Trench Coat Love

I believe a classic trench coat is a must-have in any woman's closet. Not only are they versatile, but they can also add a bit of "class" to any outfit - whether it be for work, school, or play.

I've actually been on the hunt for the perfect trench myself. But short of paying Burberry prices (although one can lust!), I haven't been satisfied with most of the trenches I've encountered thus far. Too short, too long, weird fabric, strange buttons, completely sold out in my size... you name it, there'd be something wrong with it.

Thankfully, however, the seemingly endless search is now over! I'm completely in love with my new Talula Babaton Crinkle Trench Coat from Aritzia. Half my closet is from Aritzia anyway, so I suppose it's no surprise that I'd find my trench coat love there too. Can't wait to pair this with some different outfits!

Sally Hansen Calypso Blue

The sun is shining in Vancouver after what seems like an unreasonably sun-less springtime. I hope this means that summer is finally here!

Since I've been feeling a bit more lively due to the nice weather, I decided my nails needed to match my more positive attitude. Luckily, I had picked up Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Calypso Blue earlier this week... what better colour for welcoming summer than a shimmery turquoise? Not to mention, a unique shimmery turquoise at that! This polish has some gorgeous light reflects that I couldn't properly capture on my camera but trust me when I say that this shade possesses a definite "wow"-factor.

The benefits of this line are detailed in my first review (here) so I don't think there's any need to go over those again in detail. Calypso Blue applies like a dream and reached opacity in two coats (I added a third for good measure). The polish dried fairly quickly so I didn't bother using my Seche Vite. I have to say, I remain super impressed with the Complete Salon Manicure line and can't wait to try out a few more shades.

You'll also notice that I topped my mani off with a flower nail decal... a little cheesy but I figured it matched my "summer" theme, haha!

OPI Alice In Wonderland: Off With Her Red!

I'd been wanting to paint my nails a very classic red for quite some time when I remembered my incomplete 4-part review series on the OPI Alice In Wonderland collection (you can see the my reviews of Thanks So Muchness! and Absolutely Alice here and here). So in order to satisfy both my need for red nails and my promise to finish reviewing the collection, Off With Her Red! was an easy colour choice.

Since the collection is based on Alice in Wonderland, it's a given that red was necessary for the colour story. I do find it a bit weird that there were two red shades in the collection but Off With Her Red! is quite different from the more berry Thanks So Muchness! Off With Her Red! can best be described as a tomato-y creme, and is not shimmery in any way. The polish applies very smoothly and you can reach opacity in only two coats. Since the coats dried fairly quickly, I didn't even bother using a quick dry top coat.

In the end, however, it is what it is: red and nothing more. There isn't really anything special or unique about this shade. But if you're in the mood for basic red nails, Off With Her Red! is a safe bet.

Han Ju Tofu Hot Pot

T-shirt: Zara / Wrap: Wilfred (Aritzia)
Jeans: Rock &Republic / Sandals: Urban Outfitters

After wandering around the mall for a while, my friends and I went to Han Ju Tofu Hot Pot for dinner. This place is one of my favorites because not only is the food simple and delicious, but it's also super cheap! Only $5.95 for a single serving hot pot.

The menu has a few different kinds of hot pots, like seafood and kimchi. I always get the vegetarian one, which comes with glass noodles, tofu, mushrooms, and an assortment of other veggies. You can choose how spicy you want your hot pot - from no spice to super spicy.


There are a few other things on the menu (the Korean BBQ is really yummy), along with a wide selection of bubble tea and other drinks. This place is also pretty popular so there's often a bit of a wait for a table but it's totally worth it.

Address: #1218-4500 Kingsway (Crystal Mall), Burnaby, BC

Sally Hansen Commander in Chic

Sally Hansen recently introduced a new line called the Complete Salon Manicure, which claims to include all 5 steps of a manicure in 1 bottle - base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, colour, and top coat.

I opted for Commander in Chic, which is a unique mushroom-y taupe. It's essentially a dupe for Sephora by OPI's Metro Chic (except like $5 cheaper) and in line with the much beloved OPI You Don't Know Jacques from La Collection de France.

Since the Complete Salon Manicure claims you can skip base coat and top coat, I did too in order to put this to the test completely. Commander in Chic applies very smoothly and dries quickly. I really liked the brush, which is a modified version of Sally Hansen's usual wide brush. The edges are rounded which makes for extremely easy application and minimal clean-up.

I'm pretty happy with this polish and I've got my eye on a few other colours as well. There are a number of very trendy shades in this line (think teals, pale yellows, and bright greens). Hopefully my friend Sara will review a couple more of the ones she owns so I can decide!