!!! 30 Day Style Challenge !!! ~ Day 3 ~ Print Mish Mash

So, I am now a day behind on posting for my challenge...

But yesterday just ending up being a weird day 

and when it was done I decided to face plant into my pillow rather than sit at my computer...

People were in funky moods...

I had an awkward argument with a cashier who thought that I gave her a $10 bill when I gave her a $20

Aaaaand to top it all off I had the unpleasant experience of being a witness to a car crash that involved a car hitting and killing a deer....

Yup.  Weird and exhausting day.

This is one of those weird outfits where I own two of the same shirt and skirt.

I bought the tank top from old navy ages ago for like 4 bucks and the medium ended up being a bit too big... so I bought a small too.

And the skirt is from forever 21.  I bought it to use as a skirt not for work but it was only $7.50 so I decided to buy one for work too.

You see, I teach childrens' art classes so I have to have a wardrobe dedicated exclusively to work because everything gets paint on it.

So two very affordable outfits.  One for work.  One for play.

The scarf and the earrings are two of my favourite accessories.

I bought the scarf from urban outfitters... maybe 4 years ago.

And the earrings were a gift from my talented friend and coworker Carla.

They are yellow leather feather earrings and I get compliments on them everywhere I go.

Check out her etsy store here:  Rattlebag

It's been recently cleared out, but more items for sale soon :)

Peace out.

!!! 30 Day Style Challenge !!! ~ Day 2 ~ Garage Grunge

OK 

So its day 2 of my 30 Day challenge and I am clearly a total coward... haha

I was all ready to go out and find a cool outdoor location...

 But I chickened out at the thought of people being able to watch me set up my tri-pod and take a bunch of awkward self pics.

Clearly I am not quite ready for a big girl shoot :(

SO

I ended up with the glamourous back drop of...

my garage.

This is my "Yup, this is my garage pic."

Thumbs up to being Nervous Nelly?

I found myself looking through my closet and thinking...

"I could wear this now, or I could save it for later in case something fun potentially comes up"

Since I was just bumming around today I didn't make too much of an effort to get "gussied up".

I do quite like this shirt though.

I got it from an etsy store called

Communitea Clothing

You should check them out.  They have lots of rad tees.

On a side note...

We have grass!!!!

Finally!!!

Yes, I realize that getting so excited about grass is nerdy.

But, hey, I'm embracing it :)

!!! 30 Day Style Challenge !!! ~Day 1~ Studio at Dusk...

It is officially day 1 of this challenge and it is a HOT one!

Unfortunately I was planning to start my outfit documentations with a nice outdoor location 

BUT

Alas, it had just rained so everything was mushy and muddy where I had wanted to go.

SO

I call this shoot...

"Studio at Dusk"

The sun was setting but still blinding...

You see the difference in this last photo which was taken after the sun finally ducked behind some houses...

I purchased this dress from an awesome little dress shop/art gallery in Merrickville called 

Anarchy Gallery

I love the kitschy floral pattern and the open back.

I basically wish I owned this shop and everything in it.

I recommend checking it out.

In fact, I just recommend checking out Merrickville and everything in it.

I predict living there someday. 

Day 1 = Complete

!!! 30 Day Style Challenge !!!

Hello All!

As you may know, my husband and I have recently purchased a home.  Because of this we are trying to budget as much as possible.  

This of course leads to a lack of $$$ for fun purchases like clothes :(

THIS MEANS

It has been hard not to buy clothes for myself recently, because if you know me then you know that I take pleasure in expressing myself through my personal style!

SO

In an effort to convince myself that I do not need to go out and buy new clothes to keep my style "fresh" as they say, I am assigning myself a personal challenge.

I call it:

THE 30 DAY STYLE CHALLENGE! 

allenge allenge allenge...

(in my head there is an echo when you say it ;)

These are the rules that I am making for myself:

1.  Each day I need to create a new outfit without wearing duplicates of any items of clothing. (and document it of course)

2.  Basics don't count (leggings, undergarments, etc.)

3.  As I work in a messy environment (teaching art), work clothes don't count.

BUT

When I get home I must create a new outfit for after work.

4. Footwear won't count as I (unlike a lot of women) don't own 30 pairs of shoes :)

Thats it!

Now, that may seem like a lot of exceptions but I think that it will be challenging none the less.

If I were to wear separates every day, that means I would have to pair 60 different items of clothing...

and I haven't actually counted... so I'm really hoping that I can actually pull this off.

(This is my closet.)

There are a couple reasons that I am challenging myself with this.

1.  So I don't shop (as previously stated)

2.  So that I am forced to rediscover items of clothing that I may have forgotten about

3.  Because it will be fun :)

4.  Lastly, to recommit myself to my blog.

For some reason I have been neglecting to post on a regular basis and I am not sure why.  I quite enjoy the process of sharing my inspiration with the world, but perhaps I have been lacking the inspiration... ?

With this challenge I will have to post my outfit every day.

(dresses section)

I am definitely not claiming to be some sort authority on fashion.

I am merely doing this as proof that I do, in fact, have something to wear ;)

Oh! and as a quick side note/hair update, I have recently made the switch from white blonde to pastel blueish purple fading to pink.

Check it out.

(indoor lighting)

(outdoor lighting)

I am quite happy with it.  I'm really hoping that the colour has staying power...

Hopefully the hair will help me feel more like myself if I end up being forced to wear something that I no longer identify with.

Hey, maybe this will end up being a cleansing experience.  

Maybe I will get rid of half my clothes.  

Who knows....

RAIN RAIN.... you can stay ;)

I know that the typical rhyme goes a little differently but I was just sitting here listening to the rain thinking how soothing the sound is when you're trying to sleep.

SO

Rain, rain you don't have to go away.

At least not until morning comes.

Since you may not have the luxury of listening to rain outside of your window right now, here is ten minutes of rain of the recorded variety... and a few photos that I have deemed worthy enough to share ;)

nofearofchic

wikipedia

five-zeronine

ladyilonwick

wunderground

forum

Now all I need is some thunder and lightning...

~~*** DOILY DIY ***~~ They're not just for you grandmother's table...

Hello All.

Today I have deemed to be a lazy day so of course I have been on my computer browsing different DIY projects...

and I came across sooo many cool things that you can do with lace and doilies!

I have always enjoyed nostalgic things so, to some, doilies make them think "thats something my grandmother would like... 

not for me." 

but I tend to think... "If my grandmother would have liked it, 

I almost definitely will too :)"

please click on all of the links for instructions :)

The first amazing idea is from the blog The Post Social (links below pics) and is for a 

DOILY LAMP

(thepostsocial)

This is such a neat idea for any space! 

Unfortunately we don't have the appropriate light fixtures to try this now.

BUT

Our next house will likely be an older one, so hopefully then I can still remember to give this a try.

Its also a great idea for a cottage!!! 

(Another future potential use :)

The next DIY project that I found and am DEFINITELY doing is for a 

DOILY TABLE RUNNER

(ashleyannphotography)

The table that I currently have is... well... rustic.

Meaning that it is sort of in rough shape.

BUT

We like it and its a good size and shape for our dinning area.

SO

I love this idea to add some coverage and interest at the same time!

This idea I found on Pinterest but couldn't find the original source.

DOILY CANDLE HOLDER

"This simple project is made by soaking cloth doilies in sugar starch and then forming it around a balloon. One the starch dries, pop the balloon and you have a romantic tea light holder that can be used as part of your tablescape."

Next up a 

DOILY WREATH

from marthastewart. 

The result is sooooo pretty and delicate looking!

I'm thinking this is another MUST TRY.

Another great find (that I wish I had found prior to planning my wedding) is

DOILY ENVELOPES

from welovelaughkiss

Time consuming? Probably.

Worth it? Likely.

Another great idea that I will likely try 

(maybe to put in our backyard?) 

because I not only have a love of doilies and lace but also mason jars is

DOILY LUMINARIES

The DYI instructions are from craftsbyamanda

but I also found this pic (below) on pinterest that looks like you could use lace and twine as well.

Not to sound obsessed... but you can even use doilies for baking!!!

Check these two ideas out.

DOILY COOKIES!

from blissinimages

These look so cute AND delicious. 

All it involves is rolling the doily into the dough to give the impression.

yum.

(check out the link for the recipe too)

CAKE DECORATIONS!

You can even use a paper doily as a simple and fantastic way to decorate a cake with icing sugar!

(realsimple)

I could go on people.

There is a plethora of ideas using doilies and lace out there.

garland

shirts

mobiles

lamp shades....

Unfortunately I don't have the time to feature them all.

BUT

Please just google it or search the idea on pinterest and you will find

many

many

more.

~~*BRUCE MUNRO*~~ Field of Light.

I was recently browsing the internet for some 

Art Installation Inspiration

(say that 10 times fast)

...and I stumbled onto the works of

BRUCE MUNRO

and his FIELD OF LIGHT series...

Soooooo I am totally in awe of him and his incredibly whimsical body of work!

Please click on his name to view his website because it is worth checking out his whole portfolio.

This what he has to say on the concept of the field of lights...

"It was originally conceived fifteen years ago during a trip through central Australia. The red desert had an incredible feeling of energy; ideas seemed to radiate from it along with the heat. The field of light installation was one idea that landed in my sketch book and kept on nagging at me... it just had to be done.  By placing an alien installation in the midst of nature, the enormous contrast created allows one to literally see the wood from the trees.  Under the shadow of an ancient hill in southwest England, in a field of clover bisected by a public footpath, the field of light shimmered through seasons and presented a myriad of opportunities for passersby to catch glimpses of natures guises."

Here are some more pics from his different field of light installations:

EDEN PROJECT

HOLBURNE MUSEUM

LONG KNOLL

 HARVEY NICOLS

If I had the means to do something like this, on this big of a scale, I totally would.

Large scale light installations are just so incredibly fascinating to me!

Unfortunately they require a great deal of 

money 

and 

know-how...

both of which I don't currently have.