Category: Fashion

Nine


I’ve been a little busy getting crafty these last couple of days.  I’ve been searching forever for somewhere to organize all my nail polish; my random tub just wasn’t cutting it anymore.  I had looked everywhere locally and couldn’t find anything, and everywhere I looked online it was either not quite what I had in mind, or the price point didn’t match what I wanted to invest.  That’s when I thought, “If you can’t acquire, then create!“… and this is what came out!  I’m so happy with how it came out (thanks to a little help from a pretty awesome guy), but a few things to note if you take on this project yourself:

1) Make sure you actually measure it out, and don’t just assume you can do it “by eye”.  I know this seems obvious, but I was super confident in my skills until nothing fit haha!

2) Make sure you measure BOTH height and width.  After measuring height and finishing the building, I realized that the width was way more than I needed.  Take into account what your preference is; maybe you’d like a wider shelf.

3) COUNT YOUR BOTTLES.  Make sure that what you’re creating is actually room enough for everything required.  Oh man, I feel like such a rookie for this mistake but sometimes when my creative juices flow, I just do (and the thinking trails behind).  I definitely did not count my stock and I ended up about 2-3 shelves short of what I actually needed.

4) Accept whatever happens.  I was so excited about this little project that I just dove right in and left everything to fall into place.  Sometimes, this won’t happen (lol oops!) but learn from it.  Everything teaches us, even things like creating a little polish shelf.  I’ve learned to double check everything beforehand.  I’ve learned how to better plan for something in the future.  I’m also learning to be okay with something if it’s not exactly what I had in mind.  At the end of the day, I still have a shelf that holds what I wanted it to – and my imagination and elbow grease are there to be proud of.

Appreciate what is, and leave what is not.  ❤

Eight


So, I was thinking.  As I was getting myself ready to head off to a Broadway show this weekend (more to come later about that awesomeness), I started to think.

As a teenager, and a young adult, I used to wear a lot of makeup.  Most of it started up when I hit puberty and my skin flipped overnight to something I was so ashamed of.  Even once it began to clear up a few years later, I still kept caking it on.  It wasn’t to feel pretty, and it wasn’t because I loved playing with it – it was simply to hide.  To hide myself, and to hide everything that I was ashamed of within me.  I became so accustomed to this literal mask I would paint on each day, that eventually I forgot what a farce it truly was and I started to just accept that it was part of who I am.

Last year, I was forced to throw it all out since my skin once again took a nosedive.  I haven’t been able to wear cover up since.  I guess this must be my body’s way of finally pushing me to ‘face the music’ and live my true self.   It hasn’t been easy….but it’s also been an incredible blessing.

Sometimes, it is just exhausting to function in this society.  As a woman, there are so many expectations of who I should be, how I should behave and speak, what I should wear or how I should look…. eventually I grow tired of trying to keep it all straight.  Unfortunately, men are not immune to the stereotypes of our society either.   So, I was thinking.  Why is it that I allow myself to feel less accepted when I choose an outfit like the one outlined in this post?  When it’s not all “glitz and glam”, when it’s comfortable, when I choose not to wear anything on my face?  Why do I allow myself to feel less than I am?  Is this really how society has spun the arrow for us?   To constantly be set in a direction that so many of us can’t follow.  It shouldn’t be about how we are told or made to feel in comparison to the tabloids that we read, but how we actually feel in the presence of those who know us for all of our faults and insecurities, and love us anyway.

There are going to be days that you don’t want to even brush your hair.  You’ll leave your house in sweats… but don’t sweat it.  ROCK the SHIT out of those sweats honey!  There are going to be days that you get all dolled up, even if you have nowhere to go looking so fab (and you KNOW you look so fab that you take 26 selfies just to document that perfect wing).

Both of these days are okay.  In both of these scenarios, you are still as important, and attractive, and valuable.  It’s OKAY to give yourselves a break; in fact I encourage it.  Cut yourselves a little slack.  You’re amazing, and talented, and worthy.   You deserve it.

Seven

 

Sundays are always “down” days for me.  I usually reserve these days as my recharge days.  I’m a pretty introverted person, so I definitely need to make time for myself in order to recharge my batteries.  Any other intro’s feel me???  Oh, I KNOW you do!  Today, however, I had a few errands to run…and that always seems to turn into “What can I wear out in public that’s basically like staying in pyjamas, but will still make me feel like I put in some effort?”

Enter: Active Wear. I would live in it if I could.  Anytime I get dressed in gym-type clothes, and I’m not actually heading to a gym, it always makes me laugh.  I think of that spoof on Active Wear that was everywhere on the internet a while ago, you know…”Active Wear, Active Wear, buying groceries in my Active Wear…” LOL.   But it’s SO comfortable, so how can you not want to be in it at all times?!  You know, someone needs to create “professional chic” activewear so I can continue my obsession whilst at the office.  Wouldn’t that be heaven?

Slipped into some of my favourite leggings,  a boyfriend shirt (okay, it’s actually a “pj” top, but no one knew that – until now), and my favourite Skechers sneakers (for real, these are the BOMB).  Threw my hair in a braided half top knot, and out the door I went!  It was one of those days that I left the house hoping no one would really notice me, but I was pleasantly surprised when I was complimented on what I had thrown together.  It ended up being a great reminder to always spread love and speak to yourself from a place of love.  🙂  We really are our own biggest critics, and we’re always more beautiful than we think!  Keep that in mind next time you’re having a Sunday like mine.  xx
Leggings – Mondetta
Top – La Senza
Jacket – Old Navy
Sneakers – Skechers
Sunnies – RayBan
Bag – Lacoste

Six

 

 

It’s 2016!  I can hardly believe it, to be honest.  How time flies…I’m not the only one who has minuscule recollection of the last two years, right?!!!

Well, we all know that the tradition to follow New Year’s is the New Year’s Resolution.  So many of us will resolve to the phrase, “New Year, New Me!”…. but the older I get, the more unrealistic I feel that goal is.  I don’t want to be ‘new’, I’d rather just be ‘improved’.  This year, my only resolution is to work each day to move closer to becoming the person I want to be.  Seems easy enough in theory, but in reality it’s much more difficult.  Obstacles arise, suddenly bumps in the road start popping up – sometimes it’s even your own self that gets in your way.

This year, I want to smile more, just for the heck of it!  To see more and do more and be present in each moment of each day.  It’s so easy to get caught up in the bustle of the world around us, forgetting to take time to just BE.

My other goal, which may or may not be easier than my first, is to collect all the oversized knit sweaters I can find because let’s be honest – these things are like wearing a fashionably acceptable housecoat.  They’re amazing!!!  Also,  I have a studio to shoot in now, so I definitely want to write more and photograph more.  It’s a great escape to every day stresses of life.

I hope you all had an amazing New Year’s, and all the best wishes for the year to come xxoo
Sweater/jeans – H&M (my obsession)
Gorgeous lipstick – NARS