Christmas Wishlist

Everyone is publishing a wish list...so I thought that I might too.

From head to toe...and then home.

Cozy winter white hat from Anthropologie...it has real pearls on it!

I love the look of these vintage menswear pajamas. Nothing says Sunday morning coffee and newspaper like these.

Tiffany Atlas Collection. Several years ago I was giving a ring from this collection. I love the Atlas baubles---classic.

What a ring!! Showcased at a small store in Toronto---The Devil's Workshop.

Lululemon Grove Pant. They are amazing, albeit a bit pricing for workout wear.

Aldo boots. These are sold out everywhere in the Toronto area. Not sure I want a boot that everyone has but I would at least like to try it on.

Bose Sound Dock for iPod. Frankly, I need this. My system of burning CDs for parties is getting embarrassing. I'm ready to be an adult with an actual sound system.

Tibi Hegyesi

I was going home yesterday morning (I know--painful to get up at your boyfriends and make the trek home when it is still dark). Popping in to Starbucks also helps and then I saw these fantastic prints on the wall.

Love.

A little less than a month

Alas, I apologize for the quiet time. No real excuse.

So this past week has been mainly focused around the premiere of New Moon. Now, judge all you want, as I am ashamed and embarrassed but it can not be helped. There are several reasons for my excited nature. Last holiday season I spent most of my vacation laboring through all four books. They are like crack and for those of you who have not read them...be warned..once you start, you can't stop. Now that the movies are being made...it's akin to a relapse. Trust.

On Thursday the 12th, I received an email that American Express was giving tickets away for the Canadian Premiere in Toronto on Nov. 19th. All you had to do was show up at a location, say a phrase, and poof you're strutting the red carpet with the best of them. So, I participated and WON!!!

As the day finally came around, I searched the web of any indication that the cast would be there---for heaven's sake they were in Madrid? Though I realize Madrid is cooler than Toronto, it is also just as random. Alas, it just so happens that the Canadian premiere was the same night as the NY premiere--not a chance of the main cast showing up.

What made the movie, was the row of 12 year old girls who sat behind us. With heavy breathing, chirps and sighs, I couldn't help but crack up. The movie is all sorts of cheesy but it wouldn't be "The Twilight Saga" without the over the top love, bad acting, and shitty CGI. It's a recommend from me for the experience alone. Hysterical but worth it.

Toronto Social Events

Since I graduated from school, I have always been interested in graphic design. Upon landing in Toronto, I found that there are some great programs that allow you to get your certificate. I have not taken the plunge yet---time, money, etc.--all the main excuses.

A friend of mine recently started up a new business, Toronto Social Events, and needed some graphic design help. Since I am familiar with the programs (and have a great boyfriend), I offered to help. Turns out...he loves what I did and they are getting printed!

I may need to take the plunge.

Refinery 29

I can do this! I'm obsessed with another blog. Check out Refinery 29.

New Product

Every once and a while we will get some sort of samples from our clients at work. Though not my client, I was fortunate to get some products from the North American Hemp Co. I will admit that I'm not a real organic girl or anything but when these unique products come along--I love it.

Some smell good and some...well smell like hemp.

This is War

Continuing my obsession with the previous post...

I looked into Jared Leto's band, 30 Seconds to Mars. I have always been a fan, especially of A Beautiful Lie (From Yesterday).

The will be releasing their third album in December but their first single "Kings and Queens" is out.

So far, so good.

My So-Called Life

I'm not sure how many people saw the show that aired almost 15 years ago but I loved it. It was a deep love in the teenager-angst way. The characters were so "real" despite the fact that I was ten and probably too young to understand most of the topics that were at hand.

I recently was able to view the short lived series--only 19 episodes---and again realized what a great show it was and would have enjoyed discovering what happened to these characters.

It made me think of what I fool I was in high school. I so remember that guy that I was obsessed with and never actually said a word to him. Why do we do that? I once re-read a love letter that I had written for this crush I had (obviously I would never have given it to him). While reading it, I was laughing and how I described these supposedly momentous encounters that were nothing more that "bumping into each other' in the hall way.

Oh, how I miss it though!

Details

On my flight back from San Francisco they featured one of the many Ice Age movies. I'm sorry if you're over the age of 21, you have just had a wine tasting trip and they are playing cartoons...snooze.

In an effort to fight the boredom despite great efforts at the aforementioned snooze, I dug into the magazines that I bought. I love picking up men's magazines--smart, witty, hilarious and often articles and features I read I like to bring up in conversation.


I must say this mag had me talking more than the 7 page photo layout and article about Victoria Beckham...just saying.


Funniest "quiz": Are you a pretentious tool?

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

This weekend I was away celebrating Thanksgiving in Canada. Same meal, different day. Weird I know.

More to come...

Vacation Round Up

I jetted off to the West Coast--California that is. Pics follow the round up.

1. San Francisco with great friend Jackie. When I am with her...it feels normal. We met in college, became friends through our sorority and have been friends since. She is a wanderer, much like myself, and I am also so impressed with her. Her maturity, her tenacity, her humor. I think you can't grasp how much you have missed someone until you are with them again.

2. Winery Wedding--all I can say is: ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. When you envision a wedding in Sanoma County--this is what you imagine. My friend Amy and John got hitched and what a pair they are. From their relationship, to their ceremony, to their family, everything just fits together. I look at what they have and want it.

3. Napa Valley with my folks. It's known that my parents like their wine, gin, whisky...and boy are they fun. My dad calls the wine tasting experience, "Death by a thousand sips of wine." Not too far off base either. We did the vineyards in Sanoma County and then Napa Valley and then home. Rought life...I know.

Goodbye Canada...for now

I'm going on vacation. I'll be making the trek across the border and across the great USA. San Fransisco, Napa Valley and surburbs (my parents). Be back next week.

The Avett Brothers

In a matter of hours I will be going to see one of my favorite bands...The Avett Brothers. I first found out about them in college and have been following them ever since.

Since I moved to Canada, there has been no opportunity, though in San Diego and LA--I missed them a couple of times. But, tonight is my chance. Very excited!

Up

When I was 9, my family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Now, I know the first thought--jeez--that's rough. At the time, we thought that too but after living there for almost five years, it became home. I look back fondly at our time there.

For the first two weeks in October, the city is host to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta--the biggest in the world! I can remember walking to school in the morning with the sky scattler with multi-colored balloons. My dad would always take to go and look at the balloon acent--6am on Saturday mornings--you can imagine how happy we were at 10 years old. But now, one of my goals is to go back and finally go for a hot air balloon ride--as my mother would have never let me back then.

Away We Go!

I saw this endearing movie with my boyfriend a couple of months ago and it is on DVD TODAY!

Half Marathon

So after almost four months of training...the half marathon is over, thank God! It all started on a cold day in February when my friend Kristy said she was going to run one. I was inspired by her and my sister's new husband--who runs marathons...that's right plural. I think that he has run five in total.

Thus began the slow training process and what a great experience it was. I can say with certainty that I never thought I would ever run---anything--10K, 5K, let alone a 13.1 miles.

I trained on my own using a training schedule that I got online. I kept to it for the most part and finished in 2 hours and 20 minutes.

It has been such a great expereince pushing myself and realizing that I can in fact acheive this goal. I would say that I am very much looking forward to a little break, though I have the Toronto Zoo run coming up in October.

I think I've caught the bug.

Last Days of Summer

Today was chilly when I walked to the streetcar with my boyfriend. It made me think of a warmer time when I lived in San Diego and Los Angeles.

HD Buttercup is a furniture store on Pico Blvd. in LA. They have this warehouse of random designers, old, new, modern, vintage. I used to go there and walk around on Saturdays when I decided that my Santa Monica apartment needed revamping. I would go for inspiration but never threw down any money for extravagant furniture---I'll have to wait until I live in a nice place to place nice furniture.

They did, however, carry these huge photographs by Slim Aarons--who believed in "photographing attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places". His photographs make me think of LA. Enjoy!

Slim Aaron’s most celebrated image was shot on New Year’s Eve of 1957 in the Crown Room at Romanoff’s restaurant in Hollywood. Called ”The Kings of Hollywood,” it showed Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart — what Smithsonian magazine called ”a Mount Rushmore of stardom” and the novelist Louis Auchincloss ”the very image of American he-men.”

Single and Mingle

About a month ago, a newsletter can into my inbox from a Canadian TV personality, Dan Levy. He suggested that "if summer loving isn't happening for you, why not get a little proactive!"... throw a mixer.

My single, and particularily restless, roomate decided that online dating had run its course (for now). Feeling the need to put herself out there, and feeling a little aggresive, we threw our own mixer, "Cock and Tail" on Saturday night (if you're single, you're welcome, if you're attached..come with a single).

On top of theme for the event, some other things that are necessary:

1. Invite everyone...well, sort of. I'm a big proponent of know your audience. Not everyone was invited because as we all know there are some that don't play well with others. Just make sure the people you invite know what to expect and at the very least know how to have a good time.

2. Drinks. Everyone feels as ease with a drink in hand. My first question after opening the door is, "What can I get you to drink?".

We had a collection of wine and beer and some hard alcohol. I'm not once for shaking martinis so we kept it easy. The fridge was stocked as was a cooler--two locations for distributing alcohol helps. That way people can make their way to either/or and there is no log jam.

TIP: Save a little room in the fridge or cooler for when people bring thier own beer.

3. Games. Essential to a singles party as it gets people involved immediately.

Drinking games are cool in college but as Saturday night proved--work well in adult life. However, make sure it isn't a complicated game and many people can play. I know too well that a night of Beer Pong or King's Cup always starts off with an argument about the "proper" rules versus the "house" rules and the stipualtions mount on that and before the game as even started your seathing with anger. --Make is easy--Jenga and fun quizy cards.

4. Music. I cannot say enough about the importance of muisc. I always try to wait about 2 hours before the party to make a playlist so that the night will run smoothly. I had some techinical difficulties and let's just say that I am now going to invest in a nice system which allows me to play my iPod without incident.

5. Enjoy.

Orbitrek

A conversation with my roommate...



J:
Have you ever heard anything about this product? Good or bad?
I wouldn’t mind have one in the apartment…thoughts?

M:
Are you serious?

J:
Yeah, no good?

M:
Meh.

J:
Ok – just cause it’s small? I wouldn’t pay what the person is asking…

M:
I just don’t think equipment like that works. Would this replace your gym membership? If you did in fact get this…would you be orbiting while we watched tv? And furthermore, could I laugh at you? On second thought—the price maybe right for endless nights of peeing in my pants laughing.

Photography

This week, I have been so inspired by the amazing photography on the various websites and blogs that I have navigated through. Check out some of the great sites. It makes me want to take a course!

The Impossible Project

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUNIE!

Coco

My boyfriend and I decided to take part last night in the Toronto Film Festival. After perusing the red carpet for celebrities we headed inside to see "Coco Chanel and Igor Starvinsky" at Roy Thompson Hall. Because of Coco, I decided that it would be best to wear all black and wear every pieces of pearl jewelry I have--even went as far as wearing Coco Mademoiselle perfume. What can I say---I was going with the theme.

I didn't love the movie though I would like to know more about Coco Chanel and her life. Several other adaptations of her life are in the works and will be curious to see how they play out--as far as films and a resurgence of that classic Chanel style.