What I learned at 19

What I learned at 19

Thursday, 20 July 2017

Read post

On the eve of my 20th Birthday I've taken some time to reflect on what has been one of the best and worst years of my life. 19 isn't a very monumental age. It's squished in between the adult bearing 18 and the exciting teen-less 20. 19 has no speciality, yet it was the year that was filled with the most unassuming changes. In light of all the excitement I'd like to share a few of the important things I've discovered at 19.

1. Go With the Flow: 

I spent a long time worrying that I didn't have the perfect plan. I don't have a concrete idea of what I'm doing and where I'm going, and thats OK. After all, I'm only 19. I don't need to have my life figured out as long as I keep pursing what I enjoy I just need to have faith that things will align.

2.  Trust Your Gut: 

Don't be scared to walk out of situations that make you uncomfortable. Be true to  yourself, even if it seems scary or against the grain. You will be rewarded later.

3. Be Alone: 

Spending time alone can be really scary. Especially at uni when people seem to be everywhere it can feel like your drowning in a sea of people. Take time to get used to being by yourself.

4. You're never to old to make new friends: 

You will meet some incredible people if you take the (admittedly scary) first steps by initiating conversation. I spent far to long being scared of meeting new people. But if this year has taught me anything its that everyone has something amazing to offer, you just need to connect.

5. Be Bold: 

Don't play is safe, take risks and do whatever your heart desires it'll pay off (trust me).

There's a lot I've learned this year but these were the main things that really sunk in. Reflecting on years gone by is fairly new to me, and as I get older I notice how much can change in a year. It's not always good stuff, but a lot of it is, and thats what's important to focus on. I can't wait to be 20 and see all the amazing adventures it brings!!!

XX,

F.

Canada Day: Celebrate In Style

Canada Day: Celebrate In Style

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Read post

It's easy to get wrapped up in what's trendy and happening across the boarder, or even across the ocean when you're in Canada. It seems like European and American retailers are always on the tip of my tongue, and thats not for a lack of homegrown talent. Canada has created some stellar brands and today, I want to share some of my handpicked favourites! What better way to celebrate Canada Day then by supporting Canadian talent! 

Malika Rajani 

Calgary - based Malika creates some seriously badass pieces. The designs strike a perfect balance between contemporary and timeless. She's perfected the classic leather Moto jacket but for the more adventurous has modern leather culottes and basket weave crop tops that'll ensure you stand out in a crowd. Her line is also created in collaboration with local artisans and strives to preserve the heritage of the small local communities she works with. I'm obsessed with everything she creates, particularly this military green leather basket weave crop top!

Shop: www.malikarajani.com

Instagram: Malika_Rajani

Eliza Faulkner 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVC4lnMBMic/?taken-by=elizafaulkner

There's something incredibly playful yet clean about Eliza Faulkner's designs. Her outfits are eye-catching yet simplistic, and I am swooning over this Montreal based brand! The S/S 17 collection is bursting with Gingham and the latest trends like bell sleeves and off the shoulder blouses! This is the perfect brand for the West Coast minimalist who isn't afraid to play with pattern!

Shop: www.elizafaulkner.com 

Instagram: ElizaFaulkner 

Maram

https://shop.maramparis.com/collections/spring-summer-17/products/off-the-shoulder-ruffle-crop-top

Montreal's Maram brings whimsy to your closet with her mythical designs. The collection is what bohemian dreams are made of with flow-y blouses, long airy dresses, and earthy tones! Maram's designs are refined yet daring, and there are definitely some stand out pieces! My favourite has to be this Off-The-Shoulder Ruffle Crop Top! 

Shop: www.maramparis.com

Instagram: Maram.Official 

BITE Beauty 

http://www.beautezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BITE-Beauty-Multisticks-001.jpg

Made with food grade ingredients it's no secret that Canada's very own BITE Beauty is making waves on the makeup scene. These lipsticks are amazing, I even have a custom shade I created at the BITE Lab in SOHO NYC! If you love makeup keep your eyes glued to BITE's social media as we all await the heavily anticipated drop of their new Liquid lipsticks! 

Shop: Sephora.com 

Instagram: BiteBeauty 

It's no secret that I'm proud of my Canadian Heritage, and its easy to see why! There's a lot we have to be proud of as Canadian's, including the amazing brands. 

XX,

F. 

OOTD: Summer Hues

OOTD: Summer Hues

Sunday, 11 June 2017

Read post

Hello again internet friends! What an exciting (and busy) few weeks I've had. Among finishing exams and packing up my University flat, I've also made the move to London for the summer! I'm so excited to be in this lovely city! The past few days have been spent in cafes, parks and boutiques as I attempt to acquaint myself with my new surroundings! I have today a collection of photos from a relaxing day spent at Primrose Park overlooking central London!

Of course, any good day at the park in summer includes eating fresh fruit and lounging on a picnic blanket. If you're like me you may opt to wear your pear as a statement head piece, and then of course, strike a pose!

I also enjoy staring wishfully at cherries against a background of vibrant greenery. Fun Fact: Two minutes after arriving at the park I stained my shirt eating said cherry....

Ok, enough about my vanity (for now). Primrose Park was bursting with people on this warm day, and no wonder, since the view was breathtaking. The best part was by far all the puppies. I repeat: SO MANY PUPPIES!! I wanted to pet them all, alas enough time does not exist for such ambitious goals. As the warm weather quickly turned sour (as it often does in England) we were sent on our way. 

Which for me was just an opportunity to grab more photos! This one displays my outfit nicely! The top is a sheer off -the-shoulder blouse from Forever 21! I have it paired with these royal blue shorts from Zara. The shorts have delicate floral white embroidery! It all feels very Grecian and summery to me! I love how airy and light this outfit is! 

Warm weather, cute outfits, and lots of giggles always makes for a perfect day. The Cherry on top of it all is the day was spent in one of my favourite cities! And with a Pear of lovely friends (I'm sorry for the puns). I can't wait to see what the rest of this month in London holds for me ! Hopefully more fun outings, and definitely a lot of exploring! 

Shout out to @molz.photo on Instagram for the lovely snaps! 

XX,

F.

Funny Face & The Brainy/ Beauty Dichotomy

Funny Face & The Brainy/ Beauty Dichotomy

Friday, 9 June 2017

Read post

"Banish the Black, Burn the Blue, and Burry the Beige!" Because this film is all about PINK. And I don't just mean the colour, I mean the entire construct of femininity which is woven so deeply into our very understanding of the milky pastel off red hue we have come to label as "pink". Funny Face is one of my favourite movies, but today as I re-watched the Audrey Hepburn classic something hit me: This movie sucks. I say that for a simple reason, it sucks because it portrays the reality that "brainy" woman often face, and it perpetuates the idea that beauty is of the utmost importance. 

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tVIH6VRXSbs/maxresdefault.jpg

A quick synopsis will reveal the dread this movie brings to my heart. When Fred Astaire's character (Dick Avery) is photographing for acclaimed fashion magazine Quality he stumbles upon brainy, plain, and peculiar Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn). Hepburn's character is completely disinterested in the world of fashion and beauty, instead she is enamoured by the Parisian intellectuals and the philosophy of the day- Empathicalism. When modelling opens up an opportunity for Jo to travel to Paris and meet the professor behind the philosophy she worships, Jo quickly takes it up. In paris she juggles her superficial duties of modelling with her desire to cultivate knowledge among the Parisian intellects. When finally confronted with the philosopher she idols a sad twist of affairs illustrates the reality many woman typecast as "brainy" face. The supposed enlightened intellectual has no care for Jo's genuine passion and interest in Empathicalism, to him, Hepburn's character is merely "a woman".  An object of sexual desire, not an esteemed or even worthy intellectual companion. She's cute and naive. To make matters worse Jo cultivates a romance with Astaire's character, who far more boldly acknowledges his own disdain at her intelligence. Dick Avery's love for Jo is calculated, he wants her only as she appears in his carefully curated photographs. Posed, frozen, and perfected, her flaws, her intellect, creativity, and curiosity are all glossed over by her wide eyes and pouty lips.


The movie isn't some anomaly, it's not as fictitious as it seems. I find there is always this dichotomy at work within peoples minds. Because I enjoy fashion, makeup, and beauty, I must therefor be unintelligent. On the flip side of that, those that know me purely through my academic channels find it hard to imagine that I, the keen girl who sits in the front row of all her seminars and never stops talking, can be into something as seemingly vain as fashion or pop-culture. This binary is extremely dangerous, and its taught to us (boys and girls) from an incredibly young age. Movies, like Funny Face, the media, and stereotypes breed these incredibly incomplete understandings of identity.


I often find myself confronted with these two seemingly opposing identities and I've struggled with trying to align myself clearly with one. What I have learned though, is that I am not simply academic or simply superficial. Woman are complex creatures, and our affinity for beauty or fashion is not some kind of comment on our intellect or self worth. Whether you fit perfectly within one, both, or none of the two labels prevalent throughout the film, you constitute a unique person and that is truly remarkable.

Have you ever juggled with these unrealistic notions?

XX,

F.

Birmingham Bites: Zindiya

Birmingham Bites: Zindiya

Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Read post

Hello internet friends! It's been ages since I've had a chance to write or even be very active on social media (blame exams), but I'm so excited about this post! If you know me well you have probably heard me say I'm not the biggest fan of Indian food, now thats not totally accurate. To be more more precise I'm not the biggest fan of "curries", instead I go crazy for South Indian street food. Which is exactly why I was so eager to try Zindiya. Birmingham is known for its curries, but the fame of the Balti Triangle has never really sparked my fancy the same way that Zindiya did.

And let me tell you it did not disappoint! Everything from the decor to the drinks was crafted with such great detail, I truly was in utter bliss. The inside of the restaurant is made to look like Indian streets and really sparked my nostalgia. The Thumbs Up and Limca signs were irresistibly cute and very "insta-worthy". But it's not just the decor at Zindiya that impressed me. 

  

The drinks were amazing! I had the "From Ooty With Love" while my friend Caity opted for the "Coconut bliss". Each was spectacular, all be it incredibly unique and different. "From Ooty With Love" was refreshing and floral, it's inspired by the prominence of roses in the region, and was evidently boozy. While "Coconut Bliss" was more expected, it emulated a classic tropical drink with a twist and arrived of course in a real coconut!

Then came the most awaited part, food! We ordered Pani Puri, The Trio of Dosa, Samosa Chaat, and the Idli Sambar. Pani Puri is my absolute favourite food (ask my mum). In India I ate it so much I got sick from over eating. My excitement, as I'm sure Caity can vouch for, was palpable. It wasn't the best selection of Indian street food that I have had. There were definitely certain aspects that lacked, in my view, authenticity. But with that said, the food was well prepared, it tasted good, and was very filling! 

 

The atmosphere, drinks, and food combined all made for an incredible experience. But if you're on the hunt for the best South Indian food in Birmingham, I regrettably don't think this is it. What I will say though, is the places that usually do have the best street food don't have (generally speaking) the detailed decor and well crafted drinks that Zindiya provided. I would still highly recommend it, and will 100% be taking my mum if she ever visits! 

After dinner Caity and I went for drinks. Caity is doing an exchange in Birmingham and has traveled all the way from the U.S. Well during her time in England she's been so busy hoping around Europe that she never truly managed to see much of delightful Brum! So we were off to The Edgbaston, a cocktail bar whose menu is crafted around the treasures of this wonderful city! On a mission to immerse Caity as thoroughly as possible in Birmingham's lively culture we entered the beautiful Art Deco establishment (seriously it's like a Gatsby lover's dream!). 

    

If you've been to the U.K. (particularly in the summer) I'm sure you will be familiar with the 99 Flake. If not imagine a classic soft serve with a  crumbly cadbury chocolate bar plopped on the perfect swirl.  The candy floss adorned drink called "99 problems ..." (and a sugar rush is definitely 1 of those..)  was inspired by none other than the classic 99 flake. And according to both Caity and I (I stole a sip) it was divine. Seriously drinking it felt like being a child, carefree and whimsical. I opted for the slightly less sweet (but still sweet) "Risk it for a Biscuit". The drink was inspired by Freeth's Coffee House, a Birmingham establishment well known for bringing together some of the most politically and philosophically enlightened. The drink had an Espresso Martini vibe with caramelized Biscoff biscuit. Not pictured is the drink I had featuring distilled grasshoppers and Caity's art inspired and paintbrush clad cocktail! 

Overall the evening was spectacular and reminded me how much I enjoy trying new things, exploring  this city and most importantly, reinforced my love for food. 

XX, 

F. 

Dinner With Strangers

Dinner With Strangers

Saturday, 6 May 2017

Read post

A view of the Birmingham Canals from inside the canal boats. 

"DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS". We've all heard, memorized, and internalized the notions and possible consequences associated with the previous remark. Talking to strangers, we've been told since adolescence, will, without a doubt, pose an existential threat on your life and safety. So, if talking to stranger is THAT bad why on earth did I willingly embark on a 2-hour canal boat to have dinner with a complete stranger (sorry mum), and more importantly what did I learn?

A map of of the canals. 

I'll start simply by explaining the premise of the event itself. Dinner With Strangers: Canal Evolution was a live art installation which sought to foster basic human connection between two totally vulnerable, awkward, and diverse strangers. The event was organized by BeatFreeks, a Birmingham based collective and the Birmingham Canal  & River Trust.

A little glimpse into our canal boat packed with strangers!

The event, like most events I attend these days, appeared on my Facebook newsfeed and immediately caught my attention. One of my many resolutions for 2017 has been to be more spontaneous and bold, and the idea of having dinner with a complete stranger seemed to fit that goal pretty nicely. I instantly knew that Angelika (from http://www.angelikablogs.com) would be equally as thrilled to embark on an evening of surprises with me!So the seed was planted and the two of us became instantly excited about the prospects and potential that would unravel.

Our "bill" was two beautifully hand drawn questionnaires. 

On the actual day my excitement shifted to nervousness and a bit of fear. My brain swirled with doomsday scenarios as I made my way down to the canals. Upon arrival, Angelika and I, both quite nervous, decided to take the edge off with a shot. As we waited in the cue of a local bar I overheard a women behind us talking about an Espresso Martini shot (and I LOVE espresso martinis). My curiosity led me to strike up a conversation with this perfect stranger who told us all about the Patron Coffee Tequila and wow am I ever thankful that I had the courage to speak to her. The shot was sublime, really it tasted just like an Espresso Martini! The experience left me far less terrified. The perfect stranger in the bar foreshadowed an incredible evening ahead.

The Canals at night. 

After the initial chaos of organizing the attendees and pairing us with our partners we all boarded the canal boat ready to embark on our journey! The evening was special, not only because I was having dinner with a total stranger, but also because, despite living here for 2 years, it was my first time on the canals (Fun Fact: Birmingham has more canals then Venice). I was completely stunned by the utter beauty, it was a sunny evening and the canals were glistening (more on the aesthetics's later). On the surface my paired stranger and I were two incredibly different people. He, was British, while I am Canadian. He, works, I am still in Uni. He is engaged, I am single. I could continue to list our divergences, however what is remarkable is despite these many differences we also shared a lot of common ground. We both had an immense interest in Human Rights, particularly child rights. His passion is evident through his career, mine is displayed through my degree. Neither of us have the same paths in life yet we found many points of intersection from which to foster friendship (facebook official!).

My outfit for the evening! Top from Bershka and Skirt from Boohoo! 

I think this notion is more imperative now then ever. In a world constantly characterized by division, difference, and individualism we often forget the core elements of humanity which inevitably bind us all. Our differences shouldn't be points of contention. They also shouldn't be mere facts we choose to tolerate and live with. I think it goes one step further, differences should be shared. understood, and celebrated for their unique nature. I'm getting quite meta at this point, but the idea is that after spending an evening on a boat with a complete stranger I've come to reevaluate my approach to people broadly. Why shouldn't we go up to "strangers" and try to find common ground. For all we know someone who is a stranger today, could very well be a best friend tomorrow.

XX.

F.

Motivation in the Midst of Mayhem

Motivation in the Midst of Mayhem

Monday, 17 April 2017

Read post

Hello lovely people! Today is a day I would characterize with one simple word. That word is UGH. I don't usually fall victim to the plaguing negativity that encompasses university life. Except of course during exam season. 

The following weeks and upcoming month hold a a great deal of influence over my university career. See, I am in my 2nd year of university, which means things are far more serious than they were last year, albeit not as serious as they will be in the years to come. Either way, what concerns me is that despite this looming sense of importance I can't seem to find the enthusiasm or commitment to effectively prepare myself for, what we have already established, is a significant set of examinations.

The world around me is simultaneously over stimulating and under whelming. The former keeps me out of the library and busy exploring cities in Morocco, cafes in Birmingham, or quaint Scottish University towns on the weekend. While the latter has me sat starting aimlessly at an open textbook sprawled on my lap with fingertips ready to notate my most interesting findings. I'll tell you something though, none of my findings seem to be exceptionally interesting. In fact, I'd argue they are all a bit mundane, repetitive, and dense.

This clearly isn't how I generally feel about my course, in fact its far from it. I do genuinely and truly enjoy university and I find most of my classes to be fairly interesting and stimulating. Yet, once revision season approaches and I must actually begin to qualify my knowledge I find myself getting fairly detached and disinterested. So, I've decided rather than binge watching Netflix from bed I will have to find a way to reinvigorate my love for International Relations during this period of unparalleled stress. Like any millennial I hit the web in search of guidance and stumbled through countless blogs listing various remedies and motivators for studying. What I found was mostly intuitive, but I've reiterated a few points below that I think really can make a difference in my approach to revision.

I believe, and this is an old trick of mine, that the best way to study is by making hard copy notes. Even better? Make notes injected with tons of colour. If its visually pleasing and aesthetic to look at I will be more likely to re-read and study off the sheets. I'll also be more inclined to make the notes if I have exciting stationary to work with. 

Secondly, take breaks, and frequently. There is however a caveat here. Yes, breaks are without a doubt important. But breaks that centre around Facebook, Instagram, or even Netflix are dangerous. Instead of lasting 5, maybe 20min they can engulf you and easily derail you from the task at hand. So instead I'm proposing breaks that involve giving your brain a break without completely switching it off. Read a non-academic book for example, or meet a friend for a coffee and chat. 

Whatever you do remember that this phase is fleeting. It won't last forever and once we power through the season of exams we get to break free and enjoy the grace of summer (at least till it all starts again in September). 

XX,

F.