Crappy Lighting Strikes Again

My crappy lighting situation strikes again (I was too lazy and suffering from a cold to set up my lighting ring and the sun had set at 4 pm so getting natural light wasn't happening). But I really couldn’t resist getting a photo of my cozy poncho. As the weather gets colder and the stresses of the holiday season start to get to me, I basically just want to live in this thing.

leggings: Old Navy / shirt: ASOS / poncho: Fraas / necklace: Nordstrom Rack

Living My Best Life in the Winter

I am just living my best life when it’s cold outside. How weird is it that I’m seriously at my happiest when it’s cold and snow is involved? And I don’t ski or do any winter sports whatsoever? I just like the cold and lack of daylight. I feel like that’s probably pretty weird…

leggings: ASOS / boos: Aldo / tank top: Old Navy / blazer: Wilfred / coat: Only

Christmas Stress

I tend to get hyper organized around Christmas (a time of year which stresses me out like no other) and usually book a few days off work at the start of the month to decorate the house, address all my holiday cards, go shopping in the middle of the day on a Thursday in the hope that that will somehow make it less stressful, wrap all my gifts, and make a trip to the post office to ship various presents to various places. This was worn on the day I went shopping (I’d been living in sweats for the two previous days as I literally worked from 9 am to 5 pm to get all the decorations set up and all the holiday cards done) … I was tired, frustrated, and cranky (basically a real treat to be around for my helpmeet, who also took the day off work so we could double team on the shopping). Does anyone else get a bit stressed at Christmas?

leggings: ASOS / tank: Old Navy / boots: Aldo / cardigan: ModCloth / necklace: Stella and Dot

Coat Love

I can’t get enough of this grey coat now that winter is here. While not my beloved black, I do enjoy other monochrome pieces and this definitely one of them, I just want to curl up in it, wearing a cozy scarf.

dress: Simon / jacket: Zara / scarf: Joe Fresh / boots: Aldo

All the Frills: Work Shoes

Meet my absolute favourite new work shoe, from Old Navy. I ordered a pair in black recently and I could not be happier with them. They are comfortable, affordable, and look great with pretty much all my work outfits. This might best investment I’ve made in recent memory. Do you have a go-to work shoe?

Weekend Reading:

• As someone who had two miscarriages and then, in discussing my own with friends, found out the staggering number of other people who had experienced them, I 1000% agree heartily with everything this article has to say.
  
• The Real Housewives franchise, as much as I deeply adore it, 100% has a race problem.
  
• I’ve commented on this woman and her activities before and this just confirms for me that she is every bit as awesome as I thought.
  
• This is an incredibly bizarre story about an incredibly bizarre historian (and monster).
  
• You know I love a shark attack story.

Wintertime

I think it’s safe to say that it is officially winter around here. Snow has fallen, temperatures have dropped, and, while I definitely enjoy winter, my annual fear and nervousness about driving on icy roads is in full swing. Hopefully I can get a handle on that this year!

jacket: Century 21 / boots: Aldo / leggings: Old Navy / scarf: H&M

Bad Lighting

I very much wanted to get these photos outside so the lighting would actually be decent or, failing that, to set up my proper indoor lighting set up, but (unfortunately) it was not to be. It’s the time of year when it’s dark when I leave in the morning and already dark by the time I get home, so outside shots outside of weekends become pretty difficult, and it was a struggle getting Eleanor out the door this particular morning with no extra time to set up lighting. So the lighting sucks. Sigh. I’ll try to do better next time…

leggings: ASOS / shirt: Dynamite / jacket: Philosophy / necklace: Stella and Dot

Cozy and Comfy

Just hanging out in the driveway in a comfy Zara coat. Zara is very dangerous for me lately, clearly. Oh, and I got some new leopard print shoes (a wardrobe must have in my book). I’m still breaking them in a bit but overall they are pretty comfy, which is a necessity for me in shoes.

leggings: ASOS / shoes: Joe Fresh / top: Old Navy / jacket: Zara / necklace: Simons

Ruffle Me

Following up on my last post, I was also powerless to resist this silk dress with all these great ruffle details on the sleeve. Also Zara, and also less than $40. Casually walking past a Zara is clearly problematic for me…

dress: Zara / boots: Camper / sunglasses: Aldo / necklace: Stella and Dot

I'm Powerless to Resist a Good Coat

I was literally powerless to resist this grey jacket when I stumbled across it at Zara for less than $40. I’m exceptionally pleased with my choice – and it’s proving a great closet addition as temperatures fall.

dress: Zara / jacket: Zara / boots: Camper / sunglasses: Aldo / necklace: Stella and Dot

All the Frills: That's a Wrap on Halloween

Another Halloween (my absolute favourite time of year) has come and gone. Sigh. I truly had an amazing Halloween this year – watching a ton of scary movies, my Countess Luann costume, taking Eleanor (dressed as Garth from Wayne’s World (my helpmeet dressed as Wayne) trick or treating, a Happy Halloween headband/tiara that I got at the dollar store and wore non-stop, long walks to look at Halloween decorations, and my Maleficent costume. I miss it already…

Weekend Reading:

• Curious about the complexities of the evolution of so-called “sexy” Halloween costumes? Turns out it’s a bit more layered than just “our society devalues women.”
• This story of a sexual assault (and likely more) avoided is beyond terrifying.
• Sounds like a great seminar?
• This guy’s job is basically my worst nightmare.
• This is all sorts of deeply messed up.