mad for plaid & other tales

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well, February certainly came in like a lion!

I know that's not the saying, but it works here. the end of January was uncharacteristically hustle-and-bustle-y; live music and board game nights and basketball games. lots of frantic fun! and the weather certainly has been weathering.

...oh god am I 45?

sometimes I feel like I am. and what's the best way to combat feeling old? dress like you're in junior high school! with preppy plaid and lace-up booties.

man, I am the BEST at segues! 

dress- Modcloth // shirt- American Apparel // tights- Joe Fresh // boots- Chelsea Crew via Modcloth

you guys, plaid is my favourite thing. like, not just my favourite pattern; I think it may be my favourite thing, ever. right up there with Netflix and gluten. 

I got two new plaid dresses recently and I still look at my closet and think "there needs to be more tartan in here." 

thankfully this dress I received for Christmas is just about the most positively prepossessing presentation of plaid perfection you could possibly picture! I love the shades of burgundy and navy, and the cute details like cut-outs and black trim. I think it gives it a little modern edge, especially when you pair it with sultry makeup and leopard-print tights. take that, 12-year-olds!

I call this last photo "Pensive Precaution" or, "February, Don't Go Breakin' My Heart."

cause let's face it, February is no picnic. Valentine's Day? please. that's not a real holiday. it's just cold, boring, February. which is why it's the best month to plan a vacation! 

that's right, I'm finally going to Florida. Miami, Palm trees, Disney World, sunshine, and all that good stuff. I'm not one to wish time away, but I cannot wait. you guys, I'm gonna meet Mickey Mouse. and ride in the little tea cups. and lie on the beach. all in dumb ol' February!

it may have come in like a lion, it's going out like a sweet little lamb. :D

FULL CIRCLE. 

storm in a teacup

so "snowmageddon" was kind of a bust, huh?

I'm not sure how you native New Yorkers felt about blizzard 2015, but I was kind of underwhelmed.

that being said, the snow day was very appreciated, and it's kind of nice to have a little winter wonder around here. if it's gonna be cold, there might as well be snow!

coat + dress- Modcloth // boots- Hunter // hat- Topshop 

you're never too old for a little frolic in the snow. 

I got a new coat for Christmas from my mom- she always gives me the best coats! unfortunately it was a little too big... but when I exchanged it Modcloth had a huge sale on so I got this coat in two colours! and I love them both. I'm always nervous ordering things with sleeves online (do I just have freakishly disproportionate arms?) but this coat is so comfy and chic and perfect for New York City winters. meaning not blizzard-y or snowpocalyptic. 

at all.

come on, guys.

happy snow day!
and now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
♥

everything is awesome

well, the 2015 blogging year is off to a great start, isn't it?!

where does the time go? even as I type this, I'm sitting in a slowly darkening room, tired and frazzled, wondering if they've started secretly reducing the number of hours in a day and I am the only one who's noticed. 

who "they" would be, I have no idea. the time police? the government? alien overlords? probably the government.

but I think perhaps it's just that I am spectacularly bad at time management and value naps above human interaction. 

(human interaction- who needs it! I have a cat who supports my laziness and sleeps on or near me at all times. she loves me unconditionally! I don't need you, real world!) 

dress- gift, Modcloth // cardigan- H&M // boots- gift, Chelsea Crew via Modcloth // tights- American Apparel

in all honesty though, the real world is what has been keeping me from the interweb. January thus far has been a hectic and lovely mix of babysitting, bakeries, beers, books, trip-planning, movie-watching, and Friends. 

the tv show, not the real thing. because now all ten seasons are on Netflix so my real friends have been expecting me to become a recluse. 

amidst all that I often wear clothes such as the ones pictured, a fact I somehow imagine you would be interested in. so enjoy these gratuitous pictures of me- "gpoms," if you will- and feel free to use my life as a template of how to live mediocrely. 

...just kidding, my life's kind of awesome.

disclaimer: if I seem especially disjointed, sassy, or ridiculous in this post, I blame Mindy Kaling, whose book I've finally gotten around to reading, and whose humour and affability I've obviously, subconsciously and very poorly, attempted to emulate here. my soul is pining to be more like Mindy.

the season to be jolly

with all the franticness of the Christmas season I didn't really get to do all the holiday things I wanted. but Brando and I did take a nice stroll around Central Park! even though there was no snow it still felt like Christmas...especially when we walked down Fifth Avenue later and looked at all the fancy window displays; Bergdorf's certainly knows how to make a gal swoon. 

shirt- Urban Outfitters // skirt- Modcloth // sparkly belt- Smart Set // scarf- American Apparel // coat- Suzy Shier (old!) // boots- Aldo

not only was there no snow, but it really wasn't all that cold either. I had no qualms shedding my coat to snap a few pics of my festive-ish outfit. 

it's not bright red or trimmed in velvet or anything, but I like the subtle wintery feel. over the holidays I tend to gravitate towards jewel tones and demure pieces; peter pan collars, sparkly accessories, airy fabrics mixed with cozy textures. that kind of thing. and even though Christmas day is past I think these little points really brighten a winter wardrobe.

and it also really helps to have the perfect forest green midi...  

Brando and I are very happy with our Brooklyn holidays so far! we've been enjoying our time off, spending lots of time with friends and indulging our vices- if you can't pig out on fried food and whiskey at Christmastime, then when can you?- and relaxing. 

I'm a relaxing pro right now. my bed and I are becoming reacquainted, and my cat now thinks I'm a stay-at-home mom. we're all very copacetic. 

yeah, I busted that one out. 

2014, going out with a bang!

the most wonderful time of the year

you guys, it's ONE MONTH TILL CHRISTMAS!

I'm so excited I can't stand it.
this will be my first Christmas away from Newfoundland, ever. I know it's going to be hard being away from my friends and family- especially for the morning of- but I'm kind of looking forward to our very first Christmas in New York! there are so many things I want to do; see the Rockefeller tree lighting, go skating in Central Park, maybe even see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular! it's gonna be a merry New York Christmas.

I thought one month before the big day was good timing to post my Christmas list. it's a little late this year, and most people already have my present by now... but it's always fun to make a wish list! besides, I also have an expertly-curated Modcloth Christmas list, and they're having a ginormous sale starting tomorrow. so if you aren't getting me anything, you can at least score some sweet holiday swag for yourself.
(*cough*selfish*cough*)

1. a funny, comfy t-shirt. this one cracks me up. ♥ //Modcloth.
2. Urban Decay Vice Palette 3. it's got a whole column of reds! so cool. //Sephora.
3. purple velvet. now that winter's arrived I'm craving a wardrobe made entirely of velvet. purple is just so luxurious. //Modcloth.
4. a cropped blazer. if I can't have a cropped white tuxedo blazer, a plain white one will do. //Modcloth.
5. cookbooks. there are a couple that seem perfect for me (I also like One Pan, Two Plates) but the sriracha is at the top of my list. //Amazon. 
6. a party skirt. nothing brightens up the holiday season like teal sequins! //H&M.
7. a red sweater. this one incorporates two wardrobe faves; red and lace. //H&M.
8. a vintage dress. like this one, or the many others on my Etsy wish list. //Hollie Point.
9. black lace-up boots. comfy & cute! and the perfect winter staple. //Modcloth.
10. Broadway tickets. I would love to see anything! Cabaret with Emma Stone is probably my most pined-for at the moment. but there is plethora of shows I am aching to see. a plethora, I tell you!

I said "Christmas" so much in this post. :)

hello, it's me again!

well, there go two weeks of my life! woosh!

it's been a while since I've visited the ol' blogosphere. how've you all been?

this long break from blogging was unintentional, but kind of necessary. these past two weeks have been insanely hectic, with birthdays and visitors and new routines, and I needed (and possibly still need) some time to get back in the swing of things. when all is said and done, sleep and real life win out over the internet!

I know, I know, what am I saying. I can hardly believe it myself. I've become a person who goes to bed before midnight and makes responsible, time-conscious decisions. and they said I'd never grow up!

before all this craziness, NYC still hadn't made up its mind on whether autumn should turn into summer or winter; one day it was cozy scarf weather, the next it was too warm for a jacket. it has since decided and winter is the verdict. the cold has come to stay. this outfit was one for those unseasonably warm autumn days, when the only element I had to contend with was the fickle wind. short sleeves in October, what even??

shirt- Modcloth // skirt- Bettie Page // tights- HUE // flats- H&M // bag- vintage

not the most striking photos, but it's something. beats two weeks of silence, right? RIGHT???

...guys?

not to fret- I've been planning lots of fun things for you while on hiatus. Brando and I went to Washington, DC for the first time to celebrate his birthday, and the pictures are glorious (if I do say so myself!). and with the holiday season fast approaching you just know I'm planning to shamelessly bombard you with all things Christmas. it's what I do. you'll love it.

so stay tuned ladies and gents! (are there gents reading this? for that matter, are there ladies? don't leave me!)

you've lost that loving feeling

I'm sure every self-proclaimed clotheshorse has those moments where she looks into her closet and thinks she has nothing to wear. well, I had several such moments this week- admittedly due in part to bad moods and general icky-ness- when I wondered how I ended up with so many completely useless and unwearable things. of course those moments were just in passing crankiness or frustration, but it is about the point in the season when I start wanting a little shift in my wardrobe; from sundresses to sweater dresses, from ballerinas to booties, from daisy yellow to mustard yellow. sometimes I spend so much time trying to transition last season's pieces that I forget to enjoy those meant for the new season!

in the spirit of inspiration and, well...greed, I've taken it upon myself to make a little Fall/Winter wardrobe wish list!

well, it's more like a rather large wish list than a little one, but variety is the spice of life, after all. 

what do you feel is lacking in your sartorial life this autumn?

1, 3, 4, 8, 14, & 17. anything plaid! dresses, shirts, skirts, whatever. plaid in deep, rich colours makes the perfect fall and winter wardrobe. //in order: Well I'll Be Darling dress, Patterned Cotton shirt, Luck Be a Lady dress in green plaid, Day Trip Delight dress in Sunset, Secret Lake vintage dress, Plaid Flannel shirt.

2 & 12. a snappy blazer. I love this gorgeous burgundy velvet, and I'm dying for a white cropped jacket with black trim; I can't find one anywhere! this one is all sold out. //Fine & Sandy Blazer, Target.

5 & 9. a boho cardigan. something cozy and flowy in a fun, rustic pattern. they look so adorable worn with long dresses and floppy hats! //From Top to Autumn Sweater, Essence of Sedona Cardigan.

6 & 13. a yellow dress. I've come to notice lately that my closet is lacking in happy mustard hues, and it's such a lovely colour for autumn. I've had my eye on this beautiful Emily & Fin polka dot number forever. //Too Much Fun dress in Honey Creme, Confident About Your Charm dress. 

7 & 15. neutral-yet-pretty skirts. a tulle skirt is fun and playful, but in navy it's not too kitschy. and this cocoa-powder midi skirt is a great basic. //Custom by Misdress, Crinkled Midi skirt.

10, 16, & 18. lace-up boots. in versatile black, heeled emerald green, and knee-high cognac. the perfect cool weather footwear! //Into the Night boot, Follow the Cedar boot, Step it Upright bootie.

11. a pretty floral blouse. just for good measure. :) //H&M cotton shirt.

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. ♥

when I'm not myself

the past few days I've been struggling with my self-confidence again, particularly when it comes to blog stuff. I feel so blah, so uninspired. and this constantly-looking-at-pictures-of-yourself-to-put-on-the-internet is always kind of a downer. sometimes, no matter what you wear, you just don't feel blog-worthy. sometimes getting outfit photos is incredibly awkward, and it translates into the pictures.

for example... little tip for ya, speaking from experience; don't do a photo shoot in the middle of Union Square on a saturday!  

oh well. when in doubt, wear a puppy dress! that's a saying, right? it should be.

dress- Modcloth // sweater- thrifted // tights- HUE // boots- Aldo (a couple years ago) // bag- Guess, gift

I may not have felt like a ball of sunshine during this little shoot, but that's hardly the outfit's fault. I'm actually quite comfortable in it! the boots are fun and cozy, and the belted cardi-dress combo is an old staple. if anything, this look should make me feel more confident. after all, who could look at those sweet puppy faces and not smile?

do any of you have an outfit that you love to wear, but doesn't seem to photograph well?  

xo

talking trash with your red liquor lips

October is here and autumn is well underway, but I'm sticking with sundresses as long as I possibly can. the weather lately seems fairly happy to oblige, so I thought it a nice time to break out this cute little vintage number before it gets too cold for bare arms. it reminds me of confetti and little girl birthday parties! so naturally I thought to wear it for my busy day of New Girl-watching and grocery shopping. 

sometimes a girl needs a little glam in her daily errands.

dress, bag, & sunglasses- vintage // shoes- Modcloth // belt- Smart Set

the best accessories for any vintage dress? why a beehive and red lippy, of course! I also threw in my latest Broolyn Flea finds (I am getting so addicted to that place); cats eye sunglasses and a white bag.  the glasses were kind of a purchase of necessity- I forgot my sunglasses- while the bag was a little more exciting (for me, probably not so much for you. why would you care if I got a new bag? you wouldn't. if you do that's very sweet.). I've had an eye out for a neutral purse for a while now, and I've also kind of got this thing for chain straps that probably stems from my deep desire to own Chanel. anyway, this little beauty was only $20 so I snapped that up good 'n quick! I'm quite pleased with myself. 

all in all I think the look came out as sort of 80s-does-50s. which is a lot like life, isn't it? 

...I mean it probably is, but I'm not sure how. I'm just not coming up with a solid way to end this post.  is life just a mixture of one era emulating another, a swirl of colours and textures out of date and out of time? trying to form some semblance of cohesiveness in the bigger picture?

IT COULD BE.

you guys should know better than to listen to me. especially when it's late and I've been watching animal trainers on talk shows all night. it starts out educational, then it's just about seeing a lemur maul Conan O'Brien. 

I should go now... 

happy weekend! ♥