Living In China

No, I am not going to live in China. I would, for a while, but that's not what this post is about. It's about a few pieces of jewelry that I recently purchased on Etsy that are coming to me from China! I've been really good with money lately, so I decided to treat myself a little, and for $25 I managed to find five awesome necklaces! They are currently on their way here, so I thought I'd blog about them in advance.

First up is a bicycle! Got this guy for $1.99! I like having interesting pendant pieces, and I've never seen anyone walking around with a bike around their neck before. I simply could not pass this guy up!




Octopus! I've been wanting this necklace for a few years now, but for whatever reason I never wanted to spend the money on it when it first came out. But now I got it for $1.99, and I've super excited for it! I am a big lover of the octopus, so it's only proper that I finally have one to wear.







Shark teeth! This was simply too awesome to pass up, even at its high price of $4.99... I absolutely LOVE sharks, and I can't wait to pair this with one of my many shark t-shirts. I think I'll make a proper shark Lolita outfit.

A pretty little elk, with flowers for antlers! A steal at $2.98! I know the whole deer family are quite popular in fashion, and I've finally gotten myself something to showcase my love for it as well.

And finally, for $4.99, an elk head! It even has a little bell at the bottom, which I in all honesty didn't even notice at first. :)

Fishing Under Ice

This morning I randomly stumbled across a link to what may be the most beautiful video I've seen recently. It's captivating and breathtaking, yet insanely serene and calming. There are times when it seems like all of these advancements in technology are more of a hindrance than a help, but then you find gems like this that make all the other hassle worthwhile.



Apparently the music for the video is equally as gorgeous, but I actually haven't listened to it. Instead I've been watching this video and listening to Given by Falling You. I think the two fit wonderfully together, both serene, but with an underlying sense of sadness and loneliness (granted, on the scale of melodrama, it's not very high, as I mean the feelings of loneliness and sadnes that aren't really crippling, but that come from true solitude in a landscape without warmth and light).

They've both been taking me on a bit of a journey this afternoon.

Current Obsessions: Confessions Tour

So one thing I want to do on here is post about things I'm currently obsessing over. For the past week I've been stuck on watching/listening to Madonna's Confessions tour. I sadly never got to see the show when it was on tour (in fact I ever only got into it after it was over, when it showed one time on TV). As much as I love the music though, I have to say that what I really love about this show was the choreography and the dancers.

The opening number kind of kills me every time I watch it, with the S&M-meets-horse-fetish vibe, haha. The dancer's "horse trot" is probably one of my favourite dance moves from the show. I absolutely love watching them do it, and I kind of wish there was more footage of it.

Everyone's costumes for this number are also some of my favourite. It wasn't until just yesterday that I noticed that Jean Paul Gauthier designed everything - I should have realized that sooner. What genius outfits!

Another favourite of mine is "Jump", mostly for the lovely parkour boys! And the fact that Daniel Campos joins them (he who happens to be my favourite dancer on the tour!). My only gripe with watching this song is that the camera work focuses on Madonna too much! I want to see more of the boys demonstrating their amazing feats of physical movement! ♥

But I suppose it is Madonna's show, thus I should not complain with the amount of footage the dancers do end up getting (which is really quite a bit). I just want to see everything, instead of parts! Granted, after this piece there is a wonderful bit of time devoted to some of the dancers (starting with DC) in which they dance out their own confessions. I'm really glad those pieces were put in the tour. Gives the dancers a moment to really stand out and shine on their own.

Who doesn't love a good rollerskating disco session? Watching this one also kills me, just for the sheer amount of dorkiness the dancers are able to display! The outfits are every bit as outrageous as the personalities and choreography, and everything is a total treat for the senses. Definitely one of the highlights!

I could go on with my love for this show, but I'll end it here. Needless to say that not only am I in love with this show, but some of my muses are as well. In fact my main muse has even shoved himself into the show, taking over DC's role (as he of course would, seeing that DC is my favourite dancer!) and while I walk to work in the morning, I listen to the music and I envision him in my head doing the moves, and we're all a happy bunch in my brain.

Perpetual.

Just like the title says - I'm here, I'm not here, I come back, I leave again.

The only thing about this blog that ever remains the same is inconsistency in my posting. But I've come to accept that about myself. My head is always full of things, both pertaining to me and also to others (granted those "others" are really just extensions of me through my muses) and there's no point in forcing something that doesn't feel right at the time.

Hence I took a big long break. Mostly it had to do with work, and having so little time for so many other things. But that's life.

Some things have happened since my last time here - I have a new job (my first job from which I manage to glean any sort of satisfaction), I visited a friend in Germany and saw a few Bayern Munich games live, hiked in the Austrian Alps, fell in love with Prague, expanded my Lolita wardrobe, secured a beta account on Pottermore, and I've taken in a few concerts (VNV Nation, OMD, Straftanz, The Birthday Massacre, The English Beat, Dimmu Borgir, Slayer, and Nas).

There are a lot of things I want to talk about, but for now I'll just post a few pictures.


First thing first is what I wore to work today (minus the petticoat, because I wasn't feeling that much poof for work). I was going for a shiro base, with coloured accessories! I count my cardigan as an accessory in this sense...

Skirt - Metamorphose ($50)
Top - Unknown ($2.50)
Cardigan - Unkown ($4.50)
Belt, blue tights, socks - Ardene
Golden apple necklace - H&M
Petticoat - vintage ($50)













Next up is a little something I threw together one night when I was bored, but I'm completely in love with the look and can't wait until it's warm enough to wear it out.


I love this dress, but the torso is super long on it, so I have to roll it in on itself in order for it to not pass my knees (which is the kiss of death for any dress or skirt for me).

Dress - Marciano ($7)
Crochet top - unknown ($2.50)
Belt, bow - Ardene

I also rather love how my pony tail is curling in the way it was in this picture - no idea how that happened, sadly. Wish I knew how to get it looking like that on purpose!















And finally, my favourite (so far) Lolita purchase!

I'm rather in love with fairy tale prints, and I now own two of Baby, The Stars Shine Bright's pieces (this one and the Red Riding Hood jsk in ivory). This one is the Wizard of Oz dress, which I suppose is not a story many would consider to be a fairy tale, but I'll still gladly stick it in that category of prints.

Dress - Baby, The Stars Shine Bright ($150)
Top - H&M ($2.50)
Belt, headband, tights - Ardene
Boots - Eject ($180 - got them 70% off, so this was quite a steal!)

I actually wore this to work one day. I was the only one at the office (everyone else was prepping for a trade show) and I'd felt like dressing up a little. It was pretty awesome, spending the day in my favourite dress. I need to do that more often.

Surprise Shopping

Just yesterday I discovered this awesome frame that Ikea sells (the Ung Drill) and decided that I needed to have one. It's a gorgeous plastic replication of a cast iron decorational frame. I have absolutely zero room for it in my apartment, but I still needed it. There are some things you just cannot miss getting. While there I ventured into the as is room and picked up two 11 3/4 X 15 3/4 white Ribba frames for $8 each. I have no idea why they were in the as is room for as is prices, but they seemed fine as far as I could tell.

Then today I ventured out to my favourite thrift store in Scarborough with the intention of placing a bid on four gorgeous brass framed pictures that will be in their live auction on the 26th and possibly getting a pair of pants or two for work.

Then I got there and noticed that all skirts were half off.

Now I already have at least 50 skirts, but I bought another ten today. I just can't help myself! Anyway, for $55 I got the following:

10 skirts
4 tops
2 jackets

My skirts ranged in price from $1.50 to $4! Steals, all of them! I'd take pictures but my legs are not in skirt shape today. ;) I will get pictures at some point, though. Some of them are just gorgeous!

I also bought some more tops and two dresses when I was there earlier in the week. I seriously need more storage space for my clothing, it's getting a little ridiculous. I think I need to do an apartment make over.

Anyway, I also need to figure out what to do with my Ung frame. The only thing I know for sure is that I don't want to leave it black. Or if I did, I'd need to spray paint it so it doesn't look like shiny plastic. I'm thinking of painting it white or bright red. I'm just not sure which.

And then what do I do with the inside? I don't really have any artwork that would fit in there. I could possibly have a mat made and then frame some other artwork I have, but then I could also paint it with the rest of my chalkboard paint I have left over.

So many options, but still nowhere to hang it.

And to end off my happy post - my boys just demolished Hannover today, 7-0! I do feel bad for Hannover, but wtfever, I'm not letting my pity over take my pride! They needed this ahead of their Champion's League semi-final with Lyon on Wednesday. I am so proud to be a Bayern fan. :)

The best birthday present I ever ruined.

So since some time last spring I have been coveting this fabulous oil painting at TEG. But that was when I had just lost my job, so I couldn't really afford to spend $125 on a painting. It dropped to $75 over the summer, but still on my limited budget I could not afford it.

Though it's fantastic and unique and kind of creepy, to my shock and awe no one bought it. Seriously, I don't quite know what's wrong with people, that no one snatched this picture up. For months it sat there, looking for a home. But no one took it. I take that as a sign that this guy was waiting for me. Maybe other people looked at it, but he made angry faces and chased them away, saving himself for me. That's how I like to think of it, at least.

So with my second paycheque (he was supposed to be bought with the first, but that got spent on other things) I went down to TEG and finally took him home with me. Turns out, though, that Kris had actually planned to buy it for my birthday (which is at the end of the month). He was going to buy it and then take me to the store and watch as I cried over the fact that someone had stolen my painting from me. But unfortunately I beat him to it!

That's a shame, because it would have been the best birthday present ever. Now the poor boy has to figure something else out. ;)

It kind of makes me think of two people standing together, watching the end of the world. It has a very apocalyptic feel to it. The world has taken on a putrid yellow tinge, and the peach sun is setting for the last time, and the trees have all withered and lost their leaves. The couple knows this is the end, and they watch on in fascination. At least the world is going out with style.

Enough melodrama! Let's move on to happier topics, like birds! Friday was a gorgeous day, and it being a holiday and all, the only thing I really wanted to do was take Kris out for lunch somewhere on a patio. The weather was amazing (it was more summer than spring) and after some shopping we settled down to eat at my favourite Japanese restaurant, Tokyo Sushi. After a fantastic meal (I had the yummiest teriyaki beef sushi roll in the world) we walked a few steps to TEG and as soon as I walked in the door what greeted me but these boys!

For $25 for the pair of them, how could I say no? Kris doesn't like them - finds them creepy. We argued amicably about them and the lady working the register laughed at us, especially when Kris said "Fine, you get them, but they're staying on your side!" and I replied "He doesn't yet realize that every side is my side!"Good times. :)


They need names, but I haven't decided on any yet. And I wish I could tae better pictures, but my camera was having a bad day. I totally need a new one. :(

Now earlier in the day that Friday I took advantage of an 11am meeting Kris had with Alfons, a friend/mentor of his who publishes Inside Soccer magazine, and I drove myself down the road from his meeting spot to Pacific Mall, one of the few shopping centres open on Good Friday. The place doesn't open until 11, so it was good to get there early before the mad crowds arrived.

I love Chinese fashion. They have the funkiest clothes there! I bought myself two new shirts ($25 each, a bit steep for my liking, but they're worth it), a cute cardigan, and some hair accessories (headbands and hair clips). Here are some pictures!


I love this shade of blue! And the girl and her pet are felt outlines, and look, it sparkles! It's a lovely piece, I think.


My new favourite tank top! It even has pockets! I love this shade of yellow, as I've mentioned before with a cardigan. It really suits my skin tone, I think. I definitely need more Col. Mustard yellow. :)


And at $10, who could say no to a cute little pink lace-trimmed zip-up sweater? It's adorable! I am trying to expand my colour palette and do have a few pink cardigans already, but the lace on this one just made me unable to pass it up.

And now for good measure, have a few shots of the bird!

Hand-Drawn Maps

I've always had a fascination with maps - looking at them, making maps of my own, and I'd love to start collecting maps. So it's a bit of a shock and surprise that I never came across this site before: http://www.handmaps.org/maps.php

A collection of random hand-drawn maps. I can't wait to go through all of them! So far I've only looked at number 225, but it's so fascinating with all the text written over top!

Projects!

This space will eventually be filled with various projects I'd like to do and as time goes on, will include links to those projects upon completion!

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/03/diy-project-ikea-bedside-chair.html

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/04/diy-project-twig-push-pins-and-wall-hooks.html

An Equation In Awesome

What do you get when you add the reincarnation of Dimebag Darrell, who is running "Bear-aoke":

With Bubbles from The Trailer Park Boys

Singing "The Rodeo Song" in its original form
"Get off the stage you god damn gook"

And bottles of Canadian are only $3.50?

James' Black Bear Pub

Originally, we were going out to watch UFC, but then Kris realized the fights are on Sunday, not Saturday. So instead we decided to drive down Danforth and look for the skeeziest dive bar we could find. We found a few, and were originally going to bar hop between them. But we ended up staying here all night. I had no idea a bar this honky existed in Toronto. Seriously, I felt like I was out in Whitby, not Scarborough! All in all, though, it was a highly entertaining night, and Kris and I are totally going to go back there.

Bird on the Brain

The world can always benefit from a little more Hari, right?