furniture that grows with us

Now that we are adding to the family and because we choose to live in a small space, the two of us are desperately seeking clever options for the products we buy. Furniture MUST be flexible if it is to avoid the landfill.













We've fallen for the Ikea Expedit bookshelf because it has the ability to stand both vertically or horizontally.




















We've also become enamoured with the Stokke Tripp Trapp chair because it can be used from infancy through "teenhood".

There is a related article in the Georgia Straight that I found interesting.

i am vanilla

did you KNOW that you could make your own vanilla extract!?!?

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 4 months

What You Need:

• vanilla bean
• vodka
• beans
• glass jar or bottle
• knife

Here's How:

1. Split vanilla bean lengthwise with a sharp knife.
2. Place in jar with 3/4 cup vodka.
3. Be sure bean is completely covered with vodka.
4. Seal tightly.
5. Let stand in a cool, dark place for 4 to 6 months.
6. Shake jar occasionally during the standing time.

Tips:

1. Extract will strengthen upon standing.
2. Store, tightly-sealed, indefinitely in a cool, dark place.
3. Place a few drops of vanilla extract on a cotton ball. Place in custard cup in back of refrigerator to diffuse odors.

(thank you about.com)

"...my instinct is to make vivacious films."

Danny Boyle has a special place in my heart; the way he tells stories appeals directly to the way I want to hear stories told.

This post goes out to my mom...

"School's out for summer!
School's out forever!"



Happy Retirement Donna Spencer!!

"Biomimicry: Nature as Model, Measure and Mentor"

"Following in the footsteps of famous biomimics like Leonardo DaVinci, Buckminster Fuller, the Wright Brothers, and George Mistral, today’s biomimics are exploring nature-inspired innovation as a path to more sustainable design."

To view a short list of Biomimicry projects around the world, see www.biomimicry.net. My personal favourite is the termite-inspired air conditioning system.

"[Termite] mounds are oriented to capture as much wind energy as possible, to ventilate the nest and achieve 'homeostasis' - an internal balance with little variation in temperature, humidity and air quality." (esf.edu)



"Architect Mick Pearce collaborated with engineers at Arup Associates to build a mid-rise building in Harare, Zimbabwe that has no air-conditioning, yet stays cool thanks to a termite-inspired ventilation system." (biomimicry.net)












"As a result, ventilation running costs for Eastgate are a tenth of those for a comparable air-conditioned building. It uses 35 percent less energy than the average consumption of six other conventional buildings in Harare, and the client has saved $3.5 million on a $36 million building due to the fact that no air-conditioning plant had to be imported. This is what makes Pearce say that his architecture is a “regionalized style that responds to the biosphere, to the ancient traditional stone architecture of Great Zimbabwe, and to local human resources." (aia.org)

penelope

my new favourite movie.
no, i haven't seen it yet.

What the World Eats

This photo essay on TIME's website is from the book "Hungry Planet" (photos by Peter Menzel). It amazes me. I've gone through it numerous times, focusing on different elements on each pass: soda, vegetables, cost, canned goods, grains, fish, processed foods, size of family, quantity of food, regional preferences... Food is a common denominator - we all need to eat - so it's interesting to connect with people from around the world at this basic level. How are we similar? How are we different?

baffling and hilarious

This is Susannah Grant.

She built a beautiful movie.
It's called Catch and Release.
I'm still smiling.

"500 years is a long time..."

gDiapers flushables go down the toilet and don't end up in a landfill. and they're super cute too!

















"It takes up to 500 years for a disposable to biodegrade in a landfill."

"gDiapers are designed using the Cradle to Cradle design principles of Bill McDonough and his firm MBDC. That means everything that goes into one of our flushables gets re-absorbed back into the eco-system in a neutral or beneficial way. So you are turning waste into a resource."

local produce

Sometimes I am reminded that the internet is a magical thing.

For example, I want to know what local fruits and vegetables are currently in season as I kickstart my month of vegetarianism - da da da DAAAAAA! There it is, exACTLY what I need.

San Francisco's Civic Tower

525 Golden Gate is a 14-storey office project designed to consume 20% less energy than what is required by the California energy use code. I dig ambition!

GO CANUCKS GO!!

Plastic Bag Solution!!

I'm all for banning plastic bags (go Leaf Rapids, MB!), but I was stuck on what to do with my garbage if I only used cloth (grocery bags have been the containers for my kitchen refuse since I was a kid - weird. Am I emotionally attached to throwing my garbage in a Safeway bag??).








Then I found biodegradable kitchen waste can liners @ EcoSafe (a Canadian company). Although I'm a cheap bastard and my current method of garbage disposal is free, I feel like it's worth the $3.99 CAD/30 bags to kick my grocery bag dependence. I will not be ruled by plastic!

And now I can look terribly stylish when I carry my groceries home in edgy cloth bags!

Yam and Black Bean Burritos

This is my new favourite batch cook for weekday lunches! It's easy, filling, healthy and delicious. I like to serve it with a little avocado and salsa, but there is so much flavour that it's just fine on it's own. (This is the only Mexican-like food I have EVER seen Christopher eat without loads of sour cream and cheese!)

Adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites:
(Serves 4 to 6) :: Prep time 35 minutes :: Bake time 30 minutes

5 cups peeled cubed yams
4 tsp ground cumin
4 tsp ground coriander
4 1/2 cups cooked black beans (three 15 ounce cans drained)
2/3 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves
2 tbsps fresh lime juice
1 tsp salt
8 eight inch flour tortillas (I endorse Grimm's Flaxseed - yum!)

Preheat oven to 350.

Place yams in medium saucepan with salt and water. Cover and bring to a boil, then simmer until tender (about 10 minutes). Drain and mash. Add cumin and coriander. Set aside.

While yams are simmering, mash black beans (I like to leave them somewhat whole to add a bit of texture). Mix in cilantro, lime juice and salt. Combine yam and black bean mixtures.

Lightly oil large baking dish. Spoon about 2/3 to 3/4 cup of filling in the center of each tortilla, roll it up, and place it (seam down) in the baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

from the ground

what did i do last sunday? procrastinate my schoolwork. this is what that looks like:

will ferrell's landlord

video.

warning: caitlinspencer.com is not responsible for injuries caused by the viewing of this video.

Go CANUCKS Go!

I wonder if Gracie stayed awake through the fourth overtime.

Zero to Hero

Selling Sex in Heaven is an enraging and heartbreaking documentary.

• Most girls in the sex trade in the Philippines have been trafficked from the poor, rural provinces and were tricked into coming to Angeles City with promises of jobs in factories and restaurants;
• Once they lose their "cherries," usually through rape or abuse, they are condemned to live their lives servicing local or foreign men as prostitutes;
• There are estimated to be 375,000 women and girls in the sex trade in the Philippines, mostly between the ages of 15 and 20, though some are as young as 11;
• The price of a Philippine Adventure Tour for Americans can cost as little as $1645.00, including roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, and guided tours to bars where men can buy sex for $20.00 US;

These "ambassadors" of North American culture disgrace us as they degrade foreign women. These sexist, racist men are a pathetic, disgusting minority of our society. I encourage all the decent men of this country (who are the majority) to shame these losers out of their deplorable behaviour.

Plastic isn't just bad for our landfills.

With constant media fear-mongering about global warming, the reality of humanity's precarious existence on this planet begins to hit home. The current trend seems to be the movement away from plastic grocery bags. People are very concerned about the plastic accumulating in our landfills...but what about the plastic accumulating in our bodies? Read this.

I was cheating on Chris,

but I ended it on Friday.





















My affair was hurting our relationship and it was hurting me, but I couldn't make myself stop. I was so infatuated...he had so much power over me. He offered me everything - instant gratification. I turned him on constantly and he had the ability to keep me distracted for hours on end. It was so easy. I'm alone at home two days a week to get course work done, so we would spend all day together. For the last month, Chris was working late so we would be together all evening as well. I know it's sick - being with someone else, right there, in our own bedroom! I was wrecking myself with guilt, but I just couldn't say no.

That is, until Friday.

On Friday, we sold that damn Sony Trinitron, and I haven't been the same person since!

(10 Financial Reasons to Turn Off Your TV)

the new irack from apple

tammy bannister rules!

"World Change Starts with Educated Children"

"In 1998, John was an overworked Microsoft executive looking for the quiet solitude of a trekking vacation. While backpacking in the Himalayas, John met a middle-aged Nepalese man who invited him to visit a school in a neighboring village. Hoping for a chance to see the real Nepal, rather than his tourist's trek, John agreed. Little did he know this short detour would change his life forever." (Read the rest of the story here.)

Let's help John change the world by donating today. "Every dollar donated equals one book donated and an opportunity to change the lives of some of the 770 million illiterate people in the world."

#1 Google for "Caitlin Spencer"

Google "Caitlin Spencer" and in the top search item you will find the homepage of the other Caitlin Spencer. Caitlin's Western Michigan University page is fairly spartan so I don't know much about her. I wish she would update her site because I have so many questions!

1. Did she learn everything she needed to know for the rest of her life?
2. Did she make top 5 in College Works Painting management?
3. Is she one of the blonds, the pink shirt or the dismembered head?









4. Did she get more "envolved in the years to come"?
5. Did she successfully complete her marketing major?
6. Did she and Ben continue to work well together?
7. Has she seen new things and explored new places - "esspecially" new countries?

Oh Caitlin. I wonder where you have gone.

"she runs guns everyone wants guns she runs guns everyone wants"

"...OOOoooEEEooo......Doo doo do do dodo"

Figure that since I've been out in Vancouver for 3 years consecutively, it's about time I get to know the local music scene.

I'm starting with Jeremy Fisher. After one listen through the album here's what I have to say. His voice has hints of Bob Dylan (with much more lyricism). The rhythms grab me like my favourite Paul Simon tunes. And heck, the dude writes genuine poetry!

"Smiling with determination
Her eyes betray worries to me
Okay, nothing ain't perfect
But perfect ain't nothing anyway"

this. is. gold.

Alanis Morissette parodies Fergie Ferg. The contrast between the rich vocals of this true songstress, and the cheap lyrics/moves of that mediocre coked-out entertainer makes for some gut-wrenching goodness. Enjoy.



Special thanks to Mike for sharing his find!

Lindor Stracciatella

Pure white chocolate divinity. A delectable sphere of hard white chocolate embedded with contrasting crunchy flecks surrounds unadulterated creamy white chocolatey goodness. It's limited edition so try one today!

lest we be remembered as barbarians

Sharkwater

for the ladies in the house...

Click on the image above to be taken to the life-transforming product that I cannot believe I have lived without for the last thirteen years!

If you already know - why didn't you tell me!? If you don't believe me - it doesn't hurt to try!!

"I can show you the world....shiiiiining shiiiimmering spleeeeendiiiiid........"

Pursuit of Happyness

A well-acted portrayal of the life of Chris Gardner. It was honest and lacking sensation - totally unHollywood.


The film would have been much more meaningful (ie. I would have cried) if they would STOP GIVING AWAY ALL THE MOST POIGNANT AND INTENSELY EMOTIONAL MOMENTS IN THE TRAILER! (sorry...pet peeve)

fear-begone

To challenge my irrational fear of sharks (I grew up on the prairies with no salt water for hundreds of miles and I've never seen Jaws) I decided that I must watch Sharkwater. And it worked.

Yes the stats are affecting: 5 people each year die from shark attacks; 8 million die from starvation. In the end though, it was a single shot which silenced my compulsive hatred of these beautiful beasts: Rob Stewart stands on the ocean floor with his arms wrapped affectionately around a large blue shark. Incredible.


The film is about more than the behaviour and characteristics of this species. "People of the future will look back on us as barbarians." There is a mass annihilation of their populations taking place as we speak; shark finning is barbaric cruelty and my eyes were closed to it. If it hadn't been presented with such passionate empathy, I would have continued in my ignorance - "Sharks are vicious animals. Who cares if they're been killed off?"

It's so easy to fall in love with furry animals with faces like ours; be a rebel, hug a shark today!

*Should you watch it in the theatre? HECK yes! Why? 1. Rob Stewart is Canadian. 2. This documentary is more informative, eye-opening and affecting than The Inconvenient Truth!

let's work on this

please.

We are not alone. There are billions of us sharing this home.

I'm not talking about that illusive construct we call "the environment".
This is about us.

I was hit by a yellow Xterra as I cycled home after work today.
The driver was a mom (there were two kids in the backseat).
I was terrified and hurt.
She got out of her vehicle and,
before any apologies escaped her lips,
she said, "Didn't you see that I was turning left?"

She was concerned about what I could do to her, when she might have been concerned about what she could do for me.

compassion, n. Suffering together with another, participation in suffering; fellow-feeling, sympathy.

Eight rules for writing fiction:

by Kurt Vonnegut

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.

5. Start as close to the end as possible.

6. Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.

7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

-- Vonnegut, Kurt Vonnegut, Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons 1999), 9-10.

bring them back!

i'd wear em for sure!
ok...maybe not "for sure."

"Mr. Tate?"

Or Stephen Colbert?

Honesty is the Best Policy

Why Praise Can Be Bad For Kids is totally counterintuitive and totally necessary for all parents, teachers and coaches to read.

If you're like most parents, you offer praise to your children believing it is the key to their success — those flattering words can boost a child's self-esteem and performance. But according to a new study, praise may do more harm than good.

For the study, researchers divided 128 fifth-graders into groups and gave them a simple IQ test. One group was told it did really well and must be very smart. The other group was told it did really well and must have worked hard. One group was praised for intelligence, the other for effort.

Asked if they wanted to take a slightly harder test, the kids praised for their intelligence were reluctant. Of those praised for their effort, however, 90 percent were eager for a more challenging task. And on a final test the effort group performed significantly better than the group praised for its intelligence.

Many of the kids who had been labeled "smart" performed worst of all. The "hard workers" got the message that they could improve their scores by trying harder, but the "smart" kids believed they should do well without any effort.

bedder den shootin 'em

Merry Christmas Mom!



Activated by the weight of the squirrel, orrrrr *snicker snicker* with a remote control!

like space trash

*laugh* I may regret that I went looking for this stuff...

Since the 1990s millions of us have been throwing our thoughts and ideas into the vastness of the world wide web, and very few of us are cleaning up after ourselves. There is tonnes and tonnes of junk information floating through the internetosphere from days gone by. I found some of my own on a blog that I started (and terminated) in January 2004:

get rich quick

"immediate cremation $800"
a bargain.
a bloody funerary deal.
something similar to spontaneous combustion
instant satisfaction
gratification
to explode
to burst out of this world
in party balloon fashion.
i'll skip the slow decay
the fading away
and take the instant rebate.


she

courtney skipping down the street
decked in pink happiness and
holiday joy
from fuzzy head to
adorable toe.
and i.
black and sludgey
and death becomes me
desperately grasping for a piece of her
like to the road
beaten and worn
sludgey and covering all
in my sadness.
but do you see?
some six feet from the edge
just six steps from the road
there it is
the pure white snow
fresh and new
untainted by the grey sludge
from my road.


purple green madness

lump melting into it all
crack, a break in my heart
throbbing in my on my cheek
pulsing pulsating gouging at me
stabbing at my
gut
gut my feelings
my purple green feelings of sickness
of sadness
of purple green madness
forgetting what it is
what it means
to be me.
no thing
nothing
inside me nothing.
i'm bleeding
INternal EXternal Eternal
and breath has been stolen
and zest has left me behind.
melted.
melted and gone
like the lump
in my tea

dialectics

*warning: this review spoils a piece of the plot with the intention of improving the viewing experience - however, not everyone will agree that the information improves the film, so read on at your peril*

Half Nelson has three incredible performances (Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie) and amazing writing, but damn did it leave me feeling unsettled.

There is a really uncomfortable tension underlying the entire film - you can see it in this photo. Relax - nothing inappropriate happens. I wish someone had told me that before I pressed play.

As a soon-to-be-teacher, I was also interested in his method in the classroom, and think I'll look into dialectics (OED: the existence or working of opposing forces, tendencies, etc).

*Broken Social Scene provide the soundtrack to the flick: Gosling and B.S.S. - hurray Canada!

i got hugged

I was walking down Commercial Ave. the other day and I came across this young man who was holding a sign that said "Free Hugs". I couldn't help laughing and smiling at him. He offered a hug and I gladly accepted - totally brightened my gloomy winter afternoon!

Today I stumbled across the origin of this "movement" (who knew?!) and the story behind it brought me to tears. (It's also fun to watch the video).















What did I take away from this? Maybe we should all be a little kinder to each other.

"And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together." -Robert Fulghum in All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

wanh wanh wanh

Wanna play?

vancouver sushi

Yes. Everyone that comes to visit from the prairies deMANDS to be taken for sushi, and I'm happy to oblige.

Have I mentioned that the most perfect house rolls, miso soup and salmon sashimi all come from a wee little restaurant three blocks from my house? Cause they do. Toshi Sushi. You'll have to wait up to an hour to get in because there are so few seats (we take a crossword puzzle thanks to the brilliance of Miss Lindsay Irwin), but believe that it's worth the wait! As an added bonus, it's so reasonably priced!

best dressed

Now I know why I'm getting married - I desperately want to walk the red carpet (well, and I want to be your wife Mr. Whitmore *smile*). This is my "Oscar gown"... 'cept mine will be in off-white.

drunk driving - not the same old same old

America’s Drunk Driving Dilemma
by Steve

An article criticizing MADD made it near the top of Reddit a few days ago. I found it thought provoking.

It reminded me how dysfunctional, unreasonable, and imbalanced Americans are about alcohol use. We have built ourselves a ‘catch 22’ conundrum of which there is no escape until we change our values.

Let me explain the problem.

America has had a problem with drunk driving since Ford perfected the assembly line. I know it is a serious danger because I’ve lost young friends to drunken driving accidents. So what’s the answer? Today we continually increase the severity of the laws, strip away individual rights, and arrest over a million people per year. Is it working? MADD says it is, but critics say it isn’t. It depends on which statistics you wish to believe. I personally believe our current strategy is a failure and we could do better by trying to change the American values that lead to the drunken driving dilemma.

Here is the conundrum of conflicting values:

People shouldn’t drink and drive because it’s public safety hazard – No argument here, except to say that the laws and methods America uses stop drunk driving are becoming increasingly draconian and it’s time we take a look at our entire value system regarding alcohol.

Americans rarely drink at home because they believe only alcoholics drink at home. This is a widespread belief. When I was 17, I naively asked a guy who was sitting next to me at the bar why he paid $4.25 for a shot of Tequila when he could buy an entire liter at the store for $10.00 and drink it at home[1]. “Only alcoholics sit around the house taking shots of Tequila,” He replied. I didn’t understand the logic then and I still don’t. Many casual drinkers believe it is better to take three shots at the bar after work and drive home than it is to take three shots at home. Some of you may argue that Joe Six Pack shouldn’t drink three shots anywhere, and you may be right, but the argument is Pollyannaish. People have always consumed alcohol and they always will.

Few people want a pub within walking distance of home. I’d love to have a pub down the block where I could sit around in the evening, drink a few beers and visit with the neighbors like people do in Europe. Do you know what would happen to me if I tried to open a bar in my neighborhood? People would think I’d gone mad. I’d be the neighborhood pariah. In suburban America, we zone bars in commercial districts far away from residential areas so we can protect children from the evils of alcohol. Applebee’s (one of the biggest restaurant chains in America) tagline is “Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar,” but I’ve never seen one in an actual neighborhood, they are always in some big mall or commercial district next to a Wal-Mart or something.

In most places in America, mass transit is worthless. Post World War Two American development was built around the automobile. In most American cities – most people – cannot get to a pub without a car. I’ve never been a proponent of mass transit in America, but I must concede that a comprehensive mass transit system would significantly reduce drunk driving and it may be cheaper and more effective than our current ‘get tough’ strategy.

The problem in summary – While most Americans believe you shouldn’t drink and drive, they also believe you shouldn’t drink at home, but most of us can’t walk to the pub or take mass transit – yet we still drink. Isn’t it obvious why we have a drinking and driving problem?

american idol

Ya ya. So I watch it sometimes. I admire vocal talent. It's better than that dang Pussycat Dolls show!

Anyway, Phil Stacey. This guy is STIFLED in a pop contest! He should be the lead in an outstanding rock band. Just stick it out through the first bit cause it starts a little rough. And then BAM! What a voice!

Much Music Media Literacy Campaign

I love this commercial!




























Check it out.

bad with faces?

is it just me, or does Elena Anaya (Justin Timberlake's Sexyback video) more than resemble the Childlike Empress (The Neverending Story)?

THIS! IS! SPARTA!

Well, I saw 300 this afternoon, and I already want to see it again. Now that doesn't necessarily mean that I loved it, but it does mean there was a lot to look at.


What makes it great? Gerard Butler's energy builds a formidable figure as King Leonidas. Lena Headey as Queen Gorgo is a genuinely Spartan woman - firey and firm. The digital world is slick (though there is something flat about it, which only a vivacity like Butler's could bring to life).

What's not so great? The drag queen King Xerxes is a strange character, and there are other weak acting moments that distract from the story. There are unoriginal echoes of Gladiator and Lord of the Rings.

This is the simple story of an ancient battle dressed in Frank Miller clothes. It's a comic book onscreen, and it's pretty freakin cool.

intense crush

300 came out last night and I'm DYING to see it. I mean, LOOK at it!!

... THEN I saw Gerard Butler on The Hour.










The man is extremely passionate, very animated, and so so sexy.

Ya. I've got a bit of a crush.

p to the o to the r to the t to the land

A few weekends ago, Christopher and I paid a visit to a fellow city of the Pacific Northwest. Portland is a 5-7 hour drive from Vancouver depending on the border line-up and the interstate traffic. Shout out to Sarah and Ange who prompted our visit by moving down there for a few weeks!

A Night Out: Saucebox (214 SW Broadway). The vibe is just what I like in a lounge/restaurant: hip and low-key. 1. You must try the Tapioca Dumplings with ground chicken, peanuts and cilantro; drizzled with garlic oil ($8). 2. Order a divine piece of coconut cake, or the heavenly creme brulee. 3. Most importantly, you HAVE to get yourself tastetastic cocktail to sip on! I had a lemongrass infused gin with tonic and fresh mint leaves...I'm sure there was something more in it. I don't think you can go wrong with whatever drink you order. It's all about the drinks.

Breakfast: Tin Shed (1438 NE Alberta St). The wait is INCREDIBLY long. Get there by 9am and/or take coffees with you (we waited for an hour). The food is WORTH the wait!!! I actually can't remember what I ate, but it was delicious.

Coffee: Fan of the rich flava of a delicious cappuccino? I am! So, Stumptown (there are many, but we hit the one @ 128 SW 3rd Ave) is the place to be.

Books: If books are your thing, then Portland is your town. Powell's Books (1005 W. Burnside) is an ENTIRE city block of floors and floors of new and used books. It's genuinely impressive. We spent three hours in the store and I was only able to get through the piano music books, one row of nature books, a general perusing of the sci-fi/fantasy section and a quick peak at the literature section. There's even a coffee shop right in the store! Tis a book lover's paradise my friends.

Shop: Ray's Ragtime (1001 SW Morrison St) is a fun and chaotic vintage shop that is worth checking out - especially if you know exACTly what you're looking for and exACTly what size you are. It didn't bode so well for me because I wanted to buy a dress and all the MANY MANY available dresses are hanging from the ceiling. Their inaccessibility and the lack of people to help access them proved a barrier to my dress success - but it's definitely a fun store!

Accommodations: SO cool! McMenamin's Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave) was built in 1915 and has since been converted into a hotel. McMenamin's is a well-known Oregon company whose facilities all have an eclectic decor and a welcoming feel. Guest rooms are former classrooms with private baths and telephones - are reasonable at $99-114US/night. Hotel guests can have beer in detention rooms, relax in the soaking pool or catch a flick in the auditorium turned movie theatre. SO cool!

visceral

Children of Men. I finally saw it. No. Let me rephrase. I lived it. This is without a doubt the most affecting film that I have seen in years. The world created by Alfonso Cuaron is so complete and so real. I walked out feeling absolutely overwhelmed - exhausted - and very, very sad. The reason? This future is all too believable. There is so much hate and destruction being propagated around the world. Ignorance, selfishness and greed run rampant. Our short-sightedness is frightening. Forget destroying the Earth, we are destroying ourselves. NOTHING underscores these facts quite so much as the cry of an infant amidst all that darkness. That image will bring tears to my eyes for weeks.
Watch it.

statuesque

I didn't immediately love Gwyneth Paltrow's dress, but I couldn't stop thinking about it either.

effortless

Kate Winslet is my Grace Kelley.

bold solid colours

Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts looked stunning at the Academies on Sunday night. Seriously. They looked "love at first sight" gorgeous.

an architectural neckline

Sherry Lansing won a Humanitarian Award at the Oscars for all her charitable works. On top of that, her dress was GORgeous!

everyone else is jumping off the bridge....

TOP TEN OF 2007 (Why not right?):

The Departed - Watch it.
Stranger Than Fiction - Dustin Hoffman's timing is impeccable.
Inside Man - Brilliant.
Little Miss Sunshine - Touching.
Monster House - Seriously. Very fun.
Thank You for Smoking - Fantastic premise.
The Devil Wears Prada - Meryl Streep is a genius.
A Scanner Darkly - Unique and entertaining.
The Science of Sleep - Magical and wierd.
Shut Up & Sing - Inspiring.
Borat - Hilarious and disturbing.


BOTTOM TEN OF 2007:

The Break-Up - Tired and sad.
Talladega Nights - Indulgent.
Beowulf and Grendel - Huh?
Click - Too bad; it could have been a good movie.
Tristram Shandy - Tedious.
Eight Below - More with the dogs, less with the humans!
Friends With Money - Yawn.
American Dreamz - Not quite funny.
X-Men - The Last Stand - One special effect after another.
Pan's Labyrinth - Beautiful? Yes. But VIOLENT and upsetting too!


*Important disclaimer! This list is by no means exhausted
as I have yet to see the following films:
Perfume
Children of Men
Pursuit of Happyness
Ms. Potter
Blood Diamond
The Fountain
Idiocracy
Notes on a Scandal
Volver
Babel
Marie Antoinette
The Prestige
Running With Scissors
The Queen
The Last King of Scotland
The Illusionist
Lady in the Water
Scoop
Hard Candy
Little Children
Half Nelson

more weather

Unreal.

and speaking of weather...

courtesy of chris' browsing around reddit:

with the weather we've been having...

i might as well move home to manitoba!

snowy vancouver

i heart iPhone

i don't think i have ever been this excited about any new technology in my life! this is the most elegant and inspiring and USEFUL product that i have ever seen!! i can't wait to hold it.

i love regina spektor

and i think you will too.