Bookmark | Size Too Small

In The Anthology’s Bookmark column we explore some of the most inspiring places on the wild, wild web.

Clearly I have a thing for blogs based in South Africa. First Miss Moss and now another Cape Town-based lifestyle blog Size Too Small.

It’s edited by Mariah Brightenberg, who runs the stationery and odds and ends shop Selah.

And it’s filled with her favourite new collections, look book excerpts and home decor picks.

Plus bits and pieces from her own lovely life on the other side of the world. So bookmark Size Too Small already and bookmark The Anthology while you’re at it.

[Images from Size Too Small, naturally.]

December 16, 2012 by

Pin Test | The Wraparound Braid

Sure you scour Pinterest for ideas, but how often do you actually try them? In The Anthology’s brand new Pin Test column, my sister Larissa takes her pins for a spin.

I spend hours perusing Pinterest for home decorating ideas, fun crafts and more recently, hair and beauty. So I’ve decided that instead of just looking at these pretty pictures, I’d actually put some of the tips and tricks to the test.

First up, the wraparound braid pinned from the ladies who run the blog Oh so Pretty The Diaries. On the left is their result, on the right is mine.

Turns out this ‘do is simple. Perfect for holiday parties, destination weddings, and a dead-easy way to work with second-day hair. Even though my braid didn’t turn out perfectly the first time, that’s part of the charm (it helps if your hair is a little wavy).

Want to test it out yourself? You’ll find the tutorial here.

December 16, 2012 by

Beauty | Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Holiday 2012

I am a big, big fan of Kiehl’s. Especially their Rare Earth collection. When Sharifa of The Salon Beauty Bar did my makeup for Timmy’s Telethon, we were raving about their Rare Earth Deep Poor Cleanser — so good for gentle exfoliation in the winter. But cleanser isn’t exactly the most glamourous gift (unless you’re giving it to yourself, duh).

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Whipped Body Butter, on the other hand, is. Wrapped in the work of New York-based artist Kenny Scharf, all proceeds from the Canadian sales of the Holiday 2012 collection support local pediatric oncology camps.

So you’re giving twice. Three times if you get yourself the cleanser.

December 13, 2012 by

Diary | Thank you, Timmy’s Telethon!

Well this is a feel-good story.

Last night, I co-hosted the social media desk at Timmy’s Telethon with Shaw TV’s Bianca Solterbeck. And man, was it fun. (Thanks, team Timmy’s, for letting me get involved!) But that’s not the best part. The best part is that over the course of the evening, British Columbia and the Yukon raised $6,118,620 for the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities.

My night started when the mobile makeup team from The Salon Beauty Bar turned my kitchen into a green room. (Thanks, guys!) It’s a newish service offered by makeup artists Angela and Sharifa (pictured) who will come to your home — provided it’s in Vancouver — and get you ready for a holiday party, wedding…

…or telethon. (Yes! Dramatic brows!)

Then I headed to Shaw Tower where I joined the madness on set. How many people were there on the phones, in the greenroom, in the producer’s studio? I have no idea but it felt like hundreds.

I took my place behind the social media desk with a running shoe-wearing Bianca (thank you, Instagrammers, for pointing that out!). That’s producer Peter Verge giving us talking points on the left and on the right: my friend and fellow blogette Alicia Quan, who was operating the tweet machine.

The stories we got to share blew me away. As did the donations that were pouring in. Six million bucks will go a long way to funding the important work of the BC Lions Society.

This verrrry serious crew? They were just on the social media side of things. I can’t even tell you how many people it took to pull this whole thing together (I had it easy — I just had to show up and talk). Thanks a million, team Timmy’s, BC Lions Society, Erin Shaw and Melanie Pineda, for having me!

[My shirt’s Banana Republic, pants Topshop, Shoes Loeffler Randal]

P.S. Speaking of social media, follow The Anthology on Facebook and Twitter.

December 10, 2012 by

Wear/Where | The Future is Bright (Yellow)

It’s been popping up everywhere — bold, bright yellow accents in homes and in fashion. It’s torture for me because I can’t really wear it (I’m far too pasty), but boy could I accessorize with it.  Or at least read books covered in it.

From the top left: a cozy knitting project, a yellow cross that would be easy to paint on your own wall, colour-coordinated photographers Tamu McPherson and Hanneli Mustaparta, T.S. Eliot’s Tony Award-winning play The Cocktail Party, a bold yellow fireplace, cheap and cheerful Gelareh shoes, and the Delta Chair by Marten Claesson, Eero Koivisto and Ola Rune.

P.S. Follow The Anthology on Facebook and Twitter for lots of golden updates.

December 8, 2012 by

Pinstagram | Roses, Pinks and Blues

The Anthology’s Pinstagram column marries the dream (Pinterest) and the reality (Instagram).

In print. A kilim rug I from Pottery Barn and a pink, white and blue dress I wish I could find in store.

Leaves and pages turning. A fall tree on Vancouver’s Granville Street and a new cover for Wuthering Heights, a great read on a cool night.

Heavy petal. Roses and jellybeans from my stop into Rebecca Bree and frosty roses.

Well heeled. My boots from Joe Fresh’s new boot collection (c/o of Joe Fresh) and a fresh fall look.

Tied up. A Mini Saul Bracelet c/o of Sarah Cameron and a classic bikini.

Take a seat. My mid-century modern chair (and much newer cat) and a modern seat.

Cozy up. Vancouver’s newest vegetarian restaurant Heirloom (which I first wrote about here) and a bedspread that looks just as cozy.

The blues. My new vintage table lamp and a cool-hued room.

All that glitters. Strings of lights outside a studio at the Eastside Culture Crawl and blurry glittery prettiness.

P.S. There are more photos where these came from so follow Kelsey Dundon on Instagram and add The Anthology on Facebook.

December 5, 2012 by

Diary | The Sartorialist at Secret Location

You have no idea what to get for your Secret Santa gift exchange this year, do you? May I suggest Scott Schuman’s The Sartorialist Closer? It’s the second doorstopper from the man behind your favourite street style blog, filled with his imagery and insight into the fashion world.

And you know what? It’s timeless. As fast-moving and trend-centric as the industry is, the looks he features often have some element of the well-worn — a pair of creased leather gloves or duct-taped boots. It’s what makes personal style personal. Your fashion-loving friends will love it.

At the cocktail party after Schuman’s book signing at Secret Location I couldn’t resist the urge to tell him how fan-freaking-tastic I think his work is.

“I’m happy to hear that,” Schuman said, laughing. “Much better than when people come up to me and say ‘You know what, I like Tommy [Ton] better.”

[Thanks, Cara, for taking the first picture! Second image found here.]

P.S. Like The Anthology on Facebook.

December 5, 2012 by

Timmy’s Telethon on Sunday, Dec. 9

What are you doing Sunday, December 9th? Watching Timmy’s Telethon? (So is my mom!) It’s going to be a party and you’re invited.

I’ll be joining a whole host of hosts including Michael Eckford and Fiona Forbes of the Rush, Global BC’s Chris Gailus and Sophie Lui, and man about town Fred Lee. I’ll be on from 8:00-10:00pm (and I’ll be watching your tweets so holler @TheAnthology and get hashtag happy with #TimmysTelethon).

The Telethon benefits the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities, which assists children with all kinds of special needs. The event raised more than $6 million last year and this year, with your help, we hope to beat that.

Thank you BC Lions Society, Timmy’s Telethon and especially you, Melanie, for inviting me to take part!

[Photo by the amazing Harper Smith]

December 3, 2012 by

Bookmark | Le Marché St. George

In The Anthology’s Bookmark column we explore some of the most inspiring places on the wild, wild web.

It’s not often a company’s website makes the cut as a Bookmark. Actually I don’t think it’s ever happened before.

But the site belonging to Le Marché St. George, a tiny cafe tucked away in a residential neighbourhood in Vancouver, is such a beauty it deserves to be featured.

The photography is dreamy, their products are beautiful, and the events they host — though I’ve never been to one — look like good ol’ unpretentious fun.

The Marché just celebrated its second anniversary (félicitations!). If you’re in Vancouver and you haven’t yet been, it’s well worth the trip to St. George and East 28th Avenue. If you’re not, you’ll find plenty of inspiration on their site.

So bookmark Le Marché St. George already and bookmark The Anthology while you’re at it.

[Images from Le Marché St. George bien sur.]

December 2, 2012 by

My One Thing

The gym. Blech. I wish the thought of pumping iron got my blood pumping, but it just doesn’t. (Don’t tell my membership card I said that.) Still, I know I need to exercise for a million reasons – health, sanity, you name it – so when the Canadian Cancer Society asked me to share my “one thing” I thought long and hard and then I wrote this.

December 2, 2012 by