Most Popular Female Outfit[/caption][caption id="attachment_26" align="alignleft" width="225"]
Forest Gump[/caption]First things first::
I decided to save my immigration fund and hit the road of pre-promotion for the book alone! With all the information at hand I figure, How hard can it be? Honestly, I don't believe in short cuts: I have to put the hours in, make mistakes and figure out which way suits me best!
On the shrinking waistline? It is definitely not shrinking yet! Last week the bike was my best friend: Just going down to the grocery store equals a mini "Tour-de Maple Ridge!" It is all mountain terrain! The thighs are becoming more muscley but the love handles found their spot on my body they really like.....to be continued!
Our chosen country is a melting pot of different nationalities! Immigrants from all over the world are calling Canada their new home! Which is cool, because it is all about globalization! We are all part of one big family, regardless of colour, accent or upbringing. One of the major differences between here and let's say Germany (where I grew up) or The Netherlands (where we lived for 12 years) is the attitude towards being different!
Here ONE CELEBRATES DIFFERENCES, whereas in the two European countries,
YOU NEED TO FIT in to be accepted!
Let me elaborate. Among the many acquaintances we met along the way and friends we made I am definitely not known as a fashionista! Far from it! I never know what is in fashion, I only know what feels comfy and what not to wear if you have short legs, a no bra size and.-now- wobbly upper arms.
Where we lived in our little village in Holland, the ladies look fabulous!!! They spent lots of money on the items displayed - and it showed! Name brands, the newest styles, well-groomed from tip to top! Believe it or not, these ladies know how to cycle in their high heels, how to balance their grocery bags and their kids on the front and rear seats of their bike AND still look good! It was a pleasure to watch, but put on a lot of pressure to "fit in!" Personally I believe as long as it is clean and not torn, put it on! Oh well, it is easier said than done! Especially there! Germany is the same. Even if people don't mean to, you are being judged and looked up and down upon if you don't display some sort of style! But this was then, this is now:
Imagine our relief when we heard on the radio that Vancouver still ranks among the top 5 places in the world to live, but is named "most unfashionable city in the world" by the people who should know!
One of the items Dominic (the "fashionable" husband) was stressed out upon arrival, was the added expense to buy a brand new wardrobe for our new life here in Vancouver! Actually, we live in Maple Ridge,a still undiscovered gem in high fashion circles, ignored by any species slightly in tune with fashion!
Maple Ridge is a mecca for horse lovers, it is the rainforest of BC, the area of choice to bring up your children. Considering these facts one finds residents displaying their flip-flops, rain boots or track suit bottoms more than anything else! Judging by the amount of sports wear seen in the street, one can come to the conclusion that the locals are among the fittest, healthiest, most active people anywhere (don't know if this is true or not)!
Dominic is in heaven, he can finally live out his honest summer style, inspired by Forest Gump, and nobody gives him a second look! I am in heaven, because there is no need to buy any new clothes whatsoever!
Either way of living and attitude towards fashion is just fine. You have to decide how to deal with it on a personal level.! But here is the dilemma I am facing:
It is too easy to fall into the trap of "no-fashion". It is too easy to put on the loose-fitting bottoms, crocs and hit the road. And the best thing is: Nobody cares! In order to keep some personal pride and get a sense of being " extra-ordinary" I make sure to put on my European outfits every day (if they still fit over the expanding waist) and get fabulous compliments!
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