virgin (tattoo) diaries, pt. 1

This. Is. Really. Happening.

I've talked about this thing for, oh, 7 years. In that time, my mother managed to think about a tattoo, decide to get one, then actually do it. My mother! Egads! OK, if you know her: not surprising. She's impulsive and weird (weird-good). So maybe I come by it honestly. But I'm also my father's daughter. My measure-twice-cut-once dad. He's responsible for my lists, my logic, my over-planning. Because I'm a product of these two sides (oil and frickin' WATER, I tell ya!), I want my first tattoo to be huge and right out there on my forearm, but I'm also gonna take 7 years to make it happen.

Cathie, my most refreshingly honest friend, has essentially forbade me to discuss it any longer. Until I actually did something about it. She's right. I don't want to be one of those all-talk people. I'm doing it, Cathie, I'm doing it!

Remember when, way back, I wrote this? So yeah, I'm still thinking flora/fauna and though I love-love-love bees, that's going to have to be tattoo #2. Speaking of #2, my mother is already talking about hers. I'd die if she beats me to it. Twice. (Not really, though. Mostly, I'm just pretty proud of her awesomeness.)

I found this artist, via my desk-neighbour, and he does some pretty lovely stuff. Even bees! But his birds and flowers are just so dreamy. I'm thinking a combo between these two pieces (less skull, more whimsy):

 Frank Gonzales

I have my consultation in LESS THAN 2 WEEKS! It's with this dude and he's awesome. 

David Glantz, Archive Tattoo

Plus he comes highly recommended by my bonkers-lovely friend Dawn. I yoinked this from her Instagram - it's her latest session:

And as usual, I won't do anything these days without creating a thematic Pinterest board first. Check it!

(And please tell me it won't hurt. It won't, right? 'Cause otherwise I'm getting one of these rad temporary tattoos by Tattly. Whatever, I'm totally tough.)

Spring-y

I've decided it's Spring. I decided it the day before we got that huge (now gone) dump of snow. And before it started snowing again today. So, you can thank me for that. I didn't knock on wood because I'm a daredevil.

Our yard looks spring-y again. Not good-spring. Bad-spring. Like this: mud and evidence of dogs and brown, brown, brown. But I'm longing for bare legs and wellies and jewel-toned trenches. I don't want to buy anything unless it's mint or citron or cantaloupe in colour. I want to drink mojitos and white sangria.

I almost bought a bright purple silk maxi skirt last week because it would look so fetch with my Zara sandals from last summer. It kind of inspired a new wardrobe direction for me: Zoltar meets Pirate-babe meets Across the Universe. Kind of a less-blingy, more floral fortune teller. Put more simply: Stevie Nicks circa... always. You like? I should buy the skirt, yeah?

 across the universe // stevie nicks

Despite the tricky weather, though, I have to remember that it's February. We're not safe from snow squalls and ice-rain and deep freeze. Yet.

A girl can dream.

I'm heading into the woods in 3 weeks for a craft weekend and I'm definitely whipping up something fantastic in preparation for puddle-jumping.

Of course I needed to be inspired...

Here are my latest Etsy picks, lovingly handmade (or gleaned) by folks after my own summer-lovin'-heart:

Let's picnic, y'all! Aedriel Originals - chevron salad plates (2) $36

 Norwegian Wood - faux thigh-high leggings $70

 my kids will live in neverland. and i will live vicariously. The Butter Flying - rain mobile $50

 ISWASANDWILLBE - enamoured necklace $40

confetti rain! Aeropagita Prints - 'The Rain' print $20

i would live in this. over and under EVERYTHING. Norwegian Wood - sheer lace maxi $120

 let's just lie around all day and read and watch the rain, kay? Big Birds Boutique - large floor cushion $250

 oooh, surprises! Handsome and Lace - silk necktie $70 (LOCAL!)

 spring's just right for falling in love, yeah? Dariami - Mint heart studs $18

 let's get hitched. Sweet and Savvy Designs - tissue pom poms $30

like pyjamas, but hot. Leilanni - jersey maxi skirt $70 (LOCAL!)

step into my office, baby. Hopper and Space - vintage wingback sofa $1800

*prices are converted to CAD and are approximate

alt design summit!

Ooh, look at me blogging twice in a week!

It's because I'm inspired. And I'm keeping this up. Brownie promise.

Why this sudden surge of love for my blog (and a whole re-design, too)? Of course I've been missing it. A lot. Since making the very difficult decision to take a break from blogTO, I've been making less and less time for blogging. I'm terrible without externally-imposed deadlines. So, 2012 was earmarked for doing more "wannas" and fewer "shoulds".

Mostly, though, it's because I just spent 4 days with some of the most remarkable and stylish ladies around. GelaSkins sent me to the Altitude Design Summit, or "Alt", to glean some social media know-how and get our product into the hands of some super-influencers. And that I did. But I gained so much personally, too. A few tangible take-aways, for sure, but mostly an overall renewed creative spirit. Inspiration up the knish.

So if you were worried about my mental health after the last blog: no fear. My Sin City sins were cleansed in God's country. Luckily, I was not struck by divine lightning. I flew from LAS to SLC in time to meet hubby for a mini-vacay. There's not a ton going on in Utah unless you're a skier. Which I am not (don't let the header photo fool you). We were going to attempt the hills anyway, but I messed up my knee while being typically spastic. Bummer, but the nothingness turned out to be necessary. I dried out and detoxed with the Mister thanks to 12-hour sleeps, hot tub soaks, cable TV, and amazing food.

Alt began on Wednesday after hubby packed up for home. I met some incredible people - some internet-turned-real-life and brand-brand new friends. Big love to these awesome ladies: Jess, Chelsea, Robin, Nicole, Alyssa, Melissa, Amy, Megan, Michelle, and Jenean

Oh, and you know, I just...

• Stenciled napkins and hand-made picked shallots. 
• Rubbed elbows with some design superstars like Amy Butler (!!!)
• Sat front row for Pinterest founder Ben Silberman's standing-ovation-worthy keynote.
• Attended a blog design session (co-hosted by new real-life friend, Alyssa of welikewelove!) that was super-duper helpful for someone who only pretends to know her way around web design. It's not my medium. I try.
• Learned how to be press-ready. Something I could have used prior to botching some video interviews at CES... yikes.

The experiences were out of this world. Too many to describe. While Vegas may have changed me in one way (uh-oh), Utah did it in quite another. Balance is restored.

Life-planning is coming along...

I'm starting a Happiness Project.

I'm setting real goals.

I'm doing what I love. 

(I think there's still room for "DO EPIC SHIT", right? :)

[ photos: moi, moss + sage, irocksowhat ]

holiday etsy picks!

Well, I won't be doing any more Etsy shopping this year, even though the plan was to buy 100% handmade. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT! But, I missed the shipping window. Lovely handcrafted wonders will just never get here in time no matter how hard they try. Even the "I think I can" mantra is useless at this point, mere DAYS until xmas. 

(And I'm surely too cheap to pay for expedited shipping.)

I've added many Etsy gems - both vintage and handmade - to my favourites recently. Why? Well, mostly I live in a daydream cloud. Reality shmeality. My feet might be tripping over the slightest deviation in the actual ground, but in my wonderful bubble, I'm floating gracefully over mountains of Pink Berry yogurt (vanilla, of course). 

I've referred Alex and my mom to my Etsy collections for gift ideas, but they'll be plum outta luck on the shipping front, too. No wonder Santa doesn't use Canada Post. Smart dude. Miracles aside, these won't end up under my tree. But a girl can always dream, can't she?

Holiday Etsy picks inspired by: 

candy canes • fireside romance • fancy-grown-up-lady parties • rosy cheeks

Vegan Shoes that are WAY too cute to be vegan shoes. (SOLD during the writing of this post. Frownsy face.)  Roni Kantor Vintage

A little Princess Di, no? Green Satin Clutch $15, unavesmas2

 I'm going skiing in Utah in a month. And, well, this just feels right. Buffalo Check Scarf $18, Simple Vintage

Too adorbs for eating! Much to hubby's chagrin, I've recently started mounting plates on the walls. Finch Plate $24, Tree House Club

 I'm too old for this, right? Heart Headband $40, Giant Dwarf

 Stamped Spreaders $24, Simply Sweet Studio

Oh! wouldn't this look lovely on our new art-wall? Montreal Pennant $18, Tree House Club

Oh the things I could make! Chevron Fabric, $11/yard

Very happy feet. Snakeskin Socks $28, Strathcona Stockings

Red Vintage Clutch (SOLD during the writing of this post. Boo.)  Steel City Vintage

Won't you drop by my lovely winterized cottage in the mountains for some delish crudités on my chic vintage nordic dinnerware? (You'll see, I'll mean it one day.) $62, The Fancy Lamb 

Saddest Etsy dog ever. Sled $100, The Fancy Lamb

Best for wrapping! Washi Tape Dispenser $27, Sugar B. Supplies

 
If you manage to secure the services of a reindeer, you're welcome to buy me anything on this list!

Merry shopping! • Buy handmade!

Ink.

 [ via Flickr ]

Alex and I are contemplating tandem tattoos to mark our one-year anniversary as a married couple (holy. crap. i'm. a. married. person.). I'm flip-flopping between a red-winged blackbird (and other birds), a bee or a whale. Not because they have any sort of significance really, but because I am in awe of things that live in the sea and the air (I am constantly and positively BLOWN AWAY by Blue Planet). Hm, I also like bicycle imagery... ooh, decisions!

Alex is still on the fence too (hurry!) and unlike me, is NOT an oversharer and does not want to discuss on the WWW what he has in mind. Boo.

We are both loving The Websters Pictoral Dictonary as reference.

Some inspiration:

[ from http://weheartit.com ]

[ from http://thedaintysquid.tumblr.com/ ]