Chocolate Cake

I am not one to go over to a friend's house for dinner empty handed.  I always need to bring some sort of gift thanking them for the invite, whether it be a nice wine or a dessert.  This Friday, my boyfriend and I were invited over to another couples house for dinner and a night of video games.  My friend (who pregnant and due next week!) and my boyfriend are huge chocolate fanatics so I decided to make a simple chocolate cake.  I used this recipe and my critics loved it!

Double Denim

   1. American Apparel Sheer Jersey Deep V-Neck- $21.00
   2. Urban Outfitters Vintage Men's Denim Jacket- $58.00
   3. True Religion Black Rider Skinny Jeans- $216.00
   4. Ray Ban Original Wayfarer in Light Tortoise- $140.00
   5. Charles David 'Generator' Boots- $345.00


Many people believe it is a faux pas to wear two different types of denim.  I, however, believe it unacceptable to a point.  Two different types of similar washes just look mismatched and borderline trashy, but two dramatically different denims (like these black jeans with the vintage jacket) can compliment each other when put together correctly.  The outcome is one casual yet right on trend ensemble.

Nautical Nostalgia

  
  1. StyleBop Pearl and Navy Cropped Top- $75.00
  2. Forever 21 Sailor Knit Top- $21.80
  3. Aldo Chiou Shoe- $50.00
  4. Swarovski Nice and Navy Necklace- $280.00
  5. Forever 21 Nautical Striped Tote- $15.80
  6. Big Buddha Sailor Bag- $89.95
  7. H&M Rope Belt- $17.95
  8. Ralph Lauren Sailor Pant- $99.50
  9. Bebe Sailor Pant- $109.00
  10. Malene Birger Mazia Striped Dress- $165.00


When I was in grade 12, I went through a huge nautical phase.  Anything that had an anchor or was slightly sailor-esq, I had to have.  That phase did not last too long, and now 4 years later, nautical inspired pieces are popping up everywhere.  These are a few pieces that reignite that old flame.

Study Breaks

Chanel sunglasses, H&M jacket and pants,

Forever 21 top, Aldo shoes, Coach Purse



The weather always seems to be perfect on the days that I have exams.  This proved to be true on Tuesday when I had two exams in the span of six hours.  Happily they were my last exams and I am now a graduate!  I was dreading spending the whole day at school and missing out on the sun.  Luckily, my first exam was easy, so my friend Krysta and I had time to enjoy the sunshine at a nearby park.

Prepped for Combat

1.      COMUNE Elliot Cardigan- $56.00

2.      Banana Republic Cotton Madras Shirt- $59.50

3.      Gap Selvage Skinny Jeans- $88.00

4.      Topman Leather Rucksack- $160.00

5.      Kenneth Cole Reaction ‘Night Hunter’ Boots- $148.00

Combat boots seem to be a staple this season for both men and women.  When paired with a classic tailored plaid shirt –as long as it’s not flannel- a nice dark denim skinny jean, and a light detailed cardigan, it tones down the harsh military feel of the boots and creates an easy yet super fab ensemble that’s slightly preppy with an edgy touch.  Accessorize it with a leather backpack and you are good to go.

Simple Summers

1.      Mac Pigment in Tan- $19.50

2.      Essie Nailpolish in Nice is Nice- $8.00

3.      L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara- $8.99

4.      NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Frivolous- $24.00

5.      The Body Shop Dreams Unlimited Body Butter- $16.00

6.      Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock- $6.49

7.      Clarins Tanning Gel- $35.00

8.      Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray- $26.00

9.      Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil- $26.00

10.   Jose Eber Curling Iron- $115.00

Summer is sadly not for another 2 months, June 21^st to be exact. But since I finished my last exams yesterday and I am officially done school, it’s Summer in my books.  When it comes to Summer beauty products, I like to keep things minimal with a nice moisturizing sunblock and a bit of mascara and bronzer.  Also you can never go wrong with beach curls.  I find the clampless Jose Eber curling iron is perfect for loose curls, spray in a bit of Bumble and Bumble to give your hair a bit of volume and you are set.  Here is a list of my Summer beauty necessities.

ABA Beauty Show

{Rob, Nicole, Myself and David}



The wonderful David Paris of COLURE Hair Care got a hold of me last week and asked if I would like to be a hair model for the Allied Beauty Association Beauty Show.  That meant that I would get my hair done by the extremely talented Rob Casillas –who owns a hair salon in San Diego- get paid and get free product; how could I say no!  The event was a great experience, the whole team was friendly and we all got along great.  The COLURE hair product made my hair feel healthy and strong, the shampoos are sulphate free and the conditioner is infused with a rich moisturizer. Every product in their line is Eco-friendly (a huge plus in my books), has a sweet and fruity scent and uses the latest Molecular Nano Technology that makes COLURE products lock in colour and makes your hair feel exceptionally luxurious.  The booth was rather busy and it was an odd feeling to have your hair done in front of a large crowd while everyone watched and jotted down notes on the latest in trendy cuts and techniques coming from California.  In the end, I love my hair, I love the product and the hardest part of the day was trying to find an all-black outfit to wear.  I am so thankful for this experience with COLURE Hair Care and I cannot wait to work with them again.

{hair colouring backstage}

{full line of COLURE products}

{my favourite products}

Happy Happenings

The weather is finally starting to switch to Spring.  The sun was out all weekend and days were beautiful despite the still chilly breeze that came off the ocean.  It was finally warm enough to wear my little Spring dresses and light jackets that have been patiently waiting for attention in my closet.  Here are a few little things that happened to make me happy this weekend.

{the set from the orb holiday '11 shoot}

{adorable sidewalk notes}

{homemade thank you cards}

{my tiffany key}

Antique Frames

This week felt extremely long.  It has been tough juggling my social life with my internship and studying.  This weekend I am hoping to hit up the flea market in hopes of finding some old antique frames.  Here is just a few reasons on why I love them so much.

Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes

Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes have become a weekend breakfast tradition for me and my boyfriend.  We use this recipe and add a couple handfuls of chocolate chips to make it an extra sweet treat to have in the morning.  I find that it has the perfect amount of bananas and makes just enough servings for both of us.

Jumpers: A Love Story

1.      Topshop Peter Pan Collar Playsuit- £36.00

2.      Forever 21 Ikat Romper- $11.50

3.      Modcloth The Birds and the Trees Romper- $49.99

4.      7 For All Mankind Chambray Boyfriend Shirt Romper- $189.00

5.      Modcloth Field of Flowers Romper- $59.99

6.      Topshop Brown Elephant Playsuit- £55.00

7.      Urban Outfitters Kimchi Blue Romper- $49.99

8.      Topshop Grace Playsuit- £48.00

9.      7 For All Mankind Sand Washed Cupro Romper- $189.00

I have developed quite an obsession for rompers over the past year and a half.  I currently have around ten rompers at the moment and my collection just keeps growing.  They are a huge staple piece for my Spring and Summer wardrobe.  I just love the fact that they are so convenient to throw on over a bathing suit in the summer, you can pair them with tights and a light jacket for spring, and they make outfit choices simple on those days when you cannot make up your mind on what you want to wear.  Here are just a few of my favourite rompers at the moment.

Casual Comforts

1.      Urban Outfitters Barbarian Striped Rugby Cardigan- $29.98

2.      Diesel Essential ‘Jesse’ Deep V-Neck T-Shirt- $34.00

3.      Buffalo ‘Evan’ Jeans- $129.00

4.      Polo Ralph Lauren Rylander Canvas Sneakers- $59.00

I can humbly admit that men's fashion is not one of my strongest points.  Have I been interested in men's fashion? Definitely.  Have I closely followed the trends and styles? Not until recently.  That being said, I do not want men's fashion to be overlooked in this blog, hence the name I created.  My boyfriend is constantly asking me to pick out his clothing and shop for him but I tend to shy away from styling his outfits because I am worried I may become too innovative with the pieces I pick, causing him to look like he has come straight off the runway and possibly risk him losing his masculinity.  Plus, he usually shuts down everything I choose for him.  So I have decided to put together trendy and simple outfits that men can follow and give off the vibe that their fashion sense just comes naturally.  I have decided to pick pieces that I would love to see my boyfriend wear and that also reflect street styles from around the world.

Procrastination at its Finest

{sunny day study spot}

I always seem to find something that preoccupies me during exam season. Last semester, it was a trip to Cuba and this semester, it's finally starting my fashion blog. I have been thinking about this blog for quite some time now - a couple of years actually - but procrastination always seemed to get the best of me. The idea to finally pursue this blog came to me while I was sitting on my floor, amidst a sea of scattered notes and textbooks. Blogging is a form of studying for a fashion student, right? At least that's the excuse I'm going to use to validate all the hours and energy I put into developing this blog; hours which should actually be devoted to studying.

So welcome to style & sweets, a place where I will document my love of vintage finds, fashion, baking and my unusual dream of becoming the perfect housewife.