harry?

Paul Smith A/W 2011

dreaming of my sweater in a far away place

Just going to start off by asking: is it weird that I really like guys clothes?  The other day at work, I wanted to try clothes on during a really slow portion of the day.  I absentmindedly grabbed a men's sweater off the rack in an XL just for the heck of it.  Turns out, I loved it!  If that wasn't enough, it was 70% off.  It is mine now.  There's just something about a big, over-sized sweater that appeals to me.  You may think I'm crazy, but I wore it to work the next day (in a stylish, feminine fashion of course) and got many compliments on it.

The one above (Oliver Rayn) is what I got, only in a pale gray.

*

It seems that everyone is going away on some sort of holiday.  It's actually ridiculous; I've never encountered so many people in the span of these last couple of months who have not/are not going on a holiday to some place warm and sunny.  Now I'm not saying I want warm and sunny (but I'm not arguing against it either), but I really have a healthy hankering for a vacay of some description.  I'm headed down to Minneapolis in May to see my sister and bro-in-law when they come out from Alaska which I'm incredibly excited about.  However- I don't think that counts as a vacay: 8 hours away....woo, daring!

My cousin is getting married in September out in Nova Scotia, so I'm really hoping that something works out there.  Can you imagine the coast in fall?  Ocean plus my favourite season?!  Better start saving my money....

Oh wait...my life motto seems to be "Let's break even!"....terrific.

Until then, I'll keep moisturizing my fair, Manitoba skin.

zero visibility

Last night I drove out to Providence to watch a volleyball game.  The weather wasn't the best causing traffic to stick to about 80-90 km/hr.  But by the time I heard on the radio that highway travel was not advised, it was too late to turn around.  So committed and focused, I made it to my destination in an hour rather than the normal 45 min.

Unfortunately, conditions didn't seem to get any better throughout the evening.  In fact, they went as bad as it could get.  As we were getting prepared to leave, people were coming back into the gym saying that they had already tried driving out and turned around.  In fact, there was one caravan of cars being led by a group of people running along in front to see the lines to direct the cars (um, dangerous??).  My group and I waited it out for a few hours in hopes of it dying down.  Eventually, by midnight, we decided to caravan it out in order to not have to sleep on couches all night.

Zero visibility.  I couldn't believe how blind we were.  We didn't seem to break 25 km/hr.  I had my eyes peeled on the line directly outside of my window giving directions.  The tricky part came when the gravel road became our final stretch: no lines to follow.  Again, the eyes were parked on the road directly below my window...except this time on the drifts that usually indicate the sides of gravel roads.  Again, I indicated the nearness to the ditch with my directions...except a little more severely: "Get left! Get left!... OTHER LEFT!"

Finally we arrived at our destination in one piece (and we weren't one of the hundred cars that littered the ditch).  What normally would have taken 10 minutes rounded out to a solid hour trip.

I camped out for the night despite me having to work the next day (I gave my manager a heads up, don't worry), but I did end up able to leave in the morning in time to get to my afternoon shift (although I was a bit late...).

But not before a midnight bowl of chicken noodle soup to warm and sooth the situation (I didn't have a glass of milk with it though........).

cinnamon hearts & beer

My mom is the cutest and sent me this photo!:

I was busy all day yesterday so I never got a chance to wish you, my blogosphere people, a Happy Valentine's Day!  I went out for dinner with my "Valentine" on Sunday night and saved yesterday night for a dinner of about 6 of us where we topped the meal off with dessert of cinnamon hearts and my friend Carissa (<--shoutout) and I shared a beer (while the boys drank tea...).

I just want to say to you all, my family and friends who see this, that I love you so dearly much.  I may not see some of you very often and may not keep in touch as well as I should, but know that you are forever loved by moi and I value you in my life so much (especially when you leave comments.... ;)!  Jokes aside, I hope you all felt love from someone (friend, family member, or significant other) on the designated day.  Never forget to take the time to tell someone how much they mean to you (and sometimes it takes an official day to remind us of that).

xoxo

tea time to come

{via The City Sage}

Okay, so take a look at the first collage of books.  Top right corner there's a book called Honey Bunch.  Pretty sure my mom used to read a book to me called Honey Bunch that used to be hers.  Loved it.  Next, look at the second collage.  Bottom left corner is a Kodak Brownie camera.  I definitely have one of those sitting on my bedroom shelf!  This is all really encouraging to me: I'm discovering great decorative stuff I have sitting around my house!  Okay, so maybe not "discovering", I knew it's been there all along.  It's just difficult to decorate a house that is a "students" house, if you feel me.  A mish-mash of whatever you can afford or what is free (and not necessarily the good kind of vintage feel...).  But I am thankful for the fact that I probably pay less rent for such a decent place compared to anyone else in the city.

*

On another topic, I found this blog that has requested people to submit photos of their tea-times.  When you sit back with a spot of tea, it's always a relaxing and reflective time; needless to say, the artsy-ness of people can tend to come out.  So, why not document these creative/relaxing times in people's days.  How cool!  Check it out for yourself here.  I already had my London Fog for the day, but I think I may start documenting my tea-times to come!

hello?

For Pete's sake!  Have I been busy?  YUP.  I'm sorry to all my avid readers (Meg!) that I have been slack in keeping you involved with what I've been up to.

Really, all I've been doing is working and hanging out with people every evening.  I had some good eats on Sunday with my family where one of my favourite cheeses (Boursin) was shmushed into a chicken breast (compliments of my sister).  I had coffee with my cousin who's like my little sister (she's married and I hardly see her anymore so it was a much needed catch-up).  I went to an evening of bands at the West End Cultural Centre.  This and that really!  And tonight, like every Wednesday night, is my volleyball league evening.

And with that, I have to cut this post short since I have to get my busy body self a-movin' to watch a basketball game!  Look for me again on Friday :)