I've said it before and I'll say it again. I hate the cold weather. I had read earlier in the week that it was supposed to warm up today, so I had planned to do a big photoshoot for today and get a bunch of outfits photographed so I could have some material for some upcoming entries. Instead it snowed. Since I had all my outfits planned out and packed up (was spending some time at my parents' house since my grandma just flew in from Florida) I decided to go ahead and photograph them anyway. Why dilly dally around? I can't wait for winter to warm up, or else I might be waiting forever! Unfortunately, not being a seasoned photographer at all, I failed to understand just how bad indoor lighting is. I'd heard rumours for a long time but never fully understood until I had something to compare it to. Yeesh. Sorry these pics look like they were taken on a cell phone but I tried my best!

I got this awesome dress for $10 (including shipping from Hawaii!) from my friend Camille of The Corner Sweetheart. I don't know if it's a vintage dress or an Asian dress that's fronting like it's vintage, but either way, it's super adorable. I got the shoes and bracelet on my most recent trip to Value Village. I'm not so sure about the shoes though. As cute as they are, they are too small. They are vintage Tender Tootsies and are marked a size 8 but they feel closer to a 7. I know this because I parade around in size 7 shoes. Often.

I recently opened an account on Trend Trunk (it's sort of a Canadian version of Poshmark) so don't be too surprised if you see these babies pop up there in the next few days!

Twirling when your tripod is a foot away is impossible to do without falling out of the frame.

Eyebrow plucking fail! But cute earrings!

Outfit Details

Dress - purchased from friend - $10

Shoes - Value Village - $5

Purse - Salvation Army - $6

Headband - found it in my mom's drawer while getting ready

Earrings - Ardene's - 6 pack of earrings for $3

Belt - from another dress

Bracelet - Value Village - $1

Legit the most expensive thing I'm wearing is my lipstick (which is Besame that I bought off eBay for $16)

In other thrifty news, many online stores have begun their Black Friday festivities early! I haven't been able to participate as much as I like because of lack of funds (although I do get paid before the Modcloth sale ends!) I thought I would show not only my top picks of Modcloth items, but my top picks of sales.

All of the Following Items Are From Modcloth.com

1) You Bow the Spot Socks - sale price $5.99

2) Presh is More Heel in Grey - sale price $31.99

3) Too Much Fun Dress in Tile - sale price $39.99

4) Hayride Tradition Sweater in Blue sale price - $29.99

5) Barista in the City Top in Red sale price - $18.99

6) Shoreline Soiree Dress in Kaleidoscope - sale price $38.99

7) Whirl Traveler Necklace sale price - $7.99

8) Loving These Leggings sale price - $13.99

9) Polished Pal Bracelet sale price - $6.99

10) S'Marvelous Heel In Scarlet sale price - $18.99

11) Great Wavelengths Dress in Red sale price - $25.99

Note, making wishlists is dangerous. In the end, I ended up buying the grey shoes, the red shirt and both pieces of jewelry. Hahah, but that's not surprising, right?

As for other sales, EShakti is having 30% off the entire site right now. Lulu*s is taking baby steps in their sale tactics and is having a Thanksgiving Day promotion with 15% off sitewide, but I'm sure there's more on the horizon. DollsKill have discounted a huge portion of their merchandise (my favourite are these mushroom shoes and these Hello Kitty Creepers) and Unique Vintage is also having 25% off everything (including sale items!) Happy shopping everybody! It's certainly better than being out in the cold, waiting for a Black Friday sale to drop at a big box store! Talk soon!

Edit - since many of the sales actually hit on Black Friday, I thought I would come back and update!

Anthropologie is 20% off sitewide.

Baby Girl Boutique is 25% off sitewide with code BLACK13.

BB Dakota is offering 30% off sitewide on orders $100+ with coupon code THANKS30.

Betsey Johnson has 30% off and free shipping (use code SHOP30) 

Dolce Vita is offering 25% off all apparel and up to 50% off shoes (plus a free tote with purchase of $150 or more!) Use code BLACKFRIDAY13

Emerging Thoughts has 20% off sitewide with code GOBBLE GOBBLE

Eva Franco has 50% off selected styles (use code BFSALE at check-out.)

Forever 21 is having deals starting from $3 (shop Women's here, Accessories here), 50% off Boots and Bags and an additional 50% off sale items with the code EXTRA50

40% off the entire Folter site with coupon code bf40.

Hello Holiday is having 25% off the entire store with coupon code BRIGHT (plus a free gift!)

Hot Topic has all tees for $10.

Joy the Store is having 20% off all party dresses.

Kate Spade has up to 75% off (but you had to sign in to see the sale and I couldn't be bothered.)

Lace Affair is having an extra 25% off all sale items with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY. 

Le Bunny Bleu is having 50% off their best selling items with code Bunny_BFBest13

Like Twice (an online re-sale shop) is having 40% off everything with coupon code MEGASALE.

Nasty Gal is trying the theme route and everything that is black is on sale 40% off.

Oasap has up to 75% off items plus 30% off with code BLACKFRIDAY

Pinup Girl Clothing is 30% off site wide.

PlasticLand is offering gifts with purchases over $50.

Ruche is having 20% off sitewide in addition to their under $5, $10, $15, and $20 bucket deals.

Sephora has $10 palettes in their "Dealtopia" section.

Shabby Apple is having 20% off sitewide with code BLACKFRIDAY. 

SheInside is having an up to 80% off sale (although I took a quick peek and noticed most items hit at about 20% off. Still alright by me!)

Shoes.com is having an extra 30% off sale shoes with code BLACK

Storenvy (aka Hipster Etsy) is having 30% off selected merchandise.

Summerland is 25% off sitewide with code PUMPKINPIE

Tulle Clothing is having a huge, nearly sitewide sale of 75% off. Modcloth carries a lot of this brand and I spotted so many things that I wanted that Modcloth had discontinued!!! Coupon code THANKSFORU takes an additional 10% off.

Urban Outfitters has huge discounts and has an under $20, under $30 and under $50 section. I haven't scoured the whole sale yet, but in the under $20 section, some things look to be discounted up to 80% are the section is 16 pages!

If you'd like to see all my best looks from the season, check out my wardrobe wrap up post!

Movie of the Week - Marley and Me

A few months ago, when my sister was making the switch-over from paper books to an e-reader, she let me take a look at her library to see if I wanted any books before she donated them. Most of the items I felt apathetic about (except the "how-to" books, I'm ALL ABOUT THOSE.) A few books I took because I figured I would at least read them before donating them myself. One book that fit this criteria for me was Marley and Me. However, the book exceeded my expectations and so did the movie. It will legit make you bawl. I think the book is even sadder, however it's not a tragedy exactly. Ninety percent of the book/movie is straight comedy, detailing instances of a dog so bad, you'd think it was made up. The "make you cry" segments, sadly are just a part of life, dealing with aging pets and *spoiler* the eventual loss of them.

Photo Credit

I thought Jennifer Aniston was perfect casting for Jenny (and not because they share the same name!) Just looking at the pictures of Jenny Grogan in the insert of the book, it was a really good pick. I was kind of enh when I first heard it was Owen Wilson. (Well "re-heard." Reminded myself I guess. I vaguely remembered he was in the movie from all the tabloid gossip I read circa 2007 but had forgotten.) Turns out he did an alright job in the end. The Marleys did a good job (apparently there were 22!) although I thought a lot of them looked too different to be the same dog. 

I'm a dork and while reading the book, I kept dreaming of the show, Dexter. It's also set in Florida and when the Grogans originally lived in their shoddy neighbourhood, it's shown in a horrible light. I'm pretty sure there were multiple murders and robberies on their street. They did make mention in the movie of the huge event of their neighbour girl being stabbed and John going to her aid, but I liked imagining it all gritty and Dexter style. When they moved to Boca, I would picture my grandparent's house in Florida because they live in a gated community and although it's no Boca Raton, to me it's a pleasant idea of Florida.

Photo Credit

I also took this gem out from the library but ended up not watching it. I think I made the right call.

Once upon a time, I had my own "Marley" - a clearance puppy (although she was nearly full grown by the time we got her) that we not only threatened to give away to a farm, but actually did.

Scanner technology was crappy 15 years ago

Her name was Emily and we had purchased her from the Classifieds in the newspaper. She wasn't scared of thunderstorms so much as being left alone. She chewed through all of my dad's new woodwork that he had just put up, my sister's toe shoes and all sort of other things. We had her less than 2 months and didn't have the patience for the expenses she racked up. It takes a special kind of person to be able to do that I think, but my dad is the type who jokes about me not being able to come over anymore because I'm such a slob. Watching Marley and Me reminded me of Emily so much. I think if we had kept her, our lives would have been just like that. The scenes that reminded me most of Emily were when Jennifer Aniston was walking Marley. Yep! Been there.

The dog we got right after Emily is my current dog, Skippy. He's mostly well-behaved (although a little cranky in his old age) but he's what my boyfriend calls "high maintenance." He's definitely a prissy little thing, has a preference for pillows, needs to be carried up and down the stairs (but that's only because he's blind) and always has to wear his kerchief.

He's also definitely a solo type dog. He didn't really like my hamster and he doesn't like my niece and nephew or my sister's dog, Freddie. I think it's partially because of his disabilities though and he can't see or hear them come up behind him and it scares the crap out of him.

The reason that I bring up Skippy though is because reading Marley and Me and watching the movie, it reminds me that Skippy is not going to last forever and it makes me so sad. He's 14, deaf and blind and limping a lot. His deterioration is a lot like Marley's in the book and seeing it so plainly in print made me sad, even when Marley still had years of living yet to do. Because you always know what's at the end. I guess I'm a bit in denial because I haven't had to deal with death very much, and I find myself making really immature wishes (like wishing Skippy could be a vampire or something equally impossible) but I guess I'll cope with it when it comes. 

Wow, downer post! But to sum things up, Marley and Me - thumbs up. Having pets - thumbs up. Them having a shorter lifespan than humans- thumbs down.

I guess that's all for me! What did you all think of Marley and Me? Have you ever had Marley type pets? Talk soon!