Doe's Notes...

Wishes

2011-09-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

My 8 year old niece is wise beyond her years. I'm always astonished by the things she says (most of the time in a good way!). The other day she was getting me to write down a list of things she wanted for her birthday and she asked that I write "Birthday Wishes". She asked me if I wanted to know why she called them wishes and I said yes. She told me that she calls it a wishlist because you're supposed to write down all of the things that you wish for, not just the things that you hope to get. Not surprisingly, the item on the top of her list is a great dane! She teaches me to hope and dream for things, even if they seem so far out of my reach. Oh how I love her for that.
I think that I'll write a list of my wishes. Maybe for things that I hope to manifest in my life more than the material things I want, although that couldn't hurt either! Let me know if any of you have lists like this. Do you keep them up to date? Do they help you reach your goals and live your dreams?

Inspiration and Staying Positive

2011-09-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

via pinterest

These are two things that I have been thinking about lately. I love it when I am totally inspired to create something or to work on something. It gives me a purpose and makes me happy. When I am not inspired, I feel restless and at loose ends. There are times when it's good to just relax and be but most times I need to feel some sort of pull towards something whether it be a book, a movie, a project etc. I like having something to look forward to when I get home from work. I think being inspired is directly linked to being positive and staying that way. How can you not be in a positive mindspace if you are doing something you love? I am a true believer in thinking positive and staying healthy. Negative feelings eat away at a person and in my opinion if your mood is bad for a period of time, your immune system is suppressed and you are likely to feel the physical effects of negativity as well as the emotional. That's why stress kills and depression hurts. That's not to say that we won't ever have any negative feelings or that when a person does, they should ignore them. I think that if you are feeling something, you should embrace it, deal with it and eventually move on. Stuffing feelings down is never a good choice, however, obsessively ruminating over negative feelings is unhealthy. I guess that's why I like my journal so much. I can write things down and purge them from my mind when I'm feeling down and when I'm happy, I can keep the mood going and remember it by writing it down. Works both ways.
Lately, I've taken to writing myself messages on my bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker. It is one of the first things I see in the morning and it starts my day off on the right foot. I know it might sound cheesy but it totally works. I'm all about the person mantra. Lately it's been "You are beautiful, your are loved, you are worthy." Whether you believe it's true or not, after reading this every morning for a few days, a person begins to believe it. It might be subconsiously at first, with a lightness in your heart but eventually you will actually come to believe these things. I mean, why do so many people think they have to be a size two to be happy, worthwhile and important? All of the ads they are assaulted with each day in the media is the clear answer to that! So why not change what you see and hear each day to something more positive? I truly believe that if we work on being positive, it will not only resonate in us but in others around us and that's catchy. It could really make the world a better place to live.
So go out and get inspired and think positive! Let me know how it works for you.

Another new journal

2011-09-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

When choosing a journal to write in, I ~~almost~~ always use a moleskine. This summer however, I decided that I would try again to change my habits as I have been looking for a thicker book to write in. I wanted something with a lot of pages, something substantial. So when I was in Spokane, I went to a Barnes and Noble and picked up a Miquelrius notebook. It was appealing to me on several levels. First of all, it was thick. Even though it was quite a substantial notebook, it wasn't heavy and it was small enough to comfortably fit in any of the bags I own. This is a must with any journal I have as I tote them with me everywhere.

Secondly, it has gridded pages that allow me to write as large or as small as I want and I quite like the look of my writing against the lines of the graph paper. This is also very helpful when it comes to creating my monthly calendar.

Third and not least of all, it was very inexpensive; only $9.99 US, which this summer was an even better deal for me because the Canadian dollar was doing so well! So far, I have been using my new notebook, whom I've since dubbed Scarlett, since the end of August. Admittedly, only a couple of weeks but that's about 10 days longer than any of my other attempts at using something other than a Moleskine to write it have lasted.

What kind of notebook/journal are you using?

Pug love

2011-09-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

So, even though I'm endevouring to write more in a public forum, I can't help but post some pics of the girls. I don't know if everyone is as crazy as me for pugs but I believe that anyone looking at pictures of pugs cannot help but smile. So here are some recents:

Little Rosey with her tongue out for the camera

Ruby wants a journal just like mine!

Rosey just can't keep that tongue in her head!

This weekend we are also babysitting our friend LittleMissEmmaLarge. We love her. Hope you're having a great weekend!

Thoughts on writing

2011-09-09T12:52:00.003-07:00

I write entirely to find out what

I'm thinking, what I'm looking at,

what I see and what it means.

What I want and what I fear.

-Joan Didion

So lately I've been thinking more and more about writing and why I do it and how to get better at it. I've always written daily in my journal but mostly about random stuff that's happening in my life in order to help me to gain some perspective on things. I'm still doing this but lately I've been thinking more and more about actually writing articles, essays, opinion pieces etc. I am a perfectionist and although I love to write, I often believe that if I were to try writing something other than my personal journal (that would only be viewed by me) that I would somehow fail and my dream would be lost. Today I'm thinking that if I don't ever try, my dream will be lost to me for sure. So it is with that thought that I begin to write once more on this very neglected blog. Not only will this help me gain some confidence (writing for others, even if only one other person reads this, takes a lot of courage), it will help me practice and get better at my craft. You'll notice that I even changed the layout to coincide with my newfound insight. I'm not saying that what I write here will be grand but I will be writing for an audience so consider this my playground and feel free to comment on what you read.

Books on Journal Writing

2011-03-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

Hey there! I know it's been a while. I'm fighting the winter blahs. It's the first day of Spring and we are expected to get 18cm of snow by tonight. I think it must be close by now, it's snowed all day long!
When it snows outside, I like to sit in my big comfy chair with a cup of tea (or a Chai Tea Latte from Sbux) and read a good book. I try and read fiction and non-fiction at the same time so that when I get tired of one, I can read the other. Right now I am reading this:

and this:

Sherlock Holmes books are written as diary entries of a sort by Watson. I watched the series on the BBC this Christmas and was hooked. The books are even better.
So far, I am finding Tristine Rainer`s book very interesting and inspiring. I try to write in my journal at least once a day and sometimes I`m at a loss for what to write about. She provides many different writing styles and reasons why to write to keep me going. I am not done reading the book yet, however, I would recomend it so far!
And although this is not my beloved Moleskine - here`s a bit of inspiration for you. I found it via a link on Shaynie`s blog. You should check her blog out too, she`s one cool girl!

Of Pancakes and Women and other randomness...

2011-03-08T19:26:00.000-07:00

I am pretty excited today because it's Fat Tuesday, meaning I get to eat pancakes for dinner tonight! Yeah!!! And as if that weren't reason enough to celebrate, today is also International Women's Day. It's good to be me!
On another note, I woke up this morning with covalent bonds on my mind. What is a covalent bond, you ask? I didn't know either so I googled it and came up with this: A covalent bond is a form of chemical bonding that is characterized by the sharing of pairs of electrons between atoms, and other covalent bonds. In short, the stable balance of attractive and repulsive forces between atoms when they share electrons is known as covalent bonding. Wikipedia
This is what I call a brain leak, when my brain leaks out information that is no longer useful to me. Apparently I am leaking Chem 12 these days. Of course I had to look it up to make sure it wasn't something that I should be holding onto, however, I don't think Chem 12 will make or break my day. Does this ever happen to you or am I the only weirdo out there?
I also happened upon a quote that I quite like while browsing the interwebs today:
If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.
~Toni Morrison

I found it here. You should really check out this girls flickr. She's rad.

And because this wasn't already random enough, here's a photo I took in Ireland. My name on some random wall in Belfast. That's how I roll.

It's over...

2011-02-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

Well, dear readers, I had to call it quits. I just cannot write in a Clairfontaine notebook. I miss my moleskine. I think my mistake here was trying a notebook that was not in the least bit similar to the moleskine. I need to take baby steps and wean myself off slowly (if at all). So my friends, it's back to the large, red, ruled moleskine for me.
I found that I need the narrow lines, the back pocket for all of my secret treasures, the elastic closure to keep everything in and the beautiful manila paper with the rounded corners.
I found that my writing became artificial because I was trying to think of things to just fill up the page so that I could be done with the notebook faster. I wrote about ten pages and then decided that I was being totally ridiculous and decided not to punish myself further. This could all be related to my OCD, however, I think that many writers need the proper tools in order to write well. One of my necessary tools is a moleskine journal.
Are any of you like this when it comes to notebooks or journals? Do you have a preference of "tools"?

New Journal

2011-02-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

(Andrea Joseph, via we heart it)

If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you'll have realized by now that I love, love, love the large, ruled moleskine journals. I have been using them for the past five or more years exclusively, however, I've recently become aware of a few things that have made me think twice about being so exclusive. Firstly, I read an article in this month's Chatelaine magazine that says that people who are attached to certain brands tend to get really anxious if they can't find the product they always use. Heaven forbid they quit selling that product entirely! Also, Moleskines are now mass produced in China and although I have not seen a problem with quality, some other bloggers (sorry, can't remember the link) have had issues with the bindings and covers. Moleskine will still replace any defective product but if they are being mass produced, there is a larger margin for error and why hasn't the inevitable savings in production flowed down to the consumer?
So, because of this revelation of mine, I decided it was time to try out a different journal. I ordered three different types from a company called Stylus Pens in Edmonton, AB because it was in Canadian dollars and I had my journals in my hot little hands within 3 business days (I'm very impatient!). I ordered a Clairefontaine Age Bag journal, a Quo Vadis Habana and a Semikolon Features Notebook. When I received them, the first thing I noticed was that the Quo Vadis Habana was too small. It was more like a pocket sized moleskine, also the pocket in the back of the book was pretty shoddily attached and the elastic closure looked as though it could rip through the cover; a tiny tear had already started. I realize I could order another size up but the quality isn't as good as I had expected so I am wary to order another one. The Semikolon is a nice book, again a little smaller than what I'm used too but the thing that will deter me from using it is the widely spaced lines. I like college or feint ruled. The narrower, the better. So that brings me to the Clairefontaine Age Bag Journal. It is slightly larger than my large moleskine, there is no elastic closure and the paper is bright white. All things that I can deal with. The paper is nice and smooth and the lines are narrow. Also, they are made in France, not mass produced, hopefully. So my choice has been made. I will update you on how it wears and how I feel about it after using it for awhile. I realize that my opinions on the other two journals are made with rather limited experience and high expectations, so next time, I might wait until I'm in an actual stationary shop and only buy the journals that I can see myself using and then see how they pan out. It's often hard for me to get to a good quality stationery store because I live in the boonies! I'm sure I would have given the both of the other journals a try if I had ordered a size larger and actually inquired as to the line width. I think I was thinking in inches and they were in centimeteres. Oh well. So please don't take my word solely on my sparse dealings with them.
I also picked the Clairefontaine because I can customize it a bit - paint the cover, add a pocket etc. and make it mine. I will show pictures when I am done.
What kind of journals do you write in? Are you exclusive to one brand or type?

My baby is sick

2011-02-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Ruby has been scratching her nose for two days now. She just had her yearly checkup on Saturday and all was good but I had to take her back because of her obsessive licking and rubbing her face on things. She kept me awake all last night licking her nose! Turns out she has a skin infection common to pugs called Pyoderma. Apparently it doesn't take long for these infections to crop up, which explains why she was fine on Saturday and by today she has a full blown infection. Thankfully, Dr. North fixed us up with some antibiotics and anti inflammitories and sent us home to rest up. Ruby is a little drowsy from the pain meds but otherwise she's doing well and looking for some cuddles. Poor baby!

Meet Rosey

2011-02-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

My mom got a new puppy a little while ago. Her name is Rosey and we love her.

On keeping a journal

2011-02-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

I guess in some way or another, I have been keeping a journal since I first learned how to write. In elementary school, we kept journals in which we were sometimes allowed to free write and draw a picture to accompany the text and sometimes we were given a topic to write about. I've kept personal journals off and on, my first one being a little red book with gold edged paper and a lock with key. I loved that book. I've had various journals since then, but in the past five years, I have been using moleskines pretty much exclusively.
I write about anything and everything. Whatever is bothering me that day or things that make me happy or something funny someone said. I've also taken to glueing in the detrius of my life: movie ticket stubs, receipts, stickers, packaging; anything that takes my eye. Sometimes I paint the pages to brighten them up or I colour around things with felt tipped markers. I tape in pictures with washi tape and glue down stuff I have printed out that meant something to me. If you were to look into one of my journals now, I think you would have a pretty good sense of who I am, not just by the writing but by the stuff that I have saved or chosen to collect.
I love keeping a journal. It's become such a habit, that if I don't write for a day, I miss it. I pack my journal around with me everywhere. I write whenever inspiration strikes. I often write down lists of things to buy or pick up or books that I've heard about and might like to read or movies that I want to see. I'll even clip reviews from magazines for books or movies and paste them into my journals as a reference. Sometimes I write down a quote that has stuck with me or words to a song that I like. Over the years, my journals have become my constant companions. They know all of my secrets and when I finish a journal, I feel almost sad to let it go. I don't ever really feel alone when I have a journal with me.
Lately, I have been obsessed with journal writing and looking for new inspiration. I have found many cool blogs such as Journaling Saves, Journaling Journeys and Journal Addict to name a few. Check out the side bar for other blogs on notebooks and such.
Do any of you keep a journal? What do you do with yours?

I'm Back!!!

2011-02-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

(via we heart it)

I've decided I'm going to contribute more to blog writing now in order to connect with others. For awhile I was feeling a little overwhelmed and blogging was just another thing on my to do list. But I've missed it and I've decided to make an effort to post more and connect with other like minded people. So without further ado, here is what I am looking forward to this weekend:

seeing this movie
sleeping in
Ruby's one year vet appointment (I can't believe she's already a year old!)
writing in my journal
hot mugs of tea
cuddling with Ruby and mom's new puppy Rosey (pics to come soon, promise)
reading more Sherlock Holmes (i'm addicted)
writing letters

What are you looking forward to?

These are a few of my favourite things...

2010-08-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

my red lined moleskine
typing random quotes on my typewriter
photobooth pics - thinking of making a scrapbook of these
my leather hobo bag (it holds everything)
what's in your bag flickr stream
caramel apple spice hot cider from Starbucks
Nanny McPhee Returns - such a good movie
Autumn
paper garland diy's
halloween costumes for the pug (I promise I'll post a pic)

What are some of your favourite things?

Things I am looking forward to this week:

2010-08-24T20:59:00.001-07:00

Getting my new Rickshaw Moleskine Folio (it shipped today - yay!)
sending a letter to my friend in Everett, WA (typed on Lucille)
writing in my new red moleskine journal
working in my newly clean and updated craft room
Watching this movie (via zip.ca) - Love the Ziplist
Taking my niece back-to-school shopping for her birthday (she's turning 9 - I'm feeling old)
postcrossing postcards in the mail
sending out new postcrossing cards

What are you looking forward to?

Nelson I heart you

2010-08-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

My "little" brother lives in a town in Southern BC called Nelson. It's a place like no other. I love it there. The people are laid back and the town moves at it's own pace. My brother calls it Kootenay Time. Sometimes you show up at a store and there's a sign saying be back in five. Sometimes a store is supposed to open at 10:00am and it opens at 10:30 because someone went to get coffee. It's all so surprising to me because my town is such the opposite. The oil patch drives our economy and everyone wants everything done yesterday. People here work all hours of the day and night and 70 hour work weeks are practically the norm, even in a recession.

I've been thinking of my brother lately and wishing I could go and visit him and have a coffee at the Oso Negro Cafe and order a peanut butter ball with chocolate on top. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Seany, I miss you.

Long time, no talk

2010-08-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to pop in and say hi! I have been having a very enjoyable summer and have gotten away from blogging and the computer in general. Instead I have been spending a lot of time outside playing with Ruby or reading a book.

I have some exciting news though. I have recently acquired a cool new typewriter:

I call her Lucille. She'll be helping me write letters to all of my penpals. Here's a close up of her keys:

I am hoping to be a more regular blogger now that the weather here is starting to cool down. I fear that it is almost time to swap my flip flops for my socks and shoes again. I love the Fall but I have been enjoying the warm summer and I'll be kind of sad to see it go.

Happy Monday!!

Weekend Wishlist

2010-07-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I wish for:

popsicles (orange is my fav.)
long hours on my deck, reading my books
time to write in my journal
good finds at the Farmer's Market
kisses from my puppy
postcards to write to friends

What are your wishes for this weekend?

Pug Love

2010-06-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

How could you not love a face like that? Ruby gets away with murder because of those eyes. I just can't say no. I love my baby girl.

In other news, I received a postcard from my other happy mail partner Tyler. Thanks Tyler! I love this happy mail thing. I like meeting new people with shared intrests and as I've mentioned about a thousand times, I LOVE MAIL!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you're having a great Tuesday!

Jane

Home Sweet Home

2010-06-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

I love going on holidays but getting back home and sleeping in my own bed is the best!! This past weekend, mom and I went to Edmonton to watch my cousins year end dance recital. While we were there, I of course made sure to go shopping at the West Edmonton Mall. I'm such a tourist. I've been there a million times but I can never get enough. I love this mall! We even got to see Two Toed Sloths:

Who knew they could be so cute? They were totally performing for the crowd. Hanging upside down and chasing one another.

And of course we had to hit Whyte Ave. my other favourite place. Among other things, I managed to go to a cool candy store:

and get my fortune told by Zoltar:

I also went to a cool cupcake shop called Fuss Cupcakes and had an outrageously good vanilla bean cupcake. Yummy! Funny how my favourite stores usually involve food! I'm making it my mission to visit every cool cupcake shop in any city I visit from now on. When I was in Vancouver in March I went to the Original Cupcakes shop and it blew my mind. I'm thinking of dedicating a journal strickly to cupcake shop reviews and consumption logs. Whaddya think?

Since I've been away for a few days my postcrossing cards have made it to their destinations so now I get to send out more! I love mail. Speaking of which, right before I left, one of my happy mail partners sent me a card. Thanks Cristina!

Hope you are having a great Monday.

Miss Doe

P.S. Tonight I am going to see this movie. So excited!

Make a Wish

2010-06-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

Today I wish for:

sunshine
a good book
lemonade
inviting blank pages in my journal
pretty pens
my art supplies
my camera
a nice patch of grass
a comfy quilt
a day off

What are you wishing for today?

jane

I finally got one!

2010-06-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

So I've been thinking about buying one of these for like, 2 years, seriously. I looked for them everywhere but they took a long time to get to Canada. I had all but given up on it, until I walked into Canadian Tire last week and spotted this beauty. Who knew that Canadian Tire carried Polaroid Pogo Printers? I was still debating about whether or not to buy one, even though the price was half of what it was two years ago, and then my dear mother bought me one. Score! It prints cute 2x3 photos that can be used as stickers too. I was (and still am) super pumped about my new baby. I have only printed a few pictures so far but I love it. The pictures have a grainy retro look to them. I think they'll look great in my journals. Plus this thing is just a bit bigger than a deck of cards so it fits easily into my bag.

Here's a peek at some of the pics I've taken:

my absolute favourite summer treat! It's not just a creamsicle, it's an Extreme Creamsicle. I think the people who own the corner store by my house have started to wonder about me. I go in there with the correct change for my creamsicles. They know my dirty little secret.

Besides playing with my new toy, I've been making envelopes out of recycled paper bags:

and I found this (still to be named) cutie at a craft fair this weekend:

and check this out:

Too cute right?

Now I'm off to watch the season premier of "Lie to Me", yay!

Miss Doe

P.S. I am super excited about Janel's 30 Day Journal Challenge. You should definately check it out. I am hoping it will help fill the void left by the end of the Tell Your Story class.

It's the weekend!!

2010-05-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy week. So glad it's the weekend. I'll check in again soon.

Jane

Hmm...

2010-05-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

Well it's Monday night, usually it's Sunday night when I realize that I have to go to work the next day and begin to stress over it. Why is that? I like my job, I like the people I work with. There really shouldn't be any reason to worry, yet I do. Weird. Why also, when I'm at work, do I feel totally inspired to create things and write letters and work in my art journal, yet when I get home, all that inspiration has disappeared? I had big plans for this weekend. Lots of creativity but as usual, life "got in the way" and I say that lightly because I was happy doing other things, and I didn't get around to doing anything crafty. I'm starting to think that maybe I'm one of those people who will only become inspired if I have a limited amount of time to create. Kind of like when I had exams in high school and college and I was cramming the night before instead of reviewing a week or two in advance. Will I ever learn???

Lately I have become more obsessed with post office boxes. I took this picture in Ireland. I think I might make it a series. Taking pictures of post boxes everywhere I go.

This is a pretty random post. It's been that kind of a weekend.

Good Mail Day!

2010-05-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

I am so excited. Today I received my first postcard since I started postcrossing again a few weeks ago. It was a sweet little kitty card with lyrics on the back. Too cool! I also received a zine I ordered from Hanna called Metta, all about art journaling. I am so excited to read it. Her blog is one of my daily reads and I'm always inspired to go make stuff. Last but not least, I ordered a magazine called Underground Art School, after reading about it on Anna's blog. It's the Spring 2009 issue called The Sketchbook issue. I love Anna's style and she's featured in this issue. If you want more inspiration to sketch daily, you should definately check out her blog. I am trying to sketch more often, I don't feel that I am very good at it, so I tend not to do it. However, like anything else, you have to practice in order to grow and get better so I am making it a goal to sketch a couple of times a week at least. I have to blank Moleskines just waiting to be filled with bad drawings! On that note, I am also excited by this announcement. Something new to lust after!

I have also decided now that I am an official letter writer and sender that I should get a proper letter opener. I will be on the lookout for anything cool. Let me know if you see something you think I might like!
Have a great weekend everyone!

Photo mania et al

2010-05-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

So this past couple of weeks, besides completing all of the prompts for the "Tell Your Story" class, I have been taking tons of pictures. Instax, film, digital and on my iphone. I have been particularly enjoying the Lo-mob app (thanks Elsie!). Here's a few:

I am totally loving my iphone! For those of you looking for a creative boost and some ideas for a travelling art kit, read Elaine's post here. While you're there check out her other posts for instant inspiration.

Getting ready for our Canadian May long weekend. Monday is Victoria Day. Most of my crazy buddies are going camping even though it never fails to snow on May long. Good luck kids! Stay warm! I am going to Grande Prairie, AB to hit the malls and Michaels. Yay me! Now hopefully I can talk mom into eating at the Wok Box, super yum!

For all of you who are taking the TYS class, I'll see you at tomorrow's chat!

NB: I just realized how much I have been using the exclamation mark in this post. I'd apologize but I'm just super cheery and happy to be blogging again. Yay!

Messin' Around

2010-05-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I have been busy this past week. Schlepping my nephew to soccer games, helping my niece plant flowers and this weekend I have agreed to watch them (all 4) for four days while my SIL goes to Abbotsford. Call me crazy but I think I can do it. It's their myriad of pets I am unsure about (3 rats, a hamster, two gerbils, a bearded dragon, various fish and a puppy) the puppy is fine, as are the fish, it's the rodents that scare me.

The picture above is a result of me messing around on http://www.picnik.com/. It's a pretty cool website and you can create all kinds of great pics that you would need a special camera for. Any of you who are taking Elsie and Rachel's class, you should check this site out for sure. You can even make polaroid type photos.

I am currently working on more prompts from class but I promise I will upload pics soon!

Happy Monday!

P.S. Check out this sweet bag Kara re-modeled. Love it!

Monday

2010-04-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

So I activated my Postcrossing account again today. I didn't ever really deactivate it, just stopped sending postcards when I got too busy and after I got a really creepy letter from an inmate (a story for another post!) I am so excited. If you hadn't already noticed, I LOVE MAIL (thats not bills). So I am spending my evening writing out postcards and dreaming of stamps, envelopes and other mail supplies. If you guys love mail as much as I do, you should totally check this girl out:

Her name is Bianca Jagoe and she can be found at Good Night Little Spoon. I just recently discovered her site and am still going through her archives. She's totally cool and her mail art is unbelieveable. She also has great links to other mail artists and mail related items. Her etsy shop is ahhmazing. I think I'll write her a letter.

Finally!!

2010-04-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

I finished my introductory art journal pages for Rachel and Elsie's class, Tell Your Story. I am so excited because the class actually starts tomorrow. Yipeeee!!! So here are my pages:

page 1- bookplate downloaded from Emily Martin of The Black Apple

page 2

If anyone has any tips on taking better pics of these, please leave me a comment. I have a dslr and should be able to get a good shot but these feel a little out of focus even though I used a pre-set on my camera. I had a bit of a hard time doing these pages. Totally overthought them and it took me weeks to finally finish them. I need to relax before the class starts or I`ll never get anything done!!!

Glitch and Beautiful Blogger Award!

2010-04-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

So I just realized a major glitch in my blog and fixed it. I haven't been getting notified when people have left comments and therefore have not commented back. Ooops! I changed this in my settings but just wanted to let you know and apologize for my lack of commenting back. I love to hear what you have to say and try to comment back or post about things that have been mentioned.
I just found out that the lovely Stephanie of Mrs. Caruso has nominated me for a Beatiful Blogger Award. Thank you so much Stephanie! Go check out her sweet blog.

As part of accepting the award, I have to share seven little known facts about myself. Here goes:

1. I love to play chess. I am not that great at it but my dad taught me how when I was in grade 3 and we used to play a lot. I miss playing. Must find new partner:)

2. I go through stages where I am completely obsessed with hobbies and then I'll let them drop off and pick them up again when I am interested. I go through crafty phases. Right now I am really into letter writing and art journaling. Last year at this time I was a hard core scrapbooker!

3. I go through phases with foods. If I am really liking something I will eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner and snack on it a lot without getting sick of it. Until I do. Most recently this was a brand of cereal from the Wholesale club with vanilla flavoured bran flakes and dried strawberries. I was eating it for breakfast and snacking on it throughout the day and evening for like 3 weeks!!!

4. I hate long fingernails. I like to keep mine super short and clean. I don't mind long fingernails on other people, if they're clean!

5. I was obsessed with the New Kids on the Block when I was twelve/thirteen. I had shirts, buttons, video tapes of their concerts and posters all over my room. My friends and I even learned all of their choreography and practiced, like, all the time. Total geek!

6. I love old school country music. 'nuff said.

7. l am a total sugar addict. Even if I am super full, I cannot pass up something deliciously sweet!

Now pass the award on to ten wonderful bloggers. Will you accept?

Katherine from Paper Pocket

Stephanie from My life is so ...

Sarah from Sweetest Nest

Chelseabird from Tea Talk

Sabrina from The Little Owl

Mathilde from Mon Carnet Rouge

Amy from Tea and Toast

Holly Sarah from Create Loves

Janel from Run With Scissors

Elisha from Inspirations Scrap

If you choose to accept the award you must:

- Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.

- Copy the award and paste it to your blog.

- Tell us seven interesting facts about yourself.

- Pass this award on to 10 fantastic bloggers you have discovered.

- Contact your nominations and let them know they’ve won.

Weekend Fun

2010-04-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

So firstly, I have to tell you the reason behind my lack of posting. I got one of these:

I am soooooo excited! I have been busy taking pics and buying apps and researching the best apps and finding the best cases. And since I now have a phone that does virtually everything, I have been surfing the net and messaging like a crazy woman.

Anyhow, we used my iphone to help us geocache this weekend. It was my first time and my mom and my neice came along on Friday night to see what we could find. It was tons of fun and we found the two caches that we chose. Today we went out again and found two but could not find two others. Later in the afternoon, we decided that we had so much fun that we had to show my other neice and nephew how to do it. It took us awhile but we found two more caches. I think we're all addicted!

taken with my iphone (hipstamatic app)

Happy Saturday!!!

Hiatus

2010-04-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. My haitus lasted a little longer than I thought it would (or should) but I don't want to post just for the sake of posting. I want to post when something inpires me and I want to share that inspiration too. Lately I have been testing out new ways to take cool pics. I ordered these last week:

redscale film (ebay)

Diana SLR Lens Adaptor

I am beyond excited to get started taking more pics with these. Plus I have been reading tutorials on how to re-load a one time use camera with new film and take more than one shot on each frame. I haven't tried it yet but when I do, I will post the results here.
In other news, I signed up to take this class and I am really super ecstatic about it. Cannot wait to begin. I have started the first two page prompts and will post when they are complete.

Look here for more info: .http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/03/tell-your-story-online-art-journal-class-full-details.html

More to come soon~Ms. Doe

Movie review

2010-03-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

I have taken a break from blogging this past week. I didn't mean for it to happen but life got busy and I just never got around to it. Anyhoo, on Friday night, mom and I took my niece to see this show. It was great. I totally loved it and so did my niece. It was funny and meaningful. I totally recommend it for families of all ages. The funniest thing about the movie was not actually the movie itself, but the four year old boy sitting behind me, giving a running commentary throughout the show. "Oh mommy, I really want a dragon of my own". He was super cute.

My cousins arrived yesterday so I might not post much this week either. Sorry 'bout that. I will get back to you all with more stuff later. Have a great week!

I'm back!

2010-03-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

I got home from Vancouver yesterday. I had such a great time. I took tons of pics (mostly of food!), shopped (a lot!) and had lots of fresh fruit bubble tea (sans bubbles). I miss my buddies but was happy to get back home to my puppy. I will upload some pics soon. I have to get unpacked and catch up on my Art Journal pages. Happy Thursday!

The countdown is on!!!

2010-03-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

Only 1 more sleep left until Vancouver! I cannot wait.

I am really excited to go here too:

Oh the fun we'll have!

Internet, books and other things!

2010-03-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to finally have my internet working again. A super nice technician came over this morning and spent like 4 hours working on my telephone line etc. Crazy! Now I can log on whenever I want. For the past week I have been randomly looking at my modem and if the Internet light suddenly goes on, I rush to the computer and log on and stay on until it quits again. Pathetic, no? Having a forced vacation from the internet did have it's benefits. I got a lot of pages in my art journal completed. Suzanne, in answer to your last comment, I am loving the class too. And I will try the red velvet cupcakes for sure (only 3 sleeps left!). I also read an entire book on Sunday. For some reason I'm on a Nicholas Sparks kick. After seeing Dear John, I decided to read "One Last Song". I want to see the movie but the book is usually better. I have to admit it was good. I feel weird admitting that I read books by Nicholas Sparks and enjoy them. Sometimes, I just need a break from the heavy stuff. Surprisingly, I cried for the last few chapters of this book. It was sad and hit a little too close to home. Now I am reading ``Travelling with Pomegranates`` by Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter Ann. So far it`s really good. I liked her other books too. Especially this one.
And in totally unrelated news, I saw these today and think I have to get one (the toy, not the dog) for Ruby:

Go here to get one (it`s a ball with a mustache on the end)

Have a great Tuesday!

Dear John

2010-03-06T16:02:00.000-07:00

source

Wow. I thought this movie was going to be really sweet and sappy but again I was wrong. I think I actually read this book awhile back because a lot of the story seemed familiar to me. Anyhoo, I went because why miss a chance to see Channing Tatum, even if the movie sucks?

source

Well I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was it a great love story, the whole underlying plot (war, autism) was really interesting. Also I am a huge fan of snail mail and most of the movie was based upon the main characters writing back and forth to one another; that really sold the movie to me! So if you haven't seen it, it's worth a watch.

In other news, I wanted to upload pics of my art journal this weekend but it probably won't be happening due to my sketchy internet service. A tech is coming to check on it Monday, so hopefully I will be able to get some pics up.

Have a great weekend!

Mail call

2010-03-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

So the other day, I got my package from the sweet Elaine. This picture is for you girl:

I love Elaine's nerd stickers and she was kind enough to send some with the bracelet I won, along with a cute card and a crocheted (?) bow. I love it all! Thanks again Elaine.

And then when I got home today, I got my other giveaway prize from the lovely Justine.

Thank you so much, I loved everything and I can't wait to read the book!

Thanks again girls for the nice notes and cool prizes. Made my week!

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a MOOSE!

2010-03-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

So today is one of those days in which I am even more grateful than usual to live in the north. It's not even like I live in a little village. Fort St. John is a city of 18,000 people and probably up to 25,000 in the winter months when the oil patch is booming. We have a Starbucks, Tim Horton's, we are by no means rural. However, every year without fail, some poor Moose gets lost and wanders into town. Today it was a young cow. Or so I'm told. Apparently the males have not lost their antlers yet and this one did not have antlers. So there I am at work this morning and all of a sudden someone says to look out the window. The building across the street has a yard that is fenced in, with a gate. Apparently, Stella, as we decided to call her, had jumped the fence the night before. There was a large amount of snow built up around the outside of the fence but on the inside, there was not as much snow and she couldn't get out. Now I have to say that the deep South has nothing on the redneck here. The guys who owned the yard tried to "help" Stella out by scaring her with a bulldozer and when that didn't do anything, they started throwing snowballs at her to get her to move. Epic fail. They didn't even get near her (thankfully) and she went to sleep in the corner of the yard. After a few hours of moving the snow around with the Cat, they decided to build it up around the fence in hopes that she would jump it again to get out. Go boys! However, the snow was too soft and she didn't seem to know what they were getting at so that didn't work either. Finally, they opened the gate and after chasing her with the truck she ran out of the yard and into the nearby bush. During all of this, you'd think they would have called the Conservation Officer but you know guys and their machines. They figured they would be able to handle it. Oh, the drama. After all is said and done, I feel as though I should have called the Conservation Office but I didn't know exactly what was going on when it was happening as I was working (or trying to). If I had witnessed the snowballs and the rest of it, I would have called. Poor thing. Moose are my favourite wild animals. They lope along kind of gracefully but they look so akward that they are endearing. I'm happy that when people think of Canadians, they think of Moose. If you live where I do, chances are you have seen at least one herd of moose before you can talk.So as an ode to Stella, I have found some pics of other lovely moose for you.

A full grown moose is huge. An adult male can stand 7 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 1800 pounds. They can become agressive when they are provoked or scared by a dog or other animal. Usually they try to stomp these things to death. Moose have been know to charge at people too but for the most part, if you keep your distance, they won't do anything. Since they are herbivores, they don't want us for food! So there you have it. My day and a lesson on moose. I hope to post some pics of my art journal soon so keep an eye out!

Looking forward to...

2010-03-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

Today I was thinking about all the things I am looking forward to right now. I decided to make a list.

New Nylon magazine out
My trip to Vancouver, going to this place
Alice in Wonderland in theatres Friday!
Every day of the Quiet Nights class with Vivianna
Spring!!! (Which for me won't be until May but right now it's melting - I'll take that!)
Cool classes at my local college for International Women's Day - one of them is Art Journaling (yay!)
My new book arriving in the mail

and much, much more! Here are some other things I'm wishing for:

All of the above can be found here

Happy Wednesday!!!!

Happiness

2010-03-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

source

Today I have been trying to think about what happiness means to me. True pure happiness. Do I remember a time when I felt truly happy with no worries, anxiety or guilt? I'm not an unhappy person, usually I'm quite happy but to me, in order to be truly happy or blissful, I would have to be completely free of all of these. I don't think anyone over the age of 1 can ever be completely blissful. Maybe the Dalhai Lhama or truly spiritual people. Is this true? Will I only ever to be able to catch fleeting moments of happiness? Maybe this is better than being happy all of the time, I will appreciate it more. My hope is that the time between these fleeting moments becomes less as I let things go.

**These musings were prompted by this. I love that I am thinking hard about these things instead of just walking blindly through life**

First Entry into my Passions Film Moleskine Journal

2010-02-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

So this afternoon, mom and I decided to go to this movie. It was so good. It was scary but you have to really think about things and listen hard or you will miss things. The movie was longer than most at 138 minutes but I didn't feel like it dragged at all. The music alone was enough to put me on edge! Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo did a great job. Leo even had the Boston accent down (or at least what my Canadian perception of a Boston accent is!) and those boys are not exactly hard on the eyes. Ben Kingsley played the role of cheif Psychiatrist and he did it creepily well. Love, love, loved it! I'd totally recommend it. Martin Scorsese has done it again. Brilliant movie. I can't say too much more because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Go and see it and you'll know what I mean.

In other news, tonight, the girls and I went to my friend Lea's house for a Phillipino feast. It was beyond delicious. I should have written the names of all of the dishes down so I could tell you. Mmmmm. I took some pics but honestly, I'm too stuffed and too tired to upload them. Maybe tomorrow... Until then, have a great Saturday night!

Under the weather, among other things...

2010-02-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hello! I've been out sick for the past couple of days. I am, however, on the mend and decided that it was time to post some pics of the things I have been working on. But first, some mail happiness. I ordered these two weeks ago and wasn't sure I was actually going to get them ( I paid for expedited delivery but obviously that didn't happen!):

These are the newest additions to my Moleskine family. For those who don't know, I lurv my moleskines. I am using a soft covered, lined notebook as my everyday journal right now, I knit it a cozy little cover:

The Moleskine Passions line was just released and I was lucky to get in on a sale at Amazon. I got the Book Journal and Film Journal so that I can keep track of my two main passions (other than crafting, of course!) and then I bought the Vancouver City Moleskine to record and help map out my upcoming trip. Sooooo excited about that. I just found out there is a cupcake shop in Vancouver that is regularly featured on the Food Network. I will have to check that out!!!!

So, I blogged about covering my moleskine cahiers with fabric a la Elsie's tutorial. Below are the results. They are not embellished because I think I prefer them plain and I just can't see what I could/should add.

I apologize for the poor lighting. Soon they will hold my many ideas for blog posts, art journal ideas and random notes.

I have also been working on my journal for Vivianna's Quiet Nights Art Journal Class. She's opened sign ups again so if you missed it the first time around, here's your chance! I think I have decided to just use 8.5 x 11 inch cardstock on the inside but I like the idea that I can use and add whatever kind of paper suits my fancy:

I still have to put the title on. I will try and get a better pic when it is done and I can show you the inside flaps. I tried to get some shots of the details. I am working on my photography skills!

I also bought a coil bound book and decorated it but didn't like how it turned out. I bought a smaller one as well, which I haven't covered yet. Definate problems with the Type A today.

So glad tomorrow is Friday. I think I am feeling well enough to go back to work and then I have the weekend off again! Yipeee! Hope you're all having a great night.

A little inspiration

2010-02-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

I have been hard at work putting together my art journal for Vivianna's Quiet Nights Class. Here are some of the things that are inspiring me:

all images via weheartit.com

I want to start an inspiration portfolio. I am going to keep images like this to look back on when I need a little lift. Back to work on my journal!

I WON!! I WON!! Part Deux

2010-02-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

So you'll never believe this. I entered a giveaway on Justine's blog, not really thinking I would win, because I had just won the giveaway on Elaine's blog and really how lucky can a girl be, especially a girl who usually never wins anything? But I entered anyway because it was too cute to pass up and yep, you got it, I WON!!!!!!!!! So excited. I love winning things. Really I just love reading Justine's blog but winning was an extra bonus. Thanks Justine!!!!!!!! Here's a peek at the loot:

Happy Dance!!!!

Inspiration and Anticipation

2010-02-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

Hope you guys are having a great weekend. Mine was pretty busy. I finally managed to complete Elsie's journal DIY. Well almost anyway. I will post some pics after I have finished embellishing them. Between doing some spring cleaning and recycling I have been reading these:

source

If you are into art journaling or reading artists' blogs, these magazines are worth a read. They are on the expensive side ($15.99 per issue) but they come out quarterly and are packed with images and information. I can see myself looking back over them for inspiration or tips so I think it's money well spent.
I am getting pretty excited to do some art journaling. I have been gathering stuff for Vivianna's class and checking out other participants' blogs and I cannot wait. I might start early and do a bit of warm up just to get a feel for it. I'm a bit rusty. I have done a few pages in the past but I want to make it more of a regular thing, something that I can do to get inspired and a way to work on my "type A" tendencies. I have been trying to let go of my expectation that everything turn out perfectly, sometimes it's hard to let go when I have something in mind and it doesn't work out exactly the way I'd planned. I am hoping art journaling will give me a place to get used to making "mistakes" and messing around. Do any of you deal with perfectionist tendencies? If so, how do you get over it?

Have a happy Sunday!

Check out this cool giveaway!!!!!!!

2010-02-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

Go check out Justine's blog here. I am a new reader to her blog but so far I love it! She will also be taking Vivianna's class. I am so excited to "meet" the rest of the class. Here's a little peek of some of the goodies Justine has to giveaway:

To see more and to enter, make sure you check out her blog!

Crazy/Beautiful

2010-02-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

image via ondanet.com

With all this excitement over art journalling (see last post) , I remembered one of my favourite movies. Crazy/Beautiful. Kirsten Dunst stars as a troubled teen who looks for attention in all the wrong places. From what I can remember, the story line was pretty okay but what I loved about it was that Kirsten Dunsts' character is constantly taking pictures and glueing them into her book and writing captions. Back then I knew nothing about Art Journalling but was intrigued by the idea of keeping a record of my life like this. I might have to watch it again. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out.

Love this quote.

I am so EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

I just signed up for Vivianna's class "Quiet Nights" . There are only a few spots left, sign up soon if you want in!! I thought about it for a long time because part of the class will be running while I am on holidays but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. I can't wait until March 1st!

Lists

2010-02-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for lists. There is something satisfying about writing things down in point form and crossing them off when they are completed. I like seeing things I love, want to buy, have to pack etc. in list form. If I had any drawing talent at all, I would draw my lists. I just love making them. Most of them are written in my journal.

I make to-do lists, lists of movies I want to see, books I want to read, stuff I want to buy, things that make me happy, things I am looking forward to, passwords I need, websites I like, just to name a few. I love looking back on my lists and remembering where I was when I wrote it or what my mindset was.

In my day-planner, I write all kinds of random things in list order. Stuff that I need to do, stuff I did, favourite tv shows that are on that night. I highlight them or colour around them. Sometimes I think I might just do stuff so I can write it down and cross it off. How neurotic is that??

If I am not carrying my journal with me (which is rare but has happened), I write lists on whatever is handy and usually end up pasting them into my journal. I attribute my affinity for lists to my elementary school teachers. Homework was written in list form, spelling lists, word lists, things to bring to school lists, things to pack for school trips. They are to blame for my obsession. I have to thank them though, I have become a much more organized and productive person by making these lists. Not to mention they make me sooooo happy!

I also find that lists help to organize my thoughts so if I am trying to make difficult decisions, a pro/con list helps. And when I really want to buy something that I don't acutally need, I write a wish-list and then if I still want it later on, I buy it but often my urge passes and I am satisfied with what I have.

What kind of lists to you make?

Snail Mail Happiness

2010-02-16T19:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, this came in the mail for me. I was/still am sooooo excited. I ordered this stuff last week and it came super quick, all the way from Japan!

This is a book to store all (well at least 80) of my instax photos. This is what it looks like inside:

I might have to do something creative to funk it up a bit on the outside. It's a little too plain for me. I also got a bag for my instax mini 25:

I love it! I might also have to make it a little prettier. Any ideas? And last but not least, I needed more film before my trip to Vancouver in March.

I love getting mail so much that I think I might subconsiously be ordering stuff just so I can get packages! I told myself that this was all necessary because I want to be able to take and store a lot of pics of my buddies and I when we're in Vancouver.

I know lots of people have the Instax Mini 7 but I bought the Mini 25 because it has a mirror on the front so that you can set up self portraits really easily. No messing up and wasting film. Since this has always been a problem for me, (maybe due to la total ack of hand, eye coordination, lol!) I figured this was an option I couldn't live without. Plus it zooms in a bit, for a clearer picture. I heart it. I have had it for a little less than a year and I haven't used it as much as I want to. Lately I've picked it up again and am snapping away like crazy! Here's my baby:

Happy Wednesday!

I WON!! I WON!!

2010-02-16T11:42:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited! I just read Elaine's blog, Glow in the Dark Soul, and found out that I was chosen to win her Valentines Day giveaway. I don't win things very often, usually not at all and to win something from one of the people who inspire me, too cool! Happy Dance. And this bracelet is too cute for words...

image via alifeincupcakes.blogspot.com

This made my day. Thanks Elaine!

Art Journal Inspiration

2010-02-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

I know that I have mentioned this art journal now more than once. I swear it is not just a figment of my imagination. I actually have the book, I just have not put anything in it yet. Tonight is the night. I promise. And once I figure out how to scan things in colour on my photocopier, I will post some pics.
I have to say, I am a bit uneasy about keeping two journals. I have my regular Moleskine for writing in. I sometimes paste random things (ticket stubs, fruit stickers etc) into it but I have never had a full on art journal that is mostly visual, rather than written. I think this will be a good thing for me. I love to scrapbook and this seems like the perfect next step in being more creative.

I am so inspired by these ladies:

images via polkadotrobot.com

This is a picture of one of Vivianna's pages. She is running a class in March. I am definately going to check it out. I love her use of Japanese tape, magazine clippings and random scraps of paper. Sometimes a picture can say more than words.

images via KillerKim's Flickr

I love the messy, creative, collage style of Kim's pages. She's a very inspiring artist and crafter in general. I love her pictures too. Check out her blog here.

images via alifeincupcakes.blogspot.com

The above are some shots of Elaine's art journal pages. I love how she uses scrapbook elements with everyday stuff, like starbucks bags. Her blog is full of inspiring, crafty posts. She's supercool.

So now that I am properly inspired. Time to get out the paper, scissors and glue!

To Whom It May Concern

2010-02-15T18:12:00.000-07:00

I just want you to know that British Columbia should get a holiday today too. It seems like every other province has a Statutory Holiday today and the US has Presidents Day. It's too long of a stretch between New Years Day and Easter; it's plain unhealthy and unfair. People need a break, especially those who live in the cold, mostly dark north. I know that life isn't fair but this seems a bit outrageous. So can you maybe call someone and get them to fix this oversight?

Sincerely,

Jane Doe

Valentine's Day - The Movie

2010-02-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

My mom is the sweetest. Today we went to see the movie Valentine's Day. I thought it would be a mushy, goopy mess of love and bitterness but I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to have an actual plot and some unexpected twists. I don't want to give away too much since it just came out but I think it's worth seeing. It won't be the blockbuster movie of the year, however it was funny and sweet and an all around feel good movie. I'm not usually one who gets into the whole Valentines Day hoopla and it's kind of cheesy to go to a movie named Valentines Day on Valentines Day but that's how I roll, total cheese meister and really what else has a single girl gotta do on Valentines Day. Popcorn and peanut m&m's, holla!

Today was a rather perfect day for me. Lunch at my favourite place with one of my favourite people, movies with mom and a heart shaped pizza to top it all off. And they say Valentines Day is for lovers!

Oh and I finally got pictures of little Ruby in the hat I made her from Elsie's tutorial. Here she is:

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

Regressing?

2010-02-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share some weekend purchases:

image via nylon.com

I gotta have my Nylon mag, especially if there are pictures of sexy vampires on the front! Nylon is a pretty cool magazine most days. It covers everything from, fashion to music to movies and books. I dig pop culture.

I also had to have this:

image via teenvogue.com

I am dying to see Alice in Wonderland, I am in love with everything Tim Burton has a hand in. And Mia Wasikowska is beautiful. Maybe I buy this magazine once a month, just to make sure I'm not missing anything. Maybe.

And these:

image via hasbro.com

I love pugs. Especially ones that have bobble heads and come with seafoam green fire hydrants.

These are just a few things that make me happy. I am hoping to work in my art journal today and take it easy. That's what Sunday's are for right?

Happy Sunday!

Meet Ruby

2010-02-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

This post is largely in reaction to a comment my friend made. He joked that the reason to I started this blog was to post tons of pictures of my puppy in sweaters, like a shrine. I have to admit that lately I've been obsessed with her because she's just a little pup and she's oh so sweet. How could I not post a least one or two (or five) pics of her?

This is her whaddya lookin' at? face.

I got her on New Years Eve. My friend Sam and I drove to Grande Prairie to pick her up. I was super worried that something was wrong with her because she slept in Sam's arms the entire time we were at the breeders and then all the way home ( a two and a half hour drive). Turns out that she and her brothers and sisters had been sleeping in the same cage but were about to be split up because they played all night! So I guess she was just sleep deprived. She was much more alert the next day but she still needs a lot of sleep because she's a puppy. I'm so neurotic that when I was at the breeders, I was also worried that there was something wrong with her tail because it wasn't curly. Her (eight year old) daughter pointed out that when pugs sleep, their tails relax and uncurl. Who knew?

Recently, I've taken to calling her Ruby Pirhanna because all she does is attack my feet! Puppy teeth are super sharp. I bought her a teething ring and everything, just like Cesar said but to no avail, my feet are still her favourite thing to chew.

I love, love, love my puppy. She's 3 months old now. Time flies.

And Corey this ones for you:

And one more just because

I, Jane Cullen, do solemly swear, that I will not abuse this blog by hyper-posting pics of my dear Rubes. (fingers crossed behind my back)

T.G.I.F.

2010-02-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

image via we heart it

I love Friday's. They're almost festive because everyone is looking forward to the weekend. People are more relaxed and in a better mood than all of the other days of the work week. This weekend I am looking forward to:

going to this movie
reading my newest issue of this magazine
making lists in my journal
cutting up stuff and gluing it into my new art journal
sleeping in on Sunday
babysitting the monkeys (niece and nephew)

Happy Friday!

Camera Stories

2010-02-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

I love cameras. So much so that I almost collect them. My family always jokes that I literally wouldn't be caught dead without one of my cameras, in fact they have threatened to put one in my casket when I die. What can I say? I love everything about cameras, especially the cool photos I can take with minimal skills now that they have cameras that pretty much do everything for a person. I digress.

For as long as I can remember, my Dad had this camera that came on all family vacations and I think it even went to work with him most days. I coveted that camera, with it's sleek leather, snap off cover and the cool burgundy, leather bag that held it. It had it's own smell. To this day, if I smell that musty, leather, dusty smell, I think of my dad and his camera.

My dad happened upon this camera by chance. He and my mom were driving along the highway one day and he spotted it on the side of the road. He pulled over and checked it out and it turns out that it was pretty much brand new. Being the stand-up guy that my dad always was, he brought it into the local RCMP station and turned it in, thinking that the person who owned the camera would be missing it dearly. He was told that he had to leave it with them for six months and that if no one claimed it, the camera was his. Dad checked on it every month, each time surprised that it was still there and ever more hopeful that it might one day be his. Finally, after six months, no one had claimed the camera and my dad became it's new owner. That day he went out and bought a camera bag and thus his passion for photography began. That was before I was born.

When I was about twenty two, I got a new camera and gave my dad my old advantix camera. It was much smaller and more convenient for him to take with him to work, in case he saw wildlife or rigs or whatever he found interesting (I have to say that besides family photos, the bulk of my dad's pictures were of service rigs and drilling rigs - he loved them). After that, my dad used a couple of digital cameras and when I was about twenty eight, he gave me the old camera. Since then, I have looked at it a couple of times, mostly just to remember my dad but I have never used it. Fast forward to the other day. I decided it was time to start taking some pictures to see how they would turn out. I opened the leather case and lo and behold, there was still film in it! The last time my dad would have used this camera was maybe in the late nineties probably at least 15 years ago. I am super excited to see what might be on the film. I have been taking pictures like crazy so that I can take the film in to get it developed. I promise to post them once I get them. So, so, so excited!!!!
That camera began my love affair with cameras and photography in general. Lately I've been thinking of getting a new bag for dad's old camera and re-purposing his vintage camera bag. It would make a cute purse. I've seen some cool bags online and am inspired to dress mine up a bit. What do you think?

I'm sure dad wouldn't mind.

An Education Indeed

2010-02-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

I went to see this on Monday night. It was sooooooooo good. I can see why Carey Mulligan has risen to celebrity status. She did a great job playing a 16, almost 17 year old in the movie, even though she was 23 at the time. Not to mention, she's totally gorgeous. I loved her character. She's smart, witty and loves all things Parisienne. She sings along to French records and smokes French cigarettes while studying Latin so that she can get into Oxford.

I was a little freaked out by Peter Sarsgaard's character because he was so much older than her. Apparently this must have been okay in Britian in the 60's. I still think I'd be worried if my daughter brought home a much older man when she was only almost 17!

As always, Emma Thompson played her role as Head Mistress superbly. Her dry British wit and sarcasm made me laugh out loud. I heart her.

Nick Hornby is one of my favourite authors and I loved watching "About A Boy" and "High Fidelity". He seems to pick actors/actressess who have the same witty way about them. Love, love, love him!!! If you haven't seen this movie yet, you should check it out. It's worth it!

Hello

2010-02-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

So, I've been lurking around, reading other people's blogs for awhile now and I decided that maybe it's time for me to start one of my own. I love to be creative and see what other people are doing and I thought that maybe you would also like to see what I do too! I am hoping to post about stuff that inspires me, things I see and do, daily stuff that might be interesting, stuff I love. Make sure you let me know what you think.

miss doe