimp and then added steamed broccoli.  Cooked rice noodles according to package instructions and then added to skillet to warm up.  Add to bowl and tops with sweet chili sauce.

 My made up version of fish tacos.  Baked sole with a sprinkle of salmon seasoning in a whole grain tortilla, broccoli slaw, a squeeze of lime juice and a small dash of sriracha sauce.  Side garden salad with homemade dressing (fig & date balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, olive oil and lime juice).

Those are a few yummies that I have been enjoying lately!

happy hump day!

xo,

melissa

Newest Challenge...

 

My resolution in 2013 was to lose the fifteen pounds that I gained in 2012.  So, yea, I suck at resolutions and that didn't happen.

I didn't reach my goal of losing fifteen pounds.  I did well for awhile and dropped ten pounds.  Over the summer I was carefree lazy and gained back about five pounds.  I'm awesome at gaining and losing five pounds over and over again.  Anyone else see a pattern here?

From October to December I completed Shaun T's Insanity program. Which was exactly as described.  INSANE. I loved it, I hated it.  I laughed, I celebrated and I cried before, during and after most workouts.  It was HARD.  I still can't believe that I actually completed it.  And not to be totally unmotivating, but I feel scarred for life now.  Hahaha...If someone mentions a PLYO movement I flinch!! Okay, maybe not that bad.  I did purchase the second part to Insanity (The Asylum) but I am not quite ready to take that plunge just yet.  While I didn't lose many pounds on the program, I did shred a lot of inches! I saw lot of changes in my body that I haven't seen with any other fitness or workout activity that I tackled before.

Yesterday, I started Beach Body's newest program P90X3, and I'm pretty excited to take this 90-Day Challenge.  I'm already loving the variety of workouts.  Within the 90-Days you get a huge variety of resistance workouts, power workouts, cardio workouts and core/flexibility and balance workouts.  All within a 30-35 minute workout.  It so much more doable and a hell of a lot less daunting than waking up at 4:30-5 am to face INSANE cardio.  I am really looking forward to the next 88-days and seeing my physique improve!

I love how Beach Body gives you an absolute money back guarantee, but if you stick with the program you are absolutely going to see results! All it takes is you: If you can make that committment you can do anything.  I'm not just saying that to motivate you, but also to motivate myself.  When I slack off, I regress and backtrack.  Moving forward is the only way to go!

Thanks for helping me be accountable!!

(a few progress pics)

PS: if you would like to me to help you work towards your lifestyle or fitness goals, check out my website at team beach body!

xo,

melissa

Intergallatic...

Every time I wear this dress I feel like a flight attendant from the future.

As I had a dream last night that I was flying to Hawaii, I thought it would be fitting to wear this today.

bettie page bangs...

I've always admired bangs from a far, or tried the side bangs, but not really bangs because I'll just pin them over here type bangs.  But man, do I ever love Bettie Page style bangs, every time I see someone with that style I stop and stare.  Maybe not the best idea, but I just get an instant hair crush.

This morning I tried a very badly done faux bangs look, but now I want to cut my hair more and more!!

Maybe someday I'll be brave enough...

xo,

melissa

2013 Beauty Favs

 In 2013 I hit VIB Rouge Status at Sephora.  Which basically means, I spent a helluva lotta money at Sephora in 2012/2013.  Yikes!! It is definitely no surprise that I've expanded more into the beauty world and I would like to share some of my most favorites of the year! 

Starting from the base up I have been loving the Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter.  It is super hydrating and doesn't leave you greasy.  It also smells delicious!

Next is a face mask.  I definitely love a good face mask, especially because my skin is acne prone and oily.  Would you like to have new skin? Then you should definitely try this mask by GlamGlow.

Make up will fall off of my face if I do not have a good primer.  Last summer, I discovered Benefit's Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer.  Not many people will actually need a 15-Hour Primer but this stuff is amazing! I only hate the price, since I'm on my 4th bottle since August...

In the concealer and foundation world I have a high low combination here.  This Kat Von D Lock-it Tattoo Concealer will conceal almost everything from dark circles to blemishes.  It's not my holy grail concealer, but it's the one I have been loving most this year! My favorite foundation is actually a drugstore foundation by Rimmel that I find absolutely fantastic!! I've tried a few higher end foundations last year and I just keep reaching for this Rimmel foundation.  Love!

Two outrageously high end products that I purchased shouldn't even make the cut here because I bought them with just hours to go in 2013, but they are so amazing that I can't just leave them out! They would be the Marc Jacobs Lolita Palette and the Marc Jacobs The Face II Sculpted Foundation Brush. The eyeshadow palette is perfection in a plastic container.  Beautiful everyday/night colors; the color payoff and pigmentation is just fantastic.  Double high five to this palette!  The foundation brush is just perfection, I don't know any other way to describe it.  It's like insta-face photoshop but not fake looking. 

The rest of my favs I will just link to try and keep this post from being too long!.

Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star (highlighter) in Amber Diamond

E.L.F. Blush & Bronzer Duo in St. Lucia (3$!!)

Givenchy Haute Couture Mascara

Tarte EmphasEYES Waterproof Clay Shadow/Liner

Tarte Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Thanks for letting me share my 2013 beauty favorites! 

Would love to hear what you have been loving this year!

Don't be shy to leave a comment :)

xo,

melissa

burning a hole in my pocket..

dress:

Paypal credits are not safe with me. They burn a hole right through my pocket.  

And i'm such an easy rationalizer too.  

I mean, it's basically free money.

 Right?

And I did like this dress.

And I would like something that could translate into a play at the park dress with Avery...or if hell freezes over, a picnic date dress....

And there was only ONE left.

I mean.

I had to.

Right?

;)

xo,

melissa

living my dreams to the max!!!

 you guys...i won the lottery!! YEP!! Since May, seven girls and I at work have been playing the weekly lotto.  We play the same lotto (lotto max) every Friday and by our tickets from the same store each week.  We got lucky with the draw on September 14th, getting six numbers plus the bonus in the draw! Missing the 20 million dollar jack pot by just one number, but snagging us a sweet second prize of $367,896.30$ split between the eight of us.  Super rad.  I was in a daze for a few days trying to wrap my mind around cashing a cheque for almost $46,000.  That's a big deal for this single mama I've gotta say.  It's a nice big security blanket for Avery and I.  We haven't quite decided what we will do with our winnings, but for now they are tucked safely away.  Every now and then we look at our bank balance and smile. :)  Here are a few pictures from our trip to ALC headquarters to pick up our winnings....

xo,

melissa

moving onward...

Avery and I got our own place! :) We are only renting, but it's a big step for us in our new life as single mama and cool dude two year old.  

The house is 43 old and I didn't end up taking any furniture from our old house except for a couch, tv and Avery's dresser.  I wanted to move on from the modern furniture that we had there and get some retro 60/70's pieces that were more my style. 

I love having our own space, and Avery really loves the house too.  When we are out somewhere and he tells me that he wants to go to "Mommy's new house", I get the biggest grin!!

So, without further ado, here are some crappy quality instagram picks of our new place...I really need to take more...I just bought some vintage furniture to fill up the sunroof too, so those pics with be along within a few weeks!

 

xo,

melissa

yard sales...

 Last Saturday, mom and I went on our first yard sale trip of the summer.  And our first stop was a major success! I picked up everything in the above photo for 10$!!

 Keeping my eyes peeled for more of these to stack...

 In other news, Avery and I have moved into our temporary home above my parents' garage.  We just found a house to rent, so it looks like we will be living solo in August! It will be great to have our own space...the loft area is pretty sweet for now, but it doesn't have a bathroom and because it's not attached to the house, it is not super convenient...

 My 1$ lamps are in perfect working condition! I also picked up these rad side tables for 25$ on our yard sale trip.  Keeping my eyes peeled for more!!

xo,

melissa