Clothing – M A T E J K A

Forty Two

Trying to get back into the swing of things since my “birthday weekend” last weekend.
It was a total blast, BUT…. I wanted to blog my other outfit and I totally forgot to take good photos while in it (aside from the tipsy photos I got with HORRID lighting that make me look like a demon coming out of the depths…) — So… now that I’ve got my laundry complete, I’ll be shooting that outfit next. Better late than never, right?

ANYWAY.

On a positive note, I bought the MOST AWESOME shoes for myself ’cause you know, when it’s your birthday, you TREAT YO SELF. If you can’t afford to frost your ears, fingers or neck (like me), then you frost those feet instead! I feel like that’s a lot more practical, anyway.

Peep these babies from Skechers – seriously.

So. much. bling. So. much. sparkle. SO. MUCH. HAPPY.

Also, they’re called the Shiny Dancer? WELL OBVIOUSLY that fits the bill just perfectly!
(shout out to my 16 years of competitive dancing!)

The next pair I get is definitely going to be these – the Bright Idea – Elevated. I was really torn between these and the Shiny Dancers, but if the decision involves bling or no bling …the bling will ALWAYS win out with me.

Aaaand, my shirt came in! I was so excited to see a package on my step from Wear Your Label.

This is the “I ❤ Me” tee. It’s soft, and comfortable, and a daily reminder to love yourself – and I think that makes it just one of the best t-shirts out there.

As an extra perk, it’s also currently on sale 😉 … get it here !

Here’s a better view of these beauties for you:

It’s also Mani Monday!!! I decided to have some fun and try to do emoji nails LOL. As you can see, it turned out pretty hilariously. I thought I was using the smallest brush possible, but apparently I was NOT. It’s all good. They still look pretty sweet – from far away.

All the best to you for the rest of your week!

❤

Forty One

I am horrible at this blogging thing. lol
With Instagram, it’s so easy to just have access to everything at your fingertips.
(So if you have Instagram, follow me there! You’ll see me much more active on that platform – @thewardrobe_key 😉 )

*sigh*

Here’s an outfit that got lost in the archives from a few weeks back.
I was so excited to wear this – the weather had cooled off quite a bit previously, but from out of nowhere popped a warm fall day (much like today!) and I could actually go out with bare legs and not be cold! … I live for days like that living with Canadian winters.

Knit top: H&M
Denim dress: Garage Clothing
Boots: Guess
Bag: Dug up from the bottom of my closet (cir. I have no idea what year…)

I LOVE pairing baggy knits over, well, everything when the temps get cooler and the leaves start changing. /swoon

When you’re walking past the haters like:

Hope you lovelies had a wonderful weekend!

❤

Forty

Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday dear Old Bat
Happy Birthday to Me!!!

If you hadn’t guessed, today is my birthday 🙂
This post is Outfit #1 of Birthday Weekend shenanigans.

I went out for dinner last night with a few close people, and it was so lovely.
So many laughs, great food and good drinks!
Exactly what all birthdays should be made of.

I’ve been going on a bit of a spending binge lately (WHOOPS!), but on super random things…so when I paid my credit card balance I told myself, “NO MORE”.

And then I walked through Hudson’s Bay and saw this GORGEOUS Steve Madden bag, and that notion went right out the window.

It’s the epitome of boho chic. It’s got the textured leather, the fringe tassel, an incredible soft suede interior, AND to put the cherry on top of the already incredibly delicious cake – it has a beautifully embroidered guitar inspired shoulder strap.

WHAT!

#SorryNotSorry Louis, but I’ve begun an affair with Steve.

To keep the boho vibe of the bag intact, and ensuring it remained the star of the show, I complemented it with an all black ensemble and just a pop of colour with my shoes.

Dress from HM
Blazer from Dynamite
Shoes from Winners

A better look at the makeup look I created to go hand in hand with the outfit. Details on products used below:

Base:
Primed with Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Covered with MAC Studio Finish Concealer Duo in NW20/NC25
Set with bareMinerals Original SPF 25 mineral veil
Dusted with Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 022 Sun Bronze

Eyes:
Primed with Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Minor Sin
Shadows are –
E.L.F. Cosmetics in Mad for Matte palette
Sephora Colorful Matte in My Dear Nude
Sephora Colorful Shimmer in Sweet Dreams
Lined with Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Mad Max Brown

Brows:
Filled with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz pencil in Medium Brown

I don’t know if any of you out there believe in the paranormal, orbs or anything like that … but I included the photo below (awkward as it is) because it has an orb right above my heart! ❤

Call me crazy, but I definitely believe in that “hullabaloo”, and found it comforting to think that one of my deceased loved ones had come to share my birthday with me 🙂

Have a fabulous weekend lovelies!

❤

Thirty Nine

It’s Friyay!

Do something today that makes you laugh, that gives you confidence, that makes you happy and feeling care-free.

It’s Friday. It’s been a long week. You deserve to celebrate surviving it. *clink*

Obsessed with styling this denim jacket from H&M lately. I love taking a dressed-down, casual look and pumping it up (literally).

Top – http://www.hm.com/ca/product/13938?article=13938-C
Pants – Walmart, ages ago. Seriously. Walmart.
Jacket – http://www.hm.com/us/product/47864?article=47864-A
Pumps – http://www.payless.com/womens-kailey-ankle-strap-pump/76003.html?dwvar_76003_color=gold#start=51

Don’t you just love the shine of a fresh colour? It’s my favourite!

Hair courtesy of the-bomb-dot-com: @hairbyjesseray ❤

SUPER excited for something fun coming up together this fall!

Have a splendid weekend lovelies! xo

❤

Thirty Eight

Supa fly.

I totally forgot to blog this look like 3 weeks ago. WHOOPS!

Casual date-night outfit for when we went to see the premiere of The Legend of Tarzan…which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Dress – HM
Boots – GUESS
Crossbody – Coach

I’m sorry that none of these items seem to be available anymore 😥

This ADORABLEEEE little heart floof from Winners. UGH.

❤

Thirty Seven

I’ve been MIA for a bit…and for good reason.

Thanks to my local country radio station, I spent last weekend at my FIRST EVER Big Valley Jamboree experience. It was magical. I can’t believe it was a week ago already.

I’ve heard so many things about BVJ over the years, but I’ve never been able to get out there myself. It really was the place to be if you’re anything like me, and have country music flowing through your veins instead of blood.

Seeing as how it was my first time to a music festival, I had no idea what to expect. I had won a weekend pass with a campsite, so everything was basically taken care of for me (cue choir of angels singing).

We ended up not being able to actually camp, which was somewhat of a bummer, but instead just drove in and out each day. Our campsite still got used (by us for daily parking, and by our neighbouring campers who also used it as an extra parking stall for guests – at our mentioning).

The festivities were totally worth all the travel, but MAN… I’m clearly a lot older than I think I am. The back-and-forth commuting, coupled with all of the activities and excitement of each day totally wiped me out. I slept for two solid days after the fact, and I seem to also have come down with a head cold type deal – probably from the scorching heat one day that turned to almost winter temperatures the next. (Welcome to Alberta!)

This year’s line-up was pretty awesome (as seen above, compliments of my obligatory concert tee – which I had to snag as evidence since I was too busy enjoying my time there to remember to take many pictures lol oops!)

Our seats turned out to be pretty stellar. We were right next to the sound booth, which meant there was no one to our right beside us (and plenty of space to get up and dance/wiggle around to see when people stood up). We also had a giant screen RIGHT next to us that was a lot easier to see the show from when the temperature dropped and I slowly turned into an ice cube (aka unable to move, affixed to my chair).

Though we initially were so excited for all of the Main Stage acts, I tucked into the Songwriters’ Workshop on our first afternoon to escape the ferocious heat.

Seriously. It felt like it was 50 degrees. My skin felt like it was on FIRE. At least it was the one day I remembered to wear sunscreen…

This series changed everything for me. I no longer felt rushed to see the acts on the Main Stage. Instead, I hurried to get to this little white tent on time each day. This itty bitty space with its cozy little stage totally blew me away. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this (as I wasn’t), it’s basically a jam sesh with 4 different artists/groups each session, twice a day. It’s them, their guitar (or other instrument), the mic and their superb talents. It’s raw, it’s genuine, it’s authentic. It’s where the magic truly happens.

I was so blown away by the incredible gift that every person had. It was mesmerizing to watch the artists feed off of each other, and join in to complement one another – like it had been planned and rehearsed that way all along. BUT IT WASN’T. I just. No words. NO WORDS. I wish you could have been there to experience it for yourself.

Photo above from Saturday’s 3:30 pm show.
Pictured left to right: Will Hebbes, Beverley Mahood, Bobby Cameron, JJ Shiplett, Bobby Wills, Alee.

Small, intimate venues are what I really live for. They are so much more personable, so much more relatable. They make you truly feel like you’re a part of the melody, of the lyrics, of the show.

I did catch a few of the big cats on the Main Stage: Aaron Goodvin, Jo Dee Messina, Gary Allan, Sam Hunt, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood. All of them were SO good. I love artists who tell stories, and there were some pretty awesome, pretty hilarious ones that went around.

I know a lot of people don’t like it when an artist talks the same amount they sing. I get it. However, I also appreciate when a person is willing to open up a piece of themselves to share with others, complete strangers. It’s brave, it’s admirable and I’d take 10 stories more if it meant I had to miss out on a couple more songs – any day.

Carrie Underwood, via jumbo tron beside our seats (cameo: port-a-potty LOL)

As fun as everything on site was, I had a lot more fun picking out what I was going to wear each day. Everyone knows that what you wear to a festival is almost as big a deal as the festival itself.

Day One

I was trying to whip out my best “country”… but it turned out a little more “outback” than I’d anticipated.

Note: I swapped boots in for the gladiator sandals that I originally wore (as they are cute but NOT practical for a day of walking…man, I had the worst blisters so I’m not recommending them lol). I also ruined my white crop that I was wearing (*sad face*), so I subbed in this black one to save going nudie for the photos. You’re welcome.

Top – H&M
Skirt – H&M (similar)
Boots – Dune London
Bandana – Dollar Store (WHAT)
Sunnies – Ricki’s
Hat – Zephyr

Day Two

I was feeling a little more ‘dressy’ on the second day so I decided to spice things up a little with this cute dress and sheer kimono. I (luckily) packed jeans and a tee just in case – it POURED rain almost the whole day and was so cold that I didn’t stay in my dress for very long at all.

Also, this was probably the first day in my entire life that I winged my liner on FLEEK. Appreciate. I was so happy I could have cried, but God forbid I cry that damn wing off!

Dress & Kimono – H&M (1 or 2 seasons ago)

Day Three

By the last day, I was exhausted and not willing to put in a whole lot of effort, to be honest. I threw on a comfortable outfit, and out the door I went. I don’t even think I brushed my hair until midway through the day (that’s how freaking tired I was…#WorthIt)

Cap – Nike
Jacket – H&M
Tank – DKNY
Pants – H&M
Shoes – Converse
Sunnies – Ricki’s

All in all, it was an awesome weekend, and a great first festival experience. The views driving home didn’t bother too much either 🙂 I never get tired of those Big Alberta Skies.

❤

Thirty Six

AS FEATURED ON SKECHERS CANADA SOCIAL MEDIA

Be unapologetically you.

If you love something, put your all into it.
If you want something bad enough, never give up on it.
If you’ve got dreams bigger than can fit in the windshield of your car, go after them.

BUT –
Never, ever let go of your authenticity; of your soul.

If you’re a member of the #OddSquad like I am, OWN IT BABY.

If dancing down the aisles of a Walmart while grocery shopping brings you joy, then shake that booty all the way into the freezer section.

If singing at the top of your lungs makes your heart flutter, then sing – everywhere.you.go. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re good enough or not. If it’s a passion of yours, then love it with everything you’ve got.

If becoming the league master of your online gaming community is all you’ve ever wanted, you better step up! (Note: I have no idea if being a league master is even a thing. I don’t play online games, but if you do – then give’er! You do you, boo!)

If wearing crop tops, baggy boyfriend-shirts, short shorts, leggings, or any other piece of clothing makes you feel like a SUPREME GODDESS – YAS HONEY. You need to rock that ish any chance you get, and don’t listen to what anyone else says about it.

Dream big, set goals, kick them out of the park! Karate chop the shit out of anything that gets between you and whatever it is that makes you happy.

Most importantly:

Love yourself, and love your body – no matter what size or shape that it’s packaged in.

It is incredible, and so are you.

Now let’s talk fashion!

Victoria’s Secret makes some of the most comfortable, flattering sportswear I’ve ever encountered. I could NOT pass up the killer deal they had this past weekend as I was strolling through the mall.

Buy any sport bra top, and get any legging for $28?! WHAT. UH YES. I’ll take all of your remaining available stock, please. (Just kidding, because I am not the heir to an empire…)

But real talk… I couldn’t resist grabbing this adorable set to don at my Zumba class!

Also, if you haven’t already been turned on to Skechers shoes – well I don’t even know what to say to you other than: you need to get into a Skechers store ASAP rocky and treat your feet to something so lush and comfy!

I mean – these shoes were practically made to match this outfit.
GOTTA MATCH ‘EM ALL, AMIRITE?

See what I did there… hehehe. Alright, I’ll see myself out now.

Booty is POPPIN’ in these pants. I also love the reflector details, which are great for highlighting your presence in dim lighting when a light source is shone on you…not that I’ll ever be using them in a situation that would require me to be seen in such a way.

AND BONUS SHOT:

I call this pose my “I DON’T WANNA”. As in, for example:

*I don’t wanna attend an ACTUAL gym with you. I’d rather just go to Zumba.
*I don’t wanna go to that place that is teeming with people and noise – today, or ever.
*I don’t wanna get out of bed, or have to adult in any way shape or form today.

You get the gist.

❤

Thirty Five

There’s something that I’m learning as I grow older and more wise.

Happiness has nothing to do with what’s around me. It doesn’t come from the clothing I wear (okay maybe it does a little bit, when I find a comfortable pair of stretchy pants to allow for the growth of a just conceived food baby). It doesn’t come from the makeup I experiment with, or the food I eat, the trinkets I collect to gather dust in my living room, or the new bag that I bought to match the shoes that also joined the family a few days earlier.

No, it doesn’t come from these things. Not really.

Sure, all of these things can make me happy – but it’s not true joy. It’s a temporary high, and it’s gone just as fast as it comes.

Collecting possessions to bring myself happiness when I am not content within myself first means I will forever be on a search for something I will never find.

And this is where I have gone wrong for most of my life.

Don’t mistake me by thinking that I don’t have a knack for pretty or interesting (or even luxurious) things – clearly, as Louis joined me in the making of this post. But I grew too fond of them, and too beholden to them, that I couldn’t understand why I was never satisfied even though I was surrounded by so much material wealth.

I was unhappy, and it was an unhappiness that brewed from deep within. It took me letting go of a lot of my worldly possessions to begin to realize the err of my ways.

I took a long, hard look in the mirror and began to face everything that I’d buried under a mountain of clothing and shoes. And the more I looked, the more the clothing and shoes disappeared, and the less and less that I missed them. The more I looked, the stronger I craved experience, and memory-making, and getting out into the world to reconnect with what really matters.

Happiness is a journey; it’s not something that comes from things.

It comes from me, and only me. From within myself. It comes from learning all about the facets that have created the being that I am today. It comes from learning to love each of those plates, grouted together – some jagged as rock and some smooth as glass; each just as vital, regardless.

It’s a hard fight to free yourself of the confines of our society. If you’re like I am and you’ve been living within the “Everything Shiny and Everything New” era of today, then you realize how difficult it can be to divorce yourself from it.

I don’t need the newest or the shiniest anymore; I’ve realized there is no magic in those things. The magic and the character come from having been pre-loved, and loved well (hint: this applies to your bags and yourself). The more I think about it, the more I would rather have well-loved and well-known pieces in my collection that tell stories of where I’ve been and the adventures that I’ve had.

It’s a never-ending race to find the best and be the best, but you’re not competing against each other – you’re competing against yourself. You will never see the finish line if you refuse to acknowledge this.

Protect your happiness and learn to walk away. It’s not savage, it is necessary. In a world that will do everything to break you down and keep you unhappy, it is absolutely pertinent.

“Less is more” is the old adage we’ve all more than likely heard many times. I used to always brush it off, thinking nothing of it, but I see now the truth that hides behind it.

Less IS more.
Less technology in your life is more connection.
Less material wealth in your life is more freedom.
Less attention to celebrity media in your life is more love and acceptance of yourself.
Less hatred and jealousy toward your fellow beings is more community and love.
Less negativity in your life is more positivity surrounding you.
Less competition with others is more time for you and the things that really matter.

❤

None of the items featured in this post are new. They have all been in my closet for relatively some time now, ranging from months to years.

Thirty Four

Well hellooooooo.
I found a new love, and it’s not fashion.

This is why I have been MIA. I’ve been thinking about climbing, learning about climbing, and doing the climbing. It’s been amazing.

Actually, this whole year has been pretty incredible so far, but particularly these last few months. I am learning SO much about myself, and I am just feeling so much more comfortable from every angle that I scope. I’ve been discovering the authenticity that’s been hiding within all this time; it’s incredibly liberating. The genuine happiness and care-free frolicking that follows is unmatched.

I am of the Earth element, and I am finding out that I am absolutely an Earth-bound soul. I love to experience everything about the literal Earth that surrounds me. Naturally, it only makes sense that hanging off a wall with my hands covered in chalk just feels like home.

Everything about climbing just feels like home. It really nurses the gypsy heart that beats within my chest. I am fast finding out just how wonderful, supportive and welcoming the climbing community is. It’s packed full of good people; my kinda people.

I am so excited for this next adventure in my life, so I apologize now for the inevitable increase in flightiness and absence. But as they say, you gotta follow your heart. 😉

Now, on that note – I did stumble upon (rather randomly) something that I’ve been struggling with basically since puberty. That “tousled-beach-wave” look. SERIOUSLY. Why does the undone look take SO MUCH DOING?!

If you, too, have struggled with this – please appreciate my 11 Step instructions below (profanities are a free bonus…you’ll know what I mean).

11 Steps to Perfectly Undone Hair
Step 1: Wash hair at night, as you normally would.
Step 2: Towel dry hair, shake to release. DO NOT BRUSH.
Step 3: Go to bed.
Step 4: Wake up in morning, tousle with fingers. (AGAIN) DO NOT BRUSH.
Step 5: Go about your daily business (we’ll refine your “undone” look later).
Step 6: In evening, run fingers through matted hair to ‘brush’ … (good luck)
Step 7: Plug in flat iron. Heat to desired setting.
Step 8: Grab random chunks of hair in no particular pattern. Run through flat iron in curling motion at fairly quick pace.
Step 9: Leave random strands that escape flat iron’s grip. Leave random strands that refuse to curl like the others. Leave random globs of hair that have matted together. They’ll be hidden. JUST TWIST ONCE AND GO WITH IT.
Step 10: Shake the shit out of it. Crop-dust with hairspray and scrunch.
Step 11: Leave house because you look fabulously “undone”.

Et, VOILA! Magnificent!

You’re welcome.

Outfit Details
Top – HM Coachella Collection (2016)
Fringe Duster – Stitches
Jeans – Ardene (I KNOW)
Shoes – Winners (#FabFind)
Glasses – Tahari (Winners – #FabFind)

Thirty Three

It’s been a while since I made a fashion post. Oy. Not being a full-time blogger, I get sidetracked – easily. Well, really that’s just me in life, in general. Shooting for this post I noticed something different though…

There wasn’t ONE photo that I had that I criticized.
I even found myself cheering myself on.

“YAS GURL, Look at you work it! You look fabulous! You’re amazing!”

This has not been the norm for any of my posts thus far. This is a big step.

I’ve been going through a pretty significant change the last few months. I feel like this is maybe something that happens when you’re on the cusp of the 30 year marker of life. I’ve had glimpses of moments like these all throughout my twenties thus far, but nothing as concrete as now.

I’m evolving.

I’m more aware of myself, who I am and all that that entails. I’m more connected to the world around me, in an organic way. I’m becoming less dependent on technology, compared to how I was at the beginning of the year (which could also help to explain my absence). I’m more appreciative of my body, of my essence. I’m speaking more out of love than out of hatred or bitterness – to myself, and to others. In a way, I feel like with the world around me moving forward, I am taking a few steps backwards… in the absolute best way possible. I am finding my true self, and growing in ways that I was stunted from before.

A funny kind of thing is happening along with this. My wardrobe is evolving, too.

I am choosing clothing that I am drawn to kinetically. What my heart and soul are drawn to, instead of my eyes or my wallet. In doing so, I am 1000% more comfortable in my own skin and in what I wear. I think this is the first outfit that I’ve worn in a long time (or maybe ever) that I honestly love every part of, and how I look in every part of it.

Those legs – FOR DAYS.
Them thighs – #QUADGOALS.
Those curves – DELICIOUS.
Them arms – STRENGTH.
Dat booty – HI I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU IN SO LONG NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

All the pieces of me that I used to tear apart, I am falling so madly in love with. I didn’t think that was possible, but the more I evolve, the stronger that love becomes – and I am so elated. Loving myself has never been easy, but I am learning and I am finding happiness within the lesson.

I hope that if you’re reading this, and you’re feeling the way that I am so used to feeling, that you too will discover love and happiness within your own lesson.

Life is hard. If we hold each other up, we can get through anything.

“All we need is love…”

❤

I am SO obsessed with bodysuits right now. And this jacket…and these jeans…and boots…and sunglasses.
I would actually (and quite possibly just might) wear this every single day. So, I can’t promise that I’ll have much new content coming in the near future. #SorryNotSorry …

Jacket – Garage (on clearance!)
Bodysuit – H&M
Jeans – Gap (1969 fit)
Boots – DUNE London
Sunnies – Winners Fab Find