black long sleeve tee unknown // purple tulle skirt from plum (old) // black bow belt from h&m // pearl necklace // purple t-strap pumps from winners // sparkly bcbgeneration clutch from the bay // estee lauder nail lacquer in caviar
{photos by jen} i think that lately i’ve been slightly over thinking things. questioning outfits, my personal style, and what direction i see this blog going. but, when i was to attend a crème de la crème le reve preview a few days ago, i decided to stop over-analyzing and just threw on some forgotten favourites.
the end result was an outfit that will go down as one of my all-time favourites. as i feel like this is the exact feel that i wish i could achieve on a daily basis. tulle, bows, pearls, and vintage-esq purple pumps? so many pretty things in one little outfit.
if you were to paint a picture of your personal style, what would your ideal outfit look like?
Things are looking a little festive around the apartment with the arrival of a few mini pumpkins! I still can’t believe it’s October, can you? I’ve been reflecting a lot about what I want to accomplish this month. September flew by so fast, feels like I didn’t even get a chance to gather my thoughts/personal goals for the fall.
Finding A Balance
My cousin Melissa has accurately categorized us as “people pleasers”. We’ll go out of our way to please everyone else, even if it means pushing our own priorities aside (especially when these priorities include exercising, chores, or other tasks I don’t necessarily feel like doing). I’m not sure if this stems from high school or what, but trying to make everyone else happy is exhausting. I need to start prioritizing and sometimes put myself first. Which, let me tell you, will be quite a struggle.
Whipping Back Into Shape
Seems like everything in my life deems me “too busy” to get myself to an exercise class (see above). Time to get serious about a kick ass workout regime. It’s going to involve a lot of Barre Fitness classes, my new favourite workout. See you at the Barre!
Embracing The Weird
Okay, this is going to sound really silly. But, ever since discovering the amazingness that is New Girl, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I hide my weird. When you really get to know me, I’m a super goofy, quirky person, much like fictional character Jessica Day. I need to stay true to myself and start showcasing my weirdness (in moderation) to everyone! Prepare yourself for strange accents and voices that I like to lace into regular conversation 😉
Learning New Things
Since I’m not in school, I have the luxury of finding non-traditional ways to keep learning. First of all, I’ve been wanting to brush up on my francais for quite a while and it’s about time I get started! Bought one of those awesome learning french dvds from Chapters, so I’ll let you know how that goes. Also been bookmarking some healthy recipes that I’d like to try. The first attempt will be for a Thanksgiving dinner with friends this weekend. I’ll also be reading a few books this month, including The Great Gatsby and a work related book about social media.
Fall 2012 is going to be awesome! What are some of your goals this season?
dress from pixie market – purchase it here // leopard print belt from plum // house of harlow key ring // structured brown bag from front and company // adam’s nixon watch // black dolce vita ankle boots // necklace from jessica decarlo jewelry
packing for new york was no easy task. factoring in walking for 10 hours a day, as well as extreme heat and humidity really threw a wrench into my usual outfit planning. i found myself envying those in new york who were wearing make up in the day, shoes with any sort of heel on them, and layers. how, i still wonder, does one wear more than the bare minimum in 35 degree weather? i mean really, even with ac…that is impressive!
but what really stuck with me when it came to new york street style, was how much of it there was. growing up casual west coast, i’m not accustomed to so many stylish people in one city. don’t get me wrong, vancouver has come leaps and bounds in the last few years, but we are still a very casual culture. if i wear heels in the day, a hat, or something deemed as “out there” i get the major stares. and i don’t think it’s right that i’m the odd man out because i’m not wearing jeans and a tee. there were so many people in nyc rocking awesome personal style that adam and i left our vacation completely inspired; motivated to stay true to who we are and what we want to wear. i often succumb to the pressure of fitting into the vancouver scene, but after our travels i say bring on the side eye looks! i think that there’s something incredibly special about seeing someone with a look that is very true to them. and we all know that when you look good, you feel good!
how about you? what’s the street style like in your hometown?
vintage blouse from front and company // red trousers from anthropologie // yellow and blue striped tote bag from joe fresh // white seychelles pumps (old) // alden rae wrap bracelet // marc by marc jacobs watch // forever 21 seagull ring
one thing that i really struggle with lately is understanding that striving for perfection and giving yourself unreasonable expectations are two completely different things. i’ve been a constant stream of “yes” to everything and then feel like i’m letting everyone down when i realize i don’t have the time or energy for said agreement. not sure why i find it necessary to please everyone. sometimes, you just need to learn how to say no and let go. hoping to find that balance soon.
grey tee c/o gap canada // khaki green jacket, snakeskin clutch and necklace from plum // coral maxi skirt from modcloth // various bangles // old navy sandals // barefoot contessa sunglasses // striped tote c/o joe fresh
knocking “get passport photos” off my to-do list was supposed to be a simple errand. googled where to get them done and found a spot on the way home with a 5 minute guarantee. when i arrived at the photo lab area, the passport photog was trying to get a pic of a newborn baby. this poor little thing is being held up by the back of his jumper by his mother, his little head rolling around, while this photographer tries desperately to capture a portrait. i mean honestly, babies need passport photos? what kind of ridiculous concept is that? anyway, they finish up and it’s my turn. and i would like to think that it’s just because culturally this woman speaks in a yell and not because she just wanted to embarrass me, but she immediately begins barking orders at me in a very robotic tone. in a section of the store full of people, and only a few feet away from me, my lovely photog is all stand square to me…noooo square! snaps a pic and shakes her head yelling over to me “OH goodness, see how shiny your face is? No, no, no, I need you to get a kleenex and wipe your face.” Because her announcing this to the entire store was going to help me sweat less.
onto round two, where she yells at me to get my hair out of my face, no don’t smile, square, chin down. takes another photo, and i swear she yells even louder this time “Yeah, so see how much glare is shining off your face? LOOK at that! I’m going to need you to powder your face with this powder I have here.” Now, this should have been my cue to leave. I should have been assertive and walked out of there, letting her know what a ridiculous concept communal powder is just because their photo lighting was clearly hindered by the fluorescent lights within their store. and yet, there i was standing in front of a small mirror taped to the wall, powdering my face in a shade that my pale english grandmother would have used. picture three and she styles me up this time, moving my hair, tilting my head up and then down and then forwards. we finally have a “winner”.
i wait my five minutes to pay $13.47 for the most hilarious photo of me that i’ve ever seen. a perfectly powdered ghostly white t zone, limp hair, and a look of sheer terror. these photos will be filed away in the photo box for a laugh, but i think i’ll be getting my passport picture re-done today somewhere that doesn’t make me feel like a grease ball. although, sure would be a great topic of convo with those chatty customs officers…
printed dress from barefoot contessa // h&m trench and assorted bracelets // MONIKALOVE bracelet by bfrend c/o // marc by marc jacobs watch // leopard seychelles pumps // j.crew umbrella
clutching a warm cup of coffee and staring out my bedroom
window, enjoying the bright grey hues from the sky. it’s a ryan adams kind of day, though i’m also slightly wishing we were in the middle of a
downpour, so I could close my eyes and listen to the sound of raindrops hitting
out patio. i made the bed this morning and
decided to break all the rules and remain in my pjs. there’s something magical about the lighting in this room right now, and quite frankly i was desperate for a relaxing morning. as business is taking off, i am becoming more and more serious about getting an intern. stay tuned this week for details if you, or anyone you know would be interested!
i loved playing with pattern and a splash of colour yesterday with this outfit. our warmer rainy days often turn into moments of sunshine later on. and in order to avoid wearing rubber boots and sunglasses, i usually opt for bare legs and closed toe footwear. just as long as there’s no suede shoes involved, it’s all good! what do you love to wear in transitional spring weather?
dress from barefoot contessa // nine west flats // urban outfitters hat // various gifted necklaces // social expierment ring c/o // brown ring from plum
they say blondes have more fun, but i like to think that people in hats have the most fun.
my morning started off early with lots of work to complete and a dress fitting in the early afternoon (yes, i made my big tv debut on breakfast television last week for two birds bridesmaids). then jen and i were going to meet up for some outfit photos. her meeting ran long though, so i was stuck downtown trying to waste time. to refrain from shopping, i thought i’d just get comfy in a coffee shop and play around on the internet. i walked into thierry’s but it was so busy that i walked right out (jen’s meeting happened to be in thierry’s too and she totally saw me walk in and leave lol). i then headed for good ol’ starbucks on robson, but again was only faced with no available seats. i was also having one of those days where everyone seemed to be staring, and i feared that i had something weird on my face or was totally flashing everyone. for the sake of this story, let’s just pretend i looked really good 😛
anyway, i decided the only place i would go to shop was h+m but it was rather far and my nine west shoes aren’t in the best shape. they’re down to the nail, which makes for quite the balancing act. on the way to pacific centre, i passed mom’s grilled cheese food truck and decided that since adam wasn’t going to be home for dinner, i’d partake in a delicious sammich. so the food cart peoples are all commenting on my hat and we’re having a pleasant little convo. then the one lady shouts out “so alicia, you going to order something or what?” and i looked at her in complete disbelief, while she confesses that my name on my starbucks cup. they tell me they’re closing in 5 mins and that i need to order right away, but i’m scraping the bottom of my bag for $6.50 (ugh, why did i use my ten dollar bill at starbucks?). they’re yelling “is bowler hat short?” and i’m frantically emptying my bag for change. finally found enough money and waited while they closed down the truck for the day. they hand me my order, which looked amazing but comes in an oversize cone with chips on the bottom. which normally would be find i guess, if i had somewhere to go, but instead this truck drives away and i’m in the middle of downtown vancouver holding a huge freaking cheese sandwich. so i awkwardly make my way over to a spot where i can get my ipad out and instagram my meal (like, why do i find this shit necessary?). i start on my food and i hear two guys sitting on the fountain talking. one says “just go talk to her man, you’ll never see her again” and i’m like ugh, i so don’t need this right now and relocate. walk over and sit on the vancouver art gallery steps to continue my lunch, where a small brown bird takes several flying dives at me for my sandwich. birds can be so terrifying. i eat my food as fast as possible because this bird is bullying me and i’m so over this embarrassment. some guy on a bicycle who may or may not be someone i know (wasn’t wearing my glasses) cycles by and yells hello and waves. i’m sitting with other ppl on the steps though, maybe he was waving at someone behind me? and after all of it, i remembered that i did in fact have dinner plans that i’d even already paid for. so classic.
I was just clickity clicking away on the internets a few weeks ago when i stumbled on a blog (don’t even remember which one, if it was yours pls tell me so i can link) that happened to mention another blog that linked me to an etsy site that sold the most amazing product ever.
my notes on the back of envelopes and random notebook scribbles are now to be replaced with one well thought out piece of paper. i love my lists. in fact, i’m obsessed. and to have a single sheet that has my to-do list, daily goals, meal plan, fitness, daily tasks, cleaning, even down to the # of glasses of water i’ve had that day…wow. just wow.
the life’s a journal daily page notepad is exactly what i needed and if you want one for yourself, you better act fast. she sells out super quickly, i had to beg her to send me some from her own personal stash. a big, huge, you’re the best – thank you to the journaling mrs. herself! i’m so happy with my new lists.
oh man, i just can’t get enough of instagram! there’s something extra special about documenting small pieces of your day and sharing them with others. makes me appreciate little moments in life that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. and truthfully, i also love seeing what people are up to. it’s the kind of photograph creeping joy i felt when facebook was in its prime!
this weekend was rather routine, but i spent quite a bit of time goal setting and self reflecting. been really bad about not taking time off for myself lately, which almost always guarantees a meltdown. no one likes a messy, irrational, tear-filled meltdown. i do thrive on stress and keeping busy, but i need to be better about organization and planning as a way to avoid feeling overwhelmed. definitely something about myself to work on, perhaps an organization post in the future will help? okay that’s it, i think this calls for an office makeover!!! and who doesn’t love a makeover?! a little painting diy, and filing…yes, i think that is just what i need!
