When in doubt, stripes

(These photos at J.Crew from last month—I’m a little behind.)

I do love stripes. But in my case, stripes are more of an accent than the main event.

J.Crew Carrie cami in stripe // Anthropologie cardigan (old) // J.Crew necklace // Gap skinny pants

I don’t own a Breton tee. I've tried them on many times, even taken a few home from the Gap and J.Crew, only to return. Apparently I will never be French cool.

But I do own a striped makeup bag, umbrella, and wallet. I couldn't resist the teal stripes. Or being matchy matchy with the decor at Sweet Jesus 4 Life. 

J.Crew makeup bag // J.Crew umbrella // Kate Spade wallet

I also couldn't resist the navy stripes at J Crew recently.

It is a little weird that I don't have a Breton tee. They're simple and chic and look good on everyone. But if I've learned anything about my own personal style, it's that I don't need to and shouldn't force myself to wear something just because everyone else is. I can love the look of the striped tee on other people (and I do), and leave it at that.

Backlog

Aww, shucks. People still read my blog. I’m thrilled! Thank you.

I seem to be dressing a bit more casual lately, hence the cartoon dog T-shirts (I’ve also been wearing slogan tees as well, that’ll be coming up shortly), but I did take some photos of better outfits over the summer, so here are a few to catch up.

Anthopologie dress // J.Crew featherweight cotton cardigan // J.Crew necklace // Tory Burch Reva flats

Anthropologie dress // J.Crew Factory Clare Cardigan // Gap ballet flats

J.Crew watercolour Carrie cami // J.Crew Factory Clare cardigan // Gap knit skirt // J.Crew Cece ballet flats

Supermodel hair, before I cut a few inches off (achieved by taking my hair out of a bun)

I also have a huge backlog of scenic/skyline/from my balcony photos, so here are my favourites.

Lake Ontario back in March:

Coming home on Porter Airlines:

A summer storm rolling in:

Nathan Phillips Square:

Surfacing

Is this thing on?

Wow, it’s been a long time. Nine and a half months since my last post. I could have had a baby in the intervening time! But just to be clear, I didn’t; that’s definitely not why I haven’t been posting since February. No secret babies. I just decided to skip all the warmer months and only post when it’s cold.

Well, not really. I think I’ve been having some writer’s block and I needed a break. But now I kinda feel like getting back into blog writing and celebrating some of the more frivolous things in life, because Lord knows I need some distraction right now. Unfortunately, my 2015 hasn’t really been any better than my 2014 (and in some ways 2015 has been a lot worse), but I’m determined not to focus on the negative and just keep moving forward.

(Also, I say “frivolous” but I really shouldn’t diminish my love of clothes and makeup and hair just because some people might think it’s vain and unimportant. Never underestimate the power of these things.)

Lately it’s been a lot of comfy clothes for me, a lot of stretchy elastic waistbands, leggings that can masquerade as pants (like these and these), and t-shirts with dogs on them. I have to watch out with the stretchy bottoms though; they’re a little too forgiving to all the binge-eating I’ve been doing lately. (I call it eating my feelings and my feelings have been delicious.)

A couple of weekend outfits:

 

J.Crew t-shirts (springer spaniel from fall 2014, bulldog puppy from earlier this year) // Kit & Ace Margo Tank // J.Crew Factory cardigan (on left) // Gap modal motercycle jacket (on right) // lululemon wunder under leggings // puma running shoes

And a colder weather outfit (not ready to break out the full winter gear yet), along with my new storage cube from Crate & Barrel. It might not live there permanently, trying to figure out where I want to keep it, but it’s housing all of our winter accessories (hats, scarves, gloves) and providing a place to sit while we put our shoes on. I’ve had this Anthropologie jacket for 5 years now and the lining is starting to tear, but it’s still a spring/fall workhorse for me.

Anthro Cream Confection Jacket (2010) // Kit & Ace Evans Long Sleeve // Club Monaco pompom tuque // lululemon wunder under leggings // eric michael motorcycle boots

Hoping for a few more interesting outfits in the next little while, but we’ll see. I have no idea if anyone will still read this, but that’s ok, it’s really just for me!

Cleanin’ out my closet

I think I gave the impression in my previous post that applying the principle of “does it spark joy?” when deciding what to keep in my closet was really easy. It was easy, for 90% of it. I started running into trouble with the remaining 10% and started to think and question too much. So although the KonMari Method recommends cleaning in one fell swoop, I had to put that pile aside, clear my head (which meant ignoring it for a few days), and coming back later.

What I learned from that:

- If I answer “I don’t know” to the question “Does it spark joy”, then the answer is really “No.”

- It’s ok to say goodbye to something I loved before but no longer love now. I used to worry sometimes that my tastes are too fickle, but now I’m just going to go with it. Things change, that’s always ok.

Kit & Ace sleeveless top // Mexx cardigan // J.Crew necklace // Gap ponte leggings // eric michael booties

Some other important things I learned when going through the exercise of going through my closet:

- Neutrals rule. As much as I like colour, I prefer to keep it as an accent and stick (mostly) to a palette of black and grey. I know, it’s not very adventurous, it’s not out of my comfort zone, but it works for me, and my life needs my closet to be safe and easy right now. I love this, but not right now. Maybe later.

 

- Things that spark joy don’t have to be fancy, or really unique, or really different. I love a simple pair of black leggings or black ballet flats. A basic black pencil skirt makes me happy. Just because they’re simple pieces doesn’t mean they can’t spark joy. I used to think that basics were mere necessities, but maybe I used to have the wrong ones.

- I’m never ever paying attention to those lists of "Wardrobe Essentials" or "10 Things Every Woman Must Own" again. Every woman is different, and while these guides might be helpful for some people, they don’t work for me. I don’t have a blazer (never found one I liked), I don’t have any button-down shirts (shocker for someone who works in an office), and I won’t get any unless I find ones I love.

does it spark joy?

It’s a simple concept: only surround yourself with things you love.

Club Monaco silk top // J.Crew cardigan // J.Crew necklace // J.Crew fluted skirt // Wolford tights // Tory Burch Reva flats

For instance, I love this outfit.

One of the major principles of the KonMari Method is to go through everything you own and ask “Does it spark joy?” and if it doesn’t, get rid of it. Go with your gut and don’t rationalize. It really did make going through my clothes easy; I didn’t have to ask if I could make three outfits with an item or if I’d worn it within the past six months, I could ignore the rationalization that sometimes goes on in my head (people at work really like this skirt!), and just ask it I love it or not now. Not if I loved it before. So a few dresses I haven’t worn in ages stay. Anything I wore just because I felt I should or pieces I used to love but don’t anymore went.

But it’s much harder with other areas of the house. In the kitchen, do these oven mitts spark joy? Well, not really, but I need to have oven mitts. I don’t think it means I should throw them out and buy oven mitts I love (or should I?). In the bathroom, do I love this bottle of glasses lens cleaner? Does this nail file spark joy? Do I have strong feelings for this Revlon Pedi-Expert? (Actually I do, it’s essentially a cheese grater for your heels and it’s the best thing I’ve tried to deal with my terrible feet.)

So there’s stuff I love, and stuff I need. I don’t know if it’s possible to have 100% stuff I love. But 85-90% is probably ok, right?

Christmas: a recap in photo form

Many photos of puppies and food ahead; you’ve been warned.

Travelling in Hugo Guinness for J.Crew Springer spaniel tee (I thought it was a basset hound but I think it’s a chubby Springer spaniel)

A really pretty tuna sashimi bowl for lunch before going to the Boston Pops

An actual Springer spaniel at Quimby’s daycare, where we left him before going to the Boston Pops.

The Boston Pops

My sister and her sleeping puppy

BEST. DOG SHIRT. EVER.

Selfies.

Laziest dog ever.

Christmas Eve prime rib roast.

Ginger-cherry white chocolate chip cookies, adapted from this Ming Tsai recipe.

Christmas duck, puppy wants some too.

Still the laziest dog ever.

Homemade poutine on Boxing Day (or as it’s called in the U.S., the day after Christmas).

Will and a lapful of labradoodle.

Waiting for Shake Shack ice cream.

Achieved!

After Shake Shack, a play date with his sister Echo, who lives in the same Cambridge neighbourhood. My brother-in-law met her in the park by accident, and he and Echo’s human realized that they’d both gotten the puppies at the same breeder in Maine. What are the chances?

What did I say about Quimby being the laziest puppy ever? But after playing hard with his sister, he deserves a little lie-down.

Making the NY Times chocolate chip cookies.

They are delicious, and worth leaving in the fridge for 72+ hours.

Quimby and his big buddy hanging out before we left. He (the puppy) and I got depressed afterwards. Perhaps 2015 is the year I finally get a dog.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas too!