this weekend was a long trip away, and a great time for catch up. it was a train-filled, zombie-filled, food-filled weekend (and SUNNY to boot!).
awesome type font on my new favourite drink; the long train to ottawa; my favourite page from 'all my friends are dead'; berries for breakfast; my new shoe obsession - native shoes; parliament buildings; fave purchase of the day - zombie key rings; tulips around town; my second favourite purchase of the day (and YES that IS me wearing pink); train ride home; passing time with zombies and canada cards for far away neighbours; the stray kitten welcomes me home; unwinding with a book in the yard; sweet smelling lily of the valley to freshen my room - from the backyard.
friday: i raced out of work, and got in line for my train to ottawa - my first time (that i can remember) on via trains. i spent the train ride catching up with friends (by phone call, emails, facebook messages and letter writing), reading, writing, and spending the 5 hours doing things i never get 5 hours to sit down and do. the train was delayed by 45 minutes, and the internet was shoddy, but you can't expect much from a moving vehicle. i arrived in ottawa around 11, and met my dear friend leigh at the station. we cabbed back to her place, hung out a bit, and then headed out to grab something to eat. since it was nearly midnight, we ended up in a diner, which was perfect. fries, onion rings, and beer. we stayed for awhile, and then went back home (as i could barely keep my eyes open), and as we settled into bed we still managed to stay up for hours talking. i'm sure we weren't asleep before 3am.
saturday: slept in, and woke up to leigh coming home from the grocery store with breakfast and snacks. we had a great breakfast and talked lots (which seems to be the trend when leigh and i hang out), and made plans with our other partner in crime - elise - for meeting up and exploring. we headed out and went straight to the bike store that was having a huge sale - for leigh to buy a bike for the first time. we wandered through the store, and got leigh a bike (gold!) and a helmet (black and gold!), and we left giddy. we then met with elise at leigh's apartment, and we all ventured out downtown. we wandered down the street that leigh lives on, popping in and out of shops as we went, and then ended up at the mall - i wanted to get a bathing suit (*shudder). before shopping, we stopped to visit elise's work, to see where the magic happened. then, attempted the dreaded bathing suit try ons. managed to somehow escape with no bathing suit, but a bevy of accessories, a dress and some pants (not sure how that happened). we then headed home to rest, change and collect ourselves before dinner. had a snack, and then i left to meet my friend emily for a drink before dinner. walked down the street and met emily for some drinks, and finally got to meet her fiance for the first time. some others joined, and before i knew it, we were heading towards chinatown for some vegan dinner. we ended up at
zen kitchen - where emily had heard was wonderful (and she was willing to delve into vegan fare with me). we had a great meal, with complimentary starters, and some lovely drinks (i would drink caipirinha's until i was blue in the face, if i could). elise met us there, and emily's friend joined us - unfortunately, leigh was supposed to join, but messaged to say she was not feeling well, and had spent her time alone napping and being sick. after a long dinner, we all said goodbye, and elise and i went back to leigh's to make sure she was ok. elise went home and leigh and i settled into bed - poor leigh still feeling like she couldn't move. since i was battling a migraine, i was not upset about being in bed before midnight.
sunday: woke up late (ish) after almost 12 hours of sleep, and spent the next hour reading in bed - which i NEVER get to do. once i heard leigh moving, got out of bed, and spent the morning chatting and eating some breakfast. i had to depart at 3, so before taking off, i headed to the grocery store for some train snacks. then, said a quick (in the hopes of not catching what she may have had) goodbye to leigh, and cabbed to the train station. another 5 hour train ride filled with phone catch ups, writing, reading the remainder of my book, and sleeping more. when i arrived home, i walked a lot of the way to stretch my legs, and get the last of the fresh air. got home, and whipped together a simple dinner - and spent the rest of the sunlight hours outside with a beer, some food, and a book. had a quick catch up with pat and erin, and then retreated into my apt to clean up and watch modern family while constructing samples of jewellery for my colleague.
hope everyone had a fantastic weekend, and enjoyed the sunshine - but spent LESS than 10 hours in a train. happy monday!
i was hooked. i needed to know more. so learn i did. and found this marvellous shoe company native shoes. first stop: website. incredible.
i need these shoes. i need them for travelling (lightweight), i need them for my back (SO comfortable), and i need them for the sole fact that they are amazing looking, in great colours (because i said so).
and guys? the videos? soooooooo worth the watch. (this is the video for their spring line 2012. the kids in this video are to die for)
