I sort of want to be.....

As I slap clapstick (note I didn't say lipstick with any color) on my face, just before jamming a hat on my head and running out the door for the bus. I realize, yet again, I am not a girly girl.  I will complete the picture with my hiking boots, jeans, top and fleece ensemble.  Lovely.

I love my blogging community and the fashion and beauty bloggers are incredible and I am frankly in awe of them. They give excellent tutorial and review products with integrity. Plus they always look great. You really do ladies. I feel like if we were friends (where we could reach out and touch each other friends) and I was younger I'd have a handle on this.

But no. Hence I am sitting in a coffee shop with no makeup on. The thing is I go to work with no makeup on so this isn't as bad as it seems.  I do put lipstick on - even red lipstick. Just putting that out there.

I guess this post is about embracing who you are. The good and the  bad.  I think we should be open to new experiences and I love seeing what everyone is up to and their creativity.  Just don't be too hard on yourself and no comparisons.  Try out different tutorials and products you are getting good advice and honest opinions.

Realize we are all coming from a different playing field and that is okay.  All these incredible bloggers will tell you beauty comes from within and there is a radiance that shines when someone is kind, authentic and compassion to everyone. No matter what color lipstick they have on.

Perfect Hostess Gift

Please, please way in on this as we are somewhat all over the place. Discussing hostess gifts - taking wine off the table - and it gets tricky.  Consensus was knowing your hostess' likes and dislikes is a starting point. Our top six in no order are......

1.   flowers or a plant
2.   coasters  (a few of us were what? if you know your hostess you know her theme or maybe  seasonal coasters). 
3.   cheese and crackers  (isn't this for a potluck?)
4.   napkins and a candle (majority nodding for this one)
5.   speciality coffee and/tea
6.   baked goods (only if you bake and have something everyone wants)

One of us, who will not be named, said AA batteries.  This did not make the list, but in retrospect it should have as within 24 hours X was looking for some.  So think outside the box.  What is your go to hostess gift?

How many Mondays before.........

Unless you live under a rock it is that time of year when you have "friends" sharing X many Mondays before Christmas, X many pay cheques before Christmas and/or X many weekends before Christmas. We are sure these people with their Xs are individuals who started their Christmas shopping and preparing in July.  The rest of us are in denial or we don't have time to X anything unless it is crossing something off the growing holiday list.  Or worst yet we haven't started the list.

So please be gentle with your sharing of Xs. Not all of us appreciated the remember.

Halloween and Christmas! Maybe we should rethink this.....

Coffee conversation centred around when do you think it is the appropriate time to put Christmas items out for sale.  In some stores, in our area, they were out the same time the Halloween items were being sold.  Hmm…. That doesn’t even take us into November.  

One individual felt Christmas items shouldn’t be displayed until after Remembrance Day (November 11).  It was acknowledged that there are only so many pay cheques before Christmas but really if you are that concerned start picking up items in July. Can you really not focus on one event at a time? Not dilute it with the next big thing? 

It was anonymous that October was too early to be putting Christmas out there at the shops.  Also why not wait until November 12^th and then make a big splash that says Christmas/Holidays are now approaching! Enjoy!

Okay, we have now officially rolled into Autumn.  Summer clothes are being packed away with regret and "oh I didn't wear this enough or at all".  The coffee (well not really....) discussion was starting to take a downward turn over the cooler temperatures, regrets over not getting to the beach and I didn't squeeze enough summer in to begin with.

To turn this around we decided to talk about what we are looking forward to this season.  It was an unambitious decision we were all looking forward to getting our boots (NO NOT WINTER BOOTS) out or purchasing new ones.

To go along with our boots we will be tackling our sweaters.  You know some might have gotten worn around essential areas during the summer so you will need new ones. Look closely for wear and tear. You see it. New sweater needed.

One of best things about Autumn is trying out the new Autumn shades of lipstick. We are so done with light and neutral shades for summer.  It is now deep, dark and bold lipstick.  Own it.

So we actually ended our get together on a more positive note.  Let us know what you are looking forward to this season. Or better yet, good deals on sweaters, boots and of course your favourite Autumn shade of lipstick.

Weekend coffee share - summer over !!

If we were having coffee I would be ranting that I was NOT, absolutely NOT, ready for summer to be ending.  I have sleeveless tops I have not made the most of, cute short skirts I have hardly worn and well, shoes I am still enjoying. My nails are still looking reasonable good and I do NOT want to have to encase when in shoes. I am not ready for summer to be ending.

Yes, I have sweaters and boots I enjoy, but not yet.  I want another month of summer to truly feel I have made the most out of my summer outfits.  That being said - I always feel I have made the most out of my winter clothes. I am usually tired of them before the end of winter, which seems never ending.

So please give me few more weeks of summer weather. I will wear the sweater to work in the cooler mornings, but let it be hot and sunny by 9 am and I swear I'll not complain this year about winter. I will actually embrace my cords and bulky sweaters. I swear.

Hmm.....art is subjective

We are trying to get back into the swing of things after summer so off we headed to an art opening.  After grabbing a glass of wine we did the walk around.  The gallery itself has cement floors, white walls and an outdoor patio. Nice.  This is a post where we (who attended) all agree. It doesn't happen often but it did at the gallery.  None of us would purchase or hang the paintings we saw. So yes art is extremely subjective. Considering some of the pieces were over $4000.00.

This goes back to purchasing what you love - regardless of whether anyone else likes it or will appreciate it.  If a piece of art works - be it a card, print, tile or original resonates with you that is the deciding factor.  Price, artist, being shown in a gallery does not matter if the piece doesn't speak to you.  So yeah art is subjective and we are okay with that.