SEVENTY-FOUR/ spring '14 designer lust list

Although winter doesn't seem to be letting up any time soon - spring will be on its way before we know it. Here's a of a list of items that I'm totally lusting over for the upcoming season. I can't afford a single one of these items pictured, except maybe the beauty products, but it doesn't hurt to dream right? If I've said it once I've said it a million times - I have a fascination with designer items and it really doesn't look like that will be going away any time soon. So excuse me while I cry over the beauty in this post... I sincerely hope it inspires you as much as it did me.

I will be doing a clothing lust list soon. As you can probably tell every single one of the items on this post is an accessory. High end designers that make clothing for plus size women are few and far between (unless you have the money to dish out for custom pieces) but luckily a lot of plus size brands realize that we want quality on trend pieces as well. Lookout for that post sometime in the near future.

VERSACE white medusa duffle bag | BALENCIAGA buckle strap ankle boot | ANNA SUI lipstick in 'plum purple' | BALENCIAGA 'paris' perfume | MARC BY MARC JACOBS henry dinky 21mm watch | KATE SPADE large gold bracelet gramercy watch | MCQ ALEXANDER MCQUEEN safety-pin key fob | ALEXANDER WANG black 'dumbo rocco' bag w matte black hardware | LAVIN 'love' two finger ring | SAINT LAURENT small tassel crossbody bag in gold | VERSACE gold and orange pendant necklace | CHANEL illusion d'ombre long wear luminous eye shadow in 'fantasme'

* This is in no way a sponsored post. All thoughts are my own / click through to be linked to the product information. (flower image)

SIXTY-TWO/ insomniac

I'm currently writing this as I'm "sleeping" over at my best friend's house. I put sleeping in quotation marks because they're really doing more of the sleeping, I'm more of a night owl. It can be quite lonely or boring at times but hey, at least I'm doing something productive right now... right?

I've been wearing this jacket pretty much non stop since I bought it a couple of weeks ago. I know everyone owns one like it and it is in no way unique, but I really don't care. I absolutely love it. The pleather sleeves look insanely cheap but I think that they give the piece a certain charm. Maybe I'm crazy. I love how the pockets are big enough for me to fit bits and bobs like bus transfers, lipsticks, change and my cell phone. I also love how its not 100% black.

I've been wearing the jacket with my Burberry scarf because it's honestly so cold here and the scarf keeps me so warm. I've been mixing up my bottoms, shoes and handbags to keep the ensemble looking fresh.

Today I decided to pair it with my MICHAEL Michael Kors skinny jeans and beaten up Converse for sort of a casual feel. I just threw on my Marc by Marc Jacobs bag because it had everything I need in it and I was in a bit of a rush to go out and meet my friends.

My friends and I spent the day doing my two favourite things - shopping and eating. We checked out the new H&M that finally opened up in Ottawa (I might do a post on all my findings later) and got lost in the giant mess that is Bayshore Shopping Centre while trying to find our parking lot. We finished the night with a makeshift buffet of different kinds of junk food (pizza, wings and the like) and hot chocolate with mini chocolate chip biscotti.

JACKET/ Last Kiss SCARF/ Burberry London JEANS/ MICHAEL Michael Kors 

SHOES/ Converse BAG/ Marc by Marc Jacobs ACCESSORIES/ Various 

LIPSTICK/ Raspberry by Joe Fresh

* Photo credit: Laura Kidd

* Disclaimer: I decided to name this blog post 'insomniac' because insomnia is something that I truly suffer from. I understand that it is a very real disorder and that if affects many people's lives. I do not wish to glamourize it it any way and I'm sorry if the title comes across as that in any way. Insomnia is a horrible condition and I really wouldn't wish it upon even my worst enemy. If you follow me on Twitter, Tumblr or if you know me in real life, you'd know that I've suffered from this for years. I despise every second of it. It truly is torture but I felt as though the title reflected what I'm going through and gave a bit of insight as to why I'm the only person under this roof that is awake and the reason why I'm updating my blog at 1:40 in the morning as opposed to you know... a healthy time.

SIXTY-ONE/ key pieces for survival

We all have items that we simply cannot live without. For some people its their favourite sweater, their favourite brand of shampoo or their signature scent. For me, it's a whole mess of things. I'm so seriously brand loyal and once I find a product that I love - I stick to it. Under the cut here is a list of some of my favourite products (from fashion, to beauty, to food, to other) that make my life a little bit easier and make me a bit more happy. Although none of what I listed is crucial for survival, some days it feels like they are.

I decided to leave out some of the more obvious ones, like my iPod Classic, iPhone or my wallet - those are just no brainers. Please feel free to share some of your favourite items in the comments!

FIFTY-TWO/ fall wishlist

I'm sitting here writing this in the heat waiting impatiently for fall to come. I absolutely love autumn; there's just something about that crisp chilly air and the brightly coloured leaves. Not to mention the fashions. Fall fashions are by far my favourite. I love layering, dark neutral colours and boots. I'm so happy to see burgundy back on the shelves in full force as it is one of my favourite colours to wear. I have been stalking my favourite online stores ever since they started to debut their fall collections and I can't wait to go on a shopping spree. Here are some key pieces I've been lusting after. A few of these items are a bit of a splurge, but hey this is a ~wish~ list, right?

1. Acid washed skinny jeans from ASOS Curve 2. H&M+ blouse  3. New Look bodycon skirt 4. See by Chloe black booties* 5. MAC lipstick in Dubonnet 6. Forever 21 necklace 7. American Apparel shawl cardigan in "truffle" 8. Marc by Marc Jacobs silver watch* 9. Zara black leather city bag 10. Lulu Guinness red lips bag via ASOS*

* - splurge items

- All thoughts are my own. Images are linked back to the appropriate sources. This post is in no way endorsed by any of the mentioned brands.

FIFTY/ distressed jeans

This outfit was a huge step outside of my comfort zone for so many reasons. For starters, I never wear blue jeans anymore. Other than these, I've only ever had one other pair that I was in love with but unfortunately those no longer fit. I also see jeans as way too casual and I never know what to pair them with. Unlike most people, I see the blue in the jeans as a legitimate colour and not a neutral, so I try to pair them with like colours. I usually get frustrated and give up and wear my trusty black skinny jeans or a pair of leggings instead. The other way in which this outfit is outside of my comfort zone is the fact that I'm not wearing a stitch of black. This is the first time in years that I haven't worn one piece of black clothing and I have to say, I didn't really miss it. I love how laid back and comfortable I felt in this look and I wouldn't be shocked if it becomes one of my regulars. I can bring it into the fall by adding a scarf and a jacket for warmth.

These jeans are flawless. I have yet to find a pair of pants as comfortable as these, and I wish I ordered like three other pairs. They're from Forever 21 so the quality isn't the greatest but these aren't jeans that I will be wearing very often. The dress code at my work is fairly lax but I wouldn't feel comfortable working in a pair of jeans as distressed as these. These jeans will be reserved for weekends, running errands and hang outs with friends, and I look forward to wearing the life out of them on my days off.

TOP/ Addition Elle JEANS/ Forever 21+ SHOES/ Minnetonka
ACCESSORIES/ Ardenes WATCH/ Michael Kors (via consignment)
BAG/ Marc by Marc Jacobs (via consignment)

* All pictures were taken by Sue Waugh.

THIRTY-FIVE/ what's in my bag?

WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
Is anybody else obsessed with this type of post? No? Just me? Awkward.
I love nosy posts where you get to see a tiny bit into the life of a blogger. I live for random facts posts, favourite beauty products (be on the lookout for one of those in the near future) and of course the "what's in my bag" post. 

So what is in my bag exactly? A lot of random junk. Receipts, mostly. A lot of loose change. A hoard of lipstick. I try my best to keep it organized, but by the end of the week it is just filled to the brim with crap.

Here are the essentials: My coral Kate Spade wallet filled with all of my cards, receipts, cash (yeah right), ect. My black 160gb iPod classic and headphones - I can't stand 'earbuds', I have to have headphones. Business cards that I never ever hand out (photoshopped my number out). Mirror. 'Bubblegum' lipstick by Joe Fresh - my all time favourite. Moleskin journal and rhinestone pen. Blistex. Hand sanitizer, lighter, hand cream, all in a gold sequined pouch. My iPhone 4. Leather Holt Renfrew card holder with loyalty cards. Keys. Ray-Ban sunglasses that I've yet to get my prescription in.

* All pictures were taken by me.

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ twelve

MARC JACOBS

I have a very weird relationship with his brands. It's something like an obsession, it's almost a sickness. I fantasize daily about Marc by Marc Jacobs accessories and Marc Jacobs ready-to-wear pieces. My undying love for this man's work is definitely no secret.

I have watched the Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2013 RTW show about a dozen times and I'm still blown away by it. Monochromatic looks and stripes hold a very special place in my heart, and in my opinion no one does those looks better than Marc Jacobs.

I am always lusting over certain pieces from his lines. Right now it's the MBMJ clear cross body bag, tomorrow it may be something different all together. I fear that one day I will just turn into a giant walking advertisement for his brands, but I really can't help it. It's like an addiction, really. I haven't put my finger on what exactly it is about it all, but everything he does is just so visually appealing to me. My interest right now is mostly focused on Marc by Marc Jacobs and that's mainly because the prices are more within my reach. I hope to one day say that about his main brand, and I would die to have a piece from his work with Louis Vuitton. 

I am fortunate enough to own a few items from MBMJ and his main line. I did buy them all secondhand but they are all authentic and I love that I got them all for a fraction of the cost. My favourite pieces that I own are the black leather clutch and the royal blue Natasha Q bag. I do wear my black MBMJ bag more often than not though, it's just so big and it holds everything.

"I love to take things that are everyday and comforting and make them into the most luxurious things in the world."
- Marc Jacobs 

source: the-talks

Marc Jacobs work with the Louis Vuitton brand (source: thetimes)

Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2013 RTW (source: thesatorialist)

My current collection: Marc Jacobs scarf, black Marc by Marc Jacobs Twisted Q Riz bag, Marc Jacobs Latin ring, Marc Jacobs black leather clutch, royal blue Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Natasha Q bag

* All images are referenced back to their original sources.

TWENTY-EIGHT/ instagram

I have been so uninspired lately, it's ridiculous. I know it's a pretty lame excuse, but when it gets to -30°C, and sometimes even colder with the windchill, it becomes more and more difficult to get out of bed - let alone make yourself look fabulous. I'm convinced that this new found laziness is what sparked my interest in Instagram. I only got my iPhone a little over a month ago, so I am fairly new to it, but I have to admit that I am full blown addicted right now. It's a little embarrassing .. I really need to put my phone down and pick up my dSLR to snap some outfit pics. I can't help it right now, but I promise you that I will post at least one outfit post within the next week.

Here's a bit of what I've been up to the last month or so, as documented by my Instagram.

My past month, via Instagram.
(my username is rosiexwaugh if you wish to follow)

1. Saw Alexisonfire for the very last time / Christmas brunch spread / Thrfiting at Goodwill with my friend Michael

2. Cleaned out my closet /  Finally got a Brand New t-shirt / The wine I got for Christmas!

3. Obsessed with my new Ralph Lauren crested blazer / and my Ralph Lauren sheets / and my thrifted heart shaped purse

4. New (to me) Marc by Marc Jacobs purse from Rikochet Resale / Getting another tattoo / My second, and possibly the worlds smallest, tattoo

TWENTY-ONE/ birthday wishlist

Christmas is a huge deal at my house.  I'm sure my mother likes to think of herself as Mrs. Claus and when I say she goes all out, you have to believe me. Today is November 18th and we currently have not one but two Christmas trees up and fully decorated - and it doesn't stop there, we have another tree and more decorations to be put up. But, before Christmas comes the real holiday, my birthday! (December 16th, mark your calenders!!)

I've decided to compile a bit of a fantasy wish-list for both occasions. I say fantasy because all I truly want from my parents is a bit of money to go towards tuition for when I (hopefully) start college (again) in September, and for the rest of the people I'm close with to be happy and healthy. I know, lame right? I'm usually a lot more materialistic than this. Well, I guess this is growing up.

What are some items on your holiday wish lists? Or are you like me and have absolutely no idea? If you don't celebrate Christmas, what are some items you're dying to get your hands on within the next couple of months?

1) Marc by Marc Jacobs Purse 2) Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Wingman' wallet 3) The North by Stars on Vinyl 4) Printed leggings (images from New Look) 5) Hello Kitty Forever (F21) scarf print pillow 6) Lipsticks (image) 7) Jager (image) 8) Marc by Marc Jacobs watch 9) Red velvet creepers by Agyness Deyn x Dr. Martens 10) HP laptop