Smitten by the Trench Coat

It is unfortunate, but the weather in Kingston has been downright depressing.  Sure the day may begin with a slight glimmer of sunshine, but undoubtedly the clouds and rain will usher in sooner or later during the day.  We're blessed with a few instances of that perfectly crisp, sunny, mildly chilly fall weather, but mainly it's cold, windy, and dreary.  While the weather simply makes me want to curl up in bed with an episode of Glee, Gossip Girl, or the Good Wife (apparently I'm partial to shows with the letter G prominently in the title), the cold weather gear offers me some reason to go out and endure the gloom.

Here is where I admit that I am a trench-a-holic.  Ever since I discovered how well they minimize and yet flatter my hourglass shape I keep snatching them up!  I started with a classic black trench from London Fog and have since purchased

short bright blue one from Banana Republic that is not very water resistant, but still perfect for spring

a classic sturdy khaki one, also from Banana Republic

 

and lastly this one while in Boston, again Banana Republic.

The only difference is that mine is a navy and black plaid (highly convenient, as it goes with everything).  It's a superb trench - lightweight for warmer days, mostly water resistant, and pretty well wind proof. It also packs quite compactly, so it carries well in my class tote.

I do love that I can now wear my trench coats so often.  I somehow feel much more elegant as soon as I put one on - and yet mysterious too when I'm wearing sunglasses, like I'm on a secret mission.  I definitely add a little bounce to my step as I march on to class.  And of course I feel a reference to Blair Waldorf.  Sometimes I'll even put on a large headband and carry my bright pink Kate Spade Quinn to finish the look.  Although I've tried wearing my pumps to class too to really complete the Blair look, but that just didn't end too well. I'll stick to my Bass loafers, thank you.

I always love how elegant and classic Blair looks, even if she may not always act in the same manner.

And now for those that I'm mildly coveting from Burberry that I don't think I'll be able to add to my collection any time soon:

I love everything about this trench - the cut, the  color, the large pattern.  It's elegant, yet creative, with an air of wittiness about it.

I think the addition of pleats makes this one very feminine.  It almost seems more like a dress than a coat.

Yes, not a trench,  but it still makes me drool!  For a preppy girl with hips, the a-line waist makes this coat a great update on the classic quilted coat.  And of course it's pink, so it's that much better!  This may make its way on to my please-oh-please-oh-please Christmas Wish List.

Any one else have an obsession with the trench?  Perhaps there is a support group I can join...

xoxo,

Beloved Boston

These pictures are very overdo, but I accidentally left my camera behind after I visited my roommate so I could not access my photos.  After driving back down to Vermont after Canada Day (I went home to Ottawa to see the Queen on Canada Day) I had some trouble at the border, so I decided not to risk crossing over again until I was ready to head home at the end of my internship.  As such, my parents came to me!  I showed them a wee bit around Burlington, introduced them to the folks at Emily Post, and had a lovely time dining in the yummy restaurants in town.  Since Boston is merely 4 hours away from Burlington, we packed up and headed down for a weekend.   Boston is beautiful!  I hadn't been back in years, and I was so happy to go back.

We arrived at night and went for dinner at The Black Rose, one of our favorite Irish Pubs in the city and were lucky enough to enjoy some live music, first in the pub, and then in the nearby market square.

The next day my mom and I let my dad go off on his own to take pictures of architecture (both of my parents are architects) while we did some shopping.  Boston had great shopping! We hit up all of our favorite places, most of which cannot be found in Canada.  I went to Vineyard Vines for the first time, where I ran into some Lilly-clad Ladies holding several In the Pink shopping bags.  They let me know of the amazing sale they were having (everything in the store at least 30% off), at which point I abandoned the second polo I was about to purchase and immediately made my way to Newbury Street to fill my own hands with In the Pink shopping bags.  I quickly snatched up a clutch, a tank, a Del Mar dress, and cropped pink cardigan that will be perfect to wear over dresses.  The ladies who worked there were absolutely amazing.  So kind and helpful.  And then of course there were the usual fabulous stores on Newbury that were fun to peruse.

Me in front of Trinity Church

Of course we headed over to Cambridge to visit Harvard.  I hadn't been since my college-tour days, when I was anxiously applying to schools.  It was much more relaxing this time around.

I have a strange love for gates and arches.  Must be the architecture brainwashing I've endured since childhood.

I wonder what the admission requirements are for squirrels.

I thought it was really funny to see Yale-branded construction equipment at Harvard.

I love this house.  And look, there's a black Volvo S60 just like mine in the driveway.  It's a sign!

Harvard Business School.  It made me actually consider going for an MBA.  

Harvard Boathouse.  I've never been inside the Harvard boathouse, but if it's anything like the Princeton boathouse, it's probably spectacular.

MIT sailboats.  It was such a beautiful day- so many people were our sailing.  

We also visited the JFK Library and Museum, which was doing a special exhibit on his election.  The entrance sticker was a copy of his campaign buttons.  It now has a special place on the back of my Blackberry.

That's right, all that was separating me from one of Jackie's wonderful outfits was a few cm of glass and a foot of air!  That day I learned that Jackie was apparently a bit of a trouble maker in elementary school.  It's good to know that not everyone is perfect all the time.

On the way back to Burlington we stopped first in Salem, where unfortunately tourist traps polluted the once quaint town.  While we were driving through New Hampshire I made my dad stop in Dartmouth.  I wanted to see how its business school compared to that of Harvard.  

It was nice, but not quite as incredible as HBS. 

I had a great time in Boston and the little stops on the way back.  I already miss Boston, there was so much to see and do, and so many perfect old-school preppies, especially around Beacon Hill.  I just may have to put it on my list of places to live. 

xoxo,

Sharpie LOVE!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE Sharpies.  No, not love, am OBSESSED with them.  I have a massively growing collection, and I've recently purchased more!

I picked up a large pack of 24, complete with new Caribbean colors. With names such as Flamingo (pink), Stingray (purplish gray), and Lime Daiquiri (green), I was too tempted to resist.

And then Lizzie Post introduced me to this wonderful tool - the Sharpie pen.  If you haven't tried it yet, you must!  It's amazing.  It writes so smoothly, doesn't bleed, and doesn't smear (a key feature for lefties like me).

I picked up a couple of Sharpie paint pens at Michael's this summer, and they're great. I've been using them to label everything from folders and binders to cups and bottles.  They work great, are very smooth, and are relatively permanent.  Plus they're just super fun to use.

And last, but not least...

Now you can personalize your Sharpies!  Ok, so this feature has been available for a while, but I've never tested it out.  I'm a bit tempted to order these,  but for $11.99 for 6 plus shipping, I might be able to resist them a little while longer.  They'd be super cute for graduation parties, to have everyone sign you yearbook in personalized pens, but for now, I think I can live without.

Is anyone else as obsessed as I am?  Anyone found any amazing sharpies that I just don't know about yet?

xoxo,

*all images found on Sharpie.com

Belated Canada Day and a View of the Queen

I finally got my camera back and realized that I forgot to post pictures from Canada Day and the visit from the Queen!  Below are some pictures from the day.  I drove back from Vermont for the amazing opportunity to see the Queen, only to get a view of her hat from a very very far distance.  I went with some friends from school. My father went off by himself at saw the Queen twice!  All of her, not just her hat!  I don't know how he did it, but you'll see the pictures I took versus the one he took.

The picture I took. I couldn't snap my camera quickly enough to take a picture of her hat, but I did get a picture of the giant screen in front of Parliament.

The amazing picture my dad took.  He probably could have jumped over  the barricades and touched her he was so close!

The sunset that day on the bridge near my house.  Thankfully my parents live on the canal and only about a 20 minute walk to Parliament, so it was perfect for Canada Day.  We left early to see the Queen, returned home for food and a nap, and then went back to see the fireworks.

The fireworks were beautiful.

It was such a great day - filled with fireworks, royal sightings, friends, yummy food, and Canadian pride!

xoxo,

Mad for Mad Men

I LOVE Mad Men.  I love the clothes, the affectations, the traditions, and the vintage marketing concepts (excuse the moment of business school geekiness).   I think my favorite character is Joan.

I may also be partial because she quotes Emily Post in the episode in which she throws a dinner party for her husband and his hospital supervisors.  She's great because she is intelligent, hardworking, and authentically beautiful.  

I was so anxious after the end of the last season and certainly could not wait until this season started. But holy moly am I ever irked by so many characters all of a sudden!  I always knew Betty was a bit of a demanding princess, but she has really disappointed me this season.  Sally has  become a very obnoxious child.  And Don is taking out his personal frustrations on everyone else (poor Peggy!).  I know these are only television characters, but some of them really need a stern talking to!  Is anyone else just as frustrated?

And time for another shameless Emily Post plug:  In time for the Mad Men Season 4 premier this July, The Emily Post Institute created a Recipe for a Mad Men Viewing Party.  You can find it here : http://emilypost.com/social-life/entertaining-at-home/474-recipe-for-a-mad-men-viewing-party-courtesy-of-emily-post .  If you're looking to throw a Mad Men-esque dinner party (Emily Post approved, of course) this will tell you how to celebrate in style.  Perhaps you can throw a party for the Season 4 finale, or even for the Season 5 premiere ( I really hope Mad Men gets picked up for another season!). 

xoxo,