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!

Pink Elephants On Parade

I wore this for a coffee date on Sunday. Yes, this is my idea of lazy weekend casual clothing. I'd rather stick my hand in flame than be caught dead outside my apartment in sweat pants, gotta admit. I've often lately been hearing the excuse that it's just easier to pull on some sweat pants/PJ bottoms/old jeans in the morning. I counter this with the fact that it's no more difficult to just... pull on a dress! In fact, it's even easier because with dresses you don't have to worry about matching your top to your bottom. Stop making excuses people, there is no excuse to be a slobby-bobby!

Long-sleeved top - Thrifted from Value Village

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Flats - Ardene's

I didn't actually wear the flats out of the apartment but I didn't want to be in my socks and I wasn't about to wear my big winter boots in the apartment. So yeah, flats. It's all about the dress anyway. I am so madly in love with it! I've had it quite a long while but it's only ever really been out dancing with me. It's not exactly everyday work wear, to say the least.



The print is a mad mix of abstract and actual images. There are swirls and spirals, paisley and curlicues, plants and little mushrooms and so many details! Plus the background colour changes from red to pink back and again. It's definitely an eye catcher! I still can't believe my luck at not only finding this dress, but that it fits!

I picked up the pink top on a whim, thinking I'd find something I needed a pink basic top to wear with... I hadn't even been thinking of this dress, but turns out it is the EXACT same shade of pink. And once again, layering erases any modesty issues this big-busted gal might have with spaghetti straps. I'm not a fan of my boobage falling out all over the place, eh?



I've been so busy socially lately that it's kind of blowing my mind. Part of me is in disbelief that I am suddenly a person with an actual active social life and have regular social activities in which to participate. It's funny when things get so good you start wondering if they're actually true.

I spent Tuesday evening with my grandparents, which was lovely. Wednesday was my belly dance class (I'm only a beginner B! My teacher is a nice older lady named Lois Brake) and then I went out for some drinks with some of the ladies and didn't get home until nearly 10PM (pretty sure my cat thinks I'm cheating on him now). This evening I'm heading straight to a wonderful lady friend's after work to cook up some pizza together. (I'm also sneakily picking up some cupcakes and wine for us to snack on too, because that sounds like a good plan to me.)

I've taken the next 3 Fridays off, which is going to be great. Tomorrow I'm heading out for a greasy-spoon breakfast with my grandparents and then we're hitting up the new giant Ikea they recently opened here in Ottawa. Then that night I am bringing my special someone out to Ritual Nights to see how he handles some mad psytrance beats, heh. Saturday involves muffin baking with another girlfriend and that night I'm heading to another friend's solo theatrical performance. BUSY YOU GUYS. But in a totally awesome absolutely fantastic way. So I am happy. And I hope you all are too! Cheers!

Frumpus

I wore this last Friday, an outfit created in a spurt of frustration and annoyance. I am realizing how very few non-maxi anythings I actually own. Nearly every single one of my skirts is a long prairie maxi. It makes it rather difficult to get dressed for work without looking like I should be frolicking in a field of flowers. So I do things like this: hike up my skirt to my armpits and wear it as a midi-skirt under a messily-knotted baggy button-down. 'Cause somehow that made sense at the time.

Button-down - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Wool tights - Fanxy Sox

Shoes - Spring

You can see the skirt styled as it's intended, in maxi form, in this outfit from back in August. I actually wear the skirt a lot, but for some reason thought I'd posted it far more recently. Clearly I need to keep tabs on my own past outfits. This is one I won't be repeating, although I will probably attempt something of the same with a few other skirts and shirts eventually.

I am finding so many uses for this mustard blouse, I hadn't realized it would be so versatile. I'd never even noticed that this skirt had so much mustard in the print until I saw it next to the shirt in my closet. I may have shrunk the shirt a smidgen in the wash though; the sleeves feel shorter than I remember, but ah well! As the day progressed, the skirt waist slid down my back and I wound up with a bit of a fish-tail affect going on. I actually quite liked it, especially when walking around with the skirt swishing around my legs.

I don't want to say too much (I'd rather not jinx myself) but I think I may have found someone special. Of course by now I know I get over-excited, and wind up wallowing in disappointment nearly every single time I feel this way but... I see no reason to stop hoping. Actually, I think now is the best time to hope for these things, because I'm more and more aware of how lucky I've been recently. The past few months have gifted me with many new people to love and friends to grow close to and I can finally say I am happy. I like to think it's because I've been trying so hard to give to others - love, friendship, tenderness, an open ear - that the world is just giving back. I guess I'll just have to keep on lovin' and givin' even more to thank the world for the gifts I'm getting! I hope you're all having a lovely week so far. Cheers!

Butter is Better

It's true, take any recipe calling for butter or margarine, and it'll always taste better with butter. I also love the soft yellow colour of butter, and I quickly snatched up this butter-yellow top while thrifting a few weekends ago. I'm so happy because it works perfectly with this particular prairie skirt, which has always been a bit more challenging for me to style.

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Tights - Fancy Sox

Shoes - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

The last time this skirt was on the blog was back in September, when I paired it with some paisley print. I know I said I had a hard time styling the skirt, but seriously, that particular paisley, and an old red muscle shirt were literally all I could think of that worked with it. Thank the Thrift Gods for this new top! I really like the satiny crinkle-detail around the  neckline.

This top also seems to be following my movement towards less form-fitting garments. I used to wear skin tight clothing all the time when I was heavier. It was just crucially important that my clothing not be baggy and make it look like I was any fatter than I already was. I suppose my ability to wear loose, flowing items that aren't necessarily form-fitting or figure-flattering is a sign I'm becoming more comfortable with my body and that I have the confidence in myself not to worry about it so much. And people say clothes and style are shallow things, psh!

Can you believe it took me nearly a year and a half to figure out I can take close up shots of my outfits with my tripod? Yes, I am that slow a learner. Ah well! Isn't the print on this skirt amazing?! So many tiny little details and crazy floral things going on.And for once you can see the real colour of these shoes. Now if only I could find another pair in exactly the same shade so I can replace these before I wear them out completely...

I had a wonderful supper with my grandparents and aunt and uncle on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to going up to visit their household in February, plus getting to meet my cousin's little 19 month old son for the first time. Speaking of February, I'm amazed it's right around the corner! I get the feeling I'll turn around and blink and 2012 will be a distant memory. I'm far too aware of time right now; how much of it it takes to accomplish things, and how quickly it goes by when you're trying to hold onto it.

Did you all have a good weekend? I spent most of my Sunday lazing around and not being productive in the least, but I really needed it. I feel so drained lately, pulled in a thousand directions and not quite certain where to point myself. Sometimes it's nice not to point myself anywhere and to simply stay cozy in my rest-nest. Have a lovely Monday everyone, cheers!

The Green Monster

No, not envy! But all the green things in my wardrobe could probably mass together and form some sort of undead closet-beast. So just in case, I let them hang out together in multiples sometimes, to keep them quiet. I'm even wearing matching eyeshadow!

Blouse - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Tights - We Love Colours

Shoes - Spring

I hope you all had a really great weekend. Mine was very good, and I got nearly everything on my to-do list done and sorted out. The only hitch was when I tried to sort through my closet. I stood there for a good 10 minutes just pawing through the hangers, but it was just too overwhelming. I didn't know where to start!

Since I can't just give up (seriously, this cannot wait any longer), I've opted for another method of attack. I'll go drawer by drawer, and item-type by item-type. The job will take longer this way, but at least it'll get done! I started by creating a space in a drawer just for my tights alongside my underthings, and probably threw out two dozen holey pairs of socks.

I also went through all my prairie skirts, of which I have at least ten. I'm not quite certain how many exactly, I stopped counting. I almost have more than I can justify having, certainly more than I can wear. But I love them all so much! The whole point of this endeavor is to take a chunk out of my wardrobe though, even if it is a bit painful. I have to remind myself: these are just things, things I don't need.

I'm pretty sure my bangs need a trim now. I'm rather vague on when exactly they reach the point of needing it. They were in my eyes from the get-go so I can't really use that as a method of measurement. It'd be easier if they stopped trying to part all the time. My hair has always parted naturally and cleanly right down the middle, and I've worn it like that for years, but now my bangs are having a hard time getting with the program and leaving that part behind!

Yep, even my coffee mugs are green. I'm holding The Cry of the Go-Away Bird by Andrea Ames. I actually discovered her long ago via her own style blog! She's been writing over at A Cat of Impossible Colour for several years. She has great taste in vintage dresses (pretties from the 50's in particular) and I highly suggest checking out her blog.

I'm heading straight to my grandparents' place after work for dinner this evening, which I am very much looking forward to. I hope you all have a lovely Monday and a great start to the week! Cheers!

Wearing Love

Behold! My bangs! In their full banging glory! My hair is really light and whispy though, so most of the time they're usually flying about as I walk around. But ah well! I dig 'em. I'm even sooort of starting to become fond of the flippy cowlick thing it's got going on sometimes.

Capelet - Gift

Long sleeve top - Old Navy

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Flats - Ardene's

Before I say anything else though, I must speak of this capelet! It was made by hand especially for me by my grandfather's wife, Jane. She gifted it to me not long before Christmas. I actually wore this outfit on the Friday I spent with them before New Years, and I've been wearing it a lot around the house. It's so light and soft and snuggly and I love it ever so much.

I can't believe how lucky I was to find this dress! It has the prettiest detail at the gathering point, a sturdy crocheted circle. I just wish I'd thought to take a close-up photo. Another time!

The hairdresser convinced me to add some layers into my hair, and I'm happy I trusted her! I cut a good 4 inches off the back. I really love my long hair, but it had been getting a little too long for me, at least without doing anything to it. I'll be more attentive in my hair-care as it lengthens time this.

I'm having friends over for a sort of potluck brunch on Saturday, which I'm really looking forward to. Our friend Phil is bringing his lady-friend with him and it'll be my first time meeting her, which should be fun. I love meeting new people, especially when I get to feed them tasty foods to help win them over heehee.

It's too bad two of my friends are vegan, and another can't eat gluten. It makes feeding the group a wee bit complicated. Hence the potluck factor, so I'm not completely responsible if anybody starves hah. (Like I'd let that happen, psh!)

Tomorrow I'm going over to my old room mate's place to have dinner with he and his fiance. I find it rather amusing, but I'm realizing that most people with whom I spend my time are at least in their 30's. Mark and Helen are both in their late 30's, and I'm very good friends with a lovely divorced lady in her 40's. And other than 2 of my friends on Saturday, the rest of our gang is all 30 and up.

I really like surrounding myself with smart, experienced people though, and I guess that's part of why my friendships gravitate towards the more mature. I get a little lost in the conversations sometimes, but I usually also walk away with some new knowledge. And what's the point of a relationship if nobody shares or gains anything, right?

It feels like it should be Thursday. Somehow. All the shortened weeks I had over the holidays have me feeling a little kerfuffled. I hope you all have a groovy 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!

Plaid to Meet You!

Happy Monday everyone, I hope your week is starting off well! I had a really fantastic weekend filled with mad dancing, baking, cooking, crafting, thrifting, friends and fun. This was definitely one of my better weekends recently for sure. I thrifted some really great stuff on Saturday, including the yellowest sweater ever, which you will eventually get to see. That and I snagged a thick wool coat, knee length, for just $15! I'd been seeing a lot of them in mall shops, but they were all woefully thin and cheaply made and they all had ridiculous price tags. Thrift store to the rescue!

Red top - Gift from mom, garage sale

Skirt - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Shoes - Spring

I've had this skirt a little over a year now, but when I originally purchased it, I was considerably heavier and quite a few sizes bigger. When the cold weather rolled around this year, I discovered most of my warm skirts were way too big. After successfully taking in the first skirt, I set to work on this one. I'm quite happy with how it turned out! It fits me better than ever now.

I really love doing my makeup like this but I always feels like it's too much for work. But that's probably just because I work with 40-somethings who show up wearing sweatpants, cheap t-shirts and last night's Cheetos residue. *shudders* And I work in a professional environment!

I'm still frustratingly battling ants in my apartment. You'd think by mid-December the little boogers would be securely hidden deep down in their subterranean ant-lair but I guess my apartment is more appealing. It's not horrible, but to give you an example... I cleaned my tree frogs' terrarium yesterday, emptied it out completely and put in fresh water and bark bits. Not two hours later? Ants crawling around everywhere inside it! They had a little highway going. I put down some poison and they swarmed it, and a few hours later there weren't any ants again but holy crow. Pain in the butt!

Thankfully they seem more interested in exploring the vast expanses of my shower than getting into my baked treats so I can't complain about them too much. Hopefully come spring the problem won't worsen. Anywho, I hope you all have a lovely Monday! Cheers!

Flouncing Around

This awesome skirt was another of the gifts I received from wonderful Heather. It's awesome and flouncy and demands to be spun around in. All the time. Everywhere. So I spend a lot of time twirling instead of walking.

Top - Garage sale, from mom

Skirt - Gift from Heather

Leggings - Who knows?

Boots - A shop on Sparks Street

I'm pretty frustrated. I recently purchased online a new terrarium for one of my snakes. I took the day off yesterday to be home to receive it... only to open the box and discover my $285 purchase had a shattered left side and cracked front. After an unhappy phone call and some e-mailing, the company promised to send me a replacement at no cost, but only because I'd had previous issues with them (someone canceled my original order several days in and I had to re-order) but that usually they'd make me deal with UPS.

They said they'd crate the next one for extra measure but I really hope it arrives in one piece. It's stupid because they say on their website that they aren't responsible for damages during freight, but don't allow the option to purchase insurance. All I know is, that if the next one arrives damaged, I'm taking that company down. It's still small and independent, and in the reptile community, it doesn't take much to ruin a company when it turns out they do bad business.

I noticed in the damaged one's box that the sides only had small squares of styrofoam instead of full ones, and it looks like the smaller size actually put pressure on the terrarium and caused it to break. Seems obvious to me, so if it repeats itself... I will not be a happy camper. There's no reason you can't spend an extra $0.50 for a full sheet of styrofoam and save your clients from receiving a useless $285 box of shattered acrylic.

I really want this work week to be over. It just feels like such a major waste of time being at work. Winter is always the time of year that most makes me hate my job and the way we all live our lives. Society is so maddening. But anywho. I hope you're all having a good week. Cheers!

I'm a slacker, but my sleeves are cool

While my sparseness in posting for a large part of the month was due to my working on my NaNoWriMo novel, another large part was wasted spent playing Sims 3 for hours. And worse yet, I won't even hit the 50K required word count to "win" at NaNoWriMo. I'm just a lazy bones slacker who plays too many hours of video games.

Blouse - Thrifted from Value Village

Tank top - Fairweather

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Earrings - Thrifted from Value Village

Boots - Some shop on Sparks Street

I have at least been taking photos of what I think are some pretty awesome outfits. I'm looking forward to posting them all in the coming weeks. I'm still pretty challenged in terms of originality on weekdays but winter is putting a layered spin on getting dressed that at least changes things up. If that makes any sense at all. (I had a bad night, with my upstairs neighbour randomly banging and dragging things around after midnight, ugh.)

I am absolutely in love with the sleeves on this top. They're just so swishy and fun. And I am also absolutely in love with my little wooden hippopotamous earrings! That's right, wooden hippos are dangling from my ear lobes. I paid a whole $1 for these babies: thank you thrift store!

These photos were taken back on November 5th, but it wasn't long after that I made the decision to just stay inside to take photos for the rest of the cold season. For one thing, by the time I get home, it's dark out. And I do live in Canada and it's cold here. So I'm sure come Spring I'll be itching to get back out on my terrace to take photos, but until then I'll just admire these old ones and stay cozy indoors.

As much as I dislike Winter, I do enjoy being indoors cooking and baking. In the last month I've made a huge batch of corn chowder, some chicken taco chili and over six dozen lemon butter cookies. I just wish my freezer were bigger so I could make more food haha. I hope you're all having a good week. 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!

Bright Green

I wasn't able to wear this dress much over the summer because it was too long and heavy for the humid heat. It's back in circulation for the season now though! When I last showed you this dress in early June, I wore the matching belt that came with it. This time around, I used a scarf as a belt to spice things up a little.

Dress - Thrifted from the Salvation Army

Scarf as belt - Some mall stall

Sandals - Lulus.com

I've actually had this scarf for a while but couldn't for the life of me figure out what to wear it with. Finally I used it here because there is a tiny amount of green in the print and I figured that would work hah. You can sort of see on the edges, but the scarf is made with alternating panels of sheer and solid, which is pretty cool.



The next time I wear this, I'll probably be layering it with a cardigan. These photos were taken back at the end of September when the weather was still mild, but things are different now! Thankfully the length of this dress makes it great for cooler days.

I'm very glad it's Friday today. I'm going out dancing tonight with some friends which should be fun. And I want to try setting up a proper sewing area in my spare room so I can just wander in, sit down, and work. My main obstacle right now is the lack of desire to go through the whole set-up process with my sewing machine every, single, time. So once that's out of the way, all should be good.

I hope you all have a really fantastic weekend. Cheers!

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!