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about
I use to have a pretty and polished biography, it was in third person, formal and gave the facts...but it never really described me. As of late I have been seeking a new life of authenticity, a life where I am ok to show who I really am, to open myself up, to let people see me. So here it goes!
I am a girl that is fiercely independent, I really believe anything is possible! I want to do more for our world but have no clue how to start and maybe have already started? I question everything, always on a quest to know myself a bit better, I’m a gemini and we are curious little creatures. I am a newfound spiritual student, always expanding and bending what I thought about the world. I love stories and am perpetually interested in other people and their stories (I have a webseries about that called The Diamond Life). I love the environment and have no idea how to contribute to the preservation of it but deeply want to and am working towards it. I believe in the strength and empowerment of women and want to contribute to that dialogue. I create things, beautiful things, with script writing (my current script is a feature film called Rosaline), acting (think Kate Hudson meets Sienna Miller), and filmmaking (check out the short film 90 days). I love the past and feel a deep connection to the late 1800’s/early 1900’s (past life, yes I must have been a flapper girl or Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald) and through that connection I have always loved antiques and vintage clothing (check out my vintage shop: Ana Loves). I live in Toronto in the most unique and brightly lit Victorian house with one of my best friends. I love my family, I admire and love coming from a Croatian culture, the ancient ties run deep and have shaped who I am. I am a hopeful (not hopeless) romantic, I’d rather give a high-five than a hug but that doesn't mean I don't believe in love: true, mad, deep crazy love and that is the kind I seek.
I am always looking to create and collaborate with like-minded folks (preferably ones that say ya’ll) and would love to hear from anyone that has a passion to create film, art, photography...a movement?
For me its all about storytelling and community, so email me! ana.camille.alic@gmail.com
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Videos
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projects
- Actress, Producer and Writer
Bicyclette Boutique Presents 90 DAYS from Bicyclette Boutique on Vimeo.
A collaboration between Bicyclette Boutique and Kolab Cinema, '90 days' is a celebration of both summer romance and fashion and shares our love for the community of Queen West in Toronto.
(Love) That Kind of trailer from The Diamond Life on Vimeo.
(Love) That Kind of is a short film project that explores the complexity of relationships and the love we can find when we dare to dream.
Wasteland - TV Pilot from Ana Alic on Vimeo.
Wasteland is a television pilot co-created by Ana Alic. The series follows two girls as they try to make their mark in a new city and discover you cannot wait for life to happen, its up to you to write your own story. It’s about getting a second chance to find out who you are. The city is a breeding ground for the self-indulgent, disillusioned twenty-something crowd who pursue fame at any cost. Their restless chase quickly finds them lost in all night dance parties with bodysuit clad girls taking photos in hazy nightclubs. Toronto’s hipster elite occupy city burrows with lost dreams of becoming famous. But underneath the parties and pretty girls exists an urban wasteland. The reason for the city’s allure is the promise of having it all; it’s the insatiable desire inside all of us to make it. But are we prepared for the cost?
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Tweets
- I'm beyond excited! On the blog is the gorgeous @jordanderuiter bridal lookbook shoot I styled. All of… http://t.co/Q1LJZUEaJQ
- RT @Antisocial_Film: Check out Antisocial on @netflix today! @breakthru_ent @anaalic @romainewaite @MichelleMylett @RyBarrett @HorrorTalk h…
- #tbt to shooting the shopbicyclette holiday lookbook, I loved this outfit! Check out the entire… http://t.co/PxG2c6agCE
- A little behind the scenes post is up on the blog about our cabin adventures. #jordanderuiter… http://t.co/ST4ucEFYKJ
- More stunning photos from the @alison_gledhill shoot are posted on my blog! Check out this beautiful… http://t.co/T2vvStOut5
- So excited to share the lookbook shoot for @alison_gledhill styled by moi! Check out… http://t.co/ebzYav1rWR
- Regram of shopbicyclette announcement of a flash sale every weekend until Christmas from Fri-Sun,… http://t.co/gRyji7gjrR
- This analoves vintage package is off to it's new home of Georgetown! For the babeliest mommy-to-be… http://t.co/VIFbnIIv95
- This little vintage gem from my analoves vintage shop is heading to France! Bon voyage 💕@etsy… http://t.co/XTa92f0jo9
- New styling post up on the blog! Lovely lace with my roomie and bestie @hope_collective check it out… http://t.co/8H7pFPBLjg
- Folklore bohemian goddess for today's fall lookbook shoot for @alison_gledhill with our epic team… http://t.co/0DD6EJjdXK
- As if I need to add to my romper collection...so many beautiful new gems at shopbicyclette right now.… http://t.co/UXADU3wLW2
- Me and my mom escaped to the country for a very boho shoot, full post on the blog!… http://t.co/EGXVVFERTe
- Some photos are up on the blog from my antiquing at Aberfoyle, I also talk about my childhood days… http://t.co/gz7NBbEcrp
- Success is defined as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. We can get lost in the idea of success… http://t.co/K9xHnouzGD
- The #girlsgonenashville video is on the blog! Featuring scarletoneill @genevievehutch loujurgens and… http://t.co/rXEas0X63U
- RT @FreePeople: Just breathe <3
- RT @JeremyBiltz: @anaalic is infected and covered in Christmas lights. A sentence I never thought I'd write. #antisocial #31daysofhorror
- Hope - is how I will always remember this road trip. Read about my adventures at… http://t.co/CDZb3nEw7r
- #PeoplesClimate made history. It's time for world leaders to do the same: http://t.co/glwGolR1Ar
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Posts
- Jan 27, 15This styling project was one of the highlights of my year. I worked with my favourite people and was able to bring to life a vision we had which is just the best feeling. Surrounded by nature, in a beautiful cabin with great friends, heaps of creativity, contagious laughs and incredible talent is exactly how I always want to spend my days. For me that is a perfect day. This shoot exceeded my wildest dreams and could not have been created without my babely soul sister Scarlet O'Neill, the passionate and creative maven behind the dreamy designs Jorden de Ruiter, the other red head I love so much and crazy talent that is our makeup artist Alison Sharp, and our stunning faux couple Sara Smith and Jarrett Kennedy. That was a really long sentence I know, grammar aside I loved this day and I love the photos that I proudly share with you here.A big thank you to Philistine for all of Jarret's looks, I love that store and admire their spirit and sincere love for what they do and not to mention bought most of my Christmas gifts there because their merchandise is amazing! Vintage and new yes please!!Designer: Jordan de RuiterPhotographer: Scarlet O'NeillMakeup and Hair: Alison SharpStyling: Ana AlicModels: Sara Smith and Jarret Kennedy
- Jan 22, 15This babe came to hang out with me in Toronto and I took her on the chilly parkdale tour. She is one fourth of our sisterhood clan, our babely girl group that travelled to Nashville together and bonded over coffee obsessions, seances, southern style, blonde hair (and a red head) and our wanderlust for new places. We met years ago but rekindled our friendship in the last couple months and I couldn't be happier. Besides just being insanely stunning, she's one of the kindest and most compassionate people I have ever met, her heart is a good one and everyone that meets her just instantly loves her. She is also one of my style icons, as a stylist she's got impeccable taste and just knows how to throw anything together and make it something you just want to copy. She's a real life mermaid always drawn to the ocean and belongs on a socal beach and until we venture there soon (more travel videos are coming!) we took to the streets of my favourite neighbourhood, drank way too much coffee, ate some amazing glory hole donuts and had a girls day.Check out Genevieve's blog here! and hire her as a stylist because she's awesome!
- Jan 14, 15I escaped the cold for a quick styling shoot at Allan Gardens. I love that this beautiful greenhouse is always open to the public and free of charge. It was just me, a tripod and some older dudes drawing flowers in the corner....quite the peaceful morning. I am wearing a black lace dress from Bicyclette and my new favourite accessory, the Bando hair scarf. Seriously I feel like an Egyptian goddess wearing it, so fun and something different than my usual felt hats. I am also wearing one of my favourite purses from Fitzroy Boutique, it's fair trade and comes from Spanish and Sisters.
- Jan 05, 15
It's monday and its chilly in Toronto, seems like the best time to release the 3rd and final photo series from our Nashville trip. I think this trailer inspired it all, found it on the airbnb instagram right after Scarlet and I decided on Nashville as our destination, I mean a retro pastel pink trailer an hour away - it really couldn't be more perfect. And it definitely looked perfect but it also happened to be the hottest day I can remember this summer, sweat dripping off of us and my hair sticking to my back (so attractive). Oh and the mosquitos! We were attacked and poor Scarlet had to edit out all of our bites, it was pretty bad. We just went with it, giving in to all of the conditions and going "dirty south" and I love it. I have never been one for the perfect photo, you know those styled wedding shoots where everything is perfectly matched or those instagram photos of like "waking up with coffee in bed" yet it looked like they spent an hour placing everything just right in the frame, it just isn't real. I like when things are a little messy, a little spontaneous and a little more real - in our case a little more sweaty.
We also stripped Scarlet of most of her clothes while shooting this because we needed some wardrobe, and she killed it and worked that shoot like a boss, because she is she really is one of the best!models: Ana, Genevieve Hutchinson, Sarah Jurgensphotography: Scarlet O'Neillstyling: Ana Alic - Jan 01, 15
Starting the new year off by releasing the remainder of the girls gone nashville photo series. What I have learned this year is that when you let go of the outcome, when you can trust you are exactly where you need to be and let whatever is out their guide you, some pretty amazing things happen. I booked this camper in the middle of Amish country in Millersburg, Ohio on a hunch. Lately my psychic intuition has expanded (I am a gemini, we are suppose to have psychic abilities) and this trip was no different. We found ourselves in the country, surrounded by the most beautiful fields of wildflowers and we slept under a bed of stars, more stars than I ever remember seeing. When we arrived at this destination there were candles lit, string lights twinkling and garden gnomes waiting to say hello, did we just land in narnia?
The next morning, with the most perfect morning light and summer dew we decided to have an impromptu photo shoot, the location was way too beautiful not to shoot. So I quickly decided to do something along the lines of floral boudoir, picked some wild flowers, rummaged through the suitcases to find three cohesive looks and we let our surroundings dictate the shoot. It was earthy, it was pretty, it was perfectly imperfect, it was spontaneous, it was grounded and it was exactly where we were suppose to be, rainbow sun flares and all.
Oh and how incredible is Scarlet O'Neill's photography! I am just constantly surrounded by mega babes and mega talents, it's amazing and I wouldn't want it any other way.Models: Ana Alic, Genevieve Hutchinson, Sarah JurgensPhotography: Scarlet O'NeillStyling: Ana Alic - Dec 31, 14This was a fun year, with still it's many challenges I learned so much about myself and definitely built the foundation and learned how to own who I am! That was a huge thing for me as for so long I felt like life was happening to me instead of the other way around. Recognizing that I could contribute to what happens to me through a spiritual practice of meditation, a positive thought process and visualization has really changed the game for me. This was the year of planting the seeds, I wrote and finished my first feature film script, I discovered a new styling passion and worked with some incredible talents (which I will be showcasing soon on the blog!) I satisfied my wanderlust and went on three road trips, I took chances on love and let people see me for the first time, I started to practice what I preached with environmentalism and continue to look for ways to help in the fight against climate change, I became a teta (aunt) to the second beautiful baby of my best friend Natasha and her daughter Eli always asks for me and it's the best thing ever! I made new friendships with the best group of girls when travelling to Nashville, we have a group text message going on that is constantly filled with funny memories and so much love, one of my best friend's Andrea moved in with me and its been the greatest roommate year ever!! There is so much more but it's pretty cool to really look back at your year and realize that it was actually pretty great, no really great.
For this styling post I wanted to show a different kind of holiday outfit especially if you are just doing a casual New Years celebration. I love this romper from Bicyclette because you can pretty much wear it all year round. I paired it with a white felt hat (surprisingly really hard to find) from ASOS and my new favourite purse from Grace Design. I will be posting so much more in the New Year and especially this week with an amazing continuation styling post from my Nashville road trip!! Happy New Year and cheers to 2015 - the best year yet. - Dec 09, 14"Well, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout'And we've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went..." Johnny CashIf a photo shoot were to ever embody a song this would be it, this right here. Our fictional couple escaped to their family's hunter's cabin, got married "in a fever" and celebrated their love with a homemade cake, some local beer and a spontaneous jam session in the attic. This type of union is all about freedom, the freedom to express your creativity, to wear whatever the heck you want and the freedom to be completely who you are with the one you love. Now that is my kind of union.We were like a band on the run, our creative collective consisted of Scarlet O'Neill our pint-sized fiery photography wizard, she bounces around and affectionately calls her male model subjects 'bud' and she commands a photo like no other. Then there is the mama bear genius designer Jordan de Ruiter who I always knew was a super talented visionary but totally surprised me by being able to make anything, like ANYTHING I suggested she whipped up right before my eyes. Fun fact Jordan created all of the jewellery pieces that we used in the shoot. She was born for this. The band would not be complete without our super cool and detail oriented makeup artist Alison Sharp. I have told her on many occasions that she is one of two of my all time favourite makeup artists to work with (two being my always love Sherry Vanstone). Another fun fact Alison and Sherry met in Edmonton and are still besties. Alison just understands story and cam make any look come to life, even from my weird notes like "you know messy braid with like smokey eye and shimmery face" haha she just gets it. And our models Jarret Allan and Sara Smith are just gorgeous and incredible people who were up for anything, even braving the great outdoors and some hanging deer (we were at an actual hunter's cabin, and we got the full experience). Sara's grace and elegance shined through and she's just the nicest, coolest person to work with. Jarret had a blast hanging with the ladies all day, made friends with Jordan's mom and was a good sport when we started to call him crocodile dundee.All of Jarret's looks came from the super gracious people at Philistine. I cannot praise that shop enough, the owners are some of the nicest people and their aesthetic and style is incredible. They mix vintage and new perfectly and their shop is so Canadiana and cabin feeling, so naturally they had the exact pieces I was looking for. I am always amazed at how much talent and collaboration we foster here in Toronto, it's been such a blessing to be a part of it.Oh ya and I styled the shoot and organized it and worked on the set design, I am pretty proud of this one and so grateful to have my band with me. Now we just need to come up with a name...Enjoy the behind the scenes photos!! xo
- Dec 03, 14
I am one of those people who love weddings. Everything from the white dress, to the live band, to the hand-made calligraphy name cards...it's where my creativity would shine, as my obsession with the perfect blush coloured peonies flowers would go wild. This past year was an exploration of what a loving relationship really is, of the modern day courtship (due in part to my script research) and witnessing my friend's loving relationships around me, an amazing reminder of it's real existence. This new focus had me thinking about the wedding ritual in a different way, letting go of the need for an elaborate and showy party, a return to the essence of who you are as a couple. The beauty of two whole people coming together to join their lives, that should be celebrated in whatever way feels right to you and for me (one day) it will all be based on my unique personality, most likely eloping in a cabin in the woods (so yes I am pretty much living out my dream with this shoot haha).
When Jordan de Ruiter approached me to style her lookbook for the launch of her bridal collection, I felt instant excitement and creativity run through my veins. We discussed various themes and ideas but decided a laid-back, bohemian elopement would bring out the essence of the fun, creative and wild hearted woman that would wear one of Jordan's pieces. Jordan's collection is very versatile and can really be worn for any type of wedding. But it was fun to dream about our shoot couple:
A wild and reckless couple eloping in a kitschy hunter’s cabin in the winter. Laidback, bohemian with a rustic charm. The couple’s nature is impulsive and free, living life in the moment and living in their own daydream. Their spontaneous nature doesn't deter from their appreciation of art and the classics, traditional silhouettes styled with a bohemian edge. Music, adventure and nature are their callings...opting for an intimate elopement filled with joy, ritual and blissful union and probably a dance party in the kitchen.
Here is some styling inspiration....I cannot wait to create and release the full shoot! xoPhotos from The Lane, Free People, For Love and Lemons - Nov 24, 14
"When it is time for us to go forward in our lives, we simple GO and it is effortless - retrograde or no retrograde, isms or no isms. When life decides it's time for us to step into our 'next phase,' there is absolutely nothing that will stop that forward momentum. Nothing. When it is time - the very ground beneath our feet will move to get us wherever we need to be." Danielle Egnew
I discovered Danielle's book by accident when I was searching for a different book I had read on a recent trip. This is one of the daily lessons she writes about in the book. Timing was an essential element to our Nashville trip. The four of us stepping into new chapters of our lives and perfectly aligned at the moment to take a trip together, to know each other, to create with each other. For me it felt like familiar grounds, this field we found at a dead end, the camper where we slept under the stars and our adventures in Nashville, there was a strong familiarity to it all and I knew the timing was just right.
Present and still, lost in nature and wandering about this new land, I felt the power of being fully alive in a moment. You know that bliss that people talk about when your mind is clear and at ease and when you can just look around you with wonder and awe, I felt that bliss. It's the moment where life flows effortlessly in and you feel connected to your souls calling. Something about this place and about this creativity is a part of that. Scarlet O'Neill captured that essence beautifully, she was also connected to her calling, and that is the beauty of timing.Photos by Scarlet O'NeillStyling by Ana AlicGenevieve, Sarah, Scarlet and Ana - Nov 20, 14
Bicyclette is more than a clothing store...it's a family. I have been a part of the Bicyclette family for a couple years now and although we are saying goodbye to the store, the family will live on. I remember the moment it all started, I was at an audition and saw Emily (store manager and muse) and asked her who was at the store while she was there? She told me she closed up shop to go to the audition and the idea came into my mind right then, I could offer to watch the store whenever they needed! And that is how I started working there. And if it wasn't that occurrence I know it would be something else, because I know I was meant to be a part of this family.
Imagine a group of stylish and insanely creative girls all hanging out together, working together and being each others champions, THAT is the essence of Bicyclette. A group of women who believe in collaboration over competition, who help each other, who love each other and who want to create beautiful magical moments, usually involving glitter. Paige created a community that made you feel incredible and at home when you walked through the shop doors, it is a fairy-tale oasis where magic is real and it is encouraged. She also supported us and always believed in our dreams and was always kind and thoughtful, the characteristics of a great leader. Paige would always bring back something special from her buying trips that made her think of us, she has a compassionate heart and cares deeply about the people in her life. It was an honour to work alongside these women and its a privilege to call them my friends.We created so many special projects together, it was always "what can we dream up next?" One of my favourites was the "90 days" short film project. Including our favourite creatives we set out to make a short film that celebrated summer love and our city. That short film was our love letter to our community and to each other.
As I look back at all the Bicyclette adventures I had I can see that I was exactly where I needed to be. I was a part of a community that was so cherished and loved, that brought me some of my dearest friends, that gave me skills and expanded my creativity, that introduced me to so many incredible women! I was also able to create a blog series with Paige called "Girl Crush" in which I interviewed inspiring women that are passionate and have a zest for life. This was one of my favourite things that I was able to create for the blog, to learn from women all over the world and to introduce them to the Bicyclette community. Here is a couple snippets from these intelligent and insightful babes:"Listen, I’m a pisces, an English major, a dreamer, whatever you want to call it. I worked a super corporate job for three months once where I wasn’t allowed to wear jeans to the office and it was my personal form of hell. Truthfully the one thing I think I’m pretty good at is being a lazy, uber-casual, boundary-less good for nothing who just wants to talk about boys, clothes and feelings. I guess that comes across in all things SFB…" Molly Guy of Stone Fox Bride"Life is not a straight life. Which makes me (& all of us) ever evolving works of h’art. Wabi sabi. Perfectly imperfect. Always changing. It’s really about learning to love the process, and that’s what h’arting and living is all about to me." Kate Durie, creator of 'The Gratitude Kit'"DON’T GIVE UP. DON’T FORGET WHO YOU ARE. DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED. Be whole hearted in your love for your life and the service you know you are here to give and then just keep giving. Give what you got till you bleed. Life will give back once life knows you are serious. Then, watch the glitter come rushing in. Confusion will occur, but a strong full-hearted belief in what you love will shine through it all." Tiffany Pratt, designer, stylist all around creative guruThere will be many more goodbyes as we end this chapter with an incredible sendoff and a holiday lookbook. More from me in the coming months about my special boutique, Bicyclette."Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Winston ChurchillPhotos 1,2,3 Sarah ShrevesPhotos 4,9,10,11 Scarlet O'NeillPhotos 5,6,7,8 Sian Melton - Nov 15, 14
This new styling journey seemed to sweep into my life, an extension of who I am and what I love. I love the process of creation, taking a single idea and even an inkling of an idea and dreaming of it coming to life. I love to be a part of the process, my strengths in finding the perfect location come from intuition and my attention to detail, then combining all the other elements to make a cohesive story. After my Nashville styling adventure I knew I wanted to do more...
Alison Gledhil, the designer and creator of Grace Design, had a strong vision. Her design skills, appreciation of tradition, her incredible collection and clear intentions made it so easy to see that vision. We discussed the themes of the lookbook shoot: folklore, nomadic, tradition, bohemian, and mystical. These ideas pulled me in and we started to craft the landscape of this vision. I knew location was essential (I always believe location is essential) and a horse ranch I have always wanted to visit jumped into my mind, on purpose I believe. It was decided right then, we needed a horse and we needed to use that ranch. I was able to book the ranch and everything else seemed to flow into place. Scarlet O'Neill (my always collaborator) was excited to create this vision and was perfect for it, Murphy MacDonald-Rea's beauty and mystery not to mention her crazy amazing long hair was the perfect choice (and she has the coolest name) and Alison Sharp killed it with the makeup and hair design, she understands story and her talents are unparalleled. The dream team was set, each of us having the right skills for the right part and everything blended in the most perfect way that I knew this shoot would exceed my expectations, and it did in a big way!
Alison's collection was heavily influenced by her trip to Morocco. She incorporates vintage fabrics from Morocco and other exotic locations to her purses. She weaves history and ancient tradition into all of her designs, making each purse unique with their own story. Her passion and expertise is seen in the quality of her line, rich with texture and has tradition woven into its seems while remaining the perfect companion for any modern look. To witness this passion and to be able to work alongside people who truly love what they do is such a gift to me. I also couldn't be more grateful to have worked with such incredible women. Celebrating women, collaborating and complimenting each others talents is what it's all about, it's what makes these projects extraordinary.Designer and Creative Director: Alison Gledhil www.gracedesign.caPhotography: Scarlet O'NeillModel: Murphy MacDonald-ReaMakeup Artist: Alison SharpStyling: Ana Alic - Nov 12, 14
This is the third road trip I have taken in about three months. I have a serious case of wanderlust, to escape the daily routine, shut off my phone and hit the open road to explore places I haven't been, explore things about myself I haven't known. On this trip I travelled alone, 8 hours of reflection and solo car singing....my soul needed this adventure which was only reconfirmed when I arrived in Clifton, Ohio. I stayed in the Clifton Garden Cabin, kitschy and quaint, it had everything your Ohio cabin dreams are made of. Surrounded by expansive farms, picturesque houses, a large garden (in the warmer months) and large porch. To quiet the mind and recharge this was the perfect location, everything about it was cozy and beautiful, it felt like home.
This town had the same amount of charm, it's a little difficult to describe such a unique place, you need to explore it with your own eyes and heart. This is a place where everyone would know your name, your story, your life, they want to know you and you want to know them. We walked around the town and talked to the locals, one couple in particular really warmed my heart, they owned an antique store in town, the woman was 100 years old and attributed her good health to a healthy dose of vitamins every day and her husband recited jokes and antecdotes. I took their photo, a reminder of how I want my life to look like at 100 because they had a good one.
With such beautiful locations I wanted to do a little styling post. This is a gas station museum located next to the historic Clifton Mill. My affliction for old buildings never wavers, I seek them out like gold and want to know their stories. It reminds me of a quote I read at the antique store, scribbled on a piece of paper on top of an old chest, "I like old things that time has proven strong and good and tried and fine. I like old things, they have a depth unknown by anything thats new." Here I'm wearing my navy blue lace top that you will recognize from a previous styling post. I believe in finding beautiful pieces you love and wearing them in different ways, I believe in quality over quantity when it comes to fashion, hence my love of vintage pieces. The skirt and belt are both vintage and the hat and lace shirt comes from Bicyclette. - Nov 06, 14The full moon names originate from the Native Americans and continued by European settlers. Tribes would track the seasons by giving names to each one and each had its own sacred meaning.
November's full moon (November 6th) is referred to as the beaver moon, signifying a time to set beaver traps before swamps froze, allowing a supply of winter furs. Another accepted interpretation comes from the fact that beavers are preparing themselves for winter.
I have always been mesmerized by the different moon cycles and ancient traditions associated with the full moon. Especially since experiencing a head injury on a full moon, I have felt the direct power of their occurrence.
This november full moon represents letting go, change, and tying up loose ends, very fitting for the fall and the preparation before winter. I have experienced this time of change and have embraced its presence in my life, flowing with my life as opposed to fighting the currents that have come in. There is a moon purging ritual that is all about manifesting for next year that people perform on this day. It is the act of letting go of things that no longer serve you. There are many versions of this ritual but I will be using some white sage, lighting a candle and writing down a list of things I want to create and do next year. Meditation is also an amazing way to celebrate this full moon, just taking a moment to appreciate the wonder in our lives. - Nov 01, 14I had such a beautiful and creative week styling a lookbook shoot that is so near and dear to me, something I have been working on for the past month! I will be sharing those photos and more about the designer soon on the blog. In the meantime I did a quick and fun shoot with my roommate and bestie Andrea. This girl is like a sister to me and one of the most compassionate and loving people I know and sometimes she lets me style her. Since fall is such a romantic time of year I wanted to incorporate lace into our looks. I wore this outfit to the premiere of my dear dear friend Hayden's feature film 'The Film Student' which was so original, hilarious and incredible. I am so proud of his accomplishment and loved seeing my short cameo as the unimpressed bartender. I cant wait for everyone to see this film!
- Oct 24, 14Any ounce of creativity I have I owe to my mom! She has always loved fashion, managed a clothing store back in the day and always has impeccable style. I love hanging out with my mom and I love that we can work on creative shoots together. Whenever I have something to make for anyone of my projects my mom is the first person I call, so ya she's my go-to and can make pretty much anything my crazy mind comes up with.It was the most gorgeous and perfect fall day so we couldn't resist taking a small drive to the country for a very boho shoot. I am so excited about the silver head crown I made from a vintage ankle bracelet I found, this will definitely be making an appearance in an upcoming shoot!
- Oct 21, 14It is pretty obvious that I take my antiquing seriously. This is something I have loved to do for as long as I can remember. I think it comes from my childhood days of exploring abandoned and historic homes. There was this abandoned house at the end of my street that happened to be the oldest house in Halton, built in 1816. I would walk down through the pitch black cellar and then up the stairs to the house and open it for the rest of my friends, this seems terrifying to me now. We would explore the house, looking through boxes of old magazines and photos and checking out the children's height markings on the wall, dating back to at least 100 years. This one time on the property we wanted to scare off the boys who came to spy on us and we pretended to be witches holding a seance in the middle of the big oak trees.I have been to the Aberfoyle market before but haven't been back in a couple years. My antiquing use to be a solo affair but I have since found friends who also love it, so Andrea and I woke up bright and early and made our way to the market (after a night of watching the new Nicholas Sparks movie, I realize we sound like 80 year old craft club women). I was on a mission to find an old but functioning film camera and a turquoise ring, both were found. The market was bigger than I remembered and had a combination of indoor and outdoor vendors. I could spend hours perusing the old treasures, asking about their origins and getting lost in an old world. Give me an antique market, fresh coffee and an antiquing companion and I have my perfect Sunday.
- Oct 16, 14
I had the afternoon off from work, a rarity these days. I live for these precious moments and have to remember to take them more often. Living an artist life means barely making it month to month or working odd jobs to make it each month but then loosing so much time to work on, well your art! So when I get these quiet moments to myself and I should be cleaning or sleeping all I want to do is create. So for this afternoon I did an impromptu shoot because I had left over flowers from all the events of the weekend and have always wanted to experiment with making a flower crown. In a not so proper flower crown making way I managed to put something together that was very beautiful. You can't even see the pink tape I used to attached the flowers together. Funny how that resembles life, always trying to hide the flaws and mask it with perfection. But what if the flaws were perfect, every mistake and every failure setting us up to be exactly where we should be.
I recently submitted one of my scripts to a screenwriting competition and I was so confident that I would at least make the list of 30 semifinalists. Well I didn't and when I found out I felt it, I felt the pains of "maybe I shouldn't do this, maybe Im not good?" We are always looking for approval, someone to tell us that something is good or that we are good. But if something calls to you at a soul level then you should be doing it, period. Gone with the Wind was rejected 38 times and Harry Potter was rejected 12 times before they were published and we all know their legacy.
I have these grand plans for my life, my feature film that I want to get into a big festival and win all these accolades because it will prove to people that I have made it, that I am seen as a serious and talented actor and writer. Or at least that's what my ego wants. And what if that doesn't happen? Does it diminish my work in any way? It surely doesn't and that is what I need to remember. Success is working towards a goal. Failure is the beauty of the attempt, it shows you things you could never have seen without it. Our goal should always be happiness and that is something you can choose at any moment.
"Live as to be detached from the outcome, do it all because it resonates with your highest self in response to your beseeching inner voice, not because of rewards that may come your way." Wayne Dyer - Oct 09, 14
Life is all about experiences and the people you share them with. Our Nashville road trip has left an imprint on us, giving us a time and place where we were free to express our creativity, to laugh, to share, to care, to bond, to connect, to escape and to ultimately experience a new place together. Before leaving Sarah gave the four of us leather bracelets, mine was tied in a very tight and secure knot and has not left my hand since. I see this little reminder every day, reminding me to breathe and to escape to a place where I felt present and free.
This video is a string of experiences, such a beautiful reminder of life being perfect in every moment. We sometimes forget that, that life is a series of perfect moments, we just need to see them.
Girls Gone Nashville from The Diamond Life on Vimeo. - Oct 02, 14
I am really into colour, especially when the weather is dreary. Turquoise really is a neutral for me, I could wear this colour all the time and anytime. I did a quick shoot with my good friend and super talented photographer/videographer Patrick Moore. He is such a rad guy, he has so many tattoos, drives a sweet bike, looks super tough but is the sweetest guy! His work is really cool and edgy and he knows his style, which to me is such an important element to being a talented artist. He is working on a rebrand of his site and creating a really great portfolio video which he shot a small part of that with me at the Scarborough Bluffs. And since Im terrified of heights I thought it was a great idea! not so much, but we got the shot despite my fear and frizzy hair. Here are some photos from the shoot, Im wearing my favourite new Reverse sweater from Fitzroy Boutique and new skirt from Bicyclette Boutique.
- Sep 24, 14I had been planning to attend The People's Climate March from the moment I heard about it. For a long time I have been interested in environmental concerns and activism but never really knew how to help, what to do and how I could make a difference? I still don't know and am constantly challenging myself to make changes but I was tired of just talking about it and wanted to really do something, so I went to New York and marched! This trip was part film project (more on that in the coming months) and part need to feel a part of the solution. The adventure consisted of my friends and favourite married couple Christoph and Katie and myself, all crammed into my little Volkswagen golf departing from Hamilton at 1am. We drove through the night, essential and was better in theory, not ideal in reality. We arrived in Brooklyn in the morning, stopped off at our airbnb, tried not to wake the punk rock group that had rented the airbnb from the night before, I put on some makeup to conceal the bags under my eyes and we hopped on the subway for the march. No rest for the artist activist.When we arrived at the march location, I could feel the energy shift and see the magnitude of this event - we were going to make history. There were so many streets in downtown New York blocked off, barricades and streams of people filling every inch of the streets. We entered one part of the march, there was no way to really know which part you were a part of and it really didn't matter, every group was welcoming, everyone in high spirits. There was dancing, clever chanting, ever more clever signs, and pure merriment as people banded together all for one cause. It was incredible to see the dedication and the hope that exuded from every single person. There were children marching for their future and grandparents marching for their grandchildren. This was a march for all people and included all people. I felt proud to be marching among them, the whole experience left me with a great deal of hope. It also showed me that everyone can do something, even if you think its small or wont make a difference, it does! We need small differences, the world depends on it.We completed the march nearly 4 hours later, a little tired (ok A LOT tired) but it was all worth it. Heading back to Brooklyn only one thing was on our mind...pizza. We had the best dinner at the famous Roberta's, rustic interior, hipster servers, craft beers and awesome pizza. Still running on no sleep we mustered up enough energy to go out for the evening because how often do you get to run off to New York for two days?We finally got to sleep that night and in the morning I felt like a human again. It's amazing what a difference sleep and a good shower and a good coffee can do. We packed our things and said goodbye to Robert our wonderful, musically gifted (he serenaded us with his banjo) host and his charming dog momo. One last stop before exploring upstate New York, lunch at Pies n Thighs. As we waited for our table I glance across the street and notice a beautiful macramé hanging in the store. To my surprise it was the store I have wanted to visit for such a long time now called Species by the Thousands. That's the power of being exactly where you should be, without even trying I found the store I wanted to go to! After a quick shopping spree I joined my travel family and had the best chicken sandwich of all time. Their poultry is air-chilled from a local farm, humanely raised and handled and have no antibiotics or hormone supplements, the way chicken should always be! I was eating a chicken from a happy farm, the only way I want to eat it from now on.We continued our road trip to Phoenicia, New York. Katie and I had a fun time trying to pronounce the town name, we still can't do it. I heard about this beautiful wooded escape from the power of instagram (thanks Fitzroy Boutique). It was as charming as I imagined. A perfect escape for anyone that loves quiet nights on the porch, morning hikes and beautiful camping locations. We were most excited to check out the famous Phoenicia Diner because it looked perfectly retro and the menu is heaven. We arrived at the diner 5 minutes after they closed because unlike the hustle of New York, places in Phoenicia close at 5pm. We decided to do a quick photo shoot instead and continued our exploring of the town. There is a unique charm about this sleepy town that I cant really pinpoint, maybe its just a safe and cozy feeling I get while walking around the streets. Those who want to disconnect from technology, this is the place! We couldn't get the radio and there was no cell service, we were happily in the twilight zone.This was a special trip filled with hope, determination, creativity and love. Travelling with Christoph and Katie made me really excited for marriage one day. The way they support each others dreams is so beautiful, they are true companions that compliment each other in the right ways. I never once felt out of place, just a sense of ease with them. They really inspire me in so many ways and I am so grateful to have had this experience with them.It is so important to run off, away from your comfort and follow your heart. It will always lead you to unexpected but magical places, like finding a charming mountain town...catskills mountain I will be back again some day.
- Sep 18, 14"Under the harvest moon,When the soft silverDrips shimmeringOver the garden nights,Death, the grey mocker,Comes and whispers to youAs a beautiful friendWho remembers.Under the summer rosesWhen the flagrant crimsonLurks in the duskOf the wild red leaves,Love, with little hands,Comes and touches youWith a thousand memories,And asks youBeautiful, unanswerable questions."- Carl SandbergThere's this moment where the fall breeze comes in and the sun sets a little bit earlier, the first signs of fall washes over. This transitional time brings renewal and comfort. The hazy days of summer are coming to an end and there is so much hope for this new time. Just like the harvest moon, golden and mystical, reminding me of a simpler time, where farmer's can work late into the night by the light of the moon. Candlelight seems more appropriate, the smell of apple pie brings joy, and the dusk light is more colourful and precious.Oh to live by the sea during this time, to watch the moon dancing over the water and feel that sea breeze a little bit stronger. The ritual of the tide, the cooler nights on the dock and the romantic stillness only fall can bring.
- Sep 15, 14
We all have a personal legend. This knowing is echoed in the book "The Alchemist" and was once again reminded to me after watching an interview with Paulo Coelho and Orprah which you can watch on her Super Soul Sunday show. So what is this personal legend? I believe and have experienced that it is that little voice within speaking from your heart and telling you exactly what you are meant to be doing. We can ignore it and many do and we can claim to not hear it as many do. The ignoring and the not hearing comes from a place of fear, the fear that we have learned from our surroundings, the long list of fear that we cannot amount to the thing we cherish the most. But we are the creators of that fear, we put them in our minds which means we also have the power to eliminate them and to not believe in them.
It is our only duty in this life to fulfil our personal journey, that I know for certain as I continue with my own personal journey. It is the thing that brings me the most joy and the thing I know for certain, no doubts and only pure faith. Many believe that you must be great in order to start but in fact it's the other way around. You must start and you will fail and you will have obstacles take you off track but your personal legend will always bring you back. I would rather fail and know that I tried, instead of never trying because well that in itself is failure by default.
Just start... - Sep 12, 14I am never one for trends. I just wear what I like and it seems to be consistent each season. Even though I love the summer, fall brings a crisp and focused spirit. I love cozy sweaters, hoodies, felt hats, boots, ripped jeans and pretty much all fall styling. All I need now is my pumpkin spiced latte and a trip to the antique flea market and my fall is complete. Here are some of my favourite looks.
- Sep 08, 14This whole trip feels like a well planned and meticulously arranged soundtrack, where the mood and the vibe of the song determines its placement. We start off with the twangy and country sounds of Shovels and Rope, mix in the nostalgia of Tom Petty and Elton John, roll into the classics with our boy Johnny Cash and then end with some new Americana: The Wild Feathers, The Head and the Heart, Ryan Adams, Saintseneca, The Lumineers and Rayland Baxter. Ohio was classic and country, the stillness and beauty captivates even the most wild of heart. A much needed recharge and burst of creativity, completing two of our major photo shoots. The road was calling and Nashville was our destination. So on we went, cementing our bond sharing stories and sing-a-longs on the road, anticipation seeping through our veins as our destination grew closer and closer.The sun setting on our second day and we finally reach the city landscape of Nashville! Billboards of every major country artist adorn the city view and we continue on the highway until reaching our rural exit. After our long drive we stop first at Trader Joes with 10 minutes remaining until its close. We rush through the brightly lit grocery store in a tired "drunken" daze, passing smiling hipsters stocking up for their nightly musical porch hang outs. Finding everything we needed for a gourmet salmon BBQ meal (minus the lemons) we check out and greet the first of many musicians we meet moonlighting as store clerks, bartenders, coffee shop connoisseurs etc etc.We settled in for the night at our second airbnb rental with the most beautiful wooded view, most gracious host and access to the back porch where we grilled up the BBQ and ate the most incredible organic and healthy meal from our road trip chef Sarah. A bottle of wine was had, ok maybe 2 and we shared stories with our host Jeremy, talking about our creative endeavours, his journey to Nashville from Canada and our travels thus far. Community was a very present theme on this trip, the airbnb community of people sharing their homes and stories, the Amish community and their traditions and finally the community in Nashville, where playing music everywhere and anywhere is the norm and community is integral to everyone, borrowing sugar from your neighbour actually happens and in our case: lemons."I may leave tired, but I ain't leaving with unfinished business..." Travis MeadowsWe didn't have much time to explore Nashville but we packed in as much as we could. Some of our favourite spots included Crema coffee shop for their exceptional brews, Barista Parlour for their exceptional eye candy (beards and man buns around every corner with a capo sticking out of their back pocket) Broadway for its country shops and honky tonk bars, Earthbound Trading co for its jewels, scents and seance kit (more on that later) and Mas Tacos for well the best tacos in town!We continued our exploration into the night, planning the perfect southern outfits for an evening of blue grass. Scarlet scored us some coveted tickets to the now infamous (thanks to one of the best shows 'Nashville') venues: The Bluebird Cafe. We didn't know the musician we were seeing but that only amplified our experience. A packed house in a tiny bar, the host took the stage to kindly ask everyone to turn off their cellphones and listen to the music we were about to hear. No instagrams were needed, no chatter at the other tables, no camera lights flashing, just silence and full attention on the musician, the way music was intended. We were left speechless by Travis Meadows' set, his funny interludes were perfectly juxtaposed with his poetic and vulnerable lyrics, leaving no emotion unexplored. His musician friends were in the audience that night and he welcomed some of them to take the stage, a man that clearly loved to share his music and his stage. He thanked us for being there and proudly told us it was a dream for him to play at the bluebird and you could see that no amphitheatre could compare to that intimate experience.After our musical palate was expanded, we headed to Pinewood Social where we were promised bowling and babes, both were found. We sampled some of the local brews and a celebratory whiskey shot was had, when in Nashville...A search for burgers was a must post alcohol consumption and thankfully we had our responsible driver for the night, Genevieve, who loved our rendition of 'Ho Hey' in the backseat. Only pizza was found and pizza flirting may have occurred, when in Nashville...We concluded our night in true sisterhood fashion, a modern day seance. I was telling the girls on our drive up that I wrote a detailed (very very detailed according to my roommate) list of my perfect mate. I have heard of this manifesting trick many times and decided to also give it a go. So without my knowledge a seance kit was purchased and then brought out at the perfect time, when we came home from the bar. Note to self: never ever play with fire after having a couple drinks or some flames might land on someone's boob (I am truly sorry Sarah). So now my perfect man has been released into the universe complete with long hair, beard and a guitar...so why did I leave Nashville?We spent our last day having an essential breakfast at Frothy Monkey and then perused the most beautiful shops in trendy 12 South. Stepping into Imogene + Willie felt like stepping into the centrefold of a Kinfolk magazine, every piece was gorgeous and hints of rustic and americana charm were sprinkled throughout. We then checked out White's Mercantile, a trendy general store with organic local soaps, greeting cards, vases, baby clothes, jewellery and the most incredible felt hats to name a few. It took every ounce of willpower for me to not buy the hat...one things for sure Nashville has style or at least the kinda style I love.We packed up our things and said goodbye to our lovely Nashville oasis. The cat that took refuge in my blanket all week was not impressed that I took her favourite new thing with me. On the road again, stopping an hour outside of Nashville in Old Hickory. This was the home of the perfect retro pink trailer we found for our final photo shoot. Before the trip I envisioned and planned a cool retro look for the styling, sifting through my personal vintage collection and finding three perfect dresses. But as was the theme for our whole trip I had to make a last minute creative switch in the styling because it was so damn hot! I knew dresses were not an option as they would stick to our sweaty bodies and found barely there pieces that somehow made a cohesive story: we were now going dirty south. Because we were never stuck on one vision we were always able to use our surroundings to our advantage and I think our shoots were better than expected. That's the magic of the moment, that's letting life carry you and just enjoying the rideAfter a sweaty and mosquito filled shoot we were off, leaving our hearts and stories in Nashville. I always find it amazing how I can travel to a new place and immediately feel a part of it, forgetting the struggles from home, forgetting the tasks of my future and just being in a place. The one thing I felt the most about that city was the community of artists, a whole city built around the experience of music. To see that passion and fire was inspiring. It took us 12 hours of driving to get home and at the end of our drive we witnessed one of the most colourful and beautiful sunrises I have ever seen. It was the second time that week I saw the sunrise and I just couldn't help but think: when you pay attention to it life can always be good.Photos by Ana4th photo down by Scarlet O'Neillleopard dress by Jordan de Ruiter, white dress by Jordan de Ruiter, floral dress by freepeople, white top by Aritzia
- Sep 03, 14Oh this trip, this trip stole my heart, expanded it and kept little pieces of it in all the places we visited. Scarlet and I had been planning this road trip/photo shoot for the entire summer. Anticipating something happening at the end of the summer somewhat makes you want to rush through the coveted summer nights, a longing to explore a place I have always wanted to visit. Before our trip I knew there was something about this place my soul recognized, call it deja vu, call it intuition, call it anything you like, with no real reason why I knew Nashville was a place for me. The entire planning of this trip was very serendipitous, another indication of the idea that you are exactly in the place you are suppose to be. Somehow on the last week of August all of our lives (Sarah, Scarlet, Genevieve and myself) seemed to stand still for us to take this journey. On the road we soon discovered why, a bond was formed so swiftly and easily that the only way we could describe it was sisterhood. It's beautiful the way life can bring you events and people when you allow, when you just flow with the river instead of paddling upstream.Our first stop on this road trip was Ohio's Amish country. When I first discussed this with people before our departure they just asked why Ohio? What is there? I am the type of person that likes adventure and discovering secret gems, I just knew there was something special about this country escape that was perfect for us to unwind, to disconnect and to get back to nature. And I also knew that it is the company you keep that makes a great trip and you can really find beauty anywhere, so Ohio's stillness, picturesque farms and not to mention the largest Amish community in the country intrigued me to say the least.We were en route to the Darling Dana-Lynn camper in the heart of Millersburg, Ohio - our first stop on what I could call our Airbnb tour (we rented 3 places from Airbnb within 5 days). The location was off the beaten path, trading the highway for country roads on a beautiful and perfect August day. Listening to the likes of Ryan Adams, Bahamas, and Hannah Georgas, we allowed our GPS to guide us through winding roads of country, majestic farms, green grass, rolling hills and historical homes with large porches are all we saw for miles, and it was perfect. We took our time, letting the surroundings sink in and stopping many times for coffee breaks. As we started to approach 'magic hour' and we were still a ways away from our destination, Scarlet and I knew we had to find an impromptu location for our first shoot. Luckily I had the outfits planned and luckily we found ourselves on a dead end street that also happened to have the most incredible landscape. With trust and a bond already formed we all jumped out of the car, changed in the middle of the road (with houses right in front) and hurried into someone's farm property for our first photo shoot. We could have easily gotten kicked out but we didn't, we took the chance and the result was perfect golden light and a stunning backdrop for our photos.As the golden sun slowly set over the hills we continued on our journey, driving through Nashville, Ohio. I loved seeing all the synchronicities on our trip, like this Nashville sign. It wasn't too long after that we arrived in the tiny but pretty town of Millersburg, history seeping through its veins with statues of soldiers and antique shops at every corner. We stopped for dinner at Bags sports pub (one of two restaurants in town), stocked up on wifi and rescued Scarlet and Sarah from a locked bathroom as the restaurant was getting ready to close. We then made an important stop at the local Wal Mart where we purchased the essentials for our camping night: Blue Moon beer, coconut strips, granola bars, dried apricots and chocolate.Dusk had vanished and it was dark out, the perfect time for us to find a camper in the middle of Amish country....um no. Luckily our GPS led us to our host's property and I was sent very detailed instructions on how to arrive to the camper: past the mailboxes, over the bridge, stay right when you hit the fork in the road and through the grass path. Our first attempt almost led us into a ditch and we all screamed in terror as Scarlet skillfully backed out of what wasn't the real grass path. We then found the right path which was lined with thick trees and no lights, yes the beginning to the Amytiville horror, or any other horror movie for that matter. We all screamed in terror, not knowing what we would find at the end of this very dark grass road. Suddenly we saw the glimmer of a camper, adorned with twinkly lights, bunting banners and scented candles awaiting our arrival. Our screams turned to shrieks of pure joy as we found our magical oasis. This camper was so uniquely decorated, something you would surely see on some trendy bloggers pinterest, decked out in antiques, garden gnomes, hanging lights, vintage jars, wild flowers and a zucchini patch.We settled in for the night, having a couple cinnamon infused Blue Moon beers and shared beautiful conversation under a bed of stars. It was a tranquil moment, as I got lost in the sounds of the forest and gazing up to the wonder of our universe. Everything was perfect in that moment and we were truly present to life's beautiful surprises. All of our worries washed away and we were transported into another time and place, where magic seemed to be real and love was our only currency.Location: Millersburg, OhioPhotos by: AnaLace dress by Free People, green maxi dress from Violet Crown Vintage, white/embroidered dress by Sugarlips and accessories from Bicyclette Boutique
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