Insta-Thanks

Hello everyone! Did you have a good Thanksgiving weekend?

December is generally not a good month for me, so I am preparing mentally for tomorrow by looking back at my Instagram faves from last week. I hope they inspire you as well.

From top left: When December puts me down, I try hard to remember this (via @creaturecomforts) // I wish one day I will be invited to this table (via @garancedore) // Black is not my favorite color, but this spread is tempting me to reconsider (via @thefashionsight) // Fendi, Celine and a Turkey: the best (via @purseblog) // Ez's stuffed creations make me wish I was a child again (via @petitpippin) // Going dark for the holidays never looked so inviting (via @yvonnekone) // There is never enough pie (via @gsp) // Walking around lake Michigan is one of my fondest memories from the time I spent in the US (thanks @designmom for reminding me). 

All out

Hello everyone! Did you notice how fast and furious the Thanksgiving sales have come this year?

As I had just finished posting about the best pre-Thanksgiving deals, I started getting emails about Black Friday specials last week, and yesterday morning every commercial I heard on the radio began with "Don't miss our Black Friday sale!" 

Except for Target and the GAP group, do not expect great deals in brick-and-mortar stores (this is Montreal, after all). So skip Holt Renfrew: sit back, relax, and hit the Internet instead. If there is one thing the Great Recession has brought Canadians are more and better online deals from US retailers that now ship across the border.

Today only, you can buy a Nespresso U with milk frother for 149.99$ (that's 100$ off!) at The Bay. (Nespresso machines never go on sale, so hurry!)

J Brand's distressed 811 jeans are on sale for 124.99$ (from 285$) at Aritzia. (Other basic styles are priced around 100$.) It is perhaps your best chance to catch on the distressed denim trend.

Mango offers 30% off everything until Sunday (code: 5BLACK3 and BLACKFRIDAY14, respectively). This down-filled parka would be perfect for winter.

Joe Fresh offers 30% regular-priced merchandise until Sunday (code: BLACKFRIDAY14). A great opportunity to grab a new pair of jeans!

The Outnet offers free shipping (code: HAPPYHOLS), which is an almost 30$ savings on Canadian orders. I just ordered this sweatshirt. (To make fun of my French obsession).

Minted offers between 15 and 20% off holiday cards -- you can even buy them now and personalize them later.

Happy shopping!


P.S. Zara has announced a sale starting tomorrow. Follow us on Twitter to know more!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone and happy Thanksgiving, dear American readers!

It is an ordinary day here in Canada, and pumpkins and fall foliage have disappeared a few weeks ago. I have been spotting Christmas decorations almost since the beginning of November! Yesterday I was incredibly happy to have spotted this decorating gig in action: I finally confirmed my suspicion that it takes a crane to put lights on this huge pine (we pass it every day on our way home from school/office). Ah!

We actually do celebrate American Thanksgiving. We have lived long enough in the US to love this tradition, and we have a small crowd of American friends in Montreal with whom we like to share it with. It feels like our own Christmas, and gives us the chance to exchange wishes and good laughs with most people we care about, and that we seldom get to see during the holiday break. Because it is such a friendly, low-key event, it is difficult to stress out about it, and today I am enjoying a quiet day after the departure of my parents (whom have visited us for about a month).

Wait then for my next post, filled with Black Friday shopping tips!

Jumpstarting that list

Hello everyone! Are you ready to jumpstart that gift list?

The best deals will not happen until after Black Friday, but there are a few good ones right now as well.

Neiman Marcus offers duty-free shopping on online orders over 100 USD until November 16 (code: FREEDUTY)

Yoox offers up to 25% off items in your Dreambox (code: ENJOYCOLORS). Contrary to previous sales, you did not need to have added these items before hand. Just make sure you add them first to your Dreambox and then to your cart.

Joe Fresh offers 25% extra final sale items until November 16. (Don't get too excited the selection and, especially, the sizes are limited).

Starting Monday, November 17, Minted (my favorite destination for paper goods and custom art) offers 25% off a single curated art pick every weekdays for 25 days.



Image: J Crew.

Notes to self

Hello everyone! Do you use Bloglovin for iPhone?

I am beyond thrilled that it is now possible to pin images directly from Bloglovin iPhone app. This is why in the past few months my Inbox has been overflowing with emails I sent to myself from Bloglovin, to remember to save posts and, especially, images.

To start fresh now that this feature is available, I went through the above-mentioned emails and sorted them out. You would not believe how many interesting things I found.

A great quote, from a beautiful (or should I say glamorous?) Tumblr feed.

A lot of workspace inspiration (now on my Pinterest board), including the lamp of my dreams.

This photo will be my Christmas inspiration.

A reminder of what my kids want from me. (I needed it).

The Legographer.

One of my favorite parenting posts.

Finalists and runner ups at CFDA Instagram awards 2014. (I am now following @amy_stone)

My new favorite photographer and his shots of Cinque Terre (I am following him on Instagram too)

Books I's like to read (like this one).

While I was looking for this bucket bag, which is obviously not on sale anymore, I stumbled upon the best imitation of Phillip Lim's mini Pashli for less than 50$. Go, get one now. (The black version is already sold out). If you are rather a fan of Coach's Borough bag, you can get that one too.

Around my closet with Flair

Hello everyone and happy November!

I have been a bit off because my parents came to visit us two weeks ago, in occasion of my older son's birthday, bringing a lot of presents including one of my favorite Italian magazines. I love to see what's trending in my home country, especially since my aesthetic has been getting less and less experimental and closer to my roots.

It is amazing how far away October (and the last post I wrote in this series) feels! Last time I checked, it was all about Fall's best coats and mocassins, and now it is puffer and boots season. My closet has not yet made the transition. I am just distracted because, you know, the Christmas Book arrived and gifting season is officially open.

As for me, I finally found what I am asking Santa this year.

This book is on my list for Santa, too. (GOOP's edited bookshelves are the best.)

I wish I was still nursing to ask also for the most fashionable teething jewerly around. (I would totally get the goldie.)

Fortunately, it will be at least easy to stuff those stockings with this notebook (discovered via Ez a while ago).


P.S. After the holidays, I am embracing the Japanese art of decluttering. Period.

All that black

Hello everyone! Are you shopping the Alexander Wang for H&M collaboration tomorrow?

Breaking with a long tradition, I am sitting this one out (for sure, not like last year). The collection could have been designed by the Sporty Spice, had she ever had a gothic period, and black, cropped, boxy, and body-con garments (which also happen to be obnoxiously logo-ed) are not my cup of tea.

In case you are going (and Garance says you should), here are four tips from my experience.

1. Know what you are in for. You can shop the collection starting at 8 am, but ONLY if you are one of the first 280 people in line. There are people camped out there right now (yes, the night before), so if you are serious about it, get up early. Otherwise, you need to wait until those 280 people are done (and there is little left), or when online shopping opens at 10 am. Note that the same does NOT apply if you are shopping the men's collection.

2. Be organized. Check out the lookbook and identify the piece(s) you are interested in. If you get in, you will have only 10 minutes to shop, and those 10 minutes are pure insanity. You need to go and grab. No time to think about which sweatshirt you want.

3. Dress warm. Since you will be in for a relatively long wait (see point 1 above), bring stuff to keep you warm and busy. Bonus points to tech gloves that allow your hands to stay warm while you manoeuvre your iPhone.

4. Avoid the dressing rooms if you can. The dressing rooms are always crowded, and there is a long wait to get there. If you can, try things on on the floor, or at home (you have 7 days for returns anyway).


P.S. By checking on Instagram today, it seems that the fit of most garments is boxy (big shoulders, small hips).