Twenty-One Years

Today is my Twenty-First birthday.  I began the day by having "Happy Birthday" sung to me by beautiful friends right at midnight and then I awoke to find a wonderful blanket of perfectly white snow.  The weather was wonderful for a December day and I was able to enjoy a nice walk before settling down in the library to study for my last final on Tuesday.  Finally, I had a splendid dinner with family, friends, and wonderful food before heading to evening Mass.  I cannot wait to see what this year brings for me, and I am hoping and praying that it is as exciting as I am anticipating.

Cheers to another year!

Walking around with that song in my head

Do you ever have those days where you seem to have a theme song of sorts?  Or many theme songs throughout your day?  I don't just mean having a song that fits your mood or focus of the day.  But a song that could be playing as if you were a guest appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres show before you sit down in the chair.

Well anyway, I have had about fifteen of them for different moments throughout my day today.  As I open the door and walk into work, as I turn from the parking lot into the street, as I sit down to my computer to write an e-mail, as I read a text, as I see a friend's name pop up on my phone... different songs as if my life were a movie with a killer soundtrack.

Does this ever happen to you?  What song(s) would play throughout your day?  Some of the moments I didn't actually have a song that I could name to you, but just this beat, or this feeling that the moment I was in was being somehow defined.

"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."

- Mark Twain

Whisper Words of Wisdom

Let it be.

I'm letting go for you to take hold.
My life is not my own, but is molded to me.
Follow in the path chosen for me, for good; to give me a future with hope.

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

2 Corinthians 5:7

Comfort

"In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;

                  but they are at peace."

Wisdom 3:2-3

Snow!

We have waited a little bit too long for snow this year in my opinion.  But I know that I only feel this way because I'm so used to having snow before the end of October.  If we had snow earlier than now I would have been complaining.  I just can't be happy, hey?

Anyway, snow.  Lots and lots of snow.  Right outside my window!  It made me smile when I saw it this morning, except for the fact that I was already dressed in a dress and about to slip my feet into a pair of heels.  I didn't have time to rethink my outfit, and I needed to be somewhat formal in my attire for all of the things I will be doing today, so I trudged through the snow in my Steve Madden pumps (weather-proofed of course... I do live in Saskatchewan after all) and I will be doing the same in about twenty minutes when I head off to my next commitment.

It isn't so bad wearing heels in the snow, but a little bit awkward when I am outside of my car trying to brush the snow off.  That being said, I love cozy boots, and now I'm sure I'll be feeling the need to purchase another pair or two... or three?  What are some styles of boots that you're loving this season? Let me know!

Strength and Courage

Courage doesn't always roar.

Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 

"I will try again tomorrow."

--Mary Anne Radmacher

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.  

Small people always do that, 

but the really great 

make you feel that you, too, 

can become great. 

-- Mark Twain

There's a race of men that don't fit in, 

A race that can't sit still; 

So they break the hearts of kith and kin, 

And they roam the world at will. 

They range the field and rove the flood, 

And they climb the mountain's crest; 

Their's is the curse of the gypsy blood, 

And they don't know how to rest. 

-- Robert W. Service

Accomplish

It always seems impossible until it is done.

--Unknown

Bring on the Wonder

Let's rest for awhile 'til our souls catch us up.
Go to the hills where the outlines are clear.
Got it all wrong.
Pushed you down deep in our souls for too long.
                                                 -- Sarah McLachlan

Photo found here.

Rest - please.

I cannot wait to finally go.  But I also hate anticipating it, 

because I know I have a wonderful reality at the present time.  

It's hard to appreciate everything when I'm so busy.

Wanting

It's that itch again.
To go, to leave, to wander, to experience.
You have all heard it from me before.

I don't even feel like there is something different for me to say.
This is the exact same feeling,
The exact same desire.

So why don't I just give in already?

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; 

we had longer ways to go. 

But no matter, the road is life."

-- Jack Kerouac

50th Surprise

We hosted a 50th surprise birthday party for a family friend and because the birthday boy enjoys my baking I decided to make a bunch of cupcakes.  I went with chocolate fudge and vanilla, and I made chocolate buttercream frosting and vanilla buttercream frosting.  From this I made four combos: chocolate with chocolate, chocolate with vanilla, vanilla with vanilla, and vanilla with chocolate.

The entire party seemed pleased with the cupcakes - even though there was a whole cake as well!

And I had fun arranging them!

What is your favourite kind of cupcake?  Are you a chocolate or a vanilla?  I would love to know!

Strawberry and Orange

Cupcakes!

Orange dyed and flavoured buttercream frosting

Pink dyed and strawberry flavoured buttercream frosting

All on top of rainbow bit boxed cupcakes 

(so... I cheated a little - I just really wanted to play with frosting colours and flavours!)

Ode.

Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind.

William Wordsworth

In My Closet: Esther Williams Retro Swimsuit

Esther Williams Emerald Retro Swimsuit via ModCloth

A few weeks ago I placed an order on my all-time favourite website, ModCloth, and a couple days later I had my goodies - one of which was this Esther Williams Retro Swimsuit in Emerald.  And let me tell you, I am in love.

I have had multiple colours of this swimsuit in my wishlist for well over a year now and I really wish I had ordered one much earlier.  The suit covers quite modestly but still has shape and appeal.  The cut is darling, with the sweetheart halter and the ruching at the bust, and it is definitely figure-flattering.

The website says "runs small - please size up", but make sure you read the measurements because I actually went up two sizes from my normal (I am ususally a 4 and I ordered an 8) and it fits like a glove. Also, make sure you use measurements as you are now (measure right before you choose your size, just to be safe) - do not go off of measurements from last month - the sizes are so close that even a bit of a measurement change up or down could send you into a different size.

So far I have only worn this swimsuit to lounge around my backyard, but I cannot wait until I have an excuse to wear it in more of a public setting.  If only I didn't have to work days...

Have you tried this Esther Williams Swimsuit or any other swimsuits from ModCloth?  What did you think?  Will you try any?  Let me know!

Taking the passenger seat.

Letting the moments happen and enjoying every minute of it. 

I love not knowing what may be coming next.

Disappointment

"Disappointment is a sort of bankruptcy -

the bankruptcy of a soul that expends too much in hope and expectation."

- Eric Hoffer

Great Advice?

"You shouldn't be looking for Mr. Right.  You should be looking for Mr. Hot."

Oh, what the people at work say to me.

Summer Travels

I just returned from a weekend in Regina, saying goodbye to one of my closest cousins who is moving to British Columbia in a little over a week.  It's only a couple provinces away, but I am definitely going to miss him!

Tomorrow I am flying off to Ontario to visit some of my cousins from the other side of the family - I haven't been out to visit them in about seven years, but they get out to see all of us in Saskatchewan a couple times a year.  I will only be there for a few days and then all of us will fly in to Regina Friday night and we'll have some family time with the whole family before I head home on Sunday.  I can't wait - our family has been growing a lot the last couple of years and it's rare for all of us to be together.

What are some of your current summer plans?  I'd love to hear them!

Nostalgic

Wistful yearning for the past.

I rarely get hit by this state, so when it does come along I find that I do not quite know how to handle it, or where I should allow my mind to lead me.  Perhaps it is the country songs I have been listening to, or the recent pattern of people from my past creeping back in to my life that have led me to this feeling.  Either way, I keep finding myself preoccupied with moments, conversations, and people past. 

This is making it extremely difficult to focus on my wonderful reality.

Remember,

Surrender

Yes, Please

Simple, feminine floral patterns have been my inspritaion lately.  Wearing them makes me feel instantly more like a lady, and floral just seems to suit the gentle breezes and warm weather that we have been experiencing lately.  I am definitely a girly girl, so I go all out with floral pieces.  However, if you are a little shy of the idea a wallet or a band on a straw fedora would be a great way to incorporate a little bit of summery floral into your look without feeling completely out of your comfort zone.

Product information:

1. Pink Floral Button Dress 

2. Floral Shoes

3. Fedora with Floral Band

4. Floral Bangles

5. Floral Handbag

6. Floral One Sleeve Dress

7. Floral One-Piece

8. Floral Wallet

9. Floral Mini

Update August 2014: Only available products are now linked.

"Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry"

- Jack Kerouac

Father's Day

Thanks for always looking out for your little girl, 

No matter how long it has been since I outgrew "little"

I love you, forever and for always

Happy Father's day to all the fathers and father-figures out there

Celebrate them!

Skirts

I am loving skirts lately, mostly because there is rarely an occasion during the cold Saskatchewan winters to wear a skirt and now that the weather is finally our friend I have found myself embracing my love for this feminine piece of clothing even more.

All of the skirts above have very feminine colours, prints, and cuts.  I also seem to be leaning toward my favourite hue - pink!  I think my favourites are the top row though - they're a bit longer than many of the skirts we see around this time, and I'm definitely a fan of lengthening the hemlines a bit!

Products, starting top left:

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Update August 2014: Only available products are linked.

A Bit of a Change

A whole week since my last post!  And it feels like months ago to me.  I spent the last week downtown with my boss for a hearing and I absolutely loved it!  The days were certainly long though, I would leave my house before 8 and not get home sometimes until 10 at night... but it was worth it!  I learned so much and I have definitely found some new passions within me that I was never aware of before. 

But the absolute best part of it all??  The choices I had with what I wore!  Yes, it had to be business professional, but I was not limited by the restraints of the security requirements of my place of work.  Usually I am not allowed to wear heels, dresses, anything that is somewhat sheer (even with a tank underneath - which is how I always wear sheer anyway), or anything too form-fitting...  I don't want to get into detail about where I work, but these guidelines are for very good reasons.  So being downtown in a professional setting with no such restrictions made me feel so happy and free - I wore heels, I wore skirts, I wore dresses, I even broke out this top tucked in to a pencil skirt along with some heels, and I was never once told that it would be better to not wear my outfit to work.  It was quite the contrary actually, I was complimented on my clothing and many women admired my shoes (of which I have a modest collection, but I have to admit, they're awesome).

Now it's back to the same old, but I don't mind.  I love my job and I cannot wait until I am done my degree and hopefully (fingers crossed!) get a permanent position here - lack of style options and all!

How about you, what do you wear to work?  Do you enjoy dressing up, or do you think I enjoyed it so much just because it was a novelty to me?  Let me know!

Contradiction

Living in the moment, but longing for tomorrow.

Worthy of all praise, for the cross that He bore.

Pompeii

At the moment I am procrastinating writing a paper about the art of Pompeii.  I am writing (or attempting to write) about the illusions within the art that was preserved after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.  Taking this Art History class has been much more thrilling than I had expected it to be; particularly in the moments when I recognize a structure, piece of art, or landmark that I have a photo of in my own collection from my travels.  Here is a photo I took of some of the preserved ruins of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background:

April 2008

It was raining hard that day, but one glance at this photo and I remember it perfectly... 

Oh how I would love to travel again.
Soon I hope!

"It is only in adventure

that some people succeed in knowing themselves

- in finding themselves."

-Andre Gide

Summer School

This was the first week of my spring course and I have to tell you, I love it!  I am taking an introductory level Art History class - ARTH 120.3 to be exact.  I have always wanted to take a spring or summer course, something about being able to wear cute spring clothing and not having to worry about bundling up between classes just to go one building over appeals to me.  Also, I simply love learning, I wish that I could constantly be taking at least one class for literally the rest of my life.

What about you, have you ever taken a spring/summer course?  What did you think?

Linked In: 3 College Style Tips Inspired by Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls – College Fashion

I adore the old TV show Gilmore Girls. During my grade 12 year and my first year of University I collected all of the seasons and they have since become my usual routine procrastination when it comes time to study for finals. Check out this article on college style tips inspired by Rory from College Fashion:

3 College Style Tips Inspired by Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls – College Fashion

Mother's Day

Oh!  And my mom came to the Pure Fashion show - she loved it!  She came to both of the shows that I was in previously, but they have never fallen on Mother's Day before.  My present to my mom this year is tickets to Wicked in August... they are actually her birthdy present as well, since she is not a fan of me spending much money on her.  I did make an impromptu trip to Dairy Queen today though, she appreciated her Strawberry Milkshake I brought home for her :).

How did you decide to celebrate the amazing women in your life?

Pure Fashion

Today was the final day of the Pure Fashion program that I volunteered for these past six(ish) months.  We completed the program with a Fashion Show that showcased modest clothing and beautiful, authentic girls.  This is my first year volunteering with the program and it is also the first year that the program has been in Saskatoon, but I was one of the girls in the program when it first came to Regina in the 2007/08 year.  My friend Amber and I drove down once a month to attend the formation sessions and we were part of the first ever Pure Fashion show held in Saskatchewan.  The year after we were asked back for one segment of the show with a few other girls who had been in the program the year before.  It was always fun being part of the program and the shows, but this year was even better.  I loved being involved in helping the girls grow in their confidence, modesty, and connections with one another.

I could go on and on about the program, but I will just provide the link to the website and you can read all about the history of Pure Fashion and the positive effect it has in the lives of so many girls.
Pure Fashion

I cannot wait for next year, we already have plans to make it better and more exciting. Although this year was so amazing that it seems like it will be hard to top, I think we are all up for the challenge!

Oh, and even though I was a volunteer for the program and helped the girls in working towards our final show, I did get to model an outfit from a local designer, Rebecca King.  I had a blast! Here is her website:  Rebecca King Designs

What do you think?  Have you ever been involved with Pure Fashion before?  Would you like to be?  Let me know!

In My Closet: ModCloth's Ballroom Lunch Top

Ballroom Lunch Top - ModCloth

A couple weeks ago I came across this top on ModCloth and I was super excited that I already owned it.  I am definitely an amateur when it comes to fashion, so I was stunned to see that my favourite clothing site had released a new item that I had already purchased a few weeks before (the timeline is a little fuzzy... I know it was before Lent because I gave up buying clothes, but how far before I am not sure... when I am in the midst of classes I have a very skewed perception of time), AND in a store in Saskatoon - which is a huge shocker, I always have to shop online to stay somewhat on-trend.  This has only happened to me once before, but I do not actually know if I bought the item before it was online, or at the same time - it was a dress that I purchased on a quick weekend trip to California to meet up with my parents and little brother who had driven down for about two weeks.  When I got home I came across the wonderful website ModCloth for the first time and found the dress on there.  Needless to say, I was pretty pumped then as well.

Anyway, I wanted to share this top because I love how delicate and feminine it is and I enjoy the way that the arms are cut.  I do find that it rides up a little bit, just because of the elastic at the bottom, but I wear a white tank underneath (because of how sheer it is) so if you keep the tank sticking out below where the elastic hits you, it doesn't ride up as much.  I usually pair it with jeans but I have tucked it into a skirt and I really liked the way that it looked that way too.  Any suggestions on other ways I could wear it?

Clothing Favourite: Gap - True Straight Pants

True Straight Pants - Black/Unavailable

I have an absolutely terrible time whenever I go shopping for pants to wear to work.  I am supposed to wear dress pants but I usually end up wearing black denim or figuring out how to incorporate leggings into my outfit instead.  Things just never fit the way that I need them to, but now, with my recent discovery of Gap's True Straight Pants, I no longer hate trying to pair my many blouses with some sort of bottom.

These pants are truly amazing.  They are the most comfortable dress pants I have ever worn - they almost feel like I am wearing my trusty Lululemon yoga pants.  They stretch, but hold their shape, and they look super sleek with any tops I pair them with.  When I tried them on in the dressing room at Gap (after about five failures, might I add), I knew I had to get them.  So I did... in both colours.  I am hoping that Gap will soon decide to make these pants in more colours, I would definitely buy them all.

Currently Reading: The Age of Innocence

Photo found here.

Recently I began reading The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.  I am not very far into it, but I will let you know how I like it!

I am so excited to be reading again.  It is just so difficult to enjoy reading for pleasure when I have classes that require excessive textbook and class notes reading (or, if I do allow myself to enjoy it, I read my books way too much and forget about schoolwork!).  I am starting a class on May 10, but having one class is much different than having five, so I think I will still be able to have time to read for enjoyment.

What are you currently reading?

Hats

Lately I have been in love with hats, perhaps it has something to do with the Royal Wedding.  Nonetheless, these fedoras, wide-brimmed hats, and cloche hats are some of my favourites right now.

Products, starting top left:
Fedoras: 1,2,3
Wide-Brimmed: 4,5,6
Cloche: 7,8,9

I was not born for one corner; the whole world is my native land.

-Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Twenty years from now

you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do

than by the ones you did do. 

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.

-Mark Twain

What is that feeling when you're driving away from people, and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? - it's the too huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye.  But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.

Jack Kerouac

Wanderlust

I have recently discovered the word wanderlust.

I feel that it encompasses everything and anything I ever seem to feel.

Wanderlust means a strong desire, or an impulse, to wander or travel and explore the world.  It is a desire to understand one's very existence.

Everytime I see the word it reminds me of my desires, and it helps me strive towards them.

Keep your heart open, your head high, and your spirit free.

I have that desire for change.

Constantly.

But I am a creature of habit.

I have no idea how this contradiction is able to be so present in my life, yet there you have it.

Lucy

I was just finishing up some assignments in the guestroom upstairs when a line from William Wordsworth's Lucy came to mind.  I actually didn't know that it was from Lucy, or even that it was written by Wordsworth - I had to google it.  Strange how things sometimes come to mind, isn't it?

The line (or lines, I suppose): "And all the while my eyes I kept / On the descending moon".

I suppose ENG 202 had a lasting effect on me after all!

Things to come

Fancy shoes.
Garden Parties.
Pastel frocks.
Wide-brimmed hats.
Cupcakes.
Teapots and teacups.

...Sounds like an unbirthday to me.

Wishing of Summer

I know it's still awhile away,
but I can't keep myself from thinking about when classes and finals are finished.
(AKA - SUMMER!)
I'm so excited to be able to wear dresses and sandals
And to not need a jacket everytime I leave the house.
I'm excited to take Art History in May
And to get back to working my job full time.
But what I'm absolutely most excited for
Is to be able to read.
I keep myself from my books all semester long,
Knowing I could get lost in them.
But once summer comes I am free to read whatever book I choose.

The books that are up first:
- A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
- Are you a Jackie or a Marilyn? - Pamela Keogh
- The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton
- Metamorphoses - Ovid
- Inferno - Dante
- What Would Audrey Do? - Pamela Keogh
- Shopaholic & Baby - Sohpie Kinsella

Ash Wednesday

Ashened palms crossed on our foreheads.
Marking our repentance and the beginning of a time of reflection, penance, and fasting.

As for me?
I'll be abstaining from purchasing any clothing or shoes
I will be avoiding juice, pop, and coffee
And I will be attending weekday mass on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the University.

What will you do to make this special time different from the rest of the year?

A sure way to lose happiness,

I found,

is to want it at the expense of everything else.

-Bette Davis

Do what you will,

this world's a fiction

and is made up of contradiction.

-William Blake

"Life does sometimes follow art,

though admittedly at odd and refracted angles."

-Matilda Bruckner,

Fictions of the Female Voice: The Women Troubadours (1992)

It's no use going back to yesterday,

because I was a different person then.

-Alice in Wonderland

Stars of Hope

On Sunday I am performing in a dance gala for cancer. If you live in or near Saskatoon and would like to come click the photo above to view the Facebook page for the event. I hope to see you there!

Fruition

Photo found here

All the dreams and plans we made.

--- I'm doing them on my own.

Cheers to new beginnings

Fresh starts, resolutions, and well wishes. I welcome them all. This is a good excuse to put the past behind me and move forward. Let's celebrate life and take what it has to offer!