brown and black

urban planet top, f21 necklace, studded booties from my mom, gap skinnies

Hello everyone!

I am very happy to announce that the music festival is over (for my students and I, anyway) so my life returns to normal! I can't wait to get a few of the posts up that I've been working on. We've had such a busy week that I'm really looking forward to just taking some time to get away from it all. We had the little one out in the snow yesterday--that was a riot. Hopefully this week is full of enjoying my day. When I set my mind to have a good day and make time for the things that are important to me, everything works out.

I'm off to Kindermusik!
I hope everyone had a great weekend. Fill me in on anything I've missed! Who was the best dressed at the Oscars? Anyone get to see it?
xo,
Courtney

PS: I was pretty excited to see I've reached the 100 followers mark. Thank you so much!

black & blue

forever 21 shoes & choker, wilson's leather outlet trench coat, gap dress

Thank you for coming to hear me sing Maegan! And for taking my photos... especially that really cheesy close up that I insisted on. I love you! Thank you to Robin, Mom, Evan and anyone else who was there. And to Jeff. Thanks for watching the munchkin. I can't wait for this week to be over!This is what I wore to my vocal concert group. It goes without saying that you have to dress up to sing Opera so this is what I chose to wear. Then I went home and recorded something fun almost immediately after. As much as I love Opera, it's nice to not have to think so much while singing... and just have fun. (Of course, just typing that makes me realize that thinking too much is obviously my problem.)
Anyway, here's Thinking Of You by Katy Perry... I have always loved her live acoustic version of this song. It's beautiful.






Thank you so much for the lovely comments I got on my last post. They were beautiful. I really enjoyed reading them. You guys make me so happy!

xo,
Courtney

PS. Tomorrow I'll be covering Tval's Birthday event and I'm super excited! I can't wait to tell you about it. Also, I must obsess over certain color combinations because only a few days ago I posted this.

I don't feel "fireworks"

coat & shoes from my mother in law, old navy dress, f21 pearls & sweater
charlotte russe tights, j crew bracelet from @justpatie, sparkles of hope bracelet
(ps...this is my favorite outfit I've posted in ages)

I wrote this May of 2010... I feel weird changing anything in it since it represents a part of who I was at that time. I do think I jump to conclusions, and I stereotype a little too harshly. Perhaps what I meant when I said "we" was actually "I" but I was too naive to realize it then.

A good friend once told me in conversation that our generation expects fireworks from life. It's definitely true. We've become numb to a lot of things. Indifferent. Apathetic. The only way to feel something is to do drugs, or so becomes the general consensus.

I don't think life is about fireworks. I think that is a product of video games, movies and books. That, or our friends playing up their lives to match something of the sort, when reality is much different.

What the hell is love anyway?

I don't feel fireworks when I look at my daughter, but I sure as hell love her more than I love anyone else on the face of this planet. I feel nothing; However, I would do anything for her. I live my life for her. I am in awe of how beautiful she is and that I have created her. She grew inside me for nine months and I gave birth to her. This stuff absolutely amazes me but I don't go around feeling high off life. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I am so happy. I am so in love with my baby girl. Life is excellent. I am so blessed. There are no fireworks.

You watch these TLC shows of a Baby Story. You expect that when you have your baby girl your life will feel complete and full and excellent, when in reality you want to go to sleep and you feel like a stranger just handed you a baby and gave you a lifetime of responsibility. I didn't cry. There were no fireworks. But it was the best day of my life. I loved seeing my baby, but I didn't feel like she was mine. I feel that way now when I walk into a room and she sees me and smiles at me because she is excited to see me. That feeling is worth a million dollars.

I'm not numb.

Disney movies bring me to tears; they create wishes and dreams and hope and aspirations for your life. They create such strong emotions and high expectations. That's what they do to me. I know Disney is extremely controversial, but I love it regardless. Those wishes and hopes are real, but when they're fulfilled, sometimes there are just no fireworks. And that is okay.

Love doesn't have to happen at first sight. It's possible that love can happen over time, during the process of getting to know somebody.

I heard the most beautiful quote the other day on televison... I'm going internet hunting to try and find it now. This, in my opinion, is the most beautiful quote about marriage I have ever heard. It is so true.

This comes from Shall We Dance 2004.

”We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things, all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed because I will be your witness'."

Anyway, I have no idea how to wrap up this entry, so I'll just say that just because you don't feel awesome every single minute of the day does NOT mean your life isn't completely awesome.

brrrrr

I dress for Newfoundland weather in two ways. It's simple.

If I am feeling brave (or if it's just not that cold), I'll wear this, or a variation of this:




The ways this scarf can be wrapped to keep me warm under a blazer or a moto jacket is endless. I freakin' love it.

If I am feeling like I just can't put myself through the pain and torture of freezing my ass off, then I will wear some form of this:



The only way to make an outfit this bulky any kind of stylish is to work from some color palate.

Basically, if you're living in a freezing place like me, you could either buy some chunky layers that match for every day wear or a huge knit scarf to wear with everything and everything when you just aren't feeling in the mood for all those layers.

How is everyone's weekend going? Wishing you the best!
xo,
Courtney

In case you missed it...

MY MUSIC: Drive By (cover) Train's new single
OUTFITS: black, white & cobalt blue jeans
GOALS: february

drive by (train) cover

One of my readers asked me for something more upbeat! Hope you enjoy it! Here are some out takes from my last posts...

black and blue

forever 21 tuxedo blazer, shoes & necklace (made of 2 separates)
zara blouse, american eagle blue jeans
revlon love that pink lipstick (yet it's red on me)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I posted my pink and red post a little earlier in the week, but you can see it here.

I'm going to keep it short and simple today. This is probably one of my favorite outfits of all time. Simple, but I think it looks classy. I also love wearing full length sleeves under three quarter jackets.

If you are staying in and watching a movie, I'd pick one of these if I were you (they aren't in any particular order):
1. When Harry Met Sally (Meg Ryan & Billy Crystal)
2. How To Loose A Guy In Ten Days (Kate Hudson & Matthew McConaughey)
3. Made Of Honor (Patrick Dempsey)
4. He's So Not That Into You (Pretty much any famous person they could find)
5. Life Or Something Like It (Angelina Jolie)
6. No Strings Attached (Natalie Portman & Ashton Kutcher)
7. Tangled (Mandy Moore--Who's going to judge me for including an animated Disney film in here? I'd watch any Disney movie... Beauty and the Beast would be my next pick...)
8. The Time Traveler's Wife (Rachel McAdams & Eric Bana)
9. PS I Love You (Hilary Swank & Gerard Butler)
10. Knocked Up (Seth Rogan & Katherine Heigl)
11. 27 Dresses (Katherine Heigl & James Marsden)
12. The Ugly Truth (Katherine Heigl & Gerard Butler)
13. Enchanted (James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Idina Menzel)
14. Phantom Of The Opera (Gerard Butler & Emmy Rossum)

And The Notebook--but c'mon girls, how many times have we seen that? And no, it doesn't get old, but try something different--you might like it!

xo,
Courtney

birthday girl

Here are some pictures from the big day! She is still asking for presents, haha! How was everyone's weekend? I spent mine with Megan. We went to a show and saw Catcher play then went for a drive just like we used to do back in first year Music school, haha. It seems so long ago now.

I wore this Smart Set dress with tights and a grey Forever 21 cardigan. I had no idea what to wear, and whenever that happens and I have to dress up, I throw on this dress (no matter what season it is). The small ruffles smooth out my figure and it makes me feel like a million bucks. Do you have any clothes that just make you feel great? I threw on a grey cardigan and grey tights to winterize it a little bit. Megan can let us know what she's wearing in the comment section if she's reading this :)


Trying to get the munchkin to smile for the camera...


Opening presents!
I wear my grandmothers ring on this old necklace I kind of stole on my sister, haha--I love you Nicole!
I never keep rings on my fingers because I always loose them.

I have to run--my daughter is talking to someone on the phone again. God knows who.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Hope everyone has a great day.
xo,
Courtney

ps. Just made the I Can Be Many Things facebook page a little more public. The link's on the blog side bar. If you want to keep in touch, please like it!

red and pink

What are your plans for Valentine's day? I took these pictures a little while ago but I figure this is the perfect cheesy time to post them. The pink and red combination has been trending around for quite some time now (completely unrelated to Valentines day) but this is my first attempt with it. I found you shouldn't over-clutter this look.  The colors make enough of a statement!

If your special day is looking anything like mine, you could wear something like this. My plans consist of: teaching a Kindermusik class (which is more or less baby aerobics), running after a 2 year old all day, going to work, then... a glass of semi-cheap wine, popcorn with juuuust a sprinkle of cheddar seasoning (mmmm... good alternative to nachos), cuddling up and watching a disgustingly cheesy romantic comedy. Funny, they call it a comedy but I always cry. And if I've seen it before, I'll cry ten times harder because I love the characters that much more. Who's a sucker for punishment on Valentine's day? Um, I am.

spring nude heels, american eagle red skinnies, gap neon dolman top (sized up)
j crew bracelet, sparkles of hope bracelet, f21 choker

Happy Friday everyone!

xo,

Courtney

A few things I want to share after the jump...

& you win some

Hi everyone!

Since I am trying to keep to my goal (drop everything at 11pm) this is going to be short and sweet and to the point. Let's make a list.

1. Huge thanks to @StyleNineToFive for including me in their round up of fashion bloggers in the Maritimes. Style Nine To Five is a fashion career website for Canada and I feel very honored to be included in their round up next to some very stylish women.

2. Please help my friend, @ScottTBartlett from Batshite.com, win the United Nations World Environment Day blogging competition. The winner of the competition will travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to attend World Environment Day 2012 and to help cover the event. Visit and read his post here.

3. Second time using the slow cooker. MY GOODNESS it makes my life so much easier. And it's delicious. Anyone have any recipes they can share?

4. Had an amazing voice lesson today. Forgot to book my doctor's appointment--consider this a very public reminder, Courtney! Don't put it off any longer!

5. Appointment soon for dress fitting for my best Mommy friend Kelly's wedding. I am beyond excited. I can't wait to share the moment with her.

6. My little one has a birthday this week. Expect some M.I.A. from me, especially on Thursday! I'm excited. Just a small family supper. Planning the party for later in the month.



Garage military jacket (old), F21 dress (saw it on the site a little while ago)
F21 tights, Seychelles Platinum Boots, Triangle Necklace (from 2 F21 necklaces)
F21 bangle & belt off another dress, revlon smoked peach matte lipstick

11:09PM -- gotta go! Enjoy your week everyone!
xo
Courtney

In case you missed it...

winter lace
february goals

monthly goals

FEBRUARY

FASHION GOAL

Simplify.

I have noticed something about my fashion choices. When am really trying to create a memorable outfit, it falls apart, becomes cluttered. For February, I want it to be about the following: simple, everyday fashion; something clever; one concept at a time.

POSITIVE THINKING GOAL

You are better than that.

Take a second to think about this. If you self assess... decide you are at a certain level... you will never go farther than that. If I think I'm an average singer, I will be. If I think I look average, I will act average. If I think I'm a terrible Mom, well, I probably will continue to act that way. Never settle. Don't set limits for yourself. Those limits are made to be broken. Aspire big. If you fail... Well, in my opinion, the only way to fail is to never try. Failure, in my opinion, isn't a failure at all. It's a breath of courage (fresh air, if you ask me)... a testament to your will and your determination. Don't listen to what your mind may tell you, about how you aren't good enough to (fill in the blank here, it's different for everyone). If you have drive in your heart, you can work towards your goal. Be honest with yourself--it may take time. Success doesn't happen overnight. But if you don't reach outside of the box, you'll be confined to just that--the boundaries you've set. Anything worth having takes patience...and hard work.

HEALTH AND BODY GOAL

Stick to the plan.

That's pretty much all I have to say this month. Continue to plan means, aim to run twice a week. This is an achievable goal. I try to keep them that way.

MOMMY GOAL

Slow down and enjoy your time.

Time. The ever fleeting notion we fret and panic over. There is never enough. Or there is too much of it. It's never just right and rarely do we ever just enjoy it. So it's ticking and ticking and will keep ticking...  So what? Slow down and enjoy the moments that make up your day. Most of the things we worry about aren't the be all end all. Why make them seem that way?

BLOGGER GOAL

Improve photography.

I would love to learn more about the art of photography and the specifics of my camera to improve it's functionality. If I can't do that this month, I'm going to at least try to be more careful while setting up so I don't over or under expose my photos... and pay more attention to the angles I'm shooting. Anyone have any tips for focusing their pictures while using a tripod? I find my camera is always focusing on anything but me...

MUSIC GOAL

Be positive.

I need to take care of my body. This may sound silly to anyone who isn't used to singing for a living, but when you depend on your body to make sound, you really need to take care of it. In stride with that, there is nothing more damaging that prolonged self sabotage. It's time to be positive about my singing. Believe that hard work and dedication will produce great results--and they will. Even more, I need to enjoy my practice time. At the moment, I am singing for nobody but myself. I'm free of the stress of school. This needs to be something I enjoy, otherwise, there is no point of continuing.

TEACHER GOAL

Read.

This month will be totally focused on the Kiwanis class I'm participating in... I have lots to prepare, for both myself and my students, and I fear I will have little time to focus on self growth. I should make a point to read into my area of study when I have a chance to relax.

GREEN GOAL

Conserving water.

I am not perfect. I am willing to try to change my bad habits. Please let me know of ways you try to be environmentally friendly in your home. My hope is, if I try for a month to do something that will help sustainability, that my good habits will continue and I can add a new one into the mix every month. To be honest, I think we should all do our part to change our lifestyles for sustainability, but we all find it so difficult to change. This month I won't let the water run... I'll only use what I have to. Turn it off when you're not directly using it while showering/brushing your teeth/doing dishes. Don't flush things down the toilet: throw them in the trash. If you're wondering how this will help, this is a pretty short straightforward answer. As I said before, I'm not an expert and I'm not perfect, but I am looking to do my part and would love some feedback and advice.

RELATIONSHIP GOAL

Drop everything at 11PM.

This is going to be very hard for me to do...but it ensures that I wake up happy and well rested the next day. And trust me, the key to a good relationship is making sure you're not tired and grumpy every day.

JANUARY SUMMARY:

Hello self-assessment, my worst enemy and best friend.

I think I did a great job bringing the blog back to it's roots. January brought me singing two songs and a handful of great outfits (see here, here, here, & here) plus a motivational speech on working hard to reach my goal lifestyle.
Jeff and I did a really good job planning meals--if you'd like I can share some of my favorites with you--and I've found it helps going to the grocery store with a list. You spend so much less. You eat healthier. It's less stressful. Win, win, win. Ah, the treadmill. First half of January went excellent. Second half got less frequent. Altogether, the beginning of this year is going great. We won't talk about the last few days when my friends came over and we made the most amazing tray of nachos ever. 
I've been singing a lot, but I've been a little disappointed by the news I got in one of my past lessons. I have an issue that I need to see an Ear Nose Throat doctor about just to make sure it's not something serious. If I said I wasn't scared I would be lying. I know it's a necessary precaution, but I'm just anxious. As for teaching, we've had three snow days... meaning I have to make up three days of lessons so I'll be working/looking for sitters during every spare moment I have.
My little girl and I have had great fun in Kindermusik since it has started up again. I can't count how many times she just breaks out into song. Today was Alabama Gal. Yesterday was Little Red Wagon. Tomorrow who knows what it'll be. She's hilarious.
For Christmas, I gave Jeff a date night book, planning every night that our little one isn't home. It's been amazing. So far we've gone to the Winterholme, a couple of hockey games, Wing N' It and Olivers... It's been great surprising Jeff. I think he gets a kick out of it.
Overall, we had a really great month and I'm so thankful for every day I spend with my family.

xo,
Courtney

PS. "February is going to be on time. I've been thinking long and hard about what I want to accomplish this month and this is what I have come up with." I wrote this sentence on January 30th and I am only now getting around to posting this. This was the hardest post I have ever written! I had such a hectic week. Tons of other things are demanding my attention, but I've been managing to stay afloat. I have to say a huge thank you to my most recent followers. I really appreciate each and everyone one of you who visit and check back.

In case you missed it...

january goals
december goals
november goals
october goals

Coming up...
monochromatic purple outfit
the pink/red trend