Top 5 Things I Survived As A Child

1. Switching from white bread to whole wheat- Tell me, how many of you have gone through this and thought you would die without white bread? Okay...maybe not die, but become severely food deprived due to a reluctance to eat anything but this. I remember when my parents made that dreaded switch to whole wheat, I cried and claimed I would never eat a sandwich again (and trust me, growing up in my family, this was an everyday food plan for school). But no, I have clearly gotten over this minor bump in the road, as I am still alive and well as I write this post (and still happily eating sandwiches may I add!) And while wheat bread never gave me the quite the same amount of joy moulding white bread into butter balls did, I can safely say this is something your taste buds will get use to! 

2. Watching the last episode of your favourite television show- Ah, that bitter sweet feeling of finally figuring out how your favourite superhero was going to defeat their evil nemesis and save the world! (okay, let's face it...this is how pretty much all children's shows ended. And if it didn't end this way, you were probably not watching a child's show). But then what? The main character is shown surrounded by their friends and loved ones as a sunrise peeks its way into the distance. The main hero smiles, says some quirky line about love, life, always being friends, never giving up on your dreams (gosh the BS goes on and on) and then the closing credits come up with some epic music and pictures from their future lives (still surrounded by friends and having an ubberly awesome time might I add). And then you sit there at first, still tingling with excitement at how great the big battle for good was! And then...well, and then it hits you. You will never see this main character do anything again. Yup that's right. No more adventures, no more seeing them go days without end wearing the same outfit, no more "let's band together and use the power of friendship!" bullshit (really? like really?), no more corny one sentence slogans, just no more. And while this is still relevant in my adult life today, trust me there are other fish in the sea. You will have a mourning period of about one week where you will re-watch every other episode (possible in another language), youtube your favourite scenes, google endless images of the cast (be careful there are some weird fanfictions one) and cry yourself to sleep in your $40 fan made t-shirt. And then...and then you will find something else to watch. Trust me, that's just how the media works! And while I swear Ash from Pokemon should a 25 year old man, with the same gosh damn pikachu (who is probably level 99 by now or something), this show never ceases to amaze me at how ridiculous the episodes keep on getting. So believe me, good television shows end for a reason. And a good one at that!

3. Switching to basic cable- When my mother told me we were going from 150+ channels to less than thirty, I told her you might as well rip my other lung out because my reason for existence had just been compromised (jokes, although I had a minor temper tantrum). But seriously, what was I going to do for the remaining 4 hours I had after finishing my homework? Study? Heck no! Anyways after this decision, I was determined I would never going to be home that much so that I wasn't going to be bored. I would be out and about and doing something productive. And well, although this is not 100% true (I was probably over exaggerating), I can safely say I've probably been able to keep off about 10 pounds by not gluing myself to the television screen. So good job mom, good job.

4. Banning all pokemon, digimon, yugioh cards and beyblades in elementary- I seriously never understood the purpose behind this. Really, Mr. Principal Sir? Are they that much of a threat that you cannot just simply confiscate them and possibly build your own set of hallographics? A set that may possibly may fund your retirement! Anywho, I remember when these dinky little things were banned and all the guys in my school had a major hissy fit (I did too, but being a girl I had to keep my pain on the inside. It's okay, Michelle, it's okay). The boys then resorted to sneaking in their cards and then playing them after school. So in all honestly, what was probably supposed to be a smart move really ended up being minor rebellion and more free time for the boys to annoy us girls around at recess. JOY.

5. Not getting a pizza lunch- I know, tragic. Having grown up in a middle-income family, my parents never bought into this idea of paying an irrational amount of money for a measly half-warm, ugly square piece of pizza, an oversized cookie that tasted like cardboard and a juice box I could hardly puncture without spilling all over me. And although I agree with this, I find myself contemplating whether I'd do the same for my own child. I mean really c'mon, you're not buying the pizza...you're buying their happiness and inclusion with their classmates! I mean, think about it. Didn't it totally suck when everyone was lining up for pizza while you quietly unpacked your stupid whole wheat sandwich!? (okay, maybe I still hold some resentment). Everyone laughing, eating that dumb cookie that was bigger than their head, sipping on some artificial sugary substance that ended up on their shirt anyways. Oh how I envied them. But now looking back on this as an adult, I can somewhat see what my parents were thinking. By not buying into this program, they not only saved money but they also saved me from a lot of unhealthy food. And besides, once you get to grade 7, pizza lunches became lame...going out for lunch was the new cool!

The Art of Aging

Today's post was inspired by a recent incident that happened at my store today. Actually, make that two experiences. Having worked in the lingerie department of The Bay, I can safely say that I have seen just about everything when it comes to women. From women unbuttoning their shirts to show me their bras to women pulling out their overused underwear out from the plastic bag they brought to the store. "I want this exact underwear, 100% cotton, in a size large. I hate polyester." I'm starting to think cotton is as valuable to a senior lady than finding a unicorn is for me. Anywho, although the physicality of women never ceases to amaze me, today I found myself truly appreciating women for their mentality and attitude instead.

In one scenario at The Bay, I came face to face with a hardened and bitter old lady who at first glace at me, decided to lash about the inconsistency of the signs sprawled around in the department. For some reason, she thought, there should be arrows pointing to each department to make life easier and help locate items faster. Yes, I thought, because this is some sort of runway for planes. I could clearly see she was bothered at this trivial thing and apologized on behalf of...well the entire company (working in retail gives you that right. It's called excellent customer service). But I guess my apology wasn't good enough as she went on and on to complain about pretty much everything about her life. What started off as small talk turned into a full on lecture about how I disgraced my grandparents because I didn't learn the languages of my country (having grown up with a Filipino mother and a Spanish father it was mostly best to just use English or else I'd end up with something like "mucho salamat"). I couldn't stand it, she was just so bitter and so angry about everything. And of course, being the loyal and mannerly associate of The Bay, I just took her thrashing in hopes that at one point  I could slip in the fact that the bathroom mats she was looking for were thhhaaaaat way. Then finally after 10 torturous minutes she took off and made her way down the aisle I directed her to (I actually had no ideas where the bath mats were but I figured I could hide in the change room for 10 minutes in case she came back to complain).

Luckily for me, however, I didn't have to do that. Soon after having such a horrendous experience with that lady, a pleasant older (probably not as old as the one I just serviced since she claimed she was in school in the 1920's...dear lord) woman stopped me and asked me for some help. She was so sweet and explained that she was having a bad day and thought shopping would be some sort of excellent emotional therapy. She even claimed in was better than...well uh...she never finished her sentence, but I assumed she meant chocolate. Yes it must have been chocolate. Anyways she then went on to tell me how she recently just got into designing and making her own clothes and excitedly drew all her vintage finds from within her bag. Okay, so they weren't the galaxy studded shorts on Queen street but they were all unique and beautiful in their own way. And she was so proud of her finds, I couldn't help but smile. The rest of the conversation, however, is what really inspired me to write this post. The woman told me that until now (being 60) she never felt that she had the confidence to wear anything beautiful. She didn't like the attention before as a young woman, but now, she said "I can wear whatever I want without having to feel self-conscious." At first I didn't know what to make of this. Shouldn't women should be able to wear what they want without having the fear to be hit on? (I should take my own advice) However, she quickly appeased my curoisty and went on to explain it as a quite liberating experience of age. She told me that at her age, she found dressing up to be empowering and fun. She confidently told me stories about having one too many drinks at several local bars, even slipping in the words "beer goggles" and "after parties" in her vocabulary. And while I would never want to see my mother do that (double good lord) I couldn't help but appreciate this youthful, energetic, fun loving woman. And that's when I thought, age is just a number. Age does not define us, our attitude and spirit does. I found myself immersed in her stories about her clothing adventures, the suitors she had at one time in her life, her journey for love and sex (yes even that) and got to thinking about the beauty of aging so gracefully. Funny enough, I really look up to this woman. Of course, I would never want to feel only free at the ripe age of 60, but I don't think that's what she meant through her story. To feel confident, young and free at any age, that's the real lesson. To enjoy life and feel confident in your own skin. I most definitely learnt something valuable today. I think being young is beautiful, but to have a youthful heart, well that's the real art of aging. 

Weekly Tidbits

I just realized I haven't done a post in almost a week! I think it's because summer has finally come to Toronto and I'm enjoying the weather way too much! Anwyays, I will definitely post more throughout the week but for now here are just some photos of what I did in the past couple of days! Hope you're all enjoying the sunshine xo!

And Tonight, I'm Cleaning Out My Closet

No, I am not talking about Eminem's old tune (although I think he was much better in his younger days), but I am talking about cleaning out that dreaded warp hole we all call our closet! For most, waking up in the morning and looking for the perfect outfit can be one of the worst parts of the day. You like your jeans, you hate your shirt. You have two great pieces, but it's cold out and you have to throw on that ugly sweater. And let's face it, we've all had days where this has happened:

But fear not! There are just a few things you can do to combat what may seem to be an extremely challenging task! Today, after being inspired by this beautiful weather we're having in Toronto, I am finally cleaning out my closet. I admit, I actually do not own a lot of clothes (one dresser and half a clothes rack to be exact) but I always find myself being bored with my clothes. So after a few tips from Lauren Conrad's book "Style" and various inputs from my friends and boyfriend, I am finally ready to tackle my closet and so can you!

1. Look for orphan pieces. These are pieces you bought long time ago and pretty much go with nothing in your closet. Maybe it's that old graphic shirt of Hello Kitty or a plaid shirt that just doesn't fit your style anymore. Anyways, get rid of it, it's most likely taking up room in your closet.

2. Stock up on basics. I cannot tell you how many basic shirts I own and various interpretations of the basic shirt. V-necks I find are the most flattering for women or low scoop necks. If you want to mix it up, find one with leather details or a tri-blend material (soo soft!)

3. Revamp it. If it fits well but it's too boring for you, consider doing a DIY project ie. studding or making it off the shoulder.

4. Sell it. If you're like me and broke as heck (currently living on two $5 bills my dad just gave me) then try selling the items (if they're in good condition!) Lots of websites like Kijiji or even groups on Facebook make it fun and fast!

5. If you can't part with it, put it away. I know this defeats the purpose of cleaning out a closet, but if you spent a lot of money on one thing or it has sentimental value for you it may not be time to give it away just yet. Stash it in a box, duffle bag or have a friend hold it for a month. If by the end of the month you didn't even want to wear it, it's most likely time to ditch it.


6. Ditch it. If something has a hole, stain, tear you can't get rid of, throw it away. Anything else, think about donating it! It's a little bit more rewarding and comforting that way! (Tip from Lauren Conrad's "Style")

7. Finally, when shopping for new clothes ask a sales associate to find something to match with it. Sometimes it's hard to like an item because we don't see it fully outfitted. Sales associates are there because they are fashion experts (most of the time) so I'm sure they'd be happy to find something trendy to go with that one shirt you're trying on (just let them know your sense of style). This may not be as true for places like Forever 21 but other stores like Aritzia or Club Monaco have a service where you can arrange to have a shopping session with an employee. You don't necessarily need to buy the whole outfit but it does help you think about what you already have and can match with it!

8. Be yourself. Try on clothes you know you will wear not hope you can rock one day. I know sometimes it's good to step out of your comfort zone, but when building a wardrobe start off with pieces you're comfortable with and then work up from there!

Tres Avant Garde

A few days ago was one of my close friend's birthday and I can't help but thinking all of my friends will soon be the age of 21 (which is extremely strange since I've known most of them since I was 14)! On the actual day of his birthday his girlfriend, my boyfriend and I all headed down to his old neighbourhood for a mid day lunch at a local bar. Our server was so nice, moving our table outside so that we could eat while taking care of Cocoa (John and I's puppy) and even took a few photos of us while we munched away at our food. Next we headed to High Park to catch a glimpse of the cherry blossoms before they all fell. It was a bit of a gloomy day, but it was definitely still fun venturing off in search for the perfect spot to relax (if you live in the Toronto region, I highly suggest you to go see them before it's too late!) Anyways, the day was nicely topped off with a trip to IKEA and then a horrid horrid experience watching the movie "Cabin in the Woods." Nevertheless, an awesome day for an awesome guy! Happy birthday Chris!

OOTD (not worn going to High Park but to the Crawford for his birthday party): 1. Aritzia "T.Babton" Silk Blouse/ 2. Aritzia "Talula" Graphic Wolf Tank/ 3. BCBG High-Waisted Tribal Skirt/ 4.  Aldo Suede Heels (I actually changed to flats because I was super tired)/ 5. Michael Kors Gold Watch/ 6. H&M Two Tier Necklace

Steak wrap with a side of salad...so good!

Portobello sandwich and a side of yam fries (my boyfriend always get some sort of fries and burger combo)

The birthday celebrant and his lovely girlfriend, Jacqui!

Relaxing and feeding Cocoa

The few cherry blossoms left

Pink and pretty

Cocoa all puckered out

Forever 21

So yesterday, I finally got to celebrate my 21st birthday with a bunch of my friends I haven't seen in a long time! I must admit, the last couple of hours preparing for this dinner were quite hectic (seeing as a few people could not make it last minute and my inability to cancel other reservations at "backup" locations creeped up behind me) but it all seemed to come together to make for a perfect evening! I was finally reunited with my childhood bestfriend who I have not seen in over a year (long distance schools make it quite the impossible task) while Milestones (located in the Atrium of Dundas Square, Toronto) kindly opened up the private dining room for my friends and I (yay, us!). It was such a nice experience- the waiters were friendly (mind you they were sometimes few and far in between), the food was yummy and the company made the evening that much more special. A great start to to the 21st year xo

OOTD: 1. Aritzia "Wilfred" Silk Kimono/ 2. Aritzia "Wilfred" Black Bustier/ 3. Sevens Skinny Jeans/ 4. Aldo Suede Heels/ 5. ASOS Tortoise Boyfriend Watch/ 5. Floral Accessories from Aldo/ 5. Essie Nail Polish in "Angora Cardi"

Accessories

Private dining hall

Birthday dessert!

Awesome company <3

Elementary friends

Kaitlyn and I <3

My 21st

Yesterday was my 21st birthday and even writing that number seems incredibly foreign to me. Maybe it's because I still act like a 12 year old and look about minus 3 years from what I really am. Whatever the reason is, I woke up the next morning and prayed that this year would be blessed with happiness and good health. 21 I feel is a big year, one where the smallest of decisions can make a dramatic impact in my life and I can only hope that I make the right choices. Anyways, the day continued on celebrating with my family and friends! At night I finally had the chance to go to Joey Eaton's, a somewhat new restaurant located right at the heart of downtown, Toronto, with my brother and his girlfriend (just arrived that day from their vacation in Cuba), my boyfriend and mom (my dad refused because he said it was too expensive *rolls eyes*). The dinner was lovely, although my mom could not fathom how loud a restaurant could get at night! I would recommend this place for a crowd that does not mind shouting at each other at such a close distance! Other than that, the dinners had its ups and downs but it was nicely topped off with coming home and having the cake that my dad bought me. We finally had our first family photo in ages (our house is soo messy because Jeffrey just came home and we left right away for dinner) and I fell asleep that night exhausted. So here's hoping the rest of my 21st year is somewhat like my day yesterday (despite some arguments) and many more years to come xo,

Waiting patiently for the family to get ready

OOTD: 1. Aritzia "Wilfred" Dress/ 2. ASOS Black Thigh-High Socks/ 3. Aldo Suede Heels/ 4. Aritzia "Talula" Military Jacket/ 5. Marc by Marc Jacobs Bag/ 6. Michael Kors God Watch/ 7. Various Bracelets from Cuba and H&M

Brother, Mom and I

Jeffrey, Mom, Me and Jessica

Lobster Ravioli

Traditional Birthday Cake!

The Start of Summer

This weekend was my first few days of summer and I must say they have been amazing! Saturday I slept over at one of my best friend's house alongside with her boyfriend and mine. It was so nice spending the whole night making sushi and watching movies and then waking up to cook breakfast. I'm so blessed to have them in my life! Then today John and I headed over to Castle Loma, a historical attraction in Toronto for the first time ever. It was great to learn new things and see the beautiful castle (and all for free might I add!) It was an extremely windy day but enjoyable nonetheless! It's always fun to try new things! xo

Cocoa and I

Our homemade sushi :)

OOTD: 1. Urban Outfitters Kimono/ 2. Aritzia Silk Camisole/ 3. Zara Pastel Pink Pants/ 4. Michael Kors Watch 

John in front of Castle Loma

Our souvenirs

Audio tour guides...pretty cool!

Windy day!

Outside the castle

Beautiful pieces

Love this

The lady's bedroom...tad bit jealous!

The top of the tower. A lot of people wrote or engraved their name/date. Actually the whole wall was covered! Wish we brought something to mark our names but sadly we had nothing! Oh well, photos are just as good :)