Holiday Gift Guide for Him!

Hello fellow blog readers,

I really wanted to include a holiday gift guide for him but its SO close to Christmas!
I know that there must be some last minute shoppers out there...or perhaps someone that wants to add a little something extra to their gift. 

I know that shopping for boys is extremely difficult. I had to return my Dad's gift two times until I got it right. And who knows, maybe he will even return my third gift as well =P

All of these gift ideas should apply to most men, whether it is your boyfriend or your grandpa!

For Him

1. A Cozy Sweater. Whether its a casual hoodie or a cashmere sweater, these make great gifts for any guy. Here are some that I like:

2. Cologne. One that is popular and that I love is Bleu de Chanel. 

3. Ticket to a winter sports day or event. For example, you could plan a ski day trip if they enjoy skiing, or maybe even a sledding day!

4. Gadget Case. Everyone loves their technology. Whether its the iPad or their phone. These personalized leather iPad cases make such a nice gift. 

5. A winter coat. Often times, guys don't wear coats that are warm enough for winter! If you are planning on buying a big gift, this one is definitly a winner. This coat that I found online looks really nice. It has a fur trim so it keeps him nice and warm.

I hope you had some fun reading my little christmas gift guide for him and thanks for reading,

Rebecca

How to enjoy the holidays.

Hi Everyone!

Today I thought I would do a more personal post about the holiday season.
My love for Christmas and the holiday season is insane. 
I literally look forward to Christmas in the middle of summer.
I know that for many people, Christmas hits them much quicker than they would like and expect, and after Christmas they experience something I call Post-Christmas Depression.
I have had this unfortunate condition before, and it is when Christmas disapears so quickly that I did not have enough time to enjoy it.
I thought it would be fun to post some ideas on how to fully enjoy the holiday season, so that you won't face depression after the 25th of December is over. 

Disclaimer: these ideas may not work for everyone, but they are things that I have done this holiday season so far!

1. Listen to Christmas music--starting October. Not even kidding, I started listening at the end of October and I always have the Christmas channels on the radio in the car. 

2. Decorate your home. My mom loves decorating for the season so we have our big tree with lights, lots of little decorations all over the house, and Christmas lights and light-up reindeer outside of our house. It really gets you in the spirit of things.

3. Overload on holiday drinks. As soon as Starbuck's released their holiday drinks, I've only been getting drinks from that menu. They aren't going to be around forever! I've probably had about 10 Gingerbread lattes, 3 Caramel Brulee, 1 Peppermint Mocha, and 1 Peppermint Hot Chocolate. 

4. Christmas movies. I recently started watching Christmas movies and so far I've only watched Elf, The Polar Express, and The Holiday. I think it's a great idea to watch lots of holiday movies during this time. Can't wait to watch Home Alone and The Grinch soon!

5. Paint your nails festive colours (and dress for the season!). As soon as I got back from uni, I've had my nails painted mint-y blue, gold, and now cranberry red. Loving the festive colours! Also, I love to wear thick wool-y sweaters and I love wearing the oxblood colour because it looks so festive. For makeup, I wear golden-bronze eyeshadow from the Naked palette, and Nars sin blush. Very winter-esque!

6. Have festive gatherings with friends. My friends and I did not have a legit Christmas party this year but it was my birthday as well as my best friend's birthday. We had two festive dinners and it was really great to see everyone. The season is also about seeing the ones you love!

7. Watch a Christmas Pageant. Last Sunday I went to my church and the children put on a Christmas pageant! It was very cute and it is important to remember the true meaning of Christmas. Also fun to sing more Christmas songs!

8. Wrap your presents in festive packaging. This is a bit random but I do think it helps to enjoy the holiday spirit. Instead of just giving your presents in their packaging from the store, wrap them in festive wrapping paper and add a bow! I thought it was very fun to wrap my gifts up in holiday designs. 

9. Give out Christmas cards. It is SO much fun to give out Christmas cards if you have some time! I wrote most of mine right after I finished my exams. I gave them out to my housemates and close friends. It's a great time to reflect on your relationship with others and to wish others a happy holiday. Most people love to receive Christmas cards because they are so thoughtful. 

10. Build a Snowman, go sledding/skiing/skating. Unfortunately I have not been able to do any of these this year because it has barely snowed but once it snows, you bet I will be doing all of these! 

Hope you enjoyed reading this post and are able to appreciate the holiday season a little more!

Rebecca

My Nail Polish Collection

Hi there!

Today I rearranged my nail polish drawer and thought I would give you a little peak into my collection. 

So what I've done is I've tucked away the nail polishes I rarely use at the back. These include my 3 Forever 21 polishes, some old baby pinks, NYC, and Revlon polishes. 
Then I've lined up all the OPI polishes and then my favourite brand, Essie polishes. 
I have some miscellaneous polishes at the front left side such as Butter London, Zoya, Aerie, and Deborah Lippman. I don't normally use top coat because by the 2nd or 3rd coat, I don't feel like painting my nails anymore! But if I do use top coat, I use the OPI one. 

My favourites from my collection include Teddy Girl by Butter London, Happy Birthday by Deborah Lippman, Short Story by OPI, Smitten with Mittens by OPI, and Essie's Lilacism. 
My newest polishes are Essie's Merino Cool, Essie's Caicos and Turquoise, and Zoya's Ziv.

Today I stopped by Murale and decided to pick up a blush as a birthday present to myself. I have been eyeing this blush for about a year now. It is Sin by Nars. I think it would be great for winter and I plan on using it every day until Spring arrives. 

Once again, thanks for reading! Only 4 days till Christmas, I can't believe it!

Rebecca

Holiday Gift Guide for Her!

Hello Everyone!

I've been watching a lot of Holiday Gift Guides on Youtube and thought it would be fun to post one today. Hope these gifts add a bit of inspiration to your  gift purchasing!

For Her

Under $50

1) Hot chocolate and mug set

I received this gift as a birthday present this year and I love the idea. It's so cute and cozy! Both items are from Indigo bookstore. Another cute idea would be to purchase any mug from Anthropologie because they are so cute and put a bag of tea inside! My favourite are the ones from David's Tea. 

2) Candles

Img taken from here

The Bath and Body Works candles are super yummy but how about a more unique candle? These can be purchased at Anthropologie and Indigo book store. They look gorgeous in any home. I have the light green one and its beautiful. These retail for $28 (and occasionally go on sale too!)

Over $50

1) Tiffany Keys

These make a lovely gift for her. There are so many different key options as well as different chain styles, making your gift even more unique. I received the left most key in silver for my birthday this year, and I love it! Prices range from $200 and up. 

2) Personalized Robe

Img taken from here

These robes are from Restoration Hardware and can be monogrammed with the individual's initials. I'm sure any woman would love to receive a fresh and luxurious robe! These retail for $99.

Thanks for reading this mini gift guide,

Rebecca 

Patterened Jeans!

Hello!

Today I thought I would share a pair of jeans I bought recently. 
I've always been interested in trying the patterned jeans trend but have never come across a pair that fit well and had a nice pattern. 
Today I stepped into Holt Renfrew for a browse and found these very unique pair of pants. 
I did not purchase them because they were $160 which I think is a lot for pants. 
When I first picked them up, I thought the print was of some sort of swirly design that looked very nice but when I looked closer, they are actually some kind of dragon's feet!?

Take a look: 

And a close up...

These pants are by Rich&Skinny and look nice from a far but I don't think I like having someone's toe nails on my pants :P

I stopped by Free People and they were having a good sale. I ended up picking up a pair of jeans with floral print on them for $29 (originally $88!) 

Even though they are more of a spring-summer pant, I'm sure with the right top and boots they could be worn in the fall-winter. 

Thanks for reading,

Rebecca

Home for the holidays and a little haul**

Hi Everyone,

I cannot believe I have not posted on my blog for 2 months ! 
School has been super busy and I have just finished my four exams within 6 days. 
Feeling so relieved and ready to have the best holiday ever!

While I was at school, I made a small purchase on Glitzy-Glam during their cyber Monday sale (30% discount). I enjoy watching Elle and Blair on YouTube and have liked their waffle makeup bags for some time now. 

These are things that I purchased:

I really like this makeup bag so far. It's really big and I love how cute and girly it looks. I've been wanting a really nice makeup bag for some time now but all the ones I have been eyeing have been too expensive. This one was around $22.

I also picked up one of their keychains for my mom as part of her Christmas gift. It looks so pretty!

Overall, I'm very happy with the things I purchased however I must say that if you are ordering as an international customer, you should double check the costs of duties. Mine came out to an additional $8 which was basically the amount I saved from the 30% discount. 

Can't wait to post lots more over this Christmas holiday :) 

Thanks for reading,

Rebecca 

Weekend Post: Random Things I Currently Love

Helloooo! 

Today I thought I would write about something different from the usual beauty and fashion related posts. I thought I would make a more personal post about (extremely) random things I have been loving recently.

1) Tart flavoured fro-yo and cake.

2) Green Tea latte and Iced Americano.

3) Games at coffee shops.

4) Autumn Trees.

5) Autumn themed cupcakes.

6) Wall decorations.

7) Purple sock monkeys.

8. Henri Bendel

9. Japanese candies.

10. Korean food.

Hope this helped beat your boredom and was an enjoyable read!
Please feel free to follow me on instagram : rebecca15w and twitter: @beckybem

-Rebecca 

Fall Candle Scents!

Hi everyone!

I would first like to apologize about the lack of posts this month. School just started and I had just moved into my new house off-campus. It's been a good experience so far and I've been keeping up with school work which is always good :). This month I have been obsessed with burning candles, especially when I'm doing school work or just chilling in my room.

I usually purchase candles at Bath and Body works because if you manage to get them on sale, they can be very inexpensive. I got three 4oz candles for $20, and at regular price- each one sells for $12.50 (Canadian).

I picked up Autumn, Pumpkin Cupcake, and Frosted Cupcake. I really enjoy the baked good scents because I find that those scents aren't too overwhemling in candle form, opposed to a room spray. Frosted cupcake is very light and sometimes I can't even smell it. My absolute favourite is pumpkin cupcake and I really really want to purchase it in 22 oz. It's just the right amount of sweetness and adds a warmth to your space. I have only burnt mine for one month and there's only about 1/3 left :( Autumn is very refreshing and smells just like apples, leaves, and fall air. I haven't burnt this one yet.

Today I popped into Bath and Body works and picked up one more candle, and it is Cider Lane in the 7.5 oz size. These ones were 50% off. I like the scent because it is a lighter version of Leaves, and I think there is a hint of a baked-goods smell to it. I purchased Leaves last year and although it is a very nice scent, I find it to be slightly overwhelming. 

Here are some pictures of the candles I have burned so far :)

Cider Lane

Frosted Cupcake

Pumpkin Cupcake

Thanks for reading and look forward to more posts soon :)

Also, please follow me on instagram for frequent pictures of friends, makeup, cute things I see and eat, my cat, and more!
my username is rebecca15w
& I recently joined twitter! My username is @beckybem 

-Rebecca

Fall school fashion: Outfit diary!

Hi there! 

Fall weather is quickly approaching and I have put together a few of my favourite outfits that are perfect for school. In autumn and winter, I tend to go for loose fitting tops paired with skinny jeans or leggings. Today I will show you how to liven up basic cotton shirts and how to wear my favourite piece: the sweater dress. All of these outfits are paired with a simple pair of black leggings and a tall black pair of riding boots. I believe that these 2 items will be the staples of my fall-winter wardrobe.  

(Leggings by Talula and boots by Tory Burch)

Outfit #1: Autumn boho chic 
For the first outfit, I paired a simple maroon colour tee with a gorgeous blue lace-y slip by Free People. If I had just worn the slip alone, the outfit would be slightly too dressy for class and if I had only worn the maroon tee, the outfit would be too plain. Paired together, the look is casual yet well thought out.  

(tee by Aerie and slip by Free People)

(Please excuse the clarity of the image, I don't have any other full length mirrors in my house!)

Outfit #2: Romantic and casual
For the second outfit, I paired a simple grey tee with a gorgeous silk lace top underneath. The silk peeks out from the bottom of the tee causing the outfit to be slightly dressier. The lace at the top also peeks out and gives the outfit a romantic feel.

(grey tee from Express and lace cami by Wilfred)

Outfit #3: Sweater dress 1 
The sweater dress is one of my favourite autumn/winter pieces. They are so easy to wear as they are just one piece and look cute and feminine. This one is a light oatmeal colour and I like to roll up the sleeves on my sweater dresses. I paired the dress with my rose gold Michael Kors cuff-like bracelet. 

(sweater by H&M)

Outfit #4: Sweater dress 2
I just wanted to include another sweater dress I love, this one is a v-neck and is slightly more fitted. Both sweater dresses are by H&M and are under $20, I highly recommend them. 

A cozy sweater:

Especially for fall, it is always important to have some kind of jacket or outerwear. I like to wear large cozy sweaters over my class outfit and this one is by Wilfred.

Hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it,

Rebecca xx

Early September back to school outfit diary

Hi everyone!

Had a lot of fun today putting together a few outfits for back to school. At my university, most people dress quite casually so the outfits you will soon see are casual but thought out :). In Toronto, early September is pretty hot, about 20-30 degrees. Therefore all my outfits today are paired with shorts. Without further a due, let's bring out outfit 1!

Here I paired a bright and fun top from Topshop with a pair of light coloured jean cut offs from American eagle. I would pair this outfit with a pair of flat simple sandals. If cold, I would wear a light grey cardigan. 

The second outfit is a girly and soft look that is slightly more fancy than the first, but still class appropriate. I like tieing the bottom of sheer blouses so that they are the right length when paired with shorts. The blouse is from Miss selfridge, and the lace shorts from Urban outfitters. 

This third outfit is cute and casual, perfect for the hotter days. The top has exposed shoulders and is a flowly top so it can keep you cool on those extra hot days. I love the easiness of this outfit but it still looks thought out and sweet. The top is from Urban outfitters (currently in the sale for $19!) and the shorts are the same pair from outfit one.

The last outfit is very simple, I paired a basic white v-neck tee (Banana Republic) with a pair of darker wash denim cutoffs (A&F kids). I also included a dark brown leather braided belt (A&F kids). For this outfit, I would make it more personalized by adding accessories. My favourite accessory which I think adds a bit of personality are chunky bracelets. Here are 2 of my favourites: 

(Michael Kors)

(Uno de 50)

For necklaces, I like to keep things simple with delicate pieces such as this favourite:

(Tiffany&Co)

And that concludes my back to school post!
Thank you so much for reading,

Rebecca xx

Heels Collection!

Hi Everyone!

After watching FleurdeForce's heels collection video on youtube, I was inspired to blog about my heel collection as well. I'm kind of a shoe addict! My shoe size hasn't changed in about the last 8 years so some of these shoes go a while back! I try to purchase my shoes for their quality and comfort, rather than for simply trendiness. 

1. BCBGeneration ivory pointed toe heels

I wore these when I was at my grade 6 graduation! So long ago but they fit well and dress up any pair of jeans. I also like little heels, I think they look very nice as long as you dress them with the right outfit. 

2. Alfani black round toe heels

I bought these about 4 years ago for my high school shoes. At my high school we were only allowed to wear black closed toe shoes and I chose these because they had a bit of a heel. 

3. Lace-up bootie style heels from H&M

These are so comfortable! They feel quite sturdy and were a very good price. They are great going out shoes.

4. BCBG Satin Evening Sandal 

I bought these for prom, and they were extremely uncomfortable. They look absolutely beautiful however, and I hope to have more fancy occasions to wear them to. 

5. Michael Kors Berkley T-strap sandals

I got these pair of heels in the sale and they are easy to walk in and are comfortable. Highly recommend! They are a very versatile pair of heels. 

6. Flats from Browns shoes

These are the only pair of flats I own. I purchased them at Brown's shoes and they are very comfortable and cute! I love the pearl and ruffle details. 

7. Michael Kors Xaria Wedge

Love love these. They are super flattering on the foot and are very comfortable to walk in. These make me feel so tall! :)

8. J.crew striped Evie pumps

These are my favourite shoes that I currently own. They are seriously adorable and I only wear them on special occasion. The inside of the shoe is a buttery leather while the outside is canvas. I got these for an amazing sale price :) 

Hope you all found this interesting and thanks so much for reading,
Rebecca xx