OOTD - Peachy Florals Winter to Spring

Spring is coming - no, this is not a drill! Just as I had given into singing the winter blues, spring made an appearance in a big way this weekend - I'm talking over ten degrees celsius!  Now, for my friends outside of Canada let me tell you about an interest custom in our great land: as soon as the weather hits above freezing, you feel compelled to dress like you're in the tropics. Yes, I was happy to prance around Toronto in this flowy, floral dress in the mild weather and only received a handful of confused looks - tourists, I'm sure.  At one point when the wind picked up, I though that I may have overdone it with the dress and saw a guy in shorts in a t-shirt - now that's a champion. Well played, Canadian sir. Well played.

Enough about Canadian customs, and onto the outfit.  This dress was recently picked up at a new store to me called Evernew, and I'm completely smitten.  Not only is it a gorgeous floral with retro detailing like a high neck, it's also the perfect winter to spring transitional piece.  I'm happy to pair the dress with some closed toe pumps in the mild weather, but would also layer it over tights and boots when the temperatures dip.  Either way with the weather warming up, I'm starting to feel more like myself.  Bring on the florals, bring on the dresses!

Dress - Evernew, Shoes - Le Chateau, Bag - Forever 21

Did you guys experience the warm weather this weekend?  What are you most looking forward to for Spring? Do you have any pieces that transition you from winter to milder temperatures?  Let me know!

xo Joëlle

Real Talk: The Glorification of Busy

If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen that I expressed my frustration with this new trend of confusing busy with successful.  Judging by the reaction I received from everyone, it turns out that I'm not the only person who is bothered by this so let's talk about it: the glorification of busy.

I honestly don't know exactly when it happened, when we stopped relying on actual results to show our accomplishments and instead did everything in our power to give the air of a successful person.  A typical conversation now has a intro of "How are you?  I'm so busy." Add a reply of "Oh, I know what you mean.  I'm SO busy" and you've got a figurative pissing match between two people who are using the word interchangeably with successful.  Forget actual results.

Now I'm not completely innocent in the matter.  Faced with a table of people who are complaining/bragging about work commitments, the number of emails they need to respond to, etc. I'm definitely apt to participate.  If I'm not voicing all of the things that I have as commitments, I must not have any commitments at all and therefore am a failure right? Wrong.

We're all busy.  Every single one of us. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed, and I stop to think about my friends who are mothers - now that's busy.  But you know the funny thing is that they don't seem to indulge in the same glorification of busy, perhaps because their successes are much more personal and intimate and mean so much more than a contract landed or a new handbag purchase.  Another round of applause needs to go to those who humbly work smarter, not harder and instead of bragging about their busy schedules they let their results be their noise.  I want to be that person.

As I said in my Instagram, I'm officially retiring from this contest of egos and when someone asks me how I'm doing, how everything is going in my life I'm simply going to respond with "happy."  Does that make me any less successful?  I'll just have to quietly let my results speak for themselves.

Sweater - Joe Fresh, Leggings - Aritzia Daria

A few weekends ago, I stopped to have a coffee and catch-up with Cynthia of Pinch of Chic.  She was the one who took these lovely photos, and it was so nice to chat with like-minded people.  I've always admired her because she truly does have a lot going on, but never indulges in boasting about her schedule.  Instead we were able to grab matcha lattes, chat about handbag wish lists and irritate the patrons of Roosters Coffee House with our photo taking.  Now that's a good time!

What do you guys think?  Are we all too busy for our own goods, or maybe I'm just being sensitive?  Let me know, I would love to hear your thoughts!

xo Joëlle

Photos by Cynthia Nguyen

February Favourites

Although it's not quite the end of the month, we're right on the cusp of February and what better time to round up my February favourites. Often deemed the most depressing month of the year, February was actually a pretty incredible month for me and I added new products and places to my roster of favourites. Take a look at what I've been enjoying around Toronto this month.

NOIZE Meeka Parka

Even with the milder winter we have been experiencing, my NOIZE Meeka parka came in handy for those cold and snowy days.  I absolutely love how lightweight this parka is, while still keeping me toasty warm.  The parka itself had that shiny body that give it a bit of a Moncler-esk vibe - without the hefty price tag!  Bonus points for the jacket being completely vegan and cruelty free, which has become increasingly important to me as I get older.

Dineen Coffee Company

You guys know that I absolutely love hunting down adorable coffee shops in Toronto - so much so, that I sometimes forget about my old favourites.  Dineen Coffee Company has been a long-time favourite of mine ever since moving into the city, and I definitely re-discovered my love for the café in February.  Not only is the place aesthetically beautiful, but the lattes are generous and perfectly balanced.  See those gorgeous tiles?  Perfect for a shoefie photo (#instatips.)

Ritual | Hair / Skin / Beauty

If there's one thing to know about me is that I take my hair very seriously. Maintaining long hair while colour treating the ends is no easy feat, so I rely on professional products and salons that treat hair care as seriously as I do.  I had a lovely experience at Ritual in Toronto where my hair colour was refreshed, and then blowdried to perfection (seriously - is there anything better than a good blow dry?) I also really appreciate that they use Pureology hair products, which are my all-time favourite for maintaining healthy hair.  Ritual also has a pretty extensive skin and beauty menu so I'll definitely be back!

Sephora Spring/Summer Preview

Being a blogger in Toronto certainly has its perks, and I especially appreciate the position when I'm able to attend fabulous events that give me a glimpse into what's to come for the upcoming season.  I've been toying with the idea of doing beauty tutorials and reviews for some time and after seeing what's to come with Sephora, it's definitely been added to the agenda.  Would you like to see more beauty related content on La Petite Noob?  Let me know!

Fancy Pufs 1 Year Anniversary

If you guys remember from our #HolidayBlogSquad holiday post, Fancy Pufs organic cotton candy is a favourite.  I still don't understand how they can pack so much flavour into cotton candy!  February saw the 1 year anniversary of Fancy Pufs, and I had a wonderful time toasting to their success with some of my favourite blogger gals (you may recognize Gabriella and Eleni from the holiday shoot as well!)  If you need a gorgeous gift, or just want to add some sweetness into your life definitely give Fancy Pufs a try.

White Willow Subscription Boxes

You guys remember my love of White Willow Subscription Boxes from a past post; well let me tell you, my love has just gotten stronger through the month of February. This Canadian lifestyle subscription is perfect for those of us that are looking for more than just beauty products.  The boxes themselves are extremely popular and March has already sold out (which I'm STILL kicking myself for not placing my order sooner.)  Be sure to sign up for White Willow's April's box before they sell out too!

That's what I've been loving for February!  I hope that you picked up a new favourite as well.  And as for the beauty tutorials and reviews, is that something that you would like to see on La Petite Noob?  Let me know!

xo Joëlle

OOTD - Comfortable Casual

Ever since my previous post where I talked about my newfound love for styling running shoes with everyday outfits, I've been hooked. After schlepping my poor feet around Toronto in sky-high heels all week, a comfortable pair of kicks were just what the doctor ordered (seriously - my doctor is always on my case about the heels.) I paired these GEOX Nebula runners with a very light and neutral outfit, appropriate for the mild weather that we've been having. Forget boots - these shoes were made for walking, and that's just what they'll do - and the best part is, it won't be at the expense of your comfort.

Shoes - GEOX, Coat - Aritzia, Sweater - Evernew, Jeans - Old Navy

These GEOX Nebula running shoes are a serious lifesaver for my tootsies, but you would never know it from their sleek design. I've never had a shoe keep my foot so supported and stable, as well as cool and dry; mama tends to overheat in the foot region, so this technology is much appreciated by myself and everyone around me! With the metallic details on the tongue and back, these taupe shoes are sure to get a ton of wear as we approach spring.

On a side note, I think I've all but given up on that old rule of not wearing white after labour day. These simple white jeans seem to get more wear in the winter than the summer, and breath new life into winter jackets.  Seriously, if you're tiring of your winter wardrobe, try pairing it with white jeans instead!

What do you guys think? Are you into the runners with street style look? What about wearing white pants after labour day? Is it a faux-pas to forward this blog post to my doctor for brownie points? Let me know!

xo Joëlle

How To Take Amazing Outfit Photos

Happy Wednesday!

I've written another guest post for Dana over at Wonder Forest, this time sharing my tips and tricks on how to get amazing outfit photos. Whether you're taking outfit photos for your blog, or an OOTD for Instagram there's a few simple tips and tricks than can really take each snap to the next level.

Head over to Wonder Forest to see, and let me know what you think!

xo Joëlle

OOTD - Casual Valentine's Day Outfit

Okay everyone, time to be real: although I've been posting a series of Valentine's Day outfits that involve dresses, heels and the like I will most likely be going casual for Love Day. As much as I enjoy dressing up, my favourite part of the holiday is getting to spend some quality time with Brian and this usually involves take-out burritos and re-watching the last season of Game of Thrones. Casual will be the name of the game this Valentine's Day, but that doesn't mean that you have to skip out on the festive details.  You guys know that I love pairing heels with my boyfriend jeans, and with the addition of a pink faux fur jacket? Perfect!  So for all of your casual ladies out there (myself included), I wish you the most fabulous Valentine's Day spending time with those that you love.

Jeans - Old Navy, Jacket - Zara, Shoes - Club Monaco

What do you guys think?  Do you think that you'll be dressing up for Valentine's Day, or will you keep it casual?  Do you have any big plans this weekend?  Let me know!

xo Joëlle

OOTD - Black Tulle Skirt

With the approach of Valentines Day, there's definitely been an explosion of bright, festive colours not only in stores but also in the blogosphere.  While I'm definitely guilty of abusing any holiday that allows me to pair pink and red together (hello my last post) I totally understand that not everyone is into all of that cutesy stuff.  Enter the black tulle skirt - just enough girly detail to be Valentines Day appropriate but with some edge.  Paired with a black skirt and booties, this tulle number will either make you comfortable dressing for Love Day, or want to audition for the lead in 'Black Swan' - and hey, either is good with me!

Skirt - Cien Boutique, Sweater - Club Monaco, Booties - Le Chateau

These Italian leather, hand-made babies are my recent obsession from Le Chateau and I quite literally can't get enough of these booties. A sleek, pointy toe boot can pair well with everything, and is a great alternative to a pump in the winter months.

What do you guys think? Are you all about that red and pink, or do you prefer the all-black palette for Valentine's Day.  Do you think I have a shot a snagging the lead role in Black Swan?  Let me know!

xo Joëlle

OOTD - Burgundy Cape Dress

As a former Valentine's Day nay-sayer, it actually makes me laugh to think about how much I've embraced the holiday!  Maybe it's because this Hallmark holiday comes along with flowers, hearts and a pink colour palette but I think it's definitely due to the fact that it's a day where we just celebrate love.  I'm definitely getting softer as I get older!  In line with the season, I chose this gorgeous cape dress from online boutique LANGsura.  It's called The Monarch, and I totally see why - I feel a bit like a butterfly in it! Toss on some knee-high boots (it is still winter, after all) and a bold lip and I'm ready to hit the town for Valentines Day!

Dress - LANGsura, Boots - Zara

What do you think?  Are you a Valentine's Day lover or would you rather do without it?  What about a Valentine's Day convert like me?  Let me know!

xo Joëlle

January Favourites

At the risk of sounding incredibly cliché, I'm just  going to say it - where has January gone? After the rush of the holidays, January is typically a slower month for me but this year has seen a different side and I've been running off my feet - in the best way possible, of course!  I've had the pleasure of exploring new areas of Toronto and taking in new experiences, and I can't wait to share them with you.

Kitten and the Bear

This quaint little tea room in the west end of Toronto has been calling to me from my Instagram feed for months, so I finally grabbed a girlfriend and went. Fresh scones, a variety of artisanal jams and Sloan tea are what await you at Kitten and the Bear and I could barely snap one photo before diving in.  I especially appreciate how everything is either made in-house or from a local company, and after sampling their Banana, Bourbon Vanilla Bean jam, I had to take a jar home for myself!

Le Chateau Booties

Growing up Canadian means that Le Chateau has been a staple in my adolescent trips to the mall - in fact, I even remember searching for a prom dress there!  I've recently re-connected with the brand on a much more dangerous level - shoes.  You guys the shoe selection at Le Chateau is amazing and when I saw these hand-made, Italian leather booties I knew that they had to be mine. Since snapping up these booties, I've made yet another Le Chateau shoe purchase so it's safe to say that I'm hooked.

Bobbette and Belle

Bobbette and Belle is pretty much a Toronto staple when it comes to pastries and cakes, and I became familiar with the brand when searching for a wedding cake.  January is the first time I actually visited the café in Toronto's Leslieville and I'm definitely going to add it to my arsenal of cute cafés - seriously, don't think just go!

Getting Active

Again with the clichés, but January is definitely a 'new year, new you' type of month for me and this lady found herself in a gym - not once, but twice! My first experience with a fitness class was Pure Barre, which will be opening very soon on Queen West in Toronto.  The class itself was incredibly fun, and the workout - wow.  Let's just say that all of those small, controlled movements in the barre class really packed a punch and this girl could barely move for two days afterwards!

The second class that I tried this month was a kick boxing class at Big Hit Studios in Liberty Village with Bench Canada. This class is high impact, high energy and borderline therapeutic as participants punch and kick the shiz out of a dummy.  I had such a great time taking out my daily frustrations on my poor dummy that I barely noticed that I was working out - no small feat for a girl who spends most of her nights on the couch with some Real Housewives and gin. If you want a fun workout, or just feel like punching someone in the face then I definitely recommend this studio.

Those are my January favourites, and I'm just as surprised as you are that fitness was actually a part of the favourites - let's just hope that carries through into February!  Have you been enjoying anything in particular this past month?  Let me know!

xo Joëlle