SUMMER IN VICTORIA

Yesterday, Mum and I went for a walk down by the Inner Harbour and British Columbia Legislature.

When going out, I usually take my smaller point and shoot camera, if I take one at all, because it's a hassle to pack round my regular camera. But, yesterday I decided I'd take my regular one because I wanted to try and shoot some nice photos. I'm glad I decided to take it because I'm very happy with the results!

It was tourist-central, even at 11 in the morning, but wandering round this area of town just reminds of how lucky I am to live in such a nice little city right on the water. But enough of the blithering on, it's time to take you all on a little photographic tour!



This is the inner harbour, always full up with people and boats during the summer months. Little water taxis going back and forth, buskers performing on the causeway, and local artisans selling their handmade goods!





All the fancy pants hanging baskets are out in full bloom.



This is one of the drives up to the Legislature. It's one of my favourite buildings, if not my definite favourite. And the grounds all round it are lovely, too.



I can still remember when in my 9th grade Science class I learnt about why the copper tops on the Legislature turned green. It was part of a chemical reaction lesson, if I remember correctly.



We walked up the stairs and passed this door. Typically, I had to pop up the stairs and peer in, was too bright outside to be able to see hardly anything inside, though, haha.





It's a touch embarrassing to admit, but yesterday was the first time I'd ever seen the rose garden in person, and it was just beautiful.

I'd even read articles about provincial politics where it'd been mentioned, but never seen it for myself. Many, many roses of all different colours, but I would have to say I think the light orange coloured ones were my favourites!











Coming back round to the front I stopped and got a shot of the profile of the building, and you can see the small crowd of people waiting to go on a tour of the inside of the Legislature.

And you can see all the little bulbs on the front of the building, which are lit every night, and some red and green ones are added at Christmas. I need to get a few photos of it lit up after dark someday!



We opted out of going on the tour, but I plan to go and sit in the gallery one day next spring when the MLAs are sitting again. Even if I have to go by myself, which I probably will because I know zero other people interested in politics, but I really don't mind.

And who knows, maybe I'll even work there myself one day.

I think when I'm sixty I'll either a) have a respectable haircut and attempt to get elected as an MLA or MP or b) dye my hair lavender as it will finally have lost its pigment and inability to be dyed properly and live on Salt Spring Island and be a gardening fanatic. Ooh, the possibilities.





I thought I'd end our little tour with a photo of our flag blowing in the proper direction, unlike the other one a few photos up!

I'd love to live near this area someday, maybe in one of the adorable little house boats just down the road. I think I could get used to the constant movement and they're just such neat little homes.

So yes, this has been a short tour of the Legislature grounds with a couple of additional photos of the Inner Harbour. I'll have to take more of it next time!

Abbey
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ONE AND ONLY

I sort of like making .gifs, which is bad because making of .gifs of yourself is probably pretty douchey.

However, I'm waiting impatiently for a couple of things I ordered from eBay, so in an hour or so I'm going to go round and see if anything has shown up in the mail today! Thinking I should take my camera and see if there's anything worth photographing on my walk. And I'm sure there is, I'm not particularly a snob when it comes to taking photos!

Abbey
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I'M AS FREE AS MY HAIR

I've been asked about my hair several times but never really done a proper post about the products and such I use, so I thought it was about time!

My hair is all my own and natural, I don't use extensions of any sort. I used to sometimes wear colourful clip in extensions when I was fourteen and fifteen, but have grown out of that! The last time I had my hair professionally done was in summer 2009. I trim it and touch up the layers myself, and really, I wouldn't let anyone else do my fringe! I've had far too many mishaps with it in the past and I frankly don't trust anyone to take scissors to it, haha.

I've been asked how long it has taken me to get it the length it's at, and I always find this difficult to answer. Even as a little girl I had long hair, so I've had long hair most of my life. Given that, and that I haven't had a proper (or drastic) hair cut in about two years, it's hard to say how long it's taken. So I can't really properly answer!

I've thought of cutting my hair a bit shorter, but haven't acted on it, yet. I may sometime in the future, but I can't be sure when that will be! I've always loved super light blonde hair, but given my natural colour being so dark it would be near impossible to get a Marilyn Monroe shade of blonde, which is, quite typically because it's unachievable, my favourite!

Anyhow, the two products I use most (and really the only two I use ever) are Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Shampoo and John Freida Luxurious Volume Hair Spray. I don't regularly use a conditioner, and by not regularly, I mean not really ever. And I don't put any other products in my hair aside from those two.

Joico's Reconstruct Shampoo is meant for damaged and treated hair, but I began using it because it was what my mother uses and just continued on with it. I believe it also has somewhat of a conditioning element, which is handy since I don't use conditioner. I like it because it doesn't have an overpowering scent and generally work very well!

I've been using John Freida's Luxurious Volume Hair Spray for a while and do like it, but I wish I could find one that holds just a little better. But I would absolutely reccomend this one, as it holds pretty well, and has an only slight fragrance. It's very important to me that it's not too perfumy as the scents of many hair products give me headaches.

The other three things in the little collage above are the brush, comb, and blow dryer I have and use. A Krest Goldilocks comb, Isinis brush, and the Conair Infiniti my mum and I both use.

If you have any other questions on things I haven't covered here, feel free to put them in the comments I shall reply in the same place!

Abbey
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P.S. How do you find my new background and header? It's a bit more bold than what I usually do, but I think I like it!

MAGNETIC

I bought this coaster and these three little magnets whilst out shopping for mum's birthday last week.

I love them, and I think the coaster is just stunning!

Abbey
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LOVE IS A LOSING GAME

Finally, here is the outfit I said I was going to post days ago. A rather simple one, but that's my prerogative lately!

A white shirt and high waist shorts, both second hand, paired with black Secret tights and my new Forever21 heels!

I'd really like to start posting more again, and I think I'll soon be able to! Until then, good day, loves!

Abbey
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RIP AMY

I was pulling for Amy so much, truly hoping she’d be able to make a come back and amaze the world with her incredible talent. I suppose it could be said, considering her lifestyle, it was likely a matter of time until something tragic happened, but I’m still a bit in shock myself. Gone too soon, indeed.

She was one of my favourite singers ever, and I'd always taken some inspiration from her style. Not only that, she seemed like a genuinely sweet girl, despite her troubles.

Rest in peace, Amy.

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MORE LISTINGS

Here are a few more pieces I currently have up for sale on eBay!


Cream cardigan, $6


Purple cardigan, $5


Blue and black dress, $5.50

Will be posting some outfit photos later today, so don't worry, this isn't turning into a "what I'm trying sell at the moment blog"!

Abbey
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IT'S NOT TOO LATE

I'm wearing shorts today after realising I'd worn dresses everyday for a week. I think that's a new record or something, I probably haven't done such since I was five or six. But summer is my favourite time to wear dresses, so of course I'm taking advantage of it (even if I still need tights half the time).

Here are a few photos (some of which I haven't posted before) from the past month or so. As I said a little bit ago, I've been working on a more feminine style. I think I'm doing all right, so far? Haha.



This is one of the first photos I took that day before realising, "hey, it's actually not that cold, I don't need these!", and ditched them.



This is the same dress I'm wearing in my last outfits photos. But I didn't wear it with the tie belt that day, I think it looks better with it, but I'm not convinced.





This is still one of my favourite outfits from this summer. I think I've had those shorts-that-look-like-a-skirt-but-aren't for about four years now, quite a while, anyhow. Same with the black and white dress in the top photo, I've had it since 2006 if I remember correctly.



And finally a silly shot I took whilst playing round with my camera a couple of weekends ago!

Hope everyone's week is going all right so far!

Abbey
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NEW LISTINGS

I've just put up a few more things on eBay, here are some photos!


Pink and black strapless floral dress, $8 / Sold.

Pink and black floral dress, $8

Tie dye halter tunic, $5


Blue and white floral skirt, $6


White, pink, and yellow short shorts, $5

Abbey
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I'M IN NO HURRY

This is just going to be a quick little post with some photos of an outfit I wore last week. It's that old dress of mum's I just recently hemmed paired with black tights and my black platforms from Forever21!

Hope you're all doing well this Monday!

Abbey
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LOVE IS WAR

Here's an outfit I wore in the past week. I'd started out with black tights, too, but once I went outside to take these photos I found it was warmer than I'd thought and was able to forgot them for a change!

I paired an old dress I've had for ages with my black platform heels for a classic, simple outfit.

Shame it's gotten chilly here again, and looks to be staying that way. Perhaps this will be the summer that wasn't? Hopefully not, but I'm beginning to wonder.

Abbey
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