de facto redhead

Today is Day 2 of the new Picasa perks, and my selection is “Cross Process.” I think it creates photos that look suspiciously similar to Instagram’s. What say you? Unrelated: have you heard of the blog Silhouetted Skyline? I just found out about it yesterday after my eyeglasses place, the Eye Studio, posted about it in my Facebook feed. From what I can tell, the man behind SS (Steven Lee) is or was a student at OCAD, and he spends part of his spare time taking pictures of fashionable people around Yorkville. I know I can go into the city, walk around, and see these people for myself, but a person can only stare for so long before it gets weird. Pictures aid studying, and study I did, to the tune of the entire SS archive. I did hope that by the time I got to 2012, Lee would have eventually branched out to some other areas of Toronto, where there are fashion-forward people wearing more affordable (and therefore accessible) clothes, etc., but that didn’t really happen. Oh well – I always have a soft spot for other Ontario bloggers. Where else do they lurk?

(Coat, Urban Outfitters; heart pin, The Gap; dress, Old Navy; boots, Spring; belt, vintage; earrings, Ardene; necklace, no label.)

I updated my Picasa program the other day, and even though this process was waaaaaay overdue on my part, everything I discovered was still new and exciting to me! There were so many additions and new ways to manipulate photos, so over the next few posts, I will showcase a few of my favourites. First up is the “1960s” effect:

Wait! I’m not ready!

OK, I’m sufficiently glamorous now.

Hark! It’s the Sears catalogue calling.

Who is so intriguing, standing to my left? It’s only sturdy and dependable Mr. Wall. I’ll never love him in the way he wants, but he always puts a smile on my face.

I sometimes flirt with Mr. Wall by putting my hand near my neck, and I make him jealous by leaning against Mr. Sideboard.

Whenever Mr. Sideboard comes into the picture, Mr. Wall tries to get fresh as a way of asserting his masculinity, and this time he slipped my shirt off my right shoulder. Rat!

(Coat, Old Navy; leather gloves, PEI flea market-type sale; scarf, vintage; boots, Spring; jeans and belt, Forever 21; shirt, Dynamite; tank top, Urban Outfitters; earrings and giraffe brooch, vintage; bracelets, mix of Claire’s, Forever 21, and vintage.)

Today’s topic for the February Photo a Day Challenge was “inside your closet,” and while I have been faithfully participating in this online community via Twitter (@defactoredhead) since February 1, I thought today warranted an actual camera photo (and blog post) rather than a grainy low-light picture posted by my cellphone. Without further ado, here are two pictures of the inside of the chaos that is my closet:

Nothing in here is ironed. I iron on an as-needed basis.

1. I spy a Dear Edna bag among the jungle of belts and purse straps.

2. My overstuffed jewelry box.

3. My overstuffed bracelet drawers.

4. My overstuffed necklace “tackle box.”

5. Where my tights and leggings are stored. I just lied. There are more in a box you can’t see.

6. The top of a stack of sweaters (I keep my sweaters and pyjamas in this green bin).

7. My workout clothes that get the slum treatment, folded in piles on the floor.

I am horribly behind with my posts, and unlike everyone else I know, I don’t even have Pinterest to blame – every time I log on, my mind goes completely blank. Apparently, though, I’ve been feeling less-than-inspired on here as well…hence the lack of action on De Facto Redhead. But, for those of you who like chaos and confusion with some thrifting thrown in for bargooning pleasure, here is what I’ve been wearing and how I’ve been wiling away the time:

Boots, Spring; jeans, Costa Blanca; shirt-dress, Vero Moda; vest, H&M, belt, Le Chateau; bracelets, assorted; necklace, vintage, gift from Mom.

Boots, Spring; jeans, Levis; blouse, H&M; sweater, Zara; belt, thrifted; brooch, vintage.

Boots, Spring; jeans, Levis; sweater, Jacob; coat and hat, Urban Outfitters; gloves and purse, Old Navy; scarf, vintage. I wore this outfit in Toronto on January 21 while going to this:

This exhibit was taking place at the Bell TIFF Lightbox, and my mom and I managed to sneak in on the last weekend the event was in town. We dutifully paid our $15 for our tickets and proceeded to enjoy every minute of the exhibit. Grace Kelly’s letters, movie posters, clothes, wedding dress (a replica), accessories, and more were on display, and as soon as my mom and I got home, we started our online search for reputable books we could read about Grace Kelly’s life. The order was placed, and now we wait… We must know more about the “woman who had many lovers and was quite the hot tamale.” (Direct quote from an elderly lady behind us at the exhibit.)

This print was on one of walls outside the Lightbox. No pictures were allowed inside the exhibit. Boooo!

I look like this every day. Don’t you?

It wouldn’t have been a proper weekend with my parents if we didn’t darken the door of at least one thrift store. My mom and I each scored this Pyrex juice jug for $0.99 at the Burlington Goodwill.

Hello! We came home from the Freelton Antique Mall with a nice lady named Carla. We admit we were pricey at $12, but we will be forever grateful for Carla’s kind heart and sparkling smile.

What up, Sudbury? Why were you lurking in Freelton? What brought you there? And why did you have to be $7 and make me feel guilty about spending that on you? You are just too darn winsome.

A vintage 1968 edition of the Joy of Cooking, purchased for $1 at The Reuse Centre.

Another score at The Reuse Centre – a $0.25 mug for Darcy with his last name on it. 

Last night, Erin, Mike, Darcy, and took off for the outer ridges of Niagara wine country, and we stayed in Jordan. This is us at the Jordan House Tavern, and in the background you can see the pool table where I sharked it during my first game in about four years. I refute all accusations of beginner’s luck. Today, we collected a nice little bounty of wine and came home with plans to quit our jobs and open a winery. With my beginner’s luck, we can’t lose…

Boots, vintage; trousers, Forever 21; blouse, Suzy Shier, gift from Mom; belt, Liz Claiborne, thrifted; earrings, Ardene, gift from Mom; bracelet, Forever 21, gift from Mom; necklace, vintage.

These boots were my Grammie’s, but they look like they were never worn. The only thing I had to do to them was get the heel nubs repaired!

So, who is watching American Idol right now? I had a hard time deciding what to watch at 8 tonight, but went with Idol so I could talk about it at work tomorrow. I don’t want to be left out of a pop culture conversation! Oh, the naïveté! The reason I couldn’t decide what to watch tonight is because I am addicted to TV and have 20 shows on the go right now. I’m opening myself up for scathing disapproval, but here is my lineup:

Monday: 2 Broke Girls, Gossip Girl, Hart of Dixie, How I Met Your Mother, Pretty Little Liars

Tuesday: Jane By Design, New Girl, Parenthood

Wednesday: American Idol, Modern Family, Happy Endings, Hot in Cleveland, Whitney, Bomb Girls (mini-series)

Thursday: American Idol, Private Practice, Vampire Diaries, Up All Night

Friday: Nothing!

Saturday: Nothing!

Sunday: Pan Am, Shameless, Californication

Next month, The Amazing Race starts again, and in March, Dancing With the Stars comes back for another kick at the Mirrorball Trophy. Don’t even bother trying to make plans with me – I’m busy killing my brain cells.

Coat, Smart Set, gift from Mom; gloves, Old Navy; scarf, vintage.

Boots, Winterproofs, thrifted; jeans, Levis via Winners; blue top, Talula, gift from Susie; red top, Mango; sweater, Zara; bracelet, Forever 21, gift from Mom; earrings and necklace, vintage.

Everything felt like an effort today – getting up, choosing my clothes, going to work, tolerating unusual customers, taking outfit pictures, preparing my supper, etc., etc., etc. I had a pretty lazy day yesterday, though, so that might have had something to do with my lethargy today. I am also the groggiest person alive when it comes to the dreaded morning-time, so if I’m at all thrown off or feeling extra-tired, I’m, well, does buhhhhhhhhhhhhh describe it?

Highlights from Sunday: the completion of Penny Vincenzi’s newest book, The Decision, of which I wish I had more, more, more to read – her books are so unbelievably good; the cleaning and organization of my food cupboards and various post-Christmas piles; Salma Hayek’s dress at the Golden Globes; and Claire Danes’ dress at the Golden Globes. Highlights from today: jeans that were $13 at Winners; gloves that were $0.60 at Old Navy; the 2012 return of Gossip Girl; and the fifth night in a row of my new favourite dinner: a Pita Break flax pita spread with herbed goat cheese and half an avocado that’s put in the oven for eight minutes, and then topped with cucumber and tomato.

What are your highlights?

Boots, Winterproofs, thrifted; tights, gift from Mom; shirt-dress, Vero Moda via Winners; belt, Liz Claiborne, thrifted; brooch and bracelet, vintage; earrings, H&M.

Shoes and tights, Aldo; dress, Just Ginger via Winners; jacket, H&M; earrings, gift from Erin; bracelet, Sudbury craft fair; ring, vintage.

Yes, it’s broken. I’ve had it for at least 15 years and it was recently discovered in an old jewelry box at my parents’ house. My dad tried to fix the nameplate, but it continued to snap in two. I actually thought I lost this bracelet at work, and then found it on the floor in the back room, three months later. It’s the bracelet that just won’t quit.

I mentioned the other day that I went shopping, and in the pictures above are more of my recent acquisitions. Along with the cash I had from my returned goods, I also had VISA and Winners gift cards, so it was a fun three-to-four hours spent frolicking through the Burlington Mall. Great sales and markdowns are so thrilling (read more about the euphoria over at My Edit). Example: I bought the Vero Moda shirt-dress for $19.99 (plus tax) and the Just Ginger dress for the same price, and while I already mentioned the deals on right now at The Bay and Old Navy, Payless had some decent clearance items as well (mid-height olive-green shoe-booties purchased for $19, plus tax). A few days later, however, I discovered more fabulous shoes on clearance at Spring’s online store. I bought four pairs (three for me, and one for Darcy), and I’m hoping they all fit properly. With the e-mail sign-up discount of 10%, the total was $77, and that included a pair of cognac loafer-type wedges, a pair of black motorcycle-boot shoe-booties, a pair of two-tone brown flats, and a pair of black men’s dress shoes. I’m dizzy – fetch my smelling salts!

Where have you scored post-Christmas deals?

Boots, Spring; dress, Old Navy; belt, thrifted; clear necklace, gift; gold necklace, vintage; earrings, Ardene; ring, Material Girl via The Bay.

Happy New Year! A bit late for those sentiments, but since this is my first post of 2012, I thought the opener was apt. I had a wonderful Christmas break, and it even included a few firsts – I took part in two spinning classes (thank you, Melanie!), Darcy and I cooked a lamb leg along with various other dishes for a dinner party of seven, and I bought a Pyrex bowl in the Old Orchard pattern (something I swore I would never do – too ugly!). You could say everything’s all old hat now.

Another first of the new year came with the purchase of the dress I’m wearing in the pictures above. I had a few returns from Christmas gifts that didn’t quite fit, and with the money I got back, I went shopping. Old Navy is currently offering 40% off their clearance prices, so, among other things, I bought this dress for $27, plus tax. I don’t own anything this length, but something struck me about the dress, even though I have been wary of maxi skirts for fear of looking stumpy. However, as I wrote in this post’s title, I was feeling very witchy/gold dust woman a la Stevie Nicks, and although I felt a bit of trepidation on my way to work today – was this look a mistake?!! – I think as the hours went by, I fell more and more in love. It’s official – I have taken the oath of fabric (thanks, Miranda Hobbes).

P.S. The Bay also has 50% off its regular-priced costume jewellery right now, and I bought two bracelets and two rings, including the one pictured above (it was $7, plus tax).

Last Christmas, my friend Joanne, of A Warm Cup of Joe, did a blog post about her special Christmas ornaments. I thought it was a great idea and wanted to write my own version, but I didn’t get around to it. This year, I made a pledge to myself (and to Joanne!) to DO THIS POST, and since I was always good little Girl Guide, I try to keep my blog-post pledges. I want a badge!

This is my newest ornament on the tree. Kristy gave it to me at the ornament exchange a week ago. She got it at the One of  a Kind Show, and there’s a personalized message on the back, along with a secret scroll that falls out of the bottom when the ornament’s string goes slack. It’s so special, and I love it!

This one was purchased at the gift shop at the top of the Banff Gondola ride, and it’s been my favourite for the past few years. I bought this with Kristy when she was in Alberta on a work trip.

Darcy and I bought this inukshuk in Jasper when my parents came to visit us in Edmonton. That seems like it was so long ago!

Let’s go back in time…to circa 1988 when I made ornaments in school and thought I had a talent in visual arts.

I also made this beauty, with each piece carefully and logically glued onto a shell. What genius! What promise!

Darcy and I also bought this one on a trip with my parents, but this time it was to the opposite end of the country – PEI! This was Darcy’s pick in the gift shop at the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers.

This ornament is very special to me because it used to belong to my Grammie and Grampie, and the names on it refer to me and my brother, not me and Darcy the boyfriend. I remember taking this ornament home from PEI the first time I went back after my Grampie died. It was a sad moment in the basement when my mom and I were going through my grandparents’ old ornaments.

I also brought this one home with me on that same trip. My Grammie made it, and from Christmas to Christmas, it has alternated between being hung on the tree and hung from some sort of hook around the house.

Another PEI ornament! This one is handmade as well, and it’s an actual starfish. Santa be a starfish, son!

This ornament came from PEI as well, and it used to be part of a pair…until I broke the other one. My clumsiness is a fact of life around our home.

This one may have belonged to my maternal great-grandmother. I know my mom has an identical ornament on her tree. Mom?

This vintage ornament belonged to Darcy’s Baba. It looks perfect among the vintage vibe of our tree!

I bought this little guy for Darcy last year. He loves penguins!

This is one of the first ornaments Darcy and I bought together, during our first Christmas in Edmonton. We bought it at Hallmark, which means we spent too much, but how can you say no to Hermey…?

…And if you can’t say no to Hermey, how can you say no to Yukon Cornelius?!

Erin gave me this ornament for our annual exchange a few years ago, and it arrived in the mail with a cupcake ornament that’s also hanging on the tree. It references my then-obsession with Flirt Cupcakes in Edmonton. (Truthfully, the obsession still exists. I. Just. Can’t. Get. Them. Here.) I digress. Isn’t this dove pretty?!

I bought this one last year in Hamilton, at Citizen Kid. Erin and I went shopping after the Santa Shuffle, and now, in addition to me, my mom and Jen also have this decoration hanging on their trees. (Jen was Erin’s pick for the ornament exchange last year, and as for my mom, well, I’m just a good daughter like that!) Erin, did you buy one, too?

My mom gave me this vintage postcard last year. That’s a redheaded girl, of course! The clothespin technique is one I thought of this year, and I admit I was pretty satisfied with myself when I came up with the idea. Patent pending.

Last but not least, and in honour of the person who inspired this post, I give you the sparkly shoe! Joanne sent a set of ornaments to me for my birthday this year, and this was included, along with three other glittery, girly accessories. Thanks, Joanne – for both this idea and for the thoughtful present!

Shoes, Winners; tights, gift; skirt, H&M; top, Guess; belt, thrifted; purse, Aldo; earrings and brooches, vintage.

Last night was Bryony’s annual Christmas party, and while Darcy and I were waiting for our ride into Toronto, I actually had time to take pictures on a night I was going out. That never happens! And forget about taking outfit pics when I get home – that also never happens, and it doesn’t take much imagination to figure out why. I did manage to get one other picture last night, though:

That is Darcy pushing Erin and Mikey J.’s car…at 1:30 am…yep, we ran out of gas. This had never happened to any of us, and it was surprising how suddenly the whole fiasco went down. The gauge said we had six kilometres left in gas. Nope. It was more like one or less, and, thankfully, we were pulling into a gas station when the chugging started – and ended – in about five seconds. Then, after Darcy got out and pushed and Mike steered the car into the station, we realized we had pulled up in front of the diesel pumps. Noooooo! Mike got out of the car to help Darcy push, and Erin took over the wheel. She successfully got us over to the right pumps, and then almost knocked out the teeth of both Darcy and Mike when she quickly threw the car into park to stop it from moving any further. Driving Miss. Edna! Everyone saw the hilarity in the situation, but that laughter could have quickly turned to tears and PO’ed boyfriends had we literally waited another two minutes to pull off the highway. Is that you, Santa? Thanks for saving us. We believe in the magic of Christmas in the face of fuel emergencies…