Collections

Pin It Now! I have always loved collecting things. In the past few years as my mom's genes have kicked in in full force I also love to clean and purge and organize.  It makes collecting a bit of a conundrum at times.  I really can only justify keeping things if they are put to good use, otherwise the thought of them being stuffed away in a box somewhere bugs me...so I've had to somewhat limit the amount of "things" I collect and also in limiting have realized there really are a lot of things that I don't need to have around.  Makes for a more organized house and also gives me peace of mind.  

One of the collections I have held onto is our wine cork collection.  It is featured prominently on our kitchen table and is always a conversation starter.  We don't save every cork we get but always save the interesting ones or the ones from trips or a memorable meal.  For a few of them I've written on them to remember where we were and when but for the most part I just love how they look all grouped together.  

Here are a few of the recent layouts I've done: 

Heading up north this weekend - can't wait! 

Finally

Pin It Now! It is finally hot here!  

Thank goodness don't know if I could have lasted much longer. 

Had a great time at JP & Alison's wedding - here are a few pics:

Shortly after this my camera battery died which is a bummer because I missed my fav. part of party photo ops (the dancing part obviously) so I decided to bite the bullet and got this camera this week: 

I love it because it's tiny and blue.  Isn't it so cute?  Thought about an SLR but really not conducive to my lifestyle yet.  Maybe when we have kids and we already have a zillion pounds of cargo to haul around with us wherever we go but right now if it doesn't fit in my clutch I'm not gonna use it. 

Have been taking full advantage of this loveliness outside by getting into the summer spirit.  

Yesterday  made Barefoot Contessa Gazpacho....have never had a desire to try this before (i think because the name reminds me of a sneeze) but tried it for some random reason a few weeks ago at a restaurant and it is seriously delish....think salsa-esque with a bit of crunch thanks to cucumber and peppers.  Also put a dollop of Tzakiki on top which gave it a bit of creaminess.  My mom went on and on about how the raw food movement is the new rage but honestly it tastes great and is super easy.  

Have also been taking Ben for walks to the water: 

Oh Carrie Bradshaw

Pin It Now! You are so fabulous.

I have heard the sequel is on! For some updates click here. One of the things I miss most about university is the ability to watch multiple episodes at once and then just analyze them to death with my friends. So great.

Blurry Life

Pin It Now!  i think i want a new camera - but i'm worried i'd miss moments like this: 

not a perfect picture but makes me smile to see it because i remember that night, what we did, who we were with (stanton social with my parents)...and i just don't think i'd get that with a big honkin camera.  

i guess i could always keep my current camera on me.... i get my bonus tonight and think that i may splurge for a new camera!  

excited for a big weekend, scrapalpalooza with J tmw and wedding on Sat!  Fun fun.  

Happy weekend everyone!  

Just moments

Pin It Now! Bleh - having a rough day, combo of lots of various nonsense... feeling under the weather, the actual weather is horrible and work is tough, I'm sick of 12 hour days. Just a bad day. But found the below online today and love it, good reminder that it really is just the moments we should live for and not get overwhelmed or too ahead of ourselves or take ourselves to seriously for that matter. And just becuase today was a bad day doesn't mean tomorrow has to be.

If I had to live my life over,
I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax,
I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles,but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I've had my moments,
And if I had it to do over again,
I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.
Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.
I've been one of those people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.
- Nadine Stair, 85 years old.

Blissfully Aware

Pin It Now! Just finished a GREAT book – My Sister’s Keeper; Jodi Picoult always uses quotes at the start of her chapters and this is one that really stood out to me. Grief is so strange isn’t it? It’s something that really can just smack us all in the face at any point but over time can ground us.

When along the pavement,
Palpitating flames of life,
People flicker round me,
I forget my bereavement,
The gap in the great constellation,
The place where a star used to be.
DH Lawrence, Submergence

I love this quote because I do think grief erodes over time but loss really never goes away, it just shifts its shape and ends up changing us. There is still a space left behind.

Had a fun fun weekend with family and friends. Celebrated Meaghan’s bday on Sat night out with the Aurora girls – we had a blast. Really I think I probably had too good of a time - but to revert back to my point above, to me dancing my heart out whilst flailing a glowstick above my head and shouting “it’s a rave! It’s 1996!” followed by having two servings of poutine at 3am is just one of the ways I have learned to embrace life. Fromage but true it’s these times with my friends that remind me that time is so fleeting and things can change in a blink. I think the expression blissfully unaware is an oxymoron – I think it’s better to be aware and appreciate everything, the good and the bad b/c it’s really that juxtaposition that makes you realize how good the good can be isn’t it?

On a lighter note ordered my dress for Nicki’s wedding! Woo – so excited. I got it from JCrew.com and I think that it will be fabulous but we shall see when it gets here, just got an email letting me know that it's been shipped (I really hope I don't get gauged for customs), the inital style I wanted was sold out till Sept but I think I'm going to like it. What do you think?
What’s making me happy as of late is organizing myself into oblivion. I have re-arranged all of my scrapping pages in to these:

American Crafts albums - so love that they are all the exact same album and I don’t have multiple sizes and shapes flailing around my house – I’m a bit of a nut that way, once I get on a kick there is really no stopping me until it’s done (v. surprised that I already have 3 albums full of pages - wow). Also have been attacking my closet as of late. Went from looking like Ben barfed in it to somewhat organized and that makes me happy

Tres excited about this find I found today at lunch:
Got it for almost half price at HomeSense – I looked on Amazon and they have a similar price so if you are interested buy it online. Excited to check this out, word on the blogk (I made that up – you like? Blog + blog) is that it’s a great book. Started looking tonight, I'm only at "B" for Botanical Pressing but so far really enjoying it.

Blast from the past

Pin It Now!

Was looking for a dvd this weekend and found these old pics on cd (remember before digital pics how you could get your prints put on cd?) love that I just stumbled upon these, I totally remember this night - was so fun:

Our choices of makeup, attire and faux tan (mainly my choices) kill me.

K was away and I had a fun shopping filled weekend:

- love love love the new shops at don mills in Toronto -- most fav. store there is def. anthropologie (first in Canada) makes me SO happy and could have dropped thousands of dollars there yesterday, instead settled for this dress:

which I'm so in love with. The print is SO me and the style is super cute for summer and i've convinced myself it's versatile although really only time will tell on that one.

- also am loving the sundresses at old navy - they had a super sale last weekend, dresses for $15 got a few (including this in white)

- Magic Shoes: Nic found her pair a few years ago and I was always jealous of these elusive magic heels that were comfortable...i tried on what was magic for her but didn't do the trick for me....finally found my own pair - these babies from Jessica Simpson they are super comfortable and fabulous (i think these are the ones i have they have a rounded toe, can't really tell from this pic if they are them but could actually i think run a marathon if forced to in these). I didn't get these this weekend but just love them so much i had to include them here.

- i caved and got capris from Citizens of Humanity wanted them for years but could never justify it; finally made the leap yesterday and i'm so happy i did.

-Unrelated but this movie continues to inspire me; Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada is probably my most favourite role ever in a movie - she was just so good, love her and love that movie (and love Anne Hathaway's wardrobe).

Here is a crafty page I did recently, my niece is getting so big and in this pic I think it really shows how she's changed from a beautiful baby into a gorgeous girl: