What's in My Bag

I've had a revelation lately where I've just started writing things that I want to read. I read a lot of blogs and while I love the content and reading other styles of writing, there's been a few things I'd like to read that I couldn't really find. So I thought, why not create the content I want to read and hopefully it'd inspire others to do the same!

I love having a nosy around other people's purses - there's a lot you can tell about someone and there's a lot to learn from peering in other people's handbags. I find that while a lot of "What's in My Bag" videos are quite similar, there are always one or two items that I suddenly realize are essential for everyday use and I need in my bag. I don't like carrying big bags as they're quite heavy and easily knock things down in small, crowded stores, so I've streamlined my purse to the bare essentials. Just an FYI, my purse is from Charming Charlie.

In terms of boring, sensible bits: obviously there's my phone and wallet. This is really a card holder that I got from ASOS. I got it because, as you can tell, my purse is really quite small and my large wallet was a tad too chunky for it. Unfortunately, I didn't read too closely into this card holder and it is genuine leather (I feel awful every time I glance at the label). However, there are many animal friendly, non-leather card holders on the site and I'd encourage all of you to get one!

I usually wear contacts and by the end of the night, my eyeballs are so dry, they're ready to pop out of the sockets. Given that pleasant mental image, I carry around eye drops and my glasses so I can slip out my contacts when they're getting unbearable. I also carry hand sanitizer (you would not believe how many times this has come in handy) and hand cream (for when my hands get dry from the sanitizer). Tissues are another essential that we often overlook but is a great emergency tool. And gum is a must for me - I love garlic-y, fragrant foods that aren't so kind to my breath.

In terms of makeup and beauty, I'm fairly low key - a mirror to check my face, chapstick because I have the driest lips in the world and only two (!) lip products. The colours of the lip products change depending on the lip colour I'm wearing that day but generally Rimmel's Kate Moss in 107 and Buxom's True Nude Lip Foundation in Revealed do the trick! And of course a hair tie and a few bobby pins are thrown in for good measure (and bad hair days)!

There you have it, a pretty wordy post for something that can easily be seen in a picture. If you needed absolutely one thing in your purse (phone and wallet aside), what would it be? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Foxy Originals (+ Giveaway!)

I've been getting more conscious about shopping local, lately. Not only is it great for your country's economy, it's great for the environment too: less gas needed for transportation as the goods aren't moving too far!

I was contacted a couple months back by Foxy Originals and, after seeing their website, I jumped at the chance to work with them. Their pieces are simple while being stylish. Even their smaller necklaces are the perfect statement pieces as they're glamorous and add a punch without being too overwhelming. While I fell in love with a couple necklaces, I noticed they also had beautiful rings, earrings and bracelets.

Their jewellery is made in Canada (Toronto, to be specific!) which makes me love the brand even more. Quite a few of the pieces are made of pewter and plated with geniune 14 Karat Gold, silver or copper which is surprising as the prices are reasonable.

But what good is me gushing about a brand if I can't give a little something to you guys? Readers of The Sunday Wardrobe have the chance to win the gorgeous necklace from above - it's made from fine pewter and plated in 14 K gold. It's also reversible, one side being black and gold with the other being blue, green and white. It's almost like having two necklaces!

Some things to note:
1. This giveaway is open internationally!
2. The giveaway will close on Thursday, July 31st at Midnight (Eastern Time Zone, UTC: -5:00)
3. The winner will be chosen at random and I will notify them via Twitter
4. Once the winner has been announced, they will have 24 hours to respond, after which a new winner will be selected.
5. The prize is the gorgeous reversible necklace as seen above and you have to enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck readers!

*Anyone who has previously entered a giveaway from The Sunday Wardrobe and liked/followed the above links only to unlike them after the giveaway has ended, will be banned from this and future giveaways.

SWHF, Part 4: The Giveaway!

The She Who Hunts Finds Series finale: A Giveaway!  If you've been following my series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), you'll know that I've been spending a lot of time and a little money at Dixie Outlet Mall, shopping and scoring great deals. And now you can too!

The lovely people at Dixie Outlet Mall has been so kind as to send me a $200 giftcard to the mall - so you can shop (and save) for your perfect spring outfit!

Some housekeeping before the fun begins: 
1. This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only (I'm sorry!) as the mall is in Canada
2. The giveaway will close Sunday, May 10th at Midnight (Eastern Time Zone, UTC: -5:00)
3. The winner will be chosen at random and I will notify the winner on twitter (I'm @SundayWardrobe) soon after the giveaway has ended
4. The prize is a $200 giftcard to Dixie Outlet Mall and all you have to do is enter below!
5. EDIT: I believe the giftcard can only be used in person so please be mindful of this before entering the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and Happy Shopping!

SWHF, Part 3: The Challenge

Jacket: Urban Planet / Tank top: Urban Planet / Pants: Laura Outlet / Shoes: Guess

If you've been following my She Who Hunts Finds series, you'll know that I was given a $200 gift card and challenged to shop at Dixie Outlet Mall in Mississauga and see how much I could save while buying a spring outfit. While I pride myself in being careful with my money and quite the deal finder, saving turned out to be harder than I expected! While there were many outlet stores with sales, a lot of the clothes were already so reasonably priced at full price. My silky tank top was only $12.50 and it wasn't even on sale!

As I mentioned last time, Dixie Outlet Mall has many stores that aren't limited to shoes and clothing - my mom was pleased to see a Michael's there and shopped for ribbons as I hunted around for deals. I spent three days in Dixie Mall as I had a hard time deciding on just a few pieces for spring. I was most excited to shop at Guess as this was an outlet store and things had been discounted quite a bit. I checked out stores such as Aldo, Winners, Sirens, Designer Depot, Dynamite and Nine West (and many more) before settling on Guess, Urban Planet and Laura. A lot of the stores were outlet stores and I could've easily bought an entire spring outfit for under $50 but the challenge was to see how much I could save and I desperately wanted to stick to it!

At savings of $98.70, I saved almost as much as I spent on the outfit. I was glad to find these great pants on sale since their quality was as high as their original price but I paid a lot, lot less for it!

I would recommend this mall to any bargain hunter if they're in the area (and if you stay tuned to next week, I'll be giving away a little incentive to visit!). I preferred shopping on a weekday as it was a lot less crowded but I will definitely be visiting again! 

What do you think of my outfit? Are you excited for next week's giveaway (I know I am!)? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

She Who Hunts Finds, Part 1

If there's anything I like more than shopping, it's saving money. I don't like to brag but my mom once told me (direct quote): "Nabihah, I thought I taught you how to be careful with your money but now you're just cheap." 

A couple weeks back I was contacted to participate in the Dixie Outlet Mall Blogger Challenge and I jumped at the chance. The challenge is to see how much I can save when buying a complete spring outfit at Dixie Outlet Mall. For those who don't know, Dixie Outlet Mall is located on 1250 South Service Road, Mississauga and has many great outlet stores including Aldo, Levi's, Guess and Tommy Hilfiger among many, many more.

I remember my family and I going to Dixie Outlet Mall every single weekend one summer. Bear in mind, we don't live close to this mall but the deals were so good, we would put up with the 30+ minute drive to get there. I have an aunt who is cheaper and more of a shopaholic than I am and we would take her here each time she came to visit and she loved it. While there are many great outlet stores, there are also amazing non-outlet stores with hard-to-beat deals - something for everyone!

I'm excited for this challenge - if there's one thing I can do, it's save! Have you ever been to this mall before? What's your favourite store here? Comment below or tweet @SundayWardrobe or @dixieoutletmall! 

*Although this challenge has been sponsored by Dixie Outlet Mall, all opinions and anecdotes are honest and my own!

ASOS Swim

            

The change of weather has gotten me excited for spring and summer clothes! When perusing ASOS the other day, I came across quite a few gorgeous swimsuits that I couldn't help but share. I don't wear bikinis - it used to be because I was self conscious about my body but I recently realized that it's more about modesty for me than anything else now. I've learned to accept my body in all it's glory and with all it's imperfections - so my decision to wear one pieces is a choice, not fear. 

             

             

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

Will you be picking any of these swimsuits? Which is your favourite? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe.

Easy Ways to Look Nicer Than You Feel

If you've read my Quick Day to Night Products, you'll know I'm always looking for fast ways to look nice. It's not an exact science but, over the years, I think I've figured out easy (and lazy) ways to look nicer than I want to.

Scarves

Especially in this weather, scarves are so easy to loop around your neck and look put together. I love going for an all black look and adding a punch of colour with bright, patterned scarves. This look also works in the summer with lighter fabrics - Forever 21 makes great, affordable scarves if you're looking!

Statement Necklaces

Statement necklaces are so quick to wear and really glam up a look - perfect if you're going for something dressier. I usually get gold or silver necklaces since I can easily pair them up with any colour but necklaces with colourful stones are perfect for solid-coloured outfits. I tend to keep my colourful necklaces for monochrome looks or I try to make sure there's at least one similar colour in both my top and necklace if I'm mixing it up. All of mine pictured above are from H&M from years back but they're still going strong! 

Bold Makeup

This falls in with my Quick Day to Night post - if you've got a little more time, you can apply a bold lipstick or brightening eyeshadow and head out the door. My quick-fixes include a Kat Von D lip or the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen which I can't get enough of. 

What are your quick and easy ways to dress up? Comment down below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

My Favourite Holiday: Accessory

As someone who wears studs constantly, longer, dangly earrings are uncommon and formal for me. If you've been keeping up with my "My Favourite Holiday" series for these past couple weeks, you'll know that Christmas for me means more formal, glittery and fancy attire and these geometrical earrings are just that!

I bought this pair almost two years ago from H&M so it is longer on their site but I found (fairly) similar ones here and here. They're chic, not too heavy and go with any outfit, giving a modern twist. I'm not entirely a fan of beaded numbers so I tend to stick to stones or all metal with interesting shapes and this pair is perfect. They stop just above my shoulder and I love wearing them with an all black outfit and a red lip so they really stands out. 

What are your favourite accessories this holiday season? Do you change your choices for the holidays or do you keep consistent?

My Autumn Hat

Random Note: I had the idea for this blog post weeks back and so I photographed my hat weeks ago. I sat down to write the post today and looked at the photos I'd shot and I've just now realized how ridiculous it was to use my bedside flowers as a model for this hat. So forgive the ridiculous pictures!

As soon as summer rolls around, I whip out my wide-brimmed straw hat that goes with practically anything. This is a favourite of mine because it's not only fashionable but functional too: it keeps the sun out of my eyes and keeps me cool. A lot of my sun- and heat-loving friends make fun of me for the sheer size of this hat but I love it anyway.

When I noticed the trend of wide-brimmed, soft, floppy hats for Fall, I couldn't help but get excited. One of my favourite trends was now almost year round! I immediately went on the hunt for a Fall hat and found a wine coloured one from Marshalls ($25) that I fell in love with. 



This hat originally had a black feather on it but I cut it off at the risk of looking like Yankee Doodle. I love the colour of this since it's bold but still goes with everything. I also love that it hides any greasy roots and protects my hair from rain! I love pairing it with neutral colours and generally opt for ivory or oatmeal tops when wearing this hat. 

I can't find this particular hat online but similar ones can be found here, here and here. 

Are you a hat person? What are your favourite fall accessories? 

Review: Ultrabland Facial Cleanser

The Ultrabland Facial Cleanser was my first Lush product and the main reason I bought it was because I was tired of using make-up wipes and wanted something a little more environmentally friendly. I read reviews and finally made the plunge and forked over CAD 29.95 for the larger pot of the cream cleanser.

Firstly, I thought the price tag was a bit too steep. I was always a run to Wal-Mart and pick up a Neutrogena face wash kinda girl and I wasn't accustomed to spending 3 hours of work for soap (I price things according to a state-of-the-art method I invented known as "The Number of Hours I Would Have to Work to Afford This". It's supposed to make sure I don't spend too much money on one thing but, clearly, doesn't work).

To use this, you:

1. Take a small dollop and massage it onto your dry, made-up face.
2. Wet a face cloth with warm water and wipe the cleanser off.
3. Look at your face cloth with shock and horror as you realize how much make up you slathered on your face this morning.
4. Realize how moisturized and smooth your skin feels.
5. Smile.

What I love about this cleanser is that it is so moisturizing. It really balanced my skin out and I didn't feel the need to apply moisturizer or oil after using it. It was especially great during the summer because my skin wouldn't be shiny and greasy from the additional moisturizer. I know this quality is what others may not like about this product; when I first used this, I felt like the moisturizing property made my skin feel unclean rather than hydrated. But once you get used to this feeling, it's all good.

I would definitely be buying this product again and I encourage you all to try it out. Let me know what other Lush products I should try out!

*I have combination skin with a slightly oily T-zone all year round  and dry spots around my mouth/chin during the winter.