vive magazine issue 4.1

I'm going to have to toot my own horn today because I'm feeling pretty proud of myself: the digital version of vive is now online. The mag looks even better in print, but if you missed our launch party, don't live in Toronto, or are an online-only mag sort of girl, then you are now in luck. 

READ IT HERE!

All I'm allowed to share with you here are teasers of the two major shoots that we did, the first by Dan Epstein and the second by Alan Poon:

So much hard work went into this mag, from the editors on the masthead to the photographers, writers, stylists, models, copyeditors, everyone—not to mention the bake sale buyers and party goers who helped us raise the money to print this baby. It was not easy, nor did I expect it to be. But the experience of putting this mag together with so many talented people has been invaluable and a lot of fun. We've already started on the next issue, due out in the spring.

vive has a very similar look and aesthetic to what we do here on Burgundy Girls, so if you love us (or love our blog) then you'll enjoy the mag as well. And, if you zoom in just enough, you'll see an article written by Amanda! (And seriously, it's a good one.) We'll soon post a list of the shops and cafes in Toronto where you can find vive, so check back on the blog if you want to get your hands on an issue!

We are always looking for new contributors—writers, photographers, illustrators, bloggers, etc., so please get in touch at sayhi@vivemagazine.ca if you are interested.

Oh, and one more thing. I love working for a print magazine, but the digital version is very special to me, because—let's be real—it will be able to spread faster, be seen by more people, and generally be able to go further than print can. This year, we will be releasing an online-only version or two, and I'm excited to take advantage of the digital platform and push the envelope a bit.

Winter-time cold remedies, pt 1

Inspired by the wonderful blog Lawrence, which has been reaching out to other bloggers about what they need to get through the winter months, Amanda and I wanted to share with you a bit of what gets us through. We are both sick—I am on the tail end of a cold and she's just starting one—and even more cold, miserable, and isolating than a Toronto winter is a Toronto winter when you've got a hell of a cold. Check out Lawrence's winter must-haves, and read on for my sad sap winter cold essentials: our fave things that get us through being sick.


Netflix: Since I work from home, I don't exactly get to call in sick. But since I'm on the computer all day anyway, most of my down time is spent watching wonderfully trashy TV online. I love—I don't care if Canada's selection pales in comparison to the U.S., I am just happy with what I have. Right now, what I have is The X-Files and Twin Peaks. I've been watching The X-Files for the first time, and it's so so scary to me. This is my third time around on the Twin Peaks wagon, and I'm enjoying it even more than the first two times. I will continue to watch that show until I die. When I was feeling really sorry for myself yesterday, being cooped up indoors and looking out my window onto a grey, rainy back alley, I day dreamed about moving to rural wherever and taking long walks and eating at the Double R Diner. A girl can dream, right? I also watched 9 to 5, and if you haven't already seen that gem (starring Lilly Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton) see it immediately.

Nail art: Another thing I watched on Netflix lately is the insanely amazing Earth Girls are Easy. Have you seen that movie? I wish that Geena Davis was my manicurist, because they have some of the best nails in that movie.

As much as I love these crazy nails, they are just not conducive to my lifestyle—typing, doing dishes, rummaging through my purse—any manicure I do only lasts a few days, so  like to stick with nails that are cool but aren't like works of art. I tried out a new style that I love, seen here, and I think I'll be doing this one for a while.


Knitting: My on-again, off-again love affair with knitting is on, and I've been knitting this awesome turban I found in a knitting book I got for Christmas. I won't show you until I've finished the final project, but you are going to be so proud of me. Most of my knitting is scarves—they're really easy, you don't have the count stitches, and you can knit 'em up while watching a movie. With the turban, it has my full concentration, and a whole bunch of Googling—to learn new stitches.

Wolly socks: You know those ones with the red stripe? They are keeping my feet really toasty.


NeilMed Sinus Rinse: Sorry to get gross for a minute, but this thing, as unpleasant and messy as it is, this stuff has basically saved my life. I used it for the first time on Saturday—you fill the bottle with distilled water and powdered medication and squirt it up your nose. It is honestly one of the worst sensations I've ever felt, but it gets the job done. I can breath through my nose again! I should do a commercial for these guys. I'm a sinus rinse convert.

via savingwithshellie

A "sympathetic" kitty cat: Penelope has stuck by my side through this trying time. Last night, I actually used her as a pillow. I really believe that our animals know when we are sick and try to make us feel better.

Soy lattes: Usually a little bit out of my modest budget, these cups of joy are something I treat myself to whenever I'm feeling rotten. Coffee always seems a little too harsh, but now is not the time to try and kick my caffeine dependancy.

Leonard Cohen's new album: It's called Old Ideas and it's streaming right now on NPR. It's the perfect melancholy sick music. And it sounds a little like Tom Waits, which is never a bad thing.

Dreaming of bettering myself: Specifically, taking these coding classes. You should check out this article written by Haley, a very cool girl, about ladies-only coding classes.

A disguised list of resolutions

Coming home from a vacation is always sad, but time away from real life tends to give me the right amount of distance to know exactly what I want from life, and by the time I get back I am, like, raring to go. Here are some things that I am excited about lately.

Working from home:
Ho. My God. Everyone be jealous of me right now. I am gonna get shit done: I'm going to copy edit like a maniac, I'm going to write a whole lot, I'm going to clean, and organize, bake bread and muffins, and take lots of pictures of my cat. My full time office internship was incredible, but the months flew by and I realized that I had been doing so little of what is important to me. Now I feel like I have a bit more of that time.

Watching more movies:
If you want to get me to watch a movie, send me a screengrab with like Mia Farrow, some French New Wave chick, or Cary Grant. I'll add it to my list. After watching a lot of the Turner Classic Movie channel in Michigan, I realized that watching old movies is a very important thing to me. I'm going to do much more of that.

Enjoying the space where I live:
I hinted at it a few times over the last month or two, but Dan and I went through a really awful experience with some crazy neighbours that we had. Crazy like sociopathic, speed-metal loving, junk collecting, insomniac, homophobic, chain smokers—and we shared a house and a backyard with them. They are now gone, and I'm starting to feel less panicked in our apartment. It's a nice feeling to feel at home. By the way, if anyone wants an old rusted walker or a kids bike, we've got them in our backyard.

Learning about what I love:
I realized in 2011, when I was taking a copyediting class at Ryerson, that even if I love the topic I am learning about, I'm uninspired by a classroom setting with weekly readings, essays, exams, and all that. I like learning by myself, without being tested. I've always considered myself a smart girl, even though my grades, in highschool, university, wherever, have been pretty crap. I'm going to go lots of reading and lots of exploring. Cool.

Running:
I've been running on and off for several years, and I can't stop thinking that it's the perfect way to wake up. Especially if you don't have to shower afterward. Get in shape is always on the resolution list, but for me, running has always been more about clarity of mind than about looking good. Well, looking good would be a very close second.

via shoeguide

Taking more pictures:
You know when you blink and realize that you have forgotten about a passion you have? I haven't taken pictures in months. I started up again while I was in Michigan. Even though my sweet Pentax K1000 is broken and I'm sick of my Holga, I've been using Dan's old Olympus OM1, and it works just fine. Expect to see pretty pictures soon!

Tell us what you are looking forward to this year! It'll inspire us, I promise!

The To-Watch Before 2011 List

Not only is it time to be catching up on preparing for the holidays (23 and counting, eeep!), but it's time to be catching up for the end of the year (29 and counting, eeep!). Yep, it's end of the year list o'clock, guys. They're coming soon. And I LOVE end of the year lists. I'm either recommended things I didn't catch the first time around, or my picks are validated, or I get in impassioned debates over choices. I'm a big fan of all these things. And my chief topic is movies—we watch a lot of films in our household, and I'm pretty opinionated about what I like. I'm a polarized high-low kinda gal, in that I like 'em so good or so bad-so-they're-good.

But there are some movies that came out this year I didn't see the first time around, or that haven't come out yet. So it's time to get my game face on, and get down to the business of catching up. And these are at the top of my list.

1. The Skin I Live In

I've only just started watching Almodóvar's films, and I'm really digging him. Daniel saw this movie and promptly got us on a viewing bender, and now I've seen Talk to Her and Volver, both of which I really enjoyed. I really like that he seems to have fun making his films, and delivers really multi-dimensional, likeable characters. Which is why Antonio Banderas as a deranged plastic surgeon sounds pretty sweet. Not to mention how awesome the trailer is – best music choice and most bewildering trailer of the year. Filmmakers out to surprise you and not play their hand too soon? I love it. Got plans to see this one next week, and I can hardly wait.

2. Martha Marcy May Marlene
I've heard such good things about this one. Who hasn't, right? This was one of the buzziest movies around TIFF time, and it's been getting a lot of attention because of Elizabeth Olsen's performance (and celebrity siblings). Olsen plays a PTSD former cult member who's trying to piece together her life after escaping the compound, and everyone who's seen it has gushed about it. It looks like a tense, taught psychological thriller, so yeah, it's on the list.




3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Yeah, the Fincher, Hollywood version. No, I didn't see the Swedish one, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not really fussed about trying to. A lot of people are bristling that the actress from that first adaptation (Noomi Rapace) wasn't used in this second adaptation (now played by Rooney Mara), but I'm more impressed with the transformation. I can hardly believe this is the same girl from that first bit of The Social Network:

via
BEFORE

via
AFTER

Crazy, right? Good on her, for trying to break out of pretty girl roles, and for Fincher taking a chance on her. And to anyone who is not excited about this movie, did you SEE that teaser trailer? It looks like a goddamn Kubrick film! Even if you've seen the regular trailer, watch this. Pump it up to 1080p, go full screen and play it loud. I can't even imagine how cool it would have been seeing this in theatres. I'll be there on opening night for sure.

4. Beginners
Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, a scruffy little dog, I'm sold. I'll curl up with this one on an evening when I need renewed faith in humanity, I think.




5. Final Destination 5
Everyone has their vices, and the Final Destination movies are one of mine. I love the campy horror, I love the constant one upsmanship, and I love that they started doing these in 3D. Sadly, I missed this one in theatres so no 3D for me, but I heard there's a scene with Lasik gone wrong and I just can't handle that, guys. I'm a freak about my eyes. They work poorly, but they're all I got. And getting Lasik might be something I do one day, so I can't ever see a DEATH by Lasik. If I could watch a cut with that scene removed, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Final Destination, cutting to the heart of your deepest fears!

(Note: this trailer starts off with the Lasik scene and I nearly died just watching it. How embarrassing would death by trailer be? SO embarrassing. And SO possible. Just wanted to warn you in case you have similar hangups.)




6. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Hey, it's a spy thriller with Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Tom Hardy. No idea how grounbreaking it'll be, but the players are good, the story is promising, the trailer is decent, and at the very least, it's a better choice than Sherlock Holmes 2: Electric Boogaloo.

So what's on your to-watch list? Got any other recommendations for me?

Food Plans

I got the NOMS.

 Do you ever get to busy that making food for yourself is a luxury that time just can't afford? It's the beginning of Toronto fashion week and things on the home front are just going to have to suffer for a while. That doesn't mean, however, that a girl can't dream. Here are some recipes that I'm dreaming of while I eat another veggie wrap from Subway.

• Pumpkin chocolate cake, from Sweet Potato Chronicles
• Baked spaghetti squash with tomato and ricotta, from Big Girls Small Kitchen
• Poached eggs on asparagus with hollandaise, from Simply Delicious
• Buckwheat blini with caramelized shallots, wilted arugula, and creme fraiche, from Eat Live Travel Write
• Mashed chickpea and goatcheese sandwich, from Jennifer Bain at the Star

31 Day Photo Challenge

After seeing this cute lil project on the Bicyclette blog, I decided to try my hand at it, even though I'm not very good at sticking to deadlines (and this is a daily deadline!) and even though I'm starting late it's a valiant try.

Self portraits are always the most difficult, I find. Even though my Photobooth is filled with pictures of me all made up and posing for the camera, the thought of sharing those with the world is terrifying! Here is a pretty tame one.

Check back every Wednesday and I'll update you with a week's worth of photos in a new post! The daily pic will be in the side bar of the main page of the blog. Enjoy them, and thanks Bicyclette for the great idea! If anyone else is tackling this project please let us know in the comments below!

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.

How to Do Disney World

In one week's time, I'll be heading down Florida-way with my chief ride-or-die homegirl, Gillian, to the happiest place on earth. Yes, we're headed to Disney World, and there's no one in the world I'd rather do it with. We first went just after graduation (four years ago! My, how time flies), and had such a blast that we plan on making it a tradition.

But there are rules to doing Disney right. See, G and I are dead-set on maximizing our fun, and we're equipped with a plan. Last time we went was pretty spectacular, but this time, we've got the code down pat. So I've invited her infinite wisdom to help me collect the rules and prep for our 6 days of magic.

G: Don't worry if you don't like kids. I don't much care for children. I find them obnoxious and smelly and loud and lame. The awesome thing about Disney World is that kids are almost absent from my entire experience. Kids like shit like character meetings, parades, and leaving a park after two hours because they're "overstimulated." If you avoid these things (like any self-respecting childfree adult), you're in the clear. Also, the children you do see at Disney World tend to be happy and occupied, so they're at least 30% less annoying than they are in your neighbourhood. Bonus: If you stay at a Moderate to Deluxe level resort, you will barely encounter small children at all.

A: Get snap happy. This is no time to be a classy tourist – consider it a challenge to fill your camera's memory card. When I went to Paris, I took only pictures on film with my medium format Holga – fine for Paris, but a tragedy for Disney. You want pictures of yourselves soaked after Splash Mountain. You want pictures of yourselves attempting to finish huge ice cream cones. You want pictures of yourselves posing with the themed statues. And you definitely want a picture of yourselves in front of Cinderella's Castle. Whenever I'm feeling a bit low, I look at the pictures from our last trip and feel like I'm shooting up Vitamin D.

G: Write down all the crazy shit you observe. Amanda and I have some solid memories from our first trip in 2007 – for example, a morbidly obese 40-something woman with a teetering tray full of food shouting, "I got yer chicken strips, Scooter!" across a crowded Colonial-themed quick service restaurant. One can only hope she was addressing her son Scooter, and not a lover of the same name. Oh lord, we have memories! But I get sad when I contemplate all the gems we've lost to the passage of time. This time, I'll be bustin' out a notebook on the regular so every tableaux of Life in Modern America is catalogued and archived.

A: Have a soundtrack. I can't stress the importance of this enough. You know how you can hear a certain song and it transports you back to a particular time in your life? You want music that makes you feel that way about Disney World. For me, that includes Elton John's "Rocket Man", Kanye's "Touch the Sky" and the Beatles' "Two of Us". They were all on our original mix, and every time I hear those songs, I feel like I'm on vacation. This is especially important for G because she really hates flying – during takeoff, we play the mix, hold hands, and cruise on south.

G: You should – nay, you MUST – go in the off season. Not only can you get a free dining plan and afford a nicer hotel, but you will spend less time in lines. The best time of year to go is late August/early September, when US schoolchildren are already back in the classroom. No kids! And the kids that are there are better behaved. The type of parent negligent enough to take their kid out of the first or second week of school is totes crazy enough to tell their kid to shut the fuck up in the line for Space Mountain.

A: Disney ain't for dieting. Especially if you're dining on Disney's dime (with your well-timed free dining plan). You get a free pass. Go hogwild. And make sure to bundle two of your regular dinners for one of the signature dinners so you get a fancy night out. Our fave is an evening at Narcoossee's so we can spring for a nice bottle of wine and get Surf 'n Turf while we watch the fireworks burst over the castle.

G: If you never went as a child, best believe you'll have fun as an adult. You need to take the risk (as my homegirl Amanda did when I begged her to make a BFF trip after we graduated university) and trust that Disney World is just as (if not MORE) magical as an adult. Think about it: you're choosing your travelling companion, you can drink your way across the nations of Epcot's World Showcase, and you are better able to appreciate all the wack shit going on. Besides, when you have children, they will ruin Disney for you. They will constantly want to go to the bathroom and buy shit and spill things and cry, and that will totally cramp your style. Enjoy Disney with a ride-or-die homie while you have the chance, which leads me to...

G: Only go with someone you're ride-or-die with. This is serious. I once heard Holly Madison say on a Girls Next Door DVD commentary track that she felt like you couldn't truly know her unless you'd been to Disney with her. Not only did I realize that Holly and I are soultwins, but I would go one further. If you aren't a BFF I'd want to grow old with in some Golden Girls-type arrangement or full-on wifey material, I am not going to Disney World with you. And you should have the same parameters. Going to Disney is like going to Heaven or Atlantis. Would you want to look back on your trip to Atlantis (the mythical place, not the horrendously tacky Bahamian resort) and think, "Oh yeah. I was there with that girl I met through [insert ridiculous 20-something hobby you'll have since abandoned in favour of TV] who only wanted to talk about her gluten allergy"? No, you do not. Don't taint a magical experience with anyone other that your A-Team.

A: Challenge yourself. This year, I'm going to do the Tower of Terror. I'm going to do it. There's no way I can back out. Even though it combines two of my least favourite things – ghosts and that awful stomach-dropping feeling – I can't NOT do it this year. I wussed out last time and have regretted it ever since. If G can face her fear of flying to get down to the Magic Kingdom, I can do a ride that sticky-faced 7 year olds can manage. But that being said...

A: Don't challenge yourself too much. Take it easy. Feeling hot? Feeling run down? Go back to your room and take a nap. This ain't no marathon – this is vacation, and vacation's about feeling good. The last time we went, G ended up getting really sick, so we upped our relaxin': early evenings back at the hotel room, a couple trips out to the drug store, late morning sleep-ins. The one day we stuck it out was our Epcot day and as a compromise, I ended up pushing Gill around in a wheelchair. It was probably the least fun day of the trip, but a so-so day in Disney is still an awesome day by real world standards. We ended up with sweet pictures and I ended up with slightly more toned arms.

Taking it easy also includes rolling with the punches – don't get worked up over dumb stuff. The lineup's really long at the Haunted Mansion? Then grab a fast pass and wait out the clock on It's a Small World. Family in front of you being assholes? You'll never have to see them again in 10 minutes' time. Feeling like you need some alone time? Then say so and go read in a hammock for a bit. Predict your needs so you stay chill, and keep hydrated. It helps if you've chosen your Disney companion well and they are similarly even-tempered.

G: Buy an ear hat. Trust me, this will add to your experience. If you're not wearing an ear hat, you haven't fully given yourself to the experience. A part of you is still holding back thinking, "What will all these people think of me and my best friend, both women in our 20s without kids, arm in arm, each holding giant ice creams in our hands and wearing mouse ears on our heads?" Answer: Take a look around. You are surrounded by fellow nerds looking to have a good time. It's time to go full retard. The experience of being around a bunch of other adults who are all geeking out about being at Disney World is akin to waiting in line for a new Apple product on opening day. There is an immediate familiarity among everyone in the group. Even if you aren't super into iWhatevers, you know that these are your people. Also, the hats are a classic. Not only will you own a piece of classic Americana, but you can start a creepy collection of the hats you get with each visit. (Note: A collection of any kind is advanced level Disney shit.)

Love you girl! Just one week!

Do you do Disney?

Got any tips or things we have to try?

Weekend Warrior

Not sure what your plans are this weekend, but mine involve deep fried Coke, a spin on a sketchy giant fair swing, and seeing lots of kitties that look like this:

via

Why yes, I am going to the CNE, only the best summer fair on earth. I'm going to eat my face off in the food building and sneeze when we go see the horses and try to talk LJ into seeing the SuperDogs show. It shall be glorious, and I'll try to remember to document it with some photos.

Not only that, but I'm also heading to see John Waters, the Pope of Trash, at the TO Underground on Saturday night to talk about his influences. Seriously, I could hear this guy talk about ANYTHING, so I think it's going to be pretty sweet. I'm not sure if there are tickets left, but you should snap them up if there are—it's going to be one hell of a show.

But I'm feeling under the weather today, so I'm off to get some last minute work done and rest up.
Hope you've got plans you're psyched about this weekend too!

(If you're still looking for some, you should go get your nails did by pros, bros. This Sunday only!)

I've also got a new piece up on Vive Magazine this week about J. Crew – check it out!

Dog Days of Summer

I'm about to embark on this crazy thing: On Saturday, I'm adopting a dog.

This is a big step for me, and something I've wanted to do for a very long time. A VERY long time. I've wanted a dog for as long as I can remember, a childhood dream that hasn't been realized because my family's situation never allowed for it. But now I'm finally at the stage in my life where I feel capable of fulfilling the responsibilities that come with this decision, and it's one I want to make.

He's a rescue dog, a young schnauzer mix named Charlie, a stray from the streets of Mexico. He was found with a badly fractured leg, and was taken in and mended by a Mexican family before joining Loyal Rescue here in Ontario. He sounds like a charming little guy—his foster mom tells me he is sweet and calm, and loves nothing more than being with his people.

He'll need some training—he hasn't been trained on a leash and, living in the city without a backyard, that's definitely something he'll have to get used to. And of course, there are manners to learn in human society, such as greeting people politely, understanding that humans make the decisions, and not begging for food (my biggest pet peeve). The idealist in me hopes he'll be perfect from the outset, but the realist in me has been fervently brushing up on dog training, so we can get started on the best foot.

Isn't he the cutest?*

The part that excites me the most about welcoming this new companion into my life, this joyous little creature, is not only teaching him, but learning from him. Learning about intuition and body language and loyalty in ways that I've only brushed the tip of the iceberg in knowing. I'm excited about establishing better routines, and exercising more regularly, and giving myself more time at home—such a wonderful, elusive thing when left to my own devices. I feel like this dog will help me prioritize the things in life that I need and want to work on, and help me feel more grounded, less selfish, more in tune with the world around me. I think dogs make people better people, and I'm excited by the change that I'll see in me too.

I have worries too. I worry about it adding stress to a great home situation. I worry that he won't be happy, and that it'll be evident, that he'll be destructive and rude. I worry I won't have a social life. I worry the timing isn't right, and that my life is still too malleable. I worry I won't be able to live up to responsibilities I'm signing up for, but I feel deeply like I am, and I've learned to trust my gut. I've thought about this for so long and hard, and I feel like this dog is the right one for me. I feel like he's a good one to tie my fate to for the next 10–15 years. I feel like he's a good soul that I want in my life. I feel like his needs are a priority to me, and that adopting a rescue dog helps more dogs in the future. I've already started feeling a thrill of excitement when I head home, a thrill at being greeted by a wagging ball of hair.

So we'll see. It's been a hard decision, and one I've laboured over, but one I'm really excited to make. Is this what it feels like to be an adult, staring down the barrel of a life-changing choice?

*I promise, I won't just fill the blog with photos of him in goofy costumes, but I make no promises about the future state of my twitter feed. OMG, I just realized about all the dog sweaters I can knit!

Got any advice for me, dog-owning friends?

A Reason to Celebrate

I have a reason to celebrate today, because I just got a fabulous internship at the website of an incredible Toronto-based magazine! I am still too jittery and nervous/excited to write anything worth reading, so today I will leave you with four videos of hot ladies that I can't stop watching. Enjoy!

Imaginary Menu

Sorry, but this is going to be quick, my dears—I'm having a busy day! So instead, I'll just share with you the perfect imaginary meal that I'll be eating today. Don't worry, there are recipes for everything, so we can both try them out soon.

via Evil Chef Mom

To start with, these Cheese Fritters with Balsamic Sun-dried Tomato Dipping Sauce sound pretty divine. Just a couple of these, followed by a light Caprese Salad, what do you say?

via Closet Cooking

This Lemon Braised Chicken and Beans with Mint Pesto looks SO good, and SO easy. My mouth is watering in anticipation. Served with some good crusty bread, this would be perfection.

via The Kitchn

For dessert, let's keep it simple. Just some Salted Lavender Honey Shortbread...

via Spache the Spatula

And this Watermelon Granita. It sounds a little time-consuming, but the hard part—opening the freezer to scrape at the frozen bits every half hour—sounds like it would be refreshing anyway, so I don't mind. I can see this easily adapted to suit any fresh fruit you have around—lime and mint granitas anyone?

via The Pioneer Woman

Hope I didn't get your mouth watering too much!

Which recipes are you just dying to try right now?

Have a lovely long weekend, and I'll see you again on Tuesday.

My Roadtrip

The big day has finally arrived. Like I mentioned before, Dan and I will soon be cruising the friendly roads and heading down south to the promised land. I couldn't be more excited, and if I tried to write about anything else I'd just be covering up my true feelings and lying to you all. I don't want to give away all the awesome info, but I want to share the highlights of what we've got planned. 

This is where we're spending our first night, near Cave City, Kentucky.

I don't think I need to explain to anyone how awesomely amazing it will be to sleep in a wigwam. Apparently Cave City has all kinds of weirdo tourist attractions, and many of them, like Wigwam Village, were built in the first half of the 1900s. 

On Saturday night, and totally by chance, we will be in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry seeing this babe: though she'll probably look more like this, Glinda the Good Witch. 

In Memphis we will be going to Graceland, of course, but also Sun Studio, and here:

You can start getting jealous now. Amanda will be holding down the fort until I get home, so have fun!

On Reading

It was only when Dan and I moved that I realized how many books I have and hold dear. Because I was an English student at U of T for about six years, I collected many, many novels and anthologies, the majority of which I sold back or donated after the class was done. But each year there was at least one class that I loved, one class where I totally treasured each piece of literature that we studied, and those books just never seem to leave my shelves. Even before I started university I was building a library; my parents' living room walls are lined with shelves of novels that they've collected over the years, and I can't think of much better than a house full of books (especially if they're colour coded, or alphabetized! Swoon!).

The bad news is that I haven't been able to read for pleasure for about six years now. When you're expected to read for school, and there is always some kind of work to be done, reading what you want to read takes a major back burner—for me it was completely off the stove.

sanctuary

I've been reading like a fiend ever since I finished my last class, and I am desperately trying to remember the mental book list that I've been compiling since 2006. Anytime I need book inspiration I head over to the new, smaller Balfour Books, which has an incredible Can Lit paperback section, with most of the classics going for under $5. That is how I found the Morley Callaghan book That Summer in Paris that I loved so much. And the Margaret Atwood collection of short stories Wilderness Tips, which is so wonderful and haunting that I will read it over and over again.

I have recently started reading Mian Mian's Candy, a book published in 2003 that was banned in China, Mian is being hailed as the country's most promising young writer. It's always interesting, reading novels that have been translated from their original language. It always makes me think about how much work went into keeping the tone and the integrity of what the author was trying to say, and this translation's language fits in perfectly with the overall feeling of the book.

"Saining and I were like a pair of curious cats, but curiosity can kill a cat. Sometimes, in his embrace, I would joke around and pretend to be the kind of girl who would marry him on the spot. Or I might pretend that I was the kind of girl who might run off with someone else at the drop of a hat. We liked words like elope, which to us suggested the road to freedom. But bombs fall on the most beautiful places, and happiness will steal away."

What I like most about this book is has to do with why it has been banned in China: its honesty about the dependence and easy access to heroin in Shanghai, and the hole-punched records and broken casette tapes that would be the only access to Western music. I'm only about half-way through, but it's a great read, a quick one too.

I am somewhat at a loss for where to go from here. There are too many good books out there, too many amazing authors whose work I want to read in full.

So give me your suggestions: books, authors, time periods, fiction, non-fiction, comics, anything!

A Love Letter to My Bicycle

I'm not the most active person. Anyone who knows me, even just as an acquaintance, knows this as fact. I am huffing and puffing by the time I get to my office on the third floor. I have a handful of my favourite delivery places on speed dial, one of which is a block away from my house. I have been known to Skype-chat with friends a 20-minute TTC ride away. Even saying the word 'sports' makes my nose wrinkle involuntarily (oh hey, so does writing it!).

But there was a time, my first summer living in Toronto, when I decided to try being a bit healthier and my first step was to invest in a bike. Nothing fancy, just an old bike I could commute with and save on bus fare. I began trolling Craigslist, and within days, I found him—my red CCM in shining armour.

Because I am frequently impractical on matters of style, my trusty steed is a behemoth steel roadster bicycle from the 70s. He is so monstrously huge that when I called to inquire about the ad, the nice man selling him nervously cleared his throat and asked my height, because this is not a girl's bike. This is a man's bike. I am nearly 6', and I have to swing my leg up higher than my modesty would like to get over this puppy. Not only is he big, he is HEAVY, weighing at least 30 pounds. Or I don't know, heavier. I'm bad at judging weight. Regardless, it's not the most practical bike to drag up and down a porch daily.

However, I knew we were meant to be together, and I took the subway out to Bloor West Village, paid that nice man selling him $180, and rode home on what has been the most terrifying bike ride to date. It had been at least three years since last riding a bike, I had no helmet and had never rode in a city before, and NOTHING prepares you for the hills out by High Park, especially not at rush hour. But we survived, I was undeterred and from that day, a bond was forged.

Goliath + me 4 evah

BIG CHANGES

So things have been busy lately, and although things are smoothing out now, it's certainly taking some getting used to. As you read last week, I moved out of the apartment that Amanda and I shared so we could both live with our boyfriends, something that feels both like "it's about time" and "whoa, this is a big step." Things have been quite lovely in that sense, but moving is a huge pain in the ass, as is the lack of internet, kitchen knives, and floor space that isn't covered in boxes.

The "big move" has been much more difficult than I anticipated, mostly because I think I anticipated a breath of fresh air—total domestic bliss in a place that was totally my own, a seamless transition for everyone, and a new apartment that was perfect in every way. I do love the place, once it's set up it will be really awesome, but there is the reality of noisy neighbours, garbage smells, screens that let in flies, and other qualities of city apartments.

I've been an anxious mess since June 30, mostly because of feelings brought on by the move: a combination of changed living space, finishing school, and generally feeling like I am being forced to grow up when I don't feel very grown up. I was ignoring these feelings until we stepped foot in the new place, which I feel is not yet my own, but a place I have to live up to. I am envying Amanda of her non-move, as staying in our old place takes less adjusting and probably feels like home already.

The back of the apartment, as we were moving in.

On Penelope Trunk and challenging your notions

Are you reading Penenlope Trunk's blog?

Do you care about your career/life/passion?

Then you should be reading Penelope Trunk.

Lately, I've grown more and more interested in creating a meaningful life. I think Laura's been feeling similarly, and the posts around here have been reflecting that. The past few years I've been, quite honestly, lazy—I've been working in a comfortable job that's creatively unfulfilling, and I hadn't been giving myself the alone time or creative outlets that I need to feel satisfied. How do I know that? Because I drink, smoke, eat and laze around too much, and my nerves still feel on edge. I've been taking steps to rectify that, but it's scary to start creating a life that looks different, because when you've been told, "do a, b and c and you'll be fine", and then you're not, you're left without a road map.

Gen Y likes road maps. I know this because of Penelope Trunk. I know lots of things because of Penelope Trunk, like how Gen Z will change education, or the 4 big lies about social media, or how to write a stellar resume. She's who first encouraged me to take a Myers-Briggs test (INTJ, btw). Hands down, she gives the best career advice on the web. I'd go so far as to say life advice, but the only thing that hold me back is how shockingly, brutally, earnestly open she is with her often messy life. But that is so inspiring.

Dear End of June

Get here sooner. Look, I know it's only the 13th and we still have to tango for another 17.5 days, but I have shit to do, and the sooner June is done, the sooner it can start happening.

What kinds of things, you ask? Well, for one, my boyfriend is moving in with me. It's something I'm really excited about, but also something that makes me tired when I think about it too much. I'm tired of everyone warning me how "things will change" and worrying about how they actually will change, and I'm tired of feeling exhausted by the prospect of reorganizing all our stuff, but most of all, I'm tired of packing a fucking bag every night. You wouldn't know anything about that, June, because you show up, you set up shop for the most temperate month of the year, and then you hibernate for another 11 months. Having your life be in two separate places simultaneously blows, and I've spent too many hours over a year and a half making it work.

Two, I'd really like to start this thing called a routine. This goes hand in hand with the whole two homes lifestyle I've been living over the past year. I'd like to start waking up in the same place at the same time everyday, and having fresh groceries in the house, and doing those exercises my physiotherapist showed me but I always forget to do. I'd like to become an adult, please, and I feel like a regular schedule is the key to adulthood. My wallet will be fatter, my body will be thinner, and my teeth will be way healthier from all the flossing I'm going to unleash. Who knows, maybe by mid-August I'll realize that isn't true and being an adult is all about your mindset or actually sticking to a budget, but whatever, that's August's problem.

Three, I'd like to get a dog. This isn't going to happen until I'm closer to mastering Two, and that isn't going to happen until I get more practice. So fucking chop to it, for Future Fido's sake.

Four, I'd really like to start implementing all of the way cool decorating ideas I have. I feel like I've fine-tuned my current bedroom to near perfection, and although I'm going to miss it after you're through, June, I need a new challenge. I need to mess some shit up and spend a few days sanding and painting walls, hanging pictures and buying houseplants, arranging bookshelves and conferring over what sofa placement best suits the living room's flow. I basically want to live in a cocoon for all of July and emerge with a beautiful butterfly of a house. It's going to be so rad, June, and although it makes me sad you won't get to see it until next year, you just need to back the fuck away so it can happen.

So while I love my currently living situation and I'm looking forward to enjoying my friends' birthdays and other plans, you have the sad fact of being the home stretch, June, so I don't get to appreciate our time together. This month, for me, is characterized by impatience and excitement and anxiety. The sooner I start living my future, the sooner those things won't be such pressing issues and I can start working on actual issues, like what I'm going to be when I grow up and how to find time to better myself and my relationships with those I love. I feel my attention is divided and I need this looming change to be through so I can focus and WORK. So enough, June. Kindly fuck off and let's get July in to clean house.

Love you, hope the rest of the month's great, and I'll see you next year!

xoxo
Amanda

Mini Cat Zine

Just a quick post today…I want to share with you a zine that I learned about on Frankie magazine's website.

Li-Kim Chuah from Melbourne is an awesome collagist. I like to think that my collage work would be a lot like hers if I actually put in the time and work to make it look good. 

Her latest creation is about cats!! Of course, I am biased, but I think it's just the best. It reminds me a lot of Sonja Ahlers' eyelash print, but on acid. I highly suggest you either pay the $6.50 to buy this zine or get out there and make one your damn self. Tell me where and when, and we'll have a craft night.

All images from Chuah's etsy

Drowning

For my last class at university ever ever ever (!!!!!!!) my only option was to take a class on the history of critical and literary theory. I thought I'd be okay, but this is not cool. 

This is a far cry from the novels that I am used to reading and analyzing. This is an anthology that weighs as much as my laptop. I've never read Plato, Kant, or Du Bois, and I always kinda liked that about myself. This is all changing now. For my last class, I will truly be learning. Wish me luck.