we are all made of stars

well you guys, I'm 27. if I survive this year I've officially beaten the rock star curse.
because you know you were suspecting that I am truly a rock star.

since I already vented my complaints of being 27 too soon, I figured I'd show the brighter side of my birthday. I got to spend it with lovely people, in this amazing city, doing only the most fun things.

start the morning off right with coffee, donuts, and the opening of glorious presents. (coffee mug is also a present, and is appropriately gigantic.)

sorry guys, but this present kind of wins all. 

spending my birthday with these lovelies. don't they look like a couple here? too cute.

heading to Brooklyn Bridge park for the sunny afternoon. 

birthday mani-pedis for the birthday girls! (Em's birthday is three days before mine)

we were pampered while Brando documented the experience patiently.

for our evening entertainment- and a surprise for moi- we went to a Broadway show!

lookit all the amazing actors in this thing!

birthday = made. 

yeah, I met Michael C. Hall. award-winning actor, seriously talented, star of one of my favourite shows ever, and a total hottie. NO BIG DEAL.

also met and got autographs from the rest of the cast, who are amazing and talented and funny. Toni Colette, you guys! SHE'S AMAZING. just go watch Unites States of Tara and tell me you aren't jealous. 

...of course the real stars are the friends and family who love me all year round and took the time to send gifts or cards or well-wishes from all around the world. 

BUT THESE ARE MOVIE STARS. GAH.

such a good birthday. :)

let it go

people always say it's easy to slip into a rut or a routine but it is just as easy to slip out of one. 

I didn't mean to take such a long blogging hiatus, but things have been hectic and fun-filled and busy busy! we've been happily hosting visitors to the Big Apple and spending a lot of time exploring the city and doing touristy things. I also went back to my homeland for an all-too-brief visit with Caitlin, and celebrated my 27th birthday. 

I'll have pictures and witty commentary to share on all these events soon enough, but for the last few days I've been enjoying having absolutely nothing to do. 

I wore some birthday swag for a walk around the Greenpoint neighborhood after things had started to settle down. Brandon got me this bag and dress from Century 21, which is one of my new favorite places to shop in the city. the bag is amazing! I love the color, and it's the perfect size for carrying essentials, a camera, and even a jacket. 

dress- BB Dakota // bag- Steve Madden // tights- HUE // flats- H&M

I've been very conscious of how I'm dressing, lately, and I feel like my style is evolving slowly. it's probably due to being surrounded by hip New Yorkers, and recently super-stylish friends, and a little due to getting older. I guess I'm officially in my late 20s now, so I've been consciously trying to dress more mature and build a more grown-up wardrobe. not grown-up as in boring, though. I'm just making a shift away from "teen vogue" and more towards.. well, regular Vogue, I guess. 

this constant dissatisfaction with my current wardrobe is probably also largely in part to being nowhere near who/what I wanted to be at this point in my life. time goes by too fast and nothing really changes. that sounds more depressing than I mean it to, but I'm speaking mainly about physical/medical stuff. I think it's been obvious on this blog that I've been struggling with body issues for a while, and I might as well just admit that it's a constant factor in my daily life. 

supposedly I have a thyroid condition. it's made me very sluggish, my hair unbelievably thin (including my eyebrows, which I now have to fill in), weight loss near impossible, and even my memory is suffering. it's nice to know at least part of what's going on, but it just took so long to address in the first place, and now it's taking even longer to fix. for the first few years basically everyone told me there was nothing wrong with me, and now that I know, I can't seem to do anything about it.

it's frustrating because along with the other symptoms my weight just will not get under control. it's a slow, unceasing weight gain that may not really look like a big deal, but every couple of months there is another fleet of clothes that no longer fit, a need for another new jacket (the arms are the worst), another store I can no longer shop in. I went from a size 2/4 to a size 14/16 in four years. I literally do not own a pair of jeans because I have no idea how long they will be good to me. I haven't felt like myself in years.

I'm not really sure of why I'm sharing this now. it's not for pity, or even encouragement. I guess I just finally needed to put it out there, and turning another year older made everything all the more real. who knows, maybe if someone else happens to be going through the same thing, it will be nice to know somebody understands that yeah, it really sucks. people might brush it off or see it as shallow or think it's an excuse, but when you have no control over your own body it can mess with your whole life. for example, when you have no confidence, it's hard to keep up a style blog. :) see, it all connects. 

so in conclusion, I am not the 27-year-old woman I hoped to be. but maybe I will be the 28-year-old one. BIRTHDAZE.

I promise, the next few posts will be way more fun...

gimme gimme gimme!

sometimes, time does this thing where it feels like it isn't moving at all. and then BAM. a year's gone by. what's the deal, time? trying to enjoy my life, here...

my birthday is exactly two weeks from today. it's hard to believe that any birthday celebrations could top last year's, but I think if anything can compete it's New York City. 

as usual my birthday wish list is super long, since moving to a new country and not having a job kind of restricts one's shopping habits... but it's more of a "collage of visual ideas" than a concrete list. I'm not super materialistic, I swear. 

1. a new bag. all of my current handbags are black or furry, which doesn't really work for summer. I want candy hues and girly details! love chain link straps & roomy hobo bags. // all from Modcloth.

2. beauty products. it's really hard to keep up a good beauty regimen when you're broke... these are some products I've got my eye on right now. Herbivore Botanicals ultimate skin care set // Glamglow Supermud // Sephora's brush wand // Bumble & Bumble

3. pretty summer dresses. no wish list of mine would be complete without several to-die-for frocks. clockwise from left: Very Vintage Store // Modcloth // Very Vintage Store // Modcloth // Hollie Point 

4. stuff for the home. our apartment is coming along nicely, but it's still a work in progress. we could use a few more personal touches and useful accessories. photo hanging- Modcloth // cook book- Modcloth // mug- Urban Outfitters // rug- Modcloth

5. spring separates. my shopping problem is not exclusive to dresses; I love all clothing equally. clockwise from left: Tavern Tour shorts in black // Market Meet-Up top in magenta // No Time Like Meow jumper // Jersey Pocket Skirt in orchid // Anthropologie Mesh Dottie Top // Breathtaking Tiger Lilies skirt in mustard // 

6. fun & functional outerwear. it's no secret I want these boots; I think I've included one or both pairs in every wish list and collage I've made for the past six months. the trench, however, is new to my list, and I am very smitten. it's perfect for cooler spring days or the occasional rainy evening. cognac buckled ankle boots- Seychelles via Zappos // crocheted Beau boot- Free People // soft trench coat- Zara.

and of course there's also everything on this list and the million things from my "friday favorites" posts. you see, I'm clearly very easy to shop for if you know me but at all. or if you read my blog.

I probably won't actually get something from my list, but it's fun to make one anyways. birthdays are great! I'm just excited to have a whole day doing whatever I want! so far my ideas are; going out for brunch, shopping in SoHo (there's a tour!), a visit to Central Park, a Broadway show, then fancy dinner in Manhattan. I think that day would probably beat out presents. 

a change will do you good

happy new year, bloggerinos!

(fr. google)

I know that once again  I have taken a massive blogging hiatus, but I swear I'll be better! it's a whole new year and the perfect time for a whole new start.

2013 flew by far too fast. it sounds cliche, but it really does seem like just yesterday I was writing this post for 2012. the big difference is that I was glad and relieved to see the end of 2012, while this past year has been filled with good things and happy memories. I'm so thankful and happy about the turnaround!

I really can't believe that 2013 has come and gone, but when I stop to think about it, it was a pretty great year.

I moved back to my favourite city into a great apartment. I spent tons of time with my very best friends, and I'm ecstatic that we were all together for another year. we celebrated graduations, PhDs, new jobs, and weddings. we went whale watching at Cape Spear, danced to our favourite local bands, drank champagne in the freezing cold on Signal Hill, and played a million board games that turned into mini-parties. I threw the best birthday kegger ever (my opinion, haha) with one of my dearest friends. basically I had a year enjoying the crap outta St. John's town.

Brando and I got the sweetest kitty in the world! she is so loving and cuddly and she brightens my day, every day. it might sound silly but she has made this year so much cheerier just by being my furry little friend.

I went on my first road trip across North America with my best friend and had the time of my life. six provinces and ten states of museums, sightseeing, beer, laughter, hotel swimming pools, humidity, and finding everything funny. I satiated my wanderlust for a short time, but mostly just got bitten by the road trip bug, and now I want to spend my life driving around Canada and the US.

I got a job at one of my favourite downtown restaurants, and I enjoyed it completely. I've never had a job that I liked showing up for every day, so it was nice to know that it was possible! I also made some wonderful new friends there.

best of all, things really started to look up for Brando and I. for the first time since we've been together, both of us had paying jobs (one of us was always in school) and could actually afford things like paying our own phone bill! we started to really enjoy just hanging out again. we became a codependent threesome with netflix. we started going to the gym together. Brandon passed his physiotherapy license exam and is now a registered physical therapist in the US of A. and the cherry on top: he has a job waiting for him in New York City! and that's how we are going to start the new year- with a move to the city I've dreamed of living in since I was a kid.

(old, old pictures from my family trip to nyc in 2011)

in conclusion of this rather self-indulgent, reflective rambling, 2013 brought welcome and happy changes. 2014 is looking even more promising! new adventures in a new city and a whole new chapter in our life together.

happy new year, everyone. I hope all your hopes come true. ♥

welcome to the new age

well, that whole "consistency" thing went well.

whatevs! you guys are still here, I'm still here, I've missed you all, and that's what counts, right?... you are still here, right?

guuuuuysss!

anyway, several important things I'd like to bring up.
in point form, because point form is both efficient and professional.

- my best friend Caitlin started blogging! she's the greatest, and probably the funniest person ever, so you might wanna check it out. also she's super pretty. like, the prettiest. it'll be so much fun to have a friend to do blogging stuff with!

- Parks and Recreation has taken over my life. I'm seriously dying laughing watching an episode right now. I want to own a book filled with Ron Swanson quotes and use it as a guideline for living my life.

- one week till my birthday. I will be 26 years old, meaning it's the last year my age will correspond to a letter of the alphabet. I'm out of letters, yo.
while being closer to the age of 30 than 20 makes me feel kinda lame (no offence, 30-year-olds, but my life is not exactly an accomplishment yet), I am planning a pretty fantastic week of celebrations for myself.
also, presents!

I originally wanted my birthday gift to be plane tickets somewhere, but that turned out to be more expensive than I hoped. so I have put together a more manageable wish list. :)

1. this amazing elephant-patterned summer dress that is so cute I could die. modcloth

2. a spring trench coat, like this perfect one with a skirted bottom. asos

3. mint green heels! spring

4. a pink eyelet dress, because there is not enough pink in my life right now. modcloth 

5. a cute summertime top, especially in an ice cream cone print! modcloth

6. this pretty button-back dress that reminds me of Audrey Hepburn. american apparel

7. a pair of white wedges

8. a sports bra, because exercising in a normal bra sticks. pun intended. lulu lemon

I also appreciate the idea of a Modcloth gift card, because let's face it, there are always a million things I want from Modcloth. I could get one of the things on the list above, or one of these many dresses that I pine over....

1. green patterns on a classic silhouette

2. this gorgeous Moroccan-inspired dress with bow accents

3. red florals for the perfect picnic frock

4. fun and flirty kelly-green and a butterfly print

5. vintage gingham flare in a sunny colour

6. this elegant dress in feminine shades

7. a beautiful mixed-patterned number with intricate detailing

8. sweet zebra print in one of my favourite colours

I think my favourites are numbers 2, 7, and 8. but really, how could you not love them all? 

I can't believe a whole year has come and gone already. seems like such a short time ago I was blogging about my sad little 25th birthday from Aberdeen. so much has changed since then, but I feel like nothing has really happened!
I'm older but probably not a whole lot wiser.
maybe wisdom comes when you turn 26. I'll have to wait and see.

stay tuned!

but right now I'm going to watch more Parks & Rec and make a birthday playlist.

love love,
still-feel-like-I'm-twelve Sarah

playing: bleeding out- imagine dragons

celebrate

yesterday was Brandon's BIRFDAY!! 

he's a whole quarter-century old, you guys.

to celebrate, we drove into St. John's for the weekend and had a little get-together with our very bestest friends. 

it was a great time.

I think Brando agrees.

happy birthday, hubs! 

♥

♥