personal bests 2011 - clothes et cetera

I was just talking with a friend at work and I was inspired to write this post - my first one in a long time. We were talking about how amazing the internet is when you're looking for information about products you'd like to try or clothes you're thinking of buying. Product reviews are the most incredible resource for information and I have never been led astray {knock wood!} by other women's feedback - especially when there are an almost overwhelming number of reviews for a single product, sometimes even too many to read. This is one of those cases in which women are so lucky; we have access to the most thoughtful, honest, and thorough feedback on cosmetics {I don't think I've ever used the word 'cosmetics' before, and it felt totally unnatural} and clothing... and I am so appreciative of the time all of those women have taken to write them. I have reviewed a few items, on occasions when I felt so strongly that I just had to share my thoughts so that other women could benefit as well... I guess it's a sort of pay-it-forward concept... having said that, I have not given back nearly as much as I have gotten over the years.

So, in that spirit {and, I suppose, in the spirit of the upcoming gift-giving season} I just wanted to share with you a few of the greatest things I've purchased over the past year or so, some of which are entirely thanks to all the amazing women out there who do take the time to pass on their thoughts and advice to the rest of us.

*These are in no particular order, and will not include my own detailed opinions, as I want to cover as many items as possible in the time that I have right now - suffice it to say that I LOVE every single thing on this list. Just imagine the label "Best Ever" on all of these.

Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush

Benefit Erase Paste



Benefit They're Real! Mascara



Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2
I recently started using this instead of facewash, and my skin has never been happier.
That might sound crazy, but it works for me.

Natalie One-Piece Swimsuit from Anthropologie
It seems that they no longer carry it but I'm sure you could find it at another
Seafolly Swimwear stockist.



Foxy Lulu Hotshort {formerly the Lacey Lulu Hotshort} from Lululemon
This isn't really of this year, as I've been wearing them for years, but I love them so much that I had to share.



Gap jeans {and pants}... wow. I own all of these, they are incredible.

 

Super lightweight long & lean jeans in cortez
so flattering

 

curvy jeans in dark wash
best all-around jeans

Skinny boot corduroy pants in hematite
so comfy and cozy and stretchy



Lightweight real straight jeans in black
so perfect for someone like me who could never wear skinny jeans or 'jeggings' {who on Earth came up with that awful word anyway?!}

Well, I think that's about everything that comes to mind {for now} in terms of clothing and makeup. I hope this helps someone, in some small way, with taking the plunge and buying a new product. Everything I've listed here is totally worth it, you will not be sorry.

Also, as this list grew longer and longer, I began to realize that I am going to need an entirely separate post for house-y things... and actually yet another for food-y things. I guess it's been a good year.

Or maybe I'm just getting older and wiser...

it's been a while...

Did anyone else have a momentary Staind circa 2001 flashback there? No? Just me?

Despite having been a completely delinquent blogger lately, I just bought a couple of things online that I reallty wanted to share. So the silence is broken. {Sidenote: I am a perpetual online-pretend-shopper; I fill up my shopping cart with things I love at stores all over the web, and then I never check out. I don't know why I do this, maybe it is some sort of 'placebo shopping'? Anyway, I don't know what has gotten into me, but lately I have actually made a few real purchases... now I am feeling like I'm on a slippery slope...}

It all started way back when I posted about these beautiful braided leather flip flops. Ever since then I have been on a mad hunt for a pair of brown leather flip flops that were a) in Canada, and b) less than €60. Not as easy as one might think. In fact, totally impossible in my experience. I went everywhere. I will spare you the agonizing details of every single store I visited, but believe me when I say that I got around. And then, one fateful day last week, my cubicle neighbour (just so you know, typing 'cubicle neighbour' just made me feel sick) was talking about how much she loves ordering from Abercrombie & Fitch. 

A negative: I have only been to an A&F store once in person (maybe five years ago), and was totally put-off by the half-naked men who are paid to stand in the store entrance with their shirts off. There are actually a lot of things that I find off-putting about the store. Having said that, I am not claiming any moral stance against them by any stretch, it was just not a store I enjoyed actually going into.

A positive: At my cottage there is a very old pair of binoculars in a beautiful old leather case - they were my Grandfather's and they must be considered antique by now. Only a couple of years ago did I noticed the embossed logo on the leather... Abercrombie & Fitch. This has totally changed my immediate mental association with the store. (I suppose it also helps that I haven't laid eyes on one of their brick and mortar stores in half a decade.)

So, when my work neighbour mentioned the store last week, the old, beautifully beaten-up and weathered leather case came immediately into my mind. Followed closely by the braided leather flip flops of my dreams. And off to the online store I went. Where I bought these.

No, they're not braided, but they are all leather, and I think they're gorgeous. And they were on sale for $42. I know that's an expensive pair of flip flops, but I've heard they're super comfy, and real leather doesn't come cheap.

While I was there... I found this bag in the clearance section (I actually didn't look at anything on the site that wasn't in the 'sale' or 'clearance' section... call it self-preservation). I have also been looking for a large-ish brown leather purse/bag for a while now. When I saw this one, I could just picture it once it had been broken in a bit and it has that lovely look that worn leather gets... so I had to get it. And it was on sale for $99 (down from $310)! I have to say that I really appreciate the subtlety of the Abercrombie logo on both of these items - I usually associate this brand with huge contrasting labels emblazoned across their clothing, so this was a lot more up my alley.

A big factor in this was the fact that abercrombie.ca ships from within Canada, so there are no duties or all those other fees that always seem to pile up with online purchases from American companies. Although I have a feeling that the prices are a lot less in USD... luckily it won't even let me look at the American site so I'll never know.

I am so excited for my purchases to arrive... also a bit nervous that they won't live up to my expectations, which have gotten rather high with all the anticipation. I really hope it all works out... and I will be sure to report back!

p.s. Is it just me or was that an unimaginably long-winded post about a two-item online shopping spree?