Necessity Is The Mother Of Invention

Sweater – Gap; Dress – H&M; Belt – F21; Tights – Hue; Boots – Threadsence; Leg Warmers – Legs Beautiful.

I don’t have snow boots.  I should, I live in Canada after all where the snow falls and the temperature drops below what I consider human.  But I don’t.  And it’s not because I’m too cool for them or anything.  It’s because two winters ago mine died.  Then last winter I was pregnant and didn’t want to spend a ton of money when I wasn’t sure what my feet were doing *feet can change size during pregnancy* This winter…well let’s just say there’s been some belt tightening ’round these here parts.

So I made a thrown together, DIY pair.  What are snow boots?  Waterproof boots with a warm lining.  So I  took a  loose pair of boots that’s waterproof, put on warm legwarmers and shoved it all into said boots.  And voila!  Snow boots!  These will do until looser pants reign supreme.

p.s.  I’m writing over here today about the trials and tribulations of blog/website design. 

Quote of Today:
“Stop singing and save the chimp you dumb animals.”

Another Sneak Peek

Victoria Murdoch and Jessica Jean Myers

Here’s another sneak peek of the shoot I did.  And I figured since it was Vintage themed that I would put a vintage effect on this behind-the-scene shot.

Random Sundays: Pretty Tree And Not-So-Pretty Me

Our little min-tree went up today.  Yes, it’s that time of the year.  Time to brave the shops and figure out what your loved ones would really like.  I love the food, and the family time, but I’m not into the shopping ’till your credit card is maxed out just to keep up appearances thing.  This year I want to keep things as small and personalized as possible.

Oh, and because some of you asked about my workout gear and clothes.  I have no gear, it’s totally unglamorous *hence the title of this post* – just me, my treadmill, shoes, and phone (for Tv shows).  I have no special running socks, just old worn out cotton ones, and no fancy running pants, just ratty old sweats.  But I promised you guys honesty, so here it is:

*I had to make the picture black and white so you guys wouldn’t see the stains on the pants*

Nerdy Versus Cute

Sweater – F21; Shirt – AE; Jeans – Guess; Shoes – Sketchers.

I was really concerned that this sweater would be too cutsy for me, but I love penguins so much I got it anyway and just made sure that I wouldn’t pair it with a full, floral skirt.  That I think, would be too cutsy for me.  Instead, I wore it with ripped jeans and plain sneakers.  I thought that would ground the sweater a bit more in preppy chic that cute-little-girl.  Do I think about this too much?  Am I the only one who is concerned about this?  Maybe.  Maybe I should just get the heck over it.

True Story:
You know that infinity scarf with a hood I have?  
Baby loves it too!  
She wears it around dragging the back on the floor, and lays down to cuddle with it. 

Vintage Shoot

Cardi – thrifted; Top – Urbanog.com; Pants – Lululemon, Boots – ?

I did a really fun shoot today all styled in 50s or 60s vintage.  It was a publicity shoot for Victoria Murdoch‘s new one woman fringe festival show.   It was a great impromptu shoot organized in under three days, scrounged together through various talent and resources, including the spectacular Jessica Jean Myers – hair and make-up artist extraordinaire – and shot by yours truly.  Can’t wait to show you guys the finished product.   In the meantime, check out a behind-the-scenes shot of Jessica doing Victoria’s hair:

Quote of Today:
“It would really suck to have to go through an alien apocalypse with her being so little.” 
Normally I don’t say where these come from, but today I have to own up.  
This was me.
Non-chalantly. 
Over breakfast.

Quick Contest *closed*

Photos by Daniel Garcia

I’m really busy right now.  I’m still documenting my outfits, but I have very little time over the next couple of days to actually edit them and all.  So instead, here’s a few pics from a photoshoot I did in July.  Hope you like them!

And I have a quick contest for you guys! The first person who gets someone to follow my blog via GFC or blogger gets a $10 credit to Spotted Moth *just to be clear, you win the gift, not the new follower*.  *the person has to leave a comment on this blog saying who referred them – that’s how I’ll know who gets there first*  And go!

The Daily Challenge is done!  Hope you all had a great time!  Now we’re back to our regularly scheduled True Story and Quote of Today.

Quote of Today:
“She mastered the WTF look…at 6 months.”

Congrats MamaMarchand!  I’ll be emailing you later tonight!

Fleeting

We had our first snowfall here.  Within an hour the snow had melted, but it was beautiful while it lasted.

Running While Pregnant

Shirt – thrifted; Cardi – Esprit; Jeans – Gap; Belt – F21; Boots – Threadsence.

 I’m an avid runner.  And I do mean avid.  Before I had the Baby it wasn’t uncommon for me to go for 10k runs up to five days a week.  It’s just something I liked to do.  And when I got pregnant I pretty much continued doing that.  I listened to my body and the days that I felt too tired or not up to it, I cut runs short or skipped them altogether.  And I also did P90X during my pregnancy – everything except the twists, which all the experts agree is not good for you.  And the abs – ’cause once I have a big belly that just wasn’t going to happen!  But I continued this exercise regime pretty much right up until I gave birth.  And then at six weeks post-partum, when I got the medical ‘all-clear,’ I resumed my running regimen gradually starting from 20 minutes and working my way back up.

What frustrated me were the looks of disapproval I got from some people.  The looks that said, “You’re endangering your baby by over exercising.”  I got those looks from a wide-spectrum of people, and I always dismissed them.  I told myself that my doctor and midwife didn’t have a problem with it, and my body seemed to want to continue it so why shouldn’t I? I’m pregnant, not sick.

Today I read this article about a woman who ran/walked a marathon and gave birth shortly after.  She has become infamous, drawing critics from far and wide. We all have different bodies and different capabilities, and where one woman can run a marathon pregnant, another can’t, but as long as both women are healthy, what’s the big whoop?  If you’re healthy and capable and smart, why shouldn’t you do it?  I think what’s more dangerous is the pregnant woman who lays in bed for nine months and takes pregnancy as an excuse to not move and to eat everything in sight regardless of nutrition. But that’s just me.

These days I still run on the treadmill, but I pretty much run all day everyday….after Baby and Drake the Dog.   What did you do during pregnancy?  How did your body feel? What would you change if you were to do it again?

The Last Daily Challenge:
Run.  Whether 10 minutes or 60, just try it. 

An Open Email

Remember my review of this?

You better, it’s only been one day!  Well, I received a great email from the creator of these little gems. She didn’t mind when I asked to share her words with all of you.  Here’s what she had to say:

Dear Joanna,
 
I hope this finds you well.
Thank you for supporting mimiTENS with words and your hard-earned bucks.
I am happy that you like them and that your daughter tried with all  
her might to get them off...
This is the third year that mimiTENS are in stores and I do not tire  
of hearing stories from happy parents.
 
You mention that the price point is high.  I agree and it is my  
product!   mimiTENS are more expensive than most mittens but the  
reason is that they are manufactured in Canada.  Mine are the only  
mittens for kids that I know of that are.  There are lots of mittens  
for kids out there and some even claim to be "Designed in Canada, Made  
in China".  Mine are made in Scarborough.  Start to finish and it is  
super important to me to try and create work locally.  More than 80%  
of my costs are related to manufacturing.  My margins are slim but I  
am fine with that.
 
Also, I chose to use Recycled Thinsulate and and Oeko Tex certified  
bamboo fleece to line the mittens.  Again, the only one in kids-mitten- 
land that does.  I confirmed this with the makers of Thinsulate.
 
I hope to introduce some mittens that are at a lower price point  
without compromising my principles.  I have also asked that retailers  
lower the MSRP but many independent retailers want to make as much as  
possible.  They always make the biggest cut but small independents are  
the ones most likely to support a vanguard brand.  It is a delicate  
balance.
 
 
Thanks again for supporting mimiTENS.  I am a mom trying to make it in  
the big city too.  I really appreciate your time and energy.
 
Best,
Anna-Maria

I really appreciated hearing all the eco-conscious decisions made in their manufacturing, and the fact that they are made locally here in Toronto.  Thanks Anna-Maria for sharing the secrets behind mimiTENS!

HelloCotton Headliner

HelloCotton

Guess what?  I was featured on HelloCotton as the headline of the day in the Fashion section.  
Yay!   
*holds head up high*
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