The Art Of Getting By

September 10, 2015September 10, 20155 Comments

So as I had mentioned in my last post, quite a big change has been going on in my life, and I feel like this space has been suffering because of it. I’ve always felt like I’ve done a pretty good job when it comes to keeping this place updated, even when things are not ideal in my personal life. This blog means a whole to me, and I feel a great deal of guilt whenever I am unable, or feeling not well enough to keep it up to date. You also know I try to be as open about my personal life as reasonably possible here, so it feels appropriate to share what has been going on.

The short of it is Ryan and I have broken up. Something that is disheartening in ways, but was also necessary. Because we live together, things have been a bit all over the place. I have been looking for a new place to live, with very little success, and that has caused me a great deal of stress, which has lead me to try to ignore my current situation and spend as much time with the people that make me feel happy. In a lot of ways, I am feeling better than I have felt in a long time, but also feeling slightly chaotic in my mind. But such is the way with these things. It’s something many experience, and you come out of it, usually in a much better place – I feel very strongly about that.

Relationships can be so difficult, but also incredibly enriching . My friends sometimes joke about the amount of boyfriends I’ve had, and for a long time I felt bad about my inability to keep a relationship going after the 2 year mark. But not everyone is the same. I know people who have been with their partner for years, ready for marriage, and I know an equal amount of people who have fulfilling relationships that don’t last forever. I like to think that every relationship I’ve had has been a lesson for me and something I actively reflect upon. I’ve got to spend years with some incredibly amazing and wonderful people who have changed and bettered my life in so many ways. They may not have been it for me, but they were something for me that I will always feel positively about. I like thinking that I carry a piece of each of them with me, helping me to become the best possible version of myself. I don’t keep a ton of people surrounding me, but the ones I do are the ones I feel really bring something special to my life, which goes beyond romantic relationships.

Anyways, that’s the gist of it. I know probably some can relate to this, so while talking about it seems maybe like it’s just for me, I think it’s also a feeling many understand, and I always hope when I share my struggles in life, however small or insignificant, that someone can feel a connection or find comfort from it. That’s why I love blogging so much. The connection and the people I reach are the most important thing to me; it’s what keeps me here.

Love you all, and thank you for being patient with me ❤

Outfit: Rekindle

August 31, 2015August 31, 20156 Comments

It had been ages since I had worn this dress. It used to be an absolute favourite of mine, but I think I wore it death and grew rather tired of it over time. However, something about it called to me the other day, and after slipping back into it, I remembered why I loved it so…and even more now with my short hair. It’s interesting how something as simple as a haircut can bring new life to clothes collecting dust in your closet. And this is the very reason I have so much trouble parting ways with my clothes. It is said that if you haven’t worn something in a year you should probably let it go, but I have to disagree. Sometimes you just need a break; a little time to find what once was. If I let go every piece of clothing I hadn’t worn in a year, well I’d have a whole lot of clothing regrets. This is not to say I don’t purge myself of the clothes that really are not ever going to be worn, but I choose not to hold myself to the rule above because some pieces are just more special than others and deserve a real chance to prove themselves once again (and clearly I am fucking over dramatic when it comes to clothes).

What about you guys? Are you frequent purgers? Hoarders of a sort, like me?
Dress: vintage via Friperie St. Laurent
Belt: thrifted
Shoes: H&M

Bye Hair!

August 27, 201517 Comments

After much deliberation and legitimate fear of letting go of my long locks, I finally cut my hair! It was time. My long hair was no longer making me feel good, but rather I’d look at pictures of myself and just see a sheet covering my head, and a serious horse lady hair vibe happening. I’m glad I grew my hair for so long. It is what I wanted after having a graduated pixie cut and then a weird mushroom cut while trying to grow it out (yes, it was truly the worst thing to happen to me). Really, long hair was my dream, and I got it, and then I got over it. So the only decision to make really was what kind of short(er) hair I wanted. After scouring my instagram of the short haired ladies I loved so much, and then talking with Gaby (queen hair, in my books), I came to the conclusion that the triangle shaped hair was what spoke to me. You know the hair that people try to avoid? Thick and messy at the bottom…ya that’s what I wanted. So here it is. However, styled quite tamely by my amazing stylist Michaela at Proudest Pony. I’m pretty smitten with it and look forward to playing around with it. Any tips you short haired ladies with triangle hairs have, please let me know ❤
Blouse: F21 (old)

Tickled Pink

August 26, 20153 Comments

Finding a really great beach towel has been on my list for a long while now. Last year I bought two HBC towels that are wonderful but absolutely massive, and not at all ideal for packing away in a rucksack. Turkish towels have always been something I wanted to get my hands on; they are soft, light weight and have the best colours and patterns. So when The Wanderly sent me this pink and white diamond patterned turkish towel, I knew my search was over. Not only is it the perfect towel for days spent at the beach, but because it’s so soft and thick, it can act as a throw blanket as well. So once the summer is over and I am trapped indoors, hiding away from the cold, I can still make use of this beauty, unlike most beach towels that get folded away and forgotten until the sun is beaming down on our pale skins again.
Blouse: thrifted vintage
Shorts: vintage via Public Butter
Towel c/o The Wanderly
*photos of me by Ryan

Pastel Dress Party: Three Ways To Wear A Tutu

August 25, 20159 Comments

Tutus have been in my life since I was a wee one, and my two favourite tutus have always been pancake tutus and romantic tutus. Obviously pancake tutus are not at all practical for everyday life (a hazard, really), but romantic tutus…well they can most certainly be worn everyday. For years I wore them on stage during ballet performances, and then during my goth years for what I like to call my “Tim Burton Goth” aesthetic, but it has been ages since then. So, I was pretty darn excited to receive this blush Kimmy skirt from Pastel Dress Party to add a little of my old self into my present wardrobe. Unless you are a little outspoken in dress, tutus can be a scary thing to wear, so I thought I’d share three ways to wear a tutu, just switching up the top, shoes and lip colour (and hair), to give you options for a casual look, a night time look and a party look.
T-shirt: thrifted, Shoes: Rachel Antonoff x Bass

Casual: To give this skirt a dressed down look I paired it with a colourful floral t-shirt, saddle shoes (which could easily be swapped for sneakers) and I opted for no lipstick so it didn’t feel overtop and much more appropriate for daytime-lets get some ice cream-wear.
Shirt: H&M (old), Shoes: H&M, Lipstick: Bourjois Fraise Remix

Night: For those evenings that you aren’t necessarily going to a fancy party but still want to look put together for a night out with pals, this would be an excellent outfit to try. I paired the tutu with a casual peter pan collar shirt, that looks quite sweet but is not at all fancy, a pair of black flats – because lets be real, if you are dancing with your friends all night, no one wants sore feet – a pink lip and a pony tail so you don’t have to worry about a rats nest on your head from said dancing mentioned above.
Blouse: H&M (old), Shoes: Seychelles, Lipstick: Kate Moss 01

Party: A formal event or party would be the obvious choice for a tutu, so this is likely the easiest outfit to try. I chose my swiss dot blouse with fluttery cap sleeves for a bit of elegance, sparkly red heels for an otherwise muted colour palette and a dainty white ribbon tied into a bow around the neck to add a sexy Parisian quality to the look. Top all that off with a matching red lip and you are looking like a Disney Princess babe, but better.
But really, probably the most important thing to do with a tutu is to twirl in it and watch it float around…you don’t have to be a ballerina to appreciate the beauty and fun of a truly well made and gorgeous tutu…which means I’m pretty excited to be able to offer you guys 20% off the Kimmy Skirt with coupon code LARKSPUR at checkout ❤ Now we can all be pastel ballerinas together!