awkward and awesome Thursday: before and after

I don’t like to take a lot of time in the morning to get ready (I’d rather sleep as long as I can), but let’s face it, looking put together and polished (which is how I hope I look when I leave the house for work) doesn’t just happen.  Unfortunately, I can’t just roll out of bed and go.

Here is the finished product:

 
#17: Club Monaco dress (2009) | Anthro Bette cardigan (Sparrow) | Hilary Druxman necklace | Tory Burch Reva flats

I don’t know if it’s necessarily “awesome”, but I love this dress and I love the combination of blue and orange.  However, in comparison to what I look like first thing in the morning, it’s pretty awesome.

Behold:

Puffy eyes and crazy hair. If that’s not awkward, I don’t know what is.

Crossroads

At the risk of sounding completely clichéd, I think I’m at a bit of a crossroads in my life.

I’ve finally found job satisfaction (for which I am incredibly, incredibly grateful, after years of being in unfulfilling jobs), so it’s time to think more seriously about my career.  I’m not established yet.  And even though I like my job, I’m not sure if this is the field I want to stay in.

I’m really enjoying my current wardrobe, yet I’m wondering how long that’s going to last until I’ll want a change.

I may have been harping on this a bit lately, but I’m feeling a bit old.  I know I’m not old.  And I know I don’t look my age.  I’m not sure why I’m feeling so concerned about dressing appropriately for my age lately.  Maybe because I’m still attracted to those whimsical pieces with fun quirky prints and I’m worried that they’re not going to have any staying power in my closet.  I think I’m overly paranoid about  not dressing too young, but also not dressing too old either.  (I had a friend in university who exclusively shopped at Talbot’s, at the ripe old age of 24.  We’ve lost touch, but she’d be 35 now, I’m really curious about what she looks like now.)

But you know what, fuck it, I’m not going to stress about it, I’m just going to wear what I want now.  If I don’t feel like I can wear a dress with an octopus on it when I’m 40, so be it.  I’ll have enjoyed it now.

#16: Anthropologie Marine Mural Dress (Nathalie Lété) | Anthro Bette Cardigan (Sparrow) | Hilary Druxman necklace | Puma flats

(Note to self: wear some kind of lip colour.  Pale lips are not my friend.)

Anthropologie catalogue: summer 2006

Every week I take a look back at past Anthropologie catalogues and what I loved from then.  (Thanks to Natalie for posting all the links.) I used to think that it’s impossible to find these pieces again, but thanks to Roxy’s trade market and eBay, anything is possible.

summer 2006

surrealist dress

casa mila bed, fruiteria lamp, trellis armoire, escargot chair – I love the lamp and the chair

grayscale blouse – it’s a little severe, but I like it

finnia hothouse bedding

yesteryear wrap – I seem to be liking a lot of yellow things these days…

balloon jacket – so cute

regatta dress

leather macrame tote – love the black and white in this shot

Awkward & Awesome Thursday

I love Sydney’s idea of Awkward and Awesome Thursdays, so I’m joining in (also, she’s adorable and her blog is fab).  It kinda reminds me of Homer’s “free frogurt” moment in the Treehouse of Horror III episode (from 1992!), after he decides to buy a Krusty doll for Bart’s brithday:

Shopkeeper: Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse!
Homer: Ooh, that's bad.
Shopkeeper: But it comes with a free frogurt!
Homer: That's good!
Shopkeeper: The frogurt is also cursed.
Homer: That's bad.
Shopkeeper: But you get your choice of toppings.
Homer: That's good!
Shopkeeper: The toppings contain potassium benzoate.
[Homer stares at him blankly]
Shopkeeper: ...That's bad.
Homer: Can I go now?

No cursed frogurt for me, but plenty of awkward.  Let’s see if I can come with as much awesome.

Awkward:

• I really didn’t want to work today. I wanted to flake off at lunch, go get gelato, and go try on clothes at Anthropologie.
• I got four hours of sleep last night; I really need eight to function properly.
• I didn’t feel like doing 30 for 30 today, so I wore something else.
• The boning in the dress I wore today was poking me all day.
• My allergies are driving me nuts.
• I’m feeling really old, at 33.  It hit me when I realized I may be too old to wear a dress with elephants all over it.
• I think I may have ordered this dress a size too small.
• I ended up having ice cream twice today.

 
Club Monaco dress (2008) | Gap cardigan | Hilary Druxman necklace | Cole Haan Air Tali MJ ballet flats

Awesome:

• I ended up having ice cream twice today.
• I didn’t flake off work, I powered through and got a lot done.
• I got to Anthropologie on my lunch break and tried on pretty clothes.
• The week went by really fast, and tomorrow’s Friday!
• I’ve been at my new job for almost two months, and I’m still enjoying myself.  I’m not nearly as cranky as I was at my old job.
• My hair has been cooperating all week, even with the humidity.  Thank you, Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid.
• I wore this dress for the first time in at least two years, possibly three. It was like discovering an old friend.
• I got a lot of compliments on this dress today. I’m so glad I didn’t end up purging it.
• I found some pictures from three years ago of me wearing this dress to a wedding, and I’m pretty sure I’ve lost weight since then (yay!).  Coincidentally, that was the last time I had full bangs.  I also haven’t grown any since then, I just had the skirt shortened afterwards.
  
  
• But it doesn’t matter how I looked, it was about the bride and groom and how happy we were for them.  Three years later, they’ve just had a gorgeous baby boy.
  
  
• Also, how much fun is this pic? I always drive back after parties so Will can drink, we had the windows and sunroof open, and the skirt wanted to billow up over my head.
  

That’s way more awesomes than awkwards!  It’s a great Thursday.

urge to kill rising…

I've been feeling really weird lately. I've been waking up on edge, feeling like the slightest thing is going to make me snap. I don't know what it is. It's not work (I still like my job), it's not Will, it's not my family, so I'm going to blame allergies. (Seems as good a reason as any.)

So to decompress, I've been cleaning obsessively (a clutter-free environment means a clutter-free mind, right?) and sitting in the sun on the balcony after work.

That's where I took these self-portraits, with my new iPad2. I'm squinting in the sun, my eye makeup looks raccoon-like, and my skin is less than stellar (blame allergies again), but I was having a really good hair day.  I felt the need to document that rare occurrence.

A little too much fun with the PhotoBooth on iPad2.  I did a kaleidoscope self-portrait, but no one needs that many mes.

colour me lucky

Happy Canada Day! Thank God for a three-day weekend.

Today also marks the end of academichic's two weeks of Dressing Your Best.  Honestly, I try to dress my best everyday (whether I succeed or not may be a matter of opinion), but I still appreciate the opportunity to call out the parts of myself I really like.

So today I'm dressing something that I don't often think of as a "best" part: my colouring.

I'm Filipina, but I'm pretty whitewashed. I was born in Canada, grew up in a pretty white neighbourhood, and was one of four Asians in my elementary school.   I always wished I were white. It's terrible to want to wish away your cultural heritage, right?

Now that I live in Toronto, I completely blend in. My white British-born fiancé is more in the minority than I am. But even before that, I grew to accept what I am. Can't change it, so love it.  And I particularly love the fact that with my dark hair, dark brown eyes, and permanently tanned skin, I can wear bright bold colours (clothes and makeup, although I don't go crazy with bright makeup for daytime) and they look good on me.

#12: Anthro Height of Summer Dress (Maeve) | J.Crew featherweight cashmere cardigan in heather algae | Anthro Oolite necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

I love these shades of green…

#13: Jacob sleeveless top | J.Crew featherweight cashmere cardigan in heather algae | Anthro necklace | Anthro Circle the Globe Skirt (Edme & Esyllte) | Tory Burch Reva flats

There’s a little black in here, but only because I didn’t include many tops in my 30 for 30 challenge.

#14: Anthro Diamond Lattice Dress (Moulinette Soeurs) | Anthro Bette Cardigan (Sparrow) | Anthro Backbone Belt | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

I love a pop of orange.  And I especially love the combination of blue and orange.

#15: Banana Republic dress | Anthro Anadyome cardigan | Hilary Druxman necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

The teal cardigan doesn’t exactly match any of the colours in my dress, but I say they “go.” 

Not that anyone’s counting, but that makes 15 outfits for my 30 for 30.  Halfway done!

Anthropologie catalogue: July 2011

 
July 2011 – lemon liftoff blouse, AG Stevie ankle, glossed loafers

July already? I say that all the time, but really, I can’t believe half of 2011 is gone already.  I’m loving the July catalogue, all the colour and the combination of summer and fall.  An Anthro-obsessed coworker of mine disagreed; she said nothing popped out at her.  Just goes to show how much taste differs, even among Anthro fans.

tropically pop pillow, twined stones necklace, arced crosshatch blouse, piped sailor skirt – the model's makeup scares me a little, but I like the combination of the orange skirt with the crosshatch top

plant the seed readers, splashed palette dress, cobbled border ring, chiseled wedges – I LOVE this dress.  When I saw it, my reaction was OMGLOVEMUSTHAVE.  (I may have even ordered it already.) I don't hate that it's strapless (it looks like it does come with straps), because I'll just throw a cardigan over it anyway.

all aflutter blouse, colorblocked sweater skirt – really pretty outfit.  The skirt definitely caught my eye, it’d be great for late summer/early fall. 

fatigue finery cape, instant classic tee, gleaming curves bracelet, pinstriped bag, pilcro straight ankle chinos, fanfare platforms – I like the idea of capes, but I think they might look a little ridiculous on me.  Also, I don't think Anthro is where I'd go for chinos.

pinstriped bag, AG Stevie ankle, piped sailor skirt, lemon liftoff blouse, traced & tabbed buttondown, fatigue finery cape, bright eyes tote – books, clothes, and bags, my favourite things, all in one place

glitzed druzy necklace, sheer petals jacket, soft bands tee, elevenses high-waist trousers, patent-edged satchel, stacked strap heels – where is this turquoise pole? I must pose next to it too.

collecting dots dress, triple bar belt – I really liked this dress here, but I didn’t like it so much in the product shot.

plant the seed readers, whittled rounds necklace, forever fond shirtdress, towering tassel mules – I really like this look, especially the glasses (Antho glasses now? I'd give them a  try!) and the necklace.

pansy corset trench, cuffed sateen bermudas – the trench is beautiful, but I think it might be just a little too cutesy for my taste.

turning season pullover, linked rings belt, flurried plumes midi, towering tassel mules – really lovely colour combination.  I like the outfit a lot on the model, but I don't think it'd work that well on me.

art instellation necklace, clover grains tee, elevenses high-waist trousers – I'm totally intrigued by that necklace.  Too bad it's $278.

traced & tabbed buttondown, last blooming skirt, trinket skimmers – shall my first foray into yellow be in a pair of shoes?

almond tiers necklace, four corners dress – my favourite colour palette here, but not my favourite style of dress

drape & twist tee, druzy buttons cuff, square study skirt, glossed loafers – one of my favourite outfits in the catalogue.  The top is definitely my style, and I like it paired with the black and white skirt.  I’m not convinced about the skirt though, it’s on my list of things to try on.

halo chandelier, italian campaign canopy bed, rivulets quilt, scattered carolla rug – gorgeous bright ruffled bedding

airy flounce curtains, gate headboard, shanti paisley quilt – I love the floor in this room

marigold bed, photoviolet duvet cover, georgina sham – I love how the blues and purples pop against the mossy green backdrop

woodland slumber canopy bed, fleur et feuille curtain, rosette quilt, bubbled table lamp – best argument for sleeping in the woods.

I’m going to unleash my calves

This time I’m combining 30 for 30 with a dressing my best post.  These outfits highlight my calves, definitely a favourite body part of mine.  It also reminds me of a particularly funny episode of How I Met Your Mother where Lily reveals her weakness for Marshall’s calves.

Barney: That’s crazy, nobody’s turned on my men’s calves, they’re a thoroughly unerotic body part.
Marshall: Well yeah, I’d say that too if I had those skinny little chicken legs.
Barney: I’ll be waiting by the phone for your apology.

I never want to appear too vain (kinda rich for someone who takes pictures of herself and then posts them online), so I don’t know how to talk about something I like about myself without sounding completely conceited.  But I just really, really, really like my calves.

 
#9: Anthro Verdant Slip Dress (Moulinette Soeurs) | Anthro Anadyomene Cardi (Rosie Neira) | Hilary Druxman necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

I like how they look when I wear heels (particularly these Miss Sixty shoes, which were fairly pricey but a had-to-have for me).

#10: Anthro Pesisir Top (Fei) | J.Crew cardigan | Jacob pencil skirt | Hilary Druxman necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

I like showing them off in the summer with above-the-knee skirts.

#11: Anthro Reflecting Pool Dress (Moulinette Soeurs) | J.Crew cardigan | Hilary Druxman necklace | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

I’ve had a few shoe store salespeople ask me if I’m a runner when trying on shoes, which always makes me laugh (I’m not a fit person by any means – I’m too lazy to go to the gym).  I inherited my dad’s calves and I walk a lot, that’s all.