Truly The Best Gift

An evening spent with two friends.
Both of whom respect me, accept me, and love me.
With dancing. And Wine.
Truly that is the best thing I could ask for...

F*** It!

There's this thing that happens...when you think about something for too long.  It becomes the only thing you think about. It takes on a life of it's own. So what you need to do is take that thing - whether it be a person, an event, a job, whatever - take that thing and say. "F**k it!"

Don't Text, Call.

 I used to hate the phone.  I hated it because you couldn't see the person when you talked to them.
I love those moments when you sit - coffee shop, park, whatever - and a silence falls.

The Kiss

Kiss.  The kiss.
Lips touch and universes are born.  That's how kisses should be.

Here's To Our Friendship Flaws

I have very imperfect friends. Some overshare, some drink too much sometimes, some say stupid things at the most inopportune moments, some can be harsh ...basically they make mistakes and have flaws, and are human.

All of them are well meaning, and caring, and accepting, and honest.

I can tolerate a lot as long those things are present. Tolerate isn't the right word. A lot of things don't bother me because of the presence of the others - that's a better way to put it. In fact, I count on my friends being imperfect, because that means that they'll hopefully be forgiving of my own imperfections. Of which I have many, and I try to surround myself with people who will forgive me when I say/do something stupid at the most inopportune of moments knowing that I probably don't mean it, because I'd like to think I'm well meaning, caring, accepting, and honest.

Tee - Thrifted  //  Kimono - Arnhem  //  Shorts - Spell  //  Boots - Aldo  //  Bag - Target  //  Sunnies - I forget

On the Road Again

On my bike that is.  My bicycle is tuned up and on the road. I know, I know, some people continue riding all year 'round. I admire those people.....those crazy people. Me? I like to ride my bike when it's warm - ride all around the city - but not when it's cold. So there's this moment in Spring that occurs when the days are reliably warm enough that me and my bike are traipsing about town getting errands done.

It's also really cool to be able to do that first 30 km ride and be totally fine afterwards.  Here's to cycle season!

Kimono - Arnhem  //  Romper - Ruche  //  Fedora - ThreadSence  //  Boots - Aldo  //  Necklace - FreePeople  //  Sunnies c/o Woodzee

Sartorial Loves and Being Shoeless

Light rompers are so great. I really can't get enough of them. But it seems there are a lot of things I can't get enough of: fringe, kimonos, lace, dresses.....okay pretty much everything. I think it'd be easier to list my sartorial dislikes *like Uggs and Crocs* rather than my likes.  But back to my point, rompers are great.  Really great.

I especially loved the purple and blue mix on this one.

Also, can I just please apologize for the lack of shoes in this post? I spent little time actually wearing shoes, but more than that my tripod wouldn't fit in my suitcase. Therefore, I was limited to shooting by placing my camera on things that happened to be around - which was needless to say a little awkward. Ah the troubles of being in paradise, am I right?

Playsuit - Arnhem

Destination Wedding Photographer Wear

The day of the wedding came and I got dressed and ready to rock 'n roll in a simple white tee, and loose Arnhem pants.  I thought this would be the perfect outfit for a twelve hour day of shooting.  Two braids keep the hair out of my way, the hat keeps the sun off my head, and the white tee and loose pants are respectable yet light.

Little did I know how humid it would be!  We all pretty much sweat through our clothes.  And after my pants got wet from the ocean, I decided to suddenly bend down. Now since they were wet, they didn't move with me and split right down the seam!

Thank goodness the lovely Bride, whose hotel room was right next to us, lent me a pair of shorts to rock the rest of the shoot in.  That's all I care about - the shots.  And boy did we get some stellar ones.  I'll be sure to post a link and let you know once they're done and up on my site.

'Cause this couple + this location = photo gold!

Pants - Arnhem  //  Shirt - SheInside  //  Fedora - I forget *old*

Price of Admission to Jamaica

First real day in Jamaica.  It was an exciting one let me tell you.  First I discovered that my external hard drive had been stolen from my checked suitcase, then I fell and broke the glass top of a table in my room, paid for it, and decided to head to the beach where nothing could happen to me.

Until I got in the water and got stung by a jellyfish in the first three minutes.

Seriously right?! Honestly, I just had to laugh, because to have all this happen in a span of hours was a little ridiculous. Hilarious and ridiculous. I breathed, had a little moment, then moved on. Things happen and there's nothing you can do about it.

After treating the sting, I went back to swim for an hour, and decided to just focus on my beautiful surroundings. Just chalked it all up to the price of being in stunning Jamaica.

Plus, how can anything be wrong when you're surrounded by pink buildings!

Jumpsuit - Arnhem // Sandals - I forget  //  Necklace - F21  //  Sunnies - Lace Affair

Serenity

What do you think of when you hear 'Serenity'? That soft sun ray breezing through the curtains first thing in the morning.  The smell and feel of a great cuddle with your little one.  That brief humid pause of the world before the rains begin to fall and the clouds break for a thunderstorm.  That sip of tea before everyone else in the house is up and the bustle of the day begins.  A still lake without a ripple seen - untouched and full of potential.

Or if you're like me you think of Joss Whedon, Malcom Reynolds, River Tam, Zoe, and Wash.
"I am a leaf on the wind."

Cardigan - Arnhem *I added buttons to make it a dress*  //  Belt & Ring - F21  //  Necklace - Free People  //  Bracelets - Threadsence & Joseph Nogucci  //  Boots - Aldo

One Woman Dance Party

You know when you're driving and you pull up to a red light alongside other cars, and in the car beside you you see that person?  There's that person who is blasting music, bobbing their head, drumming their hands, and is clearly singing as loud as possible.  Either unaware or not caring that people are watching them, they make faces, act out all the bits of the song, and wait with anticipation for the guitar or drum solo acting it out on their steering wheel.

That person is me.

Janis Joplin, Rolling Stones, '70s hits, and Queen. Yup.

For the record, my driving is superbly precise - I just do it while having a one woman dance party.

Kaftan - Arnhem  //  Pants - Lululemon  //  Boots - Aldo  //  Necklace - Gypsy Love Store  //  Turquoise Bracelet & Hat  - ThreadSence  //  Turquoise and Red Bracelet - eBay  //  Rings & Sunnies - F21

*linking up with Honest Mom*

Breezy Arnhem Maxi Dress

The sun is shining, the temperature is up and the breeze is blowing through my dress.

Walking around I finally felt that beautiful thing that is the breeze blowing through your dress, and the sun caressing the back of your neck. It was warm - well warmer - than it has been for a long time. This deliciously light, soft, and breezy dress has been in my closet for a little while. It was calling, nay screaming, out for the barometer to rise. A long and light dress with floral prints epitomizes Spring to me. There's something about that feeling when you're walking down the street and can feel sun, material, and a warm breeze on you at the same time. It's a calming feeling, a soothing feeling, a moment that makes you breathe and love life

Dress - Arnhem  //  Necklace - Gypsy Love Store  //  Ring - F21  //  Bag - Target  // Socks - I forget *old*  //  Boots - Aldo

*linking up with Style Sessions, and Trend Spin*

Fashion Week and the Persistence of Black Clothing Everywhere: A Call To Arms

Kimono - Arnhem  //  Top - UO  //  Jeans - Dittos via UO  //  Boots - Locale  //  Necklace - bought in Spain  //  Rings - F21 & misc

This week has been  all about Toronto Fashion week - or World Mastercard Fashion Week.  What I've found most interesting in attending the shows is that while the clothing on the runway is fascinating and creative, this isn't the case in the fashion industry attendees. *before anyone gets up in arms, I'm not talking about every single person - I'm talking about numbers here. The vast majority* 

The shows are vibrant and unique, and though they aren't all things I personally would wear or I personally love, they are all interesting to look at.  I'm sorry to criticize or rub people the wrong way, but the persistence of a sea of black at fashion week is to me unacceptable.  I'm not saying that wearing black is uninspired.  It's that the black outfit is interesting if it's the only one.  But when the same outfit - you know, the black tight pants, black heels and a variety of 'urban chic' blazer/top - is multiplied by five hundred it becomes banal.

The attendees of fashion week are those in the industry. The leaders, the representatives, the lovers. This is where we should all be showing our own personal style.  Where colors, textures and patterns should come alive.

I'm not talking about peacocking *that fad of wearing ridiculous clothes to be photographed by the press at these events*  I'm talking about every attendee celebrating the freedom of expression and joy of design that I feel fashion affords.  But no,  I walk in and see twenty black pleather leggings, ten thousand black pumps, and a vast ocean of black with a very occasional dot of color.

Is it wrong for me to make a call to arms for us, the industry representatives, to celebrate what's beautiful about fashion - self expression and personal style?  If so I don't want to be right.

I'll be that non pleather-legging-flat-booted-bright-colored-messy-haired pariah, and it's okay that I stand alone.  I'm an introvert anyway.