Closed: Petitor Giveaway!! And Last Week's Winner -Announced!

Nov 30, 2011

135 comments
This week's giveaway is from the oh so lovely Petitor! Goodness, I'm smitten with all of their jewelry pieces!! One lucky reader will have the chance to win one of these gorgeous necklaces -yippee!! Also, the cross and open circle necklaces are available in silver or gold! Enter for your chance to win! ♥

Enter to win:
1. You must follow "Girl & Closet"
2. Visit Petitor & leave a comment with your most loved item!

Bonus entries:
1) Follow Petitor on Twitter
2) Like them on Facebook
(please leave an extra comment for each - bonus entries only!)

Giveaway is open from now until December 7th, 2011, and open to US, Canadian, & International readers.

Also, last week's Shabby Apple giveaway winner is... #13 Courtney Erin!
Congrats! Please email me to receive your prize.
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Look Book: Cream Pleated Midi Skirts & Historic Homes!

Nov 29, 2011

81 comments
Firstly, a big thank you to Paige (my dear friend) of Barefoot Vintage for sending me this gorgeous skirt & red obi belt. And secondly, thank goodness for bloggy friends that send me clothes, because just the other day I had "one of those" moments - gulp, you know the one where you open your closet, stare at your clothes and you come up with nothin?! Thankfully, this styling story has a happy ending -yay! I've since decided to plan out my outfits way in advance! I'm totally getting my fashion nerd on, guys. ;) 
Isn't this a charming spot for outfit photos?! I love the little lamps on the building and the awning is so cute, right?! I'm just smitten with our historic little town. I love finding new & charming spots for my blog pictures, and it seems like the perfect place to wear my vintage dresses - I fit right in!! But goodness, it was cold - my hands felt like ice cubes by the end. Even my hubby yelped (aw) when I put my hands on the back of his neck. Hehe!
Just this past Friday, I was over-the-moon excited to visit one of my favourite local stores, Barefoot Contessa - it's truly my idea of heaven! Their clothes are the perfect balance of vintage inspired, girly and super romantic. Love!! I'll be sharing a few photos of my visit (yay!) next week-ish, and I'll also be hosting a Barefoot Contessa giveaway on the blog too, so stay tuned for that. Have a great week, guys! What's everyone up to?  xo veronika
Outfit Details:
Cardy - AE
Tank - H&M
Skirt - c/o Barefoot Vintage
Belt - c/o Barefoot Vintage
Tights - Joe Fresh (similar)
Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell (similar)
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Sponsor Spotlight, November! Handpicked By Girl & Closet!!

Nov 28, 2011

19 comments
Hello friends! Firstly, hope everyone enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving! Although we already had our Canadian Thanksgiving in September, I was still there in spirit! And as a result, I spent much of my weekend craving stuffing, cranberries and mashed potatoes. Yum!! Secondly, I'm thrilled to bring you another round of sponsor spotlight -yay! I'm working with a truly delightful bunch for the month of November, and I'm excited to share my fave items with you! ♥




Orange You Chic Dress >>> The London Calling Heel >>> Confetti Dress
* receive a automatic 10% discount when you visit La Quaintrelle via the above links! 

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Look Book: Red Tights & Comfy Cable Knits...

Nov 24, 2011

72 comments
Oh exciting stuff, friends! I'm so thrilled I had the chance to sneak in one more fall post -go me!! It hasn't been an easy task, since we've had some pretty crazy winds, hail and rain monsoons. However, just the other day, we had a spectacular afternoon. I ventured out to this lovely spot - the weather could not have been more perfect. My favourite part?! While we were taking outfit photos, the most beautiful red leaves were falling, everywhere! It was so pretty!!
Martin (my sweet hubby) and I spent a part of our day walking around our local urban village - it's seriously the cutest place ever!! Imagine... ocean, mountains, lush trees, and in the middle of it all is a super quaint village filled with pretty brick architecture, charming street lamps, and little shops selling all kinds of yummy foods. So cute, right?! It's our over the weekend go-to spot. We love buying lots of fresh food and then cooking yummy meals together -so great!!
Goodness, I have worn this skirt so many times! I haven't stopped loving it since I bought it from ModCloth earlier this year. And, I've been dying to try a pair of red tights -it's such a fun look. Although, I will admit they seem to get me a lot of attention. Hehe, everyone keeps starring down at my legs. Anyhoo, I opted to tone down the overall pops of red by adding lots of neutral colours: boots, cardy, and my new brown belt. I'm proud to say, I put this outfit together in less than 5 minutes - that's a rarity, believe me! xo veronika
Outfit Details:
Cardigan - Gap
Belt - H&M
Skirt - ModCloth
Tights - ASOS (similar)
Beams Boots - c/o Blowfish
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Closed: Shabby Apple Giveaway!! And Last Week's Winner -Hooray!

Nov 23, 2011

112 comments
This week's giveaway is from Shabby Apple, and hand-picked by yours truly! I'm smitten with this gorgeous women's dress - pair it with tights & a trench for fall, or with wedges for spring... so cute!! Enter for your chance to win! ♥

Enter to win:
1. You must follow "Girl & Closet"
2. Visit Shabby Apple & leave a comment with your most loved item!

Bonus entries:
1) Follow Shabby Apple on Twitter
2) Like them on Facebook
(please leave an extra comment for each - for bonus entries only!)

Giveaway is open from now until November 30, 2011, and open to US readers only.
Can't wait to win?! Shop now & use promo code - GIRLANDCLOSET10OFF

Also, last week's Moorea Seal giveaway winner is... #10 Ayla Rose!
Congrats! Please email me to receive your prize.
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My Blog Office & Blogging Organizational Tips!!

Nov 21, 2011

100 comments
Hey guys! I recently mentioned & tweeted about the fact that I set up a little blog nook in our home - voila, here it is!! I was so thrilled to finally set up this little spot for myself, just a couple short weeks ago! And in case you're wondering, I bought the desk and chair from IKEA. Let me just say, it's been such a positive experience setting up a blog office. It's helped me get focused, organized, and feel more in control of my blog tasks. I've learned that staying organized is a big part of having & managing my blog.
How I stay organized!! 
  • Monthly calender: I seriously couldn't live without it! I schedule all of my giveaways, upcoming posts, keep track of sponsor deadlines, and my sponsor renewal dates.
  • Daily to-do list: I jot down what I need to get done in order of priority before I sit down to blog. I find this helps me stay on task and I can typically answer emails & comments, edit photos, and write my posts, and be done in a couple of hours -yay!! 
  • Automate: I've created a sponsor pdf sheet, invoice templates, email templates (for frequently asked questions), giveaway templates, and cheat sheets for my most used HTML code. Ah, I can't stress enough, the importance of automating things. It's helped me get so much more efficient. Hooray for sanity!
  • Set time limits: I've been guilty of sitting down to a 1 hour task, but (oops!) it ends up taking me a couple of hours. So I've started setting time limits for my tasks to keep me focused, and now I get things done!!
  • Take a break: Yup, when I'm feeling tired or over-whelmed, sometimes taking an internet-free day is the perfect way to get me & my schedule back in balance. 
  • Don't sweat the small stuff:  Sometimes, no matter how hard I try, I just can't get every teeny tiny thing done - and that's totally okay! I just jot it down and know I'll get to it the next day! :)
Hope you guys enjoyed my blog nook tour, and found my organizational tips helpful. If you have any fab tips of your own, be sure to share them in the comments section below -I'd love to hear from you!! Enjoy your Monday, friends! xo veronika
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Look Book: Fall Leaves & Brightly Coloured Blooms!

Nov 17, 2011

98 comments
Yay, it’s happy smiley me. Just the other day, hubs & I enjoyed a (rain-free!) stroll in our neighbourhood -ah, so pretty. Geez, I truly can't believe we are well into November, and that fall posts will be turning into winter and x-mas inspired posts. I'm so insanely excited to make this the best Christmas ever!! My last few have been so full of work & more work - but this year I'm thrilled to be my own boss (yay!) and I can’t wait to make it a super memorable and fun holiday! Hmm, yummy baking & cooking, here I come. :)

Aw, loved kicking leaves in this brightly coloured ensemble. I bought this dress just a few weeks ago from ASOS. It’s been such an awesome wardrobe staple; since it's short enough, I’ve also worn it with my skinnies & over-the-knee boots -totally adorable! And I almost reached for my favourite cardigan, but then opted for a denim jacket instead. Goodness, I have such a love of cardigans! I really can’t help myself; they are so comfy and super easy to just throw on - anyone else as obsessed with them as I am?!


Also, a BIG thank you to the lovely Moorea Seal for sending me this gorgeous booklet necklace -isn’t it the prettiest?! I’ve received so many compliments on it, and have been wearing it with so much! If you'd like to nab your own piece of jewelry from Moorea, then head on over here: "Moorea Seal Giveaway!!" One lucky reader will win an item of their choice -up to $50 in value. Yay! Enjoy your day, friends; what's everyone up to? I'm currently blasting my fave of the moment band, Handsome Furs, and sorting through my closet which is about to burst. xo veronika


Outfit Details:
Denim Jacket - H&M
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Featured in: College Fashion!!

Nov 16, 2011

3 comments
Hello! Just wanted to share with you guys that I was recently featured & interviewed on the College Fashion website - a big thank you to Charlotte of "Girl Next Door Fashion" for writing such a wonderful feature. I absolutely love it!! My fave part was an outfit that Charlotte put together inspired by my style, ooh, it's so cute!! So be sure to head on over and take a peek. It's such an awesome website too, filled with fashion, beauty and shopping tips for College students. Enjoy your Tuesday, friends!
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Closed: Moorea Seal Giveaway!! And Last Week's Winner!

215 comments
This week's giveaway is from Moorea Seal! Hooray, I'm such a huge fan of her beautiful jewelry, and one lucky reader will win an item of their choice - up to $50 in value!! ♥

Enter to win:
1. You must follow "Girl & Closet"
2. Visit Moorea Seal & leave a comment with your most loved item!

Bonus entries:
1) Follow Moorea on Twitter
2) Subscribe to her blog
(please leave an extra comment for each)

Giveaway is open from now until November 23, 2011, and open to Canadian, US & International readers. Good luck everyone!!

Also (last weeks), Deoma's Boutique giveaway winner is... #53 Michelle!
Congrats! Please email me to receive your prize.
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Look Book: All Bundled Up!

Nov 14, 2011

87 comments
Hooray! Hubs and I just spent three glorious days off together (today’s our fourth!) - yes, it’s been complete & total bliss!! I was so happy to catch up on some sleep, drink peppermint tea in bed, and marvel at the fall hued trees in front of our bedroom window - ah, they are seriously breathtaking. I also spent a bit of Sunday in my (new!) blog nook, organizing giveaways for December & getting caught up on emails. I’ll be posting pictures of my space later this week, along with tips on how I stay organized. Stay tuned for that!
On Saturday we headed out for a bit and I decided on this bundled up look, because it's officially cold!! I was so excited to find this lovely sweater on a recent thrifting expedition; it’s such a comfy & laid back piece -which I love! I feel like sweaters & chunky knit cardy’s will be a great go-to look for me this winter. I’ve already paired this sweater with so much: skinny jeans, denim shorts & tights, and here with my skirt. A big yay for feeling cozy!!
And in other super exciting news?! I'm so thrilled to share with you guys that I’ve joined the Lucky Style Collective! I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Lucky family. It’s such a terrific magazine and I love that they are so supportive of the blogging community. I’ll be contributing content to both their website & editorial magazine, along with other special projects which I can’t wait to share with you -of course!! Hope everyone’s having a fab Monday. xo veronika
Outfit Details:
Scarf - Holt's (similar)
Sweater - Thrifted
Skirt (old) - ModCloth
Tights - Joe Fresh (similar)
Shoes - Polly, Jeffrey Campbell (love these, similar)
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Blog Spotlight: Second Edition!

Nov 11, 2011

22 comments
I'm so thrilled to be featuring Andrea of Blonde Bedhead for my second edition of blog spotlight! I absolutely love being able to introduce you guys to my favourite bloggers, and learn a little bit more about these amazing blogging lovelies myself! When it comes to personal style blogs, I quickly fell head-over-heels for Andrea's. I love her ability for mixing beautiful feminine pieces with a more urban & edgy aesthetic, and she always features the most enviable shoes. Be sure to check out her blog; you will love her gorgeous style & sassy personality. Enjoy the interview!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself? Hello! I'm Andrea, a Michigan native, living and working in Chicago. I run the blog, Blonde Bedhead, but I also photograph weddings and work in advertising.

2. What inspired you to start your fashion blog? Tieka of Selective Potential really inspired me because I didn't really know fashion blogs existed before she started hers, but I loved to photograph fashion shoots with friends, write freelance fashion-related articles and I also just love to have fun with personal style and fashion. It just made sense to start this little hobby where all the things I was passionate about would be in one singular place.

3. How has your personal sense of style evolved over the blogging years? My style has definitely evolved. I take bigger risks and have more confidence to wear bold colors and accessories. I also developed a deep affinity for ridiculous shoes, which I never had until I started the blog and started noticing the amazing shoes that exist out there!

4. Aside from fashion blogging, what are some of your other passions? Like I mentioned earlier, I'm a photographer and focus primarily on portrait and wedding work. It's so much fun for me to photograph weddings, but then to also schedule fun shoots with friends that have amazing styles that inspire me and share them on my blog. I also love animals and on the rare occasion I can get back to my parents' home, I like to visit the horses and goats and annoy the cat with my constant pestering.

5. What are some of your favorite things about living in Chicago? Everywhere you go in Chicago, there is a great restaurant near and the choices are endless. I love food, particularly greasy, delicious foods, so when I see a pub or old diner, I'm thrilled! I also love the access I have to fun shops like TopShop, Zara and other small boutiques and vintage shops that are in Chicago. It's so easy to go shopping and spend the entire day visiting just one neighborhood for their shops!
6. Who takes your outfit pictures and do you have any photography tips? I've trained my boyfriend how to use my camera and I must say, he's become quite the little photographer. He has a great eye and listens to me, which helps, since I know what I like. My main photography tips for outfit photos is to try to shoot outside and not in direct sunlight! Direct sunlight can be so harsh if you're not used to working with that kind of light and outside photos just have a higher quality feel to them to indoor lighting of a house. My second tip would be to have fun and take a variety of shots like full length photos, wide angle shots and of course, a lot of detail shots!

7. What are your dreams and aspirations for your blog?
My blog has already done so much for me. It's given me a way to be creative and it's helped me land jobs. I don't think I'd ever want to blog full-time, but keep it as a fun project, so it stays fun for me, but I'd still like it to grow and for me to earn more great opportunities to work with brands I love!

8. What fall/winter trends are you most excited about? Two words: Leopard print. As if I needed an excuse to wear my favorite print, but it's hot this season and I'm so ecstatic that I can find coats, tops, pants, skirts, shoes, belts, etc in the print.

9. What’s your current go to outfit? My go to outfit is always an over-sized grey top, black skinnies, a crazy heeled black boot and a leather jacket. It's what I feel most comfortable in and I own so many of the same grey type of shirt, pants, boots and jackets, it's easy for me to recreate.

10. Do you have any tips for new or aspiring fashion bloggers? My tip is to start it because you love whatever you love--whether it's personal style, photography, fashion, street-style and you want to talk about it and share with others, not because you want free shit. That will come later, I promise.

Aw, a BIG thank you to Andrea for this fantastic interview! Hope you guys enjoyed learning a little bit more about this fabulous gal! I absolutely adored reading all of her answers. Be sure to pop on over to her blog (to say hi!) and follow along. You can also connect her with her via Twitter! Hope everyone is enjoying a fantastic Friday, and happy almost weekend, guys!!  xo
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