Birthday Suit

I celebrated my birthday yesterday. I wasn't expecting much of anything since I knew I had two classes in the later afternoon and evening. My really good friend, Sesame, invited me to meet her for tea in the morning at this tea shop (that hails from my home and native land) that she had been wanting to show me for a while. This sounded like the perfect way to start out my 27th and that was just the beginning. Thanks to Sesame for making my day really special!!!

Some serious tea business going on up there. When I walked in, we had the whole place to ourselves and the lady working there also wished me a happy birthday. She had already pulled their selection of earl greys and had a sample of a delicious hibiscus iced tea waiting for me. Sesame had clearly laid the ground work. Most people do shots of alcohol on their birthday, I do shots of tea. I'm hardcore like that.

The fun didn't stop there. Next, we found our way to a great little restaurant called The Hummus Place. We ordered a bunch of dishes and shared.

Last but certainly not least, we ended with a red velvet cupcake from Molly's Cupcakes (who won Cupcake Wars btw...).

black tee {Zara} - necklace {Banana Republic} - grey skirt {Mexx} - black leather bracelet {NYC Chinatown} -

 beaded bracelet {gift via Victoria Chinatown} - NYC clutch {gift} - silver gladiators {Aldo}

It was a really great way to spend my day before having to go to two classes. Although, after going to Photoshop I was so excited to start the projects that it felt like another birthday gift of it's own. I'm a nerd like that. Ending the night with Fashion History, which I am least excited about this semester. I just find it a bit heavy and dry, although I should mention that my prof is the wackiest, most eccentric lady I have ever seen. So that should make for some interesting stories at the very least.

A quick thank you to my Mom for that amazing NYC clutch you see above. She very stealthily went back and bought it for me after I drooled over it in a store while she was here visiting. And one last thank you to my bestie, Sasha Rae, for my bracelet that came in my amazing birthday package. You know me too well...I love it.

j.

Black, White & Potter Specs

If you've been reading this blog for a while now...congratulations on making it this far. No, I kid, I kid. What I meant to say was that you may have noticed my love for graffiti or as I prefer to call it, street art. During my stay in Toronto, Ky lived in an alley that was filled with the stuff. We're talking one masterpiece after another for blocks on end. It was magical. Also, speaking of magic, I should mention another love of mine: Harry Potter. So, when I found a pair of over-sized HP frames in a little Toronto boutique, there was zero question that they would be coming home with me.

"Harry Potter" glasses {Toronto boutique} - black tee {Aritzia} - gold watch {Target} - 

 white distressed pants & color block tote {The Gap} -  gladiator sandals {Steve Madden via Century 21}

In other news, I started classes again yesterday. I decided that I didn't have enough meltdowns while taking five classes last semester so I threw in an extra two for the fall. Oh yeah, and I thought it would be a real kick to stay on at Bloomingdale's to intern on the two days a week I don't have class. So, here's to a meltdown-ridden four months!

All meltdown talk aside, I am super excited about the courses I've had so far. But I am even more excited about staying on as an intern in Bloomie's Fashion Office. I should have the chance to take on meatier projects while I'm there, which gives me more experience and allows me to build a legit portfolio. Sounds like a win to me!

Last but certainly not least...a quick shout-out to my girl Ky for catching on real. quick. with the whole outfit photography business. You, my friend, are a natural. If this whole teaching thing doesn't work out, you should really consider going into iPhoneography.

j.

From NYC to T.O.

I went on a whirlwind vacation to Toronto last week before classes started again. I was visiting Ky, one of my besties from university who I hadn't seen in two years. It was an amazing four days, spent with one of my favorite people. Ky showed me around her world (I may be sorta quoting Aladdin here...) and we literally did not stop for one minute. There was a FULL day at Canada's Wonderland (we're talking 10 hours here people), vintage shopping and exploring the streets of Toronto, lots of eating, a pretty intense Scrabble match in the park, even a night-time visit to the CNE (because one amusement park just wasn't enough for us). I apologize for the amount of photos below, but there were just too many good ones to cut any out.

I hadn't been to Toronto since I was a kid so it was really neat to spend time there as an adult. I loved the city and found it reminding me of Brooklyn a lot of the time. And we all know how I feel about Brooklyn (real. good.). It was so great seeing Ky and a couple other familiar faces. I was one lucky girl to have such great hosts for my four day stay.

j.

Up, Up & Away

{photo via Pinterest}

On Wednesday, I'm heading up to the ol' homeland. Specifically, I'm going to Toronto to visit one of my dearest. I haven't seen this girl in two years, since our 25th birthday trip to Vegas. I can not even begin to describe just how excited I am to see her face. There will be lots of screeching and squeezing going on in the Toronto airport on Wednesday morning. I won't be posting again until next week, once classes start up again. I was getting real excited for class until I received an email today from one of my profs with a reading assignment for the first class. What's even worse than having to do homework before school even starts? Having said homework due in your evening class on your day of birth. Happy birthday to me.

Have a good week and weekend all!

j.

P.S. Feel free to follow me on Pinterest! All the cool kids are doing it. Just kidding, they're not. If they were, I wouldn't be shamelessly asking you to follow me...but I pin pretty things so that's something.

Pink Desert

So, it's finally starting to cool off a bit, here in NYC. I was able to wear close-toe shoes and - wait for it - jeans the other day. Big deal around these parts.

 

 

desert motif dress {Brooklyn boutique} - gold watch {Target} - orange & pink bracelet {Loft} - 

tan suede loafers {Frye via Century 21} - purse {vintage Dooney & Burke}

My Cow Town (that's Canadian for Calgary) bestie was here the past few days and we had just the best of times. There was a little shopping, obviously some bagels, even a Broadway show (Jersey Boys) and most definitely the Brooklyn Flea. It's so much fun to show friends from back home this part of my life. We also went to Mood Fabrics (made famous by Project Runway and one Mr. Tim Gunn) and us two craft nerds basically nerded out right there between the chevron and ikat bolts.

Oh yes, she needs a blog alter-ego. For reasons that I choose not to explain and likely only she will understand, we will refer to her as Odie from here on out. So, a BIG thanks to Odie for coming out early to spend a few days with me and for debuting your photography skills on this little outfit above.

j.

A Love Letter

So, I'm not going to lie to you. Several of the items you see up there are waiting not-so-patiently in my closet to be worn. The rest of them are being severely coveted by yours truly. In case you also want to do some Fall shopping from the comfort of wherever you happen to be right now, here are the deets!

Ankle boots --> Topshop

Striped cardigan --> Madewell

Polka-dot sweater --> Old Navy

Stud Bracelets --> Etsy

Studded waistband pants --> Zara

Studded slippers --> Zara

Chambray shirts --> J Crew

Leather sleeved tee --> Zara

Leather sleeved blazer --> Theory

Black knee-high rainboots --> Chooka

What are you dying to bust out this Fall?

j.

Black & Boats

I did it, you guys! I took tripod photos of myself on a NYC street. I'm so proud of myself. It was not the kind of street that crowds of people walk along, mind you, but I did encounter the occasional jogger and kabuki cab driver. I got one smile, a whistle and lots of confused stares.

black felt hat {thrifted via Beacon's Closet} - black long sleeve {Sweet Romeo via Century 21} - coral sailboat shorts {Old Navy} -

orange & red bracelet {Loft} - gold watch {Target} - black cut-out wedges {Nine West via DSW}

I'm going to proclaim something today. There's a good chance I'll eat my words in a few months but today, I feel so strongly about this that I want it to be documented. I am so ready for Fall. There, I said it. Bring on the cold, Mother Nature. I am beyond over this heat and humidity. I yearn for layers, scarves and boots. I have always loved Summer best and am usually sad to see it go. But this is back in Canada where Summer finally arrives after months of waiting, sticks around for a few days and then leaves hastily, and we're left with some snow or something crazy like that. (True story: I have seen snow fall and stick in August back in Calgary). This East Coast Summer business is a whole 'nother story.

Last night, I was feeling restless and was dismayed that I would not be able to wear my new Fall purchases for a while yet. (Yes, these are the kinds of things that plague me and keep me up at night). So I did what any normal person would do and, with the fan pointed directly at me, tried on a few cold weather outfits. I was flushed and sweating by the end of it but it really did make me feel better. For a minute anyway, then it just made me want Fall to hurry up and get here already.

And yes, it was way too hot for a felt hat and black long sleeve when I took these photos this morning. But I'm rebelling, okay?

j.

J. Loves {Her} Style: Boho Beauty

Meet Sasha Rae. She's from British Columbia, Canada. She is my bestie. And I love her style. Read on to find out why!

 

My two favorite hipsters. Arguably the only ones I like...(I kid, but not really). Yes, that's Sasha's boyfriend. Yes, he's in a band. Yes, they are both ridiculously good looking. But in that effortless, we don't give a hoot kinda way, that just makes everyone all the more envious.

Since Sash and I are living on opposite ends of the continent, we make up for it by daily creeping on each other through various forms of social media. She was at a music festival in Canmore, Alberta this past weekend and Instagrammed (is this a legit verb yet?...I hope so) the above photos. Not only did I creep them, I "liked" them all instantly and, taking my creeping to a whole new level, asked her to send them to me so I could blog about them.

I have had the pleasure of knowing this beauty for nearly ten years and I have got to watch as her style transformed and ultimately grew as she did. Sasha has always had a defined style, from surfer chic when I first met her to what I like to call urban boho - the style that I think she has been honing for the past several years. The thing about style is that, in order to effortlessly have it, I think you need to know yourself and be confident in presenting who you really are to the world. This is why Sasha has always had style. Even though it has changed with her tastes and preferences, she has always known "who she is" - one of her most admirable qualities.

She is the perfect balance of bohemian. She's free spirited yet shows restraint. Wildly creative and fiercely intelligent. Always polished - but not too polished - and never sloppy. Rarely does she brush her hair but always seems to have those perfect bedhead/beach waves that most girls spend hours striving for. She is laid-back yet pain-stakingly detail oriented, all at the same time. And her style has come to reflect all of these things in a beautifully cohesive way.

I better stop this love fest now and simply just say this: Sasha Rae is an urban bohemian and I love her and her style to bits.

j.