Monday, 12 June 2017

5 Best Basket Bags to Buy This Summer

Straw bags are all the rage lately, some say the trend is a nod to Jane Birkin and her infamous straw basket-purse! The trend has peaked this summer and I am really feeling the options that lots of different stores are providing. You can find them in all price ranges and most of them are available online which is great! This post will help y'all find the best ones out there based on reviews and looks! 

1.  Mia Woven Raffia Clutch 69.36
This clutch is a beautiful spin on the full wicker bag trend, something subtle you can add into your wardrobe if you are not sure about going all out wicker basket yet! It also comes in three colours which are great, it provides you with more options to help expand your wardrobe!  I could totally see this worn as a casual summer bag when you don't want to bring your full bag to the beach, or out to a wedding. I did a post on wedding outfits that you can check out! This bag would totally spice up any dress you are wearing!

2. Straw Market Tote by J Crew 
This bag is the bag of all bags, its classic tote design makes it easy to incorporate into your wardrobe. The bag is trimmed in leather and has a very defined patterns in the straw making it perfect to chuck on with jeans and a t-shirt or to take to the beach with you! This bag is simple, classic and easy to style!

3. Jola Toucan Basket Tote
This tote is absolutely darling, the plain wicker with a pop of colour makes it easy to style while still looking fun and summery!  The handles on the tote are a bit longer than most totes which makes it great for the tall girls of the world! I don't know about you but I can't stand a tote bag that chokes my armpits, it drives me crazy!  Word of caution with this one though, it is unlined and that can pose a problem if you are stuffing small things into it like earrings or rings so make sure to keep them contained and slip free

4. Birkin Basket
Get your JaneBirkinn on! Holy Moley is this beautiful bag. This basket is a super fun look alike of the one that Jane Birkin used to wear making it uber popular this season. It is handmade in Portugal which ads a nice touch to the basket, knowing I am supporting artisans always leaves me with a happy feeling! Act fast though this one is selling out!

5. Gaia's Ark
This bag is everywhere… I mean everywhere and its not hard to figure out why, it its so darn cute! This cage bag is perfect for the summer and allows you to stay styling when you are on the go. This bag can be dressed up or down to create a summery look that will transcend the seasons. One of my favourite blogs Covering The Basses featured this on an outfit and it was super chic and on trend while still looking classy and timeless 


These bags are super on trend and classy while being perfect for summer! Whether you have a small place in your heart for the ultimate fashion icon Jane Birkin or you just love the beachy but timeless looks these bags are great. They take you easily from day to night and  beach to drinks with the girls. This is just a small sampling of the selection that is out there right now, they are available at every price point and in lots of different styles for girls with all kinds of styles, everyone can work these into their wardrobes! 

 -Emma-Lynn
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Friday, 9 June 2017

5 Items that are Essential for University



1. Laptop
I was hesitant to spend a lot of money on a laptop the summer before university, I was unsure how much I would actually use it being that I always take notes with a pen and paper. However I am so glad I decided to get a Mac, I do not take notes on it however it comes to class with me every day. I do everything on it,  from downloading readings to checking my social medias and emailing profs. Having the ability to write and have access to a big screen on the regular is extremely practical. 

Although laptops are fun here a couple words of wisdom that I have collected with my stumbles in the technological world 

- do not buy something you are unfamiliar with it is a bad idea and as much as you think you will learn quickly it doesn't happen, and then your are stuck googling how to do things so you can complete your assignments… rookie mistake made by me 

- Take all the insurance you can because you never know, life is unpredictable and so are computers. Make sure that you have Apple care or the geek squad or something to give you a helping hand when it comes to damages and repairs, you will be so thankful and so will your wallet.

2. Umbrella
This one isn't too complicated, carry an umbrella in your bag… EVERYWHERE. The reason being is that if it rains it's not just you getting wet, it's your bag, with all your notes and your laptop. You can dance in the rain another time, not with university things.

3. Tylenol 
In my first semester, I think I lived on an average of 26 sleep a week… and while that number seems great calculate how much sleep you actually need and well you gotta problem. This problem leads to big headaches and tired eyes, it is horrible and tiring and Tylenol will be your saviour. A black coffee and a Tylenol will keep you going just remember not too often or more than once a day. (also not a medical professional just a tired history student please consult medical professional)

4. A good pen 
 This seems redundant… it is not redundant it is a holy grail item. Go to your Walmart and find a bunch of pens to try out, find one that works for you, that you love. You do not need to be worrying about anything accept your writing and your school work, nobody needs a pen that is uncomfortable for long periods of writing or that has a disrupted ink stream that drives you nuts, you need complete focus, not frustration.  A pen can save you or kill you it's your choice.

5. Agenda 
I was so excited to get into university that I got an agenda right away… and I have used the absolute crap outta it. It looks beat up and worn but it is my life line. You need to be organised and concise, but you also need to look to the future. Get an agenda and write in it every day, look at your agenda before you look at your phone. Tip... buy one that makes you happy and makes you want to write in it, go for the fancy pages if you think you will use it more.

6. Good walking shoes 
I didn't anticipate the amount of walking that was involved with university, this might also have to do with the fact that I am a commuter and transit but my goodness did my feet hurt. It took me about 4 weeks to discover that my little thin ballet flats and high-heeled booties were stylish but not practical. So as the fall rolled through I ditched the flats for converse, and Chelsea boots! My feet were singing my praises and I was so much more comfortable … I mean who cares how good you look if you can't make it to your intro to Canadian history course because your feet are giving out at the bus stop. Blisters ain't cute and neither are hurting feet. 

This list was written after months of trial and error to find what worked for me and my life, something that works for me may not always work for you. Make sure you find your groove and find you happy place and the things that make you comfortable and you will be just fine.

-Emma-Lynn 

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Wednesday, 7 June 2017

How to get Beachy Waves in in 4 Easy Steps




I am a lover of all things found at the beach… the sun the sand and most importantly the ocean waters effect on my hair. When I first went to the beach and noticed a difference in my hair I tried desperately to recreate it with just gels and sprays… However, as I soon discovered I was missing the salt element which really helps make your hair wild and beachy. I discovered sea salt spray and while it had great effects it got expensive very quickly and that's when I decided to try making it myself. After some late nights, tangled hair and frustrated googling I have finally figured out the perfect proportions for my hair. If your hair is thin cut down the gel by half of a tablespoon! This will allow for your hair to maintain the flow and movement that is so enviable these days. This will also help you to beat the crunch that gels sometimes provide, and while sometimes a gel can do wonders I have quickly come up with the phrase “crunch ain't cute”. So here it is, enjoys my amazingly simple and cheap sea salt spray

Ingredients 
Salt
  • You can use any type you want but I prefer sea salt! I grabbed mine from Cosco it really does a good job and doesn't leave your hair feeling funny like regular salt will. Plus it comes with the added bonus of having sea salt on hand for all of your baking and cooking needs. It doesn't break the bank either, which is always a score in my book!
Hot water
  • Your gonna want this water to be pretty warm in order to dissolve the salt. I found that if I used cold I would get chunks of gel and undissolved salt. Having hot water is probably the most important part of this recipe 
Hair Gel
  • Now, I use one specifically designed for curly hair this helps the hairstyle stay in place and provides a little bit of weight so your hair isn't too voluminous. However as has been mentioned in the past be careful with your proportions Do not be afraid to mess with the amount if you have fine hair or thick hair.  
Spray Bottle 
  • A spray bottle will help you evenly distribute the liquid instead of just putting it on in clumps, I got mine at Sallys Beauty Supply for $2 


Directions 

  1. Place 2 tablespoons of hair gel and 3 tablespoons of salt into your container 
  2. Fill the bottle up with warm water, though it is wise to leave a little room to allow for the water to move around when you are shaking it!
  3. Shake your bottle until the products are dissolved. This step is extremely important! If you have any doubts at all about how dissolved the mixture is kept mixing, if you don't you could end up with clumpy or crunchy hair
  4. Spray this liquid gold into your damp hair and scrunch! Get ready to have those beautiful waves 

I hope you enjoy your new beach tousled hair! This is one of my favourites to make and it is much cheaper than the stuff you can find in stores. Howerver, if you are running short on time and cannot make this amazing spray yourself I will link some of the store brands I tried! 

1. This one by Bumble and Bumble is pretty great. It makes your hair beach tousled and curly without drying out your hair or adding crunch. However, I am not a particular fan of the smell
2.This Captain Blankenship sea salt spray is sulphate and paraben free! it's really great for drier hair types as the shimmer adds a bit of sheen to your hair. Use in moderation though it can get a little oily if you put too much on


Check out my other curly hair posts for more ideas! 

- Emma-Lynn 
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Monday, 5 June 2017

The Ultimate Wedding Guest Dress Guide

Backyard parties bonfires and WEDDINGS welcome to summer Y’all. Being an 18-year-old girl I am quickly learning that I have entered the wedding guest sweet spot, it seems like someone is always getting married. My best friend and I were debating over dresses to wear to a summer wedding the other day and I realised that if we were confused other people where probably in the same boat! Now, this can be a little confusing as some weddings are more formal than others so after some intensive research I thought I would attempt to tame the wedding guest beast and come up with a summer wedding outfit guide to give Y'all some idea as to which wedding needs what!

Backyard/ Beach 
Now, these weddings are usually pretty casual and are the easiest to dress for, if you can find a nice sundress and some sandals you should be good to go. Aim for pastels and stay away from white at all cost. Pastels give off that elegant yet summery vibe that is common for casual weddings. Aim for low heels or sandals for backyard weddings… it's all fun and games until someone breaks a heel or gets their stiletto stuck in some grass! 

Here are some great ideas for dresses (one regular, plus and modest dress)




Church 
Now, a classic church wedding is absolutely beautiful and timeless, steeped in tradition and love however they also have general guidelines concerning appropriate dress in each different denomination and religion. The best advice I can give you is to check with the church first and see what they deem acceptable in terms of shoulder showing and leg. And when in doubt air on the more conservative side. Heels and flats are acceptable at a church wedding, I personally would stick with a heel bellow 4 inches, sometimes churches are on hills or have stone floors, so make sure you're comfortable in your shoes. If the rules are more strict I suggest bringing along a cardigan or a shawl to put on in the church to maintain an air of modesty… 

Here are three dresses that I would wear to a church wedding 




Formal 
Formal weddings are always a little interesting when it comes to guest dresses, some of the weddings are more casual, however, some can be really dressed up, when in doubt ask! Try and stick to dresses that are not too shocking or editorial, while it's great to express your style remember that it is the brides day and while the shimmery maxi dress with a huge cutout might look killer hot on you,  it is her day and try and keep the attention steered towards her. Now that doesn't mean that you have to be boring with your dress choice just keep it in the back of your mind. Heels for this category are pretty much free range all heights are usually acceptable as long as you can walk in them! 

Here are some dresses I would wear for a formal wedding 




- Emma-Lynn 
PS I was looking through some of my favourite blogger's weddings posts and found this one by Covering the Basses check it out!

http://www.coveringbases.com/2017/03/always-bridesmaid.html


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