Two-Fer: Mermaid Meet-up With Maria, and Brooch Brilliance

Woo! Where did I go? My apologies for the gap, my friends - I met up with a new friend after work and was too sweaty and tired to post. Instead, you get a two-fer - that's two outfits for the price of one. 

This is what I wore on Tuesday - I styled up my new Fluevogs and this cropped blue top.

I felt vaguely mermaid-ish. 

• Mesh top - Mexx, vintage 90s, thrifted; last worn here in June with pea green and blue boots
• Nylon ruched top - Sassy; purchased here at Dots for $27.99
• Skirt - Acqua & Limone, consignment; last seen here in March with my pumpkin bugs sweatshirt
• Shoes - Sea Maidens Kelpies, Fluevog; purchased here for $199.99 with gift cards (so, about $45 of my own money)

I held the shoes up to things in my wardrobe to see what they looked good with. 

I went tonal with the white cocoon skirt, and the mesh top has bits of pale yellow-green in it. 

I played with the ruching on the top till I got a low ^ in the front hem and tied it tight.

I tucked the skirt's black drawstring into the waistband and let the blue nylon bow hang down. 

Incognito. 

We've been having more steady "summer" weather (temps in the high-teens, low 20s) and with that comes the annoying sweatiness. 

The stuff: 

I used the purse after work, when I met up with another lovely person from Substack. 

• Leather purse - Club Monaco, thrifted
• Silk scarf - Yves Saint Laurent, vintage 80s, thrifted

I walked to and from work in these shoes (I had little footy nylons on) and walked to and from Government House, which in retrospect was not a great idea. My feet got sweaty and a few blisters popped up on my heels. 

Oceanic bling: 

This all made me happy. 

• Stone turquoise bracelet - thrifted, Sidney
• Silver/malachite bracelet - Mexican, thrifted, Sidney
• Silver/malachite ring - consignment
• Big silver/turquoise ring - consignment
• Silver/turquoise thumb ring - consignment
• Blue enamel/silver band - vintage fair
• Silver/kyanite ring - consignment
• Silver/aquamarine Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
• Cloisonné fish necklace - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Glass Venetian bead earrings - locally made

I took a few pictures on the way to our meet-up. 

The Castle is both smaller and larger than you might think. 

I love these old street signs. 

There aren't many of them left. 

I waited at the main gate of Government House (I last visited here with Mom in June 2024) for Maria and her sweet little pup Perlita. 

I had forgotten there is another main gate! We met up at the turtle pond. 

We walked around, chatting, enjoying the sights. 

That's the water (Juan de Fuca Strait, leads to the Pacific Ocean) and the mountains (the Olympic range in Washington, US).

We got so wrapped up in talking that I barely took any pictures! "We'd better prove we were here or no one will believe us," I said. I totally whiffed on the cute pup, easily the best dog I've met in a long time, although she was eager to meet all the many dogs also being walked. 

Maria is a writer by trade, and I highly recommend her Substack page (here, link 'cause I love). We sat on the grass in the shade for over an hour. 

Time to head home and have dinner. 

The evening sun glowing through the tower window. I've always loved that port cochere. 

Whateley was unimpressed that I was home. 

They got fed early, before I met up with Maria. 

Barnabas was lounging weirdly again. 

Buddy, are you resting your back legs on the pillow? You are weird little cat. 

And then today, Wednesday! It was a good thing I had some outfits already waiting in the wings. 

I didn't have the energy to do more than add jewelry before bed. 

• Silk tunic/dress - Sympli, consignment; last worn here in May 2025 as office pajamas
• Skirt - GP & J Baker X H&M, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) in May for a shop with Ariana
• Boots - United Nude, consignment; last worn here in May with more neutrals

This is how I'd planned my outfit. Notice anything? Or...lack of anything? 

You can't see my skirt! This will not do.

I grabbed an elastic band, then stuck a pin through it and the silk fabric. 

I loved the little fan it made, and that hey! Now you can see my skirt! 

Close-up of my mad brooch skills.

Rather brilliant! 

Incognito.

Another hot day - I was sweaty by the time I got home, so off goes this all in the wash. 

The stuff: 

Good shoes for the office. 

• Paper hat - thrifted
• Brooch - vintage 80s, vintage fair

Silvery bling: 

I wrapped the long necklace once.

• Lucite/silver bracelet - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Vancouver
• Steel cuff - Lakeland Art Metal Work, vintage 70s, thrifted
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
• Silver loopy ring - consignment, Sidney
• Silver earrings - secondhand, gift from Petra
• Crystal necklace - thrifted, Vancouver

The boys up to no good. Barnabas is up on his perch. 

Whateley's looking out the window.

Or is he...? 

He pounced seconds later! 

I'll be back with Mom-Day Adventures tomorrow - thank you for stopping by! 

Stripes and Star Wars

Welcome back, my friends! Although I did some outfit planning on the weekend, this is the most "normal" of the lot. 

Good enough for a Monday! 

• Cotton shirt - Toteme, consignment; purchased here for $35.00
• Skirt - INC Stretch by International Concepts, vintage 90s, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit, way down) in April 2025 for brunch in Weird Adidas
• Luke/Yoda Star Wars shoes - Irregular Choice; last worn here on May the 4th with the same belt

I'm debuting this new-to-me striped shirt - now, I have a thousand-dollar shirt in addition to my thousand-dollar sweater! It honestly wasn't "all that" - it's a nice white cotton shirt. 

I flipped the cuffs up and shoved them to my elbows. Now we're stylin'! 

I wore a brooch at the top of the neck, just like I did in the 80s, although then I would have added long ropes of fake pearls then. 

The skirt is what I think of as a "shopping" piece, because it has pockets and does up with snaps. Easy on, easy off and lots of storage.  

A look at the oversized back of the shirt. 

Barnabas being a doofus.  

Incognito. 

I flipped the cuffs down for sun coverage. This is an excellent shirt for that! 

The stuff: 

I just felt like wearing my Star Wars stuff. 

• Fake leather hat - Babaton, consignment
• Wood/steel brooch - Aarikka, vintage fair
• Star Wars seat-belt belt - Buckle Down, consignment, gift from L 

Silver bling:

Big bold pieces for the hand-party. 

• Carved Lucite/silver bracelet - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Vancouver
• Silver S bracelet - Mexican, consignment, Sidney
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
• Silver chain ring - Mexican, consignment
• Earrings - Chan Luu, consignment

I noticed Barnabas on top of the post the other night. 

I think he's just resting on his tum. 

Three legs off, plus his tail. 

And he sleeps like this! I came in for some head-rubs here, as he was purring very loudly. 

Weekend Wrap-Up: Friday in Office Pajama-Shirt and Mermaid Skirt; Weird Adidas With White Jeans

Welcome back, my friends! It was a quiet weekend, hence the lack of "bigass" in the title. I promise kitty pictures. 

Here's my Friday outfit, built around this lovely vintage blouse I thrifted a few weeks ago.

I funked it up with my mermaid skirt, which I love swanking around in. 

• Silk blouse - Alfred Sung Sport, vintage 80s, thrifted; purchased here for $19.95
• Denim skirt - Levi Strauss, thrifted; last worn here in May with a sequined cardigan
• Boots - Powerhouse Jyoti, Fluevog; last seen here in March for a bold brunch
• Thermoplastic jacket - Adidas X Fiorucci, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in February for a hang with our pals at Christie's Pub

I styled the blouse "traditionally," as it was probably intended to be worn, including shoulder-pads, courtesy of a camisole with built-ins.

It didn't like staying place with the two hidden buttons at the waist, so I pinned it in the middle to keep the lapels from gaping open. 

I loved wearing cufflinks - it's been a long time since I had a shirt that needed them. 

I had fun digging around in L's jewelry box, looking at his collection. There was a gold bull pair I plan to wear. 

Incognito.

It was a weird, semi-warm, semi-chilly day, cloudy - this thermoplastic jacket was perfect. 

I bused home after work and changed into my red sneakers for strolling down to the pub for dinner with L after his haircut. 

Barnabas coming in for some love. 

The stuff: 

There's no way I could walk in those boots - they are only good for wearing at the office, when I'm sitting most of the day. Unfortunately, I had a lot of physical thing to do and my feet said, "DONE!" when I got home. 

• Belt - vintage 90s, no label, consignment

The cufflinks in place. 

There might be a red tie-tack around somewhere that goes with this. 

Red bling: 

Old friends, newer friends.

• Silver/red enamel ring - consignment, Sidney
• Silver snake ring - BC Museum gift shop, c. 1986
• Silver/carnelian ring - thrifted
• Cufflinks - L's, vintage 70s, secondhand - can't remember!
• Rose earrings - Betsey Johnson, swap from Cat

Officers on patrol! These are from Thursday, much sunnier. 

Whateley is intent! 

Barnabas is much more laissez-faire. 

"Whatevs."

L and I spent the rest of the evening chilling out with music and games. 

A sample: Sister Irene O'Connor (excellent), Ark Nova (excellent) and Barnabas (cat! also excellent). 

While L played Ultimate Frisbee I played around in my closet and came up with this outfit, based around my Weirdest Adidas piece, this nylon dress. 

This dress is a strong keeper for me - it makes my heart happy whenever I wear it. 

• Nylon dress - Adidas, consignment; last worn here (3rd outfit) in August 2025 for Nick's "Party Boy" birthday celebration
• 95% cotton jeans - Ralph Lauren, thrifted; last seen here on a hot Mom-Day in June
• Leather sandals - Doc Martens, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) for a Goth Mermaid look at brunch

I was ooked out by this ginormous beetle that's trying to get in the building. 

No! Get out! These beetles target Gary Oaks, so I really should squish it, but you know it would make a gross mess. Stay away! 

The dress keeps growing on me. 

Since I wore it with cropped pants last summer for Nick's birthday, I've been wanting to wear white jeans with it.

I also had a t-shirt layered under it that I wore all day and slept in. 

I wore the dress with the elastic at my waist and the top bloused over it. 

This is what it looks like worn long, in case you don't remember. 

It has Leg Curtains! 

Incognito. Adding my bucket had for extra sun coverage. 

It was windy and the bottom ruffles billowed satisfactorily. 

The stuff: 

My feet were slightly chilled. It hasn't felt very summery this weekend, all very windy and mixed clouds. 

• Nylon purse - LeSportSac, thrifted, Sidney
• Paper hat - thrifted

Black and white bling: 

A bit of armour! 

• Black and white stretch cuff - vintage 80s, vintage fair
• Black and white bangles - consignment
• Silver/obsidian spider ring - c. 1986, gift from Mom & Dad
• Balsa wood lightning bolt earring - consignment, Sidney
• Black crystal earring - thrifted
• Silver F#@! rings - Wendy Brandes

I strolled down the field to say hello to my former teammates. 

That's L in the centre with his legs in throwing pose, having just unleased the disc, which is about to be smacked down by the guy on the left. 

I sat on the grass and enjoyed the day and chatted with folks. 

Pal Cory enjoyed the hip-hop aspect of my outfit and asked me to pose "like Run-DMC" (of course, I did). 

Squirrel news! There was a small-ish long grey squirrel pancaked on the branch, being groomed? by a lighter grey squirrel. 

Maple, is that you? As you can see, the "nest of leaves" on the left has gotten bigger this year. 

Barnabas doesn't care. 

He just exists for tummy rubs and long naps, and occasionally chasing the ball. 

Well, that does sound like a pretty good life! Wishing you all the same - and thank you so much for being here and your lovely comments.