The Petite Philosopher

Pretty in pink.

“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” – Maya Angelou

I know that I have said it before, but I love how I live in such close proximity to Detroit, which is definitely one of the coolest cities in the midwest, and maybe the whole United States. But something I’m not sure I mentioned is how I also love living in Canada. When I was younger, I wanted to leave Windsor because I thought it was boring and uninspiring. I hear the same sentiments from my high school students today. But the older I got, the more I came to appreciate the city I was born and raised in. Windsor has its flaws (as does any city), but I love how multicultural it is, and how it’s small enough to know a lot of people. Recently I’ve even met some awesome local girl bosses doing amazing things for our city, and this made me very proud to be part of such a supportive community. So when I’m on the riverfront I certainly don’t look over to Detroit wishing I lived there, but consider myself lucky to have the view and to call Windsor my home.

Dress: Abercombie & Fitch. Bag: Mansur Gavriel. Shoes: Aldo. Sunglasses: Le Specs. Earrings: Forever 21. Bracelet: Wanderlust & Co (old, simliar here). Watch: Chanel. Lips: Marc Jacobs Infamous.

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Fashion

Flower power.

“Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” – Hans Christian Andersen

In the past I avoided midi dresses. For the most part, I felt they made me appear even shorter than I am because of the length. Slowly I have been warming up to this trend, and it’s because most midis end up being maxi dresses on me. Maxi dresses happen to be an even more challenging fit on my 5’1″ frame, and often alternations are necessary. I’d like to dub the best lengths for me to be “midaxi” as they are shorter than a maxi, longer than a midi. What drew me to this particular “midaxi” dress was its bold sunflower pattern. It’s both playful and elegant, and can be dressed up or down. Oh, and it has pockets, which is always an added bonus.

What is your preferred dress length? Be sure to share in the comments below!

Dress: Showpo. Shoes: Sam Edelman. Bag: Clare V. Earrings: Baublebar. Bracelet: Madewell. Watch: Chanel. Lips: MAC Chili.

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Philosophy

On fantasy.

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be very careful what we pretend to be.” – Kurt Vonnegut

The more I engage in social media, the more I become hypercritical of myself. Getting caught in a cycle of negative feelings related to comparing myself to others or how many likes or follows I get can be mentally exhausting. This led to a conversation I had with my husband, in which he made a very valid point about fantasy. When I take a look at the bloggers with the most followers, they’re travelling the world (what feels like nonstop), and are wearing designer clothes and accessories that are beyond what I can afford. Initially I thought my blog would attract readers because I’m a “real” person, but with a lack of followers I concluded that maybe I was wrong. What I think people want is this fantasy my husband spoke of. We rather look at things we can’t and might never have, rather than what is attainable. Why is that? Why can’t we be satisfied with what we have? Whether it’s looking at these bloggers, or reading a Hollywood gossip magazine, we fantasize as a form of escapism. We love to imagine ourselves living a life of luxury and can sometimes feel a sense of satisfaction living through someone’s carefully curated Instagram feed. Constantly being drawn to fantasies, however, can be detrimental. We begin to compare ourselves to others, and develop feelings of inadequacy. What I find particularly interesting is that when celebrities are dealing with personal issues, we derive pleasure from it. Their flaws make them seem more real and we feel superior when they fail. I think this makes the fantasy feel like it could be possible for us.

The human mind is an interesting thing. We can analyze and predict behaviour, but we can only truly know what’s going on inside our own heads. One person’s fantasy could be another’s nightmare. Like most things, fantasy is subjective. Though it can be fun to imagine, where does that truly get us? Sure, fantasies can motivate some people to achieve their goals, but at the same time I think it’s important to be realistic. I’m not saying that one should give up all hope or not bother, but consider that what we see are in fact fantasies. They aren’t entirely real and that’s the problem. The blogger who is constantly jet-setting the globe in Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Prada? She’s mostly likely just as messed up as the rest of us, so why put her on a pedestal? I guess what I’m try to articulate is that we need to live out our own fantasies, not someone else’s. Though it can be fun and entertaining following the latest celebrity gossip or the blogger who seems to have an unlimited income, we need to enjoy what we do have instead of using up too much of our energy fantasizing about what we wish we could have.

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Fashion

Stay gold.

Nature’s first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

-Robert Frost

This is the moment. What moment, you may ask? Well, any moment. Moments are fleeting; they come and go. We need to seize the moment; feel the sun on our skin, smile, embrace what life is giving us right now, this very second. Appreciate the moment. Whether it’s positive or not, you are a part of it. Hold onto it, get caught up in it. You will need to let go of the moment, but as you do, reach out for another one. Enjoy what life has to offer from one moment to the next. Share the moments with family, friends, and loved ones. Nothing lasts forever, but once a moment is kept inside your heart, it will be remembered always. Our lives are a series of moments, so be sure to make them meaningful.

Dress: Asos. Hat: Treasure & Bond. Sunglasses: Le Specs. Shoes: Kate Spade (old, love these). Bag: Cult Gaia. Earrings: Baublebar. Watch: Chanel. Bracelet: Madewell. Lips: Guerlain Rouge Kiss.

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Fashion

Solar Power.

“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away.” – Elvis Presley

For a while I felt as if warmer weather would never arrive. This spring was way too cold for my liking, and I’ve been craving sun more than I have ever before. As soon as the temperature increased I was ready to break out my summer wardrobe and free my legs from the constraint of nylons! This romper was the perfect choice to mark the start of better weather and to dance to the music of Panda Bear, who my husband and I saw perform later in the evening at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit. For me, this night encapsulated what I love most about spring/summer – it’s a time to feel free, to feel the sun against your skin, to wear bright and bold colours, and to feel energized by the warmth outdoors.

Romper: J.O.A. Shoes: Seychelles (old, loving these). Bag: Urban Outfitters. Bag Tassel: Siam Hill Tribes. Earrings: My Beloved Crafts. Sunglasses: Le Specs. Bracelet: Kate Spade. Watch: Chanel. Lips: MAC Impassioned.

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Philosophy

On strength.

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius

Back in January I post a video of me deadlifting five reps of 240lbs on my Instagram account, and received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from my friends, family, and followers. The next day at work, some of my colleagues mentioned they saw it and commented how strong I was. I consider those compliments to be the best ones I have ever received. To be called “strong” is a lot more fulfilling than be called “pretty” or “cute”, or even hearing someone admire my clothing choices. Last year I wrote a post chronicling my fitness journey and philosophy, and now, over a year later, I am proud to announce that I have exceeded my own expectations in powerlifting.

My journey continued this school year with an announcement from a student wanting to put together a powerlifting team. I responded that I would be more than happy to be the teacher sponsor, in which former students would volunteer to coach the students. On the first day we met in the weight room at school, I was elated to see so many people interested, especially girls. Every Wednesday we meet after school and work on our squats, bench press, and deadlifts. It has been such an overwhelmingly positive experience for me to see the students gain strength each week. I think it is truly amazing what the body can do, and to be able to use it in such an incredible way is very rewarding. It’s not just the physical results that I’m proud of, but the mental strength I have gained as well. By lifting heavy weights I have become more motivated to be the best I can be. I have gained so much more confidence in myself, not just in the way I look as a result, but in pushing myself to achieve my goals by adding more weight or volume to my workout. The community I’m within has also been a positive factor, because everyone is so encouraging and supportive. Though some of the students compete in a powerlifting meet, I find that none of them are antagonistic towards each other. When we’re together in the weight room, we cheer each other on, as well as motivate one another to do our best. This sense of camaraderie also contributes to both the physical and mental strength gained.

I am so proud of my students, my husband, and myself for making the decision to powerlift. I never imagined myself being associated with an athletic team at school, and now I couldn’t imagine life without it. Powerlifting has become a part of my weekly routine, and though sometimes I’m feeling lazy and tired and don’t want to lift, I never regret it after I have finished. While cardio videos left me sweaty and exhausted, powerlifting leaves me proud and accomplished. And to me, there’s no better feeling than that.

A special thank you goes out to our wonderful coaches and mentors, Jacob Ritchie and Mikey Nguyen, for their dedication, motivation, and expertise!

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Fashion

Moon over Miami.

“The day, water, sun, moon, night – I do not have to purchase these things with money.” – Plautus

For our last evening in Miami back in March, my husband and I spent the night wandering the streets, even getting caught in the midst of the spring break crowds. Besides being spectators of the insane party scene on Ocean Drive, we just simply enjoyed taking Miami in as we knew that we would soon have to bid farewell to this eclectic city.

It may sound weird, or maybe even lame, but I actually have a theme for all my outfits on our trip. I wanted to wear lighter pastel colours to match the scenery, as well as dresses that were cool and breezy, and I think the one I wore this particular night was my favourite.

Over a month later, I still miss Miami, but am certainly looking forward to new travel adventures that await me! Portugal here we come!

Dress: Sunday Best. Jacket: H&M. Bag: Mansur Gavriel (mini mini version available here). Shoes: Forever 21. Earrings: Baublebar. Watch: Chanel. Lips: Guerlain Rouge Kiss.

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