ModaMama

Two Pairs of Shoes

2013-05-23T08:30:00.000-04:00

Dress - English Rose *from Ruche, I think* // Clutch - H&M // Shoes - Call It Spring

I went to the launch party of a historic event in Canada - the Independent Web Series Creator's of Canada. It was an absolutely great time, and if you're in Canada you want to be a part of this organization. So here I am all dressed up for the night. I love how easy and loose this dress is. Plus, I'm really loving mint green right now.

But here's the real story I want to share with you. In that clutch you see right at this very moment hides a pair of flats. See I plan ahead. After hours and hours in these gorgeous pink heels my feet were killing me. I wasn't about to spend time traveling home in pain.

As I rode the metro, I was accompanied by three teenagers who were out for the night too. The young woman was leaning on her boyfriend because her feet hurt from her shoes. He turned to her, just as I was passing them on the stairs, and said, "Why don't you girls bring two pairs of shoes when you go out?" Then as I passed I knew he pointed at me, and so I turned around and gave them a knowing smile while I gestured to the heels hanging off my fingers.

Yup, it's all about the two pairs of shoes.

Animal Instincts Come Alive

2013-05-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Dress- Mink Pink // Jacket - Old Navy // Necklace - H&M // Shoes - Rocketdog

The warmth is here in full force. As the sun comes out and the layers are shed I always think that somehow we shed our inhibitions as well and return to more primal roots. We become more animal, shall we say, more in tune with our instincts. Clearly that's on my mind as I reach for animal print and faux suede fringe detail.

Plus, whenever I wear animal print, the song, "Wild Women Do" from the Pretty Woman soundtrack plays in my head throughout the day. We could all use a little Julia Roberts delusion now and then.

*linking up with WIWW, and Style Sessions*

Just Darn Annoying

2013-05-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

Jeans - Gap // Sweater & Sunnies - F21 // Scarf - Trove // Necklace - Ardene // Bag - Ruche // Shoes - Threadsence

This is pretty much my sick outfit. And not sick, as in super awesome and cool, but sick as in I'm fighting off a horrible cold that makes me feel like hacking out my own lungs. I resort to comfy and cozy things when I feel crappy.

I find being sick really annoying. I don't feel well. I have low energy. But the responsibilities and tasks don't diminish. So I just find it darn inconvenient to have to be ill during these moments. It's not like there's anything seriously wrong with me, so I know I'm fine, I just can't get through my daily tasks like before. So yeah, it's just annoying. I could really do without it. Maybe I'll start a petition that's anti-cold. Would you sign?

Hair Tutorial: Four Braided Buns

2013-05-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

I kind of really love this look. There's just a great symmetry about it that's still a bit unkempt. That's just me though.

Random Sundays: Planting Dandelions

2013-05-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

Garden visits in your PJs to plant dandelions. That's how we roll over here at the Haughton house. Can't wait to see how she reacts to the growing plants this year.

CoffeeTalk Vlog: Taking Fashion Pictures In Public

2013-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Chelsea asks, How do you take fashion post pictures in public? Well, the short answer is you just kind of go ahead and do it. The long answer is, you just go ahead and do it, with these things in mind.

Here are the posts I reference in this vlog:

On Self-Portraits - thoughts on taking self-portraits
No Shame - it helps a lot to just not care.
These Are My Peeps? - everyone in my neighborhood is nuts, so what's one lady taking pictures of herself?

*linking up with Rags To Stitches*

Raw Kale and Toddlers

2013-05-15T08:30:00.000-04:00

Top - Winners // Skirt - F21 dress that I converted to a skirt // Belt - swapped // Hat & Sunnies - F21

Our friends call us the Hippie parents. And I always wonder why exactly. Sure we grow veggies in our garden, eat organic, gluten and dairy free as well. And no we don't stress over her eating dirt or kissing the dog; germs are good for her immunity. But here's what explained things for me.

I was busy juicing veggie juice for all of us. I turned around to see Baby Girl standing and munching on the raw kale from the bowl of veggies prepped for juicing. She was happily eating away and smiling at me. I smiled back and started juicing. Then she got upset because I juiced her 'snack' *that's what she called it* Juicing veggies, and a girl who gets upset when you take away her raw kale? Yup, we're hippie parents all right. If by 'hippie' you mean kick ass awesome! Come on, a toddler who eats raw kale and likes it?! That's got to be some kind of achievement.

I'll Let You In On The Lie

2013-05-14T08:30:00.000-04:00

Top - Zara // Jeans - Gap // Shoes - Rocketdog from Winners // Necklace - Ruche //

Sunnies - F21 // Bag - patches scoured from the internet

I didn't wear this today or yesterday. Today I'm sick, as I was yesterday, so really I'm not fit for human consumption. This I wore a few days ago and the photos have been sitting on my computer. The lie is this, I post daily outfits here, but sometimes they're no on the exact day I wore them. I try to be as recent as possible. I also try to show you the reality, to the best of my ability, but today I'm sick and that's when these pictures come to save the day.

They give me a chance to interact with you. Give you a chance to see an outfit that I did in fact wear. And they give me a chance to wallow in my PJs with a pot of tea.

*linking up with Style Sessions*

Triple Braided Braid

2013-05-13T08:30:00.000-04:00

This is a fun twist on a regular braid. Something with a little more eye interest than a plain braid.

iPad Mini giveaway!

2013-05-10T10:52:00.001-04:00

Chantilly ~ ChantillySongs Marisa ~ The Shades of Monet Chronicles Lisa ~ Lala Faux Bois Shell ~ Kitty and Buck Marilyn ~ Pulp Sushi Sammy ~ The Cookie Button Amanda E ~ Little Lady Little City Regina ~ Acute Designs Katherine ~ Of Corgis and Cocktails Amanda A. ~ Little Tranquility Joanna ~ ModaMama Roxy ~ GrrFiesty Vanessa ~ Take Only Memories Sabrina ~ The Little Owl Miss Angie ~ My So-Called Chaos Shai ~ Vagabond Studio Chelsea ~ Life Unpublished Lauren ~ A Wild Tonic Jenna ~ Kitty Cat Stevens Jessa ~ Caked Blog

Today, I'm happy to be taking part in an amazing giveaway hosted by ChantillySongs and some other blogger friends! We've all banded together to bring you an awesome prize for one lucky reader- a 16GB iPad Mini in white or black!! Why is this prize is awesome? The iPad Mini is a perfect and convenient device for busy people of all stripes. Great to take with you when you're on the go, and don't have room to lug your laptop along with you. You can use it as a reader, check email or browse the Internet on it, write to-do lists, reminders, record inspiration, and more! Please note: This giveaway will be open until May 30th, and will be open only in the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, and Australia. Also, by the way, every single one of these ladies is worth getting to know. Take a moment to check out their links, find some new favorites, and enter away!

Enter after the jump.
GOOD LUCK!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Classic Combo...

2013-05-09T08:30:00.000-04:00

Dress -ASOS // Sweater - Smart Set // Boots - Call it Spring // Necklace - gift

...a dress and cardigan. Throw in a pair of boots like I have and the result is a veritable cliche of dressing. But you know my thoughts on a cliche? It's there for a reason. This sartorial cliche exists because those things fit together. I love this trifecta of clothing, and I'm not giving it up no matter how cliche that is. 'Cause I'm no quiter *sorry, to throw in an actual cliche somewhere*

p.s. I'm downright giddy that I can wear dresses and boots without tights right now.

On Self-Portraits

2013-05-07T08:30:00.000-04:00

Tank - Brandy Melville // Pants - don't remember (no tag) // Boots - Cheap shop in Chinatown // Necklace - Threadsence // Rings - Threadsence, F21 and other Misc

One of my favorite music artists sings, "You ain't nothin' special. You're no more celestial than anyone else." That's something to keep in mind. Yes, you are one of a kind, but so is everyone else.

That brings me to what I want to say today: for all you/us bloggers, when taking pictures of yourself just get over it. You're not the most *anything* in the world - beautiful, ugly, graceful, awkward, funny, etc etc. You are just you. And for your blog/site, your readers want to see you. Warts, bruises, love handles, scars, smiles, dimples and all.

So when taking self portraits, just relax, have some fun and get used to seeing your face in all is made up glory and it's made down normal. I've come to *mostly - flawed remember?* accept that I'm also not the most of *anything*. So you guys see me made up, but you also see me with a face mask on and you also see me like this:

We're all flawed and imperfect beings. But at the same while perfection might be fascinating to look at momentarily, in the long run you'd get either bored or very sad. Whereas, well, with someone like me, you can think to yourself, "Well, at least I don't make those faces in public!"
*Because, come on, I know you make them in private*

When Your Child Looks At You Like You're Crazy

2013-05-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

Dress - ASOS // Jacket - Billy by Flying Tomato // Boots - Feet First // Socks - F21 // Necklace - Threadsence // Scarf - Kensie

Baby Girl and I are curled up on the couch in the morning. PJs still firmly on both of us, Dora on the tv, little girl tucked neatly into my side with thumb in her mouth. I'm reading a post-apocalyptic novel and in a very grueling section it talks about parents sending their children away so they don't die and how many of those children perish anyway.

As I read each sequential line of this section, my eyes tear up and my grip on my girl gets stronger and stronger, until the moment when I'm sobbing like a mad woman and clinging on to her for dear life. That's the moment the thumb sucking stops and two little eyes turn on me with a, "What in the world is wrong with you mom?" look. Her gaze gives me a stare that says, "No, seriously? What's with you lady?" And after a few seconds, she patronizingly pats my arm and says, "It's okay...it's okay."

She must think I really take it hard when Swiper takes something from Dora.

p.s. This is my favorite pic because it looks like I'm checking out my own butt. Yeah!

*linking up here and with WIWW*

Looking For The Rainbow In The Storm

2013-05-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

That's what I'm trying to do.

A LadyLike Dress With a Touch of Sass

2013-05-02T08:30:00.000-04:00

Dress - c/o Simply Dresses // Shoes - Call It Spring // Necklace - F21

There was something very appealing about choosing a Simply Dresses dress that contrasted so much in design and color. The design is bold and sexy, and the rich chocolate color I chose is so demure that I think the whole piece strikes a great balance. As always this dress is impeccably made. The material is so rich and the layers underneath fill everything out perfectly. I particularly appreciate the bust support added to the front. I'm not superbly endowed so I don't have to have a special undergarment, but the touch of padding to shape the dress is an appreciated touch so as not to show too much. It's the little details like this that make me love the dress.

From the front, the dress is deceptively ladylike, and it's not until you turn around to walk away that you leave a bit of sass in your wake. I'd like to think it's a great reflection of the sides of myself, ladylike and demure with well, another side to me as well.

And as always, you have to have a great cover all and shades for the after, after party. Where ever that might be.

*linking up here*

Albion Fit Review and Giveaway

2013-05-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

Go Long Crew, with Thumb-holes, in Jade and Optimum Capris in Graphite c/o Albion Fit

If you know anything about me it's this: I have none to very little cool workout wear. I spent my early years playing soccer and dancing *uniforms and leotards* then spent more years training in Kung Fu *more uniforms* So basically, I own uniforms and sports bras. Even when I started running and going to a gym regularly, in between all the other stuff, I just did it in old shirts, and old uniforms. The only thing I ever had swanky was good running shoes.

Enter a company like Albion Fit, a women's fitness and swimwear line, featuring a great selection of workout clothing. We decided to team up and collaborate on a fun post and giveaway. I chose these funky cool pants because I wanted something fitted and short. All my Kung Fu stuff has been loose - think designed for men and made big - and I loved the idea of having something, well for lack of a better term, girlie. I can see myself wearing these in training, as well as running, and they would really work if I ever entered a *gasp* yoga class. *Side note: I don't do yoga unless I want to take a nap. It's not made for me. I get bored and end up really needing to punch something*

Love these pants guys. They're comfy and functional and yes, they make me feel all feminine and cute. They also feel like they can take a bit of a beating, which of course they will.

The top I was loving from the get go on the website: loose, comfy and with thumb-holes! Can't tell you how much I adore thumb holes in my workout wear. I have a hoodie with thumb holes and I love it for riding my bike and for generally being outside - they keep my hands warmer. Just like I imagine this top will. And for running and training I like the fact that my sleeves won't be flopping around. They'll stay in one place.

But I have to say that the best thing was when the items arrived. They were even cuter and nicer then they looked on the site! The top is so much more vivid in really life than in the pictures, and it fits exactly as I imagined. The one thing I can't do justice in pictures though, is just how incredibly soft the shirt is. It's like gentle, fluffy jersey floating over my skin. Luxury workout wear. I'm telling you I almost don't want to ever sweat in this top it's that nice.

But enough about me and how much I like it. I know you want to feel it for yourself right? Well, guess what guys? Albion Fit is offering a Go Long Crew of your very own to one lucky ModaMama reader. That's right, you can get one in Jade, Grape, Fuchsia, Pool, Rust, Ivory, Heather Grey, or Black. Just enter using the widget after the jump.

If however, you can't wait that long, Albion Fit is offering an exclusive discount code for ModaMama readers of $15 off and purchase over $50 or more, just enter the code "modamama15" at checkout. I'd say that's pretty cool! *discount code expires on May 12th so hurry and get your good stuff now*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Camo Lately

2013-04-30T08:30:00.000-04:00

Leggings - c/o Style Lately // Top -Vintage Havana // Jacket & Sunnies - F21 //

Shoes - Biviel // Zebra Necklace - Lustre // Bird Ring - Lulus

Experimenting with leopard print has gone really well lately, so I decided to branch out even more out of my comfort zone with these cool *c/o* Style Lately camo leggings. I'll be honest, the idea of wearing these both excited me and made me scared. I wasn't sure I could pull them off. I was scared that I'd look like some dainty little girl trying really hard to wear something 'tough.' But I really wanted to give it a try because I thought they'd be really cool and could add a lot of fun to my wardrobe. Plus, as I'm a big believer of doing things that scare you, I thought, "Well, I can't not get these now!"

I'm so glad I did. They're fun and comfy and I love how it's making me think of other pieces in my wardrobe in a totally different way. Just goes to show that you should break out of your sartorial comfort zone every once in a while. Bonus: something about walking down urban streets wearing camo leggings makes me feel like I could be in a Resident Evil movie taking on monsters and zombies. But first I'd have to lose the heels. And pack my swords.

Hair Tutorial: Easy Braided Half-Up Do

2013-04-29T08:30:00.000-04:00

For those days when you don't want your hair up but still want it a bit out of the way, this hairstyle is easy, quick, but still looks pretty chic. I like that it gives the illusion that you spent more time on it than you did. But that's just between us.

Random Sundays: Heels!

2013-04-28T08:30:00.000-04:00

The shoe obsessed fashionista is alive and well in our house.

What's shocking is that she's incredibly good at walking around the house in heels!

CoffeeTalk Vlog: Juggling Your Time

2013-04-26T08:30:00.000-04:00

I'm continuing to answer your questions, whether they might embarrass me or not. Today there's two quick questions that I'm answering:

1. How are you so cute? Seriously!
2. How do you juggle your time ?

Keep those questions coming. I really appreciate them. Email me or leave a post comment.

*linking up with Rags to Stitches*

The Bike Weathered Winter Though I Did Not

2013-04-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

Sweater - Kensie // Cardigan - Gap // Pants - Skies Are Blue // Shoes - ModCloth // Necklace - Ruche // Jacket - Old Navy

The first nice day of the bike season my baby was out of the shed and cruising around town. It handled the winter well, and was more than ready for the Spring. All the guy at the shop had to do was tightens a few gears and put air in the tires. Me however? Not so much. I had to run around town like mad and ended up biking for a total of 3 hours. And I live in a very hilly area. The bike may have held up well, but my body did not. Granted the hour and a half kung fu class certainly didn't help.

I love Spring!

Quote of Today:

"My knuckles are bruised and I'm bleeding a little bit. Awesome!"

*linking up with WIWW, and Style Sessions*

Daily Exuberance

2013-04-24T08:30:00.000-04:00

Top - ChiQle via Bicyclette Boutique // Tank - Gap // Skirt - Ezra // Tights - HUE // Boots - Feet First // Scarf - Street stand // Necklace - I forget (old)

Baby Girl goes to the shed with me every morning. We open the doors and reveal her pink tricycle in it's nightly slumber. This reveal is accompanied by a very over pronounced and energetic, "Oooooooooh!" Followed immediately by, "Wow! I like my bike!!" I just love how this simple event evokes such joy from her.

How do we lose that as we age?

Reveries in Silence

2013-04-23T08:30:00.000-04:00

Top -Gentlefawn // Jacket - FreeWay via Lace Affair // Jeans - Gap // Shoes - Aldo // Necklace - c/o TwillyPop

Toronto is a big city. The fourth largest in North America. It's busy, noisy, alive, and ever moving. Yet, in this busy, and at times chaotic city, there is an order that is predictable and fastidiously kept. The business district on a Sunday afternoon for instance. Since I'm freelance/ self-employed I have no set schedule and often don't think about the impact of such a thing. But when I found this deserted square in the ghostly silent business district I was harshly reminded of the routine that most people keep. It was a potent pathetic fallacy that the concrete, stones, and streets keep the same hours as it's inhabitants.

So there I stood, an outsider to this fluid rhythm of life. My camera the only companion to this moment of reverie.

*linking up with Style Sessions, Real Girl Glam, My Thrifty Chic, Here, and WIWW*

Hair Tutorial: Princess Leia Double Buns

2013-04-22T08:30:00.000-04:00

Whether you want something whimsical, or you're trying to get some cosplay in, doing these Star Wars Princess Leia buns can be a great hairstyle to have in your retinue. It's really a very simple variation on the sock bun, and if you need more details on how to do that, check out my Sock Bun tutorial here.

CoffeeTalk : No Pictures of Baby Girl

2013-04-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

A few of you have already written in with some questions for "Ask Me Anything." Thanks so much for that. I really enjoy getting your questions. Today I start answering them, and the first question comes from Chelsea over at Sunny With A Chance of Sprinkles. Here goes!

Q: What lead you to the decision to keep your daughter out of your blog and to not use her face in pictures?

Good question.

*linking up with Rags to Stitches*