Modern Lady

   I finally decided to join the rest of 2013 and invest in an iPhone.. I've always been extremely reluctant about this as I just didn't see the point of spending all of that money on one little gadget. I always see people, including my family and friends, totally absorbed into their iPhone and I was afraid that if I got one I'd be another robot of the 21st century. But after seeing the amazing quality photos that they take and coming to the conclusion that my old phone just wasn't all that reliable, I caved in. And getting called an old lady so often for being so opposed to new technologies bummed be out a little bit so I put my pride aside and purchased an iPhone.. and so far I'm not regretting it. I FEEL SO HIP AND YOUNG AGAIN. 

Photo Post: the Market, the Capital, and Bluesfestival

 

(These were all taken on one of Kory's disposable film cameras)!

http://agoodhold.tumblr.com/

Year IV

(Here's me looking like a big dink at Bluesfest).

 The other week was Kory and I's four year-iversary. We spent it in Ottawa and I made him a stellar breakfast (if I do say so myself) of peanut butter fudge, bold BBQ Doritos, bacon, key lime pie, and an iced chai latte.. all of his favourite things haha. This was also our second day at Bluesfest so we got to see friggin RUSH to top of the already lovely day. We've been inseparable since we were sixteen and it's mind blowing to look back on the past four years and see how much we have grown together. He asked me to be his official lady one night on our way home from a show in Toronto (ABACABB.. yes..) on the GO train - I fell asleep in his lap and he woke me up to ask me.. I sleepily and unhesitatingly agreed then went back to my slumber. We've been doing the whole long distance thing for the past two years and we've only got one more year apart to go!

(Here's a hilarious photo of us youngsters sharing a strawberry milkshake our very first summer together).

I Dig: Masala Chai infused Chocolate

   I was in Bulk Barn the other day picking up some quinoa and discovered that they actually sell some pretty neat stuff. I don't know if it's a new thing for them or if I was just always way too focused on the copious amounts of candy they carry but I definitely left with more than quinoa. I got some chia seeds, hemp hearts, and also stumbled upon this rad chocolate company called the Tea Room that infuses various types of chocolate with various types of tea. I grabbed the black masala chai infused milk chocolate which is SO great. It's described on the packaging as 'decadent milk chocolate infused with a warm blend of black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper & other spices', and is Canada and USDA certified organic! They also had a chamomile and honey infused white chocolate which I'm certainly going to get next time I pop in. 

(I know, my phone takes awesome photos.. only not really though).

Recipe: G'morning Smoothie

Here's what you'll need:

-Fresh Kale 

-Local Honey 

-Unsalted Natural Almonds 

-Frozen Berries 

-A Banananana

-Blueberry Juice

-Raw Milled Chia Seeds

-Yogurt 

-A Blender!

   Super easy, throw all of the ingredients into your blender and you're good to go. I like to start off by putting the solids in first so that they're closer to the blade and will blend a little bit easier. I throw in about two cups of frozen berries and a small handful of almonds into the bottom of the blender. Then I put in (a lot..) of honey because if you put this guy in last it tends to clump together rather than blending into the beverage. I then add a handful of kale (or sometimes spinach, or even both), and about half of a banana which I cut or break up into smaller bits first. I cannot for the life of me bring myself to eat a banana.. something about the texture and taste just doesn't go over well with me so I like to add it into a smoothie so that I can hardly taste it and the texture is irrelevant - but I still get the potassium and healthy benefits of it! Lastly goes in the yogurt, chia, and then the juice. Tip: if you've got a clear glass blender, a sweet way to tell when the smoothie is done is when it all begins to rise up to the top and then down into the center, down the middle, and rotates (it's hard to explain but you'll know when you see it). This is a SUPER energizing smoothie and a good way to start your day. During exam time I had two of these a day, everyday, and i really began to notice a difference in my energy levels and ability to focus. I'm trying to start to get back into the routine of having one of these with my breaky every morning (I ALWAYS make time for a little breakfast - a single beverage such as a smoothie is no alternative to a meal). 

   

Birthday Gal

   The other day was my big ol' 20th Birthday. It was on a Sunday and I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. I just so happened to get the whole day off of work without even asking for it which was odd as I had JUST come back from a five day vacation. I decided I wanted to check out some stand up paddle boarding (it's like paddling around on a surf board minus the waves). I used to always mess around on these things as a tot and found a place real close that allows you to rent them, take lessons, and even S.U.P YOGA. As the yoga class requires you to take the S.U.P beginners lesson first for safety purposes, I figured it'd be something neat for us to do on my Birthday. It was an absolute blast and our instructor Angela was a major babe. Here's a polaroid photo Kory took of me on my paddle board (I don't have a scanner here or else it'd be better quality I swear). And the instructor also got some pictures of us on her camera which I shall post once I get a hold of them.

   Kory and his mum spoiled me as per usual. Kory got me these little bubble tea mugs with tiny trees in them (due to my apparent pine tree obsession) and I love them. He also got me a neat copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that comes with stickers innit to decorate your own front cover, a collection of some Bukowski poetry, and two records (Born Ruffian's new album and a Mikal Cronin album also)! Debbie got me this 'I love naps' jammie set, Slaughterhouse Five, a candle, and the 'Happy Hippy' body wash from Lush. 

   My little Brother got me an awesome vintage vase/canister which unfortunately I haven't got a photo of (it's lovely I promise). He says it's for me to keep my tea in which it precisely what I'm going to do with it - he knows me far too well. And my mum and dad got me salt and pepper shakers for my apartment as well as an apron and oven mittens set. It's safe to say I'm a very happy camper. 

Purple Shampoo?!

   SO here's the deal: I've got naturally pretty dark hair that I tend to dye a darker blonde colour. Apparently my hair digs red tones whilst I prefer.. not. I came to terms with this until I was in the pet store the other month looking at these cute as fuck little orange baby kittens when the shop owner came up to me and said "You've got to adopt one! They match your hair!".. and on another occasion an older woman at work asked me if I was Irish and upon my reply with a yes stated "I could tell because of the freckles and orange toned hair!". Not that I think there's anything wrong with ginger locks, but it's just not the look I'm going for at this point in time. So I read somewhere on the internet that violet/purple shampoo is supposed to tone down the brassiness in blonde hair and went to pick some up the very next day. I grabbed one under the brand 'Schwarzkopf' which looks like this: 

(It cost me about 12 dollars).

   It's a VERY opaque purple colour itself and I'm not going to lie it looks a little intimidating, but I've read that the more transparent violet ones don't work nearly as good. I'm going to use it for the first time tonight and figured I'd write down the progress of this experiment as it progresses. I searched my lap top thoroughly for a good photo of my hair currently where you can really pick up on the brassy tones but to no avail. Thus, I took a quick one with my webcam where you can sortakinda see it, but I shall post a better one when I come across it.

Barista Problems IV

   When people are baffled that our sizes are 'small', 'medium', and 'large' as opposed to 'tall', 'grande', and 'venti' (I believe that's the order). Again, we are not a Starbucks. No one can explain my feelings on this better than my main man Paul Rudd. When I do enter a Starbucks I tend to order like this and get a quite similar reaction. Really, says who, Fellini?

"F.Y.I it's called Venti because it's 20 ounces. TWENTY - VENTI."

Barista Problems III

   When someone orders a 'skinny latte' and then proceeds to tell you what that means/how to make it... I'm aware, I do work here y'know. People like to think that because we're not a Starbucks/big corporation that we don't know how to make their fancy little drinks. Also, you sound like an arse when you order a 'skinny' anything. That is all. 

Tunage: LCD Soundsystem

 
   Getting ready for my much needed week off work by listening to a little LCD Soundsystem. This morning I went into the grocery store for some breaky fruit and the girl at the checkout counter was a real... unpleasant human. It's not the first time I've encountered her grumpiness at the shop but today I noticed she was quite friendly to the woman in front of me and then when it came my turn she didn't even crack a smile. I'm always cheery and nice to well, everyone, I like to think, and I usually had tried to just kill her with kindness but today was enough. She managed to check me out without saying a word to me so I left with a 'cheers, man' and I plan to avoid the express lane at all costs in the future (even if this entails waiting behind an elderly man snatching up all of the discounted paper towels whilst I only have a handful of blueberries). I know it's not a huge deal but it's amazing the slightest impact someone can have on an otherwise awesome morning, thus I am now listening to some upbeat tunes to put me back in my stellar mood! I can't wait to go back into work tomorrow morning and just be totally fucking nice to everyone who walks through that door with the hopes to brighten their day just a little bit. (I know this wasn't really a post about the band.. shh).

Book Club: Big Sur

   I was stoked on the semester to end and for summer to kick in solely (well, not solely but lots, ok?) for the purpose of finally being able to pick and choose which books to read on my own basis and at my own pace, as opposed to tearing through dense German philosopher's works in a matter of weeks or even days (which don't get me wrong, I enjoy, but it does get borderline exhausting). At the top of my summer to do list was 'read at least one novel per month while on summer break'.. but honestly I've been working so much that I really haven't had a lot of time for reading. I'm embarrassed to admit that already two months have gone by and I've only managed to get half way through ONE single book. Which means I will now enter hyper-drive and start reading like a maniac to make up for my utter laziness. 

   

   Back in May I picked up 'Big Sur' by Jack Kerouac. I've read Dharma Bums by him which I THOROUGHLY enjoyed and would certainly recommend, and also 'On the Road', which I surprisingly didn't enjoy all that much as I had a tough time getting really into it and conecting with the plot etc. (don't hate me - I know there's a ton of hype surrounding this one). So far I'm liking Big Sur, but not quite as much as Dharma Bums. I'll write another post on this little guy as soon as I finally finish it with my conclusive opinion and also some of my favourite quotes (I like to circle my favourite bits in pen and write little notes as I go along regardless of what I'm reading)! 

Barista Accomplishments

   When an Australian tells you that you make a mean 'flat white'.