Mall Rat

I wore this outfit last Saturday, for breakfast with family and to do some running around in the Rideau Centre mall with my visiting aunt. Clearly I have more clothes than I need when I haven't worn this skirt or this top since last year. I mean, I'm still keeping them both, but I definitely have too much clothing. Or maybe my problem is simply that I have too little time to wear the clothing. Yes, that's my problem: too little time for all my clothes!

Top - Forever 21

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Leggings - Sirens maybe?

Flats - Ardene's

I'm probably much too bothered by the small spot on the bottom middle of my shirt. I dropped a tomato piece on it while eating breakfast, and it didn't really show, until it was subjected to my camera flash. Darn tomato, leaving its mark! I'm not usually a huge fan of billowy and draping tops, but this one is fun. (Kiss! <3 Oh Gene Simmons, how your mad Bass skills awe me!)

These photos really make me wish I hadn't cut my bangs so short. I'm due for an actual professional hair cut though, so I'm probably going to just let them grow out and then have my hair dresser fix the horrors I have done to my hair since I last went in December. (Okay, I haven't done anything that bad, but I'm not thrilled about how my hair looks right now either. I'm seriously contemplating growing the suckers back out again, actually.)

Tonight is the final class of our beginner level belly dance classes... I'm signing up for the next intermediate level, it's just too much fun to stop. I'm excited for learning more complex moves, but I'm also nervous. My limbs have got minds of their own and often times they just wind up flailing in every direction rather than being graceful and actually performing the move. I will be the master of you yet, flailing limbs!

I can't wait for the weekend. The weather is going to be gorgeous and ridiculously (unnaturally) warm and it's going to be lovely. I'm attending a ladies poker and potluck night at a dear friend's on Friday, and then on Saturday I'll be spending the afternoon with my grandmother's twelve year old granddaughter (we aren't blood-relatives). She came with us to the mall and she seems to like me and and wants to meet my pets. Hopefully my plans of baking muffins together and taking a stroll through Little Italy for a sweet treat sounds good to her. I was nothing like her when I was twelve so I'm kind of flying blind in the entertaining-tweens department. I hope you're all having a good week so far. Cheers!

Stupid Things

Sometimes, I do stupid things. Like spend an entire lovely warm Sunday afternoon indoors doing my taxes. And then nearly sprain my wrist punching my mattress in frustration over said taxes. And then wandering around aimlessly as the sun goes down because I can't just let a whole gorgeous day go by and somehow wind up with a mini Grand-Marnier white chocolate cheesecake in my possession. And then go home and cut my bangs ridunculously short. A final stupid thing with which to end my day.

Dress - Gift from Heather

Belt - Ardene's

Tights - We Love Colours in Ivory

Shoes - Payless

These are my bangs before I cut them ridiculously short, for the record. I won't be able to wear this dress again any time soon; the zip on it died on the day I took these photos. I'll eventually get it replaced, but knowing me, it's going to be a good long time before I get around to acquiring a replacement zipper and bringing it to someone who will change it for me.

If the print of this dress looks familiar, that's because you've seen it before, back when I wore it as a blouse with a skirt over top. I suppose it works out that the dress is unwearable; I need to replace a button on the skirt I like to pair it with as well. My mending pile is growing awkwardly tall again and I'm going to have to attack it sometime soon.

I had a really lovely weekend - apart from the whole tax thing - and spent most of Saturday with friends and family. I got some animal-related tasks done and out of the way too, which was good. I'm keeping very busy lately, and it makes the days go by so quickly. Right now I'm just looking forward to taking my final driving test on Tuesday next week. Once that's done, I can apply to my city's car-share program and hopefully, by then end of May, have access to a vehicle again. I hope you're all having a good Monday. Cheers!

Nothing New Here

I can proudly say that everything in this outfit (okay, not my skivvies) is either handmade, thrifted or vintage. I absolutely love it when outfits like these come together! You can't just walk into a mall and come out with the making for my outfit, that is not going to happen. Especially not for as little as I paid for everything!

Tunic-top - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Ragtime Vintage

Boots - Thrifted from Value Village

Lynx-fang Earrings - Purchased from Aranea Designs on Etsy

Necklace - Handmade from a dear friend

The funny thing about this skirt is I've had it for years, worn it very often all year round and yet... I don't think I've posted it on the blog. Or if I did, I have completely forgotten when. Nonetheless, I love this skirt, and when I saw its bright floral print next to the tunic in my closet, it was a no-brainer to put them together.

I scored these wicked leather boots for just $8! They are super comfy too, I've already worn them out dancing twice and plan on taking them out again on Friday night. Some of the hooks and holes are rusty, but that's no big deal. And now that it's not absolutely frigid outside, I'll be able to wear these more often without worrying about freezing my toes off!

Someone very dear to me made me this cross and necklace. It's all the more special because it's not something I'd ever have expected them to do, and it was made during a difficult time in both our lives. I don't wear it often - it's rather delicate - but it means a lot to me. Sometimes the simple gifts mean the most.

I've got belly dance class this evening again, and I'm definitely looking forward to hanging out with the ladies afterward. I think I'm actually even getting kind of good at some of the dance moves! When I took classes back in 2007, I decided not to go further on because I felt too uncoordinated and choppy, like my body would never be able to do the moves correctly. Now I keep surprising myself when I do things right and keep up with everyone.

While I really love my more 'put-together' and professional outfits, it's ones like these I love wearing the most. This is how I dress when I'm on my own time. I went dancing in this outfit. It was comfortable and allowed me freedom of movement. I just wish I could dress like this more often. I hope you're all having a good week, mine's going quite well. Cheers!

Glow Worm

This bright yellow sweater really does have an inner glow. Sadly it didn't come across in the photos (seriously, it is actually even brighter in real life). I love my yellow sweater so much though! If it looks familiar for some reason, I was wearing it in the photo with my giant fat cat. The only downside is that it's very thick and very warm, so I can only wear it on particularly cold days, and when I know I will be in cold places.

Sweater - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Yard Sale

Booties - Thrifted from the Salvation Army
Earrings - Friend-to-friend hand me down

Pardon my goofy grin above; the cat was doing something dorky and then the camera beeped at me. The last time I wore this skirt on the blog was way back in May of 2011. I'm pretty certain I've worn it a few times since then, but this low-wear of many of my items is why I really need to do some closet-purging. (Yes, I've still yet to do it, it is painful and I am avoiding it like the plague.)

The funny thing about this skirt is that it's labelled a Medium, but there's enough room for it to be an Extra Large and then some. It has no elastic at all, and I need to hold it up with my elbows as I pull the drawstrings taught or it literally just falls to the ground haha. It's great for hanging off my hip bones in the summer though, and has great movement.

I've given myself the goal of early nights and early mornings this weekend, to try and maximize the amount of things I get done. I've been naturally waking around 9am on weekends lately though, and am comfortable with considering that sleeping in. Am I turning into a true adult now that I appreciate and aim to utilize mornings? Haha... It's just too bad a lot of the things I like doing on weekends involve late nights. Or accidentally turn into late nights

It looks like I'll be attending that crystal bowl performance by myself this evening. I'm trying to build new friendships, but it seems my efforts dash aimlessly upon most people as waves do on rocks. I feel a lot like a child sometimes; nervous, timid, filled with an intense, overwhelming desire to explore and share and be happy and make friends. But most people just give me their glossed-over stranger-smile and fade away, like my bumbling-yet-well-meaning attempts are not worth their time. It's difficult when all your good intentions and desires are treated so cheaply.

I know now not to linger or bother with people who can't bother with me, but it's still frustrating. I'm very grateful for the ever-strengthening circle of family I have around me now, but the love I share with them just drives home to me how badly I want a close circle of friends to love and trust too. I have wonderful friends like Kirsten and Omar who I've learned SO much from, about being kind and curious and tender and loving and what good people are really like, and I need MORE of those people! Too bad it's so hard to root them out from the bad apples...

My weekend is going to be absolutely jam packed with activity, and I cannot wait for the work day to be over so I can get properly started on things. I hope you all have a super groovy weekend too. Cheers!

Over The Rainbow

This outfit felt so marvelously me. The top is actually a dress, another sent to me by the wonderful (soon to be mama!) Heather over at Moonshine Junkyard. I'm surprised I haven't posted photos of this dress sooner, because I've worn it nearly once a week since receiving it. As you can see, the print is rather intense though, so of course logically a bright blue skirt came to mind when I wanted to tone things down haha...

Vintage dress (as blouse) - Gift from Heather

Skirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Tights - Fancy Sox

Shoes - Payless

I've had this skirt for ages but it's another I've rarely worn until recently. I love the colour and the way it moves, but I have to safety pin the gaps between some of the buttons and the colour doesn't mesh with most of my wardrobe. Apparently the skirt has found its style-buddy though, and is now secure in my closet.

I imagine some people would probably choose not to wear this vintage dress. Not because of the print or that it's old or anything, but it has a light barn scent to it. Kind of like old hay and the memory of cattle. I've washed it half a dozen times myself, but once I have it on and it warms up a bit, I can still smell it. Personally, I do not mind at all, I have a few other vintage items that have the same smell. So it sat in a barn or a farmhouse for a while, that just means it's had less wear and will last me even longer!

I'm trying to gather some people together to join me Friday for a live solo musical performance on crystal bowls, accompanied by paiste gongs, a santoor and vibraphone. I mentioned it to some of the ladies in my belly dance class last evening and I think at least one person will be willing. My life feels so full and bustling lately. I'm rarely home in the evenings or even on the weekend anymore. I feel bad about leaving my cat alone so much. He gets to hang out with me all of this evening though, since I've got creature-cage cleaning on the agenda.

Even though I do often feel like I'm running everywhere at a thousand miles an hour to get things done and see all the folks I want to see, I am very thankful. I'm making new friendships, strengthening ones I should have given more attention to long ago, and learning so much about myself in my daily explorations. Things aren't perfect, but that's okay, I'm too busy to notice. 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!

Bang on?

I need your help! After hanging out around here, I've got the itch for bangs. Currently they're grown out and blend in with the rest of my hair. I had bangs as a kid up until I was about 12 (I'm the kid on the left, when I was 6, see?) but not since. And now I am contemplating them again. What do you all think? Should I take the plunge and try out bangs again?

Top - Gifted from Heather

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Flats - Aredene's

I'm just terribly worried they'll give me chipmunk-face and I'll hate it. I have never dyed my hair, never layered it, or really done all that much to it at all. It's never been curled and has only seen a straightener twice. I feel like I need some sort of fresh hair change but I'm so worried I'll hate it. And I can't exactly instantly re-grow 5 years worth of hair after cutting it off.

Sorry to those of you who get the heebie-jeebies from snakes! But I do so love my silly Rorschach. He's a spider morph ball python, and a total big baby. He curls up like that when he's frightened. I'm looking forward to Sunday because a friend of mine is coming over to meet the zoo. I always love showing off my peculiar pets.

I'm baking a cake tonight, having dinner with my grandparents tomorrow, and then spending Sunday with my friend... I feel so blessed lately. So many wonderful people and things are coming into my life. It's amazing to be surrounded by so much love and warmth. I hope you all have as wonderful a weekend as I plan on having! Much love to you all, cheers!

Don't worry, be happy!

Happy Friday everybody! I'm so excited for this weekend. I'm going to a Christmas tree decorating party at a good friend's this evening, then I'm meeting up with my women's social group for tea, cakes and talk tomorrow, and finally Sunday I'm going out for breakfast and doing some shopping with other friends. I'm just in such a good mood lately, I don't know what it is, but I'm not complaining. I've decided I want to be a happy person, all the time (or as much as possible).

Dress as blouse - Purchased from Sally Jane Vintage on Etsy

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Necklace - Made for outfit

Flats - Ardene's

I want to be that person that makes you feel better just by being around them, and that leaves you with a little extra warmth in your heart. Maybe it's naive. Maybe it's silly. But I always want to be able to give someone a smile and brighten someone's day and help people let go and be happy.

I'm just filled with this overwhelming amount of joy and love and it needs to be shared. It comes out in warm hugs and home-made cookies and heartfelt notes to friends... I don't know, it's hard to explain. I've just been feeling so many strong, wonderful emotions lately. A friend of mine said its a sign of my growing maturity, and being able to understand things in more depth.

This month is going to be jam packed with activity for me. The thing I'm looking forward to most at the moment is this coming Monday however. I won't explain the story behind it, but I've just re-discovered a long-lost grandfather and more welcoming family than I know what to do with. It's all rather overwhelming and I keep wanting to cry from just how happy and thankful I am to have all these people in my life all of a sudden. And that they genuinely want me!

I want to be a bright sunny light, a gift to them, and everyone in my life. Maybe I'm just doing more growing up or having an epiphany over something obvious. But I intend to love all my friends and family fervently and fully, and to find joy in every moment I can. I hope you all have a really fantastic, joy-filled weekend! 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!

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!

Double the Snake Print

Yes. Of all the shoes in my closet, I chose to pair my snake print flats with my snake print dress blouse. Because I am just crazy like that. But I thrifted this grey skirt a few weeks ago and haven't been able to figure out how to style it with anything else but grey. And I have a lot of grey snake print stuff. So thar ya go. I just never realized how little grey I actually wear anymore, and it's rather awkward for me figuring it out again.

Dress as blouse - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Flats - Spring

Belt - Ardene's

I took these photos on October 10th, but my tree is now mostly naked. Which is a shame, because that maple tree serves as awesome window-camouflage to keep folks in the street from seeing into my apartment. I've got huge sliding patio doors looking right into my living room, it's like a Cel-fishbowl.

This outfit really isn't all that flattering on me, and I probably won't wear it again. At least not with flats. Heels would have been a better choice, since I look very short here. But at least it was comfy. Now to figure out how to style this skirt with something involving colour...

I've come to the conclusion that I like my skirt hems at granny-length. I have a few shorter skirts and dresses, but anything higher than just above my knee starts to make me feel inappropriate. Unless I'm wearing leggings, because then that just negates the whole naked-feeling. (But leggings are still not pants, let us not forget!)

I'm in love with my hair in this last photo. I tend to have more bad hair days than good, but sometimes my hair just really makes me happy. Too bad most of my good hair days wind up on the rainy/windy days and it gets all fussed up the minute I go outside. Le sigh.

The Zombie Walk on Saturday was a blast. I had such a killer time, and I'm already excited for next year. Then Sunday I just stayed home, played video games, took in one of my too-big skirts and just relaxed. I hope you all had a really groovy weekend too. 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.