Stylish Sorel - Campus Tall Boot

For a long time, Sorel has been a staple in many northern households. Known for the their durability and longevity, the Canadian brand has had loyal followers since the company's inception in 1962. During the past few years, the perception of Sorel has changed gears slightly from backwoods to more of a quality winter fashion statement. Lumberjacks, consider yourselves fashionable.

Sorel has had so many practical, heavy duty and good looking styles that it's almost impossible to pick only one pair! I was in the market for a warm and sturdy boot that would last a long time. I'm a "wear-it-until-it-breaks" kind of gal.

I tried on the "Joan of Artic" boot first but I found them overwhelmingly clunky, heavy and hard to walk in. Bummer. However, it helped me decide that I didn't want to fiddle with laces and I needed a slip on. That being said I'm also a "burn-every-pair-of-classic-UGGS" kind of gal. So where to go when you want a slip on winter boot that isn't fashionably offensive? Sorel.

Flash forward to the discovery of Sorel's Tall Campus boot. Victory! These boots are fantastic.

The first thing I noticed about the boots is how light (yet heavy duty) they felt. The sole is flexible so they are easy to walk and drive in, not to mention the cushiness! The inner lining is soft fleece and the outer fabric is a water resistant combination of sued and knit underlay. The calf is a little wide for me but not so large that they look funny with skinny jeans or leggings. I also think that the extra room is a plus for being able to throw them on with whatever style of pants I wear.

I normally wear between a 6-6/1/2 and after reading size reviews I ordered a size 6 from Zappos (just in case I need the free return they offer). They are a little roomy with normal everyday socks but they fit perfectly with a little bit heavier of a sock (I usually wear wool socks in the winter anyway). I do have very narrow feet so if you have a bit of a wider foot, these should fit true to size for you.

Final verdict: Keepers. I will most likely be purchasing the short campus boot very soon!

In A Pinch

These mini emergency kits from Pinch Provisions are a mini miracle! 

This particular kit ("For Her" Miniemergency) contains hairspray, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, emery board, lip balm, earring backs, clear elastics, mending kit, safety pin, SheEmergency tape, stain remover, deodorant towelette, pain reliever, tampon, breath freshener, dental floss, and an adhesive bandage (already used and not pictured). Phew! That's a lot to fit into the 3.5'x2'x2'  purple metallic zip case! This little gem is perfect to throw into your purse so you can be perfectly prepared for any mini and not so mini mishaps!

There are different kits available on the Pinch Provisions website. They have one for teachers, moms, brides, grooms, girls, bridesmaids, him, her... the list goes on. Plus there's a great variety of styles and patterns to choose from! Prices range from $14 for the miniemergency kit to $35 for the Shemergency kit that contains 40 essential items. They also sell refills so you don't have to worry about repurchasing a whole new kit or scrambling to try to find mini equivalents. I also added a few of my own provisions including a couple quarters, extra band-aids and some bobby pins.

These are definitely worth it and they make great gifts! Be safe, be stylish and be prepared!

Stay Warm, Stay FANCY

January Fancy Box





Fingerless Gloves by Echo Design
Echo Design began in 1923 with scarves and has evolved to encompass handbags, gloves, and beach ware among other products! I highly recommend a stroll onto their site to look at their fashionable goodies (check out the cute Moroccan bead work swim suite cover up pants). They also have some great men’s items!

I’ll be honest, I have never purchased (nor worn) digitless gloves because in the winter where I live, I want everything covered…twice. So these were something that I would not normally buy for myself but I can tell you that I am loving them! They are wonderful to layer under my sweater sleeves and to put on under my regular mittens. So not only am I finding them more practical than I would have thought, they are pretty as well. The ones I received are the SparkleFingerless Gloves in Classic Camel. Classic indeed!

Baglight by Lexon Design
This is Genius. It's made of a silicon rubber material with an LED light at the end that you press to turn on and off. At the other end of the baglight, is a ring that has two magnets that snap together. It’s a very sturdy hold which surprises me because the magnets are so little. Lexon baglight is an amazing way to see what the heck is inside of your purse (pictured below in my Louis Vuitton Noe), tote, or duffle bag! I looked at the other items on their website and all of their designs are sharp looking and practical. Now the tricky part is that I don't think you can order from their website and there aren't any prices next to the items. Bummer! But I did find the light it on ebags.com.

Morning Mug by The Cottage Industry
The Cottage industry is a design company that aims to bring a little something special into everyday items. TheMorning Mug does just that! It's an adorable way to start your day as it transitions from a sleepy face to a cheery face, hopefully perking you up at the same time!





Kusmi Tea Paris
I am an avid tea fan! I LOVE tea and I’ll jump at the chance to try a new kind. Kusmi Tea Paris has a long standing history and a long list of beautiful teas and products! This box of Sweet Love tea is a black tea full of sweet spices that is reminiscent of chai. The flavor is deep, the aroma is relaxing and it can be made hot or iced. I had my first cup and I immediately went on their website to see what else they had to offer. There are so many amazingly delicious sounding blends of tea bags and loose leaf tea! I want to try them all! Which led me to their gift sets and assortment boxes. This will definitely go on my gift giving list for the other tea lovers I know. Not does Kusmi offer exquisite tea, their tea accessories are “trés chic” as well! I'm pretty sure I've put everything on my wishlist. I’m definitely going to purchase an assortment set to find some other favorites!

Ooh LaLa, FANCY

December Fancy Box

 Quay Sunglasses 

     Wow. These are dramatic, sexy, classy...I could go on. The shape is so flattering and unique! I for one, am over the ginormous Olson twin type glasses that swallow a face, especially if one is petite! My favorite and forever style is the cat eye/semi cat eye. The first thing that struck me when I took them out of the glasses case (a nice one at that) was the high quality feel to them. These retail for about $40, which surprised me because they feel sturdier than a few of my other designer glasses. The ones I received are the Kitti sunglasses and their site has so many more fantastic styles. I’ll definitely be purchasing another pair…but which one to choose..

      
     Ted Baker Beauty Spot Manicure Kit

     I think I let out an audible excited squeal when I opened this! I'm a HUGE Ted Baker fan and I immediately fell in love with this! Not just because it's Ted Baker but just look at how beautiful it is! I have actually been looking for a manicure set for some time but have never gotten around to purchasing one. It comes with nail files, cuticle nipper, tweezers, nail clippers and nail scissors.

Pendleton Notebooks

     Yet another coincidence as a week before I received my fancy box I was looking at the both the Glacier blankets from Pendleton and the Point blankets from Hudson's Bay. The multicolored striped pattern has been one of my favorites since I was a kid in Canada.

     Pendleton woolen mills is a well-known American company. They are legendary for their superior woven blankets and clothing.  Their website is full of classic designs and I love perusing their site! Pretty much everything is drool worthy and don’t even get me started on their “Home and Blankets” section.  Anyway, back to the notebooks, all three notebooks are modeled after their famous patterned blankets and came bound together with piece of twine. They are so pretty I don't want to write in them! I'll have to find a perfect reason to fill these pages.

     

    
     Rifle Paper Co

     Everything from this company is ADORABLE! And this card is no exception! I can’t say enough about how much I love their products! Every single thing from this company is buy worthy. Especially their prints! Also check out the cute coasters they have as well as their journals, and the wrapping, and the phone cases.... I'm not even going to write on.  Just go there and fall in love for yourselves!

Let's get FANCY

November Fancy Box -CoCo Rocha

I received the November Fancy box as a gift from my sister which was an amazing idea! She knows me well. I love surprises, I love interesting items and I love trying new things! My sister chose the Fancy box by the unbelievably gorgeous Coco Rocha! I think she has such a sleek and chic sense of style. I'm already excited to get my next box!

·         Areaware Diamond Box Designed by Fort Standard 

      This adorable wooden diamond shaped box comes from a company called Areaware and is designed by Fort Standard. Areaware is a Brooklyn based company. I highly suggest you look through their website as they encourage collaboration with young and local artists. They include write ups on each designer which I think is great as many of the artists have websites that showcase their other creations. It’s a great site for everyday objects with a modern and creative flare. It has everything from home décor to items children will enjoy! I put the diamond beside my bed to keep my rings and earrings in for safe keeping since it has two little magnets to keep the lid on tight!

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          Paddywax Lavendar Thyme Artisan Soy Wax Mason Jar Candle  

      This candle is not only cute but it smells amazing as well! Paddywax candles are hand poured in the U.S.A and based out of Nashville. According to their website, they can be found in Urban Outfitters, Nordstroms, Whole Foods, Charming Charlies and Crate and Barrel to name a few.  I like the combination of Lavender the smooth warm scent of thyme, it's such a soft and lovely fragrance even when it's not burning. It burns pretty true to the unlit scent too, which I find is pretty rare with candles in general.

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      Richer Poorer Socks 

      Time to rev up winter with a little bit of color! Can we get super excited about great socks! Yes we can!! I'm loving these slightly Aztec slightly modern patterned cotton socks. It's always nice to add a little surprise of color and pattern in an outfit. These are comfortable and snazzy!

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      Jin Soon Nail Laquer in Rhapsody 

      Jin Soon is a line of Nail Laquer by known nail guru Jin Soon Choi. It’s a relatively new line that launched in 2012 according to their site and it’s 5-free (free of harsh chemicals). Jin Soon nail Laquer can be found on their website (check out the nail tutorials on the site!) as well as in Saphora, Bloomingdales and Nordstroms to name a few. They have even launched an exclusive line with Tibi that came out in Fall of 2013! It can be found here. All of the colors are classy and very appropriate for fall and winter. 

     

      Rhapsody is a beautiful navy blue that wont disappoint! This was the first time that I've used this brand and I have to say that when I put the initial coat on I was a little skeptical. It went on so thin, which I know is good (better to layer then for it not to dry completely) but I've had polishes before where I have to put 4 or 5 layers on before it actually covers my nail fully. But once I brushed the first swipe of the second layer on my nail, I was sold! It covered so smoothly and the dry time is FAST! .

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·         The Satorialist By Scott Schuman 

      I LOVE this book! Scott Schuman is a street photographer who focuses on fashion in daily life. This book is based on his blog . I got really excited when I saw this because I'm a huge fan of fashion blogs and a huge fan of books! What more can one ask for then to combine the two into one amazing little (but thick) bound coffee table type book. The pictures in this book are gorgeous, the style featured is phenomenal, and I think that even in a few years as trends change that this book will still stand strong.