Up, Up and Away!

Spotted on Random Things - Photo from Cannes Launch of "Up!"

Today is the release of the new Pixar Movie Up!, and I cannot wait to see it!
I have a sort of love/don't love thing going on with balloons.
I love how a balloon is an undoubted sign of celebration, playfulness and joy.
I don't however love their environmental impact, the thought of them landing in some unknowing animal's habitat and waste that is ultimately associated with them when they deflate or Pop!

Opinions aside, there is nothing not to love about these beautiful images of balloons that have been *popping* up on some of my favorite blogs.

A Cup of Jo engagement photos by Wax Wagner

Photo by Rachel Marsden



The Red Balloon



Photo by Juliane Eirich


Found on ouNi

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Pardon My Garden - Our Vegetable Patch

Our Garden Patch - perfectly spaced out as per the instructions thanks to Mr. S

This week Mr. S and I have moved into Massey Hall, where he is playing three nights in a row to screaming fans, family and music lovers. It is exhaustingly amazing.

Sadly our little garden patch will be neglected while we live the life of travel advisors by day and rock-star/groupie by night - but I am hoping that my supportive words spoken this morning as I whisked by bleary eyed will keep it happy and strong until the end of the week!

Not shown the two hot pepper plants and one eggplant that I squeezed in when Mr. S wasn't looking

I think of the things we planted this year the onions and strawberries are what I am most excited about. I can't wait to pull on the green tips of the onion until out *Pops!* a white bulb or to slurb on sweet strawberries freshly picked on my way to catch the bus.

I am pretty sure the little tag said that those days are still many weeks away, so at least for the next two nights anyways I will whisper words of encouragement to our little plants to get them through these chilly couple of days and scream my praise with the other fans as Mr. S rocks out by night.

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Sunsets

The sun setting on a perfect long weekend

At our cottage, every sunset is celebrated like it is the first and the last.

The celebration usually starts with the family crowded on any available chair around the dinner table with glasses of wine and barbecued treats consumed over laughter and memories. Then someone will notice a glow off their glass or reflection in the window - double check to make sure it isn't the fire roaring out of control - and interrupt all the chatter to let everyone know that tonight, like every night, the sun is setting.

Firey light bouncing off the needles of pine trees and the ripples of a quiet lake.

No matter where we are in the meal or a great game of 21, this announcement is met with honest enthusiasm. All who are able leap from their seats to grab the nearest camera and crowd onto the dock. We remark on what the sunset is telling us about the weather the next day and how it has shifted setting points from nights before. We contemplate a late night swim that we know will never happen and make note in our minds about how much better we all look in the glow of a sunset.

It is always the perfect closure to a cottage day.

Happy Friday.

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The VooDoo Special

Some people turn to Ouija boards, I turned to the psychic at Southern Accent!

Yesterday I had what can be best described as an "off day".

And perhaps the weirdest part about it was that so many of the things happening these days are right on - Mr. S is on a short tour and I am reveling in having some all alone time, the weather is kicking butt and I think I might be winning the battle again my landlord coming into our place when we aren't there (note: when an old fashioned lock doesn't work, just prop a large speaker up against the door!)

What was so off you ask? While I don't know exactly, but I seem to be attracting some bad energy - One of the people in my office has decided that I am no longer worth speaking to, but skull splitting looks are a-ok; and I just seemed to be complicating things in my life - conversations, plans, etc.

I was stuck and feeling frustrated, so I asserted my independence and maturity...and called my Ma! She is smart, very to the point, always insightful and pretty much told me to get over it, stop wasting my time and energy on negative things, move on - AND meet her and Papa J at Southern Accent for dinner!

Southern Accent is a full little restaurant in downtown Toronto with a flare for New Orleans ambiance and food! And on every Wednesday this summer they are offering the VooDoo Special - a drink (I had a bourbon sour), a small tasting plate with about 5 of their delicious dishes (both a veggie and meat option) and a 10min visit with one of their resident psychics!

Amongst many things (I will be wearing a skimpy black dress and red lipstick to a wedding this fall) Marlana the psychic told me to grab a book about Spain and start learning the language because I am meant to be living abroad - running a cafe bar at night and working in a garden with flowers and vegetables by day!

It was the perfect end to the roller coaster of a day and left me feeling refreshed and excited. And as the Spanish say "No hay mal que por bien no venga" (There is not bad from which good doesn't come).

!viva la vida buen!

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Trilliums

Tilting their heads to find the sunlight on a chilly May Day

The trilliums were out in full force up north this weekend - always a sign of the first long weekend of the summer; a scattering of them in the forest for as long as we can see and dare to hike.

Trillium erectum L.

They line the long dirt road that carries us away from the local town and into our cottage and are such a beautiful spot of color and life against the background of fallen leaves leftover from the winter.

It is hard to believe that the next time we visit they will have faded away amongst the ferns that are starting to grow tall and uncurl, the poison ivy creeping along under the disguise of a harmless plant and the endless number of new trees that planted their roots last year and are ready to grow!

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A perfect weekend

A Fireworks display c/o our neighbors across the lake

This weekend was perfect.
Waking up a cottage that has been deep in hibernation and clearing the leaves away from familiar paths, docks and favorite sunset watching spots.
Snuggling with our family dog who retreats to a bed in the bathtub at the sound of fireworks and falling asleep in front of a roaring fire to the sound of the wind wailing outside and my family's chatter.
Visits from best friends who live across the country and standing back to admire our handi-work and Mr S. after spending the afternoon in the garden.
And now back to work for a 4 day week as Mr. S flies away to play.

This weekend was perfect.

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Garden Centers are my Happy Place.

Makes me giddy just looking at it.

I love shopping for flowers.
The kind of love that pulls me like a magnet into any sign of a garden shop, bigs ones with rows and rows of plants and even small corner stores with only a shelf dedicated to a handful of plants - I love flower shopping.
And because of this love, this time of year is endlessly exciting, and at times, trying for me as we only have a small patch of land to garden and around each corner is another store taunting me with their beautiful treats.

These days I often feel Mr. S's hand hold mine a little tighter as we walk past a potential garden shop in anticipation of having to pull me back.
These days I am trying to get better at just shopping with my eyes and finding as much love in walking through the aisles and dreaming of the potential of these plants - different combinations of leaves, flowers and smells. All one shade or a vibrant rainbow of colors? Free and flowing or manicured and linear? Oh the options. sigh.

Our latest addition - Curry Plants!

These days I am still able to convince Mr. S, while visiting his Aunt's Garden Center on a beautiful sunny Mother's day, that there is just enough room for a couple new friends! I love shopping for flowers.

Happy Friday!

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fidoodle

Image of Amazing Birch Panels from fidoodle

Last weekend was the 3rd Annual Brockton Street Sale, and despite some wild weather, we found so many great treasures just steps from our door.

One of these treasures was meeting our neighbor Jen from a few blocks down who was selling misprinted pieces of her amazing fidoodle puzzle sets.
Jen is an artist, teacher and mother who is the maker of fidoodle - an amazing company that produces sustainable art pieces for children that are clever "re-mixes" on everyday fairy tales!

The pieces are made from birch of well-managed forests, sheep wool, organic cotton and some recycled fabrics and are all made locally! Jen's pieces are whimsical, humorous, artful and dreamy - all the things I think toys for little and big minds should be.

*All Images from fidoodle

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Tom's Shoes

Yesterday while my colleagues and I plastered our faces against our 11th floor window to watch the progression of the protesters down below, I learned for the first time about Tom's Shoes!
This is probably old news to all your smarties out there, but I was so excited to learn about these stylish and humanitarian beauties.

All images from TOMS shoes.

For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. "Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good" is what they are all about. And they have vegan options to boot.

Check out all the styles here
And Check out the pretty cute "chief shoe giver" here

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Soundtrack to this Monday...

Tamil Protestors providing the soundtrack to this Monday - photo care of the Toronto Star

Today's soundtrack to Monday is different from the ones I have written about before.

Today it is the repetitive rhythm of a call and response pattern which has already been playing for the last 4 hours across the street from my office and will most likely play on throughout the day and into the night. It is the words from one protester over a crackly mega-phone out to the ever growing crowd, and their unison echo in response.

Today's soundtrack is heard remarkably clear through the walls, the glass and the height of my 11th floor office. The steady thump of people determined for the lyrics of their challenges to be heard.

Today's soundtrack to Monday is different from the ones I have written about before, but has motivated me to learn more, read on and understand what would bring a group of people together in repetitive song to voice their desperation.

And if you feel like doing the same - I will be starting here and here

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She's my Mom!

My kindergarten self, my grand-mom, mom-mom and grand-mom-like friend.

For as long as I can remember and well before, I have been told that I look like my mom.

Of course my my infant-self was blissfully unaware of appearances, my child-self was more concerned with picking flowers and mastering cart-wheels (something I am still not able to do) and my teenage-self was to busy being all angst-y to notice or like care or whatever.

It was not until my adult-self took a trip to Italy last year that I saw it.

As I waited to board the airport shuttle in Rome, staring right back into my eyes from the reflection of the window was my mom. My heart even jumped at the excitement of seeing her and for that brief moment thinking she was there with me. I finally saw it - I look just like my mom.

Now I see it all the time - in the way I hold me face, the way I tell stories and people stare back mildly confused at what I am saying, and most excitedly, in the way I think.

She is beautiful, intelligent, a little bit out there and endlessly amusing. She rocks and I couldn't be happier to share her looks and if I am lucky, a whole lot more of who she is.

Happy Friday and Happy Mothers Day!

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My Saturday was Adorable

This super smiley, sweet and cuddley little package is my cousin's 2 month old babe, who i was lucky enough to take care of Saturday. She slept (alot), woke up to smile and stretch, cried for only moments while I got her bottle ready, ate and slept some more...

A whole lot of cute modeling the dress I made for her.

In preparation of my babysitting duties, I made a dress for her (in photos above) following this tutorial from Made by Rae. I would say the dress came together in 2 hours tops, which included re-stitching a couple of things and deciding what combo of fabrics to use. If you do try out this pattern there are a few finishing details missing - like hiding the piping and bias tape in the seams instead of overlapping it on the outside as they suggest. Tucked under her chubby chin are the shoulder straps, which are simply knotted to tie the dress on - nice and easy for a squirmy baby.

It is hard not to feel happy with this little face beaming at you and the sun shining outside - Happy Monday!

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Floral Necklace

Tonight I am going to combine the inspiration of this necklace from Anthropologie

With this really sweet tutorial from "Katie Did"

To make a summer necklace.

Happy Friday.

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