Tag Archives: gold

Tiny Holiday Touches

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Easy Holiday Tips, Decorating on a Budget, Christmas in a Condo, Green Holiday Ideas… these are all standard headlines that you’ll likely see plastered across home magazine covers and websites while the holiday season unfolds. I’ll reiterate shamelessly that one of the lovely things about In A Nutshell and what we choose to write is that, as the people behind our headlines, story ideas and experiments – we really live what we write. We give many things a whirl for ourselves, each other and you; sometimes we fail, sometimes we thrive and sometimes we just get to say we tried it on for size. In the case of holiday lifestyle articles like those mentioned above, we really are the young folk lacking disposable incomes, wanting to keep things simple, and maintaining cozy nooks in the city – all while still deserving (and wanting) to relish in every second of the heartwarming holiday season.

As a gal on the go who doesn’t want to drop a silly amount of cash on tasteful decorations but who’s also born the week of Christmas (and am therefore innately predisposed to having a weird obsession with all things holiday) – when the temperatures dropped, I decided it was time to deck the halls. So without investing a wad of cash and time into said hall and without the result being an over-the-top red, green, cluttered and aggressive arrangement – I set out to pursue little items here and there that would complete a subtle yet dreamy winter setting. Minimalistic additions to the living room in the form of sparkly hits of silver, “frosted” decorations, mismatched and misshaped Christmas items and lots of light were what I decided on. Less than $50 later (if you’re starting from scratch with your purchases, that’s peanuts), I ended up with what I feel is a non-chalante, inviting and classy Christmas feel.

If you live in a small condo or apartment, the best thing to do is insert tiny hints of the holidays into your existing arrangement. Without upheaving your furniture or hanging swinging ornaments and gaudy garland from every surface, try:

  • Adding an offbeat reindeer figurine to a stack of artsy books
  • Filling an elegant silver pitcher with winter greenery or trendy dishes with unfussy ornaments
  • Even just adding those few extra white candles to surfaces in your main room will do the trick
  • Lay some lanky strands of birch tree branch along your mantle with sporadic bits of garland or holly
  • Scour your flea market or local thrift store for a porcelain St. Nick figurine
  • Spray paint pine cones gold and silver
  • Simply provide the ”warm” option to your main room – a massive white knit throw, huggable patterned couch pillows or a trendy tea set and tray on the coffee table – these hints will remind your guests your heavenly home is the cure to their winter woes!

There really are endless store-bought and low-cost ways to show guests you’re ready for the season, which means there are consequently no excuses for not participating in the winter wonder. I promise that without having to drain your savings and spend a night in Tacky Tinsel Town you, like us, can fully partake in the most wonderful time of the year…in a nutshell.

Here’s what I’ve done to my 1-bedroom abode. Although combined it looks like quite a bit - when spread out all over my space, it’s the most subtle holiday feel: 



Rock Fashion Muse

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I think that for the most part, any big music lover’s life features the dream, or at least the curious interest in, someday becoming a rock star themselves. This dream doesn’t require any sort of musical talent or even an ounce of stage confidence; trust me, I have only a little of the former (I can hit a note, I suppose) and although I consider myself fairly outgoing, I surprisingly have next-to-none of the latter. Put me on a stage in the dark with only two audience members, and I could figure it out. Otherwise, I don’t really have the ingredients to be what one would call a rock star.

So, I settle for a lot of performing in my underwear. Often I’m home alone, inconspicuously hopping atop my bed to songs like ‘Try a Little Tenderness’, ‘Monster Hospital’ or ‘Almost Crimes’, until someone knocks at my door and the music zips to a halt like an awkward party scene from a teen movie. When you can’t headline a festival or play guitar with your teeth, sometimes this is the only alternative. And, anyone who tries to say they’ve never indulged in this behaviour has pants that are currently on fire.

Since I’m not a rock star, I just love to live vicariously through those brave females who are. Those wicked, sweeter-than-pie but ruthlessly talented young gals that know how to rip a riff on their guitar and pick a bone with the microphone. I can’t get enough. And, if they can pull all of that on-stage sweating, speaking and creative-thinking off while looking classically beautiful – then even more power to them. A notable rock fashion icon for me, is undoubtedly Ms. Annie Clark – the songstress under the American indie-pop moniker St. Vincent. Aside from being a well-respected artistic mastermind who’s played alongside The National, Bon Iver and Tom Waits – Annie is also an absolute knock-out whose trendy looks match her stylish vocals. Clark mimics classic 40s-feminine flair, easily incorporating the forward-thinking era fashion into her contemporary vintage look. She is effortlessly gorgeous in her tiny sprite-like figure, so much so that you would expect sparkling pixie-dust to toss from her guitar strings every time she plucks under the spotlight.

Here are some of Annie’s most wonderful fashion moments:

                                        Classic and romantic 40s-esque look:

Casually cool and simple, vintage-inspired chic:

Funky sunglasses collection, necessary for any rocker gal:

Understated make-up for a fresh-faced fairy:

 

 

…Want to hear this little pixie belt it out? Here is her lovely calming cover of Jackson Browne’s “These Days” as well as the newest St. Vincent track, the funky and atmospheric ”Surgeon“. She can really do it all, in a nutshell.

Put A Ring On It

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It’s amazing how tireless women can be when going after something they want. This statement is applicable in personal situations, the working world, and in this specific case (as most of us nuts know) – this is unbelievably true when it comes to having an item or possession that you can’t get out of your mind. Whether it’s that little black dress (that you feel should be easy to find), that specific pair of shoes you’ve created in your brain, or that piece of jewelry of which you’ve seen variations on other people – you can close out the shopping mall on a desperate hunt for what you’ve convinced yourself exists. This might sound a little silly; I mean, it’s just a possession, it’s just a decoration. But I think this goes further back than that. As we grow older and start migrating away from the weekly purchases of $8 accessories that sparkle for about an hour, I feel like we think back to when we were little girls, envious of our Mother’s sparkling jewels. Most of the time we were most in awe of the pieces that dazzled even after 20 plus years of wear. We might even start to think that it’s time that we put some cash or thought into a few decent staples that fit us like a glove, and that we’ll have forever.

I began this kind of thought process and search about a year ago, when I became determined to find the perfect ring. Something reasonable, pretty, and something that in five years I’m going to have to pry off my hand. Why was I so adamant on finding this? For one, I work in Communications, meaning I’m always meeting with someone and talking to somebody – and therefore am also usually flailing my hands around to add emphasis to what I’m saying. The paws have to look semi-decent in the workplace. Another reason, and a more basic one at that – is that the rings I notice on my friends are the ones that they hardly switch up, regardless of the outfit. I don’t ever get a chance to notice the practically disposable ones which are tossed into the depths of a jewelry bowl, never to be seen again after one wear. And so began the avid search. I looked at:

Flea markets and vintage sales:

Pro – There are SO many funky things at these sales, and you can trust that whatever you pick up has a fantastic story behind it. You’ll find many unique pieces, gemstones and concepts that are most likely one in a million.
Con – Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly the materials in the ring, and therefore whether or not it will turn colour, last without breaking, or wear away. Unless an educated jeweler is selling the ring, even they might not know exactly what you’re working with.

Accessible Upscale Chain Stores (eg: Banana Republic, Coach, BCBG):

Pro –  These stores are unbelievably on target with current fashion trends, while still staying timeless and classic. This means you’re very likely to find a piece of jewelry that appeals to you, is sparkly, unique and sturdy in make.
Con –  You’d be surprised how few of their pieces (despite clocking in at anywhere from $35 to $150) are actually made with sterling silver or gold plate. Although beautiful in appearance, even some of the most expensive pieces admittedly are made with nickel or gold tone – and might turn the band that icky green after a few wears. If you’re OK with that – go for it, because the pieces are still extremely fashionable!

Online Jewelry Retailers:

Pro – As we all know, the internet is our oyster – type in what you want and you will find someone who’s selling it. So, if you search “gold-plated Turquoise ring”, you’ll be pulled towards amazingly resourceful retailers like Beso or ShopStyle.com who will have a number of options and designers for you to browse through.
Con – I don’t know about you, but like shoes, rings are something I would like to try on before I hand over my credit card number. I never know how the tone of the ring will look in the light of day on my finger, compared to how it looked on a computer screen. So, if you’re anything like me, you might want to try that $100 puppy on first.

In conclusion, the hunt is over. Where did I find my precious baby ring? Well, I found it with the power of traipsing around…wait for it…on foot. I jaunted all over the city in the heat, the snow, and the rain – for what’s felt like a lifetime, and I found it a lovely Ottawa store called True Bijoux, which is less than four blocks from my work (secretly sighing about that). During the ring search, I started exploring jewelry companies that might seem like they only market one thing (necklace, bracelet, etc.), but actually have all sorts of different lines. I looked at the Pandora bracelets ages ago, and then figured I would browse through their rings – and that’s where I found what clicked. It fits like a glove, sparkles with little diamonds, and didn’t break the bank. The line is also sold at Magpie, which has three Ottawa locations. Moral of the story, after stopping buying $10 pieces of jewelry every four minutes, you’d be surprised what you can save up for – and what you’ll inevitably enjoy for years to come.

 So, check out the ring bling each of us nuts sport! In a nutshell, these things really are a girl’s best friend.

 Jess wears: 1. Pandora “Kerry” diamond ring with beaded Sterling Silver 2. A vintage 1970s Gold zig-zag ring that was passed on by Mom.

Kaylee wears (from top left) 1. Banana Republic 2. Maison Martin Margiela from SSENSE. 3. Gift from grandparents when they were in Italy. 4. David Yurman graduation gift

Meg wears: Sterling silver staple from Magpie jewelers – she couldn’t get this baby off if she tried!

Kate wears: Vintage 1960s opal and gold ring from Australia, also passed on by Mom.

Cat wears: a vintage hand-me-down from Mother goose.