Thursday, July 28, 2016

Grey and Turquoise and a Boob Window

This coming weekend is a long weekend here in the province of British Columbia (aka BC, and nothing at all to with Britain or Columbia, just to be super-confusing!). Monday's a stat holiday for BC Day! We're celebrating nothing, other than we get a long weekend! Yay! 
And here I am, all sedate in grey. My WW receptionist, Betty, commented that she didn't think she'd ever seen me in grey before, but it's a colour I'm warming up to.


  • Dress - Lav & Kush, consignment; purchased here for...oh, I forgot to note it (roots around in the recycling). It was $24.98.
  • Shoes - Prepare Guide, Fluevog; last worn here in May with a yellow princess dress

I like that the boob window (that's a technical term, I'm sure, ha!) is not too low. Fiona suggested that I put googly eyes in it - wouldn't that be hilarious?

I did love wearing this all day - it was hot, and this hemp/plastic bottle dress breathed wonderfully.
"Open this door or I'll eat your shoes."
It did wrinkle quite a bit from sitting at my desk, but it's in the wash now and voila! My lovely steamer will make short work of any creases.

The stuff:
Such a lovely shade of turquoise. I adore these shoes.

Turquoise bling:
Must. Wear. All. Of it.


  • Cuff - Shi Studios
  • Ring/earrings - local


I will be back on Monday with my weekend wrap-up - have yourselves a fabulous weekend, long or not!

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Wonderful Whale Whimsy

I'm tired and still feeling woozy from yesterday's periodontist trip. Nap time! 
I felt good in this whale sweater all day - yes, a sweater in July!


  • Sweater - C. Wonder, thrifted; purchased here for $14.00
  • Pants - Topshop, thrifted; last worn here in June with wings of the bat
  • Shoes - Aldo, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit) a few weeks ago for Winesday 

I was tempted to wear it with the navy and orange skirt (this one), but it's a little too matchy (even for me!), so I went with the houndstooth pants. The whale is navy blue and the sweater is a coral-red-orange.
"There are people in the camera? Really?"
Vizzini was prowling around this morning so I grabbed him. He's been very good lately, so has been getting extra cuddles.
"Blech, you taste bad."
It was a bit hot walking home in this, but the sweater is a very thin cotton and breathed well.

The stuff:
Last wear of these shoes! They rubbed my toe and my heel today, and you know I don't suffer from my clothes for long. Here's how they've been worn in addition to today's outfit:

  • Here, as above in June (3rd outfit), with red and yellow and floral.
  • Here in March (4th outfit) with a jungle skirt and stripes.
  • Here in March again with leather pants and leopard.
  • Here in February with houndstooth and Gaga shoulders.
  • Here in February again with lilac grey.


I paid $8.50 for them so that brings them to...at 6 wears, $1.42 per wear. I'm good with that, time for them to go.

Simple bling:
Goodbye, pointy toes!


  • Bangle - local
  • Earrings - Plum


After I snagged Vizzini for his photo-op above, he was rolling around on the carpet while I made my breakfast.
"Come on, one more cuddle."
Okay, but just one!

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Half-Day With Cranes and Yellow

I only worked a half-day today, as I had a periodontist appointment in the afternoon and those really mess me up.
It's the combination of stress, the happy pill they give me, all the numbing (oh the sweet, sweet numbness!) and the overall exhaustion from having my mouth ravaged for over an hour.


  • Top - H&M, consignment; first worn here at the end of June to (disastrously) defrost a fridge
  • Skirt - Tribal, consignment; last seen here in April with baby blue ocelot
  • Shoes - Big Presence Desmond, Fluevog; last worn here a couple of weeks ago with chrysanthemums

I napped after Mom brought me home, and L woke me up a couple of hours later with dinner. He's so good to me.
I actually liked this outfit better with this top than the last time I wore it - the yellow was an accent rather than a major player, and it let the top shine a bit more.

The stuff:
Good shoes. I walked to and from our other office in them, and also assembled a floor lamp. Who loves lamp? I love lamp.

Simple bling:
Those earrings are cat-bait - Vizzini wants them.


  • Earrings - gift from Megan Mae
  • Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes

Monday, July 25, 2016

Southwest Cerulean

My neck of the woods (west coast of Canada, just north of Seattle) is often referred to as the Pacific Northwest; however, that's only true from a US-centric point of view. The Canada-centric view is that I'm in the southwest of Canada. Where this southwest US-inspired shirt totally belongs. 
Okay, maybe that's a stretch. I think people would be confused if I said I was from the southwest of Canada, though.

  • Blouse - Max & Co., thrifted; last worn here in April with Versace mom jeans
  • Skirt - no label, handmade, vintage 80s, thrifted; last worn here in July 2015 with a swapped top
  • Shoes - Dr. Scholl's, consignment; purchased here yesterday for $26.98

I've had this top/skirt combo set aside for a couple of weeks, just waiting for the right day to wear it. I probably would have worn black flats or possibly lowish red heels with this.
This length of pencil skirt is tricky with low heels, though, as it can end up making me look like I have no legs.

The stuff:
Enter new-to-me shoes! And the world was saved. These were fabulously comfortable to wear all day - not a single rub or pinch. Loved them.

Toothy bling:
As usual I waggled the pointy bits of this necklace and pretended they were teeth and "Rar"-ed at my coworkers. Because I am goofy that way.


  • Necklace - The Bay 
  • Earrings - local
  • Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Painty Flowers, Orange and Tropical, Lace and Vintage, Cat Pictures, Fiona's Fan and a Shop

Well, that was a bit of an unintended break! I forgot that I had Book Club on Thursday night, and I got home late anyways. 
I loved this outfit - it's one of my favourites, completely due to this fabulous skirt.


  • Cardigan - Gap, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit) in June, worn to the Ulti field
  • Cami (underneath) - not tracked
  • Skirt - Premise, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95
  • Shoes - Liz Claiborne, antique shop; last worn here in September 2015 with black, grey and red mod

I also had my WW meeting right after work, so it was a packed night. I spent most of it reeking of soy sauce, since I spilled a full packet right down the side of my cardigan, and a long dark line of it all the way down my skirt. Thank goodness I keep a bottle of Folex at work - nearly all of it came right out (even though this cardi is cotton and the skirt is linen!). Both items are in the wash now to get the last of it out.
I can't stop looking at the skirt!

It was delightful to wear.
I twirled several times. I've been avoiding linen clothes for many years due to the ironing factor, but my steamer made short work of this skirt.

The stuff:
Fab shoes! So red and shiny!

Gold bling:
Ear balls!


  • Ear balls - Dior
  • Ring - consignment


On Friday, I took one of my coworkers thrift shopping, so I dressed comfy.
A little tropical, a little green, and a spotch of orange.


  • Top - Max Studio, thrifted; last seen here earlier this month with a silver skirt
  • Skirt - Mario Serrano, thrifted; last worn here (4th outfit) in March with stripes
  • Shoes - Half Truth Tanya, Fluevog; last seen here in June with red and white polka dots

This is one of my cheaper outfits, not including the shoes. The blouse was $10.50, the skirt was $6.00; the necklace was free and the bangle was a dollar. The earrings were the most expensive item at ~$14.00.
Simona and I went to WIN and Value Village (she needed jackets), then she treated me to a cider - so nice!

The stuff:
All the greens that I own!

Green bling:
The bangle is glass, and the necklace is one I've had since I stole liberated it from Mom's jewelry box in the early 80s.


  • Necklace - Mom's, vintage 60s
  • Bangle - thrifted
  • Earrings - Stella and Dot, consignment


We didn't have enough people for an Ulti game on Saturday, so L and I just went for brunch then chilled all afternoon and evening. Sunshine, naps and boardgames...ah, that is the life.
An easy outfit for a warm day.


  • Top - La Vie 89, thrifted; last seen here twice on the same day in May
  • Skirt - Alex Coleman, vintage 70s, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) in August 2015 for brunching post-Ulti
  • Shoes - Van Eli, thrifted; first worn here (3rd outfit) in June for another post-Ulti look

After brunch, we each do our own thing.
I drew out on the deck, L worked on one of his painted figures.

The stuff:
I quite like these shoes - they have the same kind of look as the red sandals above. Must wear them more!

Turquoise bling:
'Cause I'm subtle that way.


  • Ring/earrings - local


 And now...cat pictures! Vizzini has been a character all weekend.
"Who are you calling a character?"
He's been taking full advantage of the (finally!) nice weather and lolling about in the sun.
"I'm on break. I'll be back on patrols shortly."
I worked on one of my Zentangle projects, Fiona's fan, that has been languishing for some months. Vizzini kept me company.
"This neighbourhood has gotten soft." 
He is always interested in my pens, brushes and other things he deems bite-worthy.
"What is that? Is it edible?"
 I caught him doing his "corner reverse" trick.
"...and this foot goes there..."
He was very interested in the patterns that my glass of water were throwing onto the wall.
"I'm going to have to do an inspection."
He squished himself in beside me and generally started making a nuisance of himself.
"Yes, that's it!"
I had to drink the water to get him to go away.
"I can just reach it!"
After all that excitement, he was quite tuckered out.
"I'm exhausted...I'll do the paperwork later...zzzz..."
And here's Fiona's fan! I finished it.
I might decide to go back and add some more background colour.
Fiona asked for specific things:

  • Origami
  • Cats
  • Knitting
  • Dragonflies 
  • Games (she's into boardgames too) 

I did dragonflies around the edge, mice and two big cats, a wool border.

And there's a Carcassonne "meeple" in each corner.
I lined everything up as symmetrical as I could - it's hard to do when you're doing it all free-hand.

I started back in March, planning out the design on paper.
I tried out my watercolour pens to pre-colour the border sections.

Next time I will do them darker, as they don't have much of an impact on the final result.
They also faded a bit over time.

My first few lines.
Roughing in more of the pattern.
Then around June I did some more.
 Details on the dragonflies and the pink border.
So much detail! I hope she likes it.

Hey, Vizzini, what do you think?
"Did you say something? I was napping."
Today, I made very little effort, and strolled to town to get groceries.
Much purple was required.


  • Cardigan - Jacob, thrifted; last seen here in November 2015 with all the colours
  • Top - Costa Blanca, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in July 2015 with this same skirt
  • Skirt - Le Chateau, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) in that exact outfit as the top
  • Shoes - Born, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) for shopping in Sidney in June

I am 100% done with this sequined top - I've had it for about 7 years and it's gotten a lot of wear (almost always with this skirt!).
I am debating over the skirt still, though. It's in the closet for now.

The stuff:
Easy shoes for a walk over to My Sister's Closet in Fairfield.


  • Earrings - local


I had some luck - I usually do there, which is why I try not to go there more than once per season. I'm also saving up for my next round of tattoos (she said, optimistically), so am sort of trying not to spend all my spending money.

I found some wicked cool leather shoes.
A classic chunky black sandal.

With a nice heel.
The last is wooden, and all the upper is leather. The soles are brand new - I think these may have been worn only a couple of times.
I didn't even know Dr. Scholl's makes shoes that aren't those clunky wooden sandals.
These were $26.98.

I spotted this shiny metallic blue-toned leopard skirt on the sale rack out front.
Yeah, blurry, sorry.

Here's a better look.
It's Banana Republic Heritage and was marked down to $12.50.

I usually pass by Joe Fresh items because they're often very cheaply made and the fabrics aren't great.
However, I really loved how cute this little blue skirt was, and it's got pockets!
The flowers are all embroidered onto tulle. This was $18.98.

I tried on a lot of dresses, but only one made the cut:
It's a very simple cut, but I like the little "chest window" in the front, the slit opening at the back and the slight bias-cut ruffle of the hem.

This is by Lav & Kush, which was a sustainable, eco-friendly clothing line made in Vancouver, BC, Canada. This dress is made of hemp, recycled plastic and a touch of spandex, and it was made in Canada.
I think they may have gone out of business, as their blog (linking here 'cause I love) hasn't been updated in about 6 years, and they haven't updated their FB page in a couple of months. Bummer! This is a really nice dress.

I hemmed and hawed over this black and white striped sweater for a while. It was new with tags on, with the original price of $129.00...
The consignment price was $42.98...which is high for me! However, it looks awesome on - and not a lot of sweaters look great on me! - so I gave in.
It's by Jones New York, and it's a cotton/poly blend. I better not get soy sauce on this!

I also picked up a mixed grab bag of jewelry for $10.98, for this set.
It's all metal, and I like the mixed colours. However, it doesn't look as good on as I'd hoped, but we'll see. There was also a junky charm bracelet in the grab bag, but it's in really rough condition so off to the giveaway pile it goes.

Vizzini is so not impressed.
"This is how you save money?"
I know, I know. But it was fun!

Speaking of fun, linking up to: