Sandra Dee?

This outfit has a sweetly retro vibe that reminds me of a pre-makeover Sandra Dee in Grease. The flipped hair was fortuitous, the resulted of my helmeted bike ride to work. My work pants are a study in boring navy, grey and black (and one buttercup pair) so I'm very excited to have added these cropped jade trousers to the mix, courtesy of a Gap Friends and Family coupon (thanks M!)

xx

{This is the closest thing I have to Sandra Dee, post-makeover.}

Pants - Gap

Tank - Hand-me-down

Cardigan - Consigned (Coupe)

Shoes - Guess via Winners

Clutch - Coach

Necklace - Gift

Pendant - Hand-me-down

Bracelets - Hand-me-down and Le Chateau

Tailored summer neutrals

I wore this to dinner with a dear friend who was visiting from Australia, and again a few days later when we had extended family in town. My 16-year-old cousin O took the photos and of course we had fun with it. She suggested I stand on the diving board and pretend to jump in, and I decided to try a handstand on the lawn. In the midst of it all, I realized I completely forgot the bring the belt I'd worn the first time around. Oh well. I tried to convince O to get in a photo with me but she was too shy. She's a beautiful dancer and artist, and has a poise and sense of self I wish I'd had at her age!

I picked a slightly matte orangey lip colour, which looks more red here, to play off the neutrals in the rest of the outfit and wore my glasses as another black accent. I turned my scarf into an infinity version with a couple of strategic safety pins.

xx

{I meant to wear this belt with my outfit. Use your imagination.}

Tank - Dynamite (also here and here)

Camisole (underneath) - Joe Boxer

Shorts - Gap

Shoes - Guess via Winners

Scarf - Consigned

Watch - Kenneth Cole

Earrings - Witchery

Sailor stripes and florals

I'm making an effort to wear pieces that tend to languish in my wardrobe, like my thrifted midi skirt, and to better mix-and-match. I think this outfit was successful on both counts. The belt used to belong to Tinfoil Tiaras and looked great...once I moved the buttons. (That girl has the tiniest waist!) 

Later, I remembered the photo below of Clemency Poesy, which I'd seen in My Instyle magazine over a year ago and had really loved. I think it was subconscious style inspiration for my outfit. Wouldn't both of these be ideal for a day of shopping in a beachside town in the south of France? (someday....) 

Today's my birthday - yay! I kicked off the weekend with a beautiful and rejuvenating hour and a half hour long bike ride along the Ottawa River with a friend. Today it's supposed to be deliciously hot and sunny. I will be spending the afternoon and evening lounging around my parents' pool with extended family and waiting to indulge in some chocolate cheesecake after dinner. 

xx

 

 

Skirt - Thrifted (Joseph A.)(also here)

Top - H&M

Belt - Swapped

Hat - Winners

Sandals - Thrifted (George)

Earrings - Laura

Ring - Winners

Good-for-you chocolate-berry smoothie

This healthy smoothie is one of my post-workout go-tos.

In a blender, combine 1 handful fresh strawberries, 1 handful frozen mixed berries, 1 3/4 cups almond milk, 2 heaping tablespoons low-fat plain Greek yogurt, 1 serving chocolate-flavoured protein powder, 1T flaxseed.

If you don't have chocolate-flavoured protein, try substituting 4 squares of melted good-quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content. I also like Ovaltine for a hint of malt flavour.

Pencil skirts and high-necked lace blouses

I was happy to discover the curve-creating powers of this outfit - strategic seaming on the skirt, delicate ruffles at the neck and sleeves and a waist-cinching wide belt. I twisted my hair into a French roll to play up the retro vibe. 

What are your curve-enhancing (or downplaying) tips?

xx

 

Skirt - Mexx

Blouse - Max Studio via Winners (also here) 

Tank - RW & Co.

Belt - Swapped (Salena's Collection)

Wedges - Clarks

Bracelets - Le Chateau and Joe Fresh

Earrings - Walmart

EBEW: Monochromatic neutrals

After missing both the June (neon) and July (colourblocking) challenges over at Everybody Everywear, I wanted to make sure August's monochromatic roundup didn't pass me by.

I'm often drawn to the simplicity of head-to-toe light-coloured neutrals, yet I never seem to wear them myself. Since there's been a dearth of shorts in my summer postings, I built a (somewhat) monochromatic outfit around a pair of white shorts. Lace, pearls and bows added unabashedly feminine touches. I'm slightly aghast nothing in this outfit is thrifted, but everything was bought on sale (redemption?)

xx

{My bridesmaid shoes from a recent wedding - LOVE}

Shorts - Le Chateau

Tank - RW & Co. (also here)

Shoes - Nine West

Necklaces - Gifted

Clutch - Hotel gift shop

Sheer tropical blouse remix

 

Skirt - Thrifted (Caroll) (also here and here)

Blouse - Thrifted (Chico's) (also here and here)

Tank - RW & Co.

Belt - Thrifted 

Necklace and pendant - Gifted

Watch - Michael Kors

Earrings - Gifted

Crispy kale 'chips'

Lately, I've been hearing a lot about kale chips, so one evening I decided to see for myself what all the fuss was about. Boy was I glad I did. Hello - delicious AND a way to get in your dark leafy greens!

 I followed this recipe, starting off by washing and thoroughly drying a head of kale. However, unlike the recipe, I only removed the part of the rib that extended beyond the leaves. I tossed the kale with 1 1/2T olive oil and sprinkled with about 1/2 tsp sea salt. I followed the reviewers' suggestions to make sure the olive oil really coated the leaves by 'massaging' with my hands and avoided over-salting. I baked at 275F for 20 minutes, turning once. The outside of the leaves were just crispy enough to crumble in your mouth while the rib portion retained a bit of moisture.

These made a great snack that would satisfy my afternoon cravings at work. I wish I'd used two heads of kale instead of one. I could have polished off the whole thing if I hadn't promised to leave B enough to taste it.

A navy dress and statement accessories

Apparently in another life I was a mountain goat. I can’t think of any other reason why I’d clamber up a rocky wall in a dress and 5” heels. I wear this incredibly soft and comfortable, richly-hued dress a lot. Yet it’s only shown up on the blog once before, when I wore it with a pearl necklace and polka dot short-sleeve blazer (here).

This time I choose equally vivid accessories, including an eye-popping statement necklace I can’t wait to wear into fall/winter. One recent Sunday morning, I was having coffee with an old friend in a little cobblestone courtyard in Ottawa’s historic district where I live when I spotted my parents going by on their usual weekend bike ride. My mom had a bag in hand. It turns out she had stopped at a sample sale at a boutique next door and bought me two necklaces for $5 each, including this one, and a sweet floral tank with a braided neckline. How sweet! She encouraged me to swing by myself after our coffee. I found a pair of sky-high red suede peep-toe pumps for $20 and a cool tee for B…all before the rest of the stores even opened for business!

xx

 

Dress - Joseph Ribkoff via Laura (also here)

Necklace - Roadtrip via sample sale

Shoes - Guess via Winners

Bracelet - Le Chateau

Earrings - Gift