-30 Degrees Dressember

Remember how I said Dressember would prove us all Tough Canadian Cookies?!  Well...

I thought the weather would get on board this project...

I remain nonplussed!  Yesterday I wore a heavier knit dress and "new" cardi with winter tights...

Liz Claiborne dress new with tags $11and cardi $9

Kikit leather booties $7

All VV Boutique

I felt a little naked without any colour but Shirley Borrelli says stick to just black and white this "fall" and I listen to Shirley.

Oh la la, you can wear the cardi open for an amazing fashion variation.

Accessories from my closet.

I enjoyed the zipper cardi and hadn't noticed the flattering bold black stripe at the waist until my photo shoot.  AND I was perfectly cozy all day, including during a lovely dinner with lovely colleagues to celebrate the season!

This black dress has proved indispensable to my wardrobe.

Today, I thought I would give a maxi skirt another winter try since I could get away with wool leggings with it...

 Maxi skirt $6 VV Boutique

Blue wool cardi hand-me-down

Icebreaker wool gray tee  and accessories from my closet

I remain iffy about long skirts in winter.  I suppose they look better while I'm gallivanting around my glamorous lifestyle, and they do make sitting on tiny kindergarten chairs easier to avoid flashing small children do. 

 The bias cut of this skirt is also flattering especially following a festive dinner of Greek food.

 I love the combo of gray and navy!

I was out and about all day working and running errands and again, totally cozy!  Take that December!  Dressember isn't scared of you!

 The official photographer of Dressember.

Golden Fleece of Dressember

I'm 3 for 3 in wearing dresses or skirts since I started my Dressember project!  There has been blizzards and extreme cold (sitting at a balmy -32 degrees Celsius right now which is around the same in Fahrenheit FYI), but I have persisted!  Because even though I can now fit in my pants, I don't like them.  Sorry Pants, it's nothing personal.  Today I reached for a sweater that's been waiting a while for its day.

 JM sweater $2.50 Hope Missions Bargain Shoppe

Dress $9.10, belt $2.10 VV Boutique

Accessories by She Does Create

When I got this sweater, a friend said: "I'll be interested to see how you'll style it."  I took that to mean: "that's a little on the fugly side but I have faith that you can make it work." 

 

 Kenneth Cole boots $18.90 VV Boutique

I like the cowl and the 3/4 sleeves to show off my arm par-tay.  The belt gives definition to my waist but I think it will be super comfy with jeans and no belt another day month. 

I'm thinking this sweater got donated because:

1. People think they can't wear yellow (I have yet to see this true)
2. People have a hard time wearing cowl necks (it's like a built-in scarf, I don't get it)
3. It was destined to bring sunshine to my closet!

My boys took one look at this sweater and declared it my "golden fleece."  If you are not a Percy Jackson fan er or a Greek mythology buff, you may not know that the golden fleece has the magical power to heal and restore, thus it is of immense value.  I may just try it out next time one of my kids is sick - lay the golden fleece over them and see if they get better!  Worth a try!     

At the very least it is a super soft and cozy sweater that has the magical power to turn an ordinary dress into a DRESSEMBER dress!

Dressember

That was a nice day of rest... time for a new project!  Allow me to introduce Dressember!  I first heard about Dressember from Calgary blogger "Our Unschooling Unjobbing Life."  It appeals to me because dresses.  Also because I enjoy a good challenge like dresses in winter.  Also because I decided a while ago that tights are along the lines of socks and underwear (within my "rules" to buy new or from VV) therefore I look forward to a winter with more than one pair of tights.

I'm not going to be all militant about Dressember - dresses or skirts both count, and I am not committing to wearing them every single day but I am committing to reaching for a dress or skirt first throughout the month of December.  I write this as a blizzard that would have had ma and pa tying a rope to the barn rages outside; I may necessarily put the dress back and reach for pants some days but we shall see!  To kick off this project, I wore both a dress and pants...

 Banana Republic silk dress $8.50, Gray gap pants $5 VV Boutique

Esprit cardi $2.50 Hope Missions Bargain Shoppe

Miz Mooz boots from my closet

I have this to say about wearing pants with a dress: it's not as easy as you think.  Without boots, this outfit looked Frumpy.  It really was capital F bad.  I did not know this until my 3yo photographer had snapped some shots and I realized how wrong it was.  I didn't have time to revamp the ensemble so luckily boots made it doable.  

 Anyhoo, I hoped my work peeps would be too busy admiring my pattern mixing to notice the bottom half of my outfit. 

So what do you say?!  Anyone want to join me for Dressember?!  I challenge you to wear dresses as much as possible this month in order to... to... to justify buying more dresses prove that Canadian girls are tough cookies!

 One Tough Cookie in a December dress.

Au Revoir November

Sighhhhhhh.  Was that the longest month ever or what?  It was great and everything but it seemed to take for-ev-er.  For the last 8 days I have been sick, solo parenting sick kids, working long hours and preparing a special surprise for my hubby's return (I'll share that another day...).  So Friday night I threw in the towel.  I looked Whole 30 in the eye and said, "Here's to you" then downed half a crock pot of delicious mulled boozy tea while letting my kids stay up way too late so I could enjoy my book club.  You could say I was persuaded. 

2 Christmas mugs =  half a crock pot

I think my body is getting used to Whole 30.  The first time, I noticed a big difference.  The second time, the benefits were not as quick or obvious but I also worked out so in the end that made a difference.  This time, I had one real objective: to deal with #afraidofpants.  I'm happy to report that my pants do fit again but the difference isn't as amazing and I am a little miffed that I spent at least ten days with a bad cold and Whole 30 didn't seem to do much for it except keep me from my Raspberry Cordial Vodka cure.  

I sorta threw in the towel for Take One and Pass It On too.  I continued to pass a piece every day for the whole month, but for the last three days I just wore the pants that were out.

Pass the plaid, pass the pants, pass the pants.

My husband returned from London (as in England) last night and lucky for him thoughtfully brought us all back some treats.  For me, a Scottish cashmere scarf!  I couldn't wait to wear it so today I paired it with my litmus jeans and decided to wear all my luxe fabric at once... 

Wilfred silk cashmere cardi $5 VV Boutique

 Icebreaker Merino wool gray tee from my closet

Leather Clarks she-booties

Purple Cashmere Argyle, welcome to my wardrobe.

I guess the jeans fit so Whole 30 worked some magic after all.

This cardi is a good example of why thrifting is awesome!  Wilfred is an Aritzia brand ($$$) and though this cardi had a small stain on the sleeve, I easily removed it with Sunlight bar soap and a delicate wash.  The cardi is also an XS which makes me laugh laugh laugh!  I can only think that though my scrawny limbs make crop pants a Sponge-Bob-Square-Pants-peg-leg-problem, they make XS Aritzia doable.   

Works for this long loose style anyway!

Now that December is here, parties and Christmas preparations are upon me!  I've replenished my wine supply and am ready to hit the red cups at Starbucks!  I'm heading out right now to the first party of the season and I'm taking chocolate with me.  Au revoir November, et bonjour December!

 No cashmere was harmed during the making of this Nutella brownie cake.

Plaid Goes to Work

About once a year, I take a sick day.  Pretty impressive considering all the little children I interact with, not to mention my own kids and all their germ-sharing love.  Well, Monday I was down for the count.  I went out in public with no make-up, glasses and sweat pants (and by that I don't mean cute yoga pants, I mean ugly gray sweat pants) because I needed medicine.  Tuesday was only slightly better, health-wise and wardrobe-wise, and today a little better yet.  Now is not the time for tights and skirts; I need comfortable kleenex-holding pockets and clothes that feel like chicken soup.  So today I wore plaid...

 Eddie Bauer plaid top $5 VV Boutique

Smiling between coughing fits...

Plaid is showing up all over Pinterest and I can't wait to style this top in more creative ways.  As for today, my only aim was to get out the door and make it though the work day.  To be on the safe side, I wore it with a scarf...

My son was so impressed with his "scarf action shot" that I had to include it.

 I love the plaid and heart prints together!

Scarf is a hand-me-down from my sis.

In the real world of a real life working mom, everyday isn't a fashion day.  But hey, I accessorized; I coordinated colours; I mixed prints!  All things considered, I'm content. 

Yep, I even went for matchy-matchy shoes and accessories!

This is a crazy busy week and I have an extra special project on the go that I will reveal next week!  As for Take One and Pass It On, well:

Nov 25 - pass on everything except my pillow and Nyquil

Nov 26 - You'll have to take my word that I wore the cobalt and green sweater again.  In almost exactly the same way as the day before, but I neglected to get a photo.  Come to think of it, TOPIO is great for sick days; you just reach for what you wore the day before when you were thinking coherently and dressing with effort.

Nov 27 - what can I say, everything was dirty so I started fresh unless you count the necklace that I've been wearing for several days straight to remind me that I CHOOSE this crazy, wonderful, occasionally-sick, blessed life!

Selfie Sequence

Mirror self photography is not exactly my favourite but I have had troubles lately wrangling my threenager 3yo photographer and haven't had my work photographer available consistently - the nerve of her not being at my beck and call for non-work related matters.  Since I am doing Take One and Pass It On, I have at least managed a tired selfie before I climb into my jammies and snuggle up to my Kleenex box.

Pass the moto cardi...

 Mixed with chambray, black tank and tweed print trousers $3.50 VV Boutique

I think I was trying to decide whether to look at my phone or the mirror and as it turns out, looking at the mirror is just plain odd.

 Pass the tweed...

Day mix: Kenneth Cole boots, lace top, grandpa sweater

Night mix: black tank, velvet blazer, black Miz Mooz boots and She Does Create pieces.

Who knew tweed pants would work so well for a little musical theatre?!

Pass the lace...

Mixed with raspberry tank $2, J Brand denim and leopard scarf from my closet.

That "serene" expression actually was: 

"Why did I think I could go swimming with the kids then go out? 

How red are my eyes?  Is my "intentionally" messy braid funky or fuddy?

Can I go out in my pajamas?"

Pass the raspberry...

Remixed with pink wool sweater $2.50 and DKNY navy cords, both VV Boutique.

By this point, I'm really not feeling well at all and want to wear a nap.

Pass the necklace...

(*not* cheating) Remixed with $3 sweater and J Brand.

I'm hoping lofty ambitions will carry me right through an insanely busy week ahead, also last week of TOPIO and Whole 30.  That's right, all these outfits you've been seeing in November have been done without wine, sugar, grains, legumes, or dairy.  They suddenly look better, right?  Right?!!

New Thrifted Pieces

I am blessed to have an ample closet, including a little section I designate for pieces waiting to be featured here!  Even though the purpose of Take One and Pass It On is to remix your wardrobe and make choosing outfits easier, I still want to wear my new stuff!  In the past few days, I managed to do just that and acquire some more new stuff at the 50% pre-sale day on Sunday.  I left off at gold pants then passed the zebra...

Zebra top $2, gray cardi $6, trousers $9

Then, I passed the cardi to wear with a new awesome chevron knit dress that feels like a comfy sweatshirt...

Chevron dress $8 VV Boutique, arm party by She Does Create

Necklaces and earrings from my closet

Next I passed the necklace because I wanted to wear this sweater with the pretty lace details.  I loved how it looked antique-y with the scarf...

Sweater $2.50 Hope Missions Bargain Shoppe, scarf $4 VV Boutique

J Brand denim from my closet

I think we, official participants of TOPIO, have concluded that it is totally legit to pass items like jeans, hosiery and accessories...so I passed the denim because I wanted to wear my new stripe tee!

Nicole Miller stripe tee $1.50 Hope Missions Bargain Shoppe, mustard cardi $2 VV Boutique

Scarf from my closet

I passed the stripes for a Monday work look, embracing pastels in winter...

New items here included the black trousers (rejoice) $3.50, raspberry tank new with tags $2 

and plaid scarf $1.50 from VV Boutique

Blue cardi $5 also from VV and accessories by She Does Create

Passing black pants is also NOT CHEATING so I passed them to today to wear to work with my new gray moto cardi (Jones New York $10)...

With green shell then distressed denim

The roads were terrible and backed up so I had to turn around and come home.  Before I came in to change, I shovelled a bit...

Some of what I shovelled.  Note the Canada flag, so cliche.

The shovelling was good to clear my head.  One of my very best friends is hurting so I had a hard time caring much about style today.  But what I do care about, today and everyday, is living with joy and thankfulness and peace.  So that's what I'm going to keep doing.

Take One Recap:

Pass the zebra

Pass the cardi

Pass the necklace

Pass the denim

Pass the tee

Pass the pants