Sunday 31 August 2008

apartment heartbreak.

we looked at a place yesterday.
we not really *looking* for a new place, but, didn't want to regret not looking at the place and wondering if we would have liked it or not.

it's downtown above the restaurant that jer works at. a 1/2 block from the restaurant i work at part time and a 15 min walk to the nursin home i work at part time. a parking structure away from the mall and even a grocery store. bank at the top of the street and a fabulous coffee shop 3 blocks away.
the place is huuuge (aout 700 sq ft), but a studio/loft type. the place we're in now is just shy of 610sq ft.
everything is brand spankin' new; fixtures, carpets, tiles, wallcoverings (made to look like brick, but thery're really not), toilet and sink in the bathoom. a large bathroom, really high sloping ceilings, at least 15 ft. 2 fantastic 10 ft windows that let in so much light, ( i can see the kitties basking there all day) and make the place feel even bigger & even a kitchen you can put a table in.. a kitchen table that goes in the kitchen..how novel!

i love love love it.

we'd save so much $$, rent is $580 + utilities (they'd be nothing cuz of the windows and being on top of a restaurant) we pay $736 all included right now, walking to work, supporting local businesses, getting groceries a block away, free indoor (but not secure) parking at the mall...stolen, i guess would be a better word. :)

*sigh*

sounds amazing right? go for it right?


well here's the downside...i keep telling myself these things so i stop thinking about the place.

the landloard is putting in french doors to block off the kitchen, so say good bye to any useable space around the door area (where we thought would be best for the sitting/tv area)

storage- or lack there of. there's one large walk-in closet where the bedroom would kida have to be, and a large enough closet near the bathroom. no front closet for boots/shoes/winter jackets.

kitchen- it's this weird sink, stove top, oven and refrigerator dealie. (like the pic, but picture it from 1974 & without the cupboards) i've never seen anything like it. but needless to say, it's not quite ideal for 2 professional cooks. we'd need to buy a regular fridge. no hood fan which i'm thinking is illegal. plus, no cabnets at all. the sink is the size of a postage stamp.

bedroom- or lack there of. the way the place is layed out, we'd need a murphy bed for things to work properly. because of the windows, the bed almost has to float in the room. we could buy a new car for the price of a murphy bed that would be funtional enough for our needs.

bathroom- is huge for no reason, there's a toilet, corner shower and pedestil sink. it's like 8ftx8ft. i wish the guy would have put a tub in there to at least give it some oomph & point to the room. no cabnetry whatsoever.

no hookups for laundry. we can't even change out that weird kitchen contraption cuz then we'd have no sink. we'd have to buy a stove as well. we'd also have to buy a appt size laundry combo.

in the long run, for the stuff we would want to make the place home & livable we'd have to spend around $7000. totally not in the cards.
i'd have to get rid of a lot of my stuff & i like my stuff.

there are a few more places under construction right now in the area, i'm going to keep my eyes peeled..

Friday 29 August 2008

random stuff i thought was interesting...

are you a cleaning procrastinator like i am?
need simple and (mostly) environmentally friendly tips to help you get motivated? here's some cool vids to show you tricks...

a better use for a banana rather than eating it. EWW.
clean your toilet with coke
microwave not clean? try this
dirty pot hangover solution.

here's some other interesting things..
wonderful cheap shelf idea. i think i'm going to try this one today!
mmm..naan bread the western way, because i don't have a tandoor. i also might try this in a skillet.
10 minute curry..yes!
garam masala spice blend
chicken vindaloo, so good
cucumber raita


ever wondered how to moodwalk? here's your chance..
are you a good girlfriend? kinda silly
have mad skills in the boyfriend department. again, silly.
want to gnaw your arm off in bed..not after this..
icky festival toilets..this might help.
bigger boobies, no problem

Monday 25 August 2008

so what...


yesssss! a rat tail!


i added a little colour to it as well, wildfire manic panic.
i took 2 ideas and kinda turned them into one haircut. the back of rhianna's (sans steps, i chickened out) and the rest of andrea's

Saturday 23 August 2008

dexter

i anyone else totally enthralled with this show?
we first encountered it when we went to NYC in '04. they were passing out dexter water bottles (kinda handy since it was freakin' hot that day) and thought 'hmm...looks interesting a serial killer in the police force as a blood spatter expert'.
of course, because i live in canada, we generall don't get the showtime shows as soon as they come out. we get them the season after, unless you subscribe to a US satillite dish(illegal and risky) or get the movie networks.
i mean, i can't watch just one episode.
thank goodness that we don't get the show weekly, or else i'd go bonkers. pulling my hair out wanting more.
renting it is for sure the way to go watching 'em all at once
...3 episodes last night...most likely 4 episodes tonight.

i don't want to give it away for people that haven't seen it....
..wait...WHY haven't you seen it?
GO RENT IT NOW!

my only issue with it is; i can't seem to get the six feet under 'david fisher' character out of my head. it's hard to forget he's not gay in dexter...

on a crafty note:
i will be starting pillowcases this week for my cousin's wedding. i just need to fine a pattern and decide what i'm going to do.... their names and a little picutre to represent them is the best, i think...pics to follow when they're done.
better get my ass in gear.

Thursday 21 August 2008

why i love today.

thursdays are joyous.
most of the time, i get a pay cheque.
this week was more joyous then others.
i was able to pay all my bills and have money to spare.
not everything is paid in full, but i feel better about them.
that never happens.
i even have another pay cheque to to cash.
we can go out for lunch, and i don't have to feel guilty.
i even put money away for a girlie weekend in sept.

i feel relieved.


Sunday 17 August 2008

just like heaven

spent the day in montreal. *sigh* i really need to get out more.


holt renfew- i have to admit, i was a bit star struck while strolling around this store. i was actually able to touch dresses/jackets/shoes that i would have never been able to be in contact with. it's 3 floors of designer heaven. each design house has it's own little boutique.
chanel, fendi (see picture double buckled belt $645), jean paul gauthier *sigh*, hermes, burburry, D&G (silk fushia corset, only $2,459), marc jacobs, jimmy choo, vera wang, miu miu (see pictures goregrous shoes with sparkling chrystals on the heels- even more stunning in person), versace, prada, badgelymischka, nina ricci, zac posen ($1,799 yellow blouse to die for!) manolo blahnik, yves stlaurent shoes.
while admiring the fur section, i noticed that one of the jackets i was stroking cost $16,789.00!!!! are you kidding me?! who lets me touch things that cost that much?!
oh, badegely mischka how i love thee.

betesey johnson- colourful, cheerful and just outright fun store. i didn't feel like i wasn't welcome or like i wasn't allowed to look around. sure, i can't afford (or fit into) any of these wonderous dresses or nifty bags. i did buy these shoes that were on sale:

i tried those heels on too. so cute! the fragrance will be mine..in time..

lunch at mister steer!! (ste catherines)

sangrias and cerveza at tamales (prince arthur)
supper at a greek tavern. grilled marinated chicken, tenderloin brochettes and butterfly shrimp. yum! (also on prince arthur)

i'm not always such a consumer whore, but it's fun sometimes...

Saturday 16 August 2008

golden aquisition and other treasures..

best.wallet.ever.

value village rules!
i also acquired 2 silk scarves and one beautiful from italy (oooo la la) for 99cents + a really cute clutch ($2.99) for when you're getting all gussied up for a night on the town and don't need anything but lipgloss and a credit card.
i got offered 20bux for my wallet today! it was $2.99
the wallet is huuuge. it's got 3 enclosures and lots of hidden room.

Wednesday 13 August 2008

time's a-wastin'

the cooler nights of august seem to have arrived.
pretty quickly, i might add.

luckily it's still light out when i go to work for 6. there isn't much longer to enjoy that.
thinking about summer, i feel as tho i've wasted it all. sure, i've basked in the sun on my balcony with drinks and my boyfriend. i've even spent a few hours in the rain reading, safe from the drops. i've walked around downtown in a summery dress and shopped, ate in the park with a book, chilled around a pool once with drinks and meat.
where's the *real* summer, like those beer commercials promise? boating on a lake with 100's of your closest (and probably annoying) friends, bozzin' it up at the cottage, jet skiing and playing frizbee?
hell, i haven't had a summer like that since i was a kid. i remember renting a waterfront cottage on elliot lake with my cousins. my dad bbq'ing every chance he got, even eggs for breakfast on the griddle attachment. watching movies, staying up late and sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor.
those were the days. being a kid in the summer was the best.

now, i feel so much pressure from those same memories to do that for the rest of my life. i don't know 100's of people, anyone with a cottage or a boat.
life just sort of carries on, summer or no summer. there's days nicer and warmer than others, but work still seems to engulf my life and somehow give it no meaning. don't get me wrong, i enjoy my work. cooking makes me happy. it's the 'routine' that gets me down.

i miss living my life by knowing that the school year starts in september, january was exams, march was march break and then june was summer vacation.
work is so dull and gives you nothing to look forward to, except payday every second week.

Wednesday 6 August 2008

searching for greatness.


my inspiration
jenny hart is truly an original. thanks for making me obsessed with this craft.

this is beautiful.


this is wacky. severed unicorn heads. need i say more?

mitch rules!


one day i will have a tattoo by hannah. her use of colour and incredible detail blow me away.

when you're in NYC, you should stay here. it's an adventure and a half. even if it's for only one night. lots of character.
creepy!


amazing rubbe
r stamps.


i am mystical

Tuesday 5 August 2008

andy warhol's beauty guide..worth repeating

**i stole this from gala darling because i think it's totally valid and i wish more people thought this way**

OO A good plain look is my favorite look. If I didn’t want to look so “bad,” I would want to look “plain.” That would be my next choice.

OO Weight isn’t important the way the magazines make you think it is. I know a girl who just looks at her face in the medicine cabinet mirror & never looks below her shoulders, & she’s four or five hundred pounds but she doesn’t see all that, she just sees a beautiful face & therefore she thinks she’s a beauty. & therefore I think she’s a beauty, too, because I usually accept people on the basis of their self-images, because their self-images have more to do with the way they think than their objective-images do. Maybe she’s six hundred pounds, who knows. If she doesn’t care, I don’t.

OO There should be a lot of new girls in town, & there always are.
If you’re naturally pale, you should put on a lot of blush-on to compensate. But if you’ve got a big nose, just play it up, & amp; if you have a pimple, put on the pimple cream in a way that will make it really stand out — “There! I use pimple cream!” There is a difference.

OO Beauty really has to do with the way a person carries it off. When you see “beauty.” it has to do with the place, with what they’re wearing, what they’re standing next to, what closet they’re coming down the stairs from.

OO Sometimes something can look beautiful just because it’s different in some way from the other things around it. One red petunia in a window box will look very beautiful if all the rest of them are white, & vice-versa.

OO When you’re in Sweden & you see beautiful person after beautiful person & you finally don’t even turn around to look because you know the next person you see will be just as beautiful as the one you didn’t bother to turn around to look at — in a place like that you can get so bored that when you see a person who’s not beautiful, they look very beautiful to you because they break the beautiful monotony.

Saturday 2 August 2008

splendiferous stitching....a photo essay















i'm a winner...



yessss!
after countless games against him, finally i am victorious.
in case you cannot tell, i'm 'team dangerous'!

it was also our 7th anniversary yesterday (August 1st)
time sure does fly.
i never in a 1397502 years could have imagined.