tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281787282024-03-07T14:39:15.595-05:00Phoenix in the CityThe random fancies of a city girl born and bredphoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.comBlogger980125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-74055404170337003052014-05-21T22:50:00.001-04:002014-05-21T22:50:57.828-04:0041O Master Bedroom<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_master_bedroom/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122676317' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='496' title='41O Master Bedroom' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/SY9z0gLUxm33h8727ZNxvw/cid/122676317/id/3MCg21vh4xGz4t4h7Zzfsw/size/c500x496.jpg' alt='41O Master Bedroom' width='500'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_master_bedroom/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122676317' target='_blank'>41O 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target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Chatham grey area rug' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/96502256.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=104685857' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Embroidered blanket' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/104685857.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=108557472' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Flower throw pillow' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/108557472.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=108557468' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Red flower throw pillow' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/108557468.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=107476698' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Bungalow 5 gray furniture' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/107476698.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=109908411' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Nail head furniture' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/109908411.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a></div></div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-89939379366349887022014-05-21T22:32:00.001-04:002014-05-21T22:32:25.661-04:0041O Master Bedroom<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_master_bedroom/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122676317' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='496' title='41O Master Bedroom' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/PjZwawTNo9NSYsjcfyVOQ/cid/122676317/id/ZkD4w1jh4xGgF7mVtP8JyA/size/c500x496.jpg' alt='41O Master Bedroom' width='500'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_master_bedroom/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122676317' target='_blank'>41O Master Bedroom</a> by <a href='http://phoenixc.polyvore.com/?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger' target='_blank'>phoenixc</a> featuring a <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/grey_area_rug/shop?query=grey+area+rug' target='_blank'>grey area rug</a></small></div><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><br/><div style='text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=67239312' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Cyan Design table lamp' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/67239312.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=87855066' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Bird cage lighting' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/87855066.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=96502256' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Chatham grey area rug' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/96502256.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=104685857' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Embroidered blanket' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/104685857.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=108557472' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Flower throw pillow' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/108557472.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=108557468' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Red flower throw pillow' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/108557468.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=107476698' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Bungalow 5 gray furniture' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/107476698.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=109908411' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Nail head furniture' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/109908411.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a></div></div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-46959715365492307312014-05-21T22:25:00.001-04:002014-05-21T22:25:41.789-04:0041O Living Area 1<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_living_area/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122677888' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='416' title='41O Living Area 1' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/UGel6FcfMiKmWa9DCuK16Q/cid/122677888/id/0i20Xljh4xGZjophzSGTQA/size/c500x416.jpg' alt='41O Living Area 1' width='500'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a 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height='50' title='Handmade home decor' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/108557481.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=106318447' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Round side table' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/106318447.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=27620863' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Brown velvet sofa' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/27620863.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a></div></div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-318436379065590862014-05-21T20:46:00.001-04:002014-05-21T20:46:13.059-04:0041O Dining Area 1<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_dining_area/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122678910' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='352' title='41O Dining Area 1' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/STNOpEWgcNlcVtvKUlXTyA/cid/122678910/id/kocpeUrh4xGeaI3DtP8JyA/size/c500x352.jpg' alt='41O Dining Area 1' width='500'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_dining_area/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122678910' target='_blank'>41O Dining Area 1</a> by <a href='http://phoenixc.polyvore.com/?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger' target='_blank'>phoenixc</a> featuring a <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/maple_wood_table/shop?query=maple+wood+table' target='_blank'>maple wood table</a></small></div><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><br/><div style='text-align:left;'><a 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wood table' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/109877751.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=62897622' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Crate and Barrel hand crafted furniture' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/62897622.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a></div></div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-82673217879885547642014-05-21T20:42:00.001-04:002014-05-21T20:42:45.849-04:0041O Dining Area 1<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_dining_area/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122678910' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='483' title='41O Dining Area 1' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/DEvhjlMmwPaJaTsIepohFg/cid/122678910/id/rAOh-Unh4xGqFj2BzSGTQA/size/c500x483.jpg' alt='41O Dining Area 1' width='500'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_dining_area/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122678910' target='_blank'>41O Dining Area 1</a> by <a href='http://phoenixc.polyvore.com/?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger' target='_blank'>phoenixc</a> featuring a <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/maple_wood_table/shop?query=maple+wood+table' target='_blank'>maple wood table</a></small></div><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><br/><div style='text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=100613109' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='West Elm orb chandelier lighting' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/100613109.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a 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src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/102385564.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=103974060' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Wool area rug' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/103974060.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=77347590' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='DwellStudio contemporary home decor' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/77347590.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=99263583' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='DwellStudio throw pillow' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/99263583.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=108701615' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Handmade home decor' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/108701615.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=108557481' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Handmade home decor' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/108557481.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=106318447' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Circular end table' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/106318447.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=27620863' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Brown sofa' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/27620863.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a></div></div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-67927671014682273562014-05-21T20:14:00.001-04:002014-05-21T20:14:13.503-04:0041O Master Bedroom<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_master_bedroom/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122676317' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='496' title='41O Master Bedroom' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/amlEPkh05HJaMUCpFcXKrQ/cid/122676317/id/1h7uAEbh4xGsqGzBZFZllw/size/c500x496.jpg' alt='41O Master Bedroom' width='500'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/41o_master_bedroom/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=122676317' target='_blank'>41O Master Bedroom</a> by <a href='http://phoenixc.polyvore.com/?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger' target='_blank'>phoenixc</a> featuring a <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/grey_rug/shop?query=grey+rug' target='_blank'>grey rug</a></small></div><div style='width:500px;margin:0 auto'><br/><div style='text-align:left;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=67239312' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Cyan design lighting' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/67239312.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=87855066' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='White light' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/87855066.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=96502256' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Chatham grey rug' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/96502256.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=104685857' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Moroccan bedding' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/104685857.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=108557472' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Flower throw pillow' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/108557472.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=108557468' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Red toss pillow' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/108557468.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=107476698' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='Bungalow 5 furniture' src='http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/107476698.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=109908411' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><img force='1' height='50' title='King size bed frame' src='http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/109908411.jpg' hspace='4' width='50' vspace='4'/></a></div></div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-70279297572904947632012-11-05T23:02:00.000-05:002012-11-05T23:12:22.054-05:00Forever and a Day...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm a bad blogger, I know, as it's been forever and a day since I last blogged, but I haven't been all that inspired to post anything of substance until now.<br />
<br />
Long story short, I got a new job in the spring in the 'burbs and decided to sell my place and move back in with my mom to a) cut my work commute because it was kinda sucking and b) save money because my new place is, in hindsight, quite a bit larger and I'll need all my pennies to i) pay it down and ii) furnish and decorate it when it's finally ready.<br />
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On that note...I've been thinking about the new master bedroom: <br />
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/new_master_bedroom/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=62648260" target="_blank"><img alt="New Master Bedroom" border="0" force="1" height="452" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/ceUUWFJ439ipf1EM9lQaHw/cid/62648260/id/ios39YAfR2OMYQU3EVyizw/size/c500x452.jpg" title="New Master Bedroom" width="500" /></a></div>
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<small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/new_master_bedroom/set?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=62648260" target="_blank">New Master Bedroom</a> by <a href="http://phoenixc.polyvore.com/?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger" target="_blank">phoenixc</a> on <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/" target="_blank">Polyvore</a></small></div>
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=64301563" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/64301563.jpg" title="DwellStudio Links Cloud Duvet Set" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=129906" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/129906.jpg" title="IKEA | Rugs | Large & medium rugs | ANDREA" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=63427011" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/63427011.jpg" title="6-Drawer Dresser" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=68122497" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/68122497.jpg" title="Ikat Pillows, 16x16, Set of 2, Blue, Turquoise" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=65070032" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/65070032.jpg" title="Mayfair Steamer Cube with Drawers Brushed Steel" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=64693057" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/64693057.jpg" title="Moltex Shade Throw Turquoise" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=63470322" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/63470322.jpg" title="Vintage Birdcage Chandelier Medium" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=69125423" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/69125423.jpg" title="Room Essentials® Bolster Pillow - Purple" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.svc=blogger&id=67239312" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/67239312.jpg" title="West Palm Table Lamp design by Cyan Design" vspace="4" width="50" /></a></div>
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I actually have most of the elements here save for the bed and the night tables, which I think will be this <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2432/3598923012_32eabb9b9c_o.jpg#">Ikea hack</a>...I intend to re-purpose the purple rug that used to anchor my living area, the vintage dressers I picked up for a song and had painted white, the MOP lamps from Homesense, a more recently purchased <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/155163149633005022/">birdcage chandelier</a> from Homesav and depending on the season, there are the two blankets I picked up in Morocco a few years ago - the vintage wedding blanket direct from the mountain tribes and a brilliant turquoise blanket made out of cactus silk. I'm thinking the walls will be a soft grey with maybe a hint of lavender....<br />
<br />
As always, I can't wait! Last word on occupancy was May 2013, but I drove by a few weeks ago and it's currently just a hole in the ground. It's a pretty big hole and relatively deep, but a hole nonetheless. The development is a small, mid-rise building though with just 23 lofts and 5 townhouses so I suppose it could conceivably be ready for occupancy by next winter...fingers crossed! :)</div>
phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-21158265515648113352012-03-18T12:15:00.000-04:002012-03-18T12:15:38.145-04:00Lazy Sunday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Weekends are a funny thing. We look forward to them with such anticipation, making grand and sometimes not so grand plans for the TWO. DAYS. OFF. that we have to do whatever we want. Me, I usually come up with a list of plans/to-dos because I find if I don't, I lose track and end up doing nothing and before I know it, it's Sunday night and the disappointment of having "wasted" a weekend settles in and I carry that into my Monday.<br />
<br />
This weekend's list wasn't particularly ambitious: there's my usual laundry/marketing/cleaning/lunch prep for the week ahead (check/to do/check/to do), massage (much needed!), family lunch, read the paper (seriously - sometimes I "forget"), update my online profile, yoga (which I'm going to skip this weekend in order to), (and) prepare for a second round of job interviews.<br />
<br />
My sense of ambivalence and dissatisfaction at work has been ongoing for quite awhile now but I've been too complacent to do anything about it because it's comfortable...and comfortable isn't always the best thing. The more I think about it, the more I feel that this new opportunity is the perfect role for me at this point in my life. It would mean a major change in lifestyle, but it doesn't have to be forever - it could just be a strategic stepping stone - and I just have to remind myself of that...<br />
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I'm off then to the market for groceries, some cooking in the afternoon, and a lot of mental prep work to get into the right headspace for my interviews. Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!</div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-7954020411102903172012-02-19T20:57:00.001-05:002012-02-19T21:04:45.623-05:00Moving on up!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hallo!!! It's been literally ages since I last blogged because I've started up the practice of keeping a (mostly) daily journal again, and with this new routine, I find I'm less inclined to blog online with everything else that's been going on in my life.<br />
<br />
I do want to share some big news though! I bought a new place!! Which is CRAZY because I was thinking this would be something I'd start looking into maybe next summer...but then I sort of by accident found the perfect place and everything just came together and now I'm looking forward to moving as early as next summer!<br />
<br />
So, let's rewind, shall we?<br />
<br />
This is my place now: <br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlncDvAJOFgGRrmLzJ2h_s5wm4nUS2c7ZPu-ZVTIupM7L_q5MLj3ba4yIGMpy-U8GCFzybxXiwL6iOabJDxihUIW289emzqjg0_qjmaBaH9yC-2475cXDxjyvdIwfOTOS_H4Kx/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlncDvAJOFgGRrmLzJ2h_s5wm4nUS2c7ZPu-ZVTIupM7L_q5MLj3ba4yIGMpy-U8GCFzybxXiwL6iOabJDxihUIW289emzqjg0_qjmaBaH9yC-2475cXDxjyvdIwfOTOS_H4Kx/s640/Picture+3.png" width="640" /></a></div>I <a href="http://phoenixinthecity.blogspot.com/2008/08/moving-day.html">moved in August 13, 2008</a> and it has been the best first home ever: I have a group of great neighbours I can party up with on occasion, the neighbourhood's ideal and chockablock with street level retail, restaurants and hot yoga studios, and I'm walking distance to work. What more could a girl ask for, right?<br />
<br />
Well...maybe more space. I've been thinking for awhile that if my place were just a little bigger, it'd be PERFECT. I didn't think such a thing were possible though, so I had resigned myself to moving into a house at some point. I'd always figured that a house was something I'd move into when I grew up, i.e. got married. But, since I'm not married, and I don't believe in waiting around for my soulmate to show up so I can live the life I want to live, I started flirting with the idea of moving, and dipped my toes into the pool by just, you know, checking to see what was out there in the market.<br />
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A house is a lot of work for a couple, never mind a single woman who isn't particularly handy, so I thought, maybe a townhouse....one thing led to another while I was searching online and that's when I came across this new boutique development about 10 minutes west of where I am now. And I was immediately smitten, and, if you ask my sister, obsessed. I mean, LOOK:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozDTCBgKZsaRvPwY0qtq8g80jIivxSrEdOoLFKxdSARn7KGBOoP_F9CXcNw2KGHaUGnIX7CIpgCcyblemibRRQqF5dUXvLUNdPbpdo5my6x33C-0vLp9xFNtzzsm_KvvfnO1d/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozDTCBgKZsaRvPwY0qtq8g80jIivxSrEdOoLFKxdSARn7KGBOoP_F9CXcNw2KGHaUGnIX7CIpgCcyblemibRRQqF5dUXvLUNdPbpdo5my6x33C-0vLp9xFNtzzsm_KvvfnO1d/s640/Picture+2.png" width="640" /></a></div>This is basically my place now, with an extra bed and bath. Too good to be true. So I got excited but not too excited because I didn't want to be disappointed and I didn't know if I would be able to afford it.<br />
<br />
So here's how it all went down:<br />
<br />
<i>Sat, Jan 28</i>: I found the floorplan online late in the evening.<br />
<i>Sun, Jan 29</i>: I called the sales centre to get some more details like pricing (not as expensive as I thought it would be with some help from Mom - check!), expected occupancy (Summer 2013 - check!) <br />
<i>Mon, Jan 30</i>: visited the sales centre after work to find out more<br />
<i>Tues, Jan 31</i>: took the day off and called the bank to get the ball rolling on pre-approval<br />
<i>Wed, Feb 1</i>: got the call just before noon that I was pre-approved for a mortgage on the new place and went back to the sales centre that night to sign the purchase agreement - 10 day cooling off period starts<br />
<i>Fri, Feb 3</i>: met with my lawyer to review the agreement and discuss amendments<br />
<i>Mon, Feb 6</i>: met with the sales agent to drop off the amendments to the agreement for the developer<br />
<i>Thurs, Feb 9</i>: got an email from the sales agent late in the evening to say that the developer had agreed to just about all the amendments I wanted, including the larger kitchen at NO ADDITIONAL COST!!<br />
<i>Fri, Feb 10</i>: stopped by the sales agent's office to sign the amended purchase agreement<br />
<i>Wed, Feb 15</i>: 10 day cooling off period ends and I'm firm and committed!<br />
<br />
Insane, right? It all happened ridiculously fast but I never really doubted that this place was meant to be mine. It just felt incredibly right. I could not have imagined a better place - how many lofts have floor to ceiling windows with both the north and south exposure? And all the space is functional - there aren't any useless hallways, weird curved walls, or columns, which I love.<br />
<br />
So! Now the fun begins! I have a new place to look forward to decorating and I can't wait to share with you all the things I've been dreaming up!!! :)</div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-75084984894690355502011-11-06T01:24:00.000-05:002011-11-06T01:24:48.698-05:00Gone to Pot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Have I ever mentioned how much I love orchids? They're beautiful to look at, are fairly easy to maintain but most importantly for me, they provide the best value if you want fresh flowers in your home because their blooms last for a few months at a time. <br />
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I've purchased 7 orchids in the 3+ years I've lived in my condo - when the blooms of the first one dropped, I bought my second, and when the blooms of the second faded, I picked up my third because the first one was still dormant. I've had to get rid of one because the leaves were looking rather sickly and of the 6 that remain, some of which have re-bloomed, I haven't yet figured out how to get more than 4 or 5 buds to flower on a stem like these crazy-gorgeous specimens at Bangkok International Airport:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1uBV7Gg9Hgnedc8RmzmsXHPUWWIbLFx95b51DD_R9Xa6cAmtOQgRQBn6tSwUoHth6bnutiUb9VMM9Ipa9HwY3Iu45rZG9KQgTh6SnNbdBJOgRzWhfxt6Lnrfh0NkR7j2rRNh/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1uBV7Gg9Hgnedc8RmzmsXHPUWWIbLFx95b51DD_R9Xa6cAmtOQgRQBn6tSwUoHth6bnutiUb9VMM9Ipa9HwY3Iu45rZG9KQgTh6SnNbdBJOgRzWhfxt6Lnrfh0NkR7j2rRNh/s640/IMG_0598.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Nor have they synched up to bloom consecutively for me. One's currently in bloom and 5 are sleeping so I decided now was the time to give the latter some new "bedding" if you will - time to re-pot! Da-da-dum!!<br />
<br />
I googled "re-potting orchids" and found a ton of tutorials on what to do, including <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=636PDR1NIUg">this one</a> featuring Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" as background music. For reals! Talk about blast from the past! <br />
<br />
Anyway, here's my attempt below - this particular pot had moss as its growing medium, and can I just say it was kinda gross removing it all? I had to trim some of the roots that were "mushy" and then returned them to the pot using the "exotic potting medium." <br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXCQLCPww1LZGIXpCTHIds-KFOqFkgjou3hXi_6vSj1kIOIxCl6vci7T96zYgY4WOBT7-c-e5icRc08YtrJBxapIDNtHKs7XjBqayOgy7eIbcHKa_LA9QmcnVhZwO1xayR8zd/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXCQLCPww1LZGIXpCTHIds-KFOqFkgjou3hXi_6vSj1kIOIxCl6vci7T96zYgY4WOBT7-c-e5icRc08YtrJBxapIDNtHKs7XjBqayOgy7eIbcHKa_LA9QmcnVhZwO1xayR8zd/s640/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Fingers crossed that I did it right!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuClSn8FwGhJKejgpGee7cYgojadi4nhFyfIII2-1-X2Bc-vTbUVVlrXnweL-eyc7EchOuLprwcNVePmGFGv6ILIlYasWyNk-TO_HjHGMf9-EUPLY9_MI1XIY5s_UEHukB8Fi/s1600/IMG_0957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuClSn8FwGhJKejgpGee7cYgojadi4nhFyfIII2-1-X2Bc-vTbUVVlrXnweL-eyc7EchOuLprwcNVePmGFGv6ILIlYasWyNk-TO_HjHGMf9-EUPLY9_MI1XIY5s_UEHukB8Fi/s640/IMG_0957.JPG" width="476" /></a></div><br />
</div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-81632188025173493552011-10-25T20:37:00.000-04:002011-10-25T20:37:37.314-04:00Chocolate Cravings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4fOMTaeXrsVSmFGLnKdOW_3PU-whXQrUN-lv2WO3iLf9u4lFM1TYTn5RPSVHyxSHVelMyG4HdZRLUpgEXD31i32D865N3E6mRAem2ZyenuTzMjDQvuzmV4KpcCipfkIKzFi-/s1600/433009260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4fOMTaeXrsVSmFGLnKdOW_3PU-whXQrUN-lv2WO3iLf9u4lFM1TYTn5RPSVHyxSHVelMyG4HdZRLUpgEXD31i32D865N3E6mRAem2ZyenuTzMjDQvuzmV4KpcCipfkIKzFi-/s320/433009260.jpg" width="238" /></a>So. For some strange reason, I've been craving baked goods - chocolaty cookies specifically - for the last, oh, 2 or 3 weeks. I don't know why because I'm not one to usually crave chocolate but there you have it. Problem is, cookies don't really fit into my clean eating diet so I've been trying to fight it, but I'm done fighting. I resorted to a healthy-ish recipe for "Best-ever Chocolate Cookies" from a hospital calendar my mom requested a little while back with a number of substitutions and tweaks because a) I was out of a few ingredients (namely brown sugar and oat bran) and b) I wanted to try baking with spelt flour, which aside from being a <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/309814-what-are-the-benefits-of-eating-spelt-flour/">rich source of niacin and other minerals</a>, also has <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/313385-calories-in-spelt-flour/">fewer calories</a> than whole wheat flour.<br />
<br />
Anyway, they taste AWESOME! They don't taste "healthy" at all! Here's the original recipe which is credited to <a href="http://www.dietitians.ca/">The Dieticians of Canada</a> with notes on my substitutions:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Best-Ever Chocolate Cookies</b></i><br />
Makes: ~42 cookies (1 per serving)<br />
Preheat Oven: 350F (180C)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
1 cup all purpose flour <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I used the aforementioned spelt this time but whole wheat the last time)</span><br />
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1/4 tsp salt <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I used all natural sea salt - I know, la-di-da)</span> <br />
2 eggs<br />
1 cup margarine or butter, softened <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I used butter this time around - I went half-butter, half-organic applesauce last time but I was all out of the latter tonight)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3/4 cup packed brown sugar <span style="font-size: x-small;">(no brown sugar but found <a href="http://www.cdkitchen.com/features/tip/251/Brown-Sugar-Substitute">this tip</a> on a substitution)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 1/2 cup quick cooking rolled oats</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 cup bran cereal, not flakes <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I was short a full cup but had wheatgerm and flaxseed meal so went 1/3 each)</span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3/4 cup white chocolate chips <span style="font-size: x-small;">(not a fan of white chocolate so used semi-sweet)</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">optional: ~3/4 cup chopped walnuts*</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Directions:</b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. In a small bowl, sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I didn't sift - I actually don't own a sifter - and they turned out just fine)</span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. In a large bowl, beat eggs, margarine and brown sugar. Fold in flour mixture. Stir in oats, bran cereal and chocolate chips.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls (15mL) about 2 inches (5 cm) apart, onto ungreased baking sheets.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Bake in preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until just crisp. Let cool on baking sheets on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove to rack to cool completely.<b> </b> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">* I like the texture of nuts in my cookies and chocolate and walnuts are a great combo in my book </span> </span></span></span></span> </span><br />
<br />
Per Serving:<br />
94 Calories<br />
2.1 g Fat<br />
0.3 g Saturated Fat<br />
44mg Sodium<br />
18g Carbohydrates<br />
3g Fiber<br />
2g Protein<br />
<br />
</div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-26768308558827083752011-09-27T10:50:00.001-04:002011-09-27T10:57:38.016-04:00Making the Classic Sexy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I haven't always been a fan of <a href="http://ca.burberry.com/store/">Burberry</a>. When I was younger, I found their check pattern "old lady" but I've since come around and can count 2 pieces in my collection, both classics: the quilted jacket and more recently, their 3/4 trench I love it so much!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I signed up for their email list with my first purchase at their outlet in PA a few years ago and their <a href="http://ca.burberry.com/store/experiences/burberry-nude/?WT.mc_id=email_cheetah_week1124_AW11-Theme-NudeTrenchCoat&WT.tsrc=email#/coats/video">latest campaign</a> touting their "nude" collection landed in my inbox:<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmbDqy5mDc5YxgVqE5t3ENAlpkli4V7NfXWWE9eFSv0zTlgD04pzcuKE_OJdv8pZvs5XnGpvdevm0ZgcPOYF16pqyoW5oh-RUxGUyG5rAjrmvWAQ2T6lF0hLPT9XgjCo4IZVX/s1600/Picture+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmbDqy5mDc5YxgVqE5t3ENAlpkli4V7NfXWWE9eFSv0zTlgD04pzcuKE_OJdv8pZvs5XnGpvdevm0ZgcPOYF16pqyoW5oh-RUxGUyG5rAjrmvWAQ2T6lF0hLPT9XgjCo4IZVX/s400/Picture+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Granted, there are some pretty fantastic re-imaginings of their trench, in particular this gorgeous lace version. I mean, HELLO! Will you please come home with me?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxmIwL34B3TpDGdh2S_B0eZsxuGvHZ3mVaWXceXbI23fQ2zbHQEXH0h8bKrOCIGk-yunsWWxzPsHOqu0KtDWrCzzTjF4LYTahZvY3v8RbyxEmWi-zhz6MEZrIBqJnTDVwY0iW/s1600/Picture+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxmIwL34B3TpDGdh2S_B0eZsxuGvHZ3mVaWXceXbI23fQ2zbHQEXH0h8bKrOCIGk-yunsWWxzPsHOqu0KtDWrCzzTjF4LYTahZvY3v8RbyxEmWi-zhz6MEZrIBqJnTDVwY0iW/s320/Picture+11.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><br />
Seriously though, Nude = Beige. I get it, Burberry, you want to make it sexy! and young! and appealing! But really. I thought you were better than that.</div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-64949429709716125722011-09-18T00:54:00.002-04:002011-09-18T00:59:34.727-04:00Shady<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My kid brother bought a resale condo last month 2 weeks into my vacation in Thailand. This is crazy for 2 reasons: first because he only just started talking about getting a place of his own maybe 2 weeks before and second, he's my kid brother and OMG he's all grown up!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/09/17/4048.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/09/17/s_4048.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Anyway, we spent the early part of the afternoon at Direct Interiors looking at couches, broke up the day with my mom's singing recital - oh ya, you read that right! - and hit up a HomeSense 30 minutes before closing where we found the awesome lamps at right.<br />
<br />
To be specific, I found a pair of the shades at left first. Totally awesome graphic, right?? Guess how much they were? You'll never guess.......are you guessing???.......Go on....Guess...You'll never guess...They were a total steal..........Did you guess yet???<br />
<br />
I seriously considered buying them for myself even though I don't have a need for them right now and storing them at my mom's until there is a need but my brother actually liked them, which was a surprise. Anyway, they were $16.99 each. Yah. That's right. $16.99 each!!!! And then we got the pair of lamps with the funky geometric-patterned teal base that came with the rectangular shade which was perfectly fine, but don't they look so much more interesting with the graphic print? Super-mod, non? I LOVE them so much and wish I was decorating a place of my own...this is the next best thing though. :)</div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-69776689512718487052011-09-05T00:49:00.001-04:002011-09-18T00:58:26.389-04:00Bachelor PadInitial thoughts for my kid brother's bachelor pad...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><div style="height: 400px; position: relative; width: 400px;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/bachelor_pad/set?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed&id=36637835"><img alt="Bachelor Pad" border="0" force="1" height="400" src="http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/36637835/id/8txbgnrX4BGNortYdVjacA/size/e.jpg" title="Bachelor Pad" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/bachelor_pad/set?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed&id=36637835">Bachelor Pad</a> by <a href="http://phoenixc.polyvore.com/?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed">phoenixc</a> on <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/">Polyvore.com</a></small></div><small></small><br />
<div style="padding-top: 16px;"><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=29040583" rel="nofollow"><img align="left" force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/29040583.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=29040583" rel="nofollow">Lounge 93 Slipcovered Sofa</a></small><br />
<small>$1,999 - crateandbarrel.com</small><br />
<small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=26696708" rel="nofollow"><img align="left" force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/26696708.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=26696708" rel="nofollow">BDI Avion® Series II Home Theater Cabinet 8925</a></small><br />
<small>$1,399 - yliving.com</small><br />
<small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=32321994" rel="nofollow"><img align="left" force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/32321994.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=32321994" rel="nofollow">CB2 - facil dining table</a></small><br />
<small>$349 - cb2.com</small><br />
<small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=5673454" rel="nofollow"><img align="left" force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/5673454.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=5673454" rel="nofollow">Ikea Ikea Stockholm Rand</a></small><br />
<small>$199 - ikea.com</small><br />
<small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=40959373" rel="nofollow"><img align="left" force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/40959373.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=40959373" rel="nofollow">CB2 - go-cart carbon five-shelf bookcase</a></small><br />
<small>$199 - cb2.com</small><br />
<small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=32579803" rel="nofollow"><img align="left" force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/32579803.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=32579803" rel="nofollow">Aluminum Wood Side Table | west elm</a></small><br />
<small>$179 - westelm.com</small><br />
<small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=34013375" rel="nofollow"><img align="left" force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/34013375.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=34013375" rel="nofollow">Random Base Side Table | west elm</a></small><br />
<small>$149 - westelm.com</small><br />
<small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=5681112" rel="nofollow"><img align="left" force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/5681112.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=5681112" rel="nofollow">Ikea Tobias</a></small><br />
<small>$80 - ikea.com</small><br />
<small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=33032144" rel="nofollow"><img align="left" force="1" height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/33032144.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=190354&.mid=embed-imagelist&id=33032144" rel="nofollow">Millstead Walnut Natural Glaze 1/2 in. Thick x 5 in. Width x Random...</a></small><br />
<small>$5.78 - homedepot.com</small><br />
<small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div></div></div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-34459863349615384912011-08-08T11:11:00.001-04:002011-08-29T18:04:42.874-04:00Plus 10Holy crap it's ridiculously humid here in Siem Reap.<br /><br />We arrived in a propeller plane from Bangkok this afternoon to cloudy skies and by the time we cleared passport control and collected our bags it was pouring rain outside. <br /><br />I checked the forecast for the next few days as we'll be touring Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples and the temps are in the low 30s but with 90+% humidity it feels 10 degrees hotter. I'm not sure I can handle it...I mean, it's so humid in our room that paper is soft. Like, for reals. And my skin! The humidity is making me breakout. Not. Cool. So glad I packed my mud mask!<br /><br />There is a silver lining though - our hotel has happy hour between 5 and 7 so drinks that range from US$1.50 for Asian draught beer to US$3.55 for a cocktail are half price...needless to say, we indulged. Good times just chilling and taking advantage of free wifi. We actually had a skype chat with my cousin A. How wonderful is that? :)<br /><br />Off now to catch up on a week's worth of gossip over at <a target="_blank" href="laineygossip.com">LaineyGossip</a> before calling it a night! <br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><br />phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-82920128275441347002011-08-01T13:38:00.004-04:002011-09-18T01:04:34.806-04:0020 hrs and counting...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm tapping out this particular post from Beijing International where I'm waiting at gate E12 for my 5:05pm flight to Bangkok.* I've been up now for over 20 hours and am definitely feeling it - i.e. I'm cranky and impatient.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/01/2542.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/01/s_2542.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite the grumps, Chingrish never fails to make me smile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My plan to stay up the 12hr flight from Toronto worked as planned - I watched Morning Glory, Temple Grandin, Just Go With It, and the documentary about NYT style photographer Bill Cunningham which I highly recommend if you come across it.<br />
<br />
I was rather hungry and in my sleep-deprived, cranky state, I was craving the familiar like McDonald's or Starbucks, neither of which I was able to find. How is that possible?? You've got the high-brow designer names like Burberry, Chopard and Ferragamo but tall-non-fat-no-foam-extra-hot-lattes are MIA? Instead of settling for fast food Chinese and Beijing sushi, I opted to mix one of my protein meal replacement shakes. Not what I wanted but really the path of least resistance. <br />
<br />
Flight is supposed to start boarding in 4 mins...can't wait to finally get to Bangkok where I can meet my friend, have a late din and get some real sleep! Fingers crossed for no jetlag!!<br />
<br />
* Don't have the brain power to figure out whether there's free wifi here...can't seem to get it to work if it is so when this actually posted I'll be in Bangkok where my hotel has free wifi.<br />
<br />
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone</div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-32470412180565423302011-07-31T02:23:00.001-04:002011-07-31T02:24:59.046-04:00ONE. MORE. SLEEP.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">After much planning on my part, I'm pretty much packed and ready to go tomorrow for my 3 week jaunt to Thailand/Cambodia. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/29/2999.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/29/s_2999.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="320" /></a></div>And for the first time ever, I feel like I've packed fairly light: 4 tank tops, 3 t-shirts, 2 dresses, a skirt, 3 scarves, 3 pairs of pants in varied lengths, a cardi and 4 pairs of shoes/sandals. OK, so maybe I'll buy some clothes there - they'll be more appropriate for the weather anyway. (I'm still surprised by how much I've come to like orange of late - see how much it figures in my wardrobe to the right) - when I've never really liked it before and have been meaning to write a blog about it but have obviously been lazy on that score.)<br />
<br />
I'm super-excited! There will be scads of temples and buddhas to ooh and aah over in the next few weeks. I've plans for a cycling tour, as well as a cooking class in Chiang Mai; a <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2436068/getting_a_fish_pedicure_in_bangkok.html?cat=5">fish pedicure</a> in Bangkok; maybe learning to snorkel around Koh Samui; 3 days touring Angkor Wat with a private guide; maybe an elephant ride; and if at all possible, a massage every day. <br />
<br />
There will be free wifi in all my hotels (that was actually a pre-requisite) so I'll try to blog while I'm gone but I shan't make any promises. <br />
<br />
Until then, <span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="th"><span class="hps">จะดูแลและ</span><span class="">จะปลอดภัย</span><span class="">!*</span></span><br />
<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="th"><span class=""><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">* <i>Take care and be safe </i>in Thai.</span><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="th"><span class=""><br />
</span></span></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-12345260449309610582011-07-20T23:07:00.000-04:002011-07-20T23:07:28.683-04:00Feeling HOT HOT HOT!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is seriously bananas: Toronto is officially in the midst of a heat wave which I can not be happier about because the last few summers have been so crap. LOOK AT THE <a href="http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caon0696?ref=homemap">FORECAST</a> FOR TOMORROW! 38C but feels like 48C?! It's hotter in Toronto than it is in Thailand (eeeeee!!!) where I will be in 12 more sleeps! I must admit, the fantastic weather here makes me feel a teeny-tiny bit regretful that I'll be leaving on vacation soon and missing out on the rest of the summer here. <br />
<br />
And despite the heat, I haven't yet turned on my A/C, which surprises me a little given that I'm south-facing. I reckon having the lake nearby makes a difference since there is a nice breeze coming off it and keeping my shades down all day helps too. Feeling rather virtuous and green, never mind how happy my checkbook is for not having to spend the funds to cool down. :)<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dkEZp0neLwPOarBiWUeE8fjwOR-U_NPrKtXn5yTBdX5nBxulBRJEjvrjo3H5cm3Vjgu_tfSSGthZ5N0jXwWh2wU5RUn8BCOsgFKyxVQsSMcJEeJOVAlNYPJqQFOeil_7Hc2H/s1600/Picture+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dkEZp0neLwPOarBiWUeE8fjwOR-U_NPrKtXn5yTBdX5nBxulBRJEjvrjo3H5cm3Vjgu_tfSSGthZ5N0jXwWh2wU5RUn8BCOsgFKyxVQsSMcJEeJOVAlNYPJqQFOeil_7Hc2H/s640/Picture+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-51973424227343609362011-07-17T23:26:00.000-04:002011-07-17T23:26:25.433-04:00Weekend Update<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/41861132"></a>How's your summer? The weather in Toronto has been fantastic and planner that I am, based on how the last couple weekends have unfolded I'm learning that sometimes it's best to let things evolve organically.<br />
<br />
Last weekend, I saw Hugh Jackman live in concert - he is amazing amazing amazing! - with WL and this was the only thing we had planned. But afterwards, we browsed bicycle shops, had dinner at Jules and ended up watching Bridesmaids which was hilarious!<br />
<br />
This weekend, WL and I had plans to watch Harry Potter 7B. The End. Such bittersweet feelings for the end of an era...I almost wish I had taken the time to re-read the series from The Beginning, but at the very least, we saw HP7A again the night before, which was a good thing because there was so much I had forgotten. It did NOT disappoint and I cried, although not as much as I thought I would.<br />
<br />
Over lunch at <a href="http://www.khaosanroad.ca/">Khao San Road</a> afterwards we talked about the movies and how, while HP7B was wonderful, it wasn't as wonder-ful as the first, because it was in the first that we were introduced to the magical world of Hogwarts personified. Sigh.<br />
<br />
Anyway, we walked through the U of T campus on our way to Yorkville to do some shopping and met up with our friends S&W at Anthropologie. While WL already had dinner plans, S&W and I made our way to <a href="http://www.yelp.ca/biz/fanny-chadwicks-toronto-2">Fanny Chadwick's</a> and then I walked home. All in all, I walked the distance of a 1/2 marathon yesterday...which, considering that I'm contemplating training for an actual half, wasn't all that bad. I opted out of a run this morning though and just went to hot yoga which was just what my tight body needed. I felt amazingly loose and chilled out...so chilled out that after lunch, I took a nap out on my balcony. Every weekend should be like this... :)<br />
<br />
I hope you're enjoying our perfect summer!phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-89809926238112393472011-07-08T00:09:00.000-04:002011-07-08T00:09:11.023-04:00One last hurrahI'm headed to Thailand in about 3 weeks for 3 weeks - 5 days of which will be spent on the beach. So, in order to get bikini-ready, I told my trainer, K that we needed to cut short our build phase to get into burn, which is all well and good. Burn means sets in the 16+ rep range and lighter weights and protein days that involve a limited carbs and no fruit because of the fructose, which the body immediately <a href="http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2011/02/sunday-life-i-quit-sugar/">converts into fat</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqc9Kz5TNkJHYtOkXaOIAuuK2f6cGzSo-GZWZ5J_nGZsE00KsI59ev70uG7GDz38wV0v9XwlV5JvJV4WgWquecyP6HpsO7Z3gxcW-lZTthNrxgqw5kyUvqp9RFUJ2zyBXWnoD/s1600/lychee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqc9Kz5TNkJHYtOkXaOIAuuK2f6cGzSo-GZWZ5J_nGZsE00KsI59ev70uG7GDz38wV0v9XwlV5JvJV4WgWquecyP6HpsO7Z3gxcW-lZTthNrxgqw5kyUvqp9RFUJ2zyBXWnoD/s320/lychee.jpg" width="302" /></a>I've gotten the protein days down and I've cut fruit before and gotten great results but it's summer now. And that means lychee are in season - a short season but still. So I'm being REALLY bad. I picked up a bag of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lychee">lychee</a> Tuesday night from my local Chinese grocer that was on special for $0.99/lbs. They were sooo sweet and juicy, with small seeds and lots of meat. <br />
<br />
I have fond memories of eating lychee as a kid. My parents used to own a Chinese grocery themselves and I remember sitting with my family outside, eating them from the case. Those were the days...<br />
<br />
I went back to my grocer after work today to check if the lychee were still on special and picked up 4lbs. These will be the last of the season for me. I promise - never mind the 2 pints of strawberries I picked up for $3.50. I think I'll freeze most of them to bake more scones since my mom really enjoyed the coconut berry ones I made last.phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-24683686961571825782011-06-28T23:06:00.000-04:002011-06-28T23:06:29.049-04:00Baked goodies for my Piglet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1ZbBKVIJDbnjUGimS1q_9mqXRm445rMFD3JoFtXU1UjFQwgsaV0a-UjPkbWsx2mdqhq5cvrqGQg1W6r4ssWAZIFVrXCqpysbyTUdraY5bhnzz2C0tBoCO_tYxUP0tqEAtcvn/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1ZbBKVIJDbnjUGimS1q_9mqXRm445rMFD3JoFtXU1UjFQwgsaV0a-UjPkbWsx2mdqhq5cvrqGQg1W6r4ssWAZIFVrXCqpysbyTUdraY5bhnzz2C0tBoCO_tYxUP0tqEAtcvn/s320/IMG_0401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I'm spending this Canada Day long weekend in Vancouver. My flight leaves Thursday afternoon and I'll arrive in time for a late dinner with my family - which includes our newest addition, GMC, aka Baby Boy.<br />
<br />
My Piglet was apparently having some trouble adjusting to not being the centre of attention anymore, which I could sympathize with as the eldest child, if only I remembered what it felt like at 17 months when my sister was first born. <br />
<br />
I've spent the last couple nights baking - chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies favoured by my Piglet and coconut berry scones for my sister. I used frozen blueberries and strawberries in the latter which melted as they were mixed in my food processor, resulting in a rather wet dough. The star- and heart-shaped scones were rather goo-y (left) but turned out reasonably well once baked (right). I like to serve them with Devonshire cream and jam (mmmmmm) but my taste-test suggests that they're also fine as-is.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjsZjnU7IEznqehC1TI8V7aW_Cu6E9lo68zyW5yD_Fr9Foa8ucM8WyClFlvPsHKXRqPSeuDC-ixcsi1-oYfgB_CYZXC0tpTV12u5JGxwnDAz89PPfCrSDuNvzaBkiSL7vSBQy/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjsZjnU7IEznqehC1TI8V7aW_Cu6E9lo68zyW5yD_Fr9Foa8ucM8WyClFlvPsHKXRqPSeuDC-ixcsi1-oYfgB_CYZXC0tpTV12u5JGxwnDAz89PPfCrSDuNvzaBkiSL7vSBQy/s640/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<i>Soooo</i> looking forward to cuddles with my Piglet and eskimo kisses with Baby Boy!<br />
<br />
</div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-56949459844967902432011-06-27T00:15:00.000-04:002011-06-27T00:15:22.063-04:00The Best Laid Plans...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I finished <a href="http://terryfallis.com/">Terry Fallis</a>' The Best Laid Plans this morning, which turned out to be the perfect literary palate cleanser after reading Sarah Blake's <a href="http://www.sarahblakebooks.com/books-postmistress.htm">The Postmistress</a> and Peter Cameron's <a href="http://www.peter-cameron.com/someday_this_pain_will_be_useful_to_you__2007__52337.htm">Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You</a>.<br />
<br />
As is usually the case, I always feel the need for something light after reading a novel set in WWII - the third section of The Postmistress, <i>Spring 1941,</i> was particularly hard to read at some points as Frankie Bard, the intrepid radio broadcaster rode the trains through Nazi-occupied Europe to get the real truth about what was happening to the Jews. <br />
<br />
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You was a recommendation by <a href="http://www.laineygossip.com/Lucy_Liu_and_Toby_Regbo_work_on_Someday_This_Pain_Will_Be_Useful_To_You_in_New_York_19aug10.aspx?CatID=1155&CelID=0">Lainey</a>. The writing is smart and funny and it's set in Manhattan 2003 which was different enough for me but I still felt a little unsettled by the ending...it wasn't the "happy ending" I was looking for...so I browsed my bookcase and settled on The Best Laid Plans. <i>Perfeito!</i><br />
<br />
The Best Laid Plans had an unconventional start as a free weekly podcast by its author, Terry Fallis. It's a book about, of all things, Canadian Federal politics and it's FUNNY! SO FUNNY! I know...it's totally weird for me to see politics and funny in the same sentence but it's true! Read it for yourself, or listen to the podcast <a href="http://terryfallis.com/the-best-laid-plans/tblp-podcast/">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6ou8Rba47jDJT0rWC6JgxJ71gHedTIqTJi3mHA-rS3ayhxddcJp1tX64rKkOah5hkefxQDlCC9ONWebqVNFw67W_ddWa-u25Ks5PFYXwCnp4ZSgOgOJF-dmx6T1YTA68du0k/s1600/cover-with-Canada-Reads-winner-badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6ou8Rba47jDJT0rWC6JgxJ71gHedTIqTJi3mHA-rS3ayhxddcJp1tX64rKkOah5hkefxQDlCC9ONWebqVNFw67W_ddWa-u25Ks5PFYXwCnp4ZSgOgOJF-dmx6T1YTA68du0k/s320/cover-with-Canada-Reads-winner-badge.jpg" width="203" /></a>From the back covers:<br />
<br />
Terry Fallis got tired of waiting for a literary agent or a publisher to decide to take on his book. So he recorded a reading of his novel, and released it, chapter by chapter, as a podcast. People really liked it. Encouraged by that reaction, he published the book on his own. Again, people really liked it.<br />
<br />
Then it won the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour, beating out major authors published by the big houses. And people <i>really</i> liked that.<br />
...<br />
It's a satire on Canadian politics, especially the modern Ottawa version, and it's full of unforgettable characters and a story that will sweep you along. Sex in the hallowed halls of Parliament, caucus manipulation, melon-throwing violence, culturally stunted engineers, chessboard battles, and even a personal hovercraft all feature in this plot. Not to mention true love, and good guys winning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3QNTj4ozhD6yV5YljMOP0GcFPUY9742ISKCVwIKs3vdSu0qWv_Q5aCd4RkTbJuu7BV33zjOx1JTi0JJHf_Zy_y_eQ_0p-duIjOZfMuPN2zNlX6Wbf23CzJXVfiDkUUBIg19W/s1600/62510ThePostmistress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3QNTj4ozhD6yV5YljMOP0GcFPUY9742ISKCVwIKs3vdSu0qWv_Q5aCd4RkTbJuu7BV33zjOx1JTi0JJHf_Zy_y_eQ_0p-duIjOZfMuPN2zNlX6Wbf23CzJXVfiDkUUBIg19W/s320/62510ThePostmistress.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>In 1940, Iris James is the postmistress in coastal Franklin, Massachusetts. Iris knows more about the townspeople than she will ever say - for example, that Emma Trask has come to marry the town's doctor, and that Harry Vale watches the ocean for U-boats. Iris believes her job is to deliver secrets. Yet one day she does the unthinkable: slips a letter into her pocket, reads it, and doesn't deliver it.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Frankie Bard broadcasts from overseas with Edward R. Murrow. Her dispatches beg listeners to pay heed as the Nazis bomb London nightly. Most of the townspeople of Franklin think the war can't touch them. But Iris and Emma and Frankie know better...<br />
<br />
<i>The Postmistress</i> is a tale of tow worlds - one shattered by violence, the other willfully naive - and of two women whose jobs are to deliver the news, yet who find themselves unable to do so. Through their eyes, and the eyes of everyday people caught in history's tide, it examines how we tell each other stories, and how we bear the fact of war as we live ordinary lives.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz8AZNPIM7wpH9iwFdBc8ZfieYsORhyDy4Ykao43BXhX66CG0kbXbf76a5CFPLXsY8SwEWkZ68EH7lf5Pd60F7Tdf_ZEbB4cgM3tb6pViAOz8-MHKChwu9tLBafkzCMq7WTPw/s1600/CameronSomeday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz8AZNPIM7wpH9iwFdBc8ZfieYsORhyDy4Ykao43BXhX66CG0kbXbf76a5CFPLXsY8SwEWkZ68EH7lf5Pd60F7Tdf_ZEbB4cgM3tb6pViAOz8-MHKChwu9tLBafkzCMq7WTPw/s1600/CameronSomeday.JPG" /></a></div><i>Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You</i> is the story of James Sveck, a sophisticated, vulnerable young man with a deep appreciation for the world and no idea how to live in it. James is eighteen, the child of divorced parents living in Manhattan. Articulate, sensitive, and cynical, he rejects all of the assumptions that govern the adult world around him - including the expectation that he will go to college in the fall. He would prefer to move to an old house in a small town somewhere in the Midwest. <i>Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You </i>takes place over a few broiling days in the summer of 2003 as James confides in his sympathetic grandmother, stymies his canny therapist, deplores his pretentious sister, and devises a fake online identity in order to pursue his crush on a much older coworker. Nothing turns out how he'd expected.<br />
<br />
</div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-10862530121373672922011-06-19T23:42:00.000-04:002011-06-19T23:42:16.734-04:00Hot and cold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So, I've been into hot yoga in a big way the last couple months and today was the first class I took that wasn't hot and let me tell you: what a difference in my flexibility and practice!<br />
<br />
I checked out <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.net/">The Yoga Sanctuary</a> on The Danforth this morning with my <a href="http://passporttoprana.com/">Passport to Prana</a> and they have a beautiful corner studio to practice in with the exposed brick, and warm hardwood floors. Back to practice though - my body felt pretty tight to start which wasn't surprising first thing in the morning but even when I was "warmed up" I still felt tighter than I've normally been of late practicing in a hot studio. Now, I'm not crazy about literally sweating buckets in practice and leaving the studio in clothes that are soaked through but I do love how amazingly chilled out and relaxed I feel after practice. <br />
<br />
Perhaps it's still early to say, but I'm beginning to think that once you go hot, you can't go back...</div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178728.post-29127916847644594122011-06-19T00:08:00.000-04:002011-06-19T00:08:29.136-04:00Perfect Saturday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">How was your Saturday? I hope it was a good one as the weather was perfect. <br />
<br />
I got up at 9am and was out the door an hour later for a good run through Harbourfront. The sun was shining and there was a lovely breeze off the lake, and given my fair-weather tendencies, I could not have asked for better weather. <br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe frameborder="0" height="500px" id="mmf_blog_map" src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=829130840908685604&u=e&t=run" width="400px">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/37971036"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;iMapMyRUN: 2011-06-18 10:57 AM&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/?location=Toronto, ON"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Find more Runs in Toronto, ON&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe><br />
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My plan for the afternoon was to check out a class at <a href="http://www.downwarddog.com/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=49">Downward Dog</a> with my <a href="http://passporttoprana.com/">Passport to Prana </a>but my neighbour invited me out for ice cream at <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/opening-daily-dish/2011/06/13/introducing-cool-hand-luc/">Cool Hand Luc</a> so ix-nay the yoga and yay for ice cream and what turned out to be a perfect Saturday because we just wandered through our neighbourhood: We met up in the lobby at 1pm and headed out for ice cream. Afterwards, we wandered down to Kensington Market for papusas at <a href="http://www.yelp.ca/biz/emporium-latino-toronto">Emporium Latino</a> - yes, that's right, dessert before lunch! - and then browsed in <a href="http://www.goodegg.ca/">Good Egg</a> for a bit and sighed over the beautifully designed cookbooks. Then it was back to Queen West where we stopped in <a href="http://www.jacobandsebastian.com/">Jacob & Sebastian</a> for some goodies en route to <a href="http://www.darkhorseespresso.com/">Dark Horse</a> for lemonade (me) and coffee (neighbour). While this is my 3rd full summer in the 'hood, I'd never stepped into either <a href="http://www.thehealthybutcher.com/">The Healthy Butcher</a> or <a href="http://leslievillecheese.com/">The Leslieville Cheese Market</a>. K had to pick up a few things for a BBQ later tonight so in we went and I ended up picking up a bottle of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Spices-Marinades-Seasonings/207544212609038">David's Special Steak Rub</a> at the former which I plan to use on chicken breasts and a small block of Raspberry Bella Vitano, a firm almost parmesan-like cheese that was rubbed in raspberry ale at the latter. Final stop of the day brought us nearly full-circle back on King West at <a href="http://www.somachocolate.com/">Soma</a>. I really do love my neighbourhood and its fantastic food and retail options. :) <br />
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Anyway, I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening indoors. I was feeling lazy about dinner so had a bagel with cream cheese and whipped up some scrambled eggs with chives and cheese. Mmm. Chives and cheese. Now, I'm not usually one to have dessert at home on my own but I had a pint of strawberries in the fridge from last weekend that I'd forgotten about during the week and my all-time favourite yogurt, <a href="http://www.liberte.ca/en/yogurt-mediterranee-products/mediterranee_lemon__yogurt.sn">Liberte's Mediterranee Lemon</a> (OMG SO GOOD!) so I thought, why not put them together? The combo was freakin' awesome! So easy and so tasty!<br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncCdBz1p6qvyQC4rmA8ticcIxhjvFCy-0rixGqQWGuywUqBN0Vx75Z98DK7XQ54HNYXqU_a5KyDV4tY6fxPhXVHFNHjpCyoCSKaX26wVOcvfbcWeTl77CwVelAPiGinDObBcv/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncCdBz1p6qvyQC4rmA8ticcIxhjvFCy-0rixGqQWGuywUqBN0Vx75Z98DK7XQ54HNYXqU_a5KyDV4tY6fxPhXVHFNHjpCyoCSKaX26wVOcvfbcWeTl77CwVelAPiGinDObBcv/s640/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Perfect end to a perfect day!</div></div></div>phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146822948753862490noreply@blogger.com1