Bigass Long Weekend Wrap-Up: Saturday Blues (and Yellows and Oranges); Thrifting Treasures; BBQ; and Sunday Brunch

Welcome, my friends! I have some exciting news! I'm on Instagram @sheilaephemera! I'll be posting a pic or two along with a link whenever I make a post. This means:

• You can follow me on Insta! Never miss a post again!
• You can see my new outfits at a glance
• You'll be able to click through on IG to read my posts.

I hope you will follow me - I'll follow you back if I know you! 

Now on to the outfits! As mentioned, we had a long weekend for Canada Day. L and I spent time with friends, had some quality alone time (for me, that means shopping!) and also hung out together and played board games (my favourite thing ever). 

Here's Saturday's brunch outfit:

I didn't feel like doing the usual red and white for Canada Day - I'm a rainbow of blues...and yellow and orange! 

• Top - Marimekko, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in April for a weekend shopping trip
• Trousers - handmade, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) in June 2022 for brunch
• Sandals - Hopeful Sunny, Fluevog, thrifted; last worn here in September 2021 to visit Powell River
• Cardigan (below) - Banana Republic, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) for an evening at the Belfry in May

I wanted to wear the trousers - I mean, they are truly magnificent, ginormous pants! 

They're cotton, all handmade. 

I thought the striped Marimekko top went well. 

I wore this outfit for brunch at the Ruby, where we ran into Kim, Spence and their kids Elle and Rosie, who were over from Vancouver for the holiday weekend. 

We all brunched together, and then I indulged in a bit of thrift shopping. 

This is how most people saw me. 

A few hollered, "I want your pants!"

"You can't have 'em!" I hollered back. 

Incognito and ready to be driving in Vlad the Jag. 

I found some awesome treasures on my thrift trip, which I'll show you shortly. 

I had sort-of planned to change for the evening's shenanigans - a BBQ at Chris and Ali's place - but I was too sweaty and tired to bother by the time I got home. 

Instead, I just brushed my hair (after seeing this picture!) and snuggled up in my yellow wooly cardigan. 

Accoutrements: 

I wore my Fluevog Pride button on my purse all day. 

• Purse - no label, consignment
• Silk scarf - Marc Rozier, thrifted

The stuff: 

Toe actually tolerates a heel of this height quite well - it's pointy-toed shoes that Toe is not fond of. 

Orange bling. 

And yellow and blue. I amused Rosie by yanking my earrings off - they are clip-ons. 

• Wooden earrings - vintage expo
• Cuff - thrifted
• Orange plastic cuff/ring - Italian, vintage mall
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

I did well at the big WIN (Women In Need) store - here are my finds.

A long skinny rust-coloured silk scarf, with mustard and purple - by Vera for only $7.95.

I am not usually a fan of slides, as I hate the "thwap-thwap" from the slap on my heels. 

However, the topmost strap actually helps these stay on my foot. Those chains are metal and the shoes (the red parts) are leather.

The block heel, slide style and squared toe are all very much in style right now. 

And I've been looking for a pair of red flats! 

These are by Geox and were only $28.95. There isn't a lick of wear on them. 

These are called the Genziana 80 Square-Toed Sandal and they are current - they retail at the Bay for $180.00! 

I may have gasped out loud when I spotted this skirt! 

It's the matching piece to my Alaska Murder Blouse (worn here), by Irving Nadler. 

It's fully-lined, to the floor, with a walking slit in the back. 

It's an elastic waist, and the tag's been removed (but of course, I know the brand because it's on the blouse). 

It was only $16.95. 

I will admit it is too tight on me (right now), but I am set on getting into this. I have to wear both pieces together! 

I spotted a lovely purse in with all the plastic/PVC garbage. 

I love a cross-body. 

And that's some really nice gold hardware. 

Quality clips and zipper pulls. 

Rear pockets - yes, give me all the pockets! 

But what's that stamped down there? It says, "Genuine Leather." 

A wee logo on front - Lodis. 

Don't know that brand....their crossbody bags run $150-200, though. 

Confirmed - it's 100% leather. 

A printed, branded lining...

And a price of $6.95. Like I was going to leave a pristine bag like this! 

I also found this long skinny shiny scarf. 

Those colours scream 90s to me. It was only $2.95. 

I had a good browse through the sale racks, and found this rich orange top. 

It's trimmed with small ruffles at the shoulders. 

Someone cut the label out. 

It has nice inside seams.

That's where the previous owner snipped out the content tag. 

But I - and the pricers at WIN - knew it was silk. 

It was marked down half price due to the punch in the tag. This was $9.97. I'll wear it as a cami/layering piece, and it won't be tracked. 

I couldn't leave this amazing dress behind. 

I love that giant flower and the wide plaid. 

The back just has a zip. It's fully lined - no pockets, sigh. 

I tried it on over my clothes and hoped for the best. It seemed to fit!

I found tags inside and did some detective work. 

It's called the Secret Trellis Nayeli Tunic dress, and it goes back to 2016 (found a blog post from then). 

It would have retailed for at least $300, probably more. But for me, it was $9.97! 

And I know exactly why - it's the sizing. A Ted Baker size 4 isn't a usual Canadian/US size 4 (which is very small) - it's more like a size 10. Their sizing is 1=XS, 2=S, 3=M, 4=L. So anyone hoping it was a US 4 didn't buy it because it was too big...and anyone who would have fit it didn't try it because it was marked a size 4. Lucky for me! 

I found another dress in the regular dress section that had to come home with me. 

I love the sheer layer of fabric over the lining. The print reminds me of coffee rings. 

A nice long pull for the back zip. 

Very thoughtful, so I don't have to contort to get it zipped. 

I've been seeing a lot of Luisa Cerano in the consignment stores in the past year - I suspect a store that carried the line went out of business. 

More wacky sizing. 

I found the content tags. 

100% silk, and a modal blend lining (very soft). 

I think the pricers must have missed the silk tag. 

This would have retailed for around $800 new. Score! 

Flush with my victories, L and I drove over Chris and Ali's to hang in their back patio with the Family We Choose. 

There's our fabulous hosts! They fired up the barbecue and we cooked our dinner. Everyone brought their own mains (we did burgers) and there was a delish potato salad (made by Ali), chips, charcuterie and Casey made an apple pie (so good). 

L is in his Patrice Bergeron Team Canada 2010 jersey. 

Rock on, my love. 

Casey and Nick. 

We hung out for hours, eating, drinking, laughing. 

Ross (in the hat) is finally out in public after having a knee replacement! 

Spence (on the far right) and Kim were there, kid-less. 

Cat, Yvonne and Spence, with Vero and Justin arriving behind them. 

Vero was late due to getting her hair done - I LOVE the coloured ends!

Later, as the sun went down, Chris put the fire-table on. 

Chris, Randall, Greg (no Rosanna), and Nick. Thanks to Randall for cooking our burgers! 

As L and I drove home, the full moon loomed. 

That's huge! 

I tried to snap a pic as we were driving. 

Wow! Massive.

On Sunday, we slept in after gaming till the wee hours, then got dressed for a walk down to Christie's Pub for lunch. 

I didn't feel like getting overly fancy, just sneaking in a wearing of this dress and cardi. 

• Dress - Sam Edelman, consignment; last worn here in September 2022 for our trip to Powell River
• Cardigan - Jean Paul Gaultier Soliel, consignment; last seen here in August 2022 over my lettuce dress
• Sandals - Doc Martens, consignment; last worn here in June with green stripes at Blenkinsop Lake

We strolled down to the pub in the hot sun. 

I did sunblock my chest. 

A simple slip dress.

And a cool optic cardigan. 

There were very few people around - most folks travel on this weekend. 

No thanks, I'm good being at home. 

And incognito! 

The stuff: 

These sandals are lovely, no issues walking several blocks in them. Toe-Approved! 

• Purse - Roots 73, consignment

Black and white bling:

The usual suspects. 

• Black and white bangles - consignment
• Black and white cuff - vintage, vintage fair
• Silver chain ring - Mexican, consignment
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower

Vizzini's been happy to have us at home most of the weekend. 

"You can never have to many cuddles or tummy rubs."

So true, bud! 

Thank you all so much for dropping by! And please follow me on Instagram to stay current with my posts!