I should hastily add, just temporarily. No plans to shut down this blog. Just taking a much-needed and much-deserved vacation.
Also, it’s the name of my favourite song off Franz Ferdinand’s Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action album.
Radio silence for ten days, but I’m sure my Instagram will be busy while I’m away. And there will be lots to report when I get back on September 30.
Until then, cheerio!
That's not true. It's a bold-faced lie. I'm a sun worshipper and I am happiest when there's sun and a clear blue sky (and around 22-25C/70-77F). But this week I've been a lousy mood so today’s grey skies and pouring rain seem completely a propos. I attribute the foul mood to post-birthday blues, sugar withdrawal, and sidewalk cyclists, my ultimate nemeses (NO, I will NOT get out of your way, YOU can get out of MY way!).
Even a basset hound on my T-shirt couldn’t help lift my mood (I couldn’t even get a decent picture of it).
Gap T-shirt // Gap knit A-line skirt // Tory Burch flats
No, that’s no better.
It’s the last weekend for Google Reader, so make sure to switch over to a reasonable facsimile. Bloglovin' is certainly a good option, but feedly is my new RSS reader of choice. I get cranky when I have to change something I’m used to though, so maybe that’s contributing to my bad mood. Pour your misery down on me, indeed.
Will is away this weekend, so I’ve been left to my own devices. Nothing particularly scandalous, but I do get to be as messy as I like for a few days before I clean it all up. I just finished shredding some old paperwork, so it’s desperately in need of a good vacuum under the desk.
So I don’t go stir-crazy at home and start talking to myself (which I already do occasionally), I’ve spent time with friends and I’ve spent a lot of time out walking around the neighbourhood by myself.
I’ve been stalking dogs on the street: 
…Spending time at Club Monaco: 
…Ogling Soïa & Kyo coats at Fresh Collective in Roncy: 
(I didn’t buy either but I was sorely tempted. The red might be too Little Red Riding Hood though, and my friend haaaates that shade of blue because she used to work at Pharma Plus.)
…Realizing I could be wearing my tuque at a more flattering angle (left – before, right – after), which is probably why I’ve always thought I look stupid in hats: 
…And drinking red velvet cake tea (kinda meh, but that’s how I feel about most of David’s Tea) and eating real red velvet cake: 
Every now and then, it’s nice to have some time on your own, and I’m sad my weekend alone is almost over. I will be happy when Will is back though.
Club Monaco dress // J.Crew Jackie Cardigan in vivid jade // Wolford tights // Nine West heels
This may be an unpopular opinion, especially for fans of J.Crew, but I am not a huge fan of the Jackie cardigan. I find it a little boxy and shapeless and I haaaaate the old-lady buttons. Also overpriced. But it does come in a tempting rainbow of colours that I find very hard to resist. Which is why I have this bright turquoise one. Personally, I’ve always preferred Jenna’s Cardigan, but it doesn’t exist anymore and never came in fun bright colours.
This dress reminds me of Damien Rice's song "9 Crimes".
Anthro Cirque A-Line Dress (Porridge) | Club Monaco cardigan | Hilary Druxman necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes
It should really remind of of the song “Elephant”, which is on the album 9 along with “9 Crimes”. But no, my brain and its associations are completely ridiculous sometimes.
(If you look really really hard, you can kinda see the CN Tower in the distance behind me. It’s that blurry spike right next to the bow.)
I had a mini-crisis earlier this summer partly sparked by this dress. I loved it, I loved the fun elephant print, but I had a panic attack that I was too old for a dress with elephants all over it. Then I snapped out of it, smacked myself in the face (metaphorically speaking), and bought the damn dress when I was in NYC last month.
And then it sat in my closet unworn because I wasn’t sure if it were everyday-appropriate, or if it needed some kind of party or event. Again, I snapped out of it, smacked myself in the face (literally this time), and wore it to work today. And I’d wear it again.
This was actually the same day. At the last minute before I left for work, after I took these photos, I decided to swap out the summery cardigan for a long-sleeved one and flats. It’s not summer out there anymore.
As seen in a store window on Mt. Pleasant Road in Toronto
I’ve always had a difficult relationship with my mom. She’s not the easiest person to be around (controlling, opinionated, stubborn to the point of pig-headed, never satisfied with anything I ever do), and she’s done some things that are completely unacceptable to me, but I can’t just cut her out of my life. She means well all the time. She wants the best for me, but it comes across as nothing I ever do is good enough for her.
Remember Aqua of Barbie Girl bubblegum pop one-hit wonder fame in the late 90s? (I feel so old.) Apparently they’re still together. Or back together. Anyway, I came across one of their newer songs, which of course made me think of my mom.
Especially the line “my mamma said she’d give life up for me.” That’s my mom. Makes it even harder to be mad at her sometimes.
I called her this morning and we had a nice conversation. But it’s better for both of us that we don’t live in the same city.
Assuming everything goes as planned, we should be in possession of our condo next week. We signed papers for our mortgage yesterday and then immediately went on a mini-shopping spree at west elm (well, almost immediately, we stopped for pho in between). We bought cushions, decorative vases (teal glass, they’re gorgeous), a duvet and duvet cover, a shower curtain, and curtains. We didn’t bother to decorate our apartment so this is our first attempt at interior design, and I hope we don’t screw it up.
I’m really excited about owning my first home, but the process has been exhausting. I have a list as long as my arm of things to do, we’re having trouble with our lawyer, and I’m tired of paperwork. It just makes me want to lie down.
Tori Amos, from the liner notes of “From the Choirgirl Hotel”
In preparation for the impending move, I’ve been going through my things and being ruthless with the purging. If I don’t need it, if I don’t love it, it’s gone. I’ve already given away piles of books and several bags of clothing, with potentially more to come (I may have to rein myself in so I don’t end up naked). Every time I purge my clothes, I cringe at the number of impulse buys, never-worn items, and multiples, and I pledge to myself that I will be smart when I shop so I don’t consistently find myself in this situation. I think I’m getting better, but if that’s the case, why do I have so many bags to give away every time? I need to check in again in 6 months to make sure I’m not reverting back to old habits and purging clothes with their tags still on.
The clothes purging made me think of the Tori Amos song “Ode to My Clothes” (from A Piano: The Collection), which she wrote after her housekeeper mistook a garbage bag full of designer clothes intended for the dry cleaners as clothes to be given away.
somewhere in the hills of Ireland is a Prada bag
and somewhere down the lane
there’s a dog in Gucci lace
and sometimes I think that I will
lose sleep at night
cause it’s hard
yes it’s hard
to say good-bye to my clothes
my clothes
nobody knows things
like my clothes
my telephone-life in the
back of my jeans
nobody knows
how I feel today
how I feel today
so now
now that they’re gone
in the hills of Ireland
so long
so long
this was an ode
to my clothes
bye bye clothes
I’ve always loved her style and aesthetic, I kinda wish I’d been there that day. ;)
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I love jewellery. I have an extensive collection of costume and semi-precious jewellery, and I even make jewellery on occasion. I like my pieces to be unique (no Tiffany for me—you would never catch me dead in a Tiffany heart) and interesting, and I like some Anthropologie pieces for that reason (the Oolite necklace, for instance).
But some really make me scratch my head.
Striking Resemblance Necklace, US$298 
Striking resemblance to what???
It’s gonna give me nightmares.
Visible Friend Necklace, US$298 
It’s not any better in pink.
It’s like she’s wearing a skeleton with tasselled feet.
Do The Strand Necklace, US$458 
I love books, but I don’t want to wear a cluster of them around my neck. And that’s one huuuuge price tag.
Timeless Truths Necklace and Timeless Truths Necklace Purple, each US$228
These I really don’t get. To me, they’re just a collection of fabric scraps knotted together with a few leftover beads. Am I missing something?
But this ring I spied last week made me really want-y.
Nouveau Sapphire Ring, US$658 .jpg)
This is really, really gorgeous. If I didn’t already have a ring I adore, I would take this as my engagement ring. Sadly, it’s no longer available on the website. I’m glad I saved the picture so I can prove I didn’t dream it.
The September Anthropologie catalogue reminded me of Tori Amos’s song “Horses”, from her 1996 album Boys For Pele.
It also reminded me how Tori’s music was my angry-girl soundtrack in high school and university. I’m past the angry-girl phase now, but I still love this song.
Horses, tweed, plaid…all that says fall. Well, tweed and plaid for me. I’m allergic to horses. :(
I’m not sure how I feel about this. There seems to be a lot going on. The “sweeping swag” on the Sweeping Swag Sweater confuses me.
Super cute! But the Cordial Embrace Dress seems a little plain for the price (US $148).
Great necklace! Too bad it’s so pricey (US$198).
I love how this looks, but I tried the In The Trees Skirt on and did not like it.
I love dogs, but I cannot wear the Dog Trot Cardigan.
Love this. I would consider the Tweedy Leaves Dress.
This to me is batsh*t crazy.
Love the Akela Necklace! However, loving does not equal buying.
I think the Pebbled and Primped Boots are adorable. If only I thought my gigantic calf (the left one only, the right one is fine) would fit.
I’m actually not a big fan of plaid, but I could consider the Made to Measure Skirt.
…while I ride off into the sunset.
Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So, tell me when you gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
– Keane, “Somewhere Only We Know”
I had a conversation today with a co-worker (who’s also a friend) about being high-maintenance. He says I’m definitely high-maintenance. As much as I’d like to think I’m low-key, it’s true, I’m high-maintenance. But we also agreed that I’m not a diva. The engagement ring I picked out is not a solitaire, and at $1200 I think it’s too expensive. I take pride in my appearance and I love clothes and makeup and hair, but if it takes me longer than 15 minutes to get ready in the morning, there’s something wrong.
On weekdays, I dress up to go to work (and probably over-dress, quite frankly), I always wear skirts/dresses and nice shoes, but as soon as I get home, it’s straight into comfy clothes. I leave for work before Will gets out of bed and I’ve changed by the time he comes home, so he’s never seen half my wardrobe. (It makes it really easy to hide new pieces in my closet, I just tell him I’ve had them for ages and he hasn’t noticed!)
Case in point: on my birthday (which was Saturday, June 19, when I turned the ripe old age of 32), this is what I wore:
Of course, even on a casual day, I’m still wearing Anthro, Club Monaco, and expensive lululemon. But I was comfortable, and it was completely appropriate for birthday pho (my favourite meal, hands-down) on a patio on Ossington, and everything still fits and is still somewhat flattering (although the jury may still be out on the crops).
Going back to that engagement ring… I’m not getting married any time soon, but it’s always nice to have these things picked out.
This is a local design by Matsu Jewellery (so local that their studio is a block away from my apartment, and when I walk by I see them making the jewellery through the window). But it’s only the bottom band, not the oval solitaire (I tried Photoshopping the top ring out, but it just looked stupid), in white gold with a few diamonds. It’s not traditional, but it’s very me.
