Mixtape: Mouse Ear Swagger

So I'm back! I survived the wonderful world of Walt Disney, and made it back with a heap of great memories, delightful photos, and a lot more freckles. No seriously, my freckles have freckles.

Homegirl G and me, post-Tower of Terror ride

Getting that last blast of 35 degree weather was a nice swan song for summer, and after the week I had just before leaving, I needed a good, relaxing vacation (emergency stays and last minute changes and work overloads, oh my!)

Memory lane

When I get a chance to catch my breath, I'll do a followup to the rules for doing Disney right, but for now, here's our mixtape for the trip. There's a lot of sugary pop, a lot of cool jamz, and a lot of good ol' fashioned fun. You'll recognize many songs from my 6 tracks to rot your brain to post from a while back, but what can I say—I don't like to challenge myself musically that often, and now you can rot your brain on the road. Just go with it bros, download and enjoy away.

Mouse Ear Swagger

1. Two of Us – The Beatles

2. Party in the U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus

3. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) – Katy Perry

4. What Ever Happened – The Strokes

5. Gucci Gucci – Kreayshawn

6. Moves like Jagger (feat. Christina Aguilera) – Maroon 5

7. Touch the Sky – Kanye West

8. Gotta Have It – Kanye West & Jay-Z

9. Hypnotize U – N.E.R.D.

10. Too Close – Next

11. Ignition (Remix) – R. Kelly

12. Inside Out – Britney Spears

13. Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z) – Rihanna

14. E.T. – Katy Perry

15. Power – Kanye West

16. Why I Love You (feat. Mr. Hudson) – Kanye West & Jay-Z

17. Rocket Man – Elton John

18. Laura – Ricky Nelson

(I got the album artwork image here.)

Bill Cunningham New York, Chanel Polish, Asparagus Salad

A couple things that I've wanted to share with you lately...

1. Amanda told me about this movie months ago and I've only now gotten around to watching the trailer. This is a MUST SEE and legitimizes all of my interests and fantasies. Don't you just want to give this man a hug? Let's all watch this and drink cocktails and wear pretty clothes.



2. I recently splurged on Chanel nail polish (serious, crazy splurge) after watching this video on fashionmagazine.com (shoutout! Sorry, I can't help it. It's just my life lately.) Let. Me. Tell. You. This polish is about 3x the price of any other that I've ever bought, and it's about 10x better in quality. It is super thin and goes on really smooth. I swear, it doesn't even chip like normal polish. I feel like I just found out this wonderful secret, that sometimes you seriously get what you pay for... and if you buy less polish then you can spend more on what you get. (Can you tell I'm trying to make myself feel better?)

3. After pouring over the latest Kinfolk magazine, I made an asparagus salad with pine nuts and Parmesan for a potluck last night. I couldn't help myself after watching the sweet video. I am a sucker for these things. It helps that it's cheap and totally light and delicious.

4. I've only watched one of their videos so far, but watch the tutorial below and try to convince me that you don't want to be a kooky fashion lady when you are older.

Your Favourite Memory

I'm thinking a lot lately about how a little bit of positive thinking goes a long way. It can get you through a sardine-can commute to and from work, watching the sun go down earlier and earlier each day, constantly feeling broke... (I could go on and on, but POSITIVE THINKING! I just wanted to give you all some examples.)

That's why this video got my attention. The act of thinking about your favourite memory can go so far as to change your way of thinking and therefore change your mood, and your day, and the way you treat people.



Doesn't that just give you the warm fuzzies inside? Now go have a good day and be nice to people.

Sorry about the hiatus!

We have both had a very hectic last few days, but we promise to return to our regularly scheduled blogging once Monday rolls around! Have a great relaxing weekend!

Little Things That Add Happiness

I am going to go ahead and answer Amanda's question that she posed at the end of her post yesterday.

"What little things add happiness to your life?"

because whether you are perfectly, serenely happy, stressed out beyond belief, or a bit of both with an additional "Oh, so this is what real life is like!" like I am right now, it's good to remind yourself of what is important to you and what makes you smile. 

• This song by Blouse. It's called Videotapes and it's like being in a dream, specifically a dream that looks like this movie with Catherine Denueve that I'm dying to see. The Blouse album comes out in November and I can't wait to get it. 

Cat Party

• The album's Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young. I am grateful that this man exists and that he is making music. Every album that I listen to by him transports me to another place.

• Good, strong coffee. A latte or a cappuccino while I'm sitting at my desk in the afternoon. 

• Making and/or eating really good food. Dan has become an expert at making pasta sauces lately, and we've been trying so many. We had an incredible dinner at Origin last weekend, thanks to Tyler and Erin, that I will never forget. If you go, get everything from the Mozzarella Bar. 

• Good friends, especially ones that you love but you don't see nearly as much as you want to. I have incredible friends that I see maybe once a month, and I always miss them.

• Pole. (Pronounced pole-eh.) This is a term in Swahili that means I'm sorry, but in a way that sympathizes with the person you are saying it to. Like "I'm sorry that happened to you." I can't think of an easy English equivalent to that, but I think if more people said pole we would all be much more caring and empathetic. Thanks, Mar, for introducing me to this word.

• Braiding my hair. Do I really need to explain this any further?

A, have a great time and take lots of pics. We'll miss you!

On Going Away

I'm off to Disney with my main homie in just three days' time (iieeee!), but mixed in with the excitement of it all, I'm feeling something rather unexpected.

I feel like I'm not ready. I have two mornings and three afternoons and three evenings left until we fly away, and it seems like too short a time. Yes, I have a lot to do between now and then, but it makes me sad to think this'll be three days of prepwork and I'd rather just be enjoying my life, because I've been enjoying it so much lately.

I love my little apartment and the way the light comes in our living room windows. I love my boyfriend, and the way our lives and days intertwine, and how we watch Louie and Breaking Bad together in bed. I love my little dog who is such a welcome companion at my heels, and walking him down the laneway by our house. I love my friends, who I feel so lucky to eat lunches with and knit with and watch bad TV with and get messy drunk with.

I love the ideas I've been having, the projects I've been collaborating on, the writing I've been doing. I love afternoons at my parents' house and Sunday night dinners. I love the book I'm reading right now and I've finally found a lace pattern I love working on. I love my favourite lunch burrito spot and the indian place down the block and the patio of the Victory Cafe.

So yes, I'm looking forward to a break, and to a few days' worth of hedonism and guilt-free relaxing. But this slight reluctance is a nice reminder that I don't need to go to the happiest place of earth to find happiness – I'm lucky enough to find it in my life, every day.

What little things add happiness to your life?