That 5 things about me tag has been going around Instagram Stories and I thought it’d be fun to do an extended version here on the blog today! I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone else’s fun facts and getting to know them a bit better. So, here are a few things that you might not know about me!
I Grew Up At The Dance Studio
Heck yes, I spent my awkward phase in tight spandex! When I wasn’t at school, I was at the dance studio. Ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, I can do it all. Just not hip hop, I was too technical for hip hop. I went on to teach from high school up until just a couple of years ago. Being a dancer is such a large part of my identity, it wasn’t an easy decision to step away. You should check out this post I wrote about the emotion of my last day at the dance school if you relate!
Why I finally went to see a counsellor and you should too!
A few years ago, I was sitting at a long table with a group of my girlfriends at our monthly Fake Book Club hangout. These girls are, to put it simply, the best. The 5 of us became friends as adults and were all on similar enough career paths in terms of skill set (well, except for one, because her level of intelligence is unreachable for the rest of us LOL) without being in a position of competition in the Vancouver job market. Since we didn’t feel as though we had to censor much, we began our hangouts by talking about EVERYTHING. We let it all out. I used to call it “girl church” because I’d leave feeling like I used to after a powerful church sermon. It was beyond therapeutic. We deemed ourselves the Fake Book Club/Real Wine Club because we’d meet monthly like a book club would, except that we’d only drink wine and rarely discuss literature. Anyway, there we were a few years ago, and therapy came up in conversation. Everyone at the table told a story referencing their therapist and I was in SHOCK. “You ALL go to therapy?” I asked in astonishment. It was a unified yes. “It’s really great, Alicia, you should try it.” They told me. I got the names of a few of their counsellors and saved them on my phone.
Regular, everyday people went to therapy? When did this happen? Why did no one tell me?! I was taught that therapy was just those who’d had something big and justifiable happen in life that required professional help. I was struggling, sure, but I’d never thought of therapy as an option for me. The narrative was that you were considered “weak” if you couldn’t just muscle through a rough patch, and/or compartmentalize things and move on. Considering that this happened in the height of an episode of depression (that I was semi in denial about/felt shame for), I sure wish I’d listened to them at the time.
The secret’s out. I’ve been. Therapy isn’t this big outrageous deal that everyone makes it out to be. In fact, I bet it’s something that a lot of people you admire the success of practice regularly. No matter your age, your financial situation or your struggles, I can assure you that help is available and that sitting on a couch across from a counsellor could potentially change your life for the better. You deserve that kind of happiness, you really do.
January is the perfect time to start a new minimal(ish), organized lifestyle. I spent months and months purging our apartment last year and let me tell you, it felt amazing. It’s so true that a decluttered home makes for a decluttered mind, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was finally able to organize the remaining items we had into clearly labeled boxes, or on display around our place. And trust me, if this clutterbug can do it, so can you!
I was patient and went room by room, drawer by drawer. As the first post in this organization series, I wanted to go over how I was able to tackle my disastrous closet! It was crazy how many times I had to purge in order to get to the core pieces I actually wear and astonishing how much I ended up giving away or selling. I mean, we’re talking bags and bags, it was out of control.
To get started, find a playlist that pumps you up to keep you motivated. Wear minimal, stretchy and light things, this is going to take some manual labour! You’ll be wanting to find spots for 4 categories: KEEP, DONATE, SELL, and MAYBE. Don’t worry about buying storage bins until after these piles of clothes are complete, so that you know what size bin you’ll need.
In terms of donation, if you’re nearby in the lower mainland, I highly suggest the Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver. They’ll come pick up you donation for FREE (how convenient is that?!) AND as of today, you’ll be entered to WIN a dream vacation for 2 + monthly prizes for your donation. More details further into this post. So, what are you waiting for? Get reading!
Yesterday I was all embrace winter! It’s the BEST! While I galloped around the living room throwing fake snow confetti (okay, that didn’t actually happen but only because that would be a bitch to clean up afterward). Today, is a bit of a different story. First of all, it’s freaking cold again (by West Coast standards) and I’ve been in pj’s all day long and pretty much haven’t looked away from my computer screen. Probably done legit damage to my eyes in the last 12 hours. It’s amazing how quickly things change. Good ol’ winter. I’m setting myself up for success tomorrow though, already signed up for a yoga class in the morning and made afternoon plans so I’m not cooped up for another day!
In terms of this look, I have to say that I just adore those pieces that make something like a basic winter coat and boots a bit punchier. This plaid scarf was an impulse Zara purchase last winter and when I took it to Europe with me in November it was such a standout layering piece. I also go nuts for over the knee boots, especially in a cognac colour like this. One of my favourite discoveries to date was that American shoe stores often carry wide calf versions of boots. All the pieces from this classic combo are older, but I’ve linked to similar styles below!
I better go now, I have some finishing touches on tomorrow’s blog post (it’s a goodie, you won’t want to miss it), as well as two more episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to watch. Amy Sherman Palladino always takes priority. Hope you guys all had a wonderful day! If you got out of your pyjamas, then your day was far more successful than mine 😉
Because a lot of us are in need of a #winterwakeup!
Disclaimer – I am not a nurse, doctor, naturopath, wellness coach or an expert in energy of any kind. I am just a gal who feels a bit sluggish in the winter months and the following suggestions are things that have been helpful in my own experience. If you are suffering from extreme lethargy or possible Seasonal Affective Disorder, you should go see a healthcare professional for reals.
In a bit of a rut? Feeling kind of low energy lately? I am too! Which, I hate admitting because I feel like saying phrases like “I’m tired” out loud just feeds the exhaustion and manifests laziness. The truth is though, that winter is such a natural season of rest (I mean, bears are just like NOPE and straight up sleep through these months. I relate, bears, I relate). After the Holiday chaos, this time of year is meant for a slower pace of life. Which, if you’re like me and usually go-go-go, it’s an adjustment.
In an effort to use this time wisely and embrace what January has to offer all of us, I have been making testing some ways to combat the winter blahs and jotting them down the past month. And sure, I can tire a bit easier, and still fight to fully wake up some mornings, but in general, I feel so energized and healthy! I’ve compiled a list as a reminder to myself about what’s worked, and thought I’d share it here with you as well.
Hope this is useful to you. If I can help you infuse a bit more motivation and energy into these shorter days, then my work here is done!
I work from home a lot, especially justified at this time of year, so it’s a miracle if I’m not in loungewear. Legit wore my pj’s to a movie last week but in fairness a) they were fresh out of the wash b) my pyjamas are leggings and a men’s crewneck sweatshirt, so it’s not THAT noticeable c) no one could tell anyway because my outfit was hidden under a giant puffy coat. What I’m getting at, is that if I can find an outfit that is comfortable and somehow salvages my standard leggings and oversized top into anything even remotely chic, then I must tell you about it.
Admittedly, I’ve worn this exact combo several times in the past few weeks because it is my new winter uniform. I love how this Vancouver designed and made Emma Knudsen wool jacket is in a warm, bright cream colour because it automatically cheers up the all-black ensembles I rock in the wintertime (it’s also on SALE right now at 40% off, so I’d scoop one of these up before they’re all gone). Plus, I saw Shay Merritt from Jillian Harris’s team rocking it, so you KNOW it’s good. I definitely want to recreate Shay’s look soon because pretty sure I own almost everything she’s paired with the jacket. I love when that happens! Emma just restocked this beautiful piece and in terms of fit, I’m wearing a size Large and like the oversized fit, but could have easily done a Medium comfortably.
I pair mine with, as I mentioned, all black, including these faux leather leggings. They’re one of my favourite winter capsule wardrobe pieces, as they’re actually fleece lined and equal parts function and fashion. The waistband is high enough that they don’t roll down my waist every time I move and the coated fabric has been surprisingly durable. I am so happy with them that I’m already thinking I should snag another pair before the season’s over. They also have fleece lined athletic leggings (on SALE!) here, here, and here. Ooh, and as I’m browsing I see that they also have maternity fleece lined leggings, if that’s your current (or future) need. Someone take my computer away before I’m buying maternity leggings just in case I ever decide to get pregnant LOL. I got the (non-maternity) faux leather leggings in my usual size Large and they fit really, really well.
Ultimately, everything feels a bit fancier with a touch of sparkle, which is why I love wearing my this cutie Rebecca Minkoff Mini Bag. It’s neutral but punchy and I found it on sale last month, such a score. It seems that Shopbop is currently sold out, but I’ll keep an eye out for you!
Last January, I made a list of fashion resolutions that I, of course, had not looked at or even thought of until I started writing this post. One year later, I realize that I actually kept most of them in check! Except for the bit about wearing high heels more often, because forget that. I just don’t have the motivation to be a few inches taller for all that discomfort. Though I do now notice the irony of me wearing pumps in the top photo. You’ll get more of the story on that if you scroll to the end of this post.
I haven’t done an outfit roundup in years and I thought it’d be fun to break things down by season. Scrolling through these looks, it was definitely a bit more of a minimal year style-wise. I mostly stuck to basics and jazzed things up a bit with accessories. This has helped me streamline my wardrobe and invest in lasting pieces instead of constantly indulging in fast fashion. I like to infuse some trends in there, of course, but I’m doing what I can to minimize the overspending and overconsumption, which is also why I tend to repeat pieces and wear things I’ve owned for years. I always try to link to similar when I can, but if you have any specific questions about outfits, let me know!
This is only a snapshot of what I wore in 2017, of course. If you click on the STYLE tab on the top menu bar, it’ll take you through a preview of all the outfits I’ve featured, well, ever. Hope you enjoy these seasonal OOTD’s and I look forward to chatting 2018 with you all tomorrow!
The past 365 (+2) days were all about unfolding and transition. Which makes for a kind of “not our best but not our worst” sort of year and truthfully those are even more important than the ones that are full of only happy memories and important milestones. In general, this year was a lot of freaking hard work behind the scenes. Which, I suppose I haven’t shared a ton about because when you’re in the throes of it all, it’s tough to take any time to reflect.
2017 was about putting time and effort into bettering ourselves (I say ‘our’ because this journey has largely been alongside close friends and my husband), which hasn’t been for nothing. Ending last year, I felt stronger, more confident, and full of gratitude to have gone through so much growth and with such incredible support. I’m starting this new year full of pride for what was endured and optimistic for the future. So, before I get too much into what’s ahead, let’s first look back on what was.
The Lolë Emeline Jacket is warm, packable goodness.
I’d ordered my Lolë packable black jacket as last minute impulse buy before Europe. I couldn’t justify paying upwards of $30 for rush shipping, so I took the risk that I might not get the jacket in time. The day I was jetting off, I left my apartment for only a few hours to drop Reggie at my parent’s house. Sure enough, I came home to a delivery attempt notice. I totally meant to leave a note at our front entrance telling them to just leave a package for me at the door, but forgot in the chaos. Isn’t that always the way?
It is too bad, as this would have come in really handy for my cold destination carry-on only packing. I wore the same winter coat for the full 2 weeks, so having another option would have been nice. Though, not having it allowed me a tiny bit of a room to do some shopping, so it all worked out.
For a weekend getaway or longer haul trip, it’s essential to have a practical coat like this that can be stored away into a tiny little ball (there’s a demonstration of how compact the jacket gets if you scroll down to the bottom of this post). Even just for coat variety alone, as I mentioned. I’ve also thrown it on as a lighter option for walks and hikes. This particular style from Lolë has pockets, a sturdy zipper, a hood, and it actually does provide some warmth. The price point is reasonable considering how much function and fashion you’re getting out of one piece and it packs away without any trouble.
