Monthly Archives: February 2013

A Special Green Top & Necklace & Link Up Next Thursday

Good Morning Everyone. I’m really excited to announce that now that I have my own domain, I can do link ups on my blog!!! But before I get to that, this is what I am wearing today: my green embroidered top, skinny jeans, flats and a cardigan. There is special meaning behind this shirt and the necklace. I bought the necklace when I was pregnant with my son. I call it my Peanut necklace and every time I wear it, it reminds me of when I was pregnant with him. I also purchased this top when I was in my third trimester of pregnancy. It’s one of the few “normal” tops that I bought that translated into post/pre-pregnancy as well. I don’t wear either very much, especially the green shirt, because I do feel as though it is a bit too big for me, but I like to wear it every once and a while, especially when I’m craving some sun and Spring time. The color of the top reminds me of Spring.

Top & Jeans (R W & Co.). Cardigan (Jacob). Shoes (Aldo). Purse (Olivia & Joy). Bracelets (Poshlocket). Necklace (Coach).

As I mentioned earlier in this blog I am so excited to announce that I will be hosting a monthly link up on my blog. Here are the details:

It has to be a new post, linking to the post, not to the blog.
Link back to my blog.
Like my Facebook page.
Please check out other people’s link ups.
You don’t have to include an outfit, you can include your wish list.

I will be starting a monthly link-up, on the first Thursday of every month. Each month the theme will be different. I will let you know what the theme is 1 week before. The idea is to bring bloggers together to check out each other’s blog and to get inspired. I link up almost every day to different bloggers and it has been a great experience. I’ve met some fabulous bloggers that way. So this month’s theme is Cobalt. I would like you to do a new post showing me how you would wear/style cobalt. Cobalt is huge for Spring and I want to see how you fabulous ladies wear it. Here are some ways I’ve seen cobalt in magazines and how celebrities wear it:

The link up will happen next Thursday March 7. Happy styling ladies!!!!

Please don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a 1 month membership to Kinder Cafe, here.

May this blog inspire you to add some cobalt into your wardrobe and if you’re a blogger to link up with me next Thursday. I would love to see your creations.

Happy Thursday Everyone!!!

Say No To Bullying: Wear A Pink Shirt Today!!!!

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Today is wear a Pink Shirt day. Wearing a pink shirt means that you are standing up to bullies and that bullying, any form, will not be tolerated. For more information on Pink Shirt Day, you can click on this link. This is what I am wearing today: pink Tippi sweater, pink gingham top, trouser jeans, bow ballet flats complete with pink bracelets.

Sweater ( J Crew). Top (H & M). Jeans (Gap). Shoes (Aldo). Bracelets (Stella & Dot). Watch (Michael Kors). Necklace (J Crew, My Name Necklace). Purse (Coach).

This post is dedicated to all those who have been bullied. It is dedicated to those kids and adults out there who continue to be bullied every day; to those kids who are like Amanda Todd and suffer in silence until it’s too late. If you don’t know who Amanda Todd is, take a look at this You Tube video she created, recounting the horrible bullying she endured, until she couldn’t take it anymore and ended her life.

Bullying comes in many forms and affects children, men, women, adults alike. Bullying is something that is carried with those people for the rest of their lives. It changes them and shapes who they are. I know that the teasing and taunting I endured in Junior High has stayed with me and it has definitely affected me.

It absolutely breaks my heart to watch Amanda Todd’s video. We as a society failed her. We should have helped this girl and held her bullies accountable for their actions when she was being bullied. It was ignored, even Amanda lied about it. Look where that got her? Bullying happens every day to someone and it’s time it stopped. We need to stop blaming and start taking action. We all need to do our part. My part will be to teach my son to accept people that are different than him, to love everyone and to treat people the way he would want to be treated. I will also teach him to stand up to bullies and to help those that are being bullied. To teach my son that bullying will not be tolerated nor accepted in our house. This sounds all so easy and I know it won’t be. But if I teach him this at home and if others do the same, then maybe, just maybe this will translate back to school and maybe it will help just one child. We can’t just rely on the system, the schools, the programs the government is implementing, we need to take action. So today I am taking action and wearing pink.

I have chosen to end my post with a beautiful and bittersweet story from Shane Koyczan. The message is simple: bullying changes how you see yourself, how you act and how you treat yourself. You start believing what others are saying about you. You doubt yourself, you punish yourself, you start behaving in self-deprecating ways. Bullying changes you and not for the better.

So for the sake of our kids and our future, let’s put a stop to bullying.

May this blog inspire you to teach your kids about tolerance, love and acceptance. This goes for us adults as well. If we all just accepted each other and treated each other with love and respect, this world would be a better place.

Please don’t forget to enter my giveaway here.

Happy Hump Day Everyone!!!!

Overwhelmed, Polka Dots & Oscar’s Best Dressed

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I’m still ironing out details of this whole switching to my own domain. I’m not a computer programmer!! I’m a mother, wife, nurse and blogger and my brain hurts from days of reading things. It’s coming together, slowly!!!! Please be patient with me as I finish the last touch ups.

Do you ever have days/weeks/months where you feel like the list you have to complete just keeps growing and not shrinking? That’s how I feel today and have felt the past few days. I just feel like it will never end, things to be done, but I guess that’s life hey? Anyways I need to finish off this blog so I can take my son to preschool and then have the marathon “what can I get done in 2.5 hrs before I have to get my son from preschool again!!” What I really want to do is throw my hands up in the air and scream and have a 4yr old tantrum!!!! I’m overwhelmed, tired and sick, and sick and tired of feeling these 3 emotions. I’m sorry, today I am having a pity party for myself. Do you ever have these days?

This is what I wearing today: my favorite blouse (polka dot), red pants, navy cardigan and boots. It’s perfect running around outfit, comfortable yet pretty.

Cardigan & Pants (Gap). Blouse (Guess). Boots (Browns). Bracelets (Stella & Dot and Poshlocket). Purse (Fossil). Necklace (My Name Necklace).

The Oscars were handed out on Sunday. My husband and I PVR’d it and watched it after putting my son to bed. My favorite parts were Seth’s Macfarlane’s somewhat inappropriate jokes, Adele’s acceptance speech, Jennifer Lawrence’s tumble (that would have totally been me), and Ben Affleck’s heart warming, tear jerker speech.

The fashion was amazing. It was nice to see simple hair and sparkly and fabulous jewelry. Here are my 5 favorites:

Jennifer Aniston in Valentino

Jennifer Garner in Gucci

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior

Jessica Chastain in Armani Prive

Sandra Bullock in Elie Saab

And since I can never narrow it down to just a few, here are the rest of my favorites:

The 3 ladies in red

Screen Shot 2013-02-25 at 2.36.03 PM

The 4 ladies in hues of white

The 2 ladies glistened like the Oscar statue

The 2 ladies in blue/plum

These 2 glittery goddesses

The 3 ladies that varied the classic black

It’s fun to day dream when watching the Oscars, some day maybe that will be me. Do you day dream? Do you dare?

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway here.

May this blog inspire you to feel like a celebrity and make plans to get all gussied up.

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!!

New Home, Pocket Full Of Sunshine & A Giveaway

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Hello Everyone and welcome to Vodka Infused Lemonade’s new home!!! I finally have my own domain and webpage :). I still have some things to iron out and I’m hoping to get some work done on the title and headers, but I have my own webpage!!! I couldn’t have done it without the help of my husband. He is a computer programmer and his skills and patience came in handy.

This is what I am wearing today: a yellow top, cardigan, skinny jeans, boots and this fabulous cobalt cuff.I found this at The Bay a few months back and I couldn’t wait to wear it. Cobalt is huge for Spring and I’m in love. This cuff will be fabulous for Spring/Summer. I thought I would infuse a little sunshine into our dreary forecast today by wearing my yellow top. They are calling for rain for the rest of the week!!! HOORAY (Not). Anyways, what can we do? It’s Vancouver after all :).

Cardigan & Top (Jacob). Jeans (R W & Co.). Boots (Browns). Bracelet (The Bay). Necklace (Stella & Dot). Watch (Michael Kors). Purse (Mat & Nat).

Between getting my own webpage up and getting over this rotten, miserable cold, it’s been a crazy busy weekend. Since we had to postpone our date night on Thursday night, my husband thought we should do it on Saturday night. We went out for dinner and a movie and saw Silver Linings Playbook. It was an amazing and inspiring movie. What inspired me the most was the people that stuck by Bradley Cooper’s character. That is true friendship. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth seeing. As we exited the theater, I said to my husband “it’s rare that I say a movie was worth what we paid for, but this movie was!!!”

Today I would like to do a fantastic giveaway for Lower Mainland Moms. Together with Kinder Cafe, I am giving away a 1 month membership to Kinder Cafe!!!! Kinder Cafe is an indoor playground, located in Port Coquitlam, that allows kids to run around while you can sit and have a coffee and chat with other moms. It’s a wonderful place. It’s clean and the staff are super friendly. My son and I have been going there since they opened in September of 2010.

Rules:

1. You must live in the lower mainland.

2. You need to like Vodka Infused Lemonade on Facebook.

3. You need to like Kinder Cafe on Facebook.

Also as an added bonus, this Friday March 1, Kinder Cafe is kindly giving Vodka Infused Lemonade readers 10% off admission. All you have to do is just let them know you are a follower of my blog and you will get the discount.

I promise to my loyal American readers, I have a great giveaway from Stella & Dot coming next week, which will be open to both American and Canadian readers.

Good luck everyone!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hunter Boots, Warm Cardigan & Dinner & A Movie (that was not…)

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Yesterday I spent all day in bed with this wretched cold/flu. Thankfully my husband stayed home and looked after our son. I’m doing a bit better today and like it or not my husband has to go back to work. I swear this cold/flu season is the worst I’ve ever experienced!!! Many of my friends say they just can’t shake their cough or go from one cold to another. Anyways, today I am taking my son to an indoor playground, where he can play and this tired and recovering Mama can read, drink her chai tea, and muck around on her IPad. This is what I am wearing today: a warm comfy cardigan that doubles as a sweater/jacket, jeans, and my Hunter Boots. I know in the States you guys are getting all sorts of weird weather, well up here in the last 72 hrs, we have had sleet, torrential rain, and hail. Hunter Boots are the perfect boot for this crazy weather.

Cardigan (Jacob). Shirt & Jean (Gap). Necklace (My Name Necklace). Watch (Michael Kors). Boots (Hunter). Purse (Fossil).

So in my last post I told you all how my husband and I had plans to go to a dinner and a movie last night. Well that was not to be, thanks to this miserable, f-ing cold!!!!! But I still wanted to let you guys know that here in Coquitlam for $18 you can have dinner and watch a movie on Thursday nights. Information can be found here. They give you a set menu at Big River restaurant you can choose from and then they give you a movie voucher. It’s an amazing deal, considering now-a-days it costs you $18 just to see the movie. I highly recommend their burgers. You need to make reservations in advance. It’s the perfect date night out with your husband. If you don’t live in Tri-Cities area, you should see if they have something similar in the town you live in. We have postponed our date until Spring Break. Was really looking forward to seeing Silver Linnings Playbook.

*I was not paid by Big River Restaurant or Silver City Coquitlam for this advertisement. I think it’s a great deal and I just wanted to share it with my readers. Anything to help you get a cheap date night!!!!*

May this blog inspire you to get a pair of Hunter boots and to try a dinner and a movie night out with your partner.

Happy Friday Everyone!!! Stay tuned next week for a fashion recap of the Oscars, ideas for what to do with your kids during spring break and wearing cobalt.

Chambray, Stripes & A How-To On Layering Necklaces

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This is what I wore yesterday: my chambray top layered under my pink stripe sweater, skinny jeans and boots. I am still recovering from whatever bug I had, so I thought a little layering of necklaces was a perfect way to spice up this outfit and my mood. I was barely well enough to take my son to his music class yesterday.

Top (American Eagle). Sweater (Jacob). Jeans (R W & Co.). Boots (Browns). Purse (Fossil). Necklaces (J Crew & My Name Necklace). Bracelet (Etsy). Watch (Michael Kors).

I’m a big fan of Stella and Dot and last week they posted a tutorial on how to layer necklaces. I shared it on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/VodkaInfusedLemonade, but I thought I would also do a post about it. Layering is a great way to change up your look. It’s one of my favorite ways to wear jewelry, especially necklaces and bracelets. Here is their You Tube tutorial for layering necklaces.

If you click on this link it will take you to another tutorial from Stella & Dot.

http://shop.stelladot.com/style/b2c_en_us/featured-shops/layering-jewelry.html

Here are 3 different ways I like to layer my necklaces: On the left I’ve styled it with a plain t-shirt and on the right I showed how I actually wore it.

1. Layer pearls

Screen Shot 2013-02-20 at 1.12.05 PM

Necklaces (My Name Necklace & J Crew)

2. Layer a short necklace with a longer one

Screen Shot 2013-02-20 at 1.12.59 PM

Necklaces (J Crew & My Name Necklace)

3. Layer costume jewelry with a family heirloom

Necklaces (Stella & Dot, given to be my mother-in-law, was my husband’s grandmother’s)

*Please note that I was not paid by Stella & Dot to post these tutorials. I found them useful and thought I would pass along the information to you, my readers. I will only post things on my blog that I agree with, that reflect my style and that helps maintain the integrity of my blog.*

There are many different ways to layer necklaces. I have a piece that already has many layers to it and you could even add another necklace to it.

May this blog inspire you to try and layer necklaces the next time you get all gussied up. Experiment, see what works and what doesn’t. Have fun with it!!!

Tonight my husband and I have a date night planned!!! Woo Hoo!!!! Stay tuned tomorrow for details on how to get a great deal on dinner and a movie.

Happy Thursday Everyone!!!!

Trend Of The Month Link Up: Black & White

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Today I’m linking up with Marion from Marionberry Style for her trend of the month link up. This month’s trend is black and white. Black and white is big again for Spring. This is my favorite way of wearing this trend. I’ve worn this outfit to see Oprah and this past weekend with a red skirt for High Tea, seen here and here. I mixed patterns with black and white.

Top (J Crew). Skirt (Gap). Shirt, Purse & Bracelets (Jacob). Shoes (Aldo).

Here are some of the ways celebrities are wearing black and white

Screen Shot 2013-02-19 at 9.42.47 AM

If I had unlimited funds, this is what I would be buying from Kate Spade!!!

For the more realistic budget, great items from The Gap

There are so many ways to incorporate one of Spring’s biggest trends, black and white into your wardrobe. You can always start with a white t-shirt add a black blazer and black skinny pants with some cute flats and you’re set. Take a look in your closet and I bet you could already make a few black and white themed outfits with what you already have. Remember you can always add a pop of color by adding a bright shoe or wearing a bold red or raspberry lip.

May this blog inspire you to add a little black and white into your Spring wardrobe.

Happy Hump Day Everyone!!!!

<a href=”http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3985812/?claim=adxakvx3qzd”>Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

I am also linking up with Bri from Work Clothes.

Trend Of The Month Link Up: Black & White

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Top (J Crew). Skirt (Gap). Shirt, Purse & Bracelets (Jacob). Shoes (Aldo).

Here are some of the ways celebrities are wearing black and white

Screen Shot 2013-02-19 at 9.42.47 AM

If I had unlimited funds, this is what I would be buying from Kate Spade!!!

For the more realistic budget, great items from The Gap

May this blog inspire you to add a little black and white into your Spring wardrobe.

Happy Hump Day Everyone!!!!

<a href=”http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3985812/?claim=adxakvx3qzd”>Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

I am also linking up with Bri from Work Clothes.

Polka Dots & Link Up: I’m The Kind Of Girl Who…

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It’s a good thing I took this picture yesterday because I don’t feel so good today. I’m thinking I caught yet another cold and to top it all off I have a killer headache. It’s also a good thing that all I have to do today is drop my son off at preschool, come home rest and then pick him up again.

This is what I was planning on wearing today: a brown polka dot top (although you can’t see the polka dots in the picture), cardigan, jean skirt and boots. It’s the perfect running errands outfit.

Cardigan (R W & Co.). Skirt (Gap). Shirt (Jacob). Boots (Browns). Purse (Fossil).

Today I am linking up with Holly from Running In Stilettos for the topic: I’m The Kind Of Girl Who…. Here are my answers.

I’m the kind of girl who…

is honest with you when you ask me my opinion

says it like it is

doesn’t bullshit

values friendship

can’t stand dishonesty

prefers lattes to drip coffee

loves my Venti non-fat lattes from Starbucks

carries a book around with me always

loves purses and shoes

loves shopping

loves a good deal

is direct with people

doesn’t play games

is sensitive even though I act tough

hates fake people

loves animals, especially dogs

loves the smell of my son’s feet

never leaves the house without putting an effort into what I am wearing (unless I’m going to the gym)

believes in true love

would rather stay at home and watch tv/movie with her husband than go out

loves good food

doesn’t believe in being too busy (if you really want to do something, you will find the time)

loves the color blue

loves to belt out my favorite tunes in the car

talks to myself (admit it, we all do!!!)

loves driving a standard

loves to travel

gives 100%

loves a fire in the fireplace

believes in ghosts

believes in being the best person you can be

hates it when people are late

hates it when people don’t take responsibility for their actions

loves a good challenge

believes in what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger

believes in karma

passionate about life

believes in being the best person you can be

believes in giving 100%, not doing things half assed

likes to be organized

who plans ahead

believes in being true to your word

believes in living your life to the fullest

believes you can do anything you put your mind to

would spend a fortune on Christian Louboutin shoes (if I could)

likes to cook and bake

likes to entertain

has dance parties with my husband and son

curses like a sailor

loves with all my heart, soul and being

can’t sit still

loves to laugh

wants to eat her way through Italy

This list was not mean’t to be as long as it turned out but once I got thinking about the kind of girl I am, the ideas just came flowing. Congrats if you read the entire list and I still could add so much more.

I am now off to rest and get ready to take my son to preschool. I just hope that whatever bug I caught will be out of my system soon.

May this blog inspire you to figure out what your own version of “I’m the kind of girl/boy who…

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!!

Weekend Birthday Celebration, Chocolate Mouse & High Tea

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This is what I am wearing today: turtleneck, jeans, my favorite boots and my pink trench.

Jacket (Jacob). Turtleneck (R W & Co.). Jeans (Gap). Boots (Fergalicious). Purse (Olivia & Joy).

Friday was my husband’s birthday so my son and I let him sleep in and we made him breakfast: German Apple Pancakes topped with fresh whipped cream and a side of bacon. After breakfast I tackled dessert: home made chocolate mousse. It’s been a while since I last made it but it turned out amazing. Even Aiden gave me a thumbs up!!! Below is a picture of our breakfast feast, complete with a home made birthday card.

Chocolate Mouse Recipe

Ingredients
6 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, or a mixture, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon warm water
1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder, optional
1 large egg
2 large egg yolks
Pinch fine salt
1/3 cup sugar

Directions
Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)

Whip the cream in a medium bowl until it holds soft peaks. Take care not to over whip the cream or the mousse will be dense. Cover and refrigerate while you cook the eggs.

Whisk the water and espresso powder together in a small bowl.

Put the eggs in another bowl that also sets over the water in the saucepan. Beat the egg yolks, pinch of salt, and sugar until foamy and light, about 30 seconds. Set the bowl over the water and whip with an electric mixer or whisk, moving in a circular motion around the bowl, until the eggs get very fluffy and hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and continue beating on high speed until the thick ribbons fall from the beater when lifted out of the bowl, about 5 minutes more. Fold in the espresso.

Fold about a quarter of the eggs into the chocolate to lighten it, then fold in the rest of the egg. Finally fold the whipped cream into the chocolate base to make a smooth light mousse. Pour the mousse into 4 serving dishes or wine glasses. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Serve.

For a dark, double-rich mousse, use all bittersweet chocolate instead of the semisweet, and decrease the cream to 3/4 cup.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chocolate-mousse-recipe3/index.html?oc=linkback

Finished product

For dinner I made steaks with double stuffed potatoes and caesar salade.

Here are pictures of my husband blowing out his candle. My son accidently blew out the candle the first time :).

I had bought a Groupon for High Tea at the Fairmont last year and it was going to expire in a few months so I thought that post Valentine’s Day would be a great time for my husband and I to go. From the minute we entered the hotel, I felt as though I was back in the 1920′s. I’ve become a huge fan of the BBC show Downton Abbey, and kept waiting for Mr. Carson, Mrs Hughes or Mrs. Patmore to come around the corner. If you haven’t seen the show, YOU MUST!!! It’s one of the best series I’ve ever watched and that’s saying a lot, considering I enjoy my tv!!! We had a fabulous time. Below are pictures of our High Tea experience.

The ornate tea cup and saucer

My husband all gussied up

Enjoying the tea

Us and of the food

The sandwiches were amazing but there wasn’t nearly enough of them. My husband and I kept eyeing other people’s sandwiches wondering if they’ll eat them. We were tempted to ask if we could eat them, but figured it would be in poor taste. We were only kidding, well 90% kidding :). The cucumber sandwiches were the best.

The fabulous sandwiches

The yummy desserts

The fantastic scones

I ended our busy Saturday with a girl’s night. Below is my outfit. I apologize for my insane hair. I’m in desperate need of a hair cut.

On Sunday we just relaxed at home, made a yummy pasta dinner and I feverishly tried to catch up on Downton Abbey. The season finale was last night. I was on episode 8. Hopefully by the time you read this post, I will have caught up.

May this blog inspire you to do something special for your partner’s birthday and to go and have High Tea.

Happy Monday Everyone!!!!