melanie bag and a beret Archives

This is a sponsored post however all opinions are every much my own.

Gucci Girlfriends Gigglefest

As I look back on my blogging journey, going on some thirteen years now (crazy!), without a doubt the greatest joy my blog has afforded me is meeting friends.

We had our annual girlfriend meet-up in Vancouver last week and were lucky enough to have our stay sponsored by The Blue Horizon Hotel.

Our massive suite was perfectly designed for four fashion obsessed bloggers. It came with two large bathrooms, separate bedroom, large balcony and wrap around windows that flooded the room in natural light and gave a spectacular view of English Bay and the North Shore Mountains.

Blue Horizon Hotel Suite — Blue Horizon Suite Photos by Melanie and Sue.

Be sure to check out Abode, the hotel restaurant. I ordered the seasonal fruit crisp twice. I would have ordered it again had we stayed longer. It was so damn good it was shocking. Marilyn, the lady from the elevator seems to agree with me.

Blue Horizon Hotel Vancouver — Photos by me and Melanie

Three of us are vegetarians and were delighted with the varied selection available at Abode. I ordered the Veg Pappardelle and I’m still dreaming about it.

What else did we get up to in Vancouver you ask?

Secondhand Shopping

Every year we make a little trip to one of Melanie’s favorite consignment stores, My Sister’s Closet where Sherry was lucky enough to score several items, one of which she wore during the photo shoot.

We had fun playing mannequins in the window.

My Sister's Closet Vancouver consignment store — Photo by Sam, the delightful manager of My Sister’s Closet

We always pop by The Used House of Vintage for a look-see.

Used House of Vintage clothing store Vancouver

I came home with this vintage maxi skirt…

Sleepover!

Our meet-ups are very similar to many sleepovers I had as a teenager, filled with raucous laughter, experimenting with makeup, playing dress-up and numerous pillow fights in our underwear. Ha ha! I wanted to see if you were paying attention. We left the pillow fights out this time round ; P. The rest is 100% true.

Get Your Gucci Game On

You may remember our 20’s theme or last year’s Prom Do Over Night theme. This year was Gucci. As 90% of my wardrobe looks like Alessandro Michele’s vintage inspired Gucci it wasn’t a stretch for me.

Makeup First

We were lucky enough to have professional makeup artist, Suzy Thomas from Mac come by to do our makeup in the room before the shoot.

This is the first time I’ve had my makeup applied by a professional in some twenty years. We were all blown away by Suzy’s work. Somehow she translated each of our personalities perfectly via makeup. My lashes were so fluffy they reminded me of feathers! I felt if a stiff breeze came along I might up and fly away.

Suzanne Carillo — I must thank Sherry’s brilliant camera for making me look so good here. This is before the lippy.

Suzanne Carillo Style Over 50 — Here is the bold red lipstick I went with.

Melanie Kobayashi Bag and a Beret — Dramatic Mel with her hair clips.

Sherry Dryja Petite Over 40 Style — Pensive, playful Sherry.

Patti Gibbons Not Dead Yet Style — Brilliant Patti looking insanely fab wearing a bespoke plastic collar and skirt made for Melanie by the Vancouver Community College’s (VCC) Fashion Design & Production Diploma program, students.

We enlisted the help of Vancouver Barbara to take some photos of us getting groovy in the Blue Horizon exercise and pool areas.

Over 40 over 50 over 60 bloggers Gucci Girlfriends Gigglefest

Canadian Cool Cat Gucci Girlfriends Gigglefest — Serious posers and a very well dressed cool Canadian cat.

Patti Gibbons Not Dead Yet Style Blogger — Patti owned this look.

Gucci Girlfriends Gigglefest

Blue Horizon Hotel fitness room — I always workout dressed in plastic. It’s fantastic!

Gucci style photo shoot Blue Horizon Hotel Vancouver — I vant yer shoes!!!

Suzanne Carillo Gucci geek boho chic style — All my outfit except the boots and belt are secondhand. Belt was a gift.

Not Dead Yet Style Patti Gibbons Bag and a Beret Melanie Kobyashi — Intense right?

Over 40 blogger Sherry Dryja over 50 bloggers Suzanne Carillo and Melanie Kobayashi and over 60 blogger Patti Gibbons — No really Sherry, you’re light as air! (And really she is.)

There were so many more hilarious out-takes but this post is going to take forever to load as it is.

Here’s To Friends!

They make my life infinitely more interesting and enjoyable.

Which photo was your favorite?

When was the last time you and your girlfriends played dress up?

Linking up with Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday, Fancy Friday, and Spy Girl

If you’re meeting someone at a blogger meet up for the first time that you’ve only “seen” on the internet be prepared.

Just as in online dating they may have exaggerated their height, weight, age, social status and job description.

Or as in the case of my latest blogger meet-up they may have played down their freaktacular fabulousness.

Case in point this blogger… Miz Baggs of Bag and a Beret. (I made the one-off t-shirt for her based on this post.)

I will admit I was a bit worried about meeting Melanie. Her bold one-of-a-kind online presence, brain bending use of the English language and insane artistic abilities are more than a little intimidating. I wondered if I would be able to keep up with such a creative force of nature.

I had visions of Miz Baggs arriving in a golden egg a top four well oiled shirtless body builders on roller skates wearing horses heads, Givenchy tuxedo pants and bow ties. Although the horse heads were no where to be seen Miz Baggs’ attitude, raucous wicked sense of humour and all consuming ego were well in tact. Needless to say, we got along like two drunken sailors fresh off the boat.

I’ve heard many have been hypnotized into submission with just a side glance of her glacial blue widows to the soul.

I saw it first hand when a lady walking outside winked at her. No joke. We were sitting at the restaurant seated next to the window and a well dressed lady gave Melanie a flirty wink. Such is the gravitational pull of the planet called Melanie.

Her choice of foot ware ensures that all cower below her.

I am actually crouching down a bit here ( I swear!). Bowing to the greatness that is Melanie.

Lucky for us Sue her hat makes her taller.

How about that for psychedelic pattern mixing?

Sue from A Colourful Canvas and I are now old friends as this is our second blogger meet-up.

She is a beaming ray of soul hugging sunshine on a typical rainy winter’s day in Vancouver. A bundle of positive effervescent energy, quick to laugh and so easy to be with. It was good to have her there to reign in Mel and myself when we started getting a bit too “Bloggers Gone Wild!”

If I were to describe Melanie as the sushi of bloggers Sue would be the comfort food. You walk away satisfied, content and happier just for having spent some time together.

So what to expect when some 40+ bloggers get together? Crumpets and tea with some mild mannered talk of the weather?

Or rowdy uncontrolled laughter you’d expect from some half drunken teenagers?

I’ll let you decide.

I gave Sue a vintage handbag and told her to look inside, there was an extra surprise. Someone had tucked a very old comb inside the inner pocket. She kept a brave face though when I told her that I was sure that the ancient comb had many stories to tell…and no…I hadn’t disinfected it. I figured that might ruin its magic.

Suzanne Man-Voice, Sue Sunbeam and Melanie MegaSchtar

I really couldn’t get enough of either of these gals. We spent most of the day together, talked for hours, did a bit of thrift shopping, closed down one coffee shop and yet it ended all too quickly. Learning what makes each of these ladies tick was far too complicated for just one brief afternoon. We are already planning our next get together… a PJ party was mentioned, but it is all top secret for now.

I’m catching up from a week away, trying to get over jet lag and the inevitable sad feeling that follows a great visit with family and friends that live on the other side of Canada.

BTW…Melanie drew me this precious pug!!!