Leopard – M A T E J K A

Sixteen

In keeping with the conversation on mental health and wellness from yesterday, I want to focus today’s post on things that make me happy! Sometimes we don’t realize how much emphasis we put on the things that bring us down in our lives – let’s work to shift that focus onto the things that lift us up, that make our hearts giddy, that brush a smile across our lips!

So here we go – a few things that make me happy:

— COFFEE, or maybe I should say “cream and sugar with a splash of coffee” as I am a Tim-Horton’s-Triple-Triple-kind-of-girl. HA!
— Popcorn. It’s actually probably unhealthy how addicted I am to popcorn. I am that person who goes to movies literally JUST so I can get popcorn… most of the time I don’t even care what movie I’m watching. LOL
— Peanut butter and chocolate (specifically white). This list is off to a good start, as so far it only contains food items – which definitely make me happy.
— Seasons, and the changing, evolving beauty that they bring. I love that I live in such a diverse climate. I get to witness the birth, aging, death and rebirth of everything over and over again. To see this cycle around me is such a humble reminder that from every loss we can be renewed once again.
— Laughter. Those moments that rumble deep in your gut, surging up through your chest and bursting out the door of your mouth… you know, I really think there is something to the old adage “Laughter is the best medicine.” Especially when you engage in laughter with others 🙂
— Friends/Family. This is the obvious cliche, but it’s so important in life to acknowledge your tribe and be grateful for all they bring you. Family isn’t always blood. Your circle consists of who your soul connects with, those who love and appreciate you for who you are, and who lift you and bring you to the best version of you possible.
— Theatre/Film. I love the arts so much. I was very much involved in them throughout school. Being on a stage is such a natural thing for me. It’s a great expression of truth, and I love witnessing the growth of this expression in other performers – whether on stage or in film. I’m a HUGE movie buff. If I’m not roaming the lands for great deals on awesome pieces, you’re more than likely to find me watching a play or a flick.
— Writing. Ahhh, all my other writers – I bet you can relate to this 🙂 The older (and wiser) I get, the more I appreciate and am thankful for allowing myself to undress onto a sheet of paper. There’s something so therapeutic not only about emptying your thoughts and ideas onto a canvas, but also in the physical act of penmanship itself. I adore cursive, and it’s one of the greatest things I look forward to teaching my future children.
— Dancing and ZUMBA! Growing up a dancer, movement has always been a part of me. I danced my whole childhood and well into adulthood (from 6 to almost 22!). When I quit my dance studio, I just felt lost. A fire inside of me was snuffed out. Enter: Zumba Fitness! For real, Zumba gave me meaning again. It brought my light back; it got me back to dancing down the aisles of Walmart and Home Depot (lol I dance EVERYWHERE I go). I have been participating in Zumba for around 4 years now and it’s one of the most entertaining, enjoyable things I’ve been a part of. After a long week, it’s the one thing I look most forward to. So many smiles and laughs, and sweat! Who can ask for a better combo?! 😉

What is it that makes you happy?

Speaking of Zumba, I’ve decided to showcase my favourite Zumba style. These pants bring one thing to mind: This is how I roll, animal print pants outta control … Fun fashion definitely does not stop on the streets. Don’t be afraid to bring it to the gym with you! I love drop-crotch pants … I lovingly refer to them as my ‘diaper pants’ (HAHA) but honestly, they are SO comfortable. For Zumba they make me feel like I’m part of an awesome hip-hop group -which in a way I kind of am- and it makes the class that much more exciting. Get your thrills wherever you can, ladies and gentlemen!!! 🙂 I own these pants in black as well, and usually those are my go-to’s for class; when the sweat starts pouring, lighter colours are sometimes not the best choice, you know because…. well, I’ll leave that image to you! I altered one of my favourite Victoria’s Secret PINK tees (for better ventilation mostly), and I never leave the house for class without my Cons in hand. NOTE: If you have bad arches or just need more support for your feet, I recommend not dancing in Converse shoes.

Fitness can sometimes be gruelling, so aim to make it fun whenever you can! I encourage you to bring a little more of “you” to your style choice the next time you head to the gym! 🙂 See how it makes you feel! You’re already hella awesome for working on building a stronger you, both in mind and body – give yourself room to have a little FUN with it! ❤

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.

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

Three

Wow! Am I ever glad that exams are over and semester is officially done! I did not anticipate school to absolve my entire life, but it happens and I am so glad to have some time now to get back to the wonderful world of fashion blogging! Hopefully over break I can get a few more posts out. 🙂

Now, I love dressing up as much as the next girl, but sometimes you really just want to throw on some jeans and give your feet a break from the heels (or maybe that’s just me?). Even though you are “dressed down”, it doesn’t have to look like it!

My first casual look consists of your basic skinny leg jean, and two things that go remarkably well together for fall: leopard print and wintergreen. Throw these two together and you’ll always have a chic fall look, no matter what the garment. I chose to wear a basic long-sleeve tee in a leopard pattern, and my velvet wintergreen pointed flats (with scalloped edge for added awesome). Easy as pie! (If anyone can actually explain that saying to me, please do. If it refers to making pies, then it is a LIE…. it’s true to meaning for this reference of fashion anyway!)

Jeans – American Eagle, Belt – Guess, Shoes – Ardene, Top – Jules & James