For the love of tea

Being on a tight budget means that I can't splurge on life's little luxuries; the occasional fresh cut flowers, spending an afternoon in a cafe with a lingering tea and snack, or a fun new pair of ballet flats. I can't even walk through my favourite department of John Lewis--home decor--without temptation. Instead I must resort to Pinterest and Polyvore to help daydream of a time when I had a disposable income. I don't know why, but I love buying things for the kitchen. I couldn't help myself the other day while at the thrift store when I spotted a yellow polka dot mug for .50 pence. I didn't need it. But 50 P! and polka DOTS!

Here are some other mugs I fancy:

mugs by erdeer featuring a ceramic mug

Ceramic mug / H M white ceramic mug, $6.55 / Linea blue mug, $8.05 / Bone china / Ceramic mug / Ella Doran bone china tea mug, $16 / Golden Girls Coffee Mug / Guess Who? Mug, $15 / Adventure Hare Mug, $15 / Joules Pheasant Mug, $15 / With A Twist Teacup, $16

Stocking Stuffers

In my family the stockings stuffers were what Santa had given you for Christmas and not only did these items include fun little trinkets and toys, but also useful/practical toiletries. As I got older the toiletries and beauty products dominated the stocking for myself as well as my ex-partner, which was fine by us! 
The big presents of Christmas are obviously great, but I find the fun and surprise really comes with the stocking stuffers. Please, never let me be too old for this.

Do you love stocking stuffers as much as I do? Here are some suggestions for him and for her this holiday gift giving season.

Stocking stuffers for him by erdeer 

J.Crew Marled socks / J.Crew Wool smartphone gloves / Body cleanser / Drinking flask / All I want for Christmas is You Ltd Edt (165g)

Stocking Stuffers for her by erdeer

Forever 21 tech accessory / Scotch & Soda Iphone Gloves / Travalo fragrance / Eos lip treatment / Nars cosmetic / CAPELLI Snowflake Knit Slipper Socks / Ariadna Clip Coin Purse




Fun travels!

The summer backpack

The summer backpack by erdeer featuring a canvas backpack

Canvas backpack / Brown backpack / Canvas backpack / Victoria's Secret cotton bag / Knapsack bag

Have you noticed the trend this summer? Your old school backpack is back! 
At the end of each summer, my mum and I would go back-to-school shopping and I was allowed to get a new backpack for the school year.  Although I can no longer justify end of summer shopping sprees I'm totally jumping on board with this trend and purchasing a new backpack for the summer--back to summer school shopping?

I have a trip coming up and I find this not only works with an easy, comfortable summer wardrobe, it's also great to carry all your tourist gear. 


I opted for a faux brown leather one from New Look. Similar

Are you diggin’ this look? 

We should be friends.

Fun travels!

Cambridge Style

As my days in Cambridge are coming to an end, my friend asked me if the city was what I thought it would be. As I reflected on her question I realized that having been to England before, I did have an expectation of what Cambridge would be like and it really wasn't what I had imagined.
Knowing the kind of history this city has with its colleges, old buildings and small historic city centre, I was expecting it to be much more stuffy and elitist than it turned out to be.  Sure, there are those aspects to it, but generally I find the city to be diverse and community driven, like many university towns are.
I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here (it helped that I was staying with a friend and we've visited many pubs)  and have especially enjoyed seeing the fashion worn by the many, many (many) cyclists; it's just so much more chic when on a bike. (case in point: Bicycling - Parisian style)

Here are two outfit inspirations I've seen around town as they've cycled past me.

Cambridge Style 1 by erdeer featuring long sleeve button up shirts

FOSSIL long sleeve button up shirt / Skinny ponte pants, $33 / Steven by Steve Madden leather boots / Big Buddha / Charlotte Russe rhinestone jewelry / Retro Bicycle Watercolor Painting Original

Cambridge Style 2 by erdeer featuring a hue hosiery

Jane Norman layered dress, $48 / Mango denim jean jacket, $72 / Hue hosiery / Keds flat heels / Madewell knapsack bag / Vanessa Mooney bohemian necklace



Fun travels!

ps. you might also be interested in checking out my current fav Cambridge blogger: A Girl, A Style

Oh What to Wear...

My flight to GB is booked! Now my next question is...what do I wear?! I've done the grungy sweatpant look, I've done the uncomfortable jeans, I've even done the pretty little outfit that didn't keep me warm so this time I thought I'd see what the interweb had for advice on this topic. Here's what I've discovered (and I played with Polyvore)

First outfit

Here I've chosen a loose fitting sweater paired with leggings, boots and a scarf. Shoes that are easy to slip on and off will make life easier when settling into your seat or doing a tour down the aisles of the plane. Also wearing thicker socks, like athletic socks, will keep your feet warm and dry. Adding a scarf to an outfit will also help with drafty air ports or air conditioned planes. 

Long Flight Outfit 1 by erdeer featuring kitten heel shoes

Uniqlo cotton tunic, $32 / Dorothy Perkins black legging / Kitten heel shoes / Big Buddha drawstring bag / Miso cuff bracelet, $13 / Sakdidet Road feather necklace, $48 / Charlotte Russe floral scarve

Second outfit

Normally jeans, no matter how comfortable in normal life can dig in and feel tight on long flights. Jeggings, however, are the answer. They are stretchy and quite comfortable. I've matched these with a flowy tee and layered with a cardigan. Again, the layers will keep you warm or make for a great pillow in any situation. A large handbag is a great solution to limiting weight restrictions and keeping everything you will need for the flight close at hand; snacks, magazines, laptop, toothbrush.

Long Flight Outfit 2 by erdeer featuring star shoes

Cotton cardigan / Mango black tank top, $14 / Wet Seal destroyed skinny jeans / Star shoes / Debenhams quilted shoulder bag, $50

Third outfit

This one is my personal favourite, elephant on a bike and a mustache bag? Come'on! (Sometimes I wish I really could own my Polyvore closet). This is not the outfit to be wearing when you are meeting a long lost love at the other end of the long flight, but it is great for curling up on your single seat and trying to sleep.  Keeping jewelry and accessories to a minimum will be more comfortable and also make going through security speedier. 

Long Flight Outfit 3 by erdeer featuring cat shoes

Fat Face striped hoodie, $67 / American Apparel screen printed t shirt / Activewear pants / Puma cat shoes / Canvas handbag

If you are interested in more airplane fashions visit  these  sites.

Fun travels!

Long Weekends

I'm a bad blogger, last week just got away from me and I missed out on posting this before the Canadian long weekend: Victoria Day or May 2-4 as it's more commonly known. Well, let's do some pretending, shall we? Let's pretend I posted this last week in time for the weekend road trips, or better yet, let's pretend this was a post intended for the American long weekend coming: Memorial Day.
Hello my American friends.

For long weekends many people get the heck out of dodge (unless you are me and can only dream of a weekend road trip from behind a desk at work--my excuse for the lack of posting). So for those of you lucky enough to be getting away, lets fill our weekender bag with classic travelling essentials.

Tan Shorts by erdeer featuring pyramid jewelry

Since we are still pretending, let's pretend we have an awesome, unlimited wardrobe (thanks, polyvore). When going on weekend getaways, you must keep three things in mind;

1) Pack light--you don't want to carry around heavy bags

2) Be versatile--it helps with the packing light by creating more outfits with less

3) Pack pretty things--although you should be practical you also want to be able to look back at your pictures and not be embarrassed by the hiking boots worn at a dinner out.

Untitled #10 by erdeer featuring anne klein jewelry

Using a neutral base and paring it with fun, colourful pieces extends your options and changes outfits enough so you don't feel like you are wearing the same thing all weekend.

For my dream weekend away I selected 3 tops, 1 sweater, 1 jacket, 3 bottoms, 1 dress and 3 pairs of shoes. I've only mixed a few of the possible outfits, there are definitely a few more combo that could be done. What I like most about this selection is that there aren't a lot of items packed but enough so that I can change during the day (dress for dinner) or dress based on my mood.

Do you have any rules for packing for a long weekend road trip? Do tell...

Fun travels! 

The Weekender Bag

Summer is coming and that means road trips and weekends away. To have a successful trip you need to have a great weekender bag. The more colourful the better, in my opinion. Sure, you could go the classic route of a brown leather duffle bag, but where's the fun in that? They stand out when traveling in groups, they don't have to match your outfit, and it's just plain fun.

Here is a small selection of fun weekend bags found on Polyvore.com

Whether you are taking to the air, rail or road for a long weekend, the elements that make a great weekender bag are it's compact size, durability and light weight construction. It's size means you don't have to check it for a flight and it doesn't take up much room in the trunk or shared hotel room.

Everyone should own at least one great weekender bag, I have a bag obsession and own about 4. If I went on more road trips I could easily talk myself into "needing" more.

Road Trip Bags by erdeer featuring a vintage inspired luggage

5. FOSSIL vintage inspired luggage, $198
6. Vera Bradley quilted bag, $118
4. Cath Kidston floral print handbag, $145
1. Diane von Furstenberg travel bag, $100
2. Vera Bradley gym bag, $108
3. Marc by Marc Jacobs nylon tote handbag, $198


Fun travels!