swervin’

I had a double-page spread in Swerve Magazine today for their new Design Decoder series.  I interviewed and featured my friend Connor Ferster, the mastermind behind DADA Leather Workshop.  Randy Gibson’s photographs are absolutely perfect — exactly what I was envisioning for the piece.

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design nerd time: election fun

I’ve been loving the user-generated content created in support of the upcoming federal election.  Lots of well-made videos, funny websites, and gorgeous typography award-worthy campaign posters.  Its definitely cool movement — so much participation on Facebook and Twitter — I really think this election will be so different than any in the past — except for the Nenshi election which was pretty amazing.

These are some of my favourites campaign posters of the moment — all part of this new initiative on facebook — The Orange Wave for NDP.  Very cool photos.  My favourite is the middle one.  Love it.

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a lovely day at the end of april

Today was such a lovely day.  The sun came out and then hid again behind some big dark stormy clouds.  Those blew away and revealed a gorgeous evening and sunset.

I was invited to participate in an amazing local project today.  The design-babe foodies over at are putting together a Community Cookbook this spring and I am so excited to share a recipe or two for their cookbook!  Take a look over there if you are interested in submitting a recipe for the project.  Once the book is published they will be hosting a big potluck for the community.  How fun!

I also spent the evening purchasing our new baby, a Mac Book Air.  I love this computer.  I worked on some really inspiring freelance projects, enjoyed some ciders, while Byron spent sometime recording vinyl to mp3.  I am so looking forward to the rest of the week, spending time with all of my favourite people, seeing art shows, cooking, snuggling with a special poodle, and going to the spa for a massage. Sigh!  Life is so good.

Have a sweet night! xo

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the day i cooked an artichoke.

I recently explored the world of the artichoke.  I have been a long time fan of the jarred marinated artichoke hearts — I’d often eat them right out of the jar or in a salad.  But I had never tried to cook a whole artichoke and eat it.  Judging by online sources it was pretty simple so I went to it.   I loved the texture of the artichoke flesh but I didn’t really like it with the lemon and butter sauce I made.  Quickly I looked to the internet again for help and found a dip made with mayo & paprika — it was delicious.  Flavourful and more of a cold dip — I really enjoyed it with the artichoke.  I can only imagine the number of delicious dips that could go with artichokes….mustards seem to be quite popular on a lot of food blogs.  Anyways, I recommend you try it out.  Plus, they look so pretty on your plate!

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my mama’s pineapple upside-down cake

Just a little something my Mom whipped up on Sunday.  Pineapple Upside-Down Cake or otherwise known as a sign from the Universe that our entire should pack up immediately and take up residence on a tropical island, possibly in Hawaii.  Because that is where the pineapples are at.  Anyways, the pineapples should be the traditional pineapple rings but according to my Dad, part of the pineapple was too ripe so he cut it off, thus the pretty shards of pineapple.  It all tastes the same anyways plus I think it looks more artistic this way.

Next weekend is Easter and I can’t even imagine what kind of wonderful things I will helping my Mom create in the kitchen!  I already know my favourite part will be setting the table.  Check out this gorgeous Easter party decor from Style At Home.

Yum.  What a lite but sweet cake.

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a truly lovely week.

Last week i had a majorly lovely time. It was the most amount of socializing I have done in the entire last six months.  All in one week.  Can you tell I have cabin fever?   Monday evening i had an incredible catch-up and coffee/tea hangouts at my new favourite italian haunt with Marbella of .  tuesday i had the best lunch date with Chelsea at Cafe Rosso, the cafe that is slowly rising to the top of preferred cafes.  Wednesday I went to the pre-opening party at the new H&M downtown with Kate and had a lovely time sipping sparkling wine and snacking on scallops.  Later in the evening I met up with my ladyfriend Courtney of The Kitschy Chicks for coffees and then spontaneously wine w/ duckfat popcorn and edamame at TASTE.  Thursday evening I had dinner with Nicoleirene at Kane’s Diner in Inglewood.  You can see/read more about our dinner here.  Friday I had the sweetest lunch with my favourite thriftstore cowgirl, Holly and we caught up on everything lovely in her life.  Later after work, Byron and I had dinner with our pals Jenny & Andy at Boxwood Cafe in Central Memorial Park.  It was gorgeous!  What a week.  All I can say is that this week’s evenings will be dedicated to television, movies, freelance projects, and dinners with Mr Honey.  xoxo

 

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i’m dreaming of warm sunshine.

The weather has been…..the complete opposite of lovely.  Its pretty much taken major restraint to avoid hopping on a plane to some tropical destination.  Instead I’ve been settling for tropical drinks.  I bought these adorable jar mugs (jugs?!) in Trail at a cute thriftstore and they are the perfect after-work go-to mug for whatever I feel like drinking.  I could have a french-pressed coffee, or an icy cup of water.  Tonight I made myself a virgin (to cheap to buy any booze!) pina colada (95% fat-free cool whip, yo!) and I made Byron a delicious concoction of lemonade, white wine, and a splash of pomegranate juice.  What a way to lift our spirits!  Plus they looked so pretty.

I had an amazing week last week and a fabulous weekend.  I will be back soon with updates. xoxo

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Giveaway! Calgary Underground Film Tix & Yuppie Love Preserves!

Update: The Jess & Moss portion of the contest just got taken to the next level! 

Jess & Moss filmmaker, Clay Jeter just contacted me offering some great Jess&Moss memorabilia for the winner!  You get some pins, stickers, a movie poster, a mini-tape pin, a beautiful slideviewer including real 16mm film from the film, and a gorgeous necklace  with a glass capsule pendant with moss encased inside — all inspired by the film and made by the lead actress!  Thank you to Clay for offering this gorgeous collection of indie move memorabilia for our winner!  Also, don’t forget you also win some Yuppie Love preserves!  YUM!

I have 2 super exciting giveaways for you my friends!  I am teaming up with the Calgary Underground Film Festival for two giveaways for this years festival.  You can enter to win festival tickets to either the film Jess & Moss or to Attenberg.  This contest is open to any film lovers who live in Calgary, or nearby and willing to drive in for the festival.  Also, the lucky winners will get their choice of some delicious Yuppie Love Preserves as seen here.

All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment with the name of the film you would like to see, your name, and email so I can get in touch with you!

Jess & Moss – April 17 @ 3:45PM  Plaza Theatre

Description:

Jess, age 18 (Sarah Hagan) and Moss, age 12 (Austin Vickers) are second cousins in the dark-fire tobacco fields of rural Western Kentucky. Without immediate families to whom they can relate and lacking friends their own age, they only have each other. Over the course of a summer they embark on a journey, exploring deep secrets and hopes for the future, while being confronted with fears of isolation, abandonment and an unknown tomorrow.

Through a series of memories and vignettes, in Jess + Moss director Clay Jeter creates a lyrical tale of two solitary, playful and young souls. Jeter delicately imposes a complex assemblage of ways of looking and listening – planes of focus, select pieces of music, and expert sound engineering call attention to cryptic, but suggestive details. The arresting cinematography also contributes to this complexity as Jeter uses over 30 different film stocks, some as much as 25 years old, to create a breathtaking blend of crisp and grainy images with fluctuating colour and contrast.

Jess + Moss creates a world where mundane elements swell to bursting and demonstrate the power of cinema to capture the sensation of memory; the beautiful and tragic feeling of the fleeting; and the preciousness of youth and all of its disasters.

Attenberg -April 16 @ 1:30PM Plaza Theatre

Description:

Marina, 23, is growing up with her architect father in a prototype factory town by the sea. Finding the human species strange and repellent, she keeps her distance. Instead she chooses to observe it through the songs of Suicide, the mammal documentaries of Sir David Attenborough, and the sexual education lessons she receives from her only friend, Bella.

A stranger comes to town and challenges her to a foosball duel, on her own table. Her father meanwhile ritualistically prepares for his exit from the 20th century, which he considers to be “overrated.” Caught between the two men and her collaborator Bella, Marina investigates the wondrous mystery of the human fauna.

There is more meaning, and mutual understanding, in exchanging a glance with a gorilla, than any other animal I know. And so if ever there was a possibility of escaping the human condition, and living imaginatively in another creature’s world, it must be with the gorilla.”
– Sir David Attenborough, Life on Earth

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kate’s summer vacation

Meet my friend, Kate Schutz.  We work together, both sharing a love of music & community — but we also share a love of visual art, fashion, and blogging.  Kate is in fact a visual artist creating beautiful nostalgic paintings in her very free time (like when she isn’t taking her yoga training further or developing educational music programs at work).  I wanted to share this exciting project she is currently working on that you could actually be a part of.  It’s all about summer memories and your vintage photographs. Follow the link below for more information on this beautiful series she is embarking on.  I love these aesthetics…..

What are your summer memories? Were they photographed?

Summer is just around the corner and thoughts naturally turn to long days of killing time at the corner store playing Pac Man, drinking slurpees with your bike and your dog by your side, kissing on the dock, drinking by the fire… Whatever your memories are, Kate needs your help!

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a day in my life…

Today, a day in my life was featured on Sadie Designs, one of my absolute favourite blogs from Vancouver.  I can’t wait for summer to officially arrive — a day in my life drastically changes once the sun starts shining round me.  I get out way more, lots of bike rides, picnics, night-time rides for ice cream, out to the mountains….I am a true summer gal at heart.

Anyways, in other news, have you entered my giveaway? Please do!  The Calgary Underground Film Festival is SO much fun!  Apparently, the opening night tonight was SOLD OUT!  Enter the contest!!!

I am sleepy after a long day of work, a wonderful extended coffee date with Marbella, freelance work, and party planning.  Off to dreamland, friendo’s! xo

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