Sartorial Rabbit Hole of Joy, or Lyst

I've recently been going down the best rabbit hole ever. And I do mean that. I've been spending time on Lyst. It's seriously like a fashionista's online Mecca. You create an account and answer a whole bunch of questions about which designers you like and don't like, then your own private boutique is curated for you. Basically, Lyst scours a whole ton of online shops and puts them all in one place. Imagine, instead of tons and tons of boutiques spread across they're all in one place - like a mall - but so much more awesome because no one steps on your toes.

Favorite Scarves

I have a few. Those standards go-tos. You know, the ones you reach for without really thinking.  Obviously, my Polish scarf is on that list. As is a gorgeous black one from Kish & Evie - you'll be seeing that a lot this Winter.

Is my Polish Showing?

Many of you don't know that I was born and partly raised in Poland. I literally came to Canada on a boat. Yup. That's right.  I learned to speak English and adjusted to life in Canada. It's just me, my Mom, and my sister here.

Go With It

The sun is gone. Well okay, it's not actually gone. It feel like it's gone though as Fall is firmly here.

Whiskey Too Far

That moment. That moment when you are pushed too far.

Free Fridays

Fall, Winter, and Spring means that Andrew's business is in full swing. Which is great for finances obviously, but it also means a lot of business trips and a lot more responsibility on me at home.

TIFF 2015 in Full Swing

The Toronto International Film Festival is in it's full blown glory. That means parties and events.  Which means getting all dressed up. I'm okay with that.

Happy Labor Day!

It signals the end of summer and the return to reality.  But we can all just ignore that, right?

Coalesced Thoughts

My brain is swirling with thoughts.  Only a few have coalesced:

Asking

Why is it often so hard to ask?  Why do we have a hard time asking for things we want and need?

Port Dover Arts Festival

On the weekend we were there, Port Dover held an arts festival. Antiques, artisan, and unique vendors all got a chance to showcase their wares.

Castaway

The day alternated between sudden bursts of rain - darkening the skies and raising the winds to a howling volume - to the gentle warmth of the sunshine bright and warm on the skin.

Responsible Fashion

Heading up to the cottage this past long weekend, I was yet again struck by the beauty that we have in nature.  Also, the profound meaning and connection we can achieve by just sitting quietly and letting the world move around us.

It's the Weekend

Long weekend here in Canada.  I'm personally heading to the cottage. Gonna enjoy the love and laughs with a whole bunch of great friends. And that delicious, worshipful pleasure of staring at a campfire in the night and smelling it in your hair the next morning.

Messy Hair, Don't Care

There's this image that bloggers, mostly fashion and lifestyle, present.

The Dress I Didn't Wear

This past Friday I had a friend's dance party, to celebrate her birthday. Now, you know I love to dance, and I love me a great dancing dress. I put this fringed backless dress on thinking it would be perfect for the evening. I do love it. But after taking these shots, I came home and did the test. Always do the test. Test out what you're wearing with what you're doing. Why? Because I dislike fashion holding back my actions. I don't want to be limited in my motion. I like the freedom.

So the test: I danced like I would for one song. During that time, the slip moved too much for my liking. It moved too far north, if you know what I mean. And that was after one song of dancing.

Nothing, not fire, not weather, not fashion will take dancing away from me. In this and all cases, if it doesn't function, it ain't happening. So, though I wanted to wear this, I decided that dancing all night with no worries was, and always will be, my priority.

What does this mean for the dress?  It means that until I manage to get an inch or two added to the slip, it's a going out and hanging out dress. Not a dancing dress - that calls for some very specific requirements....which I'll talk about in my next post when I show you what I did wear.

I know, you're on the edge of your seats.

Mind Games

A friend and I were talking briefly about mind games. Mainly how people seem to play them a lot. And we both agreed that this is part of the reason we have such difficulty navigating the world sometimes - because I hate mind games. I don't get it. I don't like it. And I by nature do not engage in them. I usually take people at face value. But I've learned to reign in that instinct, because I've been burned.

But at the same time, mind games take up so much energy and are frankly, draining. Often, we spend hours obsessing over something - say a crush - instead of just saying, "Hey, this is how I feel, how 'bout it?" That takes waaaaay less energy and is not confusing at all.

So raise a toast to the folks who don't engage in mind games. To the ladies, like myself, who are a 'what you see, is what you get' kind of gal.

Now let's go dance.

Dress - Sheinside  //  Necklace - Gypsy Love Store  //  Shoes - Payless //  Bralette - F21

Lush Green Trees and a Little Creek

Finding little places like this, low in a valley and hidden from the city, is like entering a secret garden.
Logically, I know that this place is frequented by many.
But emotionally, it feels like my own secret place.
Quiet and undiscovered.

It just begs and cries out for a little twirling and dancing.

Kimono - Spell Designs  //  Top - SheIn  //  Shorts - Target  //  Sandals - Threadsence  //  Hat - I forget  //  Necklaces - Vanessa Mooney and Monserat de Lucca

Sometimes the World

Sometimes our brains freeze up.  At least mine does.
Sometimes I don't know who I am supposed to be, and have trouble reconciling that with who I am.
Sometimes my heart feels too many feels and then I become confused about what I'm feeling.
Sometimes I feel like a little girl, not knowing which way to go, and thinking everyone is an adult around me and has it all figured out.
Sometimes I just need to stop and dance.

Top - Auguste  //  Jeans - Lucky Brand  //  Necklace - Fair Trade Show  //  Sandals - I forget *old*

Takin' It All In Stride.

Saturday: my girl's birthday party.
Saturday eve: our games night.
Saturday middle of the night: Carbon monoxide detector goes off and we spend a total of two hours outside while the fire department comes, checks our house, concludes it's a malfunction and false alarm, and leaves.
Sunday: coffee.

Sunday after coffee: if this is the problem I'm dealing with right now, life's pretty okay. People are being persecuted and hunted around the world just for being alive. Which is right up there with me losing a couple hours sleep right? *that was sarcasm in case you missed it*

Here's to perspective. Happy week everyone.

Pants & Shoes - ThreadSence  //  Tee & Cardigan - UO  //  Necklace - Homegrown Boutique