Greetings from Europe

Today's destination is Bruxelles,Belgique. It's a little rainy today bit that won't put a damper on our plans! We are planning on visiting Tintin at the musee de banded dessinees which should be lots of fun. London was well expensive and we also almost lost Cedric the gnome. We stopped at this residential garden that was on the street because a) there was a hanging disco ball and b) a garden full of gnomes!! As we were trying to take a picture of Cedric with his friends he tried to escape! He fell over the tall fence by a boat full of flowers. We panicked. Both of our arms were too short to reach him. We had to improvise and use the strap of my camera to reach and lure him back with much success. Needless to say Cedric has not seen much of the world again in fear that he might run away.
Bye for now

packing. take 2

I leave tomorrow. I leave tomorrow. I leave tomorrow!!! So excited I can barely contain it in a jar. I am pretty much all packed up. Got my hair done (spontaneously...went for a bang trim and ended up with a beautiful espresso colored hair!), my books are bought and waiting to be read on the plane, train, bus. My ipod is fully loaded with better music then it had before. (so in love with Neko Case!) I got my coat that turns into a plush pillow for those cold London days and for the uncomfortable plane ride. All I pretty much need to decide on is which fashion scarf to bring!
I cannot believe this day has finally arrived.
Six weeks of bliss, adventures, and beauty in Europe. Wine, cheese, baguette, Belgian beer and chocolate, more wine..... I'm just really trying to make you all so jealous. ;)
Maybe I'll never return..... that would be something to check off my bucket list.




How I'd love to travel with these suitcases from 2BoredBunnies

packing. take 1

I have three days to do laundry and pack for my Eurolife. 6 weeks worth of clothes, hair product, books, music, journals, shoes and underwears to pack! And all I can do is stare at this computer screen and mentally add to my long list of to dos!

So as I'm about to start doing all of that I wanted to introduce you to my traveling partner. He's small but mighty so please don't judge him, it will hurt his feelings.

Here is Cedric The Gnome


He will be traveling with us for 6 weeks. Or however long he decides he wants to stay. You can see that he's all ready to go and is packed up. Now I must leave you all to do the same.

Julie&Julia

I have just watched the movie Julie&Julia last night and was inspired. First off I can't wait to go to Europe and how I would love to live the life Julia Child lived! Headstrong living in Paris deciding to learn french cooking and writing a book about it for Americans, what a fantastic life! Secondly I got very inspired by Julie, blogging every evening after experiencing a recipe from Julia Child's french cooking book. Well I have clearly not writing in almost one month! Pathetic don't you think? I may not have over 500 recipes to write about for one year, but I at least have my fabulous Eurolife starting in less then 10 days to write about. I will try to let you all know about my daily ventures in Belgium, Netherlands, Slovenia and where else I might end up as often as I can. The good, and the bad. So here is the start of my writing adventures. So far I have not packed. At all. I have mentally selected and put together my outfits however... and I still have to figure out which suitcase I am bringing around with me. So much to do. So little time!!

I will keep you all posted. Promise!


In the meantime here's a wonderful pendant made from a vintage Netherlands metro map from ksickles

moleskine

These little black leather bound books, the ones that the legendary Picasso, Hemingway and Chatwin also used, are one of the key journals to bring with you on travels. Especially the City Notebooks, they have a map of the metro, about 20 pages of maps of the city, with a street name index, and tons of pages to write, draw, collage or whatever you choose to do with it. I recently got a few cities for my trip to Europe. They weigh quite a bit so it will be tricky to pack and repack these 4 in a backpack but it will definitely be worth it. I couldn't live without them in both Montréal and New York.






Métro de Paris


Map de Paris

Don Drapper is Back!

The day has finally arrived ladies and gents for the return of Madmen Season 4!
I am so excited I feel like getting dolled up, hair flipped out with a wide headband and a bloody mary in hand to sit down and watch the show while my bf sips on his bourbon and smokes a cigar.
Don Drapper, who will be your new muse this season.... and how much more trouble can you get into?
Oh the drama of the sixties! The shorter skirts, the young radical liberals, those crazy hips swaying on the dance floor (how dare they do that in public!!) And the desperate housewives. Depression diagnoses. Boredom. But smiling through it all. Because its better to fake it then actually speaking your mind right?

Everything is sexier en français

David Usher's new song with Marie-Mai....is absolutely amazing.
We all knew he was hot before.
But then he sings in french. my heart melts.
You must listen to it.
<3

It brings back memories of when he randomly walked into the same studio I was interning in Montréal. Best day as an unpaid sweat shop worker. Ever.

The Weepies - Can't Go Back Now

Enjoy!

antique mall results

Since the weather was kinda gloomy I went out and about to the Antique Mall. Here are my results:


This is by far the best recipe book out there. It is from 1944 and will explain everything from how to prepare the simplest things like Iced Tea to step by steps of preparing game meat also it explains how to train your maid and what colors your candles should be when preparing the table for entertaining guests.
Here's one excerpt:

Care of Milk in the Home:

1. To let the morning milk wait on the doorstep or at room temperature, increases bacterial content, reduces vitamins. So take the milk in promptly, and place in the coldest part of the refrigerator immediately, continuously.
2. Wash top of the container and cap, before opening or putting away.
3. Be sure to keep the milk always covered.
4. Never mix new and old milk or cream except for immediate use. Adding some of yesterday's milk to today's, means hastening the souring process.

It is a riot. And I cannot wait to do some canning and pickling! This book was also a reference in the 100-mile diet, Alisa used it as her how-to guide. Best $9.00.



MINT CONDITION. With original box and instructions. Never been used friendship pattern pyrex casserole dish. HEAVEN

Fan

I stumbled upon this adorable vintage looking fan on a fine Saturday. It was all alone on the shelf just screaming my name. Not only is it cute, but it works too (pretty well!) I will most definitely need one of these in my new apartment home.



Music: California Gurls by Katy Perry (dont judge. it just sounds like summer)
Book: FINALLY finished reading 100-mile diet. very inspiring. you should read it too
Show: Brothers&Sisters. so much drama and fighting. all thats missing is them being french and it would be very familiar.
Other Things I'm Totally Into: going biking with my beau

Vintage Pyrex

A few of you already know how much i L-O-V-E vintage pyrex. I bought my very first piece this past March at an antique store in Invermere, BC. And its been love, that turned into an obsession ever since!
I don't have a picture of my first turquoise bowl since its all packed up just waiting to be used in my first apartment....but here is a picture of pretty much the exact same thing from SurrenderDorothy I have the botton one, and am looking for the top one.

The Buttermilk collection is from the 1950's and has a pattern of an Omish husband and wife farmer and some roosters and bundles of wheat all around. I have the smaller size to go with it too and I am just missing the medium size. I have not been able to find it in the turquoise with white detail either on Etsy or antique stores. I have however seen the white with turquoise accents like the picture. I am not even sure if it exists. But I will keep looking!

I also got this adorable casserole dish from rltichy83



AND my newest addition to my Vintage Pyrex Family....
A beautiful medium size bowl in the same friendship print as my casserole for two. The Friendship pattern was released in the 70's. I bet now that you know that you can easily see that seventies influence! I got this little guy at a really great price at that vintage store on whyte avenue (Edmonton) below Gravity Pope called Junque Cellar. (look them up on facebook for more info)


I absolutely cannot wait to bake, and cook in my beautiful pyrex dishes and then have the bright colored bowls up on the table to serve when entertaining! I want to be wearing an adorable apron when i'm doing all of the cooking too!
I was definetly born in the wrong era.... I should be 24 and in the 1960s! Fighting for my female rights in the work place, going home to my hard working husband....ok wait... if i had a husband I wouldn't be working back in those days. EVEN BETTER. stay at home wife and no children!!!! isn't that the dream?!

Music: Jolene by Dolly Parton
Show: MadMen (John Hamn yum!!!)
Other Things I'm Totally Into: TokyoMilk Spa Products (tomorrow's blog feature!)

Farmer's Market - Downtown

on a beautiful Saturday like today, I went to the downtown farmer's market to get some local fruit, veggies and anything else that might catch my eye..... like two truck loads of firemen!!! (seriously nice touch. thank you to whoever made that happen!) After I cooled down, from all that hottnest surrounding the market.... I found the most gorgeous earrings! Kiko Jewelry is local and makes beautiful funky jewelry with sterling silver and semi precious stones. Hanging from a tree were these gorgeous gold plated leaf earrings that I absolutely HAD to own. Here they are!



And now they can hang from my ears!

I also stumbled upon this wicked shower curtain from Carbon an environmentally friendly boutique. Other then being good for the planet this shower curtain is customizable and will be one of a kind.... because they give you a friendly to the environment sharpie type pen so that you can do whatever you want on your curtain. I cannot wait to host a small gathering with some artistic people I know (cough Rachelle) so they can dazzle my blank canvas of a curtain!



http://www.graindesign.com/casestudy-recyclable_shower_curtain.html

Music: C'était salement romantique par Coeur de Pirate
Other Things I'm Totally Into: apartment shopping and planning :)

empty nest

Well I totally understand the "empty nest" syndrome. I haven't seen P-S today, at all, so I imagine he has spread his little wings, attempted to fly and succeeded. They grow up so fast you know! Seems like just yesterday I was cutting out a Juicy Couture box and making him a home! I guess that's life. And at least I can say I helped the little guy survive in a big world. I can only hope he comes to visit! (I'll need to bribe him and buy some bird food...)



Beautiful photograph to represent today by buckscountyframes

random acts of kindness

I have been having quite a fulfilling beginning of the week already! You all know about my Peep-Squeak now (he's doing well, tweeting away all day long!), Sunday I found a gold charm bracelet on the softball field. It was cute with 3 charms on it I brought it back with me and called the school the next day. A teacher had lost this charm bracelet and was incredibly happy to learn that someone was bringing it back. I brought it back today and to my complete and utter shock, this teacher had bought me a violet plant as a thank you and wrote me an amazing letter saying how thankful she was that I would care for a complete stranger. Random acts of kindness my friends, are rare but special things. When you have the opportunity to do something for someone else out of your own goodness, please do so. It makes others believe that there is still kindness in the hearts of strangers. It also makes you feel incredibly good. Trust me ;)

Heres my Violet Plant. <3


For other charm bracelet lovers out there like myself heres some from (you know where....) Etsy!


Lucky Gold Charm Bracelet from chickmunkfunk


Choose your own rose color gold bracelet by bonjourpierre


Music: Quelqu'un m'a dit by Carla Bruni
Show: Pretty Little Liars (its awful-ly good)
Other Things I'm Totally Into: anything that has nothing to do with Justin Bieber.

Birdie

Yesterday afternoon as I was taking my bike about to head out to the VV Boutique (value village) to buy a pair of overalls for a photoshoot that I am planning on taking, when I almost ran over a lil birdie. It appeared he had fallen high from his nest, and was petrified sitting there waiting for mama bird or someone to come save him.
After building his designer home with soft fabric inside and twigs, it took a while to convince him to get in there. When I got back from softball practice he was all snuggled up inside, which was perfect for me to close the box and hang the house in the tree. Unfortunately for him it was so windy last night, I thought he was gonna get thrown out! But the little guy snuggled up in his blanket and held real tight. He tried flying away today but mama and papa bird are feeding him and encouraging him to keep flying!

Heres the little guy. I call him Peep-Squeak.



I was quite afraid that Peep-Squeak would get eaten by a cat or a crow so I decided to make it my mission to build him a nest. Here's my crafty result. Nothing says birdhouse like Juicy Couture right?





Here are other adorable birdhouses I found on etsy. I wasn't quite as crafty as these artists.


Trailer Birdhouse by BirdhouseBlessings


Birdhouse by Rural Originals


Anyone know what I should be feeding birds? So far Peep-Squeak almost choked on a piece of bread...I won't be feeding him that anymore.

Ice Cream Cones

I absolutely adore my donut bobbie pins and my custom made ice cream cone bobbie pins!! Thanks to the Mouse Market on etsy for creating such adorable things, and for making my pins exactly how I wanted them. You must see all of her miniature foods! Next on my list; I want those Cotton Candy earrings!!!



Music: the birds signing outside when the sun is shining (like right now, which is a huge change since two days ago I was still sporting my wool socks....in JUNE)
Books: still working on the 100-mile diet....
Other Things I'm Totally Into Right Now: my long hair. :)

Keep Calm Carry On

So today I learnt that this saying that is absolutely everywhere... from etsy (like this one poster for example is available to purchase from CutPastePrint's Shop) to home decor magazines, on journals, mugs, water bottles you name it.... is actually a propaganda poster that was created by the British at the beginning of WWII, but never used. I guess it only makes sense that during this recession or whatever this economy has become, that we need a reminder about how to carry on with our lives. I was kind of getting sick of seeing this everywhere without a clue as to where it came from. Now I know (thank you Indigo) and so do you.


Music : Jack Johnson's new cd To The Sea
Movie: Sex and The City 2 - just saw it with my BFF so good!!! I don't know why the ratings were so awful.
Other Things I'm Totally Into Right Now: Asian Saltine Crackers. addictive.

Converse/Lichtenstein

I got these awesome Converse kicks at Divines about a month ago. I have always been a fan of Roy Lichtenstein way before I even knew who he was. I used to have this button up shirt that also tied at the bottom in a knot -TRÈS 90's - I lived in that shirt all summer long. It was a print with different pictures of Lichtenstein's trademark heroines all over it, on the phone, crying, "Oh, Jeff I love you, too... but..." Later in Art History class I was able to study a bit about him and realize how much influence and impact he had on the pop art scene. If you're interested in reading up on him and for further gallery images check out his foundation's site.



Music: Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap
Book: 100-mile Diet by Alisa Smith & J.B. MacKinnon
Other things I'm Totally into right now: keeping my feet warm while wearing wool socks over my leggins.

new inspiration!

So today I have completely decided to change around my blog and dedicate it to things that I love. Yes I do love writing, but I think that this might peak your curiosity a little bit more.

So heres to a blog full of fashion and a few of my favorite things.

Enjoy!

taking care of me

Today is my first day off in 7 days. During this past week filled with Mother's day retail sales I got a really bad cough, something strong enough that I need a prescription for. I'm still slowly fighting this lung infection or whatever it is, but today, on this wonderful sunny bird chirping day I put my fabric and iron down (started sewing) and decided to go for a run. As I was slowly jogging for what felt like 5 minutes but was really....30 seconds my breath was getting shorter and I was no longer able to exhale from my nose. My body, even though aching through the climb of stairs in the ravine, felt like it was finally free. My body was able to do all of the things it had longed for. Air was going to my lungs, air filled with sun, birds chirping, heavy with allergies season was being inhaled and exhaled freely. I FELT ALIVE. Blood was circulating, my muscles contracting (I'm assuming that was the pain I felt), my nose was leaking, and my mind was finally rested and peaceful for 2 whole minutes.

Even though I felt like I was dying and started coughing so hard I thought I might puke, I felt my body thanking me to release it and to let it do what it was meant to do.

I used to be quite fit; playing soccer, riding my bike to get to places or walking to and from school, but over the years you trade in that bike for a car, you start eating like crap because you can and whose gonna stop you anyways right? I haven't played soccer for a few seasons now due to numerous reasons... and I just took a look at the grad dress I wore for my bf's grad thinking hey I can wear this at one of the numerous weddings coming up, and well..... Its about half my size now!

I'm not writing to say that I've gained weight and how I'm immediately going to start a cleanse and work out like mad.

I'm writing to say we all forget to take care of the one person that needs the most of it; ourselves. Without caring for our own body there isn't too much we can do. I am prone to catching any bug that's floating in the air, I rarely feel very well rested and I am so out of shape its pathetic (as described above!)

With all of our busy schedules;working, going to school, saving money, studying, watching tv, catching up with old friends, facebooking, reading a book, doing absolutely nothing, .... we forget to take the time for ourselves.

Do Yoga. Go Jog. Take swimming lessons. Bike to work, to school. Take a walk. Join a gym. Find a work out partner. Do something for you. Can't afford lessons, or a gym membership.... then do something that is free; walk, run, youtube how to do yoga. forget the coffee meeting with a friend do a bike trail and bring a picnic. There is so much that we take for granted and completely forget about. I forgot how I used to walk to my bf's house (since he lives so close). But I got a car and well it was so convenient to be late and drive. I used to play soccer 3 times a week... thank goodness I've joined a slow pitch team to get me to do something physical for 3 hours a week this year!

What I'm trying to say is that I believe God made us in His or Her image and it is up to us to reflect our thank yous through taking care of ourselves. It is really the least we can do. Our bodies are the most amazing machine on this Earth. We should treat it with the utmost care. But we don't. We get busy, we forget, we let ourselves go.

Today I a telling you that if there is one thing you can do for yourself or start doing its taking care of you. Eat well. Drink lots of water. Laugh. Exercise. Enjoy life. But don't forget about YOU. I know its not easy... trust me I eat my fair share of popcorn, have a beer here and there, order take out. But sometimes we have to be able to deny ourselves these pleasures because we all know its no good for us.

So take the time for you this week. Because you deserve it!

-nounou

l'arbre généalogique

Cette semaine j'ai été inspirée par ma curiosité de vouloir en apprendre plus au sujet de ma famille généalogique. Ça fait au-delà de quelques mois déjà que je me rends compte qu'un jour mes grands-parents n'y seront plus. C'est peut-être un peu morbide d'y penser, mais c'est le cycle de la vie. Ma plus grosse crainte est que lorsque ce jour viendra, je vais me sentir vide de n'avoir jamais entendue l'histoire de mes grands-parents. Qui ils étaient durant leur enfance; leurs amis, leurs familles. Comment est-ce qu'ils se sont rencontrés, quelle sorte de rêves est-ce qu'ils avaient voulu réaliser?

Une idée m'est venue, un projet de faire un genre d'entrevue de poser toutes les questions dont j'en voulais savoir plus et de transmettre ses questions et réponses dans un livre que je pourrais ensuite distribuer à mes cousins, mes oncles mes tantes pour que leurs histoires soient écrite. Pour que leur héritage continue et que les générations à suivre comprennent d'où ils viennent et que l'histoire de mes grands-parents leur appartiennent aussi.

Nous sommes une culture obsédée à tout savoir au sujet des célébrités. Qui ils étaient, qui sont-ils et qu'est-ce qui en sont devenues. On connaît tous des faits divers au sujet de nos acteurs préféré, nos musiciens, même au sujet des personnes que nous voulons rien en apprendre, mais les médias nous bombarde constamment d'informations qui n'a aucun rapport avec la vie, avec les nouvelles. C'est rendu que le montant de divorce qu'un tel a eu, si quelqu'un est adultère, combien d'argent qu'un acteur a fait durant la première fin de semaine d'ouverture... tout cela est devenue de l'information classifiée assez importante pour les passer aux nouvelles nationales!

Il y en a entre nous qui connaissons plus l'histoire de Brangelina que celle de notre propre famille. On devrait être gênés de ne pas connaître notre histoire. De ne pas penser que nous sommes autant intéressants, même plus que quelqu'un à Hollywood. En fait, n'importe qui qui peut lire mon blog en français a plus de culture que 80% des bimbos blondes avec implantation qui demeure à Los Angeles. Nous devrions être fière de nos racines, de faire de la recherche, poser des questions pour en savoir plus à notre propos sujet.

C'est pour ça que j'ai choisi d'entreprendre un tel projet. Puisque moi aussi, malheureusement, je fais partie des gens qui ont des faits divers et sans aucune importance au sujet des personnes dans les tabloïds. Et j'ai besoin d'en savoir plus au sujet de mes racines, de comment je suis devenue à être qui je suis.

Je vous invite à faire de même. À poser des questions à vos parents, vos grands-parents. À apprendre qui vous êtes, avant que cela soit trop tard.

xx

nounou

Lucky 13

...as I was doing some spring cleaning this morning, I came across an old chinese fortune from a fortune cookie. I quite enjoy the concept of them and tend to get all excited after indulging in a usually ambitious amount of chinese food. And I almost always keep the fortune.

This morning was one of those moments that made me stop in my tracks and made me think.

My fortune read : "Avoid unchallenging occupations - they will waste your great talents."

Trying to find where my career will lead me to these days has been on my mind. I know I had kept this fortune for a certain reason, most likely because I was working (at that time) in a job that I knew would not lead me towards my life career. There is only so much waitressing a person can handle!

I was glad to stumble upon this fortune today, it made me think and re-evaluate a whole lot all over again. And perhaps it will make me do a little more research as to where this career will lead me too. Fashion has been my first choice going into post-secondary school for it and all.... but I find myself questioning that industry. How will sewing pretty clothing make a difference in the world? Initially that is what I wish to get out of my career. I think if you are going to choose a career it has to give you something in return. Whether it is helping others, helping a cause... of course a lot of those careers are within the serve and protect type of careers. I am the type of person that could never find a career that would just fulfill someone else's five minutes of happiness, ie; someone purchasing that perfect dress that I have spent hours sketching, pattern making, fabric shopping and sewing for. Sure that dress might be the outfit that she wears when she meets the love of her life. It might also be the last dress she's ever seen wearing (clearly been watching too much BONES.... I am in love with this show right now...but back to my post).

At the end of the day I am someone that believes in other people just as much as I do in myself. And in a world that is full of shallow beings and perplexed beings I need to find a place in the world that will help me help you.

I have tried avoiding going into education my whole life. For those who know me I need not to explain myself for this. Lets just say a lot of my family has gone down that career path. I do not think there is anything wrong with the education system or of becoming an educator. I just always thought of that career as being one of simple life, a boring life, one not for me.

I was talking it over with my brother and as he was explaining that I need to do the pros and cons between the careers that I am anticipating throwing myself into and compare.

Education has always come back creeping into my life. Somehow my brain will light up and say

HEY WHAT ABOUT EDUCATION?! YOU WOULD BE GOOD AT IT. AND IF YOU GIVE IT A CHANCE YOU MIGHT EVEN LOVE IT.

But of course the creative side of my brain says; ya but doing corrections and writing up exams is lame. Wouldn't you rather have a studio and make some pretty clothing for a living?

That small shallow part me of wants to use the idea of owning my own studio as the way to be different, to brag about being "a designer" because it sounds so prestigious.

But at the end of the day, that's not me. Not even a little. I've always loved making my own clothing cutting up some stuff and wearing it receiving the compliments and questions about where I got my outfit..... but I think I would love even more being able to make a difference in some kids life.

Knowing that you matter to someone that was a complete stranger to you 10 months ago.

Would teaching be unchallenging? certainly not. Would it waste away my talents? some might disagree with this... my artistic wanting to create talents would not be making me money that is true, but my talents of being able to listen, help and understand someone else...those talents would be used, everyday, all day.

Sometimes I think we live in a tougher world then our grandparents did. Because even though we have life quite easy, we really make a mess of it by complicating it. Maybe we all need to get back to the roots of life.

The essentials of what makes a community, a city, a world.

What are you doing to help the world you live in today?

xx

nounou

inspired!

Pour l'amour de l'écriture / for the love of writing

One of my good friends mandabelltee inspired me yesterday. She blogged about needing to get back to her roots and her love of dancing. Well I have decided to do the same. I am going back to my love of writing.

I used to write poetry in high school the same way my friends used to doodle the names of their crushes all over their binders (not that I skipped doing that too...but!) I would write. All the time. I had thought of going into journalism then realized I had no interest in writing about the daily disasters that were going on. I loved writing or talking about people I knew, people I had met, people that inspired me. Letting the world know about their stories - everyone has a one to tell. And the ones that refuse to share theirs are the ones that are the most interesting.... I love knowing how people became the way they are, what were the incidents that shaped their lives, what environment were they forced to live in, what was the determining factor in their life that made them who they are today.

I'm not sure at what point that I stopped writing. But I did. And today I am determined to get back into it, one post at a time. I might not always have too much to say, but please bare with me I am a little rusty and I hope to only get better with time.

so now it is my turn to tell you; what part of yourself have you left behind, what have you stopped doing that made you who you are today. I dare you to get back into it, or at least think about it. You owe it to yourself.

thats all for now.

nounou