The western like heel on this Acne “Pistol” zip up, makes this the perfect casual jean boot. The exaggerated long leather pull tab is a nice detail.

The Cobra Society boot is made with a perfect blend of quality Italian leather and traditional Moroccan rags. Yes, I would like to walk through the desert in these boots and would think about giving up my first born for a pair.

This Isabel Marant bootie can go with just about everything. I prefer suedes over leather because I love the texture it gives off. The sandy hue, although very light is very versatile. Trust me when I say you’ll find yourself wearing light colored boots more often for the entire year.

So there you have it, western boots are not just for cowboys anymore.

Sunny Shum, Footwear Buyer, Blogger & Your Industry Insider | Follow me @partly_sunny

I searched high a low for a white tray to place on my bathroom counter. I always find the bathroom counter to be the most unorganized area in the home. I can’t keep everything in the drawers and I personally like to leave the stuff I use every day out in the open for easy access. Luckily, my boyfriend came home with the perfect white tray from Parliament Interiors in Gastown. It keeps all my stuff framed and organized on the counter.

I found the cutest little store on Main Street called Much & Little. The owner, Sarah Savoy curates the most beautiful housewares that bodies simplicity, quality and function. I immediately gravitated towards the star perforated food strainer and I knew it had to come home with me.

I pretty much love all styles of jewelry and what I decide to drape myself with all depends on my mood. Lately, I’ve been obsessing over single gold bands; oppose to my over the top chunky rings. It’s a simple way to make a statement.

Sunny Shum, Footwear Buyer, Blogger & Your Industry Insider | Follow me @partly_sunny

Because I was plan old curious, I ordered a bucket bag from www.shoedazzle.com. (Please spare me the cheese and please don’t judge). To be honest I was not expecting much since I only paid around $45 CDN for this bag (this is including shipping by the way). The quality of the man-made material bag was impressive and the shipping was speedy. They also didn’t charge me extra for duty once it arrived to my door which is a major bonus. Damn that Kim Kardashian…

To all those people with their “get healthy and fit” new years resolutions, can I tempt you with Martha Stewart’s baked brie, drizzled in brown sugar maple sauce? So easy to prepare and super gooey good.

Sunny Shum, Footwear Buyer, Blogger & Your Industry Insider | Follow me @partly_sunny

Yes, the already crazy busy shoe department of Macy’s is getting a multi-year renovation, expanding the second floor women’s shoe department to 39,000 square feet and it will also feature a coffee, wine and chocolate bar. What can get any better, have I died and gone to heaven? Shoes, coffee, wine and chocolate - All on one floor. It’s absolutely indulgent and over the top but it’s also a very logical plan.

Renovations are starting this spring 2012 and will continue into fall of 2015.

Sunny Shum, Footwear Buyer, Blogger & Your Industry Insider | Follow me @partly_sunny

1. I had these old box frames with a linen backing. I took out the glass (which I will use this for something else I have planned).

2. I took your basic push pins and I poked them into the linen back board to act as holders or hooks.

3. I took all my sunglasses and I hung them on the push pin holders and voila. A cool and simple way to keep my sunglasses all in order.

There’s your D.I.Y. for this week!

Sunny Shum, Footwear Buyer, Blogger & Your Industry Insider | Follow me @partly_sunny

2011 was the year of the edit for me, a time to focus on the things that needed more attention and to spend more time with the people that mean the world to me. I also felt this year to be a little disjointed. Things felt kind of out of place, there was a lot of changes in my personal and work life that I couldn’t control but even when life causes some unexpected weather patterns during my flight, I ultimately am the one behind the controls. At the end of every year, we all feel the need to re-assess our lives, start fresh, re-think our goals and we all of a sudden feel the need for enlightenment. Well, this is where I’ll start my little list of new life lessons learned this year and I hope it will spark something in you:

1. Anytime is a good time: There is no “right time” and who says just because the clock turns to midnight everything is going to be ok the next day?  We are all conditioned from a very young age to act a certain way or to do certain things on specific days…Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Family Day, Secretary Day, Halloween, New Years…Know this, today is as good as any other day so don’t wait to tell that special person that you miss them, don’t wait to spend more time with loved ones, don’t wait to tell your co-workers that you appreciate them. Who cares what others think? If you want to dress up in costume in February go for it, no need to wait for Halloween to come around. You want to do something special for someone you care about, don’t need to wait until Valentines Day. You want to gather good friends for a good meal and conversation, don’t need to wait for Thanksgiving or Christmas either. You want to make a change of direction in your life? You don’t have to wait for the clock to strike midnight or a new year to do so.

2. Buying things won’t bring you happiness and it sure doesn’t buy you more time: I banked up a lot of debt as a young girl as I equated owning a lot of “stuff” to happiness and I thought that the stuff I owned would impress people. Now being responsible for my own well being as an adult, I’ve come to realize more and more living with less is more freeing. Don’t get me wrong, I still occasionally make those regretful impulse purchases but it’s about being more cogniscent of why I am making the purchase and making sure that I am not trying to impress anyone but myself. I saw this post on Tumblr and it really puts things into perspective. Start thinking about money in the form of time. You have $86,400 in your bank account versus 86,400 seconds in a day. What are you going to do with it? I know what I would do: I want to live a comfortable life, but not a wasteful one.

3.  It’s ok to slow it down, your own pace is the only lane you should be focused on: I have had several moments watching everyone around me accelerate their lives in front me with new jobs, starting new businesses, experiencing new loves, having babies, buying homes, getting engaged and getting married. Trust me when I say that my patience has been tested yet again this year, as I experience others around me go “further” in life at a faster pace. “Have faith” I would say to myself that everything that I’ve ever dreamed of will come my way as long as I stick to my steady path at my own pace. Patience always wins the life race at the end of the day (even though at the moment it doesn’t feel like it). I have watched too many people chase the fast lane in love, life and career…only to watch it crumble in front of them months later. Life will go on regardless of which lane you decide to take, so make sure you remember to give yourself some pauses. The best cheese and wine in the world take time and so does your best self.

4. Start Listening: I’ve stopped giving advice to people, unless they ask for it and even then I do it reluctantly. I have found that people hardly take any of the advice I give them (and this goes for me as well), because all we want is to be heard and to be supported with some positive reinforcement. People will do whatever their hearts desire at the time and there is nothing you can say to change their minds. You would never want someone else to make your choices for you, so don’t impose them on someone else. We all have moments where we go through life blind and somehow we stumble our way around it just fine. So if you want to be a good friend, just be sure to be available to listen and lend your support when it’s needed.

5. Just be you and show up for yourself: We all tend to live the life others want us to live and in doing so we attract all the wrong things. When you are trying or wanting to be someone else you are wasting the person you are. “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” ~ Dr. Seuss. I idolize two characters from my childhood, Dr. Seuss and Winnie-the-Pooh, not high powered CEO’s and wealthy business owners. Dr. Seuss and Winnie the Pooh just get life and they and get their message across simply and they never apologized for who they are. Don’t compare yourself and compete with others, be inspired and motivated by them and compete only with yourself.  The most important thing is that you show up for your self every day and when you do that at the truest core of yourself, the right things will come your way. (Did I just make a rhyme?)

I wish you all the very best in 2012, be inspired, be the pilot, be you, and of course stay stylish and classy. To those that have always loved me for “me” and that have always cared enough to ask how I’m doing and that have always made time for me: A BIG THANK YOU and I am grateful to have you all in my life. Here’s to another “bang on” year!

xo

Sunny

I have a new love and that would be for Maryam Keyhani’s bold jewelry. I can imagine having this piece around my neck would feel pretty awesome. Sorry I don’t have a price but I am sure I wouldn’t be able to afford his entire collection.

This Stella McCartney mary jane pump is the perfect heel, classic colors of nude and black trimmed with some gold. I’ve become a big fan of ankle straps and you’ll be seeing more of this look for Spring/Summer 2012.  $785, www.net-a-porter.com

I’m swooning over “Lover The Label’s“  Infinity Tuxedo Jacket, the perfect accompaniment for a night out, $649.

…and under the tuxedo jacket would go this “Kelly” dress by Primary NY.  This silk dress has an easy, relaxed, slouchy feel when worn tied at the front or not tied at all. The multiple wear dress is what makes it simply irresistible, $278.

You don’t need much to doll up for an evening, just clean simple make up on the face and some lustrous red lips will do just fine.  YSL makes a gorgeous lip color,”Rouge Volupte Perle”. This silky radiant lipstick with SPF 15 will leave your lips feeling soft and looking beautiful with a satin-pearl finish. $34, www.sephora.com

Last but not least, an evening clutch to carry your stuff for the night. Try this gold leather clutch by Anya Hindmarch, it will add instant glamour to any evening wardrobe. $550, www.net-a-porter.com

All the best in the 2012, stay safe, stylish and be classy.

Sunny Shum, Footwear Buyer, Blogger & Your Industry Insider | Follow me @partly_sunny

I battle with adult acne and for those bad days I use Mario Badescu’s “Drying Lotion”. Just dab this blend of Calamine and Salicylic Acid to clear up and soothe unsightly whiteheads and pimples overnight. I swear the pimple reduces in size about half and in less than 48 hours, you are back to normal again - life saver. $23, www.beautymark.ca

As a huge fan of “Trueblood” I had to get myself the limited addition Tarte LipSurgence. It’s mint-infused and is the perfect iridescent shade of red to give yourself the pouty red lips like a lady vampire. $24, www.tartecosmetics.com

If you love New York and Paris equally, you’ll love these new scents. Honoré des Prés launches its “Smells of New York” organic Parisian fragrances created by perfumer Olivia Giacobetti with the city unexpected packaging: A to-go coffee cup in a box. The ‘We Love New York’ collection fragrances are I Love carrots (crisp carrots, sweet vanilla), Love Coco (candied coconut, white cedar) and Vamp in NY (juicy tuberose, warm rum). My personal favourite is Love Coconut:

Head Notes: Seeds & leaves of Cori­ander, fresh coconut milk
Heart Notes: Tonka bean & vanilla bour­bon
Base Notes: White cedar & organic coconut

$98, www.lynnsteven.com

I have super straight hair and besides my hairstylist giving me the best layers for volume, I use Oribe’s Texturizing Dry Spray. Get bigger, better hair. This invisible dry hair spray builds in incredible volume and sexy texture. Great for touch ups from day to night or vice versa and ideal for the gal on the run. $20 for 75 ml purse size bottle, www.beautymark.ca

Goody’s Spin Pins have changed my life. No more fiddling with a hair elastic trying to get a sloppy chignon up (that does not stay up all day by the way). No matter how thin or thick your hair, with a simple twist and spin of the pins, your “bun” stays put. You’ll have to try them out yourself to believe it. You can pick them up at most drug and beauty stores like Shoppers Drug Mart for $8.

Sunny Shum, Footwear Buyer, Blogger & Your Industry Insider | Follow me @partly_sunny

You can not forget about the children (and we all have a little kid inside each and everyone of us). The most adorable thing is the feature on the children’s book, “Who Makes Snow?” and the funny looking Yeti plush toy. Or maybe it’s the mini me of the abominable snowman?

On the outside of the Sak’s building a brilliant 3D light show was displayed following the theme of “Snowflakes and Bubbles”. I didn’t get a good video of it (because I was completely in aw and forgot to film it) but was able to find one from YouTube. It was absolutely mesmerizing and it’s taken holiday retail decor to a whole new level. I think it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Happy Holidays xo

Sunny

I want to cuddle up by the fireplace in this cashmere sweater by Valentine K. I’m diggin’ the leather elbow patches. Did I mention it’s also a Canadian based brand? Stellar! Retails ranging from $305 - $325.

Available in Russian Gold and Silver, Alex and Ani’s expandable bracelets are personable and can be worn with anything. A sure fire hit this holiday season and only $21. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer or secret Santa gift.

Living in a small apartment means having to be creative with your space and finding cool ways to store your goods. These felt baskets by Muuto do the trick and they are available at the Huset Shop for $120.

Set your table conversation with new gold flatware. Almoco Flatware is the work of a third-generation, family-run business in Portugal and you can find them at Design Within Reach, $60.

From PR at Hermes to leather goods, designer Ela Kowalewska has created the perfect bag for me. The Ela “Cheetah” cross body is $580 and available at LynnStevens.

Bows for gift wrapping and bows for you. This adorable chiffon bow with gold polka dots from Ban.do can be worn a few ways. Clip it to your shirt, blazer, hair and even your shoes. For $25.00,  you can change your look dramatically.

Better get cracking people you only have a handful of days before Christmas. I hope I helped out in some small way. Happy Ho Ho Ho.

Sunny Shum, Footwear Buyer, Blogger & Your Industry Insider | Follow me @partly_sunny