Bi-Weekly Round Up

Trying out some homemade s'mores since no visits to the cottage happened this summer. But even though trips to the cottage couldn't be made, two trips to different zoos were. Animals will always trump a visit to a lake.

A weekend with friends wouldn't be the same without taking some photots together. But being the blogger I am, photos with friends turn into outfit shots and inspirational hairstyles for work.

Night Time Pajama Shorts

I loved these shorts so much that I had to try wearing them out at night as you would with actual pajama shorts. P and I ran some night time errands and I managed to convince him to snap some outfit photos for me just to show you guys that these shorts really can be for night time as much as during the day (although for the price I paid, these are not going to be in bed with me).

It's gotten a little bit colder lately so I opted for a light "spring" jacket that night to keep myself warm. I've heard that there are some warmer days to come in the next few weeks, so hopefully I'll have a chance to bust out my summer dresses one more time before the season is over.

Top - Forever 21 | Jacket - H&M | Shorts - Aritzia | Shoes - Converse

7 Things I Learned as an Undergrad

The journey of life is hard. Real hard. So many aspects are hidden from you until you experience them yourself first hand. Go to university they said, graduate with a degree they said, get a job with that degree they said. I blindly followed along with the guidelines of life that I was brought up by and chose a career in science. My decision was at first reaffirmed because of my interest and love for science itself, but I quickly realized during the end of my third year of an undergraduate that it was more of an interest than a passion.

So instead of going the usual route of becoming a doctor or working in a lab, I took my chance of freedom upon graduation and moved to Toronto to work as an intern for a digital ad agency. Quite the change of direction in careers.

Can I admit that it was scary? Yes. Can I own up to the fact that I wasn't sure if it was for me? Yes again. But did I do it anyways? Here's the important answer - yes. I took the plunge and risked my chances anyways. And what have I learned? That you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I gained knowledge, I gained friends, I gained skills, but the most important thing of all was that I gained experience. Here are some other things I learned as an undergrad (that was #1 in case you didn't catch on).

2. I like my money where I can see it - in my closet, but disposable fashion is a poor investment.

My early days as a shopaholic involved many hours at the mall right next to my campus where money was thrown left right and centre for purchases to stay on trend. Since then I have learned that fashion is extremely disposable and changes constantly. I have also learned to develop my own style that helps me up-cycle my closet to create new outfits which I may have never imagined if I kept buying new clothes each season.

3. Investment pieces go a long way and your money is worth it.

I've had my fair share of shoes that last no longer than 4 months, and bags that last no longer than a year. Why? Because I paid $30-50 for them. What you pay is what you get. Obviously there are limits to how much you are willing to spend as a student and when the lines between splurging and wasting money get blurred.

If you're paying for a $30 bag at Forever 21 don't expect it to last longer than a year or two. If you're paying for a $100 key pouch and coin purse from Tory Burch, expect the leather to last you long enough to get bored of the style and for it to come with a personal cleaning service. I accidentally spilled nail polish on mine and they cleaned it in store for me for free.

4. If your parents don't like him, it's not worth it.

I spent the majority of my undergrad in a relationship that my parents disapproved, and I never understood how much better it felt when they accepted my new boyfriend. This is not to say that I dated someone new just to satisfy my parents. But the fact that dating someone that they didn't accept made my relationship more difficult than it was already. Having someone my parents welcomed home with open arms was a huge added bonus to my relationship because it meant that I would never have to tip toe around them. It feels good to know that he's welcomed into the family.

5. Napping is a quintessential component of my daily routine.

Remember when you were younger and refused to nap in the afternoon when your parents told you to? Well now I wish that siestas were a part of our day. There are only so many hours in a day and with so much of spent working, sometimes there needs to be extra time allotted just for sleeping.

6. Surviving on 5 hours of sleep a night is not possible.

Sure it may be possible for the first couple of weeks, but you'll literally be walking around like a zombie. I learned in one of my classes that you accumulate a sleep debt - a debt of hours you've lost from not sleeping, and that it only lasts up to 2 weeks. When the sleep debt is not made up within that time frame, those lost hours age you. Transitioning from getting 5 hours of sleep in my first year of university to getting 8 hours in my last made a huge difference. I was more alert, I learned better and I was also more coherent when talking and completing assignments. Case in point, sleep - it's good for you.

7. You'll mature more in those 4 short years than you did in the 17 years prior.

You'll learn how to manage time, money, your family/friends, and food. The cross-over from high school to university is a huge jump in life and throws you into the semi-real world of reality (you won't know real until you've graduated). So don't be afraid if you feel like you're lost in your first year. Eventually you'll learn from your mistakes and pick up where you left off for a positive ending.

Pleather & Plaid

As the leaves turn to red and the weather gets warmer - just kidding it's not fall. But the recent changes in the weather definitely feels as if we've already entered into mid October. I'm not yet quite ready to convert to my fall/winter wardrobe so in the mean time I've been toting around cover ups to keep myself warm while fashionably draping them over myself when its warm enough to do so. Here's a look that I've been experimenting with lately.

I love mixing together textures, and pleather with flannel is one of my transitional favorites. These pleather trousers have been a fan favorite since they made their way into my closet last fall and I can't wait to strut them many more times in the seasons to come!

Tank - H&M | Flannel Shirt - Aritzia | Pleather Pants - H&M | Shoes - Converse | Watch - Michael Kors

Distillery District X Love Lock

To celebrate our anniversary, P and I spent the day together and included a walk to the Distillery District so that we could attach a lock to its Love Lock art installation. We had unfortunately forgotten to purchase a lock prior to walking to the Harbour Front. But luckily for us, one of the stores there, Biltmore Domicile, had locks for sale ($10, it wasn't cheap!) and a station where we could decorate it before locking it to the trellis.

It was a bittersweet day as it would be the last couple of hours I got to spend with P before his return to Ottawa. Until the next time either of us visit, it will be the unfortunate case of long distance.

Toronto Zoo

Besides strolling around town with P, we took a trip to the Toronto Zoo to see some pandas. Our first measure of order was to try out one of the newest popsicle trends, Banana Pops. While eating the popsicle/ice cream hybrid, the outer peels can be stretched out and pulled down as if a real banana was being peeled. It was quite the entertaining snack but regardless of its merit, its taste didn't live up to the fun.

On our path to see the pandas, we stumbled upon this adorable arctic fox. It happened to be asleep at the time we were visiting so I only managed to snap a photo of it cutely passed out on the ground. We quickly made our way to the pandas only to have one of them waddle around and then settle into a seemingly posed position. He stayed that way for at least 10 minutes while the everyone snapped away at him like paparazzi to a celebrity.

The other panda was not so much prepared. He was passed out over top of a waterfall with his face wedged in between a tree branch and a rock. Talk about the perfect life.

We finished the afternoon with a visit to a tea house for lunch which mostly resulted in me finally having the opportunity to try shaved ice for the first time. Flavor of choice? Why, mango of course!

Butterflies

Last weekend, I had the chance to attend the Taste of Danforth for the very first time. As much fun as it was, it was also a bittersweet day. I bid adieu to one of my best friends who would embark on a journey across the world for the next year. You never truly know how much you care about something until it's gone. Although we may have been separated by 5 hours of driving distance for the past 5 years, the half way around the world fact perturbs be much more. I'm already anticipating her return in a years time.

Dress - Zara | Belt - Forever 21 | Sandals - Winners | Bag - Louis Vuitton | Sunglasses - Dior

Bi-Weekly Round Up

These past two weeks have quickly flown by and I'm already starting to miss home again. When I first moved to Toronto, I went back to Ottawa almost every second week for about 2 months. But now it's the first time that I've been away for longer than that and it definitely doesn't feel the same. Nonetheless, I still love living here independently and wouldn't trade it for anything else - besides P living here with me as well.

I met the most adorable dog a couple weeks back, his name is Mochi. With fur in the shape of a puff ball, he was the most cuddliest thing that I'd ever laid my eyes on.

 

I was strolling down Queens street and spotted these adorable Mean Girls inspired posters and just had to take a snap shot. I'm a huge fan of the movie and oddly enough this year is its 10th anniversary. The little posters couldn't have shown up at a better time.

I don't usually wear jewelry but these pretty baubles caught my eye at the Shop for Jayu Collection Launch. And now for the food. I've eaten so much these past couple of weeks that my abs have paid the price for it. Gone into hiding for the fall and winter, I've absolutely decided that it's the right time to start loading up on the tummy fat for hibernation.

A little bit of shaved ice and mango never hurt anyone.

Trying out some food at Taste of Danforth.

August Lust Listt

Summer's not yet over but it might as well be. The frigid August days have made everyday feel more and more like fall. Thankfully this September I won't be going back to studying like I have for the past 17 years. Being on my own and working has been breathe of freedom from the student lifestyle. All the clothes that I've ever purchased in the past can finally be worn as opposed to sweats. The workaholic lifestyle definitely suits me, and I can't wait to add these pieces to my collection.

1. Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens (Nikon) - $399.95
   I've been dying to get my hands on this lens for awhile now. I'm currently using an f/2.8 and it's not providing me with the desired results.
2. Calisch Cross Body Bag (Auxiliary) - $250.00
   Although a Céline version has always been on my mind, this one is more within my budget and just as beautiful.
3. Jumper (Topshop) - $90.00
   Now I'm not one for overalls but for something as basic and clean as this, I just have to have for the autumn.
4. Asymmetrical Cut Slip-On (Zara) - $39.90
   A simple silhouette constructed out of a metallic polyurethane is exactly what the doctor called for.
5. Premium Floral Biker Jacket (Topshop) - $136.00
   Floral for the summer, then why not floral for the fall? The thick material of this jacket is perfect for keeping out the cold as the weather turns while the floral reminds me of better days.
6. Graphic Print Storm Flap Duster Coat (Topshop) - $158.00
   After years of owning well-fitted peacoats and down jackets, it's time to try something a little bit different. For the past year I've had my eye on a boxy dust coat yet none of the styles have quite caught my eye until this one.
7. High Heeled Ankle Strap Sandal (Zara) - $79.90
   My love for metallics extends beyond flats. The ankle strap trend is strong and combined with shade of titanium, perfection in a heel awaits.
8. Crêpe Culottes (Topshop) - $75.00
   Originally I wasn't a fan of the gaucho style pant, but after writing a piece on them for work, I've started to fall in love with the style, especially in this color.

Back Slit Breeze

P came down to visit me with some friends last weekend, and ended up staying through the whole week. Our anniversary happened to be on the day that he was to leave, so we spent his entire last day together exploring the city and doing different things. For the first time in over a week, it was sunny with a slight breeze, so I wanted a chance to appreciate the great weather with a nice slit back tank that I picked up from Aritzia's Snooze or Loose end of summer sale. Paired with my favorite metallic flats and slouchy knit pants, my outfit was perfect for staying comfortably in style while walking for 4-5 hours around the city.

Top - Aritzia | Trousers - Zipia | Shoes - Zara | Watch - Michael Kors | Bag - Louis Vuitton | Sunglasses - Dior

CHILL Ice House

Last weekend, P and some close friends came down to Toronto for a visit. We wanted to try something a little bit different than usual, so a stop at the CHILL Ice House was necessary. It was a nice change from the hot summer weather as the weather inside of the lounge was set to -5 degrees. We were given tokens for free ice glasses which would have otherwise costed us $2 a glass. I had a chance to try the Elderflower Cosmopolitan (I highly recommend this!) and P had some beer.

 

After enjoying drinks and ice sculptures (hello Olaf!), we decided to relax in the heated back room before leaving for the night. I definitely recommend this lounge as a relaxing night out with friends. You can grab a quick drink and still be able to hear yourselves talking since it isn't as bustling as a club. Let me know if you've had a chance to visit and if you try any of their other drinks!