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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Some Things Change; Some Things Remain.





Make your eyes hurt a bit? Haha. I thought it looked neat.


 Outfit Details
BCBG Ruffle Trench - BCBG
Ruffle Blouse - boutique purchase from years past
Elizabeth and James Tennis-style Skirt - Neiman Marcus
Hue Sweater Tights - Nordstrom
Jeffrey Campbell Cat Print Litas - solestruck.com

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And the New Year begins. Hello 2012, nice to meet you.

2011 and I have parted ways. He was great and all - I'll remember him fondly for many reasons. But our time came and went. It came and went quite quickly, actually.

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People like to reflect at this time of year. They like to look back and reminisce and try to think of ways to better themselves.

Statistically speaking - most people reflect on their health, their wealth and their happiness and resolve to improve, or maintain them. Also statistically speaking, most people tend to fail. 

I don't really subscribe to the New Year's resolution. I think if you want to change something in your life you shouldn't procrastinate and wait for the calendar to switch to suddenly improve yourself.

So I suppose that's my own type of resolution.

I want to stop procrastinating and do the things I want to do when I want to do them. No more waiting around. No more "one day..." and more "today..."

If you happen to have some resolutions, I wish you luck with them - if you truly want to accomplish them, I'm sure you will. And if you don't, perhaps you might discover something even more important that needs doing this year.

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Much as I don't subscribe to the resolution bit - I am rather taken with the reflection bit. 

Cue the nostalgia.

This year I started this blog. I laughed so hard I cried. I cried so hard I laughed. 



I went away on a Spanish retreat. I survived 3 weeks without technology. I survived 3 weeks without my parents. 



I learned to better appreciate those same parents. 



I rediscovered my passions. I discovered new passions. I still have straight A's.




I bought too many pairs of shoes. I learned I can never have too many shoes. (There might be a photospam of shoes...)






I wore makeup on a daily basis. I went without makeup on a daily basis. I had ridiculously fun photo shoots with Shayli and Asia.





I had ridiculously fun photo shoots with my mum. 




I made some mistakes. I did some things right. I lived this past year, I didn't just survive...

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Speaking of which, did you survive all that nostalgia?

Well done.

The final outfit of 2011 now posted, my nostalgia now sated, and my to-do list finished - I look forward to the new year.

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Best wishes for an amazing ride in 2012~
Jenna B.

Friday, December 23, 2011

As The Wind Starts To Cut Through.



Outfit Details

Tee - Target
Hinge Tuxedo-style Jacket - Anthropologie
Kilt/Skirt - United Colors of Benetton
Tights - Target
Vince Camuto Zipper Boots - Nordstrom Rack

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Song inspiring today's title:
Hear the Bells -- Vanessa Carlton

The sound is eerie and soothing simultaneously. Worth a listen, if you ask me.

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Now that I have been home for a few days for my much needed break, I've had the chance to begin catching up on various films/series that I've neglected for schoolwork.

One of the standouts from my various viewings was Miss Potter - a period piece based on a biography about Beatrix Potter. Potter is the author of some of my most beloved children's books, and after seeing the biography numerous times at work and shelving a few of her books, I decided to plop down and watch the film.

Begin: movie review time.


I'll start with an odd little tidbit. The cover of the DVD version (above) has Ewan McGregor sans-mustache. Throughout the entire movie, he has a mustache. Not one scene without one - probably to appeal to people browsing and wanting to make it obvious that it is, in fact, the famous actor. It's amazing how a little facial hair changes the face.

Anyway - continuing. The movie is really adorable. Super cute. It makes you think about bunnies and kitties and other small, fuzzy-wuzzy animals. It's really cute. Reaaaaaally cute. Until it gets depressing.

I don't really want to ruin it, but just be warned, that despite how chick-flick, lovey-dovey it looks, it does become rather sad. Still totally worth the watch, but prepare your tear ducts accordingly.

The movie would probably be adorable to anyone who has a heart in their chest, and maybe even to those of you who claim to lack emotions - actually - but it's ever more wonderful when you understand how prolific of a writer Potter actually was.

To begin -


The author, young-ish, with one of her pets. The love she had for animals was very apparent from a young age, and (fun fact time) she also had a love for fungi. She toyed with the idea of becoming a mycologist.

However, if you remember being read to as a child - you might remember the stories of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, or Benjamin Bunny. There are others, to be sure, but some of the more popular titles included those characters. Peter Rabbit was a personal favourite of mine, as seen below:

With Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail, too.


Mycology was not to be, but book writing was. And write and illustrate, she did.

If you have a local library, or a bit of holiday fun money coming your way, I would definitely recommend buying a few of her tales. Even as a teenager, I adore them. Adults can feel free to oooo and aaaah and awwww at them too - no shame.

Nostalgia over - and back to movie review time.

The point is - the movie does a really wonderful job not only of portraying Potter, but of bringing all the childhood stories to life. The illustrations make appearances throughout the movie and add considerably to it's charm.

And while we're on the topic of charm, let's not forget to mention that Renee Zellweger is charm and hilarity and wonderfulness wrapped in a cute little package.


The expressions on her face are delightful, and made me smile throughout the movie. Which, I'll have you know, is rather difficult to do. 
Another element that made me smile were the costumes. I found them pitch perfect. The Edwardian style is clear throughout the movie, with very little historical inaccuracy and adds to the feeling of the movie rather than detracting from it as some period costume tends to do. 

And then, finally, I have to comment on the vistas and towns. As seen below, the countryside is beautiful and wonderfully shot.


The town scenes are equally as effective. Wherever it is, exactly, that they shot these scenes are places I'd love to go.

Anyone will tell you (myself included) that I absolutely detest nature with a passion. Unless I can observe it from the indoors. But, I found myself rather inclined to visit the outdoors after this movie.

Hopefully that part will wear off. Bugs. Eww.

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I have developed quite a hankering for some gingerbread in the process of writing this post. I leave you to explore my kitchen in search of some.

Until next time~
Jenna B.

Happy Holidays in advance, should I not make another post until after they all conclude.