check-off cascade!

I checked off #48 today: Get a reliable car (or move somewhere where I won't need a car). Now, I suppose I could have checked this one off the same time I checked off #15: Move out of my parents house, but I did still have a car then. I'm not going to pretend I abandoned my car by choice, in reality, it kind of abandoned me; by abandon I mean my brakes gave out on my way home from Superstore one night and almost caused me to have a heart attack. Since my car was old, ugly and had over 355 000 km on it, I decided it was best just to give up on it. I have recently moved again and live only 2 blocks from an LRT station. Although the little train only runs north to south and half of the stops are in neighborhoods I would probably never set foot in, it has been pretty convenient. I have no problem getting to work, school, the bank, shopping, or the grocery store but I do miss my car when it comes to other things.

I miss my car when I'm in the middle of cooking something and I realize I'm out of milk/butter/spice; either I'm too hungry by that point or it will be ruined if I take the hour to get to the store and back. I miss my car when I finish work or practice after 11pm and my options are cab home or wait in a sketchy train station for half an hour. I miss being able to buy 24 packs of toilet paper or family size cereal boxes or anything that save me money that I can't carry home on the train along with the rest of my groceries. Other than a few little things though, it's been bearable not having a car. Of course it's me saying that and not the people I have to constantly bum rides from (you know who you are, sorry).

On another happy note, I am now living with two really great guys in a really cute old house in a fabulous neighborhood, both of whom either offer to lend me a car to get groceries or drive me and my friends to the bar on a Thursday night. Also they have a KitchenAid mixer. Best. Roommates. Ever.

I'm also checking off #53: Don't drive my car for as long as possible. This is not cheating.

More happy things!

#61 continued.

11 {Chapters+Starbucks}

This is my happy place. When I'm especially happy or sad or bored or depressed I can come here and spend hours lost in the happy world of coffee and new books. *bliss*

I would like to make a note that I also enjoy second hand book shops and independent coffee houses. One great combination very near to my house is Gracious Goods and Belgravia Books and Treasures






12 {Dresses}

I practically live in skirts and dresses from the first sign of spring well into the fall as I pile on tights and boots and sweaters (so pretty much for 3 months out of the year). Anthropologie always has the prettiest and highest quality items which I adore and am seldom able to purchase for myself.

I have recently discovered Modcloth which has a plethora of adorable dresses at a much more affordable price point.

13 {Salt Water Taffy}

I don't know why and I can't even remember the last time I had it but the wax paper wrapping and the pretty bright colours (I like blue the best) just scream happy to me.






14 {Pretty Aprons}



Cooking is just so much better when you look cute doing it.










15 {Hand written Letters}

The last time I received one of these was in Jr. high from my very good friend who had moved to Alabama. We would send each other letters and little gifts and receiving something from her always made my day. We should all take the time now and then to try to renew letter writing as a hobby because it always makes someones day.

16{My Deer Necklace}



I bought this necklace at a little store in Vancouver and I can no longer remember the name of the designer. I wish I could because it is my favorite piece of jewelery and I wear it every day. I'm not big on accessories and I have had boys buy my things in the past but they never felt like ME, which this does.





17 {Lilacs}

The smell of lilacs means summer is here and purple is my favorite colour. 'nuff said.

18 {Trains}

In my opinion, the very best way to travel. Fast enough that you get where you want to go before going crazy, slow enough to enjoy the view.

19 {Dancing}

All kind, all places. Dancing was and always will be my first love. Watching the Nutcracker in a huge dark theatre when I was 6, endless days in a ballet studio with bleeding toes, making up silly dance games with friends, choreographing dances in the back yard, pas de deux lessons with Frank Augustyn, friendly/not-so-friendly competition between friends, finally having my own ideas brought to life through dance...now, dancing in my living room, kitchen, anywhere I can.

20 {Pink Champagne}



It's cheap and pink and delicious. Yay.

Awesome start to the summer!

I decided my summer officially started in July because June sucked and didn't make the cut. Since then I have had an awesome time and I am feeling really happy.

I completed #3: my blood type is O negative (easy)

#38: I attended the International Congress for Conservation Biology. Well, I did to the best of my ability. Getting up at 6:30 four days in a row, going to the conference in the morning and then working for 8 hours was exhausting and not entirely worth it. I was staggeringly tired and missed all of the networking opportunities and keynote speakers, but it was better than nothing.

#49 and #50: My fiction book for the month was Yann Martel's Beatrice and Virgil and was also my book club selection and met to mixed reviews. I was one of the people who really liked it. My non-fiction book was coincidentally by the same author, What is Stephen Harper Reading?. It is a series of letter written to our Prime Minister by a Canadian writer and holds a wealth of suggestions for books of all genres, many of which I now have on hold at my local library.

#73: July isn't over yet and I have already been to the firsannual SOS fest (which was awesome and can only get better in the years to come), the Edmonton street performer's festival and Shakespeare in the park. I might have to up this goal to 8 festivals, four was just too easy :)

I hope everyone else is having a great summer as well, if not, come hang out with me. I'm a blast!

Increase Happiness

#61 on my list is: Identify 100 things that make me happy. Last year (25) kind of sucked so I am going to try my hardest to make 26 as happy and full of accomplishments as possible. No, I'm not going to list all 100 things right now but I will post instalments of ten whenever I need a little pick me up.

Here is the beginning of my list:

1. Sunshine


2. My cat (her name just happens to be Sunshine, what a coincidence)


3. Musicals
I love love love musicals. I would be content if we could all wander around bursting into song when we need to covay our emotions, it really lets you get straight to the point.


4. Hot days next to the pool/ocean/lake
These days are best when you can just jump right in when you get too hot. Then you can get out and do it all over again.


5. Cupcakes
They are adorable and taste great. What's not to love? This is my favorite place in Edmonton to go for cupcakes. http://www.flirtcupcakes.com/


6. That I am living in the time and place I am now. This sounds funny but as I was watching Mad Men the other day it struck me how lucky I am. I can get whatever job I want, make my own fortune, travel without a chaperone, own property, vote, the list goes on and on. We may be lacking in martinis and cute dresses in 2010 but I wouldn't change it for the world.


7. My Friends
My family is not the most reliable so you are the ones I go to when I want to laugh or cry or whatever. Thanks.



8. Travelling somewhere new. I love it.


9. Dinosaurs
This fascination will never die. Going to the Royal Tyrrell Museum will never get old and don't pretend you don't think they're cool too.


10. The internet
This endless source of information and entertainment is so awesome. I still don't really get how it works but it helps spread information (be it news, science or the video of that girl cutting off all of her hair) like nothing before it has been able to do.

All lies!!

I am angry at my parents and former teachers and mentors for telling me that if I worked hard, was honest, always tried my best, went to University, etc., etc., that everything would be perfect and that I would have the life I always wanted for my self. I am angry about this because, as far as I can tell right now, these were all lies.

I worked hard, I did my bast, I went to University when what I really wanted to do when I was 18 was to move to New York and become a Broadway star. I may not regret this decision in the future (and only do a little bit right now) but as far as I can tell it wouldn't have been harder to make it in show business then it is to make it in the science world with a degree and a year's worth of experience. At least in New York I would have my looks working for me, as a Biologist i feel like my boobs might keep people from taking me entirely seriously and even my own mother reminded me before I left to Study monkeys in Argentina that "I probably can't bring my hair dryer with me". I am learning to live with this perception and come to see it as a positive. A good friend of mine once told me that my bookcase provided a good idea of my personality; along with my many books I have two magazine subscriptions: National Geographic and Vogue. Just because I like to get dirty doesn't mean I can't look cute while I'm doing it.

This past year has not been the best, I'll admit. I spent 6 months working for a crazy person working on a project that will (hopefully) never get published, I spent the next nine months looking for a job or graduate school position, with no luck, while working a mind-numbing, menial job which eventually didn't work out either (that story for another time). My family meanwhile has practically disowned me, which seems like a relief at the moment because I could never seem to please them anyway.

I am also angry at everyone else in the world that seems to think that I am somehow doing everything wrong. Yes, I am whining about the media and I am whining about you (you know who you are). All the people who keep asking "found a job yet?" in that smirky, this-is-kind-of-funny-because-its-not-me sort of way. All the crappy movies like "Post Grad" about a poor upper-middle-class white girl who has a tough time after college (she ends up with a great job and a guy after about 2 months, poor her). There is a show called "Privileged" about a recent English grad that gets a job tutoring rich girls for $6000 per month in Palm Beach and we're supposed to feel sorry for her because she's not a writer like she always dreamed of (yes, I've already watched 6 episodes).

I am also angry at myself for feeling I have to rant like this. It's kind of sad but I console myself by knowing that, as of now, I only have two followers so it's just between us. But this moment will pass and I will keep applying for jobs and writing letters to far-off professors trying to convince them that I will be a terrific grad student and I will keep making ends meet however I can and I will try as hard as possible to stay positive while I am doing this. I know that everything isn't going to be perfect but that's ok. For the most part my life is great and I am fortunate to be where I am now having traveled and learned as much as I have. I also know that I am this fortunate because of my own hard work and dedication. At my clearest of moments I know that, even though it's not where I thought I'd be at almost-26, I am not the failure that everyone seems to be convincing me that I am. I am happy and healthy, I am not homeless although I may have been temporally jobless, I am well traveled and (sometimes) well spoken. I have wonderful friends, a good education and a pretty great wardrobe. I have honour, integrity, I am continually seeking knowledge and I am having fun living my life (credit for this goes to a certain business that is now missing out out my wonderful personality traits).

I had a mini breakdown today while walking down the street with a friend of mine. I realized that in the fall I will have no apartment, no school to attend, no job, no family, and possibly no "special someone" in my life. That's enough to make a girl sit down and cry all over her little plaid skirt and white oxfords.

Somebody recently told me that he would rather hear unwarranted optimism than (sometimes) pessimistic realism coming from my lips, so I am going to try to adopt this policy. tomorrow marks the start of goal #9: Don't complain about anything for one week. It will be hard but I am determined to learn something along the way. Wish me luck, I will need it.

Birthday Wishes

It's that time of year again, and what is the best thing to make you feel better about getting a year older and not necessaceraly wiser? Presents! Since I don't have anyone who will actually get me anything, I can make a list of my most extravagent wishes here and I don't have to feel guilty :) Here it is:


{a new bike}

{an antique dressing table}

{from the deep dinner ware from Anthropologie}


{the Encyclopedia Brittanica}


{emily cloche in raspberry by Louise Green}

{waterproof compact binoculars}


{Tea & Sweets dress from Anthropologie}










That's all I can think of today.

My list is complete!

I have finally thought up all 101 things I would like to accomplish in 1001 days. Although I started my list at the beginning of the new year so I really only have 826 days left and I am only 8% done.

I am hoping that some of these goals can be checked off together like #3 Find out my blood type (how do I not know this?) and #6 Donate blood, or #18 Swim with sharks can go along with #20 Get my scuba licence and part of #23 Visit 3 new countries.

To end this entry on a positive note I remind myself that I completed #21 Go on a vacation during which I have do do absolutely nothing (my first time at an all-inclusive resort) and part of #23 Visit 3 new countries (Jamaica!) in the same go and it wasn't hard at all!

I also just completed #66: Finish this list. No, that is not cheating.