Category :Cardis

Ahem, Ahem, Introducing…

Cardi – Nick&Mo from Trixie; Fifties Swing Dress – c/o eShakti; Tights – Hue; Shoes – Payless.

I’d love to introduce you guys to eShakti.  This site is so reasonably priced, and the selection is just superb!  What’s wonderful about this site is that it’s like having a personal tailor right at your fingertips.  For just a nominal fee you can customize everything: sleeve style and length, front and back style, hem length, and also send them your exact measurements to have the piece tailored to your individual body.  I particularly appreciate this feature since so many of my friends are so unique that standard cuts/proportions just don’t fit them.  I myself find that, though my size is pretty standard in proportion, I often face the problem of things being too short.  That’s why I found this site so delightful.  When offered the chance to select a piece and test drive the whole shopping experience I was excited.

Since I was looking for a simple blue dress that would give me a wide variety of styling options, I selected this beautiful piece you see in the pictures.  I customized it just a little by selecting a longer length, and eagerly awaited it’s arrival.  I was also a little nervous.  Why?  Because I’m committed to being completely honest with you guys, so I’m always worried that I won’t like the service or the product. I want to love it, so that I can say only the best things possible.   And I wasn’t disappointed!

When my dress arrived I was so amazed at the quality of workmanship and the material!  It’s so well made, stitched, and tailored, and the material *though polyester* is so rich that I could barely believe this dress is so reasonable on the site.  I threw it on right away and it immediately went on my ‘favorite dresses’ list.   I could not be more pleased with this piece.  I know it’s going to make many appearances on this blog! In the meantime, I have my eye on this piece and this piece as well.  Don’t you think they’d just be so darling?

And you want to know the cherry on top of this wonderful cake? Throughout the whole process, the customer service representative I was in contact with was so great.  She was efficient, helpful, and really quick to respond to all my emails.  I never waited more than 12 hours for a response.  So good product and great customer service?  Yes please!

Quote of Today:
“You look so wholesome. Very Pleasantville.”

Creative Inspiration

Top – Ruche; Cardi – Ruche; Jeans – Gap; Boots – Feet First.

I’d love to give you guys up to the minute links and fabulous current stock stuff on this blog, because I’d love to giveback and share what little style knowledge and advice I have, but I’m pretty budget conscious and often have to wait for big sales and specials to get my own stuff.  That means that by the time I get there, it’s already low on stock.   I hope we just get to inspire one another and come up with creative ideas to make fun outfits from what we already have.  ‘Cause really that’s what it’s all about anyway.

 True Story:
Baby throws something.  
I look at her with a scowl.  
She looks at me with that, “What? I didn’t do it” look.  
She’s got it down pat, I tell ya.

Opening A Can Of Worms

Cardi – Smart Set; Blouse – F21; Skirts – Jacob; Tights – Hue; Shoes – Town Shoes.

 A person recently tweeted *and I’m paraphrasing* “To those who think gay marriage ruins the institution of marriage, I have two words: Kim Kardashian.”  That got me thinking, not about gay marriage – because I’m not going to touch that debate with a ten foot pole – but about marriage and what is meant when we, as a society, talk about protecting it.

Marriage throughout history was used as the official stamp on things: alliances, deals, contracts, peace agreements,etc. They were all sealed with a marriage between the two parties.  Even those not in the well-to-do ranks or aristocracy *this goes beyond Europe, and I use aristocracy to mean the upper castes of society* used marriage to seal deals – whether that was to secure two farms to each other, secure care for a daughter, or just to get rid of a mouth to feed. *’cause that’s what an extra daughter was thought as being*  Our modern idea of marriage has been present throughout history as well – I think love has always been –  but it was either an accident, luxury, or done out of wedlock.  Poorer people often had what we consider ‘marriage’ but they had it outside wedlock and without the sanction of the church, or ruling authority, because it was common that people couldn’t pay for a ceremony or pay taxes/fees to their lord to be allowed to marry. 

My question is this, what exactly are we talking about protecting?  The institution of marriage has not been sacred historically – it’s been a rubber stamp, which we don’t need anymore since we have lawyers and contracts and courts.  Our modern idea of marriage was considered a foolish notion, indulgence, or occurred without official sanction – people just lived together as man and wife.

So are we talking about protecting the 1950s idea of marriage?  The one where women had no real means, or power and stayed in abusive marriages because of lack of options, or had to marry because of the same? Is that what we’re protecting? 

I know what marriage means to me.  I know how strongly I believe in it and how important I think it is.  But I also know that the institution of marriage is not a pure and innocent thing.  It has routinely been used without regard for the two individuals involved, so I’m not particularly adamant in protecting it either.  I’ve seen people enter into it casually and leave just as casually *Britney Spears 72 hours Vegas wedding, anyone?* and I’ve seen first hand people live together in love for decades without being ‘married.’

If we’re protecting the idea of what a love marriage means, well then I don’t think we should worry because as I said, love marriages have always been around and have survived despite humanity’s best efforts to use them as a tool.
So I repeat my question, what exactly are we talking about protecting?
And that’s not rhetorical.  I want to know.   I don’t mean to open up a controversial topic, I’m just inquisitive and curious, and I’d like to know what we’re talking about.  I want to define exactly what is being debated.

p.s. sorry about the blurry pics.  Yesterday was crazy and I had five minutes to grab a record of what I wore.

Quote of Today:
“I could marry you!”

Vintage Shoot

Cardi – thrifted; Top – Urbanog.com; Pants – Lululemon, Boots – ?

I did a really fun shoot today all styled in 50s or 60s vintage.  It was a publicity shoot for Victoria Murdoch‘s new one woman fringe festival show.   It was a great impromptu shoot organized in under three days, scrounged together through various talent and resources, including the spectacular Jessica Jean Myers – hair and make-up artist extraordinaire – and shot by yours truly.  Can’t wait to show you guys the finished product.   In the meantime, check out a behind-the-scenes shot of Jessica doing Victoria’s hair:

Quote of Today:
“It would really suck to have to go through an alien apocalypse with her being so little.” 
Normally I don’t say where these come from, but today I have to own up.  
This was me.
Non-chalantly. 
Over breakfast.

Running While Pregnant

Shirt – thrifted; Cardi – Esprit; Jeans – Gap; Belt – F21; Boots – Threadsence.

 I’m an avid runner.  And I do mean avid.  Before I had the Baby it wasn’t uncommon for me to go for 10k runs up to five days a week.  It’s just something I liked to do.  And when I got pregnant I pretty much continued doing that.  I listened to my body and the days that I felt too tired or not up to it, I cut runs short or skipped them altogether.  And I also did P90X during my pregnancy – everything except the twists, which all the experts agree is not good for you.  And the abs – ’cause once I have a big belly that just wasn’t going to happen!  But I continued this exercise regime pretty much right up until I gave birth.  And then at six weeks post-partum, when I got the medical ‘all-clear,’ I resumed my running regimen gradually starting from 20 minutes and working my way back up.

What frustrated me were the looks of disapproval I got from some people.  The looks that said, “You’re endangering your baby by over exercising.”  I got those looks from a wide-spectrum of people, and I always dismissed them.  I told myself that my doctor and midwife didn’t have a problem with it, and my body seemed to want to continue it so why shouldn’t I? I’m pregnant, not sick.

Today I read this article about a woman who ran/walked a marathon and gave birth shortly after.  She has become infamous, drawing critics from far and wide. We all have different bodies and different capabilities, and where one woman can run a marathon pregnant, another can’t, but as long as both women are healthy, what’s the big whoop?  If you’re healthy and capable and smart, why shouldn’t you do it?  I think what’s more dangerous is the pregnant woman who lays in bed for nine months and takes pregnancy as an excuse to not move and to eat everything in sight regardless of nutrition. But that’s just me.

These days I still run on the treadmill, but I pretty much run all day everyday….after Baby and Drake the Dog.   What did you do during pregnancy?  How did your body feel? What would you change if you were to do it again?

The Last Daily Challenge:
Run.  Whether 10 minutes or 60, just try it. 

The Bravery Of Women

Cardi – Smart Set; Dress – Trashy Diva; Tights – Hue; Shoes – Payless.

 It’s a focus on Kenya, where the rich go to private hospitals with clean floors and the poor go to public hospitals with blood and cockroaches as the stomping ground, in this post on world birth.  According to the article, the country has made absolutely no progress in improving maternal and infant care.  Teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and HIV plague women in this African country.  But what is the worst thing?  The conditions and statistics  mentioned in this article are considered an improvement over a few years ago. 

Every new country that is examined just makes me more and more thankful for the blessedly wonderful conditions I had surrounding my labour: a clean hospital, two midwives and a student, my husband, my mother, and my best friend there to comfort and support me.  I can’t imagine going it alone, afraid to eat the food, or touch anything, and worrying about the possibility of contracting HIV during my labour.  I applaud the bravery of all these women.

p.s. I promised you guys something good when I hit 200 on GFC and I haven’t forgotten.  We’re almost there and I’ll have a good surprise for you all!

Tomorrow’s Daily Challenge:
Call your mama and thank her…for anything.

The Privilege Of Giving Thanks

Sweater – made by my Babcia; Infinity scarf/hood – Smart Set; Shorts – Ruche; Tights – H&M; Boots – Feet First.

Continuing with the Toronto Star’s focus on childbirth around the world, today we talk about Afghanistan.  I was reading the article when this sentence struck me like baseball bat to the back of the heart, “In this benighted nation, a woman dies in childbirth every 29 minutes.”  This country has the world’s highest maternal mortality rate.

Then right on the heels of that came this: One out of every five children dies before its fifth birthday.  The maternal mortality rate is 10 times higher than the number of civilians killed in conflict annually.”  This is just the cusp of the harsh and cruel reality that faces women there everyday.  During this week of Thanksgiving for our friends south of the border, I join them in giving thanks that I live in such a privileged place.

Tomorrow’s Daily Challenge:
Whether in the U.S. or not, today give thanks for 10 things you have.

Accentuate The Positive

Cardi – Aritzia; Top – F21; Jeans – Gap; Boots – Feet First.

Can I just say how much I love the fact that Baby always has to get my attention when taking outfits shots?  She either cries *which I’m not crazy about*  or she giggles and makes funny face *which I love a whole lot more*  My absolute favorite is when she shoves her nose up against the glass.   That gets me every time.  I crack up laughing and make just as many silly faces *as evidenced above*

I got together with some friends last night to play board games and have dessert.   It was so much fun.  I think that hanging out with friends and having a blast playing board games has to be one of my favorite activities.  It’s so great to connect with people like that.  And I always feel so positive about things when it’s all done *even though I didn’t win*

Tomorrow’s Daily Challenge:
Catch yourself thinking a negative thought today and consciously change it into a positive thought.  Repeat that thought to yourself at least three times.

Under Construction

Cardi – hand me down; Dress – Ruche; Tights – H&M; Boots – Feet First; Belt – F21

Oh my goodness!  I’m re-designing my blog because well it’s just time, and the old template I was working with before had so many faults it was becoming a bit of a nightmare to try to manage it.  So in the meantime, I’ve had to revert to a simple template, but at least this one actually works!  I’m hoping to have it done and revealed to you soon.  In the meantime, please stick with me.  I know it looks pretty bare right now, but at least it’s clean and functional.

On another note, I’m getting eaten out of house and home!  Baby ate two eggs with sausage today and half a piece of toast, then munched on cheerios until snack time: two whole bowls of yogurt and a breakfast bar.  Where does it all go???

Tomorrow’s Daily Challenge:
Have absolutely no sugar today – maple syrup and agave nectar allowed, no splenda or such stuff though.

A Work In Progress

Cardi, Warmers, and Necklace – Ruche; Jeans – Guess; Shoes – Payless; Shirt – Esprit.

I’m going to talk about world birth, but if you want to read a little bit about me playing check out my guest post over here!

World birth series at the Toronto Star continue with a focus on India.  The article says that India’s public health budget is the lowest in the world, and much of the money that is allocated disappears unaccounted for due to widespread corruption.  Women giving birth in a public hospital are in one room with 60 beds, sometimes sharing a bed, with dirty floors and mold on the walls, and no doctor or nurse in sight.  They just don’t show up about 40% of the time.

On the rise is private health care systems, where the costs are kept low by keeping services simple and by specializing in only three areas.  Doctors are paid on a profit sharing model and it seems to be working.  India is a country where necessity has created  some great inventions – like incubators that cost one tenth of the regular price.  Despite it’s corruption and lack of funding, general life expectancy has grown and the country recognizes the importance of maternal and natal care.

India is one of those places where things are improving, but I want to somehow see it change over night.  I realize that just isn’t possible, but it’s hard to sit and read about dirty and unsafe conditions for women and babes without getting upset.

Tomorrow’s Daily Challenge:
Go through your day without cursing. 
For some this may be easy, for others this may well be near impossible.
You can do it!
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