What I did today...

Because I only have two days left of work and I don't really have a lot to do, I'm taking advantage of the high speed internet Rogers supplies their employees with (not like the slow speed internet they supply to their customers...) and doing some research. So today I did the following:
1. Applied for two volunteer positions, one at YYZ (an artist run collective that publishs books on Canadian art and a zine, as well has a pretty great gallery) and Design Exchange (massive design museum and education centre).
2. Befriended multiple coworkers on Facebook.
3. Worked out how I can fit 4 countries into one week in Europe.
4. Worked out how much it will cost to travel and sleep in said countries.
5. Picked out some duty free goods for when my parents come over.

Its been great. After Thursday, my life in Toronto is going to be quite different. The last few months I have had an excess of money and not a whole lot of time to spend it. Its also been super cold pretty much since I've gotten here and the weather has just started to change and I will now be able to appreciate it. I've planned to do alot of things that I haven't ever had time or money to do and now that I won't be working as much I will actually be able to achieve some of my goals here. I envision a Summer of bike rides, new friends, lots of parties and lots of valuable experiences. My time will be spilt three ways between work, volunteering and friendships. For example, my day today included working, followed by a volunteer meeting for Worldwide Short Film Festival, followed by a bike ride down to Queen West for a patio dinner with Kania. If only every day was like that!

On a fashion note, I really like the white and black flowers in this outfit from Facehunter...

Oh I got new glasses in the mail yesterday but I haven't taken a picture yesterday, I will post when I do!

In 1992 I was 4

So here's what's up with me.

It's the Youth Week Launch on Saturday; and it's forecasting rain. I've been working on this for about 2 months now, and honestly I just want it to be over. Plus, when I get my cheque I can buy a Macbook! Writing a 30,000 word paper will be easier when I can bring my computer to the books, rather than carrying hundreds of books home.

I also have an interview for a secondment place on Monday. It's with Tura New Music - they're having their bienniale next year and it would be an exciting place to work when that comes round. I asked a few people what the general impression is - they're a small company who are very stylish, and they sound nice over the phone! All of this has made me a bit more chipper this week.

I picked up my new glasses yesterday - couldn't get a good picture of them, so I found one on the interweb! Since going overseas, I've been wearing my glasses a lot more and I wanted some that are more subtle than your average nerd glasses. These are actually deceptively thick at the top and look more mature than the Prada ones I wore last year. I plan on getting a new pair every year from now on, rather than every two years. Variety ahoy.
So today I am procrastinating from homework, I have a big paper due on Friday that I'm about 2/3 finished. It's the last few sections that are giving me grief, so I will update this blog, work for another hour then hit some op shops. I'm going to go to the High Road area and I am on the lookout for swishy skirts at knee length, sweaters, button down shirts and perhaps even a tie.

I watched about 4 episodes of The Hills today; around the time where Lauren and Whitney go to New York and run the Young Hollywood party. Lauren meets Marc Jacobs! When I get my tax return, one of his pretty purses will be in my paws just in time for my birthday - the loneliest one ever. Hopefully Thomas will be my BFF and have fun with me, it is a Thursday night after all.

Anyway they are doing heaps of work scenes in the show, and the one thing that keeps them looking polished and sophisticated even with unwashed hair and illfitting clothes is their shoes. Gorgeous heels, all the time. I bought these from Faith in London and I am in the process of wearing them in. Last time I wore them out I walked from Northbridge to the Belgian and back, and I didn't fall over once.



My dad gave me his ipod nano today, it's brand new and very pretty. It can only hold 4gb but I only use mine now for driving and walking, so I have put a new bevvy of songs on there. Some features include The Smiths, Lucero, The Kooks, Jawbreaker, Adam and the Ants, Moondog, Jesu, etc. etc. etc. Life is musical.

Last but not least, your life plans have made me think about my own. I only know that I want to be living, or have lived, in a different city by the time I turn 25 in 3 1/2 years, and I want to be heading in a good direction career-wise when I'm 30. That said, a lot of time between then and now to have fun and be young. I've been thinking about Perth, and if my best friends aren't here then the things that I love about this city will be few and far between. So if you decide to move to Melbourne next year, and want some company, I may go with you! I think if I get a job here at the end of secondment, I should put in a year to get a good start, and by that summer I will be ready to make some life-changing decisions.

Excitement ahoy.

Imagine my surprise this morning when the email I get regularly from refinery29 had something I actually liked in it! And more than that, something I could actually wear! Built By Wendy's Spring '08 collection is really cute and fresh, and I think there are things for both you and I, Natalie. I really love the long sportjacket, it reminded me of the one I opped last week (but still haven't had drycleaned). Also, the florals are really sweet. The bottom Flower Scoop Mini is all about rack & legs, you should look at the website to see it on the pretty model.

Built By Wendy Spring '08

I also found a pretty girl's flickr via Wardrobe Remix. Her haircut is so sweet, give me your opinion. Do you think this haircut will look as good with dark hair? Probably black, I think it's all black for winter. From what I can deduce, it's a little longer at the front and then bobbed at the hairline at the neck. I don't think I'd wear the bits (she has them plaited here) out, but I'm okay with little plaits all the time! I also don't want to look like a lesbian, if I'm going to be wearing blazers all winter.

Pic courtesy of piksi_

I really enjoyed your last post, Natalie, so I am going to list a list of basics that I think will complete my current wardrobe. I am also a culprit of thinking "yeah all I need is like, a sequined bolero jacket to complete my style" when in reality, nothing I own would go with a sequined bolero so that adds a whole other list of problems in my already questionable style scheme.

Good Flats
Starting from the bottom up, I really need 2 good pairs of flats. One hard wearing leather ballet flat, one sparkly almond-toe slingback. I have so many pairs of flats already but none that are really universal.

Booties
I am going to get some booties this winter that I hope will stay in my style for some time. I want some that are almond-toe, ankle length, and have heavy duty fastenings like buckles and zips. In an antique brown or black, please.

Good Raw Jeans
Stretch jeans can only last so long, so I need to find a well-fitting pair of raw denim jeans. I like Denimbirds but my budget, and body type, doesn't. Suggestions will be taken as of Winter.

Silk & Cotton Blouses
... are perfect. Vintage optional, in muted pastels and neutrals and every colour! They breathe, unlike the synthetic pussybow blouses of my past. I can also wear these casually or formally.

Cotton T-Shirts
In neutral or bold colours, oversized, sleeves rollable. I have taken to wearing L v-necked American Apparel t-shirts under last summer's pinafores, it's adorable.

Cashmere
I really want some cashmere this winter. A nice sweater or two, and a cardigan.

LBD's
I already have more than enough, but the hunt continues. I could really do with a strapless LBD that's fitted at the top and rounder from the waist to the knee. Heidi Klum wears one on a Project Runway ad that looks quilted, and that really appeals to me!

Summer Frocks
Vintage, or chain store, summer frocks are the greatest thing ever. To be able to sit on a picnic rug encircled with pretty patterned cotton is truly a blessing.

Outerwear
I have many blazers, that I love. Also a cropped leather jacket, my Lover tapestry cape, my APC over-shirt-jacket-thing, and my Kate Hurst mini peacoat. I'd really love a little capelet that ties in a bow to fasten to wear over above LBD with wrist-length-gloves.

Purses
A large leather tote (M by MJ?), a small shoulder bag (Luella?), a canvas duffle bag (Country Road?) and a pretty evening purse should do me just fine.

Headwear
Headbands, hats and feathers galore. When I finally make something worth taking a picture of, I will post.

Now I just have to fund these extravagances, find them, and be on my way!

Oh so now a real-life update. I had a minor breakdown last week about my lack of prac options. I was totally in the frame of mind where, this prac was going to determine the rest of my life. I have now set myself the goals of; 25 - not in Perth; 30 - on the right track. So I can work in music or theatre or festivals until I get the experience I need, go somewhere I really want to be, and then start on the discipline I want to be in. I'm also going to make a lot of art this year. Once Esther and Stace leave, I am going to be a total study bug, but I really want to have an outlet that isn't uni-related to blow off steam. Expect watercolours and experiments with light.

On Saturday I saw Lullatone at the Bakery, they were seriously the cutest thing ever. They handed recorders out to the crowd and made a symphony. Their latest album is called Bedtime Beats, all about getting ready for bed and going to sleep. By the end of it, I felt as though I'd eaten my body weight in fairy floss, but it was worth it.

Ba-donk-a-donkey

H&M is slowly killing me.
I would have updated earlier about all this but I have been working like a mad woman. Even though this was a short work week and I took a day off for Images, I still worked about 45 hours. This week was the grand re-opening of my H&M, which involved a press party and alot of drunk women hanging out in change rooms for hours. It was actually pretty fun and our store looks amazing. So because we have all three floors open again and its gradually getting warmer, people are shopping alot and I am working alot. Right now it kind of sucks because I have no time to even scratch myself but I know in a few weeks, when my pay cheques start rolling in, I will be a lot happier.

Until that day comes, all I can do is plan. And plan I will! I recently read an article in Elle UK (which I am going to buy everytime I find it because it is just great) about wardrobe makeovers. Basically, some girl let someone talk her into throwing out all her clothes and replacing them with a wardrobe of fewer clothes which were more suited to her figure and style. I am really into this idea; I think it will solve all my style problems, it would give me a more refined wardrobe. But because I am not a millionaire who can afford to throw out all her clothes and buy a whole pile of new ones, I have decided to plan out this transition from style schizophrenic to someone with a more mature style. I've written a list a staples that I need to buy gradually and in order of importance, buying things that I can wear with the clothes I already have rather than buying random items that I can't wear until I buy the other items. This has also made me decide on what kind of style I want to have. I think I generally want to look cute like all the time so theres no point fighting that. I don't know if my love for florals is just because winter has been going on forever but I enjoy flowers so I want to continue with that. I have nice legs and a good rack so I'm going to start dressing to show them off, ie. continue wearing shortish skirts and buy some lower cut shirts, you know without looking slutty... I've always been into that preppy kind of look, the New York prep school kind of thing, so this new style will be a mix of different things, but in my head its all working out.

It feels good to be working everything in my life out. I have the career plan down, the style plan down, I think that my time away from my normal life has put alot of things into perspective as well, my priorities have changed. My priorities used to be friends, partying, looking cool. I really miss my family and I didn't expect that. I don't think I ever made them a priority in my life and I think that should change. Quality over quantity should be a priority, in all aspects. With my friends, there's people who I really like and who make me want to do things with my life (a few at home and a few in Canada) and I have kinda been holding onto a lot of people who never supported me or motivated me to do anything at all just because I've known them a long time. I need to get rid of the things that don't make me happy and start putting in more things that do. Its like I'm spring cleaning my life! I spring cleaned my house on Friday, noone cared and Chris hasn't washed her dishes since Friday night... but I'm still feeling good!

I have to say that I really like this skill of mine to pick myself up and make things work. I did it once before, bounced back after a tough time, and I feel like I'm doing it again but in a bigger way. I've started listening to much happier music as well. I'm embracing the indie hipster label I have been given by particular friends here in Canada and I am listening to a lot of Vampire Weekend and Born Ruffians and MGMT. Which is all cute pop songs which make me want to dance. Its a fun time of life Jessica, the sun is beginning to shine, my feet are continuing to dance, I'm doing more than I ever have/ever thought I would be doing!

I also spent last night in the company of attractive scandenavian men. Actually they were in a movie I watched called Reprise which was super good and one of the main guys were so attractive I occasionally forgot to read the subtitles because he was so distracting. I couldn't find a really good picture of him on the internet but there's this one.

Ok its laundry time!