Winning

~Since I've been home I have spent my time listening to Elvis Presley Christmas music.  It's been beautiful.  I've also eaten some amazing food, seen old friends and hung out with Evan every single day.  But today I start my summer job and I couldn't be more excited and nervous.  Wish me luck!

~I was also thrilled to receive these awesome earrings from Place Trend's giveaway.  I never ever ever ever win anything so I was so excited when they arrived in the mail.  There is hope for all you who never win! 

shoes and top: jules&james. skirt and belt: thrifted. earrings: place trends giveaway. lipstick: Revlon pink in the afternoon.

5 {dipping}

~Can it be?  Has ombre already been replaced in the trend wheel by something else?  Cleaner lines and bright colours are pumping up plain objects, clothes and accessories.  I present the dip trend: a graceful dip into painted waters.  (This is also referred to as two tone.) 

{1} Animals.  These bright animals look fun in any room.

{2} Fingers.  I had so much fun painting my nails.  I painted them a solid grey and let them dry.  Then I covered the bottom half with tape and painted the tips with pink.  I then peeled the tape off and voila!  Dipped nails.  (Use this magical smoother to smooth the bump between the two colours.)

{3} Furniture.  I love this Ikea hack from The Sweet Beast.

{4} Shoes!  Here we literally dip our toes into the trend with this easy DIY from Green Wedding Shoes.

{5} Personal.  I love this dip-bottom skirt from Moon.  Hello office wear.

shoes and cardigan: pure by alfred sung. skirt: moon.

Learning About Home

~Being a student can sometimes mean that you are constantly caught between two places that you call home.  Home with your parents and home away at school.  In conversations with people, you refer to each of these places as "home".  And when you leave one home, it's sad, but you are also constantly returning home.  I returned home yesterday, to the prairies, for four months.  These are my favourite memories from my ocean home.

{our nest}

{keith urban live in vancouver}

{swimming in the pacific.  just once}

{coffee at serious coffee.  my favourite barista} 

{breakfast with friends} 

{maple bay} 

{ocean} 

{matching norwegian curling pants with evan} 

{the friendship tree in the park} 

{our little church.  which is now sold and boarded up} 

{christmas.  and cookies}

{visits from evan}

Smart

~I have a theory that the minute you put on a trench coat, everyone looks at you and thinks you look smart, stylish, successful and clean.  And so I got one for those days that my brain doesn't think straight, I'm not stylish, I've been unsuccessful and I haven't showered.  Trench coats are a magical thing.  Also I can't help but feel like a detective, ready to whip out my magnifying glass and tip-toe down the street to the theme of the Pink Panther.  (please watch the real version and not the one with Steve Martin).

~got a little fancy with the hair.

shoes: Dominican Republic. pants: gap. trench: esprit. purse: h&m.

Business Time

~Yesterday I was offered a summer student job and I accepted.  I am so thrilled about this opportunity to experience real world work.  I'm always nervous to start a new job, but I love it once I get into a rhythm and learn new things.  Also I've been having a lovely time with my mother buying trench coats, bridesmaid shoes, eating soup, walking and studying (as always).  I head back to the prairies in four days!

shoes: gift from the Dominican Republic.  pants: pure by Alred Sung. tank: joe fresh.  blazer: thrifted. 

~ps: 5 will return next Friday.  I can't wait to get back on schedule.  Thanks for sticking with me friends!  I've been loving reading all your comments and checking out your blogs.  You are all such beautiful people.

Exploration

~Today I'm out and about, exploring Victoria with my Mom and a bright red coat.  So for now you can hang out with my new boyfriend: Steven the whale.  He is so friendly.  Enjoy your Wednesday! 

shoes: rocketdog. jeans: BDG. jacket: Gabrielle's. lipstick: clinique all hearts.

Isn't he handsome?

Things I do

~Some days I do incredible things.  Amazing things.  Things I am proud of.  Yesterday I studied for my history exam.  I'm not proud of that because it was just a necessary thing.  Yesterday I also made bread and that is what I am so incredibly proud of.  Delicious, warm, fluffy honey whole wheat bread.  It was a beautiful thing.  When it came out of the oven, I popped it out of the pan, cut off a huge slice and put some white cheddar cheese on it.  It was the ultimate de-stresser.   

shoes: le chateau. leggings: h&m. dress: hillary's from a market in serbia. blazer: thrifted. purse: gift.

~My dad used to make bread all the time.  He even has an apron designed by my sister and I with the title of "breadmaker" on it.  We used to all put on our aprons and make tiny loaves of bread with him.  Nostalgia always hits when I'm this close to going home.  In other news, my mom is coming to visit me today!  I can't wait to show her my favourite spots in Victoria.  

~ps: thanks for reading and having such lovely comments.  I suggest you go eat some carbs on my behalf.

Weekend

~I wish I could say my weekend was relaxing and all I did was watch Mad Men, stalk the local thrift store, listen to Johnny Cash and eat Maple White Chocolate... but... my multi-tasking skills are at their highest and I also studied for two exams and wrote two exams on Friday night and Saturday night.  Now I don't know who makes the exam schedules and I'm sure their job is difficult but when Saturday evening falls prey to an exam, I get scared that Sunday will be the next victim and students will have no day of rest.

shoes: urban outfitters.  jeans: BDG. tank and shirt: gap. belt: joe. 

~The key to looking smart when you're stressed is to own a collared shirt.  I don't think my obsession with collared shirts will ever stop, just like my obsession with this song will never stop.  Some things in life are just essential.

5 {bows}

~Everyone loves details in an outfit and one of the easiest, cutest and prettiest details you can add is a bow.  You can make a bow out of any piece of ribbon, fabric or string to complete your look.  People are wearing them from head-to-toe.  (ps. If anyone is literally wearing bows from head-to-toe please send me a picture.  I would love to see the genius who could pull that off)

{1} Bows are easily added to any kind of shirt. {image source} (see collared shirt inspiration here)   

{2} Bloggers.  Liz from Late Afternoon shows you how to tie a perfect bow every time.

{3} Hair.  I love this casual bow in a messy up do. {image source} 

{4} Shoes.  Aldo has some pretty pumps with bows adorning them.

{5} Personal.  I love tying bows with a collared shirt or in my hair, or around my waist but I also love when clothes come pre-adorned.  

Little Black Dress

~Yesterday I celebrated the completion of my first exam by watching Mad Men and drinking carrot juice (my two biggest addictions at the moment).  Carrot juice is something that everyone should get into.  It's creamy and it's bright orange.  You can't go wrong.  Just like a show set in the 60s: you can't go wrong.  Just like a little black dress: you can't go wrong.

shoes: le chateau. LBD & jacket & scarf: thrifted. purse: gift. 

~I'm in love with the bright colours in this scarf which is actually just a large piece of silky fabric that I picked up at the BFM.  And now that the weather has finally decided to stay sunny I can wear bare legs (which, let's be honest, is waaaaaayyyyy more work than pants but worth it).

My Clothes Talk and Two Style Types

~Exams start tomorrow which means I will be seeing two different types of people over the next few weeks.

{1} Those who want everyone to think that they spent every last ounce of their energy studying into the late hours of the night.  These folk wear last night's makeup, fuzzy hair, sweat pants, uggs and a hoodie.  

{2}  Those who want the prof to think that they are so ready for this exam.  These folk showered twice, overdid their makeup and are dressed like they are interviewing for a government job. 

shoes: pure by alfred sung.  jeans: sirens. shirt: kismet. blazer: thrifted. 

~Those are just the people I will be observing.  Happily, I think I fall somewhere in the middle, but more towards a look that says: I-hope-you-appreciate-that-I-showered-because-I-was-up-all-night.  This look consists of a shirt that looks like a picnic blanket (see above), comfy jeans, a blazer that says I-know-what-I'm-doing and shoes that say I-belong-on-a-beach.  It's all part of my educational versatility.  

Weekend Moments and Monday Advice

{skirt and belt: thrifted.  shirt: wet seal. cardigan: gap.}{inspiration}

~This Sunday was beautiful.  We had a wonderful Easter service, but we also had to say goodbye to the lovely building that our church has been meeting in.  It's going to be torn down and the land is going to be developed. We're sad because it's such a beautiful building, but we're also excited about where we're headed.

~And of course we looked lovely in our Easter best.  Make sure you watch this movie next year.  There needs to be more Fred Astaire being played on everyone's televisions sets.  If your weekend wasn't as marvelous as you had hoped and you're not ready to face the week... I suggest incorporating some sort of musical into your schedule this Monday.  It's a cure-all.  Guaranteed.  

Learning about windows

~This weekend I'm focusing on the beauty in simplicity.  I'm finding most of this beauty in black coffee, sunshine, flowers and my window.  A window is the best place to start when searching for beauty.  It's something you look out of everyday, it's where the sun shines in to wake you up, it's the door to the sky from your apartment.  

~Windowsills are wonderful to collect things on and to eat blackberry yogurt by.  Windows are perfect for magazine butterflies to flutter in the breeze, they're perfect for displaying the daffodils you picked up at midnight.  Windows are perfect for gazing out of whether it's into the face of the sun, or the romantic beauty of the rain.  They're also wonderful for pretending you are a princess in a tower.