Modern Girl Style

Sincerely, Just Do It: How to Make Time for You in a Hectic World

2013-04-24T08:10:00.001-07:00

What would you do with your life if you had time and space?

Yesterday, I made time to print out photos of our family for my toddler to flip through in a photo album. She loves to look at pictures taken of herself doing things that she loves. Who doesn't? As I went through my iPhoto catalog from last year, I was struck that I had not only document my daughter's life, but my own. I could see the ebb and flow of my own creative energy, most of it food related. Most new mothers tend to pass on stories of sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and stress. I won't say that isn't true, but the key to balancing a healthy life is to make time to connect to your passion. I have three tips on how I have found time to write a non-fiction book, two children stories, rewrite a novel (that I've been working on fa-ever, I know), time to sew, and make lots of good food for the family.

Tip # 1: Schedule Your Time

Like the picture of my bagels proofing, a bakery term for allowing the bread to rise, you must schedule time to let things rise. And, as every baker can tell you, you must bake on a schedule.

The best time spent can sometimes be time spent doing nothing. Yet, you must make time for it! You won't magically find time in life to do things if you don't schedule the time. Everything else, all the busy stuff, will suck your time and attention away. The biggest blessing that happened to me last October was to reach out for help. I was so nervous and worried to have someone look after my little one, but if I hadn't done that I would never have had the huge writing breakthrough that I had in November! I also realized that I can't do everything alone and that, as a new mom, I really needed help. Scheduling never sounds like fun, but in the end, if you have time to breakaway from the hectic world, you will be a healthier, happier, and more productive individual.

Tip # 2: Set the Clock

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For a period of time, when I was passionately connected to a writing project I set the alarm every morning at 4:30AM to write. It's not a realistic long term idea, but it can be productive for a short period of time. If mornings aren't your thing, then you have the option to stay up late. For those with little ones, nap time is the best for replenishing your mind, body, and soul. Take the time to do something you enjoy and don't waste it on cleaning. Why not waste the time on reading blogs, magazines, books, and newspapers. It is better than coffee and sugar to inspire your day. One more tip, when you schedule the time, be precise! Show up on time. Don't tell yourself its only going to take 15 minutes to do the dishes! It will end up being 30 minutes followed by another silly activity and another. Trust me-I know!

Tip # 3: Set Boundaries

Everyone has a jabberwocky in their life. Typically, the ones you love the most will use any little thing to get your attention and derail your attention. My husband is the biggest jabberwocky. He'll interrupt my time to write with tons of diversions. He plants little emotional bombs everywhere. He'll play my favorite TV show, go to my favorite places, have way too much fun with our daughter--just to get me to stop and have fun too. He does it out of love, but making time to do things for me is refreshing and satisfying a deep need that I just can't express in words. The jabberwocky in your life could be an overbearing job, a best-friend, a team sport, or even a TV show. You'll know what it is when you start to wonder where all your free time is going.

Where does your time go?

If you're motivated, briefly keep track of your day to day activities. Write it down in the Note App on your iPhone or use old fashion paper-anything to make you accountable for your time for a period of one week.

Take Stock.

Review your time. Does it surprise you? Do you feel awesome about how you spent your last week? Does it put you in alignment with what your core values? For instance, if you (like me, ahem) took stock and saw that you spent only 1.5 hours over the last week writing, is that okay? For me, no! I want to actually finish my novel before I die. I have to commit time to my project and make sacrifices to get my goal accomplished.

Sincerely, Just Do It

The evidence is in. It's your life. If you want to scrapbook your child's first year of life, then make time to do it or else...dun-dun-duun...it will never happen! Why wait to do things or travel places? Life doesn't come with a return policy. Sincerely, you need to figure out what your core values are and just do it!

Recommended Reading

Suzy Welch The 10-10-10 Method

Mark H. McCormack Getting Results for Dummies

Announcing Big News: We've got Baby #2 En Route!

2013-03-21T08:00:00.001-07:00

(image via)

It has been months of silence at Modern Girl Style, but all for good reason! The most exciting reason is that my husband and I found out on New's Year Day that we were pregnant with our second baby! What a way to kick the year off! Talk about Making Plans in 2013! Did I ever mention how much I love baby toes?!

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I'm now in my second trimester and I think I've managed to have every single cold, flu, and illness out there. No Joke! My immune system has been down, but my spirits are up. These little set-backs only serve the purpose to slow me down and enjoy being home with my first beautiful baby girl, Makena, and to consider what the future might look like. Actually, I have no idea what life will be like with two awesome babies-and I try to not think about it too much because I just want it to be what it is.

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We will wait till delivery to discover the gender of baby two. It goes against convention but who would want to miss out on the drama and excitement of discovering more about your new baby when he or she is in your arms.

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As my husband and I wait six more months of D-Day (delivery day-haha), I am writing with the intent of having my novel completely finished for review. So, if I don't get sick, have any more guests, nor take any more trips back home to California (like I did for 2-weeks in February) then it'll happen. The blog posts will be sparse until my novel is done, but as you can see things are full and blossoming in my life, and that's a wonderful place to be. Thanks again for visiting MGS!!

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Making Plans in 2013!

2013-01-24T09:41:00.001-08:00

Since my last post, a new year has rolled in. It's 2013 and I couldn't be more please to have a fresh start. I spent most of December and the start of January sick. I couldn't write. I couldn't sew. I could only read. One blog that I have fallen in love with again is Jessica Swift's blog. She offered, for only $15, a PDF download to help set your goals and intentions for 2013.

In between coughs, I took time to complete the intention kit and it was an amazing experience. It's still not too late to grab this, sit at a desk, and think about what you want to do this year.

Doing the kit, I realized that writing was a priority for me this year. It will mean less blogging and being media social, for at least a couple of months, in order to get my novel ready to share with the world. If I can offer one tidbit of encouragement to you for the start of your year is this:

Get your values organized so that your actions will create the life you want.

I finished reading 10-10-10 by Suzy Welch. It published a few years ago but it was a fast and inspiring read. The Rule of 10-10-10 is that when you have a challenge or a problem test the issue against what will mostly happen in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. It's a value driven question that will help you get unstuck and move forward with whatever you are facing. For myself, I used 10-10-10 to consider my stuck career.

I realized that I hadn't placed true value in becoming a published writer. I let everything else take over and bulldoze my life. In the past, I focused on Plan B rather than thinking about Plan A-my long term career goals. That's life. It can get hectic but January is a special time to grab the reins and tell your pony where you're going instead of holding on for dear life.

I am courageously willing to fail or succeed. I am giving my aspirations to write fiction my heart and my mind. Wish me luck!!! I will post again soon but not as often as before. I will be on twitter and post some of my misadventures into sewing on tumblr {I've been obsessed with swimsuits lately} and I'll be at google + {follow me on my sidebare}. Thanks as always for listening to the rambling muse of that touches my life and I'm sending you a million good vibes that you are also reaching out for the life you want to live. Time is brief, get it done now!

Gratitude

2012-12-15T19:49:00.001-08:00

I had a tremendous writing breakthrough during NaNoWri Month. December struck my family hard. My husband got sick and then I did. As we were both almost over it, my husband nearly broke his ankle and is now on crutches! My daughter finally caught sniffles and an extremely mild cough, but it was hectic. Nothing really completely stopped us until yesterday with the news if the Newtown massacre. Our hearts grieved watching the news break. I turned the TV off not wanting to be caught in the drama, perhaps thinking that turning the news off would turn it off in our hearts, but it didn't. At a certain point, our family crawled in bed and just held each other. We are do blessed for what we have. I haven't made art in months and I sat down tonight realizing that to make a beautiful picture is very important to the world. There isn't enough beauty in the world. My art making was put on the back burner after my agent passed on a children's book idea I had. I thought that making art was a waste and frivolous. Tonight I rediscovered that art is never frivolous. It consoles the heart and inspires one to be brave enough to journey forward. My heart and prayers go to families that lost loved ones in Newtown. My humble drawing is a tribute to the memories that last longer than things. Love is never lost.

It's No Secret...I'm Chasing Stars!

2012-11-04T10:18:00.001-08:00

It's no secret. I want to share my life with you. I can finally admit, or understand, that I'm a perfectionist. It isn't a good thing and it does show up in my life in strange ways. I'm not nutso-crazy about my clothes being perfectly ironed, but I am nutty about my creative projects being completed close to perfection. This isn't good. I self-sabotage the completion of projects because I can't stand looking at something that isn't done the way I intended it to be. (Sidenote: I made that Fall Jacket! And it came out awful! LOL! So that is why I never posted the final result! I had a really good laugh over it once I was done-and this is real progression on my party) Perfectionism has wrecked havoc on my writing career! I write and hide it away. Do you do this in your life? It's kind of funny a blogger does this! At some point, a girl has to decide to change her life. In order for me to reach the stars of my destiny, dear readers, I will be in hibernation for the next month as I do NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).

I have taken several steps to change and break that perfectionist streak. I have a deadline for my novel-that is big news! I did something else that makes me gasp to see that I'm changing---I hired a babysitter from a sign I found posted at a nearby park. But, the lord works in answering prayers! It turns out that the babysitter that now watches our toddler is AMAZING! She speaks French (tres chic!) and loves to play. I couldn't feel more blessed that life is working with me to accomplish this life dream. I am taking the greatest risk in my life by finally working and being who I am in this moment. I am not limited by memories of the past. I am only in this moment. I might not be perfect, but-heck-who is? I can only be myself and let it shine.

I will try to update occasionally through the month, but that really isn't a promise. Please follow me on twitter where I can post quick notes! Most of all, thanks to every reader that has been at Modern Girl Style and continues to follow all of my misadventures!

Buy it or Make it: Denim Jeans

2012-10-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

I have been the luckiest girl lately. I am back to my pre-baby weight and size thanks to a change in my diet and making time to exercise! It means that I can fit my old jeans, but that doesn't mean I want to wear them. I'm a new girl after having a baby and my wardrobe should reflect the journey. As much I love denim, I don't like to shop for it. Isn't it a chore when it comes to finding new jeans? I also cringe at the cost of Paige Jeans, $298 for a basic pair, even though they are truly a remarkable feat of beautiful engineering. I'm a mom now and budget is the word. Thanks to lady luck on my recent shopping spree! I went vintage shopping and scored three pairs of jeans that I am in love with! As I'm not Canadian, I wasn't familiar with these two Canadian denim manufactors, but holla! Every girl in North America should know these labels. First up, Silver Jeans Co.

{Image from Jason in Hollywood-read this blog to keep current on billboards in LA}

The Silver Jean Co. was established twenty years ago by Michael Silver. He earned an degree in Fine Arts and went to work in the fashion industry for Western Glove Works. He learned the craft of denim and was inspired to launch his line of clothing for Men and Women. I respect that he mentions in an awesome interview on creating denim fashions that he is tireless about details such as thread, fabric, and dye.

Read more awesome interviews at Denim Blog

BUY IT: Silver Jeans

I bought two styles of Silver Jeans. The average cost of a pair is $100 at places like Macy's, but I was super lucky and found two pairs in my size, in perfect condition, at the thrift store for $3.99 each! I couldn't buy a Pumpkin Spice Latte for the cost of that. I also found a pair of Paige Jeans for my sister-in-law and got them for only $3.99, too! Yes-authentic Paige Jeans for less than a latte! So people, if you are scared of thrift store shopping or hitting a vintage resale shop---YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE MISSING! Let's take a look at what I got for under $20.

The first pair I bought were the Suki Bootcut. You can pick up a pair at one of my favorite online resources, Sierra Trading Post, for $50. I bought a pair of Ariat Cowboy Boots for $60 and those fit perfectly on my foot! Sierra Trading Post rocks! Aren't the back pockets sweet, too?

I want to add that I love the generous inseam of both pairs of my Silver Jeans. They look amazing with the tallest pair of high heels. The second pair I bought are called Toni Bootcut Stretch. You can pick up a pair here on eBay in all sizes for about half the price. Awesome!

I love the crinkled front, which look naturally worn in, and the red thread detail!

BUY IT: Second Denim Co.

I have seen the ads everywhere for Yoga Jeans. I was turned off by the whole approach to tell you the truth. I do yoga. I even have my Yoga Teaching Certificate and for some reason I want my denim separate from my yoga gear. It's like I need to keep my emotional connections to my garments in different categories and I don't want to mix it up. I'm not sure why I'm like this, but we all know at this point, I'm a bit crazy! So when I found a pair of these typically $130 jeans at the thrift store for $3.99, I had to try them.

Well, it turns out I was crazy to have never tried them before. These are AMAZING! I'm a new fan of Second Yoga Jeans. I can't wait to get another pair and soon! Here is the pair I bought. After washing them according to directions, I can at this point take a low iron to them. I haven't done that and I'm not sure if I will, but if the wrinkles concern you then just make a note you can iron the wrinkles out. I bought the Yoga Style 26, which is a high-waisted fit, trim through the leg, modest flare at the ankle, and a blend of cotton with elasticine that results in zero bagginess after wearing for hours. Yeah!

In the end, I'm wearing denim to wear denim. I will never wear them to do yoga, as they have been advertised. I really think they way they were trying to sell the comfort and stretch should have been shown differently. They really are amazing and look beautiful on my curvy body. Have you ever tried these jeans? What do you think of them?

MAKE IT: At this point would I serious make my own pair of denim jeans?

{Roy Denim via 189.com}

Heck yeah! Why not? As Maddie, blogger of Madalynne, points out that it is getting harder to make your own jeans due to needing specific denim sewing machines and etc. But, don't let that stop you. She has an amazing list of ways to make sewing your own denim jeans happen at home.

Sallie's Tips on How to Sew Denim via Madalynne

If that isn't enough to get you started, then head over to Very Purple Person. I love the denim jeans worn with the yellow peplum shirt. I seriously want that girl's skills to sew. Novita makes it look so easy! I have so much to learn and right now I'm on a backlog of finishing my fall coat and getting the halloween costumes done in time Oct. 31! Wish me luck....isn't this outfit to die for? I love Novita and her blog, Very Purple Person, for just considering what's possible with home sewing.

If you don't want to read anymore, and you want to sew your own jeans, then based on Novita's advice pick up a copy of Butterick Pattern 5682. Please post a link if you indeed get a pair of jeans made or if you did like me and bought!

Weekend Giveaway: Cowboy Boot Print

2012-10-13T12:25:00.001-07:00

It's my birthday today and I want to share the cake with you! I want to give away this small print I made of a vintage cowgirl boot. Leave a comment to win on my blog, twitter, or at Instagram (The link will take you to Followgram and on that page is a barcode that you scan with your smartphone and it directly loads MGS on Instagram! I love geekie stuff like that!). The winner will be announced on Wednesday October 17, 2012!

Buy it or Make it: Wilfred Rocco Skirt

2012-10-11T09:08:00.002-07:00

I have flipped for skirts this fall. I recently picked up something like seven skirts from a vintage store shopping excursion. It might be due to the fact that I recently read that wearing denim can cause women to feel more depressed than those that dress in other clothes. Don't get me wrong. I love denim! But, I feel more alive, bubbly, and zesty for life when I style an outfit together for the day. At my recent shopping trip to Aritzia at Toronto's Eaton Center, my daughter loved the music inside the shop and also the window display. They had these beautiful cut-out tree with a winter background. I was struck by the simple skirt on display. The overall outfit isn't something that I would wear. The skirt would be a good modern staple in any girl's closet. I snapped a picture and found on the Aritzia website the closest match to what I had seen. To be honest, I like this skirt better than the original picture that I took! It is the called the Wilfred Rocco Skirt and retails for $115. It does have a paper-bag waist, the maroon skirt above doesn't.

MAKE IT!

This simple cut of the skirt would make me want to sew my own version and tailor the fabric to my wardrobe. I found a great pattern for beginners. It is Simplicity Pattern 2286, Version A. I wouldn't add the ribbon detail, but I would topstitch the hem to mock the source of inspiration.

For those with more experience, I would suggest Cynthia Rowley Pattern 2215. It is out of print, but don't let that stop you from getting it. Etsy, eBay, and Amazon are all awesome options! Here is a link to it on Etsy. Sew up the skirt during the weekend, save yourself about $80, and go have lunch with the girls! That is one reason I love to sew. It can be cost effective and if you really like the cut, then sew it up in other fabrics and prints for year-round style.

It's Made! Girls who have sewn the Cynthia Rowley pattern:

My favorite sewing shop, The Workroom, offers her own version at her blog, Make Something. Remember you can play with hem length based on your sense of style. The first two pictures are done by the blogger, Make Something.

Why not try the pattern with some color? The blogger of Sew Your Own Place did just that with beautiful results.

It seems these bloggers are hooked on CR Pattern 2215! She did one in denim, too.

Now, it's up to you! Do you want to buy it or make it?

Calvin Klein Push Positive Bra: Sponsored Post*

2012-10-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I was approached by Calvin Klein Underwear to review their new soft-wire Push Positive bra. I am constantly approached by companies, and sometimes I am asked to do things, and it never materializes. However, I couldn't explain the utter surprise I had when the Push Positive bra appeared at my door step!

Do I need to remind you that the right bra can make or break an outfit? Last Saturday, for the first time in two and half years, I went out for a night out on the town. I wore the bra and as I was exiting the bathroom, I couldn't help but covertly snap this picture of a girl wearing the wrong bra!

The thing is that we have all done this. We don't take the time to select the right undergarments and it has to be one of the most important aspects of dressing. The last time I went bra shopping was a year after having baby and it was awful. I found that the lifting bras had so much padding that I looked ridiculous and most of them were so uncomfortable. I gave up and went back to wearing my maternity bras until I had more time to find the right bra. Bra shopping isn't easy, let alone with a toddler. So, I was very interested in what was inside the box.

Inside, I found the most beautiful animal-print bra.

I tried it on and was worried that I had the wrong size. I'm a 36B, but I looked like DD's! The bra lifted and pressed everything so much that I had a hard time believing it. I thought, well, maybe it was too tight, but then I brought out my inner bra-fitting guru. I check the band around my chest and saw that it wasn't too tight and I wasn't bulging out. Great! The next most important area to consider when fitting a bra is the cup. Let me speak in simple terms: If you try the bra on and you appear to have four boobs, then the cup size is too small! It is a real pet-peeve of mine. I studied the Push Positive bra on me and found that it was a perfect round line from my chest to the bra. Awesome! The last step and perhaps the most important step after those requirements are meet: How do I feel in it?

I felt sexy, comfortable, and ready for that night out on the town! I literally felt my upper torso transformed in a beautiful way. That means so much to a new mom, I can't even tell you! I wore the bra under my favorite Rachel Roy dress. It's hard to see in the picture below the transformation due to the shot, but I don't plan on doing a photo shoot of me wearing the bra. Suffice it to say, I really am amazing and in love with the CK Push Positive bra. If you want to see it underneath different types of tops, check it out at Her Room. The bra retails for around $49. It one investment that I recommend to any modern girl!

{ I'm feeling sexy in my Calvin Klein Push Positive Bra! }

*Thanks to CK for sponsoring me to review this bra! If the product was poor, I wouldn't have given this review!

Things I am Loving: Kate Hudson to J Crew Toronto

2012-10-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, our condo building was having plumbing upgraded and the water was shut-off for the entire day. That meant a trip to Toronto's Eaton Center was in order. On my adventure at the mall, which with a 14 month old girl is truly an adventure, I fell in love with Kate Hudson for Ann Taylor. The peplum dress, shown on the right, is a fantastic example of beautiful tailoring and fit. These are classic dresses that inspired me to pick out some patterns that would replicate the look at a fraction of the cost.

I love the bold print and edgy leather and stud bracelet. The hard leather and metal look is showing up everywhere in accessory lines, from Ann Taylor to Jacob (a French-Canadian Label that I also adore).

I love this behind the scenes picture with Kate Hudson and the photographer-so Kate, so timeless! I think I might l love the flower arrangement and the large bay of french windows as much as the beige lace dress!

I discovered that the Bebe store had been replaced with J.Crew Toronto. I love J.Crew, but the next picture I took was that I loved the styling. Why not place a bold necklace over the collar of a vest-it's a styling touch I would never have thought to try. I'm sure it came out of the necessity to show more product to window shoppers like me, but I still think its a great way to update a look.

I have to agree with the blogger of The Rantings of a Shopaholic, that I wasn't in love with J. Crew Fall 2012. There are some nice pieces, but I wasn't fanatic about the mixture of patterns or the strange faux animal fabrics.

What I was most in love with was watching Daddy walk our baby girl! She is quite fast, but still toddling along in the most endearing manner. My absolute favorite was watching her walk into a store with loud bass music and start dancing right there at the entrance! It's something I'll never forget and I love how she made other shoppers forget what they were doing and laugh!

Finding Me

2012-10-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

Since my last post, I've been on a soul-searching trek to find my authentic self. It's not that I haven't been true to myself. I had been turning away from my authentic self by not making time for myself, which is easy to do as a new mother. I found that with the little free time I had I would use it to rattle off into totally new adventures and new hobbies. It was fun. I spent much of my summer doing this. But in the end, the fun was short lived because I wasn't stepping into the place that really mattered. I wasn't living my life chasing after what I felt in heart was my life purpose.

My life passion is to write. I write novels, non-fiction, and blogs. I didn't consider that all the small little adventures I was having along the way would cost me the time to work at my life purpose and passion. By the start of this month, I realized I lost connection to my current WIP (Work in Progess-a novel set in Paris). The lost connection that I had made me believe that maybe I was wrong about my life purpose. Maybe I wasn't a writer. Maybe the novel was a terrible idea to complete. And so on played out all of these destructive inner dialogues about how I wasn't good enough.

Suddenly, my curiosities, hobbies, and random things I had picked up along the way got to the point that I was literally shut-out of my writing studio. There was clutter everywhere. I had no space in my studio to think, do, or act. I moved my writing down to the kitchen studio and ignored what was happening in my writing studio.

Then I got to the point where I felt lost in the woods. A series of seemingly random things happened to help jog my consciousness that on a deeper level that I was hiding from my life passion. There were things that jolted my realization. The opening of the movie, Limitless, jolted me awake. Bradley Cooper portrays an aspiring writer, lost in clutter, lost in direction until he takes a mysterious pill that gives him the full capacity of his brain.

I have put off organizing my writing studio since our home finished up renovations in August. In August, I had family visit for three weeks so I didn't have time to work on it. They left. I got back to writing but still felt lost. Life always has a method to its madness. I was constantly getting little messages that I needed to get back to my life purpose and the writing. I took a yoga class at Power Yoga Canada and one of the teachers said that there is no power in hesitation. That jolted me hard. After that same class, I used a changing room with a quote by Bob Dylan that said, "All I can do is be me. Whoever that is."

It was like a truck was driving over my conscious sensibility. I had to be authentic. I had to be willing to fail and take creative risks. I had to be inventive and make choices in the moment-not later after reading other people's advice. Now is the hour. Now is the moment. And when I made this switch in my brain. A path opened up before me. I got clear. I wasn't as frightened to take the journey and own it and realize that it was going to be my life and I would love it through all the struggle.

You could say that my well of creativity, strength, and hope was refilled. I wasn't lost. I just had to make a choice and step in that direction. Every day is a small step of progress. Every day I have opportunity to believe that chasing my life purpose will bring out deeper things for me to understand and feel. Life isn't just about success. It's about the process. The memories you make. The people you love. The way that when you shine in the light by being your authentic self, that gives other people the inspiration to reveal their authentic light too. And that could only make the world a better place. Now that I got that off my heart, it's time for me to go and clean my studio.

House Hunting in West Toronto: A Lesson on To Flip or Not?

2012-09-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

Along Humber River in West Toronto, just south of Bloor, there are several beautiful neighborhoods, populated with beautiful quaint homes, jaw-dropping mega mansions, and the humble in betweens. Since my husband and I had Makena, now 13 months old, we are being ever-so encouraged by both of our families to get into a detached home. The idea of owning property in Toronto is daunting. The competition is fierce and prices are newsworthy high. However, there does still remain the possibility that with some good luck and timing, a house in need of a decent flip could make owning in Toronto affordable. My in-laws just finished a complete house flip in less than eight months, most of the work being done by my father in law. Yesterday, we took a drive through these quaint neighborhoods and shopped the market. After I obsessed on the mega mansions, which failed to capture on my phone so I'll post later, I pointed out this lovely Nantucket-style home. I love the rough-cut stacked stone detail of the front entrance and the oversized white wood trim, the finished landscaping, and beautiful curb appeal of the house. The bay window is a great feature for the hot summer months, too.

My father in law was less impressed with the Nantucket house. He pointed out there was no driveway (the asphalt driveway on the right belongs to the neighbor), no garage-think about those winter months with baby, and little backyard. He also contended that the floorplan couldn't be customized to our liking. He is 100% flip it. A drive down the street...

My father in law points out this house. It has great structure and the project wouldn't be overwhelming for our first flip.

My father inlaw liked the flat location, which is tricky to find in the neighborhood, the property size, but wasn't thrilled to see it lacked the same basics like a garage and parking. With delight, this next house is a no brainer. My mother in law loved it too. We both loved the black metal fence and gated entrance, the private veranda, not seen in this shot with views of the Humber river, and the flourishing plants. On this cul-de-sac street, there was also a small dog park that would only be used by locals. Perfect for having a child, but perfect for having many more! My father in law laughed-sure you want that house, we all do! At an easy $4M price tag, it was clearly out of budget. But, baby, you got to dream!!!

There were a few more recently flipped houses in the area. The trouble is that I've lived in new houses my entire life. The idea of moving into a project, and having to temporarily house elsewhere during construction, seems overwhelming with the prospect of also having a family and finishing a final edit on novel. That's a full plate!

The next house my father in law detested the double arches, contending that the middle could easily lead to water trouble down the road. I could see his point. David Small Designs is a sign that I've seen repeatedly on several house projects in Toronto. Just based on what I've seen on the street, I'm loving their work. To see their portfolio, click here.

There were several more beautiful traditional multi-million dollar homes. They might not look it due to age, but they are based on location and size. Could you image living in an older home like this? With my California suburban tract roots, I find it hard to image what it might actually be like to live in an older home like this. It looks like a movie set to me, something that I very rarely saw in Irvine, Orange County or in the beach communities of LA. These homes are there in Cali, but I guess they were always off my radar growing up.

My father in law would always bring me back to reality and teach me about the possibilities of changing a home through renovation. He liked this next one, saying it would be a great place to start.

I had to joke and point out this next house-wait---where the heck is it?! You know it must be in there somewhere. My father in law laughed, but said it would be a great one to flip. He knew I was getting his point.

The final house everyone in the car agreed on. It had the fine bones of good house. The location was fantastic with it being on a private, no-exit, street, but that my father in-law pointed out added $200K to the price. The house has a driveway, garage, and could use some work. However, it didn't need that much. It goes to reason that it might be wise to strike a balance. We shouldn't jump into the cess-pit of a beater house nor into the allure of brand-new home.

For now, we are keeping our eye on the market to see what might come our way!

Things to Sew: Fall Jackets

2012-09-12T09:20:00.002-07:00

I love September because the weather is typically filled with the warm remnants of summer. As the last of summer fades away, there is a shift to creating that same cozy warmth, and nothing makes fall more enjoyable than a fall jacket. There are several images that have me excited about the idea of covering up in style. Olivia Palermo fall jacket style is classic and modern.

Palermo's coat has beautiful details like the oversize pockets and the horn-shape buttons. Overall, I want something a bit more fuzzy and cozy.

Then I found the jacket I love. It's a Catherine Malandrino Bell Coat, which at $1900 is something I'm not going to the store to pick up. However, I have a better idea. Why not get fearless in the sewing room and sew it?!

I went to my local fabric store and found this on sale for $5-yard. I like that it reflects the current chevron trend, too. When shopping for fabric, I can't stress enough that you take the fabric and look at in the mirror. Does the fabric work with your skin tones? Will the fabric work with your wardrobe? You should also ask yourself if you went shopping would you buy it already finished? Sometimes it can be hard to have the vision to see the end product. That's why designers get paid the big bucks, right! Yet, it pays to ask the questions. It's important to not just mindlessly sew clothes but to think as a designer and stylist. I love looking through magazines and books on sewing but so often I feel that they have no idea what's going on in the fashion world. Clothes need the influence of fashion to make them exciting! I purchased this fabric because it went well with my eyes and it should work with my wardrobe. On the other hand, I'm nervous that it won't work and I'll look like a couch, but that's the gamble you have to take when you sew!

The pattern I selected was Burda 7131. I'll be sewing the coat on the right.

This is the first coat I've attempted to sew so I may very well end up looking like a pillow cushion! As for right now, I've got to run and take care of the little munchkin. My beautiful baby girl is 13 months today and more fun than ever. Needless to mention, being a new mom, my project will have to be a weekend or late night project.

Pickling to Hell and Back (With a Dash of Tiffany & CO thrown in!)

2012-09-11T08:43:00.001-07:00

Last night, I set out to pickle. I got all the equipment set-up. I had bought brand new glass jars, which is getting hard to find at this time of the season. I organized my work space so that everything went smoothly. My husband and inlaws took our baby for a walk to the park. So it was really the perfect moment to make dill pickles. I sliced the cukes up and that's when the idea of a wonderful evening of pickling went to hell-in-a-hand basket!

It turns out the new glass jars don't fit any of my canning pots. That was the first strike. My family returned sooner than expected, strike two. Dinner wasn't made, strike three. It was all domestic chaos. The pickles got thrown aside until things cooled down. It wasn't until ten o'clock at night, after the family was fed, the baby was bathed and put to sleep, that I finally could think about pickles! Yikes! Nothing beats a good foodie adventure. The jars were sterilized and ready to go. After boiling up the brine, super easy stuff, I was finally able to pour it over my packed pickles. The pickles I bought were short and so I placed a few short pieces on top. Martha Stweart would have rolled in her grave if she were there! She was probably rolling in her sleep with nightmares about my pickling technique! I repeat: DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!

Okay, so brine in, cukes pickled. What was I going to do about the jars not fitting my canning pots? I found a silver stock pot in my kitchen that would allow the jars to fit by placing the jars directly on the bottom surface of the pot. This is a huge no-no! Glass jars could break and things could get much, much, much worse. But a girl has to do what a girl has to do. I was pickling even if it meant exploding jars of cukes! I seriously felt like a crazy old witch watching boiling water leap out of the pot. I kept wiping the water up and leaping back when large water bubbles broke the surface of the stock pot.

I could only do two jars at time in the stock pot. The processing time in the boiling water was 20 minutes. At 12:45AM, I had finally pulled the last two jars from stock pot. Oh my goodness! I did it. Nothing exploded. Everything looks beautiful and when I woke up from only 6.5 hours of sleep. I was giddy with excited to check my pickles. A couple of quick pokes at the lid to check the seal, and wham-bam-thank you ma'am, I did it! The pickles are golden!

My sister laughed and asked why pickles? Why not jam or fruit? I replied, why not! What tastes better with a sandwich than a juicy dill pickle! She laughed. I get to wait a couple of weeks before I truly figure out if things went well. The front two jars are using a recipe that I took from the awesome book, The Beginner's Guide to Preserving Food at Home by Janet Chadwick. The recipe I used was "Easy Dill Pickle."

Pickling is truly easy. It only gets hard when family chaos errupts and your equipment sucks. But even then, a girl can always get by with style. On that note, it wasn't that bad of a night. In the midst of all this craziness, my father inlaw was trying to help my husband find his lost keys. He stuck his hand into our club chair and pulled out my Tiffany & CO 1837 ring that I thought I lost six years ago! Yeah, baby! It was completely tarnished but a quick polish brought it back to its fine Tiffany standard! What a night! Pickles and Tiffany's. Could I ask for more?

My Sister and Leann Rhimes

2012-09-11T07:45:00.001-07:00

My sister is a stylist, esthetician and nail tech at an exclusive Indianapolis Day Spa. On Sunday she had the joy to work on Leann Rhimes. Don't they both look so beautiful! My sister is so talented! I just wish I had half the talent that she has at doing hair and makeup. I have always said that our wedding photos were published in Town and Country because my sister did my hair and makeup! She is that good!

Sweets in the Kitchen

2012-08-16T09:13:00.001-07:00

Life has been so domestic lately. My little 12 month-old angel seems to only be cool with me doing lots of cooking and baking in the kitchen. She likes to sit at the end of the kitchen and look through all of my cookbooks while I work. Lately, she has really been loving my books on ice cream and gelato. It's made me feel inspired to pull my ice cream maker out and get something going. I want to make something that's in season. Using the August Guide to Fruits and Veggies, I thought Apricot-Basil Ice Cream sounded amazing. Guess what? I've got the recipe!

Grab the Apricot-Basil Ice Cream Recipe from Domestic Fits and take a seat in this kitchen. It's the sweetest way to beat the end of summer heat!

I Love Besotted Brand Stamps!

2012-08-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased a custom stamp from Besotted Brand Shoppe and I LOVE IT! I used it to create the envelopes for my daughter's first birthday invites. Here is a close-up of the stamp. Lovely, isn't it? You can have anything written on the stamps. What would you put on your stamp?

The final outcome. The stamp on the bottom right is something I picked up years ago at Paper Source. Check out the lovely stuff at Besotted Brand while still available. And I should mention that Besotted Brand Blog is one of my all time favorite reads-so this lovely post was created from a place of love, not sponsorship!

Three Ways to Find Balance Today

2012-07-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'm one month shy of surviving the first year of motherhood. Surviving isn't the word I should pick. I should be writing about all the beautiful blessing of motherhood, but honestly running the NYC marathon was easier than the constant whirlwind of meeting all the needs of a family, nevermind me. But this isn't going to be a rant. I want to highlight 3 ways that I have found balance over the last year.

Tip #1: Breathe

This works when driving, in a fight, stuck in a long line, or dealing with the ruckus of family life. Don't hold the tension inside and let it build. Seriously, several deep breaths can take all the chaos and mayhem and bring it back down to plant earth. Take a breath. Try it now. Doesn't that feel better.

Tip #3: Do You

Don't ask for you time. Take it. The saying goes it's always easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission. That makes me laugh, but to stay sane you need time to have fun, read, journal, beat a drum. Do it. Do you.

Tip #3: Get Healthy

This is truly the magic way to find balance-get in shape! Exercise, eat natural & well, and volia! Life shifts into the fun zone, but I found it really hard to start the engine and get revving back to a healthy lifestyle. I had to wait after giving birth for my body to give me the cues on when it was going to be good to slowly gain my strength back. For me, as a breatfeeding mom, I wasn't really ready to jump back in until the ninth month. I tried before that. I even got myself set-up to do P90X in January, at six months, but my body said back off, give it a little more time, and things will get better. At the moment, I force my healthy lifestyle on the family. I wake up, do yoga and a bit of weights. In the afternoon, I grab the jogging stroller and go for a walk or run, depending on the heat and humidity. In the evenings, I skip over-indulging on foods. My favorite go to book at the moment is Jackie Warner's book, titled This is Why You're Fat.

It is really realistic and achieveable. Eat clean for five days. That was my first challenge. I did it and found that by the weekend I didn't feel like drinking loads of coffee or eating too much sugar. I felt better being in control. I felt better being in balance.

{images via Pinterest, Jennifer Causey, and inspired by Creature Comforts Blog}

Home Renovation Teaches the Soul to Grow

2012-06-22T10:56:00.001-07:00

I wish I was could tell you that I was a happy camper like the sweet little girl above, but living in a condo suite for two and half weeks wasn't easy. I didn't have any books, art supplies, sewing projects, time to write, or space to relax. It was just me, my working husband, and my darling ten-month old baby who did remarkably well-no surprise there! The odd thing that I learned after being deprived of all my things, knick-knacks, and projects was that I really don't need all the stuff. That isn't a big surprise. Every guru on the planet tells people to simplify their lives to be happier. Countless magazines, newspapers, and blogs are always offering the same advice packaged in new ways. Real Simple created a hugely successful niche on living without the clutter. Live simply. The idea is almost too simple to understand. But, I got finally it. My life changed after two and half weeks of not being at home.

In the first week that I was living at the condo suite, I bought the UK magazine, Digital Camera World. Strangely, I was shy to buy it. I earned a Bachelors in Fine Arts with a focus in Photography, Film, and Creative Writing. Why would I need a magazine on the basics of digital photography? Well, I haven't taken photography seriously since my days in university and I could stand to update my digital photography skills. It was also easy to grab my camera equipment and still manage baby. Inside the May 2012 magazine, I was strangely moved by a journalistic shot of a Palestinian man standing in a barber shop. The shop is crammed full of stuff-kind of like my work studio!

{Mariusz Smiejek's "At the Barber's"}{image source}

I read the caption by the photographer. Smiejek captured the image to illustrate "horror vacui," or the fear of emptiness, which is a characteristic of Islamic art. I closed the magazine and went off to do things for the day, but the concept of horror vacui never left me. I suffered from horror vacui. I had this strange way of filling every space in my home with things, although mostly books and art supplies. This image struck a huge, A-Ha, moment for me. For the next couple of weeks, I paid attention to discovering who I was without the stuff.

The best lesson that home renovation taught me was to let go and allow life to work its way on me. I gave up the pressure to create, write, or do really anything at all. In my abandon, I rediscovered that I love to write. I really love to read. I love to take pictures. I love to create. I found myself being completely authentic and I don't need all the clutter in order to do it.

With that, hopefully, I haven't left you feeling confused. I want to share the story of how I am growing to trust myself more, trust my abilities, and trust that life provides all the things that I need, rather than trying to chase after all the wants. Emptiness isn't loneliness. It's learning to trust that the universe will provide, given that you don't go to Vegas and blow everything you've got. That being said, our home reno taught my soul to grow in ways I never expected.

Trying to Stay Sane During A Reno

2012-06-06T12:27:00.001-07:00

Our beautiful hardwood floors have finally appeared in our home. Thank you Reno-angels! It seems like the end is in sight! We've been in the process since October and it hasn't been easy. Not with a new baby and writing. More soon...got to run!

Camp NanoWriMo 2012 & Why I Write

2012-06-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Second-ever Camp NanoWriMo 2012! I heard about this two days ago via Fiction Notes and decided to take the challenge. I'm not taking the traditional NanoWriMo {which stands for National Novel Writing Month, typically done in November} challenge. I am going to use Camp Nanowrimo to finish connecting all the loose ends in my WIP {work in progress}. I encourage all newbies or old writers alike to join me in the process.

For those creatives reading, where do you like to write? Personally, I love writing poolside. The sand on a beach can get messy and then I get distracted wanting to just have fun. Pools work really well for me. I can recall a few years ago that Hollywood screenwriters were being found at the mall in the food courts writing out scripts. So it doesn't have to be a really glamourous place that one writes. One place that I truly avoid is Starbucks and libraries. I always seem to attract people that want to talk and etc. I want to write, not chit-chat! Oh, one book that came out of a NaNoWriMo challenge was The Night Circus:

Why are you talking about Writing at Modern Girl Style?

So a quick note on the creative craziness of my life as of recent. In January, I started learning how to sew. I totally love the new hobby which can really pull me away from my first passion---writing! The truth is I've been ambitiously working on a novel for like five years. I can recall when I first moved to Toronto, met all these new people, and told them I was a writer. The automatic next question was, "What are you writing?" A novel. Exciting stuff! I wrote the first draft that year. After I completed it, I read what I wrote. From first to the last page, I knew I was in trouble. My book was utter and total crap!

But just in case I was wrong {and I really don't recommend trying this yourself}, I sent it off to an agent based on a recommendation from a wonderful published writer. Tres exciting!!! I mean getting recommended to a NYC agent by a published writer is a really big thing. Yet, I was really hoping that the agent would see something that I didn't it-namely like my book was good. Well, after a month-long exclusive with the agent. I got the word back. She passed on my book. I had confirmation. My book was terrible. I felt awful, but I trudged forward. I cut pretty much everything out of that draft of my novel till nothing was left and that didn't seem to do enough. I took things a step further. I stopped writing, and even blogging, for that matter, which was too bad because I had been in a really awesome place. I just lost faith and strength to get past the first draft phase and rewrite the damn book. So I did what a child might do. I hit the eject button on my life when I really should have pulled up my boot straps and kept hiking that mountain.

At the same time, I had the opportunity to become a yoga teacher. It was the perfect place to hide. I got lost in downward dogs and Lulu spandex. The hard part was all those friends that kept faith in my writing when I had lost it. They kept asking about the book and I kept telling them I was working on it. After some time, they finally got the idea and stopped asking about my book. It's a bad feeling. Trust me on it! But it's also a place that can be redeemed! After my bout with Yoga, I realized I wasn't going to get the sort of satisfaction that writing alone can give me. Last April, I had an idea for a non-fiction book that was just burning inside me. I was pregnant and couldn't teach yoga. So I wrote. I got the proposal together and sent it off to five agents that I expected would never respond. In two weeks, I received a nice rejection email from an agency in NYC. I never heard back from the other four agents and I never bothered to send off to any other agents because my pregnancy was gaining my attention, and well, the truth was I was hurting as a writer. But then I was pregnant and I wasn't working and I turned to the one thing that always consoled me, writing. It was a real turning point for me. A few pages turned into several chapters. Suddenly, I got the mojo back to write. I thought I can do this! I wrote and wrote and wrote, while being preggers. Two week after I gave birth, I got THE CALL FROM AN AGENT in regards to my non-fiction proposal. She loved my idea and wanted to represent it. I was delighted. I laughed and danced. I kissed my new baby! I felt so blessed. If a non-fiction book idea could happen, I thought to myself, then selling my novel could, too.

Life has an interesting way of forcing your hand. I had to fail to get better. Writing is a magical process. The ideas, the characters, the plots, and the fundamental truths that are woven into the fiction help me, as a writer, to find meaning in my life. So, in January, I got into sewing. I was exhausted from working on the non-fiction proposal, which I had to rewrite for my agent. I needed to take a break from writing, but I think I was starting to hide from the writing again. The sewing was getting to be like the yoga, but this time instead of completely flinging myself into it. I tamed it. I would sew only on weekends. This has proven to be really helpful for me. To add to the mayhem of being a new mom, trying to sell a non-fiction book, learning to sew, our home was hit with a major water issue. Our place has been under construction for the last six months, literally. The final phase is here and we are going to be kicked-out of our condo for the next month, which translate to no sewing or art making, just a plain old month of writing. Is life telling me something? Yes! I found out about the Camp Nanowrimo and I just knew I was meant to complete this novel, in all of its revisions, this month. It's time to deliver!

There you have it. My life in a blog post. I hope this helps to unlock a bit of the madness of Modern Girl Style, a blog that is a place for me and others to dream. Dreaming is the first step, but listen at some point every girl has to become a woman and realize that she has the power to transform, redeem, and be exactly who she is!

Tumblr Link Love: Griottes 365

2012-05-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

Griottes 365 is the foodie's and stylist's ultimate dream. It is loaded with the most amazing images. I can't stop drooling. I love the simplicity of the prop styling and the elegant French touch. Could a simple meal feel any more beautiful?

When you are done browsing the archives, head over to Griottes blog for the most recent updates.

Afternoon Ideas to Beat the Heat!

2012-05-29T16:25:00.002-07:00

Afternoon Ideas to Beat the Heat!

1. Create.

Draw. Dance. Paint. Sew. Doodle. Write. Ahem, shameless plug for my Ink My Heart Creative Writing Workshop. Take 15 minutes to do something when the heat is hot this summer! image via UnCovet

2. Shop.

Hello I love Emerson Fry!

3. Swim.

Take the plunge anywhere you can! Why not here? Read more on Minimalist Home Design while you're at it!

4. Love.

Yeah, this one is the best of all! Give someone you love a hug! Pic from here.

Did you catch that? Why not try to write that little story that has been haunting you for years! Ink My Heart is the perfect way to get the juices flowing!

Ink My Heart: A Creative Writing Workshop

2012-05-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

Ombre Hair Color & Hair Chalking

2012-05-26T08:45:00.002-07:00

Ombre Hair technique had once been the French girl's secret. Suddenly, it has splashed on the shores of the States and women are loving the look. The fantastic purpose is of Ombre hair coloring is not just that it is more wallet-friendly, but that it highlights beautiful soft beach waves.

Hair Chalking is a fantastic way to amp the style of your ombre hair. It's quite simple and there are plenty of products on the market available to temporary color your hair.

Here is a great DIY tutorial on hair chalking! This post will run through a bit more inspiration.

Love it and want to keep it? Try this!

Looking for more inspiration? Grab these images or find your own here!