Rainy Day

I went away on a lovely 5 day vacation to Victoria, Salt Spring and Tofino, with my best friend Karina last week... (This is what we look like normally...)

(And this is what we look like when we have a case of the late night giggles.... )

 

 It was an amazing trip away with gorgeous sights...

 Cathedral Grove

Amazing Adventures (Ucluelet)

And making new friends :)

Even though it was a great vacation, I have been feeling pretty worn out since I got back,

as I have been going non stop with something lovely every night, 

so my "to do" list just kept getting bigger and bigger...

So last night a spent the evening in and worked on

completing everything that I had let stewing on the back burner...

Like planning a spa night, a soup social night, and my mother's 50th birthday party...

(Yup, my life is pretty busy!)

And then rewarded my self with making some strawberry rhubarb crumble ;)

Here's the recipe!

This morning I awoke to a lovely gloomy day in Vancouver,

which was actually perfect for my needs to 

visit the gym, the library, and a cafe for some reading times,

and also to work on a couple of projects at home...

Ive been working on my third quilt (which I will show more of once I get more done on it)

and I also made this awesome card for my dad's birthday!

 My Dad's really into the Muppets :) 

Hopefully you are all having a lovely rainy day, 

relaxing with your crafts and loved ones! 

Love Britt

A Day In the Life

Yesterday I woke up early and decided to document 

my entire day with photographs...

Here's how it turned out...

As I mentioned before I have been on a major smoothie kick,

so upon waking at 7:45

  I jumped out of bed eager for 

my liquid fix.

With our on and again, off again, 

roommate currently inhabiting our couch,

I grabbed to blender and quietly dragged it off to my room 

for some incognito pureeing action.

It was at the point when I was silently sipping away on

my blended fruit and spinach, 

that I got a message from my boss stating that since the

paper presses had been down all night,

I would have to start my delivery route later than expected.

With that little slice of heavenly knowledge I decided to make the most of 

my morning off and dive into completing my teacup candles :) 

9 am

As most of you that know me know,

that I am vying for the Domestic Goddess award 

for the "perfect Suzy homemaker qualities

displayed in one women alone" category, 

and am never without a craft on the go.

That being said my most recent endeavor 

(other than working on knitting my second cardigan)

is making teacup candles for my churches spring tea coming up

later this month. I have also donated for the event, some knitted dishcloths 

(my first foray into knitting) and more recently some mug sleeves.

9:45 am

With still no word from my manager, 

I decided to tend to my little fire escape garden patch of

kale sprouts...

Strawberries!

And submerged my new bonsai in water :)

10 am

 

Then I crawled back in bed to devour

my book "Kafka on the Shore"

which "I know, I know, I can't believe I'm not done it yet too!..."

But it really is getting good right now and I am loving every 

minute I get to spend with it.

By 11:45 am I was off starting my paper route

Saw many lovely dogs along the way...

I seem to always see brown labs on my route,

I think it is because I really want to own one 

someday :)

 And this is my favorite dog on my route 

name Harley.

My break (at around 1pm) 

Is always taken in the same place

where I get to sit in a cozy chair,

fill my water bottle, 

and lay out my lunch and book...

The rest of my route went as follows...

This is my favorite flower!

This is the face that delivers your papers!

(The people who I deliver to, are always impressed that

I am continuously smiling rain or shine!)

This is one of my lovely paper route friends...

Almost done! Last pick up!

*phew*

4:25 pm all done!

Then walked over the lovely and scenic 

Granville Street Bridge

Over the ever beautiful Granville Island

(where I might start working next week!)

5pm

With some extra time before my volunteer shift

I snuck in another reading break in the park

5:30 pm

A short shift at my weekly

gig at the Cinematheque :)

7:30 pm

I left early to attend my oh so loved

but rarely attended by me

Penpal writing club, 

at Regional Assembly Of Text on Main St.

I started my night off in the tiny room under the stairs

with the tiny bench, and tiny trillions of zines.

And then made my way out to the click

clacking gaggle of typing machinery's,

 and found an empty on to pump out some words on.

 

I decided to start a

"Things to do before I'm Thirty" List

(can you make out any words? The ribbon ink was on an all time low)

It was there at the club,

that I met a lovely lady and gentleman, 

who where educating me on the 

existence of a poetry depository tube in the neighbourhood,

 where you put a poem into the suction tube,

and take one at random for your reading pleasure

 

On a lovely whim of human engagement,

I chose to follow this pairing of friends 

to the tube around 8:40

It was starting to get dark, 

but we still managed to find this small hole in the ground,

even though I am not sure if I would have even noticed it there if

I wasn't physically guided to its whereabouts.

Otherwise it just looks like the top of some pipe,

with slabs of decorative slate around it.

Afterwards we went back to the gentleman

Tynan's place for some tea and citrus salsa :)

There aren't many of those moments in life

where you get the chance to say yes

to taking random strangers up on their offers

to go on an adventure...

I am glad to say that I am always up for those moments

when they arise :)

10:45 pm

I got a ride home from my new friend Jen,

and was greeted by my man for some cuddles,

and movie watching

 

But before we drifted off to sleep 

I documented the contents of my backpack

from my day out and about..

Other than the regular items like my cell phone,

wallet, keys, and book...

 

I also carry everyday :

-my reusable bag

-mom-made toque

-lipsticks/chap stick

-my water bottle 

 

And yesterday I added :

 -extra clothes for my route

-a can of coke I got for free for Nate

-my pen pal writing supplies

-cliff bars (I'm addicted!)

-and lunch Tupperware

Well that's all folks,

thanks for exploring my day with me,

how was your Thursday?

Love Britt

xoxoxo etc...

Simple Times

We had yet another lovely soup social last weekend full of warm food, conversations, and love. We filled the table with tasty homemade treats, and our little gathering of 6 friends fit perfectly around the square table.

Our bellies were filled with fresh spring salad, adorned with toasty kale chips, a nurturing and creamy potato and leek soup, beef and pork slow roasted stew (for the meat eaters in our clan), and a lovely gluten free apple crisp with vanilla ice cream to top it off!

At the beginning of the meal, we raised our hands together, and instead of reciting a prayer over our meal (since we all come from such diverse spiritual backgrounds), we all shouted in unision "SOUP"!
It make the beginning of our meal full of laughter and spirit, and an immensely fulfilling feeling of gratitude for our friendship.
There is also something to be said about the act of all sitting down at a table together and being able to look into the eyes of your fellow dinner guests, as you enjoy such a lovely meal together. It really drives home the idea  that I want to get a large table in my future apartment on my own, so that I can host dinner parties and craft nights all together. To me I think that is even more important than owning a couch.

I've been really turning over a new leaf with my schedule lately, in that I have resumed going to bed no later than 12:30, and happily, awaking easily before my alarm each morning. My routine has really changed, as I have been getting to work earlier, having my smoothie for breakfast, hitting the gym at least 3 times a week, and making more downtime for myself and my crafts. I feel blessed for my simple life where I can design my own schedule, and have the ease of my own tasks. I know it will not always be this way, so I am sucking it up while I can.

Currently I am...

Writing Penpal letters...

and easing into my day off.

Reading Kafka on the Shore 

(I know I know, I am a little behind in my book club. 

Going to make some more teacup candles 

(I started them last night).

Going with a friend to a Breast Massage Class for Healthy Breasts

through the Art Of Loving later.

And then possibly capping my night off with 

dancing to mod music

at Ice Cream Social down the road!

Happy Monday everyone! <3

 

Sipping Smoothies and Skipping on the Treadmill

As of late,

I have made two improvements in my life :

1.) Ive been trying to hit the gym a couple of times a week to get my blood pumping

and adrenaline surging through my body. 

And I am now looking at it in a more healthy way,

in that I am no longer worried about how many times I am going,

but more how I am feeling...

Do I feel sluggish and tired? 

Am I making excuses for myself...?

I should probably hit the gym then :)

2.) Secondly, I have become a recent convert to the wonderful world of

SMOOTHIES!

Yes that's right folks, 

I have been blending up my smooth, milky concoctions

every morning and love love loving them!

Not only are they getting some amazing vitamins in me,

but they are remedying my slow morning starts. 

I can always be seen walking my 2 blocks to work with my breakfast in hand,

but now I can simply sip on my mason jar full of goodies 

and feel a little easier about bringing my morning meal to work!

Well now it is officially 11 am,

and I am going to run off to the gym,

with a belly full of almond butter, strawberry, yogurt, flax smoothie in my belly.

and work my ass off before school!

Much love all of you,

I hope your day goes smoothly ;)

Love Britt 

xoxoxoxo etc.

p.s. What are your favorite smoothie recipes? 

As a newbie I am still trying to find out some good ones :)

Summer's in Sight!

Inspirations taking hold

Crafting nights,

strong and bold.

My garden shakes off its winter leaves,

and clears the path for summers bee's.

With my pottery class already on the horizon for this summer, 

my Easter cardigan just one knitting club from being finished,

and the relief of finally re-booking my Hot Air balloon ride, 

I can truly say that I am really looking forward to the seasons ahead.

Already I have made a list of the things I want to explore this summer 

(I mostly made it as a procrastination from writing my 2000 word essay last week)

and am looking forward to seeing them through :

-Pottery Class (Which I am so excited to finally be registered for!)

-Plan for at least 2 Female Empowerment Nights

-Ride a horse

-Dress up and venture to the horse tracks

-Continue Attending/Hosting Knitting Nights

-Host a friendly soup social at my home

(our friends have come up with the idea of having a soup club!)

-2 getaways to the islands : One with Karina and another with Nate

-BIKE as much as possible (I will not have my UPass this summer 

so I am looking forward to my bike Emerald being my major source of transportation)

-Fix up my Grandpa's old bike

-Attend the Naked Bike ride again

-Continue my guitar lessons with Ray

-Learn how to photo edit on my computer

-Host bonfire's in my back yard

-Work on getting my "N"

 -Work on my sign language again (and maybe brush up on my french)

-And Create yet another breath taking garden (I just spent an hour yesterday,

clearly off my fire escape, and making way, for new plant pots, 

and the vision of a lovely herb garden right at my kitchen door!)

It looks like I have my work cut out for me, 

but at least I will be done school for the summer,

so I will have more than just one day off a week!

For now though, I am going to try and focus on my studies,

and get them over and done with as soon as I can! 

Wish me luck only! Only a few more weeks to go!

Love Britt

Sowing Seeds and Sewing Skirts!

My energy is starting to pick up again

I can feel the winds of change flowing through my bodies previously weary bones...

Last week I felt almost hopeless

falling prey to the constant on going workload of my schedule...

but this week is different.

I started back at the gym with my love Karina,

and although the first couple of days were rough

it seems as though my body has been craving this endorphin rush all along.

 

Ive been going out of my way to get out and about (time permitting with homework) :

- Got to see two musical shows at a local cafe this week 

The first was a open mic of sorts with classical music that my friend hosts

 And the second with Karina's (pictured above) boyfriend Geoff's jazz band,

(I knitted at both of them naturally),

-I saw the Lorax at the $2 cinema

-Nate treated me out for dinner, at one of our favorite restaurants <3

 -Had an amazing "Hook and Peter Pan" inspired photoshoot with two of my favorite ladies!

(photos to come of that crazy shoot!)

-I planted my first seeds of 2012!

Radishes, Green Kale, and Snap Peas!

And found out that the garlic that I planted before Christmas

is starting to peek through the soil!

Then today, I had a lovely grocery shopping date, 

with my man.

Where we bought supplies for our respective homes,

side by side...

Riddled each other with questions, 

and kisses in the supermarket isles,

and made eyes at each other over the veggies. 

It was a lovely experience because although we have shopped for dinner 

fixings together on copious occasions,

we have never done a proper shop together,

and it was lovely to interact in that intimate way.

Then when I got home, 

I plunged straight into creating something that 

had been on the back of my mind for months now,

burning away on my creative burner.

 

You should know something about me,

I am not patient, and nor to I like to take orders,

or follow instructions...

I hate reading labels, 

and would rather just wing it and hope for the best,

then sit there and work out my best course of action...

So that is how I came to make my first ever skirt tonight,

with no pattern :)

 I have yet to fully complete it (as I still need to sew on the buttons shown,

and complete a blind hem *fingers crossed* for the bottom),

but I am over joyed about how it has turned out so far!

I got to work with my first garment zipper and worked on the whole thing,

by constantly trying it on and tailoring it to my body.

The top part is still a smidgen too loose, but it is better than it being

a smidgen too tight :)

Once I am finished it (which is hopefully on my day off tomorrow),

I will take a photo of me wearing it!  

Well that's all folks! Hope you all have had a lovely and productive week,

and remember, just because you don't have a pattern, 

doesn't mean you can't create ;)

Love Britt

xoxoxoxoxo etc...

Oh and I just wanted to leave you guys off with this adorable photo 

of my roommates finishing off our Wizard of Oz puzzle :)

They are really too adorable for words :)