prairie girl musings

Tag: writing

  • Balancing Two Polar-Opposite Jobs

    Balancing Two Polar-Opposite Jobs

    Daily Inspiration

    Whenever I’m lacking motivation, I turn to my favourite source of inspiration – Pinterest. Sure, it’s visually stimulating, but I get an extra special kick out of the quotation boards.

    She designed a life she loved.

    Follow the call of the disco ball.

    Remember why you started.

    Short one-liners are sometimes all I need to remind me why I do what I do. Working from home, as a freelance writer, will certainly test one’s limits. When does the work begin and when does it end? Have you ever checked your inbox at 1am only to start preparing tweets and Facebook updates for the next day?

    While I know I’m not alone here, I do know that balancing two very different jobs can be a challenge. When I have a pile of blog posts, social media updates, and newsletters to complete for my freelance job, (which, by the way, I adore!) there’s nothing I want less than to shower and put on my most fashion-forward outfit. Rushing out the door to my other job as a stylist can be daunting. After all, who really wants to leave the comfort of their apartment with its endless supply of French press coffee and atmospheric candles?

    On the flip side, the constant isolation from being a freelancer can be terrifying. I’ve learnt the importance of scheduling coffee dates with friends, and in-person meetings rather than relying solely on Skype. And I know I’m lucky. I’m able to juggle a social, customer-focused job with a more internally, self-guided position. It’s just my time management skills that need a bit of fine-tuning.

    What do you do for work? Are you happy in your current position?

  • Life Update and Fall Trends!

    I’ve now been a stylist at Club Monaco for nearly two months, which has been a fantastic experience in itself. I’ve been obsessed with Club Monaco since its humble beginnings in the early 90s. My store, on Queen Street, was actually the very first Club Monaco to open in 1985.

    I am also happy to report that I’ve recently taken on much more freelance work. I am now writing and editing for Nyeus Inc., a digital start-up that crafts websites and multi-media platforms for a variety of companies and organizations. I’m currently working with Dayle Haddon of WomenOne. I’m incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity to do what I love most, write.

    I’m also becoming increasing excited for autumn, my favourite season. There are so many reasons to love fall, and I’ll be compiling a list of my favourite fall activities later today! But first, let’s talk fashion! Spending 25-30 hours a week at one of my favourite stores has enabled me to get a sense of what Toronto’s best-heeled will be wearing this year. Here’s a list of my must-have fall trends (mostly from the Club Monaco collection, of course!) So, without further ado…

    1. Faux fur shrugs.
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    Yes, I said it. I am obsessed with this look because it has just enough volume and texture to an pizzazz otherwise bland outfit. It’ll also take you into the colder months of October and November before we all bust out our Canada Goose/knee-length down jackets here in the Great White North.

    2. Neoprene dresses.
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    A dress or a wetsuit? You either love it or hate and believe me, these have been a point of controversy at Club Monaco Queen Street. But I am a huge fan of this material. For one, it’s high quality, have you ever bought a cheap wetsuit? I lived in the South Pacific and my surfer friends spent a pretty penny on their wetsuits. The shape of the Autumn Dress adds shape to even the boyish of figures. Win!

    3. Leather detailing
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    As they say, the design is in the details. I’m a huge fan of leather, as it adds luxury to simple wardrobe staples like cotton shirts and crewneck sweaters. Club Monaco has incorporated real leather into many of their skirts, dresses, pants and shirts this season, making dressing up a lot more fun! My favourite pieces are the Christine skirt (pictured above), the Janice top, the Cecilia dress (in black), the Witherbee dress, the Gabi varsity jacket and the Kaylan jacket (pictured below in white).

    4. Quilted jackets
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    I predict that quilted jackets (especially when roughened up with a bit of leather detailing) will be all the rage this fall. I have the above coat in navy and I’m in love! I think pairing navy with black is an absolute DO this season, and will provide much-needed versatility in all of our wardrobes.

    What are you most looking forward to wearing this fall?

    xoxo, Vanessa

  • Land of Living Skies

    Land of Living Skies

    There’s something incredible about returning home after being away for a long period of time. I was recently back in Saskatchewan for the first time since relocating to Toronto. Oddly enough, I came home more frequently when I lived in New Zealand. I’m not sure why I haven’t been home. Perhaps it’s been because of my internship and job hunt. With the oftentimes haphazard scheduling of interviews, I didn’t want to miss out on any opportunities that came my way.

    Regardless, it felt amazing to be back at my parents’ house in Yorkton. They’ve only lived here for the past three years, but it always feels like home. It’s the constant in my ever-changing, never stable life. It’s the place to which I return from wherever I’ve been living. As the complete antithesis of Toronto’s urbanity and chaos, Saskatchewan feels like a retreat, an escape from the everyday challenges I encounter in the Big Smoke. I always harp on about how much I love urbanity, and it’s a necessity for me at this age, but Saskatchewan has indescribable charm and vast beauty that many city dwellers will never experience.

    It’s also a place where my family has lived for a number of years. Throughout my life, I was fortunate to live nearby to all four grandparents. Last week, after the passing of my paternal grandfather, I realized what a luxury it was truly getting to know my grandparents. Many of my cousins, aunties, uncles, and extended family are all located in the prairies as well. It’s serene, with vast blue skies and perpetual sunshine. Most of my childhood and teenage friends still reside in Saskatchewan, which makes for a wonderful reunion whenever I am here.

    When I was completing a multimedia project for my creative writing course at The University of Auckland, I conducted an experiment comparing my two reference points (at the time): The Prairies and The North Island (of New Zealand). It was an introspective assignment that I delved into wholeheartedly. It enabled me to record my experiences with displacement. Should you be interested in reading my exegesis, I’ve attached the link here.

    Saskatchewan, I do not appreciate you enough. You’re a wonderful place to call home.

  • The never-ending quest for meaningful work.

    The never-ending quest for meaningful work.

    I initially began writing this post almost two months ago. This mere fact speaks volumes about my ability to endlessly ruminate on a topic (read: procrastinate) and my inability to decide on a consistent theme for this blog, or my life for that matter.

    The issue of coming into one’s profession has always been of interest to me. Increasingly so following the completion of two editorial internships with Canadian magazines.

    I am an idealist; an eternal optimist. I’ve always placed great importance on finding the right career, but as I reach my mid-twenties, I’ve realized that the perfect career does not exist. I’ve yet to find a career that truly resonates with who I am. This sheds light on the question of whether a career needs to tick all your boxes.

    I had a primary school teacher who, at the age of five, knew that she was destined to be a teacher. I have always been drawn to teaching. I started teaching dance when I was still actively studying and dreaming about a professional career. Unfortunately, even after being admitted to Canada’s only direct-entry Bachelor of Education program, (which I would have completed in French) I was still undecided. I wanted to get away and see the world, not stay in my native province for the next four years. After all, I had lived here for the entirety of my eighteen years, wasn’t that enough? My feelings were further complicated after speaking to my favourite high school teacher, who was sufficiently jaded and exasperated from her own teaching experiences. Needless to say, she advised me to consider different academic routes.

    Unfortunately, deciding one’s profession at 18 isn’t something that many of us are capable of doing. I internalized the variety of opinions that came from family members, friends, teachers (and dance teachers), coaches (and vocal coaches), guidance counselors, and pastors (okay, I’m kidding on the last one.) They all had my best interests in mind, but I still felt paralyzed and could not make a decision.

    I spent my summer performing with Saskatchewan Express, our province’s musical touring company. This experience enabled me to put off making a decision about my future until the last possible minute. Even once classes began at Minot State University, where I eventually enrolled, I was still driving back to Canada every weekend for performances.

    My point is that many high school students and even twenty-somethings feel trapped. How can an individual who doesn’t know if they’re on the right path, be expected to pursue that path full-heartedly? What’s the point of giving something your undivided attention if you cannot vocalize why you’re doing it? Sure, they know what their community expects them to do, what would make their parents the most proud, what will pay the bills, and very little about their own passions or how their skills can improve society as a whole.

  • Intern Nation

    Intern Nation

    One of the best things about completing an internship is actually having articles and clippings to add to one’s portfolio. Having studied English and Writing Studies, I definitely did A LOT of writing in my undergrad days. Unfortunately, (or maybe fortunately?) none of it was published, other than a few self-published portfolios for creative writing and poetry courses. This posed a dilemma when applying for both jobs and graduate programs. Who wants to hire someone who hasn’t had anything published and sends you a copy of their essay entitled, Gothic Fiction in Wuthering Heights for consideration? Luckily, Ottawa Magazine took a chance on me, even after reading my writing samples.

    After two months of travelling, I will tackle another internship – this time in Toronto. During this time I’ll need to plan my next move, and I have a feeling it will involve a bit of freelance work and maybe a few more entrepreneurial ventures. Other than crafting up some unique business cards, continuing to update and promote my blog, and launching a website, what else can I do to ensure I land a job every now and then? Well, without a portfolio, I was at a loss. Now thanks to Ottawa Magazine, I have several print and online articles I can submit to future employers or grad schools I am applying to. I am incredibly thankful for all the opportunities I’ve been given at St. Joseph Media, I couldn’t have asked for a better first internship or better colleagues.

    The November/December issue of Ottawa Magazine came out this Thursday, and I am thrilled that I’ve been able to contribute to such a respected publication. I had such a wonderful time working with the editorial staff and interviewing Rosina Mahlangu of Capital Fashion Consulting. I also picked out some snazzy snowboard gear (from local stores) for those chilly winter months. Check out my articles below:

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    Here are a few more of my articles, which were published on the Ottawa Magazine website:

    SHOP TALK

    SHELF LIFE: A roundup of unique children’s books by local authors and illustrators – Part 1

    SHELF LIFE: A roundup of unique children’s books by local authors and illustrators – Part 2

    SHELF LIFE: A roundup of unique children’s books by local authors and illustrators – Part 3

    SHELF LIFE: A roundup of unique children’s books by local authors and illustrators – Part 4

    TASTE TEST: Two local writers join forces to create the cookbook Fresh & Healthy Cooking For Two