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

For the love of red...

I never really wore red before, but since Spring '13 I've been a little obsessed with it! Today definitely felt like a red type of day.  I may have went overboard with red, but that's okay! Red makes me happy happy!

Dress: Pull up a Cherry Via Modcloth

Cardi: Dream of the Crop Cardi in Red Via Modcloth

Shoes: Pie Contest Wedges (Similar) Via Modcloth

Hope you'll had a great weekend and Happy MONDAY!!

xo,

melissa

What I wore today...

....For No Pants Friday!!

A mix of fun prints: elephants on my top and floral tights.

#neverwearpantsagain

top/shirt: F21; tights: walmart; shoes: spring

happy friday!

xo,

melissa

dude, where's your pants?

It's another round of #nopantsfriday #neverwearpantsagain

Loving Discover Pique's no pants motto!

 

happy friday everyone!

 

xo,

 

melissa 

 photo disclaimer: I may look like a giant in these photos but it's only because the ceilings in the sunroom are slanted.  I'm not really seven feet tall.  In case you were wondering...

Important to note: new nude shoes! Trying to break in these puppies...

dress: threadsence necklace: bizou tights: american apparel shoes: spring

Tada! Introducing the newest girl to the household.  Lindsey, from the Coach Madison Collection.

I have been adoring this bag from afar for quite some time now.  I love how it's big and hobo-ish, but also has a cross body strap (a mama's lifesaver!).  For Christmas, Kate (from O My Heart) got it in black and I have been drooling over her instagram pictures ever since.  She confirmed it's awesomeness  and after a test run in the Coach store I knew the bag had to come home with me.

Unfortunately there were only two left in Canada, so I had to order it from another Coach store in BC.  

Today it arrived.  And yup...I made a good choice! It will be a great summer bag.

(what's up with my face? I am so not tan)

 Very excited for some spending adventures with my new bag.

xo,

melissa

i heart basics...

 I've been trying to weed out my wardrobe this spring.  Tossing things I don't wear into a give away pile.  Discovering I have twenty too many t-shirts. Anxiously awaiting to put my fall/winter dresses away.  But discovering that I needed some more basic pieces.  Something I can thrown on with tights and heels or ankle boots and I'm ready to go out for a drink or dancing.  Definitely not something I would ever wear to work! I always seem to gravitate towards the one basic black dress (like above) all the time.  Thanks to H&M I was able to add a few more basics to my closet on the cheap.

I picked up the above dress in royal blue and in a wide black & taupe stripe.

 I picked up this dress in the same neon pink as the first picture.  For 14.95$ for each piece I consider that a steal!

 Kicking myself for not picking up the above skirt ($6.95 in black because I love the combo with the blouse.  I did grab it in the same wide black and taupe stripe as one of the dresses. 

I also grabbed this skirt on clearance for 10$ A great basic that I can also wear to work.  

More bang for my buck on the deal...gotta love that!

I also grabbed some basic heels as I needed some mid-heel basics that I could wear to work and they are comfy to wear for a night out as well.

 Black Heel

Nude Heel

Here Avery is modeling my nude ones, he loves shoes!

xo,

melissa

No Pants Friday...

Continuing my love of no pants, I want to share Discover Pique's motto of #neverwearpantsagain

And with hosiery like theirs, why would you EVER want to wear pants again?

I'm loving these sheer dotted with scalloped detail stockings.  

happy no pants friday everyone!

xo,

melissa

a treat...or two.

Last month I made a little (ok big) splurge with a little bit of my lottery winnings.  I wanted to purchase something special, and I thought about getting a piece of jewelry from Tiffany but then I was too 'cheap' to spend a lot of money on something I might only wear for a little bit.  So, then I turned to looking for a wallet & a handbag.  For the hand bag, I went with something more classic so that it will always be 'in style', I think this black city satchel from Tory Burch will do just that.  It's a great top handle bag (with optional cross-body strap) that is excellent for everyday use.  Big enough, but not too big.  The only downside I've found so far is that if I'm out shopping, it's definitely too heavy to carry around on your arm for a few hours.  Which is why I have been keeping the optional strap inside the bag so I can pull it out when my arm gets tired.  For the wallet, I went a little more trendy.  I just couldn't resist a MINT and GOLD zip wallet!! Could it be any more my style?? Nope, it couldn't. Had to buy it, and I absolutely love it! I've never had a zip wallet before and I love that fact that it's basically impossible for me to lose anything out of there! Super loving these two pieces.

xo, 

melissa

what's better than a horsie dress?

 a 19$ horsie dress! I couldn't believe I found this on a clearance rack, marked down with an extra 30% off.  I usually do all of my clothing shopping online because local stores don't carry anything I like.  However, I lucked out with this dress! CA-UTE!

xo,

melissa

favorite things:

 two of my favorite things right now are chevron prints and the color gold.  I got this dress in the mail on Friday and knew it would pair perfectly with some gold accessories.  When I opened my birthday gift from Jana last night containing these gold-colored Michael Kors sunnies, I knew I wanted to do an outfit post like this!

 I'm so happy that I splurged on this Threadsence dress considering I had already spent my weekly spending budge and it was only a tuesday...haha, the dress has since sold out, so I'm really happy that I snatched it up in time!!

 Jana was worried that I wouldn't like the sunglasses, but I am absolutely in love with them!! They make me feel so glam!!  Thanks Jana!! 

xo,

melissa

imaginary birthday wish list....

 In case you haven't checked your calendar lately, my birthday is in nine days!! I've compiled a little imaginary birthday wish list...i say imaginary because i usually receive birthday cash, except from jana, but she bought me a prezzie already! so maybe my birthday cash could go towards one of these pretties?

lola

ring

bracelet

 

Chanel sunglasses style 5205 (how cute are the bows on the sides?)

purse

happy birthday to me!!

xo,

melissa

lets get naked....

 It was only just last month that I finally purchased the original naked palette from urban decay. A few days later Naked 2 appeared for sale in the US.  At first I thought, I don't need the 2nd edition since the palette in the 1st edition looks like it be perfect for the looks that I like.  I thought of myself as more of a 'warm' color person.  I received the original naked palette and I love it, so much more than just seeing the swatches online, in person it's beautiful.  However, I, as you know, has zero self control.  If I could love one palette, I must have room in my heart for another...right?  I couldn't even wait for it to come out in Canada.  I begged a friend, who lives in the US, to sign up for restock notification at Urban Decay, and when it came in she purchased it and then shipped it to me in Canada. 

 The picture above does not do the beauty inside this palette justice.  It contains 12 full sized shadows in a mix of frosty and matte shades; this palette is much cooler than the original featuring taupe and brown shades, which as it turns out I love so much more.  Also included in the palette is a dual ended shadow brush and a small lip gloss (not shown).  I don't even think I could pick a favorite color out of them all, I have tried every one and love them.  On my eyes here I am wearing verve in my corner, then YDK and busted to smoke out my eye and then black out as a liner.  I absolutely love black out, it's also in the 15th anniversary palette, but I like not having to take out two palettes to get to my favorite black shade.

For a more detailed review, stop by and see what amarixe has to say about the palette! She has some really great photos....


xo,

melissa

november favorites...

could i BE any later with this post??

here are a few of my favorite things from november in a couple of different categories...

 mac eyeshadow in satin taupe (makes a lovely smoke!)

too faced shadow brushes from sephora

Uglies series...SO GOOD

amarixe

You tube beauty bloggers, i've watched way more beauty videos that i should be admitting to last month!

a few more of my fav utube beauty gals...

makeupByAlli

FleurDeForce

makeupTIA

MissGlamorazzi

and two of my favorite tunes!

xo, 

melissa

fall trends....

while window shopping at piperlime this evening i came across their top 11 trends for fall.  i thought it would be fun to find my favorites based on their trends.

1. pendants

i love this 'in the air compass' necklace from ruche. i have been loving the feather look lately, i can't quite pull off the real feather look, so i'm really drawn to this metal feather.

2. midi skirts and dress

liberty dress by ella moss
midi dress in a chevron pattern? yes please!

3. chunky heeled boots

Marrs chunky boot, wouldn't mind these joining my fall wardrobe

4. 70's platforms

 lovin' these dolce vita's

5. capes and ponchos

i was just saying to jana yesterday how much i love this red cape via mod cloth

6. bell bottom flares

 everyone needs a little 7 for all mankind in their life

7. spicy tones

 burgundy corduroy pants from ruche, which i'm awaiting delivery of!

8. hiker booties

 i'd totally rock these very volatile twain boots

9. tie neck blouses

tie bow blouse from asos

10. faux fur

no one can rock fur like rachel zoe, and i'm no rachel zoe, but i do like the look!

11. ladylike bags

okay, maybe this purse isn't that lady like, but it's rust color, with gold accents and birds!

totally lovin' it

what are you loving for fall? what have you added to your wardrobe already, or what are you planning to add? any of these trends?

xo, 

melissa