How To Stop Selling Yourself Short

Yesterday someone asked me if I was a designer. Immediately I responded no, referring to my 9-5 conference planning job. After chatting with this person and talking a bit about what I love and my blog, I came to the realization that I am a designer. It may not be what I went to school for or my so called career, but I design all the time. Whether it's in my home, with my outfits, or a makeup look, I am designing. This person then went on about how she is never wrong with her intuition and that she knew I had a knack for the creative/design world. She also went on to say how special this gift is and when something comes more natural to you that we often forget it is not like that for everyone. Just like I cannot perform acupuncture, some people can not fathom putting outfits together. Sometimes we think that we all have the same innate knowledge, but we do not.  No one on this planet has the same eye as you do. You see things differently than everyone else and your perceptions are what makes you unique.

I really took this to heart and started reflecting on our conversation more and more. I realized that you don't need to have a degree in something to be something. You don't need to go to school to become a master at something and you are so much more than a piece of paper or what you do for a living. We cannot sell ourselves short. Do you love to bake? You're a baker! Do you love to bicycle? Then you're a cyclist! It's so important to not put these limitations on ourselves as they will just end up impeding on our dreams.

So how do we stop selling ourselves short?

Acknowledge your successes. Do not brush things off and do not play down your accomplishments. When someone says you put together a fabulous outfit do not just brush it off and say "oh, this old thing!". Say thank you and really appreciate that yes you did put together a fabulous outfit. Accept the praise in all walks of life.

Forgot the word "just". We all do it. I "just" write a blog, or I am "just" working here. Um, hello! Do you know how much goes into "just" writing a blog? The workload is insane. And you're not "just" working here. You are gaining valuable experience every day to take you where you need to go.

Do something every day to get you closer to your dreams. Take the little steps to get you where you want to be. Don't say no to opportunities. Take something out of the suckiest of situations and put yourself out there.

Accept that you are so much more. You do not need to compare yourself to your own expectations or someone else's experience. We all need to stop selling ourselves short and focus on our current achievements and future successes.

W H A T  I ' M  W E A R I N G:
Shop LangSURA top (similar, similar), Tobi maxi skirt (similar), Old Navy sandals (similar), DIY straw bag


P.S. The lavender fields at Terre Bleu are a dream come true! Also, did you know I made this bag? Check out the DIY here.

How to Wear A Maxi in the Fall + GIVEAWAY

I know what you're thinking... "a pastel maxi dress for fall? You must be crazy!" But, no I am totally not kidding. Maxi dresses are comfortable, versatile, the ultimate layering piece, and if paired with some great accessories, can take your wardrobe from summer to fall. You last saw this maxi dress here, when the wildflowers were overtaking the fields, and the heat of summer was fierce and fabulous. That also meant there was no way I was even adding a belt to this dress for fear of over heating. Fast forward to last weekend; the sun was shinning but that fall chill was definitely in the air. I paired this maxi with some of my favourite fall accent pieces including my go-to leather coat, my favourite new Shop for Jayu sunglasses (keep scrolling to win a $60 gift card to the shop!) and a perfect pearl pair of freshwater cultured pearl Pandora earrings to take this style beyond the season.

Looking for a few ways to style your maxi for fall? Here'w how you can totally maximize the use of your maxi!

1. Layer. Leather coat, trench coat, chambray blouse, oversized sweater, cardigan, or even a long sleeve shirt underneath; they all work! If the maxi is a loose fitting piece try adding a belt to give some definition. Or if you want to go for the oversized look, throw on a turtleneck overtop!

2. Pair with booties. Booties can make any outfit seem fall appropriate, don't you think?

3. Colour change-up. Instead of pairing with a white bucket bag, or a pink crossbody, try pairing your maxi with accessories in standard fall colours like cognac, grey, brown and cream. Bags and sunglasses are the perfect pieces to incorporate these colours.

What I'm Wearing

Shein Patchwork Spghetti Strap Maxi Dress c/o

Shop for Jayu Cedar Bench Beige sunglasses c/o

Sophie Hulme "Albion" East/West Tote in Charcoal Grey

Pandora White Pear earrings c/o 

Le Chateau Suede-Like Open Toe Ghillie Tie Sandal  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Elegant Wedding Maxi

New York was a whirlwind of a trip! We started off in Long Island for my cousin's wedding then headed to the city for a few nights. In Long Island we spent the days catching up with family, and I even made it out for a Target run! In the city we walked for miles, ate so much delicious food (more to come) and rode bikes in Central Park. The little getaway was such a blast but crazy hectic! For the wedding I had been on the hunt for a colourful, elegant, summery dress but couldn't find anything leading up to August. Well, okay... that's a lie. I found loads, but was not ready to pay the steep price for a piece I would wear once! Enter my saving grace: Fitzroy Boutique.

Fitzroy Boutique first opened up as a pop-up shop in 2011, and has since been a fantastic online destination for hard to find glam, boho styles. Their recently launched Rent A Dress program is so great for any occasion, think birthday parties, bachelorette, galas or maybe an upcoming TIFF party! The concept is simple: go to the shop, try on a dress, book your rental and leave happy! You can go in on the evening of and find the perfect last minute piece when you find yourself having a "nothing to wear" moment. Rentals are for 4 or 8 days and prices typically range from $50-$90, dry cleaning included. Owners Angela and Jules are so sweet and make you feel right at home in their shop. And I love their slogan-- "think of us like your best friend's closet, only with better stuff". It's so fitting! Sometimes you just want to wow, and know you'll never wear the piece again, so why not pay a fraction of the price and look amazing? Some of their brands include For Love and Lemons, Narces and Show Me Your Mumu.

As soon as I saw this stunning Silk Bibb Maxi dress by Contrarian New York I knew it was the one. It retails for $550 and I'm sure you've seen all the celebs sport this v-neck, open back beauty. I love how vintage Hollywood it looked alongside the glitter clutch and long Shop for Jayu necklace.

Fitzroy Boutique will be located at 98 Ossington Avenue in Toronto until September 30th, but be sure to follow them @fitzroyboutique for upcoming location news and to see all the newly added styles! Seriously, do yourself a favour and check them out for your next event, the whole collection is amazing.

What I'm Wearing

Bibb Maxi Dress by Contrarian New York- via Fitzroy Boutique's Rent A Dress program

Shop for Jayu Bar & Circle Necklace

Kate Spade clutch

This post was in collaboration with Fitzroy Boutique, as they allowed me to test out their new dress rental program. All opinions are my own.

Maxi in the Wild

Is anyone else trying to soak up as much of the lazy summer afternoons as much as possible? I for one am doing so by wearing as many summery pieces as I can and taking full advantage of lounging outside in the breezy wind and glistening sunshine whenever I get the chance. This past weekend I made a point to enjoy a few hours of the afternoon air. Just spending time outside feels so good for the soul. I had a quintessential summer moment, sitting in the sun, reading, with a ice pop in hand. It may be shameful to admit, but I am still reading Girls by Emily Cline. Is anyone else reading this book at the moment? I am finding it kind of slow to get into but I really want to finish it before starting another book! 

I love this Shein dress for afternoons of doing sweet nothing. It's such a flowy, comfortable dress, but I love that I can dress it up with a gold metallic belt and be ready for a night out.  They really have a dress for every occasion. 

How are you taking full advantage of the summer sun?!

What I'm Wearing 

c/o Shein Multicolour Patchwork Spaghetti Strap Maxi Dress

Poppy & Peonies The Crossbody Black (insert) 

As always, all opinions are my own. This post was in collaboration with Shein. 

Black Slit Sunday

Black, white, lace, a high slit…this outfit just screams drama (feel free to call me Angelina! After all, my middle name is Angela!) But seriously,  an outfit like this can only be fit for celebrating some big news! READY FOR IT…... 

After how many years, Brandon and I are finally moving in together! The discussion to move in together has been happening for a while now, but the opportunity to actually make the move came quick and everything just fell into place. While the house isn't technically "ours-ours", it's still a place we can call our own and start this next chapter of our lives. I've been so, so busy trying to get everything together, but wanted to finally share the exciting news! You've probably already started seeing some decor related Instagrams and Snapchats and will definitely be seeing more posts centered on interior design, so it was time to share why! 

No exciting news is complete without a celebration, and no celebration is complete without a fancy outfit. I am loving the high slit maxi skirts as of late. They are a nice change from all the mini dresses I've been sporting for summer. You still get that openness with the slit, but they provide a totally different vibe to the outfit, and still one that you can take from day to night. You saw my striped maxi day time look here, but with a few change ups this maxi is ready to take on the town, and a glass of bubbly! 

Once again, I'm acting as queen of the multi dimensional closet, and am sporting a romper underneath my skirt. I can't recommend doing this enough! First off, you totally re-purpose your pieces, you get so much more out of your wardrobe, and in the end you may just save money. You're buying less new pieces as you get more function out of your older ones! Or in my case it will just leave you with more to spend on things like pots and pans (how fun....)

What do you guys think of my second sassy little slit maxi? Enough mood for you? And let me know if you'd like to see more decor related posts. I can't wait for this design process and definitely want to take you along!

What I'm Wearing

c/o Tobi Still Love You Maxi Skirt

The Store on Queen romper (similar via Tobi)

Zara Thick Ankle Strap Heel (identical)

Tory Burch Britten Clutch

Check out Tobi for their great selection maxi skirts, rompers, and accessories! 

Garden Girl & DIY Flower Bouquet

Is it obvious The Secret Garden was one of my favourite books growing up? This weekend I spent time frolicking around in my mom's gorgeous gardens picking fresh peonies, and also went to The Toronto Flower Market. I felt as though I was living Mary's tale. This floral maxi dress is beyond romantic; it feels like such a dream to walk around in. The slit opens, the wind blows the light fabric aside and suddenly you're walking in a fairytale with the dress billowing in the wind. The print is summertime perfect and it pairs so well with that heavenly, golden hour shimmer. The price point also makes it so easy to justify adding another floral dress to my wardrobe. (Bonus-- from June 12th-14th you can score this dress with free shipping worldwide!)

Fresh cut flowers are my weakness. I love picking them and setting them up all throughout the house. There is just something so romantic, intoxicating and lovely about them, and I'm sure you can relate. The look, the feel, and most definitely the smell. But, I didn't just spend time prancing around in gardens for the sheer joy of it (although I could have); I also had a purpose. I love giving flowers as gifts. If your lucky enough to have the resources, like a garden, it can be so easy to put together these arrangements for friends and family. Taking a little bit of extra time to curate a sweet, little bouquet makes the gift that much more special.

Here are my tips on making the assortment of flowers in your garden come together in a beautiful bouquet.

Also, what do you think of this maxi? I paired it with a purple, moody lip (MAC- Hang Up) to add a touch of romance!

Flower Picking

1. Bring a large vase full of water outside with you to prolong the flowers' life.
2. Choose a colour scheme or a few colours you want to work with. 
3. Pick 3-5 blooms of each flower variety. (In this case I was working with all peonies, but once the others bloom I will be mixing and matching!)
4. Don't be afraid to add in a touch of greenery to really hone in on the natural beauty.
5. Leave a big enough stem so you can adjust the length afterwards.
**If you are picking peonies be sure to allow yourself enough time to hang upside down, or to lay flat so that the ants will work their way out of the blooms. Be sure to do this away from the house! You can also give them a good (gentle) shake!

Making The Arrangement

1. Group the flowers into individual piles so you can see what you're working with.

2. Pick your focal point (1 bloom) and add greenery/foliage encircling that bloom. 

3. Add different varieties of flowers around the greenery. 

4. Finish off the last layer with greenery. 

5. Re-cut the tips on an angle to your desired length. 

6. Tie with raffia or garden string right above your hands. Keep in fresh water until you are leaving, or set aside in vase for display.

What I'm Wearing

Shein dress (free shipping worldwide from June 12-14!) c/o

Old Navy sandals (on sale!!)

Checklist For The City

Before going away, or even going to the mall, I like to prepare myself by making a list or mental note of pieces that I am currently coveting. This not only helps me avoid making impulse purchases, but also prevents me from getting overwhelmed by the wide selections. In a city like New York this is extremely important since I could literally find must-have pieces in every shop I enter! Tomorrow morning I am headed to NYC for a weekend getaway with my mom, and below I have made a list of similar pieces I am on the hunt for.  While we tend to avoid visiting Times Square and other classic tourist spots, I am particularly excited for long brunches, walking along The High Line, and the (sort of) purpose for our trip - The San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy. Check back to see if I stay true to my list, or follow me on Instagram for more updates! 

1. Zara Pointed Flat Shoe 

2. Talula Lenox Sweater

2. Vince Camuto Tricera Bootie 

4. Topshop Navy Open Leg Maxi Skirt