Everything Happens for a Reason

That is a very popular saying in my family. Basically a more mysterious way of saying "everything will work out fine". We're not a religious bunch, but I have always kind of figured that the Universe just tends to balance itself out, perhaps by way of some non-denominational, inconceivable force or perhaps just because it feels better that way. And throughout my entire life...this saying has proven itself true over and over again. Whenever I'm upset about something really important not going according to plan, something else happens, which ONLY could have happened if the first plan failed, and it all works out better than the original plan.

Confused yet?

I'm just saying...optimism (and ok, maybe love) makes the world go round.

So what prompted this slightly existential ramble?

WELL. 


*ahem*


I had my whole day planned around my sewing clinic (like extra-help, but for crafty folk). I left work early, I made dinner for my housemates because it was my night (I even remembered to soak the chickpeas overnight AND cook them this morning), I packed my fabric and pins, filled my water bottle, packed my dinner, and finally I took the 2-hour bus ride to Monkland. Within 10 steps of the door, I realized I hadn't remembered my shirt pattern.


Plan A = fail


I went in anyway, to say hello and eat my dinner, and brainstorm a little bit. They did have a tunic pattern, but it just wasn't my plan for the fabric. 


As "luck" (lookin' at you non-denominational, impossibly-vague force) would have it, I wore a button-up shirt that fit me exactly the way I wanted the new shirt to fit. I also wore a tank top underneath. I asked the Miracle Man (we call him Daniel), "Can I just copy this shirt?"


Best question I ever asked. You know why? The answer was yes. Copy it we did.


I learned so much. I can now copy pretty much any piece of clothing that I really, really like and that fits me correctly...and that I want multiples of. 


By the end of the night, I had a complete pattern drawn and cut out, and my front and back pieces cut. 

Next week, Miracle Man will teach me how to sew everything together AND make french seams (classy...clean finish...no fraying)


I'm really glad I forgot my commercial pattern. 


Thank youuu Universe.

Sleep-blogging

The date of my 10K race is drawing closer, and I could nap through this whole week, except for training, which I could also probably nap through. Perhaps I'm not eating enough. Exercise is hard on the grocery bill folks. Gotta get all that protein in there. 

Aside from that, here's a rundown of the past week (which has felt like a month). 

- Moved our entire lab (lots of organic chemistry equipment folks...) to another building. This involved lots of packing random whats-its, putting said whats-its on a sketchy trolley and carting them across the street, unloading the boxes of whats-its, and then humming and hawing about where to PUT all the whats-its. Imagine 100's of beakers/flasks/tubes/vials/etc. Highlights: riding the trolley, having one of the chemical bottles DISINTEGRATE because it was ordered the year I was born, playing the hockey night in canada theme song with varying sizes of graduated cylinders, and exploring the attic of our new building. 

At least I get paid by the hour. 

- Went to "Nuits d'Afrique" festival downtown, where there was African music being sung/played, African clothing/jewelry/footwear/food being sold. It was amazing. Just laying on the grass with pals, eating crazy good sausages (not African) for lunch, and checking out all the merch. Then we all went to Pharmaprix because the pharmacy in our town has a pretty sad excuse for a make-up section. I spent far too much. 
THEN, we passed a Pizza Pizza on the way to the metro, and they make rice crust pizzas. So we went in for pizza, and I got a medium gf pizza with chicken, zucchini and tomatoes. 2 days of leftovers! 


- Ran 9K in one hour. Huzzah.


- Finally got around to taking pictures of a $7 thrift store dress, and my new black skinny jeans from my fav thrift store downtown. Enjoy!

Can you tell it's a bit humid here tonight?

I apologize for the bum shot. That's for mom. She always asks. 

Sorry for the poor quality on these, folks. Not sure what the deal is. 

Sigh. I love em! They fit like a glove.  


Also, I begin sewing my button-up shirt tomorrow night. Here is the material!

Cute eh?


Alright, so coming up this week:


- finishing up organizing the lab (earnin' some $$$)


- Penny's little sister is visiting this weekend. FUN!


- Next week is FASHION WEEK in Montreal, so Penny and I are participating in some cool events. More on that later. 


- 10K race on August 8th, and then I fly HOME for a week!


Busybusybusy.


Time to sleep. 

Discovery du Jour

Step 1. Get some fava beans (still in the pod).
Step 2. Blanch those fava beans (still in the pod).
Step 3. Peel open those pods and eat the beans.
Step 4. Rub the inside of that pod all over your face.
Step 5. Wait until it feels mask-like. 
Step 6. Wait a little longer.
Step 7. Wash it off and touch your face.


These are things we find out when our roommate brings unfamiliar vegetables home from the farm. She cooks them, and we play with them. 


Seriously, touch your face again. 


Oooooo. Nice. 

Huge Street Sale + Zoo = Awesome Weekend

This may shock some people, but I have never been to a zoo. I've been to farms, museums, petting zoos, but never a real zoo. No monkeys, no zebras, no elephants (though I saw one at the circus once). 
Today, Penny and I biked to the EcoMuseum in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. It's not exactly a zoo, but there are live animals in cages and so far, it's the closest I've ever gotten! The animals are all native to Canada. Here are some photos:

Huge Snapping Turtle

I call this "Pancake Turtle". He made me hungry.

This compadre is soooo laid back, dude.

That...is snake skin...*shudder*

 What a fox.

C

Coyote!

Lynx. Just a big cat really.

U

Ummm so these are waterfowl...but check out the ALGAE! I thought it was a green tarp...

Think he's playing Peek-a-"bou"? :P

Red-tailed Hawk

"Owl-Whose-Name-I-Forget-But-Was-My-Favourite-Owl" 

(1 of 2 Quebec owls with brown eyes)  :)

So that was the zoo. There were other animals too but they were either hiding, or boring. There were a lot of reptiles and such in aquariums and terrariums but the glass made it hard to take pictures. Also, catfish are creepy and I refused to photograph such ugly things. Fish without fins = unsettling.

Now...as for the street sale... my two favourite purchases were a dress and my Nine West bag. 

 

A halter-top sundress and a (huge) leather, camel-coloured Nine West bag

*drool*

 

Lordie I do love a halter-top.

I was loving the bag, and then the lining did it for me. So pretty.

I also bought some multi-coloured plaid fabric to make a button-up shirt out of and I will post photos of my progress with said shirt as it happens. I have double the fabric just in case...

:)

More stuff, less space...

So I just got back from the first day of Canada's BIGGEST STREET SALE! I know. I know. I was excited too. 

I bought an amazing halter dress ($10), 2 button-up shirts ($10 each), an awesome, huge, camel-coloured Nine West bag ($40...originally much much much more) and fabric ($10 for 3m) to make a button-up shirt with. Can you tell I love the button-ups? See last post for WHY. :) 


Anyway, I'm currently cleaning my room...realizing I have accrued a great amount of STUFF this summer (but all stuff I'm in love with! I swear!) anddd I have to move back to residence in a month and a half....omg. 


I feel like I should have started packing up my crap weeks ago. I HAVE SO MUCH STUFF! 


Maybe I'll start throwing old stuff away. Then I'll have less heart palpitations when I look around. Maybe.

What is a shopaholic minimalist to do?

It's a Magic Skirt

This skirt works in so many ways! Here is my favourite outfit I've tried so far.

Eeeeeeee!!! :)

Can't you just picture that with some black n' white saddle shoes? HAHA (don't worry, I won't do it)

A-line Wrap Skirt

I actually sewed something!

There is a sewing lounge/cafe in Monkland, QC which hosts frequent workshops and sewing lessons. It is the cutest little place, where you can buy fabric, notions, as well as use their big tables to measure and cut and use their sewing machines for a very reasonable hourly rate! 

I signed up a few weeks ago for a skirt-making workshop and last night was the last session. I ran out of time and finished the final edge-stitch this morning. Here it is! 

I love it! If it looks longer on one side, it's not, that's just the front flap not cooperating for the camera. 
The waistband goes through a large button-hole, wraps around and makes a bow on one side. I also got to keep the pattern cut-out I made so I can make more! I'm very excited.

If you live in Montreal and you're looking for a cool place to chill out and work on some sewing projects, check out http://www.emelineandannabelle.com/

I will certainly be participating in more workshops and taking complete advantage of their cutting tables. :)

I'm a terrible sister...

I realized today that although I wrote special, warm, fuzzy posts on Mother's Day and Father's Day, I completely neglected to write anything heartwarming about my older brother on his birthday last month. I always was the less caring sibling. I was quite the bratty, naggy, pesky and stubborn little sister, in fact. Always wanting to hang out and watch him play Nintendo. However...nowadays I do bake him bread whenever we are about to be in the same location at the same time, so I feel like I'm redeeming myself a little. Paying my good sibling dues. 
So here I am, about to try earning some brownie points with my older brother. Although he'd think it was lame. And he'd probably tell me to delete it.

But there's no chance he reads this anyway, so it doesn't matter. 

Top 20 Things I Love About My Big Brother (in no order at all):

20. He pretended not to see half the Easter eggs in our younger years, so I'd be sure to find my share. 

19. He taught me how to throw a football (properly) and how to tackle someone effectively (go for the knees). You know, I bet that will come in handy one day.

18. He taught me how to play basketball. And baseball. And soccer. And badminton. And probably every other sport I can play. If we'd had male neighbors for him to play with, I wouldn't know how to do anything.

17. He always tried to tell me WHEN to shut up when I was digging myself a grave. I never listened...but it's the effort that counts.

16. He never hit me. 

15. His form of abuse was tickling. More torturous than hitting, but far more laughter involved.

14. He is secretly happy that I'm so lame. At least that's what mom says.

13. He was a really, really, really cute toddler. And I'll admit, I guess he's a little pretty now too. I have high hopes for my future/potential nieces'/nephews' looks is all I'm sayin'.

12. He's hilarious. 

11. He's got more energy than an atomic bomb (but in an entirely positive way).

10. He wrote a eulogy for my grandfather's funeral, and sent it via email from Latvia. For me to read. He wrote underneath: "don't cop out and give it to someone else to read". I was totally about to. He just knows me so well...

9. He has had the exact same huge group of friends since middle/high school. I just think that's great.

8. When we were wee, he was very energetic (see #11) and I was very sloth-like, and quiet (and probably a little creepy as a result) but he still would (occasionally) agree to play board games with me. Except he always made up rules so he'd win. But I loved him for trying anyway.

7. Sometimes he cooked me bacon. But only if he was already making some. And only if I bugged him enough. I was so pleasant.

6. When we were really really wee, he put me in a pillow-case (it was a "car") and shoved me down our steep staircase. Mom = not impressed. Me = THRILLED! Still one of my favourite stories. :) 

5. When I was 4 or 5ish, he bought me a doll. The Magic Nursery kind. It was magical. 

4. He also got me a "ghettoblaster" (aka tape player/radio) when I was 8 or 9. He said I'd need it soon. Then I discovered music that wasn't Raffi or Alvin and the Chipmunks, and I listened to tapes on that thing every night. Now I still fall asleep to music.

And I still like Raffi and Alvin and the Chipmunks...

3. He still calls me Beaner.

2. He thinks I'm a smartie pants. I only know this through mom though, because we don't say mushy things face-to-face. Tell him thanks ma! 

1. He went gluten-free after I did and told his friend he did because "I told him to". Which I didn't. But the fact that he'd do anything I recommended is pretty amazing. 

Bonus reason: He specifically asked for a sister at 3 years old, and no amount of explaining could make him understand "chance". He may have regretted his choice as soon as I learned to talk, but the initial request is pretty heartwarming. :)

Hope that wasn't too embarrassing! 


In case it wasn't though, 

That should do the trick ;)


Love you my ridiculous world-travellin' big brother!


Sorry about being a pesky sister. I hope to out-grow it soon.

There's something happ-en-in' here

What it is, ain't exactly cleeeaar.

I should be in bed. I'm getting silly.

But just in case you're worried, I'm not singing about war, or protesting said war. I'm talkin' about muscles. 

I seem to have them. It's weird. I come from a long line of large-armed ladies, which is a tough pill to swallow in junior high, and high school...and college....or really ever. But since all this running stuff started a few months ago...something's HAPPENING. 

I flexed my tricep in the mirror just now. It's very, very, very THERE. Lean, long, and finally happy to push its way to the surface (I apologize Mr. Tricep, that you were buried all that time). Anyway, the part that's not clear...is whether I'm losing arm fat...or if the muscle is getting bigger. How would you tell? Either way, this is progress. 

I know girls aren't "supposed" to be muscle-y. Nature has made it quite clear that we are supposed to be fat and squishy, in order to make babies until we die (Mother Nature can't possibly be a girl...). But really, doesn't the fact that we're NOT supposed to have them make it so much more exciting when we DO?! Simply because it's so much harder for girls to GET them!? Seriously "Mother" Nature...we do have to carry/chase around all those babies, why aren't we the hulk-ish ones? Gee willigers.

Either way, seeing a nice pop of muscle REALLY does wonders for the self-esteem, and is quite the boost of motivation to keep running! 

For anyone out there who isn't impressed with how LONG it takes for us ladies to see any development, just remember that bodies (male or female) HATE change. Whatever size you are, your body is pretty stubborn about staying that way. Changes take time. It's an adaptive, gradual process. Eventually the body gets used to the new activity and changes in order to sustain it. Be patient. There are no quick fixes.

Now...if my thighs will quit their jigglin', we'll really be in business! ;)

Hello? Wind? Get off your rump!

If you are currently in the middle of this unusual and oppressive heat wave, you are undoubtedly wondering how to stay cool without sitting in the bathtub with cold water showering down on you, dreading the moment you step back out into the hazy, exhausting heat, when your clean hair immediately becomes sweaty, sticky and drippy. 


I think you can tell by now, this girl...is not impressed with heat. Now I know why Southern gals were always dabbing themselves with their hankerchiefs...which seems like a brilliant idea right now.


Anyway, here's what I've come up with in the past week, as I've battled this very unfamiliar beast.

DON'T TURN ON THE STOVE! 

For the love of all things cool and dry, do not turn that dial. The world is full of enough heat right now, and the shade of your home might be your only refuge. Don't go spoiling it! If you must turn it on, don't linger. Ugh, just the thought is making me wilt.

Make cold meals. 

Fruit. Vegetables. Beans/legumes (you may have to boil them, but for this...turn on the stove and run away. Take a cold shower. Come back and turn it off as soon as they're done!)

We make communal meals 4 times a week around here, with each housemate cooking once. This week...it's been all cold salads. We make them interesting though! On Monday, the salad included cooked (but cold) beets, sprouted green lentils, many veggies and a bowl of juicy raw turnip (who knew turnips could be soft and juicy?) On Tuesday, Penny made a similar salad, with the beets mixed with brown rice (which turned the rice pink!), raisins, apples, and whatever veggies there were. Last night I made a salad of green lentils, shredded carrot (it was pretty much carrot salad), apple, cucumber, radishes, etc. 

I don't think I've had oatmeal, or pasta, or anything warm for a while. They're not missed.

Do as many tasks naked as possible. 

This is of course depends on how many people you live with. If you live alone: REJOICE! You can do everything naked (just...stay inside please, and if you have to go to work...that requires clothes). If you are among the unfortunate dwelling-sharers like me, buy a light nightie for things you have to go outside your bedroom to do, but other than that...ignore your roommates after dinner, strip down to your birthday suit and sit in front of a fan. Just sit. Moving around will only make you sweat more. If someone comes to your door, scream "I'M NAKED!" and you'll either scare them away, or they'll just talk through the door...if you have crazy/creepy roommates, lock the door, just in case they come in anyway... :S erk

Find out which friends have AC ...and become better friends.

There's nothing wrong with taking advantage of a pal's AC in heat like this. Consider it a medical emergency! They should be grateful to see you at their door anyway, you could have been fried on the walk over. Did you ever see The Day after Tomorrow? When they freeze to death instantly? I imagine something like that, only opposite temperature extreme of course.

Drink water! 

I'm not talkin' regular run-of-the-mill out-of-the-tap any-old-temperature water. That's for suckers! Get yourself a pitcher (or if you have Brita one, that's cool), fill it with water. Put it in the fridge. Wait. Get a big water bottle (ie. a Klean Kanteen). Fill it with said refrigerated water. ADD ICE. Drink. If it doesn't make you feel like your insides just froze, it's not good enough. You're trying to stay alive here! And happy...preferably.


If you have to go out (to dinner, or a movie, etc.) don't try to look good.


Wear a dress, a comfortable light one (preferably one that doesn't show sweat well). Wear sandals. Put hair up to avoid the neck sweat/sticky hair situation. Don't wear make-up (except sunscreen!). Bring above-mentioned tooth-shatteringly cold water along. That is all.


If you need to exercise outside, do it early. 


Check the temperature. Check the humidity. Check the wind speed. Check anything that will make your jog or bike ride a potential heat-stroke inducing activity. Stay hydrated. 


If it's too hot BEFORE you start jogging/biking. Don't do it. Stay home. Go to your basement/root cellar/bomb shelter and do some yoga (and if your bomb shelter is well-stocked...just stay there). Alternatively, you could go to the gym if you belong to one, in which case you've probably already figured out that you can just go to watch TV and enjoy the AC...(but make sure to get on a treadmill and look busy). 



Also, cold spots to linger/loiter: Malls, clothing shops, grocery stores, bookstores (and they have couches!), the dentist ("are you suuure I don't have a cavity? Check again."), Canadian Tire, library, etc. 

That is all the wisdom I've gleaned in the past week or so. I'm currently sitting in a nightie, drinking ice-cold water and watching a man walk by with an umbrella (it's not raining)...hmm...another good tip? 


Must go. Computer has become very hot. Poor fella.


Stay cool! And don't worry, we will all emerge bleary-eyed and confused at the end of this, wondering where summer went. What is wrong with us...

Hair, Who Needs It.

HOLY HUMIDITY!

It is 30-something degrees here in Montreal, and so humid you can SEE the air. Ugh. Can't wait to be home in temperate (cold), breezy (windy) Nova Scotia. :)

So it may be the heat driving me loonie, but I've come to the pretty solid conclusion that I just simply do not like having hair. I'm speaking of course, of the stuff on top of my noggin.

Maybe it's because I really never HAD long hair, except for grade 4, 5 and the last two years so I'm just not accustomed to it. I pretty much missed out on all the girlie activities because of having short hair (ie. learning to braid, making ponytails, making buns, etc) although at the time I also had 0 interest in learning that stuff. 

However, regardless of my lack of technique, I am very aware that most girls/women are willing to put up with fly-aways, frizziness, stickiness (when it's hot), and swatting hair out of the face constantly (among MANY other peeves of having long-ish hair) because SOMETIMES they can make it look really good, and among those times, sometimes it even lasts once you're out the door. 

I am completely unwilling to put up with this madness, just because sometimes it looks sexy. I miss my pixie cut. I miss getting out of the shower, and drying my hair by shaking my head a few times. I miss having it out of my face, without having to put it up in a ponytail every day. So, going along with one of my 25 things, as soon as I can grow this mane of mine out to a 10-inch ponytail (to be promptly donated to make wigs for chemo patients), it is GONE. Only to be grown out again for my wedding.

But again, maybe it's the humidity talking...

How to Behave in a Crowd (with children)

Note: I do not have children, therefore this post is based on observation. 

I went to Ottawa today to celebrate our amazing nation's birthday. I was totally representin'. Check it.

Looks like I acquired a little sunburn on the nosie, but I'm rockin' the lego earrings so it's alright. :)

So my experience today (standing in a melting hot street, with nowhere to move, while everyone waited for the Queen to arrive) taught me a few things. Specifically, how to behave in a crowd, ESPECIALLY with kids.

1. If you're going to a big event like that, with long lines, tight crowds and nowhere to move for 2 hours because YOU want to go...don't bring a kid who isn't old enough to stand on his/her own or isn't young enough to hang out in a pouch in your back all day. Kids don't care about or "get" Canada Day. It's just another day for them and any novelty wears off after two minutes. Then they get hot, tired, sweaty, bored and they cry. And because YOU so desperately want to see the show, that they don't care about, you make them wait. It's not right. Leave them at home, get dad to take them somewhere that isn't crazy to teach them some history (à la my dad the never-ending history book who can tell you something interesting about ANYthing...whether it's true or not...). Don't be selfish. 

Which brings me to my next point.

2. Did some people miss the lesson that taught you that children and seniors go first? Standing in the crowd today, not able to move, we caught any opportunity to catch the end of a moving stream of people moving anywhere. However, if there was a child trying to follow a parent, or an old lady desperate to see Her Majesty, I passed on being the caboose. I let them go. If you're going to be "that old crank" that yells at kids (or 90-year- old ladies!) trying to get through...don't go. I very nicely told a lady today "they're trying to find their parents, if they can move, let them!" and she replied "their parents will find them eventually." ...I don't think she was ever a parent. My mom lost me a few times and went NUTS! Anyway, they finally caught a drift of people and I wished them luck. I hope they found each other! So how about demonstrating a little patience and good humour? You should expect lines and crowds, so if it's going to make you edgy, stay away. 

Which also goes with...

3. Don't do things that WILL make everyone around you pissed. Don't bring a stroller, especially one that looks like (and could probably double as) a dragster and expect that to be a good enough excuse to be let through. It was stupid to bring a stroller, so nobody will pity you. Besides, if your kid is going to be spending the whole day in a stroller, they don't need to be there (see #1). On that note, 8-year-olds....don't need strollers. And whether or not they are walking, being carried or being rolled...

4. Put sunscreen on your kid. If you don't, I'm pretty sure that counts as neglect or abuse. They have no say in whether or not they are there, so the least you can do (if you insist on dragging them along) is make sure they don't burn while they wait for you to take pictures of the Queen from a kilometre away. Just sayin'..

Don't worry, none of these pet peeves led me to yell at anyone. My mom says I have the patience of Job (unless it's Christmas), so in true Canadian spirit, I kindly let people through, made a few pals in the crowd and sang God Save the Queen exaggerated opera-style with complete strangers... hoping my smile was contagious :).

It was an incredible day. I searched all day for a face painter and finally found one (see photo) and I was SO EXCITED! Also...the popsicles were such appropriate colours. It was a beautiful day, and it was so heart-warming to see all the red and white people swarming everywhere. It definitely wouldn't have been the same in Quebec.

 

However, with all the fun, I did miss home. Canada Day with my family was never a crazy affair. My parents didn't do parades or festivals, probably because they already knew all of the above tips. My dad liked to take us to see cool things that we wouldn't learn about in school, and we usually celebrated by going to a bookstore and getting a couple new books. I couldn't resist...I bought two books today haha. It made me feel so much better.

So now that I'm missing my family even more....I'm even more excited to be heading home to Nova Scotia in a week!!! I've been waiting to see everyone again since Christmas and I am SO pumped to hang out in Halifax and at our cottage. The countdown is ON! :)

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!  █ ♥ █