Happy Birthday to ME!

My first semester is DONE and I’ve got myself a 3.26 GPA.  Some definite room for improvement there, but on account of being out of school for nearly a decade then jumping into the end of year 2 of university, not to mention not really knowing how to write a proper research essay (I wrote 4 but still don’t get it), the stress of being apart from my handsome man and not really knowing when we’ll be living in the same province again, I would say I did pretty well!

So I had a four day weekend to celebrate my accomplishment before jumping into a new semester today on my 32nd birthday.  I spent 2 of the days desperately running errands that had been neglected, making phone calls to realtors and phone companies and charity organizations, getting a police background check for my next volunteer position and working.  The two days after that were spent at the tulip festival in Laconner with my parents and family friends, at hot yoga, the sugarlime jewelry show and brunch following at Hart House in Burnaby and a little family party at home.  The weekend was lovely!

This morning, my actual birthday, I woke up to drizzling rain but didn’t care because for the next 3 weeks I have a (fairly) early morning statistics class for about 4 hours a day.  The class is supposed to be brutal, and I’m excited for the challenge.  We wasted no time getting into it, and I have homework already!  I also started my (somewhat) online human kinetics class.  We have a lab once a week, and I’m crossing my fingers for a dodgeball game!!!  This afternoon my mom took me to our nail place to get pedicures.  Mine is coral, which should please my sister in law who swears it’s my fave colour.  Maybe she’s right, THIS season 😉

It was a good birthday all in all, and if my dreamboat could have been here it would have been darn near perfect!!!  Here’s to 32, I know it’s going to be a fabulous year!

Pink Spring jeans!

It’s a gorgeous day and I have a final!!!!  Ah well, I’m going to knock it out of the park wearing these cute deep pink jeans!  What are YOU doing today???

Jean shirt: H&M

Lace tank: Aritzia

Cuff: Aldo

Bag: Aldo

Jeans: Army & Navy

Shoes: Zig Zag

Red dress has got that SWING

Last day with my hubby, so we went downtown for brunch with my sister and her boyfriend, then out for ice cream at Menchies.  Life is hard, right?  It was so nice being out and about, and I can’t wait until we’re living in the same place permanently!!!  To give him a last image of me as a springy, feminine, happy lady, I donned a Spring dress from my vintage shop along with some new killer nine west sandals I scored last weekend on a shopping trip to the states.  Just TRY staying away for long, honey 😉

Nude sunglasses: Old Navy

Dress: Trulie Vintage, buy it Here

Scarf: Thrifted

Jean Jacket: Gap, also seen Here

Bracelets: bought on vacation in Mexico, Thrifted

Sandals: Nine West

Rainy days are for Cupcakes

My honey is here visiting me for one more day, and since it’s raining out, what better way to spend a late morning than at my favourite cupcake and lunch place, Tracycakes???  We had a great lunch and shared a Lovely Lavender Cupcake, one of my favourites!  We then went outside and snapped a few pics.  Since the dreamboat is leaving again for awhile, he got a me a tall tripod to make my blogging a bit easier…what a sweetheart, right?  Love him!

Happy Rain day, everyone!

Trench: Jacob

Scarf: My Mom’s closet

Tunic: Smart Set

Jeggings: HUE

Shoes: Winners

I want to wear spring dresses NOW!

But it’s a little too cold.  So, what to do?  For me, adding tights or boots with cozy socks and a scarf makes spring/summer dresses warm, and still functional.  Here are two looks to try:

Dress: Joe Fresh

Cardigan: Thrifted

Scarf: Smart Set

Tights: Modcloth

Shoes: Thrifted

Dress: H&M

Denim shirt: H&M

Scarf: Indigo/Chapters

Socks: H&M

Boots: Winners

Spring hair!

Spring is in the air!  I can tell by my allergy-induced sinus headaches.  I’m so ready for warmer (and drier) days, light jackets and sandals!!!  For now though, the big change is my hair.  I had dark hair for years and recently decided to lighten it up.  Not all at once, but in stages.  Today I went as light as I dare for now, and I love it!

Here are some salon pics chronicling my morning.  Maybe they’ll inspire you to make some hair changes you’ve been thinking about for awhile…

Important: Bring great reading material.  I’ve been reading this book off and on for awhile, it’s great.

First in: foils.  I resembled the flying nun for about an hour. (Guys: this is the part we usually don’t let you see)

Then: toner.  I kind of liked this updo, actually. 

*drumroll*

Begining: My hair had been dark for years.  I thought it made me look serious, and when I started my design business I needed all the serious I could get.  I also liked how it made my eyes look really blue.

Mid-phase: a warm red base with blonde highlights.  I liked this colour a lot, but didn’t quite feel done yet.

And today: ta-da!  We are blondish.

So which do you prefer, dark or light?  Any hair changes planned for this season?

Fancy eatin’ outfit

I have just been reunited with my clothes room!!!  It’s been two months, and I forgot about some of the stuff I own.  One of the items I purchased before Christmas and left in Edmonton was this floral bolero from Anthropologie.  I love it so much, it’s so lush and beautiful.  So last night, I put it on to go to the grocery store with my hubby!  Hey, any excuse to dress up, right?        😉

Bolero: Anthropologie

Tank top: Le Chateau

Pencil Skirt: Wal-Mart

Purple Tights: Esprit

Maryjanes: Aldo, Thrifted

Earings: Wal-Mart

Bracelet: From my Mom years ago

Clutch: Vintage, Thrifted

This Scarf

I purchased this circle scarf a few weeks ago at Smart Set, and I completely love it.  Oh man, do I ever!  I’m really into yellow lately, and stuff that looks like wallpaper but isn’t.  And the thing about circle scarves are that they’re very hard to screw up.  I’ve paired it here with a Joe Fresh cardi that’s sort of the colour of peanut butter, or what’s in a newborn’s diaper.  On the bottom I have a stretchy pencil skirt from Wal-Mart (for real), and suede-look boots from Winners.  This outfit is so budget, the most expensive part is the Stella and Dot earings!!!   I am so thrifty 😉

Edwardian Leanings

I found this picture at an antique mall over a year ago, and recently it’s been inspiring my wardrobe and accessory choices.

Love the Miss Havisham look!

I’m very interested in vests lately, this one I just ordered from Esprit online.  It’s stretchy, and I love the collar on it.  It’s called a waistcoat vest, reminiscent of Edwardian menswear.  I love the looks below worn by Hallie Berry, JLo and Fergie, and the one  where she’s dressed it down with skinny pants and boots.  This is a great look for those of us who are a bit busty; it feminizes an otherwise masculine look.

I got a set of 4 headbands from Shoppers Drug Mart of all places, they’re basically elastic on either side of a same-coloured gauzy fabric.  They look really old to me, and are functional and beautiful at the same time!  Decorating your hair is definitely old-world, and I’m loving it!

My niece the fashion plate

This is my neice Odessa.  She just turned 5, and she’s awesome.  I’m noticing how her sense of style is developing, and am really enjoying the outfits she puts together.  It’s funny how we develop our own esthetic so young, it makes me think it’s innate.  To be fair, she has a pretty stylish Mom, not to mention her awesome auntie Anna!!!