Some people dress in a way that simply irks me.  Sometimes it’s ill-fitting, unflattering clothes, sometimes it’s the “non-conformist” fashion that is just plain weird, and then there are the three things that probably bug me the most:

1. Uggs
2. Leggings as Pants
3. Extreme amounts of skin

It’s only Day 3 of the Calgary Stampede and I’ve already been exposed to all three.  The one out in full force during these 10-days of summer is number three, showing extreme amounts of skin.  Whether it’s shorts so short that I can see cheek, or shirts so low-cut, I’m afraid one of the girls will make an appearance, too many women are wearing too little clothing.  Take these usual fashion don’ts, pair them together, add a splash of cowboy flair and you’ve got the worst of the worst at the Calgary Stampede.

Backstage at D&G

The most painful part of Stampede fashion this year is the fact there are so many western-inspired options available in stores this year.  I picked out 16 cute, western-inspired pieces for my College Candy post, Doin’ it Out West.  With the popularity of chambray, floral, ruffles and other western-looking items, there is no excuse for poor fashion at the Stampede.

Last week I watched the CORE Fashion show showcase Stampede Fashion from retailers in Calgary’s downtown shopping centre.  I have to say I was pretty disappointed with the styling.  The vast selection of items available in stores that could be combined to emulate a western vibe were noticeably missing from this years show.  While most of the boot choices were perfect, I was uninspired by the cocktail dresses and leopard print that hit the runway.

My picks for a western-inspired outfit with a huge dose of class, include denim jackets or vests, overtop classic pieces that, when paired with the right accessories have a western feel.  Below, this otherwise simple sundress can be cowgirl’d up with a brown leather belt, cowboy boots, and other accessories.  This is just one way to dress up in western attire to maintain sex appeal without showing an extreme amount of skin.

Classy Cowgirl by Elle&Bee featuring GAP accessories

Browse my Polyvore for a few more Cowgirl chic looks.

Life as I know it is presently back to normal. As I have become obsessed with How I Met Your Mother, and have clearly spent too much time in English class lately, I have decided to “write back” to Barney’s Bro Code as it would pertain to girls.

Article 1: Bros before hoes
Article 1: Chicks before dicks

Article 89: The mom of a bro is always off limits but the step mom of a bro is fair game if she initiates it and/or is wearing at least one article of leopard print clothing.
Article 89: I don’t really know what the average response is for this, but I would say dads and step dads are ALWAYS off limits.

Article 34: Bro’s cannot make eye contact during a devil’s three way (two dudes)
Article 34: … I have no idea how to respond to this one

Unknown Article: No sex with your bro’s ex
Unknown Article: No sex with your friend’s ex. This should be a rule for all friends, regardless of gender.

Article 29: a bro will in a timely matter alert his bro to the existence of a girl fight
Article 29: A girl should try and keep her friend out of a girl fight, but if one erupts have her back and try and break it up.

Article 87: a bro shall at all times say yes
Article 87: For this one, a girl should be honest unless in most cases. When acting as a wing man, a girl should follow this rule. When asking about appearance then a girl should be honest, unless the truth will greatly upset a friend (i.e. don’t tell a girl you don’t like her hair if there’s nothing that can be done to fix it.)

Article 53: a bro will whenever possible provide his bro with protection
Article 53: a girl will whenever possible provider her girl with protection. This can be in many forms, either in the form of condoms or in the forms of cock-blocking if a friend is too trashed to make a good decision or would possibly be putting herself in danger.

I have a few things I want to write about but am busy getting my assignments done. I am finished the first draft of my English essay (!!!) which was what I set out to do last week. I am also in the finishing stages of preparing to write my big question assignment. So I will write more when I have the time, but I thought I’d leave a few video clips to fill time until I post again (because I know that no one has anything better to do than read my blog.)

This is one of my favourite Motion City Soundtrack songs, and I think it sounds amazing acoustic.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gqYAuFvtXM&hl=en&fs=1]

Gilmore Girls is my favourite show ever, so here is a clip of funny Gilmore Girls moments. Enjoy until I am no longer stressed by homework.

Last night I went to the CBC Radio Canada Migr@tions Film Screening with a group of girls from JHR. We watched a series of short films that are part of the Migr@tions film contest. The contest is a multimedia competition about immigration. The films deal with the issues immigrants face on an everyday basis — particularly the hidden issues that the average person will not see.

The idea of losing or questioning ones identity was prevalent in the films. I especially related to the film, “A Reggae Girl.” The film revolves around a part-Jamaican girl who struggles with her identity while pursuing her goals in soccer. She talks about going to Jamaica and not quite being Jamaican, but how she also didn’t feel like she was a Canadian. I think struggling with identity when you are of multiple racial backgrounds is something that is easy to relate to.

I’m half Chinese and very proud of that. The only thing is, I don’t really look Asian. People don’t always believe that I am half, or just assume that I am white. I identify with my background so much that the fact people don’t realize it is hard. It’s not that I want to be labeled, but I do want to feel like I don’t have to constantly explain myself. I’ve spent so much of my life trying to identify who I am, and relate to my past. Trying to reconnect with the history of my paternal grandparents is one of the most important things to me because they are no longer around. It’s hard for people to understand how important the Chinese culture is to me when they do not even realize that I am part Chinese.

I am not an immigrant. Not even close; even my father was born in Canada. My grandfather was born in China, in a small farming community. He was born into a family that like many others was struggling financially. He came to Canada with nothing, but managed to build an amazing life here. A large part of the reason I am in university is because he saved money to provide for his family and he wanted my brother and I to be educated. I owe a lot to him, more than I could have ever expressed while he was still alive. I’ve always said that my grandfather was my hero, and to this day it remains true. He is a part of me.

It was through the experiences my grandfather had that I could truly appreciate the films. I urge people to check out the competition, as well as other Radio Canada International projects.

Migr@tions Website

So I am relocating from Calgary to Toronto on August 25, at which point I am planning on continuing (more regularly) my Ontario Adventures blog.  I have found a place in Bloordale Village, which I will share with 4 other vegetarians.  I am very excited to move into this new house, and explore Toronto. 

So I really didn’t blog as much as I would have liked to this year, but I guess you could say that I tried to spend more time living in the present, then reflecting in the past. People are starting to leave, Wednesday night will be my last day in res, and then Saturday I’m heading back out West. It finally feels like summer here, and I’m sad at heading home to the prospects of snow (-11 in Calgary vs. 20+ in Ottawa). There is still the odd pile of snow, but it’s gorgeous outside, and there are even a few people outside tanning in bikinis. I’m looking forward to going home, but sad to be leaving here at the same time… This post is starting to get a little sappy, which I will save until my last day here.

These last few weeks have been fun, I did the pictures on Parliament, went to the IMAX, studied until I could no longer speak in complete sentences (not fun but necessary) been to a few bars and such. Last weekend was spent soberly keeping an eye on the roommate at Pub 101, and Thursday was my Stampede training @ The Great Canadian Cabin for country night. It was fun to spend a last night with people on my floor on Thursday, as well as catch up with some other people I’ve met in Ottawa. I still have a lot of studying to do for my exam on Wednesday, but then my mom comes out, so I get to do some fun stuff, hang out with people for the last time and then head back home, where I will hopefully have a summer job (cross your fingers).

Four school shootings in the United States in one week. What is going on in our world? It scares me, because the one in Chicago today happened in a lecture hall, and if you think about it, how on earth can a university prevent it? I mean, I was sitting in Political Science today and if someone came in with a gun I would have no where to hide, no where to go. I really hope that nothing like that would ever happen at Carleton, and the fact that I live in Canada makes me feel safer, but still. It scares me, because there is no way to prevent these things from happening, guns are not the most difficult things to conceal, and even if you didn’t want to you could walk right in with a gun. Campus security has been an issue at Carleton, but a sexual assault, while horrible, is minor in comparison to someone opening fire in a lecture hall. Four shootings, four parts of the United States, is anyone really safe? My heart goes out to all those that have become victim, all those that knew someone, and everyone’s families. My belief in the good of humanity is further diminished, and I hope that maybe the next President of the United States will finally do something about gun control, in hopes that in the future these events will not occur.