Gut reaction when I'm asked to talk about my feelings:

http://seelikewant.tumblr.com/

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to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart

I've taken to watching/listening to Ted Talks before I go to sleep. I like the idea of possibly learning something while lying in bed, and on the whole, Ted Talks are a helluva lot more interesting than anything on tv. Last night I watched this talk, and I really enjoyed it a) because the speaker is excellent and quite funny and b) because I am the opposite of the people she is talking about.

I also find a lot of sense in her findings and think it's important that we think about the power of vulnerability in this age of muscle and strength and 'keep calm and carry on'. It is a great message and I hope you enjoy it!

Want a smile on a Tuesday morning? Read this article by the hilarious Max Greenfield, who is the only reason I watch The New Girl on tv. I seem to be developing the habit of spending a wee bit too much time searching the internets in the morning, which I should probably curb, but probably won't. Also, I kind of forgot about goop.com; keep on keepin' on Gwenyth... I wish you were my friend.

Good bye Summer, Hello Fall!

...and fabulous fall outfits!

Coveting this look from Club Monaco. Actually, coveting everything from Club Monaco.

I want a new handbag.

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My Roots purse is awesome and I love it but it's so small! Plus, I want a new handbag.

Then she started to thinking...

Today I popped by my old workplace, said hello, and got my old job back.

Yay employment! Sometimes I get whiny and down on myself and complain about things like returning to the job that I left almost three years ago (almost three years ago?! can that even be true?!) but then I started to thinking that I'm actually pretty fortunate to be able to show up in town after being away for months, walk into a building and leave with a full-time job no questions asked. Pretty sweet deal. I even like the other people I work with, and I'm good at what I do so that's always a good feeling.

There's something about being at home (read: physically in the home of my childhood, with my mother) that makes me negative. This might sound like I'm trying to be cheeky or sarcastic, but today I was thinking - as I sat in a field in the sun with my dog, because is there a better way to spend 45 minutes of your afternoon - that it's not home that makes me negative, it's just me. I'm a negative person. I'm a negative person and I need to get over it.

What's the point of being cynical all the time? Nobody likes the sardonic cynical asshole. Nobody wants to get stuck sitting next to that person at a dinner party. I am that person sometimes. Maybe I'm stretching or being too hard on myself, or maybe sometimes I'm the asshole that people softly sigh and smile politely at while thinking to themselves "for God's sake can't she just get over it!". I need to stop being that person. I need to stop thinking that things happen TO ME because that is blatantly and inherently untrue. I am living the life I chose because it is precisely the choices I have made up to this point that have gotten me to where I am. I'm so sick of being the person who can't make a choice, but of course not making a choice is a choice in itself.

This Eureka Moment was not entirely brought on by a quiet moment with Man's Best Friend, it was also brought on by some of my best friends. I visited my best friend in Brighton, and one of the best things about being best friends with someone for over a decade is that even when you visit after not seeing each other for over a year you can instantly delve into the things one can only discuss with a close girlfriend. We had heart-to-hearts and pep-talks, and I left feeling invigorated, with an "I can do it" attitude. The 'it' being anything I want to.

Then upon my return home I was delighted to have a visit of one of my best friends. This friend of mine is one of the most genuinely positive and warm hearted people that I know. I think every person should have a friend like him. Not only is he positive, but he puts up with me being negative, and let's me slowly come to the realization on my own that negativity is not necessarily the best way to be.

Then there's my best friend who is one of the most organized (in a good way), driven people I know. He's gone back to school, he's getting amazing internships and workplaces, he has a plan. He is able to look toward his future with something other than sheer terror and that is inspiring.


SO while I seem to have started with a mere breakdown of my days' activity, and veered into the pitfalls of a negative attitude, I have ended what has become a rant on friendship. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. I hope everyone has friends as amazing as I do.

Fun Surprises

Today my niece (and favourite person) is coming over.

She doesn't know that I'm home yet.

It's going to be the bestest of surprises.

Well I'm home. It feels bizarre, almost as if my amazing Italian summer didn't actually happen.

Now that I'm back I'm figuring out what I want to accomplish while I'm here, and while there are many things swirling around, one of the banalities I'm actually rather excited about is reading actual books. I say this because all summer long I've toted my e-reader around with me - which was really great, super convenient and filled with lots of good (and not-so-good *cough* 50 Shades of Grey *cough*) reads - but I do so love reading from an actual book that I may have to shelve the fancy touchscreen technology in favour of tangible, page turning, tattered corners, books.

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Checking in

So I haven't blogged in months, I know, I know.

In my defence blogging on a tablet is rather difficult, and trying to locate and keep a decent wireless signal in Italy is just plain impossible.

I have many stories to share, and could sit here typing for hours, but instead I'm just going to say how much I love being on this side of the Atlantic. Italy is such a vibrant and challenging country, and England, where I'm vacationing this week is so bizarrely charming that I would so greatly prefer to live here than back in Canada.

So instead of writing an actual blog entry filled with anecdotes and information I'm just going to check in to say that while I'm in Brighton enjoying internet and an actual computer I think I'm going to try and discern some sort of way to prolong my stay here, or at least work towards returning as soon as possible.

How is your summer?

This time next week I'll be at the airport en route to Italy for the summer. I'm very excited - and very nervous - about it but ultimately I'm looking forward to the adventure! I'm going to be working a lot (at least I'm planning on working a lot - let's hope that pans out) however I will have a couple weeks of time off when I'll get to do some TRAVELLING!!!

I'm excited to see my bestie's house in Brighton, and maybe, maybe we're going to go to Paris, which I've never been to and am dying to see. I imagine dressing fabulously and eating baquette and exploring the city by foot or by bike and exuding elegance and awesomeness, like this lady.

photo from Jak&Jil

Is it possible to get the dressing on the side?

This video is great because I have indeed experienced every single one of these 'ordering types' both as a server and as a customer. (...and okay fine, maybe I'm guilty of pulling a couple of these ordering faux-pas')

Soo Anna dello Russo is designing an Accessories Collection for H&M. Lots of gold and sparkly and robin's egg blue and over the top. I have to say, I always thought that Anna della Russo was all quirk, and while this video supports this theory to an extent, it also points out that she is also pretty darn cute and hella organized. Seriously, I have ne'er seen such a well organized closet in. my. life.

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Did I mention I'm going to Italy for the summer?

Holy crap I love me some strings.

Gotta love a good Benetton Campaign...

MYKROMAG – Blog   BENETTON CAMPAIGN UNHATE.

Super Cool Photos!

I heart photography.

Photography as art is awesome.

These photographers are awesome and I heart their artwork.

Matt Wisniewski. What an original and effective idea! Your photo-collages are super cool.

Thanks to Miss Moss for turning me onto him! And thanks to Ciao Chessa for blogging about Cig Harvey.

Cig Harvey. Your photos are at once a snapshot of the everyday and a deeply personal story. 

Your use of colour is super cool.

So today I popped into one of Halifax's new(ish) stores and

               a) immediately wished I had more (any) money to spend
               b) fell madly in love with a new designer whose prints are AMAZING.

Behold Charlotte Taylor. Her website is rad, she's a Central Saint Martin's grad, and I want to wear her clothes and be quirky and cool yet fashionable and chic. Any of these ensembles will do:

Isn't she so great? These images are all from her website, the top 3 from her Spring/Summer Collection, 

and the bottom one from her Fall/Winter (as the dark and stormy background may suggest..)

Oh! If you're in Halifax for sure stop by Grimsmo.