It's official, I'm changing jobs.


Starting March 18, I'll be the digital reporter for Metro Edmonton, a free daily newspaper in Edmonton. There are Metros all around the world, so even if you're not an Alberta reader you may recognize the name.

It's a brand new position, and I'll be joining a staff of two other female reporters where I'll be working mostly on stories tailored for the web, using multi-media elements (video, photo galleries etc). Basically, it's my dream job and you have no idea how excited I am.

I fully intend on continue channelling His Girl Friday. Photo from here

I'm also excited because we're moving back to Edmonton. I love Camrose and it will always have a special place in my heart, but Edmonton is a great city to start the next chapter in. Besides the fact that the wonderful Miss Bee is also a resident of the same city, it's the place where G was born and raised and where we met. I already know a lot about Edmonton so it's a much better fit.

I love the people I work with so much and it's sad to say goodbye. It's an amazing office to work with (if you are a journo and are interested in working in Camrose, please check out the job posting).

I will still be journeying back to Camrose from time to time. I really have to, since it has the most phenomenal vintage store I've ever been in and it's the only place my mom can find shoes in her size.

This is all very new, but I can't keep a secret very well (it's what makes me a great journalist). Besides this is such a life-changing thing that there's no way I'd be able to keep it out of the blog. Just be forewarned that the next month will be full of stories about packing, cleaning and moving.

So now starts the first part of this new chapter - househunting. Do we find a place for March and pay double rent (since I gave 30 days notice to my landlord on the 22, we can't be out financially until then) or do I commute back and forth for a few weeks until April? I guess we'll wait and see.

I woke up this morning to freezing rain. Lovely. Alberta weather has been so weird this year. Last year it was cold and we had the most snow in a decade. This winter has been mild (I think it got down to -20 once, which is usually the norm here) and there is barely any snow! Not that I'm complaining, I prefer -6 to -36!

But, like I said, freezing rain is no fun. It makes the roads and sidewalks all slick and wreaks havoc on curled hair. So for once I thought ahead and protected my noggin (and more importantly, my curls).


During my Boxing Day spree I noticed another maroon hat at Rowena, where I first got this one. Miss Bee tried to convince me to buy it (it was about $10 on sale) but I held back, since I've only worn this maroon one once. So I decided to bust it out today. It also matches my skirt.

This photo makes me look 8 ft wide. Ugh.

Before I added the hat, I felt very librarian-ish (which I love!) but once I added the hat I felt more journalistic. Maybe it will give me some motivation at work. It's amazing how one accessory can totally change up an outfit.


I also love the maroon hat paired with my mustard coat (hindsight says I should have worn my teal scarf instead of red. Harumph!)

Outfit details: maroon hat - Rowena | sweater and skirt - Imagine Vintage | boots - Spring 

I'm off to work in a bit, I just wanted to get in a quick outfit post in before I blow away in the 50km/hour winds we're treated to today. I can't wait to shoot baseball in those winds.

Top: Twig (Camrose) | Shorts: Old Navy (Edmonton) | Shoes: Payless (Camrose)

I don't really know how I feel about this look (couldn't you tell with the look on my face?). My shorts are too big, my hair didn't drop enough (and is just going to get blown all over anyway) and it just feels like it's missing something, you know? I also feel a little sick (boo!) and am not really happy about having to be out in the wind (my computer says that right now they're only 35 km/hour, so that should be a little better, right?)
OK, enough whining.

Sorry for the out-of-focus shot.  I'm trying to learn manual focus and it's really difficult when you're shooting yourself.

Anyway, I hope you all have a marvelous weekend. Last night I was at Camrose grad. There were some vintage inspired dresses! One girl had a lovely long green gown that looked very 1920s inspired, while another had a bit of a victory roll going on! I also met this lovely couple who were sitting behind me. They're both teachers at the comp, so I hope to run into them again. 

Again, another dreadful photo. It's not like I do this for a living or anything. *sigh*

Happy Monday to you all (at least, those of you on this side of the Atlantic!).
In our office, Mondays are probably my favourite day - production day! We put the paper together today and tomorrow morning, so I spend most of the day at my desk designing the paper. While I love going out and reporting, it's nice having a day just in the office, especially since designing the paper is my favourite part. That said, I never slob it on Mondays, no matter how tired I am.

However, this Monday I have to go cover city council (usually I cover County)  so I might be a little dressed up than on a normal Monday. (My apologies for the softness of this photo - shooting into a skewed mirror is difficult!)

Grey Tee: Rickis | Leopard Print Skirt: Joe Fresh | Black Bow Pumps : Payless

I'm taking this chance to wear my new skirt! Turns out it's about half an inch too big, something that I hoped would be remedied by a thicker tee and stockings, but not really. After a test run today I may adjust it if I find that it's migrating towards my ankles too much.

I really love this skirt. Aside from its low price tag and rockabilly feel, it's also nicely lined and has pockets. Pockets are a must for me in skirts - especially in the summer - because I carry around a recorder, notebook, cell phone etc. I usually have a bag to toss all that stuff in, but if I'm at an event where I need that stuff on hand right away it's nice not to have to root through my bag to find my recorder. The other dress I bought this weekend also has pockets - score!

My hair today is pretty meh. The right side was super curly compared to the left, so to avoid looking like a poodle I clipped it back. I need to find a product that will smooth the fly-aways, especially now that it's getting warmer out. I use hair wax, but I find it makes my hair separate and curl which is great when I want it to do that, but when I want waves it kind of wrecks it.

Anyway, I have work that needs to get done before starting page layout so I better get my butt to work.

xo Laurie

For those of you who aren't in Canada, we had a federal election today. It was the second one I've ever voted in (and I'm 20, by the way). So here is what I wore to exercise my democratic muscle:

Polka dot top: Divine (Edmonton) | Bandeau: Twig (Camrose) | Skirt: Rickis (Camrose) | Shoes: Spring (Edmonton) |

I went to bed late last night and my set didn't completely dry, thus I had to save my 'do with the flower clip again. I like how the other side of my hair looks, but I can't remember how I did it!

Other than the election, it was a pretty typical Monday: roll in to work at 8 am, do nothing for a few hours, put the paper together then go home. Monday is my favourite day in our rotation by far, although it was hard to work today because it was a glorious +18 and all I wanted to do was sit outside and drink caesars. Alas, work got in the way.

In other news, I'm going to start sewing. I'm starting out with this bag (by hand) and then if nothing goes wrong I will work my way onto other things. I don't want to buy a machine yet and I think I know some people with machines if I need to borrow them.

I'm so bad! Last night I went to bed without setting my hair again, so I had to put it up again this morning. I never learn *sigh*
I actually don't mind putting my hair up - it's nice to get it out of my face and to have a different look. Instead of victory rolls I basically shoved my hair into a gazillion bobby pins, topped it off with a flower clip, flat-ironed the front fringe and called it a day.

Flower clip/pin: H&M

It's not very neat, but my duties for today are: write 3 stories, shoot 2 events (an RBC Cup tailgate party and a choir) and call it a night. First off I'm headed to the Battle River Animal Protection Society to do a story on their monthly adoption days and try my best not to bring home a puppy (I can't, they're not allowed!). I'm driving for that because I'm not too sure where it is, but the other two events are close to home, so if the weather smartens up and it doesn't blow a gale I'm going to finally take the bike out - so I need hair that can be squished into my lovely lavender helmet!


I decided that I wans going to funk it up for make-up, as opposed to my usual nude shadow/brown eyeliner/black mascara combo and do brown eyeshadow and teal liner to match my shirt. I'm also wearing lip gloss instead of lipstick to go with the whole casual vibe.

Blouse: Twig (Camrose) | Jeans: Jean Warehouse One |  Socks: H&M

I'm wearing jeans today because of the aforementioned cycling excursion (I'm chicken and don't want to try it with a skirt yet) and because it was cloudy when I got dressed. Now it's sunny and +7. Oh Alberta!

Yes, I took photos with my DSLR this time, thus the awkward mirror shots and what not. It took me so many tries to get the back of my hair - the ultimate Hail Mary. Finally I just focused, switched to manual and started shooting. The hardest thing was getting my head in the shot, since I had to look the other way.

Today is my day off. Since my editor and I are the only ones that work on the editorial side of the paper, we have a different schedule than most people. Over 14 days we both get 4 days off, but we can't take them at the same time.
I work the weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) so I get Thursday off. Vince worked last weekend, so he gets to work Thursday and gets Friday, Saturday Sunday off. Then we switch. It's a good system, I think.

Anyway, I have a pretty laid back agenda today: Massage, fix up the ole bike (she's spent the last 4 months under a pile of snow, so I may have to look into getting some rust off!) and do some laundry. So I'm wearing this old wrap skit (that I have to pin and wear tights with, because that Alberta winds love to show off what's under the skirt), a new simple teal tee from H&M and some straw saddle shows from a local vintage shop, circa 1980s.

Top: H&M |Skirt: shop from back home, it's super old | Tights: Joe Fresh | Shoes: Imagine Vintage in Camrose

Messy bed and you can see my pjs. My apologies!  Flower clips (pair): H&M