Daily Outfit: Need some Pop

You will never catch me with a pop that's FOR SURE.  I stay away from the stuff.  Apparently I stayed away from pop for this outfit today too.  After I saw the photos I realized I didn't add anything to highlight or make this pop. Well, live and learn.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE boots though and I really adore wearing them with shorter skirts and can't wait to buy a few new pairs on my upcoming trip to San Francisco.  These Fryes are cute- chunky and abit bad a$$ if you ask me...

I am curious to know what kind of boots you have or want to buy for this Fall/Winter season? What do you think is hot?

Defining your body (from Already Pretty)

I just saw this great post on Sal's blog at Already Pretty and thought I would post it for you here:

Defining Your Body
The world expects you to define your body in certain terms. Waist size, bust size, height, weight. These measurements should figure into your holistic view of your physical self, but they needn’t be the only factors. And spending some time in front of the mirror looking at and learning about your shape can completely transform how you conceptualize your body.

Why is it important to become familiar with your personal physical terrain? Well, how can you love something that you don't understand? Seeing yourself is key to accepting yourself, and accepting yourself is a huge first step toward loving yourself.

So. Get naked. Or if you’re not fond of naked, strip down to your undies. Now haul out a full-length mirror and make sure you’ve got some decent light in the room. When you peer at your reflection, what aspects strike YOU as your defining physical traits? Which bits are markedly large, small, or relatively out of proportion? Do you have a prominent stomach, long neck, tiny feet? Do your arms seem short, your shoulders broad, your breasts small? Does your torso seem much longer than your legs, or vice versa? Look at everything, not just the major quadrants like hips, midsection, and bust. Examine your wrists and ankles, leg and arm length, calf circumference. Try not to judge yourself and DO NOT use someone else’s body as a point of comparison. Just take a long hard look, and note the features of your physical form that seem to define it.

Let’s use me (Sal) as an example. I have fairly broad shoulders which makes my B-cup breasts seem relatively small. My hips and thighs are full, which makes my natural waist appear bitsy. My feet are well-proportioned to my muscular calves, but my hands and wrists are small compared to my arms. My face is large and rectangular, but my enormously bushy hair offsets its blunt angles.

Notice how I am describing my features mainly in comparison to my other features. What’s the point in comparing my boobs to Salma Hayek’s? Even if I had her boobs, I wouldn’t have her stature, her shoulder span, or any other aspects of her figure. Her boobs would look totally different on my frame. I’d rather focus on how my boobs interact with other aspects of my frame.

Ideally, this type of examination and evaluation should feel enlightening, scientific, and informative. You should be sating curiosity and gathering knowledge about how you are truly formed, comparing personal proportions with interest and tenderness. If you devolve into trash-talking yourself for having a prominent stomach, long neck, or tiny feet, remember: You are giving yourself a lesson in yourself. How can your stomach, neck, or feet be bad or wrong? They’re yours, and always have been, even if this is the first time you’ve recognized and acknowledged them. Welcome your defining traits into the fold like old friends. Because they are, and always will be.

Disproportionate is not bad. Big is not bad. Tiny is not bad. Uneven and unusual and unexpected are not bad. Familiarizing yourself with your body, just as it is, should prove your individuality in the best possible way. No other body is like yours, and that’s fantastic. FANTASTIC, I tell you! Stop comparing your figure to the figures of other women, and don’t define yourself wholly on the dry, soulless numbers that explain your dimensions. Decide for yourself what makes your body yours.

And then decorate it and celebrate it.

Blog Award: Thank You!!

Well, this is totally cool.  I just got a "Blog with Substance" Award from Rita over at The Adventures of Cinderita.  How exciting, even though I don't have many followers showing on my blog list, there are actually quite a few people who come over to visit me here.  Rita has been one of my biggest fans and friends since the beginning so Thank- You Cinderita!!!

I am passing this award on a variety of people who inspire me- either I borrow outfit ideas from them, I learn  tips and tricks, I am just wow'd by their style or I laugh like crazy when I read their blogs.  The idea is to pass this along to those who inspire you (like pay it forward).  Drum roll please....

Angie at YouLookFab

Amazing tips and resources. This was the first fashion blog I began reading and have learned so much from Angie!

Sal at Already Pretty

Sal is so generous and always has great posts with thought-provoking questions and comments, not to mention tips, tricks and outfit ideas.

Kendi Lea at Kendi Everyday

I copy Kendi's outfits alot (or at least try to).  And man she makes me laugh!!!

Kasmira at What I Wore Today

This was also one of my first fashion blog finds and  I am hooked. Kasmira always has creative and funky ideas, GREAT color and pattern mixer!!

Emma at My Daily Clothes Fix

My fashion friend from the UK. Emma has great photo shoots and outfits. Me wanna visit there!!

Collette at Statements in Fashion

Gorgeous and Amazing style!! Wish I was so elegant.

Londyn at Blogfashion

Friends with Kasmira, Londyn's blog was also one of the first ones I stumbled upon and have gotten some great ideas from her.

Marisa at A New Dress a Day

I just saw Marisa's blog recently and boy I was inspired. She is making a dress a day. She takes old clothing and makes new outfits out of ie. tent dresses and moo-moos. She is ultra creative!!!

Daily Outfit: Scramble

What a scramble this morning!! I went to be late last night and didn't plan out any outfits, fall outfits that is. I went off to Bikrams Yoga first thing this morning and when I got home ended up with an explosion of clothes all over my bed after rummaging through the closet trying to find something weather-appropriate while also trying to get ready and to work ontime.  The first few attempts resulted in frumpy pants (all my pants are too big now and saggy in the arse) or one of the boring ol non-descript outfits I used to wear.  ALAS, Bombshell always works for my body type so I was proud to put this together in a mere few seconds.  Apologies for the backdrop as well.  I guess now I need an outdoor overhang or some fantastic patterned umbrellas for my photos.

Confessions of a Closet Fashionista

I am not sure if I can go as far as calling myself a Fashionista, but here goes.  About 5 years ago I was a participant in a leadership course and after about 5 months of the 7 month course I had this positively life-altering AHA moment.  I got this to the bone. Have you ever gotten something 'to the bone', like you totally got it?  Well, what I got in the moment was that people are going to think whatever they think about me, no matter what.  And no matter what I do or say, I have no control over what they think.  I had always known that conceptually but in this particular moment  a huge space opened up for me to be free to be completely and utterly myself. Nothing else. To not worry or care or let what others might think of me stop me from doing, saying or wearing the things I wanted. I had the experience of being so free and alive and unstoppable.

I also realized  that up until that point, I had  been dressing carefully.  I didn't want to stand out too much, or not fit in, or be too fashionable, or be too plain.  I wanted to portray a really neutral image so that no one would notice or judge me.  I had grown up being the only girl with 2 brothers and because I was tall and strong I was also athletic.  I dressed in sporty and outdoorsy clothes and thought that clothes that were too girly would make me look like I was helpless and fluffy (I know, I know I am rolling my eyes too!!) or maybe even too sexy.

Anyway, so about 5 years ago after this AHA moment and having this space open up for me to be free and self expressed- whatever that expression was for me, I began to get more excited about clothing, jewelry and fashion and colors overall.  I bought my first pink skirt, I began buying great shoes with killer heels,  I experimented with funky jewelry and leopard print scarves!!  So many people have commented over the years about how much I have transformed my look and wardrobe, and girlfriends even ask me to take them shopping and help them pick out great outfits now.  I love this, and I love it when we see something new about ourselves and be generous in sharing what we saw with other people, it can make a difference for others too.

My question to you, dear readers, is what would you really love to wear that perhaps you don't give yourself the permission to wear (for whatever reason).

Daily Outfit: Long Weekend

         

What a relaxing long weekend. AND it happens to be our 9 year anniversary today.  We went to brunch with our fellow teammates to celebrate our Ironman finish and then fiance and I went for a long walk with the camera to walk off all the food we ate.  Shhh but heres an idea of what I ate: bacon, croissants, smoked salmon, eggs benedict, brie, pecan pie and chocolate banana pudding with LOTS of whipped cream.  What you don't know about me is I never eat this kind of stuff!! We are organic, raw foods, very healthy eaters so this was a binge-fest.  I must admit, I loved it!!!  On our walk I of course stopped by a couple of shops and am so excited about the 3 new items I got at an extreme sale: snakeskin print wide belt, animal print scarf and a long multiple-strand chain necklace.. can't wait to put together some new outfits!!  The pic above isn't so flattering and I am defying some of the rules for my body type (avoid this kind of top and lower-waisted pants) but whatever, its the weekend :).  Hope you are all having a great one too!!

Daily Outfit: Missed my chance

Whoa, and extra large picture today.. booo!  I missed the chance to take a pic first thing this morning in the best light.. so this is  our back garden gate, nothin fancy.  I got my haircut and love it!!  I kept the layers and shortened the back abit. I will get someone else to snap a pic for you. Its Friday and the long weekend and to be honest, I don't know what to do with myself now that we don't have long rides and runs on the schedule.  That said, I am going for Brunch at the Oak Bay Marina as a post-race treat and for those of you local Victoria readers- THAT PLACE is awesome.  Have a great long weekend everyone!!

Daily Outfit: Wonderin where the lions are

I was looking for lions at Beacon Hill Park today.  At least, some man asked me if I was on safari and then laughed.. oh hah hah you are so funny Mr.  This shirt dress was like a sack so I took away the tie belt and used my wide stretchy belt instead.  One thing that is becoming more and more clear to me is that I LOVE LEOPARD PRINT, yes I call it out to the world.  I will probably be one of the crazy old ladies who wears multiple kinds of leopard prints at one time, or maybe I will be sophisticated and look like my childhood hero Edith Prickly.  That would be kinda cool- she rocks!

 

Daily Outfit: At the Market

A day off today, running errands, doing laundry and generally relaxing. I stopped by the community garden on the way out to buy groceries today, was just a great day to snap some pics.  We booked our flights to Hawaii today as well, since Fiance will be competing in Ironman World Championships in Hawaii (Kona).  Now I get to plan outfits for a hot vacation!

I have a question for you all.  Do you think this hairstyle would suit me?  My hair is getting long and am not sure what to do next.

Yay or Nay for the hairstyle? (I would keep it brunette though :)

Daily Outfits: IMC

Just got back from doing Ironman Canada.  Here's a snapshot of what I wore over the past week:

We were gone for a week, stayed at a ski condo up in the mountains where it was nice and quiet- to stay out of all the hulla balloo of all the anxious athletes downtown.  When we were driving to the race package pickup I saw the graffiti wall and couldnt resist.. out came the tripod and did some jumps (got some good ones of me and the fiance together as well!!).  Then Sunday was the big race. It was the best one I have had, the time went by fast and I had tons of fun.  I am wearing the 2010 Space Blanket just a mere 5 minutes after crossing the finish line. Perhaps I can make it into a vest or skirt for the fall season- I hear silver is still in.