Summer of Wonder

Things I really need to get back on track with this year: blogging, writing in general, and being channelling my creativity. It’s just over halfway through the year, and I’ve blogged a  grand total of twice. Which is poor form considering that I used to blog 3 times a week (or every single day for a while). 

It’s become rather clear to me that to a certain extent that I’ve lost my writer’s voice. I never lost my creative eye, since I continue to enjoy the art of fashion in everyday life and I’ve been successfully channeling some photographic output into my Instagram feed, but somehow putting that all together with an exposé into a cohesive blogpost has fallen by the wayside. Some days I chalk up this lack of output to the fact that I have a full time job (that mentally exhausts me) or that I find the prairie landscape to be an uninspiring locale (I’m too tied up in the variety of being a BC girl at heart to really understand the monotony of the flatlands). But these are just excuses to a certain extent, since for a while I pulled through all these hold-ups and created some wonderful things and wrote some great pieces. 

As those of you who follow me on other social media outlets (or know me in real life) are well aware of, I recently spent a few weeks on my first trip across the Atlantic to the beautiful South of France and the ever-interesting streets of London. I found myself revelling in the new-ness of the entire situation, even when many of the places were familiar through my reading or I was exhausted from not enough sleep.

What they say about travel changing you is absolutely true. Not so much during (I was still awake at 6am and ready for bed by 9pm - old habits die hard or not at all), but when I returned to reality I found myself very much wanting. Wanting more from the life that I had settled into. Wanting more from the people around me. Wanting more from myself. And ultimately realizing that it’s time to find a new voice. 

I may not have achieved this goal yet, but what is abundantly clear is that I won’t find it by letting the status quo lie. So here’s to the beginning, based on the present & the past, the good & the bad, and on an end that I can’t even see yet. 

Let the new wild rumpus begin!

** image of Shakespeare's Globe interior, Southbank, London, UK; 2016-06-12

Trashed: a Sunday Shoe Story

You know it’s been a long, hot summer when the patterns on your flip flops are visibly worn away from overuse. I may not miss the sweat and the mosquitos, but I’m not exactly looking forward to trading bare feet for socks! Here’s hoping for a nice drawn out Autumn, abounding with slowly mutating leaf shades, frostbitten mornings that warm into sunny afternoons, and just enough of a nip in the air to bring out the voluntary scarf collection. 

* Roxy "Tahiti Love IV" sandals; Joe Fresh "Peacock" nail polish

Sun-Gazing: a Sunday Shoe Story

It’s strange to think that the summer is almost over already. I’ve spent most of the time complaining about the heat (and I will continue to do so until mid-September at this rate), but thankfully it’s gone by rather quickly. Soon enough the leaves will start browning, the nights will get longer, and I’ll have to swap my frappucino for a mocha. But until then bare feet are the name of the game, and we’ll see if I can manage to wear all of my sandals before the Winter’s first frosts dust the grass. 

Predictions "Kori" sandals; Seductions tights; Renee C dress; China Glaze "Snow" and "White Cap" nail polish; Chanel sunglasses

[Don't] do it for the Instagram

For all my love of social media and photography, Instagram was the one site that I avoided from the beginning. Maybe it’s because it started off as a place to share selfies and “foodie” snaps (two things which I generally don’t participate in, in any form). Maybe it’s because of the site’s issues with copyrighted content (what I make is mine and not up for grabs). Or maybe I’m just not into updating everyone on every second of my life. 

Some people would simply say that I have a “boring” life - spent entirely with my books or at work - but in reality, the hobbies that I have often aren’t translatable to the photographic medium without looking like a total poseur. In fact, the only photo that I’ve taken this month was of 3 little pelicans, all in a row while I was taking a walk, since it was just too reminiscent of a storybook rhyme not to capture evidence. (I also spotted the pair of neighbourhood muskrats, but they were too far away and swam away). 

So what else have I been doing for the last month, while conspicuously not blogging? Besides melting in the heat (blah), I’ve actually been doing quite a lot…

Moonlighting as a mail room clerk at the Ministry of Social Services before absconding for a permanent job at the Saskatchewan Archives. Sorry kids, I have loyalty, but selectively. 

Baking a ridiculous chocolate chip-pecan-caramel banana loaf as a substitute birthday cake. It was so delicious that it was devoured immediately. 

Ending a non-relationship before it got any more frustrating. 

Going through a continental Europe phase a lá Deutschland 83 and Edward Rutherfurd’s Paris. Methinks it is time to finally learn German, and start seriously planning some trips.

Feeling briefly depressed and utterly alone in the world for no abject reason. 

Scooping $60 worth of comic singles at my favourite local second hand bookshop. Shhh don’t tell my mother.

… And as always: plotting to take over the world!

I’m sure Instagram pros could figure out how to capture all of that in photographs, but really, I’m too busy enjoying my life to stop and take photos of it.

Weekenders: a Sunday Shoe Story

Do we really have to go back to work tomorrow? 

My head says yes, but my sandals would kindly like to disagree. 

*"Tahiti III" sandals by Roxy; beach mat from the Dollar Store

Little Witch in the City: a Sunday Shoe Story

 Maybe it’s just the seasonal wanderlust kicking in, but I feel a major change is about to happen. A new phase of my life is about to begin, and come what may I am super excited for it to happen! Part of my heart is still tied to my life in Regina, but like the growing of the daylight hours until they reached a peak today on the Solstice I’ve felt the part of me that craves adventure growing as well. Tomorrow the balance will shift to make the nights longer than the days again, and I expect that the balance in my heart will shift as well. The question is: which side will win in the end? Both hold a certain appeal, and I’ve never been drawn to one more than the other - instead choosing to settle on the light of first dawn or twilight - which could represent a trend towards a more nuanced stability no matter which way the world will turn. 

Rocket Candy dress; XOXO ankle boots; Louis Vuitton handbag; quartz crystal pendant from a vendor at the Cathedral Village Arts Festival

Rainbowfish: a Sunday Shoe Story

Whatever you call yourself - Kings (& Queens) of Summer, beach babes, Saturday People, Wolfpack, free spirits, Pink Ladies - find your sparkle and pass it on. It’s summertime, and nothing goes better with sunshine than a little glitter! 

And SPF 110, of course (ain’t nobody got time for sunburns). 

* Moto denim bermuda shorts; Banana Republic tank top; Jeffrey Campbell "Jelly Love" d'orsay flats; Topshop sunglasses; Johannes Cabal: the Fear Institute by Jonathan L. Howard.

Heat Wave

Most people greet summer with cheers along the lines of “Woohoo, let’s go boating, bitches!” 

My reaction sounds more like “Ugh, what did I do to deserve an early trip to Hell?”

Sure my trip to the hottest place in the Universe is guaranteed (my throne is waiting) & I may have grown up in the only place in Canada that is officially designated a desert (cacti, rattlesnakes, and 40°C are the norm), but that doesn’t mean that I handle temperatures above 20°C well. Starting in early May I refuse to wear closed-toe shoes (don’t even say “sock” to me), daily showers multiply (thank goddess my apartment doesn't water meter), and constant litany of complaints accompanies every drop of sweat that the climbing temperature causes. 

Common phrases include: 

“If only public nudity was acceptable and I didn’t have morals” 

“You can’t make me go outside.”

“Why didn’t I buy a real air conditioner last year when they were on sale?”

“I’m only going to the mall [again] because they have air conditioning”

“Goddamnit, that’s a third tan line, even with the SPF 110!”

But the most common phrase out of my mouth is always “Is it Autumn yet; I miss _____.” (Fill in the blank with variations of my winter wardrobe/hot food/sleeping properly/not sweating off my make-up).

Thankfully we’re only a few short weeks away from Labour Day and the onset of another Saskatchewan Winter. Oh joy for the lack of heat, but then again I’ll likely be complaining about that too. (As my mother always said: “If [you] got paid to complain, you wouldn’t have to work ever again!”) Until that happens though, you can find me planted in front of my fan, with an iced tea with lime in one hand and a bowl of ice cream in the other. 

*Antistar dress in the style of Emilio Pucci; Windmere fan

Sandals & Sherbet: a Sunday Shoe Story

Some days it's just too hot to do anything but lounge around and eat sherbet. 

Welcome to summer,  

the time of year when we sweat and curse because there's only so naked we can get in public.

Aldo "Lansing" sandals in silver mock-snakeskin; 

Icing nail polish in neon green; 

President's Choice Blue Menu sherbet in Key Lime

The Sounds of Summer

It may not look like Summer yet (or even Spring) outside, but something says its time. Time to swap my boots for sandals, bring the shorts out of hibernation, and start slathering on the SPF 115 (yes, it does go that high). But the most important thing about summer is listening to a differsnt type of music. You know the kind I’m talking about. The Beach Boys just don’t sound the same when there’s snow on the ground. So even though I’m not beach-bound yet (not that we have real beaches in Regina anyways), I’ve picked up the second slushy of the summer and am turning up the summer jams in the hopes that Mother Nature will get the memo. 

No matter how old you are, Summer always feels like a time of youth and rejuvenation. Our skin darkens (hiding blemishes), the days are longer (more time to get into trouble), and the mood is exploratory. Whether we’re delving into a new book, a new relationship, or just new pathways through our city, everything becomes about growing. 

The summers of the ‘90s were some of the best of my life, so my summertime playlist isn’t complete without at least one song from the album that defined those summers. I’m not talking Backstreet Boys, *nsync, or Britney Spears, but Much Dance 1997. It played in the background to front yard dance parties, was choreographed into cheesy routines, and sung on road and boat trips alike - Andria & Beth will know exactly what I’m talking about.

A classic reinvented, this song is all about the driving home after a day at the beach with your best friends, the lingering smell of campfires and cheap coolers, and sunsets after a day spent doing a whole lot of nothing - and everything at once. All summers have to end, but the memories never fade. 

Driving around looking for adventure was always a part of summers as we got older. And driving has to have music to sing along to. ‘80s hair metal is the best because it’s best listened to at a loud volume and screamed along to. We all know the lyrics (you’re lying if you deny it), so sing along kids. We won’t laugh too hard if you’re out of tune.

Chilling on the beach or at a friends place requires something a little more mellow, preferably with a smooth guitar and a decent backbeat. The latest from Mr Probz (expertly remixed by Robin Schulz) fills these requirements perfectly, and is sure to be a choice track this summer. 

So cheesy, but I can’t help but love it, since every awesome summer day feels like it is the best day of your life. Until that hangover hits tomorrow morning…

Ed Sheeran surprised me with this track, which reminds me a lot of Sexyback-era Justin Timberlake. It’s groovy, it’s jammin,’ and it’s beats are pretty damned infectious. I have no idea what’s playing in the clubs anymore (seriously, I’m too old for that, since the place is always filled with 19 year olds), but I would totally dance to this. 

Circa Waves is a new band that I’m totally obsessed with right now. Their sound is very California sounding (think the OC and Yellowcard), and goes right along with a day at the beach playing beach volleyball and sipping Coronas. 

Oh, summer romances. They’re doomed to end, but we just can’t resist them, can we? For when they inevitably end, this track epitomizes the bittersweet summer breakup. Like they say “together we saw the end in sight.”

Summer romances, playtime at the beach, dancing the night away, and road trips are all great, but we can’t have any of that without our girls, am I right? And for that we need some never-to-be-retired Spice Girls! Girl power!

If you want to check out what else I’m listening to right now head right on over the Socialize page (see that link? right but there at the top of the page? never mind, just click this link) and mosey on over to my BBC iPlayer track list (hosted on Youtube). You’ll also find all my social media links up and working, so come and hang out! Virtually, of course (haha).

Wolfpack of One

 I’ve been having a lot of conversations with people in the last few weeks that seem to revolve around one topic: the fact that I don’t do anything that “normal” Whistler people do, and it therefore must be hard to meet people.

Well, excuuuuuuse me for not being a social butterfly and Miss Popularity!

What everyone seems to have missed in their assessment of me and my lifestyle is that I like my life. I like the things that I do. I like the small amount of social interaction that I have.

And mostly importantly: I do in fact have a wolfpack. My wolfpack is just scattered across a province and a country, so I can’t fill my weekends with highjinx and escapades because they aren’t physically in the same place as I am. This is the inevitable result of moving twice for school, and then away again for work. It was never my intention in the first place to stay in the same small town and eek out a living working the same shitty job, when I have the opportunity to go to school in other cities and other provinces, and to experience a lifestyle that isn’t lodged in the valley that I was raised in. I wanted to move away, and so I did, which inevitably meant leaving my wolfpack behind. Some of them moved away as well, but some of them still hold their wolfpack membership cards.

Most people would have made a new wolfpack in every city that they lived in, but I haven’t done that. I don’t really like putting down roots until I know I’m going to stay for a while, and when I am sure I do initiate new members. Sometimes the initiation has been the other way around, and I’ve become absorbed into an already formed pack of wildwomen, but when I move away again I tend to only keep a few choice members as part of my personal pack.

But since I’ve adopted the transient lifestyle it seems like my wolfpack is down to one. Companions and run-alongs may come and go, but I am the one person who I can’t live without. And I’m totally fine with that.

Afterall, when I need someone to run with, I just raise my head to the full moon and I can hear the answer of my pack-members no matter how far away they are. A-woooooooooo!

images from Tumblr

Summer Lovin'

"Mod" sandals by Bamboo

Summer and I have an off and on relationship; sometimes I like the heat, but most of the time I find it unbearable. Sounds like my dating life, hey? Summer might be playing hard to get at the moment, and my brain might be saying that I want it, but I’ve subconsciously been putting into place coping mechanisms for when summer starts acting like the one night stand who turns into a stalker.

1. Air conditioning at the workplace. Whether it’s finding a workplace that has a flexible dress code, or just  good ventilation system this is a must. It takes cash to run our lives, and having to sweat it out to make a measly $8 an hour. Even if the job isn’t great, you’ll feel like you’re making a lot more than minimum wage if your benefits package comes with some A/C.
2. Shady beach spots. Spending time at the beach is great, but what happens after hour 3? Our frappucino is gone, the cooler has melted, and a dip in the lake only works until you get back to your towel. Staking out a place where a seat can be quickly shifted to the shade prevents longterm crankiness as well as sunburns!
3. Northfacing rooms. You might curse them during the winter for their lack of natural light, but in the summer they become a godsend.
4.  Find the nearest library. They always have the best airconditioning, and you can pick up something to read and get free wifi while you’re avoiding the heat!
5. Learn how to ice your coffee. Frappucino runs can eat up to a lot of your $8-an-hour-paycheque, and a big red tub of Folgers only costs $7.99. Total no brainer.
6.  Invest in a big hat. Just make sure it’s a good one, or you’ll look more like the Queen than Samantha Jones. Channeling the royal ‘tude is great, but not with a stylist like that!
7.  Ice water on your wrists and ankles. This is something that I learned when I worked at Wendy’s (shameful, I know) and had to slave over deep fryers all day, and it saved my bacon more than once. The wrists and ankles are natural pressure points for temperature control, so cooling them down will cool down everything else. You might not believe me now, but give it try. Not only will you be super-chill in seconds, but you’ll also feel smarter knowing that you outsmarted the weather. 

image from Shopping Savage

#WhistlerLiving

So I’ve been living in Whistler for almost a month now, and I’m pretty much settled into my routine. Work, eat, sleep. Starbucks Monday, Library Thursday, groceries Sunday. It’s a slightly weird routine, since my weekends are Sunday Monday, but it’s kind of nice not having to deal with crowds when I want to go out.

Then again, there isn’t a whole lot for a girl like me to do in Whistler. Shopping is expensive (and pretty limited to ski/snowboard/bike gear), restaurants are expensive, and most people’s idea of a good time is to go climb a mountain – or hurtle down it atop a bike. Sure, I have my adventurous moments – I’ll never turn down a hunting trip to the bookstore – but I’m what they call a bonafide city girl. Unless I can wear my heels and there’s a guarantee that my hair won’t get wet then I’ll choose to stay home.

And the men here. According to my boss there are three types of guys in Whistler: the snowboard bros, the bike bros, and intellectu-bros. You can all guess how pleased I am trying to explain Tolstoy; the difference between Scotch, Whiskey, and Bourbon; or reasons why one shouldn’t skateboard in the library plaza to this lot.

At least I’m not being a total Carrie about the situation, since I quite like the little squirrel who hops onto my balcony every few days! As long as he doesn’t try to come IN to my apartment…