....And Don't Let the Door Hit You on The Way Out

You - January - yes you!  Get out, and stay out.  You stayed much too long, and brought all kinds of nasty stuff with you including illness, stress, unhappy news about friends, freakish weather, and other stuff that's too personal/embarrassing to mention.

February, I welcome you with open arms.  C'mere and give me a hug.  We're going to be good friends, I just know it.

Pretty much everything I'm wearing was purchased at From Mars.
The red ruffled skirt is actually a snap-on apron thingy that you can wear over pants, other skirts, or if you're 16, nothing.  The colour and lace ruffles were a suitable "pick-me-up" for the last day of a crappy month.  Good Riddance!

Derby Derby Bang Bang

It was a Roller Derby weekend, with a double header at the Western Fair Agriplex on Saturday night. Having divided my week between work and going home to bed, by the time the weekend came and I was feeling a bit better, I was ready for some fun.  This, of course, called for an outfit.

I was cheering for the Luscious Lunch Ladies, whose team colours are blue and yellow, so having nothing in yellow, I made do with black and blue, which is a rather apt colour combination for roller derby.  I was happy for an excuse to incorporate the vintage nightgown I got in Toronto in November into an outfit.

pleated nightgown - Space Vintage in Toronto
sequined t-shirt - clothing swap
printed leggings will get a post of their own later
blue boots - Housing Works Thrift Store, New York

It seems that fewer people are dressing up to attend the Derby games this season.  It could be because it's winter, and being warm takes priority over fun outfits, but I miss the cool outfits from past seasons.   I did like the leopard sweater and teal pencil skirt on the woman in the photo above, taking advantage of the hula hoops at half-time.  She had her hair done in a vintage-y style too, which you can't really see here.

The seemingly 8 ft. tall woman in the photo above goes by the name of Bloodlust Barbie on the track.  She is creating a line of derby wear called Derby Derby Bang Bang, and some of the players were wearing tights from the line, similar to the ones she's wearing. 

 Those are definitely NOT the shoes I remember Barbie wearing when I was a kid...

 The Luscious Lunch Ladies trumped the Thames Fatales, 218 - 118, in the first game where the two teams have played against each other (the announcer described it as "sista against sista") in the new team makeup.  The newly formed Forest City Travel Team, aka The Timber Rollers faced off against The Tri-City Plan B and were the victors in the second bout, which I missed, as my voice and body gave out by the end of the first game.  (Thanks to Dollface Massacre for the update)

Colour Therapy

I've been spending more time dressed in black the past month than I would like, but I just can't seem to get off that midnight train.  It doesn't help that I have been sick with YET ANOTHER EFFING COLD this past week, and the wind chill was -25 for three days, so I just piled on as many layers as possible, and hoped for the best.  Fortunately, I had a couple of photos from last weekend of other women embracing the power of colour.

Two women, different generations, different styles, both resplendent in pinks and purples, at two different markets on a Saturday....

Every time I see Jackie she is dressed in bright colours with bold accessories.  I commented on how she always looks so put-together and she said that was something she has always done for herself, even when she was home raising her kids.  

I love the way this young woman has paired her hot pink dress with funky accessories to give it a bit of an edge.  She's got a great look, from her purple hair to the buckled ankle boots!

Gentlemen's Corner

This weekend was great for people-watching, and blog-photo shooting.  After having a yummy crepe at the Kantina booth at the Western Fair Farmers' Market I spotted not one, but two stylish men, within a few feet of each other. The first was this guy, with his cool two-tone lace-ups, natty chapeau, and sleekly tied scarf....

 Then I spied this young man in his patchwork cap and tweed blazer (which he thrifted for about $5) with leather elbow patches.   His friend was familiar with my blog so we had an interesting chat about self-expression and blogging.

I realized when I was about to publish this that it was my 700th post!
Time really does fly when you're doing something you love

London Britches Falling Down

Last night, Londoners were offered the opportunity to see "a tribute to Dr. Seuss' naughty side" when DeMure Productions brought the third annual "London Britches Falling Down" Burlesque show to Call the Office.  The show featured performances by such lovelies as Mz Kitty DeMure, Red Herring, Tahitia Belle Fille, Miss Helvetica Bold, and Bianca Boom Boom, with comic relief from the Mansfield Brothers, and performances by local rockabilly/swing band, The Hi-Tones.

It had been quite a while since I had seen the Hi-Tones play, and they have acquired singer Dana Hartman, who brought some sassy stage presence to the mix.  She did a stellar job with Wanda Jackson's song "Fujiama  Mama"

Guitarist Paul Wickerson and Bass player Stephen Heighington roll out the rhythms

We were not allowed to take photos of the performers on-stage (nudity and all that), but I was able to get this shot of the first performer, Tahitia Belle Fille, in her army-inspired outfit during intermission. Aside from routines inspired by Green Eggs and Ham and The Lorax, it seemed quite a stretch to mix Dr. Seuss and Burlesque, and I think the Burlesque suffered somewhat for it.  My cold was getting the better of me, so I left after the first half of the show, which meant that I missed The Cat in the Hat.

These dapper gents are the Mansfield Brothers, who performed a number as the Seuss character, The Lorax and a tree, that did not involve the removal of any clothes.

 While the rest of the audience was in the main room watching the Hi-Tones, this couple took advantage of the empty floor space near the bar to have their own private dance party

"Hello Katie" was selling raffle tickets

There was a whole lot of leopard print in the audience

Apparently although leopards are mostly solitary creatures, when they do come together in a group, they are called a "Leap".  This is definitely a Leap of Leopards.  My apologies to the ladies in the back whose heads were cut off.  It was very dark and my eyes are not what they used to be.

There were some great shoe shots to be had.....

 Provided one was willing to get down on the floor to get them

We asked our friend Paul to take a photo of Heather and I, just to prove we were there.  The Warhol Banana t-shirt seemed appropriate for the occasion.

I'll Be Your Mirror

Lady on the outside....

I just love the detail on this vintage coat I found at The Sentimentalist.  It is similar to the coat I'm wearing here in that it's black and it has fur trim, but the shape and details are different (this is me, trying to justify having two vintage black wool, fur-trimmed coats in my closet)



Remove the coat, and "Voila" -  Rock and Roll girl on the inside! I am so hopeless at "Badass Chick" expressions

I'm much better at my superhero pose

Velvet Underground T - Backstage Pass Going Out of Business sale
80's jacket - Mine 101
pink leather cuff - From Mars

Hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm going to a Burlesque show tomorrow night if this cold I think I'm getting doesn't knock me out!

Mix Master

  This coat has had many lives, and previously belonged to Melinda, of The Sentimentalist.  Nothing like a bright red plaid to ward off the winter blahs.

I would have hesitated to mix patterns like this years ago out of fear that other people would think it was weird.  Now, as the fabulous Helga would say, "feck it".

Plaid coat - The Sentimentalist
checked wool skirt - Mesh Consignment Boutique
Belt - Frilly Lizard
Striped tights - Winners
Pink Felt neck piece - Lady Mosquito (Toronto)

And, as an extra bonus.....

 Gratuitous Rat photo!

Hope you're all having a reasonable week

Skulls With Sass

I ran into this cutie-patootie at From Mars yesterday afternoon.  It was 10 degrees celsius, and there were lots of people out and about, enjoying the brief, but welcome, respite from winter.

The Pleasure Principle

A lot of years ago, I briefly volunteered as a "reader" with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.  Once a week I would visit, and read to, a 96 year old Hungarian woman named Helen.  For the first few weeks, I tried reading articles from the newspaper to her, and then passages from a book, but as it turns out, she was much more interested in asking me questions about my life, and telling me stories about hers.  That was fine with me, and I became privy to thoughts about men, work, and life in general, from an opinionated, interesting, and astonishingly independent woman. 

This is a photo of Helen, taken by a family member, around the time that I met her.  After about a year of semi-regular visits, there were some major changes in her life, and sadly, she died quite suddenly.  The only consolation was that it was on her own terms, in the same way that she had lived her life.  She gave some of the best advice I have ever received from another adult, and when I find myself sinking into a negative thought pattern about my life, I can still hear her voice in my head....

"Shelley, you must find a little pleasure in every day" (said with a thick Hungarian accent)

So, in honour of Helen, to whom I have always been grateful for allowing me into her life, here are the things I took pleasure in today

The furry rat tummy that greeted me this morning

Hair Flowers! Polka Dots!

The sun came out

and finally, these Want Want rice crackers that I purchased purely because of the name (if only there had been a second "e" in Shelly!) turned out to be really tasty.  Fred thought so too.

Helen also told me that a woman needs to have at least three men in her life - one for sex, one for friendship, and one to take you out.  Smart dame, Helen was.

Petticoat Junction

I am sure that in the future, some blog-archivist is going to be reviewing blog posts from 2012 and wonder what the heck was up with all the flashing of slips, petticoats, and undergarments in general, by, (horror of horrors!) women OVER 40.  Apparently, at some point in the last 12 months, all sense of decorum went out the window....about time, I say!

I am pleased to be in the company of these other sassy dames flashing their fancy underpinnings:
Sarah Misfit
Desiree
Curtise
Helga

I like to think that my frill-flashing in the photo above was to add some length to a sweater dress that was just a wee bit short to be work appropriate.

When you're wearing lacy ruffled undergarments, it inspires you to do silly poses. I'm sure the people on the staircase below me were having a good gawk.  Yep, my butt is still there.

and the obligatory swish, showing off my fave print leggings

I'm wearing:
sweater dress, vintage half-slip, and belt - all thrifted
leggings - H & M
blue ankle boots - Housing Works Thrift Store
pink leather cuff - From Mars

Resolution for 2013 - more petticoat flashing!  I'm sure that Betty Jo, Bobbie Jo and Billie Jo would approve

Viva Italia!

I had taken a photo of Nancy a year or so ago but didn't recognize her right away as her hair is much shorter.  She still has the same great style - I couldn't stop staring at her gorgeous boiled wool long vest.   The vest is from Italy and she purchased it online.

Festive Dressing

I left my camera at home when I went to the market to pick up dessert for Christmas dinner, thinking that no one would be dressed up on Christmas Eve day.  Of course, that would be when I run into these two guys, and rather than let them get away undocumented, I settled for a crappy photo taken with my camera phone.  My apologies, guys - I'll get you with my real camera next time.