Life Lately: Fashion edition

A few snapshots of the fashions I've been wearing in the past few weeks.

Dress & Clutch - Le Chateau; Trench - H&M;
Wedges & Necklace - Aldo; Ring - Old Navy

Sweater - Joe Fresh; Blouse & Skirt - Jacob;
Purse - Aldo; Espadrilles - Aritzia; Sunglasses - American Eagle

Blazer - H&M; Dress - Aritzia; Heels - Aldo; Watch - Fossil

Blouse - Jacob; Skirt - Aritzia; Purse - Aldo; Sunglasses - American Eagle

Blazers - H&M; Dress - Banana Republic

Blazer - H&M; Dress - Banana Republic; Purse & Shoes - Aldo

Blazer - H&M; Dress - Banana Republic; Purse - Aldo

Blouse & Pants - Jacob; Sunglasses - Ray-Ban

Blouse - Jacob; Camisole - Smart Set; Trousers - Talula via Artizia;
Purse - Aldo

Blouse - Old Navy; Trousers & Belt - Joe Fresh;
Heels - Michael Kors;

Blouse - Zara; Jeans - Forever 21; Flats - Blowfish

Petite Adventures on Marcia B. Creative

Dress & Jacket - Old Navy; Tights - Zellers; Boots - Steve Madden;
Scarf - H&M; Bag - Aldo; Sunglasses - Ray-Ban

I didn't intend to take a break this week, life just got away from me and I didn't have time to snap any photos (or put together creative looks). So, to tide you over until next week's outfit posts why not check out Marcia B. Creative where you can learn a little bit more about this petite.

A couple of weeks ago Marcia, an incredibly talented and sweet Ottawa photographer, and I met in Westboro Village where she snapped some photos of this awkward duckling in a few of my favourite looks. I can't thank Marcia enough for not only reaching out to me for the profile, but for making me feel so comfortable in front of the camera. It was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Thanks again Marcia!

Have a great weekend!

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Foiled

Yesterday was a holiday here in Ontario (and across most of Canada) and I made the most of it!

Sweater - H&M; Dress - Banana Republic; Bag - Aldo;
Sandals - Zellers; Watch - Fossil; Sunglasses - Ray-Ban

After sleeping in until 8 a.m. (nothing makes you feel older than when you consider 8 a.m. a sleep-in) and leisurely enjoying a cup of coffee I was up and off to the Rideau Centre to start my pre-Europe shopping. I picked up a few essentials, new headphone and an outlet converter (I refuse to not bring my hair tools with me across the pond), and then I started into the fun kind of shopping - clothes and shoes!

I wasn't really on the search for clothes but when I came across the cutest polka dot sweater at Old Navy I couldn't resist. And, then I went to Lululemon and, as usual, struggled to only bring home one pair of cropped pants.

The real reason for my trip to the mall was to pick up cute, comfortable shoes that would allow me to easily walk through Scandinavia and beyond. I had my heart set on getting a pair of Puma Espera 3s. They met two of my requirements - cute and comfortable - however, I was foiled when they didn't have my size. It's not that Foot Locker don't carry size 5 - they don't even make size 5s. I would have happily settled for a 5.5, but again - foiled!

So now I'm lost. I have no clue where to look or what to even look for.
Any recommendations of where I can find a cute, comfortable walking shoe?

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Urban Safari Biking Adventure

I find trying new things to be slightly awkward. Okay, extremely awkward, but that doesn't stop me. I'm just strategic about it. I always have a plan.

Take Sunday, for example, when I embarked on my first ever BIXI bikes adventure in Ottawa. I wasn't sure how it all worked, so I researched a location that had a lot of bikes (I didn't want to walk all the way out there to find there was nothing to ride), and was somewhere that wasn't too out in the open, so I could struggle, walk around the station eyeing my "enemy" (I do this when I get frustrated, glaring solves everything) and figure things out, without too much of an audience.



Well, sometimes things don't go according to plan.

The closest location with a lot of bikes just happened to be on Elgin Street right in front of city hall, so I had quite the audience while I desperately tried to pull and wiggle the bike out of it's parking space (it's not as easy as it sounds, either that or I have severe issues; most likely the latter). And of course, because I like to look cute when I'm out and about I wasn't exactly wearing the most appropriate outfit for this sort of endeavour. But I made it work.



Finally, after multiple attempts, and a lot of strange glances, the bike was free!

Top - Song from Off the Wall; Shorts - Old Navy; Sandals - Jules & James; Bag - Aldo; Sunglasses - Ray-Ban

But this was only the beginning. You see, I haven't actually ridden a bike in years - I can't remember the last time I was on a bike. I knew I'd be wobbly, so I walked the bike away from the street and once I knew no one could see me I was off, wobbling down Nepean Street.

My view - don't worry, I wasn't biking and shooting.
I was standing awkwardly half resting on a bend and shooting

It took about ten minutes of riding for me to feel comfortable (and to figure out how to change gears) but it's like they always say, it was just like riding a bike! By no means was I going fast, distance wasn't the goal of this adventure; it was all about being out in the sunshine, cursing along the canal and feeling the wind in my hair. 


It was glorious! I can't wait to take the bike out again next week!

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From Zero to Runner

Well I did it!

Sunglasses - Ray Ban; Top & Pants - Lululemon

After 14 weeks of training, I've gone from zero to runner, and yesterday I took part in my very first organized race, the Ottawa Race Weekend 5K.

I didn't know what I was getting into, so I set my sights low. My goals were to: 1) finish, and 2) try to finish somewhere between 35-40 minutes (but even that wasn't a firm goal - I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself). Imagine my surprise when I crossed the finish line at 35:09, a full four minutes off my best treadmill time.

I couldn't have been be happier.


Big thanks goes out to GirlTalk, who provided me with seamless music to keep me going, and Goodlife for taking my money, giving me a reason to go to the gym.

Up next: running 10k in the the Innovapost 'Share the Power of a Wish' Walk/Run 2012 this September.


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Easy, Breezy

The weather this past weekend was amazing. I had errands to run, and I couldn't have been happier because it gave me the chance to soak up some rays and expose the world to my ghostly white limbs. 

Because I was running around town and pounding the pavement, I decided to go with a simple yet chic ensemble and threw on one of my favourite dresses (yes, black can work for summer) and my new Aldo wedges. This could have been a recipe for disaster, but thankfully these new wedges were so comfortable and allowed me to breeze about town.

Sunglasses - Ray-Ban, Dress - unknown shop in Toronto; Tank - Smart Set;
Sandals - Aldo; Watch - Fossil

Easy. Breezy. Beautiful. Ghostly White.
Here's hoping that the gorgeous weather is here to stay!

How did you enjoy the weekend?

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Spring and Sunglasses

The weather last week was schizophrenic to say the least. One day was absolutely gorgeous and had me dreaming of spring. The next, snow. And finally, the week ended with intense winds that swirled my hair into a divine nest.

This outfit was from earlier in the week, when I was dreaming of Spring trends and sunglasses.

Sweater - Zara; Halter & Skirt - Jacob; Boots - Aldo; Watch - Fossil; Sunglasses - Ray-Ban

After a long day of work, I rewarded myself by shopping with a friend; I was very thankful to see that this outfit daily transitioned from day to night with just the addition of skinnies.

Shopping only made my dreams of Spring trends and sunglasses more intense. I can't wait for warm weather and all that comes with it.

What are you dreaming of?

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What's in my bag?

Every since I my winter vacation ended and I was thrown back into the real world, I've been suffering from a lack of sartorial inspiration. I'd love to blame jet-lag, but it's been 13 days, so I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations has passed. But, since I haven't taken any good photos of late, let's take a peek inside my bag.

My bag - the lovely Johnson from Aldo. Bought on a whim in September, I quickly fell in love with it - not only does the cross-body strap keep my hands free to hold my coffee in the morning, but the thing holds anything and everything that I could possibly need throughout the day.

The contents:

RayBans, Joe Fresh sunnies, business card holder, bandage holder (promotional item from work)
Wallet, keys, backup glasses, gum
Aldo sunglasses, Columbia glasses, Burts Bees lip balm in fig, more gum, moleskine agenda
iPhone, pens

These are the items that keep me organized: business cards, my moleskin agenda (I'm honestly lost without it), and pens (normally there are more than 3 pens in my purse, but I think I've lost a few lately).

No, your eyes are not deceiving you, I carry around FIVE pairs of glasses on a daily basis - two to make computer and TV screens less blurry, and three pairs of sunglasses

That's my bag!

What's in your bag?

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One Sweater Three Ways

Although you can’t really tell with the weather these days, it’s officially fall. You know what that means; fashion turns to cozy sweaters, boots and tights. This post has two of those three things. You’re welcome.

I bought this sweater at the beginning of September, and it quickly became my new fall favourite. A couple of weekends back when the weather began to feel like fall I decided to wear it, and wear it and wear it again.

So here we go, one sweater three ways:

I first wore this sweater as a casual Friday outfit. If you’re a regular Petite Adventures reader you’ll know that I have an issue with the temperature of my office – as in, it’s sub-zero and I freeze on a daily basis. I took advantage of the sub-arctic cubicle climate and wrapped myself in this cozy charcoal sweater.

Paired with boots and skinny jeans I was happy and warm all day long.

Sweater - SmartSet; Tank - Lululemon; Jeans - Mavi;
Belt - Jacob; Boots - Aldo; Watch - Fossil

I remixed this outfit Saturday morning when I had to run out to the bank to buy loonies to do laundry (oh the joys of apartment living). It was fairly early in the morning, so I stuck with boots. But, as I was just running down the street I figured flat boots were the most appropriate – didn’t want to be mistaken for a walk of shamer.

Sweater - SmartSet; Shirt - H&M; Jeans - Mavi; Boots - Aldo

By Saturday afternoon, the temperatures had risen and it was turning out to be the most gorgeous late summer Saturday. Taking advantage of the last of the summer sunshine a friend and I went into the market to wander the stalls, smell the flowers and people watch (okay, we really just went to people watch, but did the other stuff as well). For this petite adventure, I chose flats.

It’s really amazing how one little detail can completely change an outfit.

That's right, I was hanging with Drew Barrymore 

After throwing on some aviators I was ready to hit the town. 

Sweater - SmartSet; Shirt - H&M; Jeans - Mavi;
Shoes & Sunglasses- Aldo; Belt - Jacob; Watch - Fossil

I was in love with this sweater before, but even more so now that I’ve realized how versatile it can be. I’m looking forward to finding ways four, five and six to wear this sweater throughout the fall.