Moving Day

So the much anticipated day is finally upon us: moving day. We had everything lined up from the cleaners to the movers and everything in between. We had a plan! Unfortunately, mid-day, those plans were thrown out the window... When the cleaning crew arrived, there was still too much work being done and too many workers around. Cleaning the house at this point would have been futile. This directly meant we couldn't sleep in the house that night. It is beyond dusty and in need of a deep clean before anyone can live there. That's the reason I booked a cleaning
company who specializes in post-construction clean-up. It became very clear we'd have to come up with a plan B, and quickly! The logical thing to do was to stay in a hotel overnight, but one that accommodates pets, seeing as we have two little fur buddies. In the meantime, we still had to vacate the rental place, so all of our stuff is sitting on a tarp in the basement, so that it's out of the way for the workers finishing things off. I guess that will leave me with a patch of carpet to clean later, but we're making the most out of a less-than-ideal situation. This also means we are literally homeless until the cleaning is complete. Thank goodness for supportive family and friends willing to dog-sit at last minute. I've never relied on my network so much than during these last few months! Fingers crossed tomorrow goes smoothly.

Jeans: Jordache | Sweater: Banana Republic | Earrings: (old) | Socks: Old Navy | Booties: Blondo

TBT - Stripe a Pose!

This look is very much outside the box. There is a lot going on here, but it somehow all works. To me, it is very runway worthy. You've got a black mini skirt with a striped top. Basic so far, but the accessories is what brings the whole look up a notch. By adding a purple and orange dyed scarf and burgundy tights, I infused colour and interest in the look. Finishing off with dark brown pointed-toe boots gives it that over-the-top vibe one often gets from looking at outfits on the runway. This was a very fun and unexpected look to wear. You just know you won't bump into someone else in the exact same look. It has that unique factor that can be hard to come by, so when you find it, you own it! 

Skirt: Smart Set | Top: Garage | Scarf: Smart Set | Tights: Old Navy | Bracelet: Pandora | Earrings: Gift | Boots: Jessica (Sears)

Morse Code

T-1 day to go!!! The anticipation is killing me! There are still so many finishing touches to cross off the list today. Here's hoping for a smooth process. I decided to wear an outfit that encapsulates my current mood. The lines and dots remind me a lot of Morse code and I swear, sometimes, communication could be improved on projects of this scope... Let's just say common sense is not as common as one would think. I'm happy we kept checking-in regularly to pick up on the mistakes and have them corrected as we went along. I'd hate to see the end product had we not been as involved... It might have been annoying at times for the workers, but this is our home and I am not settling for sub-par work. I don't have unrealistic standards, but I do have standards! Anyways, like I've said, this entire thing has been quite the ordeal and, although the end is in sight, we still have a ways to go. Minus my little frustrations along the way, I really can't complain about the work that has been done. Lack of communication or miscommunication was the biggest issue. It just demonstrates that proper and efficient communication is necessary in all aspects of life. Learning how to clearly communicate and receive a message will always be an asset. Communication is the solid foundation on which to strong personal and working relationships are built.

Skirt: Dynamite | Top: Dynamite | Faux-Fur Vest: Dynamite | Tights: Old Navy | Earrings: (old) | Booties: Blondo

Stripe Home

Packing, cleaning and organizing is all I did this past weekend. Planning a trip and moving all at once is as chaotic as it gets! I am multi-tasking on a whole other level here! I sure could use one of those Energizer Bunnies right about now... I keep telling myself to keep going, I see the light at the end of the tunnel. The finishing details are never-ending and part of me wishes I had a fast-forward button. We'll be moving in before all of the work is completed. This scenario is less than ideal, but I'll have to live with it. Soon enough I will be able to settle in our newly refurbished home and do things at our pace once again. With the smell of spring in the air, it's giving me a total sense of renewal, in more ways than one. This girl is in dire need of sunshine and relaxation. I've got to recharge those batteries!

Leggings: Dynamite | Shirt: Dynamite | Sweater: (donated) | Socks: Old Navy

Mauve Metallic

Here I go again using my favourite layering technique! I stuck to a palette of purple and blues for an effortless look. I added rubber boots because the forecast was calling for rain today. I guess spring is just around the corner! I'll take advantage of wearing my sweaters while I still can, I fear I will have to store them soon enough. But that's ok, because it will make way for bright colours and fun, springtime prints! What are your go-to transition pieces for spring?

Jeans: Second Yoga Jeans | Shirt: BP. (Nordstrom) | Sweater: Banana Republic | Earrings: Callura | Boots: Giant Tiger

Pop of Red

What better way to cheer up an all-black outfit than with a pop of red? I am really getting down to the wire here with my outfits because, with the move three days away, I've packed up most of everything. I added the scarf to the look to give it a bit more dimension and interest and am quite happy with it. I got ready in record time this morning because we got a very early-morning call that the appliances were being delivered at 7:30 a.m. That meant I had to pack my lunch, get dressed and make my way to the actual house. My partner says it's good to know that I actually don't "need" my usual window of time to get ready in the morning... I'm sure he'll pull out that card at some point! Anyways, we made it to the house with a few minutes to spare. It felt like Christmas with all those massive boxes coming out of the truck! I'm actually getting excited to move now. The stress level is still up there, but there are moments of excitement throughout.

Jeans: Zara | Tank: Smart Set | Shirt: RW&CO | Cardigan: Zara | Earrings: RW&CO | Scarf: Shiraleah | Boots: Bare Traps

Rose Gold Fever

This outfit is giving me major rose gold fever. I'm actually really jonesing for a vacation... Maybe it's more of a tropical fever? Either way, this rose tone cardigan and accessories are making me yearn for warmer climates and sunshine. I just can't wait to be sitting on the beach with a rosé in hand. A vacation is imminent, I shall keep you all posted!

Dress: H&M | Cardigan: Old Navy | Necklace: Reitmans | Earrings: Callura | Watch: Fossil | Tights: Old Navy | Booties: Blondo

Ruffle my Sweaters

My inner girly-girl will always fawn over ruffles! I got this sweater last year and still get giddy every time I wear it. The magic of ruffles I guess .They are an instant mood booster! The bright chartreuse colour doesn't hurt either. I kept my outfit simple in its composition by sticking with pants and a sweater. I added little hints of black with the accessories and left it at that. The ruffles and print speak for themselves, so there is no need for extra interest with this look. Sometimes it's nice not to overthink the styling of an outfit. I've got so much more on my mind these days.

Sweater: Banana Republic | Pants: Banana Republic | Belt: Smart Set | Earrings: (old) | Necklace: Smart Set | Boots: Bare Traps

TBT - Primary Building Blocks

Headed to a BBQ and not sure what to wear? Why not a colour-block of primary colours? Nothing says fun and summery like a pile of bright colours. I started off with red shorts, added a light blue blouse and finished things off with a bright yellow belt, the perfect finishing touch to block off the outfit! Although wearing all three primary colours at once might seem daunting, it is actually a great colour combination. They are after all the building blocks of all other colours (see what I did there?). I feel it works in the above look because I chose a light blue and a bright red as the base and opted for a hint of bright yellow to break up the red and blue. Plus, pastels and brights look equally good on sun-kissed skin! You might notice I'm not wearing shoes. That's because shoes are definitely optional during summer! My country girl habits are hard to break, this girl is all about feeling the lush grass between her little piggies!

Shorts: Old Navy | Blouse: Smart Set | Camisole: Dynamite | Belt: Old Navy | Bracelet: Pandora | Necklace: (old) | Earrings: (gift)

Fashion Formula - Sweater Layer

I've noticed that one of my go-to styling tricks in the cooler months is layering a shirt underneath a sweater. This technique is not revolutionary by any stand point, but it is a great trick to master! I've assembled a collage of different outfits in which I styled a shirt/sweater combination. There really is no limit to this technique. You can mix endless colours and patterns to give you limitless possibilities!

This Buffalo plaid shirt has been a go-to this season! It obviously pairs well with red and black, but really pops against white too.

I also have a thing for my grey gingham shirt... It's such a perfect base layer. The light, neutral palette make styling it a breeze. I realize I've stuck to a more monochromatic styling, but it could go with pretty much any colour sweater!

My purple and blue plaid shirt was definitely a repeat in the cycle this past season, but I've only worn it layered with a sweater a couple times.

Chiffon blouses make for great layering pieces because of their sheer factor. They are usually light weight and not bulky, so great under sweaters. The sheerness always brings an extra little something to a look, especially if the blouse is patterned.

I also love layering my lace blouse. Although it is not very long, I do manage to pair it with certain sweaters. The peek of lace detailing on the collar, cuffs and hem really soften a look. The feminine detailing adds a pleasant touch.

Similarly to the buffalo plaid, the red plaid blouse is an easy one to style. It can easily be dressed up or down and provides a nice pop of colour.

One of my all-time favourites is the neck-tie blouse. When I purchased it, I did not fully grasp how versatile it was. I love layering it under a sweater because the exposed black tie is a really neat touch! It's unexpected and adds a bit of whimsy to your look. 

If you are new to layering a shirt and sweater, starting with a chambray shirt is an easy way to try your hand at it. It's like the training wheels of shirts. It literally pairs with any sweater, in any colour and appropriate in almost any dress code.

Finally, the currently-trendy bell-sleeve blouse is a really fun one to layer. I've paired my blouses with different sweaters. The navy sweater has slits at the wrist, so it accommodates the pleated bell-cuffs really well. Alternatively, pairing a straight-cuffed blouse with a bell-sleeve sweater is a great combination! You can always just go the usual route and pair your bell-sleeves with a regular sweater, just be sure to pull up the sweater sleeves a bit to showcase the blouse.

With the variety of blouses and sweaters out there, you really can't bore of this layering trick. This is the opposite case of teaching an old dog new tricks. You can constantly recycle this styling tip and keep it fresh by adapting it with current trendy pieces.

Have fun layering!

Mimi