a year in review...

I can't believe it's nearly 2011! The years just seem to fly by as we get older, don't they? Crazy... 2010 has been a truly fantastic year for me, filled with creativity, new adventures (changing cities, for one) and fun with loved ones, and I hope 2011 proves to be an even brighter year for us all. Wishing you all love and happiness for the year ahead, my lovelies-- Happy New Year! xx

fairweather and pleather...

Outfit details: dress- Forever 21; faux leather jacket- Sirens; boots- Feet First; scarf- gifted; ring- YSL

together at last: YSL Arty Ovale

I've dreamt about this ring for over a year now, admiring as bloggers left and right featured it in their posts... I even wrote about my yearning for it here back in May when it was sold out everywhere. *Sigh* Well no longer must I pine over YSL's Arty Ovale-- it's finally mine! My amazingly sweet and thoughtful boyfriend surprised me with it this Christmas, cleverly hiding it in a large box under an old shirt of his just to confuse me... Trickster! I can't even begin to describe how excited I was when I opened it up; I pretty much screamed and jumped around for far longer than one would consider normal... All I can say is best Christmas gift EVER!

What did you all get this year? Fill me in on your Christmas loot! xx

merry christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Wishing you all much love and joy for the holiday season... Can't wait to hear about everyone's break! Until then, my sweets... xoxo

Image courtesy of NYPL Digital Gallery

prep-to-the-e...

Outfit details: blazer- Alfred Sung; shirt- H&M; skirt- BB Dakota; boots- Feet First; marcasite key necklace- Winners; ring- gifted

i heart Tilly Bloom...

I'm sooo in love with my new Tilly Bloom earrings and brooch... how amazingly cute are they? I was mesmerized when I stumbled upon this site, with page after page boasting the most deliciously whimsical jewelry, art and prints I had ever seen. It was a difficult decision, but I finally chose the Odette brooch to call my own. When my parcel arrived, beautifully boxed might I add, there was a little surprise awaiting--the most darling little bear cub earrings! Thank you so much to Tilly Bloom for the amazing gift, I love it!

To check out Tilly Bloom's amazing offerings, click here...

home at last...

Outfit details: blazer- H&M; tshirt- American Apparel; leggings- GAP; necklace- Frug; ring- Forever 21; bag- Cynthia Rowley; boots- thrifted

four little things...

I love shopping so much, but oftentimes I have to go small-scale with my purchases in order to appease both my addiction and my ever dwindling bank account. That said, here's a glimpse at what I bought during my last jaunt to the mall... With Christmas shopping putting a damper on my personal spending, I opted for a few inexpensive things to cheer me up (sad, isn't it?).

Here's a peak at what just over $30 bought me...

1. Jeweled knit hat, Forever 21, $10.80

2. Two-finger cross ring, Forever 21, $3.80 (score!)

3. White tights, Forever 21, $4.50

4. Sunglass case, Urban Outfitters, $12

What have you bought recently? I wanna know! xx

snow patrol...

This past week has been far from glamorous; I've basically stayed home in my PJs studying the entire time! Ick... So instead of throwing on a cute outfit just to take some pics, I decided to take a more candid approach. Mr. AIF and I are both in academic hell right now, so a quick walk in the snow was just the thing to refresh us and keep us going... and a great excuse to wear my Cowichan sweater! Hope you're all having a fabulous day! xx

Outfit details: sweater- Cowichan; stirrup pants- GAP; gloves and boots- thrifted

book crush: Style Diaries...

I was super excited when I heard about this book a couple months back... I mean come on, a book entirely devoted to fashion bloggers?? Yes please! I practically ran out the door to get myself a copy, only to find that I couldn't track one down anywhere... I think I went to something like four Chapters before I finally waved a white flag of defeat.

As I dragged myself home, tired and disappointed, a lightbulb went off-- amazon.ca! Of course, why hadn't I thought of that before? If Chapters didn't want to hook me up with a copy of (*ahem*) possibly the coolest book ever, I was just going to have to find one for myself...

So I placed an order and incessantly checked my email for shipping conformation (what can I say, I really wanted that book!)... Only that message didn't come. I waited for weeks, and to add insult to injury, my next jaunt to Chapters revealed a "Fashion & Beauty" section ripe with Style Diaries... How rude. Anyway, after weeks of waiting (and some confusion over at UPS), I finally got my book, which was gloriously worth the wait! If you haven't checked it out yet (and I assume most of you have because you probably have better luck shopping than I do), then do so immediately-- you won't regret it.

lace and leopard...

With exams nearly done and a loaner laptop at my disposal, AIF's depressing drought is officially a thing of the past... hip hip, hooray! And since my life has been heavily school oriented as of late, can I please just live vicariously through all of you? Tell me all about your adventures, yule-tide related or otherwise... pretty please?

Outfit details: lace top- vintage; vest- Rachel Rachel Roy; skirt- BB Dakota; hat- Filippo Catarzi; belt- Diesel; necklace- Pyrrha; ring- Forever 21

owls and apologies...

You wouldn't believe how crazy busy things have been for me lately... School is winding to a close, meaning essays, final projects, and exams are looming their ugly heads, pluuus I spilled tea on my laptop, rendering it nearly impossible to use (it flickers like a strobe light!). As a result, AIF has been somewhat neglected lately... But I promise that things will go back to normal very, very soon--pinky swear.

I wanted to quickly thank Diane from Snapshot Fashion for putting me up on her blog, as well as Madeline from Wikifashion for creating a page for me and featuring it on her site... Thanks ladies!

That said, I leave you with a photo of two of my favourite collectables: my Royal Dux Owls... I hope you like them!

xx

mustard and fur...

Outfit details: fur capelet- vintage Hudson's Bay Company (from Value Village); crop top- TNA; Shorts, tights & boots- Forever 21; headband- Claire's; necklace- vintage

featured on...

Holy crap, I'm on MTV Style! A special thank you to Sharon and Emily for including me in this feature... I'm stunned! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!

Check out the article here

topped with a bow..

Outfit details: Chambray shirt- GAP; houndstooth dress- Sirens (old); scarf and bow hair clip- H&M; belt- vintage

plaid earns its stripes...

Outfit details: top, necklace, and boots- Forever 21; jeans- GAP; knit hat- Old Navy; bag- Winners