Sunny Saturday

Ah sunshine! Such wonderful stuff after all the gloom we've had this week. I am happy to be able to wear this new romper so quickly after purchasing it just yesterday. For a mere $20, how could I say no to such a sweet little strawberry print? Which of course I only now realize I did not photograph up close. Oops... until the next wearing I guess! It was too sunny on my terrace to get decent shots anyway so it'll be a good excuse to wear this again soon.

Romper - Sears

Sandals  - Sears

It's not often I buy new clothes, but I treated myself. The sandals are also new from yesterday, comfy reliable ones in which I hope to be able to trek many summer city sidewalks. I'm going on spontaneous walks on my own again finally... winter had killed that habit but I've got someone to wander around with sometimes now and he's wonderful walking company. It helped remind me I really enjoy it.

Apparently tonight there's going to be a 'super moon'. It's going to be super extra close to the planet, something that happens every 14 months or so. Supposedly it's not going to be an impressive one as super moons go, but it's still going to look much bigger than it usually does. I hope I don't forget to go have a gander! The skies are supposed to be mostly clear, at least.



After he figured out that the chalk wasn't some evil form of punishment for an unknown crime, Caramel decided to join me in the sunshine. He was rolling around happily in the dust, soaking in the warmth and getting all grubby. I don't blame him, it felt so nice. In fact, after I'm done writing this, I'm going back out there to read in the sun for a bit. Then I'm off to my women's tea social for the afternoon. Who knows what adventures the evening will bring me! I hope you're all having a lovely weekend. Cheers!

Worse Than It Looks

So I accidentally cut myself with scissors while at work yesterday, near the base of my finger. When the blood wasn't stopping, I went to see our first-aid person and they sent me to a clinic. It took three doctors before one actually took care of me properly, and that was only after the first two had sent me home with a silly little band-aid. I had been asking for a stitch or two.

Of course several hours later my hand was dramatically dripping blood all over again, and I went to the clinic again where this monstrous thing was slapped on me. It was pretty hilarious and I kept laughing at it and how big and white and obvious it was.



I had to keep this on all night and was finally able to remove it this morning. The tip of my finger has been half-numb half-tingling the last few hours. I have a feeling I'd have been better off just taking care of the damn cut myself. The last doctor said I'd probably nicked a little artery. I just hope this heals quickly! Have a great weekend everybody, and watch out for scissors! ;) Cheers!

Zounds!

This outfit surprised even me. I wore it to go to the Orchid show with my friends and it took about two minutes before one of them exclaimed... "Hey, Célynne's wearing pants!" The only reason I was comfortable like this (and I still felt rather naked) was because my blouse covered most of what bothers me being seen. Also is it just me or do the people who make jeggings assume we are all 6 feet tall? Because these are a size Small and I've still got oodles of material pooling around my ankles and knees.

 

Blouse - Purchased from Cookies and Crème Vintage on Etsy

Belt - Déjà New consignment shop in Ottawa

Jeggings - Hue

Shoes - Hush Puppies from Sears

My weekend was a whirlwind. I attended a friend's baby shower on Saturday. It was the first time our girl group had been together in its entirety in years (well, our 6th musketeer is out in Alberta!) and it amazed me how much we had changed and yet stayed the same. One friend brought along her seven (!) year old daughter and it blew my mind once again that my friends are parents and wives and husbands. I keep forgetting we're adults.

 
I'd be lying if I said seeing these things - marriages and babies - happening in the lives of my friends didn't make me sad. While I am overjoyed that these wonderful people are achieving these happy points in their lives, I'm also mourning them a little. Anybody who's had friends have kids knows what I'm talking about. No matter how hard you and they try, it's always going to be different, and very much so.

 

It's everything from having less time and less money, to new priorities and new people. Parents spend a lot of time with other parents. Because us single folks can only take so much diaper-talk and I gather parents can only take so much of hearing about the life they can't live anymore. I'm okay with their choices and where their lives take them - their life is theirs to live after all - but I'll miss the way things used to be nonetheless.

I knew 2012 was going to hold a lot of changes for me - felt it true in my bones - but I never thought I would be going through such an intense personal transformation again. Imagine sitting in front of a huge pile of building blocks, with the task of building who you want to be, but without clear plans on how to do it. (Maybe your snot-nosed cousin tore up the instructions?) You work your way up, only to realize you made a mistake, or you don't like something, or you get a better idea. It's a fluid work in progress with more than one outcome and none of them need to be final. Right now, I'm taking blocks down, turning them around in my hands, and trying to imagine the next thing I want to build with them.

 

There have been a few false starts and I haven't built up much further than my personal foundations, but at least those are solid and dependable now. My structure will have a dependable base upon which to be built, and that gives everything I put into this a better chance of success. I'm also learning to trade building blocks with others, for parts we each might need. Yeah, I'm really digging this metaphor! I hope it makes some sort of sense haha... Anyway, I hope you all had a great weekend and that your Monday is going well. Cheers! 

Not My Spots

I thoroughly enjoyed this outfit while I wore it, but I'm not a huge fan looking back at the photos now. This is not something I will be wearing twice. How I ever thought those shoes went with the rest of the outfit is beyond me!

 

Blouse - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Hippo earrings - Thrifted from Value Village

Shoes - Lulu's

It's sort of annoying that these shoes cost more than every other item in my outfit combined. And they weren't even that pricey, so far as shoes go. I've done pretty good thrifting shoes in the past, and some of my time-tested walkable sandals have been thrifted. It's difficult with footwear though, for reasons from sizing to limited options compared to clothing, and whether or not the shoe is even sanitary.

 

I was yesterday picking up some necessities - coffee and sugah - when I spotted a display rack selling bubble-soap bottles and tubs of sidewalk chalk. It took me half a minute to decide whether my good idea was indeed a good idea, and I was soon adding both to my basket. Then I happily scurried home to draw on the patio stones out on my terrace!

It was early evening in Chinatown as I drew, and the sun was finally out after a day that had started with rain and chill winds. I could hear workmen down on the sidewalk yelling in an Asian language - I can't tell Cantonese from Mandarin if my life depends on it - and birds were chirping and zipping around in the sky. The gentle breeze tickled my skin and the air smelled like delicious fried foods and growing green plants. I experienced a lot more than the chalk in my hand while I drew, and I felt wonderfully calm and grounded after it all. I think this deserves repeating in the future. Plus it's just nice to see the drawings when I look outside.

Tomorrow I head back to my home town for the first time since Christmas. I won't be there long, less than 48 hours, but a dear friend of mine is having her baby shower on Saturday and I wouldn't miss that for anything. So many of my friends are getting married and/or having babies this year. There are three wedding invitations sitting on my desk waiting for replies. It's overwhelming and scary and I'm not even the one getting married or having kids! I am more than happy to sit back and be the token single childless friend for quite a long while to come. That was always my favourite character in sappy chick flicks; the wild one who's life never manages to fall into the old traps. Anyway, my weekend starts early tomorrow so I'll wish you all a happy weekend now. Cheers!

Shades of Nature

It's springtime, and everybody is just mad about pastels and bright springy colours. Except me. I on the other hand, am still dressed in browns and greens and am so ready to blend in with natural surroundings. Who needs camouflage when you've got this kind of paisley?

 

Top - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Leggings - Who knows

Shoes - Sears, Hush Puppies

The day I took these photos started off with some cold rain, and I was forced to take them indoors. By the time my friend and I wandered off on a walk to the Arboretum though, it had tapered off to an annoying but tolerable light mist. Everything was so lush and green from the rain. The only thing that could have made it more enjoyable would've been slightly warmer temperatures so that things like frogs and newts might be out. It was still too cool for them yet!

 

Now that's what I call flounce! I thrifted this skirt after having realized my wardrobe had a serious lack of not-maxi length items. They're all well and good when it's not too hot out, but I'll melt once it starts hitting 25'C again. I'm not exactly certain how I dealt with this last summer, other than for the fact my workplace is air conditioned and I live by myself which allows for a minimum of clothing while in my home!

I was rather insulted today when one of my co-workers commented on the dark circles under my eyes and said that I was looking very tired. They'd probably think I was about to drop over dead if they actually saw me without any makeup! I have dark circles under my eyes. There is nothing I can do about this. I can sleep twelve hours of glorious deep sleep and there will still be dark circles under my eyes. I was wearing foundation and VERY good coverup when I got this comment. It just drives me crazy that we as women - especially young women - are expected to look flawless and well-rested every hour of the day, no matter what, and that somehow if we don't look that way, it's everybody's business to inquire about it.

I've mentioned it here before, but I happen to like how I look without makeup most of the time. Even with the dark circles and kinda-red patches and forehead shininess. I wear makeup because I enjoy it - which is why my eyeshadow is so in yo' face - and not because I'm trying to hide my natural complexion or skin tone. It's me, my skin. I'm okay with it. I am not okay with people coming to assumptions because of it. Especially when that's not even anywhere near how I would actually look if I had not had proper sleep and had no makeup on.

 

Those are the sorts of comments that get a girl wondering if she's hideous and worrying that everybody must think she looks like an exhausted mess. It might seem insignificant, but for some people it's enough to tip them into a nasty cycle of self-loathing and personal issues. Pro tip folks, don't tell people they look tired, it's insulting, regardless your motive! Anyway, sudden rant aside... I hope you're all having a good week. Cheers!

Wait... it's snowing?!

As I type this, fat, wet fluffy snow flakes fall from the April sky. Just a week ago I was traipsing about bare-legged and bare-armed as if it were already mid-July. Of course it was too soon. My parents told me they got a foot of snow at their end! A whole foot! I remember there being a huge snow storm at the end of May a few years ago though so I guess snow in April isn't that wacky. Certainly no wackier than that weird week of summery heat we had back in March.

 

Lace blouse - Thrifted from Value Village

Red top - Fairweather, years ago

Pleated skirt - Thrifted from Value Village

Tights - No idea

Shoes - Thrifted from Value Village

I've had this black lace blouse for ages, at least six months, but this is the first time I wear it. Shoved at the back of a drawer stuffed to capacity with clothes, it was a case of out of sight, out of mind. Whenever I'd spot it while digging around, I'd make a mental note to wear it soon, but it took me a long time to get around to it!

I never thought I would ever own a pleated skirt, but there's a first time for everything. I'm not used to wearing items with hems so high up my leg. Yes, to me, this is showing a lot of leg. And I'm wearing tights for Pete's sake! I think I've spent too many winter months smothered under layers that I'm sometimes petrified lest anybody see my actual shape.

The orchid show I went to yesterday was really neat, and I took a ton of photos. Their colours and shapes never cease to amaze me. Oh, to have a green thumb! Plants and I don't get along too well; I do much better raising little eight-legged things than I do things with roots. I hope you're all having a good Monday. Cheers!

Another Week Done

This was the dress that started it all for me, the very first vintage dress I ever bought. The old elastic at the waist doesn't help to keep the waist nipped in anymore, so I use a broach to pin it to fit. I'm going to wear this baby until it falls apart! It just feels so wonderful and has such great movement. The colours aren't exactly springy but that makes no difference to me. I've never dressed according to seasonal colour pallets anyway!

 

Dress - Purchased from Moonshine Junkyard on Etsy

Lynx Fang Earrings - Purchased from Aranea Designs on Etsy

Shoes - Lulu's

I've been so busy lately, with both work and my social activities in the evenings and on weekends. Tonight will be the first evening this week that I have to stay home and just be with myself. I am very much looking forward to the me-time this evening... even if part of it will involve doing laundry. I can't avoid housekeeping forever, and I really hate being in a messy, untidy, borderline-filthy environment.

 

I can't wait to just get home! My brain is practically melting out my ears from boredom here at 'work', the place where not much work actually happens. (And people wonder how I wasn't surprised my position was cut.) I have someone coming over tomorrow and I want my apartment to be spick and span and I won't be able to stop thinking about it until I've gotten all that cleaning done. I'm also going to an Orchid Show on Sunday which promises to be interesting. Plenty of photos will be taken. I hope you all have a great weekend. Cheers!