Thursday, July 30, 2015

Montreal Stay-Cation

Sometimes being a tourist in your own city is just as fun as traveling somewhere new! Luckily I have plenty of visitors that stopped by this summer. Here are a few of my favourite snaps of Montreal.















Sunday, July 19, 2015

My Style: More Colour!

Hi Everyone! Another weekend has come and gone but I hope you all had a productive and relaxing few days off! 

I'm really loving navy lately, especially since it goes well with so many different colours. Below I paired a fun polka dot green top with my navy blazer. I bought this blouse for St. Patrick's day in university and honestly did not think I would ever wear it for any other occasion. I also threw on my bow belt for another girly touch!

This front-tie splatter blouse is one of my favourites. I love wearing it at the office but also out on the weekends. As you can tell, I'm a big fan of wearing colours to work especially during the summer. Sometimes it's challenging to dress fun without being distracting, so I always try to keep me outfit fairly neutral with only 1 piece of colour. It's easy to remove the blazer and still be in professional attire.

Another black and white combo for my choir day, but here I threw on a red cardigan and a rose gold belt for a little fun! The top is actually a long tunic from Forever 21 and it goes so well over a pair of leggings for a casual evening!

This dress below is one of my favourites. The light peach is a classic, feminine colour and the dress was actually picked out for me from my mom (who has amazing taste). I paired a contrasting necklace (a bolo tie from a boutique in Texas) and added some fun glitter tip wedges. Who says dressing for work has to be boring?

Last but not least, my most conservative look of the week. I had a big client meeting followed by a lunch on Friday so no jeans for me! I wore this peplum dress with a classic black blazer and black pumps. As the day progressed, I rolled up my blazer sleeves to show a little b&w polka dot pattern and of course the red belt is my pop of colour.

I hope you all have a fantastic week ahead. Thanks for letting me share!

Monday, July 13, 2015

Manicure Monday: Alternative French

Happy Monday!! While I know that not all of us are eager to jump out of bed and start our weekly grind all over again, I'm going to try to brighten up your Monday with a little nail fun! I was inspired to create an alternative French Manicure with black tips from Pshiiit below.

Pshiiit
 My attempt below looked a little too dark for my taste and it's always difficult trying to recreate nail art and do fun nail designs when I work in a professional setting.


So my solution was to add some glitter and I was really happy with the result! The glitter added the perfect feminine touch and I didn't feel like a vampire any more!


I think this would be really great for a formal night out. It also reminds me a bit of a Christmas design since the glitter looks like snow!


Base: Sally Hansen Bad to the Bone
Tips: BYS Black Satin
Glitter: Lord & Taylor

Sunday, July 12, 2015

My Outfits: Summer Work Attire

Hi Everyone! Hope you all had an amazing weekend and got to enjoy the beautiful weather! Today I'm sharing with you my recent outfits. I've been using pinterest a lot lately as inspiration and I'm pretty happy with the inspiration!

I started the week off with a bright skirt and sweater because it gets a bit chilly in the office even though it's hot outside. I'm fine with bare legs in the office but glad I can stay cozy with a comfy sweater! 

This outfit was directly inspired from a pinterest post! I love the contrast between the casual chambray shirt and the geometric skirt. The blazer and black pumps add the right about of "professionalism" making the outfit passable for a work environment!

I actually wore an old black summer dress in the photo below and topped it off with this lace top. It worked because the top was a bit tighter and held the dress in place underneath! The dress has beautiful flower embroidery and details but unfortunately the photo doesn't capture it properly! I also bust out an old pair of shoes which I always thought that I could only wear with formal dresses but since strappy sandals seem to be all the rage now I'm glad I could wear them!

Last but not least, I wore a blush pink high-low dress with a navy blazer below thinking I had a client meeting and lunch only to find out it got postponed! Oh well, it's never a bad thing to be over dressed at the office! The flower necklace added a fun little summer touch!

That's it for now! Thanks for visiting my blog and can't wait to share more of my outfits with you later!

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Olive + Gourmando

I absolutely love Olive + Gourmando, a cute little café / bakery in the heart of Old Port. I was first introduced to this amazing spot by a former employer and now friend. The location is so perfect right in the middle of Montreal's famous Old Port and the vibe is so warm and inviting.
Picture from Olive + Gourmando
This spot does not disappoint especially because the menu is so diverse. It has everything from baked goods and coffee to breakfast and paninis. The first time I came here it was for lunch and I had the Cuban Panini - pancetta, roasted pork, raw milk gruyère topped with a delicious lime, cilantro, chipotle and pickle mayonnaise. This sandwich was to die for!!! So so good, in fact I'm getting hungry all over again just thinking about it!


The coffee here is amazing as well. I ordered a latté (classic me) to sip on while catching up with my friend (mentioned earlier) and loved it so much that I ended up ordering another! My only complaint was that the mug was not big enough!! If you are planning to go here soon just note that they are closed on Sundays and Mondays and be prepared for a wait since it is always busy! That is just a testament to how good it really is.


There is something so comforting about going to Olive + Gourmando. Can't wait to go back for another coffee and a Cuban sometime soon! 

Friday, July 10, 2015

Tauer Perfumes No. 04 Rêverie Au Jardin

Hi Everyone! Last week I wrote about the launch of Tauer Perfumes at Etiket and I mentioned one fragrance that really stood out to me. No 4 Rêverie Au Jardin is a beautiful scent that reminds me of summertime. True to its name, this fragrance transports you to a gorgeous garden filled with different flowers and herbs somewhere exotic and beautiful.


Head Notes: Fresh high altitude lavender, green galbanum, firm balm and bergamot.
Heart Notes: A musky, fresh frankincense with orris root and rose.
Body Notes: An airy wood chord of sandalwood and cedar wood, softened with vanilla and ambergris.

This perfume reminds me of greenery, fresh air and twinkling stars. The fresh yet slightly spicy, woody notes takes me straight to a summer in Paris. This beautiful fragrance truly is a dream in a garden.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Shout-Out to My Style Inspirations

When I started blogging two and a half years ago I never dreamt that my blog would evolve into this. My coffee-fragrance journal is now a more personal blog about my favourite things. Now I will be the first to admit that I am far from a fashionista and I am no style guru by any means, but I do enjoy putting together new outfit combinations from pieces that I already own in my closet. Today's post is a shout-out to my fellow bloggers from whom my inspiration stems from!

1. J's Everyday Fashion

J is an Florida based fashion blogger and stylist who creates looks for the every day woman! I absolutely love her combinations and feel inspired by the colours she pairs as well as the jewelry she wears which always tie her outfits together so well!

2. Franish

Franziska is a fashion blogger and student documenting her way through Medical School! Not only do I love her outfit combinations but I also love the other content she shares related to the medical world!

3. Veronika's Blushing

Veronika is a Toronto native (like me woohoo) and is a PR Specialist based in Texas. She has impeccable style and great beauty tips as well as the cutest daughter! Love how she always looks so put together!

4. Hello Gorgeous

Yasi - what an elegant lady! I love the way this blogger puts together outfit layouts on her blog. Her looks are so affordable and easy to replicate. She is the perfect definition of Business Casual! I wish I could borrow everything from her closet every single day!

5. Outfit Posts

MK at Outfit Posts works in a more conservative environment and I love her outfits that she shares. She is a Software Engineer / Project Manager based in Florida. My favourite posts of hers are the outfit capsules where she posts 1 piece many ways! It inspires me to come up with new combinations!


There are so many more blogs I browse for inspiration and of course I spend a lot of time on Pinterest too! These are just some blogs that I can relate to the most since their style influences me and fits in perfectly with the phase I am in right now in my life. As a young professional new to the corporate world I  find it fun but challenging to dress the part so thank you to all the ladies above for your inspiration! Where/who do you get your style inspiration from?

Monday, July 6, 2015

Manicure Monday: The Classic Red

Happy Monday to all of you and Happy Belated Canada Day!! Keeping true to the theme last week I painted my nails a classic red to show how patriotic I am!!




Quo by ORLY: Smooch

Like every other woman, I have a number of different shades of red but I especially love this one because it just pops! The subtle red sparkles in this polish are my favourite! How many shades of red do you own?

Sunday, July 5, 2015

My Style: Pops of Colour

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a productive weekend and are ready for the week ahead! I noticed the pops of colour in my outfits choices last week.

The first look would probably be more fitting for fall given the warm colours but I just love the grey white and maroon combo. This is probably because it reminds me of my uniform in middle school! I got the lace blouse in England approximately 10 years ago (no joke) and through many spring cleaning sessions tried to donate it. Luckily my mom would always pull it out of the pile and somehow would sneak it back into my closet. 

I was looking for a way to wear this Vero Moda floral dress below without making it seem too much like evening wear. I paired it with black cork wedges and a coral blazer from Jacob for a pop of colour. This would be a great outfit for a dinner date with a black cardigan instead!

Happy Birthday Canada!! Although we had the day off I decided to throw together a patriotic combination of red and white. I thought the leopard belt added a fun touch and pulled together the whole outfit.

I love this combination a lot. The cobalt blue blouse was a steal from Charlotte Russe last fall! You can't see the details on the sleeves but they are lined with studs which add a bit of personality to the top. The skirt was also a steal from White House Black Market. Even though I'm not American the Blue, White and Red (nails) are a nice combo for the 4th of July!

Last but not least - Jeans Day! Every other Friday we have Jeans Day in the office which colleagues can participate in with a donation. Funds collected are given to Centraide - an independent philanthropic organization which raises funds for a vast network of community agencies that help local families in Montreal and Laval. For my Jeans Day outfit I chose to wear Mint Jeans by Vero Modawith a navy blouse from Forever 21 and a navy blazer from Zara.

I hope you were inspired by these photos and thanks for letting me share with you! Wishing you all a great week ahead!

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Toi Moi et Café

This is a very delayed post from my trip to Toi Moi & Café but nevertheless I am so excited to share it with you all. I found myself in the Atwater Market area for a few errands a couple of months ago and decided to stop in at this cute little cafe not too far from the Lionel Groulx metro. Firstly, I love this area - it's so hipster chic with a lot of great restaurants and bars.

Toi Moi & Café was no different! I loved the atmosphere in this coffee shop / restaurant. The decor as well as the wooden chairs and tables were so charming, warm and inviting. To top it all off I got a great table by the window and had the perfect view of Notre-Dame Street!


Behind the bar is an impressive assortment of coffee beans. So many choices, in fact too many choices! I was more in the mood for a dessert-coffee and after studying the extensive menu for quite some time, landed on the Coco Mocho Latte. This divine latte was made with coconut and chocolate syrup, and topped with a lot of whipped cream and coconut shavings. Yum is all I can say. It was the perfect dessert for me!


Although this seemed like more of a restaurant than a cafe to me, it would still be a good place to catch up on readings etc on a quiet afternoon. A great spot to come with friends, family or even on a date. Can't wait to go back!

Friday, July 3, 2015

New at Etiket: Tauer Perfumes

Hi Everyone! I'm going to try something new here on the blog - Fragrance Fridays! Although I have not been consistent with this topic, I'm going to try to write weekly about perfumes. Kicking off this new weekly post is another gorgeous event I was at a couple of weeks ago at Etiket celebrating the launch of luxurious Tauer Perfumes.

Originating in Switzerland, this line of perfumes was created by an amazing self-taught artist named Andy Tauer who never formally studied the art of perfume making. Andy gained momentum in the fragrance world through social media and blogging which he first started in 2006. In 2009 Andy extended his blog to a new collaborative platform called Perfumism, which created an open platform for him to share the craft of perfumery and the day to day tasks of running an artistic perfumery house. Today Tauer Perfumes are classified into different collections including Classics, Homages, Sotto la Luna and Specials which you can discover further here.

One of my favourites is No. 4 in the Classics - Reverie Au Jardin Pour Elle which I sampled at Etiket. If you're interested you can sample and buy it here. In addition to the gorgeous Tauer Pefumes line, I had a chance to try and sample a number of other fragrances by Dame Perfumery and Monsillage. Stay tuned for some of my thoughts on all of those soon!