Extra Awesome

I used to think the word "awesome" evoked Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and should be used sparingly.  Then I read The Book of Awesome and my attitude changed.  Now, in case you haven't noticed, I use the word freely and sincerely!  I think the more awesome I see in my everyday, the more filled with gratitude I am.  And then sometimes, extra awesome things happen.  Some random things I would classify as extra awesome include:

• a surprise party
• parcels on your doorstep
• hoar frost and sunlight
• enjoying seeing a special friend experience her first pregnancy
• children sleeping in the morning of a time change 

And surprise presents, like this awesome necklace:

 

 Birthday gift from someone special, you know who you are and YOU are AWESOME!

And a surprise gift is extra extra awesome when it is for no reason in particular, like this crochet top...

 Gift from my talented sister.

Obviously I couldn't wait till spring to wear it,

so a long layering tee from my closet helped me out. 

I got a bazillion compliments today.  

I had to stop counting otherwise I could be more specific. 

Extra extra extra awesome that it is the minty aqua lacey crocheted perfection for Spring AND extra extra extra extra awesome that it was originally from VV Boutique and has just been waiting for the perfect home: my body.

 Welcome to your new home, Crochet Perfection!

I'm sure you'll be happy here!

Crop Status Update

Since the great crop failure of 2012, I have been on the look out for "good" cropped pants at VV Boutique, and even made this one of my style resolutions for 2013.  Well, I can safely proclaim victory now that I've found not only one pair but two!

First pair are my fave green pants that I've shared before...

These were "expensive" at $9 especially considering they are an inexpensive label (H&M), but they are my favourite colour and they are what I deemed to be, after much review of the *literature*, a good length - right at my ankle bone or as we in the biz like to call it, malleolus.  Although a slim pant, they are not super skinny so they are appropriate for work (read: I'm not going to split my pants).

Imagine my delight when I found another pair of cropped pants at the February VV Boutique sale - this time purple cords and this time... TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS!  These are another inexpensive brand (Joe) but I don't care because I didn't have any purple pants and they fit well and were super comfy.  And they were $2.50. 

 Paired with gingham shirt, Talbots sweater and Sperry's.

These pants hit at about the same spot.  Of course, since it's still winter, going sockless is not an option.  The end-of-the-day photo may not capture the refreshing preppy look I was going for but take my word, I was at school today, and I felt preppy.  

One necklace was a gift from my favourite Janet, the other is She Does Create.

These particular photos were taken by my 7-year-old.  He gives a lot of direction as it turns out. 

I'm quite happy with my crop successes!  But then Anthropologie goes and messes me up with their latest selection of croppers.  I see mid-calf there!  I see all kinds of leg width and cuffs and patterns!  Dang, seems like the crop rules changed while I was busy trying to catch up to last year...  Mind the rules, bend the rules - either way, the bottom line stays the same:  go forth with attitude.  

 

Golden Tee

Even though the February Take One and Pass It On challenge is finished, guess what?  I passed on something anyway!

Pass the fab Just One necklace! 

Remixed with my faithful trousers, black pointy flats and 

*new* from VV Boutique, gold tee $5.25 and olive linen blazer $3.50

I note that the pointy flats actually DO elongate my leg-line.  Huh.  Thought that was a bit of baloney but it's true.  

"Something gold" has been on my hunting list for some time, so when I stumbled on this top during my valenbirthday shopping trip, I snatched it up.  It had a pull but no broken threads so I just pulled it back to the other side, tied a knot and patted my DIY-self on the back.

Here's my dressing room shot... 

  See how I was so tricky with this "maybe" shot?

I put the piece I actually bought in the back to throw you off. 

This golden tee is a bit boxy, but it reminded me of something you'd see on Ruche, and I thought the collar and fit of the blazer were a perfect complement. 

I have an even more Ruche-y ensemble in mind for this golden tee, once the snow melts (at least a bit).

 This is your cue to feel sorry for me.

This photo reminds me to remind you that Wednesday is the 50% off winter clearance sale at VV Boutique for Super Savers Club Card members.  I can't go, but you should go.  Don't have any fun without me.  ;)

 

Just One

I may have been a bit late to the party, but once I started the Take One and Pass It On challenge, I had a great time!  Here is my final pass from Pink Shirt Day:

Pass the pants

 Remixed with sheer stripe top, navy cardi, arm party and

 

 an amazing necklace!

My favourite Marcie surprised me with a birthday e-gift card (FYI so you know I didn't break my rules!) from Just One.  Marcie's sis Krista and her pal started Just One and now, each of us has the chance to make just one choice that will make a difference to people around the world living in poverty and worse.  Go to this site, ladies, read through their story and then order something. 

Not only is the necklace stunning, buying it also helps people.

That's pretty awesome for an accessory. 

I'm not normally so bossy, but I became an activist this week so now I'm on fire for good people and good causes.  And good fashion challenges...

Lessons learned from Take One and Pass It On:

•  Honour the organic nature of this challenge.  Planning ahead to what you think you want to wear and working backwards does not work.  Don't even try.  Backwards is always the wrong direction.  
• Consider your passing piece an outfit primer in the morning.  Though I won't be passing a piece every day from here forward, I definitely see myself using this strategy on days when I am tired or uninspired, or when I want to try remixing a piece back-to-back.  I eh-hem have a history of doing that anyway...
• The #TakeOne strategy works well to mix old pieces with new, trends with classics and VV Boutique pieces with regular retail!  If you're questioning how to style something, chances are there is an answer somewhere in your closet!
• Perhaps my favourite benefit of this strategy is how Sarah normalized wearing the same piece two days in a row.  The key is to ensure that you're remixing versus getting stuck in a rut.  You may have a style "uniform" or "formula" whether you know it or not (!), and this approach helps to encourage a little creativity and effort - variations on your own formula.  And that is awesome!

Ultimately, I enjoy anything that helps me identify and express my unique style, and challenges me at the same time.  So thank you Sarah for your fantastic idea, your fantastic blog and inspiration!  I'm going to stop now before I sound like a stalker an activist.

Tales of Victory and Defeat

This Take One and Pass It On update includes tales of victory and defeat.  So sit down.

I left off on a lazy Saturday remixing denim, which was as close to cheating as bracelets, but I did it anyway so that I could wear my latest VV Boutique awesome pink stripe silky scarf.

Pass the pink

 Scarf and knit tee remixed with cargos and charcoal cardi. 

This weary look is not defeat.  Not even close.  I wore this Sunday for church then I hit the sneak peak 50% sale at VV Boutique (club card members could go a day early!) where it was exhilarating madness!  I had to take my daughter with me and she fell asleep en route, woke up and said, "Let's go try on some clothes."  She's 2.  VICTORY!!!!!  

Pass the charcoal

 

 Remixed with green pants, VV Boutique necklace, and two of my finds from Sunday,

French Connection top $4 and...

 Hispanitas shoes $3.50

These shoes retail for $165 and up in my estimation and they were in perfect condition.  These babies might be my best score yet!!!  VICTORY!!!!  I also wore this to my first ever local city council meeting to support my outstanding friends who are were fighting for urban food.  And for their farm to not get bowled over in the near future.  The vote did not go in their favour - defeat - but their attitude and character are remarkable so I have no doubt they will ultimately be victorious.

Pass the french

...

...

...

defeat

...

For the first time in this challenge, I neglected to get a photo.  Of my outfit, that is.  I did snap this

 

so that I could explain my socks to the blogosphere.  And I also snapped this, 

because if you make soup from scratch, you are ethically obligated to post it to Instagram.  FYI, I remixed the French under a gray sweater/tunic from my closet archives, my fave splurge belt and my litmus jeans.  I am mid-way through my second Whole 30 and so the jeans aren't quite there yet, but the soup is.

Pass the belt

 

 Remixed with cargos, pink top circa 2009 and that scarf again!

This wasn't my original plan for my belt.  I was going to remix it with more of my sale finds, but then I remembered that today is Pink Shirt Day - a day to stand up to bullying and show solidarity by wearing pink.  I guess I'm all about support this week.  And I got to wear my scarf again.  VICTORY!

 

Outfit Orientation

Is Saturday over already?  When did that happen?  Maybe my outfits will jog my memory about this week because it's foggy.  We left off in 1986...

Pass the yellow pants

 Remixed with green plaid, green stripe tank and

 heart necklace.

Oh yeah, this was Tuesday, my day off.  I stayed home and ended up dirty.

Pass the plaid

  Remixed with snow leopard cardi, trousers from VV Boutique

and other stuff from my closet.  

This was Wednesday.  Stuff happened, I felt cool with my mixed prints.

Pass the animal

 Remixed with mustard tank from VV and my horrid black pants and great layered necklaces.

This was Thursday when I spent 3 hours with a guy from Apple.

I still feel dumb 3 days later.

Pass the mustard

 Remixed with teal cardi from VV,

J Brand, splurge belt and She Does Create necklace.

This was Friday.  An awesome day where I got to chitty chat with the Kitchen Magpie.

And help people.  There was also that.

And I got to go to Walmart alone so you can see why it was awesome.

Pass the denim

 Remixed with gray v neck, pink sweater and

 a fab *new* silk blend scarf $3.75 from VV Boutique.

This is today, Saturday.  A lot went on.  Including this:

 Lap top, tea, 2yo photographer.  All good.

As it turns out, the outfits did clear the haze.  They anchor the days and orient me to ... well, me.  That's a pretty good way to wrap up my week.

Hot Tub Time Machine Sweater

I am loving the Take One and Pass it On remix challenge!  I think this approach is great for the "real life" woman - the one who has five seconds to choose her outfit, who, eh hem, may not put her clothes away at night and naturally reaches for what what she wore the day before...  For me, real life also means limited photography time and expertise around this joint, so consider my photos real-life-styled!  Let's start a trend! 

Last post left off on my Valenbirthday VV Boutique shopping outfit:

No, I didn't pass the following on but forgot to mention I scored it (for 25% off!). 

Perfect condition and all those colourful hearts!  How could it not go home with me on Valentine's Day?!

Pass the charm

 

 Once again, I insist I am not cheating!

My kids surprised me with the dangly heart charm for my birthday.

So, here's my charm remixed with:  

 

 Scarf $3 VV Boutique

Orange pants $3 VV Boutique

Mauve Gap sweater from my closet.

Okay, the real reason I remixed the bracelet is because I wanted to wear my new scarf scored from my shopping expedition.  Before this scarf, I hadn't thought of wearing my mauve sweater with my fave orange pants, but I loved them together!  Thank you for inspiring me, Scarf!

 

Lightweight yet bulky, perfect to transition to spring.  In 17 months. 

Pass the scarf and sweater

Remixed with DKNY cords $9 VV Boutique

and an orange layering tank because sometimes I channel my matchy matchy underneath.

Floor debris compliments of real life.

Pass the pants

  

 Remixed with my retro sweater $5 VV Boutique

White scarf and accessories from my closet

Nothing too exciting but I liked layering my "choose" necklace 

and my She Does Create nest necklace and earrings, 

and it strikes me how accessories change the look of this sweater.

  

I wore this ensemble to church, then to a ski race and dinner with friends.  Here's chalet bathroom photography proof:

Goes great with my pink snow pants!

It was this moment that I realized what my sweater reminded me of...going back in time to the 80s!  (No hot tub required, only VV Boutique!)  Indeed, I had to cut out the shoulder pads, but otherwise I thought the dropped shoulder and 3/4 sleeves looked dolman modern-ish, and the colour is EVERYWHERE.  Proof:

My friend's mag.  

Buy it and you will see my hot tub time machine sweater colour everywhere.

I was wondering if the sweater was too eighties, but two of my Splurge Sisters on two different occasions assured me it was on trend in colour and geometric pattern.  I thought so.

 Pass the hot tub time machine sweater

 Remixed with a white layering tank, silver accessories and yellow pants.

While getting dressed for wear one, it occurred to me to pair my springy hue up with more springy hues, and I instantly knew it would look awesome with yellow pants.  Because everything does.

Went skiing again today and felt like a fashion maven knowing I had on my yellows under my snow pants!

Bonus points if you caught the other reason my eye was drawn to this sweater....Anyone?  Anyone?  (Hands up if you saw Ferris Bueller in the theatre in the 80s wearing a sweater like this.)

Give up?

It matches my iPhone5 case and PROVES that this colour and my VV Boutique shoulderpadless sweater for $5 are totally modern.