Packing

I am not one of those organized list packers. I usually lay everything I own out on my bed, make a few outfits and throw it in a suitcase. I never always bring too many accessories and end up wearing only 2 out of the 6 pairs of shoes I brought. Some call this over-packing, I call this being prepared. Who's laughing now? Not me when my suitcase is over 50 pounds... I lose.

I wish I could include I picture of the duffel bag I'm taking (actually though) but I don't have anything in it. Don't worry. I've still got a day left to pack. Plus, I still have a final exam today so packing would have just been procrastination from studying (...as I type this ridiculously pointless blog post). 

I hope everyone has wonderful holiday time with friends and/or family! I'm going to be updating my other blog with Mexico fun times, so take a gander over there! 

-ACC

Guest Post: by Sara

Put an end to this madness...

The further into the winter season we get, the more I am seeing my least favourite thing in the world... UGG boots! I had a chat (or should I say debate) with a friend from work the other day about whether or not these UGG-ly boots should be abolished. Now, you may be thinking these are very strong feelings towards something as harmless as a boot, and to that I would have to say NAY! (Yes old English captures my feelings best). If worn in the correct way, I can understand it’s purpose. By that, of course, I mean if you’re in leggings and a comfy sweater running out to the store briefly, or if you have just finished snowboarding or skiing. However, the problem with that is I always see women wearing them with a skirt, dress, or jeans for everyday wear. I fear that women find this type of outfitting is acceptable because of the outrageous number of celebs we see wearing them while on set going from their trailer to shoot a scene. Let’s get one thing straight ladies – real life is no movie set! I’m all for being inspired by celeb style; but this one is best left alone. Now that I have finished my rant; I will in turn provide you with perfectly acceptable alternatives for your footsies in the cold weather!

Frye Engineer 8R Boot

Aldo Boot

Vita Tall Heeled Riding Boot

Knee High Hunter Boot

'Tis the Season

Glitter nails have been everywhere over the last year and I haven't really caught on to the trend, until now. I found the sparkle a little out of place during the warm summer months but now that the holiday season is in full force, I am in full support of wonderfully, glittery, sparkly nails. I wanted to include some polishes I've been eying - don't worry, I probably won't buy any. Wait, you're not my Mom! 

New Years Eve anyone? Not the movie, I hear it's terrible.

Reminds me a bit of the ocean.

Pink glitter. Like, come on.

Rainbow glitter. COME ON!

Plumly Sparkly Goodness

Using a loose powdery glitter results in the most beautiful nails.

This is what night looks like in a bottle.

Christmas.

SPARKLES. IN YOUR FACE.

Gift idea? Ahem.

-ACC

Hair Down to There

So, my hair is long. Like, really long. I only get it cut a couple times a year and I have one reason for this: I'm too cheap to get it done any more than that. Last February I got it cut to a couple inches below my shoulders and for me, that was short. I like to say that I don't care about my hair and it certainly looks that way most of the time. But the fact is, I'm still a student and I don't care how it looks on a day to day basis. When I work or go out I will spend more than 3 minutes doing my hair, I swear. The problem is, it's at that point where it has no style and it just kind of hangs there all stringy and long. Really cute, right?! Wrong! So here comes the one-week-before-a-haircut-looking-at-pictures-of-Jennifer-Aniston-for-hair-inspiration hunt, and guess what? I've found it.

Those who know me know that this really isn't that much different than what I've got now, except that it's shorter and neater. I want a few more layers around my face, maybe I'll even ask my stylist for side bangs. But I like that the overall length looks to be the same and there aren't many layers as I'm not into the super layered look. Anyway, I'm thinking I'll schedule an appointment for next week - or maybe sooner, those head massages are so enticing! 

-ACC

Humour Has It

#1) I'm Canadian. So yes, it's spelled 'HumOUR' <3

#2) I'm funnier over here. Come visit me, you won't regret it. 

#3) Sunday funday and I'm back at home writing a paper after enjoying a couple Granville Island Winter Ales. I know this phrase can get overused (a lot), but... work hard, play hard. All about balance my friends, it's all about balance. 

Thanks for reading Useless Blog Posts with ACC.  

Time Wasting

Over the last few years, my family has decided to spread ourselves all over Canada. I'm fine with this, except that I don't get to see my brothers as often as I would like. We've spent the last couple holiday seasons in Mexico and it's been nothing but ridiculous amounts of fun (this year, I get them BOTH in Vancouver for a night - can you say party time?) As I get ready to leave for the beach this Christmas (20 days), I've been making a list of things I want, but do not need. Not everything is for the beach though, I have a really bad itch to go shopping. So, online shopping (without clicking that 'proceed to checkout' button) will have to do. Enjoy!

Urban Outfitters Baseball Tee - I think this kind of tee flatters my body shape the best.

Urban Outfitters Blue Ankle Jeans - I'm a little late on this trend... but these would be perfect for Mexico!

Urban Outfitters - Eagle, Check! Off the shoulder, Check! Awesome, Check!

UO - Not clothing, I know. But I'm trying to figure out new ways of storing my jewelry. It's proving to be difficult.

UO Dress - Um. Hot.

UO Sweater Dress - So cozy!

VS Bathing Suit - Love the blue.

VS - Again. Blue. It's my colour, I'm blonde!

I want to apologize for using Victoria's Secret models, but I love the bathing suits VS comes out with. I condone full, beautiful curves and delicious food. Oh, and beer. Beer is good too.

-ACC

Happy December!

The holiday season has officially begun and I could not be more excited for December 21 (the date of my last exam). After a couple weeks away due to a computer issue (I dropped it... have I mentioned I'm a klutz?), I'm 'back', though I'm not sure anyone's really missed me! So, happy December everyone. 

-ACC

I could not think of a title for this post that wasn't either super lame or involving the word cute, which what I'm about to show you, is. So for now, this post remains nameless. Please watch these as many times necessary to find the cuteness and hilarity (I fell in love before I even pressed play). 

Part 1:

Part 2:

CUTENESS OVERLOAD! -ACC

Back to Basics

"The first interview was general, designed to eliminate the obvious sociopaths. During the second interview we were asked why we wanted to be elves. This is always a problem question. I listened as the woman ahead of me, a former waitress, answered the question, saying, "I really want to be an elf? Because I think it's about acting? And before this I worked in a restaurant? Which was run by this really wonderful woman who had a dream to open a restaurant? And it made me realize that it's really really... important to have a... dream?" Everything this woman said, every phrase and sentence, was punctuated with a question mark and the interviewer never raised an eyebrow." - David Sedaris from Holidays on Ice

First of all, if you enjoyed that little excerpt from Holidays on Ice, I recommend you get the entire collection of short stories and just in time for the holiday season too! 

Secondly, I'm here to talk to you about something very important. Basic, but important. I'm here to discuss a topic that irks me to no end: the incorrectly placed spoken question mark. Referring back to the exerpt, the incorrectly placed spoken question mark is when someone ends their sentence with an inflection, like they are asking a question. Ever heard of someone being called a 'Valley Girl'? Guess what? It's not cute. 

I was prompted to write on this topic from working on/listening to group presentations in some of my classes. Every week I've had to listen to people presenting on a topic that they seemed pretty unsure of. If there is one thing I've learned in life, it's fake it till you make it. One of the easiest ways of doing this is speaking with authority, like you know what you're talking about, even when you have no clue. Do yourself a favor and listen to yourself speak. Hear that? It's a misplaced question mark! You're welcome, friends!   

-ACC

Fashion: Guest Post by Sara

I have incredibly talented and hilarious friends and it's high time I show them off. I've known Sara for quite a long time and now that we live in the same city (again) we've become great pals - I'm pretty sure a huge reason for this is because we can count on each other to laugh at our really lame awesome jokes. Sara is a recent grad from Fashion Merchandising and has an incredible eye for style and fashion, which I lack. So, without further ado, I present to you, Sara:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By: Sara

I have been a long-time collector of fashions, fads and classics, so last weekend I decided that it was about high time I tackle my overflowing closet. It turns out; I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I did notice a few prominent items though... one of them being my obsession with blazers. This isn’t a horrible fixation by any means, and if there is one thing in this world to have an addiction to, I figure I’m doing alright. There is something about a blazer’s ability to dress up the most casual of outfits. It can instantly pull together any ensemble, add structure to a top that may be a touch too loose (I tend to have this issue, as I have an undying love for comfy tops... don’t worry, I’m working through this). Either way, I think every wardrobe should contain, at the very least, three blazers. You may think three is overkill, but listen to my reasoning and it will all make sense soon enough.

1.    The first and obvious choice is a classic black blazer; something that can be worn over a dress during an evening out, or with a more conservative work outfit. For this pick I would try to steer towards something that is fairly simple in its detailing and embellishment. My reasoning is such that you can always dress this up with jewellery or other garments that are “of the moment”. This jacket and silhouette is a classic...so don’t mess with it. 

2.    The second pick is one that is a little more on the casual side. I would lean towards a navy, camel, or dark brown shade. These colors tend to be a little more neutral and are perfect for every day wear, or any casual outfit. Think relaxed jeans and a cute scarf with a plain T- shirt.

3.    Lastly I would go for something that is slightly more fashion forward in it’s construction, but can still carry you through a few seasons if worn correctly. I have recently fallen in love with a blazer I found on Topshop. It has a slightly cropped silhouette, a folded lapel and a rich color by the name of ‘Oxblood’. Now, I don’t quite know if the color description necessarily suits it… but either way, it’s a beautiful, lush jewel tone, flattering on all bodies and skin tones. In my opinion you can’t go wrong with this one!

Moving On Out

There is certainly an age in a young adult's life where they toy with the idea of "independence." I have put the word in quotations because to be honest, I'm not really sure what independence means. 

I moved to Vancouver on my own after 20 years and 355 days on this earth. My reason for moving was purely for a change of scenery. I did not want or need to get out of my house, and truth be told I'd still be living in Alberta with my parents in our suburban house if it weren't for that thirst for change. After a year of living on my own, my parents were thirsty as well, and I moved in with them into 1000 square feet of Vancouver splendor. When I think back to that year on my own, though two years ago hardly seems to justify the "think back" saying, maybe I was a little naive about how fantastic it'd be to be independent. Living on your own is one thing, but living on your own in a new city/province/country, is totally different. Now, at 23, I'm living with my parents, about to graduate and thinking about that next step. To move out, or not to move out?

The entire idea of this post came to me when I was eating my tuna sandwich made lovingly for me by my Father. I'm pretty damn lucky to live rent free (but only if I'm a student, which I've intelligently extended), with my supportive and hilarious parents, in Vancouver. Who would ever move out of a place where you get your coffee and tuna sandwiches made for you in the morning while you're (literally) running out the door to make it in time for an 8 am class? Not me. For now, at least. 

-ACC

Spreading Love

Happy Monday! I'm sure "happy Monday" could be categorized as the biggest oxymoron ever. Agree? So, on this rainy, cold Monday, I woke up with no creativity. I want to do more frequent posts on the ol' bloggity so I thought I'd share with you my blog inspiration and link some of the blogs I love to read.

• The Anthology  - a local Vancouverite and expert vintage shopper/transformer
• Style Struck - also local; around my age and price point
• Cupcakes and Cashmere -blogging Queen
• The Rockstar Diaries - the most beautiful, adorable, fun family ever
• For Me, For You - Creative and a great writer; great taste in music
• The Style Diet - Irish, and great, classic style
• Mover, Mover - a friend and one of the most selfless, kind human beings 
• Talya Lee - also a friend; amazing style I'd never be able to pull off. Ever.
• A Cup of Jo - great writing and a cute little family
• Phillip DeFranco - 0% fashion, 100% awesome 
• Josh is Hollywood - Talya's brother. No words for this one. You just have to see it.
• Fashion Toast - Jealous of her wardrobe. You will be too.
• Hello Giggles - Amazing and hilarious. 
• Kelly Oxford - She speaks the truth, the whole truth. Not for the the faint of heart.

...that took much longer than I expected and I'm sure I've forgotten a few. Let me know some of your favorite blogs! 

-ACC

Christmas Galore!

Rockefeller Christmas Tree

So, here comes the Christmas decoration dilemma. My household just had the conversation of whether or not we should start putting up Christmas decorations. Now, I think it's a TAD too early and we've never, ever, put up decorations this early before. This makes me a bit miffed though, because as a 7 year old, it was never too early to put up Christmas decorations. I remember begging to put decorations up and I always had to be home to put the angel on top of the tree - mainly because as the youngest, my Dad could still lift me to do so. We never put up decorations before December, and even then it was December 6th or 7th. But all of a sudden, at 23, my family thinks Nov 6th isn't too early?! Blasphemy! In any case, my Dad and I both vetoed the decorations until at least the last week of November. When do your decorations go up? What holiday do you decorate for? 

-ACC

PS. I have always wanted to celebrate the New Year in New York City. I've been to New York in August, but I think it would be a surprisingly romantic city around the holidays.

Happy Birthday Brother #2

Happy Birthday, my dear brother. I have two older brothers. One is celebrating a birthday today and though I can't be with him to celebrate, we will see each other soon. I'll leave you with an after Halloween present (a photo of us kids). I love those crazy brothers of mine. 

-ACC

TMNT, Kermit the Frog, and me, a leopard. I make a scary leopard!

Late Night Rambles

Over the course of the past year and a bit, I've really taken a liking to this whole blogging thing. I've been studying blogs of all kinds, figuring out what attracts me to each one, all the while figuring out my own blog and creating compelling content. I love fashion blogs for their beautiful photos and fantastic inspiration I often apply to my own wardrobe, but it's not my passion. My everyday uniform is a t shirt and jeans covered by a great coat, great boots, and a great scarf. Every. Single. Day. Cooking blogs are just plain helpful whether cooking, to you, means the lazy man's KD or an elaborate 3 course meal. I love music, but who doesn't? (If you actually know someone who doesn't like music, I'd really really like to meet them.) As much as I love the internet and the relationships it can gift us with, I'm not quite comfortable with using a blog like a personal journal. I like the idea of using a blog for sharing - sharing things like inspiration and ideas, embarrassing childhood stories, photos, and maybe even a little advice. I find this world so difficult to handle sometimes. I am lucky for everything and everybody I have in my life because I have things and people in my life to love and, most importantly, who love me back. My Mom always says something wonderful to me whenever I've feeling down or far away from friends. She says, "no matter what happens with friends, boyfriends, lovers, etc., you will always have 4 people who love you." (4 as in my two older brothers and my Mom and Dad) It really makes me realize my luck in being born into my wonderful family, and just that simple thought makes whatever I was whining about a minute earlier, go away. 

-ACC

Sincerely, iPhone

Fall

Transportation

What I wish I could be doing

BFF - Jasper

Self Explanatory

Halloween? Or just a regular Monday?

Window Shopping

I've been doing a lot of window shopping from my computer lately and one of my favorite windows to peruse is Urban Outfitters. I've been saving quite a few photos from the site, for reference of course, and I wanted to share them. Hope you enjoy!

Tall black leather boots are something I actually need. Mine are very worn, which can be fine in some cases, but I really need new ones. I swear!

I love suede and I love wedges!

Fun, no?

My body loves a wrap dress and I really love the asymmetrical hem.

Elbow patches. Need I say more?

FINE. I have a boot obsession. At least I admitted it!

I love simple, delicate necklaces and I think this one fits the bill.

This baby could be worn so many different ways which makes it totally justifiable. Not buying it, are you? I tried. 

-ACC

New Haircut!

Okay, I didn't get a haircut. I just changed the name of my blog to Sincerely, ACC. Now... here comes the comma dilemma. Do I put it in? Do I leave it out? It depends on where I'm using it, but as this is a blog, it's meant to be a cheeky sign off (I'll never say cheeky again, I swear). It's also supposed to emphasize that this blog is really me, though I'm not sure anyone would even want to plagiarize such an odd combination of posts on absolutely nothing. Oh, you're still reading?! So anyway, new name, new job (bookstore), and... that's all that's new. But despite a bad mark on a midterm, all is moving along. Because of this said terrible mark (bio - yuck), I'll be doing a lot of studying, reading, crying, etc. So I've left you with a photo of me pouting studying. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

ACC 

(See, it works, right? Right guys?!)

Banishment

As far as school goes, these past few weeks have been crazy! With an endless amount of assignments, midterms, papers, etc., I haven't been able to think about much else. I just started a new job at a bookstore and our internet has been down for the past couple days, plus inspiration has been lost on me as far as blogging goes. 

When running errands, I've been popping into a few stores along the way and I've had to restrain from buying everything. Oh the student budget, how I hate you! I saw a plaid blazer with suede elbow pads and a suede lapel, held it in my arms for a few minutes and cried at the thought of leaving it behind. (okay, that didn't happen, but I was sad to leave it!) Since this incident, I've banished myself from shopping. Trust me, it's necessary. 

Hope you're having a fantastic start to your week! Just think, it's almost November which is basically December and that means vacation! 

-ACC