Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Preppin' for sunshine

Victoria Day weekend marks the kick off to summer in Canada. I worked a full weekend at the garden centre, and let me tell you, people are ready for summer to be here!! Considering we just celebrated it this past weekend, and my American friends are preparing to kick off summer this upcoming weekend, I compiled a list of summer essentials. 

From Forever 21
Basketweave Floppy Hat $6.50/ Sunglasses $6.80/ Crisscross Sandals $15.80/ Dots Handbag $15.80

From Old Navy:
Jersey Tank Top $22.94/ Distressed Denim Shorts $17.50/ Asymmetrical Open-Front Cardigan $28.99

From Sephora
Philosophy Superglossy Lip Gloss SPF 15 $16.50/ Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream for Face SPF 55 $19.50/ Laura Mercier Waterproof Mascara $20 

From Stella & Dot
Paradise Studs $26/ Sunset Bangle $74/ La Coco Necklace $64 

Cocktail image via

Let's just hope that Mother Nature lets up and allows us to bask in her glorious rays soon! 

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Bedroom Revival

As I told you in this post, I moved back home for the summer. Which meant that I had to cram an entire apartment worth of stuff into my bedroom at my parent's house. Let me tell you, it was not pretty for awhile (okay, like almost 4 weeks...yikes!). On my first day off in 15 days I finally had enough energy to tackle this huge project. Here is what I had to work with- Warning: Do not judge me, this is embarrassing!! 



I've had this bedroom since I was 13, and the paint colour was chosen by me in grade 7. I don't have the time or the budget for a major bedroom reno, so I decided to vamp it up through my use of accessories and new bedding. I just wanted to work with what I had, minus the new bedding. It needed to be a little more adult, since purple tiger stripes hardly say professional, ya know? 

Here's the after (it took a few days to fully get it cleaned and organized):





Much more cohesive and professional. And tidy. Cough, cough. Here's the lowdown on what I did to the space to revive it. I bought a new comforter and sheet set (yay for crisp white sheets!). Everything else utilized was already owned. I brought in a small area rug, 2 new mirrors, bookcase and a few different accessories and it totally gives the space a new feel. 

My favourite part of the revival is the simplest. I cut two purple tulips from my lovely momma's garden, and I just can't stop smiling every time I see them. I set them in a small white vase I already had, and set them atop my bookcase- prime real estate. The inside of the tulip is absolutely stunning and intricate. It just goes to show you how big of a difference such a small detail can make. 



Tuesday, May 17, 2011

What I've been Wearing

 As promised, here's a short post regarding a couple of outfits I've been wearing lately. I'm starting to get creative about what I put together as an outfit because weight loss has minimized my current wardrobe by at least half, and my income does not allow for me to splurge on new items. It also doesn't make a lot of sense to purchase a lot because I still plan on losing 20-25 pounds. My new favourite thing to do is wear a statement necklace with other solid pieces. Here's some proof:





I wore the pink outfit for Easter (with bunny ears!) and the grey one for a recent day out. I'm having fun playing with different accessories and pieces! Have a wonderful day; hopefully it's not soggy for you like it is here!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Sometimes life happens

Oy, I've been gone for a long time. Life gets in the way. And if I've learned anything these past few weeks, it's that life is too short to take for granted. I apologize for my absence, but I'm going to try my hardest to post regularly now. Summertime is a busy time for me. I work 45+ hour weeks and have other things to take care of (student teaching, tutoring, gardening, etc).


So I thought I'd update you on my life and some things that have been happening in Tiffany-land lately.
My fourth year of university is finito, and I'm only one year away from being a certified teacher. I can't believe it. This time next year will be full of possibilities and potentially life-altering decisions. I've been contemplating a move to the southern states (Texas, specifically), which would mean a separation from my family and my comfort zone. It's scary, but super exciting at the same time. I'm giddy with the thought of all the potential possibilities for my future.

I've gone full out vegetarian, and have been for about a month and a half now. I've never felt happier or healthier. I know the choice is not for everyone, and I'm not preaching to you, but I do think in the long run it is a healthier lifestyle choice for me. My family has been very supportive and we've been trying out some delicious and meat-free dishes.

I've lost 45 pounds in total since I started trying to lose weight/make healthier choices. In about 9 months I've shed that weight, and it seems surreal to me. Losing 3( sometimes 4) sizes thus far has not only boosted my confidence, but also my willingness to try different styles. I still would like to lose an additional 20-25 pounds, but I'm going to continue with my healthy weight removal, regardless of how long it takes to reach my ultimate goal.

Finally, I've recently learned to cherish the things I take for granted in my life. My parents, my family, the small joys like sunshine, flowers, or a laugh can go a long way to make me happy. Sometimes we get caught up in the trivial things in life. I won't disagree that life is busy and that it's easy to get swept up with the ebb and flow of pressing daily matters, but I do thank the Lord every day for my family and everything that He's blessed me with. I take time each day to hug my parents, say "I Love You" a little more often, and apologize for my behaviour to others if it's unnecessary/rude.

That's all that's new with me lately. What about you, lovelies? Stay tuned for posts about some of my recent outfits and the bedroom-revival project I've been working on!!

Image found here