Lover of the light

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“Whether we act, or don’t act, voila, miraculously, without exception, things turn out exactly the way they do.”

I read that quote years ago in The Second Book of the Tao, and it is one that has stuck with me over the last 6 years. There is something wonderful about reading a phrase that can resonate so wholly with you, that you just never forget it. Over the years I have found myself floundering between really understanding that sentence, and confused by it’s meaning. But the beautiful thing about Taoism is that if you try too hard to understand, then you understand nothing. I guess all there is to know is that it makes me feel at peace with myself and my life. We can try, or we can not try, either way, things will be the way they are.

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DSC_2485Blouse c/o vintage dress via Ellen Face Vintage
Skirt: Larkspur
Boater Hat: thrifted vintage
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine

TBC Flea

DSC_2256This past weekend I had the pleasure of taking part in my friend Amanda’s first flea market at her vegan bakery, Through Being Cool. This flea was particularly  more fun than previous fleas because it was filled with pals (yay pals!!!) I was vending along side Brendan who run’s the ever popular Explorer’s Press, flowers and garden designs by Lucy of Perrin and Rose, housewares and quirky knick knacks by Addy, art by Matt Darling, and zines by Permanent Sleep Press and Blood of the Young (i’m sure im missing a few people here, and i’m sorry!) It was so great to see the support that Amanda and all the vendors (myself included) received. It’s those types of days that I need to remind myself to step back for a second and really acknowledge how lucky I am, and how truly wonderful human beings can be. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are all working so hard, and so creatively in life.

I didn’t end up taking that many pictures, but I do hope to go by the bakery on a regular ol’ day so I can share her delightful (entirely vegan) baked treats with you all, because Amanda bakes the best goodies! Vegan maple bacon donuts?! I mean, c’mon guys!!!

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Larkspur Babes / 02

018_13020_14028_18012_10022_15008_8042_25017_12005_6021_14031_19035_21043_25045_26033_20037_22041_24Photography & Styling: Alexandra Spence (me!)
Model: Danielle Bird
Location: Scarborough Bluffs

*all items will be available in the shop Friday

 

Belle Vie / 04 (and behind the scenes)

DSC_1959DSC_1964DSC_1968DSC_1982DSC_1984DSC_2002DSC_2007DSC_2008DSC_20121. Meg and I took the dogs to run by the water – my poor little guys have been cooped up for months because of the long and endless winter. I don’t think they even know what to do with themselves outdoors anymore
2. I love living a close walk to the water – when I had quit my job a few years back and was unemployed for 1 month I started my mornings sitting on the rocks by the water, in the east end, sipping a coffee and enjoying the silence
3-7. A little behind the scenes of my April Larkspur Babes lookbook I shot at the Scarborough Bluffs this past weekend – i will be sharing the lookbook tomorrow, and have everything available in the shop on Friday

*all behind the scenes photos by Meaghan

In defense of selfies

DSC_2045There are several positive things about the first truly warm day of the season. One, pretty well everyone is in a good mood. Two, bare legs! Three, rediscovering clothes that have been hidden for months. Four, realizing the coat, cardigan and scarf you wore on the walk to get produce is actually making you sweat. Five, bare legs!!! I was in very bright spirits for taking outfit pictures this weekend, not realizing that a HUGE number of people were also in very bright spirits and out walking on the first truly warm day of the year. Which brings me to my negative… my frequented spots for photo taking, the ones that have been void of people for months, are now filled with people. This scenario poses a problem for those of us who take our own photos (I’m assuming I can’t be the only one who feels this way) I avoid choosing locations where I know a lot of people will be when I am taking my own photos with a self-timer and tripod. Having people watch me take photos of myself makes me feel self-conscious, and sort of vain, even though having a personal style blog does not normally make me feel vain in the slightest. Had I had a friend taking these photos, I would not have felt awkward and strange at all. Sometimes I focus too much on what others could be thinking. In reality, I have no idea what they are thinking. My assumption is that it is entirely negative, but if I passed by someone taking photos of themselves would my first thought be negative? Definitely not. But I am entirely biased since I do this weekly. Maybe if I had zero insight into the world of taking, well, pretty  much “selfies”, maybe my initial reaction would be different. However, I do not consider the photos I take “selfies”, and have a great disdain for the term. I dislike how that term has turned self-portraits into a negative, and we could deem anyone who takes photographs of themselves as self-obsessed. I enjoy playing around with my camera, choosing different outfits, locations, composition and movements to create a mood, and generally all I have is myself to work with. It’s more to me than simply showcasing myself, but with instagram and the internet, peoples view on the age-old style of photography has become very much skewed. Anyways, all in all, these photos are not what i wanted them to be. I let my mind get the best of me, and never really got into my normal groove.

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DSC_2081Shirt: vintage dress worn as top via Common Sort
Skirt: Larkspur
Socks: Target
Shoes: Seychelles – no longer available, but can be found here
Coat: vintage via Gisela and Zoe vintage