bruxelles

Can you believe these? Anything with Belgium, or Brussels especially, always catches my eye. These are from Dinner in the Sky, and it looks like they do them all over the world. I need to investigate further to see how long you are actually up there for! These shots are from the Atomium in Brussels. See more of the Brussels dinner right here. They're pretty insane. I would be terrified. 

crafts + truth

I really like to make things.  I really, really do. One of my earliest (and fondest) memories is my  mom teaching me to knit when I was 7 or 8. I always remember watching my mom make things with her hands when I was a kid. Whether it be muffins, clothes, toys, pizza dough, she always made everything. And I was always so intrigued by it. So she tried to teach me to knit. The yarn was bubble gum pink and I wish I had a picture of the end product to post here, I can still picture it perfectly in my mind.  The intention was to make a scarf. I did make a scarf, however, I could only manage to make a scarf for my doll. It was very tiny. But I made it. 

Since then, I've tried and tried and tried to make things with my own two hands but along the way I've realized a lot about myself. Most of the things that I make never actually turn out. And it's kind of a running joke in our household. Except deep deep down... it really actually bothers me. And okay... maybe there is something in the process. There is definitely something in the process. But never having an end product that is successful and that brings you joy and that you are happy with? Well that just seems kind of moronic, doesn't it? Wouldn't a normal person give up; find a new hobby; buy handmade things?

So... I've made quilts in the past and have been semi-successful with them. But over the past few months I've tried to make three of them (just realized how crazy that sounds... who tries to make THREE quilts in a matter of a few months while working full-time... and working on a business plan in their spare time, who does that? crazy people, that's who). Needless to say, NONE of the quilts have turned out. I've made the same stupid mistake consistently on ALL three. So I wondered if a lot of the time I set myself up for failure? If I choose things that I know are outside of my skill set... I know I have zero patience. I try to work on this, but damn it's hard. Anyway... blah blah blah.... I love to make things. I want to successfully make things. I need patience. My mom was right all these years. I finally get it. I get it. 

Which leads me to these::

Shoe bags! I can make these!  I think they're adorable and a really fun gift to give to someone. So I wanted to share. Have fun making shoe bags... I think we can do it! Read the tutorial right here

homage

                                                    

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Judykaufmann

"I don't believe in marriage.  No, I really don't. Let me be clear about that. I think at worst it's a hostile political act, a way for small-minded men to keep women in the house and out of the way, wrapped up in the guise of tradition and conservative religious nonsense. At best, it's a happy delusion - these two people who truly love each other and have no idea how truly miserable they're about to make each other. But, but, when two people know that, and they decide with eyes wide open to face each other and get married anyway, then I don't think it's conservative or delusional.  I think it's radical and courageous and very romantic". Freda Khalo

                                

Freda Khalo is one of my favourite artists, women, feminists, you name it, I love her. My mom painted me a beautiful picture of her that hangs in our front hallway. It's one of my most favourite things ever. The 100th anniversary of International Women's Day has had me thinking about awesome ladies all week.

new music!

I really like these guys. I like them a lot.  If we were in Brussels I would go see them play live and love every minute of it at the Ancienne Belgique in April. Oh well. For now, you can get 2 free songs if you click on the link.

: right now :

It's March.  Right now, I am ....

smelling ::  spring in the air.

feeling :: content

remembering :: that Halifax summers almost make up for Halifax winters. almost

reading :: get it ripe - a fresh take on vegan cooking and living

hearing :: johnny cash

wondering :: when did I start loving johnny cash?

seeing :: our home come together

thinking :: right now is good

eating :: lasagna

exploring :: a new yoga class

hoping :: for new adventures

grateful for :: so many hugs today. arms wide open, running at me hugs today. a lot of them. I don't know why, but am grateful to receive them.

Are you as excited about spring as I am? I hope so. I can feel it in the air. I love that change.

pizza!

It should be known right now that I love pizza. I really do. It's my favourite and I can eat a lot of it. Yum. I take my pizza very seriously and judge you if you leave your crusts behind. I don't remember when I decided to start making my own pizza dough, but it's been a loooong time. So long that it just seems like something I've always done. There is always homemade pizza in our house.

So... my friend/neighbour and I have decided to have a pizza bake-off! Basically we're both going to make amazing pizza, then eat them, then judge them. And someone will win. I'm super excited about it. And nervous. Everything she makes is amazing, so I really need to step up my pizza making skills over here. But I've been practicing. Last week I made one with artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, black olives and buffalo mozzarella. It was really good. This past weekend I made this creation and it was possibly the best one I've ever made. Possibly.

This one had fresh arugula, cherry tomatoes, parmesean cheese and more delicious buffalo mozzarella. Yuum. We polished it off no problem. So stay tuned for pizza updates and probably some pictures of me devouring pizza.

whales & turtles

I read this little link this morning, the loneliest whale in the world, and it made me really sad and then it made me really think. I have a habit of sometimes caring more about animals than I do about most humans... which is why it usually becomes troublesome for me to have pets [more on that later, I learned something new about turtles this weekend!]

But after I read this I couldn't help but think of some of the kids that I've had the pleasure of working with over the years. The kids that have trouble communicating, the kids who have trouble making friends. The kids who can't speak, or express themselves like the rest of us can. And this little whale story resonated with me so much ....  'her voice is unique'. If we could only think that way about the children that have been labelled, 'special needs', or 'different'. We've attached this negative connotation to them, to their lives, to their being.

But aren't they just unique? And isn't it possible that the behaviour, the actions that we see manifested in the classroom, and in their lives, maybe they are each child's unique attempts to be heard. Their desperate calls for friendship, for love, for acceptance, they go unanswered. Wouldn't that be confusing? Wouldn't that be so confusing every day? oh man .....

{there is a bit more here if you'd like to read, followed by some gorgeous images}

But yeah, turtles!

Last week I killed one of my plants. I hate it when I kill plants. I always feel bad. But it happened. So I went to Kent to buy a new plant. While there, I was looking at their pond in the greenhouse which is home to 3 turtles! And they were great, and I thought, turtles! Why don't I buy a turtle? I want a pet... a dog is out, cats are gross [sorry] but a turtle... I could love a turtle. Off to Pets Unlimited I go [aka the worst place on earth, man it's depressing in there] and find a lovely little 15 year old to answer my turtle questions. It turns out, it's illegal to sell turtles in Nova Scotia. Did you know this?? You can own them, but not sell them. wtf? Apparently turtles carry salmonella... and as explained to me by the 15 year old, their terrariums are cesspools of poop. Salmonella carrying poop. GROSS! No thanks turtles. Is this common knowledge?
If you want a frog though, they've got all different kinds at Pets Unlimited. Just ask for Jamie.