Archives for May 2018

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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Philosophy, Travel

Of Montreal.

“Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend. To understand the things that are at our door is the best preparation for understanding those that lie beyond.” – Hypatia

In 2010 I was given an incredible and unforgettable opportunity to travel to Europe on a school history trip. It was only my second year teaching, and it was my first time travelling overseas. Our first stop was Paris, which is a city that will forever hold a special place in my heart. Along with over 45 students and four other chaperones, we experienced the beauty of France and Belgium while seeing what was learned and taught about the Canadian contributions in World War I and II. It was this trip that officially gave me the travel bug. Fast forward several years, and I have had the immense pleasure of joining students on many other trips to England, Netherlands, Italy, New York City, and back to France and Belgium. Just this past week another opportunity arose for myself and my husband to chaperone my school’s band trip to Montreal. Believe it or not, but it was my first time travelling outside of Ontario in Canada, which may be surprising considering I teach Canadian history. The experience was just as positive as the previous school trips I had been on, not just because I was able to explore a new city, but to see it through the eyes of my students as well. Whether it’s a quick local field trip, or a larger excursion like this one, getting students out of the classroom and experiencing the world around them has to be one of the most beneficial learning experiences. For some it helps them develop skills needed to be independent, but also reinforces that learning is continuous and doesn’t always have to be inside a school. From enjoying symphony performances, to seeing views from Mount Royal and the beauty of Notre Dame Basilica, our journey to Montreal was certainly one to be remembered!

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