Accessorize!

I don't know about you, but I saw many good accessory finds this Caribana season.
I always check out dollar & bargain stores, and this summer, Everything for a Dollar Store came strong with so many rhinestone options! It's like they heard the cry of masqueraders!

They've got rhinestones of all kinds: self adhesive rhinestones, stick on rhinestones, rhinestone border stickers. Most stores have many colours, sizes, & shapes. I like the new pearl sticky ones. Yup, all $1.

Can't get enough feathers? Something else I saw was these feathered earrings. In blue, yellow, orange, green, & purple, they look like they came with many costumes. You can always add a string of beads or rhinestones to take them from simple to a perfect costume match.


How great is this - $2 feathered boas! For those who want to decorate their boots, or supplement their costume.

This adorable pouch caught my eye for Fallen Angel. It's big enough to fit most cameras with room to spare.

fanny pack - American Apparel
for Jean & Dinah

Speaking of Caribana bags/pouches, I'm still searching for the perfect pouch. In the past, I've used camera or water bottle bags (not so stylish), I had an over the shoulder small purse style but the string was uncomfortable, and a small clutch that hooked onto my waistband. I want to be hands free, but sometimes I don't like having to fuss with a strap. I also don't like the worry of wearing a clutch & wondering that it's securely fastened. Pouches look super cute, but they're not practical for me, as it has to be attached to me in some way, I can't be holding it. If I could find one that I could attach a strap to, I think that would work best. As yet, I'm not sure what I'll do this time. We're on vacation right now (at the Edmonton airport actually waiting for our connecting flight) so I've been looking, & have some ideas. Maybe I should make my own!

Next, tights & makeup...

Caribfest in Barrie

Well Caribfest has announced the artists who are performing. When I heard the names I wondered how are they paying these people? Well I got my answer, they are going to be charging admission to get into the main stage area. Here are the details they have announced so far: Their website

One thing of note is that they are really targeting the mature Jamaican crowd, with Beres Hammond, which is a good thing because its Caribfest, not Trinifest:)

Beres, Fay-Ann and Bunji are all performing on Sunday, so, it looks like we might have to make a full weekend of it, because we don't want to sit in the traffic on Saturday morning and now we can't leave before Sunday, so its a whole weekend thing then? What you all think?

6th Annual Dinner & Dance Cruise – July 10th, 2010

9:00pm - 1:00am

Click here to get the tickets

Barrie Caribfest Main Stage – Friday August 13, 2010

6:00pm - 10:00pm

Friday Only Passes

Click here to get the tickets

Barrie Caribfest Boat Party - Friday August 13th, 2010

10:00pm - 1:00am

Barrie Caribfest Main Stage – Saturday August 14th, 2010

6:00pm - 10:00pm

Saturday Only Passes

Click here to get the tickets

Barrie Caribfest Late Night Cruise – Saturday August 14th, 2010

11:00pm - 2:00am

The Official Caribfest After Party Saturday Aug 14th, 2010

10:00pm - 4:00am

Barrie Caribfest Main Stage – Sunday August 15, 2010

1:00pm - 7:00pm

Sunday Only Passes

Click here to get the tickets

Weekend Passes Fri/Sat/Sun

Push bumpers

So what are you doing to get in shape for Caribana? The last few years I've seen more exercise classes advertising to help get your bumper ready for de big day.
Check out Camille Ross' Guyana Beat Caribana Boot Camp video. Looks like they've got you doing all the required squats & leg exercises. Being outside is fantastic - but do you hear or get to play your own soca music?
Caribana BootE Camp is the latest with a certified personal trainer offering to help get you that perfect Caribana body. Since there is a west end location, I may check it out.
I've always wanted to take a Socasize class, but unfortunately they don't have a west end or North York location yet. From the video clip, their classes look like fun, very similar to an aerobics class.
I love the idea of exercising to soca, & actually while I'm doing my exercise program of choice, P90X, I mute the music & play D.J. Private Ryan mixes.
There was a Karibana Boot Camp in 2008, did anyone do that?
What about diets, is doing a cleanse, cabbage soup or something as extreme? I'm not into dieting, I've never been able to deny myself the good things in life for long - namely chocolate.

These boots are made for jumpin!

Time to start shopping for footwear. I just started today, & had no luck at the bargain shoe stores. There's of course hardly any low heeled boots in June. Ali Baba, Extreme Hip Hop, and L.A. Star Shoes had a few pairs of ankle, or mid-calf & fringed boots for $24-$39. But I couldn't believe Payless, a pair of mid-calf boots like the beige ones below was still $75! (Man made materials) There was no price on a pair of ankle boots like the black ones pictured. Some stores still have winter stock, or high heeled boots. If I can't find any when I go on vaca to a few states in 2 weeks, looks like I'll be ordering online. Thanks to Tara for the link to Shiekh Shoes! They have a gazillion low heeled ankle, mid-calf & knee boots. I'm impressed that they have many different styles that would work well for mas.
I think there are many casual sneakers ("lifestyle") that would look great with costumes. Not athletic white old school ones, & please, not spray painted! With all the options, you can really match up your footwear to your costume without going overboard.
All the boots & shoes are from: http://www.shiekhshoes.com/store/ Many of the styles I've posted come in other colours.

(without the fur)

Lisa's boots

Silver would be perfect for a lot of costumes.


































































There are many costumes where gold boots would work best.






I just had to put these, called Rihanna, up - ooooh, if they didn't have all that fur, how cute would they be???

So did you get your footwear? Let us know where, & feel free to share a picture!