Moda Mama

Gratitude Greta

October 28, 2014
/
13 COMMENTS

Tiered Dress – Ruche // Thermal Top & Thigh High Socks – FreePeople // Boots – Aldo // Fedora – I forget // Jacket – F21 // Bag – Urban Outfitters // Sweater – ThreadSence // Chevron Necklace – I Forget

Following up on yesterday’s post. The mental and emotional journey was staggering over the last month. I spent a lot of time crying, and feeling sad. I was terrified that it would be a chronic or long term condition which had me really blue because all I saw were the things that I wouldn’t get to do.

Then came a point where I suddenly saw my old life (what came before this illness) and what I had, and was incredibly grateful for that. I had so much life, so much freedom, and so much to be grateful for. All I wanted was to get back to that. So once I started to feel better, I was excited that I would get that old life back.

And now, for all intents and purposes, I do. So that makes me happy. I have so much freedom to do what I love and have amazing experiences. But I do feel moments where the old downer thoughts – that I’m not booking enough as an actor or photographer – and the doubts – that I’m not good enough as a person, actor, photographer – try to creep back in. It’s hard. We all have a “Negative Nancy” as my naturopath calls her. And I know we all have our ways of managing her. I’m just trying to figure out a way to hang on to those feelings of gratitude and appreciation, rather than allowing Negative Nancy a megaphone.

How do you stay grateful? And what things do you use to keep Negative Nancy at bay?

Easiest Fall Outfit Ever…

October 2, 2014
/
9 COMMENTS

Cardigan – Sheinside // Maxi – Lush // Boots – Aldo // Fedora – I forget // Scarf – thrifted.

…put on a dress, a chunky cardigan, boots, scarf, and hat. Done. It’s really as simple as that. And mix and match as necessary to create ‘new’ outfits.

For the winter, add tights, and maybe another top layer somewhere in there.

Day of Shooting

September 30, 2014
/
2 COMMENTS

Navy High Neck Dress – c/o Wallis // Tights – Target // Boots – Aldo // Necklace – Homegrown Boutique

This past Sunday I did a special promotional shoot. After a bit of a crisis to start the day – gear breaking, and all the stores closed, getting across town to borrow from a friend – it was a great day filled with a variety of fabulous subjects.

I had picked this lovely shift dress to wear that day for two simple reasons: comfort and style. The style was business professional and appropriate for all the new clients I met. And the comfort, well that speaks for itself – I spent a whole day shooting in the studio and the dress just moved with me throughout.

This is one of those pieces that looks great and just gets out of your way to let you go about your day. That’s a win in my books.

Muffin Top Thigh High Socks

September 26, 2014
/
8 COMMENTS

Cardigan – Jana // Dress – Ruche // Socks – Urban Outfitters // Boots – Aldo // Necklace – I forget // Sunnies – Lace Affair

Thigh high socks are so cute. I love layering them on bare legs and over tights. But it seems that every time I do there’s this tightness and almost a muffin top roll thing that my legs do. I never see that on any of the pictures on the internet. *I know they’re all photoshopped so that might be edited away too* It’s one of those little pet peeves. Like, I know my legs aren’t shaped weird so how come I get this roll? And what is their secret?

You know, ’cause it’s like high school. Everyone else is in on the secret except me. Spill people. Spill. Whats the secret to non-muffin top thigh high socks? What am I missing here?

The Numbers Drop

September 17, 2014
/
4 COMMENTS

Maxi Dress – Guess // Shoes – Aldo // Bag – Target // Hat & Necklace – I forget // Rings – F21

The ability to throw on a dress and hat and go out the door. That’s the beauty that is summer, and warm weather in general. I’m really going to miss this beautiful ability as the temperature drops. It’s going to be about smart layering to maximize warmth as opposed to the ease and freedom to run out the door on a whim.

Summer, we’ve parted too soon.

Fringed

September 16, 2014
/
8 COMMENTS

Fringe Kimono – no tag, and I can’t recall // Dress – Ruche // Boots – DIYed myself // Bag – Target // Necklace – I forget

Still trying to figure out this new schedule and life change. In the meantime, I think my love for the fringe and the tassel is firmly in place. Apparently, it’s also made for layering. I have no issue with that.

The Story of the Dress

September 11, 2014
/
4 COMMENTS

Maxi Boho Dress – Chelsea Verde via eBay // Necklace – I forget // Bag & Sandals – ThreadSence

Browsing a few online sites that I just love I found a dress. It came in two patterns and color combos, and I loved both. I wanted to get this little darling dress. But alas, I’m in Canada and that meant the shipping fees were a bit high. The shipping coupled with the price of the dress itself put the whole thing a little beyond my reach. Was I deterred? Only for the moment.

After some hemming and hawing, and thinking and wondering if there was some other way I could get this piece, I thought I’d give eBay a go. You never know until you try.

So I searched and I found the name of the designer. Then I searched the designer, and after a few more minutes of searching, I stumbled upon the exact dress in my exact size! Better still, even with the shipping, it was less then I had seen on many the online sites. Clicking “Buy it Now” the dress became mine just 12 days later when it was delivered to my doorstep.

And it’s just as beautiful in person as it is online. More than that, it’s incredibly soft and wrinkle free. Perfect for when I travel. I highly recommend this darling dress!

Schools In

September 8, 2014
/
8 COMMENTS

Dress – Jen’s Pirate Booty via FreePeople // Sandals & Bird Necklace – ThreadSence // Key Necklace – I forget // Sunnies – F21

My girl started school last Thursday. *Thank you to everyone who has shown such support through emails, tweets, and comments. It’s so wonderful to have you as part of the extended family* I wasn’t there for the first ever drop off, as I was at an audition. But Andrew dropped her off. She didn’t want to go. She resisted going into class, and eventually, when everyone was inside, he had to place her in class and just close the door. When he left she was sitting in a corner sucking her thumb.

But when we picked her up, she was happy and smiling, and told us excitedly about the things that she did that day. The teacher told us she was right into everything and had no problems.

Then the next morning came. I had to drop her off by myself. She didn’t want to leave the house – hiding under a blanket for protection. I had to threaten her : go to school, or sit in your room all day. She went to school. Cried on the way there, cried when I tried to take her to her class. Hid behind me. I had to slowly push her towards the door over a period of five minutes, until she was just inside then I had to leave quickly. My last sight of her that morning was her crying after me.

Picking her up, she had a great day again. Went to the library, played, again the teacher said a fabulous day.

So this is what gets me. She has great days, but cries and doesn’t want to go in the morning.

*Sigh*

*Double sigh*

Self-Effacing

September 5, 2014
/
LEAVE A COMMENT

Dress – Ruche // Kimono – eBay // Shoes – Aldo // Bag, Earrings & Bracelet – ThreadSence // Rings – I forget

There’s those silly tests online/facebook about “Which whatever are you.” I enjoy them in as much as I find them a silly distraction. The recent one was “Who would play you in the story of your life?” I got Jennifer Lawrence because we apparently share the same affinity for honesty, intensity, girl next doorness, being one of the guys, and being self-effacing.

They are certainly an odd thing, those tests, but I found the whole thing about being self-effacing interesting. Why would you not be self-effacing? It’s good to look at yourself, see your faults and flaws, and then recognize them with humor. I think it’s good for the soul. Not only does it acknowledge that yes you do suck sometimes, but I’d like to think that it also shows acceptance and understanding that perfection is a delusional state.

Who knows, maybe I’m talking out my ass. I do that sometimes.

Morning Dates, And The End of an Era

September 3, 2014
/
4 COMMENTS

Sweater – hand me down // Dress – Urban Outfitters // Booties – Aldo // Necklace – Lustre Boutique // Ring – I forget // Sunnies – F21

Morning coffee dates have become kind of a thing with me and my girl lately. When us ladies are home alone, we usually take the little walk over to the nice new coffee shop that opened in our neighborhood. I get my coffee, and she gets her almond croissant.

Then, with a smile and a hug she convinces me to go over to the park too *not that I need much convincing, but I like the extra hug* It’s our routine. Which is about to end as she heads off to school tomorrow. But in the meantime, I’m going to enjoy our last coffee date today.

Category :Dresses