All Over The Place

You get to see all the places I take photos around my apartment today. I first set myself up to take these photos against the brick wall out on my terrace. I wasn't particularly loving how the photos were coming out, and decided to move to the outside wall in front of the tree. It then started to rain. Heavily. So I ran inside and took a few more photos and just called it a day. So here are my all-over-the-place rather disheveled outfit photos.

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Fairweather

Necklace - Thrifted from Value Village

I bought this top and the necklace on a recent thrift trip, along with quite a few other goodies. The colours in the pattern go with a lot of my skirts and shoes which is great for remixing. Versatile shirt! Plus I like the little gathering-ring detail.



I'm pretty sure this necklace is vintage bakelite, but I could be wrong. It's definitely not regular old plastic though, that's for sure. And my little insect earrings went surprisingly well with my outfit.

Like I said, it started raining pretty suddenly. You can see the big fat drops on the patio stones. Less than a minute later it was pounding down rain and hail. Had I not just moved my camera into the shelter of the building, it would have gotten soaked. As thunderstorms are wont to do, this one raged and passed over rather quickly and it was sunny out not too long after.

Did I mention it was really hot and humid that day? 'Cause it was. Hence my hair. And the shiny face. I really love September, but the first few weeks are so darned wonky weather-wise.

Walking to work this morning, it finally felt like fall. I had my leather jacket on and there are leaves everywhere on the lawns and sidewalks and it just smells like autumn. I'm so excited for October. I'll be attending my 4th Zombie Walk, and celebrating my 23rd birthday on Halloween. And hopefully scoring some awesome fall and winter clothes at the thrift store on a planned trip with a friend of mine.

I feel good, I hope you're all doing good too. Cheers!

Back in Black

I know, where did all the colour go? Black used to be a staple in my wardrobe, and now I rarely wear it at all. My necklace got to shine here again. I love it so much. Too bad it's so fragile, I've already had to glue petals back on three times now, argh! Now I remember why I'm always hesitant to own anything fragile.

Tank top - Fairweather 

Skirt - Saan's 

Sandals - Thrifted 

Necklace - Gift, made by Lisa Burkin on Etsy 

Please ignore my crooked skirt. The hem isn't off, I'm just apparently wearing it rather lopsided and didn't notice while taking the photos. Woops? I love milk-maid braids for my long hair, but they are a pain to keep pinned up if I happen to have recently washed my hair. My locks are thin and and wispy and they slip out of a bobby pin's grip way too easily. You can't tell from afar, but it's actually a garish mess of very obvious pins up there.

 

It didn't exactly turn out very well, but my big toes were an attempt at crazy colour leopard print. My toes have just been getting whackier and whackier as the year progresses. At least I've gotten over my nail polish not always matching my outfits, heh. (Not to mention, what kind of outfit would match these toes?!)

 

I'm going out for a sushi with my friend Erin this evening, which will be nice since I haven't seen her in a few weeks. I'm just super excited for Friday though, as I've finally figured out how to get myself out to the Toronto Zoo. I was supposed to go with a group, but that fell through, and since I can't afford the hotel room I was going to have to call off the zoo part of the trip.

A friend of mine lives nearby though (well, a lot closer than I do) and I'll be able to crash on their couch over Friday night. So I get to go to the zoo, go to the reptile expo like I'd initially wanted, plus spending time with a friend I rarely see. So all is well and right with the world!

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

It's only Tuesday?

I woke up to a kitchen sink crawling with tiny pin-head-sized ants this morning and bleh... it's only Tuesday folks. I hope this week ends quickly. Plus I get to go see both my dentist and my optometrist today... Can you feel my lack of waiting-room enthusiasm? Thank goodness I've got a book with me.

Dress (as top) - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Smartset (I think, it was long ago)

Platforms - Chinese Laundry via endless.com

Belt - Gift from Heather at Moonshine Junkyard

Necklace - Gift from boyfriend, made by Lisa Burkin on Etsy

I was at it again, wearing a dress as a top, back on August 17th. And happily wearing my new Chinese Laundry platform sandals for the first time. I'm always a little apprehensive about buying shoes online, you never really know if they'll be comfortable or fit properly. But these are great, and I love them.

I tried on four different outfits before settling on this one. My cat was watching me run around the apartment in bewilderment. I'm pretty sure my walking around in these shoes freaks him out because he always runs away.

And of course any good excuse to wear my flower necklace. I'd probably wear it everyday if that wouldn't be weird of me. I wonder if I can get my boyfriend to buy me more of these as future gifts... heehee...

It's gloomy and dark here today, looking like rain. Of course on a day I've got plenty of places to walk to. Seriously Tuesday, what's the deal? Monday is the poopy day of the week, stop being a pain! I hope you're all having nice ant-free Tuesdays, wherever you are. 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!

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!

Thank you Anika Burke!

Happy Friday everyone! And a long weekend to boot! I'll be at my parents' for two nights starting tomorrow, so no internet, but I'm hoping to get a little mini photo shoot done on my way there. Before I leave though, I want to give a shout out to the lovely Anika Burke. She's had a brick and mortar shop out in California for 6 years, and has a great shop online. You can find her on Facebook, too, which brings me to my point.

Pretty much daily on Facebook (and on several blogs), Anika Burke has giveaways! And I won two! The girl who never wins anything! So, thank you very much Anika! I really love the necklace, earrings and ring I won.

 

 They came in the most adorable packaging!

I wasn't certain how I'd feel about a giant black ring, but this thing is awesome. I can't wait to wear it out sometime. It's a bit hard to tell because of the colour, but it's actually a rose.

I had totally forgotten that the necklace came with matching earrings too, which was a nice surprise. I don't usually wear large, long necklaces like this one, and it's going to be a bit of a challenge for me to wear it without feeling odd. Style challenge! It's so pretty though, I have to wear it somehow.

Anyway, I hope the weekend is filled with fun times, laughter, sunshine and joy for you all! Cheers!

Spidery Improvisation!

Happy Friday the 13th everyone! I was a little worried Blogger would never get back to normal today but looks like things are fixed. Do you believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day? Considering yesterday's post was deleted and all the comments on my Paper Doll Project post have disappeared, I could believe it. Hopefully nothing else wonky happens because losing posts is no fun!

I'll be skipping out on this week's FBFF questions again. Partly because I have to re-write yesterday's post, but also because the questions once again don't really interest me or relate to me.

Dress - Purchased from Moonshine Junkyard on Etsy

Shoes - Fairweather

As per my usual habit, this is what I wore yesterday. I hadn't worn this dress in a while and the last time I wore it, I realized only too late - I change once I get to work since I walk - that it was now much too large for me. I was so sad! I love this dress! It was my first ever vintage purchase and kind of started me off on a whole new path in life. And then I got an idea. Broach to the rescue!

I gathered some of the extra material and used a broach to pin it into a more figure flattering shape again. The elastic on this dress lost its elasticity ages ago, otherwise I probably wouldn't have to do this. But I kinda like it better this way anyway. And I get to keep wearing one of my favourite dresses! I got a bunch of compliments on it yesterday actually, which was wonderful.

I was at the mall, browsing dresses (I was lured in by a 50% off sign) when I spotted these platform wedges. I mentioned before how I'd been planning on buying some Jeffrey Campbell shoes. Well, I managed to talk some sense into myself and while I still want a pair, it is not to be. At least not right now. So I settled for these. Originally $60, I paid $30. Awesome! And they're actually super comfy and easy to walk in too, which is what sold me when I tried them on.

The little ruffles kind of remind me of lasagna noodles. Maybe I shouldn't be sharing that my shoes remind me of food, but they do! I also really enjoyed having my cute little spider broach with me all day. I love it, but I always feel awkward pinning broaches to my already attention-getting bosom. This is a far preferable way for me to wear one. I guess this week is just the week for wearing broaches in new and useful ways.

I'm heading to a pub with friends this evening for some beers and to celebrate someone's birthday, and then off to the monthly psytrance event for some much needed dancing. I hope you all have a great weekend! Cheers!

Great skirt, not so great photos

So I'm still experimenting with where the best place to take photos is out on my terrace. And this place, not the right place at all. Of course the photos in my camera didn't look dark in comparison to the even more horribly dark photos from beforehand. And so I wound up with these, which is too bad because I am in total love with this outfit. I wore this back on Tuesday the 10th.

Shrug - Thrifted from Value Village

Tank top - Hand me down

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

Sunglasses - Purchased at Young Jane's Vintage

Lizard pin - Gift

The skirt and shrug are both new thrifted purchases from this past Saturday. The shrug originally had two ribbons that you were supposed to use to tie it shut. I thought they looked like crap, removed them, and promptly pinned it together. Much better! Not to mention I can mix things up using different pins! And the skirt... I looove the skirt. I cannot express how much I love it. The pattern. The way it moves. The ruffle. The rickrack. Love!

I am really loving the warmer weather we're finally having... not simply because warmer weather is lovely, but because it means less outer layers! It feels easier for me to style outfits without having to worry about snow or slush. The ability to wear sandals outside to run errands is just wonderful!

I plan on taking this outfit out for a photo shoot somewhere green and wild soon. I really want to get some better shots (the tank top is a dark brown, which you really can't tell here!) and wearing it is so fun. Too bad they're forecasting rain all weekend! I hope you're all doing well. Cheers!

Sunny Sunday Memories

My mother lives 5 hours away so I didn't get to spend Mother's Day with her. I kept busy though! I wore this outfit on Sunday, May 8th, to run some errands and buy groceries. The top I actually just thrifted this past Saturday when I was hunting for some wardrobe basics. It has a great braided neckline and cute tie-off sleeves, and I only paid $6!

Blouse - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Yard Sale, $1

Belt - Ardene's
Purse - Aldo

Sandals - Thrifted from Value Village

I bought this belt a while back but so far hadn't been able to find an outfit I was comfortable incorporating it into, but finally the time has come! I wanted something to break up the long expanse of brown in the top and this belt was perfect. I like the contrast between the belt's geometric woven pattern and the skirt's fluid floral.

You can't tell, but this skirt is huge. I could easily wrap it around myself twice and still have fabric to spare. I rarely wear it because it always winds up hanging on my hips - which is fine with me - except most of my tops are too short and I wind up with a flesh gap I just won't stand for! This new top is perfect to pair with it though and I know I'll be wearing this outfit more than once this summer.

I paid a whole $1 for those shell earrings!

Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day. It seems all our days are beautiful lately and I am so happy about that. I've had the patio door wide open letting in fresh air and sounds of the city in the evenings before bed. I doubt I'd be able to sleep with the door open - it's pretty noisy out there - but I love my terrace and knowing I can pop out there any time I like. The tree growing up from the sidewalk below is finally blooming and sprouting leaves and it's lovely having that in my view.




I was in a pretty good mood, and it was so cheery and sunny out, I couldn't resist snatching up a bouquet of flowers. I imagine most folks assumed they were for my mum, it being Mother's Day and all... But a girl should be allowed to randomly buy herself flowers! They do certainly add some cheer to my living space.

That pillow cover was crocheted by my grandmother, and the shawl draped over the other chair was knit by my mother. You can see my little jade plant back there too! He seems to be the only thing with roots I've managed not to murder. I named him Frank.

I'm excited for tomorrow's outfit post because this month I participated in the Paper Doll Project. I was paired with the lovely Louise from Coffee and a Cardigan. I can't wait to see her in the outfit I styled and I'm excited to share the outfit she styled for me too. Hope you're all have a great Tuesday. Cheers!