Archives for December 2016

2016: Year in Review

“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

A lot of people have been declaring 2016 as the worst year ever, whether it be due to politics, or the death of many beloved celebrities including one of my favourite artists, David Bowie. Though 2016 may have had its disappointments (heck, every year does), for me it was another successful trip around the sun. The year started off with great, as I became an aunt for the first time. I was also able to visit Italy, not once, but twice in the span of five months. In Italy I paid my respects to the Canadian soldiers who fought in World War II, saw the incredible sights of Rome, Florence, Bologna, and Venice, sailed Lake Como, and ate some of the best food I have ever tasted. I even travelled to New York for my school’s band trip, taking in both the sights and sounds of the Big Apple. Also this year, my husband and I cracked down on our eating habits and continued strength training where I have reached many personal bests. In November I rekindled my love of theatre by acting in my first play in 13 years (and successfully auditioned for another show that will be performed in April 2017). I also started this blog, a vision that was several years in the making. From the big, exciting adventures, to the small moments of happiness and laughter, 2016 was one for the books.

Wishing all my readers a very happy New Year! All the best in 2017,

Vanessa

Views from Assoro, Sicily | March 2016

Beautiful Florence, Italy | March 2016

Paying tribute to John Lennon in New York City | April 2016

When in Rome… | July 2016

Celebrating 3 years of marriage on a food tour in Bologna | July 2016

In a Venetian dream | July 2016

I’m on a boat (in Lake Como)! | July 2016

The blogging life | October 2016

The God of Ecstasy | November 2016

Feeling festive | December 2016

Fashion

Lady in Red.

“Bright reds – scarlet, pillar-box red, crimson or cherry – are very cheerful and youthful. There is certainly a red for everyone. ” – Christian Dior

I may have mentioned it before, but I love the colour red. Red is glamorous, sexy, festive, romantic, and daring. If I had to wear one colour for the rest of my life, red would certainly be it. What I like most about this particular dress isn’t just its colour, but the open back. In the past I would shy away from anything that showed too much of my back because I was self conscious of my scoliosis. Scoliosis is the curvature of the spine, and it is most common in preteen girls and is believed to be hereditary. My older sister had corrective surgery for hers, but mine is not severe enough at this point, though it is at a 60 degree curve. It was first noticed on me when I was 11, and since then I have seen specialists in Hamilton and Toronto, and was even braced throughout all of high school. Unfortunately, my scoliosis has progressed in the last 5 years, so to combat the pain, I’ve been weight lifting and strength training to make my back stronger. The older I become, the more I have embraced my imperfect back. My spine is a part of me; it makes me who I am. The world would be a boring place if everyone were the same; we should try to do more to celebrate our differences and embrace what makes us each unique.

Dress: Lulus (old, similar here). Scarf: Kate Spade (new style available here, similar here). Bag: Mansur Gavriel. Shoes: Max Studio. Necklace: J.Crew Factory. Watch: Chanel. Bracelet: Baublebar. Lips: MAC Russian Red.

Fashion

Holiday Cheer.

“Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.” – Edna Ferber

Christmas is my favourite holiday. I enjoy celebrating with family and friends, the decorations, and the all-around festive spirit that is in the air. I also appreciate tradition, seeing it as a way to relive and honour the past. My most loved traditions include making pizza on Christmas Eve with my husband, lunch/dinner on Christmas Day, and of course, putting up the tree. When I was young, my mother was very particular when it came time to decorate our tree. It had a theme: red and gold musical instruments and angels. I promised myself that when I was older and had my own tree, it would be a mix of whatever I wanted, disregarding any kind of motif. I have since kept my promise, and our Christmas tree truly represents my husband and me. From the macarons, to Star Trek and Star Wars, souvenirs from our travels, and The Beatles, each ornament holds significance to me.

Every Christmas I look forward to all the gatherings and spending time with the ones I love. Christmas isn’t just about the gifts and other material things; as Dr. Seuss wrote in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, “Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. Maybe Christmas, he thought… doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps… means a little bit more!”

Dress: Dezzal (similar styles here and here). Earrings: H&M (available in gold). Watch: Chanel. Bracelet: Monserat De Lucca (old, similar here). Bag: Mansur Gavriel. Shoes: H&M (old, similar here). Lips: Dior 999.

Fashion

Silver and Gold.

It’s not just for the holiday season or a night out at the club; metallics are making a huge comeback in the fashion scene. Though it might look flashy to some, adding gold or silver pieces to your outfit adds a bit of surprise. I believe it’s always a good thing to be a bit daring in your fashion choices!

Here are some of my favourite silver and gold pieces this season:

KENDALL + KYLIE Brooke Booties • KENDALL + KYLIE
Clare V – Bow-embellished Metallic Textured-leather Clutch – Gold • Clare Vivier
Alice + Olivia Prescilla Embellished Mini Dress, Gold • Alice + Olivia
Rebecca Taylor Textured Metallic Short-Sleeve Top • Rebecca Taylor
Haute Hippie Metallic Tie-Front Halter Top, Gold • Haute Hippie
alice + olivia Harrison Flared Dress • Alice + Olivia
Women’s Dee Elle Shine Swing Dress
Pedro Garcia Semi-Pointed Metallic Pumps • Pedro Garcia
Women’s French Connection Sequin Mesh Faux Wrap Dress • French Connection
Saint Laurent Large Shopping Tote Bag, Silver • Saint Laurent
Elizabeth and James Lucy Pleated Lamé Midi Skirt, Gold • Elizabeth and James
3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Mini Leather Satchel • 3.1 Phillip Lim

Fashion

Step into Christmas.

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” – Norman Vincent Peale

Before Windsor went into a deep freeze, I was excited to wear this dress I purchased last winter. I love this dress’s details, from the colour of green to the lace and bell sleeves, to the skin baring cutouts. To make it more festive, I paired it with a red clutch and glittery heels. I like glitter so much that when I worked at Hallmark during my undergraduate, I would shake the cards into my hair before a night out so I could sparkle! Though I think a dash of glitter can work for any occasion, I wouldn’t normally pair red and green together unless it was December. I think Christmas is one of the few times of year that it is okay to be cliche in your colour combinations.

Dress: Free People (old, similar here). Coat: H&M (old, similar here). Necklace: J.Crew Factory (old, loving this). Earrings: Baublebar (old, similar here). Watch: Chanel. Bag: Mansur Gavriel. Shoes: Mix No. 6 (old, similar here). Lips: MAC Russian Red

Photography by The Wild Photographer

Fashion

For the Record.

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” – Plato

My husband and I love collecting records. This hobby began years ago when we rediscovered our parents’ turntables, and now one of our favourite pastimes is searching for records and of course listening to them. When we go record shopping, we tend to venture out to Detroit and surrounding areas. Here are some of our favourite record stores:

Found Sound. This is the location of this shoot. I think they have the best selection of new and used records, and the staff is always friendly. 234 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI
Stormy Records. 13306 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI.
UHF. 512 S Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI.
Hello Records. 1459 Bagley Ave, Detroit, MI.
Peoples Records. 1464 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, MI.

When I first saw these pants, I said to myself, “what the heck?” and decided to try them on. I have been liking the leather legging look lately, but was unsure how comfortable I would be in them. On the hanger, these particular leggings reminded me of a garbage bag, but when I put them on I thought they looked really flattering. Best of all, they are very comfortable. The top I’m wearing reminds me of beatnik poets for some reason, or even Velma from Scooby Doo. No matter, I think it’s soft flowly texture pairs well with the faux leather leggings. I’m also using my new Mansur Gavriel clutch, which I just love. So far it has been durable, and it fits a lot (including my continental wallet), which I think is important feature in a clutch.

Where are your favourite record shops? Or better yet, records?

Top: Modcloth. Pants: Dynamite. Jacket: Aritzia. Scarf: Burberry. Watch: Chanel. Necklace: Baublebar. Shoes: Le Chateau. Bag: Mansur Gavriel. Lips: MAC Russian Red.

Philosophy

On Knowledge.

“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” – Bertrand Russell

The longer I teach, the more I find that Sir Francis Bacon’s theory that “knowledge is power” is ingrained in my students’ minds. Several years ago I attended a banquet for a retiring dean from the University of Windsor, and when he spoke in front of his students, friends, and colleagues, he said something that I will never forget; he said that knowledge isn’t power, but understanding. I have since taken his words and passed them onto my students to challenge what they have heard and been taught. We live in a society where it is very easy to obtain information. With a quick Google search, we can claim that we “know” a wide variety of things. But how much do we actually know versus understand? Some educators, not all, are very focused on ‘banking’ information. I believe that school shouldn’t solely be about the memorization of facts, but understanding our world. How do we understand something rather than just know it? We should be encouraged to think critically, work together to gain multiple perspectives, and actively engage in the subject matter we are learning about.

Our current education system isn’t the only thing we should place the blame upon, but also all the false information spreading on social media and the internet. We need to check our sources and take the time to investigate before we believe something is fact. Our prejudices also get in the way of knowledge because our feelings can strongly influence how we perceive information. Therefore, I think it is critical for people to keep an open mind by pleading ignorance before they acquire new knowledge. I also believe that we need more self knowledge, meaning that we learn to understand ourselves better. Before I can say I know something, I need to know who I am, my values, and my biases.

In the end, it should not be how much we know, but how we understand and use what we know; that’s what really makes knowledge powerful.

Archives for December 2016

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