Anticipation

My buying habits lately seem to have been this: buy nothing for weeks, then spend a bunch of money all at once. To my credit, this time at least these are things I need. Mostly. Kinda. Okay so maybe only one of my purchases was actually needed but... Well, have a gander at the lovely things whisking their way towards me in parcels and packages. You'll understand.

This dress has been in my Etsy Favourites for ages, and when I read that Sally Jane Vintage was having an epic summer-items sale well... I wound up buying three lovely dresses, and with shipping, it still barely cost me over $50. Happy? Oh goodness yes.

This pink beauty is an unexpected purchase for me. Just a few years ago, I was adamantly against any and all things pink. You wouldn't catch me dead wearing pink. And here I am, buying a solid pink girly dress. Oh how the times they are a' changing. I look forward to having fun layering this one in the winter months. Who says summer dresses are only for summer, eh? Psh...

Amazing, right? Right. Bright bold colours, giant happy flowers, crazy patterns around the hem... I can't wait to have this baby in my hands. To wear it everywhere and anywhere. Oh the love affair this dress and I will have.... Ahem. As you can tell, I really dig this dress. I'm a sucker for the 60's, ahh...

Here's where things get a bit boring (for you) but I really am excited to get these wedge sandals. The incline isn't too steep and they look uber padded and... I spent 2 weeks debating on whether or not to buy these and I finally caved. They were on sale anyway, so it was meant to be right? I'm hoping these are as comfortable as they look.

These lovely platform pumps were my "needed" purchase. I've got a pair of similarly coloured heels but they were thrifted and are long past when they really should have been tossed. So this is me investing in their replacement. Besides, how could I resist? I have a feeling these will make me feel like Joan Holloway when I wear 'em.

Have your purchased anything spiffy you're excited about? Shoes? A dress? These are probably going to be the last of my purchases for a while, since I'm heading to a Reptile Expo and the Zoo in Toronto next month, which will make a pretty big monetary dent in things. Considering 4 out of 5 of these items was bought on sale, I feel pretty good about this. All the money I've been spending on other things though... not so much. Oh money, you're so stressful.

I hope you're all having a groovy Wednesday. There were no ants in my sink this morning so I am a happy camper. Cheers!

It's only Tuesday?

I woke up to a kitchen sink crawling with tiny pin-head-sized ants this morning and bleh... it's only Tuesday folks. I hope this week ends quickly. Plus I get to go see both my dentist and my optometrist today... Can you feel my lack of waiting-room enthusiasm? Thank goodness I've got a book with me.

Dress (as top) - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Smartset (I think, it was long ago)

Platforms - Chinese Laundry via endless.com

Belt - Gift from Heather at Moonshine Junkyard

Necklace - Gift from boyfriend, made by Lisa Burkin on Etsy

I was at it again, wearing a dress as a top, back on August 17th. And happily wearing my new Chinese Laundry platform sandals for the first time. I'm always a little apprehensive about buying shoes online, you never really know if they'll be comfortable or fit properly. But these are great, and I love them.

I tried on four different outfits before settling on this one. My cat was watching me run around the apartment in bewilderment. I'm pretty sure my walking around in these shoes freaks him out because he always runs away.

And of course any good excuse to wear my flower necklace. I'd probably wear it everyday if that wouldn't be weird of me. I wonder if I can get my boyfriend to buy me more of these as future gifts... heehee...

It's gloomy and dark here today, looking like rain. Of course on a day I've got plenty of places to walk to. Seriously Tuesday, what's the deal? Monday is the poopy day of the week, stop being a pain! I hope you're all having nice ant-free Tuesdays, wherever you are. Cheers!

Happy Pride

Here's where I start messing with the time of my posts, and write about something recent before I get to posting things I did prior... If that makes any sense. I am bending time, folks! But I thought these photos from yesterday's Pride Parade here in Ottawa just had to be shared right away!

Just as a wee bit of a warning, there is the possibility of naked-people-bits in the following photos. I didn't comb through to check but I know there were a few naked folks wandering around, just in case I caught one and didn't notice. And if you happen to have your kiddos around and don't yet feel like explaining why that man is wearing a dress and heels.... here's the time to not scroll down. Everybody else... read on!

Leather jacket - Danier Leather

Flower Necklace - Gift from boyfriend, purchased from Lisa Burkin on Etsy

Dress - Purchased from Carbon Copy on Etsy

Tights - Sears

Shoes - Walmart

Yeah, I'm classy in my Wally World sneakers. But they're comfy and were just $20 so I'm not about to complain, right? And I am giggling in this photo because... I had a friend to photograph me, yay! It feels slightly awkward asking someone to take my outfit photos (primarily because most folks think it's weird) but I wish I had a photographer more often.

What's even better is when the person taking your photo is down for having theirs taken too! Above is my wonderful friend Tina. You may note her super awesome rainbow coat. It was a birthday present from me earlier in the year and man, compliments flying right and left over this coat. I know how to pick a gift, eh?

Clearly we used the parade as a great excuse to get dressed up, and we weren't the only ones. Tina spotted this next lovely lady wearing a fantastic dress and I had to go up and ask to snap some photos. I of course forgot to ask her name... But she was more than happy to have her photo taken. I know from experience how nice it is to know other people like your outfit enough to say so in person. I asked where she got the dress and... vintage second hand. Once again proving that old/used clothes are ah-mazing.

The Pride Parade is always a great place to see some killer shoes. Drag Queens in particular are the, ahem, Queens of Killer Shoes. And I have to give props to anybody who looks better in a mini-skirt and heels than I do, and can walk over a kilometer in their stiletto platforms on top of things. Case in point...

It was so great seeing everybody there. I had a grin plastered to my face the whole time. (Okay, maybe I teared up a little when the NDP came by and had Jack Layton signs.) The public library, the transit company, the emergency services... the whole community was showing their support and you could feel the love. We did have to deal with some crazy hurricane-leftover winds but that didn't stop everyone having a great time. See for yourselves...

There was a little boy marching along with the NDP group, holding his own little Jack Layton sign. I've never been one to really feel emotionally touched by the passing of a political figure or celebrity, but the loss of Jack Layton is one I felt as well. I felt the strong love for him here.

Of course, it's not a Pride Parade without pushing the boundaries a little, going slightly beyond tame. The kink community is always happy to come out and show their colours... err, or their reigns?

I hope you all enjoyed those photos. I know I had a great time at the parade. I mean, how can you not be in a good mood when you are dressed up like a rainbow, surrounded by happy colourful people? Impossible! I hope you all had a good weekend too. Cheers!

Hello Mister Sun

It's supposed to be a lovely sunny day tomorrow, and I'm hoping so. I really want to go swimming again. Gotta get as much swimming in as possible before it gets too cool, which it will be soon enough. I've had to start wearing a jacket or a sweater to walk to work in the mornings.

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Tank top - Smartset

Dress (as skirt) - Thrifted from Value Village

Flats - Ardene's

Necklace - Gifted

You can see what the dress looks like being worn as a dress in this old post from nearly a year ago. I can't believe in a little under a month, my blog will be a year old! That's saying a lot with me... I rarely stick to anything for more than 3-4 months. Apparently blogging really is my thing.

I was contemplating ridding myself of this dress, because I dislike wearing it by itself, but it does a pretty good job being a skirt and now with cool weather approaching (sad to say as it is) I'll be able to layer it over long-sleeved shirts again. Guess it's going to do another rotation in my wardrobe after all.

My outfits are officially out of sync, since I wore this particular outfit back on Monday last week. And I've got a bunch piled up ahead of it waiting to be posted. But I think I actually prefer this. So out of sync outfits is how it's gonna be.

There's a bunch of things I NEED to do this weekend, so annoyingly I won't get to doddle and dilly dally as much as I'd like to. Like every other weekend, I hope to get lots of sleep. And I have a feeling, like every other weekend, I'll get the bare minimum and sludge my way through to Monday like always. Silly me, I just can't help being a night owl.

Have you got anything fun planned? I know school has started for some of you, weekends will probably involve homework now. Whatever you're all doing, I hope you have a good one. Cheers!

Gypsy Queen

This was one of the outfits I brought with me to wear while I was in Alberta. When my boyfriend's dad saw me, he said I dressed like a gypsy. I have to agree, and I took it as a compliment. It feels like ages ago when I took these photos back on August 14th. I love this outfit so much, I'd live in it if I could (I wore it 3 times in two weeks while in Alberta hah).

Vintage Blouse - Purchased from Jewels4pandas on Etsy

Skirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Sandals - Thrifted from Value Village

It's just one of those outfits that feels very "me" and in which I feel comfortable. Plus I just love how it all moves and flows as I walk around. I really love outfits with flow and flounce.

I've been having such an odd absent-minded week. I've been spending a lot of time oggling shoes and tasty dessert recipes in lieu of reading blogs, so I'm rather behind. So food-filled have been my eyes, it took me 3 days to get around to writing this post, and I've actually been excited about sharing this outfit. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday, that's for certain.

Right now I just want the day to be over so I can go home and play more Sims 3. I've gotten myself addicted again and I have way too much fun getting my Stylist Sim to run around giving people wardrobe makeovers heh. Even my random geekery manages to fit clothes into things.

If you're in the mood for tasty things like I am, check out my Food Pinboard on Pinterest and drool admire with me. By the way, if any of you would like an invite... I have a bunch, so feel free to ask. Just leave your e-mail in a comment and I'll send one your way :) Cheers!

It rained on my parade

The weekend wasn't as awesome as I had hoped, but at least my Saturday was still totally awesome. My friend Erin and I went out to Pinto Valley Ranch that morning for an hour of horseback riding. She's a more than experienced rider, but me... I've been on a horse once, and it was something like a decade ago. Sadly there are no photos of the actual horse-riding but here's the lovely creature I got to ride!



Her name is Suzy, and she's a Clydesdale. Yes, one of those large work horses, with the giant fluffy feet. I was absolutely thrilled to get to ride her, I've always loved draft horses, they're so mellow and wonderful. Here she is being led along by the person who was going to ride her after me.



It was interesting riding her, being able to feel her gingerly placing her large hooves on the path so as not to trip on a root or stones. My behind, back and legs are horribly sore from the trotting though... Work horses were really not bred for a smooth ride, to say the least haha...

The ranch was also home to a number of other animals, from chickens and sheep to llamas and pot belly pigs. I was particularly taken with the rooster and his two hens. Roosters are such handsome birds, in my opinion. The pot belly pig was a sweetie too, love those things (okay, so I love 99% of animals).

From there, we decided to go to go for a swim. Well, first we decided to go to a waterpark, but the lines were about a thousand miles long. So then we decided to go for a swim. We went to Meech Lake in Gatineau Park. We actually got rained on while we swam, but the approaching clouds and accompanying winds scared off half the people on the beach, which was kinda nice. Due to rain, not many photos, but there was this cute little raccoon who wandered out looking for food afterward. Clearly he's used to people and is accustomed to gleaning food from humans (which is too bad, something that shouldn't happen) but he was so cute.



Then on the way back to the city, I suggested we stop and ride the ski lift to enjoy the view. By then the sun had come out, and it was a lovely ride. I'd been wanting to go ride it again ever since I went with my parents last fall. I think I'll have to come back again once the leaves change this year too.







As I mentioned in a previous post, on Sunday we were supposed to go see some horse show jumping. But it looked like rain, so Erin understandably decided not to go. And then I accidentally fell asleep again until 1pm. And it started to rain. And I was finally feeling the pain from the horseback riding. So I just stayed inside all day playing Zoo Tycoon 2 and reading. But my Saturday was still awesome, so that's alright.

Did you all have a good weekend? Do anything exciting or new? Cheers!