This was me after school

Another day of non-stop testing. To add insult to injury, part of the day involved group work and I found myself in a brainstorming session that resembled herding cats - wild cats on speed, that is, who brought along their skittish ferret friends and hyperactive guinea pig companions. At times, I was bewildered at the thought processes of some of the group members. Luckily, there was one other member who spoke the same language and I was so grateful for that.

Just as we were wrapping things up, I saw two of my cronies and the three of us made a mad dash to a pub nearby. I felt all frazzled and crazed and jittery from the testing but the cronies were forgiving. To quote a very wise FBP - 'Hanging with my fun peeps, swilling liquor and swearing like sailors' was exactly what I needed.

(Thank you guys! ♥)

Battery of tests

As if my nerves weren't already shot from watching the last episode of Breaking Bad and staying up way too late lastnight - at school today, we were subjected to a battery of timed aptitude tests - one after another after another after... It was like a firing range of really strange, nonsensical quizzes. I felt nervous, frenzied and at times, stupid as I plugged away at the different sections.

I ask you - was it really necessary to point out that my numerical and abstract reasoning could be likened to that of a pigeon? And so what if I couldn't make sense of the lines and dots and do-hickeys? Most of them resembled Q-Tips and pipe cleaners that had fallen on the floor, anyway. (Seriously) I think the worst part was doing the quick evaluation which identified jobs that I've either already done (and hated to the point of thinking it would be more fun to poke blades under my fingernails) or jobs that I'd never do (because the sheer thought of doing them makes me want to change species).

Because the program I'm taking is experiential, it's expected that students go through each test, process and intervention a client may encounter. In doing so, we're able to see each side of the counselling perspective so that we can relate better to the client and also learn about ourselves in the process. I imagine by the end of the class, we'll all be exhausted, (hopefully) more self-aware and still some, utterly confused (this happens a lot in my program).

Neighborly love

J assembled our new barbeque today and we readied ourselves for a night of feasting. Little did we know how large that feast would be! While we were barbequing, our neighbor brought out several plates and bowls of delicious food to share from the little birthday party they were having. There was a grilled veggie salad, scallops, veggie skewers including sweet potato that melted in our mouths and corn with a light sugary glaze. It was all so delicious and awfully kind.

In return, we brought over some homemade coconut cupcakes with vanilla frosting - some were covered with colorful sprinkles or red crystal sugar while others were topped with sweetened coconut. Afterwards, the girls played together in the backyard. It was a really wonderful example of the generosity of neighbors and the special little 'hood we live in.

Double Digits

Time to celebrate! Here's to your special day, Sweet Cheeks. ♥ xoxo

[And special greetings go out to all of the birthday babies today - near and far! Hope you have a day filled with fun! Happy Birthday, LL!]

On the road again

We're heading out on another road trip this weekend. We'll be visiting my in-laws in Kingston to celebrate the long weekend and the first of a few birthday celebrations for the (not-so) little person.

We'll be taking a different route than we normally do so we can stop at little towns along the way. One of our stops includes Port Hope to visit a shop that sells our favorite salsa - a smokey pineapple variety. (Mmm!)

Hope you have a lovely long weekend all! Enjoy! xo

I think I love you ♥

♥ I'd like to dedicate this song to the Red Velvet cupcake. xoxo

Live long and prosper

Star Trek was AMAZING. I loved this movie! JJ Abrams is a master at storytelling as he brings a fresh, fun and thrilling interpretation of Star Trek to the screen. I felt like I was on an exhilarating ride that I didn't want to end. Every time I managed to catch my breath, I was immediately plunged into another exciting adventure. There was never a dull moment and I especially loved the humour spread throughout. The world JJ Abrams created was so imaginative and creative yet totally accessible. During parts of the movie, I felt storytelling reminiscent of LOST and I loved the Slusho reference in the movie.

Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto provided believable and superb performances as Kirk and Spock with Eric Bana as a wonderfully evil Nero. I must say, space never looked so good.



For those of you that have never seen a single Star Trek film nor been fans of the series, not to worry. This movie is perfect for even the uninitiated. In fact, it might just make a Trekkie out of you yet.

[On a side note, I really think people should consider adopting the Star Trek salute to replace the overused gang signs you see in photos. I am so going to do this from now on. Word up, Scotty.]

WWJD

What would J.J. do?

J.J. Abrams is my God. Amen (Brotha).

This will be me in a few hours

I'm watching Star Trek today. I can't wait!

Guess who's coming to dinner?

If only life were this civilized. Last night, while I was completing my assignment, there was quite a ruckus going on outside. I kept hearing banging and scratching and the sound of a car alarm going off. A couple of times, I even got up and looked out the window to see what was going on but it was dark and didn't see anything unusual. My racoon radar was on high as I suspected them trying to get into our green bins where we compost our perishables. At one point, I imagined the savvy little latch pickers trying to get into the window which frightened me to no end as I imagined the chaos that would ensue if they got in. I thought of turning the porch lights off and on to scare them or open the front door to shoo them away. Little did I know that the furry critters had gotten into one of our bins and were busy feasting on our compost just outside the front door.

When I left the house this morning, it looked as though our bin had exploded all over the front porch (what was left of it anyway). It sickened me to think of the crap they were munching on and nauseated me further as I looked at some of the scraps and evidence left behind. I'll bet there was a posse of them dining on our waste - digging in like it was Christmas dinner. I'm glad I didn't interrupt them. Who knows what might have happened...

For those of you that don't have this problem in your neck of the woods and have never had the pleasure of seeing these critters up close, you might be interested to learn that the raccoons here in Toronto are quite large. At least the ones that I've seen terrorizing the streets in my neighborhood. Some are as large as small dogs or fat cats. They're plump and crafty (not in the good way) and don't seem to be afraid of people. They're skillful at opening up the green bins and they are the worst dinner guests because they never clean up after themselves.

[Thinking about it now, I shudder at the thought of what might have happened if I had opened the door. I imagine them running into the vestibule at the front of the house and circling me or worse yet, pouncing on me as I opened the door and then scratching my eyes and face or biting me. Oh, the horrors! I hope they don't try to come back for seconds tonight. Greedy bastards!]

Why am I still awake?!

I think I put too much effort into this last assignment. Why couldn't I have just left it alone (or perhaps, started it earlier)? I'm going to be hurting tomorrow morning when the alarm goes off! Ack!

In search of the perfect patio

It turned out to be a beautiful day today so after school a friend and I wanted nothing more than to sit outside on a patio and grab a nice, frosty cocktail. We traipsed all over downtown looking for the right ambiance which, to us, meant a sunny patio with an available table at an establishment that served our favorite drinks.

My friend remarked that she hadn't heard anyone order a Long Island Iced Tea in ages and commented that it seemed like an outdated drink these days. It's not like I was ordering a Greyhound or a Bennett but still. She meant no disrespect and we laughed about how the drink was very much a 90's cocktail. We then went on to give our own personal views about the 'fancy drinks of today' like two little ol' bitties and commented how some of these martinis taste like rubbing alcohol.

After testing out three different tables on three different patios, we settled on a place in the heart of downtown Toronto (which shall remain nameless). There were all kinds of funny things that kept happening with patrons and servers but it was a really fun time. I look forward to spending more time with this new friend and getting to know her (and the various patios around Toronto).

Happy Mother's Day ♥

This is dedicated to my Mom and all of the special Mothers out there today. Wishing you love and happiness always. xo

[Sending out an extra special wish to my sister-in-law who will be celebrating her very first Mother's Day with her beautiful baby girl and husband. See you soon! ♥]

Floppy

Another beautiful day here in Toronto. Ahh...

Hey BabyCakes, I'm sweet on you ♥

A friend of mine shared a link with me for a recipe from the BabyCakes NYC bakery. We are definitely going to this place on our next visit to NYC! They offer 'all-natural, organic and delicious alternatives free from the common allergens: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein and eggs' and their menu sounds delicious! I can't wait to try their cupcakes (think: vanilla with zesty lemon frosting and red velvet with creamy vanilla frosting...I just shed a tear!), cookie sandwiches and macaroons.

They've just recently put out a cookbook, as well. Here's a video promoting it and a peak inside their lovely shop. Look at all the scrumptious goodies to be had! ♥ See you there!

BabyCakes, the Book of Recipes: It's Here (Almost)! from BabyCakes NYC on Vimeo.

Premature foot exposure

It's a beautiful day here in Toronto - it's sunny and warm with blue skies. People are out and about with a lighter step and a warmer disposition (or so it seems). Yes, the beautiful weather seems to brighten people's moods and lighten things up. In the same vein, people are shedding their clothing at an exponential rate but of course, I'm not here to write about that. I'm writing this as a plea to all those who are thinking of shedding their more modest and restrictive footwear in exchange for something more liberating, cooler and yes, more revealing. Before you do this, my friends, would it be too much to ask you to take a good look at the state your feet are in? I'm not saying your tootsies need to be like butter - supple and sublime (though, wouldn't that be nice?) - but would it kill some of you to take out a nailclipper or some polish remover just to get them, at least, presentable?

This post is in response to some horrible sightings I made on the subway this morning. I couldn't help but look. They were there - unfettered and disrobed - staring right at me. I turned away quickly but it was too late...the damage was already done. I wanted to approach these people and ask them what they were thinking. It's like seeing a man in a fancy suit with a crappy pair of footwear or Woody Allen with Soon Yi. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.

And of course, this rant does not absolve me of my own responsibility. I am guilty of neglect, Your Honor...but you don't see me struttin' my stuff nor will you until my piggies have been weened from their winter coats and primped for the coming season.

Case of the stomach flu

It's crazy how quickly it can creep up on you. One minute, you're walking downtown and then the next, you're shivering under blankets or running to the bathroom. UGH! Go away dreaded stomach flu! You're not welcome here!

On a happier note, I received the sweetest and most thoughtful message yesterday. What a wonderful surprise. ♥

Last day

Today is the last day of my term break. Right now, I can't imagine getting up early every morning again and sitting in a classroom all day. I'm going to miss the freedom of doing whatever I want, whenever I want like sleeping in, watching movies all afternoon, having lazy days or just spending the day reading. (Sigh)

On the other hand, it'll be nice to see classmates again and catch up with them. It'll also be good to get things going again so I can work towards finishing the program. I hope this term whizzes by like the last one did.

Restless

I feel restless today. I think I'll go downtown and catch a couple of flicks. I always seem to feel more energized when I'm part of the city (and then, I crash from exhaustion when I get home). Hope you're having a good day.

Seducing the Demon

I've decided to spend the day reading Erica Jong's book, Seducing the Demon (interspersed with logging onto my favorite blogs and watching Apprentice UK). I love these lazy days. :)

Home again

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted. I had so many good intentions of documenting my way through Winnipeg (pictured above, circa 1953) which is where I've been for the past week but unfortunately, I found myself in bed for most of the trip. (If you can believe, there were even days that I didn't log onto my computer! The horrors!) Fortunately, I was still able to squeeze in some quality time with family and a few good friends.

One of those visits was with a wonderful friend I had spent many (many) days with in my past. It was so great to see her again. I wanted to tell her how much I missed spending time with her and how I wished that we lived in the same city so we could hang around every so often like we used to but didn't want it to get all weird and uncomfortable. Of all the friends I've ever had, she's the one I connected the most with - a special connection that I've yet to recreate with another. We could spend hours laughing on the phone or sitting in the car chatting away or just sipping drinks in a smokey pool hall. It didn't seem to matter as long as we were there together. I'm just glad that we were able to catch up with one another on this trip and laugh like old times. I hope we'll have more opportunities like that in the future.

I also managed to visit a couple of amazing vintage shops (Ruby Slipper and Vintage Glory) that had been recommended to me and found some really lovely antique compacts - the kind that you might see on Mad Men. I plan to photograph and share them here (some day). As well, my sister took me to one of my all-time favorite restaurants (Mondragon) where H & I shared a delicious vegan burrito, some African peanut soup, a pupusa and a slice of scrumptious sweet potato cheesecake with date icing. On the side, I enjoyed a tasty yerba matte latte. Mmm.

Of course, it was nice to be back home enjoying my Mom's cooking and visiting with my lop-eared bunny, Yoyo. I also had fun digging out some old love letters and pictures that had me in stitches. H loved spending time with her grandparents who tried to spoil her silly and was able to play with some old friends in the neighborhood. On Saturday, we had a little party to celebrate my sister's and cousin's birthdays and nibbled on all sorts of goodies from sushi to Indian dishes to crab legs. Needless to say, my clothes are now a wee bit snug (as if they weren't already!).

Sadly, I wasn't able to see everyone I wished to but hopefully, we'll still have the chance to catch up some time soon...

Hope you've been having a nice week. Take care and talk soon. xo

Happy Earth Day!

Happy face

I'm done the preparation for the group presentation tomorrow, as well as the paper which is due on Wednesday. What a great feeling! Now, I just have to get through the presentation itself and an upcoming final paper which is due next Monday. My goal is to complete the paper before the end of this week (Wednesday, if I'm lucky).

Tuesday afternoon marks the beginning of a break from classes for almost two weeks (less a day). I can't wait!

Daydreaming

I have a group presentation tomorrow and a paper due on Wednesday so my plan was to devote this afternoon to nothing but these two items. Of course, all I want to do is daydream and read my favorite blogs and look at photographs.

My latest obsession at the moment is 'food styling' which I find fascinating and can't stop googling about. I love the idea of 'staging' food so that it looks appealing and scrumptious on film and video yet it may be completely inedible. The whole art of it personifies the food to me as these stylists share secrets about primping and dressing up their subjects - whether it be a gorgeous cupcake or a beautiful salad or even a handsome cut of meat.

I love finding out about different professions and I especially love how the internet allows me to take a peek into these differnt worlds. My favorite blogs are the ones in which the individual has found a way to transcend their vocation into a way of life that is most satisfying and inspiring but not all consuming. The passion that these individuals share often fuels me to think about what it is I love most and brainstorm about ways to incorporate this into my daily life. (It's also a great outlet to live vicariously through others.) On a more superficial level, I like to think that I'm adding to my career and work counselling arsenal as I expose myself to these different occupations and the diversity of individuals invested in them.

I want to go here

There's a house about an hour outside of L.A. off Route 5 North that's known as the Polaroid House. It's basically an abandoned and dilapidated house filled with Polaroids that people have left behind.

You can find more amazing shots, as well as get the contact name for directions through the following flickr pool.

{Photo credits: G.E.T. and Brewsband}

Transitions can be fun

I started another new class in my program called Transitions. The instructor is really wonderful - he's so approachable and keeps the class engaged at all times. The class is so much fun and as always, there's a lot of self-reflection and experiential learning that occurs which will help us be more empathetic as counsellors.

Yesterday, we learned another tool to use with our clients - the timeline exercise - which I really enjoyed doing because it allowed me to see where I've been, my accomplishments (both good and bad) and where I'd like to work towards. It was interesting to hear how other students reacted to this exercise. Some people found it to be a very emotional experience as they reflected back on their lives while others were met it with some resistance as they didn't feel the need to rehash things that they'd already laid to rest. We could write as little or as much as we wanted and use as much creativity as we pleased to create them so it was a nice change of pace to be able to put pen to paper.

The instructor gave us insight as to when the exercise might be appropriate for clients (for e.g. once an ACEC assessment has been performed but not during Common Assessment), in what settings (group vs. individual) and how we could use this tool to generate more information with our clients (such as discovering patterns and reviewing why certain items were milestones).

Today, we worked in groups and did presentations in the afternoon on a theory we're learning. There's a larger presentation due on Monday plus two individual papers to complete. I'm looking forward to doing the papers. This is one of my favorite parts of the program and has always been - even during my University days.

Tomorrow evening, I'm attending an event featuring alumni from the program I'm in who'll be sharing information about the career counselling field and where they fit into it. Should be interesting!

Hope you're having a nice week. It's a short one. I like that. I like that a lot. :)

I miss you

This is how I feel...

I woke up this morning with a bugger of a head cold and an annoying headache. It was inevitable, really, since J & H have had their turn with it. Luckily, I had the whole day to rest and drink o.j.

Maybe it was all that wonderful fresh air yesterday coupled with the scent of wax that did me in. I took S to an encaustic workshop in Kensington Market in the afternoon. We both agreed that it was much harder than it looked but was still a nice introduction to the art. (To be honest, I felt a bit deflated after taking the workshop as I looked at the goopy mess known as my collage.)

Afterwards, there was another introduction, this time to Fresh which went really well but who can resist the seduction of delicious food, potent fruit smoothies and luscious cake and cookies? (Certainly not I.)

Oh gosh...I can't believe I almost forgot the introduction to yet, another favorite restaurant, El Trompo, for their amazing guacamole and tacos. (I told you our weekend would involve a lot of eating.)

As for Easter morning, despite feeling like my head was stuffed with cotton, I was able to partake in the fun of watching H search for goodies the Easter Bunny left behind. I love watching her eyes light up as she discovers the goofy hiding spots.

Happy Easter

The meatballs arrive today

We're on our way to the airport to pick up my sister who'll be spending the weekend with us. Apparently, my Mom has packed us a box filled with goodies including the infamous vegan meatballs she brought from her last visit. (Mmm.)

To kick things off, I thought we would take S for lunch at one of our new favorite restaurants, Everest Indian Cuisine. Tomorrow, I'm taking her to an encaustic painting workshop in Kensington Market. I'm not sure what else we'll do this weekend but it'll probably involve eating, exploring the city and enjoying the nice, sunny weather.

Wishing you a wonderful day. xo

Last minute cramming

I have a test this morning and then it's party time. Okay, not exactly...more like analyzing a classmate's Strong Interest Inventory but still, stats will be over today and THEN, it'll be time to celebrate. (Woo woo.)

Wishing you luck with whatever you're doing today. Talk soon. xo

Happy National Empanada Day!

(Who knew?)

I found some information about today's holiday on Months of Edible Celebrations. The post is a year old but as relevant today as it was 12 months ago. Enjoy!

Onions make me happy

I made some onion bread this evening. The recipe called for two separate periods for the dough to rise but mine stayed a lumpy mass. I was sure it would be a disaster but I was pleasantly surprised. I think I'll slice a couple of pieces for J & I to enjoy while we watch the latest episode of Breaking Bad.

[I also made more banana coconut muffins since the batch from Sunday didn't even make it to the next day.] :)

Fur coats and bikini bottoms

It's funny how quickly I've forgotten about living in Winnipeg and enduring those minus thirty-something (even forty-something) degree temperatures with the windchill. Then again, I'm one of those people who starts wearing layers under their clothing as soon as the mercury dips a few degrees. (I need to be warm at all times, really.) Imagine the irony when I asked a friend in Winnipeg if he thought the weather would be warmer and if the snow would be gone by the end of the month since I was planning a trip home. (As if his answers would really stop me from going to see my family and friends.) Still, despite all of the exposure and experience to the less-than-kind prairie temperatures, I can safely say that it is freezing here today in Toronto.

Time to snuggle up and turn on the fireplace. If my Mom lived here, I might even see if she still had the fur coat and hat she used to wear when I was a child (raccoon, no less...this could be where my fears originated from). Of course, I'm kidding about ever wearing the ensemble. I always thought it was such a ridiculous look (so Linda Evans in Dynasty) but remember the days when everyone wore fur? The horrors.

Noooooo!

Did yesterday really happen? I could have sworn that I was walking outside enjoying the sunshine and the mild temperatures. Why, I think I even broke a sweat. (Seriously.) It really felt like Spring but now it's snowing outside. Yes, snowing. (Sigh)

Easy like Sunday morning

This morning, we went for another delicious brunch at Sadie's Diner with my lovely s.i.l., followed by some browsing through vintage shops. It was nice to be able to share in the excitement of her upcoming trip which will involve welcoming a new little member to our family ♥, visiting two countries and seeing fountains. :)

There were so many people out enjoying the beautiful, sunny day and mild weather. It felt good to get some Vitamin D and walk off the Huevos Rancheros and chocolate cupcake I had. We even passed a store giving out free hot crossed buns. I love these kind of days.

Cozy inside

Baking banana coconut muffins with the little person, sipping double chai spice tea, letting J sleep in and catching up on my favorite blogs...this is what my Saturday morning has looked like, thus far. It's kind of a gloomy day out - overcast and windy - but I can still see the grass starting to green as I peek through the window, all cozy and warm inside.

I have two papers due and a test on Monday so it'll be a busy weekend, school-wise. I'm sure I'll be posting intermittently as I try to get these things done.

Hope you have a lovely Saturday. Talk soon. xo

Hansel & Gretel (Korean-style)

We got out of class early today so I thought I would treat myself to an afternoon of movies. I wasn't sure what to watch but was intrigued by the poster for Lim Pil-seong's interpretation of Hansel & Gretel. (Coincidentally, I have a small collection of H&G vintage books and also love the story.)

Wow, what an amazing film! The aesthetic was very much Amelie meets Pan's Labyrinth mixed in with the Exorcist (and maybe, Poltergeist). The color palette, sound design and cinematography were absolutely rich. I fell in love with the production design which was incredible and all I could think about was how exciting it must have been to be part of it all. Ryu Seong-hee (of Old Boy, Bittersweet Life, The Host and Memories of Murder fame) was in charge of set design.

In a nutshell, the story is about a young man who gets into a car accident, stumbles into the dense woods in his groggy haze and collapses. A young girl discovers him and leads him to her mysterious house deep in the forest where he's greeted by her family. From there, the story unfolds. As with the original fairy tale, the story is grim but the film takes it several steps further as it crosses boundaries which are often unexpected.

It was a pleasant surprise for me and the two other movie-goers in the theatre, who also really enjoyed it (we debriefed after the movie - lovely strangers). Sadly, I don't think it'll last very long in the theatre but if you get the chance, I do recommend it. Here's the trailer (in Korean):


[I also went to see I Love You, Man which happened to be starting the minute I stepped out of H&G. Okay, so maybe I snuck in but anyway, I won't lie - it made me lol, as they say. I could have stayed in the theatre all day and night watching movies. Tonight, J has a horror for us to see after we put the little one to bed.]

Playing in the sun

It was a beautiful day in Toronto - the sun was shining and it was quite warm. (Supposedly, the temperature got up to 15 degrees!) At lunch, a group of us decided to go for a walk and make the most of our little break.

Downtown Toronto has many lovely nooks and parks to enjoy, not to mention beautiful churches and buildings peppered throughout. It was nice to get some fresh air, chat with classmates and explore the city.

In the afternoon, we learned more about the Strong Interest Inventory and did group presentations on the Basic Interest Scales. My group did little skits to demonstrate the interest clusters. We felt goofy but I think it went okay.

You will pay for this Michael Kors

I didn't have school today so I scheduled some appointments and set out bright and early in the morning. I thought it would be a perfect day to christen a new pair of shoes I had been saving for spring but in hindsight, I realize I was being horribly optimistic, especially considering all of the walking I had planned for myself (as if experience hadn't taught me a thing about breaking in new shoes slowly). After about an hour of running around, I found myself staggering into different shops, desperately looking for bandages to ease the pain.

On a happier note, I got a very lovely surprise this afternoon - FLOWERS! My neighbor stopped by to update me on her decision from yesterday and bestowed me with a beautiful bouquet of pink tulips. (How thoughtful!) She was so grateful for our exchange yesterday and I for the one we had today. :)