my weekend in summary

this weekend was straight up exhausting. which also equates to fun. i could sleep for years.

mail from a niece - BEST thing to get in the mail (other than money... which it also came with!); a saturday afternoon hike; photographer on a cliff; i'm a risk taker; pre-party snacks; the bride and groom's (second) first dance; the high school ladies; sunday afternoon cuddles.  

thursday: i begin the weekend on thursday for a few reasons - worked from home friday, got some fun mail when i arrived home on thursday evening, and i had dinner made for me and got a good visit... so it felt like a weekend. arrived home from work, and had a perfect bumble bee painting waiting for me from my little niece. then, i packed up, and headed home - driving through post-rush hour traffic for a good meal. arrived at jeff's place with dinner already made for me. watched some dexter, and then early to bed.
friday: spent the day working from home (with a feline assistant - scamper the cat was on standby for purring and cuddles), including a rather promising eye drs appt, and consultation for a (perhaps coming soon) zapping of mon yeux (that's corrective laser eye surgery, for those of you who don't speak 'jamie'). then, came home for a nap, and to get ready for a fancy schmancy dinner at the ancaster old mill to celebrate jeff's birthday. we drank fancy beer, ate fancy foods, dressed in fancy clothes, and talked about fancy things (and our server - who said to jeff, 'well, you've finally made it to 16" even brought us fancy birthday drinks). it was fancy and fun. then, we went home, drank fancy wine ($9 a bottle), and watched fancy tv (dexter) in fancy clothes (sweatpants). it was fancy free.
saturday: slept in a bit, and then after breakfast, went out for a hike - along with the rest of the world (apparently). it was the busiest i've seen a hiking trail in a LONG time. and though it was frustrating, and we were looking forward to a quiet, lonely hike, i couldn't complain much that people were out enjoying the weather. i also approached the edge of the cliff, as i've been trying to ween my way away from the fear of heights i've recently developed (see: driving ATV off mountain). success! 1 step closer to jumping from an airplane. went home, made some lunch, and then napped in preperation for a big night. once we were up and going, i packed for the evening, and en route to my parents, grabbed some snacks, and a band tshirt for jeff. the wedding reception/party/celebration we were going to that night was rock theme.... and for that, i am indefinitely in love with the couple. a few of the high school girlies and respective partners showed up pre-wedding, and we have some quick bites to eat, and a drink, before heading down the street. spent the rest of the night dancing to great music, amongst great friends, AND i got to wear blundstones. to a wedding. dare i say, i enjoyed myself most due to the shoes. it was a blast... so happy i got to join them in celebrating, as they hail from england, and we were all very lucky they decided on a canadian celebration as well! walked home afterwards, had some late night catch ups, and then went to bed WAY too late.
sunday: woke up earlier than wanted (aka. i would have loved to sleep until 4pm), and had some breakfast with fresh air (as the weather was GORGEOUS), then went over to a friend of jeff's who was arriving back from a year in australia - with his newly important lady friend. watched the crazy man jump out of space and then headed back for a straight up nap (told you i nap a lot). afterwards, ventured out for some grocery store adventures (that dubbed in for a walk, as it was raining), and had dinner of couscous and tempeh... and crashed hard (after a few moments of learning on the internet).
it was a CRAZY exhausting weekend, but we celebrated. i promised we would.

hope everyone had a great weekend - and enjoyed the rain (that apparently most of the people i hear from had!)

a weekend to unwind

things that are needed: a decompression weekend.... and healthy food to heal my poor, abused body.

'me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow'

henry david thoreau

this weekend will involved playing around with new craft materials - think, leather pendants people. excitement! - a bachelorette to balance the bachelor party from a few ago, and then some hiking, and general relaxation for the first time in a while... can't. wait.

hope everyone has a GREAT, relaxing, fantastic, long weekend (if you're not in canada.... play like it's a long weekend!)

photo: flickr

the emerald city

of course, travelling (a week and a bit ago) gave me time to think.... which is always dangerous in this head of mine.
it's no secret that, given the oppourtunity, i'd pick up and move to seattle in a millisecond if the chance presented itself. when i first travelled there, i simply booked my nearly 2 week trip on a whim - on a feeling that i had always wanted to go. of course there were reasons - starbucks (my all time fave), the bill and melinda gates foundation, the way everyone always told me i'd simply belong there. i was a little nervous, but a lot excited. when people asked why seattle, and why alone, i said, why not? i gave them the starbucks and B&M gates foundation spiel, but what it was really about, was simply how i felt when i booked that trip - i just felt like i needed to go.

i almost didn't come back. 

i nearly cancelled my flight home, and stayed forever. i finally - for the first time in my life - felt like i belonged. felt like i was home. i lost the homesick feeling that i think i had been experiencing my entire life. 

of course, my grandmother - who channels - went to her spirits, and found out that i lived there in a past life, so it sort of all started to add up (not that i necessarily take great stock in this, but it made my parents feel better knowing that if i ever stayed, at least i would be home). since then, i've tried to get there as much as possible. 

so, when a good friend emailed me about his north american tour, and asked me for tips and suggestions on his time in seattle, AND THEN another friend asked me about my faves for him and his gf's upcoming trip there, i was more than excited to share. 

people frequently ask me - what do you love about seattle so much? what's so great about it? why would you live there?

intangibly? the spirit. there is something so wonderful about a city of people who truly engage in the community of which they're part. who challenge themselves to be better people, as part of the larger system. who work to live - and not the other way around. the city is not ashamed - yes, they have issues with homelessness and drugs and poverty. who doesn't? but they do not hide this, like they do in many other cities. they embrace it. they work on it. they make it known, and they make it a priority. that is important to me. any city who nourishes the spirit of the artists, the singers, the chefs, the tattooed, the green haired, the corporate, and the environmentalist all in one place - and in a way where they can coexist happily?? that, to me, is heaven on earth.

that is me... though it may not seem it. this is my fave photo from my trips to seattle... the way i sort of disappear into it's being. 

tangibly? oh i love seattle. a place where the food is fresh and well respected (i will eat considerable amounts of cheese, seafood, etc. there due to their restrictions on farming, etc.). a place where art is everywhere. a place where their library is one of the most stunning buildings i've ever seen - as a commitment to public access to information. a place where it rains constantly, so the grass is always a beautiful emerald green. i. love. it. 

the beautiful public library

some of my favourites?

the area of fremont. it's just a super dope little neighbourhood. mega artsy. lenin statue, trolls under bridges, rockets in the middle of the street, vegan bakeries, vintage shops galore. it has a GREAT organic bean to bar chocolate factory, called theo, and they do tours! with free chocolate! ah!

trolls under bridges; theo chocolate factory

puget sound. stunning. particularly amazing if you hike over there, and stay until the sun goes down. BEST view of the city skyline FOR. SURE. it's beautiful. 

starbucks, pike's place, beechers cheese. all MUSTS. but if you do the market, you can kill all of them (and yes - that IS a gum wall).

the gum wall; the market on an equally beautiful, busy rainy day

beechers has literally the best mac and cheese i've ever tasted in my entire life. i frequently do a dinner and/or lunch of coffee from starbucks (or caffe ladro a few blocks over - great americano) and mac & cheese. to die for. they are committed to purity and classic styles of cheese making. i'll never forget the first time i went in, and asked about their cheese - i asked if their milk came from organic cows/goats and farms. the girl looked at me and said, 'we don't really believe in the term organic.... we insist on far stricter quality than that' (insert me swooning here). we then had a half hour convo on their integrity to classic style cheese making, and raising of animals. they have a photo of every animal they get milk from, on their wall!

cheese making in action; caffe ladro coffee for lunch; mac and cheese and a mariners cap

starbucks - it's the original starbucks. but anyone who goes to this location can appreciate where it all began. it's a great atmosphere, the employees are happy (and work their asses off), and you can see the grassroots beginning. any skeptic? visit this store. you'll finally get it.

pike place market as a whole? you literally can't miss this. the pike place fish stand - with a few of my good friends who i made while i was there - is worth it, the guys are great. mini donuts to your left of the main entrance. gum wall, apothecaries, cool vintage stops, and good chowder places. WONDERFUL flowers, and really cool artwork. i usually go on a weekday, because the crowds aren't big, but if you want to full experience, and don't mind a crowd, do the weekends. 

 my lovely friend jeff and i, who started a convo in the middle of a tues while i vacationed there for the first time, and have been good friends since!

steelhead diner is an amazing restaurant in the alleys behind the market. best mussels i think i've ever had - their menu is awesomely down home and non-pretentious. they have a little patio too. rad! (i also visited their new 'blueacre seafood' last time i was there. awesome. hard to get seats on weekends, but worth it). other great restaurants in the area? the chowder place (get the sampler) and the pink door.

steelhead diner mussels and poutine; the pink door

the library (as i mentioned above). oh dear god. PLEASE go see the library. there are no words.

there's also a space near where the underground tour is (which is my super highly recommended tour to take... if you're into nerdy history stuff like me) called pioneer square. it often has public art installations. i always go to see what they have. last time i was there, they had tons of trees wrapped in brightly coloured yarn.  i usually go to  have lunch, read, sit, take photos, write, anything i can do to simply spend time in the sun there. the trees are huge and big and beautiful. it's easily one of my favourite places in the city.

and other little goodies that if you have time, you have to see? the jimi hendrix statue on capitol hill,  the aquarium (there's a huge octopus that climbs out of the tank when they do presentations!); myrtle edwards park, AND the olympic sculpture park; the klondike gold rush museum (nerdy, i know. but i got a stamp passport, and there are mannequins!)

it's all simply marvellous. i don't have enough wonderful things to say about the city. i would be there constantly if it weren't so hard for a canadian to get a job there.

if you go, share your adventures with ME!

stuff i'm digging.... (day 7)

last day my friends.

and i've saved (in my opinion) the best for last. 

jeff and steve just finished biking their way across BC, on a two week mountain biking tour. they're both uber talented downhill mountain bikers, and also really artistic guys. they've been taking photos of their travels to keep everyone up to date with their adventures. throw in some good cams, jeff's editing skills, and steve's wardrobe, and they've also thrown together a pretty kickass video blog journal of their travels. their photos alone make it worth the follow - some of the shots of their day to day in photo form are bomb.

if only to enjoy their riding, and the scenery, check out steve and jeff's trip blog. they compiled shots of their riding (and atv'ing) adventures, and all it makes me want to do is go do something extremely dangerous on a bike. 

(and. i just HAPPEN to be featured in the ATV video....  no big. )

logging country (steve)   //   'no effects needed' (brian)   //   pacific ocean (jeff)   //   sunshine coast (steve)   //   good morning silverstar (jeff)   //   peace out silverstar (steve)   //   rainbow park (jeff)   //   ridin' dirty (steve)

they're home now, probably in BC withdrawal. i would bet they're likely reading their own blog, and pretending they're still there at this very moment.

you can also check them on twitter:   steve   //   jeff

camp + quarry

i've been torturing myself again via internet exploring.... i find myself entrapped in the maze of spectacular jewellery designers and photographers, and generally amazing people who share loves that i do. and through this maze, i somehow stumbled onto this wonderful wonderful blog - a lady who i want to be friends with, and hike with, and play with antiqued metals and gemstones, and silk and cotton scarves with. i think i'm in love with her, and it's taking everything in me to not stalk her (sarah, if you read this, i'm not creepy. i swear).

her blog - shop - camp + quarry - is a wonderful mix of all things i am in love with. hikes in the great west coast, jewellery design by the lovely sarah - including gemstones, antiqued metal, and dyed silk scarves - small bits of graphic design, sharing of art work, and general musings on life.
first, please observe the stunning beauty that is vancouver and the surrounding area. she posts photos of her hikes, her daily adventures, and simply absorbing all that is her lifestyle on the great west coast. this was where the torture came in - how can you look at these photos, and not want to be part of this landscape.... ALL THE TIME.

(for the record, i need to be on the west coast more than once a year).
second, guys - SHE MAKES AMAZING TO-DIE-FOR jewellery!!! see, soulmate. she utilizes fantastic, natural materials, with great chain (man, the mix of her chain usage is off the charts), and awesome wintage charms or findings - like brass posts, and fantastic shapes. i adore her work.

and then music. like this. drool. (uh, hello... james blake's 'i never learn to share' on her 11-11-11 playlist? amaze).

soooooo i basically love her. you will to. check her out in a few ways.....

great interview with sarah here   //   her etsy store here   //   her blog of awesomeness (where all the photos are from) here   //   twitter here   //   her 8tracks (which are kickass) here

all photos from sarah: sunday walk   //   sunday walk   //   whyte lake   //   disconnect   //   best friends necklace   //   petrified wood necklace   //   pink agate geometric triangle stone