Adventuring in Kimonos

I shared a hotel room with two lovely ladies: the Groom's sister and cousin. The first was the sweetest woman, and the second was the coolest, so I felt pretty lucky. They both enjoyed staying up later than I *I've never been one for staying up late as I love being awake and having adventures during the day*  So, that meant that early in the morning I tried to quietly get dressed and vacate the room so they could continue sleeping.

It also meant that I was awake and walking around the resort earlier than a lot of people.  But I kind of loved this time. The beaches were clear of people, and the only ones awake and bustling about were the lovely Jamaican people themselves.  It meant I could walk about and explore areas, and take photos, with relatively few people caring about what I was doing.

Though to be fair, I think by this time I had earned myself the "crazy photographer lady" title as on the wedding day and the day before during the detail shots I was both a contortionist and throwing little ants out of my shot. People generally just gave me a wide berth, after all I might snap at any second. Even the ants did not escape my wrath.

Maxi Kimono - Spell Designs  //  Top - SheInside  //  Pants - Jens Pirate Booty via ThreadSence *sold out*

*linking up with Passion for Fashion, and Style Elixir*

Jennifer Fukushima Promo Code!

I'm a little OCD when it comes to care of my clothing, and generally possessions of worth. Not because I've got some strange attachment to them but because I'm very frugal.  If you care for it, it will last a long time right?  I still have clothes from high school.  I know, right?

But a classic red dress never goes out of style. So I've kept it. Same with this Jennifer Fukushima cardigan - or the one in green. It's one of those pieces that can stand the test of time because it's a classic. Plus, Toronto made, with a focus on sustainability and renewable resources? Yes please!

Whether your style is boho like mine, vintage, classic, minimal - whatever - this fits right in.  But can we please just talk about the incredible texture on it?  Can we? Okay.

Look at all the delicate and detailed pattern shifts and changes. Amazing.  It's also really soft and light.  When I picked it, I was kind of expecting a slightly stiffer tweed like material, but this just bends and moves and sways in the wind.  Plus, I kind of think of blue as a neutral - mostly 'cause I have so much of it, that a classic blue just goes with anything I own.  I'm totally wearing this as a light layer over summer dresses in the next few months....sometimes a great little cardi is the perfect alternative to a kimono on those days you just want something light, or you're, you know, not as obsessed with kimonos as me, and actually prefer to look very put together.  Whatever.

And hey, guess what?  Jennifer has kindly extended a 30% off discount code to ModaMama readers for the month of May!  OMG!!!!  Yeah, get on this.  Use code "MODAMAMA30" 

Tweed Cardigan - c/o Jennifer Fukushima  //  Top - Ruche  //  Cords - Gap  //  Boots & Turquoise Bracelet - ThreadSence  //  Silver cuffs - gifts  //  Long necklace - TopShop  //  Turquoise necklace - bought in Europe

*This is a sponsored post. 

Thanks for checking out the fabulous 

folks that support ModaMama. 
Linking up with WIW*

It's All About Interest

Jacket & Shirt - UO  //  Fedora - ThreadSence  //  Pants - Zara  // Boots - Aldo  //  Earrings & rings - I forget *old*

Sometimes, rarely, I do enjoy wearing an all black ensemble.  But whenever I do monochrome, I love playing with textures upon textures.  Sequins, wool, fur, and pleather....did I miss anything?

It's just interest I guess.  I love to see some interest in clothing. When there's textures, or colors, there's interest, feeling, and a sense of that individual's attitude for the eve.  I don't presume to encourage people to judge by the cover, but it's fun to say something about your state of mind at this particular moment.

Mine was all about the party.

Trying But Not Too Much: Events That Aren't Too Fancy

Beaded Sequined Top - UO  //  Jeans - Lucky Brand  //  Boots - Browns  //  Bag - Target  //  Earrings - ThreadSence

I had the pleasure of meeting up with a girlfriend for an exclusive fashion show preview. Quelle beautiful fun!  It was a fairly intimate event that didn't call for the most glamorous of get-ups, but still required a bit more effort.  So skinny jeans, thigh high boots, and a sequined top seemed like the perfect way to say that I tried, but not too much.

As much as I love the fact that my daily life calls for super casual, I love to dress up.  So when given the chance I'm all over it.  I would've worn a freakin' ball gown if not for the fact that it's Winter, and therefore freezing.

Merci.
Xoxo

I'll Be Away

Cardigan - c/o  Wallis   //  Top - Ruche  //  Jeans & Bag - Dittos via Urban Outfitters  //  Necklace & Earrings - I forget  //  Shoes - ThreadSence

Hey guys, I'm going to be away for a while, hopefully just a week or two.  I'm going through some medical issues right now, and just want to step away from everything I possibly can.  It kind of sucks right now to be homebound and feeling like crap, but I have to say the timing of this cardigan was perfect.

It got here just a couple of days before I started feeling really bad, and I got a chance to grab these shots, and since then I've been living in it and my fleece pants.  Just comforting it up as much as I can.

I really appreciate you understanding why I'm away.  See you all as soon as I can!

xoxo
Joanna

Just Get a Backpack

Velvet Jacket - Flying Tomato  //  Shirt & Necklace - Threadsence  //  Jeans - Dittos  //  Shoes & Leaf Ring - unknown  // Silver Bracelet - gifts from Poland  //  Bead bracelet, Jewel Rings & Sunnies - F21  //  Embroidered Backpack - Stela 9

Sarah Silverman shared some insight into being a grown woman.  One of those tidbits, was *I'm paraphrasing* that you don't need a designer bag, "You put shit in it. Get a backpack."

As much as I've tried to be cute with purses, I always carry a lot with me - camera, tripod, scripts, wallet, etc.etc. - and I think I've finally accepted the fact that I just need a backpack.  It's better for my back, and leaves my hands free for all kinds of adventuring.

Lying, Liar Pants And A Dream

Kimono -  Audrey //  Tee - Zara  //  Pants - Dittos via UO  //  Wool Fedora - Threadsence  //  Necklace - don't recall

Okay, so remember how I said I wouldn't venture out into that huge snowfall?  Well, I'm a lying, liar pants on fire, 'cause I ended up doing so.  But only for the two minutes it took to take these shots.  I may be crazy, but even I have my limits...few though they may be.

Side note:  Had a whole night of dreams where I was Jean-Luc Picard's Number One and we were in command of a fleet of actual naval vessels, on an ocean.  Very odd, but also very cool because, hey, Jean-Luc Picard's Number One!

*linking up with Fashion Informant, Fab Fav, Manic Mondays, and Passion for Fashion*

Ice Planet Hoth, Currently My Residence

Fur Lined Cardigan - Jack & Jenn  //  Top - c/o Wallis  //  Jeans - Gap  //  Boots - Locale  //  Necklace - F21  //  Flower - H&M

Toronto is currently engulfed in it's third *third!* polar vortex!  What's up with that?  I mean as much as I love Star Wars, and pretended to be Luke's other sister all through my childhood, that does not mean I want to live on the ice planet Hoth.  For one, there's a serious drought of cute clothing options.  Two, the only way to stay warm is to crawl inside a Wampa.  And three, the Empire eventually will invade.   Can please move on to the much nicer moon of Endor, with the Ewoks, those guys know how to throw a party.

My Kid Deals Out Mommy Crack

When your kid's throwing a huge tantrum, or just plain being demanding, when you haven't slept, or eaten because you've been running ragged, and when they've fallen *or whatever* despite being told four dozen times not to do it or "You'll hurt yourself," that's when you pick them up and hope that it makes them quiet for a moment.

 Top - Sis Sis via ShopRuche  //  Skirt - Spotted Moth  //  Coat - TNA via Aritzia  //  Tights - Hansel From Basel  //  Socks - HUE  //  Boots - Feet First  //  Necklace - Vanessa Mooney  //  Bracelet - Joseph Nogucci via Homegrown Boutique  //  Sunnies - F21

And that's when they dose you.  Don't be fooled.  It's not an accident, and it's not coincidental.  I'm firmly convinced that my kid knows exactly when to release that smell.  The one on the top of their heads.  You know the one I'm talking about.  The one that sends you into perfect relaxation and bliss.   The one that makes you love them and feel like being with them is Nirvana. I don't know what the technical term for it is, but I like to think of it as "Mommy crack."

She's got it down to a fine art.  She's got it timed.  She knows exactly when her Mama needs her next fix so as to not go completely off the rails.  She's my drug dealer, and she's also the supply.  So I can't cut out the middleman in this.

The drug is the middle man.