Embellished Sweaters

Embellished Sweaters by vodka-caviar featuring sweatshirts hoodies

 

I am loving the embellished sweater trend this fall/winter! I always find wearing sweaters makes me feel frumpy and not very girly. But pairing a feminine embellished sweater with a pencil skirt, a pair of jeans or leather leggings makes wearing sweaters more fun and a lot more versatile! Top Shop, RW&Co, J. Crew and Club Monaco are all offering great styles and patterns to choose from in many different fabrics, cotton/cashmere.  If you're looking for something less expensive Forever 21 and Old Navy also have great styles to choose from! These sweaters are also a great alternative to layering on 2 or 3 necklaces or a bauble necklace that can get heavy by the end of the day. It's a subtle touch of girly and sparkle and I love!*

weekend snaps

Monday. Possibly the worst day of the week! Hope everyone had a great weekend! It always goes by so quickly. This past weekend was pretty busy! Friday I wanted to go out....so we told the cab driver to take us to Bloor West and we would randomly choose a place to eat! We walked past a very highly talked about Japanese Sake Bar called Guu, there was no line so we went in! SO DELISH! If you love Japanese and you like to share little plates this is the place {also very inexpensive!}! The food is great, the drinks are great and the atmosphere is lively and energetic! Saturday my friends were heading out for Halloween. I'm not a fan so I helped them all get ready! They all looked AMAZING as mermaids! Sunday, we try to go an experience all the different markets Toronto has to offer! Last weekend was China town this weekend was Korean! We wanted to make sushi so we headed to an amazing market that had everything and anything you would need! I always go crazy in those markets buying things I have no idea what to do with!!! Here are some iPhone snaps from the weekend!*

casual Friday!

{Jeans: Joe Fresh $29, Blazer: RW&CO $89, Pumps: MK $120, T-Shirt: boyfriends...} 

 

Drinks @ Guu

 

amazing graffiti

 

creating a "fish face"

 

delish black bean filled waffle fish

homemade sushi Sunday!

 

 

 

from Michelle Tanner to The Row

Who growing up in the 90's didn't love Full House. I came home everyday after school and had to watch it....who am I kidding I'm still obsessed with the 90's sitcom and love watching it and looking up random trivia and information. It's obvious that the most successful after the show are the Olsen Twins. They aren't in the spot light per say but their movies and eye for fashion have made the 26 year olds millionaires! I recently read this article {here} where the twins told Style News Now that little Michelle Tanner use to wear Marc Jacobs and Chanel on the show! Who knew...that's beyond amazing! They also designed their own wardrobe at the age of 5! When I was 5 I was playing with Barbie and Polly Pockets..... {fail}. This article lead me to The Edit where the twins talk about their new high fashion line The Row, founded to mirror the high-class quality of London's Savile Row. The Olsen's are very concentrated on fit and their goal is to be able to pair their everyday luxury wear with luxury designer labels such as Chanel and Marc Jacobs.

You can shop The Row at NET-A-PORTER but sadly, don't expect to be able to afford anything. The collection is beautiful but casual, ideal for pairing with statement pieces. Below are a few of my favorites from the collection that I will covet from afar!*

Wonlo Paneled Stretch-Leather Dress: $3,450

 

 

 

 

Ariale Cotton - Shantung Coat : $1,590

 



 

Topa Silk -Satin and Cashmere Jumpsuit: $4,190 

 





back to reality

Coming back to the city and then back to work after a relaxing long weekend away is almost tortuous. You look so forward to the weekend for weeks and it goes by in a flash.....we seriously need at least 2 long weekends a month to stay sane! This is my fourth Thanksgiving away from my family... which is fine {during University I was always working anyways}. This year like I mentioned earlier I went up to Manitoulin Island! I love love love going there! The ferry ride over is the best part, it really breaks the trip up so you're not driving the whole time and you can drink delish Caesars and watch Lake Huron go by while doing it! Once you're on the island life is literally at a standstill, it's so quiet the days linger on and the weather is almost always perfect! It was the best Thanksgiving setting for sure!  Hot apple cider, board games and turkey! Here are a few snapshots from the weekend! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving..... next stop... Christmas!*

Chi Cheemaun docking at South Baymouth

Bridal Vail Falls

afternoon drive down the island

Thanksgiving Dinner Table

my wonderful craftsmanship!

sun setting over Lake Huron

hiking down the river

Bridal Vail Falls {again}

Happy Thanksgiving!

YAY! Finally the long weekend! This week went by so slowly but it's finally Friday and Thanksgiving weekend! Tonight I am heading up to Manitoulin Island for the weekend! So excited to cottage this time of year, its so cold and you get to be so cuddly and warm....and eat lots of turkey! I love summer and dread the fall and winter but once the fall arrives I really enjoy it! All the awesome falls clothes, crisp air, beautiful colours and pumpkin spice lattes {pumpkin spice anything!} ...yummy! To get in the spirit of fall and Thanksgiving, I've shared some of favorite DIY's! Happy Thanksgiving!!*

Gilded Harvest Place Cards from {here}

Pumpkin Spice Biscotti from {here}

Glitter Pumpkin Candle Holders from {here}

smooth finish foundation powder

In past posts {here}I raved about how much I loved my Laura Mercier Foundation Powder #3 {$50}. It provided excellent coverage, you could use it wet or dry and it was very light weight and hypoallergenic which is key when I'm choosing make-up. I recently went to Sephora to purchase this product and it's been discontinued! I was shocked! I didn't know what to do! But fear not! This Foundation Powder is new and improved! It's now known as the Smooth Finish Foundation Powder. I was skeptical at how much better this product could get....considering I loved the original. But it really is better! It's described as a 'second skin' oil- free foundation powder, that can also be used wet or dry. I find applying the product wet first allows for optimum coverage, and then applying the powder dry afterwards creates a very natural look.

What it does: This silky smooth innovation offers a natural veil that imparts a color-true finish that lasts up to eight hours. It glides on effortlessly, camouflages, hydrates, and blurs fine lines, never settling into them. Ultra fine micronized pigments flex with skin for coverage that is even and flawless. Use it as a sheer to medium powder or build coverage using it wet.

What else you need to know:This powder is formulated with conditioning agents vitamin E and shea butter to provide hydrating, lightweight comfort. This product is dermatologist and allergy tested and suitable for all skin types, even sensitive.

One thing you need to know when you go to Sephora to pick up this new product, is the shade # you were using in the Foundation Powder {for example I was a #3} will not be the same in the Smooth Finish Foundation Powder {for example I am now a #5}. Sephora makes this transition fool proof by providing a chart that says.... if you a #3 you are now a #5!  EASY! You can also ask one of the consultants in the store to do a skintone test to pinpoint exactly what foundation colours in the store match your skintone for easy purchasing! The test literally take 40 seconds. The consultant takes 3 "pictures" of your skin {one from your forehead, one from your neck and one from your cheek} the camera instantly tells you what colour skintone you have and e-mails you your foundation matches!! Simple and painless and very very helpful!*

 

I am skintone number 2Y07, and these are a few of the foundations they sent me!

new start....new name!

It's been awhile since I last posted {almost 4 months}and I apologize. A lot has happened these past few months and I needed to take some time away from my blog and get my life sorted out. As I mentioned earlier in the summer I had moved from Calgary back to Ontario. Things in Calgary were not working out for me and I decided it was best to come back to Ontario where I was comfortable in the environment and surround myself with positive energy, friends and family. Sadly, with this move brought the ending of my relationship. Ultimately, I didn't feel things were working, and I truly believe that if we had not moved out west things would have ended up much differently, but I take it all as a learning experience and I do not regret anything about the past 2 years.

I recently moved to TORONTO!! I finally found a great new job after 8 months of looking, and things are looking up! This city is truly where I belong. I feel happy, healthy and excited to experience everything Toronto has to offer!

I didn't necessarily want to start a whole new blog and delete Vodka and Caviar. I had started that blog when I first moved out west as a way to let my friends and family know what I was up to! But I felt something needed to change. Today I changed my blogs name to Champagne Toasts! Toasting to a fresh new start in a new city. I don't want to delete Calgary from my life or my memory I want to be able to look back on my posts and remember the good times....this is just a transition just like my life has transitioned. I will be making minor changes, but nothing drastic! I want to focus on the city life and amazing spots I find and exciting things I'm doing! This city is filled with amazing shops, restaurants and things to see and I have only just scraped the surface!*