tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76792665508834520532024-03-12T21:16:19.043-04:00wunderbugAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.comBlogger386125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-53776951584919040302014-01-12T11:13:00.005-05:002014-01-12T11:14:45.119-05:00Vaguely kicking off 2014: projects, non-resolutions, and plansI can't stand new years resolutions so I avoid making them.<br />
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This year, however, is slightly different. I've got ideas marinating in my brain – and they just happen to coincide with January 2014. Does that make them resolutions, then? Maybe I'll just call them projects.<br />
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<b>Project 1: Wedding Planning</b><br />
It's only fair to call this a project, since it's already taking up a lot of my mindspace. Since my post in November, I've voraciously researched and planned aspects of the event and have (so far) been able to stick with our budget. <br />
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We found a cute little Italian restaurant called Caffino in Liberty Village: it fit perfectly with what I'd been looking for aesthetically and has mostly great reviews on Yelp. What's more, Rosa — the owner — has been wonderful to work with: she was flexible with making adjustments to the dinner service to accommodate us. Double win.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caffino.ca/images/home/hero-0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.caffino.ca/images/home/hero-0005.jpg" height="376" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty sweet, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Next up will be confirming with our officiant, who will hopefully be one of the former pastors at the church where we first met; figuring out our flower situation — which, as it stands right now, will likely be all DIY with some expertise from a florist friend of a friend and a wholesale order in August; and locking in a photographer. <br />
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My main idea for the wedding is based around the concept of our story and our family, so I'm doing my best to look into the past to weave in elements of our individual family histories and traditions. I also want to include the present and, importantly, the future, so I'm always on the lookout for opportunities where we can include our guests in the memory-making process. <br />
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<i>(Want to follow along with my brainstorming process? Check out my board on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/courtneymallam/nuptuals/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.)</i><br />
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My sister is also engaged, so I'll be helping to plan her wedding as well. More details on that for another post.<br />
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<b>Project 2: Le Shop</b><br />
It's been more than a few years since I made the decision to close up shop on Etsy, but I miss it and have been planning some shifts in focus for 2014. With that, I'm excited to announce that I'll be reopening in the late spring with a new focus. Stay tuned for a sneak peek and a more official announcement in posts to come.<br />
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<b>Project 3: Get Crafty (Again).</b><br />
Tied with Project 2, I'm getting back to my crafty roots. In the past few years, I've wandered away from them and tried a few other things, but it's proven to me that the heart always finds its way back. For me, my heart is always happiest when it's being creative. <br />
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To get started, I've signed up for a 6-week photography course to fine-tune some of my skills, have a slew of home decorating projects marinating in my head, and am planning two weddings. I think it's fair to say that I'll have plenty of opportunities to work an above-average amount of craftwork into my life.<br />
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2014 is shaping up to be a wonderful year.<br />
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<b><i>What do you have planned? </i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-7971310889124034482013-11-04T13:16:00.003-05:002013-11-04T13:16:54.651-05:00And now for something completely different: a wedding!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdQcN8YgzH-UC2yoLKV_tpesSjOaMppqZzJXhq3yOcFzV_-C-zYOD3ya9HK1iSWKl-h2sjK8JqYL09lcwLAdFmMWhR-kevY3WyKlOjqk81dp2i_enYEUlLicMDi6q_Frc4cZdyY-sdQN1/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdQcN8YgzH-UC2yoLKV_tpesSjOaMppqZzJXhq3yOcFzV_-C-zYOD3ya9HK1iSWKl-h2sjK8JqYL09lcwLAdFmMWhR-kevY3WyKlOjqk81dp2i_enYEUlLicMDi6q_Frc4cZdyY-sdQN1/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></div>
I'm engaged. Which, to be honest, is such a strange, surreal feeling in a lot of ways.<br />
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While my summers for the past few years have been filled with attending friends' weddings and the past ten months has been spotted with venue-shopping for my sister's upcoming nuptuals, I somehow never really considered how different the experience of pricing things out for my own event would be a different experience.<br />
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Kind of crazy.<br />
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In any case, I've been poring over <a href="http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/">resources</a>, <a href="http://babblingbrides.frugalbride.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php">online fora</a>, and yes, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/courtneymallam/nuptuals/">Pinterest</a>, to get some ideas about what I'd like for our own little ceremony. And there's <i>so. much. out. there</i>. To be honest, it's borderline overwhelming.<br />
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But with the help of some friends and family, I'm looking forward to planning something that's budget-friendly, unique, DIY, and smattered with our personal touches. In the end, I want to keep our focus on the fact that it's not the <i>event</i> that makes the marriage; it's not having reclaimed wood tables, linen table runners, paper lanterns, and the picture-perfect colour combos (even though goodness knows I'm into that). <br /><br />It's celebrating a lifelong commitment in front of our family and friends. And, if we can negotiate a good price, having a bite to eat with them all afterwards.<br />
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Now I just need to follow the biggest piece of advice that I've received from other frugal former brides: stay away from the wedding magazines. They might be great for gathering ideas, but it's often hard to draw a line between reality and industry hype.<br />
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So. We're going to be decisive about elements that are important to us: a simple ceremony followed by tasty food, plenty of dancing, and time well spent with the people we love.<br />
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And, if we can swing it, a pretty venue that can accommodate us.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-35360499387348469752013-06-03T08:00:00.000-04:002013-06-03T08:00:14.000-04:00Recipe: Berries and lemon muffins<span style="font-family: inherit;">Getting some inspiration back, even if it's just one recipe at a time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My <a href="http://wunderbug.blogspot.ca/2013/05/the-great-2013-bean-debacle-maybe.html">beans</a> turned out ok - my concern was that they wouldn't be soft enough, but as it turns out they softened quite a bit while in the slow cooker (so much so that they were a little bit more on the mushy side). Next attempt, I'll shorten the soaking time and ease up on the boiling/simmering time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I-waxPROwS7zWj7L7JfTWKIiHtiEpnvU2UkR5EITQKr6sanf3ByT3lig8dBVtsC1n2uhbD_tfjxQJ4QQjDcdBVb-giodoITlvk1T61w3p-6Li53lRH_FChTf25PN-BfPzlU9uLUV2aqC/s1600/jun213.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I-waxPROwS7zWj7L7JfTWKIiHtiEpnvU2UkR5EITQKr6sanf3ByT3lig8dBVtsC1n2uhbD_tfjxQJ4QQjDcdBVb-giodoITlvk1T61w3p-6Li53lRH_FChTf25PN-BfPzlU9uLUV2aqC/s640/jun213.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, I tried out a modification of a <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/977510/hearty-blueberry-muffins">Martha Stewart muffin recipe</a> to use up the last of my berries. I had to do some modifications based on what was in my pantry, but they turned out surprisingly moist for a low-fat option. </span><br />
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<ul class="content-multigroup-group-ingredient" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #5e5a57; line-height: 12px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li class="ingredient first" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 1/2 cups <i><span style="font-style: normal;">all-purpose flour</span></i></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 teaspoon baking soda</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/8 teaspoon coarse salt</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt<i> (I had vanilla yogurt in my fridge, so I used that)</i></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 cup vegetable oil </span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 eggs</span></li>
<li class="ingredient last" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">10 ounces fresh raspberries and blueberries </span></li>
<li class="ingredient last" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 teaspoon of lemon zest</li>
<li class="ingredient last" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 tablespoon of lemon juice</li>
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<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: 100; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Directions</span></h2>
<div class="item-list" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #5e5a57; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<ol class="content-multigroup-group-steps" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li class="step first" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.38em;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together brown sugar, yogurt, oil, and eggs in another large bowl. Add yogurt mixture to flour mixture and gently mix until just combined. Fold in berries with a rubber spatula.</span></div>
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<li class="step last" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Divide batter among muffin cups. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in pan 10 minutes. Transfer muffins to a wire rack and let cool completely.</span><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.38em;">
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<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.38em;">
<i>Next time, I may try slightly reducing the amount of berries to the recommended 8oz; additionally (and this is hard for me to do, especially when I'm keen to try out the finished product), make sure that the muffins are cool before you try to remove the muffin paper - not to mention the fact that the lemon flavour is more noticeable once the muffin is cooled.</i></div>
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<b>This week: </b>soupe aux pois, or split pea soup. A facelift for a curbside night-table score. Purging and de-cluttering that final stretch that's been lingering since we moved in here -- <a href="http://community.apartmenttherapy.com/contests/smallcool/2013">Apartment Therapy's Small Cool contest</a> is always an inspiration that helps me get my butt in gear!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com1Toronto, ON, Canada43.653226 -79.38318429999998243.285985999999994 -80.028631299999986 44.020466 -78.737737299999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-12559156245051036702013-05-27T08:00:00.000-04:002013-05-27T12:50:21.826-04:00The great 2013 bean debacle. Maybe. After having just returned from a wonderfully relaxing weekend at Brian's new place in the Rideau Lakes, I'm looking forward to getting <b>my act in gear</b> this week with some new recipes and finding more ways to stay active throughout the day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHwnJls-hZb97rrBnqn1zY2lKdQFH4gQMk9aQlpQFtMe_-z9yG-20XwHNS33VWM2F_WBmiwRxZwkATBnXTazwAUYcraPZ8iDqPOJL4kJTG-lSZadDuDJFZKomi-8v47qr9z640vmQF3C8/s1600/beans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHwnJls-hZb97rrBnqn1zY2lKdQFH4gQMk9aQlpQFtMe_-z9yG-20XwHNS33VWM2F_WBmiwRxZwkATBnXTazwAUYcraPZ8iDqPOJL4kJTG-lSZadDuDJFZKomi-8v47qr9z640vmQF3C8/s640/beans.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last night, I tried out a recipe for my first-ever batch of baked beans—which, as it turns out, <b>don't soften very quickly</b> when being cooked from dried. After having had 8 hours (and counting) in the slow cooker, I've got my fingers hesitantly crossed that they'll soften up as much as I'd like in time for dinner tonight.<br />
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Full disclosure: <i>does the fact that I want them to be as soft and mushy as they are when I buy them in a can of Heinz make me a bean commoner?</i></div>
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To be honest, I'm not really feeling very culinarily inspired this week. Or many weeks, at all, in the recent past. Even my go-to habit of mindlessly scrolling through my <a href="http://pinterest.com/courtneymallam/nom-nom-nom/"><b>Pinterest recipes</b></a> has yielded very few results. Instead, I'm asking for people's go-to recipes. </div>
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<b>What do you cook when all you want is mindless, moderately healthy comfort food? </b></div>
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Soupe aux pois is another item on my hit list this week, but I'm welcoming other recipes to try out. Link them to me in the comments! </div>
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<i>photo cred: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cookbookman/5535638066/sizes/z/">here</a></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-64551584054321417392013-05-23T23:26:00.000-04:002013-05-26T22:31:11.435-04:00Time flies in spring 2013<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.625em;">
It's been an unbelievably busy few months.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3NKo8pldGosE-5Rz_1QnAKa_vGvd0QjArnNpvfGadLNZoSeweN7jpvP6_clHJzuHFirtEkshE510n02J5cfJcMGz3hc8Fi2HZFkiLI3saLZ_lu2jSHb5MQ3HM_kQjtpp3WAod32brWAF/s1600/post-image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3NKo8pldGosE-5Rz_1QnAKa_vGvd0QjArnNpvfGadLNZoSeweN7jpvP6_clHJzuHFirtEkshE510n02J5cfJcMGz3hc8Fi2HZFkiLI3saLZ_lu2jSHb5MQ3HM_kQjtpp3WAod32brWAF/s400/post-image.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tedxyorku.ca/">TEDxYorkU</a> happened back at the end of March <i>[recap: I'm the marketing & communications director for the event]</i> and I have to admit - it's been so rewarding seeing how much it's developed since its inception in 2010. From the very basics of the planning process all the way to the video quality of our talks, TEDxYorkU has definitely grown up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It feels like we're at that point where many of our developments from here on out are just a matter of fine-tuning, rather than making giant leaps and bounds. That being said, we still have to lay the groundwork for the 2014 event; we seem to have a tendency to outdo ourselves, so it's anybody's guess at this point.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interested in participating? We haven't started the team planning/applications yet, but you can always shoot us an <a href="mailto:tedx@yorku.ca">email</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TEDxYorkU">FB message</a> to get in touch. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, I spoke at a <a href="http://socmed13.info.yorku.ca/">conference</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/p/Yp6k3alxb-/">stressed about speaking</a> at said conference, and then was relieved that the speaking gig was over. I was also totally stoked that I did it; public speaking isn't my favourite thing to do, but has been on my suck-it-up-and-grow list for a while. <i>Self-five.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's also been the ideation, creation, launch, and wrap of our <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23momentgl">community photo project</a>, not to mention a bit of hangout time with the family. Not as much as I'd like, but a little bit to keep me sane and grounded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things are going to keep being busy at work, but I've got a slew of new projects that I'm itching to start on soon. Plus a trip and another conference talk in Vancouver this June. Can't wait. Here we go!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-52683760559389446142013-03-08T05:00:00.000-05:002013-03-08T05:00:08.116-05:00<br />
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<a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/margin1.png" href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/margin1.png" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="margin" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2028" data-mce-src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/margin1.png" height="209" src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/margin1.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: both; cursor: default; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px; width: auto;" width="584" /></a>I often think in life that there are two kinds of people: those who take notes in their textbooks, and those who don't. (These people can also be found in the same category as the people who keep their books pristine for resale.)</div>
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Personally, I've always been a page-filler-upper. iBooks and eBooks don't work for me, because I need the tactile contact of excitedly highlighting sentences, circling words, and writing exclamation marks in the margins. It's where argument A and B come together to make magic. When I can't do that, I don't learn as well. It's almost as if I don't function.</div>
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Margins were, in fact, invented for that very purpose. For real. Look it up on Wikipedia: they were created in the early 1900s at the request of a judge who was looking for space in which he could comment on his own notes.</div>
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When I was a teenager, my youth pastor explained that he was going to scale a few projects back in order to create margins into his life. At the time, I thought it was a strange concept. It was only when I was into the later years of my undergrad — when I was dealing with a lot of turmoil — when that concept resurfaced for me, and I began to find a firmer grasp on the need for it.</div>
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During those years, I was working three part-time jobs, balancing an undergraduate degree on a full-time basis, trying to keep a turbulent relationship afloat, and trying to manage family life during the end stages of what would eventually become my parents' separation. Things were messy. And very busy, filled with hurt and stress and awfulness. But mostly messy.</div>
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Cue that memory of my youth pastor. I'd been so busy filling myself to the brim with school, work, family, and friends, that I wasn't allowing any opportunity for reflection, intention, or mindfulness. I was just trying to keep my head above water. While it took a while for that realization to take root, that memory began a process of scaling back that's taken years to get the hang of. And to be honest, I'm still working on it to this day. (Which is part of what <a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.wordpress.com/tag/list30/" href="http://courtneymallam.wordpress.com/tag/list30/" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;">List30 </a>is all about.)</div>
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Whether it's just ten minutes of quiet time before I go to bed or a whole Saturday spent by myself, building margin into my life has made space for me to breathe, think, and grow. It's the place where I can go to create and strategize. It's where I can hear myself work through the confusing bits of life, and to reflect on where I'm headed.</div>
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While it's true that not everyone needs a margin for the same reasons that I do, it's hard to argue the function that it serves for most. <em>Whether you're a fellow page-filler-upper or otherwise; what rejuvenating things would you do given some extra margin in your life?</em></div>
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photo via <a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/torve/43099415/sizes/z/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/torve/43099415/sizes/z/" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;">flickr</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-22885848575415424682013-03-07T05:00:00.000-05:002013-03-07T05:00:06.269-05:00The resuscitation of reading<br />
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<a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/books.png" href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/books.png" style="clear: left; color: #1b8be0; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="books" class="alignright size-full wp-image-2000" data-mce-src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/books.png" height="209" src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/books.png" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); display: inline; float: right; height: auto; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px; width: auto;" width="584" /></a></div>
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I've always been an avid reader. I was the kid who, in family photos, had my nose behind abook at birthday parties. I'd read everything that I could get my hands on. I'd read the back of the cereal box while scarfing down a bowl of Cheerios. When I was done with it, I'd move on to reading the nutritional content. Not because I was health-obsessed, but because it was there, and it was words, so I consumed those too.</div>
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My voracity didn't stop when I was in high school; I used to skip class so that I could go to the library to read. Sitting between the stacks, powering through fantasy, fiction, biographies, poetry, history - that was my little piece of heaven. Forget about running for student council, forget the popular kids. Just give me a little section of carpet in the quietest back corner of the library where I could listen to my discman, read the world away, or dream of a time when it'd be my name on the books surrounding me. That was perfection.</div>
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Somewhere in between then and now ... things got hectic. Studying replaced pleasure reading; efficiency replaced lingering over delicious metaphor and rich imagery. And now that I've graduated and am between degrees? I can't get myself back to where it all began. I catch myself halfway down a page, not really remembering how the plot got there; I skim articles that I come across with the intention of reading them later (but never, ever do). It feels like life happens too quickly to accommodate the literary digestive satisfaction of a good, thorough read.</div>
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I'm sure that I could launch into a rant of the connection between the nature of information consumption, web writing, and what seems to be an ever-shortening attention span ... but I won't. Not today, at least. That's a post for another time.</div>
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However, with that, my next addition to List30 is a combination of two things: slowing down and mindfulness as it comes to hobbies such as reading. I'm taking the time to step away from my phone and with it, the mindless scrolling that goes with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. I've been taking time before going to bed at night to read—whether it's been for fifteen minutes or an hour and fifteen—and reading a book. Slowly, being sure to take in each word.</div>
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And you know what? It makes a difference. It's coming back.</div>
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Which past loves do you want to resuscitate?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-65335428856659510282013-03-06T05:00:00.000-05:002013-03-06T05:00:02.688-05:00Video: What if money didn't matter?<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xaLDRSg6vic" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're bringing up children to live the same kind of lives that we don't want to live in order they may justify themselves by bringing up their children to do the same things; it's all retch and no vomit. It never gets there. And therefore, it's so important to consider this question:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>What do I desire?</i></b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-92090045828528289062013-03-05T05:00:00.000-05:002013-03-05T05:00:02.993-05:00Introducing The List30<br />
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<a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/nov72012.jpg" href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/nov72012.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #1b8be0; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-1322" data-mce-src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/nov72012.jpg" height="210" src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/nov72012.jpg" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); display: inline; float: right; height: auto; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px; text-align: justify; width: auto;" title="nov72012" width="584" /></a></div>
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Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I tend to give things 110%. Unfortunately, this 110% has been off-kilter for work/life balance for the past ... well, too long. I rarely take lunch breaks; I drink too much coffee; I don't often cook (which results in buying overpriced, high-sodium, high-carb meals in the campus caf); and what's more ... I have a really hard time leaving work at work. I've been known to check my work email from my phone first thing in the morning, late at night, and on weekends.</div>
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With that, inspired from a conversation that <a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/reflections-on-30/" href="http://courtneymallam.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/reflections-on-30/" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;">I had over a year ago</a>, I'm reviewing my goals.</div>
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A few years ago, I wrote on the notion that <a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/three-for-three/" href="http://courtneymallam.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/three-for-three/" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;"><em>what we give our attention to is what we become</em></a>. To this day, it's still resonating deep down to my core; my list, therefore, is a tangible reminder of what's important to me.</div>
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To start, I'm not going to exhaust myself by starting big. I have a small, measurable way to implement each new direction. From there, I'll build out. Stay tuned, or if you're up for the challenge, join me!</div>
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<li>Nurture relationships by <strong>spending better time with loved ones</strong>. Do one thing weekly with a friend or family member that doesn't revolve around sitting on the couch. <em>Bonus points for combining with one of the below items.</em> </li>
<li><strong>Get moving</strong> for 30 minutes a day, four times a week. Whether it be just by walking to work, going to moksha yoga, or hitting the gym, getting moving is a key item in my plan due the the bazillion benefits that it provides. <em>Bonus points for breaking a sweat.</em> </li>
<li><strong>Try one new recipe </strong>a week. I have a penchant for collecting cookbooks but never using them. I love cooking, but never get around to doing it because I'm too busy being exhausted. <em>Bonus points for veggie recipes.</em> </li>
<li><strong>Show appreciation</strong> to at least one person per day. People just don't get told often enough when they're being awesome. <em>Bonus points for reaching out to someone having a tough day.</em></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Nimbus Sans L, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">What's on your list?</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-24697715093520075872013-03-04T05:00:00.000-05:002013-03-04T05:00:07.145-05:00Reflections on 30<br />
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<strong><a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/owl1.png" href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/owl1.png" style="color: #1b8be0;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-1181" data-mce-src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/owl1.png" height="210" src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/owl1.png" style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); cursor: default; display: inline; float: right; height: auto; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px; width: auto;" title="owl" width="584" /></a></strong>Having recently celebrated that<strong> birthday milestone</strong> that's supposed to turn everyone from rational, youthful, fun-loving twenty-somethings to stress-filled year-counting thirty-something-approaching-midlife-crisis messes, take my word for it: your thirtieth is the same as every other birthday.</div>
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Maybe I'm being a wise owl, but freaking out over your age seems so not worth it. There are <strong>so many other ways to spend your energy</strong>. <span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-style: normal; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
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Instead, I've decided to <strong>assess where I am</strong>, <strong>where I'm headed</strong>, and <strong>when I'd like to get there</strong>. The morning after my birthday last year, I had brunch and life talks with <a data-mce-href="http://kellysmall.tumblr.com/" href="http://kellysmall.tumblr.com/" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;">one of my closest friends</a> and then went for a long, long walk around my neighbourhood. I listened to music, and sighed with happiness as I saw <strong>everyday things with new eyes</strong>.</div>
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<em>A dog! Chasing a ball! In a park! *sigh*.</em><em>Kids! Playing soccer! They're so little! *sigh*</em><em><br /></em><em>Perfect amounts of sunshine and clouds! *sigh*</em><em>The leaves on the trees are perfectly autumny! *sigh*</em></div>
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And I came to a realization that day on the sidewalk. In a lot of big ways, my life was more or less the way I'd hoped it to be when I was younger. And that feeling has stuck with me since that day. Partly because it was so great (really, how many people get to say that?!), and partly because I realized that I needed to make a <strong>new plan</strong>.<em data-mce-style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"><br /></em></div>
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So <strong>one year and a few days after this wonderful revelation</strong>, in typical me-fashion, I'm <strong>crafting a list</strong>. A post-30 list, just because it's as good a place to start as any. This week, I'm drawing inspiration for list items from a wide variety of people around me. I'm collecting ideas. <strong>I'm getting there</strong>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-43158365375099112522013-03-03T20:58:00.002-05:002013-03-03T20:58:33.229-05:00<br />
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A few years ago, I made some huge decisions and changes to my life. There was a disconnect from where I'd always envisioned myself while in my mid-20's and, to be perfectly honest, it was really far from where I was.</div>
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Since then, I've moved to one of my favourite neighbourhoods, scored a job that I absolutely love, made a surprise re-connection with my high school sweetheart and we're now living our little life in Leaside. Yeah, it's pretty alright.</div>
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My goal now? To get myself back into the saddle with the things that I'm really passionate about: writing, crafting, stuff-making, adventuring, cooking, and social media-ing. Over the past four years, I've fallen out of the blogging habit; my writing muscles have been flexed in my day job—but it's just not the same.</div>
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So without any further ado, I'm ready. <b>Let's do this.</b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-75798689851678646482013-01-06T21:16:00.000-05:002013-03-03T21:18:25.839-05:00On the flip side of 2013<br />
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<a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613.png" href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613.png" style="color: #1b8be0;"><img alt="Jan613" class="alignright size-full wp-image-1991" data-mce-src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613.png" height="353" src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613.png" style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); cursor: default; display: inline; float: right; height: auto; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px; width: auto;" width="584" /></a></div>
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Welcome, 2013.</div>
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I've never been one for new years resolutions - the cynic in me doesn't see the point of them. Why wait for a new year to make a fresh start? Why put off tomorrow what you can begin today (says mister Mark Twain)?</div>
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Instead, I'm greeting 2013 as a continuation of my mind-shift from 2012. Giving my attention to the things that I want to become, rather than the things that sap energy and distract me from where I want to be + go. It's a funny place to be, particularly when my instincts often pull me in different directions, but like everything else in life, this slow process is more than worth it, I'm sure. And writing about it helps to keep me accountable.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-2.png" href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-2.png" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Jan613---2" class="alignright size-full wp-image-1992" data-mce-src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-2.png" height="209" src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-2.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); cursor: default; display: inline; float: right; height: auto; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px; width: auto;" width="584" /></a><a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-3.png" href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-3.png" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Jan613-3" class="alignright size-full wp-image-1993" data-mce-src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-3.png" height="209" src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-3.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); cursor: default; display: inline; float: right; height: auto; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px; width: auto;" width="584" /></a><a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-4.png" href="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-4.png" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Jan613-4" class="alignright size-full wp-image-1994" data-mce-src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-4.png" height="209" src="http://courtneymallam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jan613-4.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); cursor: default; display: inline; float: right; height: auto; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 97.5%; padding: 6px; width: auto;" width="584" /></a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://courtneymallam.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/the-list30/" href="http://courtneymallam.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/the-list30/" style="color: #1b8be0; text-decoration: none;">List30</a> is doing well. I've filled the busy holiday season with shopping, baking, and visiting with friends and family. I've been hitting up yoga and the gym at least a 2-3 times a week, and I've been much more intentional on the way that I spend my free time. It's not been easy - there have been more than a few occasions when I've had to re-assess what my priorities were and shift plans around from there. It's funny how it can be so incredibly hard to quiet your soul and stick to your guns, particularly when your knee-jerk reaction is to constantly focus on work-related things.</div>
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Speaking of work, I'm back in the office tomorrow. These past three weeks have been great for finding a happy balance when there's been no nine-to-five to throw off the equation. The trick for next week, I think, will be to leave work <em>at work</em> and do something completely different when I get home.</div>
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What will these completely different things be?</div>
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I've been reflecting on the things that I <em>used</em> to do that I've gotten out of the habit of doing for a wide variety of reasons. A few of these have already been included in my List. But there are a lot more that I'm going to try to integrate in as well, over the next few weeks. Getting my creative on will be one of them. Purging and organizing is another. More to come on both of those as they unfold in my brain.</div>
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These next two months are going to be good. I can tell.</div>
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<em>What changes or projects do you have coming up?</em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-14495367037091534232011-11-06T14:28:00.000-05:002011-11-06T14:30:33.381-05:00Slow cooker pulled pork on garlic toast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwr3GHuP8hOjSD1U2TktFMoSTncxpur8urbNfsDaG0hsVsEW6281oeoW-rWnv6emhlL7p2qJjvaP7kfQbENWPtKQNgf9Gtcv8b9VIF6K4oGkN0UmGPiuPgNAxESXa0tpXheXwewsFVeZYn/s1600/IMG_3299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwr3GHuP8hOjSD1U2TktFMoSTncxpur8urbNfsDaG0hsVsEW6281oeoW-rWnv6emhlL7p2qJjvaP7kfQbENWPtKQNgf9Gtcv8b9VIF6K4oGkN0UmGPiuPgNAxESXa0tpXheXwewsFVeZYn/s640/IMG_3299.jpg" width="590" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
I made pulled pork in my slow cooker on Friday and it was the best thing I've cooked in my kitchen in a long while.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As per usual, I MacGuyvered a favourite recipe from my sister. I was feeling particularly saucy, so I figured I'd like to play around with what she's got to see what else I could do with it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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(But then again, it's pulled pork. You don't want to mess with a good thing too much.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<b>Spoiler alert:</b> when I do this with my cooking, I don't measure things. I measure in pinches and shakes. Consider yourself forewarned.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>You'll need:</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Half of a spanish onion</li>
<li>2 tbsp butter</li>
<li>2 pork tenderloin (You can also substitute with pork shoulder)</li>
<li>4 strips of bacon</li>
<li>Your favourite smokey BBQ sauce (I used a mix of 3 parts Diana's Gourmet Western Smokehouse and 1 part Canadian Club Hickory Bold)</li>
<li>1 can of root beer</li>
<li>5 drops of liquid hickory smoke</li>
<li>A few shakes of smoked paprika</li>
<li>A few pinches of freshly ground black pepper</li>
<li>A few shakes of sea salt</li>
<li>Approximately 2 teaspoons brown sugar</li>
<li>A pinch of cayenne pepper</li>
<li>Your favourite buns (I used whole wheat kaisers)</li>
<li>Freshly chopped garlic</li>
<li>Mushrooms (if you like them)</li>
<li>Your favourite cheese (I used Havarti but an old, strong cheddar would also be awesome)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Sautée chopped onions with butter; slice the bacon into small pieces and add it into the pan. Once it's started to brown, scrape the contents into the slow cooker; set it to medium. </li>
<li>Add the pork tenderloin, ensuring that it's surrounded with onions and bacon. </li>
<li>Add the BBQ sauce, root beer, hickory smoke, paprika, black pepper, salt, brown sugar, cayenne pepper into the slow cooker. Ensure that the pork is entirely covered (if it's not, add more BBQ sauce).</li>
<li>Let it cook for 4 hours on medium. You'll know it's done when the pork pulls apart easily with a fork.</li>
<li>Once you can pull the pork apart, drain almost all of the root beer from the cooker; add more BBQ sauce, salt, or pepper to taste. </li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>Once the pork is ready: </b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Sautée mushrooms. </li>
<li>Mix chopped garlic with butter and spread it on the buns; put them in the oven with the broiler on until golden brown. </li>
<li>Pile on pulled pork. </li>
<li>Stack with cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and enjoy. </li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div>
Bon appetit!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-39227869131683397262011-10-17T21:37:00.000-04:002011-10-18T18:44:24.302-04:00oh hi! monday is almost done!Wonderful, wonderful weekend.<br />
<br />
Kicked off with some strategizing around what exactly to do in lieu of our annual <a href="http://wunderbug.blogspot.com/2009/10/consider-it-cran-tastic.html"><b>cranberry festival weekend</b></a>, which was voted off of the island due to crappy weather. Instead, we hit up the oldie-but-goodie <b>St Jacobs market</b> for The Best Hummus and Baba Ghanouj Ever (so claims the dude selling it), and then Kirk and I celebrated the rest of Saturday with some Scrabble and wine.<br />
<br />
We like to <b>live on the edge</b>.<br />
<br />
All I've been able to focus on since then has been board games. We went thrifting the following day, with <b>board games</b> as the target of my mission and cassettes to play in <b>The Last Car Ever With A Tape Deck</b> as Kirk's. TLCEWATD currently has Harry Belafonte on high rotation. (Further proof of liking to live on the edge.)<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusions:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>I'm shocked and appalled at the number of people who have seen fit to rid themselves of their old <b>Real 2 Real</b> and <b>Color Me Badd</b> tapes. Don't they count as classic yet?</li>
<li>The Best Hummus and Baba Ghanouj Ever is pretty good, but the title still belongs to that which is served at <a href="http://www.thesultanstent.com/index.html"><b>The Sultan's Tent</b></a>. Flavour notes, I tell you. Flavour. Notes.</li>
<li>I have a hankering to visit <a href="http://www.thesultanstent.com/index.html"><b>Snakes & Lattes</b></a> or a similarly board-gamish themed place. </li>
<li>OR HOST A BOARD GAME PARTY. </li>
</ol>
<div>
Sweet merciful crap, I think I just found my calling in life. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-17150251573967986462011-10-12T13:29:00.000-04:002011-10-12T18:13:47.594-04:00A little meditation<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lovelife.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451617e69e2010534b0c53c970b-800wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://lovelife.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451617e69e2010534b0c53c970b-800wi" width="550" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ededed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial;">Today is a day to just breathe, be still, and be <b>deeply rooted</b>. </span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ededed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial;">I had four days off last weekend to
celebrate Thanksgiving, most of which was spend frenetically driving from one
destination to the next, my mind <b>calculating drive times</b> and making lists and
anticipating <b>What’s Next On The Itinerary</b>. While I’m thankful for having a life full of
people who I <b>love deeply</b>, it most certainly didn’t check off that “rest +
rejuvenate” item on my checklist. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ededed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial;">By mid-day today, I re-watched <a href="http://wunderbug.blogspot.com/2011/10/growing-is-forever.html"><b>this video</b></a> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ededed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial;">because I love it; it’s soothing and beautiful and the fact
that I’d found it online reminds me of so many of the <b>things that I
love about the internet</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ededed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial;">My mind slowed and I was reminded of the
goals that first started my journey to rearrange my life to fit my vision of
where I pictured myself. After over a year and a half, a different job, a better
mindspace, clearer direction, new neighbourhood, it’s nice to gauge how far you’ve
come and then to <b>return to those motivations </b>that got you started in the first
place. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ededed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial;">I’m attempting to keep this post <b>distinct
</b>from my ever-listmaking mindset. So with that, <b>today is a day for serenity</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ededed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial;">I’m closing my Facebook page so that I’m
not constantly checking for updates and notifications; I’m closing Twitter for
the same reasons. I’m revisiting the
inspirations that helped me make those steps to who I am today. Some of them have <b><a href="http://www.gwenbell.com/">undergone metamorphosis</a> </b>while I wasn't looking, some of them have <a href="http://jenniferjeffrey.typepad.com/"><b>chosen other paths</b></a>, some of them <a href="http://lovelife.typepad.com/"><b>continue to inspire me on a daily basis</b></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ededed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial;">Why are you doing the things that you're
doing? <b>Where did the passion begin</b>; where has it brought you?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-9571092723268878802011-10-04T17:26:00.000-04:002011-10-04T17:28:08.301-04:00growing is foreverhello world.<br />
<br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18305022?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="550"></iframe></center><br />
<br />
this video helps me to take a deep breath in the midst of a busy day. i want to write down the words, fold them up and put them under my pillow, keep them in my wallet, revisit them throughout the day. i want them on the wall in my office, just to the left of my computer, to remind me.<br />
<br />
beautiful.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/18305022">Growing is Forever</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/jesserosten">Jesse Rosten</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-58846028208223280702011-05-09T11:30:00.002-04:002011-05-09T11:31:27.537-04:00a sense of hunger for life - sabrina ward harrison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.thelateafternoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/image2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://www.thelateafternoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/image2.png" width="560" /></a></div><br />
<br />
my continuing obsession with <a href="http://pinterest.com/courtneymallam/"><b>pinterest</b> </a>brought me across a new favourite artist today; <b><a href="http://www.sabrinawardharrison.com/ee/">sabrina ward harrison</a></b>. her work is the love child of a bunch of my favourite things; mixed-media art, words, texture and photography, all thrown into one (or rather, several), awesome pieces. they're inspiring and whimsical, and i <b>just can't stop looking at them</b>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-50642675294474846122011-05-05T23:06:00.000-04:002011-05-05T23:06:05.944-04:00big love.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://opp-m.com/r1304130680/6/6/1/6661/splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://opp-m.com/r1304130680/6/6/1/6661/splash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
and so tonight, as i'm walking home after an evening of thrifting adventures, coffee and a good few hours of walking in a spring evening,<b> it occurs to me</b>.<br />
<br />
<i>things are good.</i><br />
<br />
even though my jeans fit <b>tighter in the middle</b> than i'd like them to; even though my hair <b>doesn't look the way</b> i wish it would; even though my apartment isn't <b>set up</b> the way i want it to be [and set up that way right now]; it's a process. not always a happy process, and <b>life isn't the way i imagined it to be at this time last year</b>, but it's good.<br />
<br />
and tonight? i'm ok with that. <b>big love to you, world.</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">painting by <a href="http://liztran.com/home.html">liz tran</a></span></i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-49689059699742366172011-03-11T14:19:00.000-05:002011-03-11T14:19:48.511-05:00beautiful, ugly, bookmarked, discovered<ol><li>kal has been blogging lately about <a href="http://lovelife.typepad.com/my_weblog/ugly-beautiful-truth/">beautiful ugly truths</a>. and i love them all. the bare-naked honesty of them. </li>
<li>i've been wading through blogs and images and photos and falling in love with all that is the interwebs all over again. thanks, interwebs. you're kind of great sometimes. </li>
<li>pinterest has been key with finding loads of awesomeness, and i'm always looking for more awesome stuff to <a href="http://pinterest.com/courtneymallam/">bookmark and ogle</a>. what is pinterest, you ask? marta wrote a <a href="http://www.martawrites.com/2011/03/pinterest-thoroughly-smitten-and.html">better explanation</a> than i could, so check it out (and all of her lovely boards, too, while you're at it!)</li>
</ol>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-88298078212239871992011-01-31T13:13:00.000-05:002011-01-31T13:13:36.176-05:00the wintery + the wonderful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwvPBR9ugnus3VH7p5ionqMUnsZdW6bYNXeLhH-OXDT7NOYmUMyT1TlCM0FHbQDB_AkaZ8motdFCl_HdDMCAdjgRQ6umSQ78zcnJpAC2iChsVF6Bm8TJ6dXyf0yOZ5rtBV-FS1zoJ44ZO/s1600/bloggedjan30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwvPBR9ugnus3VH7p5ionqMUnsZdW6bYNXeLhH-OXDT7NOYmUMyT1TlCM0FHbQDB_AkaZ8motdFCl_HdDMCAdjgRQ6umSQ78zcnJpAC2iChsVF6Bm8TJ6dXyf0yOZ5rtBV-FS1zoJ44ZO/s1600/bloggedjan30.jpg" /></a></div><br />
much love + inspiration goes on in the bloggy world today while i continue my quest to get my act together.<br />
<br />
<b>some of my favourite new things: </b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>kal continues to be an ever-flowing fountain of awesome baby names, and <a href="http://lovelife.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/around-here-these-days.html"><b>the one for her most recent lil one</b></a> is no exception.</li>
<li>i came across <a href="http://simplyphoto.blogspot.com/"><b>jennifer's photo blog</b></a> via <b><a href="http://simplelovely.blogspot.com/">simple lovely</a>, </b>who is always a reliable source for pretty things</li>
<li>this <a href="http://twoellie.blogspot.com/2011/01/over-moon.html"><b>industrial loft</b></a> via <b>two ellie</b></li>
<li>speaking of industrial, i want pretty much everything in this <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/joel-mckenzies-salvaged-livework-loft-house-tour-137499"><b>salvaged loft</b></a> (via <b>apartment therapy</b>)</li>
</ul><div>much love today. xo</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(images from my iPhone; ice skating at <b>harbourfront centre, toronto</b>; <b>morning sunshine last week</b> on campus)</i></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-1066161842960475602011-01-28T14:51:00.000-05:002011-01-28T14:51:10.636-05:00i'm gonna post this before i get sidetracked. again.<b>this is me</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>in an attempt to kick start my (almost creaky) creative bones. it's been way too long and i need to get back in the game.</li>
<li>i started a completely new job at the beginning of the month that requires me to get my artsy on. </li>
<li>this is an awesome, awesome thing.</li>
<li>but it means that i've been effectively lurking blogs and handmade shops and slowly gathering my mental inspiration board together again. </li>
</ul><br />
it looks something like <a href="http://pinterest.com/"><b>this</b></a>.<br />
<br />
<b>i need</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>to make a game plan</li>
<li>and a list</li>
<li>both a grocery list, and a to-do list</li>
</ul><br />
<b>project kick-off date</b>: tonight.<br />
<b>excitement level</b>: super high.<br />
<br />
big love to the interwebs. <b>thank you for being so chock-full of information.</b><br />
<br />
xoAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-51202044094175248422010-11-11T09:31:00.000-05:002010-11-11T09:35:21.826-05:00je me souviens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPutld85hC0lPovhga9FNQDlOpOV5qnZs-AB7j2hg6p9ahrjdQMOdpdigK9sCC3Z0Q1fMlSKLiRTrKuKdOltAOjKdudMV28BDRRT0Lf1BrwjzQJaGtqJyUehJWS5J8QNRIK8qBUWW-4lS/s1600/flanders-fields.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPutld85hC0lPovhga9FNQDlOpOV5qnZs-AB7j2hg6p9ahrjdQMOdpdigK9sCC3Z0Q1fMlSKLiRTrKuKdOltAOjKdudMV28BDRRT0Lf1BrwjzQJaGtqJyUehJWS5J8QNRIK8qBUWW-4lS/s400/flanders-fields.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-22392774174853628442010-10-01T09:53:00.000-04:002010-10-01T09:53:34.112-04:00a month in four photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpBpPpoZRXPKdzCyi_bJVjsUV53Chkz8cJEzjHRY3UHH3cJ35sTXn5h3_NhDvqg02PaVHKbsgYhQFpKMH21Tk4MRBU0o5Piktn-viX-s6t84GbOuscFNL4TOUvN5MMkKTiR9dihgVed5d/s1600/week.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpBpPpoZRXPKdzCyi_bJVjsUV53Chkz8cJEzjHRY3UHH3cJ35sTXn5h3_NhDvqg02PaVHKbsgYhQFpKMH21Tk4MRBU0o5Piktn-viX-s6t84GbOuscFNL4TOUvN5MMkKTiR9dihgVed5d/s1600/week.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
it rained, the <b>leaves changed</b>, i went to see <b>the eels </b>in concert, and the sun <b>set</b>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>goodbye, september</b>. it's been a slice. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-50796804427989017332010-09-20T13:36:00.001-04:002010-09-20T13:36:58.881-04:00tuna and nook<br /><br /><center><a href='http://picasaweb.google.com/108287014409486838127/Wunderbug02?authkey=Gv1sRgCNfR2frL9YiX8wE#5519051075164700770'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3QYGQn-cWwVq-LY0q1WqEhcuxUZ8qjTjwoW_igIrkTjs_ZfMVnEEFiiSsJFOpeBLGhDTTEMFL4vgt7C_n5wYWqevC_QF2Emz1J2L-r9Q9KEJ3j6GBwYUnsLcSy7KFllJoyhGczW-fJ0M/s288/iphone_photo.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I finally fixed my issues with blogpress, which means I can now post from my phone. Suh-weet. <br /><br />This is gonna be good; I can tell right now, from my quiet nook on campus. It's so busy now that classes are back in session but I know that chances are good that this bench will be free, and that it'll be super quiet and has a great view to accompany me, my thoughts, and my tuna sammich. <br /><br />I love tuna sammiches. Almost a much as I love my nook. Le heart. <br /><br />Find a moment of peace today. <br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679266550883452053.post-12169795519640380922010-08-19T13:11:00.003-04:002010-08-19T13:13:02.892-04:00goosey goosey gander<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwizw-GCC3riXoQhRLXPqZdSJggbgK471HiqvM2Wa8nM1vMpbhVVadFMFOHeHI4XC6z12ab00bytqxjUV6UkVIbeWH7osW571QlJF5NlUiIVICmUohf0Ne3-U3F6kjFYcipNYOfAxAGbI/s1600/photo(2).gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwizw-GCC3riXoQhRLXPqZdSJggbgK471HiqvM2Wa8nM1vMpbhVVadFMFOHeHI4XC6z12ab00bytqxjUV6UkVIbeWH7osW571QlJF5NlUiIVICmUohf0Ne3-U3F6kjFYcipNYOfAxAGbI/s640/photo(2).gif" width="550" /></a></div><br />
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1) the <b>geese and gulls</b> in the commons paddle through the pond - maybe they're looking for fish that aren't there. a gull<b> flaps his wings</b>, rises up, and bobs down into the shallow water, trying to get something. a bug?<br />
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2) a child and her mother walk by, the little girl <b>squeals </b>and claps her chubby hands in glee at the birds so close by. she toddles down the <b>steep incline</b> - almost too steep for her little legs - hands outstretched, grabbing. the geese move away from her reach slowly, <b>waddling along</b> to safer terrain.<br />
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3) the groundskeeper is filling water in buckets at the far end of the pond; he pours powder solvents into them, and then pours them out <b>splashing </b>around the pond. i like the sound; it startles the geese. they line up on the other side of the pond, as though <b>in a face-off</b>, and stare down the groundskeeper as he wheels his cart and buckets away. territory successfully defended.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">check out the original <a href="http://threebeautifulthings.blogspot.com/">three beautiful things</a> blog. </span></i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269154101073583988noreply@blogger.com0