These images are from a new photography book called Storms by storm-chaser Mitch Dobrower. Aren’t they stunning?
Author: avery
Wishlisted: The Portlandia Activity Book
Psst – my birthday is coming up in April, and if anyone’s looking for something totally random and awesome to get me, this has got to be it: The Portlandia Activity Book. It will be released at the end of February by publishing-house-of-all-cool-things, McSweeney’s. The book promises “enough activities to get you through a year’s worth of rainy days, including: How to Crowdfund Your Baby, Punk Paint By Numbers, Terrarium Foraging, and so much more.”
There’s a short preview available on the website.
Eff You Winter, I Went to Mexico
This winter has been cruel, cruel, cruel. Ian and I had a brief respite earlier this month, when we went to Mazatlan, Mexico for a holiday. I’m sorry to rub it in for you Canadian readers, but it was really lovely to get away from the snow and ice for a while. We went to this gorgeous resort, where everything was top-notch. Days were spent reading and napping by the pool, swimming, and sipping margaritas. In the evenings we’d go to the lobby bar and play Scrabble against each other on my iPad. So much fun… exactly what we needed.
PS – I made it halfway through this amazing book. Have you read it?
A Look Back at 2013
Wow, what a year it’s been. Just for fun, I decided to do a bit of a list – 2013 By the Numbers. You can read it here.
Happy New Year!
Some Photos from The Toronto Ice Storm
We got hit with a nasty ice storm last night in Toronto. There are 300,000 people without power, so we’re lucky the lights (and internet connection) are still on over here. We spent the day indoors, and Clara was allowed to stay in her pyjamas all day, which she thought was the coolest thing ever. At one point I went out in the backyard to take pictures and to de-ice the car (which took a few litres of boiling water, followed by 30 minutes of running the defrost). Here are some photos I took, if you’d like to see. Hope you’re safe, warm, and dry wherever you are!
I Went Clothes Shopping And Didn’t Hate It!
I don’t often talk about fashion here on the blog (except the occasional post about shoes and boots). I don’t dislike fashion… I’m just a bit indifferent to it. Probably because I don’t enjoy shopping for clothing, and honestly struggle to find something to wear that fits, is appropriate for the occasion, and isn’t totally hideous looking.
AND THEN SOMETHING (or more accurately, SOMEONE) CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR ME. Debra McLaughlin, an image consultant, came to one of my Camp Tech classes a few weeks ago and we really got along (must have been our mutual love for illustrator Alanna Cavanagh). I learned more about what Debra does, and booked an appointment to see her at Images That Suit, a firm that allows women to shop in a private showroom. No more hideous change rooms in stores in the mall… this is a cozy environment with one-on-one service.
Debra and I spent time discussing my wardrobe needs (business appropriate pieces that aren’t boring please… I am a designer after all), and what colours and fits will actually suit my body. Then she brought out a whole bunch of different pieces, all by Toronto and Montreal designers. I tried on a lot of stuff in 2 hours, but Debra was so supportive and helpful that the whole experience was actually fun, and not a soul-crushing cry fest like shopping for clothes can sometimes be.
In the end, I walked away with a suit jacket and legging trousers by Franco Mirabelli that actually fits me (I’m notoriously hard to fit in suit jackets), a beautiful cozy/sophisticated sweater also by Mirabelli, a sassy sweater by Vex, and a gorgeous blouse by Periphery. Debra doesn’t charge a fee for her services – her fee is built into the price of the clothing, which is the same as if I had purchased in a boutique.
This experience really has changed how I think about shopping. I’m sure I’ll keep buying casual clothes at the usual discount places (hello Joe Fresh with online shopping!). But for my business attire, I will most definitely be going back to Debra.
[illustration above by Alanna Cavanagh]
Christmas Music That Doesn’t (Necessarily) Suck
Oddball fact about Avery… I love Christmas music (I love just about everything about Christmas). But I’m kind of particular about which Holiday music I do and don’t like. I appreciate the appeal of Elvis’s Christmas Album, but I personally can’t stand it. I’m much more of a Charlie Brown Christmas kind of gal.
Anyway, if you’re particular about your holiday tunes like I am, check out the Holiday playlists on Songza. I like Merry Indie Christmas, Santa’s Got Style: Hip Christmas Hits and Kelly Clarkson’s Warm ‘n’ Cozy Christmas (yes, I love Kelly. Don’t hate.)
Enjoy!
[image from Songza’s Alt Rock Christmas playlist]
Nailed It: Santa Brand Book
Pocket Squares by Gary Taxali
I really like Gary Taxali. And I really like these Canadian cities pocket squares he made for Harry Rosen. Of course, they’re expensive, and I have no use for them (I don’t usually wear suits, not to mention pocket squares). But I can admire from afar, right? Or I could buy giclee prints of the pieces. But somehow hanging art on the wall just isn’t as cool as wearing it.
[via Toronto Life]
Advice from Creative Mornings
Do you know about Creative Mornings? It’s a FREE lecture series that happens one morning a month in cities around the world. Creative Mornings was started in NYC by my web hero swissmiss, and while the talks are aimed at the creative community, I think they really appeal to anyone.
Creative Mornings recently celebrated their 5-year birthday, and at their party, a number of people took the stage and gave short talks with advice. Check them out – they’re pretty great (and short). The advice from Oliver Jeffers is sweet, with his adorable Irish accent. And Maria Popova’s 7 Things I Learned talk ties in to her blog post of the same topic, which I absolutely loved.
And, speaking of Creative Mornings, we have a chapter right here in Toronto. I try to attend each month – the talks are great, there’s free coffee, and it’s at 401 Richmond, right next to my favourite design bookstore Swipe. What’s not to love?
This month the Toronto chapter is celebrating their 2nd birthday, and will be presenting a special Creative Morning on Friday November 21. Toronto Poet Laureate George Elliott Clark will be speaking on the topic of Bravery. Tickets are available at 9am this morning (yep, today – Monday), and will probably go fast. See you there!
[photo of Ilana Ben-Ari from last month’s Creative Mornings Toronto talk. You can see more pictures from Creative Mornings Toronto here on their Flickr page]