Slowly going crazy....

Do you ever have those weeks where you feel like that mess of papers on your desk is just getting bigger instead of smaller, even though you’ve been working your little tush off all week??

That in a nut shell has been my week. I’ve had mini tantrums, large venting sessions, and almost crying breakdowns in the middle of the day.

BUT! I’m making a conscious effort to change my mind frame and my mood set, because my own crankiness is even irritating me. What better than a musical montage to make you smile, especially when it includes Jimmy Fallon AND Justin Timberlake. Thank you fellas….you’ve just turned my week around!

Click on this link to share in my enjoyment...

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - A History of Rap: Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake & The Roots - Video - NBC.com

Jen Being Random

Hi Mes Amis!

I've been thinking of trying a video post for a while, so here it is. It's in two parts because of its mega file size. I hope you enjoy it!






Links mentioned in the video:

Danny and Annie's story
Steve Job's commencement speech
Angela Ahrendts's commencement speech
TED Talks YouTube Channel

Happy Wednesday!
xo

What beauty...

There is so much beauty and wonder in the world we live in. Some times with routines, schedules, appointments and good ol’ faithful work the beauty that surrounds us goes unnoticed because we are so entrenched in our daily lives. It happens to all of us no doubt, as lives get busier and time seems to run faster, but I always find it refreshing, when in the middle of the chaos of the everyday something catches my eye (or nose, ears or skin!) that reminds me of the wonder we are living in. I am always so thankful for those moments because they make me feel alive, connected and living this history. Whether it’s watching a child at play, a breathtaking view, receiving a kind act from a stranger or realizing that you’re having fun, it’s those moments that seem to bring me down to earth again and remind me not only of this world’s awesomeness , but also to not take things for granted. I’m so grateful for the priceless simplicities and nuances of life…they are a beautiful gift.

Get Stuffed!

Who doesn’t love a great themed dinner!

This Sunday my family resurrected our annual tradition of having a stuffed theme dinner, yes, that means all food had to be stuffed (wrapped and rolled are considered stuffed as well). Everything was delicious and I think I am still thoroughly stuffed!

The Menu:

Stuffed mushrooms by my brother & Radicchio stuffed with fresh mozzarella and wrapped in prosciutto by Moi

Grape stuffed foccacia from my uncle

Panzerotti (homemade ravioli with ricotta stuffing) by my little mom, assisted by Moi

Stuffed peppers by my dad & chicken stuffed with artichoke, sundried tomatoe and proscuitto from my aunt

A variety of Italian Pastries all stuffed with sweet goodness brought by my cousins

Stuff "stuffed" in a bottle, Mango Tequila! Not as bad as it sounds, from my cousin (not pictured)

Now my Dad is the cook of the house about 95% of the time, but when my Mom does cook it is really, really good. Her specialty lies in fresh pasta. Keep an eye out for more photos and recipe of these delicate bundles of goodness!

Flying Solo - Week Eight

Let me preface this post with the following comment: The dog is ok.

It will make sense shortly, I promise.

Now down to business.... actually, this week held a little too little business for me. I was laid up with a monster cold that had me curled on my couch sipping cup-a-soups with a pained look on my face. (I'm a bit of a baby when I'm sick). You?

By mid-week I had pretty much recovered, so I decided to celebrate being able to go outside with a trip to get my nails painted. I hop in my car, pull out of my alley and as I'm completing the turn - BANG! - a huge something collides with my passenger side.

I'm thinking "What the heck was that?!?!" So I pull over, jump out of the car and a big and bashful dog comes over and licks my hand with a slightly stunned look on his face.

Yup. I was hit by a dog. As Mrs. Doubtfire would say: "it was a drive-by dogging!"

Turns out the dog was being walked by a friend of its owner, a 50-something guy who brought the dog out without a leash and was chatting with a neighbour (i.e. not watching the dog) when the dog decided to tear up the street on its own.

The poor dog is ok, but it left a $1200-$1500 dent in my car!! I spent the next day collecting quotes from body shops to get it fixed. The guy walking the dog was giving me the run around, and it looked like a $300 deductible claim was coming out of my pocket. Not happy!

Finally JZ (my guy), in a flash of brilliance suggested I go to Canadian Tire and pick up a giant suction-cup thing that pulls dents out. Its $7 price tag sounded much better than $300, so I gave it a go. After a few heaves with all his body weight JZ pulled the dent out! Now my car looks much better, with only a minor dent left to remind me of the dog incident.

My poor car has now been hit by two uninsured things: a dog, and last year - a cyclist (the biker fell off the sidewalk, his bike dented my hood, then he bounced back up and rode away). Awesome luck, right?? JZ suggested I watch out for pianos rolling down the street, but personally I'm hoping this is the last of these bizarre incidents!

Have you ever been hit by something weird? What else should I be on the lookout for?

Bon weekend everyone - keep it clean, and keep it safe!
xo

Never let me go....

“I keep thinking of this river somewhere, with the water moving too fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it’s just too much. The current is too strong. They’ve got to let go, drift apart. That’s how it is with us. It’s a shame, Kath, because we’ve loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can’t stay together forever” - Kazuo Ishiguro, Never let me go

“A page turner and a heartbreaker, a tour de force of knotted tension and buried anguish” - Time

I really enjoy comparing books to the movies they inspire, hence I took a really great film & literature class in my SFU days (the fact that they were doing The Virgin Suicides book and movie had me signed up immediately) I am always really interested to see how a film director adapts the story and characters, some people hate this and think that often their image of the book they loved is now ruined, I’ve never had that problem.

When I came across the movie trailer for Never Let Me Go I knew immediately that I HAD to read the book, and so glad I did. Kazuo Ishiguro, a British author of Japanese descent, has created such a subtly dynamic tale, at once a coming-of-age to romance, at once dramatic and tragic to thoughtful and insightful. I loved every page.

Is it sad? Yes, incredibly so, but it is beautiful. Although never explicitly explained, the lives of Kathy, Ruth and Tommy, are planned out from the moment they were created. They grow up knowing their purpose yet not fully knowing and as they move from children to young adults the realization and acceptance of this is heartbreaking for them and us the reader. From what I have seen so far of the film adaption director Mark Romanek has captured the essence and feel of the novel perfectly, and the casting is on point.

It is a bit of a tear jerker in the end but sometimes you need a good cry.

(I promise I also read up-beat books with happy endings, despite my tendency towards the meloncholy!)

Shopping Destination: Old Faithful Shop

Have you ever walked down a block and been stopped in your tracks by a store you just passed?

This happened to me last Thursday walking by the Old Faithful Shop on Cordova St. in Gastown. After walking through the doors, I was entranced by the space.  I went up to one of the store's owners, wide-eyed like I had just wandered into Wonderland and whispered: "how long has this been here"? Ok, maybe I didn't whisper. Anyway he looked at me kindly (and maybe pityingly) and informed me that they've been open since May. I clearly need to walk around Gastown more often!

Old Faithful Shop is an open, airy and modern take on a general store with beautifully chosen merchandise. Don't you love when you can actually see all the products in a store, and really appreciate them? Me too!

This store does that to perfection, with simple sections of treasures ranging from plants, to cookware, from gifts for your man, to candles for your bath. If you're looking for a gift for someone special, or a treat for yourself or your home, I highly recommend stopping in and enjoying their refreshing take on retail.

Old Faithful Shop
320 W. Cordova St, Vancouver
778-327-9376

(P.S. The store even smells good! Currently they're carrying a Balsam Fir incense that smells like a woodsy hike through a provincial park.  It'll smell amazing in your house for cozy nights this winter. I know I picked me up a box!)