Going commando

I'm not quite sure why but lately I'm just not interested in jewelry. I've accumulated so much and I love it all but I just don't want to wear it. I think it may be the simplicity of hot summer days bumming around with sweet folks and lovely eats - whatever it is, when I have to dress up I end up perplexed.

As I got ready for our anniversary dinner in Quebec City I pondered what jewelry I would wear with this dress. I brought it all but felt like none of it. Luckily, a much more decisive me packed our overnight bag and chose to bring a dress that doesn't require much else. Black zipper, soft pleats, case closed; I'm adorned. Hopefully this feeling will go away with arrival of the fall air - my blazers are missing my necklaces.

Feminine, Flirty & Warm

Sugarlips peplum | Joe Fresh skirt [similar] | BCBGeneration [similar] | Rudsak clutch [similar] | derng bracelet

It seems as though I am an indoor cat for now. I attempted some outdoor photos last week when it was "warmer" and it ended poorly. Watery-eyed, frozen-fingered and grimacing, poorly. This is not a side of me I want to present to you. This is a side of me I don't even like to present to strangers at 7:50am during my walk to work. Instead I will be an indoor cat. Warm, pampered and sitting on piles of books you are no doubt trying to read. As long as I can wear beauties like the above I'll count it as a win. 

New Year's Eve Threads & Contemplations

Club Monaco blazer [similar] & sequin tunic [similar] | nameless gold leggings [similar] | BCBGeneration wedges
jewelry: derng, everything [similar]

Happy New Years! Hope everyone had a relaxing and fun holiday! I spent the majority of mine on a couch catching up on Boardwalk Empire, Archer, Justified, movies for days [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11... don't judge, it's cold here] and burning through the entire Homeland series. We also managed to eat an insane amount of food, namely cheese and croissants and got out for a walk or two... to get more croissants.

All in all 2012 has been a pretty killer year. Not only did I marry my best friend, love of my life and resident handsome fella, I landed a new job, moved to Montreal and planned an East Coast Blogger meet up, making a couple wonderful new friends in the process. There have been ups and downs of epic proportions resulting in a year both wonderful and chaotic. In the end though the best bits won out, as they do, and the rest floats away, forgotten. I'm looking forward to 2013 and what should be a calmer, more focused year with plenty of bumps and adventures along the way, I'm sure. 

To ring in the new year right, I wanted to begin by saying THANK YOU! Thank you for following along, for listening, for offering your insights and advice. It's a funny thing this blog. I feel as though I have met so many friends through it, so many people I relate to and rely on, and yet I know so few of you. So here's to 2013! Bring on the new friendships, new challenges and any new surprises you may have in store; I'm ready for you!

Black, white & lace

Lace peplum c/o Sugarlips | Citizens Second Skin | Matt&Nat Clutch | Franco Sarto pumps | BB Dakota coat [similar]

Today I felt as though something was missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it but I was pretty sure I had left something behind; forgot to bring something important. I spent the entire day scatterbrained, stunned and easily startled – think Bambi thrown into A Troll in Central Park. Finally, after peeking at these shots I realized what it was; my outfit was SO simple. 

I’ve come a long way since I first started the blog. Back in the beginning I was afraid of anything that wasn’t a solid colour, and oh, also solid colours. Pretty much, my wardrobe consisted of very simple pieces in black, grey, white and the occasional purple. Never bright, never complicated. Now, I push myself to style different colours, patterns and textures so often that the simplicity that was once my crutch is now unfamiliar… and now all kinds of exciting! Sometimes, less really is more.

Rehearsal Dinner Wear

Pink Martini dress | le Chateau wedges [similar] | vintage clutch c/o the Birdcage | necklace via Biscuit General Store [similar]

When . Friday, August 17th [...also, Saturday, August 25th]
What . Rehearsal Dinner / Pre-wedding BBQ [...and a friend's wedding]
Weather . Sunny, warm; gorgeous [...Sunny, warm; gorgeous]

Since the ceremony and reception of our wedding took place in my parents’ backyard the rehearsal dinner was less of a formal event and more of a post-decorating group BBQ. We spent the day decorating and throwing together the final details, had a run-through of the ceremony and then sat down for a well deserved meal. It was nice to get both our families and closest friends in one place to share a meal before the insanity struck. I think it was the only time that week, aside from the bachelorette party, that we fully relaxed and took a moment to breathe.

I’m sure the above seems a little dressy for a backyard BBQ but I assure you a) I was much sweatier b) had crazier eyes c) had messier hair and d) just really needed to put on a pretty dress after having spent the day/week makeup-less in a bikini top and shorts [I had tan lines to think about] stringing up lights and dealing with final details. So I threw this little ditty on and enjoyed a moment of feeling pulled-together.

On a side-note, in the crazyness of the pre-wedding activities, I have not had the opportunity to introduce you to my new blog sponsor, The Bird Cage. The Bird Cage, is amazing online store based in New Brunswick specializing in vintage finds like, my new clutch! I have been keeping my eye on the boutique over the past couple weeks and must admit I have a little crush. The stock changes frequently, the pieces are unique and the prices are completely reasonable. If you love vintage finds, definitely take a peek on the site – you will definitely fall in love!

Bachelorette-wear

lush dress | Steve Madden wedges | CheekyChops Butter London and Turquoise & Caicos polish  

When . Wednesday, August 15th 
What . My bachelorette party - I was lucky, it was fancy dress!
Weather . Gorgeous day and evening, warm night

Today we took a BIG step forward with our life here in Montreal. Today, we got out our internet installed. It's been pretty rough these past couple of days. Between cafe hoping and relying on my 3G, I've felt pretty hobo-esq. Yep, it's been completely mid-century in our neck of the woods but at least we're done with roughing it. Just in time too, running netflix on my iPhone has been killing my data plan. 

In the couple weeks leading up to the wedding, Jack and I were swamped - beyond belief. I couldn't even fit in an hour to shop for a bachelorette party dress. Honestly, I didn't think this was necessary until everyone started telling me about the new dresses they got for the big night and I got the bug. Luckily, on the day of my bachelorette, squeezed in the hour between Jack's haircut and my trial up-do, I got to shop. The minute I tried on this little ditty I knew I was done. It was flirty, fun, polka-dotted, on sale for $30 AND my hour was up - obviously it was fate. 

Since it's unfair to only capture my pre-party glory, below are a couple snap shots of the evening :)

Pinterest style jello shots + Party beginnings at the hotel + My speciality drink - the sparkling Sorren - at our first stop, a dessert bar! + friends
+ desserts + glasses + me after a tumble + snacks to prevent another tumble + great friends + something fishy[?] + my relentless sisters
= one. amazing. night.

Wedding Wear

Katrina Tuttle dress via Sweet Pea boutique [similar-ish] | nude pumps [similar] | belt [similar]
Matt & Nat purse as a clutch | mauve pashmina [similar]

When . Friday, July 27th
What . A friend's wedding reception
Weather . Ugh. Rain, mist, fog, humidity, breeze

Last Friday a couple friends of ours decided to get hitched and we decided to go watch. Even though my hair was taken care of [because of an AWESOME contest I won through Thumpers Salon] I had NO clue what to wear. The rain was on and off, the humidity high and my closet hasn't been updated since Spring. Luckily, my wonderful twitter & blog friend, Kristin came to the rescue and we decided on the dress above. I absolutely loved the entire outfit. If I could change something I would only only change my pumps to wedges [these nude wedges OR! these blush ones] but I don't have any and am on a shopping-ban until post-wedding so my pumps did just fine!

I must thank Nathan MacNeil at Thumpers Salon for my amazing tresses. He did such a fantastic job making my hair work with the insane weather and I absolutely LOVED the thick beachy waves!

What to Wear to an Exhibit Opening

Club Monaco boyfriend blazer [similar] and tunic [similar] | Kensie shorts [similar] | Nine West peep toes [similar]
derng, H&M and Joe Fresh bracelets | bag via Biscuit [similar] | polish - essie action

When . Friday, Mary 18th
What . Opening Gala of the Skin Exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Weather . warm... ish

Back in May, I won a couple tickets to the opening of Skin: the Seduction of Surface exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. The event was amazing; sipping stiff cocktails, munching on popcorn and chatting with lovely people. We stayed upstairs mingling for the beginning of the evening, awaiting the speeches introducing the collection and then moseyed downstairs to take a peek. It did not disappoint. I loved the various ways in which "skin" was interpreted and variety between each of the pieces. 

Without a doubt the main attraction of this exhibit is Jana Sterbak's Vanitas: Flesh Dress for an Albino Anorectic. This piece is reconstructed each time it is shown. It is created from 50 pounds of raw flank steak that is stitched together and hangs on a dress form. Over the course of the exhibit the heavily salted meat will cure, drastically altering the appearance of the work. I definitely plan on stopping in before the completion of the show to get a peek at the transformed piece. 

I've included a couple snapshots below, but nothing that shows the extent of the exhibit by a longshot. This is definitely a show you don't want to miss!

On repeat

Stirling grey blazer [similar] | French connection blouse [similar] | H&M Conscious collection shorts [similar]
Club Monaco belt [similar] | nude pumps [similar] | bracelets by: H&M and derng | Stella & Dot necklace

When . Friday, May 11th

What . Mercedes Benz Start Up Semi-Finals

Weather . Sunny, overcast and warm. Not too shabby

Okay... so I may have recycled this outfit the day Chelle and I got together again BUT since it has come to be a staple in my rotation I figured I might as well give credit to the night that started this little obsession.

Nothing screams spring to me louder than soft neutrals layered a-top one another. Honestly, the only way I could love this outfit more would be if I swapped out the grey blazer for a cream one and my black belt for a nude belt. Ooo can't you picture that now? Looks like I've 
got a new mission...