Planning for a Palm Springs Getaway

It's officially 17 days until my trip to Palm Springs, and I couldn't be any more excited! There's so much to think about, like how many bikinis to pack or will everything fit into a carry-on? From all my shopping and browsing and flipping through magazines, here is my collection/ mood board of what I'm looking forward do wearing during my trip.

Two-Piece Swimwear by Free People
Sandals by Sam Edelman

Light Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

I always save a couple bananas to brown and make chocolate chip muffins with, but this time I waited a little too long. They went a too brown, so I had to improvise! I already had this yummy Banana Nut Muffin recipe in mind, but with no bananas, I substituted no sugar added applesauce and added fresh blueberries instead. What I was really dying to try out was the oatmeal streusel topping that had raving reviews.

This lightened muffin mix doesn't call for any butter; I used light vanilla yogurt instead. You can use plain or Greek, but I like the extra flavor from the vanilla. There's no refined sugar either. Apple sauce has natural sugar, and the recipe also calls for some brown sugar. Follow along for the recipe and let me know what you think!

Muffins:

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup no sugar added applesauce
• 3/4 cup 1% low-fat milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup blueberries

Streusel:

• 6 tablespoons regular oats
• 5 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Measure flour into large bowl and combine with next 4 ingredients through salt. In a separate bowl, combine applesauce and next 3 ingredients. Stir well and add to dry mixture. Carefully fold in blueberries. You can roll them in flour first to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the mixture. 

To prepare the topping, combine ingredients in a small bowl and spoon on top of batter in the muffin pans. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Bikinis on a Budget

Whether you're sunning in the south of France or lounging on your backyard patio, you don't need to splurge to get a great bikini. Each year, I debate investing in a higher end designer set, but I can't seem to rationalize making such a big purchase. There are so many more affordable options that you don't have to break the bank on just one swim suit. After all, it's way more fun to spend your money on two affordable swim suits, especially when you can mix and match on vacation. Check out some of the options below, and let me know what you think!

Under $30

Floral Bikini
Forever21 (Top: $12.80; Bottom: $11.80)

Xhilaration Bikini
Target (Top: $14.99; Bottom: $14.99)

Under $50

Turquoise Sequin Bikini
Old Navy (Top: $17.50; Bottom: $17.50)

Under $100

Becca Stripe Bikini
Nordstrom (Top: $36; Bottom: $40)

Ella Moss Bandeau Bikini
Piperlime (Top: $38.50; Bottom: $38.50)

Sofia by Vix Print Bikini
Piperlime (Top: $49; Bottom: $49)

Antique Sunday at Toronto's St. Lawrence Market

My first trip to the St. Lawrence Market!

Browsing the St. Lawrence Market has been on my to-do list for months now, and I'm so happy I was finally able to go! Though the weather wasn't exactly ideal, there were plenty of indoor booths to keep us out of the rain. Mondays through Saturdays, the market features plenty of produce and cheeses, but Sundays are exclusively antique jewelry and clothing vendors. There were so many unique sets of pottery and decor too, I wanted to take them all home!

Vintage coral and silver bracelet for $15

Do you like to shop your local market? Let me know of any of your great finds!

5 Must-Have Summer Accessories under $100

1. A Straw Tote

Perfect for keeping you organized for any summer activity from the beach to the farmer's market

J.Crew Tisbury Bucket Bag
jcrew.com ($49.50)

2. Bold Bangles

Stack them, mix and match- these are fun to play around with!

Cara Turquoise Bracelet
Nordstrom ($48)

3. Embellished Sandals

These sandals can easily go from day to night- perfect for a summer trip when you're limited to a suitcase!

Report 'Hartley' Sandal
Nordstrom ($69.95)

4. Sunglasses

Invest in one sturdy pair, and you're set for summer!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Oversized Aviators
Piperlime ($98)

5. Woven Belt

A versatile woven or braided can can be used for everything from cinching your maxi dress belting your cut-off denim shorts

Woven Prairie Belt
Madewell ($58)

How to Wear Nautical Stripes this Summer

You just can't dress properly for summer without incorporating some nautical stripes into your wardrobe. No longer are stripes just a trend, but they have truly become a summer staple! Feeling preppy? Pair a three-quarter sleeve blue and white striped tee with white linen shorts and boat shoes, and you've got yourself a full-proof summer look. Feeling a bit of a hippie vibe? Try out the look I created below! I can't wait to invest in a maxi skirt and play around with different colors of striped tanks and tees.

What do you think of this look? Thinking of wearing stripes this summer?

Long Skirts by Free People
Sandals by Steve Madden

Summer Sneakers- Splurge or Save

Summer is always a fun time to invest in some fancy footwear. You don't have to worry about cleaning off the salt and snow, and it's a simple way to add a pop of color or sophistication to your outfit. Branch out of your comfort zone, if you dare, and try out some of these fun styles.

Boat shoes are a favorite summer classic. But don't just assume that preppy has to mean "comfortable" and therefore "boring." If you're not a fan of the menswear look, opt for a slimmer fit and less coverage on top. You can even pair with a flirty sundress! What's your favorite summer sneaker?

The Moccasin

Steve Madden "Mockk" Flat
Nordstrom ($69.95)

The Boat Shoe

Ralph Lauren "Theodora" Boat Shoe
Nordstrom ($275)

The Loafer

Bronx Girl Power
Piperlime ($89)

 The Canvas Flat

Coach Darcelle Flat
Macy's ($128)

Target Opening Shop in Canada

Source: Target-Addict

"Target's coming to Toronto!" Okay, so this is probably old news to you by now. But since I first heard this announcement back in January, we've seen the opening of Marshall's and a new Victoria's Secret at Sherway Gardens. There are also rumors of Nordstrom and Topshop venturing into Canadian territory as well. Awesome, right? Well when I first moved from California to Toronto, it was almost unbearable to imagine not having constant access to Nordstrom, Target, and Coffee Bean. But once I settled here in Toronto, it became almost a novelty to be able to go home for the week and stock up on my favorites that people can't find here.

I went to school in a small town in upstate New York. The mall was hardly a mall by any California girl's standards, and when Urban Outfitters finally opened up shop, everybody rejoiced! But within a few weeks, we all started to realize that everybody showed up to classes and the bars in the same Urban Outfitters apparel. While Toronto is not exactly isolated like Ithaca, New York, I surely hope that these stores don't completely change the landscape of Canadian fashion. What I'd love to see is for Target to incorporate the style that's already established here. Maybe they can do a collaboration with a Canadian designer- now that I would certainly love to see!

What are your thoughts on large American stores moving into Canada? I'm pretty excited overall, but I'd love to hear your opinion!

Blue Blazer Uniform

One item of clothing every girl must own is a well-tailored blazer. Although I have a hard time choosing just one color (see the black, grey, cream and white blazers that I also own),  I am convinced that a blue blazer can last you through all seasonal changes. In the summer months, it becomes a staple for my workwear. Paired with a white top and khaki pants, you really just can't go wrong! After work, layer over a flowy summer dress and you have an instant day-to-night look.

Blazers at Nordstrom
Flats by Nine West

Style Obsession: Crochet for Summer

Nothing screams summer quite like a crochet tank, and I'm antsy to get my summer wardrobe started! Crochet tanks are fun and easy to layer when the temperature heats up. You can toss it over your bikini top, a tank top, a dress- you name it! They're so versatile you can even pair with your skinny jeans to get you through these Spring showers. Check out these options and let me know what you think.

Free People Jersey Crochet Top
Bluefly ($62)

Coral Crochet Top
Topshop ($55)

Chiffon & Crochet Tank
Forever21 ($22)

Vince String Crochet Tank
Bloomingdales ($135)

LC Lauren Conrad Crochet Vest
Kohl's ($33)

Broken Heels: Fix or Toss?

In case you aren't following my tweets yet, I recently suffered through a broken heel all day at work. It wasn't until I walked across the hard tile at the office that I realized the loud scraping noise I had heard while exiting the elevator of my apartment building was really the sound of my heel breaking off. It wasn't as bad as it sounded; just the rubber tip came off exposing the nail that holds the stiletto together.

photo from styles.by.char

When this happens to your favorite pair of heels (as it seems to happen to all of mine), do you repair them or just toss them? Generally, I mourn and move onto the next pair. But since I'm on a tighter budget right now, I decided to give this another thought. If you can repair the shoes for a reasonable cost, and the repairs will last about another year, you'll get more bang for your buck by taking them to a shoe repair store.

For the very brave who want to try this at home, check out this great DIY post!

I just dropped of pair of high heels for repairs, and I'll let you know how they turn out! Have you ever had to repair a favorite pair of shoes? What was your experience with it?