all a-flutter

today was surprisingly warm here in Brooklyn. Brandon says it figures, since it's the day after he put away the air conditioner. but it was nice to walk around downtown without a jacket! although it was a little strange walking by other people in wool coats and giving me puzzled looks. one woman audibly muttered at me that I was "crazy." but hey, she was the one muttering to strangers! I'm just letting the arms breathe a little longer before confining them to itchy sleeves for the winter months.

dress- H&M // tights- HUE // bag- vintage // shoes- Aldo // suede belt- American Apparel

it's hard to put on this dress, with its gauzy handkerchief hem and lilac hue, and not feel like a fairy. it just makes me want to skip through a wheat field or sit under a willow tree singing irish folk songs. I inadvertently stuck with the dainty fairy theme in my accessories; the delicate glass vial of dried baby's breath and the sheer floral tights. all I need is a new flower crown and some glitter and I'm basically Tinkerbell.

there are worse fashion icons. ;) 

give thanks

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, all!

Brando and I celebrated yesterday with new & lovely New York friends, and we of course taught them the ways of the real Thanksgiving. 

if you're wondering about the differences between the Canadian and the American holidays, there aren't many. "feasts of thanks" have been documented in Canada since around 1578, so I like to say it predates American Thanksgiving... but really it wasn't a consistent holiday till 1879. also the Americans brought the turkeys and pumpkins, and that's pretty important. 

blah blah blah, if you want to know more, check out the Wikipedia article.

we all just had a traditional Newfie-style turkey dinner, and that was hella good. we were all super thankful.

EDIT: an American friend also shared this with me, which is a less boring description of the Canadian version.

dress- J.Crew // gold belt- Smart Set // flower crown- H&M // boots- Seychelles via Modcloth

on this day of thanks, I want to express my gratitude for; favourite dresses, new boots, and outfits that make you feel happy in your own skin! 

that's this one.

I got this dress last summer at a J. Crew mega-sale (how else could I afford J. Crew?) and it's been a favourite of mine ever since. it's funny that it hasn't shown up on the blog till now! I love how it fits, that it's neutral but still interesting, and the sturdy fabric. it's kind of my go-to when I'm feeling self-conscious or icky. 

and these boots! day-ummm, I love these boots! if you ever look at my wish lists you know that I've been drooling over these for months. now that it's autumn and I can justify a new pair of boots, I took advantage of the recent Modcloth 20% off sale and went for it. I am so happy I did; they are super gorgeous, the perfect colour, and comfortable. definitely on pace to rise in the ranks with this dress. 

so yes, I'm thankful for these things... but in all seriousness, it's hard for me to try and list all the things I have to be grateful for. these past couple years have been anything but easy for me and the hubby, but I have so many blessings that outweigh all the troubles. of course I'm thankful for a loving, supportive family, the best friends in the entire space-time continuum (the highest friendship ranking), and a husband that snuggles me and makes me coffee everyday. I'm  also thankful that I get the chance to live in this amazing city. and for my kitty cat, and for netflix, and for Joss Whedon, and for pizza. and musicals and the Chilli Peppers and red wine and bold bbq doritos... too many things. I'm so glad to live a life full of these wonderful, happy-making things. 

so happy Thanksgiving, again! I wish you all many happy-making things. ♥

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. 

the second time around

lately I've been doing some wardrobe double-dipping. I'll wear the exact same thing two or three times a week in an attempt to make the most out of outfits or combinations I really like. of course you don't see that on here because usually outfit photos are forgotten or postponed... often that's why I'll double up! if you find something you like, stick with it, right?  

skirt- thrifted via Beacon's Closet // tank top- Forever 21 (old!) // necklace- gift // shoes- Aldo (old!)

I wore a version of this outfit while hanging out in Brooklyn Heights last week and a pushy chocolatier told me she liked my "Stevie Nicks vibe." I was pretty happy with that compliment. hence, I am wearing it again. with only slight changes, I assure you.

one of those slight changes being I HAVE EYELINER AGAIN. it's been months- nay, even years?- since I ran out of my Bobbi Brown long-wear gel liner, and I tried to go without it. I really did. but I couldn't last any longer. eyeliner is a staple, you guys. I picked it up yesterday in Manhattan and IT FEELS MAGNIFICENT. 

it's been a busy week for us here! so many fun things to do and people to see... so much beer to drink... I'm glad to really be making the most of what's left of this beautiful summer. in a couple of days two friends from home are visiting us, so even more excitement awaits! it's going to be another fun-filled week. I'll try to keep my blogger friends (you...) updated a little more frequently... I know you're all just dying for further glimpses into my glamorous life. 

I live to serve. 

short 'n sweet

today was just another lazy afternoon hanging around my apartment with my cat. not that I'm complaining (duh, my cat is awesome); I'm just itchin' to take advantage of living in this great city. things that make that difficult; 1: lack of money. it costs money to do everything guys, let's be real. most things that are free aren't exactly go-by-yourself friendly. which brings me to number 2: lack of close friends. I'm used to seeing my friends almost every day, so it's weird to have so much alone time. 

BUT hopefully both of these things will change very soon. and I do still have visitors to look forward to!

crop top- H&M // skirt- Primark (old) // sneakers- Converse // floral crown- American Eagle

even though I am by no means a fan of bearing my midriff, there are two things I love about crop tops. the first is they are usually much cheaper than a regular ol' full-length top, and the second is they actually tend to fit me better. I have a kind of high-waist, short-torso combo that makes crop tops seem not so cropped at all. and they're great to pair with high waisted bottoms without adding bulk, or having that pesky line from tucking in your shirt. 

so yeah, crop tops? not just for skinny girls. 

psst. H&M has a whole bunch on the cheap! this one, this one, and this one make cute summer basics, and I love this one and this one for a little bit of sass.