We all have one. The ugly/old/unflattering dress/top/sweater that your mom/aunt/grandma gave you... And now she wants you to wear it to assorted family functions and gatherings, as she doesn't want you to be "following behind me like a ragamuffin" (as per my mother.)
Gap dress.
The dress is unflattering, to say the least. But I will be the first to admit that my ugly dress is definitely not the worst around. So when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or in this case, a cute outfit.
Gap dress, American Apparel belt, Zara jacket, Forever 21 ring, Guess earrings, B2 silver flats (not pictured).
I think I did pretty well. My cousin did tell me I looked like a Barbie but for once, I'm gonna take that as compliment (partly because I'm able to reassure myself that she must be delusional - because I am very far from plastic.)
Dex Cardigan, Esprit Tank, Bongo Jeans, Payless Ballet Flats, random ring and necklace.
An ode to keeping it simple on rainy summer days. These Payless flats are probably the comfiest shoes I own and before my mother bought them for me I refused to buy shoes from there (the last pair I bought last summer jacked up my feet irreversibly, seriously.) But you can never go wrong with a pair of plain black flats, right?
No pictures of clothing or food today, just thoughts.
I don't know how to explain it, but I've been feeling very… anti-consumerist lately. (If that's even a word, phase, saying, whatever.) I'll go to the mall and be completely dissatisfied with everything. I normally keep incredibly long wishlists of all these things I want (it's a little embarrassing, actually) but right now I feel that even if I won the lottery, I would just keep it sitting there in the bank. Maybe do nice things for my family, like send them all on vacation and such, but I wouldn't buy items, things for myself. I don't know how this really relates to anything, but I guess as someone who occasionally blogs about fashion I'm expected to consume, consume, consume and right now that's exactly the opposite of what I want. Anyone understand where I'm coming from with this?
Also, my friends and I have started a bit of a manifesto, if you could call it that. It's different for each of us, but the basic concept is change. This year we all turn 20 (I still have a little over 4 months to go) and we've grown a lot. We may not be grownups, but we really aren't kids anymore. And while some of this growth is organic, some is conscious, like this manifesto. There's the normal stuff - eat healthy, lose weight. The little things - smile more, put down the blackberry once in a while. And then there's the big stuff. Learn to stop hating yourself and your body. Believe in your abilities, be thoughtful and kind. Things that take some of us a lifetime to learn.
This video is titled "How To Be Alone", and it's one of my favourite inspirational videos. It's a bit of a reminder of the many ways in which I have to grow - one of which is learning to savour the beauty of solitude.
One of the things I love about being home for the summer is that pretty much any desert I want to make, the ingredients for it are pretty much guaranteed to be lying around my kitchen. I mean, there's rarely any food, but who needs a REAL meal?! Not me.
So I tried out Chocolate Chip Cookies, the one desert that for some reason I always screw up. But because I'm me, I had to make them double chocolate. Delish.
They were gone in less than 24 hours, I kid you not. I got to eat two of them. My house is full of crazy cookie monsters (a.k.a my sister and father. Pretty sure my mother doesn't eat anything with real sugar.)
P.S. Done my summer course, relishing my freedom. I plan to make the very most of these last summer days...
I just have to start this post by saying - those glasses, from this post? HOLY SHIT I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.
Zara Motorcycle Jacket, FCUK top, Bongo Jeans, Forever 21 rings, sunnies off EBay, Kensignton Market sandals.
What I wore to work today - Fridays are casual at the bank. I think the rings might have been a bit much for the office (all the ladies at work were like OMG THOSE ARE CRAZAY) but I don't really care, because on Friday I get to dress like myself, and it's extremely refreshing. Also, these might be the most comfortable sandals I've ever owned in my short, 19 year long life.
But seriously, these sunnies make me so happy.
See?!
Also, I'd like to take this post to spotlight two particularly thought provoking articles by one of my favourite bloggers, The Queen of Hearts.
The first one is an article on what we could call "Fast Food Fashion" - huge chains like Forever 21 who produce cheap clothes for the masses and the effect that this clothing binge has both on us, and also the workers who work as little more than slave labour to produce it. Read it here.
The second one is an opinion piece about the rise of fashion bloggers as celebrities. The new breed of fashion blogger has daily photoshoots in incredibly scenic areas, receives crazy amounts of swag, and shops 'til she drops. These qualities don't really seem to capture the essence of what a blogger really is (at least to me) - an everyday Joe putting their opinion/look/ideas out there, and giving themselves a chance to be heard. Read it here.
Anyways, time to get my study on kids. My Orgo exam is on Monday and a fair amount of my future is riding on it.
That's me staring into the future in horror at the vision of this exam. And yes, those are totally the 3D glasses from the movie theatre with the lenses popped out, worn as personality glasses. Ironic, since I own real glasses and am pretty much blind without them.
Titular Song: "Diva" by Beyonce
P.S. I would like to dedicate this post to the talented, beautiful, FLAWLESS Beyonce Knowles who inspired me to buy these sunglasses (or ones exactly like them that happened to cost at least 200 dollars less.) I wouldn't be here without you!
I took a few days off work to study, as I have an exam coming up next week for my summer course. What my life's been looking like:
1 - So good on a hot summer day.
2 - My Grey Ant knockoffs FINALLY arrived. In love already. I don't give a damn if summer is supposedly ending, I'm gonna wear these like there's no tomorrow.
3 - Organic Chemistry, what I have been studying for my summer course. Scared sh*tless for the exam.
4 - Salad with fruit brightens up my life.
5 - Bubble wrap is particularly useful for an extremely frustrated student.
I've been listening to this on repeat as I study, and it's beautiful, although a sense of hopelessness has permeated my being because of it. Probably not a good thing. I'll put on some Top 40 now.
I know, fantastically creative title, right? Because watching music videos is something that that only the unique & cool kids do. (I'm willing to bet that you're one of said cool kids if you're awesome enough to be reading this blog.)
Anyways, some music videos I've been loving. They aren't all exactly new, but they're lovely all the same.
To me, the purpose of a music video is to add new dimension to the music and affect the viewer - and each of these videos did it well, albeit in very different ways. I have to admit that I didn't even like "Love The Way You lie" until I saw the video.
P.S. If you haven't already watched the Born Free video, let me warn you that it is extremely graphic and not for the weak of heart, but I think it is worth putting up because it really makes you think. One of many reasons why I love M.I.A.
Forever 21 sunglasses & necklace, Old Navy top, AA cycle shorts, Aldo sandals.
Keeping it simple with an oversized tunic and lace bicycle shorts - pretty much my uniform last weekend when my friends and I trolloped around the city for a number of Caribana related events. (My apologies for how tarty I look in the last photo, I didn't realize my top had fallen off my shoulder.)
Also, I saw Rihanna on Thursday! It was okay, but I kind of wish I had seen her before OVO Fest as I probably would have been a lot more enthusiastic - but as it stands, there really wasn't any comparison.
Also, the d-bags running the concert took away my camera, even though it's not even an SLR - apparently only pocket cams are allowed at concerts these days? So I don't have any pictures, unfortunately.
Titular Song: "I Get Paper" by Drake ft. Kevin Cossom
Last night, I saw Drake in concert... honestly, words cannot even describe this experience. I have never seen such a hyped up crowd in my life. Because honestly, nobody loves Drake like Toronto does. And he showed us he loved us too, because the wasn't just a Drake concert.
Young Jeezy, Bun-B, Mack Maine, Fabulous, Rick Ross, Kardinal Offishall all showed up as surprise guests. And by now, everyone is whylin' out, going off to every Drake song and he is showing us a good time. But he upped the ante... starts telling us about Toronto women, how he loves his hometown, how "I love this city with my entire life." And he picks a girl out of the crowd, brings her on stage.
(photo cred: me)
Her name is Sara and every girl in the crowd wanted to be her. Because I'm pretty sure that Drake kissing your forehead & neck and telling you that "you're beautiful", not to mention "your ass looks great in those shorts" is on the top of every T.O. girl's wishlist.
But wait, it gets better. Because who was the next surpise guest?
EMINEM. MARSHALL-FUCKING-MATHERS. IN TORONTO. RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
It can't get any better than that. But wait... it just did. BECAUSE JAY-Z IS ON STAGE, RUNNING THIS TOWN.
This is the point where I started screaming so loudly I couldn't hear myself and jumping so much I couldn't see... my heart stopped. Because to see Drake in concert already made me happier than words could express. But to see Jeezy, Bun-B, Mack Maine, Fabulous, Rick Ross, Kardinal, Eminem and Jay-Z?! It doesn't get better than that.
Normally at concerts I am obsessed with getting fantastic photos, but for the first time in my life I was honestly too wrapped up in anything the madness and energy of the show to get a decent photo. And I don't care, because enjoying myself there was worth more than any picture. But here's a picspam from the professionals:
(photo cred: Wenn.com & Splashnewsonline.com)
So, Drake... keep making your hometown proud, and we'll be here every year, backing you up.
Student. 23 years old. Born on Jesus' birthday. From Toronto and currently studying at an eastern Ontario university known for its academics, partying hard & lighting the occasional car on fire. Likes brains (it's what she studies in school, after all) but might love shoes even more. Also pretty tall (5'10) but refuses to let anyone make her feel bad for wearing heels. Current Galaxy S3 aficionado & Nikon DSLR owner.
But mostly just a normal (kind of loud) girl with quite a few quirks who is overwhelmed and flattered that you would read her blog. Thanks for stopping by.
