Daily Outfit: the RED coat

The Red Coat. It was so cold there was no way I could wear anything else. Other than a snowmobile suit maybe!!  And there was no way I could fiddle around taking any more than a few photos outside today (my poor purple fingers!!!).  A splash of red for the end of the year.  Here's to an exceptional blogging year and everything else for you all.  Thanks for visiting me regularly, thanks for your ideas, thanks for your humour and most of all thanks for your friendship!!!

Bring on 2011!!!

Daily Outfit: Before and After

I've been arguing with my hair ever since I last got it cut (few weeks ago) and luckily I was able to book an appointment with AWESOME JULIA for a trim up. I went back to the shorter version.  Not  the greatest photo comparison (daylight versus early evening light) but you get the idea.  While I think longer may have made my face seem narrower,  it seemed shapeless and I felt like I had 2 dog ears!!  This was just an experiment from the last cut anyway so no harm done.. live and learn. So, now shorter, I will play around and you will get some better pics tomorrow.  It's the same color, just looks darker because of the light.  As for the outfit, again, basic black. My all time fav.

Oh boy count down to 2011!!!

Daily Outfit: Road Trip Take 2

I MISSED YOU!! Holy smokes!  No internet for almost a week. Are you kidding me? I will never do that again!! LOL! Ladies (and guys :)  I missed you!  While I had a great holiday, I was also going through internet withdrawls!!  So a recap:  The first picture is me and my mom goofing around on the beach in below zero WINDY weather as though we are on Canada's Next Top Model... We were just gutting ourselves laughing and I promised my mom I wouldn't "paste all those pictures all over the internet" (her words)- except for 1 :).  Our hands were so cold they were purple by the time we got back in the car but we had fun...!  Lots of relaxing, visiting family, running every day (on the slippery snowy roads), cross country skiing, wine drinking, bonfires, watching reality (un-reality) TV and movies, playing games and of course, snacking way too much.

TIP: NEVER WEIGH YOURSELF IMMEDIATELY AFTER A HOLIDAY!! That was just a plain stoopid thing for me to do. Anyway...

Just some photos of stops along the drive home.  We drove through lots of snow, grassy fields, high mountain passes and even stopped at a Heritage site for lunch.  What do you think of the big SASKQUATCH?  Usually some idiot puts an empty beer can in his hand and you see it when you drive by... its huge.   I got lots of gift certificates for clothing stores too so have to think about what goodies I want to add to the ol wardrobe.  I feel relaxed. Thats really all I care about. Man I was stressed before I left.  And lucky me. I don't go back to work til Jan 4. This means lots of time to catch up with all of you!! Woo hooo can't wait to visit everyone and hear how your holidays have been!!  Love ya xoxo J

PS. while I always pack many outfits when I go back home I almost always live in the same 2 or 3 outfits... sigh...

Daily Outfit: Road Trip

Alright!! What a wild looking van! We saw this at a coffee shop on our roadtrip so had to take a pic.  Very unique. I was curious about the owners of this van (which is actually an old milk truck) but never saw them.  Anyway, grabbed a coffee, snapped a photo and on our way... We have lots of snow where we are.  Last night even had a big bonfire with all the family around.  AND most of my family have made comments like " Wow Jodi, you are dressing very stylish", " I love your scarf, earrings, etc..." so that was cool to hear!!  No internet where we are staying so here I am at a coffee shop about 30 km away... am almost  going through internet withdrawl.. and also missing all of you.  I hope everyone has a super holiday with family and friends and I can't wait to see you all again in the next few days!!  Sending Peace and Love to all my awesome blogger friends.. it's been really awesome playing in cyberland with you all!!! MWAH xoxo Jodi

Daily Outfit: The last day

Last day of work for me.  Tonight I pack the rest of my ski stuff and comfy-laying-on-the-couch-clothes and then head out of town.  The energy around this last week is strange. This year (maybe its just me?)  seems so low-key. Rather than the holidays seeming exciting instead it seems like people are just tired and ready for a break.  Downtown even seems quiet.  This time of the year for me, is much more about time with my family (MOM) and relaxing, enjoying friendships, rather than all about buying stuff.  We make gifts each year and do alot of cooking and baking to share with everyone.  The best part is our wrapping paper. We use old forestry maps for our wrapping paper and people just love it. Especially if you can use a map of somewhere they live or have been to.  

Outfit: the blue sweater is especially for you readers today. If it weren't for this blog I would be wearing black head to toe. But that would be boring for readers right? So this one is for you!!  The ruffles are abit festive and since I have had this top in the closet for almost  a year and never worn it, I thought for the last day before the holidays it could due with losing its tag and having a wear.

Will be around to visit from my mom's couch to you in a few days!! xoxo J

Daily Outfit: Calgon. Take. Me. Away!

2 more sleeps. Then I am on holiday. It can't come fast enough. 5 days til xmas and who can even believe it?  I don't even need to pack any bags, I already have 2 big ones under my eyes. I need a retreat. Junk food, my mom's plush couch. Back to back movies. The occasional cross country ski adventure. Wine. Lots of wine.  Yes, then I will be relaxed. It's been a rough few weeks as you can probably tell since I haven't been visiting you as much.  I think its this time of the year anyway, but holy cow I need a holiday!!! Does anyone remember that commercial where everything is happening at once and the lady says " CALGON, take me awaaaaayyyy" and the next thing you know, she is laying in a bubble-filled bathtub relaxing...That's me today.

Hope I get some gift certificates this year as well. I need an infusion of color. I would love to find some bright skirts and dresses that I can layer.  Universe. I thank you for these gifts in advance!!! MWAH xox Jodi

Daily Outfit: Friday Casual

And a casual Friday today. Jeans day. No fancy outfit. Today I wished I didn't even have to wear clothes to work. Well.. you know what I mean. Not like I wanted to come buck nekkid, but just had no creativity in me to come up with something divine.  I was up late working last night too so am tired this morning. That combined with getting up early not great.

A sloth day. A FRI-day.  Happy weekend everyone. It seems really quite in blogger land these days or is it just me?

Daily Outfit: A Touch of VAL

Look at the scarf I got for my birthday!! I wore it with my jacket.. but left it on for this photoshoot and LOVE IT.  Its really funky. I got if from VAL. and the thing that's so great about it is it's like her. Its funky and bold and beautiful and colorful and fun!!  So when I wear it  I feel like VAL.  And today again, it was sooo hard to find something to wear. Grrrr. Growl. That makes me frustrated. Ho Hum. Will have to do some planning this weekend to make it all better.

I am wearing nude fishnets  but you can't really see them and the pic I took made my leg look like a sausage so I am not posting it.. hah hah.

Thats all for today.  Lots to do at work so gotta run babes!!! xoxo Jodi

Daily Outfit: Miss the 30 for 30

Oh, aren't today's pictures just classic?  The last one looks like I just hobbled off a horse or something.  I had about 15 minutes and quickly disappearing daylight so had to hurry today.  AND I really drew a blank this morning when I had to put something together.  I miss my 30 for 30.  Like a long lost lover that  dumped me or something. GONE like that.   You may think I'm crazy but the limited items were so much easier to pick from.  I think I might do a weekly items challenge that I put together on every Sunday night and then wear that stuff all week.  I have to think about this.

Today was the last day of my staff (the one I had to lay off).  And I bought her a bouquet of flowers and gave her a nice card.  She gave me a BIG hug at the end of the day. Like didn't want to let go BIG.  That was nice. Glad it could all end well and we are all happy.

I promise a better outfit on Thursday and I have some other exciting news to share with you too. NO I am not pregnant or anything like that.... SHEEEESH!!

Over n out blogger buddies. Love ya xoxo J

30 for 30 Redux by The House in the Clouds

Introducing Fabienne (we are doing a 30 for 30 debrief swap so you can head over to her blog at The House in the Clouds to check out my post too.. she ROCKS!!)

It's been a week since I completed the challenge. The premise was to pick thirty items from my closet, including shoes and jackets, to create thirty different outfits. I found out about it through a friend on Facebook. As one who always appreciates a good challenge, my competitive spirit took the bait and ran. Hard.

Little did I know this would plant the seed that has become The House in the Clouds. I was only looking for a means to document my effort, lo and behold, I also discovered a whole new community. One member of this community is Jodi, of day2daywear. We've agreed to recap and document our experience with the challenge and post as guest bloggers on each other's sites.

I approached Jodi with the idea of swapping posts not for lack of inspiring or eloquent bloggers to choose from. I connected with Jodi. Here was another athletic and yet very fashionable woman, I found her documentation and photography inspiring.

The challenge was exciting! It was easy. And it was hard. About half-way through I started to feel like I couldn't possibly come up with another interesting combination. I wasn't yet ready to throw in the towel, I had to give it everything I had; this created some interesting combinations. Some were lackluster. One in particular provided comic relief. (Beer, anyone?) Others I just fell in love with!

One challenge I encountered was the seasons changing. I could have used a few more sweaters. Oh, but what to swap out? Something else I hadn't really considered was what to wear on those days when a tired gal just needs to wear the equivalent of a hug. Though I may blog in my flannel pajamas they are not suitable for an office job, for which I am actually quite grateful.

Once I got over the psychological barrier of feeling like something was too dressy to be really comfortable, I found that I had done a pretty good job of outfitting myself. My clothes all moved comfortably with me, bending this way and that way at will while quickly regaining their composure. I was also pleased with my choice of footwear, I seemed to have covered all my bases.

Surprisingly enough, I didn't miss as much of my wardrobe as I thought I would. I missed a few key pieces, some favorites I left out for the sheer sake of really taking the challenge to heart. (And yes, it's a personality thing. I often do makes things a little bit harder just for fun.) You'll notice the first thing I did was wear my aqua cashmere cardi. I've worn that sweater so much in the past two years that I'm certain to have justified the expensive price tag several times over. I'm so happy to have it back in the mix! Wait till I introduce it's pink counterpart. Oh happiness!

It also dawned on me how few accessories I have. The first thing I bought was an ochre elastic belt. I never wore belts much before but that's all changed now.

The challenge was a very powerful lesson for me. As I struggled and took delight in each combination, I started a list of things I thought I absolutely must have the minute the challenge was over. The real surprise is that the list did not grow very long. In fact, just having a wish list in my notebook has brought me an awareness I needed to integrate into my daily life. I'm discovering that the urge for immediate gratification no longer holds such a dear place in my heart. I welcome that change.

This is something I'm proud of; taking this leap of faith has created a new channel for my passions and creativity, giving me another way to reflect and share while making new friends along the way. I hope to keep learning, growing and staying inspired by it all.

Actually, I don't just hope. I expect it.


Side note by Jodi :I am going to have to ask Fabienne for some COLOR coaching.. LIKE WOW or what!!! ???  xoxo J

Daily Outfit: Zebra Turtle neck

Happy Monday!! Thank you tons for all your great birthday wishes.. it was a  really fun weekend filled with lots of adventure (and naps in between :)!!  I can't wait to show you some of the great things I got as gifts too.. oh boy can hardly WAIT! Especially because I now have 2 more Leopard items to add to my wardrobe!!! woooo hoooo.  I could NOT figure out what to wear this morning.. ohhh it was hard. And then I get to work and by lunchtime realize that why I don't wear this top more often... well.  The armpits STINK!!  You know that kind of material that just seems to not breathe. Of course. its not my armpits. NO. Its THE TOP.  Okay so thats a piece of Jodi unplugged today and as you can probably imagine, I am waving across the office to my coworkers and emailing them instead of actually going over to talk to them. Thats the last thing I want to hear is " Jodi looks great but boy does she STINK".  LOL

Hi to new followers.. see, I am waving.. I am not coming over... (I smell bad)...


How do you all like the new blog layout? I quite like it. Did it myself too!!!

Daily Outfit: Birthday Suit

Today is MY birthday!!  Yes, mine and nobody can take that away from me. Not today anyway!!  And I even have a big party organized by Rita and many friends for Saturday night.. I can't wait.. oh boy I'm even packing my pj's for the party!!  AND check out Rita's blog post today.. I feel so special!!! And so many wishes on facebook etc... I feel so loved!!  Its awesome!!  And I love all of you. Thank you everyone who comes by here to visit, and who comment and share ideas and share feelings and thoughts. I really do feel like I have made some awesome friends on here, and who would have thought?

For this upcoming year my goal is to make a difference for as many people as I can and be a demonstration of love, compassion and generosity.  That means not taking myself so Gawd Damn Seriously (like Wayne Dyer and his RULE #6) and just cutting loose and being more open and free.  This month also marks the 6 month anniversary of day2daywear and I am really loving it so am also going to get some more exciting action happening on here!!  Look at my very first blog post..(Virgin Blogger) hilarious or what???

Anyway ladies and gents, I love you all, have a super awesome day and even better weekend and I will be around to see how you are doing!!!  MWAH xoxo J

Daily Outfit: I'm FREE

My name is Jodi and I'm a black and red aholic. I just can't stop mixing black and red. Its not that I want to. I just can't HELP it.!!!  Everytime I wear these red boots women and men alike comment when I walk down the street "GREAT BOOTS", " LOVE THE BOOTS", "Where'd you get those BOOTS?" I love it.  I love them. The boots and the people. Look out when I wear these. I am important. Not just because red is a power color, but also because they go click click click when I walk. You hear me coming. And you look out. Jodi is coming. Hit the decks. Scatter. She is a force to be reckoned with!!

And I am free now to wear anything I want and let me tell you. Today it was totally challenging to figure out what the heck to wear. So strange isn't it!!  I visited a few of you last night and hope to catch some more tonight.. life's been crazy busy lately. I haven't forgotten about you I promise. HI to new followers.. always love meeting new friends so thanks for coming by!!!

Toodle doo for now (this saying is from my grammy :)  xoxo J