Merry Christmas y'all.

W Magazine
March 2006

Arts and crafts

I've decided to be crafty this holiday season.

First up on the list of things to attempt to make is the ASOS feather cape, pictured below on Betty:

Le Blog de Betty

It's sold out on the ASOS website but I really want it, so we'll see how it turns out.

Birthdaybirthdaybirthday.

Such a great night!

Oh what a night.

I feel like I know too many people who know too many people.

Shall I take the chance?

And just go for it?

How amazing is this editorial??

'Holiday'
German Vogue 2010
Photographer: Camilla Akrans

Can't get enough of it.

You're invited.

Birthday drinks at Nirvana.
College and Bathurst, across from Sneaks.
Sat, the 12th.
9:30pm.

Be there or be obtuse.

Also,

I've just downloaded every single Beirut song known to man (atleast hopefully). They're SO GOOD.

Short list.

I plan on spending the upcoming winter break reading. Here is a list of some of the books I'd like to read:

Ensemble C’est Tout by Anna Gavalda
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
The Name of The Rose by Umberto Eco
The Book of Secrets by M.G. Vassanji
Why We Buy: the Science of Shopping by Paco Underhill
The Age of Persuasion: How Marketing Ate Our Culture by Terry O'Reilly and Mike Tennant
48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Chocolat by Joanne Harris

Her shoes.

At last!

After what seems like forever (in reality 2 weeks) I have finally found Mint Aero! Rejoice!

In case you're craving it, you can find Mint Aero at the Shoppers at Yonge and Bloor under the Bay.

Just leave the house, already.

I dislike living with my parents.

Village of Value

Last night, at around 8pm, I spontaneously decided to hit up my local VV (and then Chapters which fortunately closes at 10). I only wanted to get out of my house and relieve some stress by browsing and maybe picking up some home decor. This goal was only partly realized as I ended up leaving instead, with my wallet $60 lighter and my bag 4 pants and 4 shirts heavier. God, I love Value Village. Hopefully I'll get over my fear of outfit posts and actually show you what I bought.

In the meantime, check out this awesome outfit this girl thrifted (and yes, she's in a VV changing room):

Alice in Wonderland

Oldie, but a goodie.

Maybe its a good thing life sucks.

I can't even imagine what sort of an emotional psycho I would be if my life was dramatic and filled with the fantastical adventures and chance encounters that only the very rich or the very lucky experience and that the rest of us are confined to watching on tv.

Gah.

Lately, I've been more emotional than usual.

For example, I just teared up from watching Cold Case.

What is wrong with me?

New pants.

Gets me every time.

Not in any particular order; all from a Google search

They're always so ethereal. Love them.

Je souhaite avoir une LV 'Day' bag by Sophia Coppola

top photo: jak and jil; bottom: the sart

I need this bag. Specifically in navy. She even dedicates an entire post about it here. Sigh. One day.

I bought new pants.

And I'm so excited to wear them! I've only worn one of the pairs because the other two are satin... I need to be in a certain mood to wear them. I might post photos of me in them. They're so great!

I'm bored.

I had such awesome plans tonight (As in I agreed to actually go out on a Saturday night) but my friend got sick and canceled.

So....yah. Another Saturday night spent at home...in bed...by 10pm. Boo.

Edit: I went to a house party.

And the winner is..

After much deliberation, I decided to go against both pairs of boots in the previous post and instead I went for the black Zara lace-up booties located in the bottom right corner of this picture:
Unfortunately the Zara boots are the only ones in the above photo that I actually own. The pic is of a lucky blogger's lace-up bootie collection. Can you say *jealous?*

Didn't I take an extra year to figure out what I want to do?

And now that this year is almost (HOW IS IT NOVEMBER ALREADY???), yes, almost over, I find myself in a panic about what to do after graduation. I only know that I want to move to Montreal. However I'm afraid to because I'm not sure how I'll afford it. And what happens when I get to Montreal? I'd like to do more than just try to survive (i.e. pay rent and my OSAP off).

I've come to the conclusion that I need a career. Yes, I have my dream of living on an island, but that's not till later. I need something I can do in the meantime.

So my friends, please help. What sort of career (or even work environment) can you see me in?

The perfect day...

I had such a great Saturday! I wish I could spend all of my days like this...

I woke up pretty early since I'm used to having to work at 8 now. Dilly-dallied around the house for a bit which was good b/c it takes me a couple of hours to actually do things in the morning. Dressed up for the first time in a while (as in a wore heels!). Met Oks for a delicious brunch at Fire on the East Side.

Afterwards we went ultimate window shopping. And by ultimate I mean the evening gown section of Holts. The salesman, Johnathan, let Oks try on this gorgeous Oscar de la Renta gown that she had been eyeing. Not only was it her exact size, but he even was going to sell it to her for half off! (How is he even allowed to do that???) And to make the experience all the more memorable, Marilyn Dennis pops out of one of the other dressing rooms and starts complimenting her in the dress.

THE dress - Oscar de la Renta Spring 2009

We both headed home with our heads in the clouds, or should I say in chiffon and horse hair. When I arrived home I felt too relaxed and happy to want to go to out for Halloween so I just stayed in and watched movies with my dad. (The Mamma Mia documentary is quite interesting!) I'm really glad I did because I'm pretty sure I was the only person not hung over at work the next morning.

Anyway, such a lovely day!

Don't watch Paranormal Activity if you want to sleep.

Seriously.

I watched it two nights ago and I STILL have to sleep with my lamp on. The first night I wanted to sleep with my parents but they wouldn't let me. The movie messes with your mind...which means that its a good one. But still, scared the crap out of me. And apparently theres going to be a sequel....

Space change.

I'm pretty sure I've been saying this for months, if not years, but I really want to redecorate my room. However since I want to move out ASAP, I can't fathom putting any effort into my living space right now. That said, here's what I'd like my room to look like one day.

(Sorry I can't source these! I've been pretty bad lately documenting sources)

First item of business.

These:Or these:


Theres a major price difference between the two, but I'm not going to tell you b/c it'd for sure influence your vote.

ACTUALLY, this time.

I'm resurrecting this blog.
I've found too many pretty things to not share, and I need more advice than I have the time to see my friends.

Also, I miss blogging.

HALLO

IM BACK!!!!!!
And boy, has MUCH happened since the last time I blogged.

School ended, went to Europe for five weeks (which I CANT EVEN describe), and now I'm back in TO doing summer school, working, and chilling.

I've been really busy lately with school work and normal work. I dont really have time for much else, although I've been social. Not gonna lie, I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed.

All in all, its been a good summer so far. Hopefully I'll get on the SCUBA cert in a few weeks, as well as some essential summer hiking. Top that off with some rock climbing and summer will be perfect.

I probably wont post every day from now on, but definitely at least weekly. Stay tuned!

Once school is over, the blog will return to its normal blog tendencies. Not over run with these Twitter-like statuses I'm inclined to post with my limited time.

Conversations.

Quite a few intense ones in the past few days.

Family love has to be earned.
-Angelina Jolie

So I finally told the friend about the things going on. I THINK she took it well....but I'm not sure. Kind of nervous because now this means that everyone will know. And I don't want everyone to know....mainly one person. But whatevs.

I can't deal with living with my parents. I need to get this BSci and get the fuck out.




(Excuse my language).

The low after the glorious high

Irrational thoughts come to me quite frequently while I melt away in the library.

Also, I've noticed that if I wake up early, and then go back to sleep, I'll tend to have a nightmare within that short bout of sleep. For example, this morning between waking up at 7:45 and actually rising at 9, I dreamt that I got on the wrong bus and ended up in a shady neighbourhood where a girl stole my Metropass. And while the people on the bus were arguing with her for me, the bus driver was handing out bottles of beer. (I'm currently consulting a dream dictionary to figure out what this could mean).

The weekend in Guelph also screwed with my mind. I'm so far deep into summer mode I'm not sure how to climb out. And with examo numero uno tomorrow, I need to climb out of it FAST. Earth Day on Wednesday...and the Earth movie whose trailer I posted here a few months ago comes out on Wednesday too.

BEST WEEKEND EVER!

I wish I had gone to Guelph for undergrad.

Oh and I'm also making this blog invite-only again. I might actually tell people about the other one.

Ta-da!

This blog was supposed to initially be a 'scrapbook' of certain thoughts and musings. Not the journal that it has become. Thus, I unveil, Twelve Times the Persuasion. Mainly pictures of what I think is beautiful. Along with amazing people, phrases, and perhaps a song or two.



I'm obviously still keeping emPer. I have a lot of things to say.

Spring cleaning.

I am currently in the process of clearing out my closet. In the past, I've had trouble parting with clothes that I really should have gotten rid of...and now I'm stuck with an overflowing closet in need of a breather. That said, if you want some clothes, holla. Most of its outdated, but there are some new gems that don't fit me (and bought anyway) or I just can't keep.

Easter.

This weekend was too much and too little at the same time.

Class ended on Thursday, so I went out with some school friends to our college's annual Dis-Orientation party (the opposite of Orientation/Frosh week). It was fun--mainly because one of my friends organized it and was handing out drink tickets all night long. Didn't get home till about 4am.

I worked on Friday, after which I went out with my co-workers to a 90s hip hop night at a local club. You know when you know something that other people don't, but you can't share that information due reasons you can't explain? And then they discuss some aspect of that thing that you know more about, but you can't join in on the convo because it'd be weird and all the while you're thinking to yourself, "If they only knew?" That's exactly how I felt the entire 15 minutes I was there. I left early to meet up with the lovely O and B, however the usual occured after excessive drinking and we left early to grab pizza. THEN I decided, "Well, I'm just going to go back to the 90s party" but since the girls I arrived with had already left, I hung out with SB and JdM. While taking the blue line home, I conversed with JdM on the phone for like an hour, which was intense. Got home at about 4ish.

Yesterday, after work I met up with O and B again. We grabbed dinner at Spring Rolls and then proceeded to a club that was 'just okay'. As I've recently turned into a guy, I like to check out 'the scene' at every place I go. Dry. The night, which consisted of fake Italians and lots of cellulite, ended on a good note upon meeting some randos. Got home at about 430.

SOOOOOOOOO. Basically, I've made up for all the missed nights during the school year in one weekend. Fortunately, I havent felt any of the effects of constant partying. YET. Lets see what happens when I'm actually done exams. And when I'm in Europe!

I'm going to start uploading the only creative things I have done here at UofT.

Lagarconne.com

2 things.

1) I need a new book to read. Any suggestions? Even though I don't technically have time to read, and I have like 3 other books I've already started, I feel like I need a new one.

2) I forgot what I wanted to write here.
I am obsessed with polyvore! I haven't done anything yet, but I will soon.

I finally got my G2!

YAY!!!! Ha, I only waited 5 years to do it. Thank God I got it today because it would have expired in a few weeks.

How did it go from being a sunny +12 to a snowy -2?

In any case, I've never driven in snow and I have to do my driving test today.





Help.

AND I booked my ticket to Europe! YAY!

I also love Mexican food.

I love airports.

Monaco.

While in Europe this summer, I will be visiting my cousin who I haven't seen in years--basically since she quit her job in Toronto, abandoned her children with their crap of a father and fled to France to live with her lover.
After years of estrangement, the relationships that we all have with her are slowly returning to a healthy balance and so she said that I can go visit. YAY! She lives on the Nice/Monaco border, right by the water, so I'm super excited!

Great dream

I had a dream last night that I tried so hard to remember but did not. I DO remember, however, that it involved my brother and I being traditional escorts of a wedding ceremony in Lima (Italy...although it looked like France) and Karl Lagerfeld was one too and we were strolling hand in hand. And Pierce Brosnan was there as well. I wish I could remember it all...it was so great.

I want to go here.

Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa
Queensland AU

By now everyone knows about my 'lifestyle goal'. That dream I have of living on a beach on an island somewhere in the tropics. Basically I could do [almost] anything on said island and I'd be happy. But now that school is almost over, I feel the need to choose what my next step will be in order to get closer to my goal. What am I going to do?!?!?!?! GAH. I'm kind of freaking out.

Whatever You Do, Don't Run.

Whatever You Do, Don't Run is the name of the book I'm currently reading. Its a "collection of true tales from top safari guide Peter Allison." Its such an entertaining read! Basically, the guy planned on taking a year off from school and went on a safari in Africa. Long story short, 15 years later he's still there, working as a professional safari guide.

I'd really love for something like that to happen to me one day.

Guelph!

This weekend = miniature Barbados reunion in Guelph!

It was so much fun hanging out with everyone from the trip again. Memorable moments include:

-Being asked by my Swiss exchange student friend if we [Canadians] eat geese.
-Being told by my Swiss exchnage student friend that this weekend was his last chance to do all of those 'quintessential' college party things: flip cup, beer pong, and drink from a funnel.
-Watching square dancing for 2 hours of my life. After the second hour it stopped being as good.

Theres so much more but I forgot.
All in all, good weekend!

All I can think about.

So I'm going to do a post about my trip today because a) I'm so excited and b) I've been getting questions.

In May I'm going to Europe! While the whole backpacking Europe thing doesn't really appeal to me--I'd rather chill in one city then spend every other day in a new one--I couldn't pass up the chance to go to Turkey.

Long story short: Turkey is one of my dream destinations. Ever since I saw a picture of hot air balloons soaring high above its Mediterranean beaches and ever since said picture was my desktop photo for years, I've longed to go to Turkey. Its like Morocco, an eclectic mix of many cultures. Anyway, one of my friends was planning on going with her sister and I invited myself along. We're going to be hanging out in London for a week before we meet up with her sis in Ukraine. After a few days there, we'll be en route to Turkey. SO EXCITED!

THE Look.

Photo cred: Jak & Jil for Lane Crawford

I can't even describe in words how much I absolutely LOVE the outfit on the left. Simply amazing. So effortless. Its all I ever hope to be this summer and beyond. The dress on the right is a stunner as well. But then again, isn't silk Lanvin always? My heart yearns.

Some people...

I just ran into my friend iKat, and it made me really happy. He's one of those people whom I adore, but rarely get to see. I used to hang out with him a lot during the summer, but life happens and we got busy (and lazy). Anyway, I love how even though I only saw him for a brief 5 minutes, I got the 'great person' vibe from him.

It got me thinking about how many awesome people I have the honour of calling my friends. While I am unable to stay in one place for too long (and subsequently unable to hang out with the same people for too long) I still value my friendships. Its too bad that certain people (ahem, one person) think that I have malicious intents when I 'stray'.

Anyway, enough about that. And more about SUMMER! Currently dreaming/planning/wishing/waiting for MAY 1ST--the day I'll be done school! WOOT WOOT! Fast forward a couple of weeks after that, and I'll be on a plane!

Just when things start to get interesting...

...something happens that you can't control. And life becomes the same again.

Conversations with a munchkin.

Between classes, when I have time to kill, I usually chill at the CSC. Although I don't know many of the regulars, I feel comfort in knowing that the students who spend their time here probably live more than half an hour away from campus. That said, my enjoyment here is positively reinforced by the conversations I have with the tiny but dangerous N. While we have talked about everything under the sun, our conversations usually end up on the topic of travelling--something the two of us are passionate about.

I've come to the realization that, at this point in my life, I need too be moving around; seeing new things, meeting new people. I've never so energized in my entire life, and I'm just waiting for the chance to jump up out of my chair and out the door.

It's funny because, although I'm recovering from a virus that I picked up in Barbados, I've never felt this HEALTHY in my entire life. I've gone to yoga every week for the past month, I eat less, and exercise more, and I just spent an entire week swimming about in the ocean for 8 hours a day. I feel like being active; but I'm stuck here, studying. I can't wait for May.

School is crazy right now and I doubt it'll let up until the end of the term. Unfortunately, I'm having trouble concentrating on anything other than traveling right now. Not sure where I'm heading exactly, or when, even, but hopefully I'll know for sure soon and I'll post about it.

Parents are funny creatures.

I'm so EXCITED for life right now. I can feel the wheels spinning beneath me and its time for change. Everything is going--not sure in what direction, but its going, so its all good.

Back home.

...And wishing life were different. After every trip I take, I'm reminded of how, although I love Toronto with all my heart, I belong somewhere else.

Fresh Prince of Bellairs.

The view from here.

I'm so emo right now that I can't even stand myself. As if it gets worse before it gets better.

Leaving on a jet plane.

The excitement of going on my trip has wavered due to a crazy school load this week. Coupled with my over-emotionality (does that make sense?), I feel drained and passive. I feel like curling up in a ball and eating cold grapes while watching the Royal Tenenbaums. Instead, I'm stuck doing multiple group projects while my head spins and my heart hurts. If only Tums could fix it.

Fireball: More drama than the Young and the Restless.

Of course Fball would be the culmination of an already bad week. Granted, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who had a bad time. That said, its 2:10am and I'm lying in my bed in T-hill (yes, I came home) while my friends are doing god-knows-what in various places around the downtown core. I would have chosen to get so inebriated that I wouldn't have been able to remember the night...but I have so much work to do that it wouldn't have been a smart call.

Bright side of the night: Got my fortune told by a psychic. I hope she's actually psychic because she told me some good things. Like dream life.

I hope this week is better. Seriously high hopes.

This week sucks.
I lost my metropass.
There goes $100 down the drain.
:'(

Should I buy another one? Or use tokens??? I use the TTC almost 3 times a day.
Ugh. Feeling extremely shitty right now.

Uniforms.

Opponents of the uniform often use the argument that uniforms are anti-individualistic and that one's personal style becomes lost in the sea of dull, boring and bland mono-chromaticism. While there was a time when I did agree with this statement (i.e. high school), I must say that I miss my uniform days tremendously. This post, however, is not about my constant struggle with not having anything to wear, but with the fact that one's personality and self-expression can actually be revealed in light of a uniform.

For example, today, during my daily commute to school, the TTC driver of my bus caught my eye. Not because she was talking to herself (as many of them do), or because she was talking to everyone who came into the door of the bus (as many of them do...apparently they are bored. I often entertain TTC employees by asking them various questions about how the system works. Did you know that there's a 2-year wait period after a TTC employee starts working before they can choose what route they want. And if they want to move to the subway system, the wait may be 5 years!?). Anyway, the driver of the bus caught my eye because she looked SO GOOD, even though she was wearing the hideous maroon uniform. She wore these great white Prada glasses, along with rings (and I mean RINGS with huge gems/stones) on probably 5 of her 10 fingers. On top of her uniform she wore a black blazer with the sleeves rolled up. I wanted to take a photo of her, but that would have a bit creep. She looked so incredibly stylish and confident I couldn't stop staring. Moral of the story: the uniform does not hinder one's expression of personal style/individuality. It's one's lack of style that causes one to blend into the sea of bland. If you weren't wearing the uniform, you'd still look like everyone else.

READ THIS IF ITS THE LAST THING YOU DO:

Click HERE to read.

"It's your hamster in the box and it's not not breathing."
I DIED.
THE BEST.
(ALL CAPS SO YOU KNOW ITS SOMETHING).

Yum.

Yesterday I had my first red velvet cupcake.
Since it was oh so tasty, I'm going to make my own for Valentine's Day! (Which is a holiday that I try to hate, but can't because I like the treats...it should be renamed cinnamon hearts and chocolate appreciation day).