Pretty daisy

I love daisies.  The wild ones beside the road, thriving on not much at all.  The orange gerber daisies M got delivered to my school.  The pink daisies in my flower crown.  And I love that daisies are back on skirts and dresses everywhere.

Wearing: Shirt: H&M // Dress shirt: Old Navy // Skirt: Target // Tights: TopShop // Shoes: Ardene's
Reading: Dear Mr. Knightley, by Katherine Realy
Posing: on the side of the road, during my commute through the countryside

The combination of aqua ombre tights and a shirt of the same hue, along with daisies on my skirt and on my chest, was overwhelming for some of my critics.  My Grade Ones loved my outfit, though, and so did I. That's what matters most about the clothes I put on each day - they make me happy.  And, daisies, how could they not? 

♥ Meg xoxo

But not a real fur coat...

January weather calls for some super stylish outerwear.  Introducing, the faux fur coat. 

Wearing: Coat: Forever 21 // Scarf: made by Mum // Leggings: VS Pink // Purse: Aldo //  Boots: Target
Reading: The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
Posing: back on that overpass 

This coat makes me feel like rock star.  The boys were calling me Macklemore when I wore it around them.  I guess being a rap star is good too ;)

I know that leggings are not pants and all that.  I think that they're okay with long shirts... or shorter shirts on the weekend.  This particular weekend t-shirt reads, "#hangry" - a portmanteau of hungry and angry.  I am quite familiar with the concept of getting angry because you are hungry.  

I think that this purse is my most complimented article of clothing ever.  I bought it at Aldo in Ottawa when M and I were there in the summer.  Loads of people love it.  Lots of people think they're original and say, "Wow, that's a big camera".  I just smile and nod.  

♥ Meg xoxo

Hello 2015

Well, hey there everyone. Been a while, hasn't it?

Last year this blog derailed a bit due to a number of reasons.  The top three, in no particular order:

Number One.  I love love love reading other people's blogs. Last year, I maybe spent a little too much time reading, and not enough time writing.

My favourites are A Beautiful Mess and Enjoy it.

Elsie, Emma, and the rest of the team at ABM are basically an empire.  These queens of the blogosphere write about DIY projects, fashion, crafts, recipes, scrapbooking, and home projects.  They have many different writers who contribute to their highly successful blog.

Elise's blog is much more personal.  She blogs about goals and challenges and motivation and being creative.  She shares pieces of her daily life with her baby girl and Navy doctor husband.  When I read her posts, I feel like I'm catching up with a pal.

Go check out these blogs; you'll love 'em.


Number Two.  Erin and I started Project Life last year.  (Later, I got a few more pals on board).  What it PL, you ask?  In her own words, creator Becky Higgens writes, "Project Life® is an ultra-simple, über-stylish solution for getting your photos off your phone and computer, out of boxes, and into albums."   It's about printing your everyday photos, adding embellishments, and some text, and slipping them into pockets,  It's the easiest scrapbook ever.  And it's kind of addicting.  And with reference to Number One, there are bloggers who just blog about Project Life... *hearts in eyes*. 

More about PL here: http://beckyhiggins.com/project-life/

Here's an example of a layout from Tracey at the single girl's scrapbook. She rocks Project Life. Go check out her work and fall in love.

Number Three. When I drive to work, it's dark and when I drive home from work it's dark.  I know, I know.  There could be worse problems in my life. It just makes it hard to take outfit photos.

M is probably thinking that this is a list of excuses, or Johns as gamers like to call them, but it's not.  Think of it more as an explanation to the question: where has Meg gone?! 

I'm going to try harder in 2015.  I still love reading a good book, and creating a good outfit.  I make up random style challenges for myself - and succeed at them :)

Come back soon; I'll be around. Promise.
♥ Meg xoxo

Professor of Magic

I thought I looked like I stepped out of the Free People catalog.  

M thought I looked like a teacher from Hogwarts. 

I like both options ;) 

Wearing:  Vest: Marshall's // Skirt: Free People // Shirt: Garage // Moccasins: Minnetonka

Reading: Raven Girl  by Audrey Niffenegger

Posing: on one of my favourite pedestrian overpasses

I love this vest.  M tells me that it's not a vest at all.  I love it just the same.  Is a piece of fabric with an open front and two arm holes by any another name still a vest?  (Or something...) 

And the skirt.  I bought it in NYC across from the giant Christmas tree in Rockefeller Square, while M waited happily in the warmth.  I love it, and the memory associated with it, too :)  

Off to plan some magic lessons :)  

♥ Meg xoxo

PS.  Isn't the sky crazy blue in these photos? #nofilter, just so ya know...

Swing Life

Three things:

1. This tire swing can hold my weight. And it's awesome. 

2. This long pants romper is actually tall enough for me. 

3. This hat makes me feel so boho chic. (That's totally a way to feel. . .)

Cardigan: Zara // Romper: Marshall's // Moccasins: Minnetonka // Hat: Target //

Posing beside the tire swing was fun. . .

Posing on the tire swing was way more fun.

Cardigan: Zara // Romper: Marshall's // Moccasins: Minnetonka // Hat: Target //

While I was looking over these photos, I kept hearing Swing Life Away by Rise Against in my head:

We live on front porches and swing life away,

We get by just fine here on minimum wage.  

If love is a labour, I'll slave till the end, 
I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand.

♥ Meg xoxo

The Art of Falling

by Kathryn Craft

"When the curtain rises, I will be born anew."

Penelope Sparrow wakes up in hospital bed - bumped, bruised, broken, and lucky to be alive.  The professional dancer had fallen from her fourteenth story balcony and landed on the roof of a car belonging to the neighbourhood baker.  

In her book, Craft details Penelope's painful process of rehabilitation and physiotherapy.  Throughout the novel, more and more is revealed about Penny's life as dancer.  Her tumultuous relationship with her choreographer.  Her constant struggle with her weight and size.  Her strained relationship with her mother.  Her place in her dance company.  As Penelope remembers the night of her accident, she and the reader are made to wonder: was it an accident after all? 

The characters in the novel are rich and well-developed.  Penny makes friends with Marty, the guy whose car she landed on, and Angela, her spirited roommate in the hospital.  Penelope learns about real friendship outside the competitive realm of dance. 

Not a trained dancer myself, I enjoyed Penny's coming to terms with her body and its talents and abilities.  Her story of growth and possibility gives me hope for new beginnings.  

A recommended read. 

♥ Meg xoxo

Stripes and School

Today may have been my best first-day-of-school as a teacher, ever. Everything rocked. Starting with my outfit. And ending with a kid whose running shoes made Darth Vader sounds. . . but that's a story for another time.

Dress: Anthropologie // Heels: Nine West // Umbrella: gift from T // 

Stripes. Bows. Pockets. Clear umbrella.  Delightful.

Dress: Anthropologie // Heels: Nine West // Umbrella: gift from T // 

Hot rain on the first day did nothing to dampen my spirits.  Puddle splashing is still ever-so satisfying to me.  

I'm startin' this year off on the right foot.  How about you?

♥ Meg xoxo

True North Strong and Free

Happy belated Canada Day :) M and I celebrated in the nation's capital.  Decked out in [matching] red and white, we celebrated all day and all night long.  The fireworks were the best I've ever seen; it was like a finale the entire time.

Tank top and t-shirt: Old Navy // 

Tank top, shorts, flip flops; Old Navy // Purse: Target // Tattoo: Dollarama //

Shoes: Converse // Shorts: Bluenotes //

I hope you enjoyed your Canada Day (/Fourth of July) festivities as much as I did. 

♥ Meg xoxo

Summer breeze; makes me feel fine...

Every skirt should come with a summer breeze. This pretty pink lady always gets me lots of love when the breeze takes it just right. 

Shirt: Forever XXI // Skirt: Anthropologie // Belt: borrowed from another dress // Sandals: Steve Madden //

The gold sole and strap on these sandals take them up a notch in my books. I had to take them off to walk around on the beach, though.  I think I blinded some fishermen while I was carrying them around. Whoops.

Shirt: Forever XXI // Skirt: Anthropologie // Belt: borrowed from another dress // Sandals: Steve Madden //

Carrying my shoes in hand resulted in dirty feet, which are the true first signs of summer ;) 

Skirt: Anthro // Sandals: Steve Madden // 

See the breeze take the skirt? Perfection.

The ONLY full-length picture with my heels on turned out blurry. C'est la vie, I suppose. I was was too busy floating in the breeze to double-check the photo afterwards. 

Kick off your shoes, hike up your skirt, and go splashing in the shallows. I might have. 

♥ Meg xoxo

Book hangover

Pictures on Pinterest lead me to believe that I've been suffering from a book hangover. A book hangover is defined as the "inability to start a new book because you're still living in the last book's world." After I binge-read Dark Places, I started and stopped reading two or three books because I couldn't get into them. Don't worry; I have been wearing fancy / eclectic / creative outfits though ;) I just haven't had a book around. . .

Stay tuned for an outfit post.  It's on its way.
♥ Meg xoxo