Mama Would be Proud

The lovely and beautiful Marilou invited me to go with her to ROUGE: Ottawa's Ultimate Bacherlorette Party, on Saturday night.  This was a fun "non-wedding" event for a good cause.  The proceeds went to support the AIDS Committee of Ottawa. 

The only thing that was missing from this event was my good friend, Krista.  Her wedding is fast approaching and even though most of the details have been sorted out, there was tons of fun and ideas for her bachelorette.  Unfortunately my camera is a very basic "point & shoot"... and the lighting in clubs is never ideal... so please excuse the fuzziness of the pictures.  The bridal fashion show was very pretty.  Even though the dresses were all very beautiful, I kept my eyes on the hair pieces... they were all so funky.

Two hotties: ML from 20YS & Isobel of frAsh femme. & bel.

Isobel is the creative and talented designer of frAsh femme. & bel. 

Above is just one of many beautiful pieces created by Isobel.  The generous Marilou gave this necklace to me and I can't wait to show it off.  I first discovered Isobel's work when I attended The Posh Wedding Show, in February.   Her jewellery really stood out from all the other booths.  I enjoy the unique looks to the pieces.   Her spring/summer 2011 line is amazing and it's so cool that each piece is one of a kind.  

Yummy cupcakes were generously provided by Auntie Loo's Treats.  The most shocking discovery of the night was that the delicious treats were vegan.  Vegan! It really blows my mind that cupcakes can be diary and egg free.... and still taste amazing good.  It's dangerous for my waist line that she sells these amazing cupcakes at a cafe close to my work called Raw Sugar.   These cakes are also Auntie Loo's creations and look amazing.  My favourite is the orange one because it reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.

Now on to my awkward moment of the night... 

It involved a pole, a scandalously dressed hottie as an instructor and ML recording the moment.  

I was so confused on how to turn around and slide down the pole.  With the first attempt, I lost my shoe.  And didn't do much better with round two.  Pole dancing is not a hidden talent of mine... no upper body strength and lack of grace are not pros for this activity

 ML was awesome, with confidence and humour she nailed the turn and slide.

Isobel is too cute.  I wasn't able to capture the moment too well with the crap-tastic camera of mine (it had a seizure during her turn and slide).  But she did great and the bow at the end was adorable.    

The pole dancing demonstrations and lessons were provided by 3Sixty.  The girls who were doing the demonstrations were amazing.  If I try to explain what they were able to do it doesn't seem to do it justice, so you're interested just check out the site's photo gallery.   What's really fun is that they will do Pole Parties... something that could be tons of fun for a bachelorette?! Non?! 

My Mini Challenge

To be a little less serious this week I'm going to challenge myself to a little challenge.  Yes, I realize that the aforementioned sentence contained way too many of the same words.  But I don't care.  Tuesdays are my Mondays, and I am beat.  The challenge is to wear at least one item recently bought while thrifting at the local VV. Yesterday I spent much needed time doing my favorite kind of therapy, called retail therapy.  The budget breaking purchase contained a blazer, a new white blouse and a denim blouse for the price of $23.     

Today's Outfit

Please excuse the clutter. It's still way too cold to take pictures outside.  My living room is a mess and  I was way too lazy to push the junk out of the way. 

{denim blouse: Vixen & thrift/skirt: Reitmans/tights: Forever 21/shoes: Spring} 

Maybe not the most daring combination... but it's one of my "comfort outfits". Puffy skirt: check.  Tights: check.  Subtle top: check.  And I'm good to go.  Hope everyone is having a good week thus far.   Personally I'm counting down till Saturday. 

Since returning to work, everything seems so hetic.  There's so much to catch up on... and very little time to rest.  Lunch breaks are spent at campus picking up books.  Work.  Reading.  School. Attention Seeking Critters.  Chris.  Chores. Procrastinating Activities. There needs to be some serious time management review. 

I really do love fashion.  But I'm no fashionista.























Lately I've felt in a rut when it comes to my wardrobe.  It's hard for me to match things and try new combos.   About half of the times I look like a silly woman trying to be fashionable.

Case & Point.

There is a very good reason for Jake's paw print walking down this mirror.  And, non, he's no Cheshire Cat. It's that he loves when the mirror is laying on the floor and playing on it, the way that cat's do.

~*~

Really exciting news (well exciting for this introvert trying to be more daring).  The lovely store Miss Violet Lace posted some pictures from this blog for the Fairytales wig.   Check it out. 

Aren't those shorts just darling?  My dad picked them up while he was in Japan.  I totally adore them and cannot wait until the summer. 

Playing Dress Up

I always do this: not think about what to wear to a party until a couple hours before.  I go into an anxious-like mode and don't have any idea what to wear.  Usually I don't take pictures when I raid my closet to play dress up.  But since this blog and the realization that I can send photographs to my girlie support I've started taking pictures since Ottawa Fashion Week. 

{dress: Sirens/tights: Hue}

{dress: Sirens/tights: Hue/blazer: Smart Set/boots: Le Chateau} 

{shirt: Forever 21/skirt: Target/shoes: Boutique in China Town, Victoria BC}

(shirt: Forever21/skirt: Guess/shoes: Boutique in China Town, Victoria BC} 

{skirt: Forever 21/blazer: Smart Set/skirt: Guess}

{shirt: Forever21/cardigan: Forever 21/skirt: Guess/shoes: Winners}

 {shirt: Forever 21/sweater vest: Dynamite/skirt: Target}

Voted Favorite by: my mom, Chris & Jaclyn

 {sequence dress: Sirens/black dress: Sirens}

Voted favorite by: my mom & Chris

{sweater: Dynamite/skirt: Target/tights: Hue/boots: Le Chateau} 

{blouse: ?? store in Tampa FL/skirt: Target/tights: Hue/boots: Le Chateau}

{blouse: ?? store in Tampa FL/skirt: Target/shoes: Boutique in China Town, Victoria BC}

Of course, I went with none of these.

Fashion & Statham

Camera is still lost.  So I mourn.
Here's just a quicky before bed.

That's my Love.  Tomorrow is the Christmas party that is being put on by the company that he works for.  Last year it was tons of fun!  Yummy food, decent music, laughs and an open bar.  Too bad it's out in the country because I get to DD.

No idea what to wear to this semi-casual event.  It's mostly guys in attendance.  Not that, that matters too much... Just don't want to show too much skin.  I'll save that for Chris... Yes, corn comes out when I'm tired.   

Instead of playing dress up and trying out different combos.  Chris convinced me to watch "The Expendables", well it wasn't too hard to convience me.  I'm always up to watching any movie with Mr. J. Statham in it. *sigh* The ultimate action guy in my eyes, because not only does he kick ass but always seems to treat his leading lady with respect.  

Of course Chris ruins my little celebrity crush by pointing out 1) he has a stunt double and 2) he probably wasn't driving the Ducati.  His bursting my bubble was not nice...

But back to my most recent dilemma...  What to wear?!  The window shopping at the Rideau Center, the Market and Bank Street findings were that very rich colours, sequence and lace are what the holidays are all about.  I  already have some of those items. Chris is encouraging me to shop... really.  I'm thinking a Winners and Outlet shopping trip tomorrow might spice up some older items without breaking the bank.

Any fashion advice is more than welcome :) xo

"I climbed the fruit trees before school, after school and after homework to get the fruit.  The best are at the top...." - Mario. The tallest thing I've ever climbed for food is the kitchen counter (usually to get the cookies from the top shelf).  Family dinners are always full of laughs and tales of the old days.  Chris and I had a wonderful time this evening with Katrina, Mario, Maria, Sabrina and of course, the adorable Gabriella.   After dinner we hung out with some cousins for a very short bit.  Now we veg till bedtime. 

I'm not too sure where to direct this post... I've been MIA for most of this week to study for my second midterm.  I'm feeling all dazzed and confused... it's hard to remember what the heck I did this past week. The only things circulating in my head have been the topics of "obedience, aggression, group dynamics, boys vs girls..etc...".  I don't want to think about school for the next 24 hours. 

{skirt - Express/blouse - thrift/cardigan - thrift/tights-Joe}

Saturday came... went for a long ride with my Love... wrote the damn the midterm... and then relief came.  This time though, I feel more confident about this test.  After the long return ride home on the CBR600, I went into mad-crazed-cleaning mode for the dinner date with Jaclyn and her boyfriend.

While the pasta cooked, we watched "Grown Ups".  Jaclyn knows about my crush for Kevin James and totally outed me in front of the boys.  Not cool J, not cool.  Jaclyn made a yummy pasta dish and brought great wine & chocolate.   I ate way too much but enjoyed every mouthful.  We stayed around the dinner table for hours just chatting and laughing about the old days and whatever other silly topic came up.  

 

Our Big Suck, Jake, provided much entertainment and cuddles for us in a very "attention seeking" kinda way.  I'm still trying to peer pressure Jaclyn into moving to Ottawa.  It's sad that she is two hours away.  We used to spend almost everyday together during our high school years... now we see each other every few months *pout*.

{cardigan-Smart Set/skinny jeans - Smart Set/navy tube top - thrift}

Tomorrow... *sigh*... Nothing is planned.  Wait.  Sleeping in is planned.

Is it still okay to show your bra strap in your mid-twenties?  Hummm... the questions I come up with but never answer myself. 

Ottawa Fashion Week

Ottawa Fashion Week 2010, has come and gone. I was really excited to go, because I've never been to a fashion show before.  The idea of going seemed so glamorous.  Saturday was the only day I could go, so I got tickets for Morgan and myself.  It was going to be a girls night.  

Before Morgan came over I raided my closet to put together an outfit.

Of course none of these outfits made the cut.  By the last outfit of my black skinny jeans and purple tank, I was ready to burst.  That feeling of having nothing to wear was too overwhelming.  Morgan was due to come over to my place in a few hours, so I hit up the closest mall to pick up some new items.  It's not always the best idea to shop when you feel like you have nothing, because there's that tendency of buying too much.  But I tried to keep a clear head on what I wanted and not purchase everything in sight. 

I got a pair of essential - thick cotton - black leggings, a super cozy blue/grey sweater, a deep purple sweater, an adorable ivory rose headband and a dark grey bennie.  Done.  My style for the fashion show was going to be far from glamorous.  Just fresh & casual.  

When Morgan came over my tension just faded and we got down to the business of dolling up.  She is super talented at styling and I was very appreciative that she helped me out with my hair & false lashes.

The fashion show was amazing! I wish that we could have gone to all of the nights.  Both Morgan and I promised each other that next time we will prepare ahead of time to make sure our schedules are free for the whole week. 

The line-up Saturday night included: LABEL, Flood and Robicheau, Andrew Majtenyi, Jana Hanzel, Judy Design and Rachel Sin. It was so hard to pick out which designer was my favorite because they were all so good and different from each other. 

Flood and Robicheau had amazing bright colours and playful designs. The collection was fun!  Next summer my "got-to-have" is a bright jumper from F&R collection. 

Judy Design had a great rocker feel to her clothes, they were urban and wearable!  The music selection was great.  The opening song was Marilyn Manson, and poor Morgan got a punch in the arm from me due to my excitement (sorry Mo, but when Chris isn't around, I tend to punch the nearest person when I get too excited).  Each outfit was awesome, eager to see more, I was sad when her lineup was over. 

Jana Hanzel threw in a nice twist of having a violin musician playing at the beginning of her line-up.  The outfits to follow were classy and beautiful.  I wanted so many of them to add into my "work-appropriate" collection.  I loved the enlarged bows and flowers the models wore in their hair. 

Rachel Sin *sigh* xo is all that can describe her.  Je adore! I envied all the ladies who walked around the gallery wearing her dresses.

One of the big highlights of that night for me was meeting the beautiful ML, from Twenty York Street. She's a super talented Ottawa fashion blogger.  She's also really nice! If you haven't checked her out yet, do it!!!  She has great taste and is down-to-earth. It was too bad that we didn't have much time to chat but she was super busy with meeting & greeting others.   

I think this photograph is the best representation of how awkward I felt in front of the OFW poster. ML had her friends pointing cameras at us then Mo with my camera...  Too many cameras!  Which one to smile awkwardly at?!?!  My anxiety confession to ML relieved some of my nervousness because she was so friendly.  We laughed, I sighed.. after 2 minutes of photo-taking I had enough. 

after OFW self pics

 

 

My biggest regret was not taking a picture of Morgan.  She looked so pretty!!!  She always looks beautiful, but she was especially dolled up for OFW.  I continuously peer pressure her to start up a blog.  Mo would be so good at it!  She is so talented, that I know that she would be tons of followers and people adoring her style.

My second biggest regret of the night: leaving my camera in my purse for the majority of the time.  But thank goodness for fellow Ottawa Bloggers!  Including Twenty York Street, there are two other beautiful bloggers in town that I follow and enjoy reading.

Methodical Melrose has written a great review of Ottawa Fashion Week.  What I like about Melrose's is that she has great style.  Her clothes are what I would love to have in my closet. Then there's Pop Champagne, who has reviewed each day: One, Two and Three of OFW.  She also has an interview with the very talented designer, Adrain Wu.  Champagne is funny and full of fun celebrity gossip, local events and fashion.   It's everything that defines Pop. I like reading her "Around Ottawa" section, the events she follows are  interesting.  So check out all the wonderful links above to see the beautiful fashion trends and read the talented bloggers.