Kiss me I'm Stylish!

Happy St-Patrick's Day!

If there ever was a day to wear green: this is it! I usually opt for a bright shade of Kelly green, as I find it to be the closest to that of the shamrock. I decided to go full-on thematic and added a pleated gold metallic midi skirt and gold sequin shoes to the mix! Is there anything better than a shimmering pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? I made my own luck by wearing this green and gold ensemble! One thing is for sure, I did not go unnoticed today! I might not be Irish, but that does not stop me from being stylish on this festive day!

Skirt: Gap | Shirt: Zara | Belt: Banana Republic | Necklace: Dynamite | Tights: Hudson's Bay | Shoes: Zara

TBT - Riverdance

The hair, the skirt, the tights, the green: they all scream Riverdance to me! Trade out the boots for some black lace-up flats (or ghillies) and I would look like I belong on stage in the famous line. I remember receiving a Riverdance tape for my birthday in third grade and I watched that thing for weeks on end. I could not get enough of it! Forward a few years and I am still taking tap classes today. (Yes, I know Riverdance is not tap, but Irish step dancing is a similar dance style.) All that to say, I figured I'd share a very Irish-inspired look on the day before St. Patrick's!

Watch the Reel Around the Sun number to see the look inspiration in action!

Skirt: Jacob | Blouse: Jacob | Belt: (old) | Tights: Old Navy | Earrings: Reitmans | Bracelet: Pandora | Boots: Bare Traps

Whatever

Day two of operation Nesting Phoenix. Mom and I played this new game. It's called match the shoes to the correct shoe box. Seeings as I have small footwear collection, the process was easy-peasy... Not! I'm actually ashamed to say how many pairs of shoes I own, but let's just say it took us the better part of a day. (All those shoes, and I'm barefoot today...) Then it was a mad dash to breakdown a few dozen boxes to bring them to the curb in time for the recycling pick-up. I also got to break in the new vacuum because, once the stair railings were installed, I had a lovely house full of saw dust. The dogs loved it, dragging it all over the place! They're like walking dust-bunnies! I guess you can say they are making the most of the resettling process, taking it all in stride! It's starting to feel a bit more like home everyday now.

Shirt: Dynamite | Sweater: Verve ami | Leggings: Dynamite

One Box at a Time

Unpacking is such a glamorous affair it requires black attire. I figured this noire off-the-shoulder sweater fit the bill! All kidding aside, this task is far from glamorous, but when a job needs doing, might as well look good doing it! I'm just trying to convince myself I looked good while sorting through piles of boxes... The big fuzzy slippers matched my jeans so that was a small victory. The weekend-uniform has definitely been my go-to lately. It's great relying on a formula when you are a busy bee. My mom is here to help me out for a few days. Here's to phase 1 of operation Nesting Phoenix! (Ha, I figured I'd give this whole resettling experience a catchy name!) We have risen from the ashes, literally, and have a lot of nesting to do to make the new house feel like home again. I am looking forward to this next step.

Shirt: Old Navy | Jeans: Old Navy | Earrings: (gift) | Slipper: (old)

Grurple

Sorry for the less-than glamorous look today. I wore this on the day before the trip. I still had so much to do, including packing and shopping for last minute items to pack. I never wait till the last minute when it comes to packing for a trip, but this time around I simply did not have enough minutes in a day to get around to it, seeing as we moved two days prior... Turns out, I can achieve this daunting task in the allotted time-frame, minus one freak out over a belt I could not find. As it turns out, my partner found it. I guess in this case I had to send a man to do a woman's job... It was challenging to rummage through boxes and clothing racks to find the exact pieces I was looking for. The clothing and box contents were not sorted in any logical order and the labeling was very vague. Last-minute packing would be made easier if I simply had to go in my very organized closet to make my selection of clothing. I will tackle this major organizational task upon my return. First things first, this girl needs a mojito!

Jeans: Dynamite | Sweater: Dynamite | Socks: Old Navy 

Double Ruffle

So we are finally in the house, although it does not remotely feel like home yet. Here I am sifting through box after box to try and put an outfit together. I figured a dress, which was already hanging in the closet, would do just fine for today. I switched out the tie belt that comes with the dress for a more structured waist belt. I matched the booties to the belt and called it a day. The earth tones really ground the pinstripe dress, and make it wearable in the early days of spring. I can't wait to style this dress for the warmer weather. Those ruffles are just too darling and add an air of whimsy to an otherwise very preppy navy shift dress. They update and breathe new life into a classic. It's all about those little touches!

Dress: Banana Republic | Belt: Banana Republic | Tights: Jockey | Booties: Very Volatile

Bells and Boots

Last minute night at the hotel because your house isn't ready yet? I had to get crafty and pack a bag quickly. Please note I would have packed a bag ahead of time had a night at the hotel been in the plans. Seeing as the plans changed, I decided to grab the clothing from the top of the boxes. One easily identifiable box was that of my Hunter boots, and it was sitting neatly on top of the pile. Perfect! The forecast is calling for rain tomorrow anyways. Now I remembered recently wearing my red striped shirt, which would match the boots. I opened the last packed box and sure enough the shirt I was looking for was there. Right next to it was the tie-sleeve sweater. I grabbed it for layering. I finished off by reaching in for a pair of jeans, crossing my fingers they would complete the look, and I got lucky once more! Now for some PJs (again, in the same box) and my toiletries. Done! Bag packed in less than five minutes and I ended up with a perfectly weather appropriate look that matched my red boots! Word to the wise: don't expect this method of box-diving to guaranty a well put-together look. You won't always get great results... A little planning goes a long way!

Jeans: Banana Republic | Shirt: Dynamite | Sweater: Zara | Boots: Hunter

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