lookbook 1.5 - minipost

I am wearing my "This life's for me" tee-shirt,
H&M Blazer, My FAVORITE jeans: cheap mondays, My Joe Fresh Fedora,
And Mac Viva Glam Lipstick.

These last few days of sunshine have inspired me branch out a little bit as far as spring looks go.
this isnt a "jump two feet in"  kind of spring look, but I am easing my way into the "spring" of things,
with my favorite fedora and just wearing my blazer instead of layers or my winter coat.
This may have been premature as the wind was still bitterly cold today.  But I like to believe that I am willing spring along with these fashion choices.  (haha.)

Spring Cleaning

With what has seemed like weeks of rain, the ground is soggy and the air is moist.  The hope of spring is in the air.  The ground is watered and the buds on the trees grow daily, and my restlessness for Sunshine intensifies with each and every morning that I wake up to grey skies.   I long for the days when I can roll out of bed, and be prepared to throw on a sundress and sandals, instead of reaching for my sweaters and rubber boots.  This incubation period between Christmas and spring is the worst of the year in my humble opinion.   Spring is on the horizon, we see it ready to burst, yet day after day winter's dreariness clings on like frost to a window.  The joys of spring go beyond flowers bursting, sun shining, and warmer weather.  Spring also calls in a time of cleansing and reorganisation, ie.  SPRING CLEANING!!!   Out with the old well worn winter sweaters and wellies.   In with the flowy skirts, ankle grazing pastel pants and oh! sandals.   

This time of cleansing of the closet requires a hardness and selective-ness I personally have to muster up all year round.   I tend to be a grade A clothing Hoarder, at least in times past.    My addiction to holding on to clothing came to light after moving out for the first time into a tiny 10X10 rooms with virtually the smallest closet in Canada.    I had to somehow condense my clothing collection of 22 years into a small dresser and the hole-in-the-wall of a closet.    I had to become ruthless and detach myself somehow from my beloved collection.  

It began as a slow and painful process of elimination.   I slowly purge myself of the shirts I had held onto since high school and jeans that wear too small that I cling to in hopes of one days returning to my high school stringbean size.     Believe it or not, this was not as easy as it should be.  
I had to become heartless and I dealt severely with the clothing I had. I ended up being able to bring two garbage bags full to a consignment store, and then gave away the same weight to charity.     

Some Guidelines for the Purging Process:
If it doesn't fit- don't hold on to it... just not worth the closet space.
If you haven't worn it in the last 3 months ( for everyday clothes)  - maybe time to say goodbye.
If you haven't worn it in a year (Semi Formal)  -  it is time. 
If you haven't ever worn it-  either get on that or decided if its worth holding onto. 

If you think you might loose your nerve, invite a friend to help you make well thought out decisions.

This last month I was invited to a clothing swap, where a group of women get together with clothing they'd like to "swap." This ended up being a great way to purge, and trade up. I highly recommend organising this sort of get-together, maybe with a wine and cheese? Wine and shopping, what could be better? In the end any remaining clothes were donated.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

look book look vol. 1

I used to spend endless hours grazing through magazines, tearing out favorite outfits and makeup and pasting them into a scrapbook, that that on days when I was without inspiration I just merely had to flip through my look book and pick.   These days, I am not afforded the luxury of time to do that.   But I have put together a few looks, and finds that might inspire you.  Ultimately I think style comes from the ability to use what you have and recreate it to fit your needs and desired look.   Being limited on funds, I stick to thrift stores and the deep recesses of my closet.   I rediscovered a few staple items recently, like my converse, and my leather skirt.    Thank goodness fashion is cyclical! 



Look Book Looks:

I am a walking ad for Joe Fresh here. Shoes, shorts, shirt's all Joe!

My leather bag, was found at V.v for $6! (Holt Renfrew Brand)
Oh...can't wait to whip those shorts out again

. 

(my favorite) Cashmere Sweater, and h&m basic white collared shirt

 

My thrifted leather skirt.  One of my favorite finds.  

...cannot wait to be able to wear shorts again.  
This is my going to play elegant tennis outfit.  

Chuck Taylors...I abandoned you years ago and now I am rekindling our love. 
Great for just about anything. 

Thrifted Banana Republic Silk Shirt, $14. 
And my go-to Camo jacket. 
 

 

 

Happy Lookbooking! 

More Patience.

What would life be like with a little more patience?
I’d pause and appreciate that red light, take a moment to breathe in deep. I’d learn to appreciate an inconvenience and view it as an opportunity instead. I’d take my time to complete projects in a manner that is 100% my best work all the time. I’d feel at ease in conversation and devote my full attention to who... I was speaking with. If I had a little more patience I’d learn French and pursue the language with fervor. I’d learn to knit beautiful scarves and intricate toques. With more patience I would enjoy each stage in my life, and try to see the unique characteristic of each chapter. I wouldn’t rush love with my persistent wishes. I’d wait wholeheartedly for that special moment where you “know” because that moment WILL be worth waiting for. Because I have been patient enough to wait, it will be right because God will be at the center of it with his all-encompassing love to direct and strengthen. With a little more patience I could take time to get to know those around me, and pray with expectant faith for Gods reply. Patience allows things to grow in the Gods perfect timing. A seed is planted and takes root. Only after God’s appointed time does it sprout and begin to show signs of the true beauty it will eventually be. Without the crucial step of taking root, the flower will not be able to get the nutrients it needs. Taking ownership of patience and allowing it sink soul deep will allow for Christ love to enrich our lives in perfect timing.


What would you do with more patience?  

stale bag of chips

It has been a while since my last post.  My last post was when snow glazed the ground, now it is just about time for spring cleaning.   I discovered old things that I had forgotten about deep inside my computers memory; writtings or rants of my past.    I found this one and thought I'd share it, and maybe add a new perspective on things.    So here is a little taste of what it was like being a 21 year old me:


It’s stale.  Like the dissatisfying non-crunch you would get from a nacho chip that lived too long in a “left-open” plastic bag… that kind of stale.    When that bag of chips was bought, the intensions were good, to eat, enjoy and savour all before the expiry date 40 years down the road, or perhaps before the accidental – bag-left-open scenario, which makes the satisfying crunch make more of a deflated sort of sound.  

That’s where I am.   I’m stale.   I’ve been left in a heavy circulating existence without the means to free myself from my chip bag life.   Three years since graduation…with nothing to show for it.   I left the trivial pursuits and high school antics with hopes of achieving some glorified goal.   At the time I was sure I’d figure it out – like yesterday.  But I still haven’t.    I’m creeping up to my expiry date, the day when I turn my life over to Walmart and accept the blue smock with my wasted pride lingering over my shoulder snickering.  

If I were a bag of chips, I’d be something delicious.  I’d have flavour that would make your mouth water and enough salt to keep you thirsty and a hint of spice that you’re pretty sure you’ve tried before somewhere exotic.   I’d be organic, and have all sort of healthy stuff in the fibre of my being, so you could indulge in me and not feel guilty.  
I’d be a ridiculously good bag of chips.  

I’m not a bag of chips.   I’m a twenty one year old women gasping for fresh air.  I have the heart of a lion and the stubbornness of an ass.   Both handed down to me from two parents that are, “just so proud of me.”  ..For doing what exactly?   I don’t know if I’ll ever understand this pride they so willingly bestow upon me.  Maybe it comes with maternal instincts.

   I am a firm believer in if you have the means; you can make your dreams come true.    I don’t have the means to do just about anything.   So here I sit, in my plastic bag existence. Waiting.  For the means. To end this plastic-suffocating-routine of an existence. 

Every year around this time, I find I spend double the amount I would normally on coffee.    Tim Horton’s draws me in with the thrill of rolling up the rim – to see please play again under every single rim!   My logic is, if I upgrade to the extra large coffee at Tim Horton’s my chances of winning that ten thousand dollars pretty much triples.    – I haven’t won …and I haven’t finished a coffee yet!      I see this yearly ritual as an opportunity for God to reach down from Heaven and timely grant me my means to an end!  But, no such luck.  The positive to Roll Up the Rim time is that I branch out and try something new- like wasting money on coffee I wont drink.  

I imagine life like a circus.   Busy patrons racing around trying to take in all they can, those zealous for winning spend everything at the whack-a-mole trying to win an oversized bear filled with cardboard, or the thrill seekers find the haunted house and run out of it screaming.  Currently I’m stuck on the Ferris wheel.    It’s an easy ride, safe.  However it is so strange how every time you go around everything looks exactly the same.  It stops and starts and gets you no where.    I’m more of a rollercoaster kind of girl.  I love the anticipation for the drop and the satisfaction of completing the figure eight without loosing your lunch.   If life is short, then why not take as much in as you can?    Chip-bag existence and a Ferris wheel life are safe and stale.   I want spice and organic life to ooze from me and for my heart to race and feel a sort of satisfaction only received after achieving something great- something you had to get off your butt to do. 


I wrote this about 3 years ago, since that time, life has taken an exciting turn. I am completing my 2nd year at University and I've had more life experience and spice added to my exsistence.   I travelled to New York City... not yet a world traveller but on my way to be.   Perspective is everything... This I am a firm believer in, and I think sometimes you do just have to get off your butt and just do it.  


happy march!