Milk, Chai & Tolstoy

Hello, I'm back...again! All I can say is: life gets busy. It's been a busy time with work and dance but today I'm taking the day to relax.
The leaves on the trees have all changed and are on their way to the ground below. I'm warming up with a hot mug of milk and chai on my new wing-back chair with Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. A perfect afternoon...

The More Loving One

I was watching a show when I heard the characters talk about a poem by W.H. Auden called, The More Loving One. I wonder what it must be like to write poetry like that. Anyways, the second stanza is my favourite and I think the favourite of many people who read this poem. Enjoy!The More Loving One
by W.H. Auden

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.
How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.
Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total darkness sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.

Image via The Thought Experiment

The Joy of Books

Browsing, thinking, contemplating, dreaming, sighing, procrastinating... and I found this video of Toronto bookstore, Type Books. It made me smile. Happy Monday!

The Night Circus

Hello hello! Did you all have fabulous holiday celebrations? I definitely did. Skiing didn't quite happen (thanks to foggy bad weather) and I didn't get to see White Christmas on the stage (no time this year). But I did watch White Christmas on television and plans for Whistler are being made and we did have a fabulous Christmas Eve feast!Pictures to come but first, my darling Jessica W.N. of MUAHjwn introduced me to a new book entitled, The Night Circus. It is so magical and filled with unbelievably vivid imagery. Author Erin Morgenstern truly paints pictures with words...It makes me feel... inspired! Time to pull out the sketchbook.

Portobello Road, London

I've never been to London. Actually I've never even been to England! I have been to Scotland once. Anyways, if I was making the trip, I'd visit Portobello Road, the world's largest antiques market: vintage silverware, books, old cameras, decorative tassels, the old printing shop, walls of vintage sewing machines, fine china, silverware... it seems like a fun, eclectic and definitely colourful place to visit...Remember this? I loved watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks!

Photo sources (aside from a Google image search): Decorati Access, Oleg Skrinda, and Souvlaki for the Soul.

Design*Sponge at Anthropologie, Vancouver

Well, as I expected, Grace Bonney's book signing event at Anthropologie was fabulous. Everything about the event was inspiring: the book, the author, the people in attendance (great outfits all around), the employees (so friendly and cheerful), the products and their displays! I couldn't resist taking a few snapshots. Enjoy!

I wasn't the only one with my camera out! And how I would have loved to bring that bolero home... and an initialled mug!Lots of fun outfits walking around the store. Glittery gold shoes, double panelled leggings, and my favourite look of the whole evening: The Girl with the Lace Skirt. (Click to zoom)
As this adorable young boy was reaching for cupcakes, I couldn't resist snapping his picture! Let me share the dialogue that happened just before he reached:

Boy: I want anothew cupcake
Mother: Well, you can have another one now but then no ice cream later. You choose.
Boy (short pause and with a thoughtful expression): Hmm... that's okay. I'll just have the cupcakes now instead of the ice cweam!

Yes. That table is made of rolled up magazines... I think! And there's a lot of great shoes in this shot...
I love this cutlery set! If I needed more cutlery, I would have bought these.

Design in Vancouver

Hello everyone! I'm excited for a design-filled weekend in Vancouver and I had to share it with you. I'll be taking photos so more to come next week. Tomorrow I'll be heading to one of Vancouver's newer stores, Anthropologie (I was so excited when I first heard it was opening here!), for the book signing event of Design*Sponge's Grace Bonney! It's going to be good.

Design Sponge at Home (Official Book Trailer) from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

Then I'll be squeezing in some mother-daughter time at the Interior Design Show West! This will also be good: amazing speakers, renowned designers, magazine editors, store owners, and design gurus galore all in one huge convention hall that will be filled to the brim with creative displays! Can't wait to share pictures with you all! Last year's show was tons of fun and I'm sure this year's will be as well.
Cheers to all you fabulous people! I'm off to finish (oops, I mean start) a paper...

Designing Hamlet...

It's been a busy day of school, work and now homework. I'm reading Hamlet and coming up with costume design ideas. Suggestions anyone? I'll be back tomorrow with a much better post than this!Photo taken by Ines de S. at the Cross Decor & Design.

Whites

Next week is back to school: the last year of my bachelor's degree! I have one weekend to fix up my room. I love the fresh, crisp feeling of having a lot of white in the room, especially since my walls are an avocado green (a nice one). Here are some rooms I really like... What do you think?I love the layers of white textures on the left and the arrangement of the nightstands and picture frames on the right. Together they'd make my perfect room!
The frames in the bathroom! I love the loose placement. It's hard to see but the words of Frida Kahlo on the frame to the right are lovely: I have wings in order to fly.
Images from Small Rooms Tumblr

Happy Birthday Jules Verne

Don't you just love today's Google logo? A classic and whimsical submarine theme in honour of one of the great science fiction novelists, Jules Verne.I'm sure you've heard of his stories, or at least seen some of the movie adaptations, no? Well I love looking at the vintage book covers for his work...

Gift Guide for the Girls

Hello again! I survived the exams... Barely :P I dread seeing my grades on Tuesday. My last exam was Chinese Literati art and how I wished I could have been Chinese for just two hours! It might have helped keep all the names straight!
Here's my gift guide for the girls: best friends, mothers, daughters, and --for any gentlemen who may or may not discover this post-- girlfriends...

For your mother: A Pinhole Press Wall Calendar, personalized with sepia photosFor your grandmother: A Pashmina Paisley ShawlFor the dancer: The Nutcracker ballet tickets (also a good gift for moms)Men, for your girlfriends: A bracelet from Marco BicegoFor the artist: BBC Film, The Impressionists (optional link)For the avid reader: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison AllenFor the city girl: Longchamp La Pliage bagFor the country cowgirl: Ariat Heritage Brown Western Boots

For the traveller: Moleskine City NotebookFor the fashionista: A Subscription to Vogue

Gift Guide for the Boys

I met my favourite hockey player today! He is a Swedish player that became one of the greatest Vancouver Canucks in team history and had his jersey number retired. The mayor of Vancouver even named Dec. 11, "Markus Naslund Day" and he was kind enough to chat and sign a jersey that I bought for my dad as a 50th birthday present. That got me thinking and I decided to brainstorm some good gift ideas (other than sports jerseys) for the boys in our lives: fathers, brothers, significant others... I hope these help!

For the golfer: GolfTool from Victorinox Swiss ArmyFor the athlete: Alex 32 oz. water bottle with Clean Seam TechnologyFor the entertainer: A vintage cocktail bookFor his feet: H by Hudson Angus Tan Washed Lace Up Boot from Urban OutfittersFor the city boy: Navy Bicycles Skinny Tie from Thomas PinkFor the country cowboy: Calgary Stampede limited ed. belt buckleFor the photographer: Roberu Compact Camera StrapFor the artist/writer: Moleskine notebooksFor the musician: Vinyl Music from Urban OutfittersFor the traveller: Kikkerland Travel Luggage Scale