Category :Hats

Taking What No One Wants

Tank & Jeans – Gap  //  Vest, Belt & Sunnies – F21  //  Hat – unknown brand  //  Shoes – Rocketdog  //  Necklace – thrifted

My last day in NYC I packed up and walked around airplane ready.  Now for those of you who are imagining me tramping about Central Park here burdened with luggage, I will say this:  I went to NYC for five days with a small backpack that was half full.  I had all my necessary cosmetics, and clothes, in that to last me a week.  Yes, my secret talent is packing lighter than most think is humanly possible.  On the way back, my backpack was full only because I had such great thrifting success! 

Case in point:  I picked up this necklace for under $4. 

Side note:  thank you once more everyone for hating on this vest.  Because no one wanted it, I grabbed it from the F21 website clearance for a measly $7.  And I love it!

1950’s Propaganda Poster

Romper – Honey Punch  //  Tank – Jacob  //  Hat – no label  //  Sweater –  Love Stitch //  Necklace – ModCloth  //  Turquoise bracelet – H&M  // Turquoise & Silver bracelet – unknown  //  Shoes & Sunnies – F21
I only buy cheap sunglasses.  Why?  Because I break them all the time.  I’m just cruel to them.  So of course, when mine broke the day before because I rudely shoved them to the bottom of my purse, I had to get a new pair.  I branched out a bit and went with aviators, and I’ll tell you why.
I wore an almost exact version of this outfit a few days back, and one man said to me, “You look like a 1950’s propaganda poster…but in a good way.”  With this on my brain, it seemed that the only sunglasses I could buy was a pair of cool aviators.  Now I’m so glad I did.  Aviators rock. 
* Remember you Emerging Thoughts, has given ModaMama readers an exclusive discount code – 20% off with code “JOANNA”  I really love this independent shop – it has great selection and great quality.*  

Rose Garden Memories

 Dress – Bought in Spain  //  Sweater – Smart Set //  Belt & Shoes – F21 //  Hat – no brand inside
Day two in NYC was focused on the amazing Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.  Honestly, they’re breathtaking.  I wish I could truly relate to you the grandeur of the Rose Garden, or the beauty of the different climate zones in the conservatory, but I can’t.  Pictures don’t do it justice.  I can’t relate to you how I felt like Alice in Wonderland standing amidst so many varieties of roses in bloom in the rose garden.  Nor could a picture show it.  Because in my mind I was the only one there, but in reality it was packed with people.  Imagination is the best.  
Side note:   I bought this dress originally while I was traveling around Europe for several months.   Since then it has come with me to Cube, the Domincan Republic, NYC, Montreal, and British Columbia.  It’s my traveling dress.  I can’t leave home without it.  Every time I travel a new set of memories become woven into the fabric. 

p.s.  One of my favorite stores ever, Emerging Thoughts, has given ModaMama readers an exclusive discount code – 20% off with code “JOANNA”

Don’t Laugh at a New York Security Guard

Dress – Love Audrey  //  Necklace – forgot  //  Hat – no name on inside  //  Shoes – Rocketdog  //  Sunnies – F21
My first stop on my very first day back in NYC was Whole Foods for a granola bar, iced tea, and salad.  It was a late breakfast and though some may think it’s weird to have salad for breakfast – I love my greens!  
My second stop however, was less health conscious.  It was Macaron cafe, opened by a French ex-pat, who makes the best macarons outside of France.  I always come here whenever I’m in NYC.  A Canadian eating French macarons in New York – so cosmopolitan.  
I also had the pleasure of being there for the Taste of Times Square festival where more delicious food was sampled.  And the day was rounded off with a purchase for Baby Girl at FAO Schwartz.  I bought her the softest stuffed animal I have ever felt in my entire life.  She sleeps with it now.  
She better sleep with it, because I got chased off the divider I stood on to get this picture by a burly security guard.  He was not happy with me at all.  I started giggling.  I think that made him madder.

Garbage Meltdowns

Dress – Ruche  //  Jacket – Old Navy  //  Necklace & Hat – F21  //  Boots – Feet First
A box arrived for my husband.  Inside there was an item – which is not relevant for our purposes – that was packed with that styrofoam popcorn stuff.  Baby Girl saw this and wanted to play with it desperately.  Us, being the ever diligent parents aware of choking hazards and other things, said, “No, honey.  It’s garbage.”  At which point, while Andrew went out to throw it in the garbage, I was left with a tantrum induced toddler screaming repeatedly at the top of her lungs, ” I want garbage!” 
Not moments later all was right with the world and she was happily prancing about again.  Ah, the unpredictable pendulum that is the 2 year old psyche. 

Raw Kale and Toddlers

Top – Winners //  Skirt – F21 dress that I converted to a skirt  //  Belt – swapped  //  Hat & Sunnies – F21
Our friends call us the Hippie parents.  And I always wonder why exactly.  Sure we grow veggies in our garden, eat organic, gluten and dairy free as well.  And no we don’t stress over her eating dirt or kissing the dog; germs are good for her immunity.  But here’s what explained things for me. 
I was busy juicing veggie juice for all of us.  I turned around to see Baby Girl standing and munching on the raw kale from the bowl of veggies prepped for juicing.  She was happily eating away and smiling at me.  I smiled back and started juicing.  Then she got upset because I juiced her ‘snack’ *that’s what she called it*  Juicing veggies, and a girl who gets upset when you take away her raw kale?  Yup, we’re hippie parents all right.  If by ‘hippie’ you mean kick ass awesome! Come on, a toddler who eats raw kale and likes it?!  That’s got to be some kind of achievement.

Impulse Control

 

 Pants – unknown  //  Sweater – Kensie  //  Top – Threadsence  //  Boots – Aldo  //  Hat – made by my Mama
Necklace – Lustre in Montreal  //  Bike Ring – Spotted Moth  //  Knuckle Ring – F21

Do you ever just want to smack someone upside the head?  Honestly, when did that go out of style?  I have at least three good instances in a week where I think someone just plain old deserves a good smack upside the head.  You know, a nice and easy, not too hard, smack just to shake some things around and hopefully uproot the common sense that has been lying dormant in there.  I know, I’m a very cheerful and optimistic person….I’m assuming that they have some common sense to shake up.  

A Dream In A Costume

 Sweater – hand me down  //  Skirt – The Spotted Moth  // Hat & Necklace – Ruche  //  Tights – F21

Socks – Hue  //  Shoes – Payless
Sometimes getting dressed is like putting on a costume.  It’s a chance to become a different character for the day.  This day I dreamt I was a Parisian woman on a brief respite from studying something profound to a nearby cafe.   Full of whimsy and charm.   
Even though in reality I was corralling a toddler and a dog at the local playground.  So really I probably should’ve been wearing a cowboy hat and carrying a rope. But dream we must.
Quote of Today:
“He poked his head over the futon and just stared at me, then the futon.”

Sleepy Head

Dress – Everly
Hat & Belt – F21
Shoes – Payless
Spending three days in Montreal was wonderful!  Ate so much great food, spent so much time walking seeing the city, and got three baby free nights of sleep.  What am I most excited about?  The three baby free nights of sleep!  I love my sleep. 
Kind of sad, I know.  But hey, simple dreams. 
Will work for sleep. 
Quote of Today:
“There’s a butterfly down my shirt!”

If The World Never Hears Of Me…

Hat – F21
Dress – Ruche
Shoes – I forget
Belt – Came with a dress
… at least I was happy.
Sometimes I think that’s all I can hope for. 
Other days, I strive and fight to carve out my own little piece in the collective consciousness. 

What is this need in us to push forward and etch our mark on the soft, drying concrete of the world in order to be remembered by the generations that come after?  
Is it a knowledge of our own mortality? 
Or is it a fear of our own unimportance?
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