Thursday, April 25, 2013

How to Rock a Cropped Pant at the Office

Working in a predominantly male office, a girl's gotta project a powerful image. 

I love these menswear inspired cropped trousers. Completely work appropriate and perfect to show off a killer pair of heels

These ones push the envelope a little bit in terms of height, but I think the very neutral colour tames them down enough so that they can be worn to the office.
The height in this case is pretty necessary. Since I'm only 5'3, the cropped pants chop me off at the ankle and make me look a little dumpy. The high heel in a nude elongates my legs cancelling out this effect.

blouse - smart set (2013); trousers - Asos (2013); heels - Aldo "Moos"(2011); 
watch - Michael Kors (2012)

Monday, April 22, 2013

Golden Hue


So it turns out that I'm far more marketable than I had originally anticipated.
Less than a week after leaving my last job (the horror stories which have been well documented), I found a contract position with an accounting firm. I'm so thankful that the stars were aligned for this one!
So far I'm loving the new position, and I hope that at the end of this term, a permanent position opens up!


top - Smart Set (2013); skirt - Ebay (2013); tights - Hue (2011); heels - Le Chateau(2011)

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Positive Procrastination

I have one of the biggest tests of my professional life coming up... 
So of course that means I've been procrastinating like crazy.

One of my FAVORITE things to do is hang out in my closet. My bf has been gracious enough to let me take over the walk-in in the master (and he's completely taken over the 3rd bedroom for his weights and guitars... a fair trade I think), and I spent this past weekend reorganizing the mess in there and getting rid of some unworn items. I'm pretty proud of the result. 



I really wish I had taken some "before" photos so you could see the difference. 
I moved my tall white set of drawers (from Ikea) out of the actual bedroom and into the closet. It holds all my make up, nail polishes, bras, panties, tights, socks, and bathing suits, so it's about time it made it to a central location. 
I also reorganized all my necklaces, bracelets and other pieces of jewelery so everything's all in one place now. 

I'm sure I'll still shift around a few things, but so far I'm enjoying the new layout :)

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Date Night


Last week the boyfriend and I celebrated two years together.
Yup, I'm gushy like that and I like to celebrate the milestones. I know I'm not alone in that though!

I was given my gift a little early, a miniature dachshund named Stella, but A still brought me home flowers.
He's such a doll :)

blouse - f21 (2013); skinny jeans - Smart Set (2012); heels - Steve Madden (2012)

We went to Aperativo, a cute little tapas bar not far from here. I wanted to look hot, but not over dressed for the casual atmosphere. I think I succeeded. Can you believe I paid $12 for these shoes?!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Wishful Thinking

Alright, I'm gonna be honest with y'all. It has been no where nice enough these last few days to rock these heels, but this is how I put the outfit together in my head. What I actually wore were what i like to call my RCMP boots - big, tall, sturdy, perfect for mucking around in this awful slush that seems to be everywhere.

blazer - f21 (2013); blouse - f21 (2013); skinnies - American Eagle (2011); 
wedges - Nine West (2011)

Much cuter, right?

I'm crossing my fingers that by the end of the month I can actually wear these!

Saturday, April 13, 2013

The Cat's Meow


Before we had the freak 'bout of snow Friday, it was actually starting to feel like spring in Ottawa. 
The weather was perfect for lunch with the bff and a little bit of shopping. Is there any better way to spend a spring afternoon? I didn't think so.

 blouse - F21 (2013); jeans - Tommy Hilfiger (2011); bag - Michael Kors (2012);
 flats - Aldo (2012); beads - thrifted

I saw this blouse at forever 21 and couldn't resist. The cats are so fitting since my house has recently turned into a zoo. What's another few dozen?








I think I might be developing a slight obsession with printed blouses...

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Interview Style


Part of finding that perfect job is the interview process.

I like my outfit to convey "I mean business" but also that I'm an individual with a personality.

I like to dress conservatively out of respect for the office, but at the same time let them know subliminally (haha, just go with it) that I like to get dressed and might be slightly "office adventurous" in the future.

blazer - f21 (2013); blouse - Dynamite (2012); trousers - Gap (2010); 
necklace - Stella & Dot (2012); heels - LeChateau (2011)

You can't go wrong with a classic black trouser. Find yourself a flattering pair that falls straight down from then widest part of your thigh with a great slant pocket and you will wear them until they fall apart.
Looking back, a belt would  have completed this look. A tucked in shirt just needs a belt in my opinion.

In this case, I think my coral blazer adds that unexpected pop of colour and fun to my outfit, while the white blouse quietly compliments it.

Monday, April 8, 2013

April Goals

Before we delve into what April may hold, let's look back and see what I've actually accomplished in March...

March Goals:
  1. Do all my assignments before their due dates: Well I am officially caught up and DONE all my assignments! WOO! Just an exam to stress about now...
  2. Finish the Office Redesign: DONE! And there will be a whole post on it's new found awesome-ness coming in the next few days.
  3. Taxes: Not so much... I was a bad girl. But I SWEAR it'll be done this week.
  4. Sewing Project: Okay, I didn't make it to this one either... but now that my space is all revamped, I can't wait to use it for it's actual purpose!
Alright, I accomplished half. Not a win, but not a total loss either. Hopefully I fare better this month, so lets check out my new goals!

I've decided to choose categories and pick one goal for each.

EDUCATION:
Create a study plan for this month and sick with it.

My Exam is May 8th, and because it's tax season I'll be working every Saturday in April. This means that with only one "free" day a week, I really need to plan well to make sure I adequately study every area the exam will cover.

WORK:
Find the "perfect job" within the next 30 days.

Crazy? Maybe. Likely? Hopefully.
I'm going to put myself out there an knock on some doors.... we'll see what happens :)

HOME:
Potty train our new addition.

yup, my home has officially turned into a zoo. We welcomed a 10 week old mini Daschund into our family this past Friday and she's had quite a few accidents. I'm hoping Coco can show her the ropes and that by the end of the month we'll have a "good girl" on our hands!

HOBBY:
Learn how to use my DSLR

I've had it for over two years now and I still have no idea what F-Stops, Aperture, or ISO do. I should probably work on that... any suggestions?

So there you have it, a new set of goals for a new month ahead.
Do you readers have any tips on how to stick to your goals?

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Home Office Overhaul Complete!

It's DONE!

And I have to say, I'm quite happy with the results.
There's still some tweaking that will probably take place over the next couple of weeks, but I wanted to make this re-do as budget friendly as possible.
Keep reading for the details...


A bigger bookcase was definitely a necessity in this tiny space. I purchased two Martha Stewart 6 cubby shelves (on sale for $29.99 each!) and stacked them on top of each other. Don't worry, I made sure to anchor them to the wall for extra stability!


We chose to paint the room a nice shade of blue/gray. I have to say, it turned out a little bluer than we had hoped, but either way it's a nice change from the dull builder's beige.


Shelves, shelves, and more shelves! The ones above my little work station were $6.99 each from Ikea. The new desk chair was donated by a friend who was purging their space.
The curtains (which i HATE for this space, and will eventually be switched out... just gotta find the right bargain!) were on hand from when I replaced the curtains in our living room.


This is my bf's side of the office... so "manly" and dark. I decided the photo wall was necessary to brighten it up a bit. The frames were something we had on hand from my dorm days, so the cost for this little project was $1.75 for photo prints from Black's.
The shelf (which doesn't support ANYTHING! Do NOT recommend) was purchased for $12.99 from Home Depot.
Total Cost was under $130 (including paint)! Go Team Me!
So now for a little Q&A from our host over at orgjunkie.com


1. What space did you decide to organize and why?
I chose to organize the home office as it had gotten to a disgusting state. Papers were piled up to the sky! With the bf and I both occasionally working from home, taking extra classes, and my crafting, we needed a place that was serene, and where we could find things at a moment's notice.

2. What steps did you take to ensure you completed the space within the 31 day timeline?
Because we both work and study, free time was limited. We divided the task load into four "parts" and tackled one part each weekend. Part one was the clean out and organization, part two was painting, part three was furniture gathering and assembly, and part four was the reloading and finishing touches.

3. What was the hardest part of the challenge for you and how did you overcome it?
The hardest part was not being able to run out and buy all those fancy organizational bins and things you see all over pinterest. We had a tight budget, so we ended up recycling a lot of items that we had in other areas of the home.

4. What did you do with the “stuff” you were able to purge out of your newly organized space?Fortunately for me, we don't actually have an abundance of items in our home, so must of it was reused in other areas. Our biggest purge was paper, and off to the shredder it went!

5. Tell me one of your proudest moments during this challenge?
Putting together and arranging items on our new tall bookcase. Those shot glasses are from all of our travels, so it's great to finally have them on display somewhere visible!

6. Explain any organizing “tools” you used to help you create additional space and to establish some limits and boundaries?
A shelf is the greatest tool ever! It helps SO much in getting everything up off the ground.

7. What is ONE piece of organizing advice you’ve learned on this journey that you could encourage someone else with?
Best thing for tiny spaces is to build UP! your floor space may be limited, but there are so many storage solutions in which you can utilize your walls!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Defeated.

I don't want this blog to end up being a downer - I'm NOT a downer... at least I don't think I am.
I'm just feeling down right now. And as my personal outlet, it gets shared here.
Bare with me, I assure you I'll change my tune soon enough.

I am feeling incredibly defeated in life right now. There have been days when I just cry and cry and cry.

I don't know if it's my depression creeping back up on me, or if I'm legitimately distraught due to events in my life.

I hate my job - that's no secret.
My 9 month old cat ran away - I feel like the worst mom ever.
I have a major exam in 6 weeks and my current level of defeat makes me feel like this is an insurmountable task.

I feel like I need to do some "me" work, but then there are the stresses of real life - how will I pay for things? everyone will be disappointed in me if I leave my job, defer my exam, or just take a break from life in general.

I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place and I need a hand getting out of here.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Dilemma

To quit, or not to quit? That is the question...

I think I've decided (yes, after only two weeks) that this job is not the perfect fit for me.

I'm really not doing anything accounting related, and while I don't claim to be an expert, I have more than enough experience to at least warrant a little bit of confidence in my skills.

When I started at Mistura I was thrown in head first without a life vest. While I was beyond stressed, and slightly overwhelmed at first, it was FUN! The people, the environment, the customers, and the fact that little Coco could come with me were just some of the hundreds of perks I had there.

Although I was inexperienced, I felt respected, and I felt that they were beyond confident in my abilities. That made me feel good.

There's nothing here that makes me feel good. I'm not even trusted to make a check run to the bank for the owner (something I've done for previous employers since I was 16) without someone checking up on me. Oh, and did I mention I was on the floor for half an hour yesterday fixing a carpet?

I have every teensy little mistake pointed out to me - and not politely. And I'll be honest - I find I make silly little mistakes because it BORES me and I want to complete it as quickly as possible. If I'm not challenged and pushed, and learning new things, I'm not happy.

Who knows when I'll get the responsibilities I was described in my interview? Weeks? Months? YEARS?! god forbid... But am I willing to stick around to find out?

What would you do? Stay? Leave without having something else lined up? I don't want her to think I'm comfortable or happy here either.

Dilemma.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Crazy Criticisms

I'm a pretty critical person, and I'm aware of it.

I like to blame my family a little bit for this one, as unfair as that may be. You could be good, but there was always room to be better... at least according to them.

Is it hereditary?

I do it to my live-in boyfriend all the time and I can't help it. It's like word vomit, it just comes out. I almost have this out of body experience where I can SEE myself doing it, and I think "no! stop! don't!" but it's too late.

Now that the tables have turned, I can see things from his perspective a little more clearly...

Nothing I do at my new job is ever right. I'm watched like a hawk, and the tiniest of slip-ups (we're talking calling an "index" a "table of contents" in a conversation) I get reemed out for.

I get it, people like it when things are done a certain way, especially in their own domain. But there has to be a nicer way to say it, right? It's hard to have your self-confidence in your abilities ripped away from you for such insignificant things.

Maybe I should ease up on the bf the next time he's in my domain (cleaning the house) and let him do things his own way... as long as the end result is achieved, who cares what methods got you there?

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

tax time

I went from having nothing to do at work all day, to being so swamped that I can barely see over the top of my desk.
You'd think this was a complaint, but I thrive under pressure. This tax season is going to fly by!

sweater - dynamite (2009); lace top - dynamite (2012); trousers - smart set (2013);
heels - spring (2010)

Note to self: this sweater needs to be belted.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Currently...

Watching… The Face. I flipping love reality TV, and this show's no exception. Coco, Karolina, Naomi AND Nigel Barker? I'm in model heaven. Oh and Naomi's shit-fits are thoroughly entertaining.

Enjoying… Lazy evenings with the man and my 3 furry children. I know I should be more productive when I get home, but lately we've been taking it easy, and I think it's much needed.

Planning… How I'm going to fit in study time during April... the tax month from hell.

Excited for… Coco's 2nd birthday this Saturday! We'll be making doggie treats from scratch for the first time which should be awesomeness... I can eat them too, right?

Cooking… Besides dog treats? Whatever's fast. I've been in super lazy mode lately, so it usually just involves throwing some kind of protein in the oven and a quick salad.

Pinning… Booze inspired kitchen art. Both fun AND fitting. 

Inspired by… Those crazy do-it-all women. Seriously. Where do you find the time?! Between work, school, and housework, I can barely find time to do it all... I could just imagine what life would be like with kids. I'd never have a free moment!

Remembering… the beach in Mexico this past January. *sigh* one week is never long enough for a vacation.



Originally seen on My Pretty Pennies. If this is your creation, feel free to msg me and I'll give due credit :)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Something New

I started a new job this past Monday! 
 I'd love to say "so far, so good," but to be honest, I'd have to say I'm very unsure. 

I left my last job so that I could gain exposure to all the different areas of accounting I'll need in order to achieve my designation next year. However, so far I feel as if I'm being under-utilized. I know it's only the first few days and we're "taking things slowly" so I can learn the ropes around here, but so far everything I've been given to do is very administrative and not very accounting based. 
Hopefully that will change in the coming weeks. I wouldn't give up an opportunity without giving it a fair chance first. 

On the plus side, it does mean that I get to dress (or attempt to dress) corporate chic again... oh heels, cardigans and blazers, how I've missed you!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

March Goals

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
I thought this new blog would be the perfect place to set a few monthly goals for myself. Nothing too crazy, but I feel like this is a public way to remain accountable to myself :)
I'll update at the end of the month with both my successes and failures.
  1. Do all my assignments BEFORE their due dates and NOT the day of.

    Yup, I'm a REALLY BAD procrastinator, and I need to stop. Fortunately there are only a few assignments left before the end of this year and then I'm done until September. *small victory dance*
  2. Finish the reorganizing the study

    I know this one seems like a given, especially considering my last post was all about this project, but I have a very bad tendency of starting a large project, getting overwhelmed or disinterested half way through, and giving up on it. Not this time though! ... i hope!
     
  3. Do my Taxes

    I usually put it off until the last week in April (see above comment re: procrastinating, haha) but I could definitely use that refund this year!
  4. Make a Skirt

    I keep saying I'll get back into sewing, so once I'm done revamping the study, I think this will be the perfect, quick, project to get back into the swing of things and christen the new space.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

My "Office" Overhaul in 31 Days

There is one room in our house that makes me cringe every time I walk into it. Our messy, over-stuffed, completely disorganized, office.

And I use the term "office" loosely here. 

 
This room is basically a catch-all for hobby paraphernalia (board & video games, sewing, crafting), all the random paper that makes it's way into our home (bills, etc.), school stuff for the man & I's continuing education, and of course, the stuff we need when work gets overwhelming and we need to put in a few extra hours from home. (I know, I ramble... get used to it, haha!)


 
So, I'm joining in the fun on orgjunkie.com to transform this disaster into a clean, organized, and multi-functional space. 


Wish me luck!


See the Transformation HERE

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Comeback Kid


After I left my last blog dismally abandoned last April, I felt like something was missing. That outlet where I could just go, rant, share, archive, inspire myself, and whatever else, no longer existed.

So here I am with round two!

I am not a fashionista, I am not a foodie, I am not a world traveler. I don't have clever anecdotes, and I'm not incredibly verbose...
I'm just your average twenty-something woman, trying to figure out "life" and posting about it along the way. Join me on my adventure?