Vitabath Body Care Products – Great Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and everybody starts thinking about what gifts to get to their loved ones. Vitabath body care products could be a great idea! Body washes, fragrance mists, and hydrating lotions from Vitabath make a great Valentine’s Day gift, and they are available in such mass-market retailers like Shoppers Drug Mart, Lawtons Drugs, Stage Stores, K-Mart, Ultra Beauty.

Vitabath also has implemented a special online offer for their email subscribers, but also for bloggers and blog readers. For a discount on orders at www.myvitabath.com, use coupon code VALENTINE15 for 15% off the order. Because of shipping times, online orders need to be placed by February 3 to guarantee delivery by Valentine’s Day.

Happy shopping and happy upcoming Valentine’s Day!

Photo credit: Courtesy of Vitabath

Tips for PR Professionals – How to Build a Fruitful and Mutually Beneficial Relationship with Fashion Writers

Ever since I’ve started writing about fashion I met a lot of wonderful people and made great connections in the fashion industry – I met fellow writers and bloggers, I met photographers, designers, fashion boutique owners, and last but not least, I met a lot of Public Relations people.

My today’s story is dedicated to PR professionals and their relationship with us, fashion writers and bloggers. With some of the PR people that I keep in touch with, especially if they are located in Toronto where I also live, I have built a strong professional relationship over the years, which has been mutually beneficial. I attended their fashion events, I provided media coverage for their clients, I published their press releases, I enjoyed receiving beautiful gifts from them, I hosted giveaways, I got to interview celebrities from Toronto and from other cities, both from Canada and US. Unfortunately I’m not able to attend every single fashion event in Toronto that I get invited to, due to my family obligations, and when that happens, I actually feel like I’ve missed out. But, such is life. At least, I try to honour as many invitations as I can and I try to RSVP to as many events as it’s possible for me.

But in our relationship with PR it’s not all fun and games, it’s not all roses and lilies, just like in any other kind of relationship, be it friendship, love or business. From my writing experience, I can tell you that there are PRs and PRs. As much as I enjoy keeping in touch with PR people, and through them being closely connected to the fashion industry, I couldn’t help but notice quite a few faux-pas that some of them constantly make, which, to be honest, can be easily avoided, provided you try hard enough. In other words, I guess what I’m trying to say is that sometimes PR people need to put a little effort in the way they build their relationship with fashion writers and bloggers, because when they don’t, I have to tell you, it’s quite obvious.

But before getting any further, I would like to point the fact that this article is not a generalization in regards with the way all PR people do their jobs, of course not. And that’s why I’m trying to carefully choose my words by saying, for instance, “some PR people”, instead of simply “PR”, or “all PR”, and so on.

With that disclaimer said, I thought I could give a few tips to Public Relations professionals from my standpoint as a fashion writer, a.k.a. the party from the other side of the table; and if someone can benefit and learn from what I’m going to write furthermore in this article, and more importantly, if someone can improve their professional relationship with media with the help of with these tips, then by all means use them, and I won’t charge you a penny.

A few faux-pas that a PR professional should avoid in their relationship with media, in whichever order you prefer:

1. When you contact a fashion writer/blogger for the first time, introduce yourself and your PR boutique properly.
Just like in real life when you meet someone, let’s say at a party or at a social event, you first say your name and then start a conversation, the same should be valid when you contact a writer for the first time by email in order to promote your client. You have an interest, you want media coverage for your client, so the least you can do is introduce yourself, don’t just send a mailchimp without as little as a hello added to it. I can’t tell you how many mailchimps with press releases without a single word of greeting I’ve received, including from first time contacts. It’s impolite, to say at least.

2. Don’t send off-topic press releases.
When you send a press release to a blogger, make sure you first check the topic of interest of that blogger and check out her writing, whether it’s about fashion, or beauty and makeup, or lifestyle, or travel, or recipes. If I write about fashion, don’t send me a press release about cheese, only because you’re trying to promote your client who is a cheese maker; I won’t publish it. It would be a better idea to contact a food blogger. 

3. When you send an invitation for an event to a writer or a blogger, check out the blogger’s location.
You’re in Florida, I’m in Toronto. Have you noticed from my blog that I’m in Toronto? Have you made any effort to check that out? Probably not, because I still have that invite to your event in my inbox. Does it make any sense to send me an invitation to an event you’re hosting in Miami? Sounds like a waste of time, both for you (to send out the email) and for me (to have to go through the new emails in my inbox and read it). I absolutely would love to attend, but unfortunately I can’t. Yes I have received invitations to events hosted in Los Angeles, New York and other cities South of border, while I’m in Toronto. I even received invitations from Romanian PR people, for fashion events hosted in Bucharest. Thank you very much, very nice of you to think of me, but I can’t fly half way around the world just to attend your event in Bucharest.

How about you create a little spreadsheet with your contacts, and include their names, contact info, field of interest and location? I promise, it will help you a lot, not only in regards with the location issue, but also in regards with all the other issues addressed in this story. The spreadsheet could look like this:

*Note: The names, blog names and email addresses from this spreadsheet are fictitious, used for demonstration purposes only.

Feel free to use such a template, and don’t hesitate to check it every time you send out an email… I won’t charge you for the idea! And when you open this, you’ll know who you should send the invitation to and who you shouldn’t.

4. Send personalized emails to each of your contacts.
Many PR people, I’ve noticed, send their press releases to their entire contact list at once, with all the email addresses in the BCC field, and they start their email with “Hi!”, and no name, of course, since the email is addressed to 50 people. Yes I understand that time is a matter of essence and you choose this way to communicate with your media contacts to save a whole bunch of time and effort, and you prefer to send one email to everyone rather than 50 individual emails, I totally get that. But there is so much wrong about this type of communication as well. Do you know how it sounds to me when I open an email from a PR with “Hi” instead of “Hi Victoria”? It sounds like you have no idea who I am. Then how exactly do you expect me to publish your press release, if you don’t know who you send it to? I receive dozens of emails and press releases from PR people on a weekly basis, and there are so many of them, that my email address literally feels suffocated. I currently have about 1,150 emails in my inbox, and about 145 of them are unread emails, because I receive more emails than I have time to open and read them, let alone reply to them. Not all of these 145 new emails are from PR, of course not, some of them are newsletters (both subscribed to and unsolicited) which I haven’t had a chance to file or delete yet; some of them are confirmations for online purchases, etc. But in the light of the big number of emails I receive every week, you really need to catch my attention if you want me to publish your press release, and if you want me to choose yours out of the dozens that come to my inbox. I cannot possibly publish all them, so I have to filter them. And you won’t catch my attention if you send me an email with a “Hi” lacking any personality, instead of actually addressing that email to me.

5. When a blogger publishes your press release, make sure you thank her.
I admit I have published my share of press releases coming from my PR contacts. But every now and again I notice I don’t get a simple thank you for my effort to support them. And you know what? It bothers me. It’s an absolute NO-NO not to thank the blogger for publishing your press release. Since you were so eager to email her your press release to promote your client, then you should be just as eager to thank her once she’s published that content on her blog. It’s common sense after all. More than once I sent a link with the press release published on my blog to the PR rep, and I didn’t get back as much as a thank you, which is unacceptable. I don’t expect a whole thanking tirade, of course not, but make sure you reply back with those two magical words, “thank you”, which is enough for me, if you want me to publish your next press release as well.

6. Don’t send the same press release over and over and over again.
Yes, some of the PR do that, they send out the same press release again and again and again. I have received enough of these multiple press releases, with identical text, only with a different title and a few words changed here and there. Once the blogger has published that press release and sent you the link, don’t send it again, it’s redundant. Yes I know you’re trying to promote your client, but still, how many times do you think a blogger is going to publish the same content on her blog? Exactly, ONCE.

7. When you send beauty products, items of clothing, accessories or samples to a blogger, state clearly what you expect in return.
It’s no secret fashion and beauty bloggers are showered with gifts from brands and their PR. But I get the sense that sometimes PR people are not entirely happy with the outcome of such gifting, they don’t get what they expected to get in return. Well, in order to avoid any confusion and disappointment, I really think PR should be transparent about what they would like in return, and not to expect writers and bloggers to read their minds. You send a new foundation or a new lipstick to a blogger, but what if that blogger doesn’t write beauty product reviews? You send her a dress or a skirt, but what if she doesn’t do OOTD posts? So I think it’s very simple – be honest and open, tell the writer exactly what you would like, let’s talk, it’s ok to discuss, there is nothing wrong in discussing it upfront. Maybe I don’t usually write beauty product reviews, but if you are clear about what you expect from me once you send me a new lipstick or a new nail polish, I may make an exception and actually write that review, or I may come up with another idea to promote your product, if this is what you want. Just tell me, and then I’ll say yes or no, but I don’t have the time, nor do I have the ability to read your mind or guess what you want.

8. When you want to send products to a blogger, make sure where exactly you’re sending them and who is the addressee.
Once I received an email from a Romanian PR, stating something like this: “I just sent you by mail a few products from my client’s new line, hope you like them”. Guess what my reply was. “I’m sorry, but where exactly did you send them, because I don’t recall to have ever given you any mail address, and I live in Toronto, not in Bucharest”. Turns out, she sent those products to the office of a Romanian magazine where I also write a blog. Well, at least I’m glad my colleagues from the magazine had the opportunity to enjoy those products, and they didn’t get lost by Romanian Post Services.

9. Send your material in usable format if you want it to be promoted.
I refer here to good quality JPG/JPEG photos of appropriate size (not too small, not too large), press releases in Word documents, and other software resources a blogger can use to help promote your clients. I have received superlarge photos from some of my PR contacts, 47 M large – sorry, I can’t upload that on my blog, my computer will crash. I have received press releases in paper format, with no soft copy, no Word document, no memory stick, nothing but that paper – sorry, I don’t have time to type it manually from your paper to my computer. You want me to publish your press release and help promote your client, then help me help you and send me usable software material.

***** 

In conclusion, my dear friends from the PR industry, I think we all have something to learn from one another which can be useful to both camps. And I hope you will find these tips useful, don’t hesitate to apply them, as I’m sure these ideas will help improve the relationship between PR professionals and media.

And now I return to my side of the table, to my fellow writers and bloggers – do you agree with any or all of these points? Do you think it’s fair to expect all of these from our PR contacts? Is there anything you would add to this list of tips? Would you like to share any of your experiences in building your relationship with PR professionals? I really would like to hear that, so don’t hesitate to share it in the Comment section below.

***A useful source for writers: Technical Writing Tools: The Ultimate Choice of 83 Experts (2018 UPDATE)

H&M Shoes and Jewelry

Yesterday I made yet another trip to H&M, during my lunch hour at work. I was looking for some new pieces of jewelry, a couple of bracelets and a couple of statement rings, there were lots of items on sale, so this is what I chose. I already tried the bracelets on, but not the rings yet (will do that tomorrow), so that’s why the rings still have their labels attached.

While browsing the jewelry rack at H&M, I also noticed a pair of platform sandals with chunky heels that caught my eye. As I could figure out, it was the last pair, but it was in my size, I tried them on, they fit perfectly, so I bought them.

The thing is that I am into comfortable footwear right now. I love high heeled stilettos, and I own lots of pairs of stilettos, but I don’t get to wear them that much anymore these days, and the reason is that after giving birth to my son Alex, I was never able to fully go back to stilettos anymore, and I was never able to wear them with the same ease as I used to do it when I was in my twenties.

In such a case, my perfect compromise for comfortable and stylish shoes is chunky heeled and platform footwear, and this is precisely why I bought those two pairs of booties, black and leopard print, that I showed you in one of my previous articles.

Here are my new H&M chunky heel sandals, and I especially liked them due to their soft colors, but also, of course, due to their comfort level.

I also would like to share with you a little funny story about these particular photos. As I was saying, I bought the sandals yesterday, but when I was done with my job at 4 PM, I didn’t take them home, but left them in the office. The weather is nice in Toronto these days, but it’s still not that warm, so I leave home wearing winter boots and change in some more stylish shoes once I arrive in the office. Yesterday when I bought these sandals, I thought I needn’t take them home, but rather leave them in my drawer at the office, and wear them today. What was the point of carrying them home yesterday and then back again today, since I wanted to wear them in the office anyway. Besides that, the office with our carpeted floors and all is the only environment they can be worn for now, as the current weather in Toronto is not warm, sunny or dry enough to take them outside for long walks. And they are suede, so I don’t want to ruin them in a less than perfect weather, even though I wouldn’t necessarily freeze if I wore them with tights.

So this morning I arrived at the office, and before taking them on, I took these pictures with my muted iPhone – under and on my desk. Pardon the imperfect quality of some phone pictures. Don’t mind the collateral objects from the photos like the blue recycling bin from under my desk or my keyboard and mouse. :) Since they were still unworn, I could safely put them on my desk to take a few photos. Then I put them on. I really wish this picture turned out to be of better quality, because they actually look much better.

I wore them today all day at work, and they are really confy. Fine, I can’t wear stilettos anymore but for short times, so chunky heels and platforms will do for me when I want to wear stylish and comfortable shoes. I also hit the gym 3 times a week during my lunch hour at work (the gym is right across the building where my office is), so today when I went to gym, I wore my new H&M-ies and took the opportunity to get them outside on the street for a little bit. I’ll probably keep them at the office until Friday, and then bring them home, because I might want to enjoy them during this weekend.

What do you think of my new shoes and jewelry?

Have a lovely day everyone!

Photo credit: Victoria West

My New Belts

Lately I’ve really been into wide belts which I like to accessorize with my midi skirts. Last summer however, I was into skinny belts, and I bought a bunch of them, different brands and colors. But I find that midi and cloche skirts make a great combination with wide belts, so I’ve turned my attention to the wide ones. I used to have only 3 wide belts in my closet, all black, different styles, so I’ve decided to increase their number, but also to infuse some color in my accessories.

During a trip to H&M today I found these gorgeous belts, which were also on sale – great-great bargains! I bought the fuchsia and the coral one for $3 each, and the cream one for $10. And I also found this purple beauty in my local supermarket this weekend, for $15, which I actually wore today. All the four belts are partly elastic, which makes them adjustable and fit. I can’t wait to wear my other belts from H&M in the following days!

So what do you think of my new belts?

Have a lovely day everyone!

Photo credit: Victoria West

Soare printre nori

Toata saptamana aceasta am stat cu ochii pe prognoza meteo, in asteptarea unei zile mai calde, ca sa pot purta fustele pe care le-am cumparat saptamana trecuta si pe care vi le-am aratat in articolul meu precedent; caci va spun sincer, m-am saturat de blugi ca de mere padurete. La inceputul acestei saptamani in continuare a fost foarte frig la Toronto, in jur de -30 de grade Celsius, si am purtat pantaloni. Dar joi in sfarsit vremea a fost suficient de blanda incat sa-mi permita sa port fusta. Prognoza meteo de ieri spunea -7 C, dar eu m-am simtit ca si cum ar fi fost zero grade – dupa atatea zile cu -30 de grade, -7 C mi s-a parut a fi o binecuvantare, zici ca era primavara.

Tinuta mea de ieri de la serviciu a constat in fusta neagra “aproape tutu”, bluza rosie Vince Camuto cu bulinute-patratele albe, curea neagra lata, ciorapi mov, pantofi negri cu toc mediu. Ca accesorii, am purtat un colier si un inel statement, iar manicura mi-am facut-o cu Essie verde mint. Si preferatul meu ruj rosu. Am omis sa-mi iau bratari, caci ieri dimineata ma cam grabeam si n-am mai apucat sa le scot din casetele cu bijuterii. Dar pe de alta parte, aveam deja inelul si colierul statement, asa ca tinuta nu a fost incompleta. Iar in privinta pantofilor am trisat de fapt, caci am plecat de acasa in cizme de iarna cu pantofii in sacosa si m-am schimbat la birou, cum de altfel fac multe femei in Canada. Am mai avut si un bolero negru de lana, dar l-am luat doar ca sa ma protejeze de frig pe drum, caci la birou l-am dat jos si am stat pe parcursul zilei in bluza. 

Colegii mi-au admirat tinuta si m-au intrebat cu ce ocazie m-am imbracat asa de frumos. O tipa m-a intrebat daca merg la vreo petrecere deseara. I-am raspuns ca nu, nu merg la nicio petrecere, doar sarbatoresc vremea frumoasa de afara. Si cand am vazut ca toata lumea a presupus ca am ales acest outfit pentru vreun eveniment si nu pentru birou, mi-am dat seama ca ceva nu e in regula. Pai cum sa creada oamenii ca m-am imbracat asa pentru serviciu, daca de vreo trei luni incoace am intrat intr-o letargie vestimentara si am purtat numai blugi si tinute casual, cand de fapt termenul casual nu exista in vocabularul meu (corectie: nu a existat pana acum 3 luni, cand am inceput sa frecventez sala de sport).

O sa ma intrebati ce s-a intamplat? Cand am inceput sa fac sport (merg la o sala de langa job, in timpul orei mele de pranz), veneam la serviciu in blugi pentru ca imi era cel mai usor sa ma schimb in gear-ul meu de gym. Dar se intampla sa port blugi si in zilele cand nu mergeam la sala, caci merg la gym de 3 ori pe saptamana. Cand a venit iarna si frigul, mi-a cam pierit cheful de tinute elaborate, de rochii si fuste, si in ultimele luni colegii m-au vazut numai in blugi, si cateodata in pantaloni. Asa stand lucrurile, nu ma mir ca m-au intrebat ieri daca merg la vreo petrecere. S-a produs o fisura in stilul meu vestimentar, si acest lucru trebuie remediat cat mai repede cu putinta. Acum ca mi-a revenit cheful sa ma imbrac si in altceva decat in banalii pantaloni, trebuie sa revin la stilul meu de altadata, acel stil pe care il aveam atunci cand am inceput acest job, cand in fiecare dimineata imi gandeam outfitul minutios, si cand ma imbracam in asa fel incat sa nu-mi repet tinuta niciodata. In decursul primului an petrecut la acest job niciodata nu m-am imbracat de doua ori la fel, iar colegii ma complimentau zilnic pentru alegerile mele vestimentare, dar dupa aceea m-am lasat pe tanjala si am uitat ca am in garderoba si alte haine decat blugi. Si daca am uitam eu sa ma imbrac frumos, normal ca au uitat si colegii mei ca obisnuiam sa o fac, asa ca nu-i de mirare ca ieri m-au intrebat daca merg la vreo petrecere. Dar las’ ca remediem problema cat de curand.

La pranz am iesit prin centru, si doamne ce bine m-am simtit cu vremea asta buna! Nici nu m-am deranjat sa ma schimb in cizme, ci am mers in pantofi. Am intrat intr-un magazin de incaltaminte de pe Yonge Street si mi-am luat aceste botine – ce parere aveti de ele?

Vroiam ceva pentru primavara, sau pentru zilele mai caldute de iarna (whichever comes first), care sa fie cat de cat elegante, dar si comode, platforme daca se poate, si le-am gasit pe acestea. Magazinul avea reduceri 50%, dar acestea nu erau marcate cu reduceri, si aveau pretul de $64.99. Le-am probat, sunt foarte confortabile (cred ca voi putea si sa conduc cu ele, un aspect nelipsit de importanta pentru mine atunci cand imi iau incaltaminte noua), si m-am hotarat sa le iau. Iar cand am venit la casa pentru a plati, erau $28!!! Wow ce surpriza, de la $65 la $28 – super-reducere!

Azi e vineri, o alta zi frumoasa la Toronto, in jur de zero grade. Am purtat la serviciu fusta neagra clos cu print abstract, o bluza grena uni mulata Guess, ciorapi fuchsia, pantofi negri, iar ca accesorii, am avut un sirag de perle si o brosa vintage pe care am gasit-o in vara asta la un antiques shop. Dar n-am pus brosa in dreapta sau in stanga pe piept asa cum se poarta de obicei o brosa, ci am pus-o la mijloc, la nivelul pieptului unde s-ar afla un medalion, ca sa faca simetrie cu perlele. Am incercat astazi sa adopt un look retro din anii ’60, un stil pe care il apreciez, si cred ca mi-a reusit acest lucru. :) Stiu ca ar fi fost mai bine sa va arat si niste poze, dar din pacate nu am avut un fotograf disponibil. O poza cu o fusta pe urmeras nu spune prea multe, dar e cu totul altceva cand ai creat un look complet cu acea fusta.

In ultimele doua zile am vazut multe femei prin oras purtand fuste si rochii – way to go girls! Sa dam mana cu mana si sa ne solidarizam importiva iernii canadiene care face praf din garderobele noastre, prin a o sfida iesind pe strada in tinute atragatoare!

Am iesit si astazi la o scurta sedinta de shopping in timpul orei mele de pranz, si am mers la un magazin de incaltaminte The Shoe Company aproape de jobul meu, dar n-am gasit nimic pe gustul meu. Dar am mers si la un alt magazin, Winners, si am cumparat aceste botine.

In seara asta eu si John am iesit la un restaurant (Friday night – date night!), si aveam de gand sa port o rochie neagra pe care am cumparat-o de sarbatori dar inca n-am apucat sa o port, pe care sa o accesorizez cu ciorapi grena, pantofi cu toc si layered jewelry la gat. Dar cand am ajuns acasa, John ajunsese deja si isi pregatea tinuta, ne era foame la toti trei, si avand in vedere ca nu ne mai retinea nimic in casa, am plecat imediat, asa ca nu m-am schimbat, ci am mers la restaurant in tinuta mea retro pe care am purtat-o si la serviciu. M-am gandit ca e un outfit destul de portivit ca sa fie day-to-evening, si destul de potrivit pentru a fi purtat seara la restaurant. What a heck, daca tot am purtat o tinuta elaborata azi, m-am gandit ca nu e o idee rea sa o valorific si pentru o iesire la restaurant.

Iar saptamana viitoare se pare ca vom avea parte de zile caldute aici la Toronto, si de-abia astept sa port si celelalte fuste pe care le-am cumparat de curand. Am facut un pact cu ele – voi urmari meteo si le voi purta in zilele mai calde ale saptamanii, ca sa-mi salvez reputatia de fata stilata pe care am avut-o pana anul trecut la serviciu, iar in zilele mai reci voi merge la gym. Asa ca daca e frig, stiti unde ma gasiti – la sala de sport.

Sa aveti un weekend cat mai frumos!

Sambata la cumparaturi

Azi am iesit in oras la niste cumparaturi. Dar nu am mers la mall, de care m-am plictisit deja (am mai mentionat asta, si gata, promit ca nu ma mai plang atat, ca sa nu va plictisesc), ci am mers la thrift shopping. In ultimele 2-3 luni am mers la cumparaturi la diverse magazine independente din Toronto, dar astazi m-am hotarat sa merg la magazine thrift, pentru ca imi place si acest tip de shopping – sunt o “vanatoare de comori” si ma incanta gasirea a tot felul de comori prin magazine thrift.

Mi-am facut planul de aseara – am cautat pe internet magazine la mine in zona, in Whitby (suburbia toronoteza unde locuiesc) si Oshawa, orasul vecin cu Whitby, si am gasit trei magazine care mi-au atras atentia, It’s Worth Repeating din Whitby, si Value Village si Almost New Shoppe din Oshawa. Intentionam sa-mi iau fuste, in special vroiam fuste midi si clos, cat mai colorate daca se poate.

Ma gandeam sa plec in prima jumatate a zilei, dar dimineata am fost ocupata cu una-alta prin casa, asa ca am plecat dupa ora 1. Aveam chef sa ma imbrac si sa ma machiez frumos, caci ultima oara am purtat o tinuta elaborata de Craciun. Am purtat rochie si de Revelion, dar avand in vedere ca am facut Revelionul acasa si nu am avut musafiri, placerea nu a fost completa. Asa ca pentru azi am ales o tinuta colorata, in contraste – fusta albastra dreapta cu model print negru, bluza uni coral, un bolero negru, chiorapi grena, cizme negre, iar ca accesorii am recurs la bijuterii “in straturi” – jewelry layering, si am pus la gat 5 gablonturi de marimi si culori diferite. Si ruj rosu. Am preferat sa ma inbrac azi in fusta, si nu in rochie, avand in vedere ca vroiam sa-mi iau fuste, asa ca m-am gandit ca imi va fi mai usor sa ma schimb atunci cand probez fustele pe care le voi alege. 

Prima oara m-am oprit la magazinul It’s Worth Repeating din Whitby. Am parcat masina chiar in fata magazinului, incat am putut sa las haina mea de iarna in masina. Am vrut sa intru in magazin fara haina, ca sa nu ma incomodeze printre rafturi, la probat, etc., dar si pentru ca vroiam sa-mi etalez tinuta. :) Ce rost are sa te imbraci frumos, daca nimeni nu-ti vede tinuta, nu-i asa?

Desi aveam in cap ideea sa-mi iau fuste, m-am gandit ca ar fi bine sa-mi iau si alte lucruri daca gasesc ceva dragut acolo. Am ales o fusta neagra dreapta cu model in dantela pe parti. Desi vroiam fuste colorate, mi-am dat seama ca nu mai am nicio fusta neagra viabila in garderoba, si m-am hotarat sa o iau pe aceasta. Am mai gasit o bluza rosie Vince Camuto, o camasa neagra cu print alb pe care vreau sa o port ca pe un bolero, si o bluza mov inchis cu volanase.

Dupa aceea am mers la Vallue Village din Oshawa. Am mai fost la Value Village din Whitby anul trecut, dar atunci mi-am luat genti si posete – o poseta Kate Spade, un rucsac Burberry, o geanta Gloria Vanderbilt, o poseta Gucci si o poseta Vera Wang. De data aceasta m-am gandit ce-ar fi sa ma aventurez si la haine. Pe de alta parte, am preferat sa merg la Value Village din Oshawa, unde nu mai fusesem niciodata, pe cand la Whitby am fost deja, si vroiam sa merg la un magazin nou pentru mine.

Value Village din Oshawa este ceva mai mare decat cel din Whitby, si ai de unde alege. De data aceasta n-am mai gasit loc de parcare chiar in fata magazinului, si nu am lasat haina in masina, dar in schimb am putut sa ma dezbrac de ea in magazin si sa o pun in carut. Am mers la raftul cu fuste si am ales cateva, dar si la raftul cu pantaloni. Am ales mai multe fuste si cateva perechi de pantaloni, dupa care am mers la cabina de proba. La Value Village poti sa intri cu doar 6 articole in cabina de proba, pe cand eu aveam mult mai multe in cos; dar am selectat mai multe, in eventualitatea in care nu toate imi vor veni sau imi vor placea cum imi stau. Am tras cosul chiar langa cabina de proba, si am putut sa probez, pe rand, toate piesele pe care le-am ales.

Doua din piesele pe care le-am gasit acolo si care mi-au placut foarte mult au fost o fusta grena de piele si o pereche de pantaloni negri de piele, ambele Danier, dar cand le-am probat, ambele imi erau mici. Mi-a fost asa de ciuda, si erau superbe!

Am plecat de la Value Village cu 4 fuste midi si doua perechi de pantaloni. Una din fuste e un fel de tutu neagra, desi nu e tocmai tutu, e mai degraba ceva intre fusta normala clos si tutu. E confectionata dintr-un material care se foloseste la tutu-uri, dar nu are volanasele unui tutu. In continuare imi doresc o fusta tutu, dar va trebui sa o caut prin magazinele vintage din Toronto.

Vroiam sa merg si la cel de-al treilea magazin pe care l-am inclus in itinerariul meu de astazi, Almost New Shoppe din Oshawa, dar era ora 6 cand am plecat de la Value Village, si m-am gandit sa o las pe alta data (poate weekendul viitor). Iar cand am ajuns acasa, m-am gandit la idei de outfituri pe care sa le compun din piesele cumparate azi. Eu pana acum am purtat mai tot timpul fuste drepte, ca e cel mai usor sa creezi tinute cu fuste drepte, si e cel mai usor sa le combini cu o mare varietate de stiluri de camasi si bluze, pe cand cu fustele clos, dupa cum imi dau seama, nu e la fel de simplu, e un stil de fusta mai pretentios, trebuie sa fac un efort mai mare pentru a-mi gandi outfiturile. Dar exact in asta si consta placerea cea mai mare, nu-i asa? Doar ca trebuie sa am grija, atunci cand vreau sa-mi port noile fuste clos, sa ma hotarasc asupra intregii tinute cu o seara inainte, ca dimineata sa nu intru in panica si in criza de timp pana ma decid cu ce ma imbrac.

Vince Camuto

Tradition

Frank Lyman (Canadian designer)

Ispiri

H&M

Reitmans (Canadian label)

Jessica

Suzy Shier (Canadian label)

Marallis

Dressbarn

Photo credit: Victoria West

Iarna, iarna, ce ne faci?

Azi la Toronto au fost -30 de grade, duuuh! Vremea asta a innebunit. Stiu ca sunt in Canada et all, nu ma cred in niciun paradis tropical, dar nici chiar asa frate! De cand cu furtuna aia de gheata care a venit peste noi inainte de Craciun, numai asa in temperaturile astea nesimtite ne-a tinut tot timpul asta.

Am revenit la sala, ca in perioada sarbatorilor n-am mers deloc, n-aveam niciun chef, si am amanat pana dupa sarbatori sub pretextul ca trebuie sa fac cumparaturile de Craciun si n-am timp sa merg la sala etc. Ei bine, Craciunul a trecut, Revelionul a trecut, vacanta mea a trecut, e timpul sa trec la regimul meu obisnuit, si azi dimineata mi-am luat gear-ul de gym si am mers sa fac sport, in timpul orei mele de pranz, asa cum fac de obicei. Taaare greu m-am mai mobilizat azi dimineata sa-mi iau echipamentul de sport ca sa merg la sala, si taaare greu m-am mai hotarat sa merg acolo sa trag de fiare, dar mi-am impus sa o fac, ca sa nu ma las pe tanjala prea mult, caci efortul pe care l-am facut in ultimele trei luni de cand am inceput sa fac sport ar fi fost de pomana daca nu reveneam in curand la gym.

Numai ca azi dimineata, cand am scos nasul afara… brrr! Really??? Ce naiba e cu vremea asta? Offf… In fine, l-am dus pe Alex la gradinita, m-am carat la serviciu (era atat de frig, incat nu reuseam sa-mi dau seama daca astia de la GO au caldura in tren sau nu; probabil ca aveau, dar caldura aia nu mai ajungea si la oasele mele in care intrase frigul), iar la pranz m-am fortat sa merg la sala, care se afla vizavi de jobul meu. Am petrecut 30 de secunde afara, si tot am apucat sa ma transform in turture (vorba vine). Si de-abia am asteptat sa-mi termin azi programul, sa ajung acasa si sa dau caldura in casa la maxim – weekend, finally!!! Plus relaxare, plus uitat de orice griji si de vreme rea pentru doua zile, plus scris de placere, plus un ceai fierbinte, plus o carte buna inainte de somn.

Si ca tot am pomenit de Alex, chiar ma gandeam azi – ce norocos e puiutul meu de patru ani ca merge la o scoala care se afla la un minut distanta de casa! Da’ ce norocoasa sunt eu, ca eu sunt cea care il duc si il aduc de la scoala! Eu n-am fost la fel de norocoasa pe vremea mea, ca scoala mea era in centru si mergeam la scoala cu transportul public – parintii mei au tinut sa ma inscrie la cea mai buna scoala din oras, si acest lucru nu a fost posibil fara sacrificii. Acum, cand a venit iarna asta urata peste noi, apreciez mai mult ca oricand faptul ca Alex merge la o scoala aproape de casa.

Am niste prieteni din Montreal care acum sunt in vacanta in Florida, si din ora-n ora posteaza poze din Miami pe Facebook. Uhum, asa, ca sa ne faca noua in ciuda, celor ramasi in Canada pe timp de iarna grea. :))) Eu mi-am luat deja portia de vacanta tropicala pe anul acesta, in octombrie, si acum stau sa infrunt gerul din Toronto care crapa pietre, si sa ma uit la poze din Miami pe Facebook. Le-am lasat azi un comentariu pe FB – mai stati acolo, nu veniti acasa, ca aici e frig. :) La Toronto sunt -30, si nici nu vreau sa-mi imaginez cum e la Montreal!

Am un chef nebun de tinute elaborate, vreau sa port rochii, vreau sa port fuste, vreau sa port ciorapi colorati si cu model, vreau sa port cizme cu toc, da’ cum naiba sa le port pe vremea asta, ca nu pot iesi din blugi!!! Acum ca au fost sarbatorile cu glamul si stralucirea specifica, petrecerile de sarbatori s-au incheiat, dar cheful meu de a purta si altceva decat blugi mi-a ramas; mai ales ca am trei rochii noi, iar una dintre ele nici n-am apucat sa o port.

Si in fiecare an cand vine iarna, ma apuca asa o depresie hibernala… Pe care am de gand sa o tratez cu shopping, maine, ca cica in acest weekend va fi un pic mai cald, -8. Daca imi fac curajul sa ies maine din casa, merg sa cumpar niste fuste, ca asta mi-am pus in gand. Cu riscul sa le port la primavara cand vine Martisorul, daca nu si mai tarziu, merg maine sa-mi tratez depresia si sa mai uit de iarna asta dusmanoasa.