Quick - before it rains!

It seemed every time I would get myself set up, it started to rain. So I would dash inside. Then it would stop raining and I'd pop back out... only to have it start raining again. After the third time dashing indoors, I just gave up and settled with the few photos I'd managed to take without getting myself and my camera soaked in a downpour.

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - From grandmother

Sandals - Fluevogs

The second gecko baby hatched yesterday afternoon and I was able to move it in with its sibling after coming home from work. Once they've had a few days to get used to their container I'll try getting some photos of them together. I'm really interested to see how their colours develop.

I'm going to enjoy the heck out of this weekend because it's the last one I actually get to spend at home for a while. Next weekend takes me out to Space Gathering, and the weekend after I plan on going home for a family visit, and the weekend after that takes me to the Eclipse Festival. I knew I was going to have a busy summer but man! August will bring more traveling, more music festivals, and more camping if everything goes right. I'm so excited for everything! I hope you all have a really groovy weekend. 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!

While I Still Can

The weather is quickly warming up, and soon enough it's going to be too warm to go around in polyester dresses and wool tights. Okay, so I still wear the polyester dresses in warm weather (I sweat it out, there's no avoiding it) but this particular dress doesn't exactly scream summer, you know? So I'm getting my wears in now!

 

Dress - Gift from Heather

Wool Tights - Fancy Sox

Shoes - Payless

I cannot express my dislike for my bangs right now. They are crooked, and misbehaving and bleh. Evil bangs. I think I've fallen out of love and I want to grow them out again. We shall see.  I do know I prefer this dress with black tights and shoes. I wore it back during winter with grey tights and brown booties and I like this better. I still want to get some black flats though, these heels kill my feet.

 

I'm so happy it's Friday! Yay for the weekend! I'm going to dance my crazy butt off tonight, enjoy tomorrow's warm sunny day and do lots of relaxing and being happy. I hope you all have a great weekend too! Cheers!

Zing

If I had to describe my recent fashion escapades, I'd say they all have a little zing to them. I got plenty of compliments from the ladies in my social group when I showed up for our monthly tea meetup dressed like this. And yes, those two weird bits dangling out of my nostrils are my septum piercing, I've started wearing it down again occasionally.

Blouse - Gift from Heather

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

I'm still not thrilled with what's going on with my bangs. My hair and I are just not getting along. I have at least managed to grow out the annoying part that has the cowlick, so that's mostly a non-issue now. Some more growing and a trim everywhere should help things out.

 

My Easter long-weekend was pretty quiet. I had a lovely dinner with family on Sunday but I didn't do much the rest of the time, apart from the ladies social. I'm going to my grandparents' after work for our weekly supper tonight, and I'm really looking forward to this week's belly dance class. I was too sick to dance last week, and my grandparents' got me an awesome jingle-belt for Easter so I'm excited to jingle as I dance now. I hope you all had a great weekend and are having a good week. Cheers!

Red Hot Shoes

I can go outside again! It's finally not bitter cold outside! It's supposed to be gorgeous all weekend, which is great, although it's too bad I'm still a little under the weather. This cold really kicked me when I was down and I spent a few days feeling really rough and not even leaving my apartment. Today's the first day I really feel 'normal' again, although not quite back up to full speed.

Tunic - Thrifted from Value Village 

Jeggings - Hue 

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

I caved and bought myself some jeggings. The odds of my wearing them as actual pants is pretty slim and this is probably the closest to that I will get. I'm still just really not comfortable with everybody being able to see every single curve and cranny, you know? However I am totally comfortable rocking these killer shoes. Red suede for the win! I scored these when thrifting with my friends Kirsten and Omar last Friday. I was happy to trot them out for a late breakfast with my grandparents today.

 

Things are going to be changing big time for me, in the next several months. I was notified a few days ago that the library in which I work will be closed in April of 2013, part of the recent sweeping budget cuts the Canadian Government has passed. My position will no longer be necessary, and this puts me in a special place. Long story short, I can either have them try to find me another job when the library closes, or I can take a large lump sum of money as well more optional money for education.

 

 

I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself yet, except that the 2nd option seems to be the one I will take. I really hate my current job and if I can get out, with a nice chunk of money, that sure looks good to me. I hope you are all having a really fantastic Easter weekend for those who celebrate, and a good regular one for those who don't! Cheers!

Thanks Universe!

When I started writing this post this morning, I went on about how I hated my crooked too-short self-cut bangs and how my skirt was crooked and my top was being weird and all sorts of cranky stuff. Then I went home for lunch and checked my e-mail. I am not cranky anymore.

Some of you might remember how bummed out I was back in June when I found out my best friend was going to be moving away and traveling out to British Columbia. Well after that, she moved even further away to Rwanda, way out in Africa! A whole other continent! That has had me extra bummed out, and I have missed her dearly. Well... SHE'S COMING BACK! And not only that, she'll be back by Friday next week!

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village, Holt Renfrew

Tights - ???

Shoes - Spring

I literally pranced around my apartment in joy. My friend! My super awesome totally cool chill groovy wicked lady friend! She's coming back! Of course, she's going to be living with her sister in a small town further South in Ontario but hey, I'm pleased as punch just to be sharing a province with her again. I can't wait for when I can finally see her in person, it's been far too long.

She'd quickly popped in last year, between her cross-country escapade and her ocean-crossing, to say goodbye. We spent a few hours chatting and then off she went again. I won't be seeing her anywhere near as often as when she lived in the city, but I am still so thrilled that she's 'come home' so to speak.

I've also got a second thing to be happy about. Yesterday I received an e-mail from Katie Paul over at Head-Heart-Health. (I mentioned her blog the other day.) She'd had a little contest going, for membership to her Love Matrix Project. I had entered... and won!

I've been offered a wonderful gift, and my best friend is coming back to Canada. I am definitely a happy camper right now! And this evening I'm going to another dear lady friend's for a women's potluck and poker night (I'm bringing some lemon-blueberry loaf) and I'm going to share my joy at my friend's return with everyone. Because if being happy is bad then I'm downright evil :D I hope you all have a groovy weekend! Cheers!

Flippant

I am resigned to there always being a flippy cowlick in my bangs. Try as I might, they resist my every attempt at flip-reversal and stubbornly sit there defiantly curling out and away. Ah well... at least it keeps my left eye clear of hair!

Lynx-fang earrings - Purchased from Aranea Designs on Etsy
Necklace - Won from Anika Burke
Top - Old Navy boxing week sale $6

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Payless

I'm rather surprised it's taken me this long to post photos of this skirt. I thrifted it quite a while back and I wear it nearly once a week. It's actually one of my favourites now just because of its flow and how it moves. It has lots of flounce! If it's the weekend and I find myself stumped as to what to wear, I often reach for this skirt and a simple comfy top.



These cost me $30 and finally filled the black high-heel gap I had in my wardrobe. I've got a pair of low black wedges but I needed a good ridiculously high tottering pair too! And these fit the bill perfectly, and for a decent price. I just can't justify spending tons of money on shoes anymore. (I'd rather spend it on delectable cheeses, or craft supplies!)

I want to buy used/thrifted or handmade when it comes to what I wear. As much as I may want some of the gorgeous tops, skirts and dresses I see in so many online shops... And as often as I put them in my virtual shopping carts, I just can't do it. I cannot part with my money for those things when I know I can go to the thrift store and (if I'm lucky) find something comparable - or something completely unexpected - that will bring me as much pleasure for way less money.

Of course I'm wearing a new top in these photos, but I only paid $6 for it, which is comparable to a thrift store. I'm totally comfortable shelling out a considerable sum when the item is of high quality though. If I know I'm paying $200 for something that I will still own 5 years from now (my rational on buying expensive winter boots) I can deal with that. But my mall-shopping days are done, methinks.

It's snowing like mad again here, calling for a good 10cm/3" of snow just today. Which is too bad because they just finished clearing the roads and sidewalks near my apartment. I can't wait for Spring! I hope you all have a good Tuesday. Cheers!

I carry my own sunshine

Usually in clothing form, like this cheerful dress. I actually own two of these All That Jazz dresses now, and in the same size. How lucky is that? I plan on shortening one, so I'll have both a long and mini dress, to give me some options. I'd have often worn this in the summer but it was just too long in the heat. Having a shortened one will be great come the (oh so far away) warm weather.

Dress - Purchased from Reluctant Damsel on Etsy

Wool Tights - Fancy Sox

Shoes - Lulus.com

Necklace - Thrifted from Value Village

I'm so tired today. I was up until about 1am before I finally got to bed. I met a friend for a nice Christmas dinner yesterday, and then she and I did a wee bit of mall shopping. Then late in the evening I met up with another friend who was in town just one day from San Francisco, out on her way to Nova Scotia. I spent a few hours with her and some other great people. But by the time I got home (and discovered my cat had regurgitated semi-digested cat food around the apartment) and took the time to unwind, it was laaate.

I certainly don't regret staying out later on a work night than I usually do though, it was definitely worth it to see my friend. However, I don't think I'll be drinking much wine again any time soon. It did not sit happily in my stomach, to say the least. I did however have an awesome Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout called Winter Beard over dinner which was pretty darned tasty. I might have to pick myself some up for the holidays instead of my usual Guinness.

I really love how my hair looks in this last photo. Which in a way is a shame because my hair won't look like this again for a very long time. That's right... I caved to my impulses and now I've got bangs! Wee! Other than rediscovering my hellishly annoying cowlick, so far so good.

My special someone is coming over for dinner again this evening (hopefully he likes my hair!) and the butterflies in my tummy are having a party over the whole affair. It's just really hard not to put the cart before the horse when the horizon looks so promising. Let's get this show on the road people! Right? Right. Anywho. I hope you're all having a groovy Wednesday. Cheers!

Ooh spiffy

I was more than happy to discover that this was a Holt Renfrew skirt when I was at the thrift store. Thank you to whoever paid a ridiculous amount of money and then donated this skirt. Much appreciated!

Blouse - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village, Holt Renfrew

Shoes - Spring

I'm sure I can come up with a better outfit to feature this skirt but at the time, my mind was a blank. I'm rather having a hard time getting dressed lately, to be honest. I just don't feel like wearing anything. I blame transitional seasons.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Cheers.