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!

Belgian Beauty

I absolutely adore this dress. It came to me by shear chance and luck. Had circumstances been even slightly different, it might still be back in Europe. On my last day in Brussels, in Belgium, I stopped at a vintage shop during my last few hours in the city and brought this gorgeous frock home with me.

Dress - Vintage shop in Brussels, Belgium

Shoes - Gift from my grandmother

Four of the seams were coming undone - the thread so old it just couldn't hold any more - and it took some time and care, but she's good as new now. I'm not usually one for lace and rick rack but somehow on this dress it just works for me and I adore it so.

Even the two loud prints - one floral, one of berries - mesh together happily. Often times when I wear vintage, I'll get compliments on my dress. This one in particular garners more silence than the rest, but it's not your typical classic piece either. That's fine with me, I'm still overjoyed it's mine! Cheers!

Sunny Spider Belly

It's still taking getting used to the fact the sun sets so early now. Every year, it seems so sudden, and I don't know why that is. You'd swear the change happens all at once. I come out of evening classes and it's dark. My drives to early classes are in the dark. I don't mind it for sleeping in, but I love sunshine too, and winters are hard for this.

Dress - From A Cat of Impossible Colour on Etsy

Mocassins - Sears

I'm still so happy with how this dress turned out. Shortening it seemed more complicated than it actually was and this high low hem is so much fun. Maybe I'll do more sewing projects over the winter. I know I want to work on my quilt but I think I'm going to make smaller lap quilts instead of the large one I had first intended a few years ago. That's less intimidating.

My adult female Grammostola rosea tarantula molted about two weeks ago. I was able to see her start, flipped over on her back like this, but I had class and missed most of it. She was free from her old exuvium and stretching out by the time I got home. It's just a shame because she only molts every 2-3 years now so it's a rare occurrence. Next time, I guess! Well I'd best get ready for my day. Cheers!

Sundown Sand Boa

The rain is coming down again today, so my pumpkin-picking trip with friend and baby is postponed until tomorrow. I don't mind too much, having a lazy day in my pajamas feels good. My parents, grandmother and I went for a dinner at my college's culinary-student run restaurant last evening. I was gifted a paid meal for four there and it was absolutely delicious.

Top - Thrifted from The Salvation Army

Dress as Skirt - Purchased from Sally Jane Vintage on Etsy

Leggings - Ardene's

Shoes - Gift from grandmother

It was a really nice way to end my week of mid-terms. Next week is reading week so I have no classes. Time to relax! I have one essay I want to work on but otherwise, I plan to spend my time relaxing, visiting friends and family, and making good food. I'm going to clean out of my animal room and attempt to organize it as best as I can. I still don't have a garden shed so I think I'll just box up my things and bring them over to my grandmother's, since she said I could store things there.

My lovely female Kenyan Sand Boa has finally reached her full adult size. From this point, she may get fatter, but she won't get much longer. She's such an adorable chunky little thing! I love my pretty Halloween, and I'm still glad I named her such, it's so fitting. But she's one of the snake-babies who's tank needs a cleaning so I'd best get on that. Cheers!

Peach Pie and Sunshine

It's cloudy and gloomy outside today, the total contrary of these sunny outfit photos. Hopefully the sun comes back out to shine on my little part of the world soon. In the meantime I just try and appreciate the smell of damp leaves in the air. I really do love Autumn so much.

Dress -Purchased on Etsy from Sally Jane Vintage

Shoes - Gift from my grandmother

This was my mid-term week, and I did fairly well on most of my written tests. I did absolutely wonderful on my cuisine mid-term though, with 87% which is more than I'd been hoping I'd achieve. My grade could have been even better if I had just remembered to season my breaded mushroom and hadn't overcooked my turned potatoes. I'll practice even more before the final exam to make certain these sorts of little mistakes don't happen again.

The above pie is a peach sour cream filling recipe from my school baking book. I'm bringing all my manuals home over reading week so I can make plenty more tasty good things to eat and share during my time off. That's the one problem with food... there are so many delicious recipes, and so little time and tummy-space to eat them!

My parents and grandmother are meeting me after my class today for a nice dinner at the college. I was offered a paid table for four in the school's dining room, and I certainly wasn't going to say no! I'm looking forward to getting dressed up for a nice dinner. (Not that I don't get dressed all fancy most of the time anyway heh, but having an actual occasion for it is refreshing!) I hope you all had a nice week. Cheers!

Warm Autumn

It may be October, but it certainly doesn't feel like it. The days are gorgeous, warm and sunny. It rains once or twice a week, but nothing outrageous. Most days the skies are a bright clear blue and the sun shines down on the colourful changing leaves. This is such a beautiful time of year. As much as I adore all the shades of green when Spring comes around and all the leaves are new, there's nothing like a forest decked out in oranges, reds and yellows.

 My home is mostly surrounded by coniferous trees but my drive to and from school five days a week graces me with gorgeous colour-changing landscapes. Maybe I'll actually remember to bring my camera with my one of these days and take some shots, before the leaves all fall.



I'm letting Caramel join me outside a little more again, now that the dangerous heats are gone. He deserves a bit of adventure and fresh air too! He's too big of a scaredy cat to stay out for long without me anyway. I was putting up Halloween decorations earlier this afternoon, but he didn't quite seem to know what to make of them. Four more weeks to Halloween! I hope you are having as good a start to the month as me. Cheers!

A Good Thing

They say that once you find something good, you don't mess with it. That's what this outfit is like for me. It fell together one day, and like a flash, it felt right. And so whenever I wear it, it's always the same, right down to my jewelery. The only things that might fluctuate are my shoes and my makeup.

 Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Dress-as-skirt - Gift from my aunt

Shoes - Gift from my grandmother

Earrings and necklace - Made by my mother

I love this dress for how it flows and moves. It's light and airy, but can still keep me reasonably comfortable on these cooling fall days. My top has many lives, as part of regular outfits and sometimes as a pajama top. I'm attempting to pare down my wardrobe - as always - and this kind of multi-use is important with doing that.

Another perk to this outfit is that it very well hides the fact that I've gained a lot of weight this year. I'm really not happy about it, and I know what I should do about it, but there's a huge gap between wanting and doing and achieving for the moment.

I've been a dedicated mineral makeup convert for quite a few years, and the only products I wear that aren't from Earth Angel Minerals on Etsy, are my mascara and eyeliner. For the curious, my eyeshadow in the above photo consists of a base of Dark Grey on the outside of my lids, and Matte Snowflake on the inside of the lid and up toward my brow. Over this I brushed Moon Goddess (a purple shimmer) and Borealis (a white shimmer). I've come a long way from being obsessed with golds and greens. Anyhow, time for me to kick back for a few hours. Cheers!

Green Velvet

This is far from being one of my best outfit photos - or outfits - but I really just adore this green velvet jacket. I purchased it at Free'p'Star in Paris for 20 Euro. It's vintage and made in London. I'm so glad it fits me, because it would have been sad to have to leave it behind. I alllmost didn't buy it, but knew I would regret it if I didn't. It's quite a bit dressier than I usually dress - especially lately - but it makes a great excuse to break out my prettier dresses too.

 Velvet jacket - Free'p'Star in Paris

Dress - Vintage shop in Brussels, Belgium

Shoes - Salvation Army

The batteries in my camera died before I could photos of just the dress but I'll be wearing it again and hopefully get some nice shots then. I unfortunately dropped my camera and now the battery hatch won't stay shut so I've taken to duct-taping it close but every now and again the stupid thing bursts open. It sucks because the camera itself still works great but more little things are going south with it. As it is I have to wedge a piece of folded paper under the little flash thingy to keep it propped open. Anyway, I have to head out to my Healthy Living, Healthy Eating class for school now. 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!

Back to my Roots

My ancestral French roots that is... Because I'm flying out to France next week!!! It's a very spur of the moment trip - something which I seem to do a lot this year - but I've got my plane and train tickets and hostels and hotel all booked and now I just need to get there.



Things I'm excited for are the Catacombs, the Nature Museum, seeing Jim Morrison's grave and eating tasty treats from traditional French pastry shops. I'll also be spending two nights in Brussels, Belgium. I'm extremely excited about the chocolate and beer. It's a solo trip, which is a bit intimidating, but I know it's also really going to help me grow as an individual and boost my self-confidence and show me what I'm capable of on my own... France and Belgium, woo! 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!

Moving in a Dress

I wore this to help my parents move. I do pretty much everything in a skirt or a pretty dress, nearly all of the time, if I can possibly manage it. It does make cycling a bit complicated sometimes - my longer skirts keep getting jammed in my rear breaks argh - but I'm still doing it. I refuse to compromise!

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Sandals - Thrifted from Value Village

For a moment I'd thought I'd gotten rid of this dress but it was just in another closet. Thank goodness! Because it's such a sweet dress. I've been wearing it for a few years now and hopefully can continue to do so for several years to come. I've also been trying to mix up the food I'm eating. After a trip to the big city of Sudbury with my parents a little while back, I scored some delicious ingredients that prompted me to make a fresh new salad.

It's mixed baby greens, with buffalo mozzarella, cashews, raspberries, and a raspberry red wine vinaigrette. I wasn't certain I would be able to do much with a raspberry red wine vinegar but it was perfect for this. The cheese was wonderfully rich and smooth and creamy, the cashews gave a nice crunch and the vinaigrette was sweet enough to balance out the tartness of some of the baby greens. Definitely something I'll be eating again. Anyhow, I hope you are having a good week. 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!

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!

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!

Culinary Cel

I got the official offer of acceptance yesterday. I'll be attending the Culinary Management program back home as of September. It's still funny to think that just a few weeks ago, this was the last direction I thought my life would be headed. I'm going to miss a lot of people here in Ottawa. I've developed some wonderful friendships with amazing people. But my life is leading me elsewhere, hopefully someplace that will allow me to continue to grow and thrive.

Dress - Gift

Vest - Thrifted from Value Village

Boots - Can't remember

I really needed these years to myself though, to grow into who I am, without being warped by the preconceptions of people around me. The idea of moving home always used to bother me because it felt like giving up, like 'crawling back' because I couldn't manage it elsewhere, but I'm doing the furthest from that. I'm headed to something, with goals in mind and achievements under my belt. I can hold my head high, and that's important to me.

This transition isn't going to be easy, but they're called 'growing pains' for a reason. I'm really looking forward to being back in school, and learning everything to become a real Chef and how to run a kitchen. After working in a few places with absolutely horrifying management - bakery and library alike - I know that I'll never be able to settle with being someone's underling. This is going to give me the knowledge I need to run the show and call the shots and do it all the right way.

I still don't feel old enough to really be in that sort of position but people younger than me have done grander things. The only thing keeping me from such accomplishments is myself, and I'm not about to stand in my own way. There's a lot of hard work in my future; blood, sweat and tears. But it's going to be worth it. This really is something I'm passionate about, and I feel like it's the right direction for me. I'm still scared, but not as much as I used to be. I'm excited now. The next two months are just going to crawl past because I'm waiting to leave, but I have a feeling everything else is going to blow past me in a flash like my time at the Cordon Bleu did. Time flies when you're having fun, after all. I hope you're all having a good weekend. Cheers!

Still Clothed

It's been ages since I've bothered to take outfit photos, but it's also been ages since I've done more than just throw something on. Wearing the same thing over several days until I've deemed it dirty enough to wash has become a bit of a bad habit. I'm just really not leaving my apartment much, or doing anything that warrants actual outfits or worrying about being seen wearing the same thing. It's been a long time since I last wore this dress though, and maybe that's why I actually made the effort to document this actual outfit.

 Scarf - Gift from grandmother

Dress - Thrifted from Rebuilt Resources

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

It does have to be noted that the shoes didn't actually leave my apartment with the outfit. It's winter after all, and the only appropriate footwear at the moment are snow boots. But I couldn't possibly be sock-footed in the first outfit photo of the year. I feel wonderfully colourful in this too, especially with the royal blue scarf my grandmother got me for Christmas. The joyful colour kick is definitely welcome these days. I hope you are all having a good week. Cheers!

Gone Dotty

This is the dress that started a revolution. My style revolution, that is, many years ago - in 2007 to be exact. It is the very first dress that I felt good in. At the time, I was 18 years old and living in a shitty relationship, working a student summer job between college semesters. We were broke most of the time, in that rent-or-food kind of way. I had tried the dress on a while earlier but even at $20 I couldn't afford it. Later I was with my cousin Charlene and after telling her about the dress, she bought it for me. I'm still thankful for that. And while I'm not a huge fan of polka dots and the black-and-white thing is a bit boring for me nowadays, I still like this dress even if I don't wear it all that often anymore.

Dress - Fairweather '07

Red tank - No idea

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

I discovered recently that my rebellious PS2 is still willing to read my God of War 2 game disc and I've been ravenously playing - and yelling at the screen - the last few days. A friend of mine joined me last evening for a few hours of gaming and it was funny being the one actually better at the game for once haha. I have to admit I'm looking forward to going home and playing some more. It's still so hot out anyway, all I really want to do is sit around with a fan pointed at me, so I may as well have a gaming controller in my hand!

Quinoa has been making a lot of appearances in my kitchen lately, some more successful than others.  It cooks up so quick and easy, it's practically fool proof, I've been using it in place of rice and pasta a lot. This Thai peanut sauce, shrimp and steamed broccoli bowl on quinoa was a success. The pineapple quinoa I tried making the other evening, not so much (I was having ingredient issues). Hit and miss! I'll definitely be making this again though, it was way too easy not to.

Annoyingly I won't be able to take photos on my terrace for the next little while. I got home from work yesterday to find that the crew working on the outside of my building had set up scaffolding on my terrace, to do some brickwork. I can still get out and use my seating area off to the side, but my open space is all taken up by scaffolding. I hope it doesn't stay there long! I'm not too fond of the idea of men wandering around on my terrace. My doors are locked and they can't get in but still, privacy, you know? Although maybe if I'm lucky they'll do away with the wasp nest that the insects have started building in the outside frame of my window. I sprayed the crap out of it with oven cleaner (I have no insect killer) but that didn't seem to do much more than stun the buggers. Then I fled in terror. Anyhow, I hope you're all having a good week so far. Cheers!