Black & Gold: Fashion

Before E's first deployment, as we began our transition from years of being "just friends" to being a couple, we only had a brief period together to sustain us through a year of separation. During that time, a lot of things felt exceptionally important. Talking. Sharing old memories. Creating new ones. Being side by side.

Annika Aschberg

And, for me, somehow so did making sure E was aware I was a "silver girl." I figured it couldn't hurt to offer some guidelines should he decide at some point to give me a gift of jewelry. Gold just wasn't my thing! When telling him this, I might have used the word "hate."

For our first Christmas as a couple, one spent on opposite continents, E gave me a silver bracelet. He had taken my words to heart.

James Bennett

Then, while E was still deployed, something happened. At first, I swore it was a one time thing, but slowly I realized it was more than a passing flirtation. I found myself adoring gold.

So, I added a pair of gold earrings to my jewelry collection. Soon after, a set of gold bangles found their way home with me too. In a state of utter bliss, my love affair continued.

James Bennett

I failed to confess my change of heart to E, but it wasn't long after he returned home that he discovered it for himself. One afternoon, I watched surprise and disbelief flash across E's face as he registered the color of metal hanging from my ears, and he exclaimed, "I thought you hated gold?!"

Perhaps hate was too strong a word.

L: Urban Outfitters. R: Tory Burch.


Anthropologie

Left and Right: Anthropologie

ModCloth


L: Tory Burch. R: Badgley Mischka.


tuleste market


L: Lizzie Fortunato Jewels. R: Fiona Paxton.


Alanna Bess.


L: Landver. R: Forever 21.

Forever 21

L: Free People. R: Ippolita.

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Amazing Heart Tattoos With Image Female Tattoo using Heart Tattoo Designs For Lower Back Tattoo Gallery Picture

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Amazing Heart Tattoos With Image Female Tattoo using Heart Tattoo Designs For Lower Back Tattoo Gallery Picture

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EX3-4

Or: Academics Phase is DONE.

So, I haven't posted as much as I thought. It's been fairly busy and, really, rehashing days and days of sitting in the classroom enjoying death by powerpoint doesn't sound like anything anyone would willingly read.

But, I have to wait for the weekend duty brief in a few hours and we secured early, so I might as well do a little revision of what happened over the last 5 weeks of the course.

It's been hard, fun, and fast-paced, just like it should be. I learned a lot, though I'm sure my retention is hardly 100%. However, I've done well on everything, got a 90% average overall in academics (wish I'd done that well at RMC!), and other than a few admin problems that are still nagging at me and my girlfriend still living in Ontario, I'm enjoying life a lot more now. I did really well on everything and, except for the Meteorology exam, I was within a few percentage points of the top mark... and for Formation Manoeuvering, I got top mark by 1%. I'd say I'm doing pretty well.

We have "pause" week next week, which is really a misnomer because we have to show up, some people have re-tests for exams they've failed, and some of us who haven't used SDM (electronic vice paper charts) before have a "refresher"/tutorial and will need to practice planning on the computer. After that, a few weeks of the Navy's very own MMORPG, the NABS (full-blown bridge simulators), where we will practice manoeuvres, be assessed, and, from what I understand, conduct some simulation navigation passages during the day and at night.

After that, DC school and then we go to sea for six weeks. Well, not six weeks of 24/7 sailing, but six week-long voyages. I'm not sure where we're going or anything, but we'll find out soon enough.

After sea phase, we have a week or two before graduation and then we'll be posted to the Fleet and truly start our careers as junior officers onboard Her Majesty's Canadian Ships.

Can't wait.

Black & Gold: In Still Life

Because I've been loving the color combination of black and gold, the subdued takes on this palette in each image below is what first caught my eye. While the colors drew me in, it was each collection's glimpse into something I love-- history, interiors, cities-- that drew me back for second glances.

Johnny Miller Photography

L: Anita Calero. R: Alexandra Rowley.