Food I've made in the last week - or at least some of it, I'm too lazy to take pictures of everything. Eat well, live well.
I have not been this happy in ages. Or more, content. It's not over the moon elation, but things seem calm and alright and I can't remember ever feeling like that. I'm currently on a shopping ban (full disclosure: I did slip up and buy a pair of high-waisted shorts at a thrift store last week for $10 bucks but they are !awesome!) and I feel like that might be helpful in the happiness department - it's a bit like I'm detoxing myself from all my unnecessary wants & "needs".
Plus, I have to save money because I'm heading to Lollapalooza!!!!! in NINETEEN DAYS and I cannot wait. I'm actually going by myself, as my housemate who was supposed to come with me can no longer go, which is a bummer. I did consider not going, but I've been wanting to go for years and I saved hard to make sure I could go this year, so I'm going to live life to the fullest and go on my first solo travel experience. Fingers crossed that it's a positive one.
Sorry, but just have to get this out: aghdksbkdbfbgsbk!!! /end keyboard smash.
So this was my exciting news - I am officially a contributor over at The Style Spy! I'm kind of freaking out right now, but in the best way possible. I've been reading The Style Spy long before I even started a blog of my own and to see my name up on the site next to that banner is absolutely unreal.
For those who don't know about the website, The Style Spy is a fashion and beauty new website focused on informing its readers about everyday, affordable fashion in Canada. I am incredibly enthusiastic about homegrown fashion and promoting Canadian brands so joining a website that values this is a real plus for me. I'll be contributing bi-weekly posts to the site; you can read my first article for The Style Spy here.
Incredibly excited about this opportunity and what the rest of 2012 will bring. Thanks once again to the Style Spy team!
The Holstee Manifesto probably has to be one of the most commonly shared items on the internet, but with good reason. I'm not one for New Years' resolutions (because as my sister always says, if you want change, why wait?) but I've decided to adopt this manifesto as mine. Hopefully it can inspire you all too.
So I started a 365 blog in hopes of being more than a chick with a camera, and more like a photographer. Click here for the link! I'm currently on Day 4.
In other news, I got a job working for a very well known Swedish retailer and I'm super excited about it.
Happy Father's Day. Thanks for always being there for me, keeping me strong and raising me well with just the right combination of understanding and tough love. You have always encouraged me to use my voice (in blog form, in fact) and you were a big motivator for me to start this project... although I'm not so sure you'd approve of the trivial subject content. I'll tell you about it, someday. I love you.
Roya.
P.S. Real outfit/haul/fashion opinion posts coming soon, I swear.
A couple weeks ago, my friend Vanessa & I went to St. Lawrence Market (a.k.a. a Toronto foodie's heaven) and had the time our our lives because we are pigs. I tried "Peameal on a Bun", which is apparently a Torontonian classic. And yes, Peameal on a Bun - or "Canadian Bacon", as it's known by our lovely neighbours to the south - is exactly what it sounds like. Who knew TOers were so creative? (I jest.)
The girl in the last picture is my friend Vanessa - how cute is she?
After that we went to Holt Renfrew, looked at nice things and pretended to be rich. I'm sure the salespeople saw right through it but it's one of my favourite pastimes - fake it 'til you make it, yeah? And let's not forget Korean BBQ (a.k.a. a vegetarian's worst nightmare) after that. I'm pretty sure my intake for the day was at least 75% protein.
I could give you a thousand reasons why I haven't blogged since February - busy (ridiculously so), broke, lazy, insecure. But as I started this blog as a commitment to myself - both to develop my personal style and be consistent with a personal project (something which I suck at doing, in case you haven't noticed) - I intend to stick with it.
I'm back now, and I'm done questioning and underestimating myself. I'll expand on this more later when I'm feeling a little more articulate.
So, exam period is finally over, and I barely made it out alive. Now it's the Holiday season, but I'm not that hyped for the Holidays. But on with the obligatory Christmas wish list post:
Fujifilm Instax Mini -- I have a Polaroid - and no film. An instant camera system with widely available film would be highly appreciated.
Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb -- Possibly the best perfume on Earth.
Nixon Watch, "The Time-Teller" -- I've been looking a gold menswear-inspired watch forever; this one is perfect. It's minimal, classy, and best of all: affordable. (For a watch.)
Lillan Crowe "Spearhead" Ring -- Suffered from a major ring obsession this year. This one would complete the collection - that way I can move on to a new obsession in 2011. Current candidates include: blazers, silk blouses and designer bags.
Nikon D90 -- I seriously need a dSLR. The amount of time I spend daydreaming about my future camera is unhealthy, in my opinion.
Sorel "Joan of Artic" Winter Boots -- A girl's gotta keep her feet warm... Canadian winters are no joke.
I think my lack of enthusiasm with Christmas has to do with the fact that it's also my birthday. I turn 20 on Saturday, and I'm excited to leave my teenage years behind me forever. But December 25th is Christmas first, and my birthday second. I can't help but feel a little forgotten sometimes.
/Grinch Mode
P.S. In my absence, I became a Polyvore addict. That was during exam period - worst timing ever. I doubt anything is more appealing to fashion addict than an infinite imaginary closet full of designer goods - except maybe a real infinite closet full of designer goods. Check it out here.
A relatively tame Halloween, all things considered - but still a good time. Had friends dress up as a Girl Scout, a zombie and a vampire slayer. They look fab, no? In case you didn't already guess, I was a Naval officer.
My favourite part of my outfit had to be the "Love Compass" necklace which I got off lulumumu on Etsy. Because romance isn't easy, and sometimes we all need a little help to point us in the right direction.
A couple of .gifs to finish this post off (because I have far too much time on my hands, aka procrastination is an art for me.)
Please note how my Blackberry lights up in the second gif, lol.
Happy Halloween everyone! Hope you all had a fantastic night.
P.S. School and midterms have stolen my soul, but I promise to make an effort for things to get back to normal around here soon.
Would like to apologize for my absence. Partly due to being exceptionally busy - travelling to Waterloo to see friends (twice), going to NYC with family, packing to move back to school and trying to spend every last moment at home with friends, before I have to leave. The other reason is a bit of disillusionment with blogging, and how it's warped my shopping habits. Although with going back to school next week, a student budget of pretty much zero for shopping should sort that right out.
Got tatted today, the first of many to come. The symbol is called a lemniscate; it stands for infinity. In calculus, the lemniscate is often used to denote that the limit of an function is infinite or boundless - in other words, the limit does not exist.
It's a philosophy I hope to incorporate into my life more often heading into my third year of University. Last year was a bit of a train wreck for me, both academically and emotionally and I'm hoping to make a lot of changes. Now this symbol is here to remind me that Impossible Is Nothing, to always believe in my abilities and the bigger, better things on the horizon.
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.
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.
I am always behind the ball on these things. Above are pictures from my latest baking adventure - maple leaf sugar cookies for Canada Day (July 1st for the foreigners.) And no, I didn't have enough cookies to spell Canada, hence why the pictures are in sections. Ironically, I had just given away three cookies - one for my sister, her friend and my Dad - and eaten one myself before taking these photos. And I was four cookies short when spelling Canada... kindness is a killer, eh?
Also, Canada Day being on a Thursday REALLY messed with my head. Hoping it doesn't happen again any time soon but too lazy to check a calendar.
P.S. Happy July 4th for my American neighbours down south! Y'all do it big down there.
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.
