Snow Storm Flashback

Somewhat unbelievably it snowed a lot here back in April (yeah, I totally forgot about these photos; discovering them was a nice flashback to an era before I got unseemly big!).

It started as a wet rain and ended in several days of legit snow, leaving about 10 cm on the ground. As much as I love winter, even I found this April snowstorm to be rather ridiculous…

leggings: Motherhood / shirt: Thyme Maternity / jacket: New Look / scarf: thrifted via Value Village / boots: Steve Madden / necklace: Simons / purse: Stella and Dot

Dear Lord, July 14 is Almost Here

In addition to my obnoxious floral patterned maternity dress, I also got my hands on a bright green maternity top – go me!

Did everyone have a good weekend? I spent my time literally glued to my couch, napping, catching up on all my recorded shows for the week, and just trying to get to a place where I felt relaxed and rested after a hectic few weeks of lots of busyness at work and a corresponding intense sense of pregnancy-related aches and fatigue. It half worked - I don't feel 100% but I feel infinitely better than I did on Friday! I also seriously can't believe that July 14 (my due date) is almost here. I'm legit terrified....

top: Old Navy / leggings: Thyme Maternity / booties: Primark / jacket: Century 21 / necklace: Stella and Dot

All the Frills: Sunglasses Review (Sponsored Post)

I was recently contacted by GlassesShop.com, a glasses online retailer, to review one of their products of my choosing. Because I don’t have a current eyeglasses prescription (I know, I’m terrible) and warm and sunny weather is just around the corner with the onset of summer, I opted for a pair of sunglasses and picked out this super cool pair with these gorgeous mirrored lenses.

While getting them as prescription sunglasses was an option, I’ve been terrible lately with the baby coming and having so much to do that I haven’t yet been able to arrange for my yearly eye exam as I mentioned, so I opted for non-prescription strength.

 I really enjoyed the experience of selecting frames through the Glasses Shop. The selection of frames was amazing, the order processing time was swift, and I absolutely love my sunglasses. I buy a lot of glasses online, as well as prescription sunglasses, and I will definitely add the Glasses Shop to my roster of places to shop at.

If you want to treat yourself to a new pair of frames (or some prescription sunglasses), you can use the coupon code GSHOT50, which offers 50% off for all eyeglasses and sunglasses with free lenses only on their site, with the exception of sales frames.



Weekend Reading

• Sigh. Charles Barkley, what is wrong with you?
• I always seem to see a ton of weird news items coming out of Yale but this one might be my favourite.
• Number 13 in this Buzzfeed List is hilarious. Seriously, such a great headline.
• Debbie is having a tough time dealing with the cancellation of Last Man Standing. I mean, really, who isn’t?
• The wind chime that threatened to destroy an entire neighbourhood. 

My Discomfort is Palpable

This is sort of a warts and all post. As I’m sure you can tell from my facial expression, I’m not all the pleased – that’s because pregnancy is majorly interfering with my sleep and I basically just feel fatigued all the time.

And sometimes it just gets to me and I feel grumpy and cranky and can’t be bothered to make much of an effort. So you get comfy jeans, Toms, and a cranky look!

jeans: Old Navy / shoes: Toms / shirt: Thyme Maternity / blazer: F21

Meeting Appropriate

Of course I wear all black to work for important meetings, of course!

dress: ModCloth / jacket: H&M / boots: Franco Sarto / necklace: Target / sunglasses: Aldo

Snow in April

We got a bizarre spate of weather here recently (a lot of April snow!) so I had good cause to dig out this cozy shawl – it’s perfect for chilly days at my already overly air conditioned office...and for hiding my pregnancy bulge.

I'm at 7 months now and increasingly uncomfortable. Also, one (that's right, just one) or my feet has gotten monstrously swollen (probably my fault for wearing a pair of wedges for 9+ hours that involved a fair measure of walking but still, it was traumatic).

leggings: ASOS / shirt: Joe Fresh / shawl: ModCloth / boots: Aldo

All the Frills: Birthday Girl

So it was my birthday in April and, in addition to my helpmeet taking me for an awesome field trip to a local cat café that opened, I was also gifted this stunning orchid and two AMAZING books. It was a really swell birthday!

Weekend Reading:

• Paid leave, for fathers and mothers, is 100% a feminist issue – and a really important one. I’m very fortunate in that Canada allows for both my helpmeet and I to take leaves when baby comes – we’ll both be home for a month together at the start and then I’ll be away from work for a further eight months, followed by my helpmeet being at home solo with baby for a further four months. My work tops up what the government offers in terms of pay while I’m on leave (which is wonderful) but my helpmeet’s work provides no such thing, basically entailing that he is penalized financially for wanting to take time off to be with baby (even though his position is protected).
  
• This article, on items associated with the Bronte sisters, is fascinating. I really want to read the associated book.
  
• I spent an afternoon at Alnwick during my last trip to the UK, and this poison garden was brilliant.
  
• This is great: JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis went to see Disney’s Snow White together … and they were not impressed.
  
• Ah, the glories of obscure bits of early modern fashion.

Feeling Nostalgic

Worn to meet a former colleague when I was teaching history at a local university…so basically a chance for me to get nostalgic about my days as a professor, before I started up with administration. And while I don’t regret my career choices, I mean the stability and job security have been great, I do look back with fondness at my time in the classroom too. But I really feel as though getting this book published is sort of my way of closing the figurative book on that chapter of my life – shifting my focus from conference papers and researching and drafting articles to family, travel, my coming soon daughter, and the challenging career I really do enjoy. But, for all that, I think I'll always likely have the odd pang of nostalgia or longing for what was...

dress: F21 / leggings: Thyme Maternity / jacket: Sears / necklace: Stella and Dot

Me, In Florals

Despite being not much of a floral person, I couldn’t resist this maternity frock from Old Navy. Mostly because it’s super comfortable, actually fits, and the price was right at a cool $40 (I mean for a dress I’m only going to wear for a few times over the course of 2 month period that is). Also, guys, as you can see, I’m crazy big now. It’s so weird knowing that’s my body. Honestly, I chuckle a bit when I cross in front of a mirror – I just can’t get over it.

leggings: Simons / dress: Old Navy / jacket: H&M / necklace: Stella and Dot

All the Frills: All the Pretty Pictures

I recently acquired two new pictures for my bedroom – this delightful print of the marriage of Anna of Denmark and James VI and a portrait of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, one of my history heroes. One of these days I’ll have stop investing in so much nerdery, but that day is not today!

Weekend Reading:

• I’ve always had a bit of a problem with the seemingly ubiquitous “girl boss.” Apparently I’m not alone.
  
• An ode to Marge Simpson.
  
• This interactive version of Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights is just amazing.
  
• All hail feminism!
  
• As someone who had some set backs in her quest to get pregnant, I was really shocked by the inherently sexist presumptions (yes, even among doctors) that characterized so many of my experiences. That’s why I particularly enjoyed reading this.

I Never Want to Take This Cape Off

Holy Satan I love this cape you guys! Love it! Maybe it’s because it does such a killer of hiding my pregnancy stomach, maybe it’s because I just feel so damn chic in it. Who knows? Who cares? I love it!

leggings: Simons / boots: Aldo / shirt: Simons / cape: BB Dakota / purse: Zara