Fashion Blogs

I have been a lover of blogs since I became a techno nerd. Its true! I had one way back in the day when livejournal was everyones main place to go and since then I've enjoyed creeping and reading others. There are blogs for everything and everyone. I used to write a daily "what I did blog" until I realized I'm crazy boring.... then I started this one and its still boring but meh. No one reads it.

My love of blogs stems from the interactions of its readers. Want to get a question answered? Join a community blog and ask away and then come back and read the comments. You get real advice from real people who have been in the same situations. I love reading about my various medical issues (Graves & Celiac) because I get to find out how others are coping; What medications they take; Tricks that they have learned; And of course, Gluten-Free recipes. Its one thing to read about it in a book but online, where others have commented, you know if the advice is really good... and if the recipe is worth trying! Recently I have discovered Fashion Blogs and have fallen in love.

I was surprised when I actually liked working in retail and ever since I started at Tabi back when I was 15, I have loved to work with clothing. Feeling the difference between the fabrics. Seeing the differences in the cuts. Helping people with various body shapes find what works for them. I really upgraded when I went from working Tabi to working at Roots. During my first year at the MicMac store, I started to really get into fashion, but it wasn't until I joined the Spring Garden store that I was hooked. Partly it was because of the girls I worked with, and partly because the Spring Garden store had such a larger selection than the MicMac store.
I was no fashionable when I was a teen. I pretty much rebelled and went the opposite way that most girls went. I remember spending grade 5 and grade 6 living in black leggings and super baggy t-shirts. I didn't want to look like everyone else. I didn't want to wear kaki pants. Then I went further away from the others. I dabbled in super baggy pants. I work tank tops with flannel shirts overtop. I went from only wearing leggings to only wearing jeans. I was almost in high school before I joined the "short t shirt" club instead of always wearing mens' shirts. Then high school....... oh dear.

Actually I look back and love it. I was an individual. My friends were all individuals. We didn't care if we wore the latest look, instead we enjoyed being ourselves. I think this is one of the main reasons why we are pretty much all still friends. We had figured out who we were and embraced it. I went through a period with some purple streaks in my hair (c/o some purple kool-aid - my mom was not impressed). Bracelets were one of my loves. I wore them everyday from wrist to elbow. I had a pair of mens jeans (they were so comfy!). I did own pleather. I had a shirt made of netting. University I wore a lot of Roots (because I wore it to work before or after class and didn't want to change).

I feel that by working with clothing (and trying EVERYTHING on) you get a good sense for what works on you and what doesn't. I'm a huge believer in trying things on. I know now that I have a super long torso so all those short t-shirts don't work on me (on other people they hit at your belt line, on me the hit at my belly button). I am curvy. I have to be careful about pockets. Working at Garage was an interesting experience as they are geared towards young teens.... thing 12, 13, 14 year olds..... I was 23, 24 working there. Again, working there you have to wear the clothing so you figure out what works for you and how to make something match you instead of you matching the clothes (been 16 once, don't want to look like I'm still 16 - although I have been asked if I am a high school student volunteer at some schools that I work at). I've learned not to really care what size the label says - it doesn't matter. What matters is that you like what you are wearing and that you look good in it.

I love leggings (I think it kinda brings me back to when I was little). I'm on the fence about jeggings but mostly because I have yet to see a good version of them. If a pair had the right wash and look, I might pick a pair up. I love dresses for work. I have lots of cute flats and a few pairs of nice heels (still scared of them since I sprained my ankle). I do shop too much because I get an idea into my head or when I see something I can picture an outfit that I need to have and wear. I'm trying to streamline my closet with pieces that I can wear for work and wear when I'm going out with friends. It is slowly working.

While fashion blogs are awesome ways to get ideas of how to wear something or what is "in style" I have mixed feelings about them. I like reading them but some of them are all about just taking a picture and showing people what they are wearing everyday. I like to look good... but I don't look picture perfect every single day. If I'm just going to the laundromat, I'll just throw whatever on and pull my hair back. Makeup? Ha! Not unless it is a super special occasion. That said I'll still continue to read them. :)

I'll end this with a question.... what is your favourite item(s) in your closet? Can be a new item or old one.
Mine are my brand new Steve Madden black heels. They have a small heel (1.5") and a round toe. The heel is also a bit thicker (not chunky but not skinny like stilettos). I also love my purple bench hoodie (because it is the best shade of purple!)

Oldies?

So I have the habit of making myself feel old by realizing that the kids I teach know nothing about the bands that I used to love. Check out some oldies below (They may not be "good" but they definitely bring back the memories).
P.S. You want these for yourselves, then check out iTunes :)


I totally used to know the whole dance to this one!



Again Kristen and I used to be able to do the dance :P


This song Screams Jr High Dances to me



I used to <3 Sugar Ray
This one screams Saint Anne's Trip to me... and that crazy time we went to the OLP concert and met up with people and had a fun but really random day.


Well this one is only because I recently saw the Movie "Date Night" and he was in it and he wasn't wearing a shirt.....

Adventure in PEI

Matt unfortunately has been working like crazy the past few months.  So last weekend when he had Sunday off, we went for an adventure. :) We headed up to the North Shore to a spot called "Thunder Cove". It's not that far from Charlottetown but is it ever pretty. Here are a few of my photos  from that day.

Now (hopefully) Back to Regular Blogging

Hi All!
This summer has gone by in a flash! Old Home Week starts tomorrow here on the island which here means that summer is pretty much over. There is an old folk lore that states that the wind always changes to come from the North during the Gold Cup and Saucer Races, to help push the horses on. All I know is that today feels like fall. There is a nip in the air.

So lets see, my summer... Well I worked a whole lot in May and June, then Matt and I headed down to my parents new cottage (literally across the street from the old family one my grandparents bought). It is so nice to be able to see the water and hear the waves at night. It is also a real house. Mom and Dad will probably be selling the place in Colby within the next year or two. They plan on keeping something in the city (apartment or condo) but want to enjoy the perks of my Dad's job and traveling everywhere. Plus visiting Lo/Seb in BC and Matt and I here in Charlottetown.

View from the Deck :)

New Cottage!

I spent a weekend in Halifax to attend Natalie and Dan's Wedding back in July. It was so much fun to see them get married since we all met at UMPI  and were there at the beginning of their relationship. The UMPI crew had a great reunion at the wedding and in our hotel room.  It was so much fun to see everyone and hear all their stories. It sometimes feels like so much has happened since Maine, but then it also seems like no time at all has passed.

Hannah, Erin, Shannon and I getting ready for the reception

The next big thing that happened this summer was that my little sister Laura got Married!  I'll post more pictures on that later but she was such a happy bride and so excited to be starting her life with Sebastien. She had a super day for a wedding (although Dad would say it was a bit too hot). As I type this, she and Seb are now driving across Canada to their new home in Victoria. 

Steve (bestman), Seb, Pascal (groomsman) and of course, Lo