Anomalous Allure

Glitter, Colour, Prints

2012-02-16T11:14:00.002-07:00

I've been really absent on the internet lately... sometimes real life is just too busy. I'm really glad next week is our break, I can't wait to have some time away from school. Other than that, I don't have too much to say, so here's what I wore yesterday. I received my tights from We Love Colors a week ago, and I'm so happy to have more of their tights. Not only are the colours wonderful, but they're so comfy!

Ricki's cardigan, Old Navy blouse and skirt, Payless glitter flats, We Love Colors tights in teal

everyday outfit

2012-01-30T17:32:00.004-07:00

This sort of simple outfit is a very common "everyday" outfit for me, especially when I'm at work. To be honest, I wear this skirt almost every shift - though I only work a few times a week!

Skirt - Old Navy
Striped top - thrifted Joe Fresh
Tights - Addition-Elle
Flats - Skechers
Watch - Payless

Try a New Recipe: Green Onion Cakes

2012-01-27T12:35:00.005-07:00

Crossing "try a new recipe" off of my list of goals for the month. More "completed goals" posts coming soon!

Green onion cakes are one of my favourite snacks and appetizers. They are really popular in Edmonton, but I haven't been able to find any in Regina so I decided to make my own.

The recipe I followed was given to me by a friend, just over Facebook. I can't cite it any further than that, sorry!

You will need:

2 cups of all purpose flour
1/3 cup of cold water
1/2 cup boiling water

sesame oil
salt
1 cup green onions, minced (I used two bundles)

Directions:

1. Place flour in large bowl. Put 1/2 cup of boiling water over flour and mix well. Let stand for 2 minutes. Add 1/3 cup cold water. Knead dough for about 5 minutes or until smooth. Add more water if needed. Cover with a damp cloth and let stand for 15-20 minutes.

2. Turn out onto lightly floured board. Divide dough into 4 equal parts. Use hands to roll each piece into a ball. Roll out into a 10 inch circle. Sprinkle with sesame oil, salt and green onion.

3. Roll up each piece like a jelly roll, then coil like a snake. Press flat with palm of hand. Roll out 1/4 inch thick. Repeat with remaining dough.

4. Heat a medium size skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp oil and fry pancake till golden brown, turn and fry other side. Repeat with other pancakes. Cut each pancake into 4 pieces.

Serve with hot chili sauce, soya sauce, and/or red vinegar. Enjoy!

If you try this recipe, I hope you enjoy it (I certainly did)!

Fancy Floral

2012-01-25T21:38:00.006-07:00

I really love this first picture, because that's how I stand almost all of the time. Anyways, I wore this yesterday for a full day of classes, the pride centre's open mic night, and then out for a drink. Wednesdays are always so busy! Even though I'm wearing a cutesy floral dress, I felt very grown up in this outfit. I blame the button up and the granny-chic penny loafers.

I learned how to tie a tie (...well, tie a scarf like a tie) for this outfit.

Button-up shirt - Old Navy
Dress - Ricki's
Scarf - thrifted
Tights - Addition-Elle
Shoes - Skecher's

Oatmeal Cookies

2012-01-23T20:09:00.006-07:00

I really love baking - and I especially love eating baked goods - so I've been trying to do it more often. I didn't bake at all last semester because I didn't have the supplies. Baking pans and dishes, flours, sugar, spices...where do you start? It wasn't until I moved out that I realized how convenient a stocked pantry is. I've been slowly collecting pans and dishes, and when I got groceries I decided to shell out and get all the baking supplies I need. The first thing I want to make were these delicious oatmeal cookies we used to make at home. I'm not a fan of most oatmeal cookies but these ones are just delicious! Thankfully my sister convinced our parents to scan the recipe and send it our way.

Here's the recipe, from the More-with-Less Cookbook:

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes

Cream together:
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
3 eggs

Beat well. Sift together:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice

Add to creamed mixture alternately with:
1/2 cup milk

Stir in:
2 cups rolled oats

This is where you stir in any "add ins" you might want. The recipe calls for chopped dates, coconut, and walnuts, but growing up my mom always made it with raisins. I, of course, add chocolate chips. (Fair warning: I added a whole bag of chocolate chips, which overpowered the subtle cinnamon flavour. Next time I'll add no more than 1 cup).

The recipe is said to make 6 dozen, but I found that is only make 4 dozen. (Only should be in scare-quotes, 4 dozen is more than enough!) This would change with the size you make your cookies, but I'm pretty happy with the size these ones are.

These cookies are great anytime, but I especially love them for breakfast. (What? Chocolate's a breakfast food!)

Do you have a favourite oatmeal cookies recipe?

Comical Spheres

2012-01-19T21:17:00.008-07:00

Sorry that's in been so long since my last outfit post! I haven't been in the mood to photograph myself in a while and this semester's been busy so far, but it feels good to be back in the swing of things. One of the reasons this semester has been so busy already was that the first day of classes was also the first day of campaigning for the pride centre. We're the only student organization on campus not directly funded by students, and yesterday students voted on whether our pride centre should receive $1 per student per semester. Today I'm happy to report that our referendum passed (with 86% of votes in our favour!), securing our funding and our ability to continue providing services on campus. I'm so excited about this!

Dress - Penningtons (my grad dress!)
Tights - c/o of We Love Colors
Men's boots - Forever 21
Striped top - thrifted
Coat - thrifted (only $7)
Necklace - made & gifted by my sister

I absolutely love this Archie comic necklace from my sister, and other people seem to as well. I got a tonne of compliments on it - I don't know why I don't wear it more often!

Disclaimer of sorts (just because I'm always curious when people take outfit photos outside in the winter): It is bitterly cold and windy right now. I thought I could snap a few photos on my rooftop courtyard (...that makes it sound way fancier than it is) and while I clearly survived, I probably shouldn't have risked it. The weather had been pretty warm for a while there, but for the last week it's been terribly cold and with wind chills has felt like -40. It's supposed to warm up this weekend so I won't have to risk frostbite to snap a photo. I'm not really sure why I felt this needed a disclaimer, but I feel really weird trying to pretend it's "not that cold" when really, that the reality of where I live. Rest assured, I'm all bundled up under other circumstances.

Goals

2012-01-12T21:52:00.005-07:00

I'm a bit late to be posting about my "new year's resolutions," but I still wanted to share my goals for 2012 and those for January. The problem with making goals for the new year is that an entire year is such a long time. Who knows what my goals will be in 6 months – certainly not me! So while I do have a few goals that may take all of 2012, or that won’t be accomplished until later in the year, one of my biggest goals is to make monthly goals. I hope this will make it easier to accomplish these goals (and I plan to share with you when I do!).

Goals for 2012

get my license (finally!)
stick to my budget
keep all of my notes neat and organized
get my own place and decorate (I can't wait!)
read one just-for-fun book a month
create monthly goals for every month this year
get my passport
send more mail! (who doesn't love receiving mail?)
find out all there is to love about Regina

Goals for January

make candy
re-organize and re-decorate my room
make cinnamon buns
get a Regina library card
ride my bike (since it's such a warm winter!)
try a new recipe

Glitter + an update

2012-01-07T18:42:00.004-07:00

It's only been a week since my last post but it feels like it's been so long. I got food poisoning on New Year's Eve (what an awful way to ring in the new year!) and was sick for a few days. I started feeling better just in time to fly back to Regina Wednesday, and my classes started on Thursday. After such a long holiday, it feels a bit weird to be back to the daily grind, but I think this semester will be a good one and it won't take long to get back in the swing of things.

Anyways, since I haven't taken any photos this week I though I'd show a quick snapshot from New Year's Eve (y'know, before I got sick).

sheer top c/o City Chic, glitter necklace made by me (last minute new year's DIY)

Top 24 Outfits of 2011

2011-12-31T15:42:00.005-07:00

I decided to take a page out of Kaelah's book and share with you my favourite outfits that I've worn this year. I don't think my style has changed too much, but it was a lot of fun to go through these photos. Have you done any similar end-of-year roundups? If so, let me know in comments!

January

Blue Belle // Saturday nights in neon lights

February

Stronger than the love in old love songs // Colourful Prints

March

Floral, Leopard, Purple // Pretty in Paisley

April

Buttons are busted, we're decorated // Black and White

May

I Love Colours // Vancouver

June

Science Fiction, Double Feature // Pride

July

Pretty Paisley // Mod Night

August

Earn your Stripes // Maxi

September

Autumn Equinox // Yellow

October

Sophisticated // Autumnal Orange

November

Interview Attire // Monday

December

Calendar girl, who's in love with the world // Complementary Colours

Happy Holidays

2011-12-28T13:02:00.004-07:00

I had a really great Christmas with my family, and am still in the holiday mood now. Too bad all of the Christmas baking has been eating! Hope you're all having a good holiday/happy December.

30 for 30 Overview

2011-12-22T15:30:00.007-07:00

Sorry for pushing this 30 for 30 overview so far back. I've had a a wonderful holiday so far and my mind hasn't exactly been on blogging, but I want to post this before I post anything else.

If you came late to this, the 30 for 30 challenge was started by Kendi of Kendi Everyday and the rules are to use 30 items in your closet to create 30 outfits. You can click here to see the 30 items I chose, and click here to see the 30 outfits I created in more detail.

This is where I would say "click for larger photo" but I'm really bad at the internet so uhm...sorry it's so small?

The easiest item to remix was my black skirt from Old navy, by far. I probably could have worn it for all 30 outfits.

The hardest item to remix was my leopard print City Chic dress. I'm not sure why, I thought my striped sweater dress ewould be harder to remix but I had such a hard time with that leopard print number.

My favourite outfit was number 18 - it was a totallty unexpected combination, but I loved the prairie-chic vibe.

My least favourite outfit was outfit number 22, but it was also an outfit a wore a lot so I felt it was important to share. Everyone has their casual days.

All in all, this challenge was a lot of fun. It made me be a bit more creative when creating outfits, and I found myself more comfortable phototgraphing and sharing "everyday" outfits. It was a lot of work and I found it to be a big time commitment though. I'm not sure if I would do it again, If I did it would likely be during the summer.

Colourful

2011-12-15T14:08:00.003-07:00

I was a bit out of ideas for my 30th outfit, so I decided to be a bit silly and go for the fun art teacher/colourful flight attendant look. What do you think?

Wearing a sweater as a skirt won't really work in the long run, so I'm now on the look out for a striped skirt.

Sweater worn as skirt - Zellers
Tights c/o We Love Colors
Land's End flats
Old Navy t-shirt
Thirfted scarf

I'm so relieved to be done the 30 for 30 challenge! It was a lot of fun, but I was getting a bit sick of looking at photos of myself. I'm on my way home to Edmonton this afternoon, but I'll post a round-up of the challenge in the next few days. Thanks for reading & commenting during this little blogging marathon!

Cozy Chic

2011-12-15T08:35:00.002-07:00

I absolutely love this cozy chic outfit. Nothing's better than a dress that looks great but feels like pyjamas.

Old Navy dress, Ricki's sweater, Naturalizer boots

Plaid

2011-12-14T09:05:00.003-07:00

Thrifted sweater & blazer
Old Navy skirt
Payless lace-up boots

Owl print

2011-12-13T20:23:00.002-07:00

How do you dress up an owl-print top? With trouser-cut jeans and heels, of course!

Old Navy jeans
F21 owl tank-top
Walmart cardigan
Payless heeled boots

Lots of Dots

2011-12-13T09:22:00.004-07:00

Do you ever find that photographing your outfits makes you more aware of tiny errors and annoyances in your clothing? I can wear an outfit all day without noticing a thing, but as soon as I look at photographs it becomes glaringly obvious. In this case - what on earth is that black thing on my belt? A loose thread? I didn't see it until now and of course now it's bothering me. Oh well, if I didn't notice it during the day it can't have been too obvious.

Anyways, I really love this belt and I especially love pairing it with other polka dots for subtle print-mixing. And the colour of these tights? Perfect!

Thrifted top, Old Navy skirt, tights c/o We Love Colors,
Payless flats, belt came with thrifted dress

Rust-ic

2011-12-12T15:47:00.005-07:00

I absolutely love this pin I found at Value Village this past fall. It's so dainty and cute.

Dress c/o City Chic
Thrifted plaid shirt
Payless flats
Northern Reflections belt

Orange and purple

2011-12-12T09:02:00.003-07:00

This orange and purple colour combo might be one of my favourites. It seems like an odd combo, but when I bought this scarf a few years ago I realized just how perfectly the colours go together.

Thrifted skirt & cardigan
Naturalizer boots
Scarf from the Tinbox

Vintage Inspired

2011-12-11T20:52:00.002-07:00

I felt like a total babe in this vintage inspired outfit, and it gave me a chance to finally wear this brooch I've had for years. (Seriously, I found in a storage locker! Who thrifts things only to forget about them immediately? This gal.)

Old Navy cardigan
Ricki's skirt
Land's End flats
Addition-Elle tights
Warehouse One tank
Thrifted brooch

3 in 1

2011-12-11T10:19:00.003-07:00

I've been making so many posts lately, so I thought I'd post three outfits at once seeing as they're all quite basic. Here ya' go!

Old Navy t-shirt & cardigan, Penningtons jeans, Naturalizer boots

Old Navy t-shirt & skirt, vintage scarf, Payless flats

Old Navy top, Penningtons jeans, Payless flats, scarf from Winners

Just a heads up that I'll be flooding this blog with outfit posts over the next few days. I have the rest of the 30 for 30 outfit photos uploaded on my computer, and I'm committed to finishing this challenge before my flight to Edmonton. I procrastinated a lot at the beginning and am making up for it now - welcome to my life! I hope you don't mind and if you do...sorry?

Bumble bee

2011-12-10T18:43:00.002-07:00

I was wearing this when two drag queens came to my youth group to talk about the drag community in our city. As they were leaving, my number one drag queen crush (who I have the same houndstooth coat as!) stopped me and asked about my shoes - "What size are your feet? Where did you get those shoes? I want them!" Eek! I died a thousand glittery deaths…these flats really are magic.

I was channeling Gazel a bit with this outfit, I love the way she pairs pullover sweaters with dresses and skirts.

Asos Curve dress
Thrifted men's sweater
Addition-Elle tights
Land's End flats
Necklace - brooch pinned onto chain, both thrifted

Complementary Colours

2011-12-10T10:36:00.006-07:00

I was a bit unsure of how to wear this skirt in a more wintery way, but I really liked how this outfit turned out. I feel like Rebecca of We Are Large, People with my long skirt/boots/cardigan combo. I love her style!

Thrifted skirt & cardigan
Old Navy t-shirt (worn backwards)
Naturalizer boots
Bib necklace from Tinbox

Boyish

2011-12-09T22:37:00.002-07:00

This outfit is nothing fancy, but I'm really liking layering button-ups under sweaters. I'm finally achieving the menswear look of my dreams!

Thrifted plaid men's shirt, sweater from Zellers, Penningtons jeans, Payless lace-up boots

P.S. I absolutely love my new blog layout designed by Rachele of The Nearsighted Owl. Her design work is fantastic, and she's such a delight to work with. If you don't already follow her blog, I highly suggest it!

Stripe-tastic

2011-12-07T13:34:00.002-07:00

I wore this last Saturday night to see a play that one of my friend's was stage-managing. The play was pretty good, and it was the start of what turned out to a be a really awesome weekend. I absolutely love this dress - it feels like pyjamas but looks fabulous!

This outfit did not come about easily. I generally ignore all "fashion rules" but the idea of pairing light brown with this dress just...boggled my mind. My style can be a bit quirky, but to avoid looking a thirteen year-old who just discovered Value Village is actually cool (no hate, I've been there), I try to pair colours in a way that feels "sensical" and repeat colours throughout an outfit. So upon first glance (and second, and third) this dress called for black additions and nothing more. I'm glad I was able to shake that feeling because I really like this outfit. Are there any self-imposed fashion rules you have a hard time breaking?

Old Navy dress, Penningtons belt, Payless flats

Half-way mark

2011-12-06T02:01:00.004-07:00

This is what I wore to my first shift last week. Having never worked in retail before, I wasn’t really sure what to wear, but I liked this. I actually bought the top, cardigan, and skirt all on the same trip to Old Navy; I loved them together when I tried them on but didn’t get around to wearing them in real life until now.

Old Navy top, skirt, & cardigan
Payless flats
Northern Reflections belt

Calendar girl, who's in love with the world

2011-12-03T16:34:00.004-07:00

Thank you all for the kind comments you've been leaving, especially the congratulatory comments on my last post. I've been really bad at replying to comments lately (more posts = more comments = me feeling overwhelmed) but do know that I read and appreciate every comment I receive!

Wore this to classes a few days ago, and got a tonne of compliments on it. I guess I'm not the only one who likes black and white mixed prints!

Problem: I love how boots and skirts look without tights, but I always thought it was one of those things I just couldn't do. Plus I have iffy feelings about my knees.

Solution: Push myself outside of my comfort zone and look like a mega babe doing it.

Thrifted dress (worn as a skirt)
Sweater from Zellers
AA leg warmers
Naturalizer boots
Thrifted belt

Employed!

2011-12-02T09:43:00.003-07:00

Earlier this week I had a job interview, and - after months of looking and disappointment - I got the job! I'm very happy to be employed again. This also means that I won't have to create "interview outfits" any more, which I'm grateful for as it's not really my forte. I think this one was alright though...what do you think?

Old Navy top, thrifted skirt, Walmart cardigan, Naturalizer boots, Penningtons tights

Purple prints

2011-12-01T16:37:00.002-07:00

Still doing a bit of catching up here.. I've been really exhausted this week (thank goodness classes are almost over) so I haven't gotten around to posting much, even though I've still been photographing my outfits. This is what I wore to classes last Friday - I really liked it!

These leg warmer/socks combo make wearing boots with tights much better. I bought them last year but they were too small for my calves. I found them again and decided to cut the top seem and fold over any unsightly bits. Worked like a charm!

Dress c/o City Chic
Ricki's sweater
Naturalizer boots
Penningtons tights
Walmart socks
forgot where the scarf is from...Le Chateau maybe?

Backtrack

2011-11-27T11:19:00.005-07:00

A bit of backtracking here - I've actually worn this outfit a few times now but never got around to photographing/posting it. I really love the yellow, orange, and purple colour combo, and the sweet feel of the outfit overall.

F21 owl top
Old Navy cardigan & skirt
Northern Reflections belt
Vintage pin
Lands End flats

Black & White

2011-11-26T12:34:00.004-07:00

Last night I went to the Annual AIDS Benefit at the local gay bar and I decided to dress up a bit. I had a really good time - it was my first drag show (!) and a handful of people I knew were there. I felt a bit nervous when I first arrived (new place, lots of people) but I found a few people I knew from school and we grabbed a table. We were right at the front and got teased a lot by hosting drag queen, and while I didn't like being identified as straight, it was a lot of fun. And I got a few compliments on my outfit!

Sticking to black and white makes mixing prints a bit easier and looks very chic, in my opinion. I have a lot of black and white in the clothes I'm remixing, so you'll probably see more of it.

Old Navy top, Ricki's skirt, Payless heeled boots, Reitmans necklace

Yesterday definitely got me out of my funk, and I'm feeling much happier today! I hope I can keep up this positivity. What do you do to cheer yourself up?

Sea Legs

2011-11-24T17:16:00.004-07:00

Hey all! I don't have too much to say today, I'm currently studying for a (really late in the semester) mid-term, but I really liked this outfit and got a few compliments on it today.

thrifted skirt
Old Navy top
Addition-Elle tights
Payless flats
Warehouse One scarf

Mad for Plaid

2011-11-23T11:24:00.005-07:00

I've been feeling like an angsty teenager the past few days, and this outfit seems to embody that. Not that I have any angst towards this outfit (I'm pretty smitten with this skirt and blazer) but y'know... thrifted plaid blazer, lots of grey, lace-up boots, a frown, endless cups of coffee - I might as well be 15 again!

I love that this blazer has elbow patches, but I can't help but think of that scene from How I Met Your Mother. Anyone else a fan of the show?

thrifted blazer, Payless boots, Old Navy skirt, t-shirt, & leggings

Monday

2011-11-21T19:50:00.002-07:00

I did these gradation glitter nails last night and I love how they turned out. I'm not so good at painting my nails, but with glitter I find it's harder to mess up. Plus the glitter tips matched my tights!

Asos Curve dress (worn as a top)
Old Navy skirt
Payless flats
F21 necklace
Penningtons belt
Tight c/o We Love Colors

Summery in November

2011-11-20T17:27:00.004-07:00

This outfit feels way too summery for winter, but I guess that's one of the upsides of spending a lot of time inside. I certainly couldn't go outside in this, but it was great for a day of classes.

This necklace it actually quite short, but I preferred the longer look so I attached it to another necklace. I'm thinking of adding a proper chain extension.

Old Navy top, thrifted skirt & chain necklace, Lands End flats, F21 necklace, Penningtons belt

I realized that if I wanted to finish the 30 for 30 challenge before I go to Edmonton for Christmas (and I do!) I'll need to post almost once a day, so I'll be posting much more frequently in the coming weeks. Just a heads up!

Holiday Gift Guide

2011-11-19T16:50:00.006-07:00

It seems like all of the Christmas-related blog posts I've been reading start off with something involving window displays in New York City. I fear my life is not so glamorous, but today at Michael's they were playing Hanson's Snowed In and the store smelled like cinnamon. It was very Christmas-y! To be honest, I've been in the "Christmas spirit" for a few weeks now. Near the beginning of November I realized I had been in Regina for 9 weeks and would be home in 7, and I have been dreaming of Christmas ever since!

The last few weeks I've been thinking a lot about Christmas gifts, and decided to put together a little gift guide. If we're friends in real life, please don't read the rest of this post. There may be subtle gift-spoilers, and at the very least it'll take way some of the fun of gift giving. Also, please keep in mind that this is just my opinion, and in no way is a definitive gift guide. I'm just a weird broke girl who loves giving gifts to the people I love!

Shop craft sales //

If you’re looking for cute, unique, hand-made gifts this is the best bet. Christmas craft sales begin the second weekend of November and continue up until a week before Christmas. Don’t worry if you’ve missed some, there’s still a lot more to catch! I prefer smaller craft sales at churches and community halls, over larger ones with admission fees and hundreds of vendors, but that’s just me. Larger ones will likely be well-advertised, but you’ll have to look a bit harder for the smaller ones. If your city has a website for events that’s a great place to check, and be sure keep your eyes out for posters on community bulletin boards and small advertisements in weekly publications. Also, when talking to vendors, ask them if they’ll be at any other sales before Christmas. This is a great way to find out about upcoming craft sales! Be sure to take cash, and I find it helpful to check out all of the vendors once before I start shopping.

Make something yourself //

Easier said than done, right? Making gifts takes money, as well as time and skill. And for really practical people, it can be hard to decide what to make for them. Before I started doing pottery, it felt that everything I made was comparable to macaroni glued to paper. Pottery is really great to give as gifts (especially in high school when I had nearly unlimited access to clay, glazes, and a kiln) but I don’t have access to a studio right now so I have to be a bit more creative in my ideas. One of my favourite simple gift ideas are these cute coasters from A Beautiful Mess (I’m making a few sets myself). Even if you’re not interested in tree stump coasters, felt and embroidery thread is a good place to start (here’s proof!).

Don’t be afraid to shop second-hand //

I have no shame in shopping for gifts second-hand, but this might depend on who you’re shopping for. I would say that housewares and jewellery are always okay (just call it vintage!) but clothes would be very specific to the person. This year my sister said “you can buy me clothes, but only if they’re vintage or from Value Village.” Here’s a little story related to that… Last year I bought her three sweaters, one from a thrift store and two from a shop at the mall. The sweater from the thrift store was a beautiful vintage cream-coloured cardigan in perfect condition with beading at the top, but because it was thrifted I didn’t think it was a “proper” gift. I gave her the thrift-store sweater a few days before Christmas, and wrapped the other two sweaters and put them under the tree to be opened Christmas morning. My sister absolutely loved the thrifted cardigan, and she ended up returning the other two sweaters because she just didn’t like them. Later she told me I should’ve given her the thrifted sweater for Christmas. I’ll be sure not to make that mistake again! And really? As long as it’s in good condition, vintage dishware is the same whether you bought it at an antique store for $50 or a thrift store for $5.

Be practical //

If you’re shopping for a university student or someone else just moving out into their own place, don’t be afraid to get them something practical! There are some things that are helpful but not necessary in the kitchen (like muffin tins, for example) that could make a great gift for someone starting out on their own. This is probably a safer bet for people close to you, like a sibling or daughter *cough cough* and it would likely be much appreciated by the recipient. I think a gift basket with a cake pan, flour, sugar, spatula, and a few spices would be a wonderful gift for someone who likes to bake but doesn’t have the supplies yet. A spice rack would also be an awesome gift - spices make cooking much more fun but their price can make it a hard-to-justify purchase for someone on a student’s budget.

Have a few go-to gifts //

Whether you’re only buying gifts for people close to you, or buying gifts for acquaintances and coworkers, it’s always nice to have a few go-to gifts. When I’m shopping for other young, cool women my go to gift is usually jewellery, particularly necklaces or earrings. So when I’m shopping and perusing craft sales I’ll keep an eye out for necklaces, while still keeping my friends’ personal styles in mind. My second go-to gift would be a book. This is another gift where you can still personalize it based on the recipient’s tastes. You can buy someone a book you know they’ve been wanting to read, something from one of their favourite authors, something in a genre they like, or even a book you love and think they would too. If you’re shopping for a coworker, acquaintance, secret Santa, or another gift exchange, your go-to gift might be a bit broader. My choices for this would probably be a mug with a half-pound of coffee beans or Starbucks gift card, or lotion from Bath and Body Works. Whatever it is, having a go-to gift idea can make shopping for gifts a bit easier.

Try home-baked goods //

Baked goods, especially Christmas themed goodies, make an excellent gift for coworkers and friends. In this case, the gift aspect is all about context. Select a few cookies (like these candy cane ones), wrap them in festive cellophane, and tie it with a bow. If you’re good in the kitchen, you can’t go wrong with this one.

I hope this little gift guide has sparked a few ideas for you! Are there any other points you’d add? Have you started buying Christmas gifts? I’m about half-way done - right now I’m working on some homemade gifts.

PS. I’m absolutely loving She & Him’s Christmas album. You should check it out if you get the chance (I’m listening to it right now on Grooveshark).

Olive You

2011-11-18T16:33:00.005-07:00

Yesterday I received and adorable care package from one of my best friends (thanks!) and along with a mixed CD, candy, and other cute things was this belt. Getting things in the mail from swonderful friends warms my heart, and as soon as the warm fuzzies calmed down I tried the belt with a bunch of my skirts. It looks great with everything - it's definitely my new favourite accessory!

My height and skill at shrinking things in the dryer has turned this maxi skirt into more of a flood length. Actually I don't even know where a maxi skirt is supposed to hit you. This feels like it might be a bit short, but I don't really mind. I felt cute anyways!

Zellers sweater, Old Navy skirt, Payless flats, Penningtons belt, DIY bracelet, scarf from Winners

Your filthy room, your drama blues

2011-11-17T19:21:00.004-07:00

First of, thank you all so much for your kind and supportive comments on my last post! This outfit is something I wore to class a few days ago. The only upside about living in residence is that most of the building on campus are connected, so I can often forgo boots and a coat. This black and white floral dress was a thrift store gem. I thought it would be too small (I'm awful at judging sizes just by looking) but it fit me perfectly. Success!

thrifted dress & cardigan, Payless flats, gifted necklace

Most of my outfit posts will be taken inside from now on. Winter has nearly set in, and as the snow hits the ground I feel much less comfortable setting up my tripod in public. I wish I had someone who could take photos for me (or even a yard where I'd feel comfortable setting up my tripod), but even so it's blizzarding as I write this. I had a hard time getting proper full body shots inside, but I think I've found the right location. My room is tiny (about 8x10 feet) and it is the only space I have to myself. However, I doubt you read my blog for the excellent photography (ha!), and hope you'll stay with me over this winter spent indoors.

Self-reflection

2011-11-15T16:10:00.005-07:00

I've been having a hard time lately, and this accumulated into today's self-reflection. The following post is pretty personal and discusses mental health.

As the days get shorter I find myself getting exhausted. Sure... I wake up, go to class, talk to friends and peers, go to meetings and appointments, and do my homework. But as soon as I've fulfilled my responsibilities and get home I just want to curl up in bed and sleep until the next day - it doesn't matter if it's 9pm or 3pm. And this is the cause for a lot of self-bullying. Why are you stressed out? I say to myself You're not the only person to take a full course load and sit on a board of directors. Other people do all that and more. You don't even have a job! ...I sure know how to hit myself where it hurts. The idea that we are our own worst critics is tossed around a lot, and I've certainly found it to be true.

I am way too hard on myself. It's okay to have your own personal standards, but I should know not to compare myself with others. Not all abilities are the same. I'm constantly plagued by the notion that my mental health issues will render me useless, and I create ridiculously high standards for myself to try to combat that. I'm not being fair to myself.

Me three years ago (at age 16)

Three years ago I literally could not get out of bed. The entire concept of "responsibilities" would have filled me with panic. I had quit going to school entirely and was making the decision of should I drop out, or should I let them kick me out? Days bled into weeks and my memories can only be described as a blur of utter despair.

When this realization came to me this afternoon, my feeling of self-deprecation quickly faded. I was pleasantly surprised to realize the positive changes I've made since then. In fact, I'm astounded by how far I've come in the past three years! My mental health issues are still a part of my life, but the longer I've had to deal with them the better I've got it.

This post has been spontaneous and sincere, so I'd hate to end with something trite. Let me just say that I will try harder to recognize my successes, and be (much) less hard on myself. And, as always, if you ever need to support with regards to mental health issues, feel free to email me.

Weekend Wear

2011-11-13T16:46:00.003-07:00

Here's what I wore yesterday, and today. That's what weekends are for, right? ...right? I'm in love with this sweater (so cozy!) and blazer. Layered together they're casual-chic and perfect for the current weather. Thank goodness for thrift stores!

Yesterday I went to an exhibition opening at an art gallery, checked out a new-to-me antique store, and took myself out for sushi. I honestly hadn't been to an opening reception before, and I felt very sophisticated sipping wine while looking at the art. The artist was there, but he was surrounded by others and I was a bit nervous to approach him and possibly interrupt someone else. I still need to work on my assertiveness!

Today I went to one of those huge Christmas craft sales. You know the ones that take up an entire events centre and have 500+ vendors? I hadn't been to a craft sale of such a large scale, but it was pretty cool. I didn't do much Christmas shopping (I'm a bit broke right now and a lot of the items were out of my price range anyway) but it was a lot of fun to look around. I plan on hitting up a few smaller craft sales near the end of the month, and hopefully I'll find some gifts there. Speaking of gifts, I was thinking about writing up a little post about gift giving - would any of you be interested in that?

thrifted men's sweater
thrifted plaid blazer
Penningtons pull-on skinny jeans
Naturalizer boots

Overall I had a really great weekend, and I hope you did too! What did you do over the weekend?

Interview Attire

2011-11-11T21:35:00.006-07:00

This is what I wore for a job interview last week at a shoe store. I felt I did a pretty good job with putting together an outfit that said "19, stylish, and professional." What do you think? I don't normally ask for constructive criticism, but when it comes to interview-appropriate clothes I could really use some advice!

I assure you the wind-blown hair and sultry glare weren't there for the interview, it was just really windy outside!

thrifted sheer button-up
Old Navy flared jeans
thrifted men's sweater
Payless heeled boots
thrifted bicycle pin
gifted watch
thrifted/refashioned gold bracelet

30 for 30: My 30 items

2011-11-07T20:03:00.007-07:00

I meant to post this last week but the days just flew by! Here are the 30 items I'll be remixing for the challenge.

I don't want to impose a lot of rules on myself (it's supposed to be fun after all!) but there are a few:

- I'm not counting tights, leggings, winter coats, tank tops worn for modesty's sake, scarfs, belts, or any other accessories
- I hope to finish this challenge before Dec. 15 (when I fly home for Christmas) so I'll be posting more frequently than I have been the past few months
- that being said, I won't force myself to rush and finish the challenge if it happens to take longer
- I won't purchase any new clothing during the challenge (I might buy some second hand clothes, but mostly I'll be saving my money for Christmas)

I'm really excited about this challenge and will start posting the next 29 outfits soon!

Hefty Hideaway

2011-10-31T16:40:00.002-06:00

Happy Halloween! Tonight I'm going to a movie night at the Pride centre, and I'm dressing up as Tracy Turnblad.

The wig took a lot of styling, but I wouldn't be Tracy without it.

The clothes are all thrifted, the wig is from a costume shop, and the shoes were already in my closet. Hope you all had a good Halloweekend! What did you dress up as?

Things I Love About Halloween

2011-10-30T14:48:00.007-06:00

1. Haunted houses

(image source)

I absolutely love being scared. On Friday night I went to the Shock House here in Regina with a classmate and it was incredible! It was so good that I'm going again tonight with a few other friends. Three stories of haunted dormitory terror (and the actors did a great job)!

2. Carving pumpkins...

...and roasting the seeds

3. Cute crafts

I was inspired to make this little bunting flag after seeing this sticker at Michaels. Making a Halloween craft had me all nostalgic for Halloween as a child, and I really like the way it turned out.

4. Watching Hocus Pocus

This is definitely my favourite Halloween movie, I think I've watched it almost every Halloween since I was a kid!

5. Halloween themed nails

They're a bit messy (I have such a hard time painting my nails) but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to break out the orange and black nail polish. The spider web is my favourite!

Other things I love about Halloween //
little kids trick or treating (wish I was in a house and could hand out candy!), Simpson's Treehouse of Horror episodes, Pillsbury Halloween cookies (but they're so hard to find in grocery stores), costume parties, doing the time warp, watching horror movies... the list goes on!

I'll be posting my costume tomorrow. Happy Halloween!

1 of 30: Autumnal orange

2011-10-27T23:41:00.004-06:00

Here is my first outfit of the 30 for 30 challenge. I'll be slowly rolling out the other 30 outfits over the next few months. I'll post the 30 items I'm using and my self-imposed rules in a few days, probably after the weekend.

I don't have too much to say. This week has been a tough one mental-health wise, but I'm starting to feel much better. In one of my classes today we had an artist's trading card session and it was awesome! The ATC collective here meets and trades on the last Saturday of every month, so I think I'll try to be ready for the one in November. It seems so wonderful! Also, after class today, I went to Value Village (for the fourth time in less than four weeks) and got the finishing touches for my Halloween costumes. I can't wait to put it all together!

Old Navy skirt, Payless boots & hat, thrifted tunic, cardigan, & necklace

City Chic Lookbook

2011-10-22T17:30:00.003-06:00

The second City Chic Blogger Lookbook is out, and I'm once again lucky enough to be a part of it. Thanks to those who voted for me back in July!

As you can surely tell, these photos are from the summer when I was still in Edmonton, but I'm happy to be able to share them with you now. This dress is one of my absolute favourites and I can't wait to dress it up for autumn.

dress c/o City Chic, gifted turquoise necklace, Payless wedges

Be sure to pop over to the City Chic website and check out all the gorgeous women in the lookbook!

Ramblings

2011-10-19T13:02:00.005-06:00

Hey all! Sorry for being absent this past week, but the days have just flew by. I've been really busy and at first it was really great (on the pride centre's board of directors, enjoying my classes, making new friends) but I've been really on edge the past few days (unhappy with my living situation, anxious, not handling stress well). I'm feeling a bit more relaxed though, and hopefully things will get better from here.

Whenever I go more than a week without blogging I really start to miss it, and this time has been no different. I've even worn a lot of great outfits lately, I just haven't had the time or energy to photograph them. As you can probably tell, I got a new wig! I really love it but I'm still getting used to it so I've been wearing hats more frequently than normal. I'm definitely suffering from new-wig-nervousness (it's like when you a get a new haircut and feel hot but are feeling a bit unsure if it works for you but a bit more intense because this "hair cut" will ever grow out and cost a lost more than you can technically afford). Anyways, though, after wearing costume wigs for months the feeling a proper wig is delightful!

Last Saturday I went to the antique mall (and hit up Value Village again) and am so happy with my finds! I'm really happy with my fall wardrobe right now! With the exception of tights. I really need some new ones and was planning on getting some from We Love Colors but this is dependent on whether they ship USPS (which would arrive from Canada Post) or with FedEx. Living in residence with a P.O. Box I can't receive items that are shipped courier. If I remember from last time I believe they arrived from Canada Post but their website implies they ship with FedEx... could any Canadians who've recently received We Love Colors tights help me out? My brightly coloured legs would thank you!

I'm also going to be starting a 30 for 30 challenge (a la Kendi Everyday) and I'm excited about it. I think it'll be fun and challenge me to take full advantage of my small wardrobe. This you ca expect me to post outfits more frequently!

Weekends

2011-10-10T19:35:00.008-06:00

Weekends are tough for me. They feel like a let down from the busyness of the week and living on campus only adds to this (my environment goes from busy, bustling, and loud to totally empty and quiet). It doesn't help that I expect weekend to magical and joyous, when really they I should be using the time to do school work and chores. I'm trying to balance the hours in the weekend so I can do what I need to do, and what I want to. Just because I need to clean and do readings doesn't mean my weekend have to be boring and lonesome. As this was my first Thanksgiving without family I was more homesick than usual, but I did my best to stay positive and celebrate on my own. So without further ado, this weekend I...

...went thrifting for the first time since moving to Regina

and found a tonne of great things

...refashioned a thrifted chain necklace into two bracelets

I used this tutorial from Honestly...WTF for the braided bracelet

...tried pumpkin pie milkshakes (recipe via A Beautiful Mess)

I made two of these, one on Friday and one this afternoon, and they are so good

...did a major cleaning of my room, including doing a bit more decorating

not only is it livable - it feels like home

...made a Thanksgiving dinner for one

I had considered just making everything from a box, but I really like cooking and rarely have time to do it, so I made the mashed potatoes and stuffing from scratch, used a ix for the gravy, and bought the pumpkin pie

making the stuffing on the stove top so was easy, I'll have to keep it mind come Christmas

and, of course, pumpkin pie is the best part of the meal

...finally made this cute little owl pouch Nicole got me for my birthday & painted my nails using this technique from The Dainty Squid

...spent a lot of time thinking about who and what I'm thankful for

I can't fully articulate it without turning into a blubbering mess... in the last three years my life has become increasingly wonderful, and I'm forever grateful for everything that has let that happen. I'm thankful for my loving, supportive family, my wonderful friends, access to the antidepressants that keep me functioning (and alive), incredibly helpful therapists and doctors, the online fatshion/body acceptance community, positive queer communities... I could go on and on!

Thanks for letting me share my weekend with you. Hope you (and I) have a wonderful week to come!

Sophisticated

2011-10-09T20:34:00.008-06:00

I'm not a particular sophisticated person, but this outfit made me feel very sophisticated. I guess that's the magic of a structured jacket.

These jeans fit perfectly, but I wish they had belt loops. Pants have a tendency to fall down on me, a curse of having a big stomach with small hips. But I ended up getting the for free so I can't complain. I ordered them from Asos when they were on sale for $25, and when I hadn't received the a month later I emailed the people at Asos to ask what happened. They replied telling me that they hadn't sent them out at all, and since they were now out of stock they refunded my money. A few weeks later, though, they arrived at my parents door step! I don't mean to look gift jeans in the mouth, but do any of you know if it's possible to add belt loops?

I love polka dots, especially big polka dots, so when I saw this top at Old Navy I couldn't say no. I didn't like the sleeves (very voluminous with elastic at the bottom) so I snipped them right off. I figured I'd regret this decision - I often act too fast with a pair of scissors - but thankfully I didn't. I love the little flutter-sleeve going on here!

Jeans - Asos Curve size UK 26
Top - Old Navy size XXL
Jacket - Reitmans size 22
Boots - Naturalizer size 11W
Scarf - the Tin Box in Edmonton
Watch - gifted

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, fellow Canadians! I'm a firm believer that Monday is the holiday, but I'm sure a lot of you celebrated today. I'll be celebrating (alone) tomorrow. Who can say no to pumpkin pie? I'll have a little post about it up tomorrow.

IGIGI Fall Collection

2011-10-04T14:52:00.007-06:00

I've recently partnered with the people at IGIGI and have something special coming up in the (hopefully) near future. For now, though, I'm excited to share the Fall Iconic Collection with you!

I've never purchased from IGIGI but it has always seemed to be highly regarded in the plus-size community for high quality, classic clothing - especially their gorgeous dresses. IGIGI's Fall Iconic Collection is no different, filled with beautiful dresses and tailored separates. The press release states that the Fall Iconic Collection is "inspired by the golden ages of some of Hollywood’s most glamorous screen icons [from the] 40s through the 60s" and this influence is definitely evident throughout the collection. The tailored, feminine silhouettes perfectly embody the glamour of women like Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe.

While all of the pieces are lovely, I'm especially fond of the Hepburn Dress in Navy and the Loren Dress. They're both so elegant!

You can read the press release, take a peek at the lookbook, or shop the collection. I'll leave you with this inspiring quote from designer Yuliya Raquel on what influenced the collection.

“I am so excited about this collection where I was inspired and influenced by the glamour of these beautiful and powerful women who were the original, trend-setting style icons. They took their individual style to such exponential levels that they have continued to awe and impress fans around the world. The strong sense of style that each of these women created transcends time and celebrates the power of femininity for women of today and they will continue to do so for generations to come.” - Yuliya Raquel

NOTE: This is a sponsored post in partnership with IGIGI, but please know that I would never share any opinions that were not my own.

Monday Mornings

2011-10-03T18:27:00.002-06:00

I'm not a Monday person, or a morning person, but today wasn't so bad. I found this hidden gem of a dress on my Old Navy shopping trip a few weeks ago. It's not on the US or Canada website, but it was the first item I saw in store. It perfectly combined last night's desire to wear a bright dress today and this morning's desire to spend the day in my pyjamas. This dress is so comfortable and easy to wear, without being the least bit boring. I'd call it a success!

Can I blame Monday (and the fact that I just took a time management workshop) on today's photos? I snapped them really quickly on my residence building's falling-apart rooftop.

Yellow

2011-09-26T18:28:00.004-06:00

Sorry for bombarding you with endless photos of leaves, but it's just too beautiful to pass up! I don't know about where you live, but we're experiencing a near perfect autumn here on the prairies. It's nice and warm with a bit of a breeze, and while there are leaves on the ground, there are more than enough still on the trees in brilliant shades of red and golden yellow.

I wasn't planning on posting an outfit today, but while I was wandering around taking photos of campus to share with my mom someone asked me if I'd like her to snap a photo of me in front of the trees. We chatted for a few minutes and she was really nice. Anyway, it turned out to be a full-body photo so I thought I'd share it here.

These jeans are perfect (really - there was a tag on them that said "the perfect pants." I don't normally trust jeans, but these were right!) They're from Penningtons and are available here. I couldn't recommend them more, they really are the best jeans I've ever worn. They do run a bit large - I have 52" hips and I'm wearing a size 18. I'm also wearing yellow flats from Land's End, striped top from Old Navy, and a necklace from F21. The top and flats are both on sale for $15.

Autumn Equinox

2011-09-23T19:47:00.002-06:00

Today was a perfect day for the first day of autumn, and I felt my outfit complimented the season quite well. Plaid, corduroy, loafers... and I love that it's cool enough to layer!

Photo inspired by Kaylah of The Dainty Squid

Cardigan & shirt from Walmart, belt came with this button up, thrifted pants, Land's End loafers, Reitmans necklace, and gifted watch

The golden leaves right as the sun was setting were absolutely gorgeous - it looked as though they were glowing!

What are your plans for the first weekend of fall? Whatever they are, I hope they're more fun than mine! I'm quite bad at managing my time, so this weekend I have a lot of schoolwork (and a few household chores) to catch up on. Hopefully I get the chance to do fun thing or two - I'd love to check out the city's thrift stores.

Mabel Murple

2011-09-20T19:52:00.004-06:00

Just a quick photo of what I wore today. It is nearly impossible to take outfit pictures in my room (which is about half the size of my dorm room last year). Thankfully I'm not to far from a lovely park, but I don't know what I'll do when winter sets in.

Please excuse how messy my desk is - I'm not the most organized person to begin with, but I had strep throat over the weekend so my desk is littered with pill bottles, pharmacy bags, and cough drops. Being sick when you're totally alone sucks!

T-shirt, cardigan & skirt - Old Navy; tights c/o We Love Colors; Keds sneakers; gifted jewellery

This evening

2011-09-15T19:56:00.004-06:00

I just got back from a four hour bike riding and shopping excursion, so I thought I'd write this post while I'm still feeling great from the fresh air!

Since moving to Regina I've made a little deal with myself to put off taking the bus until it is absolutely necessary. These means a lot of biking (of course!) and I couldn't be happier about that. It's one of the few forms of exercise that I actually enjoy, and it gives me the opportunity to see knew parts of the city. So when I wanted to head over to Penningtons and Old Navy I chose to cycle, even though it's a ways away from the university. Google Maps told me it would half an hour each way (and a 14km round trip) which sounded good to me. The map told me that a bike path from campus should take me most of the way there, and that was enough direction for me. Unfortunately once the bike path ended I got lost. And I continued to get even more lost. I got stuck in cul-de-sac after cul-de-sac (what's with wealthy people and streets that go no where?) but eventually found a proper street and continued on my way. I stopped for coffee at the wonderfully named Brewed Awakening, and when I asked the barista for directions I realized I wasn't too far away from my destination. Whew!

What I wore: thrifted Joe Fresh dress, Old Navy cardigan, Walmart leggings, Payless boots

I got some really cute clothes, as well as great basics, but I'll leave those for another post (with better photographs!). I also bought some wonderful underwear - there's nothing better than a comfy new bra! I'm also feeling really good because the distaste I've been feeling for my body lately has been easing up. I know my body is great, but lately body-hate has been a manifestation of the overall stress that I've been feeling. Now, not only has my stress gone down, but I have new clothes that look fantastic, and my is happy about exercising. Yay body love!

I had a bit of an odd experience at Old Navy. I was looking at cardigans and a couple near-by were giggling and looking in my directions. They might as well have been pointing and laughing as I felt sure humiliation on my part would follow. But I always give people the benefit of the doubt (even when I probably shouldn't) so I looked over and said "can I help you?" The guy responded "yeah, can you help her pick out an outfit? She likes your style." I turned to the girl he was with and she said "this is awkward... but I wouldn't mind your help. It turned out that she had never been to an Old Navy before and wasn't sure what she wanted to get, and the guy was getting frustrated. So when I came up he asked here "well, do you like her style? Then ask her for advice." I didn't mind helping at all, but just a heads up that giggling and giving someone side glances is way more awkward then just going up to them and saying "I like your style, could you give me some advice?"

Considering how haphazard this blog post has been, I might as well throw in some photos of Regina, right? Right.

Summer in September

2011-09-11T18:38:00.005-06:00

Greetings from Regina! I apologize for being quiet on the internet this past week while I was moving and settling into my new home. To be honest, I'm not particularly settled - but I'm sure that will come with time.

It has been so hot in Saskatchewan (and, according to my parents and sister, the rest of western Canada). I'm used to the first week of September being hot, but that never stops me from dreaming of cool, autumn weather. The few minutes outside taking these photos was enough to leave me sweaty and dizzy - thankfully I've been able to spend most of my time in the air-conditioned indoors.

This outfit was inspired by this outfit at the other emily. I recently stumbled across Emily's blog and quickly fell head over heels. Her style is sweet, classic, and bordering on perfection!

Old Navy maxi skirt, Warehouse One tank, Walmart button-up shirt, Spring sandals, gifted bracelet & watch, thrifted gold chain necklace, & the rock necklace is from some touristy gift shop in Kananaskis

Pottery, part 2

2011-09-02T23:25:00.002-06:00

Here's the second part of my pottery post (you can see the first part here)!

Happy Birthday (to me)!

2011-09-01T12:51:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I turned 19, making me of legal age everywhere in Canada! I had a birthday/going away party a few weeks ago with my friends, so yesterday was a low-key celebration with my parents and a family friend who happened to be in town. I had a really great day: I woke up to balloons and flowers from my parents, drank a lot of cold-brewed coffee, went out for brunch with my mom, and went for a big birthday dinner with my parents and our friend at Moxie's. Once again I don't have any photos with people (!) but I do have photos of my lovely gifts to share. Please don't think I value things more than people, but these things are really cute and receiving gifts from people I love always leaves me humbled by how lucky I am to have such wonderful people in my life.

Happy Birthday cupcake mug from Nicole; individually wrapped gifts from my sister that I opened throughout the day (so fun!)

Daisies from my parents

cupcake candle (the sprinkles are such a cute touch!); gorgeous ring from my sister

This cupcake smelled so good! A very realistic cake scent without being overpowering

A kit to make your own owl ipod cover; gorgeous card from Nicole

Beautiful owl card from Steph

A handmade cupcake stuffie from my friend Erin. She's currently living on the other side of the country but before she left she made everyone cute little stuffies and gave them to one of our friends to share at appropriate occasions. So cute!

Gorgeous bracelet from what my sister referred to as an "upscale Goodwill in Portland"

In 1992 the term "surfing the net" was coined, how cool is that?!; coffee press from my parents (from who I inherited my coffee addiction)

A lovely vintage brooch from Stephanie

Thank you for letting me share the new (cute!) additions to my life. When I say that I am thankful for the wonderful people in my life that means you too! Blogging has been an important part of the past two years for me, and it is the kind people who read, follow, and comment on my blog that encourages me to continue blogging. Thank you! ♥

Lunch out

2011-08-30T16:09:00.003-06:00

My life in Edmonton is slowly winding down, and I'm spending most of my time packing, stressing about packing, hanging out with people I love, and running errands. Things have been very low-key lately and I certainly appreciate it.

Today in between dropping off a bunch of clothes at the Bissell Thrift Shoppe and picking up an anti-virus software at Staples, my dad and I stopped for lunch. We went to the Popular Bakery and it was as delicious as always. It's definitely my favourite bakery in Edmonton. There's so much I'm going to miss!

The pineapple chocolate was so good!

I had coffee with my ex-girlfriend/current friend this afternoon, and I'll be spending the rest of the day packing and cleaning. I hope to get a lot done tonight as tomorrow's my birthday (!) and I'd like to devote the day solely to fun things.

Maxi

2011-08-28T21:00:00.003-06:00

I've wanted to give maxi skirts a try for a while, but I wasn't really into the floral maxi dresses that were available for the summer. I much prefer maxi skirts in dark colours for autumn, layered under button-ups and over-sized sweaters, and finished with boots. The weather here is no where near fall-like though, so I wore this skirt in a bit cooler way to accommodate for the summer heat.

Old Navy skirt, Old Navy top, Spring sandals, F21 sunglasses, gifted necklace

I also got a new piercing as an early birthday present to myself (after the outfit photos were taken, as you can see). I absolutely love it!

I wanted something new before I left Alberta, so I decided to jump at my long-time longing for this piercing. Done by Sarai Jorgenson at Strange City.

Pottery, Part 1

2011-08-26T17:50:00.003-06:00

Over the past two months, I've been taking a pottery course at the City Arts Centre. The class was wonderful, and I was thrilled that the instructor was a potter I already knew (my high school pottery teacher's friend). After not doing pottery for the past year, it was great to brush up on my skills before entering into my fine arts program! The class ended this week, and I wanted to share with you some of the pieces I've made. Most of the pieces are still being fired, so look out for the 'part 2' of this post next week!

Double pinch pot hand-built rattle

Slab and coil pot decorated with sgraffito

Florals

2011-08-24T21:13:00.002-06:00

I'm not sure how to accessorize this dress, but today was too hot for a lot of accessories anyway. I'm getting tired of summer... I would love for the temperature to drop about ten degrees (and then stay there!).

Pure Energy dress purchased from Gazel, Payless flats, gifted owl necklace

I started today with a dentist appointment (ick!) but the day improved... thanks to a bit of shopping, getting a package in the mail, barbecued hamburgers, and pottery class. :)

Just a heads up that my clothing sale will be ending tomorrow at 11:59pm MST. If you're interested in purchasing anything, please email me before then!

Navy & black

2011-08-22T20:57:00.004-06:00

This weekend was just as fun and busy as I imagined it would be! After a bustling four-day weekend I was very grateful to have today off to recuperate. I didn't get very many photos this weekend (as it always happens when I'm having a lot of fun), but I did get a few shots of my outfit on Thursday night. Thursday was a very autumn-y day, so I took that into consideration when getting dressed for the pub. My outfit was inspired by this one on the Clothed Much facebook page. I loved my outfit, but with her skinny jeans and lace-up flats, Elaine's definitely takes the cake!

Thrifted cardigan & bag, Old Navy striped top, Ricki's skirt, Payless boots, and Winners scarf

I was very sad to hear of Jack Layton's passing today. First and foremost, my condolences to his family. While we have lost a wonderful representative, his family has lost a loving father and husband. With the amount of hope and optimism Jack Layton was able to instill in Canadians who never had the honour of meeting him, I can only imagine the positive impact he has left on the the lives of those close to him. Canada has lost a great politician, and even those who do not support the NDP are mourning the death of an honourable Canadian.

Blog Sale + ramblings

2011-08-16T15:55:00.002-06:00

I can't believe August is half over. Where did it go? What did I?
I'll be moving in three weeks!

This post might seem a bit all-over-the-place, but that's where my head is right now.

First and foremost, as embarrassing as it feels to say, there's no way around it - the Full Fat Clothing Swap was a total flop. Not a single person came. It was disappointing to say the least, but there's no point in getting too upset. It's in part that i didn't do any real life/paper advertising. My procrastination and nerves got the best of me, and I just wasn't sure about how to go about real life advertising, so I let it fall to the side. However, I felt like there was some interest shown, but it happened to be a bad weekend for everyone. I can't feel to negatively about it, it's just something to learn for next time!
To clear up some closet space before I move, I'm selling a tonne of clothes online. $0 articles of clothing and a pair of Aldo boots to be exact. Most items are sizes 16-20, with a few larger and smaller sizes, and priced between $5-$20. There are clothes from Old Navy, Forever 21+, GAP, and American Eagle (a lot unworn), as well as some gorgeous vintage pieces. You can check out the sale here or by clicking the "shop my closet" link at the top of the page.
The shoes I ordered from Aldo don't fit one bit! Their size 11 really is more like a size 10, it's ridiculous. At least it's really easy to make returns; you can return items purchased online in any of their stores.
I've spent the after noon attempting to apply for student loans, but their site is being so finicky. I'm getting a bit frustrated, but I'm sure this evening activities will cheer me up. Keegan's taking me out to dinner - so sweet of him!

Earn your Stripes

2011-08-12T17:55:00.007-06:00

I'm finding my personal style to be quite fickle. A lot of the time I don't know what I want to wear, and when I do it's not possible given what's in my wardrobe. I feel my style is changing but I don't know where it's going. I want to be a bit more androgynous and edgier. Darker... more chic, less childish. Not really androgynous per se.... just less girly. Less overtly cute?

This is just a bit of rambling, really, but it's one of the Top Three Things on my Mind lately (the other two are mentioned near the end of the post). All that being said, I was happy with what I wore today.

thrifted Joe Fresh striped tunic (a medium!), thrifted vest & bag, Ricki's skirt, Spring sandals, F21 sunglasses

rock pendant from some tourist-y gift shop, gifted handmade copper bracelet

I don't talk a lot about health, online or in real life, because it just doesn't interest me. Most of the discussion around health is quite problematic, and when it comes to maintaining a comfortable quality of life I tend to focus on my mental health. However I've been having a few physical health problems lately, namely with back pain, neck pain, and awful tension headaches. It got so bad that I spent Monday night in the emergency room, worried that the neck stiffness/headache/nausea might be meningitis! I'm more than a bit embarrassed that a headache landed me in the ER, but I'm grateful that it wasn't something worse. Since then I had my first massage (I was a bit nervous but the massage therapist, who's a friend of a friend, was great) and began seeing a physical therapist, and I feel like I'm on the right track to deal with my pain.

In happier news though, I'm making a big change come fall. If we're friend on facebook you already know that I'm moving to Regina, Saskatchewan this September! After a lot of waiting and frustration, followed my a whole tonne of indecisiveness on my part, I've decided to move to Regina for university. The University of Regina is the only university on Canada where I can get a Bachelor of Arts and focus on ceramics, which is my passion. I'm pretty set on getting a BA (rather than a BFA or diploma) because I'd like to eventually get a Master of Library and Information Science degree. I've never even been to Regina, nor do I know a single person there, so this is a huge change. To be honest, though, I'm much more excited than I am nervous! It'll be such an adventure! I'm moving the first weekend of September, so until then I'm spending as much time with friends & family as possible, and trying to downsizes a lot.

As always, thanks for reading!

Summer days

2011-08-10T23:42:00.004-06:00

A few photos from last Friday night. I spent it with Keegan, one of my best friends, and had a great time!

Bike rides, Value Village, campfires, rum & coke, barbecues, homemade banana pancakes, Transamerica, Ben & Jerry's Half Baked ice cream... all signs of a wonderful summer day!

Grown-up Girl Guide

2011-08-07T17:23:00.004-06:00

The title of this post was inspired by my mom who told me I looked like a Girl Guide in this outfit. With the navy skirt and striped top, I totally see what she means!

I bought these wedges at the beginning of the summer for $25 from Payless. I really like them - along with being super cute they're also very easy/comfortable to walk in. I really loved the wedges with this midi-length skirt, but it didn't feel like an outfit until I added this green belt that came with a (ridiculously awful) thrifted dress.

These pictures were also taken in Kananaskis, but I didn't get around to posting them until now. It was so great to take outfit photos there - beautiful location and no people looking at you oddly. I love woodsy greenery in my photos.

Thrifted skirt, belt, & necklace (worn as bracelet), Old Navy t-shirt, Payless wedges, vintage scarf via Divine

August Long Weekend

2011-08-02T15:28:00.002-06:00

Hey all! This weekend was a long weekend in most Canadian provinces, and the past few day have been just lovely. I didn't work all weekend, and my parents were out of town, so Friday to Monday I was free to do as I please. What a wonderful feeling!

Thrifted skirt, Ricki's top, Northern Reflections belt, free chains and gifted pendant

My extra-long weekend involved:
- Riding my bike to Value Village and getting three lovely bottoms (including the $3 skirt I'm wearing above). The ride back wasn't as nice as a bit of a storm had blown in and I was riding into the wind and rain without so much as a sweater!
- Starbucks and Chapters with my dad. I got a gorgeous new journal and he was kind enough to buy me two novels, including Miriam Toews newest one. My parents hate to feel like they spoil me, so they called it an "August long weekend present." Too funny!
- Finishing the sgraffito on a hand-built pot. It looks really good and I can't wait for it to be fired!
- Learning how to use a sewing machine with the help one of my best friends. We made a cute little draw string bag. I really want to get a sewing machine of my own and expand into altering thrifted clothes.
- Sharing a cookies n' cream icecream cone with the aforementioned best friend.
- Receiving some absolutely gorgeous second-hand jewellery from my friend's mom. Thank you!
- New lipstick. After seeing bright fuchsia lips everywhere I decided to give it a try. I'm wearing Rimmel's "In Vogue" and the colour and formula are perfect! It was only $4 at Shoppers and I've already gotten a lot of compliments on it.
- A spontaneous outing to the bar. On Saturday night I was already in my pyjamas when two of my friends texted me asking to go out. I'm nothing if not fun, so I threw on some clothes and my new lipstick and headed out. We went to Suede on Jasper Ave, where none of us had been before. (As my friend put it, "I heard a lot of queers like to come here, and I thought 'hey, we could be those queers!'") Maybe it was the alcohol, but that line had me laughing out loud! That being said, with $9 highballs and cocktails this queer girl likely won't be back.
- Taking a friend out for coffee (after sleeping through our lunch date... not the first time it's happened either!). Thankfully she was still in the neighbourhood and after a green tea frap was able to look past my sleeping habit.
- An ENORMOUS amount of cleaning and organizing. Cleaning actually took up most of my weekend but I couldn't be happier about it. I'm terribly disorganized and lately my room has been disastrous. Now, it's clean and organized (along with the rest of the house) and I feel great. I did a major overhaul of my closet, and it's much more functional now. I'll be sure to share photos in the next few days.

Whew! Sorry for the novel there. How was everyone else's weekend?

Carnival

2011-07-29T23:10:00.003-06:00

The other day my friends and I went to Capital Ex, Edmonton's travelling carnival type thing. I hadn't been in a few years, and I had a great time. In actuality it's expensive, crowded, and hot, but I always find carnivals so wonderful! There's somthing about the vibrant colours and bright lights that feels magical. And everything about ferris wheels makes me giddy! I took a lot of photos with a disposable camera, but I haven't gotten them developed yet. I'll be sure to share them once they are though!

Asos Curve dress purchased from Gazel over black ON shorts

Mod Night

2011-07-23T11:47:00.003-06:00

Last Friday night one of my friends celebrated her birthday by going to Mod Night at a very cool lounge downtown. Having only gotten the invite a few hours before, I got dressed in a hurry. I don't know much about Mod, and I don't have a lot of Mod-inspired clothes in my closet, but I thought I did okay. Wearing a knitted hat to a bar where I'd be dancing was quite silly, but I just have this internal associating with white hats and Mod! I love thematic dressing, but I was thankful I didn't go too over the top after seeing the casual-but-still-chic crowd there. I had a great time, and I loved the way the skirt of the dress moved on the dance floor!

Dress - Asos Curve UK size 24 (purched from Gazel)
Tights - c/o We Love Colors
Hat - Payless
Purse & loafers - thrifted

Pretty Paisley

2011-07-22T01:11:00.001-06:00

Isn't the scenery in these photos absolutely gorgeous? These were taken in Kananaskis as well, and this pretty little marsh wasn't too far from our cabin(the mosquitoes were something awful though). I wasn't sure about this top, as I've never worn a lot of orange, but my friend Sonya convinced to me give it a try. It was really the scoop neck back and $15 price tag that sold it. I paired it with this pretty paisley skirt because orange and brown seemed like a good colour combination, and I love the way it turned out! These pieces of jewellery are some of my favourites right now - the bird necklace that my best friend brought back from Japan melts my heart! As for these sandals I'm smitten! It's a rare day that I find sandals that fit my fat feet, but when I saw these elastic sandals on the Spring Shoes I was hopeful that they'd work. They were only $15 as well, and as they were shipping within Canada it was free and only took a week. I believe I got the last pair, and I'm so glad I snagged them up!

Top (actually a too-short dress) - Old Navy size XXL
Skirt - thrifted size l
Sandals - Spring Shoes size 11
Belt - Northern Reflections size XL
Necklace - gifted
Ring - street vendor

As I mentioned on Twitter last week, I had the privilege of being a part of City Chic first Blogger Lookbook.

The lookbook features a tonne of gorgeous women, and I love seeing how different bloggers style their City Chic items in their own ways. For their next Blogger Lookbook, City Chic has asked their fans to vote for which bloggers they'd like to see featured by "liking" their photos on facebook. What a fun way to engage with customers! Jog on over to their Facebook page, take a look at other bloggers' CC outfits, and vote for the bloggers you'd like to see more from! I would absolutely love to continue to be a part of City Chic's Blogger Lookbook, and if you'd like to see me in future lookbooks, you can "like" my photo here. I don't want to ask too much of you all, but I'd really appreciate it!

Holiday Recap

2011-07-19T22:52:00.000-06:00

I had such a great time on holidays! I got back on Friday evening but I've been busy as a bee since then. Unfortunately time management/balancing isn't my forte and I'm exhausted! And just after I'd gotten all relaxed at a mountain cabin. Oh well, so is life, right? :) I have a few outfit photos to share later this week, but for now here are some photos from my week in Kananaskis.

What I wore on my first day at the cabin: Spring sandals, Penningtons jeans, Old Navy t-shirt, and Joe Fresh scarf.

My lovely bike Mabel! There were so many paved trails, great for a novice cyclist like myself.

Alloy sweatshirt, Old Navy shorts

The always idyllic Canyon in Kananaskis country. The water is only a few degrees above freezing, but it's too pretty not to swim in!

I was a bit braver than normal and climbed some rocks with my sister and her partner.

The amount of wildlife we saw was incredible! We saw three female moose, a male moose, deer, plenty of mountain sheep, ground squirrels, and even a Grizzly Bear with her two cubs, from only 20 feet away (thankfully we were in the safety of our car). Seeing bears that close is such a treat, they're majestic! We also had a resident chipmunk, who somehow managed to spend as much time in the cabin as we did. Those cute little guys are sneaky!

A panoramic I haphazardly threw together of the view over Merle Lake.

I had such a good time, and I hope the overload of photos wasn't too much to handle. I'll be back again tomorrow with another post!

Off for holidays!

2011-07-08T14:14:00.002-06:00

It will be quieter than usual for the next week or so. I'm off with my family to Kananaskis for a wonderful week of gorgeous scenery, barbecues, card games, bike rides, swimming, and beer. My sister and her partner are even flying up from Vancouver to join us!

It'll be a lovely week, and I'll have lots to sharer with you when I get back. For now, though, here is the most idyllic little swimming cove from the last time we visited Kananaskis. It's incredible!

Full Fat Clothing Swap

2011-07-07T01:23:00.003-06:00

I am so excited to share with you what I've been working on this past week! After much uncertainty and a bit of procrastination, I'm proud to announce that on August 14th I will be hosting the Full Fat Clothing Swap. FFCS is a free clothing swap in Edmonton, AB for women sizes 12 and up, and is the perfect occasion to meet like minded individuals (and maybe even a few new friends)!

If you'll be in or around the Edmonton area on August 14th, be sure to stop by! I'm as nervous as I am excited, and I really hope this event will be a success. You can RSVP to the Facebook event here, and if you have any questions you can email me at anomalous_allure AT hotmail DOT com

Happy (belated) Canada day!

2011-07-03T14:59:00.001-06:00

I know that this post is a few days late, but blogspot has been eating my posts and it's really frustrating. Here's hoping it works this time around!

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians, and happy 4th of July to all you American folk. I hope you're having a great long weekend!

I had to work on Canada Day and, while I would have preferred spending the day wandering around downtown or relaxing at the legislative grounds, it was still a lovely day. We barbecued burgers for supper and I made a very special dessert.

I've wanted to make a Canadian flag strawberry shortcake since I saw it in a cooking magazine as a child and I'm so glad I finally did!

I followed this recipe from the Food Network's website, but made a few changes. Most notably, I used Greek yogurt with honey instead of sour cream and a half cup of margarine instead of the butter/margarine mixture. It was delicious, but the cake seemed a bit dense, especially for a shortcake. The density of a cake is the trickiest part, in my opinion, and although it wasn't perfect i was very happy with how it turned out. My parents enjoyed it too!

The recipe actually called for baking powder, not baking soda, and thankfully I realised that before it was too late. Whew!

After dessert we headed to the high level bridge to watch the fireworks. They were incredible!

What a perfect way to top off a lovely day. I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend yourselves!

Versatility

2011-06-22T23:17:00.004-06:00

This outfit, that I wore yesterday, is so versatile! It wore it to work, on a date, and to visit my Grandma, and it felt totally appropriate for all three occasions. I thrifted this skirt the other day and I love it! It's the perfect high-waisted denim skirt and I love the four buttons at the waist. I had a really good day yesterday, and I felt gorgeous to boot!

Skirt - thrifted Addition Elle, size 20
T shirt - Old Navy, size XXL
Flats - Payless, size 11
Scarf - Joe Fresh
Ring - locally made sale in Camrose
Book bag - part of my "work uniform"

Inspired

2011-06-21T20:55:00.002-06:00

Happy Summer Solstice! I hope you all had a good day and, more importantly, a wonderful summer to come. Edmonton's been getting a lot of rain lately, but the rain let up and we had a sunny Summer Solstice, it was absolutely lovely.

I've been feeling quite inspired lately, and I've been trying to fit this into my day to day life. Here are a few ways I was able to!

I absolutely love this cute, hassle-free way of displaying photographs! It was inspired by my sister, who I'm sure was inspired by someone else.

Summery floral nails, inspired by these nails on tumblr.

Style inspiration collage.

Thrifted glasses and plates. I love vintage dishware so much, especially when they're affordable ($1 each)!

And... iced Tazo passion tea to celebrate the start of summer. Iced tea is summer staple of mine, and Tazo passion tea is my absolute favourite. My order at Starbucks during the warmer months is a venti light ice, half-sweetened iced passion tea lemonade. It's worth that mouthful!

Blue roses

2011-06-16T21:25:00.006-06:00

As someone who deals with depression, I always treat the completing of simple tasks like huge accomplishments. Productivity is a subjective concept, and while my idea of productive is probably more lenient than most, I'm always sure to recognize even my smallest accomplishments. I do sort of the same thing with turning small outings into exciting adventure. Why not make life more exciting, right?

Today I didn't work, so I decided to make a blog post! I was about to leave this afternoon when I got a text saying there was a tornado warning. It turned out just to be a watch, but I still decided it would be best not to risk being outside, should the storm worsen. But, since I already had my boots laced I decided to go for a little walk down Whyte. Living in one of Edmonton's best neighbourhoods (in my biased opinion) is wonderful! Good coffee, cute & quirky shops, delicious Indian food, a large bookstore... all within 4 blocks from my house!

I didn't wear anything mind-blowing today, but it's nice to share the casual outfits too.

My new Wicked headphones. I haven't purchased new headphones in years (seriously, I'd been using a single earbud for almost a month) but it was time. I'm happy with the quality, especially for the price. $30 for these headphones and a pair of earbuds.

Umbrella - thrifted
Wrinkly spring coat & leggings - Walmart, size 3X

I absolutely love my new boots. They were only $6 ($50 originally) from Payless! They very comfortable and practical and I like the way they look. My partners think they're hot!

Butter chicken from the Spice Grill, a new Indian place on Whyte & 108th. So good!

Pride

2011-06-12T21:42:00.013-06:00

Hello again all! I'm going to refrain from apologizing for not posting in so long because doing that every ten days for the rest of the summer could easily become redundant. Blogging is way more fun when it's a hobby rather than a responsibility and I'd like to keep it that way! I've started a new job (I'm working for Statistics Canada while we're conducting the census) and after not working in two years it's hard to get used to. Time management has never been my thing, and a new job combined with two new relationships (combined with the fact that being back in Edmonton still feels like a holiday of sorts) has left little time for blogging, or any online happenings to be honest. I'm having tonnes of fun, when I'm not stressed, but I need to work on finding a bit more balance in my life. I've been quite stressed with regards to making life choices lately, and I've recently decided to move back to Edmonton for good. I'm really excited about that, and I'm sure I'll be writing more about it in the future.

This past Saturday was the Edmonton Pride parade. Like last year, I walked in the parade with Youth Understanding Youth, a queer youth group that I attended in grade 12. Pride was, once again, so much fun! One of my favourite things about the day of the Pride parade is the sense of community. Wandering through crowds of face-painted, like-minded individuals - bumping into old friends and making brand new ones - is just incredible. I recognized a women who had performed some powerful poetry at Slut Walk the Saturday prior, and we talked a bit. I also met a ridiculously awesome girl who recognized me from the Fatshionista LJ community. I was so flattered when she approached me, as I'd been admiring her cute sequin poncho and general awesomeness since the beginning of the parade! We talked for a while and decided to be best friends. And then as though my day hadn't already been made, she gave me her card! I've always wanted a cute business card to hand out to potential friends. (Is that odd? I just think of it as networking.) What would my card say? Potter? Blogger? Iced coffee drinker extraordinaire? Potential best friend? I'm thinking all of the above! Anyways, the girl I met expressed interest in a fat Edmonton event, if it were to happen. Right now Fat Edmonton is something I very much want to happen, but I don't know if I have the energy to do it. Hopefully Edmonton will experience some full-fat flavour this summer, and when it does you'll be the first to know! Community-building, right? It's wonderful!

Excuse the awkward cropping. I wanted to share what I wore while respecting my friends' privacy, and I didn't get a better photo of my outfit. The skirt is one you've seen before, and the... boob-covering device is a strategically tied scarf from American Apparel.

I actually haven't worn anything sleeveless/strapless in years. Not because I don't want to show off my fat arms, but because I hate my armpits. I mean, I'm not a fan of armpits in general, but I'm super insecure about mine. I decided to bite the bullet, and I'm glad I did! Being ashamed of my scarred armpits is no different than being ashamed of my fat arms. We can't pick and choose which parts of our body are worthy of respect and call that body acceptance! (And besides, it's not like I was walking around with my arms in the air. Baby steps, right?) Unfortunately, after not seeing the sun in years, my shoulders burned something awful. After that, it was too painful to raise my arms! Even now I'm sure I could fry an egg on my shoulder. (Is there a market for that?) Anyways, since making the first step I'm hoping this summer will give me a chance to get more comfortable showing off my arms, sort of like last summer did for baring leg.

Sorry for rambling on for so long! Writing this post has actually got me really excited to start blogging more, so I'm sure you'll here from me again soon. In the mean time, I hope you all had a good weekend!

Science Fiction, Double Feature

2011-06-02T13:34:00.003-06:00

Last Saturday I saw Rocky Horror at the Garneau Theatre with a few of my friends. It was amazing, to say the least! I've loved Rocky Horror for a long time, but this was my first time seeing it in theatres. It was so much fun!

Sequin blazer - belongs to a friend (although it's been in my possession for a year now)
Striped t-shirt - Old Navy size XXL
Bodycon skirt - Ricki's size 18
Fishnets - Spanx size E
Boots - Walmart size 11

Vancouver

2011-05-30T11:47:00.005-06:00

I had a wonderful time in Vancouver this past week! We arrived Monday afternoon and had a busy, fun-filled few days before leaving Friday morning. We spent Tuesday at Stanley Park, Wednesday was my sister's graduation, and on Thursday we went to Granville Island before seeing Hairspray at the Stanley theatre. Here are (more than) a few pictures from my trip, hope you enjoy!

I can't step off the cloud

2011-05-22T16:39:00.004-06:00

Hey all! I honestly cannot believe how long it's been since I've updated my blog, I'm so sorry. Real life certainly gets in the way of things, huh? I feel terrible though, and just want to note that I absolutely love blogging and have no intention of stopping. I guess I've just been a bit distracted lately.

I'm still looking for a job (ugh!), but I had an interview today that went really well so...fingers crossed! Aside from job hunting, I've been enjoying seeing my friends from high school and meeting new people/making new friends. I really love being back in Edmonton, it feels like home.

I thrifted this dress for $5 yesterday. Pros: the colour, shape, and pattern are all cute as heck. Cons: it's unlined (which means it's a bit see through), the pockets are fake, it's a cheap fabric, and it's too tight in the bust (all vintage dresses are on me, though). That being said, I still really like it. To me, thrifting clothes is about compromise, and that's a-okay in my books.

Dress - thrifted
Grey tank (layered underneath) - Wearhouse One size XXL
Skirt (worn as a slip) - American Apparel size L
Flats - Payless size 11
Belt - Northern Reflections
Gold chain - thrifted
Beaded necklace - vintage, gifted

I believe got the idea to layer the AA skirt as a slip from Rebecca of We Are Large, People. It's a brilliant idea, and it adds a bit of volume to the dress.

I'm going to Vancouver, BC tomorrow for my sister's graduation, but I'll be taking my laptop with me and should still be blogging. I absolutely love Vancouver in the spring, and I'm sure I'll have tonnes of photos to share with you all. Until then, happy Victoria Day to my fellow Canadians! ♥

I Love Colours

2011-05-04T20:31:00.007-06:00

The people of We Love Colors were generous enough to send me some tights to review. This outfit was built around the tights, and inspired by the company name. Hey, I love colours too! Check out my video review of the tights at the bottom of this post.

Dress - Ricki's, size 18
Cardigan - Old Navy, size XL
Tights - courtesy of We Love Colors, size E
Flats - Payless size 11
Necklace - Spring

I hope that wasn't too awful, I'm a bit nervous/awkward when it comes to videos.

I forgot to mention it in the video, but every month We Love Colors hosts a contest called Curvy Girl of the Month and winner receives 3 pairs of tights. Hop on over to their facebook page for more information on the contest!

My heart is skipping triplets

2011-04-28T09:42:00.003-06:00

I can't believe my first year of university is almost over! I have one more exam this afternoon and then move home this evening. Wow! Last night my friends and I dressed up and went out to dinner - to celebrate the year, say goodbye, and as an excuse to put on dresses and make up. We then spent the rest of the night having fun and engaging in juvenile shenanigans (truth & dare, silly adventures, y'know...). I had an awesome night, and I'm really going to miss living only a few feet away from some of my best friends!

Dress - Penningtons size 2X (my grad dress!)
Shrug - Forever 21+ size 3X
Necklace - Penningtons
Flats - Payless size 11

Black and white

2011-04-19T23:00:00.003-06:00

I always like "dressing up" for exams. My linear algebra exam this morning was awful (don't worry, I'm done talking about it now!) but at least I liked my outfit, right?

Polka dot crop top - Forever 21 size M
Bodycon skirt - Ricki's size 18
Sweater - Ricki's size XXL
Tights - Addition Elle size 3X
Boots - Walmart size 10W

Hibiscus and Hummingbird

2011-04-18T18:50:00.006-06:00

Boring outfit for a boring day. Seriously. I got dressed half asleep, and then spent almost the entire day studying for my linear algebra exam tomorrow. Yawn.

I'm most definitely wearing leggings as pants today. I was going to justify myself by saying something about living on campus or final exams, but to do so would be totally unnecessary. Leggings are a perfectly acceptable alternative to pants if you choose to wear them as such. To say differently is straight up body policing and not okay. My body does not need to be hidden or disguised - it's fine just the way it is. My favourite leggings are from Walmart. They're the G21 brand and a cotton/spandex blend. They're fitted without being too tight, super comfortable without being to baggy, and have a yoga-style top instead of an elastic waist so they don't dig into your hips. At $10, they really are the perfect leggings.

Cardigan - thrifted
Striped tank top - Forever 21 size L
T-shirt - Old Navy size XXL
Leggings - Walmart size 3X
Flats - Payless size 11

ETA: I tried to make a video but I ended up rambling for 12 minutes so I'll just say it here: I have chosen not to publish comments that perpetrate the notion that leggings are "trashy" or a "fashion faux-pas." If you feel the need to leave comments like that, you've missed my point. I am not forcing anybody to accept leggings into their wardrobe, but no matter what your personal preferences are it is not okay to dictate what others wear. Every person has the right to wear whatever they choose and that is not an open invitation for your negative commentary. To be blunt, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Buttons are busted, we're decorated

2011-04-11T22:35:00.003-06:00

Today has been a nice but busy day. I got up early (well, earlier than I'd have liked) because I had to drive back from Edmonton to Camrose before my linear algebra class. After class and lunch I checked my mail box to find that I had received a lovely care package from my older sister in the mail. She sent me a sweet card a bunch of fun goodies, including a ton of my favourite tea and a book I've been wanting to read for ages (Tazo Orange Blossom and "Swing Low" by Miriam Toews, respectively). I love getting things in the mail and I especially love how thoughtful my sister is. I saw one of the campus counsellors today and it went well. Counselling has been quite beneficial to me in the past, but it's never been something I liked. I'll probably see him more once exam anxiety sets in, and for now it was just nice to get acquainted.

Right after my appointment I went on a lovely walk, which is where I took today's outfit photos. Don't let the snow fool you, today was quite warm. So warm, in fact, that I had to take of my cardigan for a bit while walking. On the same note, it is finally warm enough to go bare-legged. Today was the second day in the past week I haven;t worn tights, though thankfully this time I was smart enough to wear bike shorts. Chub rub hurts! Spring is coming slowly but surely and the snow is melting as fast as it knows how. I felt a huge child-like desire to go puddle jumping. Although it'd actually be more like wading considering the size of a lot of the puddles. I remember as a child we practically swam in them! Puddle-induced nostalgia aside, my walk included buying some pears for an art project, owl-themed chocolates, going to the bank, lemonade, and buying some stickers for scrapbooking. I spent the rest of the day working on art. My final portfolio is due Wednesday at midnight and I don't feel at all ready! I certainly have time to work on it though, and hopefully I'll be confident in the work I submit. I honestly could of done more work today, but I've been super tired and irritable all day (not to mention an awful headache). Thankfully today was lovely in spite of all that.

Posing for pictures makes me feel so silly!

Skirt - thrifted Addition-Elle size 24
T-shirt - Old Navy size XXL
Cardigan - Ricki's size XXL
Belt - Northern Reflections size XL
Flats - Payless size 11
Necklace - Reitmans
Purse - Winners

Film photographs

2011-04-10T23:28:00.003-06:00

I'm home in Edmonton for the weekend and I've been having a lovely time. Along with seeing friends and applying for jobs, I was also able to get a roll of film developed. I started this roll in January, and so it seemed fitting to get it developed now, with only three days of classes left. This roll of film spans my entire winter semester! I really like some of the photographs and I thought it'd be fun to share them with you all.

I absolutely love these floral sunglasses, which I bought at Ardene's for about $5. I can't wait to wear them all summer long. Thanks for looking, and I hope you all had a lovely weekend as well!

Cute as a Button

2011-04-06T22:47:00.005-06:00

I had a pretty tough weekend mental-health wise, but I still wanted to share my costume from Friday night. Friday was my school's Last Class Bash and it was a tonne of fun. My campus is alcohol-free, so LCB is one of three opportunities to get drunk and dance with your classmates (aside from, y'know, every weekend at the local club). The theme was "Imma B" so everyone was supposed to dress up as something that started with the letter B. There were a lot of creative and fun costumes. With the help of my friend Nicole I decided to go as a button, because buttons are cute! (Also probably because I love hearing "you're cute as a button!"). I made two buttons from cardboard (which is ridiculously difficult to cut), painted them with acrylic craft paint, painted them with gel medium to make them shiny, and then used hot glue and yarn to make it look sewn and attach it to myself. There was another button in the back and it was attached sandwich-board style. I definitely should have used something stronger than yarn though, my costume broke multiple times and I had to use some ribbon from balloons to fix it. Still, I was really happy with my costume.

Black t-shirt - B.U.M. Equipment size 3X
Black mini skirt - Ricki's size 18
Purple tights - Addition Elle size 3X
Black flats - Payless size 11
Hair pins - buttons glued to bobby pins with hot glue

A spot of spring

2011-04-01T17:52:00.009-06:00

Hello! I know I haven't had a proper outfit post in ages, so here you are! I wore this yesterday, and I felt super cute. I love this dress, and I haven't worn it ages. I'm not sure it shrunk in the wash or something, but I was a little self-conscious about how short it is. I don't remember it being this short! This is the first time I've worn these shoes. I bought them at the end of fall for $5, but winter is hardly a time for peep-toe flats. I totally love them though, metallic shoes are fabulous. I also really like this ring with my owl necklace - they're both that ridiculously bright silver, so they go together well. This is also the debut of my new red wig. I absolutely love it! I purchased it from a fraudulent seller on Etsy (before I knew they were fraudulent, obviously), but the same wig can be purchased here.

Yesterday was a lovely day, if a bit emotion-filled. I had class from 9:25am-3:30pm (studio art, English, and psych). We're beginning our final project in art, which I'm a bit nervous about as it's weighted more than our other projects. I'm really enjoying art though, we've been painting with acrylics - something I'm much better at than drawing! After psych, I went for a coffee/walk with a cute boy. It was so warm and sunny, it's finally starting to feel like. Spring in Alberta is really slushy though, and on our walk I ended up falling into a creek... I felt so embarrassed (not to mention cold!) but he walked me back to my dorm room so I could change my shoes and put on some dry leggings. We ended up hanging out with some of his friends and spent the evening together. I am totally smitten, and if you follow me on tumblr you know that I talk about my crush a lot. I also found out some not-so-great family news, but things will hopefully be getting better.

Dress - Old Navy size XL
Cardigan - Walmart size 2X
Tights - Penningtons size 4X
Belt - thrifted
Ring - Penningtons
Necklace - Warehouse One
Silver flats - Payless size 11

Sorry for the novel, I just have so much to say. It's another gorgeous sunny day today, tonight is the Last Class Bash, and I'm feeling quite happy. My university is a dry campus, so there are three parties every year where they rent a hall off-campus and students go to drink and dance. It's honestly kind of like a high school dance with way more alcohol, but it should be fun. I have an awesome costume lined up, which I'll be sure to share with y'all tomorrow. Happy Friday!

Stylish Sunday: Rebecca

2011-03-27T17:01:00.011-06:00

For this week's Stylish Sunday, I was really happy to be able to interview Rebecca of We Are Large, People. I positively love Rebecca's style and I'm excited to be featuring her. Read on for Rebecca's interview and a taste of her fun sense of style.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I am fat in and around Seattle right now with my husband and our adorable dog named Waffles. I grew up in the southern US (Georgia). By day I work in advertising, but by night/weekend I own my own business as a fashion consultant. Shameless plug: come check it out at wearelargepeople.com!

How long have you been posting photos of your outfits online? What made you decide to start?

I started posted in the fatshionista.livejournal.com community in 2009 (here's my first ever post). A friend introduced me to Manolo for the Big Girl, and from there I found the fatshionista flickr group as well as the livejournal community and Leslie Kinzel's now-changed blog Fatshionista.com (she now blogs at twowholecakes.com). It was a total epiphany for me - here were awesome folks that looked like me, had my body shape, and were rocking and awesome and stylish. It changed my life, which sounds like an overdramatic statement, but it honestly did. I wanted to be a part of changing other people's lives through being visible as a fat person, and posting pictures of myself online is a huge (ha!) part of normalizing fat bodies. In 2009 I started blogging my outfits - what an amazing experience it has been! I have friends all over the world now, we swap clothes and books and fashion tips and encourage each other - it has blown me away. I never thought blogging could be so fun and could lead to so many new friendships and opportunities. My blog is at wearelargepeople.blogspot.com if anyone wants to check it out!

Who inspires you the most?

This is hard to answer - I am inspired by lots of people! Fashion-wise, one of my old friends Stephanie (she doesn't blog, sadly) was a huge inspiration to me, and really the catalyst for me to start thinking in terms of a personal style, and developing a style, rather than just buying what was available in my size. I still think that I dress pretty similarly to her - she's so stylish and fun and encouraging.

What are your feelings on style versus fashion?

I feel like style is something deeper, whereas fashion is just what you wear at the time. Style is the personal mantra and reasoning you have behind your outfit choices and way of life. Fashion is awesome too, but it's just the clothing that enables the style. My personal style has evolved quite a bit, from DIY hippie patchwork sundresses and dreadlocks, to boy jeans and t-shirts and piercings, to trying to be "professional" and dressing like a lane bryant mannequin (lord save us from polyester), to being inspired by friends and communities like fatshionista and lookbook.nu and other blogs that I read. Now I feel like my style is kind of old lady/prairie chic. Petticoats, broaches, cardigans, boots, scarves. mixed with 50s silhouettes like blouses with colors and button-up cardigans over them, pencil skirts, etc.

How does the country in which you live affect your clothing choices, both with regards to personal style and access to clothing in your size?

I'm fortunate to live in the US, where plus sized clothing is readily available via online ordering (most countries ship to the US too, so I have lots of options for clothing from UK manufacturers like Asos, Evans, Dorothy Perkins, etc. Brick and mortar stores that carry my size, which is around a 20-24, are limited, but still much more than other countries. I can go to the mall and find something to wear, if that mall has a Torrid or a Lane Bryant. I've found, since moving away from the southern US, that plus sized clothing is harder to find, and there aren't as many plus sized folks here in Seattle as there were in Atlanta. That makes me uncomfortable sometimes, because I feel like I don't fit in here (ha, literally!), but my blogging and development of my personal style has really helped.

What do you love the most about living in Seattle?

Seattle is beautiful, and it doesn't rain nearly as much as people say. There's so much to do around here, and it's also very dog-friendly, so there are always cute dogs to play with! We've also found such a great group of friends here that I just feel lucky to be living here. I've definitely lived places where it was hard to find friends and been very lonely (California was like that to an extent for me), but here we don't even have enough time to hang out with all the people we want to hang out with! It's a nice problem to have.

What is your favourite item of clothing and why?

Oh goodness, that would be like picking a favorite child (if I had children). Right now, I think it's this black shift dress I got at a thrift store. It's super thick cotton jersey with on-seam pockets. I can wear a bow-tie blouse under it, or a cardigan over it. I can belt it, put a petticoat under it - it's so versatile and comfy! And it only cost $4.

Where are your favourite places to shop?

Online, for sure. Asos Curve, Dorothy Perkins, eshakti. To a lesser extent Old Navy. Brick and mortar: Target (even though their plus size section is literally only 3 racks), Torrid (though they are a little young for my style, they have great patterned tights and jeans!). I also really love shopping etsy for gifts, jewelry, vintage clothing. I even have my own etsy shop (wearelargepeople.etsy.com) where I sell plus size vintage clothing because I needed to finance my etsy addiction :)

What is your favourite fashion rule to break?

Oh goodness, I don't even know if I know the fashion rules anymore! Aren't fat people only supposed to wear muumuus and be miserable? I suppose by being happy I am a rule breaker. Also, I love wearing muumuus.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to readers of Anomalous Allure?

My image of myself really changed for the better when I started appreciating people of every size as beautiful, rather than being upset at people thinner than me because I felt like they had it easier. There's not a competition for beauty or goodness, there is enough of it to go around, and I don't have to make other people less so I can be more, if that makes sense. I've started making it a point to compliment people on their style, their shoes, their glasses, anything! I basically just try to see the good in everyone. It's made me see the good in myself much more readily.

A big thanks to Rebecca for letting me feature her, and don't forget to follow her blog We Are Large, People.

3 Outfits

2011-03-27T16:08:00.005-06:00

Hey all! I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in so long, school is so ridiculosuly hectic right now. I do have three outfits that I've worn in the past little while that I thought I'd share. I hope you enjoy!

I wore this a few weeks ago, just for a casual Friday that included a car ride to Edmonton.

Cardigan - Walmart size 2X
Owl top - Forever 21+ size 3X
Grey layering tank - Warehouse One size XXL
Jeggings - Old Navy size 18

I wore this when I went to a 50s style diner with my friends a few weekends ago. This is my new polka dot dress from Domino Dollhouse. I really love it, but it's too big so I'll need to get it taken in. I ordered it in a size 24 (which is said to fit a 50" bust) but it was falling off of my 52" bust. I really wanted to wear it, so I just pinned it in the back for now. I haven't posted about it, but I was really happy with my Domino Dollhouse purchase.

Dress - Domino Dollhouse size 24
Cardigan - Alloy size XXXL
Cardigan clip - local antique store
Flats - Payless size 11

And my last outfit, which I believe I wore last Saturday.

T-shirt - Righteous Babe store, AA unisex size XL
Striped tank - Forever 21 size L
Black pants - Old Navy size 18
Boots - Walmart size 10W
Hat - Ardene's

Again, I'm super sorry for being such a bad blogger lately. I'll be back later today with the Stylish Sunday feature though!

Stylish Sunday: Kaelah Bee

2011-03-20T14:15:00.007-06:00

Hey all! I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in over 10 days, I love blogging and I love my readers but it's so easy to get caught up in school and let my blog take the backseat. That being said, I'm really excited for this post as I was able to interview none other than the lovely Kaelah Bee. Kaelah posts about her outfits, as well as photography, pretty weddings, music, and everything else you can imagine, at her blog Little Chief Honeybee. I've been fan of Kaelah's cute style for ages now, and I'm really happy that I was able to feature her in this weeks Stylish Sunday. Read on for the interview and a peak at her feminine style and I promise you'll be as smitten with her as I am.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I'm Kaelah and I'm a 22 year old (23 on March 30th!) freelance graphic designer living in southern Tennessee. I write a lifestyle-personal blog called Little Chief Honeybee where I post my favorite music, adventures, and outfits. I'm recently engaged to my photographer beau, Mike. We have 2 precious and fat bulldogs to call our own.

How long have you been posting photos of your outfits online? What made you decide to start?

I've had my blog since May of 2009 but I'm not too sure when I decided to do outfits! It was just part of my life so I'd take a few photos here and there, but I know I made the decision to take good-quality outfit photos starting in February 2010. I wasn't as consistent as I'd have liked but now I'm keeping up with it fairly well!

Who inspires you the most?

Other bloggers definitely. They seem to have a different approach to personal style and fashion, and I appreciate that. There is such a wide variety of who and what you can find online. I don't have any one specific person in mind, but definitely all of the blogs that I subscribe to. One may inspire the way I decorate or cook, while the other inspires the way I do my hair or try something new. That's the beauty of it!

What are your feelings on style versus fashion?

I think style is more important than fashion. What I mean is that anyone can rock a vintage YSL top and designer jeans… it doesn't take much to make YSL look good. But it takes more ingenuity to make a 50 cent Goodwill dress really pop. Fashion also has a date. Style is much more eternal and you can rock a 90's denim jacket in a stylish way 20 years later.

How does the country in which you live affect your clothing choices, both with regards to personal style and access to clothing in your size?

I don't have any trouble finding clothing to fit luckily. I'm not sure if that's because I'm in America and a size 12 is fairly average or if there's just a wider array of sizes available. I'm a pear shape so my upper body is a lot smaller than my hips/thighs. I don't shop for jeans because they just don't fit into my personal aesthetic but luckily dresses are readily available and accessible. Plus, I can wear down to a size 4 in a dress when I'd need a 12 in jeans, so why not capitalize on that?! Just means more options to choose from!

What do you love the most about living in Tennessee?

The simple fact that there is a huge array of stores, brands, etc. Things are much easier to access in America. It's a little harder to say that here in Tennessee, but I can still get something if I want/need to.

What is your favourite item or clothing and why?

I doubt I could narrow it down. I'm very fond of my dresses. Maybe it's silly to say but when our home flooded in May 2010 and we lost everything, I made it a priority to save 1) my dog, 2) my computer and 3) a hefty chunk of my dress collection. Nothing can make me feel as feminine and pretty as a nice dress. They can be dressed up, dressed down, worn in any season, etc. Perfect!

Where are your favourite places to shop?

I get a lot of my clothing from Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Charlotte Russe, Target, and random thrift stores.

What is your favourite fashion rule to break?

All of them! I wear black and brown, I mix the colors or shades of my belt and shoes. I wear white after Labor Day and heels with socks. If it's a rule, it's meant to be broken!

Is there anything else you’d like to say to readers of Anomalous Allure?

Just don't let anyone else's opinions or feelings dictate how you feel about yourself or how you dress. Wear what makes you feel good! Don't feel like you have to squeeze yourself into a size 6 when you really need a size 10. No one is going to see that tag. It's about how you feel! Dress in a way that flatters your body and be confident in it! Don't be afraid to try something new and "out there"!

A big thanks to Kaelah for allowing me to interview her! Don't forget to follow her blog Little Chief Honeybee for your daily dose of cute!

Floral, leopard, purple

2011-03-09T15:35:00.004-07:00

This is what I wore yesterday, but after pulling an all-nighter the night before I fell asleep before I was able to post it. I hadn't worn this skirt since summer, I guess I'd forgotten how much I love it. I really like it with this scarf too; it might be the colours or it might just be that I love mixing prints. I was planning on wearing black tights but I noticed a huge run in my only pair, so purple it is. These purple tights have lasted me over two years, while all of my other tights rip and run after a few months. They're certainly hardy!

Skirt - thrifted
T-shirt - Old Navy size XXL
Tights - Addition Elle size 3X
Belt - Northern Reflections size XL
Boots - Naturalizer size 11
Scarf - Winners
Owl button - self made (in art class, I love art class!)
F is for Feminist button - UBC's women's centre, courtesy of my sister
Tegan & Sara button - T&S's Maple Music shop

Stylish Sunday: Cara

2011-03-06T14:33:00.004-07:00

Hello all! I'm really excited to introduce a new weekly feature on my blog called Stylish Sunday. Every Sunday I'll share an interview with someone who posts their outfits online, and who's style I adore. First up is the wonderful Cara, who posts her outfits (among other lovely things) at I Like Pretty Clothes. Read on for the interview, as well as a sneak peak of her gorgeous style.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I am from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada originally, but have lived in Wellington, New Zealand for the last year and a bit. I am married to my best friend in the world and feel very lucky for that. I work in the administration office of a professional theatre and absolutely love it - the arts are my passion, although I am not a performer myself. I have written a book - Supernatural Winnipeg: A Guide to a Ghostly Vacation - which is on its 4th printing, but is only available now through a ghost tour company in Winnipeg. (Clearly my writing skills don't translate to interviews - sorry!) I love the theatre, movies, books, drinking far too much lovely New Zealand wine, traveling, spending time with cool people, browsing the internet for far too much time each day and, most importantly, shopping.

How long have you been posting photos of your outfits online? What made you decide to start?

I think I started in September last year. I am one of the countless few who have always had tons of issues with my weight; I had very little esteem about my appearance despite having a gorgeous husband who told me daily that I was beautiful. He always hated how awful I was to myself, but we were both at a loss as to what to do to change it (since losing weight certainly didn't - I lost significant amounts of weight on two separate occasions, and not only did I still feel bad about myself at my lowest weight - it was never enough - but also I gained it all back and them some both times). Sam started reading FA blogs online and introduced me to them. The effect was almost immediate - it was like a light went off in my head and I realized how sick I was of wasting my life worrying about not being skinny. It suddenly seemed like such a ridiculous thing to worry about, particularly when life is so short and it is so much more enjoyable to be happy. I will never be skinny, and I had to learn to love myself regardless so I could start fully enjoying every part of my life. Let me tell you, it was like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders, pun intended. Part of my discovery of the online FA community included the Fatshionista group on Flickr, and since I have always been so in love with clothes and shopping, after a while I decided to start posting my own outfit photos. Shortly after I started posting on Flickr, I discovered tumblr and decided to start my own blog, I Like Pretty Clothes, dedicated to clothes and fatshion in particular.

Who inspires you the most?

One of the first FA blogs I started to follow was Tangled Up in Lace - Jessica had a Blogspot blog before she switched to tumblr, and I was an avid reader. She is definitely a huge inspiration, because reading about her take on size and fat acceptance really helped me to start on the road to my own self acceptance. I think there are a lot of people who could say the same thing about her. I don't know her personally, of course, but I am so thankful to her for putting herself out there and giving us all the benefit of her opinions and views on life. She's a wise, wise woman. Plus, she has mad style and is one hot bitch. :) I still miss her long form blog. Sigh. There are a lot of other gorgeous vixens on tumblr and elsewhere on the internet who are also inspirational, both in terms of FA and fatshion: Kyla the Great, Riots not Diets, The Fat Girl's Guide, Frocks and Frou Frou, Young Fat and Fabulous, Pearl Concubine, Fuck Yeah Chubby Fashion, and too many more to name them all.

What are your feelings on style versus fashion?

I am so not the right person to answer this question. I don't feel qualified to answer it, as I don't really have strong feelings about one versus the other. My approach to clothes is sort of gluttonous - I want pretty much everything, I can go into almost any store and find multiple things that I have to have. I don't really have a specific taste in clothes, I am kind of an equal opportunist in terms of my clothes. As such, I don't think I have a distinct style. In fact, I often mix styles. I look at other people and admire their style, their unique and distinct way of dressing that seems to speak directly to their personality. My 'style' changes from one day to the next. I kind of feel like my wardrobe is all over the place, and a little over the top sometimes. Which I suppose does convey my personality, come to think of it! lol Don't get me wrong, I love my clothes and wouldn't change anything about the way I shop. I just don't feel that I have a style. Am I stylish? Maybe, sometimes. And sometimes really not. The term 'fashion' just scares me. It makes me think of designers and haute couture and all that stuff that is out of my league, over my head and just so not of interest to me. I guess I just think in terms of clothes and outfits that I like, not fashion and style. If that makes any sense at all.

How does the country in which you live affect your clothing choices, both with regards to personal style and access to clothing in your size?

Well, New Zealand does not have a lot of options for cute plus sized clothes, unless you are an old lady or a fan of long, drapey, shapeless pieces. It's really rather unfortunate. City Chic is about the only plus sized store around with really cute clothes. Thankfully, I can buy stuff in straight-sized stores - I'm about a size 16 or 18. But I do most of my shopping online - the variety is just so much better. And although the cost of shipping can be a bitch, NZ is an expensive place to live/shop, so I know that were I able to get the kind of clothes I buy online in a store here, I would pay the same or more as I do online including shipping.

What do you love the most about living in New Zealand?

Ha ha, this has nothing to do with clothes, but my favourite thing about living in Wellington is being so close to the sea! I am a Prairie girl born and raised, so the ocean is still such a novelty for me.

What is your favourite item of clothing and why?

I have so many favourite pieces, but my absolute favourite is my royal blue vintage coat. It is so lush and just such a beautiful, vibrant colour that people comment on it - and pet it, since it's kind of a plush material - whenever I wear it. I haven't worn it in an outfit post yet since my parents just brought it over from Canada for me and it has been too warm to wear it here yet. But I will post it as soon as I'm able to so my tumblr friends can see it's luxurious gorgeousness. As long as it still fits, of course, I haven't worn or tried it on in a long time. Damn, I hope it still fits!

Where are your favourite places to shop?

As anyone who reads my tumblr knows, I am a huge Pinup Girl Clothing addict. Such beautiful clothes of such gorgeous quality! I've also recently discovered Dorothy Perkins and love their dresses. And City Chic has beautiful stuff too.

What is your favourite fashion rule to break?

I over accessorize. I can't help it, I love jewelry and wear a lot of it. Although, I think I am doing this less. I used to wear a huge pair of earrings with a big chunky necklace and many rings and bracelets on almost a daily basis, and I don't do this anymore. I have been wearing really small earrings lately and will often not even wear a necklace if the top I'm wearing has an embellishment. But I still feel a tendency to over accessorize sometimes, and give into it whenever the mood strikes.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to readers of Anomalous Allure?

Hmmm, I guess I would just say to wear whatever you like, and not worry about rules or styles or trends. Wear what you want and what makes you feel good, and screw anyone who says otherwise. Just like no one has the right to police your body, no one has the right to police your wardrobe.

Don't forget to follow Cara at her blog I Like Pretty Clothes!

A big thanks to Cara for agreeing to be interviewed for the first ever Stylish Sunday! If you like to be featured, e-mail me at anomalous_allure AT hotmail DOT com

Teal

2011-03-04T14:40:00.003-07:00

My friends and I went to Boston Pizza for dinner and drinks last night, and my friend Nicole was kind enough to take a few photos of my outfit. I was a bit silly to wear heels and a mini skirt, but I was totally in the mood to dress up.

Blazer - thrifted size 18, cut off the sleeves
Tunic - Addition Elle size 4X
Skirt - Ricki's size 18
Teal tights - Addition Elle size 3X
Fishnet tights - Spanx size 3X (sent to me by a company who were difficult to work with and eventually quit corresponding with me so whatever)
Heels - Payless size 11

Pretty in Paisley

2011-03-01T18:50:00.007-07:00

I've seen a few other people wear the belted-scarf look so I thought I'd give it a try. I really like it! I originally imagined this outfit with cuffed jeans and flats, but the fact that it's still winter (and March!) meant I had to swap in boots. Seriously, it's cold (about -40°C with the wind chill). And that sound of snow crunching underneath your footsteps? It's starting to give me a headache.

I didn't mean to start complaining there, but y'all now how I feel about February and March in Alberta. In other news, I wrote my psych midterm today and it was awful! And the final exam schedule is out. I don't have a week without a major assignment or exam until April 28th! (Wait, am I still complaining? Sorry!)

Okay, basically, here's what I wore today and I felt cute as a button. I bought this shirt a few months ago but didn't wear it until today. I love it!

Striped top - Ricki's size XXL
Grey tank - Warehouse One size XXL
Jeggings - Old Navy size 18
Vintage scarf - Divine
Belt - Northern Reflections size XL
Boots - Naturalizer size 11
Ring - Penningtons

Denim skirt

2011-02-26T17:58:00.005-07:00

I thrifted this denim skirt about a month ago and it was a long calf-length. I hadn't worn it yet, and decided I'd get more wear out of it if it were shorter. I cut it off above-the-knee and now it's my new favourite skirt. Yay for DIY!

Skirt - thrifted size 22W
Top - Old Navy size XXL
Tights - Addition Elle size 4X
Boots - Naturalizer size 11
Bracelets - Ten Thousand Villages
Watch - gifted
Turquoise ring - bought at a local made sale on campus
Blue ring - Penningtons
Scarf - a local boutrique in Dawson Creek
Nail polish - American Apparel 'Dynasty'

Beige but not bland

2011-02-24T15:04:00.004-07:00

I had such a hard time taking photographs today. It was ridiculous! It's so cold out and my camera was not cooperating at all. I'm totally envious of those bloggers who have boyfriends/husbands who happen to brilliant photographers and are willing to photograph their outfits daily. Not that I'm in the market for a husband, but if it meant better quality photos... Kidding, of course. However, today's cold, frustrating photoshoot has me wishing of spring (and for a proper tripod).

Button up tunic - Winners size 3X
Scarf - Winners
Corduroy jacket - thrifted
Jeggings - Old Navy size 18
Layering tank - Warehouse One size XXL
Belt - Northern Reflections size XL
Wide calf boots - Naturalizer size 11W

Orange Blossom

2011-02-23T20:15:00.006-07:00

Hello all! I'm sorry that the photos aren't that great - my camera can be quite unreliable - but I really wanted to share today's outfit. Today I slept in way late and then met my friend for an early dinner. We were going to have sushi but the place was closed for renovation, so we went decided to go to Dadeo's, an 18+ New Orleans style diner, but apparently it's closed on Wednesday! We then went to the Artisan Rest-Cafe and got there less than half an hour before close. We had soup & sandwiches and split a cake, and were very grateful with our server for being so patient and kind when we probably kept him there a bit late. I hadn't seen Heather in ages and so it was really great to catch up. Among other things, we talked a bit about queer safe spaces. We talked about gay bars, and how she feels intrusive about going as a non-queer person. I thought it was awesome that my friend was so aware of her privilege and careful not to intrude other's spaces. That being said, I don't find gay bars to be a safe space at all, and if straight allies want to dance and have fun in a queer-positive space, it's fine by me. I was curious about other's perspectives on this, though. What do you think?

I was a bit brave to wear these shoes as it's still winter here. In fact when I woke I turned on the TV and then went to make coffee and the first thing I heard was "cold temperatures even by Alberta standards." Hardly a comforting way to start the day. I figured I would risk it as I was only walking a few blocks on snow-free sidewalks, but snow isn't the only thing that can make feet cold! I'm just so sick of winter and all I want to do is wear my new flats every single day.

Jeggings - Old Navy size 18
Cardigan - Old Navy size XXL
Striped tank - Forever 21 size L
Flats - Payless size 11
Vintage scarf - Divine
Vintage flower brooch - an antique shop in Camrose
Turquoise ring - a local made sale on my campus
Purse - Winners

I was wondering if any other plus-size bloggers would be interested in doing a swap of sorts. I'm inspired by this post at Kendi Everyday as well as The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and I think a share-swap could be a lot of fun! What I'm looking for is someone who is about my size(20-24), preferably living in Canada or the US who would be interesting in swapping a few items of clothing - but only for a week or two! We could decide upon the items in advance, send each other a few skirt or dresses, wear them & blog our outfits, and then send back the (cleaned) clothes after a few weeks. I think it could be a lot of fun and if this is something you might be interested in let me know in comments or send me an e-mail at anomalous_allure@hotmail.com

Speaking of shared clothing, I was lucky enough win this lovely pre-loved dress from Kyla the Great on tumblr. I can't wait to wear it!

New purchases

2011-02-22T18:02:00.003-07:00

Hello all! I've been doing quite a bit of shopping in the past few days and decided to make a video (my first!) to show you my new purchases. Let me know what you think!

I'm really happy with what I bought and I can't wait to wear all of my new clothes! You'll definitely be seeing them in upcoming posts.