Spike

I changed my Facebook banner of something other then you last week...
It was the one of you walking ever so gracefully on the rock at the cottage. The water was like glass in the background. Your ever-changing coat illuminated in the sunshine and you seemed generally concerned about something at a paws-depth in the water. The ripples from your anxiety to get the rock shift the trees that mirrored on the surface. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. The crisp spring air chilled my fingers as I pressed hurriedly on the camera shutter. I'm so glad I captured that moment.

I changed my Blackberry Wallpaper today...
The one of us in the blistering cold on the same lake. It was February and we were going for our daily snowshoe walk - you were four months old then. It took six + shots in order to capture this very one. The ones leading up to this moment included a nose bite (on your behave), a glove steal and a collar grab (on my behave). You have snow on your nose because you were just digging in the ground, like you were looking for something. You were always curious to find something. I had rosey cheeks because I was chasing you not because I wanted my glove, but mostly because it was getting you wild as you ran around like a big-pawed goof ball. I love this picture so much because your ears are tucked back, eyes looking where I wanted them and the snow sprinkles on your nose. It almost looks as if you were in trouble when I took it and that look on your face is priceless.
I have looked at this picture everyday for the last four months since you've died. It's the first thing I see, like when we use to stretch on the floor in the morning, and the last thing I see at night like when I use to get a bedtime visit.

I want you to know that I hovered my finger over the "Save Changes" button for a long time on both of these changes. I wasn't ready to pick up my phone every day and not see you there, but I had to find a picture that made me happy and not boiling with anger that you're gone. Please don't hate me for that.
I miss you everyday <3

A Summer Highlight

I’ve always wanted to dedicate an entire summer to festivals. The lights, the air, the people, the music and of course the feeling; there really is nothing like it, minus Italy (always minus Italy and Vancouver, I love those places more then life).

I’m sorry to report that this year my festival quest isn’t going to come true, but I was very glad to make it out to the Toronto 2012 Burlesque Festival at the Gladstone Hotel. I have been obsessed with Burlesque for just over a year now? I dunno. Time flies if you ask me. But regardless, this place was a dream come true. Everyone was dressed in old fashion corsets, top hats and it was marvelous. I tried to get decked out as much as I could (hello red lips and bigger than life hair) but to be honest, we felt under dressed. That never happens, well, rarely. We attended the International Strip Competition and after party… all I can say is wow. Those girls could gladly teach me any day of the week. In fact, is that possible? I’m willing to work for it… promise.

xx

[hair did, makeup did, lips on...time to go]

[stuck in traffic, so we naturally entertain ourselves]

[Banana Boy, damn he was good]

[Settling down after a steamy night at the Bier Market]

[bad&wild for life]

7. High Angle

In light of the summer, and not to mention my busy schedule, I found myself waist deep in 2+ weeks of laundry (yes, I have that many clothes!). I used all the clothes pins, and only had a meter let of line at the end of it. But that is besides the point, here are a collection of some of the best stain removers for laundry I have come across - and working as a stewardess on a yacht, I think I know a thing or two about removing stains from expensive fabric ! 

Oily/Waxy Stains – Try one of the following: “Scrubbing Bubble” bathroom cleaners; Rub white chalk into the stain before laundering; Rub with damp cloth dipped in Borax; Apply a paste of cornstarch and water, let dry and brush off.

Blood Stains:
Fresh – use cold water.
Dried – Use Hydrogen Peroxide. Pour over stain as soon as possible.

Red Stains  

Kool-aid, Popsicle, Berry Juice – Rubbing Alcohol. Pour over stain before washing.

Wine, Coffee, and Fruit Stains – Club Soda or moist salt. Pour over stain, or soak in milk before washing.

Grass Stains– Combine a few drops of household ammonia with 1 teaspoon peroxide. Rub stain with this mixture. Rinse with water as soon as stain disappears.

Rust Stains– Scrub with crumbled aluminum foil.

Lipstick Stains– Rub with shortening and wash with washing soda.

Ink Stains– Use hairspray on stain (with absorbent towel underneath) and launder as usual. Or wet stain with cold water, apply paste of cream of tartar/lemon juice, let sit one hour and wash as usual. Or mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup warm water and apply a small amount to the stain. Blot until no more stain can be removed.

6: Something Pink

It's a scorcher outside this week - and instead of showing you all my pink skin I thought I would take a different approach.

Not to mention I just can’t get enough of the ‘bright’ season fashion trend, especially the peachy, mints and pinks. I never use to care much about fashion, but now I look back and think “OMG, please tell me you did not wear that by choice!” – this is usually followed by a smacking of a hand against my forehead, which is now red p.s. I got this shirt from a store in the States for $20 and (finally!) found my white belt at a vintage store on Queen St in Toronto. I matched it with some mint coloured nails, the sight of these in the picture all depends on how good your eye sight is, and have my yellow new strappy Aldo sandels with “Snappy Sorbet” nail polish covering my toes. The only thing that I could think of to be better then this outfit, would be if I was in it near a beach and not in my magazine/writing/torcher-chamber-on-a-sunny-day of a desk job! One day I will be combining those two and will be writing whilst on the beach – a girl can dream right? xx

5. Low angle

This week I am hanging out in Sturbridge, Mass - right around the corner from Boston. For work, also known as Snowmobiler TV and Snow Goer Canada Magazine, we got to come down here and cover the International Snowmobile Congress. And I have to say, I am inspired again. The town we are in is rather old and tonight we went to a 1700's Publick House. This is a shot I took amidst the 400 people that were wandering in and out of this place - I think what makes this so special is that this photograph was taken amongst chaos and city sounds, when (if you didn't know any better) you would think this is way out in a field near a restored barn somewhere. It was a gorgeous place, and even though we only drove 10+ hours to get here, it has already made me really miss traveling/exploring/meeting new people and all the fun that goes along with discovering a new untouched territory on your own.

4. Something Blue

Well how much more blue can it get. My toes, plus the blue from our pool makes for a perfect summary of how this Holiday Monday went - minus the rose wine but that's an exception. Had such a great long weekend that I am going to be sad to get up tomorrow to go to work... the only good news, it's a short week. Hooray! xx

3. Clouds

Sorry to burst your imaginary bubble, but there were no clouds today. Go figure, the day I start to do my photo challenge again and this is what I get. So, in attempts to make the photo look like I did take it outside [and not just of a blue piece of paper] I added some trees into it. Can you believe it was 7:30p.m when I took this? Summer solace is a beautiful thing isn't it. Unfortunately this is a day that just a week ago I would have rushed home to take my puppy for a walk... where is the reverse button on life anyways? xx