Wedding Reception tasting

Standing in the parking lot of our wedding venue. Spent the afternoon there on a glorious Mediterranean summer afternoon tasting our potential wedding menu. Still needs some work in my opinion, but that just means I get to go back and eat more. Score.

Idiot me forgot her bathing suit in London and couldn't take advantage of the amazing pool. Wore a copy YSL shirt from a market, some old cut off shorts, Acne belt, Tom Ford sunnies, Calvin Klein bra, and Isabel Marant shoes. Honestly, cannot wait to go back.

Topshop Dress

This is, by far, my favourite dress this summer. I originally went into Topshop wanting to buy the neon green version but it was sold out in my size so I opted for the alternative neon pink. It has been scorching hot this summer in some parts of the world (obvi not London) and this bad boy has proved worthy of the heat, especially if you're like me and hate your clothes sticking to your body when you sweat. Yum. I tried to find it online for you but it seems to be sold out. When I went home to Toronto though, in June, I found tons of them at the Topshop in Yorkdale. Fingers crossed its now on sale! Although at a RRP of £40 it's not too shabby.

These photos were taken on another wedding planning trip in Florence. We were on our way to dinner and stopped by the Duomo to take some pics. We're trying to test out as many good eats as we can so hopefully our guests will have lots to choose from during their stay!

Paired this dress with some Isabel Marant shoes (bought on sale for 70% off! Bargain hunter strikes again!), a Balenciaga bag, and various bits of gold jewellery.

As an aside, how's everyone enjoying the Olympics? I'm heading there today for my first event: diving. I have 3 in total and hope to see Usain Bolt in action! Admittedly, it is quite cool having the games on in the city you're living in.

Wedding Venues...and more

Amongst the beautiful trees, which I swear graze the clouds, was the third venue we looked at. Driving up to this venue wasn't anything less than extraordinary. Ferragamo's villa was just up the road (which we accidentally drove into while trying to find the place).


And finally, the last venue we saw. Mass needed a little convincing, but I was certain as I walked in that this was it.

But what we really went to Italy for was for this beautiful baby boy...





Please join me in welcoming my new (and first!) nephew, Michele Marinelli.

Betsey Johnson dress (super old), COS shirt (last year), Kurt Geiger pumps (my most overused and most valued pair!), Hat from Italy

I will be away for the next week on Easter hols, so will see you upon my return!

Wedding Venues

Over the weekend we went to Florence to check out wedding venues for our upcoming nuptials. We soon realised that you really cannot rely on the photos online because the entire venue feels different when you get there.




After a very early 6am flight into Pisa, we drove to Florence to check out the first of five venues. These photos were taken at the first site, a castle in the Chianti region. Beautiful place but I think too out of the city for us. Once you get there, you won't be leaving for three days.



Walked around the huge property in these new Zara shoes. I'm always a little apprehensive about buying shoes from high street stores, not because I think I'm better than them, but because they almost always have a slight defect in them. For example, these shoes had a metal tag inside the sole of the shoe therefore I was always wobbling left and right. Odd right? Sometimes you get what you pay, and in this case it was £29.99.

Aside from that, I loooove the colour combo and would wear them again! Would probably forego wearing them whilst touring a property though.

Miu Miu blouse, Palizzi necklace, Current Elliot jeans, Zara shoes, Hermes belt

Aritiza

Photos were taken in Italy when Mass and I went back to tell his family the good news about our engagement. I bought this coat in NY at..Aritzia! Funny because I have spent years trying not to buy Aritzia clothing because they are on each and every small Asian girl in Canada but when I saw this Wilfred coat, my love affair started. It's so male domineering yet slimming enough to make someone as short as me, look tall.

Talking about this coat makes me feel much happier since I completely bombed my interview and advising exam! Praying to the competency Gods.

Wilfred coat, COS dress, Theysken Theory boots

beach earrings

Missing my tan (it fades so quickly!). Bought these wicked earrings on the beach in Sardinia, literally!

Heading to Provence early tomorrow morning for the wedding of my lovely Janet! Hopefully will add some colour to a fading base...

ode to steve jobs

new pair of ray bans are my ode to steve jobs (in hopes of a speedy recovery).

worn with Elie Tahari tunic

finally some sun

Love Mass' combo here


Favourite Sardinian wine...


Finally got some sun on my skin! The ombre hair has also lasted hasn't it? Surprisingly too after my traumatic hair job the first time around. Tan's starting to fade already....

Today is Mass' bday! Happy birthday big boy! hehe We just got home from dinner and I smell like a barbeque. Will show you why tomorrow. Goodnight!

colours of the rainbow

Sardinia is definitely not the place for vibrant colours. In fact, the entire restaurant turned and stared when I showed up in this. Thankfully I gave Mass' parents a heads up about my colour scheme before they got a glimpse. Though I think they're pretty used to Mass' eccentric style so it's nothing abnormal anymore.



Haven't had a chance to wear this Nico Di Donna top very often this summer since it's been a bloody nightmare of a season in London. Finally broke it out since purchasing it in the spring only to get seafood backsplash on it..oops. It goes from conservative to slightly scandalous when you open the back up. A bare back (not mine) is my favourite part of the female body.

new choos

Bought these while in Milan a few weeks ago. They are my go to pair for everything...dress down, dress up, anything works. My first pair of Choos too! Python skin Jimmy Choos.

Weddings and Friends

Wearing Gianluca Capannolo dress, Palizzi necklace, Dries Van Noten shoes, Louis Vuitton purse

A few weekends ago, Mass and I headed back to his hometown for 36 hours to attend a friend's wedding. Out of the entire small town wedding I think he and I were one of the few couples, if not the only, who made the effort from out of town. Albeit it gave us a chance to see his family and enjoy mother's day with his mom but our primary reason was for the wedding.

I moved to London four years ago. I was lucky enough to find my favourite person here and have subsequently decided to stay. My decision to stay was based almost entirely on him and my career. What it did not concern was the other relationships I built here. Now, I realise that may sound harsh but it's true. When living in a revolving door city like London, invaluable friends are very difficult to find. I have been to countless leaving drinks, had good friends come in and out of the city (sometimes twice!), and had the 'get to know you conversation' about a thousand times. I can count on one finger a friend who has been here throughout my entire journey that still lives in London.

As a friend, I make a very conscious effort to stay in touch. I will never shy away from getting in contact on a regular basis. When I go home, where most of my good friends live, I love getting everyone together. Every time it seems like we never missed a beat. And I will always make the trip for their wedding.

The point I'm trying to make here is that good friends are difficult to find so when you do come across one, don't let them forget how much they mean to you. Even if that means flying over just to be there for them.

La Scala

While in Milan Mass surprised me with tickets to La Scala to watch a short modernised opera, Quartett. I can't say it was a favourite of mine but the opportunity to see the theatre and hear the acoustics was astounding.


Inside La Scala. Beautiful isn't it?

I love how everyone still dresses up to go to the opera. I chose something pretty flexible since we had casual dinner plans with friends afterwards. I was wearing Baron Y skirt, Maurie and Eve sequin top, Queens Wardrobe leather jacket, Prada bag and CL shoes.

Top of the Duomo

Photos from the top of the Duomo.

Milano pt 1

It was my first time in Milan a couple weekends ago! I was very excited to go given all the great things I constantly hear about it. It definitely did not let me down. I don't think it's my favourite Italian city/village but I do think it has a lot to offer. We spent our first evening eating at Cracco. It was a traditional Michelin star meal - very creative and many many courses.

And if you know Mass, you know he loves perusing the wine lists. You can imagine how long this one took:

WOWZA.


I guess we eventually chose one.



10 hours later...


We left....to have another drink. :)

Have a pleasant Tuesday evening!

HAPPY belated NEW YEAR

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI dress, KURT GEIGER shoes, WOLFORD tights, BCBG necklaces, VINTAGE ROLEX watch

Back from my week long hiatus induced solely by a crappy internet connection at home. Anyway, I wore this dress to ring in 2011. I absolutely LOVE the balloon sleeves and I will definitely be wearing this again to show in more detail later. The designer is the unbelievable Italian artist Giambattista Valli, whom I love for his wedding designs especially. I got this dress at Holt Renfrew Last Call for only $268! What an absolute steal. It went down from an original retail price of $3000! It's actually supposed to be a shirt but at size 8 it fits me like a dress.

We went to a cheesy Italian restaurant in Toronto, Sotto Sotto, for dinner with the family and then off to a party with some friends. Don't my sister and I look alike?

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!