Wardrobe – Tiny In Toronto

March Favourites 2022

I’m back! And it’s April, so HAPPY APRIL! Another month has gone by which means I have another set of favourites to share with you. My sister had her second baby, the Oscars happened so I was watching a lot of movies all month, I read some of the best books I’ve read in a really long time, and I think I’m starting to love getting dressed again? It sounds funny because a lot of people that know me would probably find it hard to believe that I ever stopped loving getting dressed. But recently, I’ve been planning outfits and getting excited about what I’m going to wear. I’ve also been taking a lot of mirror selfies of my outfits at work, which I haven’t done in a really long time. Maybe it’s the weather getting warmer? I think it might also have to do with the fact that we’re sort of seeing an end to the pandemic now? *knocks on wood* Before it felt like I was getting dressed for the sake of getting dressed, and that’s not me. I know we’re sick and tired of talking about the pandemic but it’s affected so many. I’ve lost the energy to express myself and I’ve lost sight of what makes me happy/makes me feel good. Fashion makes me happy. Writing these posts makes me happy. I think a lot of us, like myself, just continued to do things out of habit. And I think I’ve finally realized why I love certain things and why I continue to do them. It feels good!

Anyways, despite a busy month, I do remember a few things that I loved most throughout the month of March. I think that if I’m missing anything, I’m sure I’ll mention them in a future monthly favourites post. And if I can’t remember them now, did I really love them that much anyway?

Here are my March favourites!

1. Brown EVERYTHING – This was not planned, but I don’t really think I plan my favourites. Becoming obsessed with the colour brown was just very unexpected. I gravitated towards a lot of brown this past month and I don’t know why. I got two brown leather jackets, brown trousers, and even when shopping, I noticed that everything I picked up/preferred was chocolate brown. Like right now I’m thinking, chocolate brown nail polish? What I think I love about the colour brown is that it’s a great alternative for black and white. It’s a new option if you wanna stay neutral. I don’t know how long this brown phase is going to last (I’m thinking probably throughout this transition to spring/summer), but I’m here for it. What do you think of wearing brown this season? Part of me thinks it also reminds people of poo lol.

2. Bridgerton: Season 2 – I would have binged all of this the day it came out (Friday, March 25th), but my sister and I decided to wait and watch it together when I came to visit. I LOVE this show. I will say that I preferred Daphne’s story over Anthony’s (there’s just no one like Simon, am I right?), but the whole production is what I love most. The costumes, the music and the set design is absolutely mesmerizing! Like, those big houses and the way their interiors are decorated are absolutely stunning. I kind of wish I lived to experience that period. The way that society worked is kind of bonkers. Women 100% should have had more rights. But if we were to eliminate all of the problematic societal norms, I think everything seemed so much more romantic, whimsical, and beautiful. Everything was so romanticized. But maybe it’s all a facade? I have some second thoughts now lol. Let’s just say, on a surface level perspective, the show is gorgeous. I can’t wait for season 3! I’m going to need to read the third book of the series ASAP. I think it might be Eloise’s love story that’s next – exciting!

3. Crochet pieces that I made this month: Leg Warmers + Cat Beanie – I’m honestly really enjoying having crochet projects completed monthly. It’s so rewarding! This past month I made my very first pair of leg warmers! They’re pink, chunky, and so warm. I’m obsessed with how cute they look. I’m pretty happy that they’re trending again. I don’t know how long I have until it’s too warm to wear them, but I’m very much tempted to make some in every colour. I also completed this striped beanie with cat ears. It was so fun to make and I got some cute selfies while wearing it so if I never wear it again, at least there’s that. I also think temperatures are getting warm enough to no longer need a beanie. I’ll probably just save it for next winter. Also: I’m way too excited not to mention my current project so I’m just going to quickly say that I’m making a BLANKET!!! There’s this crochet blanket that was seen on an episode or two of Euphoria that I saw someone recreate on TikTok, and I was instantly inspired. It’s going to be so much work but I think it’s going to keep me busy throughout April. Hopefully I’ll finish it and share it with you next month!

4. The Inheritance Games: Book 1 & 2 by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – I don’t know if this is going to be posted before or after my book review, but man oh man, you need to read these. I read them so fast because I literally couldn’t put them down! I would pick up these books any chance I could get. It’s been so long since I’ve found a series that makes me want to come home from work, make a tea, and sit on the couch and read until 2AM. It’s one of my favourite things to do and there’s really nothing like it. It’s hard to explain the feeling of being so wrapped up in a story unless you’ve experienced it yourself. Has this ever happened to you? It happened to me with both of these books and I don’t want to wait until August for the 3rd one! Thinking about it actually makes me sad lol. I won’t tell you too much plot-wise, but if you like Cinderella stories with puzzles, mystery, romance, and 4 handsome boys with brains and a sense of humour, grab these books now.

5. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood – Normally, I have one book in a monthly favourites post, but here I am with three! I had such amazing luck with reading material this past month that I’m worried it’s downhill from here. What if nothing can top these ones? I must read more and find out! Send me your recommendations, please! To explain briefly, this book was about a romance between a student and a professor. They’re both in the medical field. It’s a fake relationship turned into something much, much more. I know it sounds cheesy, but I haven’t read anything like it. I enjoyed it so much. It also got a little steamy at parts so don’t say I didn’t warn ya lol.

6. Eloise Jordan Johnson (MY ONE MONTH-OLD NIECE) – I met my niece last week and she’s PRECIOUS. I don’t even think precious is enough to describe her. She’s an angel! I’m so excited for us to have another little girl in the family, and to watch her grow. When I went back to my hometown to visit my family and help my sister with her two kids, I felt like it was something that I needed. I was there for 6 days and being surrounded by them, and having my niece and nephew keeping me (very) busy was really good for me. Family is important and being with them simply reminds me that I have so much to be grateful for. My little niece and nephew are the cutest kids. I do get baby fever whenever I’m around them. They’re so sweet and pure. They fill my heart with joy. I most definitely have biggest soft spot for them because I literally can’t say no ha-ha – they’re just too cute! But my sister is so lucky to have such blessings, and I hope that when I’m ready to have children that I get just as lucky.

7. The 94th Academy Awards/Oscars – As much as I was disappointed in the Oscars this year (very few of the nominations truly wow’d me tbh), it still remains one of my favourite annual events. I love movies, as most of you all know, and it’s so fun to see all my favourite actors and actresses get dressed up and recognized for their hard work. This year was so controversial with all the Will Smith and Chris Rock business. I’m not going to get into it because I feel like the rest of the internet has said enough. I really hope that we just learn and be better going forward, and hopefully next year is better. Regardless of what happens, the Oscars will always be something special to me. Did any of you watch? I am so happy that CODA won Best Picture! That movie made me sob.

8. Freshii – This is a last-minute addition to the favourites list because as I’m writing this, I’m craving a Pangoa bowl from Freshii. I’ve bought a few on my break at work last month, and I also had one while I stayed with my sister (my tiny hometown just got a Freshii, it’s actually crazy lol). I don’t know why I love them so much. I think they’re just fresh (at Freshii? Who knew lol)? They beat the cans of soup that I normally eat at work for lunch, that’s for sure. I always add chicken to my Pangoa bowl because it’s more filling for me. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it! I also just love photographing it, is that weird? I appreciate all the pretty colours!

Another month for the books! Official farewell to March 2022! I can’t believe how fast the year is going by. Only a few more months and my birthday month will be here! Is it too early to be excited? I don’t have anything planned yet, but I know I can always expect the best things in June. Comment down below and tell me your favourite month of the year!

I hope you’re all having a great week so far!

Until next time,

– Tiny ❤

OOTD: Rainy With A Chance Of Vintage Denim

I’m back, and with a more recent outfit post! Spring is officially here!!! These photos were taken over the weekend and although we’re expected to get some snow within the next week, I’m definitely in a spring-y mood. I’m super excited to shed some layers and to start wearing ALL THE COLOURS. But let’s be real, I wear a fair amount of colour already. I just don’t want to wear a coat that hides it anymore!

Today’s outfit was taken in the rain. These are my first rainy day outfit photos, ever. I usually admit defeat when it rains because it’s so miserable out to even bother. But for some reason, I felt it was worth a shot over the weekend. My boyfriend is one of those weirdos that loves the rain. To him a rainy day is the perfect day, so he didn’t need any convincing to go out and take photos of me. I’m actually pretty happy with the way these turned out with all things considered. I think that the umbrella is kind of a cute prop as well? Who knew!

If I’m being 100% honest, the reason I was so willing to go outside in the wet and muddy terrain was because of this skirt that I’m wearing. I recently purchased this denim maxi skirt from Poshmark and I’m absolutely obsessed with it. I felt compelled to take photos and share it with you/the internet. It’s so early 2000s. It was listed as “vintage” and it’s by the brand “Manager”. I’m not familiar with the brand but I am truly curious (and will probably do some research after this) to find out if it is in fact vintage.

Here’s the look!

I paired this denim skirt with my green sorbet (for some reason this seems like the right word to describe it?) -coloured polo that I just recently got from work ie. Free People. I love the colour of it and I think it will be worn a lot within the next couple of months as we get closer and closer to summer (my favourite season, ever!!!). The jacket and belt are thrifted pieces. The jacket is from Danier and I got it at The Salvation Army Thrift Store for $24. The belt was definitely less than $10 and from Talize. My necklace is by the designer Chopova Lowena. I bought this necklace two years ago as a birthday gift for myself, and I’ve been wearing it so much lately! Chunky silver pieces are very popular right now and I’m enjoying resurfacing some of my old silver pieces. This necklace is very special to me because I spent probably the most amount of money I’ve ever spent on a necklace. For many reasons it’s a treasure of mine and I don’t plan to stop wearing it anytime soon! I actually have my eye on maybe another silver chunky piece for my birthday this year? After wearing this Chopova Lowena piece, I’m realizing how wearable silver is. The majority of my jewelry is gold so I wouldn’t mind another silver piece, but we’ll see!

For shoes, I’m wearing my trusty Vagabonds. These are the Tara boots that have been through it all. I honestly think these boots are a pair I would buy again. Once my current pair falls apart, I’ll have to get another. I’m attached and they’ve become such a staple. They go with everything, they give me the height I need, and they’re unbelievably comfortable. They’re not the most affordable boots but I promise you that they’re worth it.

The purse I’m wearing is none other than one of my Nunoo bags from my collection of Nunoo bags. I really do have an obsession with them. I’ve been in love with everything they make for years now. I have my eye on at least two new styles. Maybe more birthday gifts from myself ha-ha? If you haven’t heard of this brand from Denmark, I totally suggest checking them out! I’ll leave the link to their website here. The bag that I’m wearing with this outfit is their Helena bag. I got it from Urban Outfitters. It’s made of green recycled canvas which is pretty cool. I love this shade of green and it’s going to be a popular colour throughout spring/summer this year.

I think that’s everything for this outfit. I believe I’ve covered it all? If there’s ever anything that I’ve left out in an outfit post and you’d like to know more about it, let me know in the comment section! I try to cover it all but there’s a chance I may forget something, or leave it out because I feel like I’ve talked about it so much already in my previous posts.

Also: Can we take a moment to process that next week is the end of March?! March went by just as fast as February, or is it just me?

OH!

And next week I’m FINALLY meeting my niece! I’m so excited to hold her! I’m staying with my sister for about 5 days, so I’m not sure if I’ll have the time to upload a new post next week. We’ll see if I can write something before I go. I’m in the middle of writing another book review that I’m super excited to share with you. I wanted to have it uploaded before this one but there’s just so much I have to say. I really, really enjoyed it. I feel like I say this in every book review, but this book made me remember why I love reading. It has been such a long time since I’ve stayed up sitting on my couch until 2AM reading a book (and eating snacks lol). There’s nothing like it. If there’s one book/series you have to read this year, it’s this one. I will reveal the title in my next post – stay tuned!

That’s it, that’s all! I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week! I hope to be back here soon. When I return from my sister’s, I’ll be sure to have lots to share. I have a lot of March favourites, some more outfits, and crochet projects that I’ve completed + some that I’m working on! Lots of stuff!

Until next time!

– Tiny ❤

OOTD: Layers On Layers

Toronto is in this weird in-between stage where the weather wants to be spring, but it’s still very much winter. The sun is out for longer and we’re hitting positive temperatures, but the snow isn’t going anywhere. What I’m trying to get at is that it’s very hard to dress right now. The only thing I can do is wear layers and in today’s post, it’s nothing if not that. I feel like I’ve got layers on layers on layers here, and you’ll soon find out why.

This outfit began with a simple midi skirt that I’ve had for years. It’s ribbed, knitted, and super cozy. I’ve been obsessed with brown lately so to pair with the skirt, I gravitated towards this brown plaid button down that my boyfriend got me for Christmas. It’s from Durumi (the Korean boutique on Queen St. West that I talk about ALL THE TIME). It’s a very lightweight button down. It definitely wasn’t warm enough and to be honest, a little plain for me. So I added this Free People/FP Movement hoodie that I got in 2019. It kind of reminds me of Obi-Wan. Why? I don’t really know how to explain it. I think if you’re a Star Wars fan, you might catch my drift? Or maybe you won’t lol. Anyways, I was happy with those layers!

But then I realized that with snow still on the ground, I really can’t leave the house without a coat or jacket (duh). So I pulled this jacket that I thrifted from Talize, and ba-da bing, ba-da boom. My outfit:

I can understand how this outfit could be confusing to a lot of people, but I genuinely like it! I also want to make it known that Fashion Month had just started during the time that I was putting this outfit together. I was feeling inspired. I had looked at some fresh street style inspiration days prior so the creative juices were flowing! I added a pop of colour because I noticed pops of colour EVERYWHERE. I chose orange but I saw a lot of green, Barbie pink, and blue. Still might do a trends post! Let me know if you’d wanna see it!

The shoes I wore were the boots that I talked about in my last post. They were a February favourite. They’re the “Brooks Chelsea Boots” from Free People. I included a link in that blog post if you want to check them out!

The final piece to this look were my sunglasses that I got from Bailey Nelson. I haven’t worn them much but they’re new, and I got my prescription lenses added to them! What a whole new world! Wearing sunglasses with a prescription is an ultimate game-changer. I got these in the fall so I haven’t been able to wear them during the summer yet. I’m a little worried because I don’t know if I’m going to be able to wear the collection of cheap ones that I have here at home. They just won’t feel the same! Maybe I need to get contacts? The idea of contacts kind of scares me tbh. I start to think about them sliding to the back of my eyeball by mistake, and I get a full body chill. Creepy. What if I forget to take them out? What if they dry out my eyes and my eyes shrivel up like raisins? I’m being dramatic but this is exactly why I haven’t gotten contacts.

There’s my little outfit post for you! I kept it light (despite all the “layers” lol) because I don’t really have much to update you on. In a few weeks, I’ll be visiting my sister to help her with my NEW BABY NIECE. I’m an aunt again! She was born on March 3rd, 2022. I can’t wait to meet her! Her name is Eloise and she’s the cutest little bean. When I’m back from my visit, I’ll be sure to share some photos!

Until next time!

– Tiny ❤

Introducing: My Love Tote

I feel like I need to begin by sharing how this all came about. This whole idea just hit me one day while I was at work. Has this ever happened to you? It was kind of like one of those “eureka!” moments. Anyways, if you’ve worked retail before, you’ll understand how dead it is this time of year. I think our busiest time of year begins after Thanksgiving or around Black Friday, and then ends December 31st. January and February are just painfully slow months. It’s a ghost town. We’ve been going a little crazy trying to find things to keep us busy, but there’s only so much that we can do. I’m the kind of person that always has to be doing something or I feel like time is being wasted. So in these types of scenarios, I just put my brain to work. Valentine’s Day was coming up and I needed a new crochet project. I also wanted to create something cute and original to share on my Instagram. One of my co-workers was working on a balaclava made of granny squares and that inspired me to want to make something out of granny squares as well. That’s when it hit me: granny squares with hearts in the center!!! How romantic! Now I didn’t want another balaclava and I had just finished making my skinny rainbow scarf, so I decided to make the obvious (for a bag-obsessed queen): a tote bag.

I don’t think you’ll find someone as obsessed with bags as I am. If I had all the money in the world, I’d have so many bags. I mean, I already have a lot of bags. But I would most definitely have all the bags I’ve ever dreamed of! I’d have a room just for all of my purses!!! (I’m getting all giddy just thinking about it ha-ha) One thing that I love about crocheting is that it allows me to create my own bags. I never thought I’d be able to make my own, but I’ve made 3 different designs already! When planning my “love tote”, I was already confident that I have the skills to make whatever I put my mind to. So I took the closest piece of paper that I could find while I was at work (because I didn’t wanna lose my idea/vision), and I drew some ideas with our coloured permanent markers. (I just want to quickly add that I’m a hard worker (not a slacker!), love my job, and this didn’t take more than 10min – I promise! Zero customers were ignored during this process lol!) Here’s how it turned out:

There are clearly a few combinations that I tried out. I knew I wanted pink, blue and yellow together, but I didn’t know how I wanted to execute it. I chose these colours based off of the street style photos that I saved from Copenhagen Fashion Week. I love how colourful they are in Copenhagen. It’s 100% my favourite week. They’re much more creative and experimental there. I find it so inspiring. Here are the photos that solidified my colour choice:

Aren’t they beautiful? I think it has to do with everything that we’ve gone through in terms of the pandemic that has made us loosen up when it comes to self expression. I think it made some of us get to know ourselves a bit more and realize that life is too short to live by certain fashion rules. Express yourself! Wear what makes you happy! Don’t wear black, wear colour! It’s just something I’ve come to notice and appreciate a lot lately. I think most fashion trends you’ll see this year will definitely express that. When doing some research, a lot of trends that were forecasted came from many different decades. You’re going to see an absolute mix of everything. Take what you love from each decade and mash it all together! For real though.

I’ll save the trend talk for another day. Let’s get back to my love tote. I made this bag in less than two days. I was so determined and inspired. I really wanted to bring one of those drawings to life. I had to learn how to crochet a heart and I’ll be honest, that almost did it for me. Like, I was ready to call it quits after trying a few times. It was so hard! And part of me was doubting that my hearts were even looking like hearts. But the more I looked at it, and the more I practiced, I got the hang of it. It finally looked like a heart, so I made 10 of them.

After all the squares were complete, it was pretty much done. I just had to attach them all together, make side panels, then attach some handles! I tried to make pink and yellow hearts at first, but the yellow yarn was a tad thicker than the pink and the blue. I was worried that with thicker yarn, the squares wouldn’t be uniform. So I put the yellow yarn aside, and just used the pink and blue. Little did I know, the yellow yarn was just what I needed for the handles. Thick yarn is probably better because it’s sturdier (I was also running out of the other colours so I had few options lol). I think yellow is just a great contrast as well. I’m really happy with that decision. Anyways, without further ado, I introduce to you… MY LOVE TOTE :))

Now I know the final result doesn’t look exactly like my original sketch, but I’m super happy with the way it turned out. I took so many photos of her. You’ll probably notice a missing charm on the final product. The crochet heart charm is still an idea I’m flirting with, and I think I’ll probably end up adding one later. It’s basically two of those hearts sewn together and stuffed with Poly-fil. If you could choose a colour for a dangly crochet heart charm on my love tote, what would you choose? Pink? Yellow? Maybe red? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section!

I’ve also been thinking about sharing my process with you! Would you like to see my process when making a crochet project? I always take pictures after I complete a step, so I think it’d be fun to actually lay it all out in a blog post for you. Maybe it can even help you make one of your own? It’s just a thought but I would obviously love your feedback.

Alright. That’s it, that’s all! I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend. I’ll be spending it thrift shopping! I’m so excited because this will be the first thrift trip of the year. If I find some goodies, I’ll be sure to come back with a haul ;))

Until next time,

– Tiny ❤

A Scarf I Made MySelf(ie)

So I didn’t get to upload anything new last week, and I feel horrible. Honestly, last week got a little out of control! But I mean “out of control” in like, a good way. I’m working with another brand that I’m super excited to share with you. Also, this year’s Oscar nominations came out and I don’t know if you know this about me, but I love movies. The Oscars are a big deal for me. I appreciate a good red carpet and I know award shows are a little controversial in general, but the Oscars themselves excite me! They hit different, you know? I enjoy writing down a list of movies that are nominated. I appreciate a good movie and if these are the best of the best of the last year, then I’m 1000% interested! If I can’t watch all of them, I at least try to watch all of the movies nominated for “Best Picture”. Some of the movies I’m most excited to watch are: King Richard, Dune, The Power Of The Dog, The Lost Daughter, and many more! How do you feel about award shows? Have you seen any of these movies? Do you have any movie recommendations for me?!!

Today’s post is an easy one. I have another outfit to share. Actually, I think I have another crochet project to share as well! This whole outfit was styled around this skinny crochet scarf I finished a couple of weeks ago. I had been wanting to make one of these skinny rainbow scarves for a long time, and I’m absolutely obsessed with the way it turned out! I used different weights of yarn in different colours and I think it looks so unique. It’s also a super easy crochet project for beginners. If you want to try crocheting for the first time, I highly recommend trying a scarf!

To pair with my new scarf, I decided to have fun with it and wear one of my favourite blazers in my closet. It’s thrifted but it fits me surprisingly well. I purchased it from a Value Village almost 3 years ago and I love it to pieces. I love the neutral pattern because it goes with everything. I love the length of it. I think it hits me at the perfect spot. I probably paid a maximum of $20 for it, maybe even $15. I encourage you to try thrifting first! You can find so much that you’re looking for at the thrift store. I haven’t thrifted yet this year but my best friends and I have set a date to hit 3 separate stores in the next week or so. Be sure to stay tuned for that! I’m going to go nuts for spring/summer pieces and I think I might do a haul of some sort, either on my blog or on Instagram. Please follow @tinyintoronto if you haven’t yet!

Underneath my blazer I wore another thrifted piece. It’s a woven/kind-of-crochet beige long sleeve from either Talize or Value Village (tbh I can’t remember). I love that it laces up in the front. I think this top was only $7 and it’s by a brand called “Kimchi Blue”. I think they sell it at Urban Outfitters. For bottoms, I’m wearing my grey trousers from Topshop Petite. I will not go on about my undying love with Topshop Petite again, I promise. All I’m going to say is that I am obsessed with these pants and if anything were to happen to them, I’d be heart broken. They go with everything, and fit like a dream!

The shoes I’m wearing are old sneakers that I ordered from SSense. They’re by Adidas, and I’m shocked that I’ve kept them in such decent condition for this long. If I need a nice white running shoe, I’d have to say that this is my go-to pair. The bag I’m wearing is a Nunoo bag. I haven’t talked about Nunoo in a long time. I’m still very much obsessed with the brand. It’s from Denmark and they make beautiful bags for a more affordable price. I mean, they’re still at least $100 but they’re great quality and I think the next best thing to one from a high-end designer label. That might be a stretch, but they definitely do it for me.

I’ve been wearing a lot of the same jewelry lately. I feel like I’m always looking for a signature piece. Currently, I’ve been really interested in initial necklaces. I know I have a few already, but I’m looking for something more permanent. I’m finding that the ones I’m getting are fading quickly (but that might be because I only spent $50). Now that I know that I will wear a necklace with my initial on it a lot, I think it might be worth the investment. I’m considering it as a birthday gift for myself? But I also want furniture, so maybe not lol. Anyways, I’m just flirting with the idea! We’ll see! The green/jade-looking hoops are from Free People, and I think that complete’s this outfit.

I want to apologize for being absent. I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since my last post! I do feel like I’ve failed in some way but I should have known that this was going to happen. There will be a week or two where I just can’t sit down and bang out a blog post. That’s life, I guess. All I can say is that I’ll try to make up for it this week and try to stay consistent again going forward! I’m pretty impressed with how I’ve been so far though. I feel like I’ve already posted way more than last year.

Thank you for your patience. I hope you didn’t miss me too much last week. I still have a ton of content that I want to share on here. The question is just, when? There really isn’t enough time in a day, a week, or a month. I’ve got another book review in the works. I have so many outfits to share. There’s a lot of style inspiration that I got from Copenhagen and New York Fashion Week this month that would be fun to share as well. There’s this new partnership/collaboration that I’m working on, too! That will be shared sometime in March for sure. Actually, speaking of March, soon it’s going to be a new month and I’ll have another monthly favourites post to write on top of all of this! I’ve got so much content to write!!!

I’ll be back as soon as I can :))

Until next time,

– Tiny ❤

Baggy jeans = Best jeans

Yes, I said what I said. I know a lot of people don’t like the look of baggy jeans because it’s too much fabric and not exactly flattering, but I think they’re comfy as heck. There are restrictions when wearing them. I feel like I do have to keep in mind that their needs to be balance when wearing these baggy jeans because if I don’t, I could look like I’m drowning in waves of material. Thankfully, the loose and baggy trend from the early 2000s is kind of making a comeback? I’m not excusing jeans worn around your ankles and your bum hanging out though. Remember when men used to dress like that? Remember when women thought it was attractive? Good Lord. This is as baggy as things will get for me, I promise.

The pair of baggy jeans that I’m wearing in today’s post is from Free People (All Star Pull On Jeans). I don’t think that’s a surprise. Like I said, I love how comfortable they are. Honestly, I don’t think you’re ever going to catch me wearing skinny jeans again. That was torture. I don’t know or understand how I wore them willingly. These jeans don’t make me feel like I’m being strangled/restricted AT ALL. I think they’re really cool with sneakers and a fitted top. Again, it’s most definitely an early 2000s look and I get it if that’s not your cup of tea. I’m going to be rocking these jeans a lot though!

For the details of this outfit, I’ll start with the top that I’m wearing. It’s a sweater vest from Free People last year. It’s like a cream cable knit that I think sits well on top of these jeans. It’s a great layering piece. You can’t tell in these photos but I was wearing a long sleeve shirt underneath it because despite how it may seem, it was *FREEZING* outside. I don’t think you’ve truly experienced cold weather until you’ve visited Canada during this time of year. It’s scary cold. The other day, I watched my eyelashes grow icicles – I’m not even joking! I envy those that work from home. I would not leave my apartment if I didn’t have to work.

The jacket that I’m wearing is very special. My boyfriend got me this jacket for Christmas! I’m pretty sure he thrifted it. I think it’s the coolest piece, ever. It’s corduroy and kind of a bomber style. It also happens to fit me perfectly. I told y’all he’s my personal thrift shopper. I just wish that the weather wasn’t so cold so I could actually feel safe wearing it outside. These days you need a parka. And a hat, mitts, scarf, and two pairs of socks! You think I’m being dramatic but it’s true. I think when it starts to transition into spring, I’ll be wearing this jacket way more often.

For shoes, I wore my New Balance sneakers that my boyfriend got me a couple of Christmases ago. Should this post be sponsored by my boyfriend ha-ha? This is my first pair of New Balances and I am so impressed by their sneakers. I don’t think I own sneakers that are more comfortable than these ones. After a busy work day, my feet feel the same way they did when I first put these sneakers on. It’s amazing, and kind of life-changing lol. I’m definitely open to having more New Balance sneakers but I don’t think I’m ready to replace these ones.

Now I’m not joking about the boyfriend sponsorship because the bag I’m wearing is also from my boyfriend. I think he picked it up at that boutique that I love downtown Toronto, on Queen Street West. It’s called “Durumi”. It’s a Korean boutique. I’ve talked about this place a lot on my blog but I haven’t shopped there in a long time. I miss it. With the pandemic, I don’t really feel comfortable going shopping on my days off. I’m also trying to save money to furnish my apartment, so a visit to Durumi is never on the agenda. I do think about them a lot though. My boyfriend knows this and I guess that’s why he got me this bag. It’s this white sherpa bag? What is this texture? Teddy bear? It’s white and fluffy, and couldn’t be more me. He done good.

I think that pretty much completes this outfit that I have to share today. I do wanna sneak in these earrings though. They’re these dangly butterfly earrings that remind me of Dua Lipa. She’s crazy about butterflies and I just think she’s the coolest. I was supposed to be going to her concert here in Toronto at the end of February, but it got moved to July because of Covid-19. I guess I kind of saw it coming but it still sucks nonetheless. All I know is that I’ll definitely be wearing these earrings to the concert. If you’d like a pair, they’re from Brandy Melville! My momma got them for me!

I hope you enjoyed reading! I’ve been working on a book review for y’all so stay tuned for that.

Hope you’re having a great Wednesday!

Until next time,

– Tiny ❤

Tiny’s First Earmuffs

It’s not that I think earmuffs are a rite of passage or anything. I’ve just always wanted earmuffs! When I partnered with Free People, they sent me this adorable pair of fuzzy pink earmuffs just a little too late. If you’re curious about the process of working with a brand, Free People gave me guidelines on what they wanted me to include in my photos. They told me all the information that I needed to understand the campaign. I picked a recommended number of pieces from their website, and then they quickly sent them to my apartment! Everything, except for the earmuffs, came in a big box. I’m thinking that the earmuffs must have been back ordered. It was a shame that I couldn’t include them in any of the campaign photos, but I took some personal photos in them instead!

After wearing these earmuffs a few times, I’ve come to realize that pink is sort of a neutral colour for me. I wear a lot more pink than I thought. It also helps that these earmuffs are in a more muted shade of pink. And not only are they pink and fluffy, but they actually work! When wearing them, all the cold air is blocked and my ears are so cozy and warm. I definitely recommend getting a pair. They’re practical and cute.

Ngl… it was way too cold for this outfit.

I can’t remember the last time I shared an outfit on here. I think we’ve been due for a new outfit post, don’t you? In the outfit above, I kept things pretty neutral (well, neutral for me lol). These beige corduroy trousers are a pair that I picked up when I worked at Topshop *sad face*. If you’re new here, I had an OBSESSION with Topshop’s Petite section. Everything was practically made for me. Nothing needed hemmed. Sleeves didn’t need to be rolled. It was an absolute dream. I wish there was something similar to Topshop’s Petite section out there. I’ve been kind of lost/depressed since they closed/went bankrupt. Where’s a tiny woman supposed to shop now?!

The sweater I’m wearing was a cute little gift that my boyfriend picked up when he went thrifting a week or so ago. He’s honestly like, my own personal thrifter. He knows exactly what I love. He thrifted me a few pieces for Christmas that I absolutely love as well. He just goes and sends me photos. Sometimes he doesn’t even send photos, and still kills it! I’m one lucky lady. Or maybe we’ve just been together for a really long time ha-ha. This cute little pullover sweater is vintage though. It’s in fab condition and I think these colours will work well with the rest off my wardrobe.

For the rest of my outfit, I wore some matching socks from Free People. I think they kind of match the colours in the pattern of my sweater. I added a puffy vest that I picked up from Free People last year (it’s my favourite, and so warm!) It’s kind of like wearing a sleeping bag. The bag I wore is my first Poshmark purchase. I don’t know if I shared or talked about it on here, but it’s this old Coach bag that I picked up for $70 CAD. It’s also probably the best first Poshmark purchase, ever. I wear it so much. It’s in great condition. The leather is such good quality. I love it and as long as I take good care of it, I think it’s going to last a long time.

Last but not least, I wore these Dr. Marten loafers. I can’t remember if these have already made an appearance here on the blog. Like I said, it’s been way too long since I’ve written an outfit post, but these loafers/oxfords were one of my best shoe purchases. Surprisingly, they have never given my feet blisters. They’re so comfortable for Dr. Martens. I’ve heard some horror stories about breaking in any new pair of Docs, but I’m happy to report that I don’t have one of my own to share! I also wasn’t very confident that they’d go with my wardrobe when I bought them. Boy, was I ever wrong. They’re like your favourite pair of white sneakers! So easy! There like that pair of shoes that I can put on without even thinking and I know my outfit will look great.

So how was that for the first outfit post of the new year? I’m so excited to see this year’s fashion trends. Should I share some of the trends that I’m most looking forward to? I think that would make a great blog post! I’m gonna stash that idea away. Comment if you’d like to see it!

*A quick apartment update*: I mentioned in my last post that I was going shopping for the apartment with my mom and sister this past weekend. We had so much fun and I think my bedroom is really coming together! We’ve made a lot of progress but I don’t think it’s enough to share just yet. I really want to start painting in the next month or so. There’s also still a lot of scrubbing to be done. Just know that I’m working away at it, and I’m dying to share more with you!

I hope you’re all having a great week so far, and staying safe! Toronto got SO MUCH snow on Monday that everyone I know couldn’t go to work. I hope most of you were home safe during all of that.

Until next time,

– Tiny ❤

OOTD: Orange Creamsicle #TBT

Why, hello there! Did y’all think I disappeared? I feel like I basically did disappear for a bit there. And if we want to be exact, I have not uploaded a new blog post since June 26th. That’s like… A MONTH AGO?! I cannot believe how fast time has gone by. So much has happened and I’ll try my best to update y’all on most of it but honestly, the last month now seems like a blur.

Okay so, the last blog post was my birthday post and it was even a late birthday post. As of June 16th, I was back at work full-time. The adjustment (like I’ve said before) is hard. It’s still hard. I’ve mentioned a few times now that I just don’t have the stamina anymore. I mean, I’m sure it’ll come back but it’s been a month and the struggle is still real. I get SO TIRED when I work even 3 days in a row. It’s really quite sad. So yeah, work’s been hard. It’s been taking a lot out of me because with the commute I leave my place at 9AM and get home at 8PM. They’re long days that I haven’t done in over a year.

Now on top of everything, I have Never Skip a Bead. I do still plan on writing a proper introduction to our small business/brand but I want it to be some of my best writing, and my head just hasn’t been there. I don’t want to ramble like I probably am today. My head has just been drained for days on end. Never Skip a Bead is doing great though! I wish I could devote more time towards it but I need a more steady income, so I have to keep my retail job at Free People. I gotta make it work even though balancing two jobs is a lot. All I keep telling myself is that one day it will all be worth it.

I know you didn’t come here to read about my problems. Come to think of it, I’m probably making y’all stressed and I don’t mean to! I just want you to know that I’ve been very busy and in order to stay sane, I’ve had to cut back on a few things and that included blogging (unfortunately). But I’m back now! I can’t say that we’re going to be back to two posts a week but I want to try for maybe one day a week? We’ll see! I’m going to stop talking about this stuff now and get to my outfit/the reason you clicked on this blog post to begin with.

Orange creamsicles. I have not had one in ages! Did you ever have them growing up? As I’m writing this, I am making a promise to myself that I have to get a (small) box of them the next time I go grocery shopping! So nostalgic! This outfit made me think of them. The whites, peachy-pinks and oranges just scream, “An orange creamsicle in the summer!” The oversized top that I’m wearing is something I’ve worn before. I swear it’s been featured on the blog before but it could have been over a year ago. It’s a thrifted short-sleeved button up (or down?) from Talize. My boyfriend and I thrifted it. The great thing about thrifting with him is that if it doesn’t work out for him, I can wear it! Of course they’re usually pretty big on me, but I think it still works! Underneath my boyfriend’s thrifted top, I wore a simple white ribbed tank top from Free People. I don’t know if I’ve shared this with you but I have an obsession with white tank tops. You can’t go wrong with a white tank top in the summer, my friends. It’s honestly one of my wardrobe staples during this time of year. They go with everything and I’m never too hot. They’re just an all-around great layering piece for the spring/summer. They’re like winter’s black turtleneck. You know what I mean? Long story short, I have lots of these and you’ll probably see me wearing a lot of white tank tops in future outfit posts.

The shorts I’m wearing in these photos are boxers. But I think they’re boxers that are appropriate for the public? I mean, would you think they’re boxers if I hadn’t told you? They’re super breezy. Toronto has been so hot lately. I can’t have anything really touching me in this heat. These shorts are from Free People (you probably could have guessed it tbh). We didn’t carry them in-store so I ordered them from our online website. If you’d like a pair (I highly recommend them!), click here: https://www.freepeople.com/shop/sunday-morning-boxer-shorts?color=065

For accessories, I obviously wore lots of Never Skip a Bead jewelry. If you wanna see the styles that we offer (we make everything to order and can customize something for you!), check out our Instagram: @neverskipabead! Everything that I’m wearing that is made out of beads is probably something I made myself. The other bits of jewelry are some of the staples that those of you that read my blog often will recognize. I’ve got my BonBonWhims ring, my Neon Afternoon ring, my VibeSzn necklace, an Envieux Jewelry necklace, Mejuri ring, and Tiffany bracelet! If you’re new here (welcome!!!), you’ll be surprised at how much jewelry I can manage to stack all over my body ha-ha. Life’s too short! Wear it all!

On my feet are these really comfy Birkenstocks that I can’t stop wearing. I ordered them online from Urban Outfitters forever ago. I swear it was in February or March. I guess it’s kind of weird to be wearing fluffy sandals during the summer but I’m honestly not even phased by it. My feet appreciate it (especially when I’m at work!) Last but not least: my new purse. I love it so much. I ordered it for myself for my birthday from JW PEI. It’s such a gorgeous/good quality bag for $100. I think it looks pretty expensive for what it is. I’m really enjoying it. I think it fits perfectly with this orange creamsicle vibe. Honestly, just overall a perfect bag and I totally recommend!

TANK – Free People
OVERSIZED BUTTON-DOWN – Thrifted from Talize
SHORTS/BOXERS – Free People
SANDALS – Birkenstock
BAG – JW PEI
JEWELRY – Never Skip a Bead, BonBonWhims, Neon Afternoon, Envieux Jewelry, VibeSzn, Mejuri & Tiffany

That’s everything for today! I hope I’ve got you all up to speed. I know it’s been a long time since my last blog post but as you can tell, you haven’t really missed much. I’ve been super busy and tired, and doing my best to enjoy summer before it ends! I have a week of vacation coming up next month and I need ideas on how to make the best of my time off. What have you been up to? What should my boyfriend and I plan for our fourth anniversary? It’s also his birthday that week so I need to think of something special but also not too crazy/reasonably priced ha-ha. Would love to hear some ideas in the comment section below!

Thank y’all for sticking with me! Thank you for taking the time to read this!

I hope you’re having the best summer!

Until next time,

– Tiny ❤

So This Is 28

Okay, the title sounds a bit more dramatic than I intended. I’m not really feeling any different but I have my birthday outfit photos to share today and I couldn’t think of anything better. As I’ve said previously, these photos are not recent because I haven’t had much time to write any blog posts lately. My birthday was just over 10 days ago. Where did the time go? Honestly, everything seems to be going by so fast, and I’m not having enough time to enjoy it! Am I the only one feeling this way? Summer is flying by and I think it only officially started this past Sunday. I’m also still trying to adjust to my old life when I was working retail full-time and doing all of this. I mean, I now have a separate small business to take care of as well so that’s not really helping. But how in the world did I juggle all of this before? It seems impossible. I’m worried about burning out but I really am trying to keep up and continue to do the things that make me happy. Toronto went out of lockdown on June 11th. I officially started work full-time again on the 16th and I’m already desperate to use some vacation time. I hate to say it, but I sort of miss my lockdown life. But I have to make money because you need money to live, so I’m just going to have to figure it out. Is this what 28 feels like?

Some of you are going to find it funny that I’m wearing a beret because we haven’t had the weather for it, but my boyfriend got it for me for my birthday and I just had to wear it right away! It’s honestly the cutest beret I’ve ever seen. It’s more like a work of art if you ask me. It’s this navy beret with fish on it!!! I found this seller/small business on Instagram, and I don’t remember how I stumbled upon her but I’m quite happy that I did. She’s from Australia and her brand is called Chubby Bubble. She makes all of these special hats and earrings. They’re so unique and I wish I could buy everything! You have to check out her Etsy or her Instagram because her pieces are unbelievably cute. Anyways, I showed him a few pieces from Chubby Bubble and he must have taken note or something because he surprised me with it for my birthday. How sweet!

The romper that I’m wearing is from Free People. Are you even surprised? Should I even bother telling you where my clothes are from anymore lol? We received this romper in shipment over a month ago and I bought it right away KNOWING that it would probably be my birthday outfit. I didn’t go anywhere or do anything super exciting for my birthday, but it’s nice to wear something special, no? So I saved this romper to wear on my special day and I’m so happy that I did. It looks like it’s a dress but it actually has shorts at the bottom. I really love the style of it! I also love how spacious it is. It’s kind of whimsical and I don’t have to feel self-conscious of my stomach/the weight that I’ve gained. I feel really great in it and totally recommend. It’s called the “Cutie Pie Romper”!

Since the romper is an outfit all on its own, all that’s left to share are the accessories! You didn’t expect me to not “spice it up” on my birthday, did you? Let’s start with my choice of shoes. I wore my favourite cowboy boots that I thrifted from Talize years ago. I actually had these photos reposted by Talize on their Instagram! It was so cool! I was feeling pretty honoured ha-ha. These are my absolute favourite boots that I own. I want to wear them with everything but I’m afraid it’s too hot most days. I don’t really like them sticking to my legs, you know? Anyways, I had to wear them with this romper. I love the quirkiness they add to any outfit. If you’re open to the idea, I think you should get a pair of cowboy boots. This pair was only $15 (maybe cheaper)! The jewelry I’m wearing is much of the same. I wore a pearl necklace (not real pearls, they’re from Amazon lol) because I think it really complimented the ivory embroidery on the romper. I wore my favourite BonBonWhims “Pop Drop” earring with their “Heart Huggie” in the opposite ear. I love mixing my earrings right now. I appreciate the contrast. It’s just another quirky little touch. Another necklace that I’m wearing is something we’ve recently made for Never Skip a Bead. We aren’t selling them yet but it’s part of the second collection that we plan on dropping on July 5th. We’re super excited to share it! This blog post will actually go up on the weekend that my sister and I will be shooting the photos for launch day! It still doesn’t seem real that we’re doing this. I don’t have it all figured out yet, but we have a real business going and I can’t believe it!

Now I’ve saved the best for last (obviously). My darling boyfriend got me ANOTHER Nunoo bag (!!!) because he’s honestly the best. If you know me, nothing makes me happier than a new handbag. I blame my mom for rubbing this obsession off on me. He got me the “Honey” bag from Nunoo and it’s in this gorgeous lavender colour that I had been drooling over since last year. I think they teased it or something in December, or maybe even January? I took a screenshot and sent it to him because I was in so much awe. But I couldn’t justify the purchase for myself. I had it saved in my phone and was literally dreaming about it for months. And as you can probably tell, those dreams came true! I love this new bag and I’ve been wearing it constantly since the day I got it.

BERET – Chubby Bubble
ROMPER – Free People
COWBOY BOOTS – Talize
BAG – Nunoo

All in all, I think I’m okay with being 28 now. Maybe I’ll start to panic when I’m 29 years-old ha-ha. I mean, as long as I’m happy and healthy, that’s all that matters! I would love to travel a few more times before I’m 30. Maybe get my own place? Get a dog? Anything can happen in a year or two!

On Wednesday, Toronto is moving into the next stage of their reopening plan. I think this means that we can get haircuts, go to malls, and have gatherings indoors? The vaccine roll-out has apparently been a success so things are moving much quicker than expected! I still don’t know how I feel about that. I just hope this really is the end and that there won’t be a 4th wave.

That being said, I hope you’re all safe and doing well. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Until next time,

– Tiny ❤

Playin’ It Cool

Happy Monday! Trying my best to write a couple of blog posts today so I can be a little more consistent and have content to post while I’m at work this week. Speaking of work, I am TIRED. I can’t believe how much my body has changed since the pandemic started. I do not have the stamina that I once had. Seriously though, where did all of my energy go? I find myself heavily relying on coffee these days to make sure I accomplish the things I have on my list. I never really drank that much coffee before but now I get it. Coffee really is a drug.

I said this in my last blog post but my photos are a little backed up at the moment. I mean in regards to my outfit photos. Yes, they’re about 2-3 weeks old, but they’re still relevant! The weather just keeps getting nicer and nicer. I love that I don’t have to carry a jacket with me now. I’m barely even wearing socks these days! My arms and legs have gotten significantly darker. I think summer is here, folks. And what I’m basically trying to say is that I’m looking at this outfit right now, and I’m wondering how was I not uncomfortable/hot in those flares? Was I not sticky af? I guess that tells you how long ago it was ha-ha.

For this outfit, and since I already mentioned them, I started with this pair of pleated snakeskin flared trousers. Now that’s a lot of adjectives. I was so hesitant to purchase these because I really didn’t think I would gravitate towards them all that much, but I was wrong! I adore these pants more than anyone should probably adore pants. They are so comfortable (I feel like I’m wearing pyjamas) and the print seems a bit of a statement/dramatic but it’s actually quite neutral. At least I think it’s more of a neutral. I kind of treat them like jeans at this point. Maybe I’m just super open to wearing almost anything that it doesn’t bother me, but I could wear these trousers/pants with any top. The top that I chose for this specific outfit is a new one that I just LOVE. It’s a new arrival at Free People (at least here in Canada). It’s selling so fast because the cut of it is just so flattering. It’s the perfect summer top if you ask me. Bubble gum pink or pink in general is super popular this summer. You’re going to see a ton of it everywhere, and on me tbh lol. I’m obsessed with it. I want everything pink! This top is called the “Play It Cool Top” and I’ll link it here if you want to check it out: https://www.freepeople.com/shop/play-it-cool-top/?color=055&type=REGULAR&quantity=1 Customers have honestly raved about it and I’ve been raving about it, too.

The accessories that I chose in terms of jewelry are typically the same as usual (you can find out the specifics in my past blog posts), EXCEPT I made gummy bear earrings! How cute is that?! I found these gummy bear charms on Amazon and kind of fell in love with them to the point where I just clicked “place order” without even thinking. I’m thinking about selling them with our @neverskipabead jewelry. They kind of match the aesthetic and I mean c’mon, they’re adorable! For shoes, I chose one of those two pairs of Zara shoes that I ordered not long ago. I think this pair is my favourite if we’re talking comfort. They’re so easy and my feet don’t hate me after I’ve worn them for a couple of hours. I’m not quite sure if I’ve shared this bag on the blog yet. This little yellow straw bag with beaded handles is from Talize! The cutest little summer bag, ever. It’s super trendy and it holds everything I need it to. If you’re in the market for one, I highly recommend checking your local thrifts stores before going out and getting one anywhere else. They have so many great straw bags and you’re paying a fraction of the price! Why pay more when you’ll only be wearing it for a few months, right?

TOP – Free People
FLARED TROUSERS – Topshop Petite
SHOES – Zara
BAG – Thrifted (Talize)
BEADED NECKLACE – Sunday Oddities (Instagram seller)
GUMMY BEAR EARRINGS – Never Skip a Bead
SUNGLASSES – Free People

This concludes another outfit post. Let me know in the comments if you need me to spice things up a bit! I’ve gotten TikTok? That’s new for me and kind of spices things up, no lol? Follow me there (@tinyintoronto) if you’re interested! I’m super new and still trying to figure it out but I get the hype. It’s really addicting. But in all seriousness, I do love writing book reviews, makeup reviews, etc. I just haven’t crossed a book worth sharing in a long time. I also haven’t really been wearing makeup since I wear a mask all day. So I’m open to new suggestions!

I hope you all have a great start to your week!

Stay safe, and until next time,

– Tiny ❤