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.

Hey Sports Fans? *A Parody*

So a girlfriend told me about this woman that does parodies of sports shirts. They parody the team logo and name. I, of course, bought the one for the Toronto Blue Jays.

You're Imperfect. I Love You.

"To observe people and find pleasure in their individual traits. To wish to afford scope for the interests and pleasures of those with whom you are brought into contact without desiring to acquire power over them or to secure their enthusiastic admiration." *Bertrand Russell*

Who Will I Be Tomorrow?

Cold.

Honest Straight Shooter

I don't like it when I think too much about others expectations of me.
It's a trap! *and I said that like in Star Wars, by the way*
But you know, sometimes I fall into it as well. I become a little too preoccupied with playing the game, or behaving how others expect  me too. And then I get frustrated and grumpy.

Heels and Leather Pants

Kind of a natural pairing, you know? Like jeans and a tee. Coffee and croissant. There's something about putting the two together that feels right.

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.

Purple Ninja

This morning.

A Poem by Rumi

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I'll meet you there.

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.

Heart on a Sleeve

As much as I try, as much as I claim to be jaded and cynical, I often fail. As a friend once said to me, "You think you are, you hope you are, but you're not."  That same friend now routinely calls me 'innocent.'

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.

All The Good Things

Something about sitting around a campfire with moonlight and starlight streaking down. With a lovely whiskey and good friends, there is perfection. I did that.

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.

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.

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

Are You Sexy?

Sexy. That's always been a hard one for me. I'll admit it. I had this idea of what a sexy woman was, and frankly, I imagined it as far removed from me as the sun is from Pluto....so veeeeery far.  I know that logically, this is silly. We're all humans, therefore sexual beings, therefore sexy. But I ain't talkin' 'bout logic here. I'm talking feelings and self-image.

Cute. That was how I have always been described, and how I always think of myself. Cute. Smart. Girl next door. All good things, and I never had an issue with them. Just as you can tell, not sexy. Frankly, it has always confounded me.

But now, I'm sexy! No I'm totally kidding you. I still don't really think of myself that way. I still think of myself as dorky, smart, cute, and well frankly awkward *Who's got a talent for putting her foot in her mouth? ME!* But now, I think I'm accepting things a bit more, like I mentioned in this post about being past thirty.

There's a fake construct of sexy in my head created by the world I live in, and there's a self-perception of myself created by me growing up in said world. And I'm recognizing the two for what they are. Doesn't mean they've changed or gone away, just means that hopefully their power over me is a little diminished.

It's made me start to consciously reframe what 'sexy' means to me. I'm trying to/starting to see it as an energetic sucking the marrow out of life, combined with a playfullness, and comfortable acceptance of ones physical self. It's also made me look at the people in my life with this eye and it's made me realize that damn! I've got a lot of sexy friends.

Dress - Spell Designs  //  Necklace & Sandals - ThreadSence  //  Belt - F21

Ruffled and Backless Dress

It was so warm and lovely and I was frankly really excited to finally wear all my lovely new Spell purchases.  It's been so cold, and I was just itching to get a chance to wear all this pretty stuff.

Honestly, what's more perfect than a backless ruffled dress for a day spent at the beach and the pool?  Nothing.  Except maybe one of those delicious mojitos they offered.  Those were amazing.  As were the Jamaican patties...

...wait, why did I come back again?

Dress - Spell Designs  //  Bag - Jamaican vendor  //  Sandals - I forget *old*  //  Sunnies - Lace Affair

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*