The Vanity Project

Random Photo Update

2011-10-01T21:25:00.001-04:00

For the first time in my life, I've been busy with my very own activities instead of child-related activities. I'm actually living, y'all! On top of going back to college, I have some more major life events coming up soon which shall remain nameless for now. Aren't I the woman of mystery? A few places my feet have taken me lately:

Lover's Point, Monterrey, CA

Carmel, CA

Trying not to perish from hypothermia, nor blow off of the Golden Gate Bridge, Oakland side

Me, Banksy, and some mystery feet. Hiking.

May I just mention how much my studded Converse All-Stars saved my feet? I walked miles in these shoes for an entire week without one blister or complaint. Also, I looked hella bad ass!

I have a question, though. Since I can't just walk around school in a pencil skirt and blazer without looking like a teacher, and my fellow students often look like they just rolled out of bed and did the sniff test on the clothes from the floor in order to get dressed... What the HECK do I wear to school? I'm having a hard time. Suggestions?

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Breaktime

2011-08-04T22:55:00.003-04:00

Anyone notice that I'm taking a break? The three people that read this? Lol. My laptop died and this borrowed Mac from my sister has no card reader, for one. It's summer and I really just don't want to get dressed right now. I'm getting ready to go to college and I'm slightly freaked right out about it and MY BABY is going to start school for the first time ever. Only every other day but enough to make me sad when I think about it. I might actually get to take a vacation soon! A real one, though with roller derby involved. Which obviously for me is the BEST KIND of vacation ever. I didn't realise I liked sweating and straining muscles until I actually tried it. Fancy that.

Are those enough excuses? I could think of more but I do go on, so.

That's all,
Twills
XOXO

What I Should Have Worn

2011-07-29T11:58:00.001-04:00

I did learn from my lack of preparedness the last time I refereed in a last minute fill-in situation, and I put together this little number for the next time I have a bout which will be in August. I'm still tweaking it, I'm not supposed to wear any colours at all but I always cheat with my tights and my skates are red. My belt is actually black and white woven straw but it didn't show up in pictures very well. A good excuse to wear it again soon.

Ref Shirt: eBay

Belt: Costa Blanca

Skirt: Decypher Clothing

Tights: Zellers

Socks: Point Zero

Shoes: Iron Fist "Dia de los Muertos"

I hope to test drive a few more looks between now and the bout to determine which is the cutest/most comfortable. Perhaps you all would like to help me determine that as well. As you know, choosing an outfit when you're going to be on display is a major life decision! Okay, not really, but close.

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Today I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything...

2011-07-28T11:50:00.001-04:00

You know sometimes you just need to unwind and spend the day in yoga pants, right? It's one of those days. I just want to not get dressed at all, and this is as close as it comes. The heatwave is over, thank heavens!

Cami: Gifted

Yoga pants: Lululemon

Polish: Sally Hansen "Sonic Bloom"

Lips: Joe "Poppy"

Whoa, weird face! I'm not even going to apologise for being a goofball, because I'm not sorry at all!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

New Hair!

2011-07-27T11:41:00.003-04:00

I was fooling around last night and cut my bangs extra short on a whim. I'm kind of liking it so far, it's a little bit of a Cleopatra vibe I've got going. I'll see how it holds up and if I feel like constantly having to flat iron the front so that my mini-afro doesn't arise. For now though, it's a nice change for me I think. I also dyed my hair a new shade of black, but of course no one can notice it unless I'm in the sunlight. Black-but-red-in-the-sun is what I call this shade.

In an effort to disguise the fact that I look hard as nails in this photo, I've played around with Picnic so I could soften it and round the corners. I'm really a softie, not as tough as I look! Rofl!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Lesson Learned

2011-07-26T20:13:00.003-04:00

My sister (who is also in my roller derby league) and I decided to go rollerskating on Saturday. We worked out hardcore for three straight hours, and were drenched in sweat by the time we were done. Only to find out that three of our girls were playing with another team at the same venue we were at, so we stayed to watch them. Except that the two teams didn't have enough refs, so in comes Cherry Choca Chola to save the day!

Except that I had just skated my butt off for three hours, my equipment and clothing was soaking wet with sweat, and it stank! I am in my street clothes and borrowed socks, and you can tell that this is at the end of the fourth hour of hard skating because I look half dead in this picture. Lesson 1) Always carry extra clothes and your referee shirt in your derby bag; 2) Don't skate for four hours on a Saturday when you have a two hour practice on a Sunday and then again on a Monday! 3) This is still pretty much the most fun activity ever. Period.

Tank: Calvin Klein

Linen Shorts: Old Navy

Socks: Borrowed

Helmet and safety gear: Triple 8

Whistle: Fox 40

Skates: Riedell Diablo with Poison Alloy Slim Wheels and Bones Red Bearings and Sourpuss cherry laces (I'm such a nerd for skates)

Ankle Gaskets: From Neon Skates in Montreal

I was half dead but it was so worth the pain. I'm getting stronger every day and I'm feeling all badass about it. ;) A big thank you to Coachlite Gardens for hosting the event and for being the only roller rink left within a two hour radius of the town in which I live. Big love for that!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Photo by Mike Finn Photography, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

One Definite Bra Solution

2011-07-25T21:55:00.003-04:00

For some reason this never did occur to me, but this post has just given me an answer for a problem I've had for years. I've always thought I couldn't buy strapless dresses because of my linebacker shoulders and the fact that I've never found a strapless bra that actually worked for me. For years I've passed on beautiful strapless dresses and wonderful deals on said dresses because I thought I'd never be able to wear them. A t-shirt. Dammit, all I needed was to wear a t-shirt underneath for bra strap/linebacker shoulder coverage. So simple, yet so elusive. Why didn't I think of that? I'm like early man discovering fire.

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

A Blog Within Which I Get Wordy

2011-07-22T12:40:00.004-04:00

I've had the best few days. On Wednesday, I drove for four hours to my mom's house to drop off my kids for a few days. The next day we went shopping and I ended my several year search for the perfect pair of white linen pants and I found them at Costa Blanca for 15 dollars! I also popped into Aldo to order some shoes because I haven't been able to find the colour that I want in any of the stores near home. They didn't have them but I chose to pay there and have them delivered from any store that did have them in blue. I drove four hours home, stopped in to my house and did my son's paper route for him, drove another hour to roller derby practice, sweat my buns off for two hours, another hour drive home. Shower, snack, sleep in!

This morning at around 10 am, the doorbell rang several times and woke me up. Since I was sleeping au naturel *ahem* there was no way I was going to answer the door. Then I heard someone climbing the stairs to my back deck. WHERE MY BEDROOM WINDOW IS. OMG! But it was just the UPS guy leaving my package there since I had the house locked up like Fort Knox. IT WAS MY SHOES!!!!

In less than 24 hours, Aldo shipped my shoes right to my house, free shipping and all. Last summer I burned through three pairs of wedge sandals and I never did replace them, so now I have these babies to keep me occupied. I am extremely happy with their service and their shipping times. I like to go on shopping whims in the middle of the night, and even if you order shoes on a Thursday, you quite often get them the next morning in time for the weekend. Beyond thrilled, and my new wedge sandals have all the elements I was looking for: colour, wedge heels, walkable, comfortable, rope details, straps but not too strappy and they were on sale! I'm wearing them right now, no outfit photos because I haven't actually gotten dressed yet. I'm such a hedonist when the kids aren't home. Happy weekend, all!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Summer Uniform: Beach Wear

2011-07-21T08:39:00.001-04:00

This is what I am wearing quite often, come summer. We tend to go to the beach a lot, and I'm usually always sporting a big floppy hat (to keep the sun off my face so I don't wrinkle!), this giant white bag, flip flops, and this dress that I call my Wilma Flinstone Dress because of the hem. Bikini underneath, of course. Never under any circumstances will there be photos of that, FYI.

Hat: Thrifted

Dress: Some local place that I can't remember

Bag: Joe

Flip-flops: Amercian Eagle

I'm all ready to hit the sand: Dark tanning oil on everything else, 75 SPF on the face. Mama is a vain creature.

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Rawr!

2011-07-20T08:27:00.001-04:00

I don't know what ever encouraged me to buy this ridiculous shirt but even though it's so voluminous and slighty "Middle-Aged Texan Socialite" I still have fun wearing it. There's something about wearing several different kinds of animal print that makes me happy. I was wearing this, too, the day when I managed to buy a tiger striped suitcase for less than 40 dollars. Winning!

Shirt: Costco

Skirt: Winners

Shoes: Victoria's Secret

I can't wait until it gets colder so I can wear this with my pink leopard tights. With a shirt underneath! You can't really tell in the photo (or can you?) but this sucker is sheer and I was only wearing a bra underneath. Scandalised the children, but you can't win them all.

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Summer Trends Week, Day 1.2: Stripes and Florals

2011-07-19T09:43:00.001-04:00

This is what I'd originally intended to post on Day 1 of this challenge. My sister had just given me this skirt for my birthday. It's intended for use when I'm refereeing he at roller derby but I thought I'd wear it anyway even though it's scandalously short, even for me! I've kind of gone the naughty school girl route with this with the maryjane wedges, though unintentionally.

Shirt: Old Navy

Belt: George

Skirt: Decypher Clothing

Shoes: Guess

Bracelet: Zellers

Owl Ring: Aldo

Barettes: Goody

I like to joke that "everything I know about pattern mixing I learned from 'Don't Tell Mom, the Babysitter's Dead'", and it's true. Keeping the colourways the same, though with black and white I'm sure I could mix them.

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Summer Trends Week, Day 6: Bright Bottoms

2011-07-18T21:20:00.003-04:00

I've read the other participants in this challenge complaining that they never wear bright bottoms because they have "big bottoms" and don't want to accentuate them. These are the only bright bottoms I own, I admit, but only because I'm just recently getting into colours other than black, grey and red. There is nothing wrong with having a big bottom! I have a big bottom but it's also strong as heck and I love that I'm getting more leg and ass muscles because of roller derby. My bottom can knock your bottom on its ass! Literally! Why would I be ashamed of that? Embrace your "big" bottoms ladies, and give them a nice squeeze now and again. It's never as big as you think it is, and I'm sure there are people out there who appreciate it more than you do.

White Linen Blazer: Old Navy

Tank: Bed, Bath and Beyond (seriously, lol!)

Shorts: Joe

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelet: The six year old bought it for me in a vending machine

Really, do I need to play this song? Because I can not lie!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Summer Trends Week, Day 5: Neutral

2011-07-15T14:42:00.004-04:00

I am so not a neutral lover. I didn't want to get dressed for the longest time today, but I'm going to go to the grocery store in about five minutes and I don't want to appear there looking like I'm nursing a summer cold even though I am. When I'm down I like to dress the part and then my spirit usually catches up with me. To me, neutral says "Beige" and I loathe beige with every fibre of my being. I am not beige! I'm bright and sparkly, dang it! (I'm still on a high from Sparklegasma Day!)

And... my eyes are closed. Thanks so much, boychild, for taking my picture today!

Close-up of the shoes that the boy-child cut off in the photo:

Tank: Calvin Klein

Skirt: Old Navy

Shoes: Old Navy

Skull Watch: Etsy

Everyone should have a pair of jersey shoes. These are so soft and comfortable that I can actually go for walks in them! They don't cut in or cause any blisters and the heel is made of rubber so they're shock-absorbing. They also cost me $1.76 at an actual Old Navy store. I can't thrift for that cheap! When I bought them I hated espadrilles but thought I'd try them at that price and I was pleasantly surprised. One of my greatest shoe triumphs, ever!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Summer Trends Week, Day 4: Eclectic Prints

2011-07-14T19:45:00.002-04:00

I really don't own many prints at all. Am I that boring?!! Some mean person once told me that since I look "ethnic", when I wear prints it makes me look "Fresh off the Boat". I've steered clear of them ever since but now in my adult years I know that there's nothing wrong with looking "ethnic" and I've learned to embrace being a "browner shade of white". So I did prints in the shoes! (And trust, I'll be "monitor shopping" for zany prints in the near future)

Maxi: Old Navy

Espadrilles: Betsey Johnson

Bracelets: Thrifted and child made (the beaded one)

In the summer time, I feel like we can get away with things like bra straps. So if I'm going to be wearing thin straps, I usually pick a fairly obvious bra to wear with it. Blending it in is never going to work, and I've had three babies: There is no way I'm going braless. I'd never have straps showing if I were going to an event, especially not if I were going to work, but for a day like I've had which included running errands, going to the park, etc, I can afford to be a little "trashy". Also, this maxi is hard to walk in because it's long and there are no slits. So I gathered it up and tied it in a little knot on the inside. No more tiny steps!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Summer Trends Week: Day 3: Sparkles for Day

2011-07-13T08:13:00.001-04:00

Immediately I think of sparklegasmic sequin overload. There really aren't enough items in the world with sequins on them! When I bought this skirt the sales girl said, "I've been wanting to buy this too, but I don't know where I'd ever wear it!" So I said, "Oh honey, I wear sequins to the grocery store!" While flipping my hair dramatically over my shoulder, which is in fact the very reason why I must never cut it short! I would lose my mojo! I hope I did inspire her to buy it and to make the sequins work their sparklegasmic magic on her, too.

Tank: Old Navy

Skirt: Joe

Shoes: Victoria's Secret

Watch: Etsy

Necklace: Aldo

I wore this to take my kids to see Zookeeper. I can't believe I paid actual money to see a Kevin James movie, but the kids liked the talking animals. I will make up for it later this week by watching the amazingness that will be Harry Potter v7.2! I might cry. Will you cry? Dobby! ;(

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Trends Week Day 2: Military + Feminine

2011-07-12T22:01:00.003-04:00

You'll notice that I don't have a Day 1: Stripes + Floral. I'll get to it, I swear. My six year old said to me a few days ago, "Mom! Other than throw on a dress to go to the pool, when was the last time you got dressed?" Ha! It's so true. Mama has been spending the heat wave in her underwear, falling asleep spontaneously at the wrong times just like a senior citizen would do! May I mention that it's HOT? That's the last time, I promise.

So it rained for about half an hour and I had to go to the grocery store so I did get dressed briefly! Wrong shoe choice for rain but I haven't worn these shoes in seven years so it was time.

Jacket: Old Navy

Dress: Winners

Shoes: Payless

This is taken with a different camera from the one I usually use, as the good one is currently on vacation with my dad! I'll have to either get outside or get a new camera. Mother Nature, please put on the air conditioning! I'm melting!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Hey Little Sister, Shotgun!

2011-07-11T08:33:00.001-04:00

Bride is NOT PREGNANT, though for some reason that song was in my head all day on Saturday... I am going to be posting again later with my outfit post for "Trends Week", but thought I'd post this first and it will give me some time to charge my camera battery and um... get dressed and stuff.

I have found a new reason to hate having extra weight on right now... and that is that it was impossible for me to find something to wear to my best friend's wedding. I hated everything in stores this time of year, which were mostly floral or halter or floral-halter dresses! So I decided to go with a pinstripe dress that I thrifted for 12 dollars a while ago, only to find the exact same dress in a store a few weeks later for 80 dollars! It was the only thing I owned that worked well with my fascinator, which of course was what I based my outfit around. This is me with the bride and our other bestie:

Fascinator: Leg Avenue

Dress: Ellen Tracy

Shoes: Victoria's Secret (I know you can't see them right now, but you will see them soon!)

Necklace, bracelets, belt and owl ring: Aldo

We don't have any proper photos of us together just yet, we're waiting to get some back from the professionals. My speech went well except for the one moment in French when I lapsed into Spanish prounounciation! Grrr! It's so hard to switch back from those two languages, especially when I haven't spoken French in so long but have been gradually learning more Spanish in recent years. It's the letter "R" that kills me. If the Spanish "R" is working for me, I find I can't pronounce "R" in French and vice-versa. The guy who was taking this iPhone picture scolded me for not looking at the camera, but I think it still works. And look at how beautiful my girls are!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

That's not all! Edited to add a brighter, full body shot of the bride and I making our entrance. I'm carrying her stuff so I'm obscured, but you can see my shoes!

On The Road Again

2011-07-08T09:44:00.003-04:00

This is yet another travel weekend for me. I'm hoping that next weekend I get to stay home and sleep for two days straight, but this weekend my best friend is getting married so I wouldn't miss that for the world! There's a civil ceremony today, followed by a reception at a vegan restaurant tomorrow. I'm hoping I won't mess up my speech, part of which is in French! And! I have a fascinator to wear also, which I'm really excited about. I can pretend to be The Duchess of Cambridge for a day! So enjoy this low-quality Blackberry picture of my jacked feet rollin' down the highway. I'll be back next week for "Trends Week".

Sandals: AE for Payless

Jeans: Gap, scored for 13 dollars in the actual store!

Car: Sister's Dodge Calibre (a car is totally an accessory!)

I hope everyone has a good weekend!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Oh Canada!

2011-07-07T08:18:00.002-04:00

I wore this for Canada Day. I went to the parade and to the events for kids at the park, then I went out at night and drank 2/3 of a Corona which made me tipsy, then I went home and fell into a coma. Not very patriotic of me, I should have been drinking this:

But to me, a non-drinker, this beer tastes gross and I like to try to embark on drinking a Corona con lima about once a year. So far I've never been able to finish one, though! I'll work on it. Anyway, so I wore this and felt very patriotic because of it!

Shirt, skirt: Old Navy

Shoes: Seychelles

Owl Ring: Aldo

Bracelet: Gifted

I had to make do with an iPhone pic that my sister took of me because my camera battery was dead, so it's not very clear. As you can see, though, I was in the spirit of July 1st. Happy birthday Canada, you old crone! :P

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Contender

2011-07-06T08:23:00.002-04:00

This might be a contender for "Favourite Outfit Ever". I've never tried the shorts/tights/boots thing before but I love how it feels. It would have been quite a boyish outfit save for the pink leopard tights. Also, tank + vest for some reason I've always wanted to try so I was glad that I did. It was actually okay that it rained like crazy when I wore this because I would have had to wait until fall, otherwise!

Close-up of tights:

Tank: Calvin Klein

Vest: Smart Set

Wool Shorts: Joe

Tights: Leg Avenue

Boots: Aldo

Bracelet: Zellers

Watch: Etsy

Hair Elastic: Goody, just to add some sex appeal. :P

You might have noticed that you've seen these tights before. That's because I've posted this outfit before in part, only that I'd thrown on a raincoat and swapped these boots out for rubber ones, then carried what I call my "Pride Umbrella". Funny story about that umbrella, which might make it to my other blog someday. I actually wish I could wear these tights every day, though, only that it's too hot to even wear any clothes at all right now much less tights!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Neon Attack

2011-07-05T08:08:00.001-04:00

A few weekends ago, I had the pleasure of participating as an official at a huge roller derby tournament in our nation's capital. There was a black and white dress code for all of us, and for some reason I took issue with that. Now, normally I prefer to be in all black... but as soon as someone told me I had to be, well this is what happens when you attend the group meeting the night before:

I have no idea why I'm standing like this, but apparently I wanted you all to know that I have booty?

And an extra bonus baby picture, because this just proves that when your outfit is this fun, you have to have fun while wearing it.

Ooh, but I totally forgot that I switched to orange wedges before leaving the house!

Shirt: Old Navy

Shorts: Joe

Shoes: Old Navy but I switched to Nine West for extra brightness

Necklace and bracelet: Child gifted

Polish: That Sally Hansen yellow stuff that I hate

I stayed with my BFF that night, and when I went to meet her for dinner I mentioned the fact that my outfit was rebelling against the dress code and that I was wearing every bright thing I own even though it didn't match. And she said, "I noticed that it didn't match" and I was all "Bish, plz!" I defy you to tell me that I look bad. I might hurt your eyes, but I was strutting this. So there. :P Haters gonna hate.

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Summer Trends Challenge

2011-07-04T09:25:00.001-04:00

Remember the 30 for 30, Stripes Week and Fruits Week? There is another Fashion Challenge that I'm going to try and this one is all about trends. This will be really fun! Who wants to join me? Click here to go to Megan Mae Daily or here for Casual Chic Kiki to sign up.

Here are the guidelines, as much for my own reference as for the info for all of you:

I see sequins in my future, and I'm so excited!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Alfalfa

2011-07-01T08:47:00.001-04:00

Do you know what's awesome about taking your picture every morning before leaving the house? If I hadn't, I wouldn't have known that my hair was sticking up like that at the back, and I never would have been able to fix it! Rogue bangs are no fun! I need to trim them more frequently or else grow them out. Bangs are bad feng shui in your thirties anyway, even if they do cover the wrinkle that's developing on my forehead. I mean five head. :P

Dress: Winners

Tank: Fruit of the Loom Mens "Beater"

Shoes: Walmart

The only reason that I'm wearing a tank under this is because I was having a bra issue. I don't have one that goes with this dress so I was trying to cover the one I was wearing. I think the trick is to just wear an obnoxious coloured one and go for the show. Next time, my pretties! Today is Canada Day so I'm out! Fun, sun, parade, fireworks... and that's about it. But happy, nonetheless.

That's all,

Twills

XOXO

Action Shot

2011-06-30T07:37:00.001-04:00

I don't think I've ever posted a shot of me "in action". This was taken by a professional photographer and I wish I could link to him but I have no idea what his name is or how to find it! If that person is ever stumbling across this, by all means drop me a line and I will be more than happy to link to you!

Two things I hate: My glasses and my mouth guard! As a referee I am not required by my insurance carrier to wear one, but I sometimes do anyway if the bout seems a little rough and I think I may get leveled. I always, always wear one at practice because I train with the girls so I do the same things they do. That means that a mouth guard is a definite necessity to protect both my vanity and my chance of getting a concussion from slamming my teeth together. A little glimpse into what goes on in my world.

That's all,

Twills
XOXO

Team Spirit

2011-06-29T08:25:00.002-04:00

The fact that I didn't smile in this photo does not mean that I was not excited at all in this picture. I was so proud of my girls and the job they did on the track that I just wanted to wear my roller derby shirt the next day. I don't get to wear my team shirt during games because I'm a referee and I need to a) wear stripes and b) be impartial. So I'm not smiling but my eyes are saying "Go Limestone CrusHers!"

Shirt: Uniform

tweed Shorts: Joe

Shoes: Iron Fist "Dia de los Muertos"

Bracelet: Zellers

Hair elastic: Goody. Just to sex up the photo. Rofl!

I have since taken my shirt and DIY'ed it. Meaning, I cut off the sleeves and the bottom hem and scrunched the shoulders and tied them with little bows. I will show you all at a later date. Also note: I want to squeal with glee whenever I see my own name and number on my shirt! The only problem is that when people read it I have to tell them "Rhymes with Coca-cola" and they still don't get it. So I just say, "Call me Chola" and it all works out, but I didn't foresee the mispronunciation in advance!

That's all,

Twills

XOXO