Rockin' out to this tune while getting ready for a Saturday Night

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
- Abraham Lincoln


via Beyond the Gray

Long Weekend!!

It's Friday night and I am staying in. Old lady-ish? Maybe. Lame? Maybe. Neccessary? Absolutely.

For a good week or two now I've had a folder in my 'Favourites' entitled Blogworthy Things I Found on the Internet. (Cue fanfare...)

~:~Fab photo of a diner that I've been meaning to try and really must visit soon.

~:~A House Tour of an adorable apartment that is everything mine could be (and oh how I would love it if it would)

~:~More dreams of Paris...

~:~Cuteness...

~:~...and more cuteness

~:~Enviable wares found on Etsy. This would look so good in my bedroom!

~:~Beautiful words of wisdom

~:~Prettiest party in the whole world - with cheese! (Mmmmm)

~:~Vintage fashion spread of awesomeness

~:~I WANT ONE OF THESE.

New Mission:

To make one of these soups:

Cold Soups Slideshow: bonappetit.com

I don't know why I've only just realized that I can read bonappetit online, but I am so excited that I can do so! I've been saying since the spring that during the hot summer months I would like to make a delightful gazpacho - and these recipes may just fit the bill!

Most enticing are Chilled Avocado with Mint, Chilled Tomato-Tarragon Soup with Croutons and Chilled Cucumber Soup with Smoked Salmon and Dill. YUM

S.O.S

I'm killing my plants.

Not all of them, mind you - my basil and rosemary seem to be doing okay, and my orchid is hangin' in there.... but the fern. Oh the fern. The fern is in a desperate situation. I've moved it outside in hopes the fresh air might somehow help, but it is not looking good.

Isn't he sad? Brown, yellowing leaves, drooping, wilted appearance. This fern needs your help. Green thumbs everywhere - please come to my precious fern's rescue! I have no clue what I'm doing, and he's just too pretty to die...

What the Internet Did For Me Today!

Often, at our apartment, A will return home from work and I will shout "LOOK WHAT THE INTERNET DID FOR ME TODAY!", opening up tab after tab of bookmarked websites that I thought she would like, or that I was so proud of having found, I simply had to share it, whether I thought she would like it or not. So, I will let you be privy to exactly what A has to deal with every day by starting a new segment called (yep, you guessed it) "LOOK WHAT THE INTERNET DID FOR ME TODAY".

Todays gems: The British Vlogger. I have recently found myself returning to the same youtube channels over and over again. It's not because the bloggers in question are the funniest people on the internet. It's because they have managed, in their own way, to take over a small portion of the internet. And that's impressive. .

The particular bloggers in question are Alex Day and Charlie McDonnell. McDonnell started his vlog when he was 17 (he is now 20), and quickly gained a little bit of internet notariety. He has been on several British chat shows, and his youtube channel is the most subscribed youtube channel in the UK. His channel is a mix of commentary, original tunes, and (my favorite) challenges. He accepts challenges from his subscribers, be it learning to juggle, or painting his entire body purple (with the help of his mom).

How did I discover McDonnell? First, I found the vlog of his best friend/roommate/band mate, Alex Day. Alex also has lots of amusing commentary webisodes, but he also has a FANTASTIC segment: Alex reads Twilight. It's brilliant and spot on.

While researching for this guest entry, I discovered something very cool about these two young men. They, along with their two friends, created a project called Chart Jackers. The concept? Get an original single in the top 40 UK charts, with all of the proceeds going to charity. Even cooler? All of the work was done via the internet community. The lyrics, the melody, the actual artists singing the song, the video, all of it was submitted by folks on the internet. I think it's a fantastic feat- daily I claim my love for the internet, but in this case, I am impressed with their ability to use it in such a positive way. They hit number 36 on the charts and raised 10,000$ for charity. Hells yes.

After forcing A to watch yet another Alex Day video (he discussed the sexuality of Harry Potter.... with research), she noted that it's not that these boys are HILARIOUS, it's that they are just very amusing- the sort of thing you would find your own best friend ranting about, and so they are relatable. It's your living room on the internet.

This leads me to my next thought. I'm pretty sure that A and I would have a kick ass web series. I know that at the very least, the two of us would watch it.

*crackle* *crackle* Ahem, is this thing on?

Just here to announce the upcoming guest post by my ever-entertaining Roomie!

(ye've been warned...)

Amen.

I've always prefered my G&T with lime... but generally I agree totally and completely with this poster...and I lament whole heartedly the fact that for the first time in a long time there is no gin in my house.

photo source

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PHOTO

via weheartit

Bedroom Makeover!

Well maybe I'm not doing a "bedroom makeover" persay, but my awesome designer friend is over and we've picked the most lovely of fabrics, and designed a shape, and measured dimensions for my fancy new custom HEADBOARD! It is going to look marvelous and feminine and wonderful. I'll try to remember to take a picture when she comes back in a couple of weeks to install it. I've also finally gotten around to putting up the picture railings I bought a month ago, so this afternoon I get to play with pictures and frames and make lovely little vignettes - what fun! Maybe someday I'll have an actual bedroom to enjoy, as opposed to just a room with a bed in it - quel surprise!

Can't sleep either??

Remember my too-cool awesomely fabulous friend Tessa? Well she and her super creative Montreal friends made a fashion video! It's super cute, and is entered into a contest which if it wins involves a trip to Paris for a screening of the short film! (Which involves me smuggling myself to Paris in Tessa's luggage! Woo hoo!)

Seriously though, check out the film stills here, and the vid itself here, and vote for it! Yay fashion creative fun!


Off to bed now - much to do tomorrow. Goodnight dear readers! I hope you dream of Victorian homes, and really cute dresses, and sunshine and effervescent music..

I'm trying really hard to have a productive day off today. Well maybe not "really hard" but I'm trying.

...Actually I'm sitting on my back porch listening to birds chirp and crickets buzzing the loud buzz of midsummer, and the gentle hum of my neighbours' air conditioner [note I said my neighbours'. My apartment is NOT air conditioned. It is a sticky, hot, cave. So much so that today Roomie posted this on my Facebook wall.]

I'm having a lovely time though... and I have cleaned the kitchen, and am doing laundry, and am showered and clean, and I'm drinking an Americano out of a fancy cup (and saucer!). I'm also doing some productive computer things, like researching the restaurant I'm going to stop by later today. Last week the owner came into my cafe and said that he liked me and wanted to know if I wanted to pick up some dinner shifts. I said "Thank you! That would be great, and I am available in the evenings" when in my head I was saying "Awwww HECK YES!".

AND I'm doing Maid of Honour things, like thinking about my speech, and working on some Stagette plans, and harassing the Dress shop about my bridesmaid dress which has yet to arrive.

AND I'm reading my book, which I've been reading for a real long time, and which I'd like to have finished; and heck, I may even try to get some writing done because why not?

These are all productive things... right? RIGHT?!??

via NatalieDee

via AudreyHeburnComplex

Dream Home?

Library, loft, sunlight and fireplace?! Oh heck yes.

It's also a swell afternoon to be hangin' poolside..

photo source

photo source

It's a perfect afternoon to sit and read a book

via the impossible cool

Woah.

You know what I just realized?

I've been keeping this blog for a year now! Nay, over a year!

My word, where has the time gone?! How? HOW has a year passed?!

I wonder if I've managed to keep anyone entertained this whole time? This blog started as a creative outlet, and while lately I'll admit has become less about sharing my own thoughts and creative urges and a bit more about sharing those of others I hope to get back to posts of a more introspective and effusive nature.

A YEAR. Ack! I can't believe it. (In case you couldn't tell). I was shocked at how fast the summer was passing (middle of July anyone??) but oh man! What IS it that makes time pass so quickly these days? Perhaps it is a symptom of being "grown up". I am 25 now after all; that's halfway to middle age - I've already started using the phrase 'I remember when I was a kid...'

I was about to say that it feels as though nothing of consequence has happened in the past 13 months but upon reflection I realize I have moved, I have switched jobs, I have visited 3 different countries, I've grown closer with friends, I've grown apart from friends, I've made new friends, I've made money, I've spent money, I've been brave, I've been wrong, I am in certain ways an entirely different person than she who began this blog (although, let's not get too crazy here, I am in a lot of ways entirely the same).

How have you changed in the past 13 months? What does a year mean to you?

OMG someone has STOLEN MY IDENTITY

Dear blank, please blank.:

"Dear Ambition,

Please get off my back. I got things to do like read a novel, lay in the sun, drink a beer and watch TV.

Sincerely, Lazy Lady."

These EXACT faces are made on an almost daily basis in my apartment.

photo source

Pictures, Photos, Pretty Things

via here, here, here, here, here, and here

Today is a bit of a downer day... but if I'm going to be a bit blue, I'm going to keep it to pretty blue thoughts, like these

photo source

Things that are awesome today:

A bathroom full of balloons
A house full of fresh flowers
Fresh watermelon
Having fun doing nothing
Mixed cds
This website

Today I am a quarter-century old. I am going to work (which might be a bit lame) and then I am coming home to a party with all of my beautiful friends! What fun! I've been trying to downplay my bday but now that it's here I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda excited!

Designer Elephant Cuteness

image source

I usually don't work Wednesdays. Today I'm going to work. I'd rather be going to a beach.


PS. If you're in Toronto here are two Fringe shows you should check out. I've seen them both and they are a fun time.

The Making Of

The Nile

Just got home from a delightful evening swim!

I *heart* my second cousins; because not only did they house and feed me for the 2 months leading up to my moving into my own apartment, but because they have a pool in their backyard, in downtown Toronto, which they have invited me to use anytime I like.

Evening swims could become a new summertime ritual... nothing better than going to bed in 35 degree weather feeling cool and relaxed! Ahhhh bliss.

Aujourd'hui je vais alle au Paris!