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!

Anticipation

My buying habits lately seem to have been this: buy nothing for weeks, then spend a bunch of money all at once. To my credit, this time at least these are things I need. Mostly. Kinda. Okay so maybe only one of my purchases was actually needed but... Well, have a gander at the lovely things whisking their way towards me in parcels and packages. You'll understand.

This dress has been in my Etsy Favourites for ages, and when I read that Sally Jane Vintage was having an epic summer-items sale well... I wound up buying three lovely dresses, and with shipping, it still barely cost me over $50. Happy? Oh goodness yes.

This pink beauty is an unexpected purchase for me. Just a few years ago, I was adamantly against any and all things pink. You wouldn't catch me dead wearing pink. And here I am, buying a solid pink girly dress. Oh how the times they are a' changing. I look forward to having fun layering this one in the winter months. Who says summer dresses are only for summer, eh? Psh...

Amazing, right? Right. Bright bold colours, giant happy flowers, crazy patterns around the hem... I can't wait to have this baby in my hands. To wear it everywhere and anywhere. Oh the love affair this dress and I will have.... Ahem. As you can tell, I really dig this dress. I'm a sucker for the 60's, ahh...

Here's where things get a bit boring (for you) but I really am excited to get these wedge sandals. The incline isn't too steep and they look uber padded and... I spent 2 weeks debating on whether or not to buy these and I finally caved. They were on sale anyway, so it was meant to be right? I'm hoping these are as comfortable as they look.

These lovely platform pumps were my "needed" purchase. I've got a pair of similarly coloured heels but they were thrifted and are long past when they really should have been tossed. So this is me investing in their replacement. Besides, how could I resist? I have a feeling these will make me feel like Joan Holloway when I wear 'em.

Have your purchased anything spiffy you're excited about? Shoes? A dress? These are probably going to be the last of my purchases for a while, since I'm heading to a Reptile Expo and the Zoo in Toronto next month, which will make a pretty big monetary dent in things. Considering 4 out of 5 of these items was bought on sale, I feel pretty good about this. All the money I've been spending on other things though... not so much. Oh money, you're so stressful.

I hope you're all having a groovy Wednesday. There were no ants in my sink this morning so I am a happy camper. Cheers!

It's only Tuesday?

I woke up to a kitchen sink crawling with tiny pin-head-sized ants this morning and bleh... it's only Tuesday folks. I hope this week ends quickly. Plus I get to go see both my dentist and my optometrist today... Can you feel my lack of waiting-room enthusiasm? Thank goodness I've got a book with me.

Dress (as top) - Thrifted from Value Village

Skirt - Smartset (I think, it was long ago)

Platforms - Chinese Laundry via endless.com

Belt - Gift from Heather at Moonshine Junkyard

Necklace - Gift from boyfriend, made by Lisa Burkin on Etsy

I was at it again, wearing a dress as a top, back on August 17th. And happily wearing my new Chinese Laundry platform sandals for the first time. I'm always a little apprehensive about buying shoes online, you never really know if they'll be comfortable or fit properly. But these are great, and I love them.

I tried on four different outfits before settling on this one. My cat was watching me run around the apartment in bewilderment. I'm pretty sure my walking around in these shoes freaks him out because he always runs away.

And of course any good excuse to wear my flower necklace. I'd probably wear it everyday if that wouldn't be weird of me. I wonder if I can get my boyfriend to buy me more of these as future gifts... heehee...

It's gloomy and dark here today, looking like rain. Of course on a day I've got plenty of places to walk to. Seriously Tuesday, what's the deal? Monday is the poopy day of the week, stop being a pain! I hope you're all having nice ant-free Tuesdays, wherever you are. Cheers!

Happy Pride

Here's where I start messing with the time of my posts, and write about something recent before I get to posting things I did prior... If that makes any sense. I am bending time, folks! But I thought these photos from yesterday's Pride Parade here in Ottawa just had to be shared right away!

Just as a wee bit of a warning, there is the possibility of naked-people-bits in the following photos. I didn't comb through to check but I know there were a few naked folks wandering around, just in case I caught one and didn't notice. And if you happen to have your kiddos around and don't yet feel like explaining why that man is wearing a dress and heels.... here's the time to not scroll down. Everybody else... read on!

Leather jacket - Danier Leather

Flower Necklace - Gift from boyfriend, purchased from Lisa Burkin on Etsy

Dress - Purchased from Carbon Copy on Etsy

Tights - Sears

Shoes - Walmart

Yeah, I'm classy in my Wally World sneakers. But they're comfy and were just $20 so I'm not about to complain, right? And I am giggling in this photo because... I had a friend to photograph me, yay! It feels slightly awkward asking someone to take my outfit photos (primarily because most folks think it's weird) but I wish I had a photographer more often.

What's even better is when the person taking your photo is down for having theirs taken too! Above is my wonderful friend Tina. You may note her super awesome rainbow coat. It was a birthday present from me earlier in the year and man, compliments flying right and left over this coat. I know how to pick a gift, eh?

Clearly we used the parade as a great excuse to get dressed up, and we weren't the only ones. Tina spotted this next lovely lady wearing a fantastic dress and I had to go up and ask to snap some photos. I of course forgot to ask her name... But she was more than happy to have her photo taken. I know from experience how nice it is to know other people like your outfit enough to say so in person. I asked where she got the dress and... vintage second hand. Once again proving that old/used clothes are ah-mazing.

The Pride Parade is always a great place to see some killer shoes. Drag Queens in particular are the, ahem, Queens of Killer Shoes. And I have to give props to anybody who looks better in a mini-skirt and heels than I do, and can walk over a kilometer in their stiletto platforms on top of things. Case in point...

It was so great seeing everybody there. I had a grin plastered to my face the whole time. (Okay, maybe I teared up a little when the NDP came by and had Jack Layton signs.) The public library, the transit company, the emergency services... the whole community was showing their support and you could feel the love. We did have to deal with some crazy hurricane-leftover winds but that didn't stop everyone having a great time. See for yourselves...

There was a little boy marching along with the NDP group, holding his own little Jack Layton sign. I've never been one to really feel emotionally touched by the passing of a political figure or celebrity, but the loss of Jack Layton is one I felt as well. I felt the strong love for him here.

Of course, it's not a Pride Parade without pushing the boundaries a little, going slightly beyond tame. The kink community is always happy to come out and show their colours... err, or their reigns?

I hope you all enjoyed those photos. I know I had a great time at the parade. I mean, how can you not be in a good mood when you are dressed up like a rainbow, surrounded by happy colourful people? Impossible! I hope you all had a good weekend too. Cheers!