Lochers, Paris

They are totally irreverent, but unbelievably adorable. Somehow I could see her pulling one off (figuratively, sheesh) with pizzazz. I, on the other hand, would fear maternal retribution if I adorned myself with such language ;)

Check out the other designs here. (via a beautiful life, thanks!)

me and my bad attitude

I saw a girl on the bus today reading a book called The Tipping Point. 'Twas foreshadowing it seems because today I reached that very point.

A girl can only pull so many staples, remain composed after so many paper cuts, and search for so many files that don't exist (in spite of what some underwriter claims) before she loses a teensy bit of her humanity. In a matter of days I've developed carple tunnel syndrome and a really foul mouth (everything uttered under my breath of course).

So I'm done.... well, I'm going to suck it up 'til the end of next week and then I'm really done.

Some good HAS come out of this month-long stint, however... Now when I catch myself cussing in the file room I stop and ask for more grace—always a worthwhile prayer :)

actually, God has been working me over on a number of things lately, like praying for my friends and my marriage (truly praying—not just saying I will and hoping that God responds to good intentions), and caring less about writing jobs that pay well and more about ones I can get excited about, and loving the poor by serving them (He's really giving me a lesson about this), and slowing down by saying no, even when I want to be out every night.

So in spite of the crappiest job in the world, the education has been worthwhile.

WHAT kind of potatoes?

I spotted this gem of a typo while strolling through the Granville Island Market on Saturday.

oh those sassy produce vendors.

pretty

Found Aimee Wilder's GORGEOUS patterns via design*sponge today. they made me smile so I'm sharing them as well!

pure geniurss

ooo, more ways to waste time. On Thursday, Trevor showed me how to set up my RSS feeds so now I am ever-updated on all your blogs. How did I not pick up on this sooner?!

Another good thing happened on Thursday: under the pretense of a belated Christmas gift, the truly-kind-for-no-reason Sara gave us a new Starbucks coffee grinder! It's blue so it matches my kettle and dishes and Habitat tray, and therefor makes me extremely happy. This means we have our old fully functional but not nearly as pretty or effective coffee grinder sitting around. Any takers?

a wee V-day fresh cut.

lovingly posted from rainy Van City

On the Reading List: Plan B, Anne Lamott's most recent work of genius. I finished Lord of the Flies in a waiting room this morning... [chills]

On the Playlist: All Spruced Up (the Spruce Street mix), our favourite tunes from last year, compiled over the weekend and soon to be disseminated to our nearest and dearest

Current Obsession: taking the bus (cheaper than borscht + a whole 40 minutes to read every day = bliss)

Decor junkies, take note: handmade wood furniture to warm your heart

Blog Log: I have high hopes for jawcey's blogger debut—Decorate it Darling. This girl has style.

Insider Scoop: The Opus Hotel—maybe not as opulent as the price would suggest, but the L'Occitane bath products, 5 foot tub, mood lighting, white linens and proximity to Subeez make it a pretty swell pre-Valentines destination.

Countdown To: LENT is in one week. yes yes, I realize this is a predominently catholic ritual, but I think it's one in which all should partake. Fasting is good for you. I am thinking of giving up reading blogs (just until easter)... or maybe buying clothes. ooo, so tough.

To Do List: get serious about writing. These corporate gigs are good for a paycheque but they aren't adding to my list of by-lines :(

Lastly: Through ups and downs there are always nice reminders that I've found my match—like when I hatch the beginnings of a hairbrained plan and not only does he not write it off as ridiculous, he spends an hour over dinner talking about how we could make it work.

olympic hooliganism

Back in the city this week and trying to take full advantage of it:

Yesterday I got to witness the gong-show... errr, I mean unveiling of the 2010 Olympic countdown clock. To my right were hundreds of black suit & trench clad office types, cheering with pride. To my left, several dozen angry protestors in balaclavas and bandanas yelling shame and various profanities under the auspices of fighting homelessness.

I was in the middle, dressed like those on my right wondering if I should be sympathetic to those on my left--afterall, I pass at least a dozen homeless people each day on my way to work, clearly there is a problem. But the fact is (not mentioning all those other givens like the difficulty of falling through the social safety net in Canada), were there no olympics, those dollars wouldn't be going to the homeless.

I CAN appreciate the intention, but the presentation was ineffectual. In fact, it pissed me off. Booing and yelling during the national anthem, egging the stage and commandeering the mic - unacceptable. Whatever smidgeon of sympathy I may have had was obliterated.

end rant.

It's a good day, the day before Valentine's Day, and I've got a little something up my sleeve.

city lovin.

It's a universal truth: office coffee is inherently putrid.

Caught an early bus into town this morning so instead of the usual speed walk down Granville I got to slow down and enjoy its quirks: the option of two daily papers placed right in my hand (I always feel I'm snubbing the guy I turn down, so I've been alternating), the old man who plays the harmonica tunelessly from sun up to sundown, the office girls who think black Lulu pants qualify as business-casual, movie trailors lining the sidewalk (subtly noting if any celebs are on the premises), new show posters plastered all over contruction zones.

It's a particularly pleasant day, in fact. This could be because I caught Dean doing my favourite fast-asleep-half-smile this morning, or because I had time for a latte at Trees or just because the cloud-cover broke up for an hour. Either way, it's a good day to be in Vancouver.

bloggies

maybe it's a silly concept, and no, I didn't vote, but the bloggies certainly do provide hours of time-killing fodder.

It was good to see some of my faves listed:
la coquette
chocolate& zucchini
apartment therapy
design sponge
pitchfork
and yes, all the celeb goss I read in secret :)

if you're working a boring desk job (such as I am) it might be worth a gander.

and about boring desk jobs... remember all that bull about taking the high road and being rewarded for my honesty? Shoulda just gone for the permanent gig. good hourly rate aside, temping is not all I cracked it up to be. I have stories.

Crossing my fingers for a part time gig that pays even more. send up a prayer, yo.