Giveaway!

Firstly, thanks for all the tips and good wishes for my upcoming trip!  I'm so excited, and I always love hearing the experiences of others!

I'm currently in Burlington, Vermont visiting my wonderful fellow intern from the summer, so my internet connection is a little spotty.  I have so many blogs to catch up on when I get back home!

But now for the giveaway!

Since the last Lilly-inspired art was successful, I thought I'd do another pick-your-Lilly-print-and-I'll-paint-it giveaway.  Here are a couple examples of what I've done in the past:

I painted this one for the last giveaway winner!  

I thought I can either do one large print, or if the winner prefers, I can do three smaller prints with a letter on each one to create a monogram, or one big one with a monogram. I'm up for making anything! 

So the rules:

1) For one entry, be or become a follower

2) For three more entries, blog about this giveaway

For a total of FOUR entries.

Please leave one comment with your total entry count and include an email address through which I can contact you.

The giveaway will end next Friday, March 4th, at 11:59pm.  I will announce the winner by the following Monday.

Good luck!  And thanks so much for following!

xoxo,

Graduation Trip to Italy!

It's official, my mom and I are off to Italy the day after I finish my very last college exam! I'm so excited!  My mom surprised me with the possibility of a trip to Italy a couple of weeks ago, but as of yesterday everything is now booked! We'll be in Italy April 29- May 12.

 

We're flying to Rome first to see the beatification of John Paul II on May 1st.  I've studied the Renaissance in several classes for my Art History degree, so I'm thoroughly excited to finally be able to see everything in person!  Although my mom jokingly (I hope) informed me that I would be the tour guide and expected to give historical information for everything.  I may have to sneak a textbook with me...

Then off to Florence by train.  Home of the Uffizi gallery!  Apparently art will be the theme of this trip, but I have no problem with that!  

And lastly Venice, from which we will fly back home to Canada. I've heard so many times that it is the most beautiful city in the world.  I'm bringing my sketchbook with me for this trip, and I'm sure I'll be inspired.  

This trip is long overdue.  My mom was supposed to come visit me in Poland after I finished my study abroad semester a couple of years ago, after which we would have travelled through Italy. Unfortunately I had to leave Europe early for my summer job, so the trip was postponed.  But I think it will be so much more special after this year!  It's the best way to celebrate the completion of both my Bachelor degrees, especially my art history degree.  I'm also glad it's going to be a ''girl's trip," with just my mom and me.  My father is a frantic traveler - speedwalks through the sites, stops for nothing, and takes thousands of pictures of architecture (granted, he is an architect, so I do understand this particular trait), but it means I never get to calm down, relax, and just enjoy the places I'm visiting. My mother is much prefers to walk slowly and let the surrounding city truly sink in, which will be the perfect way to enjoy a culture known for its leisurely approach to life.  Plus, my mom is a fellow coffee addict like myself, so she's the perfect person with whom to stop for cappuccino breaks!  

I've been reading a couple guidebooks since my mom broke the news, but I'd LOVE any suggestions from my readers!  If any one has any great travel tips, must-see sights, or too-good-to-pass-up cappuccino bars, please let me know!

I must say, there is nothing like planning a trip to Italy to inspire me to study study study for my upcoming Art of the High Renaissance Test!

xoxo,

PS- now that I've reached 100 followers, I'll be posting another giveaway within the next couple of days. So check back soon!

(images taken from google image search)

Kate Spade Fall 2011 Sneak Peek

So glad I subscribe to WWD's twitter feed!  I was reading through the NY fashion week updates when I found a WWD Kate Spade link!  I may be dying for Spring right now, but Kate Spade's Fall 2011 line is making the prospect of fall not seem all so terrible.  The looks:

Reminds me a little bit of the outfit Blair wore when she visited Yale

Channeling early Mad Men perhaps?

Such a lovely large ladylike bag! I WANT!!!

I love it when the Dior voluminous silhouette comes back in style!

Glad pink will still be in style in the fall!

Overall the collection seems a little too retro when put together, but individually most of the pieces are wonderful. The polished ladylike look comes back every couple of years, but I thoroughly like how Kate Spade has updated the classic look with bright colors and touches of whimsy.  I've slowly been trying to update my wardrobe to look more polished once I enter the work force (which will be in only a few short months! Eeek!), so I will definitely be looking to Kate Spade for more inspiration!

What does everyone else think of the new KS Fall 2011 line?

xoxo,

Looking for a Summer Internship: Emily Post is Hiring!

Looking for that unbelievable summer internship where you get to do more than fetch coffee?  Want to see tangible results from your daily work?  Want to work with sincerely kind and welcoming people?  Want to work on a classic American brand?  Then look no further than the Emily Post Institute!  Last summer I was unbelievably lucky enough to work as an intern for EPI, and it was one of the best experiences of my life!  EPI is currently accepting applications for Summer 2011, and I suggest you POUNCE on this opportunity! 


You can find more information on their Internship page.  There's even a video of last summer's interns explaining  their experiences (yes, even I'm on there)!  


Here is the job description:

Our interns learn to work in the nexus of media relations, publicity, marketing, web developement, seminars promotion and book publishing. We are a fast-paced but small and unique organization. Interns assist with all tasks required in a busy PR and marketing environment such as answering phones, proofreading, editing web pages, handling mailings and email blasts, coordinating events, and working on media pitches and materials. Successful candidates must be self-starters, have excellent verbal and written communication skills, good manners and a willingness to speak up. Experience with office software is helpful and a willingness to learn new systems is a must.

And the video:

Some of your tasks may include:

Putting your blogging skills to good use on Etiquette Daily

Writing original etiquette content (I co-wrote some college etiquette articles with another intern!)

Maintain the new website, launched last summer.

And...

Assist with event planning for business etiquette seminars 

Write press releases

Set up interviews

And so much more!

If you have any questions at all about my experience, feel free to send me an email (canadianprep@gmail.com)!  It's truly a great opportunity to do some great work, live in a charming city in Vermont, work with incredible people, and have some fun! 

xoxo,

My Makeup Miracle Workers

Unfortunately I'm not one of those lucky girls who looks great right after rolling out of bed.  I wake up with dark circles under my eyes, red splotches, and my eyelashes pointing every which way.  In high school I put on a little Clinique powder, some eyeshadow, clear mascara and called it a day. Then my freshman year of college while  volunteering in an elementary school one of the kids asked me who had given me a black eye. I realized the zombie look wasn't the best thing to wear anymore.  I've tried many many many products over the years, but here are my top miracle workers:

Boi-ing industrial-strength concealer from Benefit ($18) -  It's lightweight, doesn't get cakey, and seriously covers the darkness.  

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation ($45) -  It's not oily, it's lightweight, and it does an AMAZING job at evening out my skin tone.  It only takes a small pump to cover my entire face. 

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer ($22)- If I need a little extra help to cover imperfections, this stuff is great.  It blends really nicely, doesn't get chunky, and stays on really well almost all day.  Plus, a teeny tiny bit goes a long way.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick ($38) - Technically this is meant for cheeks, but I use mine as eyeshadow. The shimmer is really fine, and doesn't have that glitter effect.  I find it does wonders for brightening up my eyes after a long night of work.  I've used it everyday since my senior year of high school (so for over 4 years), and it's still going strong.  It's of course also great to add a little shimmer and color on the face.

MAC Fluidline ($15) - I've tried many eyeliners, and this one lasts the longest.  I've definitely rocked the raccoon look, with brown smudged lines prominently displayed below my eyes.  I've only had Fluidline for a week now, but it's the only eyeliner I've ever used that has stayed put from morning to night.  It's also really soft, making it easy to put on with my small angle brush.

Eyelash curler.  Any similar metal one is great.  Does WONDERS for opening up eyes, making me seem more awake than I actually am.  

Nars blush in Orgasm ($27)- One of the most popular blushes in North America, and now I know why!  It gives a great sun-kissed color, with a little gold shimmer.  It's also well concentrated, so a couple sweeps of the brush adds a great color.  

For mascara I mainly use whatever waterproof mascara is cheapest.  I find that after curling my lashes, I don't really need too much mascara. And I use a light MAC sheer powder on top of my foundation and concealer to seal everything in.  Some of the products are a little pricey, but I've used both drugstore and department store brands, and these ones all last so much longer, making them worth it.  Yes, there are many steps to my process, but I've got it down to under 15 minutes now.  And hey, as the saying goes, it takes a lot of work to get that "natural" look!

xoxo,

  

It Sure Is Nice to Go Home Every Once and a While

I'll admit that I thoroughly enjoy the freedom and independence that comes with going to school away from home, but it sure is nice to go home every once and while. For one, I finally get to do my laundry exactly how I like it, and as many loads as I want, without having to carry around 5lbs of change for the machines.  But the best part of going home is that I get to see my parents again, and it's also nice to be the pampered kid again.

So Friday my Contemporary Art History class was scheduled to make a visit to the National Gallery in Ottawa (with the bus leaving Kingston Friday 8am) to visit an exhibit on which we are to write a review.  I decided to take advantage of this educational excuse for travel to Ottawa and head home Thursday night to stay for the weekend.  And even better, my Monday morning class is cancelled, so I got to stay an extra day at home.

I drove home Thursday night (thankfully the roads had been plowed after the epic snowfall Wednesday), and my mom surprised me with a dozen baby cupcakes from Thimble Cakes.

They were so yummy, with each cupcake having a different color and flavor of icing.  Such a nice surprise after a tough week at school!

Friday I walked along the Rideau Canal to the National Gallery to meet my class and stopped at a French bakery for a cup of coffee and one of the most amazing croissants I've ever had.  Such a great start to an already glamorous day (skipping school for a trip to an art gallery, yeah, the ONLY time I'll ever get to do this).  After spending a couple hours desperately trying to write down the information of the art pieces, we realized they sold books with detailed info on each piece.  If only I had known before, I would have actually enjoyed the exhibit.  Oh well, at least I now have all the info I need readily available to me in my new book.  Stopping for a late lunch in my favorite Italian Bottega with one of my classmates and then grabbing a latte, it was the perfect end to my artsy educational trip. 

And I really never get the chance to go shopping at school because, well I'm on a slim student budget, and because there are slim pickings in Kingston.  So I lucked out Saturday and managed to convince my father of my necessity for these beauties from Sperry Topsider:

I have a very hard time finding good boots because I have bigger than normal calves.  Which means that as much as I have been dying for a pair of bright pink Hunter boots, I can't get them because they just won't fit over my tree trunk calves :(  So I when I discovered these Sperry Hingham boots on sale for $60, last pair, in my size, I didn't get my hopes up that they would soon belong to me.  But they magically fit! And boy are they comfy!  They are lined in fleece throughout, making them warm enough to use for the rest of winter.  They'll be great to wear as the snow begins to melt, because my uggs cannot live through any more puddles. They will also look great in the fall with my favorite jcrew corduroy blazer.  I think they're my new favorite boots!

And Saturday my parents and I went to see True Grit. I barely go to the movies while I'm in school, so this is a nice treat.  I've heard good things about it, so I was really looking forward to it.  I honestly loved it.  It took a REALLY long time to finally be able to understand what Jeff Bridges' character was saying, but it was a much funnier movie than I expected.

Greatest news of all, my mom starting planning a mother-daughter trip to Italy! I'm so excited! I've been studying Renaissance art for the last couple of years in various art history courses, so it will be great to finally get to see everything in person.  I really hope this trip works out, because I've been DYING to go to Italy! 

Hope everyone in the north is taking advantage of this beautiful weather we've been having lately!

xoxo,

Soundtrack Sunday

{via}

Today's music comes care of Unabashedly Prep.  Each month F.E. Castleberry puts out a new AMAZING playlist for free download.  I've been anxiously waiting since February 1st for this one!

You can find this playlist here! Just click on the image and it will begin downloading.

And I'm dangerously close to 100 followers!  Looks like I may need to plan another giveaway... Perhaps some more personalized art?

xoxo,

New AMAZING Stationery Find: Paperless Post

While Emily Post may not fully approve of electronic Thank You cards, Paperless Post has taken e-cards to a classically new level.  I don't even remember how I discovered this site, but I'm so glad I did!  The designs are amazing! They look very much like what Crane products would look like if they ever went electronic.  The graphics are very crisp, the designs classic, and best of all, you can completely personalize EVERY aspect of your card.  You can even send your card in an envelop, with its own personal liner.  I had so much fun making cards:

You can also make invitations and such! It's so much fun to play away with the custom features!

xoxo,