A belated sketchbook post!

What a wild ride these recent months have been. Yet, even when the waters of my life are calm, I'm still not very organized when it comes to blog posting.. This is something I need to work at, since I find great satisfaction in photographing my work and sharing it to whoever may stumble upon here.

Today's belated post is of a pair of sketchbooks I had made back in late April/early May, for a student who was about to go on a month-long intense drawing course in Italy. The very same I had been to 3 years ago! (why does time fly?? I want to go back!). It's a really great feeling to hand over completely handmade sketchbooks to someone who is about to venture off into an adventure. I've been lucky to be such an accomplice quite a few times since officially starting to sell my sketchbooks.

I still feel I have much to do and learn in regards to bookmaking (and life in general) but I am most definitely driven, and that's what counts the most.

To the Carnival!

A little while back, I took myself out on a small date to the carnival that had just stopped in town. It had been a number of years since I last went and thought it would be fun to dress up, play a few games and ride the ferris wheel. Going to the fair was my most favourite thing to do as a child. I have special memories of my father coming home from work and telling me that he found a fair we could go to! All the colours, the lights and the adrenaline rush of the rides was so exciting and totally thrilling.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to re-kindle these childhood memories that night, as the fair doesn't quite have its full effect when you go alone. Despite, I still won a prize! A stuffed piggy at the water gun game, which I NEVER ever won at when I was little. So that was nice :) Hopefully the fair will be back soon and I'll win one of the those penguins or dinosaurs, they were so cute!!

Swell

It's actually been over a month since I last posted?? Time has been moving a bit too quickly for my taste. We're already May and spring has yet to be quite fully felt despite summer having made a surprise pop-up appearance mid-end March. I can't say I'm entirely looking forward to the heat waves and blaring sun that are to come in the next 2-3 months, but I am ready to leave this cold and uncomfortable weather behind.

And in light of the weather transitioning, the visual landscape has been temporarily graced with pink blossoms. Every year I miss the chance at shooting these lovely flower bushes because of their awkward placing in the middle of a boulevard in between bus stops from where I am to where I'm going near where I live. And so I would often forget and then be reminded as the bus drives pass them and then inevitably forget again until I'm reminded yet again, it's a terrible cycle. This year however I made a point to get off the bus a couple stops early and risked looking silly to drivers going to and fro. It was so worth it, despite the cold wind that froze my trigger-happy fingers!

Precious moments

Taking the time to appreciate the collective of small things that make me happy. Whether it be a lone cannoli, some spicy pickled eggplant, a new hair elastic, my favourite quick lunch or an adorable sticker stationery set. I am alive and deserving and so are you!

Carpe Diem people!

~ ♥ ~

Le Restaurant Misto

So this is a bit late! In the beginning of March, a good friend who recently moved to a nearby province to pursue her aspirations of working as a flight attendant (she totally achieved this goal btw), came back into town for a few days and of course she had to meet up with the Fantastic Plastic 4!

As usual, we all met up at a restaurant we've never been to before, well 3 out 4 anyhow. It's become sort of a tradition and I don't mind! In fact, I love it! When I am lucky enough to have the means to eat a nice restaurant, it is one of those small things that's actually a huge thing for me and makes me quite happy. 

We initially had organized to go to l'Avenue, which was a really trendy looking restaurant with menus that were designed after vinyl album covers and quirky memorabilia decorating the walls. Unfortunately the music was too loud for conversation, you could barely hear someone sitting across from you! I asked one of the waitresses if the volume will be going down a bit later to which she replied "It's going to get louder as the night goes on! Sorry, but it's that kind of place."

With that, we decided to find another more suitable restaurant. We had no idea which way to go until another friend said she had been to Misto Restaurant before and that she really enjoyed it. Luckily for us, it was across the street from l'Avenue!

It was a true delight, very nice ambiance and good service. The menu is Italian inspired with all sorts of pasta dishes (we were getting a bit mixed up with all the pasta names, not knowing which was which!). For starters, we ordered a plate of bruschetta, which we shared between the 4 of us. It wasn't your typical kind, it had sour cream, pickled red peppers and some Italian parsley on top. Also, the bread resembled more of a greek-style pita (but a bit firmer). It was sweet and savoury and delicious!

As for my plate, I ordered a vegetable calzone (no Parks and Recreation jokes! haha!). It was served open with the contents pouring out. Enough to make your mouth water. In it was artichoke, zucchini, carrot, cheese, everything!  As for the price, it was low on cost and high on taste and quality. My bill was under $25 (including tip + a cocktail!).

For dessert, we went to Rockaberry's, no photo evidence of that, their pies are so delicious  we attacked them!

Here's to good company and more restaurant trips! 

Hanson at the Corona Theatre

inside the corona theatre.

opening act: Carly Rae Jepsen

front row! yes!!

<3

By far the best Hanson show I've ever been to! And not only because I finally FINALLY got be in the front row and touch/shake hands with the people who make/play/sing the songs that I've loved for more than half my life, but really because the set list was fantastic and they're energy and talent is astounding. It's hard to believe that some of the songs are as old as 15 and others are from just a year ago, it shows the quality of their sound and their longevity. I will admit I acted a bit like a teeny-bopper, which is so embarrassing for my age but if there ever was a time and a place, it was then and there.

mili

"Let Them Eat Cake!" Fridays?

My lovely yogi tea of choice for today, which I realized also had some sage advice for me:

Probably one of my most favourite activities, or at least the one that makes me happy no matter what, is drinking aromatic tea or bitter coffee along with a sweet pastry of some sort. It just puts me in the right. place. It's a perfect treat and honestly nothing else matters to me in that moment, everything is wonderful. I enjoy it by myself, to contemplate existential and non-existential questions or I enjoy it with others to chat about light or deep thoughts/issues. The tea acts as a natural hourglass where we can play with time, make it stop or go really...slowly.

However once that last drop of tea is gone, I'm forced back into reality.. Which is alright. I've learnt recently that I should do what makes me happy right now and not what I think "might" make me happier in the long run. I'm no good and of no use to myself or others if I'm in a bad mood or stuck in negative thoughts.

Perhaps this could become a weekly theme for me? To share the teas and pastries I'm eating/making? We'll see. For tonight's tea, I used my newest teacup (gathering a bit of a collection.. not even embarrassed about it) which I do adore, how could I not have a field day drinking from it? There's a BIRD on it! Aesthetics aside, it's actually quite ergonomic and comfortable to hold. As for the cake, it is a vanilla and chocolate chip bundt cake from a local chain of Italian bakeries called Bruno et Frères, where they have all sorts of delicious Italian breads and cakes to devour. I saw some pretty amazing canolis that I need to get my hands on by next week for sure.

And with that, I bid you fare thee well.. tomorrow is an exciting day for me as I get to see one of my favourite bands play live! Time for some beauty sleep.

mili