Talya Lee

In which, my Brother and my Mother have their usual evening conversation.

joshishollywood:

I went downstairs to make a sandwich and my mom was sitting at her computer with the hood of her sweatshirt up. I asked what she was doing and she looked at me and said “I’m 8 Mile.” Mom

(Source: badcgijosh)

Anonymous asked: I miss your bloggin'! I know you're busy being awesome and writing for rad magazines and next-level ish like that, but when you have a dull moment--blog! We love you :D

Oh gosh - this is a very sweet and hilarious message! I love that I still have readers, despite being such a bad blogger. Frick! I am uploading pictures as we speak. Thanks for the love! 

A while…

It has been an unreasonably long time since I’ve last posted.

To be honest, the beginning of my fourth and last term (which was in September) made me panic a bit - so I threw myself headlong into interning, volunteering and networking - and just made school my entire life.  I’m not kidding - I barely went out, barely slept, ate questionable meals (ramen+a slice of cheese is a good 3-meals-a-day habit, right?) had several emotional/mental breakdowns coupled with 4am calls to my best friend (I can’t doooo this… whyyyyy am I even heeeeeeeeere…*sob*) and many more, generally unhealthy/insane situations. Somewhere, in the middle of all of this, I also changed living situations twice (once to a different province), couch surfed for 2 weeks (thank the heavens for my fashion bitches - more on that later) got a new job, produced 2 of the most life-ruining projects ever (one I had to redo, thanks to a roomie dumping wine on it) lost 10 pounds, gained 15 back,  wrote my finals and graduated with a diploma in Fashion Merchandising on December 14th. 

(Bad quality pics ahead - sorry!)

The day after that, I moved back to Edmonton. Four days after that, I was in Toronto, with my parents, brother and best friend, hammering out 200+, handmade wedding invitations. (We’d like to thank the makers of El Dorado Rum and Bombay Sapphire Gin for getting us through those difficult 48 hours!) We rang in the New Year of 2012 and a week and a half later I was back in Edmonton. Bought a home. Made connections in Toronto for Fashion Week and New York for a new account (I’ve decided to go into Fashion Public Relations - on my own! Maybe I’m crazy, maybe I’m smart, I don’t know yet!) and have also secured an account with a chain of boutiques in Vancouver. 

So yeah, things have been a bit hectic! Shit!

I’ve finally found a blissful, quiet moment to myself here and feel the need to acknowledge that although the last few months have been incredibly challenging, they have been filled with beautiful, generous and genuine people who have made all things possible. How do I even begin to give thanks for them?

There is a particular group of women in Vancouver, whom I never expected to find, but now feel like there is no way the last year would have been half as rewarding without. I went into my program with the thought, “I’m here to learn, not to make friends - and I probably won’t meet anyone nice anyway.” (What a cow, hey?) That couldn’t have been further from the truth. What I found was a posse of the most solid, caring people ever. All of us were going through our own life struggles, intensified by the pressure of school and financial woes. However, there was never a Monday morning that you couldn’t find someone with open arms for a hug and an ear ready to listen. I’m getting an ache in my chest just thinking about how much I already miss them. There was always someone within the group, ready to help another with anything. No competition (which you would actually expect from a bunch of fashion students) just genuine support and love. I had the best birthday I’ve had in a long time this past summer, wait - scratch that, it was the best summer I’ve had in a long time.  

How do you begin to find the thanks, for the people who offered you their apartments, couch, food and shower when you had to leave your negative living situation? How do you thank a girl, who you just met a few months ago - for picking you and half your furniture and suitcases up in the middle of the night and driving you an hour away, when you only asked her an hour before this? Or your girlfriend who speeds through an hour of traffic to get you to the airport (barely made that flight, Sara!) for your flight home? There aren’t enough words, you just hope that somewhere along the line, you’ll be able to return the many favours. 

(Sorry for the low-quality pics in this post - we barely got any group shots! - Also, I have no idea why we are all posing like a group of awkward debutantes here?!)

(That’s more like it! Taken at our grad party - the theme was PICK A DECADE!)

Fashion Bitches: Let’s be real, life is tricky and who knows what it will bring us, or whether we will be any good at keeping in touch, as we slowly spread out across the country. I’d like to think we will be amazing at this and always in each others lives, some way or the other. What I do know is that I’ve had the absolute, best time with you this past year and am forever grateful for everything you’ve taught me and inspired me to do. 

As for the other people who have gotten me through this last little while, well, if you read this blog, it’s likely that you’re familiar with them; My family. My Dad, Mum, brother, best friend and my love keep me sane, hopeful and motivated. I would be so, absolutely lost without you and I am grateful for everything you five, beautiful people bring into my life. Your support means everything and everything I do is so that I can make you proud. 

So I’ll conclude what is beginning to sound like an incredibly long acceptance speech now and move onto what’s next. Honest to god, it seems like EVERYTHING is what’s next. I cannot wait! I’m thrilled with the progress I’ve made - and finally proven to myself what I can do if I truly set my mind to it. I’m letting this post be the beginning of my regular blogging again - so stay tuned! 

-Talya

Awkward Turtle.

So uh yah.. HI, October. Nice to see you around the bend!

I just came out of a post-finals coma and seem to have made it and now look… graduation in 2.5 months! MEEP!

I guess putting up awkward pictures of myself is super effective - I’ve got a tonne of messages/questions that I am working through..

….Hey guys.. I totally appreciate it! Seriously! So excited to see readers and regular readers too! I had a bunch of questions about my skincare and make-up regime and rather than write it out, I’ve decided to make my first ever VLOG, so I can show you the products. Wait ‘til you see just how awkward I am in real life. Maybe this is going to have the opposite effect of my pictures though… either way, I will try to film it in the morning and have it posted by tomorrow night. Inbox/Ask box me if you have any more random questions you want answered in the video. Like if you’d like to know just how good I am at organized sports (not very) or how I rarely wash my hair and seem to get away with it (not joking). .. just don’t ask about my age (not very young anymore) or if my tumblr-famous bro is single (VERY NOT). 

Oh - also, I managed to snag the amazing ‘Bonita Jumpsuit’ by Cheap Monday, thanks to fate, and even though it’s the end of the season, I don’t care I am wearing it all through the winter because let’s be real, who wants to actually spend time getting dressed anymore? 

Oh - bit of a fan girl moment.. has anyone else (other than tumblr-ers) seen these stills from Rihanna’s new video? How BANGIN’ does she look? Love it. Makes me want some creepers now. I was wearing my hair in a twist like this pretty much all of August and I walked into the fine establishment of ‘Denny’s” on Davie street and some dude yelled out “HAAAAY RI RI RIHANNA” and I acted super indignant and unimpressed but I think deep down I was pleased. 

Happy Thursday! See you (in video format) tomorrow!

-Talya

***EDIT: I have filmed the video - unfortunately all of the noise from the men working on renovating my building totally ruined the sound. So as soon as they are done, I will re-film and post. THANKS GUYS!!! ***

And just like that…

Last week out of nowhere, Rich said to me, “and just like that, the summer is gone.”

He’s not usually the type to panic about time going by quickly so it threw me for a second but then I realized, holy crap.. it’s September. I am 3 months away from graduating. Someone tell me where this year went?

Anyway, the good thing is that my summer was really, really magnificent and filled with some of the best memories.  Also, it seems that Vancouver is a little confused and decided to have beautiful weather this week. I’m fine with it, although I’ve been enjoying it in limited amounts due to the overwhelming amount of projects and studying I have to tackle these days. Taking the night off to celebrate my soul friend, Stacey’s birthday tonight though. Here are some pics from the last couple of months…

Bad bitches! Stace and Sara.

Nobody ever wants to dance with me.

Excellent birthday at “The Denman” on English Bay. Stop in there and let them know I sent you ;).

Fashion Bitches at the Pride Parade.

Are you following Andie yet? If not - get on it!

More Pride week festivities with my sis.

Hey, Love!

Brother Bear.

I don’t know what the concept of this picture was - but I think somebody yelled, “LUNGE!”

So there it is and it was a good one. Now, I’m looking forward to this last bit of great weather, Fall fashion (toques, scarves, layers, BOOTS, YES PLEASE.) graduation and another big move being just around the corner.. but first, FINALS. Ugh.

Happy Saturday!

- Tal

A note.

Thanks for sticking with me while my blog is on a bit of a hiatus. My brother is working to revamp it this weekend so it should be better soon (I hate the layout). I’m also the proud new owner of a Canon Rebel TS3 so pictures are going to improve in quality EXPONENTIALLY!

Happy Weekend! Here’s a bunny! (mine.)

Personal Style: Keep It Simple.

Some days I wake up and have this epic, mixed print and heels outfit in my head that I am going to create. Then there are the days I have too much to get done and don’t really feel like wearing anything but a bunch of neutrals. Hair in a bun. Out the door. Or maybe I just feel extra ‘curvaceous’ that day and don’t really want anything clingy. Or maybe I am rambling and you’re annoyed now! This was a simple day. 

• Top - H&M (Aritzia camisole underneath)
• Leggings - American Apparel
• Wedges - Spring (last summer)
• Purse - Pimkie (in Spain)
• Bangles - a mix of H&M and some random stall in the street in Melbourne 

Easy. Out the door. Eat as many spring rolls as you like without it showing!

-Talya

Summer Shenanigans. Pt.1

Summer time in Vancouver - there isn’t much better. I have to admit, It’s getting increasingly more difficult to concentrate on school these days. Vancouver is a lively and eventful city in the summer and I am trying to soak it all in and still stay balanced. Truth is, I’m not sure I’ll ever have another full summer here so I try to do something new every week - whether it’s going to a different beach or trying a new dish somewhere. 

Living about a 10-minute walk from the beach is doing me a lot of good too. In fact, I’d say it has made the quality of my evenings improve exponentially!

My dear friend, Dan. He was actually my date for my high school grad! He stopped by Vancouver and we had a quick reunion before he went home to Australia. I am incredibly proud of him. I am not proud of those flip flops though. Baha!

My girl, Stacey is quite the foodie! She knows where the good stuff is at, so she took Richard (my quiet, introverted love on the right of this picture) and I to ‘Legendery Noodle’’  I don’t have enough words for how delicious this meal was, and extremely affordable too. They make your noodles fresh right on the spot. Highly recommend! 

I woke up the other day and realized it was almost August. Had a mild panic attack as well that actually wasn’t that mild and resulted in my saying, “Holy shit. Can you believe it’s August?!” over and over again to almost anyone who would listen to it. The reality is, I only have 4 months until I am finished my diploma and 4 months left with some of the best people I have met. People who are a part of my “tribe”. Like minded souls. 

2011 has been a gift, so far.