Conversations

While watching American Horror Story, the characters on the show took out a Ouija Board.

Nick: Is that a Luigi board?

Me: What?

N: A Luigi board. Wait. A Luigi board, or a smorgasbord? 

M: {Giggling}what?!

N: That's not it?

M: No :)

N: What is it called again?

M: A Ouija board!

N: Ohhhh - then what's a smorgasbord?

M: It's like a buffet of food.

Side note: my girlfriends and I used to play with a Ouija board, and once, to see if it really worked, they left me in a dark room to play by myself, because I was so trustworthy. Scary!

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Weekend Bits

The underlying themes of this past weekend were wine, celebrations and sorority girls. Everything I did involved at least one of those themes. From wine and games with friends, to a wedding shower/bachelorette party, to brunch with some beauties, I had a #jampackedbutsuperamazing weekend.

How was yours?

Ps. K Chang - loooooving my new earrings! Thanks so much my love!

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Fashion Friday: Currently Loving

Spring (shopping) fever has hit me. Of course, when I allow myself to really go shopping and spend money, I never find what I'm looking for. I did manage to find some floral pants, as evidenced by last weekend. Plus, I already have some strappy heels, but there's always room for more :)

find these items here

Have a happy weekend!

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Music Nostalgia

I've heard many times people say that smells trigger memories. I do believe this is true because I've experienced it. However, something I experience so much more often is when a song triggers a memory.

The other day, I heard Train - Drops of Jupiter on the radio. Instantly I was transported back to high school. It hit me right in the pit of my stomach. I remembered the boy I had a crush on. I recalled sitting on my computer, updating my ICQ away status to lyrics from this song (the status was "heaven is overrated", in case you were wondering - deep, right?) Aside: in the days of ICQ and MSN Messenger, it was all about the status. Anyway, in all seriousness, the memory is that clear.

I'm always the person in the car listening to old music (I tend to choose old vs. new) and saying [to every song that comes on] "oooh I love this song!" Probably because listening to music is like a virtual scrapbook. They remind me of happy times, sad times, uncertain times, and everything in between.

What songs make you feel nostalgic?

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Rooftops of Tehran

I've never done a proper book review on This is Lovely. I tend to leave it to the experts (ie. Hilary). But since one of my New Year's Resolutions was to read a book a month (and I've been holding true to that so far), I figured I would tell you what I thought about this one.

I didn't have any preconceived ideas about this book before I picked it up. Sometimes that's the best way to start something because you have no expectations; the story just takes you where it's meant to. Rooftops of Tehran takes you through the daily life of an average teenage boy living in Iran in the early 70's. The author's purpose for writing it was to tell a story that would shed light on real life in Iran (and provide an alternative to the westernized view of the country). This is a story of a family, friendship and love.

I fell in love with the main character, Pasha, almost instantly. I'm a hopeless romantic, and Pasha embodies just that. The story has some pretty serious twists and turns, and completely touched my heart.

Please read it, you won't be disappointed. Then come back and tell me what you thought!

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Prince

I've asked the question: if you could only listen to one artist for the rest of your life, who would it be? and I chose Elton John.

That being said, another guy that I truly never get sick of listening to is Prince/The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. His songs fit in my category of Happy Makers.

via

This is mostly because I'm such a lover of 80's music. I also have fond memories of the movie Pretty Woman; the scene when she's having a bubble bath singing along to Prince's 'kiss'. In University, my roomie and I used to sing Prince while waiting for the bus. My other roomie and I used to share an ipod (one ear bud each) and dance to class. That's another story.

Here are my top five Prince songs (in case you felt like making me a mixed tape).

Kiss

Raspberry Beret

Little Red Corvette

Purple Rain

Let's Go Crazy

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Weekend Bits

How was your weekend?
Mine felt jam-packed, but in a good way.

I capped the week off with wine and girlfriend time on Friday night.

Saturday, I snuck in some shopping (floral pants, to be seen for the rest of the weekend) and tried not to be slowed down by needing to track down an Rx for antibiotics :(

Saturday night, Nick and I had a date to see The Mentalist. No. Not the guy from the tv show. An actual Mentalist. He's not an illusionist or a psychic, just a guy who uses his brain in powerful ways. Would I recommend you go see him...hmm not necessarily. It was a bit slow. Picture watching a very smart person demonstrate how smart his is for 3 hours in front of an audience. It was definitely different.

view from the top; we (smartly) chose balcony seats so we wouldn't get picked on

Sunday was the day to shower this girl with pre-wedding gifts (you know, so she'll be the perfect housewife). I have to say that the hosts did such a great job; it was beautifully decorated (I'd call it whimsical rustic charm) and everyone rose to the occasion by wearing pink. Yes, I wore the pants again.

I was totally enamored with the display of teacups. I have a similar group, just waiting to come out of hiding (read: waiting until we live somewhere that I have room to display them).

Then, after what felt like a month, my mom returned from her travels in Europe! So we headed over for a visit to collect our presents hear about her trip and give her welcome home hugs.

Special deliveries from Portugal

After a weekend like that, Monday has a way of sneaking up really quickly.

Ps. Today is Earth Day, and even though I think every day should be Earth Day, be especially kind to her today, ok?

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Happy Friday

Safe to say, for reasons both big and small, this has not been an easy week. So today, rather than focus on the bad, I'm thinking of all the little things that made me smile this week.

This necklace. A gift from my friend, and oh-so-appropriate :)

"Kiss again...and the stars in your eyes will be glowing brighter"

Warm spring evenings that are perfect for walking & talking. There were benches with different quotes dotted long our walking path last night.

New shoes. Because new shoes are an easy way to make a girl happy.

My office is right beside a cookie factory. The smell of baking cookies filled the air and smelled so lovely and sweet.

I hope you make the most of your weekend. I intend to!

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Sleep and Other Vices

Sometimes, when I read blogs, I read all the special little things that people are doing. I see how cute their apartments/houses are. How funny/handy/helpful their partners are. How great their cooking/baking is. How interesting their weekends are. And sometimes, I think to myself, why am I not that amazing 100% of the time (ha – more like, why am I not that amazing more than 5% of the time)? Then rational thought resurfaces and I am certain that everyone has days that aren't shiny and perfect.

Some of my less than perfect habits:

• Lately, I’ve been so tired that I go to bed at 9:30 – even my grandparents used to stay up past 11.
• I frequently eat popcorn instead of a normal meal. To make it seem a little better, I’ll eat a handful of baby carrots first.
• I work a 9 – 5 job. Many days, I come home from work, hit the couch, and don’t move again until my early bird bedtime.
• I don’t often brush my hair. I suppose it’s lucky that people don’t notice. My hair is too boring to require much in the brushing department.
• I hate (read: avoid like the plague) doing laundry. I wear everything as much as possible (without being gross) and then wash everything together in one big load. It’s not right, but it’s what I do.

I was having my usual morning conference call with my friend and I asked her if it was bad that a) sometimes, I just don’t want do anything  and b) I don’t care. I feel like I should care……but…I don’t.

Am I alone here? What are your lazy habits?

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A Funny Story and How Karma Got Me Back

The other day I walked past a banana peel on the ground and it brought back a memory.

One day, in first year university, I was walking back to residence from stats class with my friend Ania. There was a girl walking in front of us. We were chatting away but facing forward, just in time to see the girl slip on something and go flying. She didn't fall down, it was more like a scene when someone slides on ice. But she slipped on...you guessed it...a banana peel! It actually happened!

It's one of those slapstick comedy moments that you think would never happen in real life (and probably rarely does) and I got to see it.

So as soon as Ania and I realized that she had, in fact, slipped on a banana peel, we burst out in uncontrollable and very obvious laughter. The poor girl turned around and saw us laughing. We couldn't contain it in time.

Now here's where karma comes in. Some time later that year, on a rainy day, I was walking that same way after class. I had brought my dad's golf umbrella to class, but on the way home it wasn't raining so I was just carrying it. I was walking past a group of cute boys, and they saw me and one called out "Hey, it's Mary Poppins!" I was totally embarrassed without a friend to turn to.

That, my friends, was karma at work.
photo source

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Support for Boston

By now, the bombings in Boston have been broadcast in all ways imaginable. I'm not writing this to share the news, but at the same time, it didn't seem ok to just post about the musings of my everyday life, when other people are experiencing real-life devastation.

How sad, that a day full of triumph and inspiration has been sullied by a terrorist attack.

At the risk of sounding harsh, I can't relate to those people who are praying for Boston. On the news last night, an eye witness was interviewed saying that after the bombs went off, the only thing he could think to do was pray. I'm sorry? What about aiding those who were wounded? Gathering supplies? Helping get survivors to safety? Or even just running for your life?

This is a tragedy. Bostonians will rally and rise above this. They won't allow terrorism to take this away. But at a time like this, I think it's important to show our support for Boston and for those victims of the bombing.

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Teacup Cakes

This past weekend we hosted a family dinner/Masters viewing party (eye roll). Since The Masters is a classy event, I decided it required a classy dessert.

I was given these adorable cupcake molds for my birthday and what goes better with a gentleman's game than a cake in a teacup?

Confession: I used a boxed cake mix. Apologies to all my baker friends, but for vanilla cake I think the kind from the box is quite yummy.

To take it to the next level I made my own icing. It's the perfect cheat, boxed cake mix and homemade icing. Here's my recipe for chocolate icing.

1/3 cup room temperature butter
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 cups icing sugar
approx. 3 tbsp milk

Whip the butter until it's really soft and fluffy.

Add in the cocoa and continue mixing. Add in the vanilla.

Next add one cup of icing sugar and one tablespoon of milk. Mix until it's incorporated.

Add the next cup of sugar and spoon of milk, mix. Add the final cup of icing sugar and spoon of milk.

If the icing is not the consistency you want, add drops of milk and continue mixing until it reaches your desired consistency.

This recipe makes enough for one batch of cupcakes (20 or so), unless you pile the icing really high.

The finished tea cups! Aren't they sweet?

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Fashion Friday: Wellies Round-up

In honour of all this rain we've been having I decided to pull together a group of wellies styled in ways that I enjoy, for your Friday reading pleasure.

I've been known to say that wellies don't suit every occasion, which I stand by, but there are many great ways to wear them and look both stylish and appropriate.

Atlantic-Pacific / Little Miss Fearless / Atlantic-Pacific

Hunter / Fashion Fractions / Maritsa

Lookbook / A Fashion Love Affair / This Time Tomorrow

Have a great weekend and stay dry my friends!

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Restaurant Review: Bread Bar (Earth to Table)

Earlier this week we headed out to the Bread Bar for dinner with my brother and his girlfriend. Bread Bar a farm to table restaurant and bakery and their food is just the yummiest.

This is one of my favourite places to eat, so it's a bit surprising (to me) that I'm only posting about this now.

I thought I knew everything about it, but evidently, never having been their on a Tuesday before, I didn't know they had Taco Tuesdays. Nick decided to indulge.

They have six types of tacos. Nick ordered five of them (they ran out of tuna). He also ordered the avocado fries - which I thought would be fries with avocado on them, but turns out they are slices of fried avocado.

I really only like avocado in sushi and guacamole, but after peer pressure from the table, I tried a bite. Avocado fries for the win! They are awesome.

We were really hungry and my phone was acting up, so I didn't get a chance to snap pictures of the pizzas that my brother and Hilary got. I will vouch for the pizzas there though, they are the reason we started going there in the first place. Chris got the Meat Mountain and Hilary got the Bacon, Scallions and Goat cheese. My personal fav? Apple, Bacon and Cheddar. BUT, just this once, I decided to try their mac and cheese (having never actually ordered it there before, shocking, I know).

I was not disappointed. Mac and cheese with bacon and caramelized onions was cheesy, yummy, and just the right size.

We were too full for dessert, but I will say that they have fantastic baked goods and I would recommend trying to save a little bit of room. They let you browse through their bakery display to choose what you want :)

The atmosphere is warm and relaxing. You feel like you could sit there for hours. Here's a (grainy) photo of my favourite art they have displayed. I've been eyeing the panoramic on the left for years.

Word of warning, it's often super busy and they don't take reservations (with the exception of one big table, so if you have 6 or more people, you could try to reserve that). Get in early, get your name on the list, then go somewhere for a drink and they'll call you when your table's ready :)

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