Contest: Win $40 gift certificate from CSN Stores

CSN Stores has been kind enough to sponsor my latest giveaway!

Win a $40 gift certificate redeemable at any of their stores.

Choose from items like:

A Dutch Oven

Bedding

And MUCH more.

To enter:

Comment on this post and tell me why you think you should receive the gift certificate.

You get extra entries for entering on Facebook also.

Best response wins the gift certificate!

(Contest is open to residents of Canada & US only!)

Contest ends Monday, August 23, 2010

CSN Stores has over 200 retailers to choose from, so there's no doubt that you'll find something!

Aritzia F/W 10

A couple weeks ago I attended the Aritzia Fall/Winter 2010 fashion show.

Here are some of the looks that were shown:

Love the skinny cargos - especially with the boots

This sweater looks so comfy

I really want an army green jacket for Fall

I always wanted a boyfriend with a Letterman's Jacket

Perfect for back to school - not really work appropriate

Loved the full skirts with crinoline!

Love these pants but not sure if my calves will fit

This camel coat is TO DIE FOR - definitely on my list of things to get

What look is your favourite? What are you most looking forward to picking up this Fall?

Vancouver Food Tour

In case you haven't heard, Vancouver Food Tour is giving away a PRIVATE 1-on-1 Cocktail Tour!

Here are the details from the press release:

Create and upload the most creative, short video showing us why you need, want, and deserve this exclusive cocktail-making experience.  (Do you have the best-stocked bar but don't know what to do with it?  Are you sick of mixing Kool-Aid and vodka for your dates?)

In the description, please include the phrase: My entry to win Vancouver Food Tour's private Craft Cocktail Tour with Jay Jones and Melody Fury

Email: info@VancouverFoodTour.com to submit it.  The entry will be posted on VancouverFoodTour.com for judging.

Our panel of judges will vote for their favourite video to select a winner.  Judges include: Paul Kamon (Urban Diner.ca), Mark Busse (Foodists.ca), Rebecca Bollwitt (Miss 604), and Vancity Buzz.

Entry Deadline: Friday, August 13. Winner will be announced on Monday, August 16th.

Submit as many videos as you'd like.  Must be over 19 to enter.  If the winner has already registered for a tour, their ticket can be refunded


So hurry and get your entry in by this Friday!

Keep Granola in your Bars: Earth Friendly Fashion is Officially... Fashion

Niki Blasina from A Haute Mess takes the reigns today. Since she works for The Vanguard PR, Niki knows lots about the fashion industry. But more importantly, working at The Vanguard has made her a great resource for information regarding eco-fashion. Since Vancouver's Eco Fashion Week is coming up, the timing couldn't be better.

“Going Green.” It’s no longer a trend, it’s a movement. So check your preconceived notions before reading further because eco-fashion in 2010 is a new era: the days of uninspired sac-like dresses, uncomfortable fabrics and worst of all, the ‘granola’ stigma, are over.  Thanks to pioneering designers like Vancouver’s own Nicole Bridger – who was awarded the title of Canada’s top eco designer from Fashion Takes Action this year -- you no longer have to sacrifice style to wear sustainable clothing. As home of the country’s award-winning designer, it’s only fitting that Vancouver is quickly becoming an international hub of green fashion on the whole, with Canada’s inaugural Eco Fashion Week taking place in the city this September. That’s right Vancouverites, an actual fashion week that takes place in (gasp!) September.

The burgeoning eco-fashion industry here and all along the West Coast boasts a plethora of great designers trying to make the world a better place through sustainable style. So without further ado, I present my top picks and must-have items from my favourite Earth-loving designers. Enjoy!



All of these designers use fabrics from natural and organic fabrics or from reclaimed materials, in order to produce ethical and sustainable products.  In addition to being much better for the earth, eco fabrics are also high quality and extremely durable, so you don’t have to worry about your organic cotton pilling or shrinking. 

So that granola myth? I think it’s safe to say it’s officially been busted. Say hello to the new fashion forward.

Thanks Niki! For more on eco fashion, pop culture and personal style, be sure to check out A Haute Mess, where Niki is currently taking donations towards a Chanel yeti suit. You can also follower her on Twitter: @AHauteMess

What I Wore: Wedding #1

I went to my first wedding of the season over the Long Weekend. Finally, a chance to wear this amazing dress that I bought 2 years ago at the Waikele Outlets in Hawai'i.

It was hot on Saturday, but the evening cooled off enough so I wasn't sweating (except for ripping up the dance floor).

Dress: BCBG, Shoes: Guess by Marciano

My lovely boyfriend was kind enough to take this photo of me, even after I poked fun at him last week. What a guy.

And for those who remember, yes, this is the impossible to find shoes for dress - it's the lightest grey possible and lemongrass.

1 down, 2 to go - which means more outfit posts for you guys!

And let's be Facebook friends!

Formspring

I'm now on Formspring. Ask me anything!

http://www.formspring.me/hausofhybrid

Patty's Eggnest - Lynnwood, WA

A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I went to Seattle to catch the Mariners/Yankees series. To avoid lines at the border, we went really early and stopped for breakfast before the malls opened.

My parents recommended a place that they had been to with my Aunt, Patty's Eggnest. I had wanted to go to the place with the 12-egg omelette, and thought that it was Patty's. It's not, that place is Beth's Cafe, and I'll be heading there on my next trip.

Reading about Patty's on Yelp got me really excited. Everything sounded so good - but one item in particular caught my eye.

My boyfriend had this - I forget exactly what it is, but the omelette had artichokes, spinach, and other healthy things. It was served with chorizo. Definitely good.


I had what can only be described as the best idea ever. Nutter Butter French Toast. I love peanut butter - so, so much. If something has peanut butter it is instantly better and I'm definitely getting it. I had no idea how they were going to pull this off, so I was definitely intrigued.

2 pieces of DEEP FRIED French toast, topped with Devonshire cream and bananas, served with bacon.

Yes, you read correctly. Deep Fried. But where was the peanut butter? (For those more interested in the bacon, it was THICK-cut. Maybe the thickest bacon I've eaten.)

The peanut butter was hiding inside the french toast. Essentially, it was a peanut butter sandwich, deep fried, french toast style.

I felt both amazing and disgusting as I was eating it. It was such a huge portion of fatty food that I couldn't finish it.

Overall, it was good and I'd get it again. I just with it had more peanut butter in the middle. With peanut butter, I think more is better.


Patty's Eggnest
402 164th St SW
Lynnwood, WA

Outfit Posts

I've been asked more than a few times about why I don't do outfit posts.

One of the reasons is because I don't have a photographer.
Once, I asked my boyfriend to take pictures of me, but they weren't right.

However, at the request of Nicole & Ace, I'm posting one of those photos, just to illustrate why.

Wearing: James Perse tee, GAP khakis, random shades, Zara clogs

My boyfriend wanted to make sure that the scenery was in the picture. What a cutie.

Food For Thought

On bravery:

What you consider to be brave may come naturally to someone.

Be mindful that what you do, no matter how insignificant, may be brave to someone else.

Traveling Fashionista: Packing

So you're backpacking through Europe/Asia/South America....and you're carrying everything on your back. That's right, on your back...in ONE bag.

I backpacked through Europe 2 years ago (late August to November) and made it through with one bag. In fact, I even brought home a long wool-blend coat from H&M. And 5 or 6 pairs of shoes.

Here are 3 tips to maximize your bag:

1) Bring only what you NEED...or when in doubt, bring things you don't mind parting with

Sounds simple enough right? The time of year I went was tricky, the weather was HOT at the beginning of the trip (especially in NYC and Greece), but by the time I was going home, it was freezing in Switzerland, France and London. If you're like me and traveling over multiple seasons, it's much harder to pack.
Single season travel is so much easier: sandals, skirts, dresses, bikinis - all things you will use often. But on my trip, I didn't need that 3rd bathing suit after Greece, or the shorts. Lucky for me, I had brought some older shorts and swimsuits, so I just left them at the hostel, or you can always find a consignment store/charity shop.

2) Take the time to pack your bag

Yeah, packing sucks. Big time. But if you're trying to cram your bag with more than it should hold, make sure you take the time to pack well. I stayed at a B&B in Marseilles before going back to London so I had plenty of time to pack, unpack and re-pack my bag. I had a separate plastic bag of things that had never seen the inside of my backpack. But I fit everything in. Wool coat and all.

3) Roll & Stuff

Make use of every bit of space that you can, especially if you're short on space. Roll your clothes up to make them as compact as possible, stuff underwear and socks into shoes, whatever it takes. The packing compartments and cubes that are available are helpful, but if you can't afford those, then extra-large Ziploc bags work just as well, if not better. These items help you stay organized, and make packing simpler and less stressful. Ziploc bags are really good because you can take the air out of them, literally taking advantage of all the space you have