New Face

I gave my blog a new face today. I think it's quite pretty myself, although I'm not a huge fan of blue. The Lake sort of calls for it thought, doesn't it? Once I uploaded the picture, I knew it had to be blue all the way.

The past few days have been blurry. I've been more exhausted recently than usual, I'm not sure why. Despite trying to go to bed earlier this week, my body still protests when the alarm goes off. I swear I wasn't this tired last week. What's more, a strange darkness has taken over my upper eyelids. Mum thinks it's because I don't sleep enough, but it feels like something more. I'm worried it's my body's way of telling me I might be sick. I'd like to just suck it up and go to the doctor but it's so inconvenient having to wait at the walk-ins. And of course, if I do decide to go to the clinic, I'll feel guilty if I don't bring up the million other things wrong with me right now.

I'm beginning to think the itchiness is an allergy. I used to think it was just dry skin, but when 'A' spotted a hive the other day, I began to think it might be something else. In fact, I'm worried that I'm allergic to something I wear...

I went to the Canucks game last night on a $60 ticket. Sitting in the upper bowl is about as good as I remember it being. While the people are rougher than in the lower bowl, I think it makes for a better atmosphere. Hockey isn't meant to be watched by business men in suits trying to keep appearances. I really do resent all the season ticket holders who don't show up to the games. Give them away, action them off, donate to charity...do SOMETHING with them. It helps no one that those seats are empty night after night; not the team, not the other fans in the building and certainly not the people who aren't able to be at the game.

We lost. What's new? I'm not jumping off the bandwagon, because I DO feel a renewed sense of hope at the very beginning of each game, but they're really ruining it for me. I don't agree with the booing at the end, but I couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken when the final buzzer went. When it comes down to it, none of us know what they're feeling. None of us know how hard they're trying or how much they want it. None of us know. I can't listen to talk radio anymore, the negativity is awful.

I'm going to try to call the doctor again today to get a physical. Although, if it's going to cost me $100 and then more money on top of that to get the shots before I even find out if I'm going to get into the program...I'm not sure that it's worth it. Going through all of that and not even getting in will be tough. Although, with the discussions A and I have been having of late, going through all of that and getting IN might be even tougher. I'm trying not to think about it because it makes me really upset and if anything, the prospect of getting into this program should be nothing but exciting and happy and great. I may have already ruined it for myself.

16 days 'til Toronto and counting. I'm definitely more excited about Toronto than I am about Cabo, but that might change in the coming months. Of course, it will change after Toronto and with only Cabo in front of me. I'm beyond excited at the chance to spend a week alone with my two best friends. A lot has happened between the three of us and I think a week together will be good and hopefully cleansing. I haven't been the greatest friend lately but I do want to change that. I realized in the past couple days that other than my family, they're the only solid thing in my life. I've done some pretty terrible things to them in the past and they've stuck by me. There's never any question that we'll remain friends but it's up to all three of us to decide how good of friends we'll be. I think we can be as close as ever, we just have to work at it.

It's only 10:07am and I'm about ready to pack it in for the day. My eyes just won't stay open. I can't tell if that's because I didn't sleep enough or if it's the actual eyelid problem. Whatever it is, it's not very ideal with more than 6 hours of a workday still ahead of me. The worst thing is, I don't even have an evening to look forward to, which is a truly awful thing to say considering we're supposed to be going to S's game tonight. It's not that I don't want to go because of the hockey or because it's S...I'm just plain exhausted, spent, dead. Maybe I'll ask A to leave me when he goes...but I don't want that either. I'd prefer if he stayed, thought I don't think I can ask that of him.

I think I'm going to try to do actual work now...lots of specs to format.

Toronto on a Budget

I likely won't be doing 'Toronto on a budget' but I thought I would create one anyway.

I figure A and I will eat at least two meals out a day. We'll buy groceries and hopefully be able to make little things in our room like breakfast or a lunch here and there.

4 full days times 2 meals a day equals 8 total meals.

8 meals times 20 dollars per meal equals 160 dollars.

We'll round it up to 200 for good measure.

Not that I know much about this stuff, but we'll be vising galleries and other such attractions. I'll assume that entry to such places on a student discount would be anywhere from 10 dollars to 20 dollars.

5 galleries (max, seriously...I'm not visiting more than five) at 15 dollars each equals 75 dollars.

Nights out will account for quite a bit of my money I imagine as we'll be visiting different bars and such.

3 drinks per night (exaggeration) times 4 nights equals 12 drinks.

12 drinks times 7/8 dollars per drink equals 85 dollars.

And the biggest money grab...shopping. I'm not going to make a budget for this, but I'm going to try to spend only a few hundred dollars. It won't be hard...

So for everything other than shopping, I'll need about 350-400 dollars.

What I expected.

Vintage Me

When I wrote that title just now I realized it sounds more like I'm going to be sharing vintage stories or photo's of me, but alas, that is not the case.

Instead, I'm researching vintage clothing stores in Toronto for A and I to visit while we're there. Thus far, I have a huge standing list and will need to compile my thoughts/information somewhere.

This is a good a place as any...

In no particular order:

1. Cats Meow Couture @ 180 Avenue Road; 647.435.5875
-The images on the site's opening page are beautiful, displaying several dresses, hats, bags and my favorite...shoes!
-They keep a blog announcing new items on the regular.
-They have a sale room in the back.
-As for pricing, from what I can tell we're looking at seriously expensive couture, probably quite out of my range
-4.9km from the hotel
VERDICT: Skip

2. Brava @ 553 Queen Street West

-The first thing I notice when I reach their website is the tacky images and awfully thrown together site...however, a bad website does not mean a bad vintage store.
-The dresses in their images are pretty enough, nothing special.
-Most look like bad prom dresses, but there may be a few hidden gems.
-3km from the hotel
VERDICT: Probable

3. Assylm @ 42 Kensington Avenue
-Has no website
-In Kensington Market (which A wants to check out anyway, so I imagine this will be an easy choice to pop into)
-They do vintage jeans, which might be neat
-One review notes an Anne Klein scarf found at the bottom of a bargain bin.
-3.5km from the hotel
VERDICT: Probable

4. Upsidedive @ 51C Blake Street

-They carry clothing and furniture
-This was one of my favorites upon initial review
-CHEAP
-6.5km from the hotel
VERDICT: Must See

5. Bungalow @ 273 Augusta Avenue
-Flash website, neat colours, the first page is ALL sunglasses (my love)
-A quick flip through their images quickly reveals a new/old vintage style. Like 'Mintage' in Vancouver
-They also do furniture and housewares
-Antiques
-3.8km from hotel
VERDICT: Must See

6. Courage My Love Inc. @ 14 Kensington Avenue

-Before even attempting to visit their website I read several rave reviews about this place
-Good for girls AND guys (yay A!)
-Tonnes of buttons, jewelery, things shoved in drawers etc.
-Vintage ties for boys!
-In the market
-3.6km from hotel
VERDICT: Must See

7. 69 Vintage @ 1234 Bloor Street West or 1100 Queen Street West

-Cowboy boots (I. Want.)
-"Buy the Pound" = you pay by the pound
-Not much on the website, but looks neat from what I can tell
-The location on Queen Street West (images found on a blog review) looks huge, amazing, colourful, fun!
-No "vintage store smell" apparently
-This was one of my favorites upon initial review...
-4.8km from hotel

VERDICT: Must See

8. Public Butter @ 1290 Queen Street West
-Interesting name...
-Describes itself as: a mixed retail emporium, art gallery, and silk-screen print shop.
-The website and store both look really neat
-The clothes, although I can't get a good enough look, appear interesting enough
-5.5km from hotel
VERDICT: Must See

9. Pre-Loved @ 881 Queen Street West
-Actually makes new clothing out of vintage pieces
-Seems a bit pricey
-3.9km from hotel
VERDICT: Skip

10. Stella Luna @ 1627 Queen Street West
-Cheap
-Cash only (not too big of a problem)
-Cowboy boots!
-Only open Wednesday to Sunday
-Pricing seems really fair: a navy pinstripe Jaeger suit ($50), a sailor-style Byblos jacket ($30), a sequined V-neck top ($24). Finish off your look with a pair of sexy pumps (from $26) and a piece of quirky costume jewellery ($16–$30). Hats go for $18 to $28.
-6.7km from hotel
VERDICT: Must See (If I can convince A)

11. Thrill of the Find @ 1172 Queen Street West

-No website
-Exists in a 'lovely brunch and shop hot-spot' area, whatever that means...
-Stocks labels
-Hit and miss
-4.8km from hotel
VERDICT: Probable

12. Foxy Boutique @ 251 Gerrard Street East
-Right next door to kitchen vintage and glasswares
-Possibly the best collection of vintage shoes ever seen in Toronto
-3.2km from hotel
VERDICT: Possible

13. Vintage Mix 1 @ 186 Ossington Avenue

-Amazing review online
-Lots of clothes and accessories for men and women
-Cowboy boots! Trunks full of belts!
-5km from hotel
VERDICT: Possible

My list began with 14 but I've cut one that I would just...never be able to go to: Cabaret. Sigh, to be rich. I DO realize Toronto is still 26 days away, but I can't help getting excited for it already.

And now, because I feel like it. Some vintage ME:

Christian Louboutin

I deserve these shoes.

Ok, maybe not deserve, but I want...real bad.

i carry your heart - e.e. cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go, my dear and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
not fate(for you are my fate, my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and its you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or the mind can hide)
and this is the wonder thats keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

1:21

1:21

As far as times go, it's not that impressive. I'm a fan of 11:11 and 12:21 for knocking. He's a fan of 12:51, although sometimes I think that's only because he's a Strokes fan.

Today is uneventful. It's already past the halfway point in my day and I've done very little. I've managed to make it up to Safeway to get some food for work, everyday stuff.

Bananas
Yogurt
Crackers
Cream Cheese
Oatmeal
Cheese
etc.

I find I spend less money when I have these things at work already, always a plus.

Yesterday my boyfriend found out about my blog. I guess I told him, in a roundabout way, but the thought is still a little unnerving. RIGHT NOW he could be reading these very words. Or at least, someday he will. I'm very apprehensive about letting him read things I write because he has such an amazing talent with words that nothing I write really could compare. (I'm not trying to stroke your ego if you're reading this!) Ha!

The long arm of the (office) law has extended itself even further in the workplace today, no music streaming. For myself, who has very little to do some days, this is a devastating blow. I didn't ask, for fear of causing some sort of review of my work performance, but I imagine video streaming is even worse. I've done that. I don't feel that bad for myself though, at least I'm not staring at AutoCAD all day. It could be worse.

My best friend and my boyfriends best friend started dating last week. It doesn't come as a surprise considering they've been doing all the things a couple might do but without the classification and title. I'm happy for them, really. I think the dynamic in our group of friends will change, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, our friends have already been through it with myself and A; because of that H and M will have an easy time with it. Maybe they'll appreciate the awkward position we were put in at the beginning now, H already admitted to me that he was grateful that we sort of led the way over a year ago in terms of guidelines for being in a relationship within a group of friends. I have hope. Not to mention the double date potential!

I just looked up the definition of a blog to make sure I was doing it right, I am.

And now, a random image from the internet!