Out of the sewing pile

It may have been wrong of me, but this tunic has been laying ignored and despised in my sewing bag under my desk for months. I bought it, knowing it was a tad too big, but thinking I could fix it. Then I had no time to fix it (take it in, make the sleeves less baggy, hem it an inch or two) and felt guilty about it. Yesterday I decided to wash/dry it, because if I ever have time to fix it, I need to shrink it first. After drying it, it didn't look as huge as before....so I wore it. It wasn't so bad!

Do I seem unamused? I was. I wanted to stay home, but I had to walk to work in the snow and do the same assay I do every day. 

 Tunic & belt: RW&Co; Jeans: Gap (thrifted); Boots: Brown's; Necklace: ???

 Close-ups

Why buckle a belt properly? No fun in that. Knots are cooler.

And another necklace from an unknown store. Except this necklace is worn to death.

Longsleeve Tops by Delia's

Weekend Round-up (27.02.11)

 A lovely thought.

Hello hello! Happy Sunday! 

Here are some interesting links for you to lazily peruse this lovely day:

Sarah Von from Yes and Yes tells us why we should visit Laos, through a series of photos.

If you live in Montreal, and have many francophone pals (maybe you are as well!), you should all go to Fort Angrignon. I went on Friday night for the second time, and I feel it's time to promote it. I can't even explain what it is, but you will need water, clothes you can move in, team spirit and maybe a little caffeine (because it's a 6-hour event). Do it.

10 Rules for Being Human. #6 is especially amusing.

How cities in 1950 were going to look according to folks in 1925. I wish...

Whoever wrote this is the wisest person alive. Fact.

And lastly, a page I wish would pop up many times a day. Though, would I listen?

Probably not. :)

Have a great week err'body! xo

Double Feature

You get two posts in one today! An outfit AND a recipe! You're so lucky.


I know I've posted this outfit before, that's how bored I am with my clothes right now. I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same outfit I wore when I took photos at work the last time. Oh well. I was so impressed with my bun-making skillz today, I just had to get photographic evidence. So if you've already seen this outfit (that means you've been reading a long time!), skip right to the amaaaaziiiinnngggg smoothie recipe. 

 See the bun? Amazing. 

Sorry for taking them at work...

My roommates were around this morning and I felt awkward taking photos of myself. :P

  Jeans: Gap, thrifted; Tunic: Dynamite; Belt: Gap; Scarf: a gift

I really wish the photo on the right was more focused...because I find it HILARIOUS. That's a failed science face/stance if I've ever seen one (except my experiment worked today...so it's not even necessary).

Ok, so here's the smoothie recipe. TRUST ME on this. I really didn't think it was going to be good, I was just trying to get as much in there as possible because I missed lunch. 

3/4 c. fresh pineapple chunks
1/2 c. frozen blueberry/raspberry/blackberry mix (or just one of them)
1/2 c. yoghurt (any flavour)
1-2 Tbsp smooth peanut butter (or almond butter, whatever you want!)
1 c. fresh (washed) kale
1/2 c. milk


So...the ingredients are mostly normal, except for the kale and peanut butter. I know what you're thinking. You will not taste the kale, I promise. You won't taste the peanut butter as much as you smell it (unless you add a lot). I can't even tell you what the dominant flavour was...I don't think there was one. It was a surprising and lovely mix of sweet, nutty and bitter (the kale). Try it!


I swear it didn't taste "healthy". :) 

Button Front Tops by Topshop

PSA #20: You will be o.k.

Sometimes life sucks. Let's just throw that out there. Sometimes, it just sucks so much, you don't think it will ever get better, that there is no possible way to bounce back from the situation you're in.

Lost your job? Broke up with someone? Failed an important class? Someone you thought was immortal died? Down to $5 in your bank account?

All of these things have happened to me. Actually, not the first one...all of my jobs have been temporary so far anyway. 

Initially, you want to wallow in your pj's for days on end, and you have to wash your pillowcase because it's got salt stains all over it. 

Hopefully, you've got roommates/friends/family nearby, who will rub your back until you fall asleep and make sure you eat or shower or wear real clothes. 


You are allowed to cry. You are allowed to bawl your eyes out for as long as you need to. 


Example: when my grandfather died a few years ago, I spent the entire first month of school crying myself to sleep. I'm a grown woman, for goodness' sake. But it was not an expected or easy death. It was drawn out, and painful, and heart-breaking. My parents were in Greece and I had to call them in the middle of the night. Have you ever had to tell your mom that her dad has passed away? My goodness. That is difficult. I cried for her, for my grandmother, for my cousin and brother who couldn't make it back. Oh my. What a month.


But you know? One day I woke up...and the pain in my chest and stomach was gone. I didn't cry anymore. I didn't think about it so much. I moved on, without even trying or knowing it had happened. I only realized it a couple months later.

Things will get better. You just have to be patient and trust. 

You can only go uphill so far, folks!

Eventually, you reach the top and your load becomes much easier to bear.  


*cue "Lean on Me"* ;)

pajamas

Bottom of the drawer.

I'm getting a tad bored with wearing the same things over and over. 

I'm GLAD that I have a small wardrobe...everything goes together...but...it's kind of monotonous.

Yesterday I decided to dive into my t-shirt drawer and come up with something I haven't worn in a while. I'd already decided on my black jeans, sooooooo something light. But not white. I do black and white way too much.

I found a blue t-shirt I got at H&M last summer. I decided it looked nice with my greyish-taupe cardigan. Wham-bam. New outfit. 

 Boots: Browns; Jeans: Gap (thrifted); T-shirt: H&M; Cardigan: Dynamite; Necklace: ???; Belt: Gap

Adding to the newness: a necklace I bought last fall and never wore. I can't even remember where I bought it! I like.

 

I've been bitten by the shopping bug again...'tis springtime. I'm hoping this method of getting dressed will help stifle the need-new-clothes urge for a while. :)

Also: Chasing Davies is hosting a giveaway until Feb. 27th for $100 at Shopbop! Scoot on over and enter! :)

Tees by Bobi

Use your mirror for good!

Have you ogled your legs today? Go. Now. Ogle.

Mirrors can be evil. Let's just admit that. How many of you look in your mirror and immediately see the things you don't like?

How many of you look in the mirror and immediately pick out the parts of you that you love?

I'm willing to bet that second question...probably didn't get as many raised hands.

(Assuming you raise your hand to answer interwebz questions. If you do, let's be friends.)

We need to do something about this negativity. 

I know that from the time I was old enough to feel self-conscious about myself...perhaps around grade 6 or 7, I LOATHED the shape and size of my legs. They looked weird, they were too big, they were too squat, they were too flabby. Or something.

I know for a fact as well, that I was a lanky pre-teen (then I stopped growing and everyone grew past me...*sad trombone*), so none of these thoughts made sense from the get-go. 

However, I thought these things for so long, that I could never see anything else when I looked at them. I didn't wear shorts or skirts until I was in grade 10 or 11. I certainly never wore mini-skirts or shorts above my knees until this past summer. 

In fact, I remember going to babysit my mom's godsons one day in high school, wearing shorts for the first time since wearing my brother's cut-offs as a kid, and the older one (wonderful Johnny <3) said "GINA! YOU'VE GOT LEEEGS!" I'm pretty sure I turned bright red and didn't wear shorts again for another couple years. Oy! 

This past summer I went through a completely unintentional mental make-over. I'd signed up to run a 10K race and, not wanting to fail miserably on race day, I trained religiously all summer. By about July, I was looking at my legs thinking "Damn! These things are getting strong!" I was so in love with what they were capable of doing, that I no longer hated them. I saw them for what they were. Lean, mean, running machines. Then I bought a mini-skirt. And short denim shorts. And hemmed my mid-calf or knee-length skirts and dressed juuuust above the knee. I didn't care if they weren't pin-straight, that they had curve to them...they had MUSCLES and I wasn't gonna hide these gams anymore.

Since then, I've never looked at them with an ounce of disgust or shame. They are my legs. They will always be my legs. They can run 10 kilometres, they can walk all day in heels. They.are.amazing. 

I'm still working on the opinions I have of my upper arms, but I definitely don't hate them anymore. I've decided my energy is better spent focusing on, and emphasizing the parts of me I love, than on the things that need work. And for those parts...I work on them! You won't feel better about them until you see what they can do!

As a result of this mental transition, I am less self-conscious, I am more comfortable in my clothes, and I have more fun shopping. 


What girl doesn't want those three things? 


So how about when you look in the mirror from now on...

You stop the hate...and appreciate. Amen. ;)

Back to wearing clothes again.

Something interesting and yet quite predictable happens when you have a week full of exams and presentations followed by the first weekend of Spring Break...you tend to wear a lot of pj's. And not a whole lot of anything else.

Granted I wore clothes TO my exams and presentations, but I wouldn't say I put a great deal of thought into it...

But then I woke up this morning looking too similar to the undead, and decided maybe it was time to step things up a notch. 

So I put on tinted moisturizer and mascara...which usually does the trick. But I still looked far too pale. So I put on blush and lipstick. Better! 


I like looking like a live, healthy human. It boosts my self-esteem. 


I was also finally creative enough and in the state of mind to take some outfit photos. Hallelujah!


So this is my Tuesday work-wear:

Pants: Mango; Boots: Browns; Sweater: H&M; Belt: Gap; Scarf: xmas gift; t-shirt: H&M; Necklace: RW&Co

v-neck tunic sweaters

Spreadin' the Love: Two Awesome Giveaways

Spring Break relaxation has hit, my friends. 

What is this? Monday? Without class? Getting home from school at a reasonable hour? 

Siiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

Oh, and coming home to news about two great giveaways is pretty sweet too.

The first one, is from the blog Euforilla and started with the intention of gaining this lovely shy blogger more friends/followers. It worked! Her blog is pretty nifty and each post is in Italian, followed by the same post in English! Impressive. Besides that, the necklace she's giving away is absolutely stunning! It's been extended until March 2nd, so get your name in the hat!

The second giveaway is through ClothedMuch (which, again, if you're not reading, you should be). She has just posted about a little ol' website called Smashion, where you can sell your stuff online (like Ebay), but without fees or auctions (unlike Ebay). It's basically a consignment shop. Online. Halle-frickin-lujah. So I'm getting rid of my shop on the blog and putting my stuff there. Hopefully I'll have more luck! So the giveaway (sorry for digressing), is $25 toward purchases on Smashion. Neato! You're helping save the world by purchasing used items...and you do it for free. 


Now didn't that make your Monday SO much better? :) You're welcome!

Weekend Round-up (20.02.11)

I haven't been online too much this week, due to exams and whatnot, so these are finds from Stumble (which, if you don't use yet...you really should).

Perhaps a bit morbid, but check out this wikipedia page on unusual deaths throughout history. It's an interesting read, though some will surely make you wince!

A simple explanation of why it would be advantageous to quit smoking right now. Aside from, of course, it's gross.

A thought-provoking alternative to the FML website, Makes Me Think.

A lovely poem about the chance to live life over again.


Five lessons on how to treat others. I was skeptical, but the first one got me. The fourth one doesn't seem to fit the theme, but just skip to the 5th. It's beautiful.

Enjoy! I hope some of those cause you to sit back and engage in some relaxed contemplation. :)

Gluten-Free Bacon-Jalapeno Risotto

Oh my. If I thought the jerk chicken changed my life forever, this risotto truly flipped me over on my head. 

*Also naturally gluten-free, so long as you use the right chicken broth cubes (or homemade broth).*

As my mom likes to say: holy wow.  


The best part, is that I went completely by instinct. I had jalapenos, and mama just sent me arborio rice in a lovely post-exams care package (awww). I thought SO HARD about what would go well with jalapenos. And you know what?


If you are ever in doubt...it's bacon. Bacon goes with everything. Hallelujah for bacon.


It was quick, easy and is the perfect amount of spicy (although, I've eaten raw jalapenos without the slightest twitch...so keep that in mind)


I think the recipe makes about 8 servings, but that's because I usually can't eat a lot of risotto before I start feeling like the rice is expanding and about to rupture my belly...


SO, here you are. You're VERY welcome.


Bacon-Jalapeno Risotto

Canola oil
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
6-9 full strips bacon, chopped into small pieces

Cook the onions on med-low heat until soft but not brown. Add the garlic for a couple minutes and then add the bacon to cook for a few minutes. It won't be dark or crispy, it will stay chewy.


1 jalapeno pepper, minced (Keep fingers protected! Or wash immediately...before touching your eyes. Trust me...)
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
1 cup white wine
4-5 cups chicken broth (keep warm on stove)
6-8 stalks of asparagus, chopped into large pieces

Add the rice to the pot and stir until coated with oil. Then add the white wine and 1 cup of the broth to simmer. Throw in the peppers now to simmer in the liquid.


Stir and simmer until the liquid is mostly absorbed and then add another cup of broth. Add the asparagus about now. Repeat this process of simmering down and adding 1 cup broth until all of the broth is gone and the rice is soft and creamy.

Add some grated parmesan cheese (or any cheese you like) and stir into the risotto. Remove from heat and allow to sit for a few minutes to thicken more.


Then eat it. Spicy creamy bacon goodness. 

Again. You're welcome.

Brought to you by

stew pots at Beso.com

PSA #19: Your best is enough.

Yesterday, I wrote the most intense exam. 


3 hours long, and most people didn't finish.


Since the start of January, I've been convinced that I'd blank during the midterm, not finish it, and fail the class. 

...I never said I was one for positive thinking.


Well...contrary to a lot of the other people in my class...I actually finished the exam. Not only that, I think the better part of my answers may actually have been coherent.


Of course, many people told me beforehand to do my best. ("Give it your best shot!") Which is sweet and kind of them, of course...but honestly I didn't think it would even matter. I didn't think even my best would be good enough to make it through. Not that I was completely pessimistic. I had my moments of believing I'd be fine, in equal measure with moments of dread.


And wanting to quit school and open a bakery already...


Well, my best was better than I thought. That doesn't mean it was great (I may not have even passed, who knows!), but I finished and I have made an executive decision on behalf of my psyche to be happy with that. 

Remember, you all-nighter-pullers out there: 

You are the only person for whom your best is not enough.

Take a lesson from your mom, your dog, your brother, your lover, your bff, your mailman... 

and be damn proud of your best. Whatever it is.

And go to sleep. Amen.

PS if this post was pure nonsense...it's because it's midnight as I write this and that exam gave my brain a sleep debt of 14 years. Good night.

You miss me. I know you do.

My last exam is tomorrow. You can bet I am VERY excited. 

I'm looking forward to spending my spring break working (and making some $$$), getting ahead on blog posts, sleeping, watching movies in my pj's, not drinking coffee and making long, involved meals. Aaaaaaaaaaaah. 

Here are some outfit pics to tide you over. 

I wore this the other day to work/class, and I actually really liked it! I got the sweater (it's short-sleeved) for Christmas and couldn't figure out how to wear it since it's not THAT fitted. This works. Belt + jacket (still too cold for short-sleeves).

 

Frank took these when I came home from class. He was napping. I woke him up. 

 Jeans: Jacob (thrifted); Jacket: Danier; Sweater: JCPenney (gift); Belt: Gap; Boots: Brown's

It is very hard to stay serious when Frank is taking photos.

We do well for a few shots...until he gets into his photographer role. 

Then he starts moving the camera all around and I have to keep up! Hence, the photo below...which turned out alright! 

I changed the tint and I like how it looks like my parents' old polaroids. :)

Send me good vibes tomorrow so I can make it through this exam alive! 

(2:30pm Eastern time, thanks!)

Leather Jackets at Dillard's

Weekend Round-up (13.02.11)

Anybody else feel like they're stuck on a carousel that won't stop turning and it's just really not fun anymore?

That's what being a "mature student" is like. I'm not even a grad student anymore...just someone who can't seem to get off the learning train. 

Midterms? Group projects? Whatami, 19?

My back hurts and my eyes are going and I want to go to bed at 9 every night. So I drink coffee to study until 12...

Dear Body: in 2 years, I will sleep when you want and eat when you want. Promise. For now, just go with it. 


For all of you stuck in a crazy work cycle like myself, here are some relaxing and/or helpful websites to peruse on this lovely Sunday.


Sarah Von over at Yes and Yes reminds us that to get to the good we must embrace the not-so-good.

A charming and sweet story along with advice on how to focus. Something I have a hard time with, especially with this whole "internet" thing. 


An adorable child, a tiny cardigan, a ukelele and the best.smile.on.Earth. Can't wait til this kid grows up so we can understand his jokes. 


I don't know why this is so entertaining, and I can't explain it, but give it a go.


Have you heard of P.S. - I made this...? In short, it's DIY fashion (and other things) on the cheap. When I have time to be creative again, I may just try one of these!

Phew! That's enough for me, I'm off to study!

Enjoy your day!

GF Jerk Chicken! I totally went there.

I am supposed to be studying, so obviously, I spent my night in the kitchen. It's how I cope. 

I saw Gluten Free Girl's jerk chicken recipe a while ago, and thought it looked interesting...but not being Jamaican and all, I figured I would completely mess it up.

But today, we had presentations in class about the foods of different countries and the Jamaica group made jerk chicken sound like the be-all and end-all of chicken. They really sold it. Since jerk chicken is also naturally gluten-free, it meant I wouldn't have to make any modifications...even better!

So all afternoon, I had jerk chicken in my head. Jerkchickenjerkchickenjerkchicken. 

(Which by the way...really fun to say three times fast).

I had to do it. So I headed out to get a few chicken breasts, since all I had was frozen drumsticks and I simply couldn't wait until tomorrow for them to thaw. 

I must be craving protein, because not only did I buy chicken breasts, I also bought more drumsticks and pork chops. And the new InStyle magazine. I can only imagine how the cashier envisioned the evening I had planned...



So here we go. I mainly used Gluten Free Girl's recipe, but I didn't have some stuff...and I felt like adding more stuff. So here's mine:

2 chicken breasts (beaten with a ladle, or preferably, a meat tenderizer...)
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 scant tsp salt (that is A LOT of sodium, folks, FYI)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp Jamaican all-spice berries (crushed w/ mortar & pestle)
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper (I hate pepper, you can add more)
2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed down

Mix up all the spices and throw the chicken around in it.

Once coated, fry in canola oil on low-medium heat on both sides.

 

and then put in oven at 375F just until juices run clear.

Serve over white rice.

omgyum. My favourite part is that each bite is completely different! Salty, sweet or spicy, but not too much of any of them. Is it wrong to say it was thrilling?

Well, hell, I was thrilled.

PSA #18: Feelings not welcome here.

  
Do you recall a blog post I wrote last summer (or fall?) about goals? How writing them down gets them out of your head, where they just clutter up the joint and never become clear enough for you to work at reaching them? 

You need to do the same thing with feelings sometimes. Especially when, like me, you don't understand feelings and emotions. At all. I really only understand and recognize the basic Neanderthal emotions. Anything else throws me completely out of whack.

I'm a Capricorn to the core, you see. I live for logic, and science, and evidence.

Feelings annoy me. They only seem to get in the way of sense and reason.

Most of all, they annoy me because they clutter up the mind. They swirl around and get in the way. They're distracting, that's all I'm sayin'.

SO, if you are currently attempting to be a normal human being, learning and studying and remembering things and whatnot, then write down what you feel. 

Yep, just write it all down. Then forget about it!

You haven't gotten rid of them, you've just taken them from your head (and made room in there) and put them somewhere else. They are now somewhere tangible where you can look at them if you want to. 

Not having them in your head means you don't have to constantly think about them and try to organize and make sense of them. 

And now you have space in your head for energy equations and DRI values and the mechanisms of hypertension! Or you know, whatever you might spend time thinking about.

Can someone invent this please? kthnx

1 Week Leave of Absence

Midterms are approaching, folks, and I thought it would be clever of me to temporarily pause my blogging for the sake of getting reasonably mediocre grades. 

I will try to do a PSA and a Weekend Round-up, but that will have to be it until next Friday. 

So don't go anywhere! I haven't left you, I'm just unable to devote the time to blogging while I immerse myself in the worlds of microbiology and clinical nutrition.

If you also have exams coming, good luck! Don't worry, eat well, sleep plenty. You'll be fine. :)

xoxo


Gina

Montreal Fashion Week!

My apologizes for the slight delay. I had to watch Glee. 

Here are the photos I took Monday night from Day 1 of Montreal's Fashion Week. The designer of the show I attended was Nadya Toto. Honestly, no clue who that is. If you want to see better photos than mine, click here! But I will be completely crushed if you don't check mine out first. 


Not really. Don't feel guilty. I mean, this was my competition after all...

No contest.

 The collection was a little goth for my taste...

 But I did enjoy the glitter and girly details. I kind of love that white dress.

 Lots of feathery ruffly bits...

 A lot of lace...

 And pleasant amounts of glitter. 

But, dear girls, get some sun. And steak.

I admit, I got a little bored with the models at one point and ogled the folks in the room. This woman caught my eye. The brown on brown on brown, the cropped trousers, pointy, low heels and light blue necklace...just lovely. I wonder who she is? She looks important.

The show was actually so fast. While I was gawking at random folks, the show ended!

 

Seriously, sunlight, it's good for you!

The end! It was quite a night. Got some fashion show swag and got my make-up done too! Unfortunately, now I want to go shopping. 

Must. practice. restraint.

At least until my student loan arrives. ;)

KIDDING MOM!