Mood Music - Phosphorescent II

So...I actually went to a show this week! Saw Phosphorescent at Lee's Palace and it was a really great show. I feel like it's been ages since I've seen live music. It's been more than 6 months anyway. Part of the problem is that I'm so lazy about checking the listings, and the shows that I want to see end up selling out. Godspeed...sold out. James Blake...sold out. Adele...sold out. Dommage.

I'm thinking I should walk my lazy behind across the street to the Mod Club in a couple weeks to see Battles, and then again to see Low a few days later. There are lots of great shows coming up in Toronto. Anyone wanna babysit a 'lil peanut?

XOXO,
Emily

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Max Out Yo Credit Card - Lanvin & Gucci

If you live in Toronto, by now you've probably heard about The Avenue and about The Real Housewives of Toronto. Everybody is getting their own T.O. reality show these days! I'm no exception. Here's the outfit I will wear in the pilot:

I will need some high shoes to wear when I stomp away from a restaurant after a confrontation...

...not to mention a hot purse to tuck under my arm for all those reaction shots of me walking away:

Now all I need is a frenemy to spar with, plus a teeny dog, and the show is all set! Working title: The 'Woods (as in Trinity-Bellwoods). Good, no? No?

XOXO,
Emily

Lanvin Button Detail Drape Dress (neimanmarcus.com)
Gucci Fringed Suede Ankle Boot (net-a-porter.com)
PS1 Pochette Leather (proenzaschouler.com)

Naptime Netflix - The Wiz

I had a hard time trying to find a movie to watch on Netflix this week. Part of the problem was that I borrowed a bunch of DVDs from my parents that they got in the mail from my uncle who lives in Shanghai. How could I watch Netflix when I could be watching this?

No, seriously, he sent a bunch of stuff that I wanted to see so I'm a bit movie-d out. Oh, p.s., watching pirated movies is wrong. Just say no.

I put on my thinking cap and decided to watch a Sidney Lumet film. He was such a great director and his passing this week was sad. I've enjoyed lots of his films, most especially Network, and wanted to see which films of his Netflix had available. This led to the discovery that he directed The Wiz!!!

I am a big fan of The Wiz. I've seen it a few times, mainly when I was a kid. I had just as much fun watching this today as I did when I was small. Be warned - this movie is looooooong and it does feel pretty dated. That being said, it is colourful, campy and fun. If you like cheesy musicals like Xanadu or Phantom of the Paradise...well, then you've probably already seen this film.

XOXO,
Emily

Practical Fashion - Pick-Me Ups

This week so far has been very much like last week for me - a very sore molar, a cold and an adorable 'lil peanut who is teething and doesn't feel like sleeping much. I find that when I'm tired and fighting through illness/injury, the right piece of clothing or an accessory can really help to brighten my mood. I have what I call "pick-me up" pieces: tried and true pieces that I know look good and that make me smile. Throw in a little Juste Pour Rire Gags and my mood is instantly lifted.

During pregnancy, when you might be moody, extra tired or possibly feeling sick, pick-me up pieces are even more essential but also trickier. You won't be able to fit into the super cute mini that you love when you're 8 months along, and that may make your mood even worse. For me, I focused my attention on my pick-me up accessories, or tried to find a piece in "maternity" wear that fit the premise of one of my usual faves. 

Here are the 5 pieces that I find really help to pick-me up! Hopefully they will provide a bit of inspiration for you too:

Flippy Little Skirt

This is the kind of skirt that I find I can just throw on and feel good. It floats away from the body and works with most of my tops. Easy peasy.

Grey Cashmere Cardigan

Not the most dynamic item of clothing, I know, but throwing on a cardigan like this always helps me to feel a bit more classy and put together. I am partial to grey, but throwing on a cardigan like this in your favourite colour is certain to make you feel like a million bucks.

Sleeveless Print Dress

I have a couple dresses similar to this one that work for me because they are a super-flattering silhouette for my shape, and are in a fun print. Even if you feel dreadful, putting on a cute dress will make you look put together in a hurry.

Sunglasses

Can't beat a large pair of sunglasses. I end up getting pairs that look pretty similar, as I know that oversized, tortoiseshell round-frames suit me best. For outdoor use only please.

Big Earrings

Lately I've been wearing zero jewellery most of the day (as I don't want the 'lil peanut to break/eat it), so when I go out wearing big earrings has become a quick go-to piece. I have a few pairs that I've had for awhile, and they work with most outfits & hairstyles. Most of the time I favour big gold hoops, but I'm a fan of chandelier earrings too.

Blue Flippy Skirt (topshop.com)

Featherweight Cashmere Cardigan (jcrew.com)
Tippi Dress (anthropologie.com)
Oliver Peoples Zaya Round-Frame Sunglasses (net-a-porter.com)
Candace Ang Nouveau Earrings (urbanoutfitters.com)

Once you have figured out a few pick-me up pieces of your own, hopefully they will help to brighten your mood once and awhile. Good luck!

XOXO,
Emily

Throwback Inspiration - Julia Sugarbaker

Looking at all of the spring fashions in the stores, there is so much colour! Colour blocking and wearing bright shades is what this spring is all about. When I think of wearing brights in a classy way, I immediately think of Julia Sugarbaker!!

Julia Sugarbaker, played by the late Dixie Carter, was the backbone of Sugarbaker's Design Firm on Designing Women. She was classy, feisty and very good at giving speeches! As the majority of the show centered around the workplace, Julia was normally rocking some form of colourful power suit. So rad! It's so depressing when you're sitting in an office full of sad faces and dark suits.

We all can't have an Antony or a Suzanne at work to brighten our day, but we can take a page out of Julia's book and throw on a bright suit. I also like the idea of adding statement jewellery and bright lipstick. I'm totally going to take it a step further and work a bright blazer with a different bright skirt (like turquoise & purple, or red & orange). Go big or go home!!

I watched a bunch of Season 1 of Designing Women on DVD to research this idea and I haven't laughed so hard in a while. Do yourself a favour and check out the show to get some inspiration for yourself!

XOXO,
Emily

pics via buzzsugar.com and designingwomenonline.com

It's Tyra!!!! - ANTM Week 7

Well, well, well...this lackluster season of ANTM just got a whole lot more interesting. This episode was pretty fantastic!! There's a whole bunch to get through, so let's get right to it!! Long recap alert!

What did we learn about Tyra this week?

We learned that nobody fucks with the Tyra.

Did anything else happen this week?
YES! Whoa buddy! The episode starts with the girls riding home from panel. Brittani is happy she got top photo, but is mad that Alexandria didn't get eliminated because she doesn't like her and thinks she's rude. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that we were watching America's Nicest Top Model! I'm not the biggest Alexandria fan, but these dummies should stop focusing so much on her and start trying to win. Brittani, if you continue to model, you'll learn pretty quickly that not all models are particularly nice.

"Don't make me throw my phone at you for out-smizing me, Turlington"

Mikaela also talks about how she is over being in the bottom and has had lots of experience modelling. This is pretty much the equivalent of telling us she will be stepping it up this week. Dum de-dum dum dum!!

The challenge this week mixes philanthropy with product placement. Nigel tells the girls a little about the Ford Warriors in Pink campaign, which raises money to fight breast cancer. Nothing bad to say about that charity, so go ahead and support it! The girls will be directing their own styling, and Nigel will photograph them as they embody one of the symbols of the Ford campaign. Winner gets to be in a national commercial.

Some girls do ok, and some do very well. When Nigel asks Brittani what she is thinking of, she answers, "I don't think, I just do". Lame. Also lame -- the return of Alexandria's bonnet! Burn that thing!

Lots of the girls share personal stories about friends or family affected by breast cancer and you can tell they are touched by this challenge. In the end, Nigel announces that Alexandria and her bonnet are the winners.

Oh, by the way Alexandria, you also win a car! Not the hottest car around mind you (Ford Focus), but still, way better than a meal with Miss J or some raggedy dresses. Alexandria, just make sure you find yourself a good mechanic. I used to drive a Ford Focus and I literally spent thousands of dollars getting it fixed over the years.

Sorry rotten old car, I miss you less than Nolé Marin

Just prior to Nigel and Alexandria beginning to shoot their commercial, all hell breaks loose! Brittani is badmouthing Alexandria to the other girls, and Alexandria lets them know she can hear them talking about her. Brittani then starts yelling and swearing at Alexandria.

Duh, Brittani! Covergirls don't swear! You lose!

Alexandria doesn't raise her voice at all back, and the other girls just stand around not saying too much of anything. Nigel witnesses the whole thing. Uh oh!

The super mature contestants decide to give Alexandria the silent treatment when she returns from her shoot. Beh! I'm almost starting to come around and like Alexandria and her bonnet, until she gives the following speech:

I just don't get it. I don't get what I've done. When I win a challenge finally no one feels happy for me. I'm strong. I'm alpha. I'm the lioness. I'm getting what I want because I'm gonna do it, no matter what.

Oh brother. That is some Jade-esque shit right there.

A new day dawns, and the girls are woken up by Miss J herself, not wearing a Strawberry Shortcake friend costume (thankfully) this week. She's taking them to Universal Studios (more product placement) for a private tour. On the tour, this happens:

"You were supposed to dress like Raspberry Tart this week Miss J!"

The theme for the photo shoot is being crazy for fashion. The styling is being done by Eric Daman, who is the stylist/costume designer for Gossip Girl and is brilliant at what he does. I heart him. This week's photographer is Kevin Bacon in the movie Beauty Shop:

Most of the girls do well at the shoot. Mr Jay thinks Hannah is a hot crazy mess, and that acting crazy comes naturally for Jaclyn.

Panel begins with Tyra having "weird bra stuff" going on and needing an outfit change. Nigel is back to being a noted fashion photographer.

...soon to be noted for having brutal hair!

Everything is pretty same-old, same-old with judging...until we get to Alexandria. After the judges dissect her photo, Nigel asks her about what happened with Brittani at the Ford challenge. Brittani responds that all the girls feel Alexandria was the wrong choice to win because she is not a good role model and the judges haven't seen how rude she can be. 

Nigel begins the Brittani slapdown by pointing out Brittani was unprofessional in front of him and the sponsor, and that what Alexandria does outside of work is not his business. Brittani starts crying and babbling. It's pretty apparent that she's upset that the judges now think she's a bitch, not for being a bitch to Alexandria. Tyra interrupts the sputtering and points out that role models keep their mouths shut when they feel someone is getting something they don't deserve. Poor Eric Daman looks mortified to be in the middle of all this drama.

"...and I thought Chuck Bass was a drama queen!"

Tyra tells Brittani that modelling is a business and that you have to respect your clients, coworkers and yourself. This causes Brittani to run out of the room and have a meltdown.

Tyra tells the other contestants that they are going to continue, despite Brittani's tantrum. She says, "This is fashion, darling, believe me I've seen it aaaaaaaaaaallll".

"Have you? What have you seen?
I will cut you Tyra!"

Andre has some kind words for Alexandria, and then they all wait until Brittani finally calms down. Brittani tells the judges she left because she was having a panic attack and couldn't talk. The judges tell her that her photo is just ok. Tyra offers no feedback.

The judges deliberate and really love Jaclyn and Molly this week. They think that Hannah and Kasia did just ok, and that Mikaela could have done a lot more. Zing of the week goes to Nigel, who says that the fox Alexandria was wearing on her shoulder fulfilled the brief of looking crazy in the eyes better than she did.

"When do I get my Vogue Italia photospread?"

When the judges get around to Brittani's photo, they all agree it's not great but Nigel and Andre think that she has great bone structure and is a good model. Tyra turns the topic over to her tantrums, and all agree that they have a lower opinion of her now. Tyra does not think that it is ok to be rude in the name of calling out someone for being "fake". Being rude is just as ugly as being fake, according to Tyra. Hey Tyra - can you go over to the Jersey Shore house and teach them that lesson please? Yelling at someone for being "fake" seems to be the synopsis for every episode of that show. Anywho...the three judge fellas think that there's hope for Brittani and that she's learned a lesson.

Watch it fellas! You don't want to fuck with the Tyra!

They show the contestants backstage, yipping and yipping. Alexandria is being pissy, the other girls are fairly calm and...Brittani throws another tantrum and storms out! Another panic attack? Nope...just being a bitch. Worst! We go back to the judges and Tyra looks maaaaaaad. She explains that, contrary to popular belief, Tyra does not decide on her own who gets eliminated each week. She is the last of 4 votes, and if the other 3 judges vote to keep a girl or send a girl home then Tyra is outvoted. She lets us know this is what happened when Toccara was sent home in cycle 3.

Excuse me? STFU Tyra! I am the most successful former contestant!
I was on Y & R!!!

Nigel Barker does something that makes me love him even more (bad hair and all) -- he brilliantly tells Tyra that he now agrees with her that Toccara should have stayed. Amazing!

"Strike 2 Barker...I'm about to go Naomi Campbell on your ass"

Andre, Nigel and Eric all vote for Brittani to stay. Tyra lets them know that she does not agree. This is about to get good!!

Time for the photos in Tyra's hands. Jaclyn gets top photo and Molly is second. I liked Jaclyn's photo, but Molly's is one of the best I've seen on ANTM. Thank you Eric Daman!!

Hannah, Kasia and Alexandria are safe...time for Tyra to start her speech! She tells Mikaela her smize is inconsistent and tells Brittani that her attitude is ugly. She then repeats to the girls what she relayed to the judges at panel...and makes it very clear that she is not happy with tonight's result.

"You can tell Andre not to bother calling Anna Wintour for help.
He will rue the day he fucked with the Tyra!"

Brittani stays and Mikaela goes home. Tyra very bluntly tells Brittani that she has a serious problem with her staying and wishes the show were a monarchy so Mikaela could stay. She tells Brittani that she has no advice about how to improve and that it's up to Brittani to figure that out for herself. Tyra is basically this mad:

I hope the judges have security to protect them from Angry Tyra! Poor Eric Daman! He doesn't deserve this! Oh yeah...I almost forgot. Mikaela goes home and does a classy exit interview.

Bye!

Next week: Go-sees! Brittani being dumb! Garbage dump photo shoot! Hopefully Tyra will do something like this to Brittani and/or Nigel!

XOXO,
Emily

Best supermodels ever pic via thegloss.com; Ford Focus pic via wikipedia.com; Eva photo via soaps.sheknows.com

Snaggletooth

Hello friends!

I'm taking a few days off from posting. I had a crazy filling put in today (3 needles, lotsa drilling...it was rotten) and it fell out a few hours later while I was eating a banana. My mouth is sore and I'm feeling rough so I'm going to take a few days to recuperate. Hopefully I'll get my tooth fixed too!

I'll be back on Thursday with an ANTM recap and some other posts. The Throwback Inspiration will be a doozy this week, I promise. In the meantime, my 'lil peanut and my husband are both asleep, so I'm going to drink beer and finish watching this terrible movie currently playing on the Hamilton tv station:

XOXO,
Emily

Alfalfa pic via greenleegazette.blogspot.com