Sunday, July 19, 2026

Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Teal Suiting and Pink Sequins; Tulle and Red Pops for Brunch; Shop With Emma

Welcome back, my friends! It was a fairly quiet weekend, but I still got dressed a few times, and went for brunch and had a lovely shopping expedition with Emma, so I have lots to show you. Sit back and enjoy!

Here's Friday's outfit - I only wore it for the morning, as I had to get home for the alarm bell installation of our building safety upgrade.
Still, a pretty bold outfit! I loved the pink and teal together. 

  • Suit jacket/pants - Soaked in Luxury, Dots; last seen here in April in the last outfit of the fall/winter season
  • Sleeveless shirt - Denver Hayes, consignment; last worn here in April with my long bomber jacket
  • Cropped top - Juicy Couture, thrifted; first seen here in June 2025 with this same shirt
  • Sneakers - Converse, consignment; last worn here earlier this month with an oversized pink blazer

I was sweaty by the time I arrived at the office and climbed my many flights of stairs. 
Jacket off! I had put this cropped top in the Limbo pile, then fished it back out. I really like it layered with this sleeveless shirt, which is how I wore it originally. Maybe I should try a white shirt next time! 

With the teal suit, it's sort of like a vest effect.
Shazam! 

Done up for my walk to work. 
I like this look too. 

Someone came in for a visit while I was doing my pictures. 
Always watching his brother, who's down the hall. 

The stuff: 
I love these sequined sneakers - they've been a good purchase! 

  • Moth brooch - vintage fair
  • Bee brooch - consignment

Did you spot the insects on the pocket and the lapel? 

Sparkly bling: 
The necklace looks spiffy under the collar with the fancy gold tips.

  • Eelskin hinged bangle - vintage 80s, thrifted
  • Gold-tone and pink stone bracelet - D'Orlans, vintage 70s, vintage mall, gift from L
  • Silver/aquamarine Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
  • Gold-tone/turquoise ring - consignment
  • Crystal necklace - Sherman, vintage 50s, vintage fair
  • Earrings - Martha Sturdy, vintage fair
  • Collar clips - vintage 80s, consignment

The installation was shockingly fast and I suddenly had my entire afternoon free! I popped out briefly to run an errand, and stopped in at Pocket Consignment for a browse. I always find really good jewelry there, and this was no exception. 
These are about a 1 inch diameter, silver with a brass middle insert. They hang well and have a good shape.

I spotted a Mexico TC-55 925 stamp, which according to a few sites online is for Taxco. 
These were $32.00, a good price for sterling silver. 

The boys have been very busy napping. 
Barnabas claims my robe, while Whateley snuggles up to L's pillow.

Aw, what a sweet face. 
They both started purring right away. 

This one is such a lovely boy.
Reaching out for a rub. 

After a hilarious evening of music and board games, L and I met up with Nick and Zeb for brunch at John's Place. 
I wanted to wear my tulle roses skirt again, and liked how it matched the t-shirt. Matchy till I die! 

  • T-shirt - Sheer Mag concert merch; not tracked
  • Vest - Religion, consignment; last seen here for my June haircut
  • Skirt - Molly Bracken, consignment; first worn here in May with orange velour
  • Shoes - Vogettes Pina, Fluevog; last seen here in June with my Mondrian skirt

I loved wearing the skirt again - shocker! 
I played off the red bits in the skirt - the tee says "Nobody's Baby" and the skull has a rose in its teeth. 

I layered this vest over top for all the extra pockets (four!).
This felt very me. I swooshed my tulle all around! 

Incognito.
I deployed the Movie Star Wrap for the drive to town. 

And then I tied it to my purse while we grocery shopped after brunch. 
I love the bright reds - this made my little gothy heart very happy.

The stuff: 
This purse brings back good memories of finding it in Vancouver when I traveled with my Winesday Women. 

  • Plastic purse - fake Hermes Expo 1998 souvenir, thrifted, Vancouver
  • Silk scarf - Smoking Lily, vintage 90s, thrifted
  • Skeleton cat pin - Whatserface, Vancouver
  • Ladybug enamel pin - consignment

Gothy bling: 
More red bits.

  • Silver S bracelet - Mexican, consignment, Sidney
  • Carved faux cinnabar bangle - consignment
  • Silver snake ring - BC Museum gift shop, 1986
  • Silver/obsidian ring - consignment
  • Silver/onyx spider ring - gift from Mom & Dad, 1986
  • Hammered silver ring - consignment, Sidney
  • Loopy silver ring - consignment, Sidney
  • Rose earring - Betsey Johnson, swap from Cat
  • Silver chain loop - consignment
  • Silver Celtic S pendant - gift from Mom & Dad, c. 1995

Nick and Zeb were waiting when we arrived. 
Good to see you both.

L, you get in there too. 
Looking fine! 

A picture with me was called for. 
Very well! Much love to all! 

The weather has been lovely, in the low 20s.
The boys are almost always on the deck. 

They are never far from each other.
So cute! 

L and Casey went to Vancouver for the Folk Festival on Sunday (not my speed, hate crowds), so he was off before I was awake. However, I had plans! 
Neighbour Emma and I walked to town, popped into a couple of secondhand shops, had a snack, and then spent a couple of hours at Value Village. 

  • Silk shirt - Evidence, vintage 80s, consignment; last seen here with degraded leather
  • Dress - Claire Waight Keller X Uniqlo, thrifted; last worn here in December 2025 with blue wool
  • Sandals - Doc Martens, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) last weekend for black and white brunch

I did not love the dress on its third outing, and so off to Limbo it goes. My cost per wear is $5, which I'm totally fine with. 
I loved wearing the blue silk blouse again - such a lovely colour! 

It was also my sunblock for our walking outside. 
We hopped the bus home - it's fun living in the same building! 

The stuff: 
I went with a clashing bag, just for fun. 

  • Leather purse - Soruka, thrifted, Powell River

Minimal bling: 
I don't like a lot when I'm having a serious shop! 

  • Silver/aquamarine Fulvia Ring/Lapis lazuli ring - both Wendy Brandes
  • Porcelain earrings - Winnie Tam, customized by me to look like Vizzini

Me and Emma in front of this crazy giant flower on the way to town. 
We shop well together - my goal was to have fun and enjoy the time with each other. We chatted, laughed and waved interesting pieces at each other. 

I'm trying to only buy things that really speak to me...
And while I loved this hat, I also need to be practical - I have lots of other hats, and I don't need more than a picture. 

I also waffled over this satin cargo skirt. 
It was a little short, not quite there. I have other cargo and better olive skirts. 

I bought three things at Value Village. 
There is no label or content tag on this bag anywhere - I opened every one of these huge zipper pockets. 

It also has two big zip pockets on the back. 
This is a convertible sling-style back and knapsack. Mom has a purse in this same style. It's from the early 00s.

The inside of all 6 outer pockets, the one inner zip pocket and the interior lining is this Burberry plaid. 
I'm sure it's not Burberry (the hardware would be much fancier), but maybe fauxberry! 

I was shocked at the price. 
Only $9.99!? And that's entirely because it doesn't have a content tag or label. I found raw edging on the inside and can confirm - it's real leather.

That's a great purse - I can see myself using that! 
It holds a bit less than my other backpacks (would hold flat shoes, but not boots). 

I went to grab the next item and found it otherwise engaged. 
Okay, Whateley, hand that over.

Yes, I found another tulle skirt! 
I don't really do much blue, but I liked the royal blue and grey tones and the red/orange/pink of the flowers. This will actually go with a lot in my closet. 

Even if it doesn't end up working for me, for $5.49, it's worth it. 
It's by TA....

...BA. I didn't get much online about this label. 
But I'm excited to wear it very, very soon! 

The last thing I found was this cool tie for L. 
It's a cool serpentine shape with semicircles of blue and rust-red-brown. The swirls of taupe woven into the silk. 

It's by Monizini Collection, made in Canada, for $8.99 This is probably from the 90s. 
I found a small blurb about Martin Wong here, from the Alumni Hall of Fame for the Boys & Girls Club of America for Napa, California. I also found a blog entry here from 2006 that goes into a bit of his design history. All links 'cause I love! 

Barnabas, wake up, I'm home! 
Nope, he's ensconced. 

Whateley, what about you? 
He acquiesced to a tummy rub, hooray! 

Thanks so much for being here, my friends - I'm off to enjoy the last of my weekend. 

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Mom-Day in Rainy Watercolours

Hello, my friends, and welcome back to Mom-Day! I missed visiting with Mom last week due to pesky safety building upgrades/
We had lunch, hung out and chatted and started a new jigsaw puzzle. Thanks so much for having me over, Mom. I love you! 

The weather was precarious - it was warm (low 20s) but gloomy with thunder, lightning and rain were predicted. I dressed accordingly.
I walked to town, and bused both ways to Mom's - would I miss the rain? Stay tuned! 

  • Linen blazer - H&M, thrifted; last seen here in April with my dragonscale skirt
  • Linen/cotton blouse - Planet, thrifted; last worn here on May the fourth
  • Skirt - Soaked in Luxury, Dots; last seen here in March with mustard
  • Leather boots - Doc Martens; last worn here in May for Mom-Day at Beacon Hill Park with my uncle Brian

The basic outfit, which I wore around the house while I got ready to head out for town. 
I layered a camisole, a sleeveless top and a blazer. 

The blazer is linen and has this lovely Battenburg lace detail on the back. 
I have tights and shorts under the skirt, for extra warmth. 

I shed the blazer - by the time I got to Mom's, I was sweaty. 
I have worn this watercolour-in-the-rain patterned skirt for five Mom-Days - are you getting tired of it, Mom? 

I looked like this on the way. 
I was glad of the built-in lining, as the wrap skirt opened right up while I walked to town. Very windy! 

Fingers crossed, I would not need to do the Movie Star Wrap due to rain! 
Reader, it rained on the way home - I missed the most torrential downpour while on the bus, and as I write this in the early evening, the thunder is booming and rumbling. 

The stuff: 
I was pleased at how well the scarf went with the outfit, and it was excellent at keeping me dry! 

  • Leather purse - Fossil, consignment, Powell River
  • Silk scarf - Alexander McQueen, consignment, gift from L
  • Gold/amber ant brooch - Russian, consignment
  • Leather boots - Doc Martens

Amber bling: 
I pinned the brooch to the elastic waistband of the skirt - did you spot it? 

  • Silver/amber bracelet (large) - consignment
  • Silver/amber bracelet (small) - consignment, Powell River
  • Silver/amber droplet bracelet - consignment, gift from L
  • Silver/amber rings - all consignment
  • Silver/amber earrings - thrifted
  • Glass necklace - vintage 1920s, vintage mall, gift from L

Barnabas got lovey with me while he was sitting in the box. 
Aw, the paw reaching out! 

Whateley was having none of it. 
He's very jealous of any attention that his brother gets. There was a ruckus in the box right after this.

And now, some pictures of the day. 
A turkey vulture and a turbulent sky. 

The sheep farm - no sheep. 
It was sunny - this was around noon. The blackberries are only a couple of weeks away from being everywhere. 

This tree was loaded with apples! 
I love finding a random apple tree! 

I heard almost no birds - they must have known a storm was coming. 
But I spotted a bald eagle on top of a tree in the distance, with its wings outstretched. 

Looking back towards the city. 
I can just see the mountains in Washington in the distance. 

Look at all the fungi on this tree! 
Very cool. 

An inviting green tunnel. 
Almost there! 

Mom's blueberries are nearly ready for eating. 
I admit, I ate a couple. 

The wild roses are so pretty. 
Glorious colour. 

Mom showed me her progress on the house paintings for her neighbours. 
It's looking amazing! 

We made tuna melts with cut veggies on the side for lunch - yummy! 
The green bowl has been around as long as I remember. We started a new puzzle (I forgot to take a picture), and the time flew by! Time for me to head home and hopefully (nope) miss the rain. 

I also had to feed these boys. 
I'm signing off now for the weekend, but I'll be back on Sunday with tales of adventure. Thank you as always for being here, my friends.