Outfit deets:

* DIY top that I wore out with leather shorts & peep-toe booties a couple weekends ago.

* Smart Set cami.

* Seduction skirt (old) which you've seen with a navy tee and red flats.

* Sam Edelman 'Sophie Low' wedges (new-ish) which I'm wearing 24/7 it seems; seen with my DIY denim cut-off shorts (when I purchased my condo), also with white skinnies & shades of green.

* Accessories: Club Monaco belt, A.Co Designs necklace & a close up of my arm stack.

I have been driving the same car for almost nine years.  Nine.  Years.

Long time, 'eh?

So lately, there have been a few things happening with my car, and it's needed some loving.  Half a new exhaust system here.  A new wheel barring there.  And so on.  Fortunately my Dad is a (retired) mechanic and can sometimes do the work for me, and more importantly, taught me how to keep my car nice.

So a week ago, on a Sunday afternoon, while visiting my parents, we were laughing at how none of us were very sure how much longer the 'Silver Bullet' would last (yes, she has a name).  She is 12 years old, after all, and anything can happen.  And so, we started to peruse the AutoTrader, talk cars, and so forth.  And while it seems every Spring I seem to do the, 'This is the year, I'm selling my car and getting something else... finally,' but this Spring I didn't want to do that.

I'm finally settling back into life, getting my finances in order and feeling pretty good.  The thought of a car payment (after so many years without) is a little terrifying to me.  I know for most people, a car payment is just something in life, but when you have gone for years upon years without one, you grow accustom to that extra cash every month.

I figured, at this point, I will drive my car into the ground (versus selling it for peanuts now) and then buy something.

Well, 'then' might have come sooner than later.

Last Monday morning on my way to work, my car broke down.  I wasn't even halfway there and I took off from a set of lights and she did not like the feeling of second gear.  Nor third.  Nor back to second.  

Uh oh.  

I pulled over as she chugged along and called CAA immediately.  They eventually sent a tow truck while I waited for over an hour in the humidity.  Fortunately, after three days of work (trial, error, research, ordering parts, installing, etc.), my Dad was able to fix the problem (and save me about $500), however, who knows when and what will happen next.

And so, the process of, 'Operation (maybe) buy a car,' has potentially begun.

Has anyone purchased a new car recently?

Outfit deets:

* Fresh top (from Winners) which I've had for several years but don't think I've worn on the blog.

* DIY denim shorts which although I made them a couple years ago, I never wore them much and now I'm wearing them frequently; case in point, out dancing two weekends ago.

* Sam Edelman 'Sophie Low' wedges (new, ish!) which I absolutely adore.  Not only are they comfortable but they are stylish and a lower heel than I'm used to.  Seen with white skinnies & two shades of green.  (BTW, size down about half a size, I totally could have gone with the 9.5).

* Accessories: various bangles & Gucci shades.

It was simple: two bedrooms, a balcony, in-unit washer and dryer, hardwood, higher level floor, within the city and within my budget.  Those were the things I was looking for in a condo.  It wasn't too much to ask for, but for my budget, it was a little sparse looking.

I had been working with a realtor for about a year, on and off... most recently, on.  He sent me listing after listing (automated, to match my specific criteria) and nothing fit the bill.  We went to see place after place after place, one came close, but ultimately, nothing felt like 'the one'.  Although I was in no rush to buy (I love where I live, but ultimately I am renting and owning is ideal), it was getting a little frustrating after a place I thought was maybe the one, slipped through my fingers.  Turns out it was not the one and that happened as this was about to.

Then I found it.  The one.

A brand new build, located in the city and not even started yet.  The downfall?  Will be ready in November 2014.  The optimistic spin: more time to save even more money to put down (and have a smaller mortgage in return).

I walked into the sales office a few weeks ago on a Wednesday evening after getting a spray tan with no idea what was about to happen.  I thought maybe I would go in, get a price list, find out I couldn't afford it and walk out. 

Not the case.  At all.

I told the sales woman I needed a two bedroom, but that a one bedroom plus den might work.  We looked over the floor plans, prices and options.  I started to get excited.  The smallest one bedroom plus den was pretty nice.  And within my budget.  She told me the higher the floor, the more expensive.  Now, since I currently living in a high-rise on a high floor, I'm only interested in moving somewhere with a view.  The view I have now is pretty awesome, and it's so nice to be up high and as a safety factor, I like that I can leave my bedroom window open at night.  Then she told me only the 11th floor was available for this unit.  All other units were sold.  My heart dropped.  I probably couldn't afford the 11th floor.

She showed me the price list.

Then my jaw dropped and I tried to hide my excitement: I could afford the 11th floor.

I knew I couldn't sit on this, as it was such a great deal, it could be sold the next day if I didn't act immediately (there is only one of this unit, per floor, and all other floors were sold).  I gave all my information and we made an appointment for me to come back three days later to seal the deal with a deposit and signature (and to call them if I changed my mind).  I took my sales package, price list and floor plan and bustled out to my car in excitement.

The following evening I met with my mom to tell her what had happened, show her the sales package and share my thoughts.  By the end of our two hour coffee sesh, I convinced her I was serious and this was it.  She took the paperwork home to share the exciting news with my dad.  On Saturday, I asked my parents to come with me to the sales office where I would be putting down my deposit and signing the paperwork.  It was such a surreal moment and so very exciting!

So, enough chatter, here are the deets:

* One bedroom + den (aka walk-in closet / dressing room)

* Hardwood floors

* Granite counter-tops

* Stainless appliances

* Breakfast bar

* In-unit washer & dryer

* A balcony off my bedroom (sliding doors) and living room (regular door) with glass railings

* Indoor salt water pool

* Gym

* Underground parking (which you purchase on top of your price)

So now I just have to be patient and watch the next two years fly by (ha, right) before I can move in.  I'll keep you up to speed on the progress and all the fun details and ideas I have (I certainly have time for it).

Pssssst!  Those photos above?  That's me standing exactly where my condo will be built.  Exciting!

And here are a few from the sales office & signing my paperwork:

 Outfit deets:

* Lori B dress (thrifted).

* Costa Blanca blazer which I've had for about a year now but haven't worn it on the blog.

* Smart Set cami (I own these in all colours of the rainbow because once upon a time I was obsessed with them).

* Diva Lounge wedges (you know I love these) which you've seen with white skinnies & two different white dresses.

* Accessories: F21 belt, H&M bangle, Foster Grant shades & Dollarama ring.

What are you doing for the weekend?  I'm hosting my sister's bridal shower on Sunday and have lots of last minute prep to do for that.  Otherwise, heading to the Katy Perry movie with some girlfriends tonight with some snacks and drinks afterwards.  A great kick start to the weekend.  Have a great one!

In all my life, I never experienced anxiety.  I knew people who had it, touched it, felt it, but not me.  I didn't understand how it felt or why they couldn't shake it or what was going on in their bodies, that is, until I went through my divorce.

In the months leading up to us separating, I was panged with anxiety.  A 'perfect' life turned upside down, being pulled in opposite directions and my heart fighting with my head caused major anxiety to ensue.  I remember being in the shower trying to catch my breath and being unable to.  I finally understood what people meant when they said they suffered from anxiety.

The shortness of breath and jitter-like feelings came and went.  Some days I would be fine, other days it would come on suddenly like the snap of fingers.  It was incurable, and it simply had to be lived through. 

A few weeks ago, I was talking to my mom on the phone, all teary eyed and upset, I couldn't shake my anxiety over whatever emotions were passing through my body.  I confessed to her that I had never had anxiety before and she said up until the separation, my life had been a fairly flat line.  Not a flat line that was boring or unexciting, no no, there were many happy, exciting, wonderful times, but there were no real devastating times that crushed me to the core and shook me like my divorce has.  In a way, I should be so grateful to have experienced this wonderful life up until the ripe age of 27, but at the same time, facing anxiety has been, well, interesting, to say the least (and to put an optimistic spin on it).

And now, although much time has passed and I have moved forward and am in a pretty great place, the anxiety still rears its' ugly head every now and again and it's funny how not alone you really are.  A text from a good friend the other day sparked this post as she wrote to me, 'Do you ever get an insane amount of anxiety for no real reason at all?'  My answer? Yes (in big bold letters!).  On top of that, I had been feeling anxious all morning for no real reason. 

I know I have talked about feeling anxious over the Internet and Social Media, and maybe you can bundle them all together, but sometimes I feel they are so separate and the worry that overwhelms me is simply hard to get rid of.  When I can't sleep, I try to make small notes in my iPhone; this 1) ensures I don't forget things come morning, and 2) allows me to let go of the things on my mind so I can sleep.  These notes are silly little things as simply as, 'Pick up tissue paper at the Dollar Store.  Clean the zippers on my OTK boots so they don't stick over the summer months.  Return the F21 top that doesn't fit.' etc.  They seem to help. 

The most recent thing I have come up with to battle my anxiety is to relax my knees.  Okay, I know this sounds a little bit absurd, but if you suffer from anxiety, I urge you to try it.  You need to really focus on your knees to relax them and in turn your whole body kind of exhales.  Our bodies get so tense throughout the day, especially if you're anxious, so to take even 15 seconds to relax your knees, will at least offer 15 seconds of relief.  Try it, I dare you!

Have you ever experienced anxiety?  Known someone who has?  Do you get what I'm talking about?

 Outfit deets:

* American Eagle cardigan (new!), I saw this sweater about a month ago while shopping with the BFF but passed on it.  After giving it some though, I should have purchased it and made an impromptu decision to call them and see if, by chance, they still had it (it was already on sale a month ago) and they still had one in medium!  I rushed to the store and picked it up in purple as well for $14 each.  Score (plus another neon item to add to my collection).

* Winners top that I bought over a year ago and wear quite frequently.

* Jacob skirt (old) and seen in one of my first outfit photos with a big orange necklace from India and nude fishnets.

* Christian Louboutin wedges.

* Accessories: vintage necklace, Auslini bangle & Suzy ring.

I'm getting my hair done this Saturday.

Conversation with someone went something like this:

Someone: (looking at a picture of me) "Wow, you're not really blonde anymore!"

Me: (looking at my roots, cinging) "What?  Yes I am, I just need to get my hair done... and having my car impounded and ticketed recently has left me with lack of funds."

Fast forward one day later & I have book an appointment for this weekend.

Okay then.

But in reality, it really is time to get these roots touched up.  I always wait till I'm at the I-can't-stand-this-any-longer point, where even my fresh, clean hair looks greasy due to mousey roots and/or I look as if I'm coppin' a half-way-to-ombre look, when in reality, I'm not.

And I mean... it was February when I got it last done.  If that's not getting your money's worth, I don't know what is.

Outfit deets: