Moda Mama

I Lost a Friend…(An Ode to My Friends)

July 6, 2015
/
4 COMMENTS

….a year ago. She didn’t pass, she just decided to stop being friends with me. I haven’t spoken on this site about it at all because there is privacy which I like to retain once in a while. And I’m not really going to speak on it here, except as context.

She was my best friend. She was someone I considered a sister, and her abrupt and complete departure from my life shocked me, betrayed me, and left me with a hole. Not wanting sympathy here, just giving you context.

Since then.

Since then, I’ve organically gone outside myself. The many times I would’ve spent with her, I have started spending reaching out and getting to know others. Over the last year and a half, I’ve forged real and strong relationships with a variety of people. I’ve come to know a great many wonderful persons, who each bring something different into my life and who each excite me in a variety of ways.

I write this now, because I realized today that I’ve been stretched beyond my energy this week. How have I been stretched? In the most wonderful of ways. By the beautiful people I know who have reached out to me to spend time together. And I’ve realized that there is no longer a hole. There is only a blessing. I am blessed to have so many people that make me laugh, that touch my heart, and that accept and love me as I am, and want to spend time with me.

To any of you who’ve been dancing with me, rehearsed with me, played games with me, or had a drink with me: Gratitude. You are not taken for granted. You are appreciated.

“My cup runneth over.”

Dress – Arnhem // Sandals – c/o Easy Spirit // Necklace – Fair Trade and made in Bolivia.

The Cost of Personal Style (Or The $9 Dress)

July 2, 2015
/
4 COMMENTS

Urban-Outfitters-dress-backless-long-hair-brunette

Style doesn’t have to cost much. Actually it can cost about nine dollars and a little time. Take this dress. It was bought at a fifty percent off sale items sale. I paid a whopping nine dollars for it. I knew the second I slipped it on that it fit my trifecta of sartorial love: it allowed ease of movement, it was light, and it had some great visual interest.

The only hitch was that for some reason, the way it was made the top was a touch see-through. This wouldn’t be a big deal except that you can’t exactly wear something under a backless dress like this. But none of that dissuaded me. I bought it.

Then I took an old navy liner from a skirt that had been torn beyond repair, and turned on Netflix. At the end of the episode, I had hand stitched in a little shelf bra/liner. Problem solved.

Moral of the story? Two actually.

1. Personal style is made from what you love, and not what is on trend *this dress was on sale because no one else wanted it* or what is expensive.

2. Just because an item isn’t perfect in store, doesn’t mean that a little tailoring or imagination can’t turn it into a piece you’ll love for a long time.

Dress – UO // Sandals – FreePeople // Sunnies – F21

The Skin I’m In: About Acceptance

July 1, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

I’m finally, since turning 30, getting comfortable in my own skin. My girlfriends used to tell me this; they used to say that it wasn’t until they hit their 30s that they came into their own. They got over their image and self angst *to the extent that one can* and just started to accept themselves how they are.

And it’s true. The 20s are so turbulent. You don’t know who you are, and you don’t know what you feel about things. And you also, as a woman, are constantly dissatisfied with your body. There’s also a certain search for the ‘right’ or ‘perfect’ everything. Now I’m generalizing here, obviously, and anecdotally so, but I feel that after 30 you just begin to settle.

Settle, not in that dirty word way where you lower standards to less than deserved. Settle in the best way. Like unsettled water filled with sediment and therefore cloudy, your 20s are full of shakes. At 30 the water begins to settle. The sand falls to the bottom and things become clearer. It’s not about full zen contentment, it’s more about acceptance. Acceptance of what this life brings, and of who you are in all your glorious flaws.

As a woman who has struggled with body image, and general image, it’s been nice to finally accept the body I’m in. The body that is healthy and strong, and capable of many things. The body that allows me to experience all the things I set my mind to in life. And vanity wise, it’s nice to finally see the body and not focus on the flaws….because they’re only really flaws to our photoshopped society.

Here endeth the lesson.

Days of Contentment

June 29, 2015
/
5 COMMENTS

The last few days, I danced for probably seven hours combined. It’s incredible how much energy and emotion is released into the world by the simple act of dance. I’ve been saying it for years, “Dance it out.” And I always understood Meredith’s *from Grey’s Anatomy* need to have a 30 second dance party. There’s always a good time to dance.

But more than that, I spent the weekend with the most wonderful people. Friends, and peers, who despite everyone’s flaws, accept and respect each other. No judgement and no expectations, except for the desire to ‘suck the marrow out of life.’

Dress – Spell Designs // Boots – F21 // Bracelet & Small gold ring – ThreadSence // Large Gem ring – small fair trade company // Flash Tattoos – eBay

Lush Green Trees and a Little Creek

June 26, 2015
/
6 COMMENTS

Finding little places like this, low in a valley and hidden from the city, is like entering a secret garden.
Logically, I know that this place is frequented by many.
But emotionally, it feels like my own secret place.
Quiet and undiscovered.

It just begs and cries out for a little twirling and dancing.

Kimono – Spell Designs // Top – SheIn // Shorts – Target // Sandals – Threadsence // Hat – I forget // Necklaces – Vanessa Mooney and Monserat de Lucca

Cheeky

June 24, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

Who doesn’t love being a little cheeky? A little coy and innocent on the outside but a tempest of wit and salaciousness inside?
Enter the French brand, Lochers. Because who else does the cheeky innocent better than the French.

Top – Lochers // Skirt – One Rad Girl // Shoes – Aldo // Sunnies – F21 // Bracelet & Earrings – Ruche

Dance Like Everyone’s Watching, And No One Cares

June 22, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

Spell-Designs-Shirt-Dress-Fedora-Ankle-Boots

There’s this thing you can do here in Toronto. It’s called dance. I know what you’re thinking, “You can dance anywhere Jo.” But this isn’t regular dance. It’s a drug free, alcohol free, no talking, no judgement kind of dance. It’s called Ecstatic Dance. And for about two hours you dance.

You move. You feel the beat. No one is there to ‘pick-up.’ You don’t have to worry about creepers. There’s no club wear, just comfy clothing you can move in. People dance in silly ways. However they want, and it’s all great. Some do contact improv. Some, like me, just dance. Just get out of their heads, into their bodies, and enjoy the rhythm of the music as it flows through their body. It’s like Grey’s Anatomy where they dance it out – just for two hours.

And it’s glorious.

Shirts Dress – Spell Designs // Hat & my left hand ring – ThreadSence // Boots – Aldo // Belt – hand me down // Bracelet – eBay // Sunnies – F21 // Necklace – Vanessa Mooney // Rings *my right hand* – from my Babcia

Sometimes the World

June 19, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

Sometimes our brains freeze up. At least mine does.
Sometimes I don’t know who I am supposed to be, and have trouble reconciling that with who I am.
Sometimes my heart feels too many feels and then I become confused about what I’m feeling.
Sometimes I feel like a little girl, not knowing which way to go, and thinking everyone is an adult around me and has it all figured out.
Sometimes I just need to stop and dance.

Top – Auguste // Jeans – Lucky Brand // Necklace – Fair Trade Show // Sandals – I forget *old*

Summer Sales on Melijoe

June 17, 2015
/
LEAVE A COMMENT

Clearly *clearly* my girl loves playing around in her Melijoe Dress. She gets a huge kick out of running around in it. And I’m really impressed with how it’s held up considering the shenanigans she puts it through.

Also, I don’t know about you but I’d like to think I’m a pretty savvy mom. A mom who spends her money wisely. So I love a good sale. When the sales come out, I stock up on this seasons, and next seasons goodies. And oh yeah, you guessed it, Melijoe is all about the sales right now. I’m talkin’ up to 60% off!

I’m really loving the brand Petit Bateau on the site. It’s a lovely mix of cute and classy. Kind of how I think of my girl, until she plays in the mud of course. But then there’s always Desigual, which I’m such a sucker for. I mean look at this dress!

*This post is brought to you in

collaboration with Melijoe Fashion.*

Takin’ It All In Stride.

June 15, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

Lace-pants-long-kimono-sweater-johhny-cash-tee

Saturday: my girl’s birthday party.
Saturday eve: our games night.
Saturday middle of the night: Carbon monoxide detector goes off and we spend a total of two hours outside while the fire department comes, checks our house, concludes it’s a malfunction and false alarm, and leaves.
Sunday: coffee.

Sunday after coffee: if this is the problem I’m dealing with right now, life’s pretty okay. People are being persecuted and hunted around the world just for being alive. Which is right up there with me losing a couple hours sleep right? *that was sarcasm in case you missed it*

Here’s to perspective. Happy week everyone.