Elizabeth & James Dress, Burberry Parka (similar style), Burberry Booties (similar style), Valentino Handbag
I love the look of a classic wool coat over top of a dress when it’s paired with tights and booties. I decided that doing the same thing with a cozy, more casual parka could look just as good. This particular parka came with a corded belt to cinch things in, which helps it look more feminine and less like I’m hiding something underneath. I’m thinking this will definitely be my go to coat this season as it literally goes with everything I own. That is, until the -30C weather rolls into town, and then I’ll be wearing my snowsuit.
Elizabeth and James Blouse (similar here), Club Monaco Skirt, All Saints Leather Jacket, Yves Saint Laurent Pumps (similar here), Celine Handbag, Gucci Watch, Swarovski Earrings
It seems like wonderful luck that I returned home from France after the snow had hit Calgary. I’ve been so anxious to throw on my winter boots, tights, and wool coat, and couldn’t believe that today was warm enough to go with bare legs. I love pairing my leather jacket with skirts and dresses to give my ensemble a feminine edge. The best part of being back in Calgary though… being reunited with my blogging buddy and photographer! The picture below is my actual reaction of our first photoshoot in a couple of weeks. There’s no place like home.
I am officially back from vacation and so inspired from everything I saw, ate and experienced. One of the things that absolutely blew me away while in France was the level of deliciousness of the desserts there. The first thing I did once I got back, after I slept off my jet lag, was dash into the kitchen to bake something delicious of my own. I was, after all, in a bit of sugar withdrawal. I opened my cupboard to the disaster you see above, and decided something had to be done about it before any baking could begin. After emptying out the contents I was able to reorganize everything in a much more civilized manner. Along with an organized cupboard, expect to see me attempt French pastries in the weeks to come.
It seems a bit ironic to me that I’m not a huge peanut butter fan. I’ve never applied it to my toast and I have never eaten it off a spoon from the jar. But add some chocolate to the equation and I literally can’t get enough. I tried this recipe from the Martha Stewart Cupcakes cookbook last year, and it’s become a regular in my rotation. There is no need for icing on top of this baked good. The way the peanut butter mixture crystallizes in the oven is beyond the need of icing. Excuse me while I have another.
Peter Pilotto Dress, Yves Saint Laurent Pumps, Yves Saint Laurent Clutch, Hermes Watch, David Yurman Bracelet, Alexis Bittar Earrings
There is nothing more magical or glamorous than stories of princes and princesses. Moncao carries such a majestic feeling with it’s royal family perched on top of the hill. In addition to a visit to the palace, our plans included a stop in at the famous Monte Carlo Casino. In anticipation of the strict dress code to get into the casino, my man and I dressed the part and were in absolute awe of the grandeur of the entire experience. While we didn’t partake in the roulette wheel or the private poker rooms, we did lose some money at the slot machines, which is almost the same thing, right?
