Dancing To a New Beat

Numero tres, Summer 100 

♫Bring It Back Again - The Stray Cats♫

This song is so quintessentially me that it needed to be included in my summer music list.
Moving on..

This summer is shaping up to be the summer of the giga-glasses for little ol' me. Never trust a girl with big glasses. More like never trust a girl, full stop. Just kidding, sort of. 

During my daily wanderlust adventures, I found myself staring straight into the asshole of the Toronto Beach. Hidden deep in the worst kept secret of the Beach - Secret beach (we are super creative in these parts, as you can tell, no doubt) - there is this gross sewage pipe thing sticking straight out of the hill. I am convinced hipsters breed inside of here, and live their adolescent lives until they are old enough to start riding fixed gear bicycles and drinking PBR. Did I mention the tunnel of hip smelled like a mixture of PBR and rotten algae? Well, now you know. 

Aside from the rancid stench and relatively creepy appearance, there is some pretty cool graffiti at secret beach, especially garnishing the walls of hipster tunnel which I have appropriately instagrammed for superior hipster viewing purposes. 

I absolutely can't wait any longer for my roller skates to get here to do more random exploring. I am a wanderer, nomadic, whatever you wanna call it - I have been bitten (or born avec) by the wanderlust bug - always a favourite way to spend my time. Which is why I am super excited to be going away for the month of July on my annual summer trip to Cali. The catch is, this time I will have this here blog to document my travels, my outfits, my muses, and everything in between. I am just a little more than a little fucking excited, if you couldn't tell already.

Which brings me to my next piece of news - perhaps it's a bomb - but much less destructive. I am moving to San Francisco come September. Le gasp. Maybe being a wanderlust nomad has gotten the best of me, but I am well overdue for a change in lifestyle. This move will consist of me leaving The Beach, and moving to - wait for it - The Sunset District. Just so we are clear, I loves me a good beach and a terribly named neighbourhood so it would seem. At least Sunset has a slight creative edge over Beach, barely. I know everyone from Toronto will miss me deeply (you better) and I you, but this is the best decision for me at this point in my life. I've decided to go back to school and further my education, try to discover what I want to do with myself in the future, so on and so forth. Things are pretty open ended as of now however, so who knows when I may be back to visit.

I am so grateful to have met such amazing people here in Toronto during my 17 years of residence, and it will be the hardest to move away from all of the friends I have made in this town, and of course my family. I will miss the late nights spent with Raymi and Rebecca, the dancing, the hangouts, the inpromptu beach days with old friends in my life - I will miss you all so much. It is bittersweet, but I know it is the right thing for me to do right now. When I come back however, shenanigans will be in order. Think G20 times a very high number to the power of 42. That much crazytime - or more - probably more. The cat is out of the bag, but this is not a forever goodbye. Not in the slightest.

Fuel for summer, a handful of little things I want to do - I have created a list - because lists are probably the only thing I am good at other than binge eating and being awkward:

1. Rollerskate the Leslie spit
2. Picnic on the beach
3. Go Pennyboarding
4. Mermaid nails
5. Create summer playlist - 100 songs
6. Take a photo I love enough to print
7. Skinny dipping
8. Find the perfect white summer wedge
9. Run barefoot in the sand
10. Meaty sammich at Saint Lawrence market
11. Fresh lilac bouquet
12. Try lobster for the first time
13. Sunning w/ Bukowski
14. Talk to a stranger, just because (ashbridges)
15. Re-pot bebe orchids & give them stupid names
16. Go out of town
17. Paint nails outdoors (malibu)
18. Build a sandcastle
19. See live music (nxne/more+)
20. Draw something lovely
21. Dance in public (lots and lots)
22. Blog about something that inspires me
23. Dress up for no reason (kinda, dressing up is its own reason)
24. Discover something new & secret (it's a secret ;) )
25. Have a nap in the sun
26. Bonfire on the beach
27. Acoustic campfire sesh (camp weekend)
28. Go out on a boat (Raymi's uncle Mike's boat)
29. Backyard BBQ (a few)
30. Find a dressform
31. Make homemade ice cream (malibu)
32. Swim in the ocean & lake
33. Sing karaoke
34. Go surfing (malibu)
35. Live, Laugh, and fall in Love. <3 (can this one ever not be ongoing?)

Struck out the ones I have already done recently. Italics are ongoing.

Let the shenanigans begin..

<3

Pokeball Nails

Numbah 2, Summer 100 

♫212 (ft Lazy Jay) - Azealia Banks♫

Jules used Pokeball. Success! The wild manicure has been caught.

Hanging out with guys for the better part of the weekend ended up taking its toll. It was only a matter of time before I did a Pokemon related manicure, and personally I think it turned out amaze(poke)balls.

I think I may just have to follow this up with various other pokeball types. Throw a greatball, maybe a masterball in there too. This manicure was actually pretty easy to do. It takes a bit of time because you have to wait for the different layers of color to dry before moving on to the next, but aside from that it is pretty simple.

The process:

1. Paint entire nail solid white, 2 coats - I used Essie "Blanc"
2. Paint the top half of your nail red, 1 coat should be fine. You don't have to worry about tape or a super clean line if your hand is steady enough - I used Essie"Really Red"
3. Swipe a black line across your nail where the two colors meet. This covers any imperfections you may have had with the red half. I used a black Sally Hansen nail pen for this step and the next, but a brush will work too
4. Draw a black circle in the center of the black line
5. Put a white dot in the center of the circle
6. Top coat, and good to go. Fin

Three colors, infinite geekdom. Achievement unlocked!

Nice View, Beach Cruiser

{Day 1: Woodbine beach was totally packed, what else is new}

Since the video players havent been working recently, click the song title to listen :)
Also, I have decided to make a summer playlist of 100 songs. One song per day, which I will be posting here in posts and over on tumblr with the tag "summer 100". Enjoy.

♫ Plage - Crystal Fighters ♫

The May 24 weekend was pretty sweet. Some friends from 'sauga came down and chilled with me in Boringtown The Beach for the majority of the weekend, and made it fan-taste-ically fun.

I will have you know that I did not break one nail while playing frisbee or being panda-tackled and driven into the sand basically all weekend. Signs of epic success, I tell you h-whut.

{Day 2: Twice as packed, I did not think anymore people could fit. I was wrong.}

Started out by tanning & planning for the near future of my summer vacation time in Cali at my local Starbucks. I will be gone for about 3 weeks in July to visit some friends of mine in The Bu Malibu before they move to NZ. They are some of the coolest people ever, and I will miss spending my summers with them on the beach in Malibu... what am I saying, kiwi summer next year in NZ anyone?

Still have lots to plan, and big changes happening soon in my life. I am super excited to be dancing to a new beat - change is long overdue - I guess all I needed was a little push. Silver linings are shiny when you find them.

{If you insist...}

{Catch a falling kite-bear and put him in your paw-kitt}

{Jet skiiers, aka ruiners of peace and tan reading quiet.
Ham on Rye /  Factotum  / Post Office / Women / Hollywood - in that order. GO!}

{Best view, better spot}

The Beach locals are not usually found tanning on Woodbine beach. Most of us stick to the east of the fenced off dog park near the Leuty beach tower. Woodbine beach is for volleyball and tourists, not my idea of a good time. Some of my tweets while I was strolling around at Woodbine were pretty popular though..

To the girls tanning with their socks on, you are doing it all WRONG
— Jules (@julesinfleurs) May 19, 2012

That awkward moment when you feel overdressed wearing a bikini..
— Jules (@julesinfleurs) May 19, 2012

Crochet swimwear is nice until you look at your tan the next morning.
— Jules (@julesinfleurs) May 19, 2012

“@summerxskin: @julesinfleurs I am really enjoying your live-tweeting of how horribly dressed people are today.” thanks! Lol
— Jules (@julesinfleurs) May 19, 2012

Topless volleyball players, every number o'clock.
— Jules (@julesinfleurs) May 19, 2012

Nice faded tribal tattoos all over your chest, you must be the resident douchebag.
— Jules (@julesinfleurs) May 19, 2012

Pro tip: never assume someone is female just because they are wearing a bikini.
— Jules (@julesinfleurs) May 19, 2012

I am my own beach pirate hero. Now let's poke fun at my horrid window/mirror shots of my equally horrid outfit. It's actually awesome, just sayin'.

Then the madness not only continued, but escalated. You are probably wondering, what could be more mad than a crochet tanned chick who will likely look like a spiderweb the next morning? well... here is my chain of events at the May 24 firework spectacular:

1. Girls bathroom line up was equivalent (or longer) to a ride at Disneyland. A good ride too, being an expert at Disneyland, this line could have wrapped halfway around the superior bobsledding track side of the Matterhorn, proper.
2. In bathroom line girl on phone tells her friend about song she likes called "Someone I used to know" by.. "I think he is a euro guy his name is like goyte or something" she says into the iPhone that is a less beat up cousin to my sad excuse of an iPhone. Turns to friend after hanging up phone and says "she is a little bit of a music latecomer..." ....ummmmmmmmmm.... excuse me while I break my abdominals laughing.
3. Confetti crew (yeah its like an exclusive bro club, I am not a member... ) bros making jokes at Matt's expense. youkindahadtobethere.
4. Leaving fireworks walking up woodbine girls behind us are deeply involved in conversationalizing. "he like, asked me why I use condoms.. so I told him, well like, I like dont want to get pregnant again okay? abortions cost money you know.." (indecipherable mumbling and non-english) "I smacked this like three year old kid at the store the other day but like it totally wasnt my fault the kid just ran into my hand so I turned to him and said hey bitch like watch where your going and he ran away" (more in-decipherable chatter babble) "...omg did you know she is like totally fucking my manager... omg you didnt know that?! omg.... I totes didn't tell you" yeah, this happened. for realsies.
5. Oh... can't forget also that they changed the home/lock screen backgrounds on my phone... go figure. Remind me to never leave my phone in the care of 6 guys ever again. ha!

And then the sky exploded a little... 

.....because I SPIT HOT FIREWORKS.

Oh, and Charles and Camilla or the Prince and Her Toadyness or whatever their official royal names are (by royal I mean made up, I can be a royal too right? I'll be Lady Jules of Venus.. word) showed up to the Assbridges Ashbridges fireworks. Excuse me while I forget to care. 

Happy Victoria Day, Canadianski and tout les autre commonwealth folks.


Oh, and find me on instagram.. I am quite proud of my fauxtography.
@Joobsy on Instagram.
<3

Strollin'

Finally it is summer. Last year, my "summer uniform" was this outfit. I always find you have a few things in your closet for each season that are your favourites, and no matter how much you love the rest of your clothing, these favourites always get worn the most. I wore these shorts out the other day while on a stroll in my stomping grounds aka boringtown aka the beach, and was pleasantly surprised when I was stopped and asked where I got my shorts from. It gives me a sick sense of happiness when people sigh after I tell them I thrifted whatever article of clothing they set their ravenous eyes on. Boy did she ever sigh...







Highwaisted shorts have made quite the comeback this summer. Mostly in the studded trash denim sense, probably due to everyone and their pegasister becoming a hipster as of recent (shoot me). Either way, the highwaisted studded trash Levis panties that every single girl seems to be wearing are strangely right up my alley. I wouldn't identify myself as a hipster, but I really love the punk rock look to those types of shorts. Mind you, the ones I am wearing in this post are not them, but my highwaisted shorts collection is becoming quite large, and there is a special place reserved for denim highwaisted stud almost-panties. I said it.



I have put this bad through hell and back. It needs to be cleaned, but leather is difficult and finnicky when cleaning. I will have it done professionally eventually, probably... maybe not. Sorry Alexander Wang, I dirtied up your designs. Woops! Sorry for being a real person and putting my bag on the floor, like, real people do.





Summer is for enjoying, I am a firm believer in that. Wear crop tops, stupid shades, dirty up your bag, play in the sand, have a good time without worrying about it. I play to make this summer one to remember, you should do the same, and then repeat every single summer to follow. I'll be the gidget at the beach throwing the frisbee and playing in the waves. Much more appealing than being stuck inside anyways.

Manicure Monday: Pale Peach Ombre

{Bottom to top - Ballet Slippers, Fiji, A Crewed Interest, Tart Deco - All Essie}

Last week I got a few new Essie colors that I felt like trying out. I am kind of a spazz when I get new colors, painting my nails like 6 times until I find a combo that I like. The new ones I got that are shown here were 'Ballet Slippers', 'Tart Deco', and the Luxe Effects topcoat 'Shine of the Times.' Coupled up with some colors I already had - 'Fiji' and 'A Crewed Interest' - it ended up being a ring finger ombre mani.



I feel like if I had one more orange that just fit in between the A Crewed Interest and Tart Deco, the ombre would work better. It didn't turn out all that bad though, and I like the way the Shine of the Times shines orange and fits in nicely with the ring finger mani effect. Mixing nail trends, look at me go!



On a related side note - I am starting to have quite the little collection of Essie colors. I mentioned Essieholics Anonymous not too long ago, but since then my addiction to their colorful paints has grown significantly. Meeting in session, my love for Essie is bittersweet like my love for chocolate or cheeseburgers. You indulge in its juicy awesomeness, but then have to deal with the fallout of extreme caloric abuse - or in Essie's case, a crying bank account. Fortunately enough for me, I am a proud Essieholic, and have learned to ignore the tears coming from my decreasing bank balance. I think I have crossed over into true addiction territory.. but please, don't take away my paints.

Look At The Sky, Look At The Ground, You Are Alive

I always find that the weekends (or any day for that matter) that you anticipate to be uneventfully wasted by eating yourself into a coma and listening to Adele Gotye - are always the weekends that surprise me and turn out to be nothing short of amazing. There I was, Friday night, watching my plans swirl down the tubes - mouse in one hand, spoon in the other, pants on the floor, speakers offensively loud. Drowning in ice cream is only acceptable if you consciously choose to indulge in a pint of Ben and Jerry's rather than using it as a method of therapy to mask your frustration. This particular case was appearing to be closer to the latter, so I pulled myself together and headed over to meet the girls for dance time. A night better than well spent.

Then Saturday comes skipping around the corner. Typical lazy morning - coffee, internets - you know the drill. Baby sun shining its sweet solar face prompted me to head out for a stroll in the epicentre of phony on queen street. I slipped into my Monroe frock (white), as well as a spring jacket (denim), and frolicked to the south. Sometimes I worry about wasting cute outfits on uneventful days. Most the time I find that if you wear something fun while embarking on a mundane or lacklustre activity - you may just surprise yourself and end up on an adventure. It adds a certain joie de vivre to your attitude that makes everything more brilliant, even wandering. Try it next time you are feeling a bit off.

The thing about living in The Beaches Beach is that you can't walk half a block without running into someone you know. Amidst my strolling and dance walking (yeah, dance walking. me. for realsies) I bumped into a few friends and chit chatted for a little before skipping along on my way to the next non-destination. Bzzt my pocket started buzzing with email alerts. You start to grow an intense appreciation for phone calls after playing email cat and mouse around the neighbourhood for an hour. I pounced and won the hunt down on the rocks at the beach, making a few new friends along the way. +10.



Spotted my friend sitting on a rock and approached only to be intercepted by one of my feathered avian pals. A wild swan appeared! I don't think he appreciated my white frock - or maybe the opposite - I don't speak swan.

Heartsrevolution - The Rose And Her Prince

Although at the beginning of the weekend things looked bleak and hopeless - I couldn't have hoped for a more perfect afternoon than the one I had filled with sunlight, napping on the beach, drift glass, raging monster birds, and fantastic company. It really does pay to have a positive outlook on things, even when they don't seem to be going your way. Especially in that case. There is always something better on the horizon and headed your way, you just have to be patient and keep your eyes open for when it reaches you. More importantly, don't write things off before they have even happened. Make them better instead. Sometimes all it takes is a flirty dress, some sunshine and an old friend. Ice cream never hurts either.

Baby take off your coat. Real slow.
{H&M Denim Biker Jacket / Stylestalker "Monroe" Dress / Gifted Sunnies / H&M Tights / Vintage Choker}

This dress is special. The arms make me feel like a little angel queen. I could imagine myself drifting away and winding up on a beach somewhere, a drift angel, that is me. Tree bark thrown and all. I forgot how much I love this dress. LWD's are a staple for me in spring and summer. Nothing looks more fresh than white during the warmer months. Simple elegance, pure innocence, some of it is really smoke and mirrors but this is fashion after all, am I right? Great dresses like this are the ones that give you confidence, power and the necessary boost needed to conquer the banal everyday boringness. Plus, extra points for almost getting me mauled by a swan, who doesn't love a dress with that effect?

Wear something special without reason. Give second, third, and thirtieth chances. Stop and smell the roses, watch the swans, enjoy the little things because they don't last forever.

Dark Dark Dark - Daydreaming
Oh if you knew what it meant to me
Oh if you knew what it meant to me...

When that rare and monumental moment comes around the bend and into sight - moments like this Saturday afternoon, or setting your eyes on strategically placed writing scribed across a rock, little opportunities to improve yourself that you may have overlooked. No matter the medium - trust yourself and take a leap of faith - it might be the best thing you ever do.


...and when all else fails, spill your mind in the form of a sappy and cryptic blog post. happy thursday. <3