March

This month, I'm looking forward to dancing with my husband in our kitchen, baking Greg a birthday cake, sleeping at a hotel and cuddling with Thomas.

Colour

So true. Via Gold Rush.

Sigh

It's just one of those days during one of those weeks. I'm suffering from a serious case of mid-winter burn out/blahs. Image via Smallest Things.

Colour

Greg and I share a love of colour (particularly when accenting white). These Aaron Dyer photos are a perfect visual representation of our shared love. Colour is such a positive force!

Creativity

Feeling lackluster on this Monday? Here are great ways to boost creativity. Image of Stockhausen Spherical Concert Hall via I Hate Music.

P.S. I secretly love Mondays - they hold such promise for the week.

Hello

We've been gone far too long - heaps of apologies for the radio silence! But we're married (for 16 days now). And it's swish. And lovely. And I highly recommend honeymoons. We'll be sharing all the details of our special day here, so please do stay tuned.

I've returned from our honeymoon reinvigorated for some new projects that germinated over many delicious dinners (think Bouchon in Yountville and Swell in San Francisco and Bin 941 in Vancouver). While my musings and plans are decidedly in the incubation phase at this point, I'm feeling inspired by weddings and design boards and DIY businesses and creative industries. I'll be sure to share more as my thoughts focus.

Greg and I are also feeling inspired by the likes of Cook St. Helena. I'm feeling the urge to make my home, and my neighbourhood more specifically, exactly the sort of haunt I want to happen upon, instead of just waiting for someone else to nurture such.

Poster XII

It has been far too long without a feel-good poster on this site. Many apologies for neglecting affordable, cheerful art lately. Don't carnivals, ferris wheels and kissing booths make you smile? How about having a circus-themed wedding like these two? Hand printed letterpress available from Roll and Tumble Press.

Den

Isn't this den perfect for snoozing mid-afternoon, cuddling a loved one or devouring a juicy novel? I love the idea of having a cozy casual room to enjoy these daily delights. Image via Design Sponge.  

Playground

Our playground, the flat prairie of Western Canada, is soon to be swapped for the hilly, rugged and wind-swept landscape of Newfoundland and Labrador. After a year in Edmonton together, Greg and I are heading east to new opportunity and adventure in St. John's.  More details to follow in the coming weeks!

Secret

Over dinner last night, Greg and I came to agree that Jerry Maguire, the movie not the man, got it right. When you truly love someone, you love them for the person they want to be and the person they almost are. Image via Le Love. 

Talent

Fake it 'til you make it; truer words have yet to be uttered as regards my creative abilities. I wasn't born with perfect pitch or poetic vigour. However, I have tried my hand at tap dancing, painting, singing, theatre, violin and ballet. With such a string of ventures (many short-lived), one could come to the conclusion that I give up too easily (and they'd be half right).

While I do feel pangs of jealously when I see others create in ways that seems to be effortless from the outside, I think the most cathartic way for me to release creative energy is through the written word. I don't linger for long with the green eyed monster. While I've enjoyed the other pursuits, I don't feel empty without their accomplishments and embellishments.

This love affair with words began a long time ago. As a child I wrote poetry and preferred to play with books over dolls. In the midst of my teenage angst, I dabbled in online journalism and wrote a short story that to this day I reflect upon fondly. In my university years, I wrote a bi-weekly newspaper column. For a long time I missed that writing, and in fact, many days I still do. Thinking about words (and even fonts) excites me. Thankfully writing, albeit not of the creative bent, is a major component of my current profession.

Greg and I chatted about creative energy on our road trip. We were exposed to poets, actors, musicians and potters. The joy that stretched across their faces when talking about their art was infectious. It got us to thinking about our own energies. In thinking back on that side-by-side chat on a hazy Saturday evening, I write this post as a commitment to myself to delve into writing more thoroughly. I'm sitting at a juncture in my life right now, and I'd like to use my pen more frequently in this next chapter. I'm venturing forward with the intention to write another short story. We shall see where this pursuit takes me. I think this is one of those truck stops.

Image via Janny Brocken.

P.S. I haven't given up on ballet, and hope to continue in the fall.

Bed

Forging back into my regular work week after a two week hiatus has left me with (a) a string of meetings and training sessions this week, and (b) longing to rest my head on a pillow well before my typically mandated bed-time (10:30 pm). Image via Design Sponge. 

Poster IX

Yep, it's Monday and I sure need this reminder. Poster available from Print Liberation.

Post-Its

Romy pretended to have invented them on Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, the Project Runway Canada designers made dresses out of them for charity auction last season, and one of my former employers prohibited their use - I'm talking about Post-Its. Post-Its are displayed all around our home. Greg and I use them to write messages to each other when we're travelling for work. It's become a fun tradition to write messages to each other and post the notes throughout our apartment so that the other can find them while we're away. 

This author in Singapore places one Post-it note of 'Things We Forget' throughout the city every day. The random messages help spread sunshine and positive reminders to those who stumble upon them. These are messages of how to best live your life; check it out. I know I often need these reminders. 

Poster VII

What a fantastic mantra to tell yourself each morning before hopping out of bed. Poster available from erin jane.