I thought I’d write a quick update about mangoes. I know it’s a little out of the ordinary for me to post something like this but I had to share with you! A couple weeks ago I bought a bottle of mango body-wash from The Body Shop (smells delicious!) but I noticed that it contained so many chemical ingredients. On the bottle it said that women from India have been rubbing the kernels from the mangoes onto their skin to keep it soft so while I was scrubbing away I had a eureka moment and thought “what if I did the same thing?”

The next day I bought some mangoes and tried it out! I ate most of the mango but kept the skins with the leftover mango on it and the pit in the middle as well and used those to rub into my body. Gordon thought  was crazy and at first it did seem a little weird but it actually worked! My skin felt so smooth afterwards and now I don’t feel so bad when I spend money on mangoes because they provide me with food and moisturizer!

**On another note I’ve been working hard to develop my very own website! It should be up and running within the next few weeks (maybe longer if I get stuck on some things) but I’ve been so happy trying to learn html/css/how to make websites/get my own domain etc…so stay tuned for that announcement!

Love!

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Today Gordon and I went for a walk around the South End. We needed to get out of the house because it’s so sunny and beautiful outside! We went down by the train tracks and then into Point Pleasant Park; on our way back we stopped to pick up groceries for dinner tonight. Tonight’s menu will be spaghetti with salad on the side and garlic bread to top it off. yum!

Sorry these photos are so sunny. We’re trying to get better at taking outfit photos and now I’ll know for next time that shade works much better for capturing my outfit. Also, I’ve had this dress forever. I wear it when I want to be completely comfortable and free! Also, it looks like my hips don’t lie in these photos but I kinda love it. BAM.

Here’s a close up of my mug so you can see my glasses! I love ‘em.

Cheers!

(Great book, I highly recommend: It’s a fictional story about a midwife in Scots Bay, Nova Scotia)

I was feeling a bit more adventurous today and decided to write a post about midwifery. Sometimes, I feel as if this blog only reflects a certain part of me. Those who know me in real life may know my ever-evolving interest in women’s birthing practices (particularly, midwifery and natural birthing). My interest was sparked around November in 2008 when I just so happened to be working on a midwifery essay for my Women’s Studies class and got invited to a home birth of a close family friend. My mom was acting as the doula and my sister and I were told we could come along as well. The two midwifes that attended the birth were so amazing and calm. Our close family friend was able to put a bench at the edge of her bed so the rest of the children could be there for the birth. As the birthing was happening, a complication arose and the midwives felt it was best to take her to the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, the baby was born and our family friend and her husband came home looking as happy as ever! Although the complete home birth didn’t take place, the whole process was amazing. I loved the atmosphere of excitement and celebration. That week I began to really research midwifery and I became fascinated with it. I learned about the medicalization of birthing throughout women’s heath history and about how midwives were shunned from society. I learned about Aboriginal midwives in Northern Canada and took an interest in ancient midwifery practices. I learned that midwifery was about choice and autonomy. I was riveted.

Here I am four years later, still interested in midwifery and how it helps women. Apparently, I’m not the only one. I attended a doula meeting not too long ago and the women told me that there is a huge shortage of midwives and doulas in Nova Scotia– one doula that I met told me that she had to turn down at least 7/8 births last summer because her schedule was completely booked.

It’s scary to think that women who are looking for midwives can’t have access to them. I feel that there needs to be a major shift in the way we view midwives. Everywhere else in the world (Europe included), midwifery is used as a birthing option. Here in North America, it’s hardly used at all and as a consequence, unneeded medical intervention is administered which can cause harm to the mom and the baby and take away from the natural experience of childbirth.

Anyway, my love of midwifery is no secret. I just love it. I love everything about it. Last year I even thought about starting belly-painting sessions for expecting mums! It didn’t end up working out but at least I got to paint a couple bellies! I used non-toxic paint/safe paint.

I practiced painting on my legs too when there were no bellies around.

If you’re still reading this and wanting to learn more I’d highly suggest the documentary ‘The Business of Being Born’ which is available on Netflix. Here’s the trailor:

Here is a BBC programme about midwifery in Liberia which I found recently though I do want to warn about the graphic content before you watch it:

Oh! I also wrote a midwifery article for the SMU Journal which can be found here!

I’ve been so crazy about colour lately! I know it’s because of Spring and all but I just can’t help myself. Colour has been making me so happy. In fact, I’ve been going on a colour rampage by painting all of my picture frames bright, vibrant colours. I also made an easy, colourful “painting” for my new home:

This DIY is so simple. I remember reading about it online a few weeks ago but I cannot for the life of me remember where I read it. UPDATE: found it at A Beautiful Mess! Anyway, all I did was hop over to Canadian Tire and picked out some paint swatches that look nice together. Then I took a trip to Salvation Army and found an inexpensive frame. I took out the old, outdated picture and glued these onto the existing foam board already in the frame. If you want to get really fancy you could cut the swatches so they didn’t have the names or numbers of the paint on them but I preferred to keep everything in tact.

In addition to this, I’ve been wearing coral like there’s no tomorrow. Here are my ‘go to’ makeup items at the moment:

Revlon nailpolish: Coral Me Wild & Revlon lipstick: creme 750 Kiss Me Coral

And to finish this post off, here are some places in my new apartment where I found some colour!

I feel like the past two days have been so random! Maybe it’s on account of school ending forever, or maybe it’s because I’ve been getting too much sun on my head or spring fever is hitting me hard but I’ve been feeling silly, restless and ambitious! Gordon and I are officially moved into the new place and I LOVE it so much! Seriously, ya’ll should come visit me and I’ll serve you tea and we can perch upon my new futon and then we’ll comment on how lovely the light looks in the room and then we’ll eat muffins that my boyfriend made. It will be marvelous.

Anywho, today my lover and I did a bit of roaming around the city. We stopped by the Sally-Ann to find a coffee-table but had no luck. Then we strolled on over to the library where I picked up three novels (now that I’m pretty much done school all I want to do is read–imagine that). After the library we took a ride on the ferry over to Dartmouth and then back again just because we felt like it. Then I grabbed some sushi at Superstore and after dinner we went to Darrells for milkshakes! yum. I saw these three dogs when we were out today and had to ask the ladies pushing this baby carriage full of dogs, if I could take a picture. I couldn’t help myself. I pretty much died inside when I saw this spectacle.

Last night Gordon and I went to the symphony again…for the second time this month which is a little pricey but I try to justify it by telling myself that I’ll be more cultured…right? haha oh well. It’s fun.

This was my favorite piece last night from composer Jules Massenet (1842-1912) Le Cid: Ballet Music

and just so you don’t think I’m a stuck up snob who only listens to classical music–here is what I’ve really been listening to everyday:

]]> http://existinspire.wordpress.com/2012/04/21/jumbled/feed/ 0 existinspire 012 035 002 025 017 016 http://existinspire.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/wrinkled-skirt/ http://existinspire.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/wrinkled-skirt/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:52:56 +0000 existinspire http://existinspire.wordpress.com/?p=623 ]]>

Today Gordon and I took a walk down to the Halifax pier to take some photos. I realized when we headed out on our journey that I’ve posted this type of outfit many times. As you can tell, my daily uniform is a high-waisted skirt with a tucked-in shirt and cropped jacket/sweater. I’ve decided to post these pictures anyway though. I plan on changing up my wardrobe when the weather gets a bit warmer.

My skirt is so wrinkled in these photos! Gordon and I are in the middle of moving to a new apartment so all of our belongings are in a state of disaster and we’ve been living amongst a giant heap of clothes! The end result of our new apartment will be worth it though (stay tuned for new apartment photos).

Anyway, this weekend has started out on a positive note. Last night Gordon took me to the last show of the season for the Symphony of Nova Scotia. They played Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and it was magnificent! I had shivers running through my entire body. Some of the music was used in the score for ’The King’s Speech’. Tonight is going to be a relaxing evening at home and tomorrow we’ll be hosting a mini easter-egg hunt!

Cheers & Love

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Birthdays are so much fun! I felt so loved this year and received some amazing gifts that were completely unexpected. Here are two colourful cards–one hand made pop-up card that is amazing and the other one with sparkle type! Also, that candle smells SOOO good. It smells like a cucumber sandwich!

Ahhh! I feel like my friends know me so well. I got a beautiful sampler tea set from a lovely lady and her equally lovely lover. Also a feminist magazine, a hard-covered book of short stories with a beautiful card, a tiny origami raccoon, chocolate, bath salts, certificates to get a vegetarian donair, glittery stick-on nails and a box of old-fashioned gum.

My amazing friend and co-worker brought me some gorgeous cupcakes that she decorated herself…that is skill. (photo cred to Allison) :)

Gordon made me a bearded-owl breakfast complete with a ketchup smile!

Yesterday I went for a Korean lunch.

All in all, I felt loved. That is the most important part I think. Gordon took me out for a fancy dinner, I had some fun phone chats with my family and I spent some me-time.

I will be kickin’ off my 22nd year with energy and new-found commitment. Yipppeeee!

Shirt: Winners

Skirt: Thrifted

Shoes: Spring (maybe?)

 Ah! I am have loving the weather here lately so when I heard it was going to be sunny again today I decided to walk down to this lovely little European nook on Hollis Street to take some outfit photos. I wore this outfit today in the anticipation of attending a board meeting on behalf of the Women’s Centre where I work. I wanted to present our views on an inappropriate article that was published at my university. Hopefully it went well and that the board members will see the light and be inspired to remove hateful and hurtful content in the newspaper.

All of that aside, I decided to post this outfit because of the shoes! I am loving nude shoes right now…they go with everything and they remind me of spring weather. They also make my legs look super long which can never be a bad thing. I’m now on the hunt for  good quality sandles–do you have any suggestions?

Hope you enjoy!

I wanted to do a quick review of Laura’s Cafe on Barrington St, Halifax because I felt that they deserved a tiny bit of publicity. Laura’s Cafe is a little tucked away diner in the South End which features Canadian and Russian cuisine and all-day breakfast for as low as $6.50. When the ‘South End Diner’ burnt down a couple months ago, I began to look for another spot that offered good quality, low priced brunch that would be nice to visit on a Sunday morning with my boyfriend and my poppy.

Well, last Sunday was the first time we popped into Laura’s Cafe and we were not dissappointed! The decor was a cute mix of traditional Russian decor and 70′s mustard yellow + bright orange themed tables and curtains. Somehow it all worked together and I found myself compelled to take photos of everything! The food was cheap and delicious (I ordered a spinach and feta omelette) and it was so good. Also the homefries were seasoned with something seriously awesome though quite salty (so watch out for that).

Our waitress said the cafe has been open since October and I’m convinced that when the word gets out it’s going to be one of those packed brunch-type diners so you better go take advantage while you can!

Cheers!

Coat on:

Detail shot of the button-down back

Shirt: H&M

Skirt: Thrifted

Tights: Sears

Boots: Locale

Two posts in one day? Unheard of.

Oh well, enjoy!