The land of Ice and Snow

It gets cold here. And I mean cold. Like, get severe frostbite if your hands are bare for more than 5 minutes kind of cold. Like, your breath is condensing and freezing on your eyelashes kind of cold. Like, worrying about whether or not your eyeballs can get frostbite and wishing you could knit yourself eye-mittens kind of cold. Okay well. Maybe that last one is just me. But folks. Cold. Which is why I spend most of my winter looking like this.

Wool coat - Thrifted from Value Village

Dress (it's there!) - Thrifted from the Salvation Army
Hoodie - Fairweather

Orange scarf - From a swap
Hat - Gift from mom

Wool thigh-high leg warmers - AdoreIt in the Byward Market

Boots - Payless

And this isn't even how I dress when it gets really cold. I have an entire other coat and boots for when it gets really cold. Although I don't think I'd be able to stand indoors long enough wearing all of that to take photos without melting. Which is why I'm not wearing mittens in this photo. I'd have melted.

On the plus side, after a few days of intensely cold temperatures, just-below-freezing is starting to feel kinda warm! I wished so bad I could have been snowshoeing Saturday night. The sky was clear and the moon bright and full. It would have been perfect for snowshoeing across a snow-covered field. I hope you all have a great Monday. Cheers!

This Is New

The blouse, that is. An actual new, new item. I feel a little guilty having bought something that isn't thrifted or vintage hah. But the boutique I bought the blouse from was going out of business so everything was ridiculously cheap. This blouse was originally $99 and I paid $15, so I'm a happy camper. I snatched up a beautiful white cotton dress with crocheted bodice for a pittance too, but it'll be a while before that garment shows its face here. Too cold yet!

Blouse - Some random little boutique in Ottawa

Skirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Leggings and Leg Warmers - Ardene's

I'm not super keen on the puffyness at the front and the way the fabric sits around the waist, but the gathering at the bust saves it from being a saggy sac shirt, and the sleeves are really fun too. Not to mention the great colours! Fun and cheerful, my kind of blouse.

I tend to avoid wearing anything that ties around my neck, but this is purely aesthetic and has nothing to do with actually keeping the blouse up. I won't have to worry about suddenly being bare if the knot unties! I contemplated actually removing the neck bit, but it grew on me and is now safe from scissors.

Ah how strongly I wish I could wear this without leggings or leg warmers! I know I say this a lot but boy does winter last long in Canada. We actually are in the midst of a sudden snow storm right this minute... One I was not at all expecting either, so of course I'm under dressed for it. *sigh* Come on spring, show your face!

I hope you're all having as good a Monday as Mondays can be. Cheers!

Intermission

Let's just consider this an intermission from your regularly scheduled (not really) blog posts. Ahem. I haven't really been in the mood to blog lately, nor even read the blogs of those I'm following - I'm sorry, I'll try to catch up - but I am making effort today to try and get back in the swing of things. Thankfully, I still have a saved up outfit from a few weeks ago.

Dress - In the mall somewhere

Tights - Fancy Sox

Leg warmers - Ardene's

I wore this way back on February 19th, 2011. I don't usually tend to buy things from the mall anymore but this dress caught my eye last year and I just couldn't help myself. The pattern is fun, and the dress does amazingly well at managing my bosom that I had to take it home haha...

I just finished cleaning out my closet of clothing I no longer wear or things that are now too large. I purged 5 pairs of jeans (I don't even wear pants, why do I have all of these?!) several old dresses, dress shirts, sweater dresses, t-shirts... All the more room for new vintage acquisitions! ;)

We're going back to Sturgeon Falls tomorrow to spend some time with my grandmother before the funeral Saturday. So I'm going to be AWOL for a wee bit longer as we're only coming back on Sunday. I want to bring all my jewelery making supplies so I can keep myself busy sans internet.

And thank you to all of you for the kind comments. They meant a lot, and I really appreciated them. Somehow they seem more sincere to me in a way, since none of you were obligated or forced, but willing gave me your kind words.

I hope you're all doing well. Cheers.

Upper Canada Village - Alight at Night

So as I mentioned in today's first post, I went to Upper Canada Village this evening to go see all the Christmas lights. I got to wear my "new" Grandpa Sweater (as I fondly call it) that I also thrifted on Tuesday.

Sweater - Thrifted at Value Village

Shirt - Smartset

Skirt - Thrifted at Value Village

Tights - Sirens

Leg warmers - Ardene's

We picked a wonderful night to go it seems, as there was no wind and it wasn't too cold. It also helped that we picked up some fresh hot chocolate as we wandered through the village though!

Such cool buttons!

The Upper Canada Village is really amazing. They're all real buildings that were moved from their original place of foundation, and brought to this site. The furthest from which came any of the buildings was 53kms, making them all local.

It's awesome to stop and think about the fact that these buildings were built by the not-so-distant ancestors of the local people. Everything from the bakery, to an inn, the church, post office, tin smith and masonic temple... All local historical buildings preserved in the village.

My father, with and without flash hah. Snow!

We decided we really need to go back in the summer months. During the summer, the place is a fully functional village, with people "living" there all season round, going about the tasks of days gone by. The old fashioned bakery sells bread to visitors, using flour milled on site in the historical mill using water from the St-Laurent River that the village faces.





I had an absolutely amazing weekend, I hope you did too. Cheers!

Bright as the Sun

I finally have my perfect yellow sweater! It's big! It's snuggly! It's obnoxiously yellow! It's wonderful! I've been wanting a yellow sweater just like this for ages and ages, and when I went thrifting with my friend Kirsten on Tuesday, I found it!

Sweater - Thrifted from Value Village

T-shirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Leggings and Leg Warmers - Ardene's

This is actually Saturday's outfit, but I spent the entire day making truffles with my friends so by the time I got home, I just wasn't in the mood to make a post. But from noon to about 9:30pm last evening, the four of us devoted all our time to truffle-making, and we each left with about 75 assorted truffles.

I sadly didn't have the presence of mind to bring my camera, but others took photos so I may post some of those once they're available. And now about this skirt... I also picked it up thrifting Tuesday. However, I'd gone to the same thrift store a few weeks earlier, and had tried it on and wound up leaving it behind. I saw it again Tuesday, and happened to have a 30% discount coupon, and figured if it was still around for me to find, it must mean I should take it home!




I think I dressed so brightly to counter the previous day's more oatmeal-like outfit. But it's most definitely not the first time I dress in neon. It's just nice to dress bright and happy in the middle of winter, everything is so brown and blah..

And this yellow sweater definitely has HAPPY written all over it. I'm actually surprised I didn't get it covered in chocolate, which would have been rather disastrous hah. I also wore another of my soon-to-sell (attempt to anyway) necklaces, and it definitely jived with all the bright colours.

Anyhow, I'm off to spend this evening at Upper Canada Village with the parents, looking at all the Christmas lights they set up. I should hopefully - if my batteries don't die again - have some nice photos from that. Cheers!

Pizza and Necklaces

I'm wearing one of the sweaters I picked up at the Value Village with my friend Kirsten last evening. I've been in sore need of more long sleeved but not super heavy sweaters and this one is great.

Sweater - Value Village

Skirt - Smartset, purchased years ago

Tights - Fancy Sox

Leg Warmers - Ardene's

I was actually cutting tags from my purchases today before doing laundry, and came upon one of the original tags. A skirt I'd bought still had its original price tag on it... and my eyes nearly fell out at the sight. I spent less on everything I bought last night (3 skirts, 3 sweaters, 1 night gown and 1 blouse) than what this one skirt sold for originally. Thrifting. Best. Thing. Ever.

How awesome is that?

I made some pizza from scratch for supper this evening. I used to work in a pizza shop back when I was in high school and I picked up the skill of flinging dough. I enjoy being in the kitchen though, making food is always fun, and eating it is even better! This one was super tasty, with pesto sauce, artichoke hearts, tomato, black olives, red sheppard peppers, goat feta and mozzarella.

I also made a few more necklaces. I picked up enough beads at the Sassy Bead shop in the market to make about a dozen or so pieces, and then snatched up some different colours of hemp thread. I'll be good to go for a while.









I'm going to be making some truffles with friends tomorrow, which should be fun. And chocolaty. Very chocolaty. Hope you all have a great weekend too! Cheers!

Freezing Rain and Gypsies

I drove home on slick roads last night, freezing rain falling from the sky. There was crust on my windshield and windows. I slid and fell on the sidewalk walking to my front door. Oh winter, you creep ever closer!

Dress - Purchased from Heather's Moonshine Junkyard.

Black Shirt - Smartset

Tights - Who knows?

Leg Warmers - Ardene's 3 for $10

I really dig wearing my leather jacket with this outfit... I sort of feel like I should be on the set for The Craft or something haha... It's a fun mix of feminine and tough, something of which I'm always a fan. I'm also having oodles of fun layering my lighter summer pieces with warmer stuff for winter like this. Multiple use wardrobe for the win!

And on a completely different note... I'd like to talk about a book I just finished reading. It is The Gypsies by Jan Yoors. It was first published in 1967, and is the real account of a boy who at the age of 12 ran off to live with the gypsies. He lived with them until the age of 18, throughout the 30's. If ever you have been interested in gypsies, their way of life... This book is amazing, a fantastic insider's account, and I found it very moving.

There's some strange appeal to me in the life of a Gypsy. Never having a permanent home, always traveling, changing groups... It was certainly a hard life, but one that seems better to me than that many of us now live. In touch with nature, under the sky... I highly suggest you read this book, it's definitely now one of my favourite reads.

I hope you're all having a good start to the week, Cheers!

I spoke too soon

So while my back isn't anywhere near back to normal, I did feel well enough today to actually get dressed. And since I've been stuck in the house for days, mostly laying about so as not to aggravate my back, now that I've recovered some movement, I had to do something! So I took outfit photos. Although I think now that I should not spend too much time standing since my back hurts a little more again... Anyhow, the photos.

Blouse - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Wool Skirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Wool Tights - Fancy Sox

Leg Warmers - Ardene's 3 for $10

Shoes - Spring $10 on sale

These leg warmers have cute little buttons on them. The only bummer is they seem to weigh down the leg warmer and I wind up stepping on the silly things all the time unless I'm wearing shoes.

I am happy that I feel well enough to go to dinner at my friend's however. A good vegan meal and playing a board game with friends! Definitely spells good Sunday evening that does. Hopefully my back continues to mend - although I'm trying to be careful - and I can get back to being myself again. I miss dancing around the house like I usually do!

Hope you're all having a good weekend. Cheers!

Here Comes the Sun

Well, not really. It's still cloudy and rainy out. But my dress is sunny! It's the one I picked up at the Value Village this week.

Dress - Thrifted from the Value Village

Shirt - Thrifted from the Value Village

Leg Warmers - Ardene's, 3 for $10

My mom saw me this morning and just exclaimed "That's just too cute!" Apparently she approves, hah.

This dress is comfortable and light, definitely something I'm likely going to wear pretty often. And it's just the right length that come winter, it won't get soggy from snow and slush! Cheers!

No Colour Too Bright

The clothes I wear seem to either be so bland I resemble oatmeal, or they're so bright they could burn your eyes out. Today was a "bright" day. Ever so bright. I had bought several pairs of different fluorescent coloured leggings to wear out to parties... and I sort of started incorporating them with my daily wardrobe. *cough* My justification is that there's some green in my top.

Shirt - Purhcased at Siren's

Skirt - Purchased while still in high school, Saan's

Leggings - Ardene's, 3 for $10

Leg Warmers - Ardene's, 3 for $10

Okay so this outfit is neither vintage, nor thrifted. But it's just so fun and bright!

I don't know how well you can see them, but my earings are actually made with real butterfly wings. They're encased in clear plastic. It's really nifty because the wings are from butterflies that died naturally in butterfly reserves, and all the proceeds of the sales go to protecting jungles and rain forests. Pretty earings, and eco-friendly!

I hope you had a good Friday! Cheers!

The Leg Warmers Strike Back

I'm discovering that my wardrobe - in regards to dresses and skirts - is only really fit for warm weather. This creates a problem for me as winter is coming. So I have a feeling that leggings and leg warmers are going to become my bests friends.

Dress - Purchased from Sally Jane Vintage on Etsy.

Leggings - Ardene's 3 for $10

Leg Warmers - Ardene's 3 for $10

It has these slits at the front that allow for just a little playful peak at the thigh as you walk. The only downside is that even in a small breeze, you run the risk of flashing someone haha... So I'll usually wear thin leggings beneath it even in summer if I know I'll be spending much time at all outside.

I'm quite taken with the whole grunge look and that's what this dress is all about. The fact that grunge seems to be coming back into style certainly makes me happy because it means new lines of grunge-styled clothes. It however also means that thrift stores and the like will be picked extra clean of the awesome grunge pieces unless you practically live at the thrift store. You win some, you lose some, right?

I was at the mall the other day and walked by a Spring Shoes store, and spotted a display touting grungy boots. If my pocket book were fatter, I'd likely have run off with a pair of these.

But for now, it must wait!

I'd meant to go out to Mud Lake today, but due to some mechanical issues with my father's truck, I had to be around to give him a ride to the garage and then rush hour rolled around and... well, then it got dark after, hah. I'll try again tomorrow and hopefully my day doesn't get high-jacked again.

Anyhow, I'm going to settle down and read more from PiHKAL, goodnight!

Sunless Silliness and Leg Warmers

Once again there are clouds and rain today, and I'm trapped in gloom. Oh summer, why did you leave us so abruptly? Ah well, at least I can look forward to thrifting some nice long and warm winter dresses and skirts sometime soon!

Today's outfit photos are pretty horrible, but I just couldn't seem to get the shots I wanted. I'd either cut off my head, or my feet, or an arm... or they were blurry... always something! So here they are, in all their horrible glory!

This is pretty much the only good photo that came out of the 50 or so I took.

Shirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Jean Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Leg Warmers - Ardene's 3 pairs for $10

I know it's blurry, but I liked the pose!

I accidentally used the 2 second timer and not the 10 second timer, and so instead of wasting a shot... I made a silly, and this is what happened haha...

I really dig the crazy pattern on the shirt, and it's just so bright and cheery. It's actually just long enough that I could wear it with some good leggings, but I had the strongest desire to wear leg warmers and that's what won over today. I own several shirts with the faux wrap around the bust, it's a cut that really suits me so I tend to pounce whenever I see one I really like.

Now... in the spirit of oncoming cold weather and my sudden desire for leg warmers... here are some shots from Flickr of people rocking the leg warmers and looking great!

I hope the sun comes out soon... There are places I want to go see that don't do well being seen in the rain... I'm thinking of dropping in on a new thrift store sometime soon, too, so look forward to another shop post. Cheers!