Help! I'm in a Fashion RUT!

Jeans. Tees. Flats. 

I have been so ridiculously boring lately... thus the lack of outfit posts.

Why, you ask?

In the last year I've changed my work environment three times - and my closet/daily dressing routine has changed with it. 

About a year ago I was employed by a company that had a strict "business" dress code. Black pants and skirts were the norm for me, and you'd almost always fins me in a pair of cute, yet conservative, heels.

When I came to Mistura at the end of last summer, my fashion prayers were answered. I was suddenly in this fun, business-casual, family environment, where I was free to wear practically anything. I took this opportunity to experiment a bit and my closet suddenly went from trying to look like everyone else's, to finally looking like mine. 

Then, back in January, we decided it was time to take over the warehouse and shipping aspect of our business and we moved to a much larger, much more utilitarian space. Slowly I felt myself making the transition from "accountant" to "jack-of-all-trades." I now spend half my days in the office, and half my days in the warehouse kitting, packing, shipping, and playing with inventory.

So here's my dilemma: How do I spice up my new "uniform"? I still need to be practical so I can run around like a crazy person at times, but I also want to remain fun, with enough "professionalism" to be introduced to other business people who drop by the office from time to time.

How do I get out of my jeans and t-shirt rut?

I need a nap

I am not a morning person.

Come to think of it, I'm not a night owl either.

I like sleep way too much...

But it seems that no matter how much sleep I get I'm always exhausted!

I had to wake up an hour earlier than usual this morning to have some work done on my car and I feel like a walking zombie. No amount of coffee seems to snap me out of it.

Does anyone know of any jobs you can do from the comfort of your own bed?

 

button down - Walmart (2011); necklace - Stella & Dot (2011); vest - Dynamite (2009); 

pants - Jacob (2011); flats - Aldo ( 2008)

Watch: Killing Us Softly

I'll be back later today with my stripes, but for now, check out this amazing little mini-docu on youtube about women, advertising, and how it subconsciously distorts our perceptions. 

I thought it was very appropriate as we're the type of women who are constantly looking at Ads from the fashion industry.  

Thanks to Debbi for introducing me to these videos :)

No Concealing My Opinion

Aren't I a hoot?
 Anyhoo...
Let's be honest, I have deep set eyes and olive skin, so dark under-eye circles are a HUGE issue for me. So much so that I put on concealer both before AND after my foundation.

Because of this, I've been on the hunt for the perfect one for a while now, and have a few opinions to share with you.

The Contenders:

Benefit's "BOI-ING", MAC's "Studio Sculpt", Smashbox's "Camera Ready"

I'm comparing these 3 products because they're all around $20, all mid-range products, and I've used them all for a while now. I took pictures to show you the difference, but a close-up, make-up free, picture of my face is NOT pretty! Hah.

1st Place: Benefit's BOI-ING
Honestly, I've heard the hype forever, and have tried the erase paste before, but never bothered to try this one. Now I regret not trying it out sooner! It is a little thick, but I think that only helps with the coverage. If you warm it up between your thumb and forefinger first it goes on beautifully. It feels light and not cakey at all... And did I mention how much I love all of Benefit's packaging?

2nd Place: MAC's Studio Sculpt
This formula is lighter and creamier feeling than the "boi-ing" but i also feel like it gives slightly less coverage and rubs off a lot sooner. Using a concealer brush does help a bit with the coverage issue, but I did find myself reapplying it several times during the day, regardless.

3rd Place: Smashbox's Camera Ready
Smashbox always makes great products - I especially love their Photo Finish Primers - so I bought this one first with high hopes. This one is definitely the easiest to apply because it's in a handy little roll-up tube like a lipstick, but i also found that it was firmer because of this and required a little extra blending when it was applied. I also found that it gave the least coverage over-all and needed the most layers during application.

Does anyone else have concealer recommendations?
 
Please note that this review is personal opinion only. I have not been contacted by any of the above mentioned brands, nor have I received any product free of charge.

Feeling "Blah"

Just popping in to say I'll be MIA for a while.
To keep a long story short, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression when I was 14, and while I'm generally good at controlling my panic attacks, about once a year I have a full on melt down.
I'm currently in the midst of one now, and they usually last a week or two.
I haven't disappeared, I just need some "me" time.

If anyone has had similar experiences and knows of coping mechanisms & what not, I'd love to hear them.

Buried Treasures & some emo-ness.

Today is not a good day.

Bad news has definitely given me a case of the humbugs and has kind of made me question what the eff I'm even good at anymore. Aren't we all supposed to have some kind of talent? Shouldn't we all kind of be good at something and then we manipulate that into some kind of career?
*sigh* I don't know anymore. I realize I'm still young and I have time to figure it out, fail at a few things, and try them over again with greater possibilities of success, but it still sucks. Ya know?

Alright... something good...? Hmmm... I look hot in stripes?

tunic/dress - F21 (2011); cardigan - Zara (2010); skinnies - Smart Set (2010);
boots - Thrifted (2009)

Other Ways I've Worn this Zara Cardigan...

Time to Unleash Little Miss Home-Maker

Another day, another dollar. Or dollars. Whichever.

Is it too early in the day to say I'm ready for a nap? Because I definitely am. I feel like I'm constantly busy, but there's still so much to do! You should see the house right now, it's actually quite disgusting, and I'm having company on Friday night for a BBQ! I'll be in power-clean mode tonight for sure.

I'm also going to attempt to make some cupcakes. Is it tacky for me to make dessert for my own birthday party? I think everyone will appreciate the sweets.

As if I'm going to be 25.
As if I'm going to be 25 and still use expressions like "as if."

blouse - H&M (2011); jeans - Tommy Hilfiger (2011); heels - Spring (2006)

Cleaning Out My Closet

I’m sure we all have those mornings – you know the ones, where you stand in front of the plethora of clothes that are over flowing out of your closet and mutter to yourself that you have absolutely nothing to wear. Yup, that happened to me this morning. The realization that I came to was kind of a strange one. Could it be that I have TOO MANY clothes? That my vision is so swamped with items that bore me or that never looked that great on me in the first place but were an impulsive buy due to an incredibly good price?

The solution? A clothing swap party. But how does one organize this? Do I book a room somewhere and hope people show up? Do I throw it at home? Has anyone done this before? What are the costs of pulling off something like this? Advice please!

So New

So I think it's time for me to share my wonderful news:
I got a new job :D

If you've read this blog for a while, it was no secret that I was unhappy where I was. It wasn't that I didn't love the company or the people (well, the majority of them), I just wasn't feeling challenged or like I was actually contributing to something. It makes it difficult to go in and do a job everyday when you feel like your work goes unnoticed, (except of course to be criticized).
On the 18th I will be starting a brand new job as the main accountant for a small cosmetics company.
Not only am I looking forward to the new challenge, but I feel like this is a company I could actually CARE about, put 100% into, and who knows? Maybe help it grow into something huge.

I'll keep you posted.

Oh yes, and what people read fashion blogs for:

dress - Costa Blanca (2006); cardigan - Garage (2007); wedges - Chinese Laundry (2010)

Pulling a Mel

Once again I have disappeared into the abyss. I’m quite good at this apparently. Life just gets slightly crazy sometimes and hobbies fall to the wayside.

My exam (almost two weeks ago now! Jeez…. ) went well, but instead of buying myself a new pair of shoes as a reward, I “pulled a Mel.” I’m sure that phrase will catch on. The definition?
To do something impulsive in the spur of the moment without thinking of the consequences or impact on your financial situation.

What is it I did? Oh, just bought a new car. Without doing research. Or actually shopping around. I basically pulled into a dealership in the spur of the moment, fell in love with a little red hatchback, and signed the papers then and there. While I love my new little Nissan Versa, money will be tight for the next little while, so no random new shoes for this girl…. Until of course, I “pull a Mel” again.

Life is Short

Yesterday I had my monthly appointment with my shrink - yes, I see one. And I'm kind of proud of the fact that I went to seek out someone to talk to to sort out this "life" thing! Anyways, she's totally genius and has a book out called "The Integrity Model of Existential Psychotherapy," which basically states that we get stressed out and in bad places mentally because we engage in behaviours that conflict with our core values.

Since my main cause of stress in my life is my job, I thought I would take advantage of her career counseling services as well. This was my long-winded way of saying that I took the Myers-Briggs test, which is a personality test based on 4 dichotomies:

Extroversion vs. Introversion
Sensing vs. Intuition
Thinking vs. Feeling
Judgement vs. Perception

You're then given an acronym based on where you score highest. I am an INTJ (introverted-innovative-thinking-judgement) based person, (the second rarest type, might i add!), and it describes me perfectly... it's almost scary how well it pinpointed both my strengths and weaknesses.

These reults really helped to re-affirm the thought process that has been going through my head these last few months: That I will never be truly happy in my job unless I do somethign that has both an element of creativity and independence involved.

If you're interested in taking your own test, you can find a free one online here.
I'd love to hear how you scored!

In Conclusion: I've been toying with a business plan of my own for some months now, and this recent discovery combined with the Hollstee Manifesto (which was JUST brought to my attention and is now my favorite thing of the moment!), has convinced me to DIVE IN! While I won't be quitting my job anytime soon (I have issues with instability!) I'm going to make sure I devote time each week to developing my idea and establishing the steps I need to take to make my dream a reality.
I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress!

The Holstee Manifesto

Building a Budget

If you know me in real life, it will come as no surprise that I LOVE Canadian financial guru Gail Vaz Oxlade. She's one of my career idols. This lady just makes SENSE!

The secret to my financial "success"? Her simple rules.
Don't spend more than you make.
Credit cards are the devil.
ALWAYS have savings.

Sounds simple enough, right? But you'd be surprised how many people just don't.
Sure, I'm human and I slip up, spend a little more than I've allocated to category, bring out the credit card for an impulsive buy, but because I have a plan (of sorts) I can always figure it out.

If you have a few minutes, you should check out the resources section on her website. It definitely helped me get my finances in check and plan for the future, something that as a young adult I never thought mattered.

My favorite is her "build a budget" tool. Download the excel version and it does all the calculations for you!

It's Puppy Love!

I’m really good at disappearing for long periods of time, aren’t I? At least I have good excuses…. Usually.
I would love for you all to meet the newest addition to my family, Miss Coco Pasqualina!
I’ve wanted a dog for as long as I can remember and thoroughly did my homework. I decided on a little pug because their lifestyle suits my own, and let’s face it, they’re so damn ugly that they’re adorable. I originally went to a pug rescue as I would love to give an abandoned animal a loving home, but my applications were never approved because I have no experience with dogs. I will definitely keep Under My Wing Pug Rescue in mind for my next one though.
Of course her name is an homage to the eternal icon Gabrielle Coco Chanel, but the “Pasqualina” was so dubbed by my lovely gma who claimed that she had a good friend back in Italy with a scrunched-up face just like little Coco’s who went by that name, and now refuses to call her anything else. Haha, she’s a lovely woman sometimes, isn’t she?

Anyways, I assume having a new puppy is along the lines of having a small child. She wakes me up at crazy hours during the night, ALWAYS wants to play, and is teething, so she insists on chewing everything! Fortunately, no shoes were harmed… yet.

I'm completely and totally in love!

Let's Get Political

The federal election is finally over.

While I am NOT impressed with the fact that the Conservatives are now governing with a majority government, I am incredibly happy that the NDP is the official opposition. I have always been a socialist, to the point in university where my views were often referred to as borderline communist. No, I don’t believe that the government should be involved in all of our affairs, but the division of equity among citizens, both Canadian and American, has been unjust at best for the longest time. Is it too much to ask for both small businesses and International organizations to be granted the same benefits? For wait times at hospitals for those without the monetary means to be reasonable? For children to be granted a fair and equitable chance at an education despite the area they grew up in, or their social upbringing? For those without higher education to still be given opportunities for employment and advancement without big business merely searching for a way to satisfy stakeholders and increase profits?

Yes, I am a student of business, trying to become an accountant, and a shameless consumer whore, but profits are by no means my bottom line. Sustainability, job security, continuous education, and fair measurement of achievement, have always been priorities.

We can only wait and see how the next couple of years unfold, but I for one am glad that Layton, his glorious mustache, and his left wing views are finally given a voice.

Oh, and since this is a style blog, I believe an outfit is in order.

button down - Walmart (2011), skirt - BCBG (2009), heels - Aldo (2010)

Just a Generation Gap?

I know I rant about work incessantly, but give me a minute, I’m going somewhere with this…

Whenever I mention the monotony of my job to anyone of an older generation I am met with the same response: all jobs are like that; repetitive and eventually boring, and there will inevitably be people you don’t like working with.

While I guess I can agree that I won’t always like all of my coworkers, it sort of depresses me to think that no matter what, I’m doomed to a life of ultimately hating my job.

Is it this generation that has the attention span of a goldfish, and therefore can’t put up with being bored all the time?

Is it our lack of work ethic? I know I didn’t have to till the fields in the hills of Italy like my grandmother, but I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge.

Am I being completely idealistic in thinking that there is actually a position out there that will keep me entertained for more than a year?

What are your jobs like, readers? Can you relate to the boredom, or have you found what fulfills you in life? How do you keep things fun and fresh in your professions?

Back in Black... and White.

I am absolutely LOVING my new house

These last few weeks have been a huge pile of crazy, but I’d be lying if I said that it’s been anything short of wonderful. Unpacking is tiresome but exciting at the same time. Finding new places for things, getting reorganized, and picking up little odds and ends has been fun for someone like me who loves such things, yet there’s still so much left to do! You always underestimate I think how much things will cost and how much space is needed to house your odds and ends. To top it all off I have my second of four exams tomorrow morning so I’ve been squeezing in studying time all over the place. Of course, I’ve still been getting dressed every day (yes, I’m doing all this without taking a single day off work), but all my free time has gone to that instead of blog stalking like I would much rather be doing. I know I’m behind on both a Monthly Money Check Up post and a new Blog Stalker, but once things calm down around here, I’ll get right back on track.

vest - Dynamite (2009)
tee - F21 (2009)
trousers - Mexx (2010)
heels - Guess (2007)

I'll be visiting you all soon!

Busy Bee

I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday! This last week has just flown by, but that’s probably because I’m a lot busier than I used to be. It’s amazing how much your social life can pick up if you just put yourself out there and let it!

Believe it or not, I’ve rekindled friendships with my best friends from high school! We’ve seen each other a few times over the past couple of weeks, and I believe we’re getting together again on Saturday night. Its crazy how much everyone has changed yet hasn’t at the exact same time. They’re still the wild, crazy girls I knew back then and I love them for it!

This is probably also why I haven’t been taking outfit photos! I mean, I have random pictures, but they’re mostly of us doing ridiculous things, and not actually of outfits. But I promise, I’ll get back into the swing of things! I blog for ME, and no matter how busy you get, everyone needs a little “me” time.

cardigan - Zara (2010)
tee - Zara (2010)
skirt - Dynamite (2011)
heels - Aldo (2010)