Will Back the Sunshine

It was a gorgeous day yesterday and I spent it with family, hosting a yard sale in the morning and afternoon, then spending the evening at an aunt and uncle's having a few drinks and laughs. It really feels good to be here near them again. Unfortunately today it's cool and rainy again, so I'm posting this late-April outfit to try and will back the sunshine!

Sweater - Thrifted from Value Village

Tunic - Purchased from Mr. Idahos Vintage on Etsy

Jeggings - Hue

Moccasins - Sears

I'd been hoping to go do a little fishing today, but I'm not dedicated enough to go out in the rain. I'll wait for the weather to improve first! At least it's nice enough that the seeds in my garden have begun to sprout. Unfortunately the frost seems to have killed my green pepper plants, even though I'd covered them. I have slim hope that the roots survived and they'll grow up again, but we'll see.

I took these photos a few weeks back when it finally started warming up again and everything started growing in full force. Our spring has been odd this year; late and halting. At least the rain now is good for my garden. I hope you are all having a great weekend. Cheers!

Fuzzy Wuzzy

I spent last winter with a scarf wrapped around my head because I couldn't find a hat that satisfactorily kept my ears warm. Not so this winter! I bought these earmuffs way back in early September, knowing they would be perfect once things got chilly, and wearing them always makes me happy. Other people love them too - or so I assume - because the moment they spot my fuzzy muffs people start to smile. They are rather preposterous but that's part of why I love them.

Fox Fur Earmuffs - Trading Post on Highway 17

Neckwarmer - Gift from the lovely Anne

Leather jacket - Danier

Sweater - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Boots - Thrifted from Value Village

Since I've stopped working in an office, my form of dress has started to change again. I hadn't realized how much my job influenced my style. With having a strict uniform at the Cordon Bleu and just wearing basics in the kitchen at work, it's got me gravitating to outfits that really bring me pleasure during my free time.

I'm starting to feel like I have too much clothing. Most of it goes unworn, languishing in my closet and drawers. I sense another intense wardrobe purge is coming on, but it's going beyond that. I just have too much stuff in general. So many things just weighing me down, things I don't actually need.

My priorities are changing with me as I grow. While I have no real interest in living a completely minimalistic lifestyle, I do feel like a lot of what I keep is being kept for the wrong reasons. How much do my childhood mementos really mean to me if they're buried in a box in the storage closet? I've been carting some of this stuff around with me for so many years, but I never stopped to think why I was keeping it. This winter is going to hold more changes for me, and I'm hoping come spring that I will have managed to shed a lot of this excess stuff. I hope you're having a really great weekend so far, I know I'm enjoying mine. Cheers!

Irregular Programing

I can't really say posting outfit photos is going back to the regular swing of things around here when it seems to be the complete opposite. Zombie Walks, pastries, festivals... But I guess that's the point of having my own blog, I can post anything I want to here. Years from now I'll prefer scrolling through this stuff than forced outfit shots, I'm certain. However, I do still take the occasional outfit photo and here's a new outfit I enjoyed wearing in mid-October.

Leather Jacket - Danier
Neck warmer - Gift from Anne

Sweater-dress - Eva-B in Montreal

Leggings - Can't remember

Boots - Thrifted from Value Village

Glasses - A pharmacy in Chéticamp, NS

What possessed me to buy a wooly sweater-dress in the middle of July is beyond me, but I think the face on the front had a lil' somethin' to do with it. I'm a sucker for cheesy stuff. And this is definitely that. My friend Laura saw it on me and instantly said "So 80's!" which explains a lot methinks.

I haven't got a whole lot else to say at the moment. I had a Demo Assistant shift at school this morning, helping a Chef during an Intermediate Pastry demo while he made Délice Caramel (which I also got to enjoy, yay!) and now I'm home for the afternoon until I head back for a Canning Workshop this evening.

Tomorrow I've got a Prep Kitchen Assistant shift which will probably be a bit more stressful since the Cuisine Chefs are less than enthused about having us Basic Pastry students in their kitchen, with our lack of general cuisine skills. I'm still looking forward to it, even if I am nervous. Everything's that made me nervous or frightened so far has turned out to be totally groovy for the most part so this is probably going to be that way too. I hope you have a great Monday and a good start to your week. Cheers!

Out of Focus

I took these photos late in the evening after getting home from my grandparents' and the light was so low that they all came out really fuzzy. Ah well, it'll do! I just knew I didn't want to waste the chance at some outfit shots, and good thing because I haven't been taking any recently. My outfits only ever seem to get documented in spurts.

Shrug - Thrifted from Value Village

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Chinese Laundry

Lizard broach - Gift

I'm trying to take it easy this week in preparation for the upcoming weekend. I'm attending the Electronic Brain festival out in Québec. There's going to be over 60 continuous hours of music from two stages and it's all set up on top of a forested mountain! Three nights and days of awesomeness! I'm going to dance myself silly. And hopefully take a ton of photos. I never take as many as I wish I would.

Hopefully we get some descent weather. I've been to more than one festival that resulted in spending copious amounts of time hiding from rain in a tiny tent so I am prepared for that, but I would really rather avoid it! I think the worst would be having to set up camp in the rain. Come on sunshine! Or at least... not-rain! I can deal with cloudy skies if it means being dry. Anywho, I hope you're all have a good week so far. Cheers!

Disconnected

It's only when I am at home without access to internet that I realize what an integral part of my life it has become there. It's not so bad when I'm out and about, because I've never had a device that allowed me internet access away from my PC. Even when I had a laptop, it usually stayed at home. So when I spent this weekend with no internet or phone access... I was not too happy. It's still down and I have no idea when it will be up again. It's ridiculous. I've already racked up an extra $25 on my cell phone bill. There's a reason I have a land line! Ugh...

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Dress as skirt - Hand-me-down from Aunt

Shoes - Sears

I spent my entire Saturday waiting around at home for a technician that never showed up. This still bothers me now, on Tuesday morning. I couldn't listen to the radio online like I so often do, couldn't check the weather, or look up store hours, or browse recipes for dinner, or find out anything and AGH! I don't know how people ever functioned without the internet haha...

I still had a good weekend though, and did plenty of reading out on my terrace. Sunday morning also involved a two hour kayaking foray down the Rideau Canal with my women's group which was great fun, and stopping for a beer and taco salad after definitely hit the spot. I even got a tan, an actual tan and not a burn!

The nights have been warm enough that I've been sleeping with the patio door open. It's annoying hearing some of the night noises again but I get used to the sounds of the city pretty quickly. Once it's hot enough to warrant a fan, its sound helps drown out other noises anyway. Today is heavy and humid and my hands are swollen up and tender. I should move to Arizona. I hope you all had a really great weekend. Cheers!

Wait... it's snowing?!

As I type this, fat, wet fluffy snow flakes fall from the April sky. Just a week ago I was traipsing about bare-legged and bare-armed as if it were already mid-July. Of course it was too soon. My parents told me they got a foot of snow at their end! A whole foot! I remember there being a huge snow storm at the end of May a few years ago though so I guess snow in April isn't that wacky. Certainly no wackier than that weird week of summery heat we had back in March.

 

Lace blouse - Thrifted from Value Village

Red top - Fairweather, years ago

Pleated skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Tights - No idea

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

I've had this black lace blouse for ages, at least six months, but this is the first time I wear it. Shoved at the back of a drawer stuffed to capacity with clothes, it was a case of out of sight, out of mind. Whenever I'd spot it while digging around, I'd make a mental note to wear it soon, but it took me a long time to get around to it!

I never thought I would ever own a pleated skirt, but there's a first time for everything. I'm not used to wearing items with hems so high up my leg. Yes, to me, this is showing a lot of leg. And I'm wearing tights for Pete's sake! I think I've spent too many winter months smothered under layers that I'm sometimes petrified lest anybody see my actual shape.

The orchid show I went to yesterday was really neat, and I took a ton of photos. Their colours and shapes never cease to amaze me. Oh, to have a green thumb! Plants and I don't get along too well; I do much better raising little eight-legged things than I do things with roots. I hope you're all having a good Monday. Cheers!

Friday Frenzy

Admittedly things aren't all that wild around here today, but my outfit sure feels wild! There's something about having electric blue legs that just gives your day a good kick in the butt. Not to mention wearing two dresses at once... gotta love layering! And yes, I am actually wearing this outfit as I post it, a rare occurrence around here.

Shirt-dress + matching belt - Thrifted from Value Village

Black dress - Sears sale, 2008

Tights - We Love Colours

Shoes - Payless

This is the same black dress I wore over my snake-print shirt-dress back in January. It really is endlessly useful for layering. You can also see the shirt-dress and obi belt on their own in this post from last year. I don't wear the obi belt very often, but it turned out to be perfect for this outfit. When I saw the first dress sticking out past the second, I contemplated pinning the hem up out of view, but I actually really like the extra pop of colour (like I need more) it gives things.

My silly cold is still dragging itself out. It's nothing serious, just a mildly annoying constant sniffle and really intense occasional sneezing, although now I'm worried it might be migrating to my lungs as usually happens when I'm ill. I can't just be severely sick for 48 hours, nah, I'm usually mildly and exhaustively ill for about two weeks! Hopefully that doesn't happen this time.

I think the most fun part of wearing this outfit (after wearing this outfit) is that I am wearing it in a library. A girl with electric blue legs and platform stilettos is usually the last thing someone expects in a library. And I dig that. Because this life needs more whimsy. A world of grey is a dull world indeed! I hope you all have a super awesome weekend. Cheers!

One For Me

I was able to take in this lovely vintage dress, and keep it in my closet. Sadly more than a few of my vintage beauties - skirts and dresses - are just too delicate or complex for me to attempt altering. I'm building up give, thrift and sell piles. What items I do sell (I'll share them with you all first) I won't be trying to profit on, mostly I just want to see them go to someone else who will enjoy them. But unluckily for all of you, I am keeping this gorgeous frock to myself.

Dress - Purchased on Etsy from Sally Jane Vintage

Belt - Ardene's

Shoes - Lulu's

Tights - We Love Colours

You can see how it looked on me before I took it in, in these photos from back in August and these from March. This dress also happens to be the one I wore in my very first outfit post way back in September of 2010. I don't usually wear glasses (I'm a contact lens lover) but I took these photos the evening before wearing the outfit which happened to be on a lazy Sunday, and I didn't think it worth putting my contacts in just for the outfit shots. So imagine me with makeup and no glasses and that's how I look right now.

My weekend plans were rather disrupted, and I neither saw my grandparents or my muffin-baking friend. I still went out dancing with my special someone on Friday though, and had tasty late night pho and spring rolls mmm... My lady friend's theatrical performance on Saturday night was also amazing. Plus I ran into some other friends while walking home and wound up spending the evening listening to old 60's concert recordings and eating delicious carbonara, so I can't complain.

Really, I should be singing my thankfulness. I spent a large chunk of my weekend with someone who showed me more care, tenderness, and genuine affection than anyone has shown me in such a long, long time (years). It's frightening to trust a new person, especially when your previous efforts at trust blew up in your face. I'm not about to give up now though, not when there's so much to gain and nothing to lose. I hope you all have a lovely Monday. Cheers!

The Power of the Dress

For something so simple, dresses are such versatile things. The two dresses I'm wearing in this outfit are a perfect example of just how multipurpose a dress can be. Since I'm not comfortable wearing the black dress by itself at work, I layered it over my snake-print shirt dress. I got modesty with a fun print!

Snake-print dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Black dress - Sears sale, 2008

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village
Belt - Ardene's

Tights - No idea

Both dresses have been worn many different ways. The black one (originally purchased for my college graduation) was actually the sea backdrop in my Halloween costume. Here's another old outfit with it from nearly a year ago. The shirt-dress has been worn several different ways too. I've worn it as a dress and layered more than once as a top.

Also of note is that this is an outfit I am wearing as I write this. An actual outfit being worn on the day of its posting! That however is only because I took the photos last evening while trying it on. This is also why the shirt buttons are all done up, which I decided today looks better with the top one undone.

I've had these shoes over a year but they're actually horribly uncomfortable for doing much else but sitting. The upper part of the shoe is very stiff and digs right into the top of my foot directly behind my toes every time I take a step. At least they're cute?

It's snowing like mad outside again. And it's not even a pleasant snow, it's the icy kind that stings your face and eyes. Did I ever mention how much I hate winter? Because I really hate winter. I'm supposed to go to my grandparents' for supper after work this evening but if this keeps up - they're calling for freezing rain - we may have to cancel. Once again, I hope the weather is treating you better than me. Cheers!

These Are Bad

These are really bad photos. I'm all shiny and sweaty and disheveled and gross. But to be honest, that's pretty much how I feel and look most of the time lately. I should probably be working on my NaNoWriMo novel, to keep up with word count. I squeaked by yesterday with a little over 28K words, which is pretty cool. Hopefully I actually write out the other 22K and get this done.

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from The Salvation Army

Belt - Ardene's

Shoes - Lulu's

This outfit in real life is awesome, and I adore it. But the photos never turn out. I think the combo of this skirt and top might just make me look haggard. The outfit photos wearing much the same thing from way back in December last year don't look much better hah. It's another shocking example for me of how much I've changed since then though!

Layering is important for me to stay warm on my walks to work. My leather jacket is good on a nice day but most of the time it's not enough and I like to add hoodies or sweaters underneath. This faux-shearling cardi that I got at Value Village a while back is great for it.

This skirt was way too big for me and just looked like a potato sack, so I took it in around the back pleats to give it some shape again. I'm actually pretty proud of my efforts on it, considering I just up and decided to try one day. It's giving me courage to take in more things.

I'd probably do some more this weekend except I signed up for some over-time work tomorrow. I have to be at Ottawa University campus at 6:45am to help set up testing rooms. I'm a little nervous actually, because I'm going to be a Test Administrator and have a position that involves actual responsibility. I'll be in charge of three tests with classrooms of 25 candidates, and 3 Monitors that I have to train upon arrival tomorrow. Wish me luck!

I hope you all have a supper groovy 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!

Paisley Pattern Mixing

This outfit makes me proud. It is a demonstration of my mad pattern-mixing skills! Or at least, an attempt at such. Personally, I think these prints are made for each other, and I've worn this outfit several times over since these photos were taken back in late August (I am so behind, oh boy). Plus I'm wearing a dress as a top again. I feel so ingenious and stylish all at once haha...

 

Dress (as top) - Purchased from Sally Jane Vintage on Etsy

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

I was browsing Etsy the other day when I spotted a skirt that looked suspiciously familiar. Then I realized... it was exactly like my skirt, except in a slightly different colour palette. So, for those who happen to dig this skirt and want their own... check this one out. It's a small clothes-world after all?

 

I had a lovely weekend. I went out dancing at a local psytrance event on Friday which was nice, and bumped into a few unexpected friends while there. Saturday was filled with some very successful thrifting and then Sunday afternoon I spent some time taking outfit photos in a park and reading in the sun by the lake. The weather can't seem to make up its mind, but if it can send me more weekends like this one, I'd be a happy camper.

 

I paid maybe $2 for these earrings a few years ago. They're pretty basic, just little seed beads and wire-wrapped sharks teeth, but I like how unusual they are. The only annoyance is they're always getting caught in my hair! 

I was about to express how I can't believe it's nearly mid-September, but I'm just going to admit that time has been flying by lately. I'm not complaining, because the quicker my work-week is over, the happier I am, but it'd be nice if my spare time lasted longer. I'm not particularly fond of the feeling of time zipping by though, it gives me the all-too-serious impression that I'll wake up one morning, 30 years older, with no idea where the time went.

I've been a bit lax with posting lately, but I have a ton of stuff lined up so expect daily posts this week. I hope you all had a good weekend, and that your Monday is going well. Cheers!