Sunday 29 October 2023

Come on Barbie Let's Go Party





Welcome to What I Wore: Halloween Edition!  To be correct, it's what I'll be wearing tomorrow to school!  This year my admin partner and I are going to do a duo costume and surprisingly he was a good sport to go along with Barbie and Ken.  The kids will love it and I enjoyed putting my costume together.  Bless my sweet, real life Ken, for helping me create the boxes.   If we ever need a couple costume in the future we are going to do this for sure.

I went with "Sporty" Barbie as I could create the look using the Smash & Tess Barbie jumpsuit in my closet, the pink converse shoes lent to me by my teen, this suprisingly good quality wig, and this little baseball shirt I found at Urban Planet!  Side note,  I am totally going to be styling this baseball top way past Halloween.  I had so much fun getting this outfit pulled together and I am grateful that I have a work environment where everyone gets dressed up.  One of these years I am going to host an adult only Halloween party!

For past Halloween costumes see this post.










Do you dress-up?  If so, what are you going to be?  Do you host a Halloween party, tell me more?  


Shop This Post:

Smash & Tess Barbie Romper (Poshmark; for size reference I wear XS)

Pink Converse Hightops

Urban Planet Baseball Jersey (sold out; see Barbie items)

Blond Wig




Wednesday 18 October 2023

Ageless Style: Birthday Party Attire



Welcome back to our monthly Ageless Style!  After taking last month off from blogging, I am back with the ladies of Ageless Style and this months prompt is brought to you by our October baby, Marsha Banks of Marsha in the Middle.  Happy birthday to Marsha!  I don't know about you but for the most part we and our friends keep birthdays pretty low key nowadays unless its a milestone birthday.  We usually get together for a dinner/appies and drinks, which for most of us in the parenting years is a night out with the adults!  Woot, woot!  

A night out with adult friends is a treat and I always like to put a little extra effort into looking and feeling good.  I wore this outfit this past weekend when we went out.  Full disclosure, I've wanted to wear it since last winter but feel self-conscious.  Am I too old?  Should I be showing my midriff?  Does it seem like I am trying too hard?  Is it appropriate?  And on and on go the questions.  My 16 year old was like, yes it's cute.  I don't understand why you are so unsure.  She honestly had no idea what was going through my head.  Isn't that AWESOME?!?  I love that she confident!  That she is sure of her clothing choices.  Something I didn't have at her age and am still working on at 41.  Regardless I took the chance and went for it and the longer I wore it, the more it felt like me.  Sometimes we have to go through the uncomfortable for it to feel more comfortable.  

Anyways you can see this crop top paired with it's matching knitted skirt  here, which I had not doubts about and absolutely LOVE!!!  I paired it up with pleather pants from my teens closet, and decided to throw on my vegan leather shacket over top to play with the browns and textures.  Top it off with bold red lips and you look confident and I am of the mind 'fake it, 'till you make it" and by the end of the night, I made it.  😉








Shop This Post:

Tinsley Fuzzy Tank (sale)

Leather Pants (sold out; Shein similar)

Vegan Leather Shacket (sold out; Dex similar)

Maybelline Red for Me Lipstick



                                 Now off you go to check out what other ladies are wearing!


Joanna ~ My Slice of Life

Blog


Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Blog | Instagram | Facebook | 
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Blog /Instagram
Bo ~ Bo's Bodacious Blog

Rosemary ~ Distinctly Southern Style

Leslie ~ Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After

Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |


Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom




You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Sunday 15 October 2023

Falling into Running

Crossing the half marathon finish line with my best friend and training buddy.  Best feeling in the world!

YES YOU CAN!!!


It's been a busy and active fall for me!    It's been years, exactly six, since I've trained and entered a half marathon.  Due to chronic back and hip pain and discomfort, my body just couldn't take the training.  After trying so many different things, chiropractor, massage, shockwave therapy, yoga, rolling/stretching, cupping, etc, I found dry needling along with stretching to be the combination for me.  This year I was able to train and do a 62 km road bike race, a 10km fun run, and 2 back to back half marathons.  AND I got a PB last weekend as I crossed the finish line of a half marathon in Victoria, BC which also was my very first half marathon 15 years ago!!!!  Age 26 time was 2:13:12 vs. age 41 at 2:00:11.  Can you believe it?  I can't tell you the joy I feel that I can move my body in such a way once again without chronic pain.  I am so grateful to have my health, to feel strong, to have the ability and health coverage to do the treatments that help my body stay healthy and strong.  I am also grateful for my husband and best friend that support and helped me train this year.  I am literally on cloud 9!  I want to encourage others to find an activity that you love.  Make it a daily habit. Find a friend to be accountable to.  Find something to work towards.  Celebrate your success and the progress.  Don't get caught up in the finish but be proud of the journey.  I never anticipated a personal best, although such a wonderful surprise, the fact that I could do that training again is truly the a gift.  Being able to try something new (biking), encouraging my two girl friends to do the triathlon with me, my BFF to do her first marathon and to see my husband achieve his personal best in a 10km, that is my celebration!    These are my happy moments.  And it's also nice to see myself at 41 kicking my 26 year old butt, LOL.  Next year, I am going to do a duathlon which I've never done, and a whole lot more of this,  I hope.

Ladies of the 80s at our first triathlon.  2024 will even be better!



Ages 40, 41 & 42.

We were all smiles after the Step-Up for Mental Health race.  


15 or 16 km into the half.

Candle Lake Fun run with the best lake neighbors.


My very first half was the Royal Victoria Marathon 16 years ago at 2:13:12 and by Personal Best was there last week at 2:00:11.

Pure joy!

My sister was waiting for me at the finish line, yelling "you got your personal best.  you did it!!!"



Post race treats!



Now, let's talk fall running.  Fall is one of the nicest seasons to run outdoors.  It's not too hot and not too cold.  It's also one of the prettiest seasons to run with the changing colors, the glowing sunrises and sunsets.  It's also the season when many of the races that you've been training for happen, as the outdoor running season comes to a close for many parts of the world and many runners, although I will argue that really doesn't have to happen as I run through our harsh winters with proper gear, see here.  Regardless, of whether you choose to run or not through winter, fall is a season that should be taken full advantage of and requires only a few additions and switch outs to your running gear.  




My staples for fall running are:

Swiftly Long Sleeve Shirt from LuluLemon (early fall and excellent for layering under a run jacket in winter; on sale!)

Rulu Run Half Zip (later fall)

Swift Speed High Rise Crop (early fall and excellent for spin class; on sale)

Fast & Free Tights (my favorite anytime of the year, in classic black)

Flip Belt (phone & keys; never moves; I have a size small)

Water Belt (for those longer runs)

Garmin Vivoactive HR Watch (this is an expensive purchase and there are many Aps that you can download for free to track your pace and distance.  I love my watch but you don't need it!)


Tell me what is your favorite way to keep fit?

Monday 2 October 2023

Currently: September Edition & Some Outfits



Hi everyone!  I am back!!!!!  Thanks to everyone that has supported me and wished me well as I took a little break from blogging to focus on school start up and getting myself into the groove.  I've missed everyone and am happy to be back.  Let's do a quick round of CURRENTLY.


Currently LOVING:   My new job and school!!!!  It's been a wonderful start to the school year and I've enjoyed getting to know all my co-workers, students and the families.  I am at an elementary school of just over 800 students and they have all been wonderful and welcomed me with open arms.  

This is a project I began with the Grade threes for National Truth and Reconciliation Day.  After reading Phyllis' Orange Shirt we began a 'wishing tree' for Phyllis and asked for students to add to it their wishes for all children in schools and commitments to reconciliation.  Our learning, conversations and act of wearing orange shirts was in hounor of all the children that attended residential schools, the children that never came home, and the families that continue to be affected by this horrific historical event.


Currently READING:  Finished The Maid by Nita Prose and really enjoyed it.  It's light, funny and has a lovable, although naïve, main character.  It reminded me a lot of The Rosie Project and maybe a bit like Anxious People.  




Currently EATING: Tons of tomatoes from my friends garden!  We've had them raw, in salads, cooked, and we all absolutely love and can't get enough of this Bruschetta and Baked
Tomato
recipe (we used cream cheese instead of the creamed mozzarella).


Currently CELEBRATING:  I did my first half marathon in 6 years.  I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face, with my best friend, and proud of our time, 2:05:21.   My husband also ran a 10km and absolutely crushed it with a time of 49:51 minutes.  In a few days, I am off to visit my sister and I'll be doing another half but by myself this time.  Wish me luck.





Currently OBSSESSED: I am loving this Roasted Expresso candle from a local maker here in our city, Moledro Candle Co.  Currently enjoyed the smell as I work on this blog post.  There is just something so cozy about sweet smells as the days grow shorter and the air cooler.  



Currently WEARING:   September brought us days of sunshine, warmth and the turning of leaves. Since the weather was so lovely, I wore all my favorite summer work clothes one more time!   Sadly Oct. 1st brought the gloominess and rain, so I'll be trading my light layers for cozy sweaters, leggings, long dresses and pants.  






Your turn, tell me what's been happening in your world?  Let's catch up!

P.S.  It's Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and I want to wish all my Canadian friends a wonderful time sharing and celebrating with their loved ones.