The Amazing Reversible Skirt

Tired of your grandmother complaining about that "awful young

clothing?"  Meeting your boyfriend's grandparents for the first time?

Or are you simply trying to attract the attention of someone over 50? 

If you have answered yes to any of these questions then this skirt is

the skirt for you! 

On a more serious note: people born before the year 1965 LOVE

this skirt. I can't leave the house without both men and women alike

gushing over it. As far as I can gather, Highland Queen was quite a

popular Canadian brand back in the day - I do own three of their skirts

myself. Better yet, this baby is reversible! Yes, you read that right, ladies.

I feel as if all my other skirts are lacking now. I mean come on, two skirts

in one?! We're being cheated, we are. 

And it being spring and all, I threw in a bright yellow purse. 

Outfit: 

Shirt, wedges, bag, necklace, belt // Thrifted

Highland Queen Reversible Skirt // Vintage

The Phoenix Period

Helllllooooo! Is anyone there? Hmmm...the crickets have been

chirping for some time now, haven't they? To be expected, I did

leave without so much as a word - and a word is all I have in this

world of online communication. But here I am, after so many

months. And I of course come to you with a very innovative

outfit. White dress, black accessories.Who would have thought? 

It wasn't that I needed a break from blogging or anything,

not that I overly enjoy taking pictures in below zero temperatures,

but I went through what I dub a phoenix period. I'm in my twenties

after all and that's what this stage of life entails. It's not so much that

I see the world in a new light, but more what I can offer and do. Some

of my goals and desires in life have changed - for the better I believe.

 I applied to be a vendor at my local farmers' market and got accepted.

My debut was yesterday and it went amazingly well! I make woven wall

hangings, dream catchers, and mini woven necklaces (like the one I'm

wearing). It's been a lot of fun and I've lately been experimenting with

natural dyes, using birch bark, coffee, raspberry, and crap apple bark, to

colour my wool and cotton. Yeah, extremely fun stuff. 

Anyways, it's good to be back. 

Outfit:

Gift // Hat

Thrifted // Dress

Handmade (by me) // Chapawee

Vintage // Bag

Vintage // Boots 

The Apocalyptic Works of Martin Wittfooth

Drain

Sebastian 

Harvester

The Sacrifice

Pieta II 

Smoking Barrels 

To quote another artist I admire, Banksy once said, "Art should

comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable." While I may

have started this new art addition to my blog with Flora Forager's

bright cheery works, it's the thought-provoking satirical art that

I am most drawn to. And who doesn't have a million thoughts

rushing through their minds after looking at these eerily beautiful

oil on canvass paintings? Canadian Martin Wittfooth with his brush

perfectly captures modern sentiments about over-population and

industrialization. With the attention to detail and the emotion that

just oozes from these paintings, Wittfooth is easily a favourite of

mine. Click here for more of his works! 

Now go and listen to this song for me, please and thank you, 

thank you and please :) 

                         

Natural Living: Earache Remedies

I thought I'd start a new addition to my blog, one that I care about

strongly. It seems that 'natural living' is continuing to grow in

popularity after it's short-lived decline (right? I mean, we've been

using this stuff for thousands of years!) I tend to turn to my garden

and kitchen before I go running to the doctor. So from now on I'll

be sharing with you some of my tried and true favourite natural

living health and beauty tips. This week's tip is for earaches. 

I personally don't ever get earaches, but Paul does. His allergies

cause him to have them fairly often and it's nice to have something

on hand at home to deal with the pain. This has been tried and tested

by him and he swears by it.  The main ingredient in these remedies

is the garlic, which has medicinal benefits. 

Ingredients: 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

Garlic 

(Organic is always better, but not necessary)

* My concoction is 8 tablespoons olive oil to 1 regular-sized

garlic clove.

Directions:

1. Cut garlic into small pieces (about half the size of your pinky

finger nail). 

2. Let garlic sit for ten minutes, apparently this enhances the garlic's

health-promoting proprieties.  

3. Heat garlic and oil on stove on low for several minutes,

do not let it boil. 

4. Strain the oil so that there's no garlic pieces. 

5. Let cool. 

6. Then it's one drop to the affected ear once a day. 

If you don't feel comfortable putting something into your ear

then this second tip is more up your alley. 

Ingredients: 

Salt

Garlic

* 1/3 cup salt to one regular sized garlic clove. 

Directions:

1. Cut garlic into small pieces (about half the size of your pinky

finger nail). 

2. Let garlic sit for ten minutes, apparently this enhances the garlic's

health-promoting proprieties.  

3. Heat salt and garlic in a pan on the stove on low. You want it to be

warm but not hot. 

4. Put salt and garlic into a cloth bag (I used a finely-woven cheesecloth

pouch). 

5. Place pouch over the affected ear until the salt becomes cool. 

Repeat if necessary. 

Put a Bow on It

I've recently come to the realization (and no worries, no one's offended)

that my blog and I are like fair weather friends. When the going gets tough

I'm nowhere to be seen. This winter has been particularly tough too -

or maybe we're just not used to the Atlantic coast. Our basement has

flooded seven times and we've had three snow days where everything

was closed. Think warm thoughts, think warm thoughts. But enough

about the darn weather, there are more pressing issues, such as my cute

bow! I'm not quite why sure this accessory didn't catch on with me

before, but it's quickly become a new favourite. I found it was the

perfect piece to liven this - in my opinion - rather drab blazer. Yeah,

the plaid is pretty and the wool warm, but it's just so - how do I say

this politely? - boring. Blazers and I may or may not have issues.

Outfit:

Thrifted // Shirt

GAP // Wool Blazer

Thrifted // Skirt

Le Chateau // Boots

Children Know Best

I recall reading once that one way to stay young (or at least feel

young) is to act like a kid. Now that's not to say we should all

throw a temper tantrum the next time we don't get our way. But

remember when we used to skip, dance, hop, run, and jump?

For some reason perching on the arm of a couch was more

enjoyable than actually sitting on the cushion. Why walk when

running could get you there so much faster? I used to spin around

and around in circles until I felt sick to my stomach. Anyone with

me or was I just fed too much candy as a child? So in honour of

this wonderful tidbit of advice, P and I gathered all that fluffy

snow that fell from the sky last night and piled it higher than

our heads, and we placed that pile in front of our roof. Climbed

up onto the icy roof we did and then we jumped. It was if I were

landing on a bed of clouds and for a moment my body was

weightless. I believe I shall be thinking like a child more often! 

Outfit:

Thrifted Belt

Thrifted Beret

DIY Necklace

Thrifted Jacob Wool Sweater

Thrifted Charming Charlie Dress

Thrifted Leg Warmers

Thrifted Made in Bulgaria Boots

DIY Stick Frames

If two things could be said about me without a doubt it would be:

1) I love a rustic home and 2) the words waste not want not is my

mantra. That's why these stick frames and re-purposed agenda art

is a total win-win in my books. These frames are wonderful if

you're looking for an easy and inexpensive do-it-yourself way

to do a gallery wall. 

The steps to this are pretty easy: just glue the picture to the

cardboard backing and then glue the sticks to the cardboard.

You can use any kind of stick or twig, I used drift wood as

well as birch. Your frame can be a flush rectangle or the

sticks can cross over one another - options are endless! Cut

off whatever cardboard is showing. If you'd like to hang

them glue some jute on each side of the top. 

Those Stir Crazy Days

If I keep telling myself that I love winter I think it may very well

come true. It's taking everything I've got to forget those carefree

barefoot summer days. I just want the sun!  I mean come on,

look how pale my face has become - it's beyond the help of

simple bronzer at this point. I need and want the warmth of

the sun so bad I'm ready to make like Rapunzel's mother and

hand over my first born. Too bad there's no witch to make this

bet with. Notice: Calling all witches, I will trade my unborn

first child for summer again. And this is the boiling point of

sanity. I have now ventured into the land of raving lunatics....

It's a shame the only 'wild' places left in the world have such

extreme weather. Stay warm, my friends!

Outfit:

Gifted // Wool Hat

 Jacob // Wool Sweater

Thrifted // Silk Skirt 

Thrifted // Bolo tie 

Thrifted // Belt 

Vintage // Leather Boots 

The Art of Flora Forager

When I joined Instagram just a couple of months ago - I know,

only a wee bit late to jump on that wagon - one of the first people

I began to follow was @flora.forager.  Her cheerful creations

transport me to sunny days spent walking through fields with

the tall grass tickling my legs, which is much welcomed during

this bone-chilling month. What I love most is her use of the

natural world around her to depict the beauty of nature. And

her ability to maintain originality day after day never ceases

to amaze me either; from animals and birds, to landscapes,

to messages, to abstract art.  Her work simply makes me happy. 

For more of Flora Forager's work visit floraforager.com or

follow her on Instagram - you'll be glad you did!