You don't need to have school age children to make a statement against bullying. Bullying doesn't just take place in the school yard, it happens online, it happens in the workplace, it happens at the grocery store.  Awareness, education and discussion are a good start to helping stop this problem.  Make a statement for a Bully-Free Life by wearing your pink shirt next Wednesday.

Now I'm not much of a t-shirt kind of girl. So I've put together a couple of ideas for wearing pink from the casual to work wear.

Pink Shirt Day Ideas by tjrossignol featuring slim jeans

Be sure to join the conversation on twitter, follow @pinkshirtday, use hash tag #PSD2012 and  post a picture of yourself in your pink shirt.  Together we can make a difference.  Stop Bullying Here!

You can also show your support online. Display the widget on your website or blog to show you support anti-bullying.    Cut and paste the code below.

 <a href="http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/" title="pinkshirt_2012final_pink by tjrossignol, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6828088119_07bb4c37b8.jpg" width="250" height="345.5" alt="pinkshirt_2012final_pink"></a>

My guiding principle for the night was "If you don't love it. Leave it."   Just because the clothes didn't cost me money, I still didn't need to bring home a pile of "meh" clothes.  So I came home with 4 new items, and 1 of my own back again (I'll tell that story later when I get it back from the tailor).   The new items included a black Joe Fresh t-shirt (with a cute neckline), a pair of black earrings, a green skull scarf and a striped shirt.

I'm currently very drawn to stripes. So I was excited to see this cute striped shirt. But disappointed that it looked too small. 

I decided to try it on anyways. It became clear very quickly that it wasn't going to fit over my uhh "assets".  But I noticed how cute the stripes looked on my arms.  This would make perfect arm warmers I thought. So I took it.  The material is such that it doesn't require hemming, it rolls up on the edges like an 1980s sweatshirt (yeah I had a few of those off the shoulder Flashdance jobs). Then  I decided the body would make a great infinity style cowl too. 

So me, my scissors and stitch ripper got to work.   First - I marked the length of arm warmer (knuckles to elbow).  Pinned it to mark the spot. Then using my good sewing scissors I cut along the convenient line.

Then I put them on to mark the space to make the thumb hole.  

I left about 2 cm from the upper edge, then ripped a hole in the seam (about 4 cm). Just enough space for my thumb.  I'll go back and reinforce the seams around the hole, by hand, in a few days.  Once I'm sure I've left enough space.  But as I'm wearing them as I type this piece I'm thinking it is going to be good.

The finished arm warmers.

The infinity cowl was even easier. I marked the line just below the arm hole, and cut straight across. 

 I'll wear it a few times and see if the length is right, then I might make it a bit shorter. 

And here is a fuzzy picture of what material is left.  I'm open to ideas for projects... perhaps wrist-lets for a friend. ?!?  Thoughts?

Photo of the new cowl in action to come soon.   And yes, I'm just a bit smug about my DIY ingenuity.  Especially since it took less than 30 minutes and didn't require my sewing machine.

The picture doesn't show that I'm wearing these fun silver earrings that some friends gave me that are from clock and watch parts.  And I had a silver cuff too.  But I find it hard to get good accessory photos when you are using a tri-pod to do your own photos.  But practice makes perfect - right?!

And yes, those are snow drops peaking out in my garden. The plus of living the wet coast.

I also posted about the Grammy's.

Viola Davis

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My favourite of her dresses this season.

 Source

I am leading the slide show with Diana Ross. Because frankly she is Diana Ross.

I also posted about the BAFTAs.

diana-ross

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The Divine Miss Diana Ross.

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Madonna has always been someone people either love or hate.   40+Style blogged a great piece this week about Madonna and How We are Supposed to Age.  Give it a read, it is a worthy piece and I'm sure the discussion in the comments will be very interesting.  

 But today I'm going to talk about one of Madonna's iconic fashion trends. Lace! As in wearing lace underwear as actual clothing. 

Like a Virgin came out when I was in high school.  I was never quite sold on wearing lingerie as actual clothes, but I layered on my share of bracelets, necklaces and head bands.  

In Vogue she skipped the underwear altogether and just went with sheer lace.

Lace, sheer and outerwear underwear has been on the runways for a couple of years now.  And the street style blogs seem to be full of it.  But again I'm still not convinced.    There are several ways that lace can be incorporated into an outfit without looking like you are trying to hard.  A bit of peak-aboo lace can be quiet attractive.  And I do own at least one lace dress.   But there is something about wearing that much lace that either makes me feel too fussy or too vampy.  I was uncomfortable most of the night the last time I wore my lace dress.

The point is that by reducing your heat a few degrees you can make a big impact on climate change. If every Canadian lowered the heat a few degrees this winter, it'd be like taking 300,000 vehicles off the road!  So tomorrow wear a sweater, maybe even the one your grandmother knit for you and you never wear - then you can tell her you wore it when she asks next .

Think you might forget to wear your sweater tomorrow (and lower your thermastat) WWF has kindly arranged to have a Granny call to remind you. Pledge your support and book your Granny call now (after you finish laughing at the video of course)!

And here are a few chunky sweater ideas for tomorrow.   There is no reason you can't be fashionable and warm at the same time.

Some reading for those who want to learn more about reducing your carbon footprint.

If you want to win a Joe Fresh sweater Hummingbird604 is giving away 3, but you need to hurry and enter by 4pm February 9th.

I'll be posting a picture of my sweater on twitter tomorrow  (@fashion_frwd40).  Be sure to post yours too and include the hashtag #sweaterday.

So I find myself on February 6, 2012, posting outfit photos from December 2011.  Talk about starting 2012 with a whimper.  So here is a post to catch you up on my December outfits, shopping and events.

Urban Mommies and Shop Catch Tweet-up

The day before I was overdue to visit the hair dresser, I put on my slouchy 80s black top, my trouser jeans, animal print heels and a pair of fancy earrings and headed to the Fairmont Pacific Rim for a twitter party about shopping.  The food was fantastic (thanks to the  Giovane Cafe) and the laughs with friends even better.

I always love to start with dessert!

And more food. Wish I had a picture of the mini osso bucco... YUM. I might have had 3.

Eric Gee (Haus of Hybrid) and Olivia Lovemark (Style Struck) with me. If you could see our feet you'd see that Olivia and both had animal print shoes. Hers flat. Mine not so much.

Me and my HTC Flyer. It was a tweet up so we were expected to be online. Topic of the night was shopping tips.

Duking it out in a little ShopCatch promo fun with Kerry from Crunchy Carpets.

Boxing Week Sales

My Mom and I hit a few sales while she was in town for the holidays.  I tried, as much as possible, to stick to my list.  I also came home with a few fantastic items that weren't necessarily on the list.   But my proudest moment is when I left without purchasing, after I found myself trying to talk my self into something not quite right cause it "was on sale".  That is personal growth ladies.  To be faced with a 50% off (or more) deal and to leave empty handed because it wasn't perfect.  Yah!

My list of goodies includes:

• Long sleeve t-shirts - 1 black scoop neck and 1 grey cowl neck at 50% off from Current before they closed their doors (see New Year's Eve picture below)
• Silver Chain necklace - a gift from my Mom at Plum
• Purple Protection Cardi (100% Alpaca wool) sweater from Nicole Bridger - SUPER awesome gift from my Mom (see New Year's Eve picture below)
• Black Surrender dress from Nicole Bridger - I couldn't resist this cute and versatile dress when their fall collection went 50% off.  It will be perfect for a warm beach vacation later this winter.
• After last but not least after Boxing Week I hit the Fluevog January sale. I came home with two pairs of shoes, the practical and cute black Barkervilles  and a pair of very sexy red Paris platforms.

  

  Lace Up Barkerville Fluevogs

  

  Red Paris Platform Fluevogs

Swanky NYE

We had a very family oriented New Year's Eve. We went sledding at a local mountain. So I bundled up in my cozy but practical clothes.  This was one of the rare times I wore leggings with just a sweater, as I added my ski pants (and jacket) once we hit the hill.  So here I am in my new Nicole Bridger cardigan. I layered my 2 new t-shirts with the black scoop neck over the grey cowl neck.  I added my favourite KDon wool scarf and the hat I bought at the Circle Craft Christmas market.  And I am sledding ready.

And no I made no New Year's Resolutions. So no regrets yet in 2012.   Other than feeling a bit behind in my January blogging. 

Don't forget to enter my Phantom of the Opera blu-ray giveaway  ends Wednesday at 9pm EST. 

Photos: Shop Catch party care of Tandon Photography. Fluevog photos from Fluevog.com and the outfit one is mine.

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall on Blu-ray, in Celebration of its 25th Anniversary

Review and Giveaway

25 years ago in the fall of 1986 I entered my last year of high school, being from Ontario that was the now defunct Grade 13. That same fall Rick Hansen traveled through Ontario on the Canadian stretch of his Man in Motion World Tour (he arrived back in Vancouver in May 1987 after 2 years wheeling around the world). And The Phantom of the Opera, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, opened in London. Clearly 1986 was a good year.

Phantom debuted at the newly renovated Pantages theatre in Toronto in1989, where it ran for a record setting 10 years. I moved to Toronto in early 1992, and although I am a big lover of musical theatre, I never had an opportunity to see the show before it ended (likely because I was just starting out in my career and really couldn't afford it). It was unfortunate that I moved to Vancouver just as Paul Stanley, from KISS, took the stage as The Phantom for some of the final performances of the show.

So the first time I saw the complete show, the Hollywood movie doesn’t count in my mind, was when the travelling show came to Vancouver in 2006. I already knew most of the music by heart and was thrilled to see it acted out on stage. But unless I plan a trip to New York (it is the longest running show on Broadway) or Las Vegas, it isn't likely that I will get to see another stage performance soon.

But if I was so lucky to see it on stage... what would I wear? Somehow a gorgeous black and white dress seems appropriate.  Hmmm long or short?  And how do I add a touch or red? A rose? Red shoes? 

For the 25th Anniversary of the opening in London they staged an extravagant performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London - and filmed it for Blu-Ray. It is a huge production with a cast and orchestra of 200. So when I was asked if I would be willing to review The Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall, I jumped at the chance. We have a great home theater set-up and my husband is a HUGE fan. So much so that I had to ask him to stop singing along so I could hear the actual talent singing.

The DVD is like having better than front row tickets where you watch all the action close up and see every little emotion on the actors faces.  All this without the inevitable annoying old guy snoring behind you, line ups for drinks or uncomfortable theatre seats.  Now I do sort of miss the getting dressed up for a night out at the theatre. But since I don't see an opportunity to see this show live anytime soon, watching in this quality in my own home is a fantastic option.  Maybe I'll host a Fans of Phantom night and have some friends over to watch.

I'm a sucker for romance, and this is one of my favourite songs.

You also don't have to worry about leaving early to beat the traffic out of the parking garage, so you won't miss the spectacular final curtain call of Phantoms past.

I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in the bonus materials. There is a teaser of the Love Never Dies DVD and a behind the scenes piece. The behind the scenes is a fantastic look behind the cast, make-up and costumes for the 25th Anniversary performance. It was interesting to know they borrowed costumes from productions around the world to fit the cast which had grown by 3.5 times its normal size. But I would have liked some clips from the original show and interviews with original cast members, like Sarah Brightman who came back for the final curtain call.  More history!! More stories!!

The Blu-ray and DVD come out February 7th, perfect timing for a Valentine’s Day gift. Or perhaps a girls night-in celebration.

5 Epics Songs and The Giveaway

On the topic of musicals songs, which is your favourite EPIC musical song?  Five of the most popular are:

1. "Seasons of Love" from RENT
2. "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from EVITA
3. "If I were a Rich Man" from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
4. "Defying Gravity" from WICKED
5. "Aquarius" from HAIR

How Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables didn't make this list baffles me. What is your favourite musical song?

I'm trying out a Rafflecopter for entry into this giveaway.  It will ask you for some basic info and then track your entries.  The required action for entry is to comment below with your favourite song from a musical.   See the small print in Rafflecopter for more info on this contest.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure - I was given a copy of The Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall Blu-Ray/DVD to review, and another copy to giveaway to a reader.  I received no other compensation. And all opinions are my own.

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My favourite outfit of the night was Mary Steenburger. The colour was fantastic. The cut showed off her assets. And the accessories were perfect. Nothing could make it better, except...

Source: Zimbio.com