Moda Mama

Side of the Highway, Empty Parking Lot, and on a Phone (Or The Secret to my Wardrobe)

November 12, 2014
/
2 COMMENTS

Kimono – Spell and the Gypsy Collective // Top & Jeans – UO // Boots & Leaf Necklace – I forget // Short Necklace – Vanessa Mooney // Leather Bracelet & Sunnies – F21

There’s this shop I love, Spell and the Gypsy Collective based out of Australia, and as a newsletter subscriber I get all the updated info. Usually their clothes are way out of reach for this artist Mama, but I marked my calendar when news came out of their big huge warehouse sale.

The thing was I was booked for a big photography gig out of town that same day. The gig finished a half hour into the sale. On the day, I drove to my gig and had a blast doing it. The event started winding down early and after a discussion with my lovely client, we agreed that I should leave a touch early as things were clearly over *I had arrived early and started early so I felt that was fine to leave – normally I would’ve insisted on staying*

So I got in my car and started the long drive back home. Soon though I remembered the sale and noticed that it had just started. So what did I do? I pulled over.

There I was: on the side of the highway, in an empty parking lot of a model home development/sales centre, in the middle of nowhere Ontario, on my phone shopping the warehouse sale. If the police had been there and taken interest it would’ve been one heck of an explanation. But I grabbed some amazing pieces at incredibly low prices, so in my book it’s a win!

*this post will also answer the question that a lot of people have about me, both online and in real life: how do I have so much variety and great quality in my wardrobe? Side of the highway, empty parking lot, in the middle of nowhere on a phone people, that’s how*

Not How I Was Dressed

November 10, 2014
/
6 COMMENTS

Jeans – Dittos via – UO // Tank & Kimono – SheInside // Hat & Bag – I forget // Shoes – Ruche // Bag – Target

This weekend was a roller coaster. Friday night I had the chance to celebrate a great lady’s birthday. Saturday things seemed to go well but my Girl was a bit under the weather. This progressed to a full blown fever that persisted the rest of the weekend. As this is posted this morning, I know she’s not going to school.

Poor girl spent Sunday on the couch drinking tons of water/juice and sleeping on Mama a lot. Let’s see how the Monday goes.

Oh and trust me, this is not how I was dressed on Sunday…but it was how I was dressed on another day.

I’ll Be Away

October 7, 2014
/
15 COMMENTS

Cardigan – c/o Wallis // Top – Ruche // Jeans & Bag – Dittos via Urban Outfitters // Necklace & Earrings – I forget // Shoes – ThreadSence

Hey guys, I’m going to be away for a while, hopefully just a week or two. I’m going through some medical issues right now, and just want to step away from everything I possibly can. It kind of sucks right now to be homebound and feeling like crap, but I have to say the timing of this cardigan was perfect.

It got here just a couple of days before I started feeling really bad, and I got a chance to grab these shots, and since then I’ve been living in it and my fleece pants. Just comforting it up as much as I can.

I really appreciate you understanding why I’m away. See you all as soon as I can!

xoxo
Joanna

Briefly and Quickly Before It’s Gone

October 1, 2014
/
1 COMMENT

Embroidered Kimono – Spell // Top – Ezra // Jeans – Gap // Boots – Aldo // Necklaces & Sunnies – F21 // Backpack – Stela 9

Well, despite ranting and raving the weather has started to turn. The leaves are redder and the sun more orange. It’s here: Fall. It’s here and that means soon it will be chilled. Soon there will be more layers.

But while there’s this tiny moment of warmth amid the red I’m going to indulge myself with kimonos in all their glory before they’re hidden under layers of knit.

Swap Meat

September 23, 2014
/
2 COMMENTS

Sweater & Shirt – swapped // Jeans – Gap // Boots – Call It Spring // Necklace – Ten Thousand Villages

Early morning rushes. That’s my new reality. Since my girl has started school the morning rush to get lunch ready, get breakfast ready, get her ready, get myself ‘ready’, and get out the door has created a new sort of wave to the day.

There’s this big push int he morning, and then the slow meander back home. This morning for instance I just needed to get out my PJs and so I grabbed the things that were out and threw them on. It was the stuff that I had just nabbed from a clothing swap I hosted. And I’m pleased to say that thinking creatively about fashion has made it so that I don’t look like a total mess when I have three minutes to get dressed.

*these pics were grabbed on my walk home from the school that morning*

Intentionally MIA

September 15, 2014
/
2 COMMENTS

Aztec Top – ThreadSence // Jeans – Dittos via Urban Outfitters // Bag – Target // Boots – Aldo // Necklaces – I forget

Being a little MIA last week was intentional. With my girl off to school for the first full week ever, I wanted to take as much time for myself as possible. To be honest, I want to do as much of that this week too, but life goes on so I’ll have to do some work after all.

I would drop her off, come home, and then stand in the house wondering what to do with myself. Cups of tea, and a Sons of Anarchy marathon it was! Plus, I’ve been playing some computer games that I bought but have never gotten around to….until now.

Yup, things aren’t too bad. This week has a to do list, but I’m going to tackle it slowly.

How’s your week been?

Sometimes We Forget The Shoes

August 29, 2014
/
1 COMMENT

Tribal-Tank-Embroidered-Bag-Braided-Crown

Tribal Tank – c/o Gracie B. Boutique // Crop Top – ThreadSence // Jeans – Dittos // Bag – Stela 9 // Bicycle Ring – Spotted Moth // Other Rings – Body Blue

Okay, I know you can’t see my shoes. I know that. I took the photos in a field of flowers and forgot to make sure you could see my shoes. Can I just tell you that I’m wearing brown and beige strap sandals? Would that suffice this time?

I hope so, ’cause this was a casual day that turned into a hectic running around the city with my toddler kind of day. And so I forgot the shoes.

Unexpected Biking Gear

August 26, 2014
/
4 COMMENTS

Top & Scarf – Urban Outfitters // Jeans – Gap // Gauntlets – c/o Jennifer Fukushima // Shoes – Ruche // Bag – Target // Earrings – I Forget // Sunnies – Lace Affair // Rings – F21

As the weather inevitably turns, biking becomes a bit of a challenge because though it’s warm when I leave, it’s chilly when I return home in the evening. But it’s that weird cold where it’s not fully cold, just chilly, and definitely not warn. These gauntlets from Jennifer Fukushima really have been great for biking. They keep my hands and wrists nice and cozy, which is a very hard part to keep warm as I tend to have cold extremities, without feeling overheated.

Bonus points because it’s made in Canada, sustainability preference when sourcing material, and mostly natural fibers! Jennifer is launching a whole new collection of clothing this Fall too – completely based around this social consciousness – showcasing her unique design aesthetic.

My Ass Is Twitching

August 25, 2014
/
LEAVE A COMMENT

Embroidered-Velvet-Jacket-peplum-tank-Tribal-Boho

Embroidered Velvet Jacket – Flying Tomato // Tribal Peplum Tank – F21 // Jeans – Gap // Backpack – Stela 9 // Boots – Aldo // Necklace – TopShop // Headband – UO

In the movie “French Kiss” with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline there’s these two scenes where they discuss the fact that he’s not a fan of people and not a very ‘happy’ person. Part of the reason is that he doesn’t express his feelings. Now I do express my feelings – just ask anyone. I’m pretty open about how I feel at the moment and how I feel about a person. Which makes it easier for people to know where they stand with me, I’d like to think.

But I’m not an extrovert. So in a similar way to Kevin Kline I’m not a huge fan of people and not what you would classify as a ‘happy’ person. You know, cheerful, positive, energetic, bouncy….’happy.’ I’m sarcastic, acerbic, intelligent, quirky, with a dry wit. I’d like to think I’m kind, but I’m also awkward and aloof. Hey, that’s me, what can you do?

This is all to say, that I’m going to be “One of those grumpy old [people] sitting in the back of the cafe going, *said in French accent* ‘My ass is twitching. You people make my ass twitch‘”

Watch the movie, you’ll get it.

All Hail The Summer! Death to Fall!

August 19, 2014
/
8 COMMENTS

Embroidered Shirt – Thrifted // Jeans – Gap // Suede Panama Hat – UO // Fringe Bag – ThreadSence // Tapestry Shoes – Ruche // Sunnies – F21 // Necklace – I have no idea *old*

Most women I know get all excited as the weather cools a touch and there is the hint of Fall around the corner. I am not one of those women.

These women look eagerly onto the sweaters and the cute tights that they can soon start to wear with anticipation. I am not one of those women.

They see scarves and beanies, and squeal with delight. I am not one of those women.

The hint of Fall that excites many brings sorrow to me. Perhaps, it’s because I have the constitution of a *well, I can’t think of anything, but something very easily cold* And probably because Toronto sees it’s fair share *read: exhausting long months* of the cold and Winter. All that combines to create me: a woman who longs for every second of summer, who dreams of living in a warmer climate like California, and who wishes that Winter meant a sweater and leather jacket rather than the layers upon layers of thermal, wool, and parka.

That woman, this woman, is decidedly not happy to feel the chill in the air.

*linking up with Style Sessions*

Category :Jeans