Not the actor Andy Garcia

I'm obsessing about handlettering and calligraphy these days. I could spend hours looking at beautiful script (and I do). It's almost an illness, really. I've always loved nice penmanship and all of its permutations. This is just an extension of my affection.

Speaking of which, I am loving this piece by Andy R. Garcia - art director, graphic designer and illustrator extraordinaire.

Almost beach weather!

Hello friends! Hope this finds you well and happy. Just wanted to touch base and say "hello". I had a really wonderful time last week - both at work and at home - but I'll fill you in on those details in my next post. I just stopped by to wish you a good day and a lovely start to the week.

It's going to be 19 degrees and sunny today here in Toronto. I can't wait to get out and enjoy it!

Take care and talk soon. xo

origami+tea=pure genius

I love this concept of origami tea bags created by Russian designer Natalia Ponomareva. It's so lovely and clever. It's also the perfect marriage of two of my passions (tea+paper).

(Info and image courtesy of popsop)

BOO!

Wishing all my ghoulfriends and little goblins a Happy Halloween! Have a spooktacular day! (Sorry, I couldn't resist!) Have fun tonight! xo

Hallow's Eve

I can't believe Halloween is here in four days! It's so exciting! Tonight, I bought a big, poofy wig and a handful of snakes for H's Medusa costume. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Thanks to FBP for coming on the search with me tonight! Good times!

This is how I feel today

Does the body good

Part of this weekend was spent writing my final paper of the year. I had requested an extension on the paper when I was offered my job and finally got around to doing it this weekend. It was a slow start but things eventually got rolling and I was pleased with the final copy.

When I handed it in today at lunch, I ran into some of my friends. It was great to see them and have a few laughs and hugs. I'll be seeing them again on Thursday night when I join them at a pub to celebrate their final course of the year.

As for work...it's been really great and incredibly busy. The transition has been smooth, thus far and I'm really enjoying it. At the end of the day, I feel like I've accomplished something and that the work I'm doing is worthwhile. It's a wonderful feeling and one that I don't think I've experienced before.

Hope you had a lovely weekend and a nice start to the week! Talk soon, friends. xo

Night of initiations

We had such a fun evening last night which included a few initiations (of sorts). These included introducing our friend FBP to one of our favorite restaurants, visiting two very special establishments run by "my peeps" and educating my companions on the many deep-fried, heavily preserved and (at times, questionable) delights found only from my motherland.

I was so happy that we could initiate FBP to Commensal. The ambiance was perfect with a piano player in the background, the room dimly lit with a single candle on each table and not to mention, all of the delicious selections and dishes. Oh, the food! If I could eat there more often, I would. The food is consistently good and incredibly tasty, and I love that I can try a little bit of everything. This time, I had:

Seitan Bourguignon - tender cubes of savoury seitan in a rich red wine sauce with sautéed pearl onions and whole mushrooms
Kashmir Rice with lentils - caramelized onions, coconut milk, raisins and cashews
Millet Pie - tofu, mushrooms, onions, leeks and millet grain wrapped in a light crust
Thai Seitan - seitan prepared with a tangy, maple syrup and cider vinegar sauce

To round out my plate, I added steamed kale, a beet & apple salad, freshly sprouted garbonzo & mung beans and a bowl of vegan tapioca (mmm!).

Of course, the highlight of the meal was the company and the lively discussion that was generated at our table. I enjoyed seeing H's funny facial expressions as we listened to J's and FBP's experiences in Paris and hearing about all of the exciting things to look forward to when we visit this winter. I can't wait!

It was a really wonderful evening and I was glad that my little family finally got to meet the (in)famous FBP that I often talk about and that FBP finally got to put faces to my familial cast of characters that I so frequently speak of.

Thanks for joining us, FBP! Looking forward to the next get-together!

Happy Thanksgiving

I wish we were celebrating Thanksgiving with my family right now. I miss the spread of food and laughing with my cousins. It was always so loud and boisterous and the food never seemed to end. Despite being away from them today, I do feel there is so much to celebrate and be thankful for here at home such as my wonderful little family (J+H), a new job, great friends, J's lovely family, being healthy and enjoying the little things in life. ♥

[Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky.]

Wishing all of my Canadian friends and family a Happy Thanksgiving. xo

Vintage Sexism (aka Pure Madness)

I just had to share this with you. It's hard to believe these kind of articles were circulated not so long ago.

This gem is from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine, written for male supervisors of women during World War II. These were "helpful tips" on supervising women at work (I think #10 is my favorite):

1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.

3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.

5. Stress at the outset the importance of time the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.

6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.

7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.

8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.

9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.

10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.

11. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy.

(Source: feministing.org)

Exciting news!

If you were following my blog this summer then you might remember reading about all of the exciting and wonderful experiences I had during my practicum. Just to refresh your memory - I was doing my placement at a women-centred employment agency in downtown Toronto under the supervision of a really amazing woman (who has since become a mentor of mine). The practicum was life-changing, in so many ways - from confirming my decision to go into the program to instilling my love for the profession, including learning about the complexities of clients and those of myself. To me, being employed by the agency after finishing the program was my idea of a dream job.

Fast forward to last Wednesday, when I received the job offer to work as an Employment Counsellor with them - MY EXCITING NEWS! This was after an intense interview process (carried over two days) that included case studies, a role-play, preparing and presenting a mini-workshop and of course, a litany of questions (situational, personal and knowledge-based).

I started working on Friday and it was such a good feeling to be back in the office again. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and it was an absolute thrill to sit in my new space in my new role. (Makes me giddy just thinking about it!)

I was briefed about my position and "introduced" to my caseload. I began calling clients to introduce myself and to schedule appointments with them in the coming weeks. Some of them remembered me from the summer and it was great to speak with them again. I'll meet with a couple of clients tomorrow for the first time, which is very exciting. At the end of the month, I'll be facilitating a workshop and co-facilitating another.

I feel very fortunate to be given this opportunity to be part of an amazing team, for an agency that does wonderful and meaningful work in the community. For the first time, I feel really proud of what I'm doing and it feels great...really, really great.

I'm really going to miss this...

Thursday was the last day of classes for me. I only have two courses left in the program I was taking that I'll be finishing now in the New Year. It's all for very exciting reasons that I'll fill you in on in my next post but for now, I just wanted to pay homage to some of my classmates - especially the ones I'm going to miss the most.

It's going to be weird not seeing them every day and being able to hang out with them on breaks and for lunch. I'll really miss the classroom antics, including the crazy facial expressions to go along with them. It's been so much fun and I can't believe ten months have already gone by! The time went so quickly! I'm glad that my path led me to the program and to all of the interesting and unique people and experiences there.

I'm really going to miss a few people, in particular - my FBP sista and the stiletto-heeled CWCs who've made my days in the program so memorable. I'm really going to miss them and plan to stay in touch.

I'll be thinking of you. Take care, friends. (I miss you already!) xo

Calling all mail lovers!

Niku Arbabi is accepting new participants for her monthly mail subscription service, The Lovely Letterbox! There are various options available: from two to six month subscriptions.

Niku is the mail artist & zine extraordinaire behind The Ephemeral Mailbox Museum, a wonderful little Etsy shop filled with delightful and sweet surprises. She describes the packages as follows, "Your mail treats will be loosely themed around the following: mail art, crafts, and zines. Supplies and ephemera, zines from my archive, and items that I create specifically for the Lovely Letterbox will be included".

If a subscription isn't your thing, please check out her other goodies at The Ephemeral Mailbox Museum. I've ordered Niku's zines in the past through her shop, as well as Parcell Press, and fell in love with her aesthetic! In fact, I carried her zines in my purse for months after receiving them and pulled them out to admire them whenever I had the chance but have since decided to preserve them at home with some of my other mail art treasures. (I was concerned about the wear-and-tear.) They make lovely gifts - for yourself and others - and are a great source of inspiration!

Thanks, Niku! ♥

(Check out Niku's blog for more details about the The Lovely Letterbox and to learn more about her.)

Extra long weekend

When I woke up this morning, it was pouring out which made me smile because I had absolutely nowhere to be. Our class schedule this month is really nice because we frequently have extra long weekends with Mondays and Fridays off.

After J & H left the house, I made myself a chai soy latte and settled into my day. I decided to make the most of it by watching movies, baking bread, whipping up some potato salad, doing school work (well, sort of but not really) and as always, spending time on my computer. I felt productive but the pace was really nice and relaxed. Oh yeah, and the onion and "cheese" bread turned out really well. (I've shared the recipe below.) We're going to have some of it tonight with J's homemade split pea soup and kale chips. Can't wait!

I also had a really lovely conversation with someone very special from my hometown. I'm glad that we had the chance to catch up today. She's always so encouraging and such a positive person!

Back to school tomorrow. It's another short week but an exciting one. Lots of things happening.

Hope you had a happy Monday and a nice start to the week! Talk soon. xo
------
No Yeast Bread

4 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 tablespoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vinegar
1 1/2 cups water

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in bowl and knead 5 minutes. Shape into a round loaf put cornmeal on the bottom and place on a baking sheet. Put in to preheated 400 degree oven and bake 40 minutes.

Makes: 1 loaf, Preparation time: 10 minutes, Cooking time: 40 minute

(Recipe courtesy of VegWeb)

I think I'm going to use this recipe as a foundation for other loaves. This time, I added 1/2 a package of onion soup mix and shredded some vegan cheese which I folded into the dough. I also brushed the loaf with melted margarine after about 25-30 minutes.

Just a few suggestions: the loaf was a bit dry so feel free to add a bit more liquid. Also, I kneaded the loaf to really mix the ingredients together but I may have kneaded it too much as the bread was a wee bit tough (but still incredibly flavorful and tasty). Enjoy!

Happy Autumn!

Today is the Autumn Solstice which marks the first day of Autumn! To celebrate, J made a really delicious, hearty stew of seasonal veggies and I made a pear and apple crumble for dessert. On the weekend, H & I might go for a walk in the park to collect acorns and leaves, then come home and make some corn bread. In the past, to celebrate other Solstices, H & I bought special little dainties and lit candles. We also put our crystals out on the window sill and put positive wishes on them.

I love Autumn! It's such a special time of year where the colors are bursting, the air is crisp, the produce is ripe and ready for harvesting and there are fun celebrations to be had. I think of apple picking, visiting pumpkin patches and Halloween. When I write about Autumn the words feel robust and full of richness. It's one of my favorite times of the year.

Happy Autumn to you! Hope you had a nice day! xo

Tree of Life

On Friday I went to workshop held by the Narrative Therapy Centre called The Tree of Life. The workshop was amazing and so inspiring! The Tree of Life is an arts-based narrative approach that was created as a tool to work with children who've experienced trauma or difficult times. Apparently, it was the result of, what they call, reflection groups that were working with children in Africa who had lost their parents to AIDS. She commented on how there would be up to 100 children, at times, and the wailing was so intense and deep. They developed this approach in response.

The facilitator, Angel Yuen, was excellent. She is a private therapist in Durham and a school social worker in Toronto. She's also one of the founding members and faculty of the Narrative Therapy Centre, as well as a member of the Dulwich Centre team in Adelaide, Australia. She was so knowledgeable and an amazing presenter as she shared her experiences through personal counselling in her private practice and in the school system (in the most marginalized area of Toronto).

We had opportunities to make our own trees and talk amongst our little groups. She also showed pictures of some of the children she worked with and examples of the trees they created, as well as share a booklet that the children had created to share with other children. The stories in the booklet broke my heart several times over but the messages were very powerful and inspiring.

The purpose of the exercise was to uncover a "Second Story" within the child's trauma, that is, to look at how the child responded to the experiences of the trauma rather than focus on the effects the trauma has caused on the child's life (which would comprise the "First Story").

By focusing on the "Second Story", the problem then becomes externalized and the emphasis is more on the child's "meaning making" skills which can be linked to their values, skills and knowledge they possess. These can then, in turn, provide a way of helping the child find an identity which isn't tied into the problem (which they may have externalized) but rather, help them not lose their sense of self by helping to empower themselves through their own stories.

Of course, the way I'm describing it is very simplistic (or perhaps, confusing) which may not show the richness of this particular exercise. The metaphor of the tree is broken down into it's individual components (roots, trunk, branches, leaves, etc.) which are then compared to various areas of a person's life. The exercise then looks at the Forests of Life and the diversity that exists within such as the different hopes and dreams present in the forest, how the leaves helped the children learn about the important people in their lives and of themselves, etc. The exercise then introduces the metaphor of storms in relation to the trees and in turn, how the children respond or have responded to the storms of their own lives.

I talked to the facilitator afterwards because I was so moved and inspired to learn more about narrative therapy. They're offering workshops and intensives through the Narrative Therapy Centre and the Dulwich Centre. There were a few books available for purchase and I bought one called Maps of Narrative Therapy by Michael White, one of the other founders of the Narrative Therpay Centre. During the workshop, I had a chance to network with some of the other attendees who were doing some amazing work in the community and planned to meet up with one of them in the future to chat further.

I felt so high afterwards. (Does this ever happen to you?) I just felt like I was moving in the right direction and so grateful that I had the chance to attend. I even thought of approaching the coordinator of the program I'm in to see if I could offer a little workshop to my peeps (fellow classmates) because I felt so passionate about it. It's the kind of metaphor than can be used with various populations and for different situations or reasons. I thought it would be a really useful tool to incorporate with career counselling and hope to someday.

Hope you're finding inspiration in your life - wherever it presents itself. Talk soon, friends. xo

The call

Nobody puts Baby in a corner

R.I.P. Patrick Swayze (August 18, 1952 - September 14, 2009)