Seasonal: a Sunday Shoe Story

Converse "Seasonal" runners

It being the end of January it seems that we have reached the midpoint of Winter completely by accident. Knock on wood, the weather hasn’t been as bad as it could have been (apparently my standards of what constitutes “cold” have been suitably adjusted) and there don’t seem to be any freak storms on the horizon. But I’m still waiting for the day when I can bring all my regular shoes back into rotation and retire my winter clompers til next year. What, you wouldn’t want me to dirty up a second pair of white Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars now, would you?

Giving up the Ghost

Always look fabulous & never look back.

Blood & Cigarettes

Bloated face stares back at the morn.’

Lip split and ashen eyes

From a fight I didn’t ask for

But wanted anyways.

A living ghost known at my door

Or was it the demon

That I asked for

When I ringed myself with stars and blood.

Oak and sage feeding smoke

While the world drowns

In a sea of mindless torment

Of its own making.

Fix this mess?

Why is it always mine

To find the answer hidden in the Green

And the minds of men. 

image from Tumblr

Let me Take you There: a Sunday Shoe Story

Besides books, my favourite way of experiencing other cultures is through food. I grew up being an extremely picky eater, but I have since broadened my horizons to encompass all kinds off foreign food. I’ve eaten my way through the Ukraine (cabbage rolls), Japan (donburi), China (deep fried squid), and Greece (souvakli), but my favourite place to travel through food is Italy. Pasta, garlic bread, sausage, and most importantly: pizza!

Most people don’t consider pizza to be very exciting, but I ask you, how many of you actually make your own pizza? From scratch. Well, I do, and contrary to what everyone seems to think, it’s one of the easiest recipes ever. So easy in fact, that I don’t consider my recipe to be at all secret (like my recipe for triple chocolate orgasm cookies). So today you’re all getting a free trip to Italy, courtesy of my pizza recipe!

Ingredients

1 cup flour (white, whole wheat, or a mix)

1 ½ tsp yeast

1 ½ tsp sugar (optional)

¼ tsp salt

½ cup warm water

1 tbsp vegetable oil

toppings (seriously, go wild)

Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large mixing bowl dissolve yeast, sugar, and salt in the warm water. Add oil, then flour, and mix well. Should make a soft dough, but add more flour if it’s too sticky to knead. [This is the part when you’re supposed to knead and let the dough rise, but I don’t because I prefer a thin, crispy crust. Feel free to knead dough for a few minutes and let rise for 15 minutes if you disagree.] Roll out dough and place on a baking sheet (I usually add a bit of oil to the sheet, so that the crust doesn’t stick). Add whatever ingredients you want for toppings – I’m a big fan of the “everthing in my fridge that could possibly taste good on a pizza” method. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

And while you’re waiting for your delicious pizza to cook, use that time to plan out your outfit for tomorrow! It saves time, and distracts you from the pizza, because waiting for a pizza to cook is the longest 15-20 minutes of your life. 

Be Wild boots; Dior purse; vintage necklace; Seductions tights; Kensie skirt; Dotti shirt

Wish You Were Here

As we trip through mid-January and the Winter doldrums begin to take their full effect, our minds inevitably turn to dreams of escape. Sunnier climes, where the temperatures soar during the day and dinner is always accompanied by frosty margaritas. Some are lucky enough to make the escape from the Great Canadian Igloo, but what are those of us who can’t afford to stamp our passports to do?

I’ve always wanted to travel the world and experience other cultures, but it just never quite seems to happen. Life inevitably gets in the way, whether it’s in the form of school or work. And the lack of funds doesn’t help matters either. Yet I don’t feel to hard done by because I figured out a long time ago that I can go anywhere in the world – with just the turn of a page.

I may not get to experience some of the sensations of real travel – the food, the souveniers, the adorable foreign accents – but thanks to my local library I can experience a sort of travelling-lite. In a single week I can visit the snow-covered steppes of the Ukraine to play with reindeer; walk the streets of Paris past the houses of the world’s greatest couturiers; or take the Greenroad deep into Elfland with its magical trolls, faeries, and talking trees. No amount of money can get to some of these places, as many are fictional by nature, but in a way that’s actually better than real travel because there are no limits.  

With just the flash of my library card – my passport to the realms of fiction, if you will – I can go anywhere and experience anything. All without having to skip work or drain my bank account.

The question then becomes: where shall I stamp on my literary passport today? I’m thinking New York and London! Maybe I'll see you there :)

image from Tumblr

My Life, with Dogs

It’s funny to think how quickly one’s affection for an individual can grow. Of course, I’m speaking of the new dog in our house, and not people. People are much less loveable than dogs.

I wasn’t all that interested in getting attached to this new one since she was meant to be the replacement for my dog (who is clearly irreplaceable), but after living with her for a few weeks I was smitten. Maybe it’s just because I have an inability not to love dogs (which is entirely possible), but it’s rather difficult to not like a dog who is as odd and entertaining as she is.  

She has a such a fondness for cushions that she's earned herself the title Princess Boo.
And she especially likes stealing the now-warmed seat where you were just sitting.
Haughty looks are always included. 

She likes no toys better than cardboard boxes or pieces of paper, since they are easy to destroy.
Shoes, clothing, chunks of wood, and the edged of furniture are also well-loved, hence earning her the nickname "Bad Dog."
She thinks that's her real name now...

Sometimes she likes to sit regally, but this is usually just a ruse to fool you into thinking that she is a good dog before she jumps on you or rakes you with her claws (in jest of course). 

Putting on clothing, socks, or shoes makes her immediately start to howl because it must surely be her walk time.
She makes the oddest noises, none of which are more odd than her trademark deer-scenting bay.

Because she is a Bad Dog she has to stay on leash at all times on her walks.
Her brain turns off when she smells deer, and she spent a few overnights in the park because she didn't come when she was called (and after much searching). 

Thankfully, she also likes to spend a lot of time sleeping, and she will seek out the comfiest place in the house.
Apparently the rug in my room (actually my baby sister's room) is the best, since she is not allowed on the indoor couches and outside is too cold.