Procrastinator

I'm really quite a horrible procrastinator. Usually in theory it's not so bad because I just envision myself doing in the future when I know I will have time, but then between the future and now, something else comes up to take up that time and leaves me in a bind. Like the position in which I am currently, where I have a five page essay due Tuesday with only two written up, and basically Sunday is the only time I have to work on it now.

 Jacket - Vintage, purchased in Paris, France

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

It also means that these outfit photos are from back on October 18th, three weeks ago. It seems my active interest in blogging waxes and wanes, as does my time available to do it. And really I should probably be working on my essay right now heh, but hey, procrastinator!

I'm out of saved up outfit photos after these ones too so I suppose I'll just have to stop being lazy and take photos again. Now that winter is setting in, and that I've started up a part-time job (I'll mention that some other time) I have less time to photograph even less outfits. There's not much point in getting all dressed up if I'm going to just take it all off to put on my chef whites. But anyway... I need to work on that essay. Cheers!

Backed up in the Present

While my outfit photos are rather out of date, I blame this on the fact that I live in the moment. I enjoy taking the outfit photos when I do take them. Everything I wear because I enjoy it, it makes me feel good. There's no intense need to post them though - for one thing I'm fairly certain I'm the only person who even reads my blog anymore hah - and that's fine. I get around to it eventually.

Top -Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Vintage shop in Ottawa

Shoes - From grandmother

There's a bear somewhere out near my home. I found its leavings, full of choke-cherry seeds, smack dab in the middle of the driveway. These are the things I missed when living in the city. I hope the dear thing sticks around, it can help itself to all the berries if it wants! If I'm lucky, I may even catch a glimpse of it some early morning, or in the evenings.

I was putting my garden to sleep for the winter the other evening when I inadvertently harmed a hibernating frog with my hand tool. The poor thing was so injured that I had no choice but to put it down. It's buried in the middle of my garden now, with a little heart, and a spiral, drawn above it in the dirt. I felt absolutely horrible for it, but I suppose it's better to mourn its loss than to be a person who feels no pain at the death of an innocent living thing. I'm off now to pick up my grandmother and head to my parents' for Canadian Thanksgiving dinner. I hope those of you who celebrate it now have a good holiday. Cheers!

Behind In the Times

I meant to post this outfit before I left for Europe but it kind of never happened. So before I can start posting more current outfits, here's a final summery one. As it is, the weather is gloomy and cool and not at all like summer. September is here and it's making itself known, that's for certain.

Skirt as a Dress - Walmart

Belt - Can't remember

Necklace - Value Village

Sandals - Value Village

I was a little bothered that everybody could see my bra straps but I got over it quickly enough. This was comfy and breezy and colourful and lazy, everything I needed it to be that day in mid-August. This morning I have to get dressed for cool temperatures and rain though, since my classmates and I are going to a farm to pick some corn! Cheers!

Lazy Rainbow

It's been a long week, with a lot of ups and downs. It's not even 5:30am and I'm sitting here with a cup of coffee and House playing in the background, slowly getting ready for work. I've got a three day weekend and I am so happy about it. Hopefully I can make the most of every moment.

Dress - Purchased from Sally Jane Vintage on Etsy

Sandals - Thrifted from Value Village

 I'm nervous about school coming up in September, wondering if I'll have my uniform and kitchen kit all taken care of in time. Wondering if I'll be able to cut it in the course. But I'm excited too. Part of me wishes the month were already over so I could start. But I also don't want to watch the rest of my summer disappear either. I'm just really bad at giving my notice at work.

My toes have been rainbow-coloured since I went to the All Stars festival. I like their multicoloured joyousness - happy toes! But I should end this now and go finish getting ready so I don't wind up late. I hope you have a good long weekend. Cheers!

Ripe

I work hard, and when I get home, I don't always really feel like getting dressed up in a complex outfit. It's times like those that wonderfully simple frocks come to my rescue. This tie-dye dress has been in my wardrobe for several years now, and while it doesn't get tons of wear, I still love it. In a way, it symbolizes the beginning of my journey into who I am now.

 Dress - Purchased from After Shower Shop on Etsy

I actually wore this dress in one of my very first ever posts on this blog, back in September of 2010. It seems like a lifetime ago when I look back on it, even though it's been barely three years. I've changed a lot and come a long way.

My outward appearance is quite similar, but on the inside, I'm a whole new person. I was a little green sprout back then, and now I'm a thriving tree with leaves unfurled. Being in my mid-twenties, I'm still very young and have a lot of growing and changing to do yet. But being able to look back and see and feel my progress and growth is really nice.



The sun rises every morning, granting us a new day to do with as we please. It's up to us to use that time to our best advantage, to enjoy it, and this life we have under that sun. I used to struggle through my days, slogging through them like a chore, forever living for the horizon without any real goal or destination in mind. My days were slipping by unnoticed, wasted, when those days were exactly what living is all about. I'm doing my best not to waste any more sun rises, and to relish all the sunsets. I hope to enjoy so many more. Cheers!

All Stars

My best friend Becky and I went to a lovely little festival called All Stars last weekend. We live 6 hours apart now, but the festival just happened to be smack dab in the middle between us so we couldn't pass up the opportunity. I didn't really take any photos myself - except of mushrooms and slugs - so these aren't mine but ones I pilfered from others sharing their own of the event. I had a fantastic time and I'm glad we were able to come together for it!



We both seem to be pretty stealthy/unnoticed by photographers and I haven't seen a single photo of myself - not even in the background - and this below is the only shot of Becky I could find. She's really a smiley happy lady but we both get into our dancing-serious-face poses without realizing it. I love my Beckinoodle!

The vibe was cozy and intimate, with only a few hundred people in attendance. It was refreshing after having gone to some really big festivals in the last few years. I saw a few familiar faces, but this festival being further South into Ontario rather than North into Quebec, I didn't know too many people.



This is definitely a weekend I'll remember fondly in years to come. These are the moments I live for and the experiences I strive to live. I hope you all have good weekend. Cheers!

Flash Bang

Bright colours are something I love, but I love them even more in the summer months. I know 'colour blocking' was a big thing a while back, and I don't know if it's still 'in' or not, but frankly, I don't care! I love this outfit. It felt bright and fun and I enjoyed wearing it.

Sunglasses - Walmart

T-shirt - Walmart clearance

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Clogs - Gift from my grandmother

I'm making spur of the moment plans to attend a festival with this weekend with a friend I haven't seen since way back in March. I'm really excited, both to see her, and for the weekend of great grooves and dancing that awaits us. This weather is perfect for it. I'm so excited!

I hadn't expect to be able to attend any festivals this year so this is a nice surprise. I'll be visiting another friend afterward too, since the festival will put me just a little over an hour away from them. I'm making the most of my 3-day weekend! Anyway, I hope you are all having a good start to the week. Cheers!

Pinky

I've not been buying much clothing this year, for various reasons, but this skirt haunted be since I saw it in the store weeks ago. While shopping for cheap work duds, its hot pink swishiness caught my eye, but at a full price of $16.00 I couldn't bring myself to buy it. Especially considering how many other skirts I currently own.

Glasses - Walmart

Top - Gift from Heather

Skirt - Walmart

Clogs - Gift from my grandmother

However, to my pleasant surprise, it was in clearance for just $5 when I was back in the store. So I snatched it up. I figured after four weeks of having seen it and it being on my mind almost daily, that it was really something I wanted and not just a passing whim. I'm glad I purchased it, even if I do usually frown upon clothes from Wally World. Either way, it was worth the five bucks. I hope you all have a great Friday! Cheers!

Saggy Knees

I hadn't noticed how bagged out the knees on these leggings were before, but it's no surprise. I've been wearing them for years and years. Time for new leggings I guess? I felt a lot better in this outfit than the photos make me feel about it. That's just the way it goes sometimes I suppose.

Leather Jacket - Danier Leather

Dress - Gift from Heather

Leggings - Who knows

Boots - Some mall store years ago

These photos just make me miss the sunshine. It's been gloomy and rainy the last little while, and it's supposed to keep up that way for a few more days. I'm trying to be thankful, telling myself it's good for my garden, but I still miss the sun!

There's a little crab-apple tree blooming like mad on the side of the yard, I'm really hoping it manages to come to proper fruition. Maybe I'll be able to make some sort of sour apple tart with its fruit? I do know I'll enjoy having fresh blueberries if all the plants lining the yard even make half as many berries as they have flowers. But I'm rambling now. Hope you're all having a good week. Cheers!

Rain Is An Excuse To Bake and Cook

It really is. In the last few days I've made three separate cream soups, pizza dough to freeze and then a fresh pizza, French macarons and several cakes. I would need more stomachs to keep up with my production. It's still raining today and I'm cooking up spicy chicken thighs for my father's birthday supper. These outfit photos are a few weeks old but they're nice and cheery compared to the weather so this is what you get!

Shirt -Thrifted from Value Village

Dress-as-skirt - Giant Tiger

Sandals - Thrifted from Value Village

Black forest cake usually has chocolate decor around the side and sometimes on top, but seeing as how I don't know how to properly temper chocolate and I think chocolate sprinkles are tacky as hell, I left it plain.  I soaked the cherries in rum myself so I'm interested to see how this thing tastes. Hope you're all having a good week. Cheers!

Rainbow Garden

After all the rain we were having recently, I have absolutely no complaints about all this gorgeous sun! I've already got a bit of a tan and a sunburn haha... Things went from winter to summer and sort of skipped spring, which is a bit confusing, but I'm getting used to the heat.

Dress - Purchased from Siam2u on Etsy

Sandals - Fluevog

Necklaces - Thrifted from Value Village

With the help of my parents, I've made a lot of progress with my little garden. I'm kind of early, but the weather is so warm that there's really no fear of frost. I've got potatoes, green pepper plants and some strawberry bunches planted already. I'll be putting in so catnip seeds later today, both as a treat for my cat and as an added insect repellent along with the marigolds I planted around the edge.

I never thought gardening would be for me, but I've found it more fulfilling and enjoyable already than I ever thought possible. I really like digging around in the dirt, putting down little living green things, planting seeds that I nurture and tend to as they sprout. It's exciting!

The only thing I could wish for right now is that the lake were warm enough to swim in already! But there's still ice, floating to and fro depending on the direction of the wind. Not to mention all the rivers and creeks are so high and rushing into the lake with their cold water, it'll be a good long while before it warms up enough for comfortably swimming. Something to look forward to though. I hope you all have a good Saturday. Cheers!

Today before Yesterday

Because I really want to share today's photos and the ones from days prior can just wait. It was another lovely day today and I spent the afternoon cycling up and down my long driveway, fine-tuning the gears on my bicycle. My yellow sweater seems to have become one of my favourite items this spring, which makes me glad I decided to keep it. I just couldn't bare to part with its cheery yellowness.

Sweater - Thrifted from Value Village

T-shirt - No idea anymore

Skirt - Gift from Heather

Moccasins - Sears

The landscape is still pretty drab and brown, but the pussy willows will soon bud out into leaves and fresh green grass will sprout through last years dry dead stalks. Spring peepers and other frogs are already singing happily outside, and I'm seeing little spiders scurrying about. The world is warming!

Tomorrow will be another gorgeous and warm day, and now that my bicycle is all in order, I'll probably go for a nice little ride. I'm also hoping to go pick up a little loveseat a friend of mine is giving me, so I'll finally have a proper couch in my living room. I hope you all had a lovely Saturday. Cheers!

Spring Flowers

Unfortunately it's still too early - and mostly too cold - for real spring flowers, but I sure looked and felt springy in this outfit yesterday! The sunshine and warmth was lovely after all the cold rainy days we've been having lately. I was even able to go bare legged! This year's first bare-leg day!

Cardigan - Thrifted from Value Village

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Mocassins - Highway Trading Post

Vintage Glasses - Young Jane's in Ottawa

It's set to rain again this evening and into tomorrow, but I don't mind too much. I'm happy because my landlord's given me permission to make a little garden and set up a compost box. Already I've got the box set up - just an old wooden rabbit hutch from which I ripped the bottom, and hauled into the yard from the back field. If it weren't windy as hell and about to rain at any moment, I'd be out piling stuff into it already.

I'm trying to fill my spare time best as I can until I start working at a local bakery in a few weeks - if nothing changes between now and then - but I can't keep baking so much! I'm packing on more weight than I'm happy about and having tasty sweet things laying about doesn't help. I still feel good about my body, but if I get much heavier and bigger, I won't for long. I'm feeding myself plenty of tasty fresh veggies and trying to enjoy more time outside. No punishing myself, no depriving myself. I'm just giving myself more of good things, because my body and mind respond better to that. I hope you're all having a good week. Cheers!

Just Peachy

Not a whole lot to say today, but at least I've got an outfit to show you. If I hadn't slept so late - again - maybe I'd have more tasty food photos to share too, but I'm slowly turning nocturnal. Waking up at noon really puts a wrench in food-related productivity for me.

 Sweater - Thrifted from Value Village

Tank top - Fairweather

Pants - Thrifted from Value Village

Mocassins - Sears

I might get ambitious a little later and whip up a batch of croissants dough, to shape tomorrow, but we'll see. Putting on a full face of makeup is accomplishment enough for this lazy Sunday. I foresee plenty of hot coffee and an afternoon of gaming and not much else today.

These photos were taken in my newly set up living room. I have a lot of knickknacks and strange collectibles and tons of stuff up on the walls. It may seem a little overwhelming to some, but this is what feels like home to me and I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope you all had a good weekend. Cheers!

Snakes in a Kitchen

Tomorrow makes it a week my having lived in my new apartment and it's really starting to feel like home now. I still have some boxes to unpack, but most of it is photos and nicknacks, nothing particularly crucial to my ability to live in my home. I have a lot of organizing ahead of me, but at least I don't live in box-central anymore. My snake babies don't seem to have been at all affected by the move either, and that's relieving.

 Top - Gifted from Heather

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Ball Pythons - Mother Nature

Even my toes are multicoloured! I really don't look like what most people probably think a snake enthusiast should look haha... I stopped worrying what people thought of my appearance a long time ago though, and it'd be hard to go back to blandness.

It's hard to believe I've had these boys for about four years now. They're such sweeties, as are all my snakes. My animal room is all set up for them now, and I just need to unpack my sewing machine and set up my craft station and the room will essentially be finished too. I love that I'm a lady who sews and keeps snakes, who loves shoes and collects animal furs and other odd 'morbid' bits and bobs. A personality made of bright juxtapositions. Speaking of which, I have more boxes of bones to unpack. Cheers!