a solar system that fits in your eye

well I guess that's yet another weekend disappeared into oblivion. wooosh.

I swear, if I stopped to think about how terrifyingly fast this year is going by, I'd be an emotional wreck. I mean, more than I already am about life in general... do you ever feel keenly and freakishly aware of the absurdity of time and the shortness of life?

cause I do, and that shiz is not for the faint of heart.

but, instead of slipping into an existential exploration of the chaos of the universe, let's talk about pretty clothes!

segues, who needs 'em!

skirt- Zara // top + earrings- gift // bag- vintage // shoes- Modcloth // 

this lilac-hued skirt was the first purchase in my ongoing quest to have more midi skirts. it's the perfect shape and length- not to flimsy, not too poofy- , the colour is delightful, and it has pockets. it was on mega-sale at Zara, and I was so excited! the one flaw? it's linen. 

what? who even wears pure linen anymore? that stuff wrinkles if you breathe at it. 

so goes the price for the perfect shade of lilac.

I was feeling sick and kind of blue all weekend, which probably contributed to the moody contemplation of the passage of time. I feel like I didn't get to do anything, fun or otherwise, so they were kind of wasted days. and nothing feels worse than wasting time when I could be out enjoying life in this big, beautiful city!

but illness will have its day, and lucky for me its day was just after I got the chance to go to the Brooklyn Flea (yet again) and walk around Fort Greene. I got hot sauce and a spiffy new purse! so the weekend wasn't a total bust.

so, happy Monday! here's hoping that time is miraculously slowed and causes next weekend to last much longer. 

xo.

grey skies are gonna clear up

I love a good rainy day once in a while. the temperature is nice, everything is quieter, and I get to use a prop in my photo shoots. 

it seems I'm sticking with the 70s theme this week. and lucky for me, there's a classic VW camper van parked in front of our building; the perfect backdrop to a boho-traveller type outfit. 

dress- vintage // boots- Sam Edelman via Modcloth // belt- American Apparel // earrings- St. John's gift shop, somewhere on Water St.

after seeing these pictures I changed into a wider belt, which made the waist more defined and the whole dress a little less "billowy sack." but, billowy sack or no, I love this dress; it's comfortable and makes me feel like I'm in a touring folk-rock band. which again, fits with the 70s theme. 

now if you'll excuse me, I clearly have to take up learning the banjo...

your best shot

today marks the first time in a long, long while that I've attempted to take my own outfit pictures. 

it did not go well.

I mean, I got the job done and all, with minimal stares or awkward interactions with passers-by. but it's just so hard to get the angles right and be creative when you're trying to pose for a tripod. oh well. with the days getting shorter and Brandon getting home later, I'm going to have to either get used to it again, or figure out alternative posting schedules. oh autumn, how I love thee, but you do create problems for the style blogger...

dress- vintage // boots- Aldo // necklace- Modcloth (very old!) // tights- American Apparel

(plus, you can see the camera remote in every picture! oops.)

as you all well know by now, nothing causes me closet envy quite like over-priced, tiny-waisted vintage dresses. vintage boutiques and many Etsy shops seem to reserve retro gems for the rich and slender type, while I'm more on the "curvy and broke" spectrum. thankfully, one of the great things about all the flea markets and thrift stores in Brooklyn is that I can actually find stuff that fits me at a far more affordable price! lately I've been drawn to a more 70s dress, like this one, with longer lengths and stretchier fabrics. I like how they look with boots in the cooler weather. plus, they tend to run about $20 rather than the typical $80 for a perfect 50s party dress. so win-win! 

thank you, Brooklyn hipsters, for making this possible.

my obsession

hey y'all! it's been a long time since I've shared with you some of my superficial fancies, so I thought I would put together some Friday favourites. how else will you know how I've been wasting time and what I've been ogling on the interweb? it's a service, really.

...yes, I'm aware it is Monday, but I'm always behind. you should be used to it by now!

1. I need some plant life in my home life; this hanging planter is just so pretty. //Barruntando.

2. I've recently discovered this fabulous lady's blog, and with it her equally fabulous Etsy creations. love this clear tote! //Mini Penny Vintage. 

3. I'm so excited for all my favourite shows to pick up again- autumn; tis the season of new tv!- not least of all that final season of Parks & Rec. Guardians gave me my fill of Chris Pratt over the summer, but I've missed Andy Dwyer's philosophies on life. like these! //via Buzzfeed.

4. Urban Decay has a new vice palette out, and I kind of need it... all those amazing bright colours! zoinks! //Sephora. 

5. I'm obsessed with getting a pair of white boots, preferably of the cowboy variety. these would be ideal for wearing with flowery dresses to transition them into cooler weather. //clockwise fr. top left: Time Bomb Vintage; Time Bomb Vintage (again); Jeffrey Campbell; Sam Edelman.

6. more Buzzfeed love; apparently no show better exemplifies my life than Arthur. and I won't pretend that doesn't make me extremely happy. //Buzzfeed.

7. I'm itchin' to get some new pretty up on my walls, and I'm especially fond of anything that shows love for Brooklyn. //Joe B Map Art.

8. I know this video was released ages ago, but I'm so obsessed. the song alone is amazeballs (be sure to check out the Sara Bareilles cover here!), but the video is even AMAZEBALLIER. yeah, that's right, I'm so pumped I just created a new superlative. 

seasons change

hate to be that typical blogger girl, but man, do I love autumn! summer's great and all, but I'm a cold-weather girl at heart; I'd much rather shiver for a few minutes a day and pile on warm layers than spend weeks covered in sweat and wishing I could pull of a shaved head as well as Natalie Portman. bottom line is, I can dress for cold weather- I can't really undress for the heat.

it's still not into "cold" here yet (at least not by my Canadian standards) but there's a definite coolness in the air that I find comfortable. seasonal colour palettes, warm coffees, and all things pumpkin; bring on the fall, I says!

flower crown- H&M // shirt- Modcloth // skirt- Urban Outfitters // boots- New Look

it's about time I got a new flower crown. it was bound to happen eventually. I was looking for one with the right colours to pair with and spice up my plain skirts, and this one is pretty much perfect. and with the rich colours, its ideal for transitioning from summer to autumn. which is happening now! floral crowns for all!

they should add that to the constitution. 

see, I have great ideas. stick with me, kids. 

somewhere over the rainbow

long time no see, bloggerinos! September is halfway through and I've been a busy little rainbow-srtiped bee. 

I guess that makes another unintentional hiatus for The Ocean! for those of you who may have recently started to check in on my little slice of internet, I'd like to tell you this kind of abrupt absence is uncommon... but I'd be lying. this is real life, people. sometimes sleep > the internet.

I KNOW WHAT I SAID.

this past week two of our friends from Newfoundland came to stay and explore the Big Apple. between hosting, sightseeing, and regular life stuff, there hasn't been a whole lot of time for the blogosphere! it was a hectic week, but an enjoyable one.

on the weekend all four of us spent a gleeful afternoon in Coney Island, wandering the boardwalk and getting slingshotted into the air and whatnot. Brandon hates rides, so with Andrew and Janet here I finally got to try some out! specifically, the new roller coaster- the thunderbolt- and the giant slingshot thing where they rocket you into the big blue sky. we also had Nathan's hot dogs and pizza from L&B Spumoni Gardens. Coney Island, I tell ya!

dress + shoes- Modcloth // bag- Marc by Marc Jacobs // sunglasses- vintage via Brooklyn Flea

of course a day spent in the brightness of the boardwalk and amusement parks lends itself to an equally colourful outfit, so I went with a rainbow dress and funky accessories. I discovered that this dress is something of an eye-catcher, for better or worse... at the Freak Show I got pulled on stage not once, but twice to be the assistant- they lit a fire with my tongue because I'm magical- so I'm basically employed there now. then later at dinner the performer pointed me out and talked to me while singing. as someone who doesn't feel much like an attention-grabber, this dress made me feel quite noticeable! 

to top it all off, that very same evening my parents surprised me and met us in Manhattan! they just showed up. I couldn't believe that a) they came all the way from Canada for one day to see us, and b) Brandon could keep a secret. all in all it was a pretty ridiculous day! 

there is lots more to say and there are lots more pictures to share, but that's enough for my little "welcome back" post. thank you for youe continuing patronage to my little internet world! please come again.

(when this all became a restaurant, I don't know... sometimes these posts get away from me.)

come and stay a while...

it's no secret that since moving to the Big Apple Brando and I have been running a sort of cultural exchange program; meaning, basically, that we have frequent visitors from far and wide. and I love it!  not only does it bring temporary roommates to hang out with, but it gives me an excuse to go out and explore this big beautiful city some more. 

in August we were lucky enough to have two sets of visitors and tons of great weather, so I spent a lot of time galavanting around NYC and eating pizza. (the pizza is a big tourist attraction.) here are some pictures from our recent friend-time adventures... 

I'll never get sick of visiting Central Park, or walking the Brooklyn Bridge. or of the pizza, of course. 

more friends are coming in just two days, and I can't wait!

so if you're looking to come to New York at some point... hit me up. take advantage. we'll eat food and play bingo. you'll love it.