joe joe joe joe joe

ah!
my boyfriend - joe fresh - is opening a store at queen and portland. and though i don't want to share, because i want all of my sized clothes to be there when i arrive after work, i dooooo like sharing.
head over for their grand opening.
dare i say, 20% off all purchases??
Time: Today from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Location: Joe Fresh Queen + Portland; 589 Queen St W; Toronto, ON
"Please join us as we open our Joe Fresh Queen + Portland boutique! Save 20% on all purchases made on opening day!! The Queen + Portland location will house an ultimate assortment of Joe Fresh runway and ready-to-wear pieces, including: women’s and men’s apparel, activewear, sleepwear, cosmetics, jewellery and sunglasses. The store will feature special promotions and entertainment as part of the opening weekend events, including 20% off purchases made on opening day (Oct 13) and DJ entertainment on Oct 15! Check back for special offers all opening weekend long! Hope to see you there!
LOCATION: Joe Fresh Queen + Portland 589 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M5B 1L1 STORE
HOURS: Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
OPENING WEEKEND OFFERS: Thursday: save 20% off your entire purchase! Friday: Women’s Simple V-neck T-Shirt 2 for $20 (Reg. $12, while supplies last) Women’s Cowl Neck Sweater $19 (Reg. $24, while supplies last) Saturday: Women’s Premium Cord $29 (Reg. $39, while supplies last) Women’s Cable Cardigan $24 (Reg. $29, while supplies last) Men’s Fashion Denim $29 (Reg. $39, while supplies last) Men’s Layering Crew-neck T-shirt 2 for $20 (Reg. $12, while supplies last) Sunday: Women’s Trouser Jean $39 (Reg. $49, while supplies last) Women’s Stripe T-shirt 2 for $20 (Reg. $14, while supplies last) Men’s Woven Top $19 (Reg. $24, while supplies last) Men’s Wool Cargo $39 (Reg. $49, while supplies last)"

something to be said for an honest friend.

My lovely darling friend steph has asked me to help her in the daunting task of choosing a bridesmaid dress. Her sister is getting married in a farm wedding of 200, and as such, the dress needs to be casual, comfortable, and yet dressy enough to suit a wedding that size. The other added feature? Steph and I are particularily... well. particular. about our dresses. we are hippies at heart, and like movement, awkwardness, and interest in our clothes. as such, a typical bridesmaid dress just won't do.
the weird thing about bridesmaid dresses, is that there is this unusual expectation that it's supposed to be a certain kind of dress - a stiff, matching, not-previously-worn dress. the beauty of someone asking you to simply pick your own, is that you can choose something that suits your personality, your body shape, your likes, and reflects who you are. as silly as it may seem to expect this much from a dress, anyone who has ever worn a bad bridesmaid dress, knows full well that this is as possibility. from something as simple as a dress.
the requisites for this wedding were: taupe, any length, and suitable for someone like me - who doesn't like weddings, or bridesmaid dresses.
my top picks.
(I’ve blogged about these before… in. love.)
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and I think my favourite… bhldn's valenciennes dress in blush
that's my pick. but then... if steph wore this, she'd upstage the bride. soooo... maybe it's no the best idea.

my (thanksgiving) weekend in summary

this weekend was long, exhausting, and full of family fun.
My sister and parents killing time until everyone arrives (and sending me bbms photos while I drive); proud grandparents taking photos of the ‘whale’ my cousin’s son caught; brother and sister, checking out the marine life; cousin showing off his major catch (first one after our other cousin’s son caught 6 or 7); my dad and his grandpa envy – with my cousin’s son and daughter; a rare moment of smiles among brother and sister (and dad); pie. All vegan pie; dad, denver, and cousin’s husband matt around the campfire; the major campfire construction; a note from my aunt, on the shoe picks I bought myself.
friday: denver and i met after work, and went to fresh for dinner (to find out they took the ceasar salad and curry chickpea off the menu! what?!?! worst!). we then went to find disposable cameras to start our 'capture-the-weekend-best-in-27-photos' competition. we took off, and after some horrible directions from my sister, we managed to somehow make it to the cottage by about 11:30 to meet my mom, dad, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin and her husband (and 2 little ones who were already in bed). had some drinks, and heard a million stories about my various family members killing various types of rodents. everyone then went to bed far too late.
saturday: woke up early (since the kids were up), and headed to the peterborough market. spent the morning eating back bacon and sausages, and buying some veggies from the market. went back to the cottage, and found my aunt, uncle, and two cousins waiting for us to get home. after 2 boat rides, and some beverages, we made dinner, and gorged on our thanksgiving dinner (#1). had a great campfire, and spent the night talking around the fire. I was in bed by 10pm - exhausted from the early rising, and all the fresh air.
sunday: woke up fairly early again, and had a huge breakfast with everyone - bacon, eggs, homefries, etc. we then spent the afternoon golfing (my dad and cousin's team won), playing with the kids, and boat riding in the sunset. we then prepped our #2 huge meal of the weekend, and spent the rest of the night by the fire - having in depth conversations about the fire itself. went to bed later than normal, but i snuck away at about 12:30, to avoid being called out for going to sleep early.
monday: woke up a bit later than the past 2 mornings, and spent the day prepping breakfast while the rest of the family pulled the boat out, and put it away for the season. had a great brunch before my 2 aunts, 2 uncles and cousins had to take off for the day. we then cleaned up, and packed everything before we closed up - and said goodbye to my remaining cousin, her husband, and 2 little ones. we then made the trek to gma's, where we met my aunt, and uncle and his wife for chinese food buffet (my gma's version of cooking. denver and i took off to get back to toronto, and arrived home in time to unpack leftovers, and unpack so i could do laundry the next day.
all in all, GREAT weather, great company, and tons of fun with the family.

happy thanksgiving!

image from weheartit.com/
image from weheartit.com/
"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice". - Meister Eckhart
i get to spend the weekend with my mom's family, my dad's family, my middle sister (though i'll dearly miss my little sister), and my lovely friend denver - all up at my parent's cottage. i can't WAIT.
hope everyone appreciates everything they have this weekend - have a great long weekend!