Over the Weekend

Hello again boys and girls!

So, I may or may not have taken over a week off blogging. . . sorry about that!  I really wanted to keep on track this time around, but sometimes I get in the way of myself.  Last week I worked straight for six days, which ended up being more tiring than I expected.  Most days I didn't really want to wake up hours before my shift in order to be blogland productive when I could just watch reruns of Never Mind the Buzzcocks in bed. . .

All this to say, I'm back with a vengeance boys and girls!  Mostly powered by my awesome weekend.  Friday night I was working and starting to feel a cold coming on, but against my better judgment I went out dancing to Grillz and Glam night at Babylon (ie Hip Hop and Glam Rock, together at last!).  I had a mega-good time, but then had to spend the following morning recovering.  I subsequently spent my shift nursing my throat with ginger-lemongrass tea and promptly going to bed as soon as it was over.  Sunday I went to church with my folks (which I haven't done in a good long time, but we had a house-guest who was doing a presentation so it was best to play the good hostess) and then spent the afternoon enjoying Ottawa.  I first went to Wabi sabi, the west end's only yarn store to the best of my knowledge, and ran into an old friend there.  We had an excellent time catching up over deciding on yarn for Christmas projects, and she sent me the pattern for an awesome herringbone circle scarf.  I really look forward to tackling it after I finish the scarf for my sister!

I then met up with Zoe and we did a bit of Rideau/Market meandering and shopping.  I wasn't expecting to snag much cause the only thing I'm really looking for feverishly right now is a pair of good quality moccasins (but seeing as I want them just for around the house, I'm trying to keep it under the $100 they're looking to cost).  However, I did snag a few little trinkets and treats that I've been after for a good long time.  I can't wait incorporate all these puppies into my regular wardrobe!

Cause a Canadian girl can never have too many toques!

I've lost my heretofore favourite locket necklace, so here's hoping this will fill the void!

I know I already have a key necklace, but I'm much more inclined to wear gold/brass than silver, so this is ok, right?

I have been jonesing for a cameo ring for SO LONG and this one is perfect! And made in Quebec City to boot!

Made by the same people, how could the Victorian historian in me say no to this penny farthing necklace?

And matching bicycle bracelet? This baby was only $10! Alright, no more shopping till after Christmas. . . 

Toque - Forever 21
Locket and Key Necklaces - Aldo
Cameo Ring, Penny Farthing Necklace, and Bicycle Bracelet - Adorit Boutique

Aside from all this lovely swag, I also nabbed a cute little dress that I will debut tomorrow, boys and girls.  I've got a day off which I will be spending helping a friend with a project, looking for more yarn, running some errands, helping my mom pick out new glasses, and getting some things organized for grad school applications.  So I've got to be expertly dressed and accessorized for that, right?

Hope your weekend was equally stellar!

Love,

Your friend Lina

Thinking Outside

Momentous occasion boys and girls!

Yesterday the blog actually did what I wanted it to do - make me wear something I usually wouldn't.  I mean, I still stuck with all black, a unabeshedly anglophilic blazer, and fur, but I have never worn a collared shirt underneath a regular shirt before.

And I really like it!  So I'll do it again.

Oh, but blast.  Then it won't be out of the box again.  I guess things are just going to have to get a little crazy all up in here then.

Blazer - Forever 21
Fur - Found in the basement
White Shirt - Hand-me-down from a friend
Black Shirt - Forever 21
Skirt - American Apparel
Tights - American Apparel
Belt - Forever 21
Shoes - Forever 21 

Enjoy this gloriously bright fall day, boys and girls!  I'm working today, but tomorrow I'm hitting up a Christmas craft fair with an old friend and her family, and then spending the afternoon and evening with my bestest lady returned from New York!

Pip pip,

Your friend Lina

Indoor Recess

Oooh, it's a gross one out today boys and girls!

I've got the afternoon off in what feels like the first time since forever!  Since it's gross out I don't think I'll be venturing out to self-shoot today.  Instead, it'll be indoor recess for me with a chai fog, ham and gruyere croissant, knitting, and some British panel show or other.

Fog: half done, Croissant: done, Scarf: barely started

Hope you can be cozy today too!

Love,

Your friend Lina

With a Bow in Her Hair

Another little work outfit rendered for daily life, boys and girls!

Again, I'll be switching out the shirt and shoes, but the bow's gunna stay!  I wear my hair like this a lot - it's perfect for making dirty hair look more presentable.  It also does double-duty of being super cute and being functional.  After eight hours of slinging lattes and sorting compost (glamorous job, that's what I've got!), a scarf tied in such a way is a handy device for keeping your way-too-long bangs out of things.

Function-wise, it works even better with a cotton bandana, but I'll happily use a bobby pin or two to keep this number in place.  It's print is of famous French Chateaus with gold chain running through the little vignettes and flags.  It's been one of my favourites since I snatched it up this summer.

I threw in the mittens and scarf because I just know this glorious, crisp, bright blue weather isn't going to last long.  So to warm up something like this, those, plus maybe an extra pair of tights and a coat and I'd be snug as a bug in a rug!

Shirt - Forever 21
Skirt - Forever 21
Tights - Joe Fresh
Shoes - New Look in England
Necklace - H&M
Scarf - Thrifted
Mittens - Milk Shop
Scarf - Hand Knit

Have a happy fall afternoon, boys and girls!

Love,

Your friend Lina

In Our Town of Halloween

As you well know, I'm nuts for tradition boys and girls.

And Halloween is no exception.  When I was a kid, I would get Halloween nightmares in the same way that people get exam nightmares - it was the day of and I didn't have a costume yet.  I've calmed down somewhat since then, but there are still a few traditions that I hold close to my heart.

The main one is pumpkin carving with my dad.  I would pick out and design the pumpkin, and he would do the actual work of pulling out the guts and carving in the face.  Even when I went away to university, I would design something in MSPaint and email it to my parents.  That tradition fell a little to the wayside when I went away to England and after, but now it's back with full force boys and girls!

This year we left it pretty late (my dad said he had to fight off other ladies to get the final pumpkin at the grocery store - and it had started to rot on one side).  I had been browsing blogs and Martha Stewart and sites like that to get inspiration and/or stencils, and even though there were a few that looked super awesome (think spooky cameos etched rather than cut in or a double-sided pumpkin that projected up onto the wall), we went with something relatively simple for time's sake.  I found a simple picture of an evilly grinning Jack Skellington, simplified it even more, and then let the spoons and knives fly! Simple!  And spooky. . . . 

Stencil on, guts out

Love it already!

Delicious reward for all that hard work

Gentlemen, prepare to operate

Taking shape

'Cause I JACK, The Pumpkin King

Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

I worked the night of Halloween unfortunately, so I didn't get to see any of the munchkins in my neighbourhood, nor did I get to cut a rug of my own.  Too bad!  But that's the joy of a yearly tradition. . . just a few more months and we get to do it all again!

Happy Belated Halloween,

Your friend Lina

Cozy with a Hint of Summer

Here's a little something I wore to work yesterday, boys and girls.

The black shirt was switched out for the work shirt (which is another black shirt, just with the cafe's logo on it), but largely speaking this is the sort of thing I've been living in for the past little while.  I like the mix of summer in with some more weather appropriate pieces too.  I wore little else than these shoes, this necklace, and these shorts from June through to September.  I guess I went through withdrawal cause they're back with a vengeance, strengthened by the power of tights and knits!

This sweater is amazing, just what I had been looking for, and I have barely taken it off since I got it.  Showering has been put on hiatus because of it.  I bought twelve more and stitched a blanket out of them so I can sleep in it too.

Well, not really.  But now you know my level of devotion.  To old and new.

Sweater - Joe Fresh
Shirt - Forever 21
Shorts - So old I have no idea
Tights - American Apparel
Shoes - Aldo
Necklace - H&M? I think? Might be F21
Ring - Victoire

Right ho folks, I'm soon to be out the door wearing this same sweater, complement by blue gloves, a blue bike, and a way-cool blue helmet.

At least the sweater is fashionable.

Love,

Your friend Lina 

Historical Recreations

They aren't always accurate are they, boys and girls?

Here's a a redo of the outfit I wore in Montreal last week.  However, I have since accrued a poppy and lost a treasured necklace and pair of rings.  I know they're in the house somewhere (somewhere, somewhere!) but they're still evading capture.  I can assure you though, they really completed this ensemble.

I like to this of this as my Selective Potential outfit.  I didn't consciously think of Tieka when putting this one together, but I guess things seep in after a while, eh?  Her's was one of the first fashion blogs I ever read, and is still one of my absolute favourites.  So I guess an homage to her isn't out of order, haha!

 

 

 

Scarf - American Apparel
Coat - Forever 21
Tights - American Apparel
Boots - Chinese Laundry
Dress - Forever 21
Belt - Forever 21

Have a great Sunday folks!  I'm off to work this afternoon, so I'll be changing into the work t-shirt and skirt I always wear. . .

Take care,

Your friend Lina