Adventures on my Day Off

It's nice having Mondays off. I worked all weekend, so it's a good trade-off. It makes the rest of the week feel a bit shorter.
After sitting around my apartment watching Hoarders until 2, deciding what to do, I ventured out to grab a coffee and go for a walk.

I drink coffee every day, and 99.9% of the time it's just your standard drip coffee, with a splash of milk. I make it at home when I have time, but otherwise I'm not picky. I'll go to Starbucks just as easily as MacDonalds for coffee. I know there's a difference in taste and quality, but I honestly don't care so long as it's hot. There is, however, that .01% of the time when I feel like a latte, and it's usually when seasonal ones come out. Pictured above is my half sweet, non-fat salted caramel mocha with a double shot of espresso. I don't like being one of those people when I order coffee, but I figure my usual simplistic order of "tall bold" allows me to be picky once in a blue moon.

My travels then brought me Anthropologie. I love going there to look around, and then gasp at the prices. I really like there kitchen stuff, such as these little nesting measuring cups. Cute!

I also really like these bowls. They're perfect ice cream/cereal size. And since ice cream and cereal make up about 60% of my diet, I bought two of the ones on the left. They're like a mint green/robin's egg colour.


Then, which "T" mug? Both are cute and I was tempted by both of them even though I have no use for a new mug. And no money for novelty mugs, either.

Then I saw this felt cloche hat. With my short hair I run the risk of looking weird in hats - like I have no hair and am therefore, ah, sickly...
I wanted to try it on though. A little to big for my small-ish head, and cuter on the shelf than on me, but still. Fun to play dress up.

And also, new art. Again, just one for now but more to come soon. I really want to head back to The Paper Place soon for more stuff. When finances allow, I'll head over and grab some. I also need to keep working on my sketchbook project. So, in and effort to get going on that - goal for the week: one page per day. Starting tomorrow. Tuesday to Tuesday, with seven new pages to show for it. I look forward to my upcoming productivity.

Until next time,

Feeling Like Summer

It looks like summer and it almost feels like summer. At my job, I'm blessed with access to an actual window...and the trade off for all that sunshine is getting to watch people hanging out, walking around, eating ice cream, and enjoying various drinks on various patios. It's a tease, but I left work today knowing there were several cold beers in my fridge and a whole Saturday night at my disposal.

And I've finally done new art (and because it's been a long time and I owe you, I also have a top three and a new goal!)


For my top three I decided to grab three things that remind me of summer, because I'm looking out my window and seeing a blue sky, and it makes me happy.

As does this image from the Anthropologie summer catalogue. Oh, Anthropologie - you so crazy. And expensive.

And this photo I found on ffffound. Two summers ago I went to California and had the pleasure of my first (and second!) trip to In-N-Out. West coast Americans, you don't know how lucky you are. If we had these here I'd be obese and I don't even think I'd mind.

And key lime Lärabars. I actually just had one for the first time yesterday and they're awesome.

And my goal for the week!
At work we're having a running group incentive thing. My goal is to get a nike+ sensor and run a minimum of five miles this week (five miles for the week total - I'm not a runner so, baby steps)

Until next time! <3

I Don't Care if Monday's Blue

Actually, Monday isn't really blue. It's kind of gray outside but the sun seems to be trying to fight it's way through. And I had a pretty good weekend. I missed Sunday morning yoga yesterday (because of a meeting, not my own laziness) but I did manage to meet my goal of three yoga classes last week. Sort of. Well, one of them was a proper class, but on Wednesday I didn't have time to return to my gym at night so I had to do the afternoon pilates class. I figured that the two were pretty similar. They are, I guess, but apparently the only people who go to gym classes at noon on Wednesdays are me, one other person under the age of 40, and a bunch of grandparents. It was kind of weird. Oh well.
This only means that I need to establish a new goal for myself for the week. My goal is to read and write on another essay for my other blog. I'm supposed to be doing an independent study course, but I haven't done any reading for it since the fall. Yay! something to look forward to. Now, I'm going to get back to watching Discovery World HD before getting ready for a long day at work.

New Art Saturday

As the blog name promises, here are two new five by sevens for the week. Even though it's already two in the afternoon, I'm looking forward to a good day today. It's bright, cold, sunny, and I'm already zipping my way through my list of things to do. I'm (almost) done my post for today, then I'm going to compose a proposal that involves my (more serious) art and a library. Fingers crossed, I'm hoping this proves to be a good opportunity.
I mentioned last art post that I was trying to incorporate more French text in my work for reasons unsaid. Well, I may as well say why...I've been in contact with a gallery in Montreal about my work since the summer. Now they've got three of my pieces and my bio, so that's that. They've been fantastic and hopefully I'll be showing up on their website soon and on their walls in the not too distant future. Je suis très heureux :)

In other news, I'm starting a new large piece today, a gift promised to someone back in December. I thank him for his patience and by the end of the week he'll have a new, shiny, work of art hanging on his wall.

My fiction project book arrived in the mail the other day and despite setting my goal to get started on it over a week ago, I still haven't done much more than open the brand new black moleskine and flip through the pages. So, that goal still stands - this week I will start this thing. But in in the interest of being productive and goal oriented, my new mini goal for the week is to do yoga three times. I've managed to catch a couple classes last week and really enjoyed it. I'm already going tomorrow morning before work, so what's twice more?

And since I'm still trying to keep my new year's resolution to take more photos, here's a pic of my tin of pencils and pens (the one I take on the road with me), my receipt book and weekly planner by drop around letterpress, and my washi tape all stacked up on top of my fiction project notebook. Hopefully that little collection of things will leak inspiration into the book so that when I open it up it'll be ready to go.

Happy Thursday!

Yesterday was grey and blustery, but today is bright, cold, and sunny. The sky is clear blue, and I'm feeling productive. On that note, I've got new work. I woke up, made my coffee, and got to work. I love days when I don't feel lazy.
The top image has a little bit of (easy) French text because I'm going to try to start working a bit more French text in for fun, but also for reasons I haven't announced yet ;)

Anyway, since I'm feeling productive, I may as well set myself up with a new goal for the week. Since I finished and sent away my Sketchbook Project book with a few regrets about my lack of planning, my goal for the week is to get a headstart on my Fiction Project book. I need to start writing and drawing so I can be satisfied with a more well planned final product. My book hasn't come in the mail yet, but that's no reason not to start, so here goes!

Thursday

For my first top three thursday back from my break I've decided to do a miniature roundup of my favourite three recent "favourites" from craftgawker. Usually I just add an image I like and then check the link and tag it later. It's nice to revisit these images. Click to look at all of my favourites.


This image is cute, simple, and I love the colours.

This image reminds me of summer. I know it's still only January, and it's only been snowy here for a week, but I am looking forward to spring. And fresh spring-y air.

Finally, this super cute calendar seems like a great way to look forward to the new year, and it also brings me to my mini weekly goal and a glimpse at my New Year's resolutions.

My little goal for the week is to finish and send off my sketchbook project. It's due the day after tomorrow, so, for better or worse this goal will be accomplished.

As for my New Year's resolutions...well, I usually don't make them. I didn't last year, and I figured I wouldn't this year, but I do have things I need to accomplish so there's no harm in making it official.

1. Get to over 50 on TIFF's 100 Essential Cinema List (I'm at 30 now)
2. Take more photos
3. Participate in The Fiction Project
4. Submit my work to more art shows
5. Go to more art shows
6. Finally achieve my two year old weight loss goal

So there they are!

Until next time :D

new work, new goal

The first thing I wanted to do is post a quick picture of the boots I was so excited about getting in Montréal. I've been wearing them almost everyday and they are super comfortable, in addition to keeping my toes warm. I've stopped biking for the winter (too cold!) but I'm still walking to work almost everyday. The half hour walk is made much, much easier with warm, happy feet.


On another note, I'm gearing up for the holidays, but the excitement hasn't come yet. It could be the fact that I work retail or it could be that I know this is the first year I won't be home for Christmas. It's also probably the fact that I have barely even begun to think about gifts for people - I have no idea what to get for most of the people on my list and, just like everything else in my life, I can hear the clock ticking. I hate thinking of the holiday as yet another thing on my ever expanding to-do list...but I'm sure as soon as I watch one of my top three Christmas movies (wait for Thursday!) I'll feel the Christmas cheer. Sigh.

Here's some new work! I photographed rather than scanned because my scanner is currently topped with a bunch of papers and boxes and I didn't quite feel like moving it all. Yes, laziness has to win sometimes. I've also decided to do two text only drawings this week in anticipation of a new project I'm working on for the new year.

Another sketchbook project page. I've decided to go ahead and announce my next mini weekly goal today. The vegetables-every-day thing is going well - so far, so good. As a compliment to that I've also decided to cut out McDonald's indefinitely (or until I lose five pounds). I'm a little ashamed to admit how often I eat (ate) there, but the combination of low cost, super convenience, and shamefully awesome flavour have made me a McDonald's fiend of late. No more!

My new weekly goal is in honour of the the looming deadline for The Sketchbook Project. I've decided to do a page a day for the next week. I may not have time to blog my progress each day, particularly since I'm going home this weekend for an early Christmas, but I'll keep everyone posted.

Until Thursday!

mini weekly update

I don't have much to show right now - no pictures! I'm sorry! But I wanted to talk a little about Montréal set my next weekly goal.
First, Montréal was great. After the long overnight bus ride there we were met with a bright, cold, sunny morning in a new city (well, new for me anyway). We got to where we were staying, dropped our bags and decided what we wanted to do first. It was still too early for lunch, but one of the stores that sold my boots was only a few minutes away. I tried them on and then they were mine! I even wore them out of the store like a kid. Then, working from my top three list from last Thursday, we decided to go for poutine and toasted hot dogs for lunch. Apparently hot dog buns that are buttered and toasted are a Quebec thing and I have no idea why it hasn't caught on everywhere - they were awesome. We then trekked to Jean-Talon market, then met a friend for food and beer.
Saturday we slept in then went to Schwartz's for one of the best sandwiches of my life. Who knew meat, bread, and mustard could be so amazing? With full tummies we walked to the Museum of Contemporary Art and spent the rest of the afternoon there. We rounded out the day with dinner at Joe Beef and drinks at Au Dieu de Ciel (again).
Finally, quick brunch on Sunday prepared us for the eight hour bus ride home.

This sort of brings me to my Mini Weekly Goal update from last week. I wanted to decide which schools to apply to and get started on the process. It's cutting it really close since applications are due in a month, but better late then never, right? I've decided on the four schools I'll be applying to and I've asked people for reference letters. I'm getting there, slowly but surely.
I wasn't sure whether I wanted to apply to schools in other cities but I'm realizing (and some time away helped) that Toronto is home for now, and I really don't want to leave. I know that my choices are limited by not wanting to leave, but...the heart wants what it wants. And it wants Toronto.

My goal for the coming week is a little simpler. I'm trying to eat healthier keep up my energy for the gym. I know that eating is really important for health and weight loss, so my goal for the week is to eat fresh vegetables each and everyday for the week. This should be a no-brainer, but convenience usually wins and I find myself eating McDonald's more than I'd like. Not this week!

Art post and new top three tomorrow :)

...aaand fifty!

Here we are, post number fifty, and I'm excited to announce my two new weekly features:

Top Three Thursday is going to feature little lists of threes based around a chosen theme for the week. I've already been doing this from time to time but I've decided to make it official and finally create some focus for all the time I spend mindlessly searching the interwebs.

My mini weekly goal will be just that - each week I want to set a small goal for myself and achieve it by the time I introduce the next goal. I hope this might prove to be fun and interesting, and I intend for my goals each week to span many different topics - personal, artistic, practical, and just fun. I'm not sure what day of the week to feature this, or if it should just be a sort of...whenever thing like my art posts. Either way, I came ready to do posts on both features today. I'll start with my goal for the week: Decide which schools I want to apply to for MFA programs and begin the applications. It's not the most fun, I know, but it's something that's been on my mind for about a year and a half now and I want my applications this year to be well planned and thought out.

Now for today's Top Three Thursday post.
The very first list of things I posted on this blog was of things from around the internet that inspire me. So I've decided to kick this feature off with my top three favourite blogs (that also happen to keep me inspired).

The first is A Beautiful Mess. I check this blog a few times weekly and am always pleasantly surprised by how often Elsie is able to post! There is always, and I mean always, new content and it isn't just quantity. She has a few fun weekly features (a clear inspiration for me to begin mine) and great photos. It's a craft, art, and lifestyle blog that I can't get enough of and she has just begun a new one to keep her readers up to date on her wedding plans.

The next is Velvet Pony. I've mentioned it before and the reason why is because it's one of the first blogs I ever read on a continuing basis. I found it when looking for some photo inspiration for a class assignment a year or two ago and even though the blogger doesn't really write anymore she always manages to find beautiful photography from Europe and across the world.

The next is Julia Pott Illustration. I know I've also mentioned Julia Pott before, but I love the way she is able to extend her illustration and style across so many media - from totes and zines to illustration and marketing. I don't know exactly what I'm working towards as far as my career goes, but I know for sure that I would love to have such a clean, consistent style and be able to learn the skill set that would allow me to do seemingly everything!
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So that's post number fifty. I'll be back soon with new art, updates on my goal this week, and updates for my other blog. Thanks for sticking with me for this long and here's hoping for another fifty (at least!)