my (NYC replacement) weekend in summary

this weekend was like a bonus weekend - a weekend i wasn't supposed to have at home... so i spent it doing nothing.

finished jewelry for karli’s wedding; a little piece of their heart; a special cocktail on Friday in the sun – with erin; pat assisting in the prosecco opening; nails like a girl (‘nails done, hair done, everythingdid’); fancy drinks from a teapot with darce; father’s day gift supreme; my dad in all his glory
friday: after having finished packaging karli’s wedding jewelry the night before, I met with her for an early sushi lunch. Got to catch up a bit, as she’s been in hectic wedding planning since the wedding is quickly approaching. Messaged erin when I mentally checked out from my nutty day at work to meet me on the front porch for drinks (It’s so nice to have friends who will drown your equal amounts of misery in beautifully crafted drinks). Had a couple of drinks – one with Pat joining – and then headed out for the jays game downtown. met jeff at the GO station, and then headed in to meet up with the group. spent the jays game watching them win, laughing lots, and reminiscing over babysitting. Then, the group of us headed over to one of the couple’s houses, where we smish-smashed some drinks together, and hung out in their downtown condo – overlooking the crowds after the jays game (this also included a neck massage – best post jays party EVER!). after some discussion, everyone hopped in some cabs and went off to the madison (how do I end up here so often). since my sister lost her wallet, we did the old ID switch, and both managed to get in with my ids (I haven’t faked an ID for probably 10 years!). had some drinks, chatted, and then everyone dissipated to their respective crash pads for the night.
Saturday: woke up fairly early, and headed back to waterdown. took a quick nap, and then drove over to spend the day relaxing, outside, with homemade guacamole and the sun with jamie (friend, not me). spent hours outside on her deck, chatting and getting some much needed (and deserved) sun and relaxing ‘do nothing’ time with her… something neither of us has done in a long time. we then headed out, and got our nails done (by the way I’m a HUGE fan of shellac… never anything else, from now on). I then headed home, and went for a walk to grab some food, and wait for my little sister darcy to get home. when she arrived and saw my taco bell (I know, I’m disgusting), she wanted some, so we headed to taco bell, and then to walmart for much needed knick knacks (sarcasm a plenty). we then hung out, chatted, watched dinner for schmucks, and drank fancy sparkly juice out of miniature teacups (which I’m 98% sure were actually espresso cups). nice Saturday night (we’re fancy, hunh?).
Sunday: woke up late, showered, and had breakfast with jeff and his parents (them talking, standing – us eating). hung out for a bit, and and mosied to starbucks for a patio sit and beverage, and then a canadian tire trip for a new headlight for his truck (drool for canadian tire, amiright?). then, steve popped by, and the three of us hung out, while they chatted about their upcoming bike trip, both rode jeff’s motorcycle, and jumped around on the downhill bike for awhile. had some lunch, and then revisited canadian tire for the correct headlight bulb. then, to my parent’s where I made my mom’s day, when I organized and purged a large portion of my old stuff that’s been sitting in my room at my parent’s for likely around a year. found some amazing notes from old friends and boyfriends, and some extremely incriminating photos that I promptly destroyed. then, wrapped dad’s gift from the sisters, and headed out with darcy to have dinner with the fam for father’s day. A typical 2.5 hour dinner, with lots of interruptions, and obnoxiously loud laughing (sorry all families who had to sit near us), and I headed home at 10. Home, unpacked (a  bit), and got into bed. exhausted.
to reflect, i did: drink fancy drinks; reflect, and write and spend some along time; took some cabs; just like i thought i would in NYC. NYC replacement weekend - a success!
hope everyone had a great weekend - relaxed, enjoyed the sun, and slept in a bit!

a bonus weekend

i was supposed to be in NYC this weekend.... so instead:
father's day. in case you forgot. i'm spending the weekend at a jays game, then checking out NXNE, then perhaps a stroll through the forests, and finally, with my dad.
and something to make you cry. i've written about it before, but it's worth another mention... 
"Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise."
- 50 rules for dads of daughters

things i've been up to lately - jewelry

me? oh nothing, just whipping up some designs for thackeray's vanity, and re:claim for this summer. i have been working on new designs, new packaging, collaborations with a close friend (EXCITEMENT), and working with a graphic designer - both thackeray's vanity and re:claim are getting new faces soon enough! packaging is in the works, as well as mailing practices - we're doing the WHOLE makeover folks! if you were wondering why we were so quiet, this is why....
thackeray's vanity:   store   //   website
seafoam necklace - available at thackeraysvanity.bigcartel.com/

re:claim jewelry design:   store   //   website
victorian cameo necklace - available at reclaim.bigcartel.com/
AND re:claim is cleaning house - ALL re:claim pieces are 50% off until July 31st, with the code 'CLEANOUT'. why? because.... i said so (right here).
and August 1st will mark the brand new face of re:claim. 
additionally, i just finished teaching a jewellery design workshop at grassroots in riverdale - it was fantastic, and wonderful, and we have more in the works. please check out grassroots' website for more info on the workshop, as well as upcoming workshops that they are running. 
enjoy!

things i've been up to lately - writing

today and tomorrow, i just wanted to share a few things that I have been up to lately.
i've been writing... for a great website called 'Ambition in Transition'.
from their website:
"Ambition in Transition is a site for those of us who are fresh (or maybe a little bit older than fresh) out of school and who are in ‘that spot’. The in-between stage where your bank account struggles to keep up with your lifestyle and you are sorting out the balance between old friendships and new, new routines and old habits, your conflicting and ever-changing thoughts about your career and on top of all that, how to leave the world a better place than you found it."
my article on friendship in the time of email - reflections on maintaining authentic friendships, in a world dependant upon electronic communication. 'When I graduated from university, I found myself stretched further and further to be a friend. A 9-5 job took up most of my time. Then my passions, and my small business took up more of my spare time. Then business meetings outside of 9-5, as well as seeing friends who lived in my city took up the rest. It’s becoming increasingly more difficult to be a friend in this time – and yet, we have all the tools to make the friendships we want to maintain far easier than it would have been years ago.'
image from pinterest
my article on living an outdoor lifestyle while being in the big city - reflections on how to find pieces of nature while living in a concrete jungle. 'I am not a South Dakota girl – this is clear. Unfortunately though, the big city does not afford me the time or space for many of the things I like to do outdoors – that I probably could find in SD. I had to work hard to find ways to appease my inner, outdoor loner – and I work daily to find these things.'
my article on starting a small business on the side - reflections on balancing a corporate 9-5, and starting your own business with little time resources. 'It requires a lot of self-reflection; a lot of understanding of who you are, and what you can realistically accomplish; a lot of critique, and self-praise. And above all else, a lot of love for the thing you are doing.'
image from the glitter guide
my article on dressing the part - reflections on how to maintain a style identity while working in a corporate environment. 'I want to wear outrageous jewellery, comfortable clothes, shoes that are too flashy, that I can also wear on weekends. I want to be able to get away with dressing for work similarly to the way I dress at home and on weekends. I want clothes that translate from weekend to office day, then office day to night out with friends after work. I want clothes that reflect my age, and my style, but I also want to be taken seriously as one of the youngest people in my office/industry. Finally – I don’t want to look like a man.'
my article on being a model tenant - reflections on establishing a long lasting and mutually respectful relationship with your landlords while renting. 'How is it that we are renters ensure we are ‘model’ tenants – both in order to maintain a good standing in our landlords books (thus have a good reference for future applications), as well as ensuring that the relationships that we build and maintain with our landlords is positive throughout the rental term?'
image from canadian immigrant
I've also posted all of these articles on my website jamieshea.ca.
and, of course, i've been trying to keep my writing posted on my 365 journey - when she wrote a tragic love story. i have had some issues with posting lately, so i have a huge batch of things to post once my tumblr is up and running again - but for now, feel free to take a peak at what's been happening in the first 130 ish days of the year. featuring photos from erin leydon, nicole dee simmons, jeff kalman, alex reyto, me, katie edmonds, and more.
happy reading!