Walking in a Winter Wonderland: Christmas Photo Dump Pt. 1

Happy New Year, all! Or should I say, happy international hangover day? I hope you all had a swell time last night in whatever way you chose to celebrate the beginning of a new year, and are filled with motivation and optimism for the 365 days ahead until we do it all over again! I'm headed to a friends' house today to enjoy a large and prolonged brunch (you can graze on waffles for hours at a time, yes? Tell me I'm not alone) and a Simpsons marathon, with 25 selected episodes for our viewing pleasure.  It's a good, proper lazy day.

Though I spent Christmas Day by myself in Niagara, I got to head up north to Ephraim's parents' house on boxing day to enjoy a couple days with plenty of snow, reading by a fire, and more food than could ever possibly be consumed.  I of course took heaps of photos, and though most of them were taken indoors (it was cold out, and I am not a fan of being  cold voluntarily!!), I did venture outside a bit.  Here are some of my favourite outdoor shots from those couple of days.  Feels chilly just looking at them!

--Erin

Ottawa P.3: Afternoon Tea at the Château Laurier

One of my favourite things ever, is afternoon tea.  Since I was quite young, my Bubbie and Zaidy (that's grandma and grandpa in Yiddish.  You learned today!) have been taking me for afternoon tea for my birthday.  It's always been a fun treat, and a nice way to spend a couple hours with my grandparents, my mum, and my brother, talking and eating (in roughly equal amounts).  

Though it wasn't either of our birthdays, my Mum and I decided to have afternoon tea at the Château Laurier while we were in town.  This year was the 100th anniversary of the hotel's construction, so what a perfect time to enjoy a short visit!

By this time in our trip, I was pretty sick and my Mum had begun to catch my cold, so the opportunity to drink copious amounts of tea was welcomed.  The spread at the Château Laurier did not disappoint, and I was thrilled when I tweeted about being there for afternoon tea, and the Château tweeted me back! Now that's service.  So cool.

jam and clotted cream, meet arteries. Yum!

My beautiful Mum and her tea tray

Plain and dried currant scones

They made me special vegetarian sandwiches! One had a sundried tomato and olive spread, it was so tangy and spicy and just GOOD!

Neither of us had any room left for the tart, but they sure were cute.

Some good old Earl Grey and treats were enjoyed that day.  Looking back at these photos makes me want a hot cuppa right now!

Do any of you have little family traditions you do for special occasions? This one is surely the most delicious I have ever been a part of, and it's something I look forward to being able to treat my children and grandchildren to some day.  If they're not rotten little things, anyway, hahah!!

--Erin

O.O.T.D: His and Hers - Blazing Saddles

I do a rubbish Vanna White impression

Here's my little ensemble that I wore to the opening of The Directors Project last week.  I love this blazer that I picked up last year! I bought it on a shopping trip to the states, and I actually tore all the tags off and wore it back over the border, haha! I may have spent a liiiiittle too much money stateside, and tried to lessen the duty I was going to have to pay any way I could.  Devious, I know! 

Ephraim made his way to NotL later that afternoon, and just happened to be wearing a blazer he recently picked up from Topman! I have been terrible about talking him into buying clothes.  His wardrobe has grown quite a bit in size since we've been together! But hey, I appreciate how different I feel wearing clothes I love and feel like a million bucks in, and for an actor, that kind of confidence can be important.  Besides, I love mens fashion, and I have taken full advantage of dating a man who has style.  So sue me!

Argh, fake pockets!!

The Deets:

Blazer: Anthropologie

Lace/Jersey Dress: H&M

Village Skirt: Anthropologie

Tights: TopShop

Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

Purse: Michael Kors 

Don't be fooled, he's making fun of me being a photographer.  "Oooh! Ooooh, pout, yeeeess!!"

Ephraim is better at jumping shots than I.  But not by much!

The Deets:

Blazer: Topman

Button Up Shirt: Topman

Jeans: Levi's

Belt: Vintage

Belt Buckle: Custom Engraved

Cowboy Boots: Hand-Me-Downs

Have you ever accidentally coordinated outfits with your S.O? I promise, this isn't the first time it's happened to me, nor is it the least embarrassing example!

--Erin

O.O.T.D: Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

Howdy Folks!

I picked up this amazing swing coat in Kensington Market a couple weeks ago, and I am just...so in love with it my boyfriend should be concerned.  It's just so perfect in every way.  Fits perfectly, was lovingly handmade, is REVERSABLE (and lined in flawless yellow dupioni silk!!), and the shop owner gave it to me for half price.
Tax free.
And I never even made a coherent offer.

Destiny, dudes.  This swing coat was my destiny.

The Deets:

Sunglasses: Vintage, Cabaret

Clip on Earrings: Thrifted

Scarf: Hand-me-down 

Pin: Hand-me-down

Jacket: Vintage, Exile

Jeans: Anthropologie

White Leather Booties: Vintage

Purse: Inherited (Check out its makeover HERE)

Ah, more glorious glorious hand-me-downs! Lisa wrote all about her love of hand-me-downs (which I share, I mean, awesome free stuff? yeah!), you can check it out (and the cute outfit too!) HERE!

To be honest, I only wore this outfit to the corner store to buy some ice cream, haha! It was a quiet day, what can I do?

--Erin

O.O.T.D: Everything en Blanc

The Deets:

Sunglasses: Vintage

Earrings: Vintage

Costume Pearls: Gift

Belt: Thrifted

Lace Jersey Dress: H&M

Ankle Boots: Vintage

Beaded Clutch: Vintage

This was the outfit I slapped together for Dîner en Blanc in Niagara on the Lake the other night.  I don't really wear any white because I am so pale, so I hit the malls last Saturday to find something to wear. I was almost out of options when I found this lace jersey dress at H&M.  All white, inexpensive, and I can dye it and/or repurpose it after the event.  Score. 

The sunglasses were also purchased this past weekend, at the St.Lawrence Antiques Market. We had some time to kill before a movie, and Ephraim spotted these. They're a mother-of-pearl-esque look, with rosy lenses; uhmazing. Also they were $16.  BEST EVER! This is my second pair of vintage sunglasses, and I must say I'm quite smitten!

Do any of you like to wear vintage sunglasses, or have prescription lenses in vintage frames? I think they make such a great statement!

--Erin