happy halloween
On this most momentous of evenings, here are some creepy Jack O' Lanterns to mark the occasion. All of the pumpkins were done by a man named Ray Villafane.
To see more of the artist's work, visit his website here. There's even a how-to tutorial. Enjoy!
the latest art form
Is it me or are the things they can do with cupcakes out of this world?
I offered to make cupcakes for a friend's Halloween party. I wanted to something memorable, so I started perusing the web for some inspiration. The things I found floored me. I knew they were some crazy-looking cupcakes out there, but WOW!
The two I would like to attempt are the adorable owl cupcake and the oh-so-fitting Jack Skellington cupcake.
They seem relatively easy when you consider how cool they look. But things that look this cool and look easy never are. And considering my deadline, I fear I might not have the time to make them at all. I'll give it my darndest, though.
The one I will never attempt however:
Looks awesome, right? But anything that requires TWO cupcakes to make one and has piece that isn't edible is off-limits for me.
If you like what you see and would like to try your hand at the art, yes I said art, that is modern day cupcakes. I suggest Hello, Cupcake. I haven't researched the cupcakes books out there and I'm sure that there are many, but the ones I have seen haven't had such creative ideas. Unfortunately for us Canucks, it seems that cupcake-craze hasn't fully emerged in the Great North as it has in the US. I'm sure it's coming. Making it a tad challenging to find all the cupcake implements.
If I say the word cupcake one more time!!!
...CUPCAKE!
I offered to make cupcakes for a friend's Halloween party. I wanted to something memorable, so I started perusing the web for some inspiration. The things I found floored me. I knew they were some crazy-looking cupcakes out there, but WOW!
The two I would like to attempt are the adorable owl cupcake and the oh-so-fitting Jack Skellington cupcake.
They seem relatively easy when you consider how cool they look. But things that look this cool and look easy never are. And considering my deadline, I fear I might not have the time to make them at all. I'll give it my darndest, though.
The one I will never attempt however:
Looks awesome, right? But anything that requires TWO cupcakes to make one and has piece that isn't edible is off-limits for me.
If you like what you see and would like to try your hand at the art, yes I said art, that is modern day cupcakes. I suggest Hello, Cupcake. I haven't researched the cupcakes books out there and I'm sure that there are many, but the ones I have seen haven't had such creative ideas. Unfortunately for us Canucks, it seems that cupcake-craze hasn't fully emerged in the Great North as it has in the US. I'm sure it's coming. Making it a tad challenging to find all the cupcake implements.
If I say the word cupcake one more time!!!
...CUPCAKE!
I couldn't help myself.
beat down
Today is warm and sunny, just the way I wish every fall day could be (but isn’t by any stretch of the imagination). I know I should be in a considerably better mood than I am. But like I said, something seems to have turned my whole world grey and dreary. Maybe it's the not seeing anyone or doing anything fun for the past two weeks.
Consequently, I’m trying very hard to get out of this funk. I haven’t figured out what I can do, other than what I’m already doing. And I know that my restlessness will eventually just go away. However, I prefer to be a little more proactive in such matters.
I realize this might be an anti-climactic post. It ends without solution or epiphany, but I figure posting again might be part of that solution.
the smell of halloween
At this very moment, I'm waiting for my pumpkin scones to finish baking. The smell of the pumpkin mingling with the spices, with my Jack O’ Lantern burning brightly right by me and my (black) cat rubbing up against my legs while I type this makes for a wonderful fall evening. I don’t even mind the cleaning-up phase that always seems to follow so closely on the heels of baking.
I don’t know what these scones are going to taste like. I went about the recipe very willy-nilly. Well 3 recipes, to be honest - I really didn’t have a choice to be willy-nilly under those circumstances.
And once these are done, I’ll be making something I definitely can’t screw up: pumpkin seeds! The fun never ends at Halloween!
It seems so silly to buy a pumpkin, carve it and not toast the seeds. That's poopycoock!
I'm glad to say Rob's a big fan of my willy nilly scones.
I don’t know what these scones are going to taste like. I went about the recipe very willy-nilly. Well 3 recipes, to be honest - I really didn’t have a choice to be willy-nilly under those circumstances.
It seems so silly to buy a pumpkin, carve it and not toast the seeds. That's poopycoock!
happy turkey murder day!*
May your day be filled with juicy turkey, delicious vegetables, delectable deserts, and most importantly friends and family!
*title is not a judgement - I love turkey.
I just think it's funny.
blast from the past
Absolutely adore this picture!
One day, I will make it here and take a picture from the same spot my father stood so many years ago.
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| 2 rue d'Aras, 5ième arrondissement, 1966 (now L'Hotel Quartier Latin) |
One day, I will make it here and take a picture from the same spot my father stood so many years ago.
phone photo phascination
I went on photo app hunt. It amazes me how good some apps are out there! The ones that come with a fee (and a bundle more features) usually hover around a buck or two, I even found some really good free ones!
Here are my favourite finds:
HIPSTAMATIC
I've had this one for a while. The first application I ever paid for (and the last, to date).
Here are my favourite finds:
HIPSTAMATIC
I've had this one for a while. The first application I ever paid for (and the last, to date).
This application, unlike all the others I've found, does not offer the option to alter a picture that is already in your camera roll.
As you might tell from the name, this is the free version of another application (myFilm). This one is so much fun and I'm really curious as to what the $0.99 offers more, because it's seems like the free one's pretty complete (maybe it doesn't have name stamp in the corner).
This all look similar because I didn't really play around with the colours yet, but I really enjoy the blur effects and the overall colours can be changed. It's not as "out there" as some, but I think that's what I like about it.
Speaking of out there, this one will definitely completely alter your pictures. You might remember the scone pictures.
It also is the only app that lets make collages. These are only two pictures that the app created, not six.
I haven't totally figured this one out yet. It's more of a community picture sharing application - something like flickr, but the pictures can only be taken when it's in use (I'm fairly confident). There's a way to save your own pictures to your camera roll, but I don't know how. I've done it, oddly enough, but don't know what I did. Sometimes it's saved, sometimes it ain't.
I really enjoy the sharing factor of this app, you can follow other people, browse the most popular pictures and upload your pictures to other accounts (like your twitter or facebook) and so on.
All these camera applications offer a variety of frames and effects. They all have a little something different to offer. Considering that they were all free to download (except Hipstamatic, which now seems limited in some respects compared to the other free ones), I suggest that you try them out for yourself. Nothing to lose.
scone saturday
Yesterday, my mom and I had a grand time making traditional British scones. We used my Nana's recipe and my mom is right; they just don't know how to make a proper scone here. It's been years since I had a real scone (roughly 13 years ago - last time I was in jolly ole England), but I knew that the "Canadian version" was off - kind of tasteless and always too dry.
Ours were delicious, if I may say so.
It was a fun, messy, sticky experience and a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon! I can't wait to try making my own variation of the recipe.
Ours were delicious, if I may say so.
It was a fun, messy, sticky experience and a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon! I can't wait to try making my own variation of the recipe.
out of here
Happy Friday, everyone!!!
Aren't long weekends a beautiful thing?
Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all the Canucks out there!
arabian nights
I would die to stay in a riad!
Riads, stemming from the Arabic word for garden, are dwellings found mostly in Morocco. They are inward focused structures, so while they may look plain on the outside, they are beautiful and peaceful on the inside. A paradise fit for the gods.
Don't believe me? Take a gander at these!
I'm falling in love with the Moroccan culture. I love its elegant warmth and rich detailing.
I also love those moroccan lanterns - how they cast the light: dying!
It's almost gut-wrenching to see that such beautiful places exist. I can only hope that I'll get to experience them one day. Morocco is wedging itself into my top 5 Dream Destinations List
Riads, stemming from the Arabic word for garden, are dwellings found mostly in Morocco. They are inward focused structures, so while they may look plain on the outside, they are beautiful and peaceful on the inside. A paradise fit for the gods.
Don't believe me? Take a gander at these!
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| {riad meriem} |
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| {riad jahan} |
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| {riad dixneuf la ksour} |
I also love those moroccan lanterns - how they cast the light: dying!
It's almost gut-wrenching to see that such beautiful places exist. I can only hope that I'll get to experience them one day. Morocco is wedging itself into my top 5 Dream Destinations List
to being hopeful
It's hard to be hopeful when you're a pessimist.
So stop being a pessimist.
But it's in my nature, it's who I am. I would like to become more positive. I try to see a sunny outlook, I act positive in hopes that one day it will stop being an act and become who I am by force of habit. I don't see that happening, though.
There you go again! Trust me, life works out. Just take the opportunities that are handed to you and turn them into your dreams. A little can take you a long way.
I can't see how that would happen.
That's the whole point. You may start off somewhere mundane and unimportant and trivial, but what makes you feel so low now might end up taking you places you never thought possible.
I guess you got to pay your dues before you get what you want. Whatever doesn't kill you will only make stronger, right?
You'll become a better, stronger person. Everyone goes through a phase they hate; some longer than others, but take the right perspective and you'll come out on top.
So I might get all the things I dream of? The adventure? the house? the family? the security?
Even of you don't get everything you think you want now, you'll get everything you want to be happy. Being hopeful isn't just being wishful. Being hopeful is allowing yourself to be happy - happy because, inside, you know, just know it'll all work out in the end. It's hope that makes the good things happen because it doesn't let you fall in a rut, it doesn't let opportunities pass you by. It's hope that makes you seize them.
It seems nice to be hopeful; easier.
It is.
So how can I become hopeful?
So stop being a pessimist.
But it's in my nature, it's who I am. I would like to become more positive. I try to see a sunny outlook, I act positive in hopes that one day it will stop being an act and become who I am by force of habit. I don't see that happening, though.
There you go again! Trust me, life works out. Just take the opportunities that are handed to you and turn them into your dreams. A little can take you a long way.
I can't see how that would happen.
That's the whole point. You may start off somewhere mundane and unimportant and trivial, but what makes you feel so low now might end up taking you places you never thought possible.
I guess you got to pay your dues before you get what you want. Whatever doesn't kill you will only make stronger, right?
You'll become a better, stronger person. Everyone goes through a phase they hate; some longer than others, but take the right perspective and you'll come out on top.
So I might get all the things I dream of? The adventure? the house? the family? the security?
Even of you don't get everything you think you want now, you'll get everything you want to be happy. Being hopeful isn't just being wishful. Being hopeful is allowing yourself to be happy - happy because, inside, you know, just know it'll all work out in the end. It's hope that makes the good things happen because it doesn't let you fall in a rut, it doesn't let opportunities pass you by. It's hope that makes you seize them.
It seems nice to be hopeful; easier.
It is.
So how can I become hopeful?
a little piece of kindness
Back when I was in college, there was an old man that would occasionally be in the same subway car as me. He use to make origami hearts out of scrap pieces of paper - a subway ticket, a receipt, whatever - and give them to whoever was sitting near him.
While some people might've thought "WTF? I don't want this!", I thought it was lovely. I had kept the little paper heart he gave me for years. It was a little piece of kindness that I carried around with me.
I believe we need more people like that little old man. He wasn't going to change the world with his small gesture, I don't even think he put all that much thought into what he was doing. He was just filling the time it would take him to get from point A to point B, but it was sweet and appreciated; and it put a smile on my face and a spring in my step.
While some people might've thought "WTF? I don't want this!", I thought it was lovely. I had kept the little paper heart he gave me for years. It was a little piece of kindness that I carried around with me.
what's not to love?
My parent's dining room looks nothing like this, but for some reason, this space reminds me of Christmas/Thanksgiving supper with family; it's partly that and partly the multiple windows, the creative mix of contemporary and classic chandeliers, the ledge/bookshelf under the windows andthe mismatched chairs -and let's not forget the bean bag in the corner - that made me fall in love with this room!
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| {found on apartment therapy} |
kid love
I am, by no stretch of the imagination, a kid-lover. In fact, I spend a large part of my time being annoyed with whiny, hyper-active children (and their parents). That's why I can't believe I'm writing this post. But how cute is this little girl? And let's not forget fashion-savvy (before you say it, before you even think it, I know someone picked out her clothes).
I feel compelled to add that, yes I think this
little girl is totally adorable - choice of wardrobe
and all - but Zara kids usually give me the creeps.
There like miniature adults and it's just
weird to see a 5 or 6-year-old wearing
what should strictly be adult attire.
nook for me
A breakfast nook, a reading nook, a nap nook, don’t they all sound wonderfully cozy? I think I’d even consider hanging out in an Ebola nook.
As I might have mentioned, I like feeling closed in when I’m lounging.
The word nook holds such cosiness, such hominess, such warmth. And while I want wide open rooms, loft-type spaces, I need a nook; somewhere where I can be alone, burrow in with a book, some music, my laptop, my favourite blanket and a cup of something warm. I’m no hermit, but I do enjoy being alone sometimes. What better place is there when all you want to do is turn your thoughts inward?
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| {this is needs some colour! forget silver, i want to see some vibrant oranges and electric blues!} |
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| {too whimsical? i'd also gladly take that view with my nook} |
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| {rustic!} |
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| {sumptuous} |
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| {a little bare - give me five minutes with this space and it'll be cluttersville!} |
And my all time favourite nook EVER! The books, the mezzanine, the painted brick wall...the columns! God! this room has it all. My new sole purpose in life: making a room like this!
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