Covet & Acquire

I've fallen for wide-leg pants lately. They are easy to wear, comfortable and can easily be dressed up or down.

Plus, they're super comfy too.

I picked up this bold red pair of wide-leg trousers recently from Le Chateau, and I immediately knew that I wanted to style them as a monochrome look. The vibrant shade is just too good not to play up.

What I was surprised by with this look was how wearable it felt as soon as I put it on. From the fun pink sneakers to my new obsession — this Max Mara Studio wool coat — this outfit felt effortless, and therefore, endlessly appealing.

Are you loving wide-leg pants?

I love a good outfit that a) makes you feel good as soon as you put it on, b) doesn't require a lot of effort to throw together, and c) looks chic.

In my opinion, this outfit ticks all three of the above.

While the pieces themselves aren't overly statement-making, when combined, the look feels pulled together and polished.

I wasn't sure how much I would wear these wax-coated pants from Le Chateau, but I've already stepped out in them a time or two. They feel perfect for a date night or weekend. Oh, and they're super comfortable to!

What it is: A collection of cleansers infused with natural botanicals found in the south of Franc — these wash away dirt with several texture choices including cream, oil, foam and more.

Beauty bonus: Despite the formulas being gentle enough for sensitive skin, they mean business on removing the day’s looks. No leftover residue or smudged mascara remnants here.

Beauty bummer: Not a bummer for lovers of calendula scent, one of us wasn’t so jazzed on the oil cleanser because of it.

Overall: This collection of cleansers offers a nice range of choices for those who are looking for a little bit of a different texture. Our favourite was the cleansing milk with an impressive ability to remove multiple coats of mascara with relatively little residue.

To their credit, all the cleansers left skin feeling refreshed without feeling stripped.
Would recommend? Yes
Price: $29
Where to buy: L’Occitane; loccitane.com

I've had this CHANEL Mini Flap bag for several years now — crazily enough, it's actually been more than seven years since I purchased it. 

While I've acquired several other CHANEL pieces since then, this square mini flap bag remains a favourite. But that endearment has nothing to do with the material it's made of. Not at all.

Read my comparison review between the square mini and rectangle mini here.

I purchased this handbag because I was hunting for the coveted bordeaux-and-gold-hardware combination from 2012. I passed up on a caviar leather medium (a decision that still haunts me to this day) and I immediately regretted it. Of course, when I went back to purchase it, it was long gone.

So, I settled for this lambskin option when I found it through an SA in the U.S.

From the moment I bought it, I knew lambskin wasn't for me. The material, while so buttery soft, is so prone to scratches and rubs. Even opening the flap can seem hazardous. And, for someone who likes to keep their handbags in pristine condition, even when using them, this reality of lambskin has been a bit of a nightmare.

So, the solution for me has been not to use this beauty very much.

But, the other day, I decided to pull it out and wear it. Very aware of what I was pairing it with, in order to be mindful of colour transfers and scratches, I wore a pair of corduroy trousers. At the end of the day, the handbag showed visible scuffs on the back. I was shocked.

It was a very good reminder why I don't use this handbag very often, and why I will never buy a lambskin bag again.

Have you had any luck with lambskin? 

Some days (read: most days) I can't bear to stress about what I'm going to wear.

I remember when I first started this blog — in 2011, I can barely believe it — I used to stress about what I was going to wear for each post. And while, admittedly, I still do get a little worked up every now and again about it, these days, I feel like I've really added key pieces to my wardrobe that I feel comfortable and confident, both in wearing them and styling them.

Take, for instance, these simple turtleneck tops from Le Chateau. I'm pretty sure I own them in every colour. They're easy to wash, wear well, last forever and, in short, I'm obsessed.

My Levi's jeans have become another constant companion in my closet. Perhaps it's this familiarity that prompted me to pick up these corduroy options recently. While I like the slightly more voluminous fit, I'm definitely going to have to do a bit more work with creating a few looks that I feel really comfortable and confident in.

Otherwise, I'll just be wearing the above outfit on repeat. ;)

What are some of your wear-anywhere pieces? 

What it is: A warm floral scent from Yves Saint Laurent that combines French lavender and Moroccan orange blossom.

Beauty bonus: A spring-like update, the orange blossom has us dreaming of warmer weather.

Beauty bummer: We found this fragrance didn’t have the staying power we were hoping for on our skin.

Overall: This scent is a sweet update to our fragrance wardrobe. With a slightly different profile than we usually choose, this scent took some getting used to. Truth be told, it smelled very different on a few people in our family, and admittedly, it wasn't a fast favourite.

We found it was very floral-forward on us, with very little of the subtle musk notes the description mentioned.

As noted, the fragrance didn't last as long as some eau de parfums on our skin.
Would recommend? Maybe.  It's a nice new scent, but it's not a favourite.
Price: $125
Where to buy: Sephora

I don't usually post about fitness — I'm no expert, and I believe everyone's wellness road is unique — but I wanted to weigh in on my personal Peloton experience.

To summarize it in two words: I'm obsessed. 

I was recently given the opportunity to try out a Peloton Exercise Bike. I was neither paid for this post nor asked to write a review. I have simply enjoyed my time with the bike and programs so much, that I wanted to share my thoughts.


I've been using the Peloton bike for nearly two months now. In that time, I've logged more than 45 rides or workouts. I used to do spin classes in college but, since living in the suburbs without easy access to a SoulCycle or other type of riding class, I have to admit that it had been a while since I'd been bake on a stationary bike.

But I'm happy to report that riding a stationary fitness bike is much like, well, riding any other bike in that — as soon as you jump back on one it's pretty quick to get back into the spin of things.

So, without further ado, here are five reasons I'm loving this bike ...

1. It's super convenient. I commute long hours to and from work. So, the last thing I really want to do, no matter how motivated I am to get moving, is to drive to a gym. Having the Peloton at my house has meant that I'm working out much more frequently — without any excuses.

2. It's customizable. Some days I have 30 minutes to work out. Others I have an hour. And some days, well, I really only have about 10 minutes. The spin classes available through the app allow me to search for and choose classes based on length of time. So, I can get a nice climb ride or low-impact option no matter how much (or little) time I have.

3. It keeps things fresh. The classes that are available through the app are awesome. I've enjoyed the diversity of the playlists and the different types of classes. And having them all in one place means it's easy to mix things up. So far, I've tried weight training, stretching, ab workouts and spin. I've yet to check off some of the other classes like yoga, bootcamp or meditation. (Note to self: must try meditation!)

4. There's an instructor for everyone. I wasn't sure how I would like the personalities on Peloton. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I feel like fitness is personal ... and that includes how you like to be instructed. I don't like being yelled at in a class. I like energy and motivation, sure, but I don't need someone getting in my face (not even on a screen). Thankfully, I've enjoyed most of the instructors whose classes that I've taken — shout out to three of my favourites, Kendall Toole, Robin Arzon and Sam Yo.

5. It's much easier to hold myself accountable. I'm a goal-oriented person. And I like seeing results. So I can really appreciate how easy it is to track my results, workouts, goals and the rest, right on the bike screen. Plus, when I get and give high fives to other riders, it's a pretty nice motivation, too.

If you have any thoughts or questions about Peloton bikes, feel free to leave a comment below or shoot me an email and I'd be happy to lend my thoughts.

I don't always match my Starbuck's drink of choice (lately, a Strawberry Acai Refresher with lemonade), but when I do, I'm sure to take a picture of it. Ha! 

All jokes aside though, I fell for this pink wool Weekend Max Mara coat pretty much as soon as I spotted it online.

I've long coveted a Max Mara coat, but I've never been able to take the plunge, whether because of timing, funds, finding the right coat ... the list goes on.

But, this reversible wool coat just had to come home with me (plus, it was on sale!).

The jacket is super warm, and I love how cheerful the pink hue is. Even with the cold, grey weather we were having when I shot these few pics, I felt more cheery thanks to this coat. Or, at least thanks in part to it.

Although, I'm sure the cool sip of strawberry lemonade didn't hurt the overall mood, either. :P

What it is: A limited-edition release from CHANEL that sees the popular CHANCE fragrances released in a unique pencil format.

Beauty bonus: These solid perfume pencils are the perfect scent solution for travel. No liquid limitations here!

Beauty bummer: While practical, the scents can be a bit light-wearing, depending on your skin.

Overall: These unique perfume pencils provide a fun (and travel-friendly!) introduction to the CHANEL CHANCE fragrance range.

We can appreciate all the fragrances on offer in this pencil kit — Chance, Chance Eau Fraiche, Chance Eau Tendre and Chance Eau Vive — and even found a few favourites amongst the offerings.

The formulas are super easy to apply — a few swipes on pulse points, or wherever you want scent, really — and wore well on skin. We did find they wore off a bit quicker than some other scents on our skin, though.
Would recommend: Yes. These are perfect for carrying in your purse or travel bag.
Price: $99 for set of four
Where to get it: CHANEL counters; chanel.com 

What it is: A matte lip colour crayon from Maybelline that's available in 12 shades, each one formulated with lasting-wear technology that promises eight hours of wear.

Beauty bonus: With so many colours to choose from, it is hard not to find one that works for almost everyone!

Beauty bummer: None.

Overall: These lipsticks are comfortable to wear and are very pigmented. The shade range is just the
right mix of bolds and neutral — and some bolds that work as neutrals!

We loved the built-in sharpener on the end, too. It gave an unexpected (and oh-so useful) value added element, especially for on-the-go application.

Would recommend: Yes! These offer a lot of beauty bang for your buck.
Price: $9.49
Where to buy: Drugstores and mass retailers nationwide

I've been looking to update my home office space for a while now.

While it wasn't the number-one priority upon moving into my new place about a year ago, lately, I've been feeling like it was time to work on it.

So, with a limited budget and even more limited space (my main living area is pretty much a studio style), I set to work.

First, I took measurements. Then I searched online for suitable options. And I ended up where most people who are shopping for home decor on a budget do: Ikea.

After some internal debate, I decided to purchase two of the Linnmon desks (they're super affordable!) and place them in an L-shape to fit the nook at the top of my stairs.

I went with the simple white legs for the middle and two sawhorse-style legs for each end to add a little extra interest.  I've been working on it for a few days and am pretty pleased with how it has all come together. (Early gripe: the tabletop seems like it will be easy to mark/scratch. Stay tuned.) 

While I'm not 100% set on the top-of-desk design situation, I think the table and price (less than $200) was just right for achieving my home office space goals. For now.

I've been so into mini hoop earrings lately that I've almost forgotten what it's like to wear anything but.

But I quickly remembered just how fabulous said alternative ear candy options can be when I put on these Croissant Knocker Earrings from the Canadian jewelry brand Mejuri.

The design, has just enough drop to them, without being too dangle-y. (I can rarely stand dangle-y earrings because I find they always get caught on things.)

I'm curious: what's your go-to earring silhouette at the moment?

Wearing these earrings is a good reminder that it's important to keep my options open — with earrings and elsewhere. I feel like I've been really hardline on things in recent years, and I'm not sure it's something I'm entirely comfortable with.

I find in 2020 that I'm eager to remind myself that it's OK if I change my mind. If things don't go as planned. If I try something and end up not liking it. Or, alternately, end up loving it. While this attitude pertains to earrings and fashion, I'm also looking to extend it out into other areas, as well.

We'll see how it goes ...

What it is: A cruelty, paraben and pthalate free, made-in-Korea, in-house beauty line from one of our fave department stores — Hudson's Bay!

Beauty bonus: True to the K-beauty skincare routine, this collection has all the steps— from serum to base, this line is comprehensive.

Beauty bummer: None.

Overall: We didn’t really consider Hudson’s Bay for skin care, but we are pleasantly surprised by this offering. In iconic (and easily recognizable) HBC Stripe bottles, this collection looks good on our vanity, as well as performs pretty well.

As stated earlier, this collection is comprehensive— there is a cream blush as well as a mascara in the mix to round out the undone but uber-dewy look that K-beauty is known for.

Our favourite products were the eye masks — formulated with collagen and caffeine — and the gold-infused serum. Both left skin feeling well hydrated and refreshed.

Would recommend? Yes
Price: From $25
Where to buy: Hudson’s Bay; thebay.com

This is one of those looks that leaves me with mixed feelings.

While I don't dislike it, at all really, there are a few things that, when I go to wear it again, I will take another direction with. Instead of wearing black boots, for example, I'm going to opt for tan. And, maybe next time I'll choose blue jeans instead of this off-white shade.

The ability to look back at outfits I've worn — and actually learn from the styling — is one of my favourite things about this blog. The photos allow me to remix my past looks, and hey, on more occasions than not — wear them exactly the same way again and agin!

What it is: From the celeb makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic comes an exclusive, limited-edition collaboration with Sephora.

Beauty bonus: Synthetic bristles make these brushes uber soft and cruelty free.

Beauty bummer: None!

Overall: These brushes come in three curated sets: one for complexion, one for eyes and a "master" set of 13 full-size brushes (this one is already sold out).

The bristles are good for both cream and powder products making these sets — available in full face, eye and  an easy addition to our brush arsenal.

Would recommend: Yes, especially if you're a fan of his (OK, and a fan of the Kardashians).
Price: $65 to $158
Where to buy: Sephora; Sephora.com