Knotty Business

After seeing so many awesome bloggers knotting their button-downs, I had to get in on the game. Due to my rather limited selection of button-downs, this look had to wait for a weekend. As many wacky things as I wear to work, I just don't think a red checked shirt will ever fit the bill for office attire.

Shirt - Fairweather 

Skirt -  Thrifted from Value Village, Le Chateau

Sneakers - Walmart 

Yeah, I'm wearing sneakers again. But all I had to do that day was get some groceries and I was lazy. I just fail at finding attractive yet comfortable flat footwear that I won't walk through within half a day. Hence the sneakers. Cheesy footwear and crooked photos, that's what we have around here.

 I actually wore this very same skirt and button-down back in early January. I like that my wardrobe manages to stretch itself across the seasons like this. Which is important, or my already-stressed closet would burst. And I don't even have that many clothes!

 

I have to admit, this outfit makes me think of a cross between Morticia Adams and a Lumberjack. But I'm down with that, Morticia was always my favourite Adams character. And any hipster worth his beard will tell you lumberjacks are the shit!

 

Tomorrow is Friday and I finally get to go to the Toronto Zoo! I'm so excited! And then attending the Reptile Expo on Saturday... more me being excited! I'm going to spend this evening running around like a headless chicken, tying up all my loose ends and making certain I have everything ready and waiting for when I bring my new babies home.

Hopefully I can restrain myself and not come home with too many unplanned animal acquisitions, hehe... I wish you all a happy Thursday. Cheers!

Slithering Snakes

Apart from my obvious love of spiders (I have a spider tattoo and 8 pet tarantulas for example) I also have a love of reptiles, and snakes in particular (okay, most reptiles). That flows right into snake print! I'm a sucker for snake print, in any colour. I actually own a 14 foot snake skin very much like this dress.

 

Dress - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Spring

Belt - Ardene's

I thrifted this ages ago, back in the heat of high summer, and I've only been able to wear it recently at the end of August and it was really still too hot for it then. The sleeves are actually way too long, and I wear them rolled up on themselves, otherwise my hands would be eaten by the sleeve-snakes. I couldn't resist the weight of the fabric and the pointy collar though, so mine it is!

 

I rarely wear these shoes, as much as I like them. The zipper detail on the sides winds up pressing uncomfortably on my pinkie toes, which makes them rare-wear only unless I want to do my toes some serious damage. These shoes plus the dress combined made me feel very corporate 80's. The dress even had shoulder pads at one point but I quickly snipped those out. I do not need any help accenting my already-broad shoulders, thank you very much.

I snatched up this spider pin at a little shop in a mall as I was running about doing errands. I got pulled in by snake-bangles but left with this instead. I already own several spider broaches (I'm wearing another today actually) but there's no way I'll ever have too many.

I have been living on mixed vegetable salads and pizzas like these for most of the summer. I make enough one night to last me several suppers, to avoid cooking in the heat. Plus pizza is actually really good for you if you do it right. I like to layer all my vegetables toppings twice over, beneath and on top of the cheese. That with a heaping side salad and I'm pretty happy with my meals.

 

The package with my shoes from Lulu's was apparently processed for delivery here in the city this morning. I'm hoping today is the day I get my hands on my new sandals and shoes for work! Receiving packages in my building just makes me so nervous. I've had mishaps in the past, not to mention the buzzer console is currently on the fritz and there's nowhere safe for a delivery man to leave his slip. Fingers crossed!

I hope you're all having a good week so far and that all is well. Cheers!

Back in Black

I know, where did all the colour go? Black used to be a staple in my wardrobe, and now I rarely wear it at all. My necklace got to shine here again. I love it so much. Too bad it's so fragile, I've already had to glue petals back on three times now, argh! Now I remember why I'm always hesitant to own anything fragile.

Tank top - Fairweather 

Skirt - Saan's 

Sandals - Thrifted 

Necklace - Gift, made by Lisa Burkin on Etsy 

Please ignore my crooked skirt. The hem isn't off, I'm just apparently wearing it rather lopsided and didn't notice while taking the photos. Woops? I love milk-maid braids for my long hair, but they are a pain to keep pinned up if I happen to have recently washed my hair. My locks are thin and and wispy and they slip out of a bobby pin's grip way too easily. You can't tell from afar, but it's actually a garish mess of very obvious pins up there.

 

It didn't exactly turn out very well, but my big toes were an attempt at crazy colour leopard print. My toes have just been getting whackier and whackier as the year progresses. At least I've gotten over my nail polish not always matching my outfits, heh. (Not to mention, what kind of outfit would match these toes?!)

 

I'm going out for a sushi with my friend Erin this evening, which will be nice since I haven't seen her in a few weeks. I'm just super excited for Friday though, as I've finally figured out how to get myself out to the Toronto Zoo. I was supposed to go with a group, but that fell through, and since I can't afford the hotel room I was going to have to call off the zoo part of the trip.

A friend of mine lives nearby though (well, a lot closer than I do) and I'll be able to crash on their couch over Friday night. So I get to go to the zoo, go to the reptile expo like I'd initially wanted, plus spending time with a friend I rarely see. So all is well and right with the world!

I hope you're all having a groovy Tuesday. 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!

Whakadoo

I took two extra days off at the end of this long weekend, and now it's thrown off my internal calendar. I keep thinking it's Monday, but it's quite clearly Thursday. I guess I can't complain too much, I'm going from "Monday" to Friday in two days this week.

I had a good time up visiting my parents, and there will be a post about that in the future. For now though (while I catch up on reading 5 days worth of accumulated blogs) here are some photos from a little daytrip I took back in mid-August.

 

I went to the Waba Cottage Museum and Gardens, out near White Lake. It's nothing fancy, just a few buildings, but the grounds were immaculately kept with adorable little themed gardens. I wished upon seeing the place that I'd brought my tripod, it would have been great for photos, but ah well!

 

The old school was filled with the usual desks and classroom accoutrements, but there were all sorts of odds and ends too. There was a giant whale bone in a display case in the back for instance, something that had been found in the area. 

 

I wasn't particularly in outfit-mode or even dressed for such, but I figured I'd need to make an appearance at least once. This little dress I bought from Heather ages ago was perfect for this hot summer day. It was comfortable, breezy, and great for exploring old buildings and getting dusty.

I'm definitely not what anyone would call religious, but old religious texts can be interesting, just in the difference in beliefs and customs over time etc. These next two photos appear to be of just regular portraits, but you'll notice it says "Her bright smile haunts me still" beneath one, and "Good Bye" beneath the young girl. These are death-portraits, before photography was common enough to be used for such.

 

These next items I wanted to share in particular, because they had an accompanying photo of the man to whom they'd belonged once upon a time. I can just picture him slipping into the vest, pulling his gloves on, clapping his hat smartly on his head and setting out the door.

I hope you've all been having a good week. It might feel like Monday but I am still very glad tomorrow is Friday. Cheers!

I've Come a Long Way

I could probably be all cutesy and save these particular outfit photos for my blog's official birthday on the 10th, since it's the same dress I wore in my very first post. But I'm not an overtly cutesy person. So you're getting these now. I will probably totally forget my blogaversary on the actual day anyway.

Dress - Purchased from Sally Jane Vintage on Etsy 

White cami - Fairweather

Belt - Ardene's 

Shoes - Chinese Laundry via endless.com

I've come to a conclusion regarding where I take my outfit photos on my terrace.I can either get good shots of my outfit and crappy ones of my face, using the more visually pleasing tree as my background. Or, I can get slightly less interesting photos with the brick wall but where my face doesn't look like I just rolled out of bed after a bender. Darn shadows and light making my face look weird.

Speaking of weird. I was trying to take a photo showing the fact that this dress has a slit in the front, even thought it is a faux-wrap and is sewn together at the waist. Instead I look like I'm trying to be saucy while badly concealing my identity. But my eyes were bothering me so I hid them. Everybody is too blinded by my pasty white thigh anyway.

I have a clear affinity for spiders (obviously) and I was pleased as punch to discover a wee little jumping spider wandering around on the wall next to me. All thoughts of outfit photos were out of my head when I spotted this little cuteness.

Jumping spiders are just so darned cute. Even folks who don't really like spiders usually agree with me on that point, heh. I'm contemplating picking up another tarantula or two when I head to the Reptile Expo in a few weeks but I haven't decided yet. Getting two snakes is already a big deal. The last time I went to an expo with a list, it was for one snake and two tarantulas. I still came home with one crested gecko, two snakes and 5 tarantulas. I need to watch myself heh.

I am so glad today is Friday. This week felt like it went on forever. I'm driving up to my parents' tomorrow, which I am looking forward to. If the weather is nice, we'll be taking a mini-trip to Temagami to climb the fire tower and do some exploring. I haven't been back to visit in two months either, so it'll be nice to see folks again. I'm also hoping to get together with at least one of my old high school friends. We tend to converge on the town on long weekends so it's the best time to try.

Do you have any fun plans this weekend? Trips? Camping? Visitors? Whatever you're all up to, I hope you have a great time. Cheers!

Excuse the bad photography

I went down to the bank of the Ottawa river, near the River Parkway to go take these outfit photos a while back. I wound up being later than I had wanted, and hadn't thought about the light from the setting sun. And thus these pictures are all absolutely terrible. I'm actually wearing this exact outfit again right now, and I contemplated just waiting and re-taking some outfit photos tonight but... The outfit itself looks okay so eh. Just don't look at my face. And imagine I'm not so washed out and there isn't so much noise. Outfit photos are hit and miss, and this time, most of them were miss...

Tank top - Fairweather 

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village 

Wedges - Chinese Laundry

 

I started off wearing the tank top over the skirt and spent a large part of the day that way. But then I realized I looked like a large boxy expanse of green and tucked it in. Which I think looks better, if not making me a little self-conscious about my tummy. So far this is the only way I've managed to style this skirt though, and I need to think of something new. It has such pretty embroidery, it needs to be worn more often.

 

That last photo here is so red because of the setting sun. I was taking photos by the side of a bike path and people kept giving me the oddest stares. I did feel pretty silly, wearing these shoes out in the middle of a park, but ah well. I'm learning which public places make the better spots to take photos.

 

It would also appear I managed to photograph a spirit? Or so many people believe. It's said that the little globes and fuzzy spheres in photos are spirits. I haven't the foggiest what that white dot is but I don't seem too pleased about it, heh. By this point I was just getting frustrated with the bad photos and wanted things to be over. 

At least I got one nice photo of the setting sun on the river, and one satisfactory photo of myself. Some guy was kayaking on the river and decided he was going to come ashore right where I was taking these photos. Awkward much?



And before I wrap things up, I'd like to give a super huge thanks to Suze from Miss Vinyl Ahoy. I entered a giveaway she was hosting a little while ago, and I wound up winning an iPod, how cool is that! I should hope most of you already know her blog, but if not, go check it out! She's got great style and fantastic personality and her blog is a great read. Cheers!