Downtown Girl

I have lived in the city for five years. My main goal was to live alone for the first time in my life, only ever having lived with family or roommates.

To be frank, I felt like I had outgrown the desire to live in the city shortly after graduation, but nevertheless I seized the first opportunity to move out. The overwhelming feedback I got from my friends who mainly lived in suburbia was that they hated the busy city, it was loud, smelly, traffic was terrible, and there were too many people, especially of the unsavoury variety. Despite the negative cloud that hovered over, knowing that I likely would not settle here long-term, I wanted to make the most of my time in the big metropolis.

2024

The year was off to a rough start. The thing I spent the latter half of the past year worrying about, had come true.

Perhaps the seasonal depression I had always discounted, affected me more than I realized.

For the love of analog

The stories of my parents and grandparents past lives always intrigued me. As they relayed their childhood and young adult years, the images began to materialize before me through the eyes of their past selves.

Things that make me happy, pt. 3

When you find the perfect song to match your mood.

People who wave at passing trains.

The smell when you break the peel of an orange.

Peeling a clementine skin in to one whole piece.

When you fit just right into their arms.

The coworkers who know your exact coffee/tea order.

Breathing in crisp, winter air that immediately makes you feel alive.

Souvenirs

When I first moved out, I finally had full control over what my space would look like, and was the only one who could change, destroy, or add to the space. My home became my sanctuary, my place to retreat where only the things I wanted to surround myself with remained.

In the shade

2019.10.23 23:22

Creation for consumption

 A few years ago, I was speaking with a friend about my wishes of creating more through different mediums. I mentioned that I would get caught up watching or reading or viewing other creations in search of inspiration, technique, etc... and get carried away. 

Impermanence

When I first used a permanent marker, I asked my mom what the word meant. She said to be careful because the marker wouldn't come off, thus the reason for the name. The thought scared me, and when using it once, a smidge of ink stuck to my finger. Terrified, I told my mom, only to be told that it would come off skin within a day. 

You are the cause of my Euphorbia~

I don't quite remember how it started, but I've long held a fascination for cacti. It might have stemmed from a book from my childhood, set in Arizona. Though I had never seen one (and didn't have the ability to Google), I dreamt of the Saguaro, and always wished to have my own little version.

My first cactus was a gift, and though it didn't have the waving arms of the saguaros of my dreams, I was happy to finally have my very own cactus. Sadly, I didn't have any ability to care for one, and it died within a couple of years. In some unnamed irony, it suffered from uneven care and rotted from within, its demise unable to be stopped.

Several more cacti and cacti deaths later, I stumbled across a certain saguaro-shaped plant. Not a cacti, but an Euphorbia, a very large genus that encompasses plants that range from very un-cacti in appearance to my new favourite baby.

Memory like a sponge

 I am running out of memory. On memory cards, hard drives, my totally-busted computer, and my slightly busted mind.

A cup for every occasion, pt. 4

A glass mug for iced coffee and tea. 

A cup for every occasion, pt. 3

I've wanted a proper set of tea cups for a long time... all the better if it was second hand. After some regrets over not purchasing them when visiting a plentiful but now defunct vintage store, I was able to locate some at the local thrift store, and started to grow my collection already. The first set I bought was gifted away, but the second set I laid my eyes on, was when I instantly fell in love. 

The colourful garden print was right up my alley, and I quickly became the proud owner of a tea cup set. It is a rare occasion when I take this cup out, as it usually sits on the shelf, proudly displayed. 

10000

Milestones are marked arbitrarily. Solely decided on by human standards, made from personal beliefs of what is meaningful.

Is all this... bad? Having an excuse to celebrate is what makes life a little happier.

Crazy plant lady

Lately, my plants have been taking a larger part of my brain than normal. I find myself thinking about them in every quiet moment, and looking forward to going home to check on their status and tend to their needs.

A cup for every occasion, pt. 2½

I loved my IKEA glasses so much that I got a pack of 6 of the shorter variety. They make decent glasses for lattes, water, and even the impromptu beer... I often go to cafes and find them using these glasses, because they are just that awesome.

A new life

Hi home, it's nice to be back.

A cup for every occasion, pt. 2

I love these classic IKEA glasses; they serve more purpose than just the smoothie glass, they also hold iced coffee and iced lattes, and can withstand hot or cold temperatures.

My favourite smoothie recipe (a.k.a. it tastes like fruit roll-up): frozen mangoes, frozen bananas, frozen strawberries, and a splash of orange juice, may increase juice content depending on the strength of your blender.

Home[ostasis]

I love being at home, and I also love travelling to new places. But these two yearnings are seemingly at odd with each other.

There are some places I love visiting, and a revisit is my favourite type of travel. The first time visit is new and exciting, but the second time, you have a bit of the background in your mind, you recognize streets and buildings, you know the feel and mood of the place. Could I be enjoying this more because there is a bit more 'home' to be found in this once-strange place?

I do love being at home, but I feel while a little recharges me, too much makes me feel stagnant. I get too comfortable, feel lazy, and think 'everything I need is in this one place'. I feel the mood reflected in my dog too, as we enjoy lying around in each others' company, and a long walk outside of our usual route often re-energizes both of us.

As usual, the conclusion is always: everything in moderation. Striking the right balance is the tricky part.

Plants over flowers

Giving and receiving flowers has always made me feel a little sad; the flowers are beautiful at first, but slowly wither and die, or die prematurely to make dried flowers to last 'forever'. I always wondered why people didn't gift potted plants and flowers, and as a result, I started building my own plant family once my living situation had settled down.

Mediation and meditation

One of my first experiences with meditation was during high school; one of my teachers wanted us to be more enlightened, and took it upon herself to do so. She had us sit in a circle, and as we closed our eyes, she led a guided meditation. I remember being quite fidgety, not quite understanding the point of the whole practice.

Cut to several years later; my local studio offered free meditation classes, and I decided to pop in. I was mightily confused, having had a preconception of people sitting with their legs crossed uncomfortably and chanting in a circle.

Meditation was nothing like what I had imagined. I have been going infrequently and still can't say if it's made a noticeable difference in my life... There are definitely days when I feel calm and relaxed afterwards, and days when my mind races and nothing I do helps to slow it down. But that is all normal, and a part of the process. Being present will likely be a lifelong lesson to learn, and meditation is slowly teaching me to stop and smell the roses.