Plaid to Meet You!

Happy Monday everyone, I hope your week is starting off well! I had a really fantastic weekend filled with mad dancing, baking, cooking, crafting, thrifting, friends and fun. This was definitely one of my better weekends recently for sure. I thrifted some really great stuff on Saturday, including the yellowest sweater ever, which you will eventually get to see. That and I snagged a thick wool coat, knee length, for just $15! I'd been seeing a lot of them in mall shops, but they were all woefully thin and cheaply made and they all had ridiculous price tags. Thrift store to the rescue!

Red top - Gift from mom, garage sale

Skirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Shoes - Spring

I've had this skirt a little over a year now, but when I originally purchased it, I was considerably heavier and quite a few sizes bigger. When the cold weather rolled around this year, I discovered most of my warm skirts were way too big. After successfully taking in the first skirt, I set to work on this one. I'm quite happy with how it turned out! It fits me better than ever now.

I really love doing my makeup like this but I always feels like it's too much for work. But that's probably just because I work with 40-somethings who show up wearing sweatpants, cheap t-shirts and last night's Cheetos residue. *shudders* And I work in a professional environment!

I'm still frustratingly battling ants in my apartment. You'd think by mid-December the little boogers would be securely hidden deep down in their subterranean ant-lair but I guess my apartment is more appealing. It's not horrible, but to give you an example... I cleaned my tree frogs' terrarium yesterday, emptied it out completely and put in fresh water and bark bits. Not two hours later? Ants crawling around everywhere inside it! They had a little highway going. I put down some poison and they swarmed it, and a few hours later there weren't any ants again but holy crow. Pain in the butt!

Thankfully they seem more interested in exploring the vast expanses of my shower than getting into my baked treats so I can't complain about them too much. Hopefully come spring the problem won't worsen. Anywho, I hope you all have a lovely Monday! Cheers!

What a Coincidence

I am wearing nearly this exact same outfit today. So although the photos are from back on a rainy October 14th, I look much the same today. Except I'm wearing some black wool tights and different black shoes. It's gotten much colder since then and I can't walk to work bare-legged anymore. It's even kinda nippy in the office. My yellow sweater is niiice and snuggly-warm though, so it's all good.

Yellow Sweater - Thrifted from Value Village

Dress - Purchased from Sally Jane Vintage on Etsy

Shoes - From my grandmother

I'm so happy it's Friday! I'm having friends over tonight for a wee Halloween-costume and early-birthday party for myself, and we'll be watching two of my favourite films. First is a zombie film, REC, the awesome original in Spanish. Basically, the film that Quarantine copied exactly to every detail... because apparently most Americans are too lazy to read subtitles. And choose really bad actors to make their lazy-American "remake". Ahem. Anyway. Next up will be Trick 'r Treat, a dark-comedy/comedy-horror type film. It managed to surprise me several times and give me some good spooky laughs with moments of creeped-out-ness, and I approve hehe.

Then tomorrow, my friend Tina is coming over and we're going to do a Walking Dead marathon through all of Season 1, which should be fun. Five straight hours of zombies, anyone? I'm saving Season 2 for actual Halloween day. Do you have any plans for the Halloween weekend? Costume parties maybe? Or just sticking around the home place?

See, I said I'd paint my nails for Halloween! Black OPI Crackle Polish over some nice Halloween-y orange! I actually almost didn't get to do this, because when I went to open my crackle polish... the cap was stuck tight. And I mean tight. I spent a good 20 minutes trying to open it, and finally managed to get it unstuck, but I forced so hard that it actually left a mark on my palm that lasted for a good week. I worked for these toes!

I'm making that face at my cat, who's tail-tip is in the very bottom of the photo. He's been a giant suck for attention lately, so I hope he gets his fill tonight. I haven't quite decided how I'm going to sit 6 people in a room with three chairs and an awkward double bed in it yet but I'll figure something out.

I hope you all have a really awesome weekend! Cheers!

Pattern-Punch to the Face

I've done some pretty mad pattern mixing in the past, but I think this one take's the cake. Leopard print, floral, and plaid. I gave myself a nice pat on the back for this on September 30th. And while I've gotten mixed opinions on whether or not this is a bitchin' outfit, I have decided that it is, and have worn it again since.

Cardigan - Thrifted from Value Village

Red top - Garage sale find, from mother

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Spring

I apparently haven't posted any outfits with this skirt since way back in February. I'm actually rather blown away by the difference in my photos between then and now. Not to mention the difference in me. Thank you blog, for showing me changes over time I'd never have noticed, once again.

I've had these shoes for years but I don't think I've actually posted them before, which is pretty surprising since they're so cute. The only reason this outfit "works" is because all the same colours are at play. Black, white, tan, green, and red tie into each other all over the place and bring some sort of cohesion to this first-glance nightmare. I think it's pretty awesome. (Please pardon my shiny-red-face in the next photo, I just don't know.)

I bit the bullet this weekend and finally set up my sewing area in the animal room. Other than the fact I am easily distracted by my direct view of my hognose snake from my seat, methinks I will get much needle-and-thread work done in the near future. I'm just itching to go home and work on my quilt some more.

Now I just need to work up the nerve to take in some of my dresses. I'm game with wearing something that's a little loose... but I've actually got an attractive figure now and I'd like to show it off, thank you very much. Hopefully I don't muck anything up in the process. But I'll only learn through my mistakes and a stitch can always be undone...

I hope you're all having a groovy Wednesday. Cheers!

Strutter

Am I the only twenty-something who really loves Kiss? I grew up listening to their tunes, and their flashy-badass-come-cheesy costumes plus their up beat fun-styled rock always appealed to me. I saw them live here in Ottawa three years ago actually, which was pretty fantastic. Gene Simmons' bass solo just blew me away. But all that from my desire to find a good title for this outfit post... And Kiss' song Strutter came to mind.

Tank top - Fairweather

Skirt (skorts) - Thrifted from Value Village

Sandals - Thrifted from Value Village

Everybody says she's lookin' good
And the lady knows it's understood

Strutter!

I felt like a million bucks in this outfit. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon when I decided to head to Dow's Lake Park again to take some more outfit shots. Far from being the only person taking advantage of such a beautiful day, the place was rather packed with people. I kept getting very obvious looks from cyclists and joggers. But I walked with my head up and went about my photo-taking business like a champ.

This looks like I'm wearing a mini-skirt, but it's actually got some nylon shorts attached inside it to help a girl keep her modesty. I'd never have purchased the thing otherwise, but the shorts helped me seal the deal. I actually nearly left them behind, but I'm glad I didn't. I won't have very many more chances to wear these with fall on the way, but I'm glad I got to wear them the once and get these great photos.

I finally acquired some shatter nail polish and I quite like the effect! I painted it on over some yellow and neon pink polishes, because clearly having crazy crackle nails isn't crazy enough over one colour heh.

While I was taking the next photo (and the dozens of others that didn't make the cut) I could see a guy with his dog eyeing me. I'm pretty used to funny looks so I just shrugged it off. When I was done with that particular spot and started walking off, he called over and asked what I was doing and if I was a model hah. We got to talking and I left with lovely compliments singing in my ears. It's nice to hear that you look good from someone else, even if you already know you do. Ego boost!

I spent the weekend at my parents', and we celebrated my mother's 50th birthday. It was a pretty relaxed weekend, but I was very glad to finally get home yesterday. I had to take the Greyhound back for the first time in over 2 years. I am really going to miss having a vehicle, and it's going to take some getting used to being on foot again. Especially since I refuse to use our city's horribly-planned overly-expensive transit system. We have the worst service and the highest price for transit in the entire country. Talk about fail!

I'm going to try and catch up to my photo editing and get back into the swing of things this week. I hope you all had a really great weekend. Cheers!

We're Always Learning

I took these photos back on September 10th, less than two weeks ago, but it seems like forever. I'm still coping with the recent changes in my life and trying to deal with the way I see things now. My decisions are based on new facts, and I'm having a hard time walking away from a lifetime of habit and belief.

I won't discuss matters in detail, but the next few months will involve me distancing myself from people that I have come to realize are negative and poisonous aspects in my life. It's not their fault, and I still love them dearly, but it's finally time for me to walk away and let them clean up their own mess. Because I'm not letting it spill over into my life too.

 

Skirt - Purchased from Ragtime Vintage

Top - Garage sale find, gift from my mother
Shell earrings - Gifts

It was raining outside, and I figured I'd take the opportunity to try and find a suitable indoor photo-taking area. I've taken some shots in my animal room before, but it wasn't quite what I wanted (plus I'd rather not disturb my zoo with the camera flash). This area outside my kitchen (behind the beaded curtains) and on the way into my living area seems like it will fit the bill quite nicely though.

I'm a little frustrated with myself after receiving a few recently-purchased dresses in the mail. I apparently have shrunk again, because the dresses I thought would fit - using the sizes from the last time I measured myself not so long ago - are rather big on me. I'm hoping I'll be able to just have them taken in though, it looks like it should be relatively easy to do. Now I just need to measure myself again and see what size I am this time... I never thought I'd wish I were bigger so I could fit into something! (And speaking of shrinking, this skirt is actually folded over and sewn back onto itself just so I can keep wearing it!)

I'm going to be away at my parents' this weekend again, but I expect to be home a lot more for the foreseeable future, which will likely increase my posting regularity. It'll be nice to not go anywhere for a while, gotta say. I've been stressed and running around like a headless chicken for weeks now and it needs to be over already. This ostrich just wants to stick her head in the sand and pretend like nothing else is out there.

Time is the only thing that's going to help me deal with things now, but I know I'll be alright. I just want to give a giant thank you to Heather though, your comment on my other post meant so much! I really am lucky and blessed, I just have to remember that.

I am thankful for each and every one of you who takes the time to read and comment on my blog, it really does mean a lot. I hope you are all having an absolutely wonderful Thursday, and that this finds you well. Cheers!

Slithering Snakes

Apart from my obvious love of spiders (I have a spider tattoo and 8 pet tarantulas for example) I also have a love of reptiles, and snakes in particular (okay, most reptiles). That flows right into snake print! I'm a sucker for snake print, in any colour. I actually own a 14 foot snake skin very much like this dress.

 

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Spring

Belt - Ardene's

I thrifted this ages ago, back in the heat of high summer, and I've only been able to wear it recently at the end of August and it was really still too hot for it then. The sleeves are actually way too long, and I wear them rolled up on themselves, otherwise my hands would be eaten by the sleeve-snakes. I couldn't resist the weight of the fabric and the pointy collar though, so mine it is!

 

I rarely wear these shoes, as much as I like them. The zipper detail on the sides winds up pressing uncomfortably on my pinkie toes, which makes them rare-wear only unless I want to do my toes some serious damage. These shoes plus the dress combined made me feel very corporate 80's. The dress even had shoulder pads at one point but I quickly snipped those out. I do not need any help accenting my already-broad shoulders, thank you very much.

I snatched up this spider pin at a little shop in a mall as I was running about doing errands. I got pulled in by snake-bangles but left with this instead. I already own several spider broaches (I'm wearing another today actually) but there's no way I'll ever have too many.

I have been living on mixed vegetable salads and pizzas like these for most of the summer. I make enough one night to last me several suppers, to avoid cooking in the heat. Plus pizza is actually really good for you if you do it right. I like to layer all my vegetables toppings twice over, beneath and on top of the cheese. That with a heaping side salad and I'm pretty happy with my meals.

 

The package with my shoes from Lulu's was apparently processed for delivery here in the city this morning. I'm hoping today is the day I get my hands on my new sandals and shoes for work! Receiving packages in my building just makes me so nervous. I've had mishaps in the past, not to mention the buzzer console is currently on the fritz and there's nowhere safe for a delivery man to leave his slip. Fingers crossed!

I hope you're all having a good week so far and that all is well. Cheers!

She's at it again

I am on a roll. After wearing one dress as a top last week, I did it again last Friday. And this time I got my butt out to Dow's Lake Park and took some photos. It's a beautiful park and, thankfully, a mostly empty one. I still got some funny stares though. Now I know how Liz feels.

Dress (as top) - Purchased from Heather's Etsy shop Moonshine Junkyard

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes & Belt - Fairweather

I could probably have done with a better belt for this, since this one is rather loose (I'm actually holding it tighter in the photos, shh) but I'm pretty happy with this outfit. The dress is too short for work, but its light fabric and sleevelessness were offering me what I needed on a hot day.

Covering the bottom half with this long skirt worked perfectly. It compliments the green from the floral pattern, and it just happens to be my favourite colour. I felt very much like a lady wearing this, and it was great being able to just slip the skirt and belt off at the end of the day, stuff them in my backpack, and walk home in just the one dress.

Speaking of which, I'm going back through my posts trying to find the last time I wore this dress and... apparently I wear it a lot but haven't actually photographed any of the outfits in half of forever. A shame, I love the dress! I'll have to try and get some outfit photos with it more often before summer is over.

I really outdid myself with this next photo (in my opinion) and I'm very happy with it. Why am I so happy? Keep in mind, I use my camera's timer, which gives me a total of 10 seconds to go from pressing the button, to running to the rock, posing, rearranging my ample skirt, smiling, and hoping I don't look like a dork.

I did quite well indeed, if I do say so myself. I'm kinda thinking of having some of these more posed outfit photos printed and framed and giving a few to my grandmother. Is that weird? She just doesn't have any photos of me that aren't blurry crappy ones, or the ooold ones from when I was pudgy and graduating college. I just think she might enjoy some pretty portraits of her granddaughter... am I crazy? Warn me if so, so I don't embarrass myself doing that hah.

A friend and I are going horseback riding tomorrow, and I am so excited. I've only ridden a horse once, back when I was a little girl, but I've always loved horses (what girl doesn't?) so of course... Excited! Then on Sunday we're going to go see the National Capital Tournament, a show jumping competition where the winner will earn points towards rankings that will decide whether or not they get into the Olympics! Pretty darn impressive. Expect photos of horses in the coming weeks!

I know this is the "last summer weekend" for some of you, so I hope you all have absolutely super awesome weekends. Cheers!

Feeling Floral

This outfit seems to have caused a remixing chain-reaction in my wardrobe. Ever since I wore this dress as a top last Wednesday, I've since worn two more dresses as tops and bottoms. I only wish I'd figured this out earlier on! So much fun! I'd seen other bloggers doing it but couldn't for the life of me figure out how... I'm learning. (Just please ignore my face and the harsh whiteness of the photos... It was drizzling, so not a great photo day and I was in a hurry.)

Dress (as top) - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Rebuilt Resources

Shoes - Spring

Necklace & Earrings - Anika Burke

Ages ago I mentioned winning a necklace and earrings from Anika Burke, but until now couldn't think of what to wear it with! I'm not someone who wears large, long necklaces very often so it was a bit of a challenge. I really like how it helped add a little something to this outfit though, and I look forward to finding more new ways to wear it.

I was instantly thinking of Liz from 26 and Counting when I decided to belt the skirt. I didn't need one to hold anything up but it seemed to help complete the outfit. So thank you Liz, for showing me so many awesome belted outfits and helping me learn to belt skirts too!

Only after I'd taken all the outfit photos did I realize the flower-theme going on. Flower print skirt, subtle flower print on top, and flower accented necklace and earrings... Guess I was just feeling really floral! I hope you're all having a good week! Cheers!

Losing that luster

So when I bought this dress back in June, I had the highest of hopes. Dreams of this dress danced through my head. Then, when it finally arrived - after being postponed by the darn Canadian Postal strike - I had my bubbles burst. While it was and is a beautiful dress... I just don't feel like lilac is a good colour on me. I still love the dress but... I'm just not sure it's for me.

Dress - Purchased from Jewels4pandas on Etsy

Shoes - Spring

Necklace - Lisa Burkin/Island Girl Designs on Etsy

I actually nearly decided to sell it off right away when I first finally tried it on. My bosom is apparently still slightly-too-much for this dress... There is very little that can be done about gaping buttons, and things are rather tight around the shoulders... No reaching for things on the top shelf while wearing this!

I did learn that wearing a sports bra squashed me in just enough to make the dress wearable though. But trust me, otherwise... there is no way in hell I'd have been able to wear it without seriously risking popped buttons. Plus it doesn't FEEL like I had expected it to while wearing it. It doesn't sit and move like I had hoped and dreamed. And I think that kinda shows while I wear it.

I still think it's a lovely colour, and that is has beautiful eyelet work and that it goes marvelously with my lovely necklace. But... I don't know if it's worth my keeping it around. Someone else might be able to love it more than me. Someone who won't risk popping buttons or ripping shoulder seems.

In the end, I only spent $36 on the dress, so it's not the end of the world, but it is pretty disappointing. Especially when something else I bought and received at the same time came as a let down too. I'm not too sure what to do now though. I don't want to just send it to the thrift store, it deserves better than that.

I'm probably going to wait a little while longer, try my darndest to style this thing in a way I feel comfortable. Wearing it with these shoes felt really wrong somehow for one thing, but there wasn't any other option. I'll be happy to receive my Chinese Laundry pair and give those a try. Maybe they'll help?

Otherwise... I might try and have a giveaway. Maybe hook up with a blogger who has enough watchers to make it worthwhile. At least then it would go to someone who really wanted it, and who could appreciate it, instead of letting it languish in some musty thrift store somewhere.

I am sooo happy it's Friday though! I have, as usual, too many plans this weekend, and hopefully the weather doesn't ruin them all. I hope you all have a great one! Cheers!

Better than Diamonds

Maybe I'm crazy, but when it comes to jewelery, I'd rather something unique and nature-inspired than a diamond any day. Yes, diamonds are pretty. But they're also ridiculously expensive (which would make me paranoid about losing the darn things), not to mention there are just-as-pretty replicas at much more affordable prices. Either way, natural stones, wood, flora inspired designs, shells, feathers... these are the things that attract me.

So as you can imagine, I was thrilled when my lovely boyfriend gifted me this real orchid necklace! It has beautiful fresh water pearls and green turquoise with little gold spacers. Love! The best part, is that back in January someone (my boyfriend, unbeknownst to me) had purchased it, and I'd even posted about it, saying how I was sad I'd missed out heh. Mine after all!

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Sandals - Thrifted from Value Village

Belt - Gift from Heather
Purse - Thrifted from Value Village

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

This adorable white dress and cute straw bag are new thrift-finds from last Friday. I tried on about a bizzilion clothing items, only coming away with a few in the end, but they were real gems. I adore this dress, and only wish I'd had it earlier in the summer!

I went a little nutty with the nail polish colours again. It wasn't enough to have alternating coloured toes, oh no, I had to go alternating colours on my big-toe nails too hah. And if I look a little oddly-coloured, these photos were taken on the tail-end of a not-too-bad sun burn, so I was still rather pink.

I'm actually wearing this necklace again today. I am taking any excuse in the slightest to wear this baby. I loved it already when I saw it for sale, but I love it even more now that it was a gift from my man. And it means more to me than if he'd just gone out and bought some shiny diamond trinket, that's for sure! Cheers!

Back in the Real World

After I get home, it always feels like my visits to my boyfriend in Alberta are just dreams. The memories feel not-quite-real. It's just a little difficult to make a connection between my daily life and my time there, when all I did to get there was step into a winged, flying tube for 5 hours and stepped off in a new place. Maybe I'm just crazy though, who knows!

I was at a bit of a loss as to what to wear to work on Monday, as I hadn't done laundry yet. When I got this dress, I never figured I'd be able to wear it to work. Strange that I didn't think of my little shrug sooner, it's perfect for making it office appropriate. And naturally I used my trusty little lizard broach to hold the shrug together. Top layers like shrugs and cardigans are things I need more of in my wardrobe.

Shrug - Thrifted from Value Village

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Spring

I was pretty bummed out to be heading in to work again Monday morning, so I decided to treat myself to something away from my usual mix of granola, yoghurt, and blueberries. So I whipped up some real whipping cream, dug some fresh local berries out of the refrigerator and plopped it all on a maple syrup drizzled hot Belgium waffle. Yum! A strong cup of coffee and a cold glass of milk were the only other things I needed to start my day off with a little more cheer.

I could use a little more cheer now, too. I have found out that I was scammed by an energy retailer company called Summitt Energy, back in November last year. And now all my hydro bills have ridiculous extra fees and charges on them, and the company says I'd need to pay them a $475 breach of contract fee and ugh... I feel pretty stupid, and frightened, and worried. I hope I can sort this out.

I'm always so melancholy when I get back from out West, but now it's worse. I arrived to an airport where no one was waiting for me. I have no family in this city. All my close friends are gone. I hate my job. I don't want to be here anymore, but I don't have any choice. I'm just tired of facing everything alone. A person needs a support network, and I haven't got one here. They say home is where the heart is... then my home is very, very far away.

The photos from the festival and my trip have yet to be sorted through, but I should get around to it on the weekend at the latest. Hopefully. I admit, I've been playing Sims Medieval for hours. And watching the entire 4 hours of Stephen King's Rose Red.

Also, welcome to the last few new Followers! So glad to have you! I hope you are all having good weeks, and that the warm sun shines for you all. Cheers!