Claiming for Bloglovin'

So apparently to 'claim' my blog on Bloglovin' I need to post this in a new post:

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Sorry for the inconvenience. Carry on.

Happier Day - with Tunes, TV and TEA!!

So y'all saw my 'sad panda' post yesterday, and thanks for the suggestions - I have had a dance party with some awesome new music thanks to Martha (you should check out 'Little Talks' by Of Monsters and Men, 'Black and Blue' by Miike Snow and 'New Shoes' by Paolo Nutini - which I love but never knew who it was!). I also spent some time watching TV in my PJs and favourite hoodie and ignoring everything and everyone as suggested by Katrin (though no chips - I was too lazy to procure them from the store!).

I also recently discovered a love of rooibos tea, which I never knew was so amazing. I may or may not have had two cups of the 'After Seven' tea this morning - it's an amazing blend of mint and chocolate with this sweet aftertaste thanks to the rooibos. I discovered this and the 'Spicy Chocolate' teas at a local place called Pekoe Tea Lounge, which is just a couple of blocks from my work and has a pie and tea special for $6.95 (I think). I may do a whole post on them with some pics - they have an amazing little shop that's so cosy to curl up and drink tea and chat in, a HUGE selection of teas - their tester tower is gigantic - and they have a whole bunch of cup & saucer sets and you get to pick whichever one you like. Super cute and funky. They even have gluten-free pies! I recommend the apple blackberry because it tastes just like summer. If you're in Vancouver, definitely check it out.

Anyway, between the tunes, TV, tea and bright sunny weather outside, I'm feeling much better today. I guess it really was just one of those days, after all!

Ever Have One of THOSE Days?

You know, the days when everything feels worse than it is? When the world just doesn't seem like a friendly place? Not for any particular reason, not because you lost anyone or got bad news or made an important mistake - not even because the weather was horrible (though this morning it was) - it just sucked.

I'm having one of those days. So I thought hey, these bloggers, they're some pretty smart folks. they've been around the block a few times. They've got 'life experience.' I bet they know some kickass ways to get rid of the blues. Let's hear it. Whatya got?

Politely Smiling

So my buddy Chris recently started a (totally awesome) blog. It's a bunch of random funny, inspiring and beautiful pictures, videos - and anything else that appeals to him. Like this.

 

Pretty great, right? He's actually making one. That's right, I said making. As in from scratch. I know, I'm not that crafty either. I'm currently trying to talk him into posting a 'How To' once he's completed the project, for those of us who lack crafty know-how.

He also found this little gem, which completely blew my mind: 

You should go check out his blog, Politely Smiling (when frowning just won't do) here. 

*Update: He just posted this, in case you ever wondered what it's like where I live.

Random Thursday: My Hidden Talents...

  Lin, Meg and I are back with another super-challenging RT topic. I'm warning you, it ain't no 'Pet Peeves.'

See? Toldya. Now I'm not someone who tends to think about my good points - even the obvious ones. Let alone hidden ones. So this might get weird!

1. 
I can spray water clear across the room between the gaps in my front teeth. This is very useful when one of the cats is being naughty.

2.
I've been told I'm funny... particularly when drunk. Apparently beer brings out said hidden talent.

3.
I give excellent advice... to other people. My own life is a mess.

4. 
I make a mean apple crumble. (The secret is chocolate chips and real butter. What? I never said it was healthy. Geez.)

Okay, that's it. That's all I got. Your turn!

*Update: Thanks to Martha at Quick Cheap and Pretty for reminding me that I can also read upside down! Totally forgot about that one. When I was a kid and I ran out of books to read, I'd re-read my faves upside down. You know, just to make it more interesting. Yes, I'm a total dork. But a talented one.

Random Thursday: Pet Peeves...

Okay, so this week's Random Thursday with Lin, Meg and myself plays right into my wheelhouse. I'm excited, so let's get started:

1. People who don't take their backpacks off on the bus

2. Running out of beer

3. People being treated unfairly

4. The alarm clock going off when it's still dark

5. People who say "YOLO"

6. Lady Gaga

7. Girls who say "like" like every second word

8. Pancake foundation

9. When Starbucks burns my coffee

10. Willful ignorance

11. People who smoke in the bus lineup so you have to either lose your spot or get cancer

12. People who mix up words that sound or look similar, but are in fact totally different. For example "you're" and "your," "then" and "than," or "they're," "their" and "there." It's not rocket science, guys. If you need help go here.

Oh and so many THOUSANDS more. But I'll stop there before I go on a War & Peace-length rant. Now it's your turn. What makes you stabby?

Random Thursday: Favourite Childhood Memory...

Sorry I'm late to the party - we had one of our three big work events last weekend and I'm still trying to catch up - so I'm behind on everything. Also sorry for the uneditedness and lack of pics - but it's going up like this or not at all, so too bad!

This week's Random Thursday with Lin, Meg and myself is:

Phew. This is a tough one. I mean, how do you distill an entire childhood down to one favourite moment? I'm certainly having trouble. But I'll do my best.

1. 
The first thing you need to know, contextually speaking, is that I grew up on a small hippy island off the west coast of Canada. Lots of patchouli and pot smoking. Also very little pop culture. My parents decided I'd be a better-adjusted and more well-rounded child without television. I blame them and this silly rule for my inability to moderate my TV intake now, but that's another story. Anyway, one of my favourite things as a kid was going over to a friend's house and watching TV. Also loved sleepovers. And going to the movies.

2. 
As a child I did outdoorsy stuff - you know, cos I didn't have a TV and was an only child so I didn't even have another kid to beat up to pass the time. One of the outdoorsy things I did was horseback riding. I rode at the local trail riding stables in exchange for helping muck out stalls, groom horses and bringing up the rear to keep an eye on nervous tourists. I loved horses (still do - as evidenced by my waterworks when watching the Budweiser Clydesdale commercial), so a lot of my best memories involved riding. One time I got to ride my favourite horse, Tess, down the mountain into town for the Fall Fair. It was both terrifying and exhilarating, I can tell ya!

3. 
Some of my other faves weren't at the time. My parents bought a fixer upper, so my childhood was full of horrifying moments like holding dry wall up  in a crawl space with my feet or mowing an acre of lawn, a lot of which was on a hill... but the up side is that I have some basic knowledge of how to use tools and repair things, and that comes in handy. (It's been years, so I feel the need to point out that by basic I mean I don't hit my thumb when using a hammer, I know how to fix a running toilet, I think I could probably still chop wood without losing a limb if I had to and I can light a fire. It's not like I can build you a house from scratch or anything.)

That's about all that comes to mind at the moment, let's see how you guys do! Link up below!