All You Need is Love & Anne Frank

Well friends, tis exam week and tis a stressful time of year.

I haven't had time to blog post, or to work on the shop, or to write my pen pals or do any of those things that I so enjoy doing. Plus, it's been cold and rainy all week so my mood has been a little low.

(Thank goodness for lavender soy candles and endless cups of tea which take little time to enjoy).

I should be studying right now, however I feel that watching cat videos and reading inspirational quotes is much better for my blood pressure. 

The one above by Anne Frank caught my eye. 

As a child, I always found it hard for me to share things. 

I would hesitate if my friend wanted to play with my toys.

I would hesitate if my sister wanted to borrow my clothes.

I would hesitate if my Nana would want to try my food.

Because they were my things.

(Oddly enough too, these were all people I loved. So why wouldn't I want to share?)

Now that I'm older, things have changed. I've changed. 

I've finally learned the meaning to the expression: "Sharing is caring".

More so, the older I get, the easier I find it is to share.

Does a friend need to borrow some money for something important? 

Give it to them. More money can always be made.

Does a friend need to borrow some clothes for the weekend?

Give it to them. Worst comes to worst and it gets ruined or lost, it can be replaced at some point -

 possibly with something you love even more.

Does a stranger need your lunch more than you do?

Give it to them. You won't starve from sharing a meal or two.

It's not even just material things (which can always be replaced one way, or another).

Time can be shared, a smile, a hug, a conversation.

All of which are free to give.

Giving to others is loving others. 

If anything, I find that the more love I give out, the richer I feel. 

The easier it is to focus on what's really important.

The easier it is to work on meaningful relationships and making memories.

Not to mention, you have no idea how much what you give could mean to someone else. 

You might not just be giving them a shirt, or your lunch or a few dollars.

You could be giving them hope or opportunity.

I'm not saying give all your possessions, time or love away - 

Rather, don't be afraid of sharing because you feel there won't be enough.

Love is all you need.

xoxo

Brittany

DIY: Not Your Average High Waist Shorts

Alright so, a perk of being both a fashion aficionado and creative person means that the wonderful world of D.I.Y. is free to roam. In that case, I'd like to share a project I've been working on for a while now! Hopefully it will inspire you to give something similar a shot yourself. Grab some paints and use whatever you have available for your canvas. Let your creative juices flow and just paint what you feel in the moment.
 (At least, that's how I do it. But I'm no Michelangelo here.)

Gather your supplies. 

Paint, brushes, canvas and inspiration.

For this project, I used two kinds of paint. First, I attempted to use authentic 70s vintage paint (which was problematic - see below) and when that failed, I used Plaid Folk Art Fabric Paint from Amazon. I also used fine tip brushes and a vintage pair of high waist denim shorts. If I'm going to wear denim shorts, it ain't gunna be no average denim shorts. I scored these for $5 from the local Salvation Army but I'd also recommend making your own cut-off shorts from an old pair of jeans.)

 If you want to make up a rough draft on a sketch or something, do so. I personally prefer to let my spirit animal (jungle cat of course) be my guide but that can lead to strange events. Especially when the paint you're using is 30+ years old and runs out/dries out. In the image below you can see my sort of rough draft.

 Be warned, it's pretty terrible.

Luckily, this first paint job washed off with some good scrubbing and soap so I was able to start from scratch with some newer and better quality paints (and better inspiration!)

And below is the final project! The new Plaid paints worked really well and came out pretty vibrant against the denim. I searched a few images of folk patterns online and then just designed my own. It's not perfect or anything, but I think that adds to it's charm. Can't wait to do a pair of jeans next!

If you want a closer look, feel free to check them out here in the shop.

I'm ready for you now, summer!

xoxo

Brittany

My Silver Lining: Keep on Keeping On

So it's the last few weeks of school (18 days to go!) and things have been getting a little hectic. Several projects and assignments on the go, volunteering for a school fashion show all day tomorrow, and other glorious commitments that are taking up my time have been keeping me away!

 I don't mind too much because most of it I enjoy and benefit from in some way, but I just wish there were more hours in the day to get more done. So I'm sorry if you find less frequency of posts in the next little bit but I'll be posting as soon as I can! In the meantime, I'd like to share a song from my current favourite playlist that's been helping me keep stress levels down during these busy days. 

It's from the Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit - give it a listen!

One line from this song in particular really inspires me - and not just because it sounds beautiful. 

It means something which I think is really important.

"I won't take the easy road"

We're given choices in life and each choice we make can lead our lives in different directions.

 The possibilities are therefore endless. 

However the choices we are given always have two directions - the easy road and the hard road. 

The easy road might get us to where we want to go, but it almost always requires sacrificing quality or integrity.

 For example, lying to someone because it's easier than telling them the truth, cheating on a test because it's easier than studying, or settling for an unsatisfying relationship because it's easier than breaking up with a person.

When we take the hard road the rewards may be slower, but they often are far superior in quality. Taking this road requires patience, dedication, sacrifice and strength. It may be harder to invest your emotions, or your time, or your money in something that you're not even sure will succeed but it is worth it. 

It works for all of our dreams. Whether you want the big house with the white picket fence, to find a life partner, to run your own business, to get that promotion you want or to build your own empire.

We can take the easy road or the hard road. But I prefer to call the hard road - the high road.

Like the song, I won't take the easy road and I hope that you won't either. 

You are worth the fight and the fight will be worth it.

 

xoxo

Brittany

#OOTD: Capes and Corduroy Pants

Alright, alright. You caught me posing in the school hallway. 

Photo credit to the sassy and hilarious Francesca Porco.

Okay, so as a fashion student, I feel it's my duty - nay, obligation to try and post a few pictures of what I wore - especially when they feature some cool thrifted finds!

So here is my first official #ootd post (yay!)

I've got to say, these shots are soooo much easier with a photographer. However I suppose if I wanted to get serious about taking some good shots, I could invest in a selfie-stick (do people actually whip these out in public??) Anyways, here's my outfit of the day featuring some thrifted goodies!

 (And yes, I got dressed listening to Fleetwood Mac...again)

Raspberry knitted cape - $15 on sale from Dress911

Vintage plaid flannel shirt - $10 from Value Village

Raspberry corduroy Gap flare jeans - $8 from Value Village

Bohemian inspired earrings - $2 Forever21

Brown cutout leather belt - $30 American Eagle

Pink satchel bag - $30 American Eagle
Madden Girl brown cowboy booties - $60 from Winners

Windblown hair and messy braids - My own (not for sale)

My favourite part of this outfit is definitely the cape but the coloured cords were a close call. I thought $8 for the pants was an amazing deal! Usually jeans/pants from Gap are priced a little higher than $8 at Value Village but I guess these were so cheap because they weren't 'on trend' (I mean, who would wear coloured corduroy flare jeans anyways??) Lucky for me, I go my own way (terrible Stevie pun - my apologies) and found them to be a fabulous unique addition to my closet of denim. 

Anyways, it's Friday so that means it's time to relax and unwind (or party, if that's your thing)

so go get 'em! Have a good weekend, friends :)

xoxo

Brittany

Bring the handkerchief back!

This set of six 1960s cotton handkerchiefs are still available in the shop!

Do you ever get those random flashbacks? 

You'll be sitting around thinking about nothing in particular when suddenly you'll remember something you'd forgotten about for years and years. I love these little flashbacks. It's like reading an old diary and it makes me realize just how complex the human mind really is. Our subconcious thoughts always seem to be just under the surface ready to pop up unexpectedly like an uninvited guest to Sunday brunch. Not that the guest isn't welcome, it's just a surprise. Hopefully a good surprise of course, although I'm sure we all have some suppressed memories we'd rather not remember (like my entire awkward puberty phase during grades 7/8).

Anyways, I had one of these today. 

 I can remember once, many years ago, it was my foster dad's birthday and I wanted to make him a gift. I must have been 10 years old and crafting and art stuff was my jam (still is). It was at this age that I was also taught how to sew so I put my new skills to good use and made him a handkerchief. It was a crude and poorly made little thing - with uneven stitching and my first attempt at embroidery as I added his initial in one corner. I'm guessing it's still kicking around the house somewhere...

The funny thing is that I actually use handkerchiefs (Or, hankies as you may call them. (I'm an odd mix of progressive and traditional here - if my friends didn't think I was "old lady" enough, now they certainly know I'm an old soul). Not only that, but they were actually passed on to me from an old lady. A wise old lady at that, because not only does reusing scraps of fabric reduce waste but they can come in pretty patterns and be a great addition to any fashionistas outfit (not really - but I do feel pretty nifty whipping one out on the bus). 

I would love to see these being used more. I'm guessing compared to tissues, they have some social stigma to them. People probably believe they're unsanitary (not true if washed properly) or just enjoy the ease of disposal because standard tissues can just be thrown away.
But really, we all know making garbage isn't good right??

If that isn't enough to convince you, I'll just leave these gorgeous hankies right here for you....

Photographed by Jen Rodriguez.  Aren't they dreamy? 

xoxo

Brittany

Well Worth it: A Well.ca Review

As both a tree hugger sustainability activist and consumer, sometimes I find it hard to balance my desire to shop and do good for the planet.

There are some things that I feel that I can't live without (can't isn't true - more like won't). This includes things like soaps, shampoo and cosmetics etc. Most average retailers carry these items, and for a very affordable price, however no store for me can compete to Well.ca.

I was lucky to stumble across them one day a few years ago (by complete accident!) and have not since found a store that can compare in regards to convenience, product selection and good business practices. I tend to be very choosy with where I spend my money and with what I buy, so when I say they're great -

 I mean they're great ;)

If this is the first time you've heard of them, I wouldn't be surprised. Well doesn't advertise like other retailers, so their business is mostly spread through word of mouth. So I'd like to share them with you! 

Here are some things you should know about Well:

1) Price: Well is not Walmart. You will not find the lowest prices here. However, you will find products, particularly Green & Natural products here that you can't find in the average store. I personally feel them to be fairly priced (not always affordable for me as a student, but fair). Plus every Monday they list their sales for the week so you can shop accordingly! 

2) Service: A benefit to shopping with Well for me, has always been the service. Orders are shipped promptly and you get confirmation emails every step of the way. I've emailed with customer service once or twice about returning an item and they've always been very friendly and helpful. Since they're located in Guelph, Ontario (near Toronto!) I like the idea of shopping almost from "home". 

(A little perk as well is that when you subscribe to their emails, you occasionally receive discount codes and can even get free samples included in your order! I once got a whole thing of  eco-friendly dish soap shipped free with my order - amazing!)

3) Convenience: You can shop at home, in your pajamas, with a glass of wine and not be judged.

 I'm not sure it gets too much better than that. 

4) Products: Well has an amazing selection of products! They have many items that I haven't been able to find anywhere else as well as a good selection of Canadian/Vegan/Organic brands. Most of the items you'll find on Well also has reviews which makes choosing (or avoiding) a product so much easier. I make sure to leave reviews myself after shopping in order to help other shoppers out. It really gives Well a sense of community that way, too.

5) Shipping: As an avid online shopper, shipping charges can really get on my nerves. The cost, the waiting...ugh. Luckily, Well offers free Canadian shipping on almost every order over $29. It's super easy to fill your cart with $29 worth of stuff, so it's easy to get free shipping! After a package has been shipped, it only takes a few short days to arrive. Sometimes I even get them the next day (from Guelph-London-Toronto area). Things are always safely packaged too and usually my order receipt has a smiley face or thank you note written on it - love this personal touch.

I guess that's the main reason I love shopping with Well. It's very much a personal shopping experience and a sort of community shopping zone. I'm proud to shop with a business that treats their customers with transparency and fairness and makes an effort to better our community and environment. 

If you haven't already, I highly recommend you check them out! If you sign up here, you could even earn $10 off your first purchase of $40 or more (plus free shipping). 

Well worth it, in my opinion! 

(pun intended)

xoxo

Brittany

Eating Clean & Food Crushes

Alright, so I'm posting this partially because I'm hungry.

 (Okay, mostly because I'm hungry).

I'm also posting this because there's an area in my life where I've been slacking on a little too generously and that is the area of healthy eating.

You know how it is. Work. School. Family. Friends. Clean. Repeat. 

We all get busy and we all need to eat.

 So this week I decided to try and get back into a healthier routine (after eating all the junk food in the house first of course) and did some meal prep so I'd have some quick and healthy meals to eat for the week.

Now, I am by no means a chef. I'm not even a cook (if anything, I can sort of bake) but even I can admit this looks pretty tasty. It was easy to make and it was very affordable too (even for a student). 

So this week's menu consists of: 

Brown rice 

Sauteed spinach and kale with olive oil

Fried sweet potatoes with cinnamon  

&

Two meals worth of chicken breast

Maybe you're thinking that eating pretty much the same thing every day is boring - but I personally don't mind it. You can always change it up week to week, too. I go through food phases and right now I'm OBSESSED with sweet potatoes and sauteed spinach, so this really isn't a chore for me.

 Both are ridiculously healthy and delicious which is a huge plus.

I'm also going through a food phase with carrot cake but apparently that's not one of the food groups.

Do you have any food obsessions right now? Comment below!

Bon appétit! 

xoxo

Brittany