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Saturday 29 June 2019

Friends galore and imaginations gone wild

Uh-oh, someone got into the maaakeup!


This is what happens when friends come to town - all hell breaks loose, usually on my face. And on my friends' faces. That's Shelley of Forest City Fashionista on the right. She visited Vancouver for a while and we got into all kinds of trouble.

But things really got started for me on a trip to Toronto where I hooked up with Suzanne Carillo when my work finished early. Suzanne took this photo in a cool consignment shop called Common Sort on Queen Street East. From there, we wandered the neighbourhood and had some laughs and a bite to eat at Tabule. Unexpected mini adventures are the best kind!


The day I got back to Vancouver, Shelley arrived in town, and the forecast was for sun, sun, and more sun. Plus, I had a grip on my workload, so ready or not Vancouver....

On our first day we wandered into Nordstrom where we promptly got lost in the sale racks in the designer section. We are die-hard thrifters but couldn't help ogling the spangles, boucles, plastics, and denims, all at eye-popping discount prices(!). One thing led to another and before you know it, we were arms akimbo throwing stuff on in the change rooms. Big thanks to Mary Jane who enabled us!

"What do you think, Shelley?" "I dunno, Mel. I think the sleeves could be longer. Which reminds me, wanna go see that zombie movie?" And yes, we did go later, The Dead Don't Die, by fave director Jim Jarmusch, starring Tilda Swinton and Steve Buscemi, among others. (It was didactic. That's all I'll say. And Tilda stole the show, as usual.)


That's a new thing for me below, poses with hands around my face. It feels so wrong but a photographer told me that it "reads well on camera." Okay, fine, so I'm practising. We had some laughs as I tried out new moves. My favourite so far is the "pulling-off-my-own-head pose," not shown here.

Doesn't it look like I'm in a moisturizer commercial? Or maybe I'm just remembering that I forgot to buy Ted a new jar of Nescafe instant coffee. And also, who's Ted? And why am I buying him coffee?


Shelley was afraid to come too close because there was a padlock on my coat. Clearly, I must be a secret agent and that lock is keeping all my feminine secrets safe. Or maybe that's a new super mini handbag. Cool! But if it is, don't you think it would be kind of awkward fiddling around there every time you need cash? Plus, it would only hold bit coins.


Those "pants" actually have feet on them so they are tiggings (tights/jeggings - I made that up). They are a bit see-through but I got-got-got no time to figure it out, cool as this ensemble may be, and despite it being the most "affordable" set of the lot. I bought the sunglasses at Common Sort.

Those pink pearlescent cycling shorts on Shelley are dazzling we both agreed. Except they didn't fit. Minor detail? - in a thrift shop, maybe, but sadly not here. At least they look awesome from the front and sides. And for a laugh and great photos, they are a deal.


I erased the light reflections on my sunglasses in the next photo. I was swooning over this zesty lemon coat, just the thing for a hot June day. In fact, it is! But I didn't buy it. And the dress looks great on Shelley, but we weren't shedding tears over not being able to buy either piece; not wanting them made us feel better. For me, there's something unnatural or off-putting about perfection.


And no wardrobe is complete without a suit. For months I've had my eye on the jacket Shelley is wearing. There is a skirt thing that goes with it. Basically, the jacket has been chopped zig-zaggedy and you can wear it buttoned or flopping. I like the freshness of the idea, but it's the kind of thing we could fark ourselves if we wanted to, but won't - it's been done already. Shelley's shorts look great with it though.

The suit I'm wearing is a tad out of my price range. And the pants are way huge on me. But the jacket sleeves are cool, don't you think? Wait until you see the thing I thrifted later on with a few digits lopped off the price. The boots (my own, "Jericho" from Fluevog) added great attitude.


Next, sing it with me: 🎵
We're gonna take our horse to the downtown road, 
we're gonna shoooop at the old thrift store.


Alert, another face pose! This aluminum-foilesque blazer is exactly my style. I adore the humongous acrylic buttons. Shelley grabbed it for a try-on on our way out. The way I farked this photo reminds me of a popular Canadian TV ad where a couple heats their home so hot that it melts cheese. In this case, I would be the potato.


Huge thanks to Nordsrom Vancouver for this excellent dress-up opportunity! You never know what will happen.

Next we headed for coffee at Quantum, a cool newish cafe that attracts lots of hipster gig-economy brainiac trendy types, like ourselves, well, kinda, perhaps like the children we never had...? That's a scary thought. It's conveniently located just across the street from Alley Oop, Vancouver's brightly painted alley where IGsters and garbage/delivery trucks vie daily for supremacy, in a friendly way with toots and waves.

Who's the big banana? Shelley! Her bag has horns. It's pretty shocking how many strangers can't keep their hands off them. No, seriously.


So that was Day 1.

Day 2.

Sheila of blog Sheila Ephemera arrives in town! She took a day off work to fly in from Vancouver Island special to meet Shelley for the first time. They've known each other more than seven years from blogging and it was the perfect day to hang out together. Our friendships took off like we've been neighbours, which kind of we have been. I've met Sheila a bunch of times from her annual wedding anniversary pilgrimages to Vancouver with her husband L.

I had no idea if the photo below would come out. It was so sunny I couldn't see a thing on my viewfinder.


We headed straight to My Sister's Closet for some thrift shopping. No photos there - we were too busy. Then we hopped the Aquabus to go to Granville Island for lunch before hitting a shoe store, where Sheila got the deal of the century, and a couple of consignment stores called Turnabout

Happy Shelley on the boat! Who doesn't love a boat ride? I took her photo while she was taking one of me and Sheila.


Look at me - the happy puppy! Doesn't Sheila look amazing!! The glasses, the earrings, and that dress, oh, that dress!!


This is the part where I fast-forward to the close of our day together over some Italian food before Sheila had to catch her plane home. 


Sheila did a mega write-up of her day trip HERE, and Shelley did a post already HERE. She'll have another one soon as well. And I'm the slow poke. Heh. I'll also need a Part 2 to cram everything in.

I hope you are all stellar! Meeting my friends in 3D is such a great reminder of how our online selves open all kinds of unexpected and rewarding pathways to explore.

I'm linking up to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style. Hooray! And also Catherine when she goes live with #iwillwearwhatilike" at Not Dressed as Lamb.

Thank you for visiting!! It's been a while since I've been home here, so I appreciate it.
xo

PS - None of these links is sponsored; they are journal notes of our time together, but we loved all these places.




21 comments:

  1. The fun humor, the fabulousness, the great time is splashing of my screen! I enjoyed this post!!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Nancy. I'm glad you liked it and that I could convey even a fraction of the fun we had together. Thanks for visiting!

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  2. Seeing these photos brought back such good memories of my trip - I can't believe almost two weeks have passed since I was there. I loved spending time with you and Sheila and hope I can do it more often in the future. I loved that Comme des Garcons jacket with those pink shorts.

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    Replies
    1. Now it's about a month since you were here and I can't believe it. Yeah, let's hope this can become a thang. Priceless, but too bad we can't bottle and sell it.

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  3. Oh my goodness, that coat/dress with the padlock is sooooooo good on you. I wish you bought it. Right from a glamourous fashion magazine.Love your white rimmed sunglasses. And that yellow coat... to die for.
    Shelley looks fantastic in that blue/tan striped dress. I do like perfection. Sorry.
    I wonder whether Shelley ever wears the leather shorts I sent her. They fitted.
    Love her backpack. I can imagine everybody wants to feel it haha.
    The silver jacket is indeed completely you.
    And I read the report of your day with Sheila on her blog. I will pop over to Shelley's as well. But first I have to go to London for a couple of days. Meeting bloggy friends like you do.
    You know I would have loved being a part of your days with Sheila, Suzanne and Shelley as well.
    Greetje


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    Replies
    1. I'm happy that you've been doing the same, Greetje, catching up with friends we met through blogging. That jacket was indeed amazing, and the yellow coat, I actually thought of you too when I had it on. Despite the big discounts, and while there were many things we loved, we were not overly depressed when we left for lack of funds. Nothing we tried on was deeply, deeply satisfying in that gotta-have-it way. Which was also a relief. I look forward to catching up on your blog. Hugs, xo.

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    2. Well, if I had looked as good as you do in that padlock coat/dress I think I would have taken out a loan. I am bad like that. Getting myself into trouble.

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  4. Oh what fun! Three fabulous dames running around the big city and OWNING it. Looks like a couple of Dream Days, wish I could've joined you. And that yellow coat, it calls your name . . . xox

    Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    Replies
    1. At least we got our own set of dream days when you and Sherry and Suzanne were in town before this. I'm so deeply grateful that my friends can come here. Yeah, that yellow coat...but I'd be afraid of spilling food and coffee all over it! Heh. Thanks for dropping by, Patti.

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  5. So much excitement!

    What a blast seeing you guys in the wild makeup and trying on all those insane clothes at Nordstrom.

    I kind of loved that two tone coat but without the padlock.

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    Replies
    1. The padlock I didn't notice until I saw the photos. ALARM! It looks almost like a chastity belt. The makeup was fun. Ya never know what you'll end up with when it's a DIY. I thought of you and the gang often. xo

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  6. These moments with friends are the most inspiring and it's clear you and Shelley and Sheila are all inspired by one another. It radiates in each photo!

    Your makeup! You must tell me how you created it because I've been longing to create similar looks for my blog posts but I'm not sure I have the appropriate tools/products.

    Hugs,
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I felt like this when you guys came to town too. Anticipation, not knowing what's next but knowing it will be good. Heh.

      The makeup - I seldom wear a lot but this is what I've picked up from my experiments.

      Grab a bunch of product and different sized brushes and GO. Just GO. And have something to take the makeup off with at hand. Q-tips are good. And primers for face, lips, and eyes are great to prevent the colours from soaking into your skin, which makes removal easier. And remember - there are no mistakes. Good luck! Can't wait to see your results, Sherry!

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  7. You all simply must star in a weekly show on Netflix...or somewhere. Live from Vancouver. We will never get enough. I can't say enough and I wish I was there. Joy to all and then some more.

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    1. Oooh yes. Their people should call my people!! Wish you were here too, Pao. We had so much fun when you were. Let's do it again!

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  8. Drenching yourself in all that is friendship, creativity, laughter and zestful enjoyment of each moment. Applause Applause! Love Jude

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    1. Drenching is such a perfect work for this, like getting soaked in a shower. Inescapable and you feel so clean after. Thanks for much for this comment, Jude. xo

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  9. WHOUUU, you're Total Rockstars!, love to see you and Shelley trying clothes and having fun, and love all the makeup and poses and fabulousness!
    And lovely to see Sheila joining the gang for more fun!, and yes, her dress is stunning!. All three of you Rock!
    besos

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    1. We felt like rockstars, indeed we did!! Rocking all over the city, OUR city. Hahaha!! Trying on new clothes was a blast, something I rarely do. We could have been tempted by a fewer lower priced items, but they didn't make our hearts sing. Oh well. And we were so happy that Sheila came!!!! She is cool, cool, cool!! Thanks for dropping by and this great comment. xoxo

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  10. I'm exhausted!!! So many outfits, so many laughs and hugs, I'm sure. Sounds like heaven to me. Oh, that hand to the jaw/cheek? It's magical. I use it all the time. Hides those pesky jowls or you can gently lift as you look pensive!! You've busted me, haha!!!!! I've recently discovered the selfie where the camera hides your neck, another good one.

    Thank you for a vicarious play date. I love you all!!!!!!!!!

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    1. Hahaha, I should have asked you for tips long ago, Jean, for been more clinical in my assessment of the good feeling I have when I look at your photos. Sheesh! Yes, it is magic. I'm still practising. I need to try the 'ole neck-concealing trick. Hahaha!! Hopefully, the vicariousness will turn into reality sometime. Miss you. xo

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