Moda Mama

Is my Polish Showing?

October 14, 2015
/
6 COMMENTS

Many of you don’t know that I was born and partly raised in Poland. I literally came to Canada on a boat. Yup. That’s right. I learned to speak English and adjusted to life in Canada. It’s just me, my Mom, and my sister here.

Right now I truly consider myself Canadian. As much as I love Poland, and of course all the family still there, if I had to choose an identification it would very much be Canadian. But that doesn’t mean I’m not Polish. I read books, and consume media, and there are habits and traditions very much alive amid all that Canadian-ness.

And I also can’t resist throwing a little Polish traditional garb into my style occasionally, like this scarf.

Denim shirt – Chi’qle // Tanks – H&M // Pants – Lululemon // Boots – Aldo // Scarf – from Poland

Review: Irresistible Me 8-in-1 Curler

October 12, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

Irresistible-Me-curling-iron-hair-review

“Me review a hair product?!? Are you kidding me?”

That was my reaction when the folks over at Irresistible Me first reached out to me. But then I thought about it, and really, yeah I think I’m kind of the perfect person to do it. Why? Because I’m a regular woman with less than regular woman aptitude for hair.

Despite the hair tutorials I’ve posted and done, I’m not very adept with hair. If you notice all my hair tutorials are for super easy, super fast hair styles. Nothing complicated or too time consuming. So yeah, after some thinking I came to the conclusion that if I can use this, then anyone can use this.

So here it goes.

First off, the whole thing comes in this awesome box, and when you take it out it’s this roll up kit that looks like it’s got some super cool safe cracking tools inside. You know, all cat burglar stuff. I felt like I should change into an all black skin, tight outfit and do some cool ninja tricks too.

I decided to use the pearl wand. For people like me who had to google it, it’s the one that looks like it has four little balls. I wanted messy curls with all different sizes and not too much uniformity.

I started with clean, dry hair like the instructions say. Psssh!! Yeah. No. My hair was about three days old *I shampoo it about once every five days*

The whole thing heated up in twenty seconds. It was ready to use super fast. As I got going, the temperature kept fluctuating, and I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. But after fiddling a bit, I figured it out. If you hold down the left button, it controls when the iron automatically shuts off. It was set at 60, and once I turned it down to 00, there were no more temperature fluctuations and it remained constant. Don’t know what I did exactly, but it worked.

So I started curling. Very precisely, taking exact sections. I did not at all haphazardly grab pieces of hair and curl them randomly without thinking about it. Neeeevvver! *That was sarcasm, in case you missed it*

It took a while, ’cause well, look at how much hair I have. But the result was this:

I really like it. I like the fact that someone as inept, and not at all precise when it comes to hair, as me can easily turn it on and get some pretty freakin’ awesome results. I did put some product in my hair before I started to help the curls keep. And boy did they keep! Two days later it was still looking great.

I’m really excited that I won’t have to buy any other curler. I mean the Irresistible Me 8-in-1 curler has eight attachments and so the curls I can get are as diverse as anything I can imagine. I can totally see this being a big hit with stylists as they can adjust to any client needs.

But for a woman like me who doesn’t like to put too much thought into her hair, this is awesome. I don’t have to focus, I don’t have to be an expert, and the wand does everything for me. Sweet!

Christmas lists anyone?

*this post has been brought to you

in collaboration with Irresistible

Me. All opinions are my own,

’cause I’m a brutally honest sarcastic dame*

Heels and Leather Pants

October 9, 2015
/
1 COMMENT

Kind of a natural pairing, you know? Like jeans and a tee. Coffee and croissant. There’s something about putting the two together that feels right.

I don’t often wear heels. Hardly ever, but lately, after finding some incredibly comfy ones at warehouse sales…you know, I’m thinking they might be all right. These particular ones though, I’ve owned for years after finding them on the shelves of Winners.

I’m never going to be a full convert though. Because I like the functionality of flats too much. But sometimes. Sometimes I get the appeal, and I think I’ll indulge more.

And leather pants? Well, you just can’t have enough of those. Granted they’re fake. And I own two pairs so far…damn, there’s a great feeling that comes over you when you slip on a pair. That’s the best thing about fashion, the feeling that some pieces can give you.

Pleather pants – Zara // Top – Spell Designs // Jacket – Spotted Moth *old* // Heels – Winners

Go With It

October 7, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

Spell-Designs-Duster-Flares-Fedora-boho-womens-fashion-blog

The sun is gone. Well okay, it’s not actually gone. It feel like it’s gone though as Fall is firmly here.

Normally I really loath this time. I loath it because it means layers and for all my love of fashion, I actually dislike wearing clothes. I’m happiest when I can spend a day in a bathing suit, or wear a light dress that just grazes my skin. That is my bliss. That is my happy place. So yes, I normally loath this time of year when I know that the heat is leaving and the cold is settling in.

But I don’t loath it. Surprisingly. I don’t mind it too much. The layers are coming on, but I’m not minding it too much. I’m enjoying the layers. Maybe it’s my new love of Victoria Secret slips under clothes that make it feel like summer is still here. Maybe it’s a milder season, and my hatred will only come out once the snow falls. Or maybe it’s that my perspective is shifting.

Whatever it is. I’m just gonna go with it.

Duster – Spell Designs // Jeans – Zara // Tank – *I forget, old* // Belt – American Eagle // Shoes – ThreadSence // Hat – UO // Necklace – Monserat de Lucca // Sunnies – F21

Whiskey Too Far

October 5, 2015
/
8 COMMENTS

Whiskey-tee-skinny-jeans-leather-jacket-rocker

That moment. That moment when you are pushed too far.

You know that moment? You can feel it coming. There’s a build up. There’s a wave and a rising. It’s palpable and tangible. At least for me.

It takes a lot to get me really angry. Though I have a fiery temper, and a fierce capacity for anger, it takes a lot to push me to the edge.

What I’m talking about is real anger. Not what you might think of as anger if you were in the passenger seat with me. I yell and curse like a sailor at stupid drivers, but my driving itself doesn’t get angry – nor do I, despite what it sounds like – that’s just my dramatic nature and Polish heritage.

But real anger. Over injustice and pain caused to friends, for example. That. That gets me angry. And well, as my Mom has said to me several times, she much preferred my sister’s teenage years. Because my dear sister would explode and rage but get over it quickly. With me, it was slow but when it happened, it was seething and could last eons.

All of this is to say, “The way I look is so fragile, yet here in my hand is an assurance of eternity.” *Rumi*
Or as my shirt says, “She’s whiskey in a tea cup.”

Jacket – Le Chateau // Tank Top – Gunny Sack & Co. // Jeans – Lucky Brand // Boots – thrifted // Necklace – Monserat de Lucca via Beau and Bauble // Ring – Body Blue

*linking up with Not Dressed*

White Cashmere Collection 2015

October 3, 2015
/
LEAVE A COMMENT

The annual White Cashmere Collection fund and awareness raiser for breast cancer was this week. I was lucky enough to be invited to attend.

I love the concept for the simple fact that it is a fashion show of pure art. It’s not meant to be a show of items you can actually purchase, or trends that you should try to integrate into your closet. Instead, it is a challenge to the designers to create a piece of art out of Cashmere Bathroom tissue. And these creations are the result.

It is a fashion show of pure eye candy, and a great kick off to October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Aren’t they stunning? Which one is your favorite?

Also, the photo booth was pretty cool too and they even made me a gif… but you have to check that out on Instagram!

Here’s a really great video of the event. It captures how much fun the day was and how beautiful the art was.

It was an honor to be invited.

Sometimes….a Friend

October 2, 2015
/
4 COMMENTS

Green-fit-and-flare-dress-womens-fashion

Sometimes all you need is to throw on a dress,
grab a tea,
and go for a walk with a friend.

And hug your troubles away.
That helps.
*Hugs*

Dress – Ruche // Shoes – Aldo // Necklace – TopShop

Purple Ninja

September 30, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

Spell-shorts-karma-shirt-boho-womens-fashion

This morning.

I dress my girl in a matching purple tracksuit.

She turns to me and says, “Mama, I’m a ninja. A purple ninja!”

#ParentingWin

Shorts – Spell Designs // Top – Lucky Brand // Boots – Aldo // Necklace – Fair trade from Bolivia // Harness – MoneyMaker

A Poem by Rumi

September 28, 2015
/
4 COMMENTS

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase ‘each other’
doesn’t make any sense.

– Rumi

Dress – Spell Designs // Purse – Lucky Brand *hand me down* // Shoes – Threadsence // Sunnies – UO // Rings & Necklace – F21

*linking up with Not Dressed*

Free Fridays

September 25, 2015
/
4 COMMENTS

Fall, Winter, and Spring means that Andrew’s business is in full swing. Which is great for finances obviously, but it also means a lot of business trips and a lot more responsibility on me at home.

One thing that I enjoy however, is that I’ve somehow managed to keep Fridays free. Friday mornings and afternoon have somehow managed to become a day for me.

I’m going to consciously try and keep it going. I need one day a week to me – one 6 hour block that is mine. And Friday seems like a good one.