#WhiteClass

There are times when we can't stop talking even though we actually don't have anything valid to talk about and as it turns out today is one of those days where I'm looking at these pictures and I have no idea what to say and I'm not one to describe what I'm wearing because 'a picture is worth 1000 words' so I'll just say that I only eat Hawaiian pizza and no matter how good a Pizza place is if they don't offer Hawaiian pizza it ain't my place.

Zara Leather Mule Shoes (Similar here) // Forever 21 Accordion Pleat Midi Skirt // Brandy Melville Crop Tank (Similar and 65% off)

SHOP THE POST

#Lazy-ik

This is the epitome of a lazy outfit. I wanted to stay semi-warm and comfortable so I opted for my Nike Juvenates, a long coat, jeans, scarf, and a dress I tied into a t-shirt. I meant to wear the coat with the dress, but saw the weather and was too lazy to change out of the dress, so I tied it instead. :)

If you're curious to learn more about my lasik experience, feel free to continue reading! If not, you can simply scroll down to my lovely face.

My Lasik Experience

As mentioned in my last post, I'm now glasses and contacts free! It's a very strange feeling. The past few days I've been trying to rest my eyes, and stick to the recommended eye drop regime. My eyes are extremely dry, and I keep thinking I'm over wearing my contacts. My usual routine of removing my contacts before I shower or before bed, or putting them on in the morning, are now nonexistent. I think the biggest change is being able to wake up and simply see -- I can't begin to explain how amazing that feels. Still blinded by my phone every morning though.

How long is the procedure? The procedure itself was quite scary, and equally so even if I had known exactly what would happen next. It felt longer than 15 minutes, but the surgery doesn't surpass that. People waiting outside can actually view the process via a monitor.

What procedure did I qualify for? I qualified for bladeless lasik, so the first part of the surgery was the creation of the corneal tissue. It essentially feels like pressure being put onto your eye, to the point where you go from seeing an orange laser to just black. The second part is where the surgeon performs the laser vision correction treatment, and is where you can smell that infamous disconcerting smell of burning flesh. It is not your eye burning however, but rather the chemical reaction of the laser on the cornea.

Where did I have the procedure done? TLC Laser Eye Center in Mississauga. Dr. Dean Smith was recommended by my optometrist, so I didn't bother looking into Bochner or Lasik MD (both highly reputable places).

Did I take a relaxant? Yes, I was given one prior to the surgery. Lucky me, the relaxant didn't kick in until after, so I spent most of Friday in and out of sleep, excessively tearing and drooling. The 2 hours post surgery were the most uncomfortable, but once I was able to take a nap, things got better. The morning after, I significantly saw a difference in my vision. 

Is there pain during or post surgery? No, just uncomfortableness. They numb your eye with freezing eye drops, so you don't feel a thing. Some people feel a stinging sensation with the eye drops post surgery, but I didn't experience that. 

Would I do it all over again if I had the choice? Yes, the results are worth it. However, I am hoping that I don't need to go in for an enhancement. I would rather not experience the surgery and healing process a second time around. 

It's been 3 days and I'm still healing. They say your eyes may take 3-6 months to fully heal, so I'm taking it one day at a time. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!

#ChickenBiryani

During this shoot I was craving chicken biryani, so I made it my mission to get some good biryani the next day. Now I'm craving some shanghai noodles and fried rice, so by the time you read this I will probably already be at Asian Legend.

Tip: Never write a blog post hungry. Also you don't want to know me when I'm hangry. :)

Club Monaco Moto Jacket (Similar) // A&F High-Rise Girlfriend Jeans // Urban Outfitters BDG T-Shirt // Salvatore Ferragamo Boots // Quay Invader Sunglasses

#SnowProblem

Went into H&M looking for an ugly Christmas sweater to wear to a White Elephant exchange, and ended up snagging this cute holiday shirt from the men's section. It's been on high rotation since, doubling as pyjamas at night. The weather has been incredibly warm for this time of year, so it still amazes me that I haven't yet reached for my parka. Not complaining, but it would be nice to have a white Christmas.

Forever 21 Denim Jacket // Club Monaco Men's Cardigan (Old) // H&M Men's Holiday Shirt // Topshop Leigh High-Waist Ripped Jeans (Similar) // Browns La Canadienne Serena Boots

#Turks&Caicos

I wanted to share some highlights from my trip to the gorgeous Turks and Caicos (T&C) with bae and 2 of our friends. Got back 2 days ago and already missing the Caribbean sun. I aimed to come back a different race and although I didn't quite get there, still ended up with a bronze glow that I'm hoping lasts me through the dry Canadian winter.

Even as we were landing, you can see how turquoise the water is. At this point, I was jumping in and out of my seat, not able to contain my excitement.

We stayed at the beautiful Atrium Resort (booked through Airbnb):

After we got settled in, we knew the first thing we wanted to do was hit the beach. A local recommended Flamingo Beach, which wasn't too far from the Atrium. We only had a couple hours until sunset, so we made the most of our time there. I do want to note that I have never stepped foot on such fine and soft sand than until I got to T&C. It feels like you're walking on micro-foam pillows. I hate walking, but I will walk 500 miles if it's on this sand.

T&C is known for its white sand beaches and turquoise waters, so it's no surprise that the majority of our time was spent on the beaches. If you plan on visiting, ensure Taylor Beach is one of your stops. It's a local favourite, as well as mine. The water is still, shallow and crystal clear so it's great for snorkelling, paddle boarding or simple frolicking. The last 2 pictures below are of Taylor Beach.

If you know me, you know I love paddle boarding and will jump at the opportunity every chance I get. I did a lot of paddle boarding in T&C, and I find it's a great workout, a quick way to get an allover tan, and allows you to see more of the island. Also threw in a behind-the-scenes shot ;)

Below are details of a few of my outfits:

Forever 21 White Dress (Old) // Topshop Nude Midi Dress (Similar here and here) and Forever 21 Denim Jacket // Club Monaco Black Crop Top (Old), Aritzia Babaton Antoine Shorts and Quay 'Cha Cha' Sunglasses // Forever 21 Floral Maxi Dress with Slit (Old)

It actually took multiple attempts to do the couple's yoga pose. It's harder than it looks! Also, there's a really cute dessert place called Melt worth checking out. It's a little pricey, but recommend trying at least once. Get the brownie sundae if you plan on going!

Highly recommend Bugaloo's and Somewhere Cafe for lunch. Both are situated right by the water so you get the island vibe along with a spectacular view. The tacos and fries at Somewhere are a must try!

Conch is native to T&C and there is a large abundance of it. Every restaurant you go to will have conch on the menu, offered in various ways (conch salad, conch fritters, battered conch, conch pasta etc.). Bugaloo's catches conch right from the ocean and sells the shell to tourists. If you don't mind the shell not being polished, you can find many along the shoreline of all the beaches. 

Another cool thing you can do is rent a puppy for a couple hours to socialize them at Potcake Place. It's a dog rescue charity that aims to reduce the number of homeless potcakes on the island. They give you everything you need when you take the puppy out, and all the puppies are well behaved, not to mention incredibly adorable! We had the honour of playing with Hugo, who was only 3 months old.

On our last day, we quickly visited Chalk Sound, which offers the bluest waters I have ever seen.

We spent close to a week there, and it was some much needed R&R. The island itself is quite small, so there aren't a lot of people. The locals are all very friendly, and love starting a conversation with you. If you're looking for a place to party, T&C isn't for you. There's not much to do outside of water activities, and it gets very quiet past sunset. However, there is a Fish Fry every Thursday, which is comparable to a small night market where locals and tourists alike come together for food, music and pure fun. Local restaurants and gift shops close early to set up for this event, and it's a great way to meet new people and wind down.

The food is great, but there isn't a large variety. I can sum up what I ate down to conch and jerk chicken. Needless to say, I think I've had enough conch to last me a lifetime. Other great restaurants to check out are Caico's Cafe, Coco Bistro (reserve 2 weeks in advance), and Chinson's Grill Shack (best Jamaican patties and festivals). Already drooling thinking of it..

Overall, T&C is a great place to wind down and relax if you're a beach bum like me. Don't forget to pack on that sunscreen because that Carribean sun is strong!

#NoFace

For anyone that doesn't get the reference above, shame. Also my face on the derpometer was a classic Patrick, so no face it is! I had the honour of being an elf that night for my company's first Kids Christmas Party and it was the most fun I've had in awhile. It's scary how smart kids are nowadays! When I was 3 I could barely talk, much less make snow globes and tree ornaments.

Zara Block Heel Leather Ankle Boots // Aritzia Babaton Silk Blouse (Similar) // Aritzia Wilfred Cocoon Wool Coat (Similar here and here) // Club Monaco Cropped Striped Sweater (Old) // American Eagle Dark Jeans (Old)

#DoubleChinConcealer

A turtleneck is a quadruple threat. It's not only cozy, warm and cute, but it's a great cover-up for double chins, hickies, weird rashes, and of course your neck (for days where you just ain't feeling it). It's also versatile in what you pair it with, whether that be a skirt, jeans, leggings, shorts, or if long enough -- simply nothing. 

#2Kewl4Skewl

The moment I put on these shoes, I'm taken back to the first day of high school when all I wanted was to look effortlessly chic in my new wardrobe, but still remain comfortable. Having these pictures taken near an elementary school probably adds to that too.

I love how adding a hint of leather can edge up any simple outfit. I also love how I haven't washed these bad boys once, since I bought them 2 years ago. I particularly love the fact that it looks like I'm wearing no pants from the front and back. #teamnopants 

Aritzia Wilfred Palmier Sweater // Club Monaco Leather Shorts (Old) // Topshop Tiga Lizard Shoes

#YinYang - A Special Collaboration with Shakura Galloway

I am finally able to share my collaboration with my friend and colleague, Shakura Galloway. This lookbook shoot marked a first of many: Our first shoot together, my first shoot period, and her first fashion shoot. I'd like to give kudos to anyone that films regular lookbooks, as it is NOT easy. The medley of good weather, a nice location, lack of crowds, change area, sufficient camera battery, and not to mention the avoidance of deodorant stains on your tops, is enough to make someone stray away from filming one lookbook, much less make it a weekly occurrence.

However, we both learned a great deal from this experience, and there is no one I would rather pop that lookbook cherry with, than with Shakura. She is incredibly talented, an inspiration, and her amazing work speaks for itself. GIRL, GET YOUR WEBSITE UP!

Below are some snapshots from our shoot, as well as some not so flattering GIFs to entertain you with. 

Now for some fun GIFs!

Forever 21 Cropped Turtleneck (Similar) // Aritzia Babaton Johan Skirt // Aritzia Mackage Kenya Leather Jacket // Forever 21 Peep-toe Booties (Similar)

Club Monaco Cropped Top (Old) // Aritzia Babaton Cohen Pant // Prada Wallet (Old) // Oak + Fort Flats (Old)

Forever 21 Semi-Sheer Oversized Shirt // Aritzia Babaton Antoine Shorts (Old) // Topshop Tiga Lizard Skater Shoes // Tory Burch Robinson Crossbody (Similar)