The Anthology

That’s a big, cheesy Hollywood-style air kiss to each and every one of you. And a second mmmwah to those of you who love the Anthology so much you pass along these outrageous awards.

Like the entrepreneurial Niki of A Haute Mess, who gave me the Haute Mess Award, which I’d like to give to: Design.Love.Fest, Solo Lisa, and A Beautiful Life.

And the lovely Neira of Miss Niera gave me the Over the Top award, which I’d like to give to A Haute Mess, The Extrovert, and La Couturier.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! And a big thank you to those of you who follow the Anthology on Twitter and Facebook, too.

The Eastside Culture Crawl is like trick-or-treating with art. That you have to pay for. So actually it’s not like trick-or-treating at all. But still — meandering from artist’s studio to artist’s studio is such a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

It’s where I picked up this little portrait last year. I’ll be out of town this weekend so go for me, will you? And let me know how it is.

I just wanted to say ThankYouThankYouThankYou. First, the lovely Etrapar created a look for me to wear to the ballet, which I love.

Then the outrageously well travelled Haute World passed along the Divine award, which comes with a tag — to list five guilty pleasures. Only five?

All right:
5. Buying vintage clothes in bulk (you’re not surprised)
4. Watching the Hills and the City (trashy, low-classy heaven)
3. Listening to music from the early ’90s (helllooo C+C Music Factory)
2. Facebook
1. Dance parties (maybe I shouldn’t feel guilty about that one)

I’d like to pass it and the tag to We Were Damsels, Nubia’s Nonsense, shoes from around the globe, la flore et la faune, Oh La La, and The Swelle Life .

The beautiful Nubia of Nubia’s Nonsense passed along this award (thank you!), which I’d like to bestow upon A Beautiful Life, Option Eight, Senses and Style, Le Mode de Jour, Etrapar and Vancity Allie.

And La flore et la faune tagged me with the “Over the Top” award, which also comes with a tag — I have to answer these questions with only one word (I’ve cheated — don’t tell La Flore).

Where’s your cell phone: Here
Your hair: Un-blowdried
Your mother: Little (she’s going to kill me!)
Your father: Rad
Favorite Food: Spicy
Dream last night: Interrupted
Favorite drink: Caesars
What room are you: DiningRoom
Hobby: Blogging (could I get any nerdier?)
Fear: less
Where were you last night: WhyDoYouAsk?
Something that you aren’t: Chicken
Muffins: Meh
Wish list item: AllOfTheAbove
Where did you grow up: Vancouver
What are you wearing: Sweatpants
Your pets: Snuggly
Friends: Beautiful
Something you’re not wearing: Shoes
Favorite store: Cross
Favorite color: RubyRed
Last time you laughed: JustNow
Your best friend: MC
Place you go to over and over: DogPark
Person who emails you regularly: Larissa
Favorite place to eat: Zipang

All right, Extrovert, Urbane Bloc, Haus of Hybrid, Haute World, Dream Sequins, and Room 907 — take it away.

I’m off to the mountains, bear spray in hand. Happy weekend!

Photo of Whistler/Blackcomb from TrekEarth.

can make you sick.

Which may just be why I tend to wear sweet frilly dresses with rugged, casual boots.

They add a little edge to take the edge off.

 If that makes any sense.

Wore them with bangles from all over the place (my mom found the black and white zig-zaggy one in Mexico years ago).

It’s sort of like my little Estelle Getty — she may look sweet as can be, but she’s one tough lady.

Not a single one. But when I went to the PNE this weekend, I watched enough Superdogs insanity, lost enough carnival games and ate enough cotton candy to last me through spring 2010.

They say the PNE is the best part of summer, and I might just agree if it didn’t herald the end of that season.

On a side note, aren’t pirates b-b-b-bad to the bone? Man, I love them.

Speaking of things I love — the farm exhibition part of the equation. It was full of so many adorable piglets and chicks and lambs, I just wanted to scoop them all up and snuggle them for days.

Which is about how long I’m going to be suffering from an overdose of deep-fried oreos.

Would I recommend them? Absolutely. Just not after a dinner of poutine, perogies and pizza.

‘Til next year, PNE. ‘Til next year.

picked out a postage stamp, came home, wrote something by hand, walked to the mail box and sent it off? It was a year ago, wasn’t it?

I knew it. Dream Sequins changed all that when she proposed her Postcards from my Hometown project. 

Now, I’m writing postcards like a madwoman to bloggers in Romania and the States. Trying to distract them from my 12-year-old boy quality penmanship with lots of colours (and just a touch of glitter).

I received a postcard all the way from London from Saskia of Saskia’s Spot, which is full of absolutely gorgeous photography, lovely, happy thoughts and words like “spiffing” and “chaps”.

It all makes me so, so happy because I might just love stationery more than anything else in the world. (Yes, that is a 24kt gold dipped maple leaf in the photo above. And yes, I am that Canadian.) The postcards are by John Derian (I found them at The Cross) and the letter holder they’re sitting in is an antique my ma found forever ago.

Admit it: you’ve been meaning to write something by hand forever, haven’t you?

but can I please just take a moment to tell you how much I love you guys? Your comments, your guest posts, your emails, your support on Facebook and Twitter make me such a happy little blogger.

And when you pass along awards? I just want to give you a big virtual hug.

I received the Stylish Blogger award from not one, but two of the most inspiring people in the blogosphere: Dream Sequins and Hauteworld, who tagged me to list the 10 things that create my unique style. So here we go:

1. I mix and match shamelessly.
2. I’m probably wearing your grandma’s old brooch.
3. I will wear my husband’s shirts, my sister’s shoes and my mom’s old necklaces. Together.
4. I like jewel tones. I have fair, fair skin so light colours can easily send my complexion into zombie territory.
5.  I think the perfect outfit is made of a dress from Value Village and shoes from Holt Renfrew.
6.  I’m probably wearing your grade school teacher’s skirt.
7.  Costume jewelry is my best friend, but I’m also really good friends with jewelry jewelry.
8.  I wear my skirts short.
9.  I douse myself in Stella by Stella McCartney.
10.  I love when clothes and accessories remind me of far-off places, which is why I tend to shop more when I’m traveling.

I’d like to pass it along to a few glamourous bloggers: Shoes from Around the Globe (you blow my mind every day), Cafe Fashionista (your blog always make me laugh), Couture Carrie (you have such an eye), It’s a Beautiful Life (I wouldn’t have started the Anthology if it weren’t for you) and Option8 (your posts are dazzling, dahling).

The ridiculously kind Shoes From Around the Globe passed along the Circle of Friends award, which I’d like to award to my blogging BFFs (my BBFFs, if you will): Haute World (even though reading your blog tortures me), Dream Sequins (you are the one who is beyond gorgeous), Vancity Allie (you make me want to spend more time outdoors), Room 907 (I love you, man), The Extrovert (even though you’re my sister, you can still be my friend).

What would I do without you guys? No really. What would I do? Cook more?