Is it just me, or are mini cupcakes totally irresistible?! Do you have a favourite flavour?

The Fountain – the only downside of penny extinction. I’m now shelling out the big bucks (nickels & dimes baby) to make my ladyloo happy!

Also, I love it when watered-down apple juice looks like a highball. Swanky toddler.

Slap a triangle dress on that small child and Ikea has signage for our soon to be family dynamic. Love that!

What pregnant lady can resist a $1 cinnimon bun? Ok, probably lots can. I have no willpower.

Some toddlers are very advanced. I kid.

I promise I’ll start wearing a different colour of nail polish for a while.

Black and white pillows tend to follow me home. It’s not my fault.

And, done. Nighty-nite. xx

On the weekend, we picked up the prettiest new book for the little ladyloo. We spend a lot of time reading stories, especially in the winter and it’s nice to mix up our options. I couldn’t get over how lovely, and kind of dreamy the artwork in this book is. It’s made a great addition to our bedtime routine and would be an awesome choice for a shower gift.

Have you discovered any new kids books lately? Does your little one have a current favourite?

I’ve been having fun putting together little Gift Guides which I’ll post next week. But until then, I’d love to know, what’s on YOUR holiday wish-list?? Here are a few things I wouldn’t mind finding under the tree!

Happy Weekending! OXO

1.  J.Crew Lodge Moccasins

2. Madewell Polka Dot Undies

3. Bazaar Greatest Hits Coffee Table book

4. Wilfred Leopard Scarf

5. J.Crew iphone Case

I realized a couple of weeks ago that I hadn’t read a book that wasn’t pregnancy or baby-related in almost 2 YEARS! Isn’t that crazy?! While I was pregnant I poured over ‘what to eat so you don’t birth an alien’ and ‘how big is your baby now‘ books. Once our little lady arrived, it was time for ‘what does this colour poop mean’ and ‘how to function on 3 minutes of sleep and not kill your husband’ books.

Now, 11 months in, things have settle down a lot, and the small amount of free time that I have at the end of the day is usually spent staring at some sort of screen. It’s like I forgot that adult books existed!

Enter my good friend Amazon. While Decorate isn’t much of a read, it’s so so so lovely to look through. And since I wanted to start out light, Bossypants was perfect, funny and conversational.

So, now that I’ve dipped my toes back into literary waters, what should I read next? Anyone want to read something with me?? I’m not to picky. Something light, not too epic so that my arms get tired holding it up, and not about Vampires (sorry). Ok, so I am a little bit picky :)

Recently I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy of French Style by Veronique Vienne. Highly collectable and selling for $150 on Amazon, this is quite a treat.

Well written, in a causal, conversational style, the book is full of gorgeous photo’s and fun fashion illustrations.

Vienne sets out to instruct readers how to “Think, Shop and Dress” like a French woman.

“A French woman will always have flair, even when she arrives at the opera looking as if she just finished painting her bathroom ceiling. She rushes over without changing her clothes, transforming her rumpled getup into a fashion statement with an art deco pin, a long silk scarf and a great sense of timing.”

Along with style tips, are captivating lessons in the history of French fashion and how-to’s re: tying your scarf and carrying your bag. Vienne spends a lot of time discussing how to catch people off guard and stand out in a crowd. Two of my favorite suggestions are “flashy costume jewelry before noon”, and “sunglasses in the rain with a folded umbrella under my arm”.

Every fall I like to look at the new season as an opportunity to rejuvenate my personal style.  Perhaps this year I will embrace that je ne sais quoi.

I just finished reading the new Sophie Kinsella book, Twenties Girl. I found it a little slow in the beginning, but by the time I was finished, I was sad to put it down. Between the busyness of the last few months, and how easy it can be to get caught up in the inter-world, I haven’t been reading a lot as of late. It reminded me how much I love to read. Books, books, books, here I come.

I heart books about fashion, style and beauty. While I enjoying reading, and try to expand my horizons with various non-fictions and biographies, fashion publications are pure fun. Over the years, I have amassed a sizable collection. Most have been gifts from my Mom. They are perfect for taking on holidays, or cozying up with on a lazy Sunday. They are books that you can pick up and put down when the mood strikes.  

This past Christmas, my Mom continued the tradition giving me Influence by Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen. Years ago, long before the the twins reached fashion icon status, I will somewhat embarrassingly admit that I was a devotee of their tv movies (When in Rome was my favorite). I was looking forward to reading their book. Filled with interviews featuring the people who have influenced them, I was surprised to discover how much the book inspired me. Although, it does provide a glimpse inside Olsen-land, it is unlike other celebrity fashion books that are, while entertaining, rather self-indulgent *cough* Rachel Zoe, A to Zoe *cough*.

Once I started Influence, I really couldn’t put it down (heavy book + weak arms = tough times). Beyond the Olsen Twins, beyond the fashion industry, beyond creative pursuits, it is a book that celebrates embracing life and following your passions. How can you not be inspired by that?  For me, unexpectedly, it delivered much more than the usual bit of fun.

Influence for sale at Amazon