November New Favourites

Activity: After dinner walks with BFF. There has only been the one so far, but it was pretty awesome. We both missed this.

Going Out Outfit: The other day BFF noticed that I had a lot of empty hangers in my closet, and he asked if I had done a closet purge recently. I hadn't, but it make me realize that I have been very satisfied since my last purge. I have a few shirts that I wear, a couple of dresses, and a couple pairs of pants. And that's it. And my grey blazer. Grey blazer with everything...

Staying in Outfit: Leggings, crocheted slippers, Grannie-sweater. Hopefully all clean...

Craftivity: Cleaning! I know that's not a craft, but it has been super helpful in getting my mind back into things, and evaluating what I really love and where I want to spend my time and energies. I've already collected quite a product-haul for my December Daily, and I really want to finish my photo album for the year.

Album: My latest antique mall purchase: Bill Monroe's "Best Bluegrass Tunes" or something....that's not the actual title...)

Meal: The no-meat thing is easy for me, but tough when I have to cook for the boys. I need a few recipes to become an expert in, and then I will be less stressed about it. Any recommendations??

Book: I read TEN BOOKS IN OCTOBER! Wheee! And they were all good, all #recommendedreading. My current favourite on-the-go is Food and the City: Urban Agriculture and the New Food Revolution.The author is from Edmonton, the book is informative, yet easy to read, and it's on a topic that is near to my heart.

Movie: BFF and I watched the silent classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on Halloween. It took a lot of swearing, and sweating, and three different devices before we got it going, but it was worth it. Love the classics...

Autumn Memory: Exploring Mill Creek Ravine with Lucas, Mom and my sister's family. Each boy has his own way of exploring, his own confidences and his own weaknesses. It was an afternoon full of giggles, and explaining, and water breaks, and climbing, and wet toes.

Dude Moment: We were having a bed-time discussion, and I told him that he is my favourite human person. And he the same in return. So I asked him what will happen if he falls in love with someone when he grows up, and wants to get married or something, what then. And he said that I will still be his favourite human person, and they will be number two.

Hello November. Fancy meeting you here.
xo

My Green Family

Meet Debbie, Ling-Ling, Margie, Tilly & poor, sad (pretty much totally dead) Li Lu.

At my new place I have a plethora of windows. South facing, east facing, west facing and north facing! This was definitely a selling feature for me when I first walked in the door. Thank goodness I had a second set of eyes with me that day to watch for all the important things, because all I saw was windows.

I love windows.

And I knew this meant I would finally have a chance at succeeding at growing indoor plants. As opposed to killing them. Immediately. And with panache.

I bought Debbie first, on a whim and a sale at Target. I felt so sorry for all the little amaryllis bulbs sitting haphazardly on the shelf. They had been marked down, red-tagged, destined for the trash bin. But $10 for a bulb, a nice pot and some soil?! I can tell a good deal when I see one! I only wish I had bought Debbie a buddy, because she is growing like a champ!

Li Lu's original name was Charlie Chan, but not even a new moniker could save this gal. I bought her on a cold cold (read: fucking cold) night, and I think it was just too much. Please ignore my sad, dead plant photo.

Margie & Ling-Ling came home with me from Salisbury Greenhouses on the magical Family Day long weekend. They had been sending me emails and Facebook updates with photos of row upon row of succulents. Well, it was too much sales pressure for this little heart to handle. Deciding on only two to bring home with me was the hardest part.

OH MY GOSH I LOVE AIR PLANTS!! I thought they were only a designer item, destined to be forever front and centre on the Internet, but out of reach for me in the sticks. When I saw the fabulous display at Salisbury, I may have squealed and ran toward it with my hands flapping. They look like the final baddie in the first Hellboy movie! I was too excited to pick one, so BFF had to make the decision for me.

Tilly & David are getting along quite nicely.

I am enjoying this foray into Plant Parenthood so far. I have a lot more windows that need greening up though. I will need to set myself a monthly plant buying budget, because this could get dangerous.

Are you a green thumb or a black thumb?

Any tips for the Newbie Indoor Plant Enthusiast?

later loves

Winter's New Favourites...

Activity: The 6-minute walk to Value Village. Wink.

Going Out Outfit: A fabulous coral dress I found at said Value Village, with Nicole in tow. Says the gentleman at Wine Spirits and Beyond: "you have really cool style!"

Staying in Outfit: Anything with my pom pom slippers. My kitchen floors are mysteriously slippery...hmmm. And yes, I have washed them. Geeze people...

Album: Chicago's Greatest Hits. On vinyl. Yes please.

Meal: Anything by candlelight at my new-to-me kitchen table.

Discovery: The immediate access to Mill Creek Ravine from my new place. It is literally across the street. It's going to be even more amazing when the snow melts.

Book: I have only read four (almost five) books so far this year, but already I think Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at The End of The Lane is on track to be a favourite for the year. Currently, I am SO CLOSE to finishing Chris Hadfield's An Astronaut's Guide to Life. I wouldn't say it's a favourite though...

Movie: I watched Empire Records on my new TV. It was still as funny and ridiculous as I remember. Now to dig into the Thin Man box set...

Winter Memory: Moving into my new place, Dude's first sleepover, going to the zoo on Family Day with everybody...and winter isn't over yet.

Dude Moment: Cheerfully exclaiming and explaining, "Before when you and Dad & I lived together, I only had one house. But now I have two houses! I bet I am the only kid in my school with two houses!!" This feeling, this enthusiasm?! Thank goodness...

I am really not "into" blogging at the moment. But I can make lists, yessiree. And I can edit single photos to accompany said lists. Like selfies with alpacas. Oh yes.

What's making your "Best Of The Year So Far" List?

later loves

New Favourite Pen Pal

I have a pen pal! Hi Nicole!

It is in her honour that I picked up some sweet note cards on sale at Chapters the other day. We write each other notes, and send along a sweet gift. So far I have received a cute pair of tiny earrings (now where are those darn things...) and a great friendship bracelet!

I love Happy Mail of any kind, and these quick notes are a refreshing and inspiring addition to the routine of my week.

Now if I could only convince BFF that he likes getting little presents from me...

Does anyone else want to be my pen pal?

later loves

New Favourite...

I have been so busy lately, doing a whole lot of nothing, that all of those little things have grown giant in my mind.

*****

I found this post in the "Drafts" section of blogger the other day and I have no idea what I was thinking of writing about! But I am going to go with it, and see what happens!

Podcast: Thrilling Adventure Hour. Heck, just the fact that I am now listening to podcasts is some kind of miracle. It's a new school podcast in the style of old-timey radio, with guest stars such as Paget Brewster & Nathan Fillion. It is my go-to "tunes" to get to and fro work.

Album: I am in lurve with the new Fiona Apple album with the crazy long name, and am wondering why it took me so long to get it. Honestly! Also, iTunes has started this new thing called...I don't remember, cause I don't really pay all that much attention to that kind of stuff. At any rate, "they" recommend a new album. And I bought it. And it's really great. Shovels & Rope is the name of the band. They are very old-time-country-y. And rock 'n' roll. And the harmony!? Amazing. Yes. Definite summer favourite.

Movie: Would it surprise you to hear I have less-than-zero interest in going to a movie theatre? Even if it is air-conditioned and it's hot out. Even if I could spend extra $$ and get served at my giant seat. New movies just don't interest me. Old movies however... The Caretakers with a young and handsome Robert Stack and sufficiently creepy Joan Crawford.

Shoes: My Saltwater Sandals (from Modcloth) are making me very happy.

Outfit: Green skirt + tank top + sandals. My summer costume.

Coffee shop: Transcend. Dan & I tried Remedy and Credo as well, but we just keep coming back to Transcend Garneau. It's now our "usual place". And while we remember the baristas, I don't think we go often enough for them remember us quite yet! *Update: they totally remember us...the gorgeous, tattooed barista told us: "I love it when you come in because you smell so good." That's me, and my patchouli hippie stinking up the place. Even Dan thought it was weird that she remembers me for that, and that she keeps bringing it up!

Dude Moment: The other morning (27th) he was saying "wasabi" over and over and over again. In different tempos and tenors and voices. When I asked him what he was saying he said: "Wasabi, cause I like the way it sounds when I say it different ways!"

Summer Memory: All the new babies! And how Lucas is loving his new cousins! He is also getting to be very patient with Jacob, and excited to see him and play with him.

Book: I have read a lot of awesome books this year. Top Two Three Four Summer Reads have got to be War of the Worlds and Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Payback: The Shadow Side of Debt

Inspiration: Coffee dates! Whenever I come home from a coffee date with BFF I scrapbook, or paint, or clean, or organize, or something. I feel refreshed and happy and energized!

Workout: With my Wednesday night Zumba classes on hiatus for the summer, and my desire to stay far far away from the crowded classes at Spa Lady right now, I had to find something else that would kick my ass. And in steps the bestest Kirsten. We finally arranged to meet up at the gym together, I found her on a machine that I had never tried. Some sort of elliptical-type arrangement. And I love it! 25 minutes on there, and I've got fat crying all over the place!

And that is New Favourites Summer 2012 Edition.

Now what do I think I was headed towards with the first sentence of this post that was left to languish in the Drafts section of my blogger account? I think I wanted to put it out there that when you have so little time to devote to and think about the big things in life, the little things become larger than life. Including the commute, and the gym time (if I'm lucky to make it there in the afternoon), I'm gone during the day for about 10 hours. Then when I get home, I have a dinner to make and clean up after. And a little Dude to play with and put to bed. And by then it's 9pm and I'm in bed by 10:30! That doesn't leave much time for much of anything else!

And so these small "New Favourites" fall in to a giant place of importance and gratitude.

later loves

New Tunes

I laugh at myself all the time when I go to buy "new

music". And come out of my iTunes session with classic Billy Joel, Led Zeppelin and Cole Porter!

This time I had a nice half-and-half mix of old and new.

You can't beat Billy Joel, man. Moving Out? That's like the best song! That or Piano Man (not on this disc unfortunately...good karaoke memories of that one...)

And Beach House's latest album Bloom is quite awesome as well. Mellow, moving and sweet for summer loving.

Next up I'm thinking some Das Rascist is in order...

later loves

Movies Lately

I am really loving my two main movie-borrowing sources lately!

iTunes gives me a usually not-crappy "Rental of the Week" option every week (duh) or so.

And Dan gives me a classic or a classic western whenever I ask for it!

Reviews...if you like. The King's Speech was so beautiful to watch. And I really enjoyed Geoffrey Rush & Colin Firth's relationship and interactions.

Metropolis just blows my mind! It seems so ahead of its time, and yet I'm sure it was also very relevant as a social commentary of its time as well. Unfortunately, it's very long and there aren't a lot of text interludes to fill you in on what's going on!

I am determined to rent as many John Wayne titles from the library as I can this year. And whatever they don't have, I'm hoping either "Rentals By Dan" or iTunes can fill in the blanks!

later loves

Have you met TED??

Thanks to some random, and unrelated, Amazon book searches and two timely chats with R & D (tee hee!), I stumbled upon TED. And frankly, TED is my new best friend!

TED offers videos of talks on a huge variety of topics, from a huge variety of really smart people! They are short (short enough for a coffee break, so I am told), interesting, and done in a super friendly format. I have yet to meet a talk I didn't like, enjoy, and learn something from. A lot of them are very simple, as the speaker only has 15-20 minutes to "make their point", but they really offer a stepping stone to get people interested in the broader topic and push them to go out and do some more investigating on their own!

Here are some of my recent favourites:

Louise Leakey: Digging for human origins (my kind of talk!)

James Hansen: Why I must speak out about climate change

Iain Gilchrist: The divided brain. This talk is animated...and it's amazing!!

Cary Fowler: One seed at a time, protecting the future of food

Evgeny Morozov: How the Net aids dictatorships

Clay Shirky: How social media can make history

And I find that the comments for a lot of these talks are just as interesting and informative as the talks themselves!! Just reading some of the threads, and the discussions happening between committed members is quite amazing. I can almost pretend I am back on campus again.

TED also does TED-Ed, which are shorter "educational" talks. Here's one done by Adam Savage (Mythbusters) about how simple ideas can lead to [amazing] scientific discoveries. And this one about how pandemics spread. This one is elementary school stuff about symbiosis, and super short, but still informative for someone who has no idea what symbiosis means! (not me...)

I have so far just scratched the surface with all that is offered on this site...I find it to be a much more mind-blowing and inspirational "time-waster" than Pinterest & Facebook combined.

I encourage you to go meet TED for yourself, watch some of the highlighted videos, then go exploring in the vaults! You won't be sorry that you did...

later loves


p.s. I found these as well:
Taylor Wilson: yup, I built a nuclear fusion reactor (clever kid)
Rob Reid: The $8 billion iPod (hilarious!!)

New Favourite Me!

Bad News First:

Last Wednesday I went for a hair cut. I was well overdue for a trim. After she was done, she asked if I dye my hair at home. Affirmative. She said you could really notice the regrowth now, with the new trim. I noticed it as well, but something seemed funny about the colour.

So while I was in the change room at Superstore, I thought I would take a closer look. And you'll never guess what I found! Grey hair. What the deuce!?!? I am too young to have grey hair of any kind, even just a few strands!

So I thanked my lucky stars I was in Superstore and ran straight to the hair dye to pick up a box.

But that was after the good news part of the story...

I fit into a size 12 pant!
Woot and Woo HOO!!

If there are any boys reading this (guffaw!) you might not understand about ladies and clothing sizes.

I can't remember the last time I was in a size twelve...I really can't.

So I did a little dance in the Superstore change room, and tried to forget all about my grey hair and instead celebrate my shrinking waistline!

later loves


One of my very very very good friends is getting married tonight! Jill - I know you're not reading this today, but still - I am so happy for you! This is something that you have wanted for a long time, and I know you have worked really hard to make today just right for you and James. I am excited that you have asked me to attend, and watch you take your first steps on the journey that is married life! I love you!

New Favourites

Boots + Silver Tiered Tray

Found at the mall and Value Village respectively.

New Favourite...what the?!

It's back, for this night only...well...we'll see.

I found this lady's blog through the American Crafts new DT announcement. She is awesome! But, specifically, her use of random bits of thread swirled around her scrapbook layouts is awesome.

Check it out...

And check out my version of the same...

This is a layout made from the stash of my September kit. I stitched the green and blue ribbon in place and then used the thread cuttings underneath the die cut hearts.

I have so many bits of thread collecting in corners and on the bottoms of feet thanks to my sewing machine. And [don't judge me] I feel bad when I throw them in the garbage. (I have a problem...I know this). So I am going to start gluing them on to my layouts. This is my New Favourite...

Thank you Lilith.

For more September kit layouts this size check out this post on the TM Inspiration Blog.

New Favourite...music to live to!

So last night (that's March 16, not sure when this is going to post) Russ and I were catching up on some SNL episodes. First and foremost, find Zach Galifinakis' monologue on the internet, pull on some adult diapers, and watch that bad boy! You will laugh and laugh and laugh. The adult diapers are for when you pee yourself after laughing so much.


Secondly, check out the Miley Cyrus episode, but not for Miley (although, she was surprisingly good). You want to "fast forward" to the musical guest. I will never type those words again, so heed my advice. the Strokes will blow your mind...I'm, just saying. If you like that sort of thing. For those of you who have been known to play a little Guitar Hero, you might recognize their song Reptilia. And there latest single is ah-ma-zing. And surprisingly, this is the one and only occurrence so far in my life where I don't have an immediate crush on the bass player. Hmmm. I will say, and I did say to Russel actually, that these guys must like the Ramones!



*****
Guilty pleasure music. A touchy subject. We all have some song or other on our iPods that we maybe wouldn't want to share with the cute guy down the street that we're trying to impress. Last night I found one of my catchy and embarassing Zumba songs online, promptly downloaded it, and have been listening to it ever since. It is the perfect song to listen to on a snowy morning drive when everybody else is driving like an idiot and getting into accidents that impede my commute. Normally the sailor vocabulary would come out in full force. But when Evacuate the Dance Floor is on, I find I don't care about those things. It was a smooth drive, and I think I listened to the song a couple dozen times this morning, and I'm still smiling! Go Cascada!


Apparently, this song is unembeddable, c/o You Tube...thanks dudes. So you'll just have to take one more step and click on the link yourself: here is the video.


*****
On another note: I find it so fascinating when you are given a glimpse into how others see you. I find that I get a lot of compliments (I guess you could call them that) about my person. My (crazy) hair, my (crazy) glasses, my (crazy) clothes. The other night my Zumba instructor told me that she could tell I wasn't a shy person because of the way I dress and the way I do my hair. I am beginning to wonder if I am breaking down some sort of social barrier between people and expressing their true feelings (about my hair). Does this happen to everyone? Or is it just me and my (crazy) hair?


*****
Also, isn't Major Tom by Peter Schilling the coolest song?


*****
Also, I have been thinking about doing another Vlog (that's video blog), but I am not sure what I want to talk about specifically. I always have lots (and lots) to talk about, but I thought I would get your opinions/suggestions. Anything you want to hear me talk about?? Let me know here...

New Favourite...Breakfast of Champeens!

Hi All!

Doesn't this just look so yummy!

I am in love with All Bran Buds...they are the most superior form of ugly bran.

Add some granola (got to be Organic Pumpkin Flax Plus Granola by Nature's Path), Craisins, nuts (pecans this week) and a banana.

When I have time before work, this is my go-to breakie. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it...

later skater alligator

Self-Publishing...Found? New Favourite??

(please note: I wrote this post back in October 2010, so some of the references may seem out of time and place. But the lurve still applies!)

Zine said zeen. The grammar-police part of my brain hates this, but the cut-and-paste artist up there lurves it.

I was reading about Broken Pencil somewhere the other day, but don't ask me where because I have been reading a lot of Vue Weekly and Macleans lately, but I guess if I had to, I would put money on Vue...now that's what a run-on sentence looks like, and my comma use is sketchy at best!

I also found At Your Leisure through Poppytalk. It's all fashion and homes and graphic design gorgeous stuff. And the current issue is headed to my house as we speak! Eek!

I never got in to the Zine culture back in the day, but I am ever more appreciative of it now that I scrapbook and blog with a fiery passion that burns the hair off my arm. Limited editions. Low budget (maybe not anymore...). Covering any topic imaginable...

I am hoping that once Craft Show-itis wears off (that's the swelling of the Craft Show centre of the brain to the point that you are quite positive that if you have to thread one more needle or untangle one more strand of embroidery floss you will explode) I will be able to dedicate some more time to the non-work crafts that I love! (the craft show was four months ago, so I'm good now!)

I have decided to create my own zine...yep...that's one more thing on my plate. It's a good thing I have a hearty appetite.

If you want to pre-order a copy, site unseen, please send me some postage and I'll deal with the envelope (the standard rate should cover it). You will need to email me to get my address cause there's no fricken way I'm posting it here! Although if you are clever enough, I'm not unlisted. Otherwise, the first edition of Lisa's Zine (yet to be officially named) is free Free FREE!!! Get in on the ground floor, so-to-speak.

I have started working on it, but I'm still not entirely sure of the direction it's taking, so right now it's a "wait-and-see" sort of zine. Lots of doodles, and found items. Lots of "Lisa".

later skater alligator

P.S. People ask me all the time: "how you you do it all?" and tell me: "you have so much energy"...but here is the truth, so get ready for it. I don't clean my house. I don't go to movies. I don't hang out with my friends. I do this stuff, and I play with Lucas and I hang out with my husband, and I hang out at home, and I sleep and eat and shower and do the boring stuff that fills up the little moments of life. This is by no means a perfect existence, and even I haven't found the right balance between fulfilling creative life and clean comfortable house. This is my disclaimer...I should make it into a banner or something, but it's kind of long and not really "slogan-worthy"

later (again) dudes

New Favourite...Doodling

The other day I was mad at the computer. I wasn't even using it, but just by being powered up it was driving me crazy. So I turned it off and grabbed a pen and some paper. I needed to do the lowest-tech thing I could think of...

 

So I started doodling. It was so relaxing, just what I needed. And can I just say that the lace is ah-MA-zing!

Here are some of my other doodles from my latest in doodling adventures...

later skater alligator

New Favourite...New Art

I have recently changed up my mantle display, but my art remains the same as it did ages ago when it made it's way up on the wall. So I thought I would change up the current look, for $0...the price is right!!

I fell in love with this post when I saw it first in my Reader. I love typography and fonts and art created with letters. I particularly loved the hispter font "away we go" up in the top left.

And while I am by no means a type-expert, I thought I could make my own using these (among other images) as inspiration...

Supplies: pencil crayons, sharpie, ledger paper

I want to make hundreds of these in my favourite quotes, sayings, song lyrics, and Lucas-isms.

It was the most relaxed I've been in a long while.

that is all

later skater alligator

New Favourite...Denim Bag!

I'm more of a dark denim kind of girl (slimming factor?), but I love the kitschy-retro look of acid wash!

But I will never ever wear acid wash jeans...never say never, I know. I just can't see it happening. And I will never ever wear a denim shirt, or a denim vest again ever! I would wear it to be ironic, but just end up looking like a (bigger) doofus (than I already am).

thankfully...

with lavender and lace posted this to her etsy store the other day, and I fell in love!

And I wanted it for myself, but I made myself promise I wouldn't click "BUY NOW", and would instead try to make one! Thereby fulfilling multiple goals and promises I have made to myself in the last couple of weeks.

I've never made a bag before...oh my, what have I gotten myself in to!

I can't do a zipper to save my life, so this bag will have a snap! Yes...much better.




I am kind of totally in love with how it turned out! I still have some finishing touches to make, and some alterations to the strap, but I think it will be put into commission next week! EEK!

later skater alligator

p.s. Have been doing some thinking and dreaming and I have some things to share later...have to make sure sure before I post anything...changing my mind on a second-by-second basis makes it hard to make a decision! Maybe I'll lighten the mood with a fashion post later...hmmm

New Favourites...Shirt and Socks

I love texture on clothes. I'm short (and squat) so I can't get away with lots of accessories or wild prints. But I like the little things, the details, and I think that's what makes a piece of clothing so special and memorable. And this may surprise you, but I love sparkly on my clothes!

My two new obsessions are clothing and sparkle based...and both from Joe as well! Nothing beats shopping for clothes while I'm shopping for groceries!

and nothing beats comfy socks and a comfy sweater when the snow starts to fly. 

And I think the sweater was even on sale! I should go back and buy a replacement one, just in case this one bites the dust!

later skater alligator

new Favourite...salad dressing

I love to buy organic salad dressing. Just reading all the strange ingredients on the back of regular salad dressing makes my stomach churn.

I found this delicious brand...Organicville and they make some great dressing! The latest one I bought is this Dijon Tarragon, which is like honey mustard yummy-ness!

Work lunches lately have been spinach salad with whatever leftover-related toppings I can scrounge in my fridge in the morning quickly before I have to leave. And then a little (or a lot!) of this dressing and I am a happy (and pleasantly full) girl at lunch!

Yay!!

New Favourite Re-Vamp

I love taking something old and crummy and making it new and shiny and just mine!

Take these ugly cannisters I picked up at the Salvation Army thrift store last week. They were scummy and dirty and the worst 80s yellow colour! But they are such a great shape and that shiny top was just too good to pass up. Also, it was $5 for the set!

So I scrubbed and scrubbed all the gunk off, grabbed my trusty black shiny spray paint and gave these guys new life.

It's too bad it was so windy out...my paint job isn't the best! But they look so great now!

I had been looking for a nice set of metal canisters for ages, and now I have just the right set for me! I just have to figure out what to do with the brown plastic handles in the lids now.

This update has given me new inspiration on redoing the rest of the kitchen...I can't wait to get started.

**updated: I went and spent a retarded amount of moola at IKEA yesterday to help organize my otherwise unorganized kitchen. Spice racks and jars, and containers for my pantry. I love where things are headed and with all the saving I've been doing lately, we might be able to afford our kitchen reno sooner rather than later! EEK! Now it's just a matter of the choosing and the doing...that's the part I'm the worst at...I'm definitely a planner at heart! Not a follow-through-er.

later skater alligator