Something I've been wanting to tell you ...

A YEAR AGO: When life, and by extension this blog, really changed!

What a year! I can't believe hubby and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary yesterday! I wish I could show you a fashion flashback series of all the great outfits I've worn over 2012, as some of my fave thrifty fashion bloggers have done, but honestly, it's been such a crazy 13 months that I don't have enough of a repertoire to choose from.

When I was a single hipster blogger, I used to feature a lot of pics
 and tableaux from my boho apartment in Toronto, Canada.

Selling or giving away a big chunk of my stuff before getting married, then immigrating to the UK in the New Year and living there for four months before hip-hopping over to France, has meant the content of this blog has changed a lot in the past year-and-a-bit ... from a Toronto-centric "where to thrift shop" romp full of weekly finds/outfits, thrifty home decor ideas and frequent apartment re-orgs ... to part fashion blog, part how-gorgeous-is-Annecy tribute.

Happy girl, in September.

In the past year, I've come to believe (perhaps out of necessity!) that my blog should be fluid, and change in content as life changes. I hope I've maintained my love-of-thrift-and-vintage core, though, and that the often unfocused posts combining French scenery and personal fashion haven't been confusing or frustrating for you as readers.

The focus may change a wee bit yet, methinks. I've been a naughty girl. Haven't told you something big. But it hasn't been for lack of caring, just caution. In fact, I'm rolling the news out to you, my dear blogging buds, before I tell even my Facebook friends (and I'm not even sure I'll do that - it's a different, and more widespread, community as opposed to this intimate little domain, does that sound nuts?). See, just around the time this photo was taken, in early September, I had some news:

My saviour these past few weeks: a cheapie cashmere-blend dress
picked up at the Sunday market.

If I had shown you this semi-profile photo taken on December 11 when I featured my new Ugg boots (instead of sneakily posting a frontal shot with my belly artfully hidden), the jig would definitely have been up. This cashmere-blend sweater dress found for 10 Euros at the market has proved indispensable to my sanity and my evolving shape.

A few days ago: POP!

Now I'm 19 weeks gone, my 27-inch waist has disappeared (will I see it again?), and I'm popping out so much I can't even wear my "fat skirts" that I used to wear loosely around my hips.

Constant nausea for a good seven weeks, coupled with the illness and death of, and the subsequent mourning for, wee Dinky, made my first trimester pretty hellish - and had a direct impact on the content and frequently of my posts. When I wasn't crying or stuffing a croissant in my face to ward off yet another wave of nausea, I was pretty much parked on the couch watching Downton Abbey, too fatigued to even put on makeup. My fashion sense went completely out the window.

This week: thankfully this green Windsmoor coat found in a
 UK charity shop still fits me. 

Now that I'm into my second trimester, I'm experiencing what is called the glory days of pregnancy, characterized by no morning sickness, increased energy levels and a slightly renewed fashion sense - not to mention a growing awareness of the wonderful (and terrifying) reality of having a wee human developing inside me. The problem now is, What the hell am I going to wear? Nothing in my closet (except for sweaters) fits me. I can't find a maternity shop in Annecy and I'm sure that when I do, a dress will be prohibitively expensive. And the maternity selection at the local H&M makes me want to hurl (why have all the cool sparkly stuff for the 20-year-olds and make the ugly forest green pants for the preggos?). And so, the fashion journey will continue, to Etsy, where I've found a few style solutions for my slowly expanding girth.

A few weeks ago, with sunlight showing my new curves and wearing
 a maternity skirt found in a thrift store. 

I have no great desire to turn this into a Mommie blog, though that could be the inevitable direction. I have nothing against moms or ones who blog, please understand. Just not sure if I want to go there. But I have a feeling French attitudes towards pregnancy, childbirth and raising kids will figure somewhat, and intermix with my reactions to said attitudes. Natch, I'll document my evolving fashion sense and various pregnancy-related wardrobe dilemmas, frustrations and triumphs.  EDIT: Of course, I will **always** thrift shop and continue to show off my finds!!

TEASER: The lady at the boulangerie told me yesterday that French doctors expect pregnant women, in total, to gain one kg per month of pregnancy - that's just under 20 pounds! (So far I've gained three, and my doc isn't harassing me). Attitudes are definitely different in North America, where it's not uncommon to gain 30, 40, and upwards of 50 pounds when pregnant. 

So dear readers, I hope you'll jump on for the ride. Happy New Year! xo

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Show and tell: 1990s beaded bling

Did you ever have Show and Tell when you were a kid in school? That's when you could stand up and show something of yours to the class and talk about it. We did this in Kindergarten and it was the highlight of the week, let me tell you!

I'm in a 1990s frame of mind these days (case in point; two floral 'ditzy' dresses purchased on Etsy recently, one of which is velvet! Will show you when they arrive). So I thought I'd show you some bling from the '90s I've kept over the years but haven't worn since then - like these metal and wooden earrings my twin sis made me back in the day.

She made me these ones too. Remember how big beading was back in the 1990s?

Ditto for these ones. I used to wear these hoops ALL the time. Alas, now I have only one. Perhaps I can make it into a pendant.

I don't wear earrings these days as they make my ears all red and infected, but I may just try to accessorize this necklace my sis made me with something soon. Did I make her anything? Nope, bad person, I know. But she is the artist and I can hardly draw a stick person. As the writer, I pen funny poems and songs for her on our B-day.

My best friend made me these.

I had long hair for part of the 1990s and loved these barrettes for pulling my hair back. I doubt I'll ever have long hair again, but like the beaded pieces, I just had to hang onto them.

I leave you with another kind of Show and Tell, a snap taken in the summer as I was walking along the lake and saw a duck and her wee chicks swimming in the water. Can you tell what's on mommy's back? She's the duck in the centre.

Can you see? It's a baby duck, riding on its mommy's back!

Maybe it was the weak one in the bunch? Hope it made it, 'cos I still get the warm fuzzies looking at this!

Happy weekend!

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On bikes, bijoux & boho style

I haven't had a new bike since I was 12 years old (red ten speed, for my birthday, which I rode the hell out of). Well in Annecy, you pretty much have to have a bike as driving/parking is impossible in centre town and besideswhich, there are bike paths every where. So hubby took me out early this week and we bought one for me, including cute pink helmet (not pictured here) and basket. I really wanted pink streamers for the handlebars, but none were to be found, wah! That afternoon, we biked to a beach on the lake for a quick swim. Heaven! It's been 34 degrees C here all week so it's great to have an easy, quick option to get to the lake. I'm wearing new sundress I picked up in the old town for 15 Euros. The only thrifted item is my faux Fossil purse found at a charity shop in the UK!

Not to be outdone, hubby got a new bike too - his was old and breaking down. So now we can cycle to the lake every day and view the mountains as we bike along the bike path and then drop into the wonderful clear waters of Lac Annecy! If you ever come to Annecy, you can rent a bike in a shop in the old town for half a day for 10 Euros. There are bike paths around most of the lake, though there is a section on the east side that is only road. We cycle on the west side, where there's a bike path that links you up to hotels, bars & restos, and, of course, beaches.

Here's a pic of us at one such resto, which is actually a hotel with a resto overlooking the lake called Auberge de Letraz. Not sure what the hotel was like, but our meal was lovely, as was the service (we were lucky to get in without reservations). Not cheap, but then you tend to pay for lake-side dinners in Annecy! I'm wearing a dress I bought at Macy's  in the USA for my best friend's wedding just over two years ago - it's not the same dress I met hubby in, but I did meet him on that trip! The shoes are Italian, thrifted, and the vintage necklace was a buck.

Other news: I've had some lovely new bling-y additions to my wardrobe of late. My husband found me this handmade ring while he was away, and he scored bigtime. He perfectly knows my love for sparkly stuff on the one hand, and for rough-hewn pieces on the other. Love!

He also bought me the bracelet on the bottom, a handmade filigree beaut with carnelian, possibly coral stones?

The blue one is another recent gift, this time from gal pal Diane who visited me a few weeks ago. She bought a similar one for herself so we're now bracelet buds. They're fabric bracelets with pretty charms attached to them, made by a young third-generation jeweller who has just recently set up shop in Annecy. A more stylish version of a friendship bracelet, I'd say!

The third one up I bought recently from a young lady who has also just opened a shop in the old town. I actually saw a similar one online and thought, "I could make that." But finding florescent ribbon and a brass bracelet in Annecy hasn't been so easy, so I bought this one pour moi.

The top bracelet I have shown here before; it was bought in a Toronto, Canada thrift shop last Fall, for maybe $30 CAD. Expensive for the GQ but it was so unique and in such good condition that I had to have it.

This pic is a bit blurry (still training hubby) but I wanted to show you what I call the "nightie" dress. I bought it (along with a bunch more, which I still have to show you) at the weekly market for 5 Euros. Yes, it's made in China and yes, it's not finished all that well (had to sew up a few seams before wearing it). But it's no different from the frocks in the old town I'd pay triple the price for, and truth be told, all you want to wear in Annecy in the summer is a simple pull-over-your-head sundress. I love the hippie style, one that's perfectly at home in bohemian-esque Annecy. I'm wearing it with Clarks sandals thrifted in the UK, and a 1970s "Jontue" perfume  disc necklace (with solid perfume intact, inside the disc!) with a teeny turquoise-hued stone in the centre. Bracelet was a two-pound find from a UK auction house.

On a final note, I had to show you a spider's home, woven into the grate of our bedroom window, which I snapped the other day. (Do I have too much time on my hands? Yes, but it's glorious). I wonder how long it took the little guy to make? I haven't actually seen a spider inhabiting it, so perhaps he's relocated to less sunny climes. Or maybe he's the one who's been hanging from one of the corners of our bedroom for the past few weeks? Regardless, I won't disturb either.

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On castles, magic & mystery in Annecy

I've been MIA the past few weeks as we've had friends and family visiting us in gorgeous Annecy. It's been a busy, fun and often magical time. Aside from popping my head out of Medieval castle turrets (at the Chateau Montrottier near Annecy), here's what I've been up to of late (looking forward to slowly catching up with all of you too):

I've had a lovely little reunion with my longtime cat babies, Dag and Dinky, from whom I've been separated about six months. They made the journey from Canada in the plane's cabin with my fam and weathered the stress pretty well thanks to some natural calming pills. Now they're settling into their new French home!

I've basked in the middle of Lac Annecy in a rented boat. Lac Annecy is a spring-fed (and mountain-fed) lake that's super clear and clean. I wonder how much a second-hand boat would cost? All I want to do now is hang out on the lake. I'm wearing a swimsuit bought on sale at Monoprix, a French department store, and a hat picked up in the Old Town.

I've also explored a river gorge (Gorges di Fier) sporting a dress I found at the Annecy market for 8 Euros - I bought FIVE dresses from the same vendor for the same price. Lesson learned: look for rips and tears along the seams as none are finished that well - hopefully they won't fall off me as I wear them!

I've watched an amazing 70-minute firework display unfurl over Lac Annecy for its annual Fete du Lac on August 4th, an event that's been happening since Napoleon's time. It was set to music and was as awe-inspiring as the lake and the mountains....

Aside from visiting with and touring around the area with family, I also had the chance to catch up with a  Canadian gal pal I've known since I was a little girl. We went out every night and toured Annecy's sights my day - and also treated ourselves to French Champagne (can be pricey but a 20 Euros bottle, the cheapest in the store, was recommended to us by a local and it was just fine), meringues and raspberry pastries. Decadence!

We toured Annecy's famous prison, which has been around since 1325 and perhaps even earlier and has served various functions over time, including an old-folks' home and a mint. Today it is part art gallery, part museum.

It was a cool day so we went to the Chateau in Annecy, another Medieval gem which overlooks the lake and entire town and houses an avante-garde art museum as well as a museum about the lakes in the region.

I'm wearing my fave 7 for all Mankind jeans found in a UK charity shop, an American Apparel "Flashdance" sweatshirt, a thrifted scarf and pendant and my fave NEW shoes/sandals bought for half off in Annecy (loved them so much I bought a grey pair too, for shame!). I've been wearing second-hand shoes for so long that it felt good to indulge in some new ones, which of course have that chic French look to them.

This castle was so amazing. I wish they had more information on how people lived in these mammoth places.

We went back the next day to finish touring the castle and stood in fireplaces big enough to be small rooms by today's standards. I'm wearing espadrilles thrifted in Canada and my recent Etsy purchase, a lovely vintage Ikat purse. Orange looks crappy on me so I tend to be drawn to pumpkin-hued accessories.

We marveled over drawings on the castle walls (a partially-obscured gentleman wearing a feather-plumed hat and a lady walking behind him), which no one could tell us about, alas.

We also were astonished to see the bones of "sirens du Lac", or mermaids, found in Lac Annecy, and preserved under glass. There were extensive photos of the excavation site as well. I still need to investigate the full story here as the placards were all in French and we couldn't understand the explanation, other than that the bones were found in the lake exactly like this. Mmm.

This is the view from the front of the castle, which is accessible to the public only if you pay the few Euros admission. It's well worth it, if only to gasp at the lake and the rest of Annecy sprawling out from under the castle. I plan on coming back often. Wonder if they have a rate for locals who want to visit all the time?

I'm wearing: a vintage Tudor rose pendant by English maked "Miracle", thrifted at a Canadian Goodwill for a few bucks. Dress is a cheapie new one picked up in a tourist shop in the Old Town - perfect for the easy breezy summer style of Annecy!

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Saturday togs & fave thrifted sweater

Happy Saturday! The hubby's home and life is good, good good ... so I hope you'll understand if I keep this short, short short! When I'm scragging around home, I tend to live in leggings and my suede booties. This wool-blend tunic is a major thrifty fave - picked out by my gal pal Nadia in at Stretch Thrift in Toronto's Pape Village (where I used t live). Man, I miss that shop, and the people who work there. Anyway, I love the Nordic pattern and the semi-circle pockets - so cute! It's chilly today so it's the perfect sweater to snuggle up in with hubby ... on that note, I've got to go - have a great day!

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Thrifty pink antidote to the blues

Pink "harlequin" sweater by Perry Ellis that I've had since 2001
- pretty much the only fashion item I have kept from that era!

This post is dedicated to my dear pal Robbie, with whom I haven't spoken in ages (but rectified that with a Skype marathon yesterday), who also knows the joys and pitfalls of living in a coastal town (in his case, in Vancouver, Canada): the happy part entailing glorious beaches and dunes; the bad part, icky bone-chilling rain and wind.

My solution to the blues I was feeling as a result of the crappy weather and missing my hubby? Aside from yoga, talking with friends, laughing and, of course, browsing in my fave charity shops - colour. I read once that pink makes you look young (is that where that expression comes from, "In the pink"?). I'm not sure if it does, but that jolt of colour certainly boosted my mood.

J Crew wool blazer found in a Toronto thrift shop; pashmina and brooch found in charity shops.

I decided to really pink out - donning an and old Perry Ellis sweater with a recently-thrifted wool cashmere scarf and vintage brooch. I even put pink lipstick on. I don't often do pink, but when I do, it's killer with black.

Could I leave it there? It was a pound!
I'm really getting into brooches now - they're fab on a blazer or denim jacket.

And you know what? It worked. I had such a silly grin on my face as I was walking back from grocery shopping in the drizzle that someone stopped me and commented it. I told him, "There's reason to smile!". Could this be the same girl from hours previous who just wanted to sink back into the duvet and sleep for the day?



Today the sun is back, and all is right in the world, especially since I'll see hubby tomorrow. And you know what? Pink is everywhere. Yay.

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New charity shop, a cardi & a carpet bag, and a friend

Welcome to my new carpet and tapestry handbag obsession. I normally stalk these babies on Etsy, but since hubby's instructions to mind what I spend, I have had to back off from Etsy (but if he wants to buy me the 30-pound, plus almost that in shipping, leather and tapestry bag I am currently lusting after there as an early B-day pressie, I suppose I shall have to deal with it). But I digress: yesterday when I checked out a thrift shop in a nearby town that I've never been to, a church charity shop, I found this 1990s-esque tapestry bag with the tags still on ... for three pounds! Isn't it a beaut?

There's more to this tale. In said church charity shop, I met Shoo, a lady who lives in the same town in which I do and shares my passion for charity shops. Shoo kindly invited me to dinner at her place after discovering I'm new to town, haven't made a lot of friends and am often on my own. What a sweetheart. So I went to dinner and donned my "new" bag in honour of the occasion, along with an oversize purple wool cardi in perfect condition that I also bought at the shop for three pounds (note: church charity shops have waaay better prices than the corporate charity shops here, where these items would sell for double or more).

Under the cardi I wore a thrifted Teenflo little black dress, a vintage velvet elastic belt, new Guess? booties and crochet tights, and a thrifted statement piece necklace. Dinner was a blast and I know I'll soon be charity shopping and experiencing other adventures with Shoo!

I was pretty pleased that I was able to somewhat glam up a slouchy cardi for my dinner outfit, but I wanted to show you a more casual look showing the same pieces I bought yesterday: under the cardi I'm wearing a new turtleneck bought on sale at Danier Leather in Canada; a gorg scarf gifted to me by the owner of my fave thrift shop in Toronto, Canadian Thrift (now called Ontario Thrift); and riding pants gifted to me by my pal Nadia (of the green dress, see two posts below). I made the look more casual by wearing my new purse cross-body.

P.S. I have a few more vintage carpet bags to show you. Coming soon!

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Green day: dress gifted by Nadia & other goodies from Toronto

In Honour of Earth Day, and thrifting lovelies everywhere, I'm showing you a vintage 1970s dress that used to hang on my gal pal Nadia's wall (it's nylon - don't come near me with a match as I may melt). 

A fellow thrifter and style icon in her own right, Nadia gave this to me when I left Toronto. Je love. Je also miss Nadia.

The bodice is super small - perfect for me! Not a lot of room in this baby now that I've put on some curves, but that's a good thing, I think. I'm wearing the dress with a bone multi-strand necklace and bracelet, gifted to me by a lovely lady in Toronto, Lucy of Boj Decor on Mount Pleasant Blvd. The sandles, which you'll be seeing a lot of as I trashed most of mine when I moved, were a screaming deal, new (25 pounds instead of 100), at a closing sale in St Annes - Lacuzzo high-heeled platform strappies that make you look like a movie star.

I bought these vintage but never-worn sunnies a few years ago - a definite splurge item. The seller, Ratas Optical in Toronto, has a huge stash of never-worn retro and vintage shades - if you're ever around the Danforth and Broadview area in Greektown, check them out. They ended up replacing the faceted lenses for me, for free, as they had a slight magnification to them that made me dizzy. Nice eh? I have thought about selling them if I ever open an Etsy shop as I'm not sure they suit me. They're a definite statement piece item that you don't wear with just any old outfit!

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Pop-up shop success

Well, it was a pop-up shop success. Here's my pal Nadia at the beginning of the day, yesterday, with all our vintage goodies for sale.

The traffic ebbed and flowed, but we met so many great peeps in the hood, and I had the chance to connect with a dedicated reader, Darlene, who made the trek to meet me and take a gander. Wish I had snapped a pic of her!

Daina from Continuum Moderin Vintage popped by too, and bagged two glorious purses, one a vintage Coach and the other a vintage clutch.

Dear readers, I tried not to shop, but I did walk away with this vintage Kangol beret made in England, and this fab carpet bag. J'adore!

Ok, by day's end I also had these designer jeans (tight!). I'm wearing the silk scarf as the sun was burning my ears.

This is how I will look when I'm 80, like some Babushka with her head scarf, hopefully still sipping some vino!

It was such a fine day - thanks to all who came out and Tweeted about the event. There will be more - I have piles more of goodies to get rid of - so stay tuned!

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