Archives for January 2018

Ruby Tuesday.

She would never say where she came from
Yesterday don’t matter if it’s gone
While the sun is bright
Or in the darkest night
No one knows, she comes and goes

-The Rolling Stones

Whether your relationship is new, old, or you have children or not, a date night is always a good idea. Going out for dinner with my husband is one of my favourite things to do! We enjoy treating ourselves to a special meal and have found it particularly fun to do so in Detroit. On this evening we opted for sushi at Maru, which has an expansive menu from simple rolls to some crazy concoctions. Other restaurants we have enjoyed for a night out include Wright & Co., Grey Ghost, Takoi, and Republic. On my side of the border our favourite is definitely F&B in Walkerville. No matter the location, it’s never a bad idea to spoil yourselves as a couple once and a while.

Where are your favourite date night spots? Be sure to comment below!

Dress: Lulus. Nylons: Silks. Boots: Nine West. Bag: Sezane. Earrings: H&M. Bracelet: Kate Spade. Watch: Chanel. Lips: MAC Viva Glam I.

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Fashion, Travel

Mellow yellow.

“He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden.” – Plato

It’s officially sweater weather, and there was no better time to cuddle up in some thick, warm knits for a little getaway to Toronto. My husband and I joke that every time we go to Toronto, the weather is at its worst, and this weekend was no exception. With the windchill it was minus 30 degrees celsius! Though it was nice to cozy up in our room at The Drake, we did brave the cold and ventured outside for some shopping. Though I’m typically not a pants kind of girl, there really isn’t any other option when you’re walking outside in such frigid temperatures. Sometimes I have to make sacrifices, but it was all worth it to spend some quality time with my husband away from home.

For more Toronto picks, check out my post from last year.

Sweater: Wilfred. Denim: Abercrombie & Fitch. Necklace: Baublebar. Earrings: J.Crew. Watch: Chanel. Bracelet: Wanderlust & Co. Lips: MAC Russian Red.

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Philosophy

On the meaning of life.

“You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” – Albert Camus

The older I get, the more nihilistic I become. When I was younger I was so motivated to be the best I could be, whether at school or in the community. I was the epitome of “bright eyed and bushy tailed”. Now at 32, I find myself asking, “What’s the point?” As morbid as it sounds, we all die anyways. The universe doesn’t care about me; I’m no better than anyone else. At times I feel so insignificant in our vast universe, and while this can be depressing, I have actually found it to also be freeing. I joke with my students that I have an existential crisis every day as I ponder such thoughts constantly. Being stuck in a routine, as Albert Camus described with the myth of Sisyphus, can be tiring. I get up in the morning, go to work, come home, repeat, repeat, repeat. But like Camus said, we need to imagine Sisyphus happy. I need to find purpose in this seemingly mindless routine. So, what is life’s meaning? As an atheistic existentialist, I feel that my meaning cannot be dictated to me. I need to find my own meaning. While religion provides some people with a sense of comfort and hope, I feel that meaning can be found elsewhere. For me, relationships provide meaning. I have an incredible husband who I love more than anything in the world, and a supportive and caring family. Love and companionship, which can come in many forms, are important to me. It provides me with direction, motivation, and compassion. Art also gives meaning to my life. Whether it’s listening to music, performing in a play, or even keeping up with this blog, I need a creative outlet. Creativity allows for self understanding and expression. I also find meaning in science, as it provides me with answers to some of life’s big questions. And of course there’s philosophy, which forces me to question, wonder, and analyze. To quote Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Happiness is another important factor when considering the meaning of life. Greek philosopher Epicurus believed that we are only truly happy when we have companionship, freedom, and are living an analytical life. Money and material things can only make me happy for so long; it’s the other things that allow happiness to flourish. I don’t think it’s entirely bad to be hedonistic, but I don’t think it’s entirely good either. Eventually the party ends, and as my husband’s grandmother says, there aren’t any pockets in the coffin.

In the end, there is only one certainty in life – death. We are lucky to be alive. We only have one shot, so it’s important that we make the most of it. With reflection (and a dash of nihilism), we can learn to appreciate life more and discover how we can make it meaningful for ourselves. In terms of purpose, I’m still not exactly sure what mine is. Is it to teach? I’m not quite sure. Is it even necessary for me to find or have a purpose? To be honest, I can’t really answer that. What I do know is that meaning and purpose are subjective. It’s different for everyone. And while I am on this earth for a finite amount of time, it’s important for me to see the beauty that the world has to offer and to try to enjoy every moment, no matter how angry and bitter I sometimes feel. It may not be easy, but no one ever said life is.

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Fashion

True colours.

“The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius

I find that during the winter season I tend to be drawn to darker colours like burgundy, black, and navy blue. Maybe it’s because of the shorter days and longer nights, or possibly because darker colours feel warmer for some reason. Nevertheless, this particular sweater caught my attention for being so different from the dark, oversized sweaters I see more often this time of year. I don’t think we should limit our wardrobes to certain colours based on the season. Wear brights and (gasp!) white after Labour Day, and black and oxblood in the summer. Why not break the mould? Believe me, it’s a lot more fun going against the grain and being different!

Sweater: Urban Outfitters. Denim: H&M. Boots: BP. Bag: Saint Laurent. Earrings: J.Crew. Watch: Chanel. Bracelet: Souvenir from Dubrovnik. Lips: MAC Lady Danger.

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Fashion, Philosophy, Travel

Year in Review

“Life has its own hidden forces which you can only discover by living.” – Soren Kierkegaard

2017 treated me well. If I were to sum it up in one word, it’d be “discovery”. This year I focused on a lot of self reflection, learning more about myself and the goals I hope to achieve. I also had the opportunity to travel twice this year, revisiting New York City, as well as exploring Croatia and Slovenia. Luckily, the only major drama in my life came in the form of theatre productions. I was behind the stage for Much Ado About Nothing, the play the high school I teach at put on, and was onstage for Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike.

Now that it’s 2018, my resolution is to keep strength training (both physically and mentally), read more, and enjoy every moment!

Happy New Year! Cheers to a great year and an even better one ahead!