Teaser.

Just some random bits from our new place. This is a bit of a teaser because you can't actually see our new place. Hehe. I admit that as a total perfectionist I'm just not happy with it! (The white carpet is killing me!!) But there are certain corners, nooks, and areas that I just love. So I thought I'd share. Which bit is your favorite?

We are off to Seattle today and tonight for a quick getaway. After a long work week, it's much needed. I've also been a little down in the dumps lately because of a batch of homesickness. I guess that's what you get when you move away from home and start a life somewhere else and keep remembering past lives when The Lumineers come on. But that's all part of life and growing up, no?

Stay tuned for updates this weekend via Instagram (@thefeministajournals)! xo Caroline

Back.

I'm back! I just wanted to take a quick moment to tell you that I'm around and plan on updating my blog slowly but surely. It might take me a little while to get back into the blogging routine again (I won't be posting as much because of my crazy busy schedule) but I certainly haven't forgotten about my blog and those of you who enjoy reading it!  Actually, I think about my blog at least once a day. So enough procrastinating. Here I am! xo Caroline

Blogging Break.

I'm going to be taking a little break from blogging. Little because it shouldn't be too long - in fact, I'll be back next month. The reason is because I'm living in a little bit of a chaotic transition stage right now. I don't have my own place; many of my things are packed away in boxes; I'm still getting used to my new life here in Vancouver; I'm working, volunteering, and trying to finish a Master's degree; and I'm just plain lacking on time. I plan on taking this month to take lots of photos of all the things I love to do/eat/wear/buy to get ahead on future posts, because right now I just don't have the time to do all that! See you soon, friends! xo Caroline

Pattern Mixing.

This is my version of a little bit of pattern mixing. I scored this J. Crew striped shirt about a month ago for only $10 and fell in love with it right away. It's the perfect layering piece. In fact, all stripes are! These pants are also a new addition to my wardrobe. I love the feel and quality of them and they are beyond comfortable. Stripes + tweed is my new favourite combo!!

RIP Amanda Todd.

Photo taken from this Facebook page

Wow. Last night I watched the news and found out that local teen Amanda Todd committed suicide on Wednesday as a result of being repeatedly bullied, teased, made fun of, marginalized, dismissed, dehumanized, alienated, and surely much more. Her story speaks to me not only because I, like she, once felt completely alone and misunderstood (and stupid, ugly, and worthless, among other things), but also because it reveals the degree to which patriarchal attitudes are still around today. What I mean to say is that it's not necessarily just the individual 'bullies' that I blame (girl or boy) but rather it's the naturalized ideas about girls (as sex objects, for example) that the 'bullies' are conveying that I blame. And I go to bed at night and I wonder why the hell more people don't see a problem with these ideas. Don't speak up about them. Don't want to understand, aren't open to understanding, they're transparency, their historical and social construction, their falseness.

Traditions.

Everyone seems to be posting about apple picking these days, and now so am I! Jimmy and I went to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch on Saturday to pick up some festive treats for Thanksgiving, including apples for an apple pie I made for our Sunday turkey dinner. I was WAY over dressed for our outing (a sweater, boots, and pants + mid-day sun beating down on me) so, unfortunately, we didn't last long amongst the trees. But it was fun nonetheless! It has now become kind of a tradition for us (thanks to my pushing, let's be honest), which makes me realize how much the little things in life matter to me - apple picking and pumpkin choosing, for example, and even mundane activities such as home-made apple pie and intimate chit chat. I don't know, I guess the more and more I adjust to "adult" life, the more and more I realize how precious life is ... which is both scary and relieving.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Flea Market.

I went to a local flea market last Sunday and it was such an adventure! When I first arrived I was so overwhelmed with the amount of used, new, antique, and vintage items but the feeling turned out to be a nice change. You should have seen me; I was rushing about from booth to booth trying to make sure I got a good look at everything. I didn't want to miss even one deal! Luckily, Jimmy was there to capture my movements on camera.

Black & Navy.

One of my favourite colour combinations is black and navy. Perhaps because for so long I thought I couldn't mix the two, though I'm not sure why. Now that I've begun to experiment with fashion more, I feel more confident about doing it. I wore this fancy-ish number two weekends ago when Jimmy took me out for a belated Birthday dinner (if you remember, I wasn't with him on my actual Birthday). We went to a restaurant in Kitsilano called the Kitsilano Daily Kitchen and tried their 6-course "culinary adventure." It was delicious and so much fun! We didn't know what any of the 6 courses would be when they came out so it was very exciting - and I got to try a variety of new foods, which is always fun for me.

New In: Cashmere Sweater.

Kelowna Snapshots.

These are some random snapshots I took during my quick little trip to Kelowna (the one I mentioned here), as well as some lookbook photos that Jimmy took while in Kelowna. 

Fat.

I don't know about you, but my body and I have been on a long journey. When I was an adolescent, I felt fat and ugly. I remember looking in the mirror at my 'fat' stomach and flat chest. I even remember asking a babysitter if I would ever have larger breasts and a flatter stomach, instead of the other way around. I was desperate yet hopeful. I was 10. Already I knew that my value came from my appearance. When I was 14, I read a book whose protagonist drank only a glass of orange juice for breakfast. I was determined to do the same - wasn't that 'normal', 'healthy'?

Best Brownie Recipe.

These are the best brownies I've ever had. And that's very serious matter, people. I posted a photo of them on Instagram about a month ago when I made them and I got a few requests to share the recipe. Well, here it is! Unfortunately, I can take no credit for the recipe because I followed Smitten Kitchen's "My Favourite Brownies" recipe exactly. They really have become my favourite brownie recipe though. They're both decadently fudgy and chocolatey yet not overly sweet. Using unsweetened chocolate is crucial for the perfect chocolate intensity of these brownies.

Monochromatic Blue.

 This is the last outfit of the "Colour Challenge" I'm doing with Anais! As you can see, I'm wearing the colour blue. I went with a monochromatic royal blue look. I love this skirt I found at Vintage Wear in Almonte a couple of weeks ago. It's the perfect tweed skirt. I paired it with a similar-toned blue blouse from Club Monaco (which did not look this wrinkled when I put it on!), my favourite blue snakeskin clutch, and kept everything else minimal. 

Emerald.

This is my green outfit for the "Colour Challenge" I am doing with Anais from The Time is Grey. Although  my blouse may not look green in these photos (it looks more turquoise compared to the trees in the background),  I assure you it is. It is a lovely emerald green - one of my favourite colours for fall. 

Today I'm not writing much here because I'm busy busy. We got back from Kelowna late last night and I have a ton of catching up to do - including finding employment and a volunteer position asap!

Little Black Dress.

 This is my third outfit for the "Colour Challenge" I'm doing with Anais from The Time is Grey. My aunt gave me this dress a couple of months ago. She used to wear it all the time for work-related events but no longer does. I think she bought it back in the 80's. I was honoured that she gave it to me and love the fact that I can take a part of her with me wherever and whenever I wear it. In fact, that's one of the reasons why I love all vintage items so much. There's a history behind them. Or rather, a herstory.  And that's no spelling mistake, Blogger. Now I get to wear my aunt's story. 

Although I'm not usually not one for beading, I love it on this dress. Maybe because it's so subtle, especially in black. This is definitely my new little black dress!

Statement White.

 Here is "Colour Challenge" (see more about that here) outfit number two: the white outfit! I decided to style a bulky white sweater I bought at a vintage store in Budapest as the main/ statement component of my outfit. I paired it with boyfriend-style skinny jeans, a pair of heeled Nine West loafers that I bought in New York last year, and my latest investment: a new Michael Kors purse!

On another note, I'm heading to Kelowna today for the quickest getaway ever! Jimmy and I are driving 4 hours to Kelowna, checking into a hotel, going out for dinner, and then tomorrow I plan on spending the day alone in Kelowna while he attends a few meetings! I'm pretty excited, despite that it might feel a bit rushed!

A Little Bit of Red.

I chose to style my red look for the "Colour Challenge" I'm doing this week with Anais from The Time is Grey (see more about that here) very subtly. I went with a bright-hued red leather skirt (which I thrifted, if you can believe it), a military jacket, and black accessories. Oh, and a red lip! I hope you like it!

Colour Challenge: Collaboration with Anais from The Time is Grey.

I'm so excited to announce that I will be doing a sequence of collaborative posts this coming week with Anais from The Time is Grey! The Time is Grey is one of my all-time favourite blogs. I so admire the beautiful Anais and her unique sense of style - she brilliantly combines an array of beautiful vintage pieces in fun, modern, and classic ways. Her photographs and her blog posts are equally as brilliant as her sense-of-style. She uses a kind of poetic language to describe her outfit posts and her photos. And, as you can see, they are stunning!

Anais and I have collaborated and come up with what we've called a "Colour Challenge". Starting tomorrow, we will be posting outfits on each of our respective blogs based on one colour. Monday will be red, Tuesday white, Wednesday black, Thursday green, and Friday blue. Of course, we've styled different outfits in different ways. I hope you'll stay tuned to see what both of us have come up with for each colour!

Birthday Snapshots.

Last weekend I celebrated my 24th Birthday. It was an unexpectedly lovely day. I tried not to set the bar too high for this Birthday, only because in the past when I've done that I've found myself let down. I wanted to take the day as it came - both the good and the bad. I did, and I was happily surprised! I just spent the day with my family and it was so needed, especially because I move to Vancouver this weekend. My mom and I went to two of my favourite places in downtown Ottawa: The Sassy Bead Company to make a necklace tutorial I found here and then the Fairmont Chateau Laurier for - brace yourselves - high tea!!! I love high tea! It was delicious and everything I needed.

In the evening we made dinner, drank wine, ate delicious Stubbe chocolate cake, opened gifts, and finished of the night with a game of pool. Not too mention, I got some lovely new things including a purse I'd been eyeing, the Guess watch I've been wanting (see here), and a Lauren Elan bracelet, as you'll see below!