Insane in the Membrane

So you know how last week I mentioned I had a cold? Yeah well, turns out it was pneumonia. Yes, pneumonia in the middle of summer when I haven't been near a hospital or a seriously ill person in... I don't know how long. Thankfully I'm now on antibiotics and in another week and a half things should be all cleared up, and it won't feel like I'm breathing soup anymore.

Camisole - No idea, had it for years

Dress as skirt - Giant Tiger

Sandals - Aldo

This is me being uber casual. I threw this outfit on a while back when I thought I was going to be heading out with a friend. Then I changed my mind and canceled (because it's okay to do that) and figured since I was dressed I may as well take photos. Considering how few outfits I've documented this month, it's probably a good thing I did. The skirt is actually a little halter-tie dress, I just stuffed the ties inside and wore it as a skirt here. Yay for multi-use items!

My hair and I are still in a love-hate relationship. It seems that most days where it's actually cool enough to wear it down, it decides to misbehave, and then when it looks gorgeous and marvy, it's hot and humid and I've no choice but to stick it up in a bun or a clip lest it get all sweaty and stick to me like a damp towel. Not. Cool. I also find it funny that for all the years I've been shaving my legs, I still continuously nick myself at the back of my left ankle. Always the left one. So odd!

My world feels so upside down right now. I only wound up going to work for one day last week what with being sick with pneumonia and all. Everything is tinged with slight unreality. I could compare the feeling of it to that masked ballroom scene in Labyrinth. Wonder, confusion, awe, fright... and the nagging feeling that there's something important going on that I'm forgetting about. Speaking of Labyrinth... I had my super-awesome artistic friend Nicole make me another custom piece of artwork. Behold!

All unattended children will be given to the Goblin King. Awwwwe yeah. I've got it hanging in my kitchen. Nicole is the same friend who painted my flower-haired Jim Morrison. I'm starting to collect quite a few friend-made pieces of art in my apartment now and it's great. I'll never understand people with so little imagination or personality that they can be happy with sticking up Ikea prints on their walls and not feeling like they're living inside a boring cookie-cutter catalogue house. (The only 'art' I've seen at Ikea that sparked any interest for me is this huge picture of a jungle rope bridge, now that is awesome, mostly due to size and perspective.)

Then again, I know very few people whose homes look anything at all like mine, so perhaps I'm the lunatic for not being content with mass-produced photos of pebbles and nondescript foggy beach scenes? ....Nah! Maybe once I actually get my place cleaned up (it's been too damn hot for housework) I could take some photos of my lair and share it with you all here. Everybody who visits expresses delight and interest in my decor and various knick-knackery so may you would too.

It's barely past 10AM now and my brain already feels like it's turning to sludge and about to ooze out my ears. Two more weeks in this place and then I can finally escape be free. It's going to be a test of my character and personal strength staying here so long, silly as it may seem. Just being here this morning made me want to cry and scream and throw things. It's just wrong I tell ya. I hope you're all doing better than I am right now - which isn't difficult - and that you're all having a good Monday. Cheers!

Not My Spots

I thoroughly enjoyed this outfit while I wore it, but I'm not a huge fan looking back at the photos now. This is not something I will be wearing twice. How I ever thought those shoes went with the rest of the outfit is beyond me!

 

Blouse - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Hippo earrings - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Lulu's

It's sort of annoying that these shoes cost more than every other item in my outfit combined. And they weren't even that pricey, so far as shoes go. I've done pretty good thrifting shoes in the past, and some of my time-tested walkable sandals have been thrifted. It's difficult with footwear though, for reasons from sizing to limited options compared to clothing, and whether or not the shoe is even sanitary.

 

I was yesterday picking up some necessities - coffee and sugah - when I spotted a display rack selling bubble-soap bottles and tubs of sidewalk chalk. It took me half a minute to decide whether my good idea was indeed a good idea, and I was soon adding both to my basket. Then I happily scurried home to draw on the patio stones out on my terrace!

It was early evening in Chinatown as I drew, and the sun was finally out after a day that had started with rain and chill winds. I could hear workmen down on the sidewalk yelling in an Asian language - I can't tell Cantonese from Mandarin if my life depends on it - and birds were chirping and zipping around in the sky. The gentle breeze tickled my skin and the air smelled like delicious fried foods and growing green plants. I experienced a lot more than the chalk in my hand while I drew, and I felt wonderfully calm and grounded after it all. I think this deserves repeating in the future. Plus it's just nice to see the drawings when I look outside.

Tomorrow I head back to my home town for the first time since Christmas. I won't be there long, less than 48 hours, but a dear friend of mine is having her baby shower on Saturday and I wouldn't miss that for anything. So many of my friends are getting married and/or having babies this year. There are three wedding invitations sitting on my desk waiting for replies. It's overwhelming and scary and I'm not even the one getting married or having kids! I am more than happy to sit back and be the token single childless friend for quite a long while to come. That was always my favourite character in sappy chick flicks; the wild one who's life never manages to fall into the old traps. Anyway, my weekend starts early tomorrow so I'll wish you all a happy weekend now. Cheers!

All Things Green, Good and Growing

In the spirit of the upcoming spring and following summer - unlike some of you, spring has not sprung here just yet - I wanted to do a little post featuring some of my own green-season nature photography, and some of last year's favourite warm-weather-blog-photos. (I have an account over on Deviant Art, if you want to check out any more of my photography and such.)

And since I am in a total fashion rut - I feel like I'm stuck wearing the same things over and over again until it gets warmer! - I'll post some photos from my very first "photo shoot" for the blog, way back in September of 2010. That post pretty much embodies what I wish it were like outside right now, and what I wish I could be wearing!

So big changes happening in my household. My parents are moving out. Which means in a few months, I'll be moving too, into a smaller apartment. A 3 bedroom place all to myself is too much space, and there's no point in paying higher rent for something I'm not really using. (And this girly doesn't do well with random roomies!) But with my parents vacating, I'll be able to spread out and be more photo-creative in the house for outfit photos, which should be fun.

Friends and I are already making plans to go camping this summer and visit some provincial parks. Ah, it's summer in my mind and summer in my heart, but winter just won't leave! Cheers!

Another Belt and My Room

This is the outfit I wore on Saturday the 12th. I think last week was just belt-week for me because I honestly wore a belt nearly every single day. Which I suppose isn't a bad thing, but I think I've had my fill of belts for now. I actually had to punch a new hole in this belt because it was too large. And considering I bought this belt less than 6 months ago, and tried it on in the store specifically to be worn so high up my waist... Just a nice reminder of how much weight I've lost.

Shirt - Smartset

Belt - Ardene's

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

This is the same skirt as seen in this post, but I think I prefer it styled like this. I'm having the hardest time figuring out what to wear with it, and how to wear it. Today I'm wearing the same outfit as in this post right now, because it is once again frigidly cold out and those are my warmest cold-weather items.

And for kicks, thought I'd share a few photos of the "decor" in my room. I just recently put some glow in the dark stars up on my ceiling (yes, I am actually a giant child) and they look really cool. Plus they glow in black light which is awesome.

My ceiling-stars and part of my wall hanging, as seen from laying on my bed.

My black light responsive wall hanging.

The wall next to my computer desk, above my bed.

I made the frog collage out of two frog calendars from 2010. That black thing is a seal skin (following my animal fur/bone/hide collecting ways). And those words, "Dance like no one is watching" are just peal-and-sticks I got at the dollar store.

My bedroom kinda reminds me more of a teen's room here than it did when I lived by myself. But to be honest, this room feels much more welcoming and homelike to me than the other one did. But my living room looked like this in my old apartment so I guess it doesn't matter haha.

Hope you're all having a good week, cheers!

Oh happy day!

Well I'm still not feeling quite up to snuff yet - so no outfit post again - but my spirits are still high! I was thrilled today when a college friend of mine contacted me through Facebook, saying she'd seen all my lovely hemp necklaces, and would I be willing to take on a commission from her? Of course! So this weekend I'll be making a special longer necklace for her, particularly, a nursing necklace.

My lovely friend finds herself with child, and she wants me to make her a baby-friendly necklace for her future wee one to clasp in his or her little hands while nursing. And I am honored to do so! I think this necklace will have more love and joy put into it than any yet, and I'm very excited to get started on it.

I just finished tonight one necklace that I'd been working on for several days. It wasn't that it was particularly harder to make, but I just never had the time to sit down and devote the 2 or so hours it takes me to make one all in one sitting! But now it's done, and I'm very happy with how it came out.

The glass pendant is another that I bought on Etsy along with the one on the pink necklace from my last post. I enjoy working with the glass pendants, they add a nice weight to the necklaces and make them hang differently than they otherwise would without them.

I'm also happy to say I made my first sale! An internet friend from way out in British Columbia purchased a necklace from me, making her my first customer. It makes me happy knowing people like what I create, and that the necklaces will be worn and enjoyed.

I promise to get back to outfit posts as soon as I feel better. I miss posting them! I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Cheers!

Full and Glorious

I'm still a bit under the weather, but my spirits are much higher now. I'm floating around on a cloud of lovey dovey happiness and general contentedness lately which is doing my soul and being some real good. I'm also absolutely in love with the word "glorious". It's just so full and warm and round and welcoming. "Glorious" is a glorious word! I think we should all take the time to appreciate the beauty of words and languages more often.

I picked up some supplies last evening for making resin jewelry, and I'm hoping to start messing around with that and maybe making my own pendants to use with my hemp necklaces. Part of my New Year's Resolution is to be a more productive person and to learn more skills etc. and I really love crafting so... hey!

I also finished this necklace last night, and it's in my Etsy shop now! I actually bought the pendant off another artist on Etsy, along with a yellow and an orange one too. They'll be popping up on necklaces soon enough. Oh, and to Claire who asked where I work... I work in a closed-to-public government departmental library. Very. Bland. Haha... But yeah, I'm technically a librarian. :)

I hope you're all having a wonderful week so far. Cheers!

Dreaming of Flowers

So that feeling of starting a cold I had on Monday... It came to fruition and I am definitely sick. Oddly enough it's less a coughing-sore-throat-stuffy-nose kind of cold, but more of a totally-exhausted-need-to-sleep kind of cold. I feel the need to just curl up somewhere warm and sleep until spring gets here. I got home from work yesterday and went straight to bed to have a nap.

 I'm currently sipping some hot lemon green tea and trying not to fall asleep at my desk. This is harder than it sounds when you are at constant war with your eyelids. They keep trying to slide down - just for a minute - but that's much too long. My cat Caramel has been good while I'm home though, sleeping with me through my long hours of illness, and being rambunctious and cheering me up when I'm awake. Too bad I can't have him here at work, too.

Since I won't be up for outfit photos for another little while, I thought I'd share some fantastic jewelry I found on Etsy. The shop is Island Girl Designs by Lisa Burkin. When I first saw her pieces, I thought they were replicas... but no! Those flowers are all real!

She takes the flowers and covers them in a clear, hard resin, which preserves and protects them. What better to wear to show you love nature's gifts than those flowery gifts themselves, forever preserved! No longer will the short life of a flower be mourned when it can be worn for ages.

The necklaces she makes are absolutely gorgeous, but she also takes the flowers and makes them into broaches, or sells them as individual pendants too. Can you imagine how lovely it would be to wear a gorgeous orchid or blooming rose pinned to your sweater?

I'd been particularly in love with this next necklace, but someone purchased it before I worked up to it. The early bird gets the worm, I guess!

Hopefully I'll be feeling better next week and be able to start up taking outfit shots again. I have the bad luck of being a person who rarely gets sick, but when I do, it lingers for weeks... Eck. Hope you all have a good weekend! Cheers!

My NYE in Montreal

I went to a party in Montreal, Soma, to welcome in the new year. I'd attended it the year before and really enjoyed myself so I knew it would be good. I actually nearly didn't make it though, what with some of my friends bailing last minute and getting separated from another. But I got there, and am I glad I did!

It was strictly psytrance being played, probably my top favourite form of electronic music. It has so many ways of being interpreted and used and created... And it's a blast to dance to! I wore a long white nightgown over dark clothes. You can see me glowing away in the black light in the next photo.

The blond pony tail is me!

I was also super stoked to be there that night because one of my favourite DJs, Psydraulix, was doing a set that night. I danced my heart out, let me tell ya! Best part of the night.

Me and Michael Schmid/Psydraulix!

My friend Phil and I.

I had an amazingly fantastic night. I met 2011 with a smile on my face and love in my heart. Now may all the following days of the year echo with the greatness of their beginning! Cheers!

Gypsies always move on

I'm leaving tomorrow, to go visit relatives back home. I'll only be away two nights, but that's internet-less time for me as we'll be staying at my grandparents'. I have a very long drive ahead of me - which usually takes 4 1/2 hours but will likely take 6 with holiday traffic - before I get to relax with family.

Shirt - Smartset

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Leg Warmers - Ardene's

I put together a plate of the truffles I made, to give to my grandmother. They're not the prettiest truffles you've ever seen but they're definitely delicious. Coffee, orange, lemon ginger, cayenne, coconut rum, mint and salted peanut butter flavours, so tasty!



I picked up this skirt at Value Village last night. I had some spare time and figured I should take advantage of another 30% off coupon before it expired on the 24th. I got a couple other good finds, but my closet is so terribly full, I think I may have to go through it and part with some of my less-worn items.

I've got a dozen necklaces listed in my Etsy shop now, and I think I'm going to leave it at that. Or at least try. I really enjoy making the pieces, regardless of whether they sell, and I still have some awesome beads laying around!

 

I likely won't be posting again until after I get home on Sunday, so I'm going to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope this weekend is full of smiles, warmth, love and joy for you all! Cheers!