March in pictures

Just got home from a very pleasant long weekend in Boston, keeping my convalescing sister company. I literally got off the plane about two hours ago, so no Boston photos yet, but this was the rest of the month. Pictures of food and dog-stalking continue!

hello, R2-D2 // dolsot chickent bibimbap // gorgeous 100% silk ribbon at Mokuba, but at $48/metre, has to be left on the shelf // mmm, stubbe chocolate // this Westie wants to come into the chocolate shop // lab sitting in the sun outside the library // this is Callie and she’s a showbiz dog // it’s never to cold for gelato // this doggie wants some too

not sure why edible gold flakes are necessary // golden retriever bottom // accidental photo, but shows my rubber boot in the snow // Pizzeria Libretto homemade sausage pizza, delicious // this Portuguese Water Dog was giving me the hard sell at the vacuum store // blue lizard at Aritzia // watching me on my walk home // yes, I need to put down my iPad // chicken kebab and rice at Tabülè

a Basset hound on a T-shirt

My plane for Boston leaves in two-and-a-half hours, and for once I haven’t ordered anything to be shipped to my sister’s house. We probably won’t be doing much shopping anyway (just lounging around and eating), but it’s not like I haven’t done enough shopping this month anyway.

But how could I pass this up?

Gap Basset Hound Graphic T, 30% off. (With the constant promotions at the Gap, anyone else feel like a sucker if they pay full price for anything?)

Unfortunately it doesn’t sit on my chest as well as it does on the model, my boobs kinda get in the way.

Speaking of boobs (and shopping), my Old Navy dresses arrived in the mail…

 

I sent the pink one back, despite vowing to stop buying and returning. If I’m honest, I never intended to keep both, I did it for the free shipping and the fact I can’t stand going to Old Navy stores, but I’ll say it’s because I decided I didn’t need both.

Looking forward to a five-day weekend…hope everyone has a Happy Easter!

The blogger’s new clothes

Er, a few too many new clothes this month. It has been a bad (good?) month for shopping.

Club Monaco top // Club Monaco Tavie Skirt // Hilary Druxman necklace // Wolford tights // Tory Burch flats

I went back to Club Monaco for the Tavie Skirt last night, and I couldn’t wait to wear it today. No thinking about it, no making sure it works in my closet, no reflecting on whether I really want to keep them or not. Sometimes I have things for months before I actually wear them, but this one is a keeper.

I love the pink piping and the exposed back zipper. I love that it’s versatile too, it’ll probably end up being the 2013 version of the Liquid Acres Skirt for me.

While I was there, I also picked up the Janis Hat in Cerise (on sale, also seen here on Rachel). The bright pink means I can’t be missed and won’t get run over, and I’m keeping my head warm in this continuing cold weather.

Little black dress at a little price

It’s hard to teach this old fashion snob new tricks, but as proof that things aren’t always set in stone for me, here’s my LBD from Old Navy. (I’m very humbled, but willing to admit it.)

Old Navy Cross-Front Jersey Dress // old bandeau top // J.Crew Jenna’s Cardigan // Hilary Druxman necklace // Wolford velvet opaque tights // Nine West heels

Exactly the shape I’m looking for (deep V-neck), in stretch jersey (not the dressiest of fabrics, but can’t tell in black), and only $25. I don’t know how well it will wear (how it’ll wash, if it’ll fade, etc.), but it works for now. So comfy that I ordered two more in different colours for easy summer wear. Bandeau/cami is required, the V is a little too deep for every day:

Holy cleavage, Batman! (and holy messy hair, but in my defense it was just after a very windy walk home last week.)

Much better.

Shopping weekend

A friend and I went shopping this weekend, and while I was mostly reminded how much I hate malls (especially on weekends, it’s pretty much my idea of hell) and shopping in general (I love clothes, but I’m a lazy, lazy shopper), I was also reminded of how frustrating I find the lack of consistency in sizing from store to store. I’m teeny tiny at the Gap (on what planet am I swimming in a S and is XS loose on me?), while at J.Crew I wear anywhere from an XS to M and 4-8 depending on the piece and the fabric, and at Club Monaco I’m a short fat girl.  

I exaggerate a little, but I think Club Monaco’s fit model is tall, skinny, and minimally curvy. I’m drawn to Club Monaco this spring because I love a lot of the pieces and the colour palettes, but not everything fits well. Still, first world problems, right?

The Willa Dress looks fantastic on Saucy Glossie here, but not so much on me:

This is an 8, it’s knee-length instead of mid-thigh like on the model, and it’s way too tight around the shoulders. The black panelling around the shoulders also reminds me of a wetsuit, am I the only one who sees that?

The Sunny Stripe Tee is a bit better:

But it doesn’t look anything on me like it does on the model. Also, as a girl with boobs, I rage against these breast pockets—they don’t serve any purpose (what am I going to put in there, a subway token?) and they don’t work on my chest. I don’t think it’s supposed to be off to the side like that.

(The worst example of a breast pocket is J.Crew’s Peony Tee. What pocket? Exactly what I thought until I tried it on. There is one there, for no apparent reason.)

Sunny Stripe Tee and Cecilia Skirt:

I’m not tall, and I think this skirt is short.

Sunny Tee and Tavie Skirt:

I love the mint, but it washes me out too much. I looove the skirt, despite the length. And I haaate the price tag.

So going into Club Monaco is a bit like self-harm, because I always end up feeling bad about my body because the clothes don’t fit the way they’re supposed to. I just have to remember it’s not me, it’s the clothes. Some things work, not everything does, that’s okay. Also, thanks to the very nice, perhaps slightly over-friendly, perhaps flirty male sales associates who said “a size 8? there’s no way you need a size 8, I’ll get you a size 6” when I was getting a size for the Tavie Skirt. For the record, he was right.

Dresses, dresses, dresses

I was browsing Anthropologie online this morning (and then in-store in Yorkville on my lunch break) and I realized I haven’t bought a dress from Anthro in almost two years.

Banana Republic twist-front top // Hilary Druxman necklace // Anthro Verdant Slip Dress (Moulinette Soeurs, 2011) worn as a skirt // Wolford tights // Michael Kors heels

I loooove the Anthro dresses I bought in the past, this one included, but obviously nothing in the past two years has caught my eye. Anthro is a bit of an exercise in futility for me these days—I browse online, don’t see anything I want, then I go into the store and still don’t see anything I want and wonder why I went in the first place. I may be swayed by the Wynwood Top (looks a lot like the labyrinthine tee from June 2008 that got away from me), but that’s about it.

I thought it was a dress, but it’s a jumpsuit. I just…can’t.

I didn’t try anything on there, I went down the street and tried on these dresses at the Gap.

 

Almost the same shape as this Karen Walker dress, and less than half the price. I didn’t buy though, it’s not a very flattering neckline on me.

Anyway, having said this, I’ll probably find a ton of dresses I love in the next few months, but I don’t know. I think my taste has changed, but I also think that Anthro has changed too. So I’ll just enjoy the dresses I have now.

Springing ahead

I like turning the clocks ahead in the spring for the extra light at the end of the day (no more going home in the dark), but I dislike it for the mornings. I don’t know why, but that extra hour really messes me up for a few weeks.

It was a busy and irritating week, and I couldn’t be bothered to dress very creatively. I also couldn’t get any decent pictures with my head in it either. So it was a headless week.

Anthro renewed folds pullover (Odonate Epiprocta - 2011) // J.Crew No. 2 pencil skirt in vivid jade // Wolford satin opaque tights // Nine West heels

It’s the same as this outfit, just with brown and tan instead of black.

But yesterday was a gorgeous day and I had the balcony door open for most of it, so I feel a little more spring-like and refreshed and thoughts are turning more to lighter fabrics, brighter colours, and bare legs. I’ve been fine with the real Canadian winter we’ve had so far, but I’d be happy if there were no more snowstorms, as pretty as it is.

I love my view.

Fitness commitment issues

I'm really, really jealous of people who actually enjoy exercise. I've always hated it, but I know I should do it because it's good for me. Like eating vegetables (which I've also never been keen on). I've tried joining a gym, didn't work. I tried joining the gym at work (only $5), didn't work. I tried joining a women's gym literally around the corner from my apartment, didn't work (also the gym closed after a year). I tried yoga, didn't work (I don't like yoga on its own, it's not my thing). I tried Pilates classes, didn't work (I like Pilates better than yoga, but still not great and I didn't like the people in the classes). I tried a Running Room learn to run clinic, didn't work (I got shin splints and I just don't enjoy running). I haven’t tried a personal trainer, but I don’t think that would work well either because take well to people yelling at me and it’s not really in my budget (way too many other things to spend money on). Basically, I have commitment issues when it comes to serious exercise, but hey, it might not be all my fault! 

The only thing I seem to be able to commit to is walking the 5K to and from work (when the weather is in my favour, I walk at least one way every day, sometimes both ways if my ride to work isn't available), but I can commit to that because I hate taking the subway even more (I'm short so I inevitably end up with my face in someone's armpit) and because it has a purpose (I'm getting somewhere, as opposed to getting nowhere on a treadmill/elliptical/stationery bike). Even if it does give me a red nose and red cheeks when I take photos afterwards.

J.Crew vintage cotton v-neck tee in vivid jade // knockoff J.Crew bubble necklace // Club Monaco chiffon skirt // Wolford tights // Michael Kors heels

This skirt had climbed up to around my waist by the time I got home, but I was wearing a long coat, so it was ok. I also did not walk home in heels, sensible footwear only for walking that far.

So walking as much as I do is great but it’s probably not enough fitness for me, so I’m looking for something else. I haven’t quite found what I love yet. And if I don’t love it, I won’t do it. Any suggestions?

Laughter is the best medicine

I need a good laugh; February was a short yet crappy month. I think Februaries in general are pretty dismal, but this one was exceptionally dismal. So I started March off with a lot of laughing.

There’s the NFL Bad Lip Reading:

A horse in the back of a car:

Taylor Swift with goats:

And Whitney Houston with goats:

The Taylor Swift one (I can’t stand that song) made me laugh so hard I couldn’t breathe, and the Whitney Houston one made me laugh so hard I cried. Why are goats yelling like humans so freakin’ funny?

So it’s always good to laugh…except maybe for my sister who’s recovering from surgery, and laughing so hard made her hurt and have to take extra pain meds. I would think it’s worth it though.