Showing posts with label Lovely Links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lovely Links. Show all posts

Best of Blog 2010

I hope that you're enjoying the holidays and that Santa brought you everything your heart desired! Solo Lisa will be on hiatus from now until the New Year. I'll still be on Twitter and checking for comments, but there won't be any new posts until January 2011 (more about that later). In the meantime, if you're unlucky enough to have to work on the days between Christmas and New Year's and you're bored out of your mind while everyone else is on vacation, why not take a look at what's in the archives?

This year started with a resolution to become a better cook and to try one new recipe a week. Cooking once a week wasn't always possible, but my culinary skills have improved from month to month. My first cooking attempts eventually led to roast chicken, lemon ginger bundt cake, and, more recently, Chinese egg tarts and apple pie.

I also had the chance to read some great books in 2010. From a hilarious style advice tome written by a blogger to books about narcissism, the history of glamour, the beauty industry, and the savvy female entrepreneurs right here in Vancouver, there was no shortage of stylish reads.

Who could forget the Winter Olympics? The highlights of my experience: venturing downtown on the night of the opening ceremonies and brunch at Birks with medallist Jennifer Heil.

2010 will also be known as the year I abandoned lip gloss for lipstick. And speaking of beauty products, I just can't get enough of nail polish! Butter LONDON, Spa Ritual, and American Apparel were just some of the brands I tried.

Out of the many events I attended, Eco Fashion Week and the grand opening party for the Joe Fresh Granville store were particular standouts.

Trips taken this year: Saltspring Island and New York.

In other news, I also started doing vlogs and haul videos.

Are you still searching for those perfect denim shorts or that cute pair of rain boots that aren't Hunters? I'm just asking because I've found mine.

So, about January 2011: I might be a little scarce on the blogosphere because I'm starting a new job on the 4th! It's a very exciting opportunity and I'm thrilled. But a new job also means new responsibilities and a steep learning curve, so if I'm not commenting on blogs as much or posting as frequently, I apologize in advance.

See you in the new year!
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Lovely Links

Working Girl shows us that a lack of common sense, sensitive workplace information, and Facebook do not mix. Seriously, I read this post and thought it was pretty miraculous that this guy didn't get disciplined or dismissed.

Help WendyB decide which hue her J. Crew corduroys should come in!

La Couturier's surprise package of Chanel beauty booty and other goodies makes me wish I had a generous aunt who could hook me up with freebies.

A picture's worth a thousand words: I tried to discuss Latin girl chic in one of last year's posts, but the Sartorialist shows us what it really means with his most recent series of photos, all taken in Rio.

Jennine from The Coveted writes an uplifting post about fighting off fashion blogger envy. Read it, love it, and bookmark it so you can go back if you need a pick-me-up.

Broke and Beautiful discusses the magical ensemble equation that will let you wear dresses in winter without freezing to death.

Ever heard of the site Postcards From Yo' Momma? Lovely blogger Teresa Wu recently launched the Asian equivalent, My Mom is a Fob. Keep the tissues handy for the tears of laughter that are sure to come.

Ambika makes the cutest apron ever. Must think of Jennine's words and refrain from envying her sewing skills...
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Looking Back On Lisa: My All-Time Faves

These are the posts that catch my fancy or evoke pleasant memories. I hope you enjoy them, too.

The key to this chica's heart is Pablo Neruda time and again.

For all those who, like me, felt like utter outcasts in high school, let's commiserate over our inferiority complexes here.

After my big "3 cities in 3 weeks" trip and renewed resolve to exercise financial prudence, I'm unlikely to splurge big-time come Boxing Day like I did last year. At least I can remember how much fun I had shopping with my brother and MizzJ that day.

In February of this year, I lost my sample sale virginity.

I drooled over purses that had stylistic elements similar to those of the Chanel 2.55 but cost a lot less.

Among the various rants I've posted on this blog, the one on skinny-bashing is my hands-down favourite.

I tried modelling and discovered that it's harder than it looks on ANTM.

Ser naco es chido.

Out of the handful of beauty products I've reviewed, the Ecotools makeup brushes come out on top.

P.S. Stay tuned! Regular blogging will resume sometime this week or next week.
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Looking Back On Lisa: Money Matters

While browsing through my archives, I noticed that I talk about financial and marketing matters as they relate to fashion quite a bit.

It's interesting to note that when I began blogging, I was dead set against what I perceived as overspending on clothes. Of course, with my newfound weakness for Chanel and Coach, as well as my new resolution to buy for quality and longevity rather than price, that stance has changed. Nonetheless, I still value a stable financial future over shoes.

I love lenient refund/exchange policies. With increasingly skittish consumers nowadays, more retailers should embrace them, too.

Are you contemplating a shopping ban during these rough financial times? Check out what prompted me to start a 5-month self-imposed shopping ban; tips and tricks that helped keep me on track; and my thoughts on the experience overall.

Mrs. Exeter, seriously, are you f***ing kidding me?!?
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Looking Back On Lisa: Cold Weather Garb

300+ posts later, I can't believe I'm still blogging. What started as a fun pastime on MSN Live Spaces has become an addictive pleasure, as well as a way for me to connect with like-minded, gorgeous, stylish, talented bloggers living all over the world.

I thought that now might be a good time for me to self-reflect and look at the sorts of things I've blogged about in the last 1.5 years. For new readers, this is a chance to get acquainted with facets of this blog you may have never seen before. To all those loyal readers who've been with this blog since I started, feel free to roll your eyes and move on to my blogroll for new reading material. First up: A round-up of posts dedicated to dressing for my favourite season, autumn.

I paid homage to one of my favourite items of clothing ever, the humble hoodie.

Everyone has standby staples for the fall season; mine are listed here.

Wool coats keep you toasty warm when the mercury drops.

My obsession with sweater coats began last autumn and continues unabated.

This is the perfect time of year for dark denim.

Autumn heralds a transition from patio weather to indoor bars and clubs. For guys, now would be an excellent time to get a distinctive dress shirt that will make you stand out in the dim lighting. I found some Roar shirts for a guy friend a while back. (Note: He ended up ordering one from eModa!)
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Lovely Links

WendyB reminds readers to help raise money for blogger NieNie, who was injured terribly in a plane crash, by bidding in her jewelry auction. If the price point of current bids has surpassed your budget, you can still help. Use the blue button on WendyB's sidebar to donate money via a Paypal account, or spread the word on your own blog, Facebook profile, MySpace page, etc. so she can find a generous soul in want of a golden heart.

WendyB's Diana necklace is normally done in matte silver, but if the price is right, she'll make it in 18 karat matte gold with more than half a carat worth of diamonds.


As evidenced by the dresses in this post and this post, I'm a sucker for bright blue (although that colour preference has swung toward hot pink of late). So are a lot of designers and bloggers. Couture Carrie drools over bright blue bags and clothes reminiscent of the cerulean waters in exotic travel destinations. Meanwhile, Daddy Likey is going through a blue period that rivals Picasso's in awesomeness.

I haven't had a chance to peruse the pictures from New York Fashion Week yet, but at the moment I can enjoy Civilized Spice's succinct coverage of the hits and misses.

The new issue of Rive magazine is up! How gorgeous is that cover shot? It certainly makes me yearn for Chanel costume pearls.



Lastly, I haven't had a lot of time to devote to Solo Lisa y Nada Mas, and with good reason. Aside from planning my October trip and completing new projects at work, I've been writing some lengthy, fairly involved pieces for Stylefinds. Case in point: Miranda and I went to Vancouver's Spend On Trend sale last Friday and discussed our favourite finds and designers. Check out the post here.
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Have A Heart

Just a quick note to say that WendyB is doing an ingenious jewelry auction to raise money for blogger Stephanie Nielson, who was injured terribly in a plane crash. I was so moved after reading WendyB's auction post that, despite my shopping ban, I entered a bid. If you want to find out more or enter your own bid, click here.

My best wishes go out to "NieNie" and her loved ones.
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Lovely Links

I am so impressed with Lala's shoe makeover skills.

More DIY fun: Daddy Likey channels her guitar frustration into a great handpainted T-shirt.

Tired of hemming pants to wear with heels, only to have the cuffs drag on the ground when you're forced to wear those same pants with flats? Working Girl shows us a stylish and ingenious solution for this exact problem, and offers us a 10% discount to boot.

The Clothes Horse ponders celebrities and trends while sporting the most adorable preppie outfit.

I'm all about the pointy-toed flats and so is Lucky magazine, but that doesn't make the affordable round-toed flats that The Style Spy found any less adorable.

Fashion Addict thinks it's time we embrace what makes us different, and I couldn't agree more.

Geoffrey York blogs from China for The Globe and Mail's coverage of the 2008 Olympics and offers a fascinating insider's view of what it's like in Beijing.
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Lovely Links

Miss Couturable lets us in on her headband-hunting secrets.

Speaking of Miss Couturable, her blog introduced me to a new favourite read, A Bite of the Big Apple. Teresa documents her daily life as an intern at a major magazine in NYC, and offers hilarious insights on everything from the 5 questions a girl should ask herself about a prospective boyfriend to the source of New Yorkers' blood cholesterol (buttered bagels).

After polling her readers, Daddy Likey gives us the final word on whether wearing black to a wedding is alright.

If you were anything like me growing up, you probably devoured Sweet Valley High and Baby-sitters Club books by the wheelbarrow, didn't you? Come on, admit it, you enjoyed them; I know I did. It's been so long since I've read any of them that I forgot how fashionable Claudia Kishi of the BSC is. Luckily, I have What Claudia Wore to capture all of Claud's fabulous outfits and take me on a trip down memory lane.

I'm just spreading the word, so don't shoot the messenger: WendyB has a vendetta against the overused "EC" phrase in fashion writing.

Finally, my first post for Stylefinds is up! Check it out here.
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Cool Contest Alert!

The ever effervescent Winona at Daddy Likey is having The. Coolest. Contest. Ever.

Write a high-fashion haiku and win a Prada wallet! For the full details and hilarious entries so far, click here.
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Lovely Links: The SATC Edition

Everyone is going SATC-crazy these days! I myself can't wait until tonight: I've got presale tix to the late show and dinner and drink plans at Lucy Mae Brown with my girls tonight. (Background info: LMB is a hip downtown eatery with a cocktail lounge nicknamed "the opium den" downstairs. The building it's in used to be a brothel; Lucy Mae Brown is supposedly the name of the madam who ran it. It seemed like an appropriate place for a pre-SATC outing.)

So in honour of the SATC hysteria, I've compiled a list of links to all sorts of fun stuff.

If you haven't already seen it, watch the trailer, exclusive clips, and a behind-the-scenes featurette about the costumes on the official movie site.

The girls at the Style Spy are going SATC crazy too. Heidi Hofstad breaks down the characters' best looks here and here, and created a quiz for the hardcore fans. (I scored 8 out of 10.)

This lovely lass has been posting makeup how-to videos on Youtube for how to re-create the characters' makeup looks. You can see her Charlotte video here, and there are links to videos for the other characters on the page.

Tomorrow I'll have pictures and a play-by-play recap of the evening, including a snapshot of me dressed as Charlotte York Goldenblatt, I promise!
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Lovely Links

Karen Von Hahn of The Globe and Mail proves there can be such a thing as being too good of a mother, and how it can backfire for the offspring.

Due to my shopping sabbatical, I have to live vicariously through the shoe-shopping experiences of Leah McLaren.

Ivor Tossell's story of the Facebook friend who's not a friend hits a little too close to home for me.

Who wants to party in Tel Aviv?

Some extra interview advice from HR guru Cynthia Shapiro for all the fresh grads out there!

Finally, I'm sure many of us are thinking of the victims of the China earthquake and saddened by the survivors' losses. This article is far from lovely because of the reality it conveys, but it was very poignant for me because it examined the earthquake from another perspective: what it's like to lose your only child if you'd adhered to China's one-child policy.
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Lovely Links

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a talented photographer as a friend and hence a great array of Facebook profile pics. The Globe and Mail's Wency Leung discusses the rising popularity of photo retouching before those photos get posted on Facebook and other social networking sites.

Amy Verner talks about this summer's key swimsuit trends.
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Lovely Links

My friend Lucas (who's already made several cameos in my blog entries) introduced me to Overheard in New York, a hilarious compilation blog of real out-of-context conversations and one-liners from the Big Apple.

If eavesdropping isn't your thing, read through messages from well-intentioned mothers to their offspring on Postcards From Yo Momma.

I helped out a friend with dark denim advice here; now read what Amy Verner of the Globe and Mail has to say about wearing jeans to work.

Hilarious chicken cartoons from one of my coworkers - I always check out this site to start the day off in the right mood.
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...And Another Lovely Link

Caryn Lerner from Holt Renfrew discusses the contemporary luxury brand market and its demographic in Canada. Her interview somewhat echoes the observations made by Dana Thomas in Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster.
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Lovely Links

Bored at work on Easter Monday and looking for a bit of distraction? Here are some links that'll keep you entertained. Enjoy!

Local fashion blog/website The Style Spy provides interesting coverage of the latest spring trends from the urban safari look to the prim and proper prep-school girl ensembles that dominate this season.

If fashion isn't your thing (in which case why are you reading this blog?!), these videos from a Cincinnati newscast team will have you dancing. Literally. Even if fashion is your thing, watch the videos anyway and laugh your head off.

Leah McLaren is one of my favourite Globe and Mail columnists. Her column this week about the fine line between frugality and indulgence is hilarious and reminds me of that episode of Sex and the City where Carrie figures out she can't afford the down payment on her apartment but has bought $40,000 worth of shoes. It also provides shopaholics a bit of food for thought regarding what's worth spending a bit more on.
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Are You a Blair, Serena, or Jenny?

With the end of Sex and the City and The OC, it's been ages since there's been a TV show where the fashion is as exciting as the tangled romantic plotlines...until Gossip Girl, that is. The show is pure fluff and based on a tween book series about the lives of teenagers growing up amongst the elite of Manhattan's Upper East Side. We're talking old money families, prep schools, Ivy League universities, and all-out glamour and sophistication, so of course the clothes are great.

The three main female characters--Blair, Serena, and Jenny--all have very distinctive styles, but my personal favourite has to be Blair Waldorf. She epitomizes the classic preppy East Coast aesthetic that I find appealing and always looks polished and put-together. I wish I could find a blog or website somewhere that breaks down where each piece of clothing and every accessory on the show comes from because I'd love to find out where to get some of her clothes. So far the only piece I've managed to pin down for certain is a tam Blair wore as part of her Central Park skating outfit in the Christmas-themed episode entitled "Roman Holiday."

Lothians tam, $68, Anthropologie



Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl



I swear, I'm not obsessed with the show to the point where I spend hours scouring the Internet tracking down the characters' clothes. It just so happened that I was browsing the Anthropologie website, watched this episode online right afterward, and thought to myself, hey, her hat looks vaguely familiar.

If you can't get enough of Gossip Girl fashion, here are some fun links to explore:

  • How to Be Like Blair Waldorf: This fun wikiHow article (kind of like Wikipedia but an open-source how-to manual) breaks down, well, how to be like Blair basically. You'll also find useful links to wikiHows on how to dress preppy, how to be like Serena Van Der Woodsen, etc.

  • Gossip Girl on CTV.ca: Relive your favourite Gossip Girl fashion moments by watching full episodes for free online. (Note: This website is good for Canadians only; if you're American you need to access the CW website.)

  • Behind the scenes with Eric Daman: Eric Daman is the resident costume designer for the show, which means he has the enviable job of concocting the wonderful looks that the characters sport. In a series of online videos, Daman takes you behind the scenes and breaks down each character's look, from Serena's tousled bobo outfits to Blair's meticulous Park Avenue Princess ensembles. Victoria's Secret ads and product placements aside, the videos are a lot of fun to watch.
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Bunny Bonanza


A while ago I posted an entry that detailed my love of all things panda and promised a bunny installment in the future. Well, here it is, just in time to cheer everyone up after the Labour Day weekend and the (un)official end of summer.

Bunny Suicides. A series of comic strips by Andy Riley, The Book of Bunny Suicides is about "little fluffy rabbits who just don't want to live anymore" and the creative ways they find of ending their lives. Cute, hilarious, and seriously twisted.

Best Bunny. A bunny-obsessed friend told me about this website where pet owners post pics of their super-cute bunnies, then vote on whose bunny is cutest.

Oolong. In case you don't know, Oolong is a minor Internet celebrity. He was a gray-and-white rabbit owned by a Japanese photographer, and his owner loved taking pictures of Oolong and posting them on his blog throughout Oolong's life. The most remarkable of these pictures showed Oolong balancing household objects--sometimes one stacked atop another--on his cute rabbity head. Absolutely adorable. Sadly Oolong has passed away; the photographer's current pet is a female bunny named Yuebing, or Mooncake. And no, she doesn't have Oolong's talent of balancing objects on her head mastered as well as Oolong did.



Bunny music video. This video by TISM for their song "Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me" features a sad bunny who's hung up on numbers and never fails to make me smile.

Black and white bunnies eating. This video makes me smile too.

Random bunny pictures, and a picture of a gray thermal top. The thermal top is embellished with bunnies all over and rhinestones; I've seen yellow-and-brown versions on South Granville. Enjoy!


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Panda Extravaganza

A while back, my friend Jordana and I developed a passion for pandas. We just couldn't get enough of these cuddly creatures, and during long boring evenings spent writing research papers, or debugging programs in Jordana's case, we diverted ourselves with plenty of black-and-white eye candy. (Excessive schoolwork makes people do strange things.) Here's some of the more idiosyncratic panda stuff we found on the web.

San Diego Zoo Gift Shop: Panda Shop

Here you can find everything a panda fanatic's heart desires, from stuffed animals to clothing, furniture, home decor, jewelry, shotglasses, baby gear, even a panda thimble.

Keds panda flats




These panda flats are part of an animal-patterned series of skimmers designed by graphic artist Eleanor Grosch for Keds's 2007 spring line. Currently they're on sale for $34.95 US.

Random panda pictures

I couldn't find the panda site with the amazing collection of pictures, videos, and newspaper articles I had so much fun browsing two months ago, but I did manage to find some nice pictures on my computer.

Enjoy!







P.S. I might be doing a "Bunny Bonanza" in the near future, because hey, they're pretty fluffy and cute too.
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Muppet Fun

In an effort to cheer me up after my rather painful break-up, friends have been sending me links to Internet gems guaranteed to bring a smile to my face.

I was grinning like an idiot throughout this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0KhKEZo178

REM and furry happy monsters...a winning combination. Don't you just want to give those monsters a hug? I sure do.

Another friend sent me a link to a video that wasn't quite as upbeat but still very funny:

http://sadkermit.com/video.html

Awww poor Kermit...don't you just want to give him a hug (and maybe cart him off to detox)? I sure do.
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