I Heart Regina

For a city that most people think of as the cultural back-water of Canada (and that’s only what the polite people say), it’s surprisingly full of art. Since I’ve moved here I’ve gone to see theatre three times (twice in theatres - it counts okay - and once live), fallen in love with Gothic/Tudor-revival architecture, and been surprised at the wide range of art and fashion books at the library. But what’s most impressive is that there are little pieces of artwork hidden in plain sight all over the city. Some places it is expected - parks, war monuments, statues of politicos (at least that’s who I assume they are, since I never remember what the plaques say after reading them) - but it’s the little touches of beauty in the least expected places that really get me, so I’m going to share some of my favourites with you. 

For a city that is dead flat, they’ve done a remarkable job at maintaining the tree-lined avenues. The arching branches remind me so much of my heart-city Victoria that I feel much more at home. 

One of the bridges in my neighbourhood is following the example of New York, and is starting to amass a collection of love-locks. A little bit overly-romantic for my cynical self, but for some reason I still like it. 

Apparently I can’t escape the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, since I walk by this post on my evening walk every day. As much as I’m not into the Olympics, I really like the cut-out style of type here as it’s very classy and minimalist. 

This building downtown has a whole bunch of little guardian gargoyles (though they look more like brownies to me), and I can’t help but smile every time I see them faithfully guarding their building. 

Most of the statues in the city are of the normal variety - marble, bronze, etc - but this group of copper people are a step away from normal in that they’re only half there. At first glance the eye tries to fill in the missing pieces, but the brain knows something is off, and when you realize that they’re not whole there’s definitely a “wow” moment. 

I found this adorable wire elephant hiding on the North side of the central library branch, and was instantly charmed. There’s also a grasshopper and a dinosaur in other parts of the city, but the elephant is my favourite!

I’m a total sucker for old-school lampposts, so I was absolutely delighted to see them scattered all through the paths of Regina’s main park. I can’t wait until the first snow comes so that I can do a Narnia/Snow Queen photoshoot all wrapped up in elegant furs!

The bridge on Albert Street has a whole bunch of artistic touches, but my favourite are the decorative support posts that line each side. It’s surprising how well the colours have stood against the elements, since I’ve never seen anyone repainting them. 

As the sign says, I really do heart Regina, and I’m sure that the longer I live in the city the more unexpected touches of beauty I will find and the more I will grow to love it. If only the winters were slightly less cold… 

Urban Nomad

A month ago my boss and his wife went on a sojourn to Europe, and asked me to look after their house. I’ve stayed at their place before to dog sit - their adorable dogs Oscar & Felix are routinely referred to as my boyfriends - but never for more than a weekend. Now, you all know how much I love my own apartment, but I decided that this would be a fun experiment to see if I could handle living out of a suitcase (and away from my computer, books, regular food, and bed) for a month. After all, everyone else seems to be going on vacation, and this is the closest I was going to get for the near future. 

So I packed my Louis Vuitton mini-backpack and hopped a bus from Cathedral to Lake View. (Okay, so I took a suitcase full of carefully coordinated outfits as well. What, did you really think that I wake up looking this fabulous and coordinated?)

The first night was fabulous. Cable tv, coordinated sheets, amazing shower pressure, a stash of Northlanders graphic novels on the table (the boss is a comic book junkie too), and a case of Coke Classic in the fridge. As a treat I also ordered pizza - which is a rarity for me, since I normally make it from scratch. 

Day two was equally as wonderful. Walks in the neighbourhood park, reading in the yard, and seemingly endless episodes of Island Hunters, House Hunters International, and Property Virgins. Clearly I was developing an addiction to HGTV and being talked into the idea of buying a house (or an island). 

And let me tell, you I absolutely loved it. 

Until I hit day three. The pizza had run out and I was starting to feel an acute case of ennui. Apparently there is such a thing as too much of the same thing - even when it’s a new thing. 

So I went home (it was a long weekend). I spent the day catching up on my RSS-reading list, watching episodes of Orange is the New Black, and planning more outfits. And when I was done all that I packed up a bunch of my regular food and hopped on the Southbound bus feeling energized and ready for another volume of Northlanders. 

As I fell asleep that night on borrowed sheets I came to a stunning realization. You can be bored anywhere if you don’t have the drive or motivation to do anything else. So with that in mind, I spent the merry month of May taking many many buses between two houses, grocery shopping every few days instead of once a week, and making an effort to try new things. 

Some of these things (like experimental pasta recipes) were not a success, but I proved to myself that I can live a slightly nomadic life. I don’t think that I could pack up my life into a suitcase (girl’s got too many shoes for that, right), but I can throw a little chaos into my life without feeling too thunderstruck. 

tank top by Seductions, sunglasses by Betsey Johnson, sandals and bracelets by Aldo, mini-backpack by Louis Vuitton, earrings by Claire's, maxiskirt by Andrea Jovine Portfolio

Going West

If last year was the year of nostalgia (while moving recklessly forward) then this year is shaping up to be the year of forward thinking (while trying to stay rooted). I read lots of my old books and reconnected with people from my past, but ultimately left everything that I’ve known behind for the greener pastures of the prairies. They may be covered in a mixture of snow and ice right now, but I’m told that all changes in June.

Maybe it’s the reckless and constant moving about last year, but my attitude towards being uprooted again has done a complete 180. I actually want to STAY somewhere for longer than a month. More than a year. In fact my head is so convinced that I like it here that I’ve started cruising the humane society and real estate websites in earnest. Clear signs of an urge to “nest” if I ever saw them, since dogs and property are rather permanent commitments.

Of course, wanting to have a dog and a house means that I’m having to rethink some of my priorities. Things like the instinct to shop have to be curbed, anything purchased must be a long-term investment, and I have to be pretty positive so that I don’t burn any bridges. Ironically, it’s only the first two of these that I have issues with – I like spending my money obviously – since I’m absolutely loving my job and the city in general. Even the cold weather doesn’t really bother me anymore. I would be lying if I said I liked the average of -25°C temps, but we’ve only had one -50°C day and the city carried on as usual.

Apparently I’m not the only one who will start to feel more stability this year, since last week we entered the Year of the Horse on Chinese New Years. According to this brand of astrology the year will be filled with lots of oats (abundance), trots rather than gallops (a steady pace forward), and greener pastures (being content). Normally I am not at all into horses (they’re the most boring adolescent cliché in Kamloops ever), but if this transition from the restlessness of the Snake and Dragon Years (2013 and 2012, respectively) to something a bit more mundane is inevitable then I’m going with it. Bring on my “home on the range,” as long as it means I can afford to keep it! Just don’t ask me to rope any cows…

*image from Tumblr

221B

Moving to a new city may be a hectic enterprise, but it also has a certain novelty. A new city comes with hidden streets to explore, treasure-filled thrift stores, and a fresh crop of eligible bachelors. But my favourite part of moving is having a new apartment. Finding it might be a challenge when you’re as picky as I am (hardwood floors, hot water heating, no cats, top floor, downtown locale, non-family friendly), but it can be done if you have a certain amount of determination. When I moved to Regina people told me that the city was going through a housing crunch, and finding an apartment on short notice was going to be a challenge, I uttered the phrase that has so often crossed Barney Stinson’s lips: “Challenge: accepted!”

At the 24 hour mark of arriving in the city I had found the perfect apartment, and at 48 hours I was signing the paperwork. I believe that’s what we call “winning.”

Two months later, I’m almost totally settled into my fabulous new digs and am officially taking requests for house guests! All I need now is a coffee table – seriously they’re harder to shop for that you think – and some artwork for the walls.  

Entrance closets are clearly meant
for storing my over-abundance
of jackets, rather than giving my
house guests a place to
hang up their coat.
Me, share?
Yeahhhh right. 

I can't really take a picture of the
Shoe Closet III: The Return of
the Shoes, since it's a floor to
ceiling storage closet.
Suffice to say, it's pretty awesome,
because there's still room for more!

As you can see, my priority was having a real-person-sized
pillow-top mattress, rather than having a "proper" bed.
And of course Henry gets the other side, as per usual!

My building was built in 1928, so it has a few vintage remnants,
like this converted wall-sconce. I am convinced that more
apartments should have details like this!

Down the hall (past the bathroom, which you don't get to see) is my reconstructed photo wall.
I'm planning on some updates, but most of these pictures are still my favourites. 

Then you get to the living room, which is separated from the rest of the space with my reading/computer nook.
Yes, I bought the exact same couch that I had in Halifax. And it's still be favourite (affordable) couch! 

The living room is a bit bigger than I'm used to working with, so I had to switch up my normal living room arrangement. So far I'm really liking the change in space though, since it works rather nicely. 

Every girl needs a vanity table!
Even if it's only to keep her makeup
out of the bathroom, because,
obviously, ew germs!

The only prints that made it to Regina
from my collection were the two
Andy Warhol quotes.
At least they're good ones!

I don't have a desk anymore (since I
don't have to spend hours of my life
writing useless term papers), but
I still needed a place to keep my
in-progress paperwork.
And my stack of library books!

I wish my kitchen had a bit more storage,
but it does what it needs to do,
and that will suffice for now.

At the moment we're in the midst of the Winter freeze, but my ice-crystal-covered windows give my apartment a beautifully sparkly glow in the mornings, which almost makes up for the fact that it's freezing outside!

Hopeless Wanderer: a Sunday Shoe Story

The great thing about moving to a city that is known for its freezing temperatures is that it gave me an excuse to buy a new pair of boots. I haven’t owned “real” winter boots since… well, since my parents used to drag me on Christmas day hikes and made me walk up a mountain to school. (Welcome to Kamloops). Which definitely ended as soon as I acquired a permanent bus pass, learned to drive, and then escaped the wintry hell of central interior BC.

I figured that if I had to buy winter boots that I should get good ones. Name brand stuff, rated for -40°C and waterproof as well in the off chance that there’s a flash heat wave while I’m at work.

I know, I know, but a girl can dream, can’t she?

So on the day that my chauffeur was in town (read: father) we made sure to hit up a few sporting goods stores in the hopes of scooping some decent boots for me. Don’t worry, he was happy to do so because he got to spend an hour in Capella’s, which is basically an outdoorsman’s version of shopping heaven. (And my personal version of hell, since the place is literally filled with camouflage everything and taxidermied animals are waiting around every corner).

In the third store I finally found this pair of Sorels, which much to my surprise came in a rather chic colour as well as were on sale! Apparently my shopping karma has finally caught up with me, since I haven’t had this much good luck since I left the West Coast two years ago and lost my shoe luck along the way! Now I can wander my way through the Regina icelands (or at least to the library) and my feet will be nice and toasty warm!