"WOW. I can't believe how huge you're getting!". The first time I heard those words, "shocked" would probably be the best word to describe my reaction. I think I was around 16 weeks along, excited that my bump was getting big enough to be noticeable and feeling healthy again after finally getting back to a regular exercise routine following a very lethargic first trimester. I certainly didn't think I was huge at that point, maybe just a little out of place and uncomfortable in my rapidly …
personal
Mother’s Day: A Few Thoughts
As I prepare to become a mother in a few short months, I'm both excited and anxious about how my identity is going to inevitably shift. Will I be able to continue pursuing my career? And what about hobbies, self-care, my husband, my friends? Don't get me wrong: I'm planning on diving fully into this new role and committing to giving my child everything I have. That being said, I also don't want motherhood to consume me and become my entire life. While I hope that, one day, my grown child(ren) …
Returning | Tai Ping Shan Street
Of all the words I could use to describe myself, "sentimental" has never been one of them. I've always been quick to get rid of things in my home and closet that are no longer useful, regardless of any memories that may be tied to them. It generally doesn't take much for me to detach to objects or places, because I tend to feel like everything is temporary anyway. So it definitely came as a surprise to me when I found myself feeling just that way when I returned to Tai Ping Shan street in …
Girl’s Night In | Palm Bay
It often seems like friendships are the first priority to take a backseat when a season of busyness kicks in. If you're anything like me, it usually proves difficult to get everyone's schedules aligned and to set an evening aside for quality time together. So when Palm Bay recently reached out and offered to provide some goodies to help me put on a Girl's Night In, I quickly said yes and jumped at the opportunity! It was the perfect excuse to invite some of my favourite girls over to enjoy …
On Beauty: Thoughts About Aging & Appearance
Over the past nine months or so, I've struggled a lot with my physical appearance. I know I don't get personal on the blog very often, but after a bit of consideration I felt that this was an important subject to bring up. In a world and industry that's so inundated with the need and desire to appear attractive, it's easy to get caught up with and put an unhealthy emphasis on the outside - and often without second thought. And so, here's a break from the regularly scheduled, light-hearted …
2013: Where My Heart Is
There I was, working on my annual outfit round up collage post for this past year. Scrolling through archives, copying, pasting, reflecting... and then I stopped. I just couldn't finish it. It's not that nothing interesting has happened on the blog this year. On the contrary: this year I've had wonderful opportunities to travel, going to New York for Fashion Week and again for Harper's Bazaar's Fabulous for Every Age contest, and visiting the UK on whirlwind trip with some of my favourite …
Giving Thanks.
2013 has been a year marked with a lot of change, growth, and grace. Celebrating Thanksgiving this past weekend was the optimal time to reflect on it all, and in the midst of this beautiful autumn season I wanted to get a little sentimental and say that I'm thankful. I've felt immensely blessed by things big and small this year: from a supportive family, amazing friends and a wonderful church, to matcha kit kats, good books, and the perfect red lipstick. I'm also thankful for this blog + its …
A Case of Wanderlust
{A Chanel boutique in Florence, Italy} I once read that the more you travel, the more you want to travel. While I certainly don't think that I am well traveled by any means, that sentiment has certainly rung true for me thus far. I feel immensely blessed to have been able to visit some extraordinary places in my relatively young life. And, over the past few years, I've truly come to believe that there is no better, or more fun, way of opening your eyes than to travel.While going through my …