a little effort goes a long way gentlemen

There are about 15 other things I should be doing right now, you know, it being end of semester.  But as of recently I feel compelled to discuss men's fashion...and  to decode what their clothes really say. Disclaimer: This is a brutally honest assessment/plea.

I would like to start off by saying that a little effort goes a long way gentlemen.   

Slim, fitted pants vs. baggy jeans
Slim, fitted pants give the impression that a little thought put into the outfit of the day.   A simple pair of dark wash denim jeans is a powerful allie when it comes to being well dressed.   Baggy jeans imply a - I could care less mentality. (which if you actually do - all the power to you and this article might not be for you)  Women can sense that kind of hostility and that "could care less mentality." The nineties called and would like their pants back!  Retire the baggy ill fitting jeans - please. 
Leather shoes vs. worn out sneakers
One item that should not be underemphasised is your footwear...  most women will notice the

well worn shoes you wear with and for everything.   I hate to admit it but, shoes speak louder than words.  Sometimes they scream...and it hurts a little. Let just tell you CANNOT go wrong with a pair of good brown leather shoes.  If the whole outfit is going great but then you throw on your 3 year old runners you wear day in and day out, what ever is great up top has been tainted. Invest in a pair of leather shoes, a nice pair of white runners, and a pair of leather boots, and the female population with thank you.  

Sweaters Vs. Not Sweaters
 Another statement piece that I personally love and wish there were more in circulation are sweaters. When in doubt a good sweater - (ie, not piling, hole-y or boxey fiting) is a good call.  They are great for layering...(and layering is good!) They just elevate your look to suave status. 

Button up shirts vs. graphic tee-shirts
One of these items gives the impression of clinging on to your youth for dear life and the other is understated and looks good in just about any situation.  That being said, I can see the merit it the right kind of tee-shirt, a classic white, black or grey would pass as a good investment.  Plaid is always a good idea, and plaid under a sweater is even better. Button it all the way up, pop the collar a little or leave a few unbuttoned. These three ways of rocking a button up are acceptable.  Anything more than three undone buttons though is excessive, and gives off the wrong impression.   Don't be afraid to layer! (ie. plaid shirt + sweater + jacket...) Layering is good... very good.

 

Winter Jackets
Winter jackets have the ability to speak just as loudly as your shoes do...  Saying either, "Hi, I feel like I'm 19 still..." or  "I'd rather be on a mountain" or " Hello... I am suave and have classic taste (*cough* Peacoat* Cough*)  Invest in a good wintercoat...  just do it.   Take a page out of Sherlock's book,  (I've already talked about men's fashion once before referring to his exceptional style)  and get yourself a wool coat while keeping in mind what Sherlock or James Bond would wear. 

 

thoughts for a grey day

Today is grey. 
The sky is an impenetrable canvas of a very pale shade of grey.   It casts grey shadows on trees that once had lively leaves gushing green from their limbs.  But today what are left of the leaves cling to their branches and even they are a grey hue of green.  The sky started to sprinkle wet snow, an appetizer to the main course of blizzards, frozen land, and frost bite that are just around the corner.   These transitional weeks are always the hardest, they are neither here nor there and challenge each person living in this climate in their ability to dress appropriately, and cope with inconsistent weather patterns.  Meanwhile the season taunts everyone with the threat of greyer weather and the impending chill that will soon ensue.


On this particularly grey day, I wandered down my grey street outlined with thick trees that have almost let go of their last leaves. I passed by strangers on the sidewalk and realised that so much of our daily lives are impersonal.   If someone were to walk towards you with a smile on their face and look you in the eye, what would you think?   Sadly, I believe this is an unusual occurrence today.  We have become entities unto ourselves and move around like pawns on a board game never really interacting with each other.  I wonder what life would have been like years ago when people used to know their neighbors, and when sitting at a bus stop wasn't an opportunity to read up on the latest on Facebook, or catch up on emails.  The days when we had less choice as to what restaurant or grocery store to go to, and when people could become "regulars" and not just remain nameless faces.   Of course this is a generalization, but I wonder what would change in our culture if we were intentional about interacting with one another in a positive way.  

 

Grey days like this make me pensive. Perhaps these are just big thoughts that were just inspired by the weather outside.

Happy Friday

The Art of Conversation.

Loneliness - it affects 9/10 people everyday.   ( I actually just made up that stat.)  
But it is a serious issue for some people, myself included. 

I have just moved to a new city, a new university, and a new life experience.   This change has challenged me already and its just been over a month.   I had to take a good hard look at myself the other day - after wondering why I've been feeling so unfulfilled and lonely; I realised that I assume people will make the first move.  4/10 times - someone will. (Another made up stat)   But, what about that 60% of the time when no one comes up to talk to you?    My first reaction is to dive into my purse and fish out my phone so that I can seek comfort in my Facebook "friendships" thinking " Well, if no one cares in real life I'll just Facebook creep everyone else's lives until I get a message or a like or... something!!!!".....AHHHHH..... what is happening to...society!?    (Talking to myself now)  Get your face off of your phone and take a second to realise that you are in a room full of real people and it wouldn't hurt you to make conversation with...someone...anyone!  Life is outside of your comfort zone.

My mother is full of good advice and she has told me for years now to "be an interviewer" when on a date, meeting new people, talking with old or new friends... because people love to talk about themselves.  I had forgotten about this skill, until a few days ago when my mother kindly reminded me to pour into people instead of waiting to be filled yourself.  Aka.   Put energy into getting to know someone else and often that energy will be given back.   The effort you put in will be what you get out of it.   
I put this tactic to the test, and "interviewed" someone new, and it was extremely rewarding.  I had a real genuine conversation and learn more about a new colleague.     

We've (I've) become so complacent and lazy with real friendships and have relied heavily on social media to cover me during awkward silences/moments/boredom.  But what would happen if those silences became non-existent and we filled then instead with genuine questions about another persons day or life?   I bet you our society would become less self-obsessed and more community and relationship driven.   Just a challenge ya'll out there, (and to myself)  next time you find yourself about to flip through Facebook on you iPhone try hunting for someone to strike up a good conversation with.  It is as simple as, "How was your day?"   I truly think that if we can curb our constant craving for a social media fix and invest that time and energy into other people, we will be a happier, healthier society. 

Happy Conversing.  

learning to be thankful

wooo...  It's been a long time since my last post, and since July I have moved to "The Winterpeg," as I call it.

It is funny looking back on my first month in Winnipeg, it has been filled with countless new faces and names, and upon introducing myself as "new here,"  within a moment notice I am warned about the winters.  This courtesy warning is given often as if I thought coming to Winnipeg meant a suntan year round accompanied by mild and enjoyable climates.    Yes, I knew about the outrageous winters, the insane wind and temperatures not for the timid prior to booking my flights and despite these characteristics I have committed myself to three years in the winter wonderland of Winnipeg.
My experience in Manitoba, (Which happens to be the FIRST time I've ever been in the prairies)  has been enjoyable.   I have had the privileged of watching my first prairie sunset on a farm, on a hay bale with good-new-friends.    I've invested in what I believe to be a really (really) good winter coat, and a pair of sorel's.  Winter wear I've always been able to avoid investing in while living in BC, so... I am set.    Thankfully this first month has been mild!

This weekend marks my first Thanksgiving away from my family, and there are tiny cracks forming in my heart when I get phone calls from my loving family wishing me to be there with them at our Cabin in the BC boonies.   Every year for the past 10-15? (I've lost track)  years we have packed up our things and loaded ourselves into our vehicles and scooted ourselves up to our Cabin just outside of 100 mile house.   What makes this experience so wonderful is the lack of technology to vi for our attention.  It is just good -old fashioned family time, spent around a fire, the living room, a turkey...spent together.   I am finding resemblances of 100 mile in Winnipeg... Maybe it is the dry chill in the air and the leaves clapping in the wind as if joining in on the thanksgiving celebrations?   This similarity is both comforting and upsetting.   I found myself desperately wishing for a teleporter today, as I tried to busy myself with activities for one.    This has been a day of thought, and thankfulness.    I've decided, instead of dwelling on the absence of my family, I am going to be thankful to have such a wonderful family to miss. I am thankful for the grey day it was, because it highlighted the yellow hues of leaves and made the surprise of sunshine later in the day that much more appreciated, I am thankful for the tall oak trees that shield my little white house and all the millions of leaves that have trickled down to the ground to create a "fun-must-do" activity for a boring Saturday night.   I am thankful for new friends that have been kind to a new-comer and old friends that have supported me in this adventure.  

I'll try not to go two months before posting again! 
Happy Thanksgiving.

Once upon at time deep in the recesses of my wardrobe...

My body has changed SO much over the last 4 years ( I have hips and thighs now) , and 4 years ago my closet expanded drastically. At that time I had a killer job at BCBG which helped me develop a wardrobe, and style for my curve-less (With the exception of my derriere, that has been with me forever)  I essentially was a pencil, the "wow you kind of look like a boy from the front" kind of pencil.  :|  not awesome.    At that time I was a tiney-tiny 0-2.   I guess with age, and stress :| (again, not awesome.) Your body changes.   I am finding now, that I have gone through some sort of weird time warp and I now have no idea when or how my clothes have lost their lustre on my body.   My shift dresses are less shifty- more bodycon... ahoo.   The pencil skirts that became a staple back in 2009 are more like ankle warmers now and the jeans I purchased at the time have mysteriously shrunk!  As the French say, Le Sigh... So instead of lamenting the loss of these items, and surrendering to the " I don't know what the heck looks good on my body now" feeling... I decided to raid my closet tonight in an attempt to find some consolation in there, and a few outfits suitable for summer. These are what I found:

Jacob Skirt-Forever 21 belt (best $5 belt!) Thrifted Banana Republic Blouse)

Club Monaco Shorts- Thrifted-Joe Fresh Tank
-Forever 21 belt- Joe Fresh Sunnies

 

Zara Blazer

Thrifted Esprit sweater
Joe Fresh hat

The Skirt is Club Monaco - Thrifted
Grey Tank - Joe Fresh (Love the fit)
Aldo pumps

 

Bcbg Maxazria Vest - (One of my favorite purchases)

 

 

Oh Baby, Baby

This weekend I was fortunate enough to be asked to take maternity photos for a friend of mine.   This is my third maternity shoot, and I am learning how much I love to look at the world through a lens.   I love how my creative juices start flowing (sometimes more quickly than others)  I love working with wonderful people to capture a beautiful time in life.   So far I have shot in the beautiful sunshine of summer and the frigid cold of December.   The challenge is to always create something beautiful, lasting and unique.  

Photography has always been a passion of mine.  I remember my first camera was a Canon waterproof point and shoot back in the dark ages before digital camera's were all the rage.   Since then I have blazed through about 12 different cameras, and my current fling is a Canon G7.  (sadly its not the G6 - which would have been cool if only for the reason that there is a song about G6's.)  ANYWAYS.   At this point in my life, the DSLR is financially out of reach, but hopefully not for long.    It will be a great day when I can invest in on and stop borrowing from my brother in law.  

Here are a few shots from this weekend:

picture post

visual food for thought.

"Uniforms are the best" .....said no one ever.

 

I work at a job that requires me to wear a uniform. It isn't cute.  My white tunic/tuxedo shirt zip up uniform isn't stylish and it sure as heck isn't flattering.... in the slightest. So for 40 hours a week I look frumpy-licious in my super-sexy (sense the sarcasm) secretary uniform. This job has challenged me in more ways than just learning to multitask like a mother of 12, but also to find new ways to feel pretty at work.

My beautifying best friend is a straightening iron.   It transforms my desperate-for-a-haircut hair into something passable, ie. a, "wow you did your hair today" kind of hair style and hides the fact that I am a starving student that has had to trim her own hair for the last 10 months.  If you can hold a flat iron in your hand and have anything wrist/hand motor skills this is the tool for you and your hair.   It is fast (Bonus!) and makes your hair look like more effort was put into it.


LIPSTICK.
I am relatively really lazy at 7:00 in the morning. When I would rather be sleeping than brushing my teeth to head to work, I like simple and easy; something that can't go too awry as far as makeup goes.   The look of little to no eye make-up and a sassy lipstick is SO simple and gives the impression, again that more effort was put into your makeup than actually was.   Please purchase a lip liner and lip stick and let your world be changed by this dynamic duo. 

 

Highlighter.
Highlight the corners of your eyes with a pseudo shimmer, white-sh color eye shadow and voila!  You look like either you've just woken up from a 14 hour beauty sleep or had 14 cups of coffee.  Either way it adds the appearance of hours of sleep to your face and everyone is happy.  You can lightly brush it along your cheek bones for a dewy glow, and under your brows to again brighten your beautiful eye balls. 

Accessories are not always my strong suit.  My bestie is a whiz with whatever is shiny, sparkly or bedazzled and is to be draped on the body.   I try my hardest to take notes from her, so when she gifted me a b.a  bracelet that was both feminine, h-core, pretty and sparkly I was over the moon. 

Braids are a simple, virtually effortless.  They make life so much easier by controlling the chaos that is bedhead. I have a thing, or some people would call it an issue with hair in my face, so the braid curves around the forehead and detains all the strands of hair that would otherwise go rogue is my 2nd favorite hair do.    

My first favorite is the topknot/ballerina bun/sockbun/heyIjustthrewmyhairup-bun.   I love this hairstyle so much.  I think I utilize it to excess.   It is a versatile do, dress it up, dress it down.  It can be bohemian or very high fashion.   uh.  I don't know what I did before THE bun. 

 

 

These are my go-to's.  I am always looking for new ideas, tricks and secrets so if you have any pass them along! 

a little musical food for thought

I watched as extremely well dress people filed in and crossed the foyer of the hotel I work at. I felt envious of the fact that they had an occasion to get dressed up for and wished I too could put on a pair of heels and do my hair for a glorious night out.   This used to be a weekly occurrence for me when "going out" was a novelty.   I have since lost my taste for bars and strong alcoholic drinks, and so my excuse for dressing up on a weekly basis too was lost.   Since that loss I have changed courses and have found myself heading towards a career path that allows me to grow a closet of gorgeous gowns and put on fake eyelashes on occasion.  

Last night I had the privilege to sing at a well attended recital event housed in an amazing venue here in the Okanagan.   The night was filled with ageless music and beautiful singing.  One of the many reasons I love to sing classically is for the excuse to dress up.   The formality of classical repertoire adds an allure for the audience and the performer. There is a reverence to tradition that occurs and is sadly slowly being phased out of society is would seem.

As society evolves our expectations of music and performance change also.  We now expect music to be easy to understand, and a sensory experience when watching a performance.   Popular music has digressed from a high art that conveyed human emotion and musical aptitude to a highly diluted form of something like music.  I feel it is vital for the well being of North American society to protect and cherish these timeless works and this priceless form of expression.  Visual art finds its way to a museum or art gallery for preservation... but where does classical music go?   It must continue to be played or sung and the love of it passed down to younger generations that are more often than not, even exposed to it.  Classical music reveals so much of the human spirit and the ability to create something that resounds deeper and touches a part of humanity that sights alone cannot touch.

If you have never experienced the symphony, or an opera, I highly recommend buying tickets and seeing a performance live.   I believe there is a stigma around this genre that this music is only enjoyed by old prudes. That assumption is just not accurate. I believe the classical world will change to incorporate the younger generations, but first it is vital to protect this timeless music and soul satisfying art!

This duet is by far one of the most beautiful pieces of music.   Feast your ears! 

Day-Adventures 102

Day-Adventures 102

In the summer months time seems to accelerate despite the days being longer. What a paradox. So to maximize the summer lovin' potential I'm starting to compile a list of fun, relatively easy things to do that take advantage of warm weather and the glorious summer months. 

#1 All day road trip -
Pick a spot 3-4 hours away, wake up early, grab a coffee and drive to desired location, and heck! if you had this sweet camper your adventure could be days long! 

#2 Adventure picnic -
Go explore in the wilderness, prepared with a delicious picnic lunch, and some good hiking shoes.

#3 Get "lost" down an old dirt road.  (Maybe have a GPS handy juuuust in case.)

#4 If you are close enough, drive to the ocean... even just to inhale the salty sea air.

#5 Have a campfire.  Make s'mores and sing campfire songs. 

#6 Have a BBQ and dress up the back yard or porch in twinkle lights to add ambiance.


#7 Plan a game day.   I hear some people like to play games with balls.  This is a bit of a foreign concept for me as I have zero ability to play any and all ball sports.  (Sadly) But it is fun and virtually free! 



There you go.   A few ideas to add some spice to life.   What do you do to shake out of routine and satisfy the need for adventure? 

Day-Adventures

 

 

Travelcitis: 

The urge to travel abroad and or have one or many adventures as soon as possible. At times uncontrollable jealousy of world travellers occurs, often accompanied by a lack of interest in current situations. Sufferers of travelcitis experience little relief of symptoms, even when travelling outside of hometown or current living area.  It is recommended to avoid prolonged abstinence from travelling as symptoms will likely get worse with time. 



 

 

My travelcitis is flaring up again.   Talk of travel has been buzzing around me non-stop for months.   My sister and brother-in-law are currently adventuring in Europe, experiencing all the fine things that the U.K can offer... meanwhile, back in Canada, I haven't left home and I am green with envy and travelcitis.   The lack of me in Europe causes me pain.   I have wanted to travel to anywhere in Europe for as long as I can remember, and sought to get myself there straight out of high school.  That dream still hasn't happened, and is making my decision to finish my degree A.S.A.P more difficult to stick to.  

Since my bank account is still starving, and I can't bank on buying a winning lottery ticket, I have decided to get my "adventure kicks" from somewhere more-- local and short term.  In order to do that successfully, as transformation into a "YES woman" is necessary. 

  

 

Be prepared for any day-adventure at any given time...  AKA.  

* Have a bathing suit and towel ready to go in the car, with a bottle of water, book and sunscreen.  

* Put $30 dollars aside a week to do something physical and outdoors - Stand up paddle-boarding, Kayaking, mountain biking etc.

* Have a camera on hand - adventures should be documented.

* Embrace getting lost.

* Have something warm to wear in the event that the adventure goes late into the night.

 

 

 

 

 

 





patience part II

wait.
okay.......................keeping waiting?
yup.
okay...........................................still wait...?
mhmm. 


I'm not very patient, I think you should know this. The game of "wait" is never ending.  Its comes in infinite forms, but always the same idea, always training patience. I wait to go out the door, to wait in a car at a red light to wait in a line I don't want to be in. Meanwhile, I wait for you to text me. I patiently wait for my phone to ring. I wait.  I wait for divine intervention, for guidance and direction certain it will come. 

Time not only makes us wiser, it also can makes us stupider.  We hold out thinking that something better is around the corner, unlike a child, who grabs a hold of what they want with certainty and clings to it for dear life.   As life strings us along we become keenly aware of the details and sublimely ignorant to the patterns that begin to form in and around our lives. Time will illustrate, like the trail of water scaling down a fogged window, the hasty decisions and the repetition that forms along the way. 
 
Patience can be measured linearly, and is often seen with hindsight that is 20/20. 

Patience is apparently a common virtue I struggle with, as this is my second post regarding this blessed gift.  It is a gift. If you have an abundance of it cherish it, as it is a muscle that not everyone has the strength to exercise.

90 day challenge - accepted, again.

Last summer I was encouraged by a friend to join in on a 90 day fitness/health challenge.  To join the challenge I had to come up with a goal that I wanted to meet. My goal was to abstain from sugar for 90 days.  Not all sugars but my weaknesses - cookies, cookie dough, cake, muffins...chocolate...Ice cream.   By the end of 90 days I didn't even want to eat sugar that kind of sugar.  I didn't crave it at all. But slowly I have gotten back on the sugar train.    *le sigh.   I felt great when I didn't consume my normal - copious amounts of refined goodness, so I decided to try another 90 day challenge..

Day 1, I forgot about my challenge and started to indulge in a brownie... a few hours later I forgot again until half way through a Tim Tam. Apparently my heart is in the right place but my mind is lagging behind. Not off to a great start...    
Day 2, I was out and about with a friend of mine grocery shopping, and a gluten free coconut cookie just fell into my hands, and then somehow ended up in my mouth.   So far my 90 day challenge to nix the sweet is failing miserably.

I am still convinced this is a good idea and want to succeed at this goal.  It will just take more will power then perhaps I initially thought. 

Plan of attack: when I am craving a lil' somethin' somethin' after dinner I'll run for a piece of fruit instead, or drink green tea. 

My thought process behind this decision was that I have gotten to a point in my eating habits where I expect something sweet to satisfy my craving after I eat almost every meal, and I would like a little bit of freedom from it. 

Well, tomorrow is a new day, and a great day to start revamping my eating habits.   Two down... ninety to go.  ha!


Happy eating

a stylin' summer: RE-purposing

Repurposed 1

You know that feeling, when you wake up and without looking out the window you just know its cloudy outside?  For west coaster's its our 5th sense; we can sense the weather.  (Insert Mean Girls quote)
Sometimes the grey and endless canopy of clouds dulls our senses a little bit, so to awaken the summer senses I've compiled a few looks for the summer months.  I needed a little inspiration myself so I sifted through my closet for some...
 Re-purposing things in my closet such as my BCBG maxi skirt, and a bandeau, a shear collared shirt and demin shorts = bathing suit cover or

This is actually a bcbg maxi skirt I thrifted at V V boutique, I belted et voila, its a dress!

 + my JOE demin shirt.

H&M Skirt and a bandeau.   Rhianna-esque. 

 

Thrifted button up top- its a pseudo cropped.

This shirt I found second hand,

and turned it around so the buttons are in the back.

 

 

Happy re-purposing!  :)

 

 

 

 

The Pretty Much a Fairytale Fairytale

 "You may wear whatever you would like ..."
Words I never thought I'd hear from a retailer, I felt as though I had stepped into a fairy tale.    

This is what happens when you have friends that make things happen.    I have one such friend. She is the epitome of a powerhouse woman.   She has dreams, and she conquers them.  She has goals and she sees them through.  This woman attracts people that share her powerhouse woman status, and because of them and their hard work, the night of  "For the Love of Opera" could happen.

On Sunday I was a part of a fundraiser fashion show/ concert gala.  I was both a model and a performer... I volunteered for this position not realizing all the perks that would follow.   Sunday arrived and after a short hour of run through I was whisked away with the other 7 models to get our hair done.   Arriving at the salon we were greeted by style savvy stylists that sat us down on chairs and began the transformation process.   My poker straight - still wet from my morning shower - hair was bubble wand-ed and braided to create the best up-do I have personally ever had.   It appeared as though the process of braiding, curling and up-doing was effortless for my stylist...et voila!  I was finished in what seemed like less than an hour!  

For a short period after that, the day took on a leisurely quality.   We sat and chatted over coffee while we waited for the next appointment.  We fortunate enough to have had our makeup done for us.   (the whole day I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming) 


With the makeup set and lashes in place we left for the venue.    The morning practice of walking the runway brought out my inner goof to compensate for how incredible out of place I felt... but for the real thing I had to zone in and focus otherwise I would have been laughing hysterically all the way done the red carpet runway.   For the 20 minutes of walking, I felt like a super model- despite my 5'5'frame and probably uber-dork expression.   This day made me wish I could add a few more inches to my height.    I loved feeling pampered and enjoyed the rush of being rushed to get the clothes on in between struttin' my stuff. 

The night didn't stop there, oh no!   After the fashion show, the dress that I picked when they said,"you may wear whatever you like" was waiting for me.  I got about 2 glorious hours in a gorgeous "borrowed" gown.  This part made me feel like I had swapped bodies with a celebrity, or jumped in to Cinderella. 

The night was a huge success, and will forever be imprinted in my mind as the day I stepped into a fairytale.   Well, now that I think about it... in order for it to be a fairytale I guess there would have to be a prince charming.    hmm... maybe one.   For now it will be the "pretty much a fairytale fairytale

"