the ocean in your bedroom: November 2012

baby, it's cold outside

well, I guess that's it for November.

this past month has flown by in a flurry of late-night movies and job interviews. I'm still hoping to make a few extra bucks for Christmas presents, but for now I'm happy enough hanging out with my friends and watching Quigley Down Under ever second night.

in other news, it's officially winter and appropriately cold.

sweater- topshop // shirt- american apparel // jeans- roxy // boots- new look

I think it's time to pack away the open-toed shoes and bring out the mittens. I was absolutely freezing while taking these pictures, and this is probably one of the warmer outfits I had available in my pink heart-patterned suitcase. this weather only encourages two things; my obsession with all things Christmas, and my obsession with buying sweaters.

oh yeah, and I got bangs again.

I got tired of the shape of my forehead.

that about covers it.

happy December!

playing: let it snow- Michael Buble

it's beginning to look a lot like...

this weekend was the St. John's Santa Claus parade; let the Christmas season officially begin!
(SANTA! I know him!)

here are a few highlights, and there are more photos after the jump.

feeling good

this weekend has been a very successful one.
it started kinda early, with me arriving in St. John's to go to a concert on thursday night, and it's been crazy fun times ever since!
the band was The Sheepdogs, and they were amazing. seriously, you should go listen to them, and they're fantastic, but nothing will compare to the live thing. it was one of the most fun shows I have ever been to! so. much. rocking out.

my friends and I squeezed our way right to the front, so I got some pretty alright photos of the turbulent affair.
I touched his shoe, guys.
and he gave me the peace sign. he looked right at me.
*dies*

(loving. it.)

can't see The Sheepdogs without an abundance of plaid.

it was a seriously great night. and we've had a couple more since, and tomorrow's the Christmas parade. so thanks, November, for being awesome.

hope you're all enjoying your weekend as much as I am!

♥

playing: catfish 2 boogaloo- the sheepdogs

boys will be boys

hello, folks!
as promised, today I undertook the arduous task of compiling a holiday gift guide for the men in your life.

I made the joke earlier that I might as well just have every item on the list say "just don't bother," because guys are impossible to buy for. they only want expensive things like electric guitars or unnecessary electronics.
but on the off-hand that no one would have any interest in reading a Christmas list telling them to actually not give presents at all, I decided to see what I could come up with.

and so here we are.
nine Christmas gifts under $50 (ok, eight... I had to make a special exception.)

1. a hoodie. I know, how radical! but seriously, hoodies make great gifts because every guy wears them, they're easy to size, and you can find one in every possible style (but stick to more simple designs and colours to be on the safe side). // h&m

2. cool headphones. to those haters out there who said I couldn't find a good pair of headphones under $50; challenge accepted. and challenge completed. these have great customer reviews and look awesome. a good gift because literally everyone listens to music these days. // modcloth

3. a winter hat. again, every guy wears them. or they should, because you really need to keep your head warm in the colder months, guys...anyways, hats make good gifts for the same reasons hoodies do. // topman

4. monogrammed wallet. according to Brando, who got a wallet at a staff Christmas party once, this is a quality present. a wallet is something he will use, if not right away, then eventually, when his current one wears out. monogramming it adds a touch of thoughtfulness, not to mention classic style. // moxie & oliver

5. a practical man-bag. guys protest to needing one of these, but ladies, am I right when I say we are tired of carrying their things around in our bags? yes of course I'm right. a minimalist messenger bag is great for carting everything from a wallet & keys, to a laptop, and it goes with almost any style. // urban outfitters

6. mug/travel mug. works for girls, works for guys! go with a stereotypical "manly" graphic or a fun gimmick, like images that disappear/appear with heat, or mugs you can draw on. // starbucks & modcloth

7. a funny snuggie. you may argue that all snuggies are funny, and you'd be right. but you can also find specific ones to tickle the fancy of any male with a pop culture addiction and a fondness for warmth. I'd personally recommend Batman, because come on...who doesn't wanna be Batman? but you can also find cartoon characters, or snuggies inspired by his favourite tv shows.
again, endorsed as a good present by Brando, who has received one.
you might not think he'd like a snuggie, he may not think he'd like a snuggie. but he will like a snuggie. // amazon

8. remote-controlled flying toys. especially this radio controlled floating shark, which is particularly amazeballs. boys just love their toys. I promise you he will love anything that requires batteries and has no real function. and/or is on this website... // this is why i'm broke

9. a cool watch. if you're looking to splurge a little, get one of these watches! they're stylish, trendy, and economically friendly (we wood plants a tree for every watch they sell). a watch is such a classic Christmas gift, and the novelty of the wooden design makes it current, and extra-special. get one for yourself, too! // urban outfitters & we wood

well, there you have it.
also, my dad wanted me to make it clear that these gift suggestions are more for young men than gentlemen of a certain age and maturity. because, to paraphrase my father, a real man only gets excited about tools.
...but if you're more concerned with gifting for generation Y at the moment, now you have some other ideas!

happy shopping. :)

playing: feeling good- the sheepdogs

the shoppers rush home with their treasures

when I said this blog was going to get more Christmasy, I was for serious, guys.

today I was thinking- wondering- a lot about what to get my friends for the holidays. right now I am jobless and pretty broke, but I still want to get my closest friends something special. and you know what, sometimes no matter how well you know somebody, it is impossible to think of a good present for them!

luckily, I think there are a few tried-and-true holiday gifts that people always enjoy. some might think they're generic or cliche, but that doesn't change the fact that girls (including me!) love to get them.

here's my little gift guide of cute things to get for the lovely ladies in your life; whether you need a little something for your bff, or an idea for your office secret Santa. all under $50 (and easily found for cheaper)!

1. a cozy circle scarf. every girl loves circle scarves. no really. I challenge you to find a girl who, if offered one for free, wouldn't be pleased. they're stylish, practical, and come in a billion different styles, colours, and price ranges. circle scarves rule! // modcloth

2. coffee mugs/travel mugs. I love getting mugs. and chances are most people in your life have a coffee or tea habit. get a quirky, good-quality mug in the perfect size, or a cool travel mug you can draw on! // starbucks

3. a gift bundle of cuteness. when in doubt, buy a gift pack of pretty, albeit slightly generic, items that someone might not bother to buy themselves. this adorable hand-made set is fox themed and has a pillow, tote bag, calendar, and reusable gift bag for $55 ($5 more, but the gift wrap is included!). // gingiber

4. a cute & practical bag. cross-body bags are so convenient, and style wise bags are easier to buy for friends than clothing. get something pretty, yet simple, and in a neutral colour, so she can use it all the time. // modcloth

5. slippers. or pyjamas. I know, it sounds like the most cliche Christmas gift ever. but hear me out; I think that people were so tired of getting slippers/pyjamas that everyone stopped giving them. hence, now people need these things more than you think. also, you can never have enough sleepwear. ladies love variety. // urban outfitters

6. knit headbands. these are so great for keeping you cozy when you want to wear your hair up. and they're cute, to boot! every girl should have one. // smash knits

7. necklaces. I maintain that a dainty necklace is a surefire hit present. monogram necklaces are especially sweet & timeless, and also add a little individuality to the gift. // SD marie jewellery

8. makeup. most people find it odd to buy makeup for their girl friends, but a fun palette or gift set are great gifts for the lady who appreciates a little maquillage. it's something they might not think to treat themselves to, and bonus: if she's a makeup fan, she'll really appreciate brand quality. // urban decay

9. a Christmas sweater. especially if you're exchanging gifts before actual Christmas day! sure, they're a little cheesy, and you can only wear them for like a month out of the year... but Christmas sweaters are so cool, guys. and she'll always have something to wear to holiday parties. // a wear & us trendy

...aaand I am just now realizing that I stopped the list at nine, and that's kind of weird. oh well. maybe it'll become a thing; people will no longer make lists in multiples of 5, but multiples of 3. nine will be the new ten.

it could happen.

tomorrow I'll have a list of nine (for the sake of consistency) gifts for the dudes in your life!

happy shopping. :)

playing: take it on the run- reo speedwagon

this simple friday night

guys, I have to tell ya. it's getting way too cold to take photos outside.
I concede that yes, I am wearing shorts. but even with the addition of a couple more layers I'm pretty sure I would have been freezing in anything less than a down-filled coat and mittens.
this weather is killing me.
the upside of all this cold? eventually the constant rain will become snow, and that'll be great for the Santa Claus parade next weekend!

I've been trying to stretch some of my summer pieces to work for the fall/winter as long as possible. hence wearing a floral romper in the middle of November. I think this particular outfit works alright, and I'm trying to "winterize" a couple of my vintage dresses for the next week. I just want to get as much use out of these things as I can, since I've never lived anywhere that got much of a summer... so right now I'm relying on over-the-knee socks, boots, and lots of layers.

speaking of boots, how amazing are these Jeffrey Campbells? made even better by the fact that I got them half off...

romper- modcloth // tights + socks- american apparel // hat- gift // cardigan- gift // belt- primark

and now if you'll excuse me, I shall return to my very hip & classy friday night of watching the Duck Dynasty marathon on A&E.

alone.

because everyone else fell asleep about a half hour ago, haha.

living with my parents is turning me into a sad little hillbilly hermit.

happy weekend, anyways!

playing: there's an arc- hey rosetta!

with a circus mind

things have been a little quiet around this blog lately.
everyone's been busy doing their own thing, and Brando's got an 8-5 gig now that he's doing his last work placement, so I don't have a photographer around... I also don't have a tripod anymore, nor a camera remote, so taking outfit photos is kind of deals off for now.

I spent today shuffling around the kitchen cooking up a scoff while wearing a dress, a fisherman sweater, and wool socks. I have never been more of a Newfie.

in lieu of regular style-y content, I thought I'd share a few photos from the past week or so. like I said, things have been busy, which also means eventful. besides, autumn is basically over- far too quickly, as usual- and I'm sad to see it go.

autumn is too pretty to leave... get it? leave. har har!

downtown St. John's, aka one of my favourites.

can't get enough kitty love around here.

adorable.

the yummiest sandwiches!

Manna bakery's new biggest fan.

autumn in central newfoundland...

there's a "landmark" tree in Brando's hometown that's supposed to look like an elephant head. of these two, which do you think it is? and which do you think actually looks like an elephant? hint: they are not the same...