Ripe

I work hard, and when I get home, I don't always really feel like getting dressed up in a complex outfit. It's times like those that wonderfully simple frocks come to my rescue. This tie-dye dress has been in my wardrobe for several years now, and while it doesn't get tons of wear, I still love it. In a way, it symbolizes the beginning of my journey into who I am now.

 Dress - Purchased from After Shower Shop on Etsy

I actually wore this dress in one of my very first ever posts on this blog, back in September of 2010. It seems like a lifetime ago when I look back on it, even though it's been barely three years. I've changed a lot and come a long way.

My outward appearance is quite similar, but on the inside, I'm a whole new person. I was a little green sprout back then, and now I'm a thriving tree with leaves unfurled. Being in my mid-twenties, I'm still very young and have a lot of growing and changing to do yet. But being able to look back and see and feel my progress and growth is really nice.



The sun rises every morning, granting us a new day to do with as we please. It's up to us to use that time to our best advantage, to enjoy it, and this life we have under that sun. I used to struggle through my days, slogging through them like a chore, forever living for the horizon without any real goal or destination in mind. My days were slipping by unnoticed, wasted, when those days were exactly what living is all about. I'm doing my best not to waste any more sun rises, and to relish all the sunsets. I hope to enjoy so many more. Cheers!

Rainbow Garden

After all the rain we were having recently, I have absolutely no complaints about all this gorgeous sun! I've already got a bit of a tan and a sunburn haha... Things went from winter to summer and sort of skipped spring, which is a bit confusing, but I'm getting used to the heat.

Dress - Purchased from Siam2u on Etsy

Sandals - Fluevog

Necklaces - Thrifted from Value Village

With the help of my parents, I've made a lot of progress with my little garden. I'm kind of early, but the weather is so warm that there's really no fear of frost. I've got potatoes, green pepper plants and some strawberry bunches planted already. I'll be putting in so catnip seeds later today, both as a treat for my cat and as an added insect repellent along with the marigolds I planted around the edge.

I never thought gardening would be for me, but I've found it more fulfilling and enjoyable already than I ever thought possible. I really like digging around in the dirt, putting down little living green things, planting seeds that I nurture and tend to as they sprout. It's exciting!

The only thing I could wish for right now is that the lake were warm enough to swim in already! But there's still ice, floating to and fro depending on the direction of the wind. Not to mention all the rivers and creeks are so high and rushing into the lake with their cold water, it'll be a good long while before it warms up enough for comfortably swimming. Something to look forward to though. I hope you all have a good Saturday. Cheers!

Fruity

It's hovering just above freezing outside and it feels like Spring is on the way. Too bad it's still going to be months before winter's grip finally releases us and the weather starts to really warm up again. At times like these, I dress extra colourfully, to try and keep myself cheered up in this time of drab greys and whites and muddy browns out there. I guess my baking desires are along the same lines because I've been making strawberry tarts over the last few days.

T-shirt - Can't remember

Skirt - Gift from Heather

Shoes - Thrifted

I've had a lot of spare time on my hands - for reasons I won't go into because they're bumming me out right now - and I can only sit around playing video games for so long before I start going loopy. I cleaned the heck out of my apartment yesterday, which really needed doing. I don't know why I avoid it for so long, when it doesn't take that much time. Really it only takes about as long to clean this place, mopped floors and all, as it does to make a tart from scratch.

I made the mini tarts a few days ago and the full-sized tart this evening. Its recipe was from my Cordon Bleu pastry book. We saw the Chef make it during class but we didn't make it during our practical because it's so simple. I fought a little with the crust dough, and I'm not exactly certain why it was misbehaving, but it seems to have turned out well enough. I had some left-over dough and baked up a few mini tarts today too and the one I ate - with extra whipped cream - tasted just fine.

Not counting an apron, I baked dressed like this. I unfortunately managed to burn my right arm taking the tart crust from the oven but I'm getting used to having burns at some degree of healing somewhere on my arms or hands most of the time now. But now that my baking is done and the kitchen is all cleaned up, I think I'll crack a beer and go back to playing video games for a while. I hope you all had a good start to the week. Cheers!

Back in Business

They got my internet up and running again last evening, something for which I am very thankful. Hopefully that doesn't happen again any time soon! Today is such a glorious day. Sunny, warm and open to all possibilities. I've got a bunch of things to do and we'll see if I can get at least some of them done. I'm still ridiculously busy these days so this open day all to myself is quite nice, even if most of what I plan on doing is housework.

 Glasses - Random gift

Dress - Purchased from Siam2U on Etsy

Tomorrow is the Ravenswing DIY Fair where my friend Laura and I have a small vendor table. We'll be selling all sorts of things from hemp necklaces to bead-spiders to flower hair clips to leather pouches to... all sorts of things! It's going to be a great event, and I'm planning on bringing my camera to snap up all the fun! Here's hoping for nice weather.

My squish-kitty Caramel is still loving being outside on the terrace with me. Sometimes he gets a little freaked out while I take outfit photos if I happen to be wearing heels or something but now he's hooked on being out there. The minute I wake in the morning it's "Meow - let me out!"

I really love how my hair looks in this photo but I haven't been able to wear my hair down most of the past week. It's just been too hot and humid already, all the more reason for me to cut all this hair off! I'm giving myself until the end of the month to see how I still feel about that. While having it up in a bun like I've been doing keeps it off my neck and shoulders, it's also itchy and severe and boring. There is more and more appeal in having a wild head of mad soft spikes instead.

I finally got to see my good friend Becky at Ritual Nights last evening. It was so great getting to hug her. I had a grin plastered to my face most of the night. There are times and places that just feel good and right and that was one of them.

Anybody else think the world would be a better place with more tie dye in it? This dress makes me very happy, but it's just a smidgen too long. I've a mind to shorten it, but I don't want to cut away any of the prettiness. And that reminds me I still have other things to shorten... Maybe I'll get to some of that today. I hope you all have a really groovy rest of the weekend. Cheers!