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!

Grey & White.

Although we've all heard the feared "don't wear white after labour day" warning, I think it's totally acceptable to do so - at least for me. Why not? Isn't a part of the fun of fashion playing with and adjusting some of the "rules"? Isn't that how you create your own (always changing, in my opinion) fashion style? Although this can be kind of scary and intimidating for me, I think it's totally important. Do you?

Music Mondays: The Lumineers.

1.

Oh my gosh is this band ever good! The Lumineers have become my latest music obsession. Only by listening to them did I realize how much I love contemporary folk music. From Bon Iver (who I'll be seeing tonight at the Ottawa Folk Festival!!) to The Weepies to Joshua Radin to, as of late, The Lumineers. Oh my. The Lumineers are a mix between the rhythms and sounds of Fleetwood Mac and Momford & Son and the sultry ballads of Ryan Adams. Their music is uplifting yet at the same time poignantly honest and real. It contains both tinges of hope and remnants of sadness. This makes for such beautiful combination, one that they so brilliantly execute.

This quote from the biography page on The Lumineers' website perfectly describes them:

"They’re drawn by the live Lumineers experience—a coming-together in musical solidarity against isolation, adversity, and despair."

A Day on My Own.

I visited a lovely nearby town on Sunday and had such a nice time! I was feeling restless and sort of lonely Sunday morning, sitting at home with not much to do. (Literally! I'd been so busy taking care of things all week that I wound up with spare time--something I do not come by often!) Anyway, most of my friends and even my boyfriend weren't in town but I didn't let that stop me. I thought: well, why not do a little bit of shopping/wandering/eating by myself? Right? Who says you can't enjoy time alone--in public? I'd driven through this specific town the night before and only then realized how nice it is there. And I'm so glad I chose to go back!

In-between.

These photos were taken with my old non-digital DSLR camera so I'm not as pleased with the results. However, they will have to do because I love this outfit. I just felt so great in it! I picked up the slouchy sparkly top from Club Monaco a couple of weeks ago on sale and I love it. I was initially hesitant to buy it because I never thought I could pull off the slouchy cropped look (although I have tried) but this version I think actually works on me. AND it's perfect for both fall and summer. This whole outfit, actually, was meant to be a transition outfit from summer (and the heat that still persists in these parts of Canada) to fall. With the more neutral colour palette and the mix between covered up and still easy breezy, I think it works! 

Fall Fashion Lust List.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Ottawa Snapshots.

Here are some snapshots of last weekend's time spent in Ottawa playing tourist with my dear friend  who was visiting from Calgary. We had a lovely weekend meandering through the city, soaking up the hot weather, enjoying the sights, sharing stories, eating yummy foods (include one of my favourites: charcuterie!), patio-sitting, and people watching (a couple of weddings in particular)!