Fashion Phoenix

Lately I have been in this fashion funk. Maybe it has to do with the constant cold weather and inability to wear most of my wardrobe. Anything that I wear is going to be obscured by my giant winter coat....sometimes I catch myself saying "why bother?". Well its time to shape up! So in order to combat these wintertime blahs, I have made more of an effort to look through my closet and recontextualize all of my clothing. That is, trying things on and thinking about my wardrobe in a different way. Also, I find myself being inspired by the way Montrealers dress themselves...loads of black, sleek silhouettes, sharp heels, and a slightly modern edge. Usually I gravitate towards bright colors and large, graphic prints. But I think I am starting to lean towards a more futuristic look with a vaguely goth twist. And it all centers around these incredible boots Matt got my for my birthday!

Holiday food-a-thon

Seems that way, anyhow. This week is going to be a gastronomical onslaught. Believe you me, there is no hope on the horizon...just an endless army of cake. Kiss those toned thighs goodbye and simply give in to the Lord of Lard.....Okay enough of that.

Its been busy/not busy since the last time I made a post here. I guess we have just been getting into the daily routine of things. Matt comes home every night to an experimental diner, then we rush off the gym to work off our sin. But life hasn't been all same-old-same-old. We had an interesting night peppered in here and there. Our new little Dutch friend invited us to spy on a blind date of hers, only to discover that her potential date had stood her up. But here's the kicker...the bastard had the gall to show up and hour later...with another date. Ding ding! I think we have a winner! More like a wiener...heh

Last night our classiest Francophone friend hosted a spectacular pre-Christmas dinner equipped with cranberry roasted pork and a giant Little Debbie cake. Really a classic Montreal holiday scene. Tomorrow night I plan to host my very own orphan-theme party (since Matt's parents are sunbathing on a cruise ship right about now and I am forbidden to leave the country until I'm legit). Im gonna serve gruel (chili) and crumbs (corn bread) for everyone!

Speaking of times spent with friends, I had this terrific wash of nostalgia come over me as I was driving through the frozen scenery today....I suddenly remembered one VERY hot summer in Denton, sitting in Tatiana's parked car, smoking cigarettes, drinking some nasty 40-ounce beverage and listening to a mix CD her boyfriend made her. We were just sitting there, feeling way more hip that we actually were...That was a good summer. When does summer hit Montreal again?

Don't they know its Christmas?

So, it seems that making new friends has been less of a challenge than I had anticipated it being. Already my weekends have been booked back to back with fondu parties, drinks and shopping with a fabulous duo, bowl after bowl of ramen, midnight rides on the Montreal Metro, shuffling feet across the sparkling snow hand-in-hand towards the house of the night's dinner hosts. And there is so much more in the plans! Never have I been in a place where everyone is so proud of their town, and they are all jumping at the chance to tell you how wonderful life is among the crooked streets and tiny corner stores. Between the language police and man-sized pot holes is a city that lavishes in it's own unique flaws...and makes for passionate conversation around the dinner table.

Christmas this year will be something of a duel experience: On one side, I'll be missing the familial closeness of the Elam tradition of Christmas tamales, cocktail sausages, and ripping through wrapping paper on that glorious morning. But on the flip side, I'll actually get to experience that classic Yuletide scene of snow-topped trees covered in little twinkling lights and people bundled up to the eyeballs. I can remember at home always thinking "its Christmas, but it doesn't feel like it". Here, it certainly feels like the Christmases captured in a snow globe.

Finally some new Etsy stuff!

Man I know its been a long time since I've updated my humble Etsy store, but I am making amends for my former sins. So here we have it, four new items for your shopping pleasure. There will be more to come in the following days...I guess its just been hard to pick up where I left off when it comes to updating the store...I have only just begun to tap into the montreal thrift spots! So, if anything pleases you, just follow the mini-link on the right of this page.

p.s. my green walls are kinda tough to color balance...its so obvious when I see these pictures back-to-back.

I want! I want! I want!

Seems like this whole cut-out-leather bootie design is the trend. I know that I would find plenty of outfits to wear a pair of purple, suede swash-buckling high-heeled booties with.

These boot are great hybrid between something practical and something romantic without looking too frou-frou or too frumpy (not that I have anything against looking a little frou-frou). Ah! I really just love all of Steve Madden's shoes.

This grecian goddess dress looks as if its made of girly dreams and a sorbet. Just look at those little crystalline buttons down the front! This reminds me of a dress that I had borrowed from a neighbor girlfriend back when I was in the 5th grade. It was the same color, but had this sheer, angel-like sleeves. My sister and I would wear it around the house and jump off the edge of the sofa, hoping that the sleeves would sprout into real wings.

Oh my gewdness! How sweet is this little blue-eskimo princess coat? I have such an obsession with furry collars...they are so wonderfully luxurious. I have one kind of like this, but not in blue!

Man oh man, I stumpled upon a gold mine of a band today. I don't know why I havent heard of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's sooner, but I cant get this song outta my head. I love how warm and down home the girls voice sounds. This song is approrpiately called "Home". It conjures up all the heartbreakingly wonderful memories of everyone I love back home. They are actually playing Monday night here in ol' Montreal! Sweet!

So...Im thinking about going to grad school to get my MFA in photography...I know that I have announced with great pride to all of my peers that I am forever "done with school", but I think I may be changing my tune. I mean, why the hell not? Change seems to be the running theme this year, might as well take it another step further into the realms of academia. Well, to be honest, my intentions are not purely for the goal of mastering my craft; it might be a great way to integrate myself into this new place, make some connections and learn a bit more while I'm at it. Once I become a resident here, I should have access to the insanely cheap tuition rates...well, seems like I have already made up my mind about this...

Our house is shaping up to be a funky little pad. The living room is nearly complete...now we just need a credenza and record player, then we will be in-like-flynn. He and I have had our eye on this Electrohome Apollo record player for about 2 weeks now...we spotted it in a furniture store, but it wasn't operating at the time. Hopefully the owner got it fixed, because Im already day dreaming about where Im gonna put it!

This city really is like non other. There is just this charisma that vibrates through the mish-mash buildings and rings across the bike-path laden streets. On days when the sky is covered up, its good to know that night and city lights can make up for the ugly weather. Matt and I went for a walk the other evening around the Mile End. On one hand we held each other while on the other hand was holding a fresh bagel. We dipped into a little cafe that I had been eyeing for a couple of weeks. No sign above the door, just large, steamy windows and a menagerie of chairs, books, art, plants, and warm looking people. Its a good sign when you walk into anyplace that is playing music that you know all the words to.