A time for Love, A time for Joy

    

Outfit details

Olive green top - Banana Republic
Black cardigan - Dynamite, Gift from Cham
Flared jeans - Parasuco, Gift from E
Aviators - Banana Republic
Jeweled bracelet - Banana Republic, Gift from EM
Purple leather purse - Osprey London, Gift from Pearl (All the way from Dublin!)

What and Where

Chickie insisted I use this title to name the post today: Love Joy. I agreed. But then I saw the photos from today and I thought, I'll be clever and play on pictures and words. Ha! As you can see, there's the ubiquitous grandfather's clock from the Peace Tower and there's the prevalent subject of our conversation for, I'd say at least three days now.

Perhaps I should speak in codes to protect the innocent but meh, what the hell, if I don't get a comment from her on this post, I don't know what will! So, on to the topic that J seems to be very enthralled about. I have a cousin, cute, smart and funny. Her name is LJ and I didn't realize that people didn't know what L and J stood for. I suppose you can guess by now but let me give you a snippet of last night's dinner conversation at the Pho place:

E - LJ, interesting name. Is that it, just L and J?
LJ - What Kuya E? You don't know my real name?
E - Ahmn.. no. Is it Long John?
LJ - God, no Kuya! It's an emotion. Alright, do you watch the Simpsons? There's a character in there who has the same name!
E - Ahmmnn... yes. Marge?

Bwah ha ha ha! Yes, coz LJ stands for Marge! Brilliant!

Me - Okay, E. Look at me. Me who is the "fill in the blank" of your life for many years. What kind of emotion do you feel when you look at me?
E - paused for a very looong time... Pain? 
Me - Grrrr.... 
E - Uh-oh! I mean Love? 

There you go Ladies and Gentlemen, four years and counting later, E when he looks at me, sees... Pain! Who wants to bet with me we are in for a very, very long marriage? Okay okay, hypothetically speaking, if we were married, then that my friends is a very good relationship meter that will get us through fifty years and more!

The morale of the story really is that my cousin Love Joy is beyond wonderful. She is one hell of a woman (dude, you owe me Bubble Tea!), she is fierce as she is lovely and she is resilient as she is sweet.
But...
J said if his parents ever named him Love Joy or any sort of name like that (Bueno Alegre or Joselito Carnaval!), he would not only disown them as his madre and padre, he would also very much sue them for all they're worth!

We heart you LJ!

Photographer's Pick of the Day

Double Trouble

Outfit details

Navy silk top - Banana Republic
Black and white striped skirt - Dynamite
Men's watch - Guess, Gift from E
Disco balls earrings - Guess
Woven fabric bracelets - Banana Republic
Shoes - Nine West

What and Where

What do you do when you show up to a party and see someone else wearing exactly the same thing or in my case that day we shot at the Parliament Hill, see someone walking down the same street as you, wearing the same outfit as you? Well, if you are like me, you would take a photo, of course! I originally wanted to ask her if she can pose with me but J had a better idea. He thought it would be really funny if I run up behind her and he would quickly take a photo!

Turns out, it wasn't easy doing that in a pedestrian street. As I started to gain closer to her, three other guys walked right beside me blocking the shot so I had to squeeze my way towards her. When I was about a half a foot away from her, she looked back and handed me a nasty what-the-hell-are-you-doing look! I pretended to evaluate the beautiful architecture and motioned for J to take the picture, pronto! (See second photo for reference.) 

It's Friday and (ssshhh...) I cannot wait to get out of the office, lounge at our rooftop patio and procrastinate over packing for our weekend getaway trip to the beautiful and scenic Mont Tremblant. If you haven't been, you ought to go or at least check out their website at the moment. Known for its world-class skiing resorts, Mt. Tremblant is wonderfully breathtaking and it looks like a Canadian replica of the Swiss Alps. It is the Civic Holiday this weekend, a long weekend for most Canadian provinces and territories so we are getting out of the city for a few days starting Saturday and I, will try to indulge in a lot of nothings. It might be hard considering that Tremblant has so much to offer and the hotel we are staying at is beyond beautiful (merci beaucoup à Isabelle), with really tempting royal spa services. I may be able to sneak a peak and check in some blogs behind E's back but he might not be pleased and ask me to walk home.

What are you doing this weekend? Have you got some double trouble outfit faux-pas recently? On that note, I wish y'all a tremendously exciting weekend!

Neutral State of Mind

Outfit details

Summer dress - Old Navy, Gift from Sissy

Sequined cardigan - Urban Behaviour, Thrifted, Spring Clothing Swap I hosted
Purple leather purse - Osprey London, Gift from Pearl

Gold hoop earrings - Guess

Gold studded bracelet - Club Monaco

Gold chain necklace - Banana Republic

Nude shoes - Aldo
Sunnies - Banana Republic

What and Where

Have you ever danced with somebody in the summer rain? Sometimes, I wish life is a like a movie where the entire cast and crew breaks into a perfectly choreographed dance number in the middle of the train station (yes you, Slumdog Millionaire!) and all the stories, no matter the struggles and pains, end happily ever after. 

We went to a drive-in movie tonight after a delicious Italian dinner (ahm, make that a feast), it was the very first for my sister, aunt and little Erica. It was a makeshift Wednesday drive-in by the parking lot beside St. Laurent Shopping Centre and I think it is sponsored by both the Shopping Centre and 105.3 Kiss FM. It's not like those drive-ins where you can pretty much show any movies, as that really isn't the main star of the attraction. We thought between ET, Sleepless in Seattle and Jurassic Park, the last one was the best movie we can bring Erica to as she can most likely relate to extinct dinosaurs than to a sort of cute alien trying to get back to its home space. Obviously, Sleepless in Seattle was out of the question as the birds and bees talk is waaay too early for her but we figure, she certainly can learn about violent behemoth creatures that existed millions of years ago. She is one.

Tonight was exceptionally windy and cool. I must say we are not nearly as prepared as other movie goers, some had blankets, comforters and (I kid you not!) mattresses! Perhaps next time I can borrow a lazy boy recliner from a friend. No wait, I don't think I actually know someone who owns a lazy boy. Just as we were getting to the juicy parts of the movie where the devilish T-Rex started eating and flinging the greasy lawyer in between its jagged teeth, the wind got stronger and stronger and blew the blown-up rubber screen until it folded up in half! We all sat there for awhile waiting to see if they can put the screen back up but unfortunately, nature once again proved to be a party pooper. Even though we had to roll up our dollarama banana blanket and drove home, it was all for good cause as the sponsor, St. Laurent Shopping Centre have arranged for 100% of all ticket donations to go to the Overbrook-Forbes Community Resource Centre.

I just thought for a second, while everyone sat there not knowing what to do, wouldn't it be cool if all of the sudden you hear some feet tapping, hands clapping, music slowly building up until people jump up and wave and dance like they're in a Bollywood drive-in? I know, I know! Me loca, eh? Well, that's how one's mind works after a terribly busy 9 to 5 day of Parliamentary Business Only!

Any crazy thoughts lately?

Photographer's Pick of the Day

Ruffles and Stripes and Everything Nice

   

   

   

   

   

   

    

   

Outfit details

Navy silk top - Banana Republic
Black and white striped skirt - Dynamite
Men's watch - Guess, Gift from E
Disco balls earrings - Guess
Woven fabric bracelets - Banana Republic
Shoes - Nine West

What and Where

This blog is only about a week old but I am very glad to receive all your comments, suggestions and most of all, your strong wave of support and encouragement. Its not an easy road to pave but you inspire me to keep going and blog on. Thank you very, very much!

It has been a very busy weekend, four birthdays and a home-based thrifting bazaar later, I was passed out on the beach by Sunday afternoon. Heavy, dark bags under one's eyes and extreme bloated stomach does not make for great blog photos that I wasn't up for taking photos today. But the yellow warm Monday sun was pretty convincing and J thought of something brilliant for the blog that got me very excited: a theme of the week. You'd be very pleased to know that the first theme features THE landmark of Canada - the Parliament Hill. It is beautiful, it is majestic, it has power and charm and history - so many different elements that we can try to capture this week though I doubt we will be able to capture a fraction of its beauty in such a short time. (For our non-Canadian friends, facts and figures about the Hill is coming up shortly, stay tuned!)

Today's shoot was pretty fun, we had lots of laugh as we fight our way through the crowds to take better shots. I ran up to a family of tourists and tried to sneak in the back of the group to be the "who the hell is that behind you Grandpa?" stranger in the family vacation picture but the little Asian girl with the camera pointed at me and said - But she's in our picture Mama! Duh!

I do have another funny story to tell but I'd keep it for another day and this time, I will let the pictures describe a thousand words! J had his mojo in full force yesterday and he thought of another feature we can add to the blog, the Photographer's Pick of the Day! His photos, his pick. No matter how much I disagree with it and think that I look like a little awkward boy in drag, he gets to choose his favourite photo of the shoot. Here's the first installment:

Photographer's Pick of the Day

La Raison Inconnoue

Outfit details

Teal top - Plains and Prints, Gift from Mommy
Full skirt - Plains and Prints, Gift from Mommy
Orange sash - Plains and Prints
Men's watch - Guess, Originally E's
Bead bracelet - Love Joy (as in it's not really mine, it's LJ's)
Sunglasses - Banana Republic
Tan wedge - Aldo

What and Where

A few years ago, you know when we were young and foolish, we promised that one day, we will all throw caution to the wind (along with that expensive and ineffective bottle of anti-cellulite cream), shed all or most of our clothes and pose for some pretty racy but tasteful portraits. Something we can possibly look back to when we are old and wrinkly and sporting the latest draw-string sweat pants at the Bingo Hall and say, Oh, those were the good ol' firmer looking bum days, my friend!

Okay, so these are not exactly the photos we had in mind but this is the closest I've got to that promise so far! I kept these shots from last week for some reason and I have been thinking about whether I should post it or not but somehow, I feel really compelled to do so for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, J doesn't need to get his ego stroked some more but I gotta hand it to my very talented and artistic photographer - I think he has an amazing eye for details and see angles whereas I am evidently visually impaired. I love, love these photos as I know I wouldn't have thought of shooting these details this way and I am very glad he did. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the fact that he is one of the most impeccably well-dressed man I know, he has a very distinguished style and he constantly carries himself in a notable manner you can detect from miles away! (Aherm... I think its time to pay me that twenty bucks in exchange for this PR write up Chickie!)

My last and final reason is, I must admit, a bit vain but hey, if you are like me and you think that your best days were far behind you, you gotta, gotta document whatever you got left so you can preserve the very last of your elastic and wrinkle free skin. So that when you do have grand children or great grand children some day, you can dust off these old photographs, or in this case, google the archives of blogspot.com and show them your care-free glory days... yep, Sonny boy, this is your Grandma alright!

Modern Day Gladiator

Outfit details

Tie-dye dress - Dynamite

Gold wide cuff - French Connection

Ethnic fabric bracelet - Vintage, 10 years old

Beaded necklace - Pier, San Francisco

Drop earrings - Banana Republic

Boho leather purse - Michael Kors, Gift from E

Studded gladiator sandals - Old Navy

Aviators - Banana Republic, Gift from E

What and Where

Who doesn't have mad love for Fridays? I haven't read one yet but I'm sure poems and odes have been written about this glorious day that caps the entire work week and marks the start of a promising weekend! Especially when that weekend is comprised of (attending and hosting) four birthdays (four!!!!), a trip to the beach and a home-based thrifting bazaar. Geographic locations of said birthdays do not make for efficient fuel consumption and reduced carbon emission as they all are situated at the far ends of the city.

Perhaps I should save some energy as it looks like I'll be passed out by dinner time tomorrow night. I just want to tell you that I, for the longest time, refused to buy gladiator sandals as they seem to make me look like, well, a frumpy gladiator. They seem to shorten the legs, some are too strappy and some take it way to seriously and some have multiple closures that it is almost impractical. Flat sandals for me should be an in-and-out business.

I have to admit that they do look real awesome on some people. They can transform a pretty and dainty dress into a cool edgy outfit and they sure can lend some rock 'n roll into anything. So, I finally bought a pair, thanks to a post by Jill from Good Life for Less, she dishes out valuable tips and advice on what's "IT" and where to get it. Please check out her amazing blog at http://goodlifeforless.blogspot.com/2010/07/old-navys-classic-picks.html. I completely agree with her, the studded metal details are what makes the look, c'est simple, mais c'est vraiement chic!

Have a great weekend everyone! I know we all live tremendously busy lives and at lot of times, we are like modern day urban gladiators fighting against career challenges and overcoming personal battles (yep, that's me trying to kung-fu mine up in mid-air!). I say, we continue to fight a good fight as we smile, put our best heel forward and if all else fails, we order a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, shall we?