my weekend in summary

this weekend was a weekend of artistic endeavours and solitude.

thursday: was meant to have a girl's night with a couple of friends, but one had to cancel last minute as a result of academic obligations - fortunately, it provided the oppourtunity for Elizabeth, who has been a dear friend to me through thick and thin (of bfsoul fame) and I to catch up, and chat about a few things that had been going on both between us, and in our lives. We both have experienced some similar situations recently. So after watching her play in a final recital for a girl at school, we walked (yes! I walked!!) to a coffee place down the road, where we had soy lattes, and shared some sweets of the earth – vegan brownie, caramel pecan bar, and almond caramel shortbread. All incredible. Please please please try them all. We then walked to shoppers, where I needed to pick up a few things… and found FANTASTIC heart sparkle nail polish. The little things get me by. Talked about everything from moving to WPG, to boys, to relationships, to inner reflection, to friendships. I am lucky to have a friend in Elizabeth.

elizabeth playing; heart sparkle nail polish!; stuffed, twice baked sweet potatoes
Friday: went to pick up a few supplies for a artistic adventure that my friend Helen and I were embarking on the following day, then made a quick dinner, before leaving for Susan’s place. It was the 1 year anniversary
of the closing of la perlerie – the bead store that I worked at for a year. I spent the night laughing about men, talking about work, and reminiscing about bead store stories with susan (the former owner), erin, and mai-liis. we talk about our dating, or career moves (whether recent – for erin - or upcoming – for mai-liis and perhaps myself), or lives, and my affinity to star in a reality show.
Saturday: woke up early to prepare for the delivery of my new fridge (as my current/old one had kaputzed, and left my entire freezer full of soggy soy goods). Helen arrived, and since we were inspired by our trip to the one of a kind show we had agreed to attempt to be creative at least once every 2 months. For our first attempt, I went out, and bought the supplies to cut lino for stamping. we sort of sketched around a bit, and decided to start with our own initials. We both knew, as soon as our carving tools hit the lino, we were in love. Tips from erin, including use a hair dryer to heat the lino pre-cutting, made the whole process easier. The whole afternoon was fantastic – we both ended up with 3 or 4 stamps… and in an amongst our artisan creations, we chatted with my landlord, while witnessing the failed attempt at fitting a new fridge into my small apt. needless to say, I am still sans fridge. They fridge my landlord bought was too big. I felt awful. I currently have various sauces, and cans sitting all over my apt, and should be paying rent in my landlords fridge.
my favourite stamp from the afternoon
Helen and I headed to pho Phuong for lunch, and then went to pilot in Yorkville as helen’s bf steve knew a coworker playing jazz that afternoon. We sat for a drink and some music, chatted with coworkers, and then on our way out, we stopped at aveda, and lulu. I actually restrained myself too! Helen dropped me off, and I literally spent the rest of the night watching the sopranos, and was in bed by 11pm. Incredible. Detox weekend success.
stamping our first few linos; heart sparkle nail polish!; blogging and writing on a sunday in bed
Sunday: I woke up with the intent to go see the last day of the tim burton exhibit in Toronto, but my friends who I was supposed to go with messaged me to let me know that they couldn’t come. This resulted in me spending the day in sweatpants, looking at blogs online, watching sopranos, getting a small bit of grocery shopping done, and doing something I’ve been meaning to do for a while – creating a new blog! Specifically for my writing. Was in bed by 10pm, but couldn’t fall asleep until 2am. What’s that all about??
Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend – and check out the new blog “Thoughts to Void” here!

the corners of my wee little abode

i was perusing blogs tonight... and found so many entries on people's homes. i also have a multitude of friends who have not visited my wee little hobbit home, and thought that a photo tour (for those near and far) would be appropriate. and nice to remember it by when i one day depart.
 this is the little nook above my pantry... i mostly took my apt based on this nook. i'm constantly reorganizing it, and when i broke my back, i went to colour coordinating my non-fiction. i think magazines and catalogues will be next.
 my bookshelf, and movie shelf. my books and movies are both in alphabetical order. and my small 'art' (ish) collection. my porcupine/hedgehog was a gift - bought off of an etsy artist. the flower was a painting given to me as a gift by my lovely friend. the rest are vintage from various places.
 i display most of the mail i get on a shelf above my fridge - i have a pen pal friend who i send postcards and mail back and forth to, and she does the same. the lovely red and black card is from her. the bird salt and pepper shakers are from my gma, who knows i have admired them forever... and this thanksgiving she just handed them to me. mine. forever. they are one of my most favourite things i own. my cactus village in the back, behind a thrifted bronze bird.
 one of my favourite parts of my apartment is my stove. it's gas - which in and of itself is the best thing ever - and it just looks exactly how i would imagine my dream stove would. the bird bottle opener is a gift to myself from my seattle trip. the expresso maker and milk pour was a gift from a coworker, who knew i was going through a tough time, and sent me home with it - from her grandmother in italy no less. greig was the only one who knew how to use it... but i just love the memories attached to it.
 what can i say - i'm vegan! this little (ikea) shelf is always filled with nuts, lentils, chia seeds, and there are a few corn noodles there right now. which are yum btw.
 and this - ladies and gents - is where i spent the better part of 4 months while my back was broken. this is my couch. my parents gave it to me, because i practically begged. this couch has been at my parents since i was little, and i just love it. i love sleeping with my legs hanging over the edge, i love that it has barely any cushion left. i love it. my huge pillow which is good for lounging, and my little porcupine pillow from bookhou. photos on the wall are from various places, frames all thrifted and painted white, ruler thrifted, and 'gypsy kings' album found on the side of the road. i know! how dare they!
 my quasi entertainment unit. my first grown up purchase was my tv (not shown... but kickass), and then shortly thereafter, i bought this. it's perfect. holds my embarrassing sex and the city collection (although my series is in boxes for when i move into a bigger place), my wrapping supplies in box bottom right, and part of my craft stuff in box top left. and books. lots of books.
on the shelf you can see... i am a HUGE lady gaga fan. this ticket is from the last show i went to with my littlest sister. so. amazing.
 and yes. you saw correctly - an mk and a book, and a queen book. obviously. also my boring study materials for my courses for work, and some photo albums and scrap books. and toast. lots of toast.
 my shoes in my small entrance indicate a few things.... 1. i love brown. the only black 'shoes' i own are my hunters. and that was simply because they were sold out of army green when i bought them. 2. i have a birkenstock addiction. please note that i got rid of 3 pair when i moved. i owned 6 pairs of birks. pathetic really. 3. i really like comfortable shoes. i don't really let much get in the way of my comfort - birks, blundstones, runners, geox, and moccasins. i do not care about looking like a granny. 4. yup. i own 2 canes. thank you broken back.
 i've noticed recently that i have a slight problem - it involves only buying bath and beauty products that are beige, brown, green, or light blue in colour. case in point - my bathroom shelf.
can't get by without a little help from burt's bees. and candles. i love candles while i'm showering. brushing my teeth. washing my face. i don't really care. candles all the time. (again. light blue and brown)
my bed. my glorious little corner. i am not sure there is a better place in my entire apt. i love a comfy bed, and this is mine. the large photo was taken by my cousin of our cottage, and given to me as a Christmas gift a few years ago, and the other 2 were salvaged from a garage sale - painted by the grandmother of a neighbour 2 doors down.
and last, but furthest from least - my jewelry. as most of you know, i worked at a beading/jewelry store part time for over a year just before i moved last April. part of this is the legacy of that. part of it is simply my love for antique jewelry. notable pieces: bottom left, my 5 layer necklace - my favourite thing i've ever made; my harmonica necklace (gift from greig for our 2 yr anniversary); my glasswork heart shaped bead on ball chain, from the glass work artist who was a guest teacher at the bead store - incredible, and i somehow landed this gem; my o'clock watch, gift from a friend, purchased at walrus in vancouver; my red necklaces - one from mexico, one from panama. i love everything i own.
and that, everyone, is where i live. small, cozy, full of memories of people i love, and in the most monochromatic colour scheme you could imagine. i'm fairly boring in real life.