Category :Stripes

The Boot Fairy

Jacket – Old Navy; Dress – Dear Creatures from Ruche; Belt – AE: Socks – Hue; Wellies – Petite Pieds.

Okay, I’ll fully admit that these aren’t the bets pics.  But if you read about me, you’ll see that I preface this whole blog by saying I’ll make plenty of mistakes.  First, the humidity in the air completely ruined my hair, so by the time I took the pics I had to throw it up in a ponytail and even then it looked just plain baaad.   Second, why does it always stop raining when I put on my wellies???  Is it some cruel joke being played on me?  Make Joanna look silly by making it sunny when she gets her rain boots on?  *sigh*  Well, the jokes on you, ’cause I wore them anyway.

Speaking of rain boots, I want a pair of hunter wellies, but I know I won’t find the room in my budget.  So hopefully one day someone will give me a pair as a gift.  The magic boot fairy perhaps?  What, she exists doesn’t she?

True Story:
Baby is sitting under my desk, sucking her thumb and cuddling with her blanket.  So cute!!

Regrets, I’ve Had a Few

Scarf – Trove; Dress & Ring – Spotted Moth; Booties – Ruche.

Do you have regrets?  I do.  I used to say I didn’t.  I think I said it because I was prideful, as in “everything is perfect, exactly how I want it and I don’t make mistakes.” And I don’t know if it was true at the time or not, but these days I have them.  Yes, the choices I’ve made have led me to the point I’m at now and there are so many things I’m thankful for.  But the nature of regrets is the ‘could-have-been’ nature to them.  You wonder, “Was that the better choice?”   I think I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, but that doesn’t mean that at 5am in the morning I don’t regret. I regret choices. *I was younger and stupider…hard to believe I know* I regret actions.  I regret things I said, and things I didn’t say.

I think regrets aren’t a bad thing.  It means you’ve grown and if you knew then what you know now, you would behave different.

Sorry, don’t mean to be a downer.  Ice cream anyone?

  True Story:
I come into the living room last night and Drake the Dog is sprawled, spread eagled on his back on Husband’s lap, who’s giving him belly scratches. 
I felt like I was intruding.

I-Have-Nothing-To-Wear

Having a little trouble with the umbrella.

Success!

Glasses – F21; Shirt – Walmart; Skirt – Gentlefawn; Boots – Petite Pied.

First off, welcome to all my new followers!  And thank you sooooo much for reading.  You totally make my day!

Now, do you ever have those days when everything you put on looks horrible on you?  *at least in your mind* Well, I had a day like that with the above outfit.  I spent forever *and in a Mom’s life forever is like, 30 minutes* trying on tons of stuff.  I hated everything I put on.  One of those I-have-nothing-to-wear days.  It’s not that I have nothing to wear, it’s just that everything I put on just doesn’t sit right today, or just doesn’t feel right, or just doesn’t project the image I want today.  So I gave up.  I put on a skirt I like and just tried to keep things simple and not go nuts.  It’s just one day.  And I have to just get through this funky mood.  And I did.  And so will you.

True Story: 
Me squealing about something pretty on a website that I want.
And Husband’s answer to me squealing, “Yeah, and you have so many pretty things upstairs.”  
Poo!  
I don’t like it when he’s right.
  *crosses arms and sulks*

Standing Out In A Sea Of Beauty

Top – Ruche; Maxi – Spotted Moth; Booties – Aldo.

 A friend and I were recently talking about beauty.  We were discussing the prevalence of a certain standard of beauty in society and the pressure we both feel to live up to it, and the fact that we both deviate from said standard in highly “negative” ways.  So it’s kind of interesting that in the September issue of Flare magazine (a Canadian fashion magazine) there was a whole reader survey about beauty, standards, and pressures.

Us Canucks had some interesting things to say:
The images we see on the internet, and social networking sites on a daily basis heighten our expectations of beauty and perfection in ourselves.  This sets the bar higher and higher for ourselves, and we feel a pressure to live up to it daily.  And while most of us have a dissatisfaction with our body shape and weight, overall we feel beautiful.

Do you agree?

This sort of goes along with what my friend and I were talking about.  The prevalence of amazing photos, and such a huge assortment of beautiful women makes both of us feel we have to live up to some unachievable bar of beauty.

Do you struggle with weight and body image?  Do you feel beautiful?  In such a menagerie of beauty, how do you stand out?

Just a side note since we’re talking about photos, I’ve been just using curves and color balance exclusively in my photos recently.  So how do you like it?

Quote of Today:
“You’re evil Justin Bieber! You’re mistreating that bear in your castle!”

Stripey McStripe

Glasses & Shirt – F21; Khakis – Banana Republic; Necklace – Ruche; Bag – Matt by Matt&Nat; Shoes – Payless.

This was a great outfit to wear to the studio and on air because it kept me cool outside since the pants and top are of a light material, but it also kept me warm inside the over air-conditioned studio.  And I love that I still remained very professional looking.  True, I don’t need to since my job as an on-air personality is just to look cute, cool, or otherwise interesting, but it’s nice to sometimes exercise the option of looking professional. 

And can I just share how much I’m loving stripes recently?  So much!

Quote of Today:
in conversation at the studio I heard this,
“My greatest fear is irony” 

Hot Town, Summer In The City

Hat – Ruche; Glasses – F21; Dress – Ruche; Shoes – Payless.

 It’s 49 here in Toronto.  We’re supposed to be at the tail end of a heat wave, and tomorrow the weather’s supposed to drop down ten degrees.  Supposed to.  Early this morning the whole fam went for a walk, and since then we’ve dunked Baby in her pool and hung out in the master bedroom *the only place with an AC*
That’s where Baby has been sleeping too.

But I must say this dress is perfect for the heat.  The material feels heavy, but because it’s cotton and linen the whole thing breathes.  Ahhhhh….  And a wide brim hat and big sunglasses are my summer essentials!  that and SPF 60.

True Story:
Baby took a dump today in her pool.  
Yes, yes she did.

Second To Last

Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
River Cafe by the Brooklyn Bridge.

Shirt, Dress & Bracelet – F21; Dress – H&M; Sandals – Zellers.

I didn’t take a lot of photos of my day yesterday.  For some reason, I don’t know why, my camera didn’t pop into my brain all that much.  I spent most of my day in Brooklyn.  Walking in the Historic District of Brooklyn Heights, then Dumbo, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and finally ending up in Park Slope.  I saw a lot of people and got a feel for the neighborhoods.  But I do apologize for not snapping enough photos. 

As I start my last day here I’m happy.  I’m happy for the chance to get away and have quiet time.  When I was single I spent a lot of time just walking and thinking.  Now with all the demands of my full life I don’t often get that chance.  So it was nice to just walk up and down streets come what may.

I’m physically tired – my feet hurt, and I can’t sleep on my sister’s broken, lumpy futon – but I feel mentally refreshed and ready to jump back into my everyday.  And I’m more than ready to see my three darlings – Baby, Husband, and Dog.  My video chat with them this morning was rough and short-lived.  Baby started crying when she saw me.  I guess it was too much to see me but not be able to get to me.  I know how you feel honey. 

So now, I’m heading out for my last day here. 
It was fun New York, while it lasted, but I’m ready to go now.  Thanks for a great time!

P.S. I’m now ending all of my posts with either a True Story – something that happened that day – or a Quote of the Day – something I heard someone say that day.

Quote of the Day:
“You see what you want to see”

I’m A Nerd, What Of It?

Vest – AE; Shirt – F21; Jeans – Guess.

Headed off to a photography workshop today.  Hopefully it’s going to be very educational.  I’m really looking forward to improving my photography.   My dad put my first SLR camera in my hands when I was six, right around the time he taught me to play chess – he was nothing if not ambitious for his daughter.   So it’s been a passion of mine since I was little and I’m really looking forward to learning some more tricks of the trade.

And the outfit?  It’s all nerd, and it’s all me!  I love pairing nerd shirts with vests.  Something about the whole ‘hot nerd’ thing maybe?

Don’t forget to check out my shots from the Posthuman shoot here.

A Room With A Few…Ladies

Cardi – F21; Dress – Ruche; Belt – AE; Socks – MacGregor; Boots – Town Shoes.

This dress from Ruche is perhaps one of my favorite in my entire closet, and that’s saying alot considering how many I own.  But I love how easy it is to throw on and how feminine it makes me feel.   Plus, it’s wonderful because there’s lots of breathing room so on those days when you don’t feel up to scruff it’s very forgiving.  And the little tulips and the ruffles make me feel pretty!

I tried a Tai Chi class today *which I’ll be blogging about tomorrow* and afterwards headed over to a girlfriends house for a ladies tea party. 

Christine (left), and Victoria (right) our wonderful hostess.

My small plate of treats and cup of tea with the tray in the background.

I had a wonderful time snacking on delicious homemade goodies – gluten and sugar free too!  But I have to say the very best part was hanging out with the wonderful ladies who came.  It’s amazing to be in a roomful of such talented, smart, witty and caring ladies.  What a blessing!

Sometimes I’m A Little Weird

Glasses & Shoes – F21; Dress – AE; Earrings – Walmart; Belt – thrifted; Watch – gift from Husband.

Do you know what I love?  I love fatty protein shakes.  Weird, I know.  But I love making *soy-free, dairy-free* shakes with a huuuuuge dollop of almond or cashew butter.  It’s absolutely wonderful post run or after a Kung Fu training session.  And sometimes *perhaps today* I love to throw in some strong iced coffee into it and have it for breakfast.  It’s so thick and creamy and it perks me right up!

But enough about food.

Last night, I  had a rehearsal for Posthuman *read about that here* The above outfit was what I wore to said rehearsal *which is soooo not appropriate for the character I play, but whatever*  Anyway, it was hot and humid, and by the time I got to the bus stop *a two minute walk* the entire area around my belt was wet with sweat *gross!!*  So, for the duration of the bus and subway ride I removed the belt and hoped that things would air out.  They did, so I just kept the belt off.  And I forgot about it until we were just about to leave.  I probably looked a little weird pulling a belt out of my purse suddenly and putting it on.  But I wanted to wear it as soon as I remembered ’cause I thought it was cute!

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