~* Neither Here Nor There *~

Married!

2011-07-18T00:34:00.000-07:00

The last few months have been a whirlwind!

1. Engaged

2. Pre-wedding trip to NYC

3. Wedding

4. Honeymoon to Hawaii

Engaged in February, and married in June .... planning a wedding long distance on top of working full time is not an easy task. Alas, both of us wanted a simple wedding ... with only one objective:

To be married to one another and to just have fun.

Simples, right? Well, not exactly. Name one wedding you have been a part of or have been to where there has not been some sort of drama. Or that sometimes, decisions were made to make other people happy ... or that the wedding itself just gets out of control? We figured, the simpler and shorter the wedding, the less time there is for stress and more time for just being with each other :)

We were able to pretty much break even with the generous gifts from our friends and family. It also helped that my dress cost less than $80 to make! D's suit cost more than my outfit! We also made our own bouquets and ended up paying a third of the price quoted to me from florists.

The icing on the cake was the one-of-a-kind fascinator made by the fabulous Misty Greer of Trunkshow fame. You can also find her designs at Scout Boutique just off Main on 8th.

All in all, I'm so happy to say this wedding was very "us". The details took no time to figure out, as long as everyone showed up and preferably wearing some happy colours the day of, we were happy campers!

Pre-wedding trip to NYC

At the house before the wedding.

D's mother's gorgeous ring is everything I imagined my ring would be like!

Hawaii

What happened on March 26th?

2011-03-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

Once in a while I get nostalgic, simply because I have loved so many moments in my life. While I don't dwell on the past, I definitely try to stretch the memories for as long as possible. I never want to forget any events which have shaped me.

March 26, 2010
Jonsi - Live dress rehearsal at 3 Mills Studios, East London

Unbeknownst to us, we answered an ad to be an extra in a Jonsi music video and instead showed up to a private show! There were only about 100 of us, all in some sort of animal dress, as encouraged by the vague email. Show up here, this time, wear a costume. I didn't care, anything to do with these Icelandic greats, I was game! We were treated to some wine, some crisps and the first dress rehearsal of Jonsi's world tour. Amazing. Speechless.

This performance has since been released as a DVD entitled "Jonsi - Go Live". Pay close attention and you will see Miss Ray Louise Coyle and I near the front, on the right hand side of the stage :)

It's only my back but I made it on film!

Screen cap from 'Go Live DVD'

I was able to film a bit that night but was too entranced throughout most of the show so this was the encore. The drummer, though not Samuli Kosinen (from Mum and the drummer on the album), he was equally talented. I could stare at him all night!

March 26, 2009

Wellcome Collection - London

I passed many evenings strolling through London's finest museums. Tonight, I picked the Wellcome Collection which was on the way home by Euston Square. Free and delightfully informative, the Wellcome Collection highlighted the sciences and medicine, two of my favourite topics. From Malaria to the Human Genome Project, I was able to immerse myself for a couple of hours in some of today's hottest issues.

The Human Genome Project - pages & pages of DNA ...

March 26, 2008

Bologna, Italy

Before I settled in London, I went on a bit of a European jaunt. For the Italian leg of it, I was joined by my lovely bestie Becky and her equally lovely then sort-of bf and now definite-Fiance. We stopped by Bologna on the way from Venice to Florence.

Credit to some of the photos (the lovelier ones, go to Matt!)

March 26, 2005

Easter Preparations in Helsinki, Finland

So what does one do to prepare for an Easter away from family? You make the best Easter with your fellow orphans! Some of the erasmus students we lived with never had an Easter egg hunt and we thought that was highly unacceptable. We went to the shop, got side-tracked shopping for wacky shoes, loaded up on booze and started a bake-a-thon. We lived with a Polish girl. If anyone would know how to do Easter, it would be the lovely Anja ♥

We must have ventured off the path to the grocery store...

OK back on track, we loaded up or cart with the quintessential Easter supplies: flats of cheap LIDL beer and 35cent Orange juice!

Back on track, we finally produced some fine baked goods, boiled eggs and sorted out all our candies and chocolates in preparation for the next day's festivities.

And just to be fine examples of the studious exchange students that we were, we capped the night off at Umo Jazz club in downtown Helsinki. Great memories indeed!

Melissa, me, Pedro & Alvaro ♥

I am so FABULOUS!

2011-03-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

Why am I so fabulous and dare to toot my own horn?

Frugal - who would have thunk it a few years ago but now I've listened to my mum and know that being frugal = getting more in the end ;)
Attention to detail ... or some may call it being nosey. Either way, I'm always accurate and meticulous. You can trust me to do a good job always!
Banter - I'm all about it. If my job didn't involve actually doing work, I could actually banter with our clients all day long!
Ubiquitous - I'm fab for simply loving this word and being able to FINALLY use it. Thanks Fabulous Savings for giving me the outlet :)
Live Love Laugh - wow, I should get bonus points for THREE L's :) That's a motto I live and breathe by, not just a cliche. I swear.
Overseas, overzealous, OTT. wow I'm really getting into this now ... I am beyond excited about exploring the world overseas and have been fortunate to live abroad. It's changed my life forever and I highly suggest it to anyone :)
Understated - I'm not one of those OTT people, but that doesn't mean I don't always give and live 100%. I just don't scream at the top of my lungs and brag about it ♥
Sick - I haven't heard anyone actually use that term to describe me but as I pat myself on the back, I think I'm pretty sick. Even maybe ill.

Wow, I sort of went off on a tangent there. Not sure if I actually did what I set out to do, which pretty much contradicts "A". Oh well :)

Cheers,
Katherine

♥ Embracing Ellie ♥

2011-03-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

19 Days until Ellie Goulding's live show at Venue and already I cannot listen to anything else. Finally, one of my favourite Brit artists on my home turf! This will also be my first time seeing her with her live background vocalists. (Her pre-recorded backing vocals used to always throw me off!)

Ellie Goulding - Live at Heaven - April 15th, 2010

With the re-release of her debut album, Bright Lights come my 3 favourite songs: Your Song, Human, and Lights. It's been over a year since Goulding has been tipped by BBC as the sound of 2010 and she continues to gain momentum. Sometimes being critically acclaimed can backfire, as did in her case. Most music loyalists were afraid of yet another fit blond girl, singing catchy songs. The key to Goulding's growth is her repeated reference to her days songwriting in her pajamas before her record deal. It reminds us of her raw and humble beginnings and as a result, we can relate to her.

Watching her perform also reminds me of how out of shape I am! Goulding was sponsored by Nike last year during her UK tour, during which she did runs around the cities she was performing in with fans. I of course, entered to win the chance, failed to win, but was glad in the end as I am sure I would not have kept up along the Thames of London! I always watch in awe when she bangs away at her drums or strums heavily on her guitar. That girl is fit!

Ellie Goulding - Brighton Great Escape Festival - May 15th, 2010

From a fashion standpoint, I'm fairly sure Goulding has paved the return of shorts with tights. Her most notable tights have been the House of Holland 'London' tights (which I coveted so badly but settled for the knee-suspender tights). Tights are something I LOVE ... and why I love Fall/Winter so much just so I can wear them everyday!

So where does Goulding go from here? If her recent collaboration with Tinie Tempah on Wonderman is any indication, she is destined to capture the attention of many genres of listeners. She is ultimately pop, yet so cool in hip hop and when stripped down to just her and her guitar, she is bordering on folk. I am upset even thinking about missing the UK Festival season this summer but there will be many more. And trust me, I will make up for it ;)

And in her fabulous London tights at the London Hammersmith Apollo:

♥ ♥ ♥

I Just Had Sex (feat. Akon)

2011-03-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

I am almost embarrassed to classify this under 'Music' on my blog but with 62 million views, I guess I am not the only one who cannot get enough of this video! Guest stars include the ever lovely Blake Lively and Jessica Alba.

Highlights include:

Akon miming the lyrics and not able to keep a straight face
The quintessential key-change
I'm so humbled by a girl's ability to let me do her
'Cause honestly, I'd have sex with a pile of manure
With that in mind, a soft, nice-smellin' girl's better
Plus she let me wear my chain and my turtleneck sweaters
She kept lookin' at her watch (Doesn't matter, had sex!)
But I cried the whole time (Doesn't matter, had sex!)
I think she might've been a racist (Doesn't matter, had sex!)
She put a bag on my head (Still counts!)

Thanks to Ray Louse Coyle for sharing her love of Akon. Feel free to follow her blog for her musical musings as well!

Erik Hassle - A Swedish Gem

2011-02-27T20:42:00.000-08:00

The other night while watching Gossip Girl (one of a handful of shows I can never miss), a song peaked my interest during the climax of the episode (Season 4, Episode 16: "While You Weren't Sleeping"). I could sing along to the words so I knew the song was part of my collection. It was none other than Erik Hassle.

A stunning song featuring haunting piano riffs, "The Thanks I Get" is one of my favourites from his debut album Pieces. Now this is the bit that gets confusing. The first version of the album, called Hassle, was originally released in Sweden in 2009. After much success there, Erik went on to release his album in 2010 in the UK.

Erik Hassle - The Queen of Hoxton
August 20, 2009

Much like other artists, I can never pinpoint the moment I discovered him. I won tickets from a website, and went to see Erik play at The Queen of Hoxton on August 20th, 2009 in London. In this intimate venue, his voice was clear, confident and addictive. I wanted to see more.

One of the things I love most about London is the accessibility of many musical artists. If you miss one at one gig, surely there will be another at a different venue a night shortly thereafter. In a city so big, most artists do multiple shows to keep up with demand.

Sure enough, a few days later on August 24th, 2009, Erik played a promotional set at 55DSL on Carnaby Street. Due to the restrictive size of the "venue", Erik and his bandmate Viktor performed acoustically. Music to my ears! To be able to perform spontaneously and acoustically is the true test of an artist and Erik excelled.

Erik Hassle - 55DSL
August 24th, 2009

My memory evades me as I cannot remember through who I was invited to this intimate event by. Whoever it was, also introduced me to Erik himself. I would also like to note, completely off-topic, that this was one of the first times I embraced beer. It was so bloody hot in there, it was either drink nothing or drink beer. Which reminds me, I also miss the free booze at events in London!

Erik Hassle - The Gap 1969 Launch
September 11, 2009

As if this was not enough stalking on my behalf, I went to see Erik again at the launch of The Gap's 1969 pop-up store in Carnaby street a few weeks later on September 11, 2009. I had to see as many performances (of any artist for that matter) when I can as you never know when and if they will be in your neck of the woods again. I can never turn down a free gig.

The set was short and sweet as the boys were off to Sweden to play more gigs. By now, I started to recognize the same people repeatedly showing up at his gigs. I was hesitant to think they were starting to recognize me and then wrongfully thought of me as a fellow stalker!

Erik Hassle - The Flowerpot
October 7, 2009

When I heard Erik was playing at The Flowerpot, below my first London flat on Kentish Town Road, I had to go! It was strange to have Erik playing right below my old kitchen ;)

Erik worked hard at practicing and promoting himself through the London gig circuit. He deserves recognition but maybe it was not the right timing, I cannot be sure. From his Tweets and his Facebook updates, it appears he is working on new material. I know that with new material, his career will experience a revival and hopefully catapult him to the next level. Being featured on an episode of Gossip Girl, I'm sure, has helped his cause.

Erik Hassle - The Slaughtered Lamb
November 4, 2009

Erik Hassle - The Enterprise
November 9, 2009

Here is a collaboration with one of my favourite Brits Ellie Goulding covering Robyn's "Be Mine". Absolutely stunning and raw.

Here's to success for Erik Hassle in 2011!

My Current Read - Hello Dubai

2011-01-12T23:05:00.000-08:00

Continuing on my non-fiction phase (one which has lasted over 3 years), I am halfway through Hello Dubai by Joe Bennett. Anyone who has ever watched a movie with me knows that I struggle with things that do not make sense. I always want to know "why" and "how"? This also applies to books. Don't get me wrong, I love fiction as well but for now, I am far too curious to want anything other than non-fiction. Told in first-person, this book uncovers the story of Dubai in a casual, raw and honest way.

Boom town, modern marvel, commercial hub, where middle-east meets wealthy west, playground for tourists, crawling with ex-pats, built by Indians, owned by Arabs, Dubai has risen from next to nothing to an awful lot in little more than thirty years. How? And can it go on? Has it sold itself to the corporate dollar? Is it anything more than a mall in the desert? Will the sands return? Joe Bennett goes to find out. (From Simon & Schuster UK)

A Year Ago Today - January 10, 2010

2011-01-10T23:08:00.000-08:00

Winding down my time in London (only to be back in March), Darren and I headed to one of our favourite restaurants in London: St. John Bar and Restaurant SMITHFIELD

26 St. John Street

London

EC1M 4AY

(1 Michelin Star)

If you like game like us, you will love this nose-to-tail eating establishment. Fresh sheet everyday, baked goods made on premises. You MUST try the madeleines!

Chorizo and snails; Welsh Rarebit; Chard

Outside, we bumped into our good friend Emma! What are the chances in a large city such as London.
P.S. We have a slice of chocolate cake in the bag for takeaway :)

Primark - Spring 2011

2011-01-10T21:51:00.000-08:00

I can no longer say it's a Spring "preview" as some of these pieces are hitting shop floors this week. Needless to say, I am in Vancouver shedding a few tears as I will be missing one of my favourite hobbies: shopping at my beloved Primark!

For the last two/three years while I was living in London, Primark was my saviour. With a population of over 7,000,000 people in Greater London, mass market high-street apparel has a way of looking unique and somewhat unidentifiable [as Primark]. Women across the country may wear the same dress but the styling possibilities are endless!

Many of you often ask where I buy my dresses. If they are not homemade, from vintage/charity shops, or eBay, chances are good they are from Primark. Since I have relocated back to Vancouver, I still save all my money and do big shops when I am in London instead. Prices at Primark (or what we lovingly call 'Primarni') are comparable to the lower end prices of Forever21. Forever21 was once a fun, go-to destination for disposable clothes but has now become over-priced and of poor quality. At least with Primark, you get what you pay for, with a load of European flavour thrown in for free!

You may recognize Jade McSorley as the second runner up in Season 5 of Britain's Next Top Model (Click on her name to see her Models1 portfolio). She was my favourite from the get go yet she was criticized and later eliminated because of her slim frame. McSorley is no longer a "New Face" of Models1 and is now featured amongst models such as Agyness Deyn and Alessandra Ambrosio.

PRIMARK SPRING 2011

(All photos courtesy of Primark)

I'm in love with the tan faux leather and flower print bag

First delivery is Mid-January with the second and third deliveries in February and March respectively. I may have to put an order in!

White Lies 'Ritual' - My Review

2011-01-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

Let's begin by saying I am no music expert but I do love music! My review here is strictly my inexperienced opinion and through this posting, I hope to share my support for the White Lies and their next venture.

I am fortunate to have heard the new album but my intention is not to leak any new info that you cannot already find on the Internet or through live performances posted on YouTube :)

Please support the band by buying the album when it is released on January 17th, 2011.

Also, those in London, HVV 150 Oxford street is hosting White Lies at 6pm on January 17th for a short live performance followed by an album signing :)

Track-by-Track Review:

1. Is Love (4:52)

"She says the only thing I've ever found that's greater than it always sounds, Is Love"

Immediately you sense a darker undertone or as quoted from The Fly's interview back in July, "a lot more morbid and depressing than the first one [album]". The build-up to the breakout chorus is intense, as the stomp of the drums open up into a synth-heavy groove not present in their first album, To Lose My Life.

The magic of this song is in the underlying guitar and bass riffs. They will surely induce a rhythmic bobbing of heads in the crowd. The song's placement is ideal as it serves as a warm-up to the rest of the album. Strong, paced and sure, Is Love invites listeners old and new alike to the growth of their sound. Initially I was a bit alienated by this new synthy sound but now I see it as a welcome evolution. There is enough space in this song to hint at the bigger stadium sound of this album.

The storytelling in the bridge is reminiscent of the bridge in Death, which in my opinion, was the best set of lyrics in the entire To Lose My Life.

2. Streetlights (5:00)

"Hold tight for heartbreak, buckle up for loneliness..."
"Can anybody hear me, is anybody out there, not a soul in the streetlight, this might be love"

The chorus is a catchy one and I remember singing along to it when they played it at their gig at Shoreditch Town Hall. Harry's voice reaches an almost uncomfortable low as he sings the verses but it is a strong indicator of his range. By the time he gets to the chorus, the slower pace of the song emphasizes the exasperation in his voice. The song is dark but full of emotion. Jack's hard hitting drums in the chorus only adds to the desperation and heartbreak of the words.

This song asks for a bit of patience and repeat listening for you to fall in love with it. Maybe it's my impatience to get to the chorus everytime so that I can sing along at the top of my lungs! Clocking in at 5 minutes, it's a touch longer than the tracks we're used to from the first album and if it wasn't for the catchy loops, I would most likely skip to the next song ...

3. Bigger Than Us (4:43)

"I don't need your tears, I don't want your love, I just gotta get home ..."

I'm still trying to find out the meaning behind the dumbfounding (at least for me!) video. Hopefully I can get some details and report back!

If you wanted a song to fill a stadium, here it is! The Fly called the "hook catchy enough to headline Glasto by itself" and I have no doubts this is true. Maybe someone tell Jay Z to take a break next year ad give these lads a go!

Sonically, there are loads of elements to this song. The layers intermix to create a seamless story which takes a breather at the bridge only to build back up to full head-bobbing, foot stomping sound again. Bigger Than Us fully involves the audience from the head to the feet, from the heart-strings to the gut. It was a great choice for the lead single. The large soundscape continues from where Farewell to the Fairground left us off.

4. Peace and Quiet (5:57)

"Your head on my heart, anchored the storm in my eyes. I lay like a carcass, your lips never letting the blood dry. And so I pray for tomorrow and wait listening out for the reply."

It's lyrics like this that set the White Lies apart from many mainstream bands on the market right now...

After the quick pace of Bigger Than Us, this song continues the large sound with slower, heavily stated synth and drums. There is more jamming than lyrics and as a result, the listener is taken for a sonic ride. It also introduces strings which I loved so much in Price of Love. The guitar does get the spotlight just before the song erupts into the final bout of instrumental greatness.

By the time this track rolls around, you are accustomed to the more mature sound. The beauty of this song is the clean control and close attention to details. The layered harmonies of the chorus is the standout and makes you want to figure out just how many voices were recorded. On the live version, Harry's voice reaches the high notes with such rawness and power. Peace and Quiet it ain't ... instead this understated song puts the exclamation point on the White Lies' arrival into the new decade.

Here is a fantastic quality video of this song live:

5. Holy Ghost (4:22)

"You were writhing on the floor like a moth in molasses. Who ever taught you to move your body like that?"

There are many things to like about this song. I can't stop listening to the way Harry releases the word "ghost" in the chorus. It shows control and an understanding of restraint in an otherwise up-tempo song. The bass digs a into a deep note of darkness while the harmonies in the chorus contrast. You can hear the bass more in the live version below than the version on the album.

A mid-album pickup, the cyclical backing vocals on the chorus can't help but make you sing along. I did, however, mistakenly thought the guys were singing "wonderwall" repeatedly but I was rightfully corrected. I believe they are singing "one of us, one of us, you can be one of us". In the live version I posted below, this bit is missing and the backing vocals are slightly different.

This song has become a slow favourite of mine. With a sound that The Fly describes as 'industrial', Holy Ghost is a hit sure to gain the lads new followers as well as keep the old ones happy. After warming up everyone's dancing shoes though, the White Lies take the energy a notch back down with the next song.

6. Turn the Bells (5:18)

"The marketplace has nothing to sell, left alone its awnings shiver ..."
"You find some best friends, we'll hold each other, and I'll turn the bells ..."

The strength of the drums in the intro can easily belong in a dark scene of an action movie. Imagine the camera panning across a metropolitan city at night, residents in a deep slumber as the darkness of the night maliciously plays. The melancholic harmonies in the chorus adds mystery to the story.

This song thus far has not shown up on any recent setlists. From the first listen, I identified this as a powerful song although it could test a crowd's patience if it was played live. Do you know those songs in an artist's set that seems to drag just a touch too long before the next song picks everyone up again? This could be that culprit.

Nonetheless, the sad serenity of this song is the best ally for a rainy day. And everyone knows there are many of those in the UK ...

7. The Power and the Glory (5:14)

"What if I were to disobey, give you back the power."

None of you better make a Killers reference here! Just because there are droning synths and a catchy clap-inducing chorus does not make one The Killers! (Side note: to be fair, Alan Moulder and Flood did co-produce Sams Town along with The Killers ...)

Due to the repetitive nature of the chorus, this is the point when Harry turns the microphone over to the audience for the obligatory crowd involvement (I kid, I kid!) This song could turn out to be the anthem of 'Ritual' and therefore be a prime candidate for a club mix. The ingredients are all there: heavy synth, fluttering beats to fill the spaces and drums building to a climax.

For me, this song is the largest departure from the hits of To Lose My Life. Harry barely plays the guitar and there is a strong reliance on synths like never before. I like the song, don't get me wrong, but after listening to this track, I'm ready for the guys to break it down again with a strong rock track.

8. Come Down (5:12)

"Felt love last night for the first time in a long time, feels like coming home to stay."
"I know you said you'll miss me, but I know that you won't. Cuz time is like a wave that washes all the pain away, when you come down ..."
"I've buried my pride, I've buried the key"

This is a fantastic song that belongs in a live show. Easily one of the standouts on Ritual for me. So far, I haven't seen it on a setlist like Turn the Bells. The tempo is slow and dragging but the lyrics standout against this steady beat. Coming in at just over five minutes, it feels like only three minutes have elapsed and leaves me wanting more.

Teasing with each chord, each note of the synth, the song slowly climbs to the breathtaking bridge. The layering of falsettos in the bridge is beautiful and mysterious. It shows the craft involved in the making of this record. Recorded 30x and layered one on top of each other, this technique is not lost. And just like the song built itself layer upon layer, it is deconstructed element by element as it creeps to an end.

9. Bad Love (3:59)

"I bought a tuxedo and I bought a gun, gonna roam around this town. No one dares to lift a finger, they can see my heart is down and injured."
"If i'm guilty of anything, is loving you too much, and sometimes love means getting a little hurt."

Every lyric is quotable in this song, the shortest of the whole album. If written down on paper, it reads of a seamless story of hurt and love. The guitar parts tying the verses and choruses together are also singable and punctuates the story.

A synth break revolves and revolves until the band breaks through a boiling point and spills into a dark and dirty finale. Each hit of the drum emphasizes that THIS.IS.NOT.BAD.LOVE. You can't help but feel the exasperation of the words.

I love the placement of this track right before Strangers. This song has so much grit and anger contrasting against Strangers which is lighter in comparison. It leaves the listener remembering both perspectives of this band and leaves them guessing which direction the third album will embark upon.

10. Strangers (5:25)

"Is this how your heart treats all strangers, with love and affection?"
"I heard the water beat at your skin, a shower of discipline ..."

Agreed. There is nothing stranger than to love someone ...

A danceable track of epic proportions, it leaves you high on adrenaline and disappointed the album is over. Really? Only 10 songs? Give us 5 more! To be fair, To Lose My Life also only had ten tracks and the average length of each song on Ritual is longer. But because each song is a distinct concept, I am left wanting to uncover more of the story ... what stories of sadness and love will their next song tell?

*****

And there you have it! My little review of the album. I love this album and I hope everyone goes out and BUYS it. As with any musician out there, they deserve your support and not your thievery :)

A big thank-you to the fellow YouTubers who have posted the live videos. I suggest you visit their individual channels/pages as they have uploaded more fabulous music videos!

Lissie Live in Vancouver

2010-12-30T01:16:00.000-08:00

On a whim, I bought tickets to see Lissie tonight at the Biltmore Cabaret and I am so glad I did! I first noticed her at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton this past May. She did the most splendid performance of Everywhere I Go with Ellie Goulding. You can check out the video on a previous blog here.

Lissie played to a sold-out crowd along with her guitarist Eric Sullivan and drummer/bassist/backing vocalist extraordinaire Lewis Keller. There's something to be said about being able to play percussion and bass while singing at the same time! The standout for me was Everywhere You Go because of its rawness and simplicity. This is Lissie, take it or leave it. The girl knows how to rock out too and does an amazing cover of Kid Cudi's Pursuit of Happiness which the crowd eagerly requested.

She also told the story behind Cuckoo. It talks about the time growing up in Illinois when she felt sure of who she was but was looked down upon as naive. Her advice? Stick to your guns and wait it out. In the end, everything gets better despite a few peaks and troughs.

New! I've just added Lissie performing Pursuit of Happiness

For now, here is the set-list and a smattering of photos. ~~I have a few videos uploading at the moment :)~~

White Lies - January 22, 2011 (Seattle)

2010-12-26T00:09:00.000-08:00

In the next few days, I hope to do a track-by-track review of the White Lie's new album Ritual due to come out in January.

I'm pretty stoked as I'm all booked to do a mini-roadtrip to catch the guys in Seattle at Neumos :)

Favourite track: Bigger Than Us
Honourable mention: Come Down

(But it changes every week)

xx

Top 5 Albums of 2010

2010-12-25T23:53:00.000-08:00

Inspired by my friend Rob's blog, and his collection of Top 5 Albums of 2010, I'm going to put my 2 cents in! Now some of you may go, "what the heck was she thinking?" but I have to go by what I've been listening to the most on my iPod and not be influenced by what the music publications have fed me this year. I am a fairly open person when it comes to music and as a result, you will see my choices span the genres of Rock, Indie, Pop and Folk.

Here goes!

My Top 5 Albums of 2010

1. Foals - Total Life Forever

Their first album 'Antidotes' paved the way for the so-called 'math-rock' movement with its upbeat, syncopated songs. One look at them and you'd think they were the ultimate scenesters. The addictive beats reappear on Total Life Forever, but the melodies are more developed soundscapes.

Standout Track: Miami - it takes the sometimes over-the-top beats of their first album and gives it the space it deserves.

2. Jonsi - Go

While the rest of Sigur Rós are on hiatus having babies, Jónsi Birgisson embarks on his first solo English record. What was intended as an acoustic album somehow evolved into this dreamy festival for the ears when Jónsi met another Icelandic great, Nico Muhly. Jonsi still sounds like he's singing in Icelandic/Hopelandic but bless him, he's more about emotion than words anyway!

Standout Track: Tornado - Despite the bare lyrics, Jónsi develops the sound into a climax and then exhales. Breathtaking glockenspiel (in the live version only) and fantastic drums, thanks to Samuli Kosinien of another Icelanic experimental group múm.

3. Ellie Goulding - Bright Lights

This is a re-issue of Lights, released in March 2010 with 6 new tracks. BBC named Goulding as the artist to watch going into 2010 and she was even crowned Best New Artist at the Brit awards. The songs are equal parts folk, pop, electronic and 100% infectious. I give the girl extra credit for having written the songs with just her guitar and recorded a lot of this album in an East London home studio.

Standout Track: Your Song - an Elton John cover, it's just Goulding's raw voice, a piano and strings. Honourable mention goes to 'Wish I Stayed' as it's gutsy put the first song you've ever written on a debut album.

4. The Pretty Reckless - Light Me Up

Forget about Taylor Momsen or Jenny or Gossip Girl. The mistake most people make is to dismiss this album based on these three things before they even give it a good listen. Remember the days of Veruca Salt, Courtney Love and Garbage? Momsen is today's version of the power rock chick, albeit with a lot more black goth-liner and a lot less clothes :S

Standout Track: Tonight - husky yet demanding, this little vixen breathes sexy whispers and then rocks out with the rest of her man-band in the chorus! I've heard her in some BBC Live Lounge sessions and no, this girl is not a product of good studio editing.

5. The Drums - The Drums

Nothing groundbreaking here and my choice is heavily influenced by a live gig I attended in London earlier this year. If you are looking for an album that evokes the sounds and feel of summer, this one's for you. These Brooklyn lads were much talked about going into 2010 and their young sound re-ignited my belief in the importance of a good live show as well as a strong album.

Standout Track: Down by the Water - understated surfer cool. Honourable mention goes to Best Friend which is more typical of their sound as a band.

CONCERT(S) OF THE YEAR

I've been a to whole slew of gigs this year ranging from She & Him to Hole. It's hard to pinpoint just one memorable gig so here's my top 3 :)

1. Jónsi (03.26.10) at 3 Mills Studio in London - We were told we were extras for his 2nd single so we all showed up dressed as animals. Little did we know, it ended up being a recorded final dress rehearsal before they went on their first ever tour! That show is now part of the Go Live DVD/CD set.

2. One Republic (04.20.10) at Shepherds Bush Empire, London - One of the most underrated bands ever. These lads now spend more time in the UK than America and it has done their music wonders. They are tight and best of all, they are all multi-instrumentalists.

3. The Temper Trap (June & December, 2010) at The Commodore, Vancouver - The best singalong show this year by far! Can't wait to hear their second album ... and from what my inside source says, it's going to be worth the wait!

Overall Honourable Mentions:

School of Seven Bells - Disconnect from Desire

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Yeasayer - Odd Blood

Gentle Fawn Giveaway via hearted girl

2010-12-21T22:34:00.000-08:00

I'm guilty ... I find myself reading so many blogs that sometimes I neglect my own.
I love keeping my ear to the ground by reading opinions on everything but mainly on music and fashion based out of London or Vancouver.

One new blog I've recently stumbled upon is hearted girl
Based in Vancouver, Lynn blogs about a myriad of things but I love the visuals most of all. Her blog is great for scanning the images until I see something I fancy after which I will delve deeper if I have the time :)

As a way of giving back, hearted girl is currently hosting a Gentle Fawn giveaway:

Click here to enter and check out the blog :)

Matt Cardle wins X Factor UK 2010

2010-12-13T23:24:00.000-08:00

I never thought the day would come when I blogged about X Factor, but here it is! The show has always been my guilty pleasure and I try my best to pull others in. (Best way I have found is with beer, tea and/or a combination of both with fresh baked goods!). Last year, we had friends around on Sunday nights to watch X Factor. As it is most Brits' guilty pleasure, we gathered everyone around under the pretense of a "catch-up session" but everyone knew it was for the Sunday night vote-off!

My favourite performance by far this year was Matt Cardle's duet with Rihanna. I most often vote for the underdog; even better if the underdog is cute, plays a guitar and sings! Watch the video below and if you don't squeal like an excited teenage girl at the sound of the words "Justin Beiber", then I don't know if you appreciate how truly awesome this duet was!

Although Travis was the first to popularize the "manly" version of Britney Spears' Hit Me Baby One More Time, it is Matt Cardle who does it better justice. OK, maybe I'm a bit biased because A) I'm a Britney fan and B) I love Matt Cardle.

Hopefully the same time next year, Matt Cardle will still be around and making great music. I didn't have the same well wishes for last year's winner Joe McElderry so you all know I'm serious this time!

Best of luck to him xx

My Revived Obsession - Lissie

2010-12-05T21:22:00.000-08:00

This past June, there was a lot of buzz in the UK of Lissie, a blonde American folk singer. I fell in love with her album Catching a Tiger but was too preoccupied with another blonde singer (Ellie Goulding) and therefore didn't give her album nearly as many listens. I also wrongly assumed she was Jewel version 2.0 but realized there could never be another Jewel!

With her latest single Everywhere I Go, my obession for Lissie has been revived and all in good time as she is playing a gig at the Biltmore Cabaret on December 29, 2010. Her music provides the space many overproduced pop songs of today stifles. I am not saying one genre is better than another (although most people I know could argue about this for hours).

In my current headspace, and in this chaotic Christmas season, Lissie's Catching a Tiger is a melodic escape from the over-excited songs infiltrating our everday lives. Take for example the predictable Christmas classic remixes at the shopping mall. Or the annual charge for commercial hits to take the Christmas #1 single title. (Not since Girls Aloud with their amazing Sound of the Underground have I paid even an ounce of attention to such a race ... Joe McElderry anyone?).

I'm getting sidetracked because now I'm getting excited about Girls Aloud again!

Here is the undeniable hit machine with Sound of the Underground recorded during their Out of Control tour at the O2 Arena in London. And yes, I was present when they filmed this! Who wants to buy this DVD for me for Christmas (I have meant to buy it for ages; this one and the one from their Tangled Up tour.)

And let's not forget the woman of the hour, Lissie:

White Lies return with 'Ritual' and lead single BIGGER THAN US

2010-12-02T16:54:00.000-08:00

If the world has any justice at all, this new single from the White Lies will propel them to being an international household name. Their first album, To Lose My Life was thoughtful and dark but most importantly poignant.

Ritual, to be released in January is a follow-up album every band dreams to be able to create. The 10 songs on it shows incredible growth yet it does not alienate their pre-existing fanbase. If the lead single 'Bigger Than Us' is any indicator, White Lies are destined to do the arena circuit.

When I first heard this song, I thought 'Streetlights' should have been their first single instead. After giving it a few more listens, I felt similar to when I first heard 'Death' (lead track from To Lose My Life). Both these tracks are intelligent and emotionally powerful; I didn't quite get them from listening to each once. Watch and listen for yourself.

On October 28th, White Lies played a special show at the Shoreditch Town Hall in London. Needless to say, the boys rocked my socks off! Especially Tommy ;)

White Lies at Shoreditch Town Hall

With Rachel and Frances

Set List:

STRANGERS
TO LOSE MY LIFE
HOLY GHOST
STREETLIGHTS
A PLACE TO HIDE
PEACE & QUIET
IS LOVE
FROM THE STARS
BAD LOVE
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
BIGGER THAN US
DEATH
FAREWELL TO THE FAIRGROUND

These songs are off 'Ritual'.

Where was 'Turn the Bells'? :(

Superdrug Radiance Competition - Please vote for me!

2010-11-30T23:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks for coming by my blog ... I've noticed I have had a few new visitors lately and I'm making an effort to blog a bit more as a result of it :)

If you have a few moment, please submit a vote for me in the Superdrug Radiance competition. It would really mean a lot to me if I could win 1000 quid towards a new Apple computer which I desperately need!

Click on the link and vote for photo #4. You don't have to sign up for any newsletters or anything or even give out your personal info other than your email.

Thanks in advance :)

http://superdrugloves.com/britney-radiance-competition/

PS. My photo that was shortlisted is the big photo at the top of this blog ... one of my favourites from a trip to Oslo :)

Ellie Goulding - Your Song

2010-11-28T22:33:00.000-08:00

Seldom comes a long a song so simple yet yields such a transfixing effect. I've always loved Ellie Goulding and by always I mean in 2010 when she plowed onto the UK music scene.

Under immense pressure to succeed from the get-go, Goulding was named the BBC Sound of 2010. My other favourite standouts in the list include The Drums, Marina & the Diamonds and Delphic. Three completely contrasting sounds but all unique and carving a niche for themselves.

Shortly after being crowned the Sound, Goulding won the Critic's Choice Award at the 2010 Brit Awards. No small feat considering past winners include Florence & the Machine and even Michael Jackson.

Her debut album Lights was a regular on my iPod this year until it was ousted by The Temper Trap. Lately I'm back on the White Lies as I'm gearing up for the release of their second album in January. But I digress. Goulding has re-released her debut as Bright Lights which includes six previously unreleased tracks such as Human and Animal.

The standout by far is a cover of Elton John's Your Song. Breathtakingly pretty, Goulding is able to stand the test of woman-with-guitar to prove that she is not a puppet in a big man's industry.

And while you are here, check out Lissie featuring Ellie Goulding at this year's Great Escape Festival in Brighton. I was fortunate enough to see this miracle happen in person as I commuted for the festival from London this May. Two young respected females, relatively new to the industry, performing with a rawness most established acts only wished they could replicate.

I hope you enjoy ♥

My Beautiful Shoes from Upper Street

2010-08-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

My creation - Coy Zebra

   At 2am last night, I clicked Buy and therefore committed to the very first shoe I have ever designed!

   Courtesy of Keynoir London, I was given the chance to have my shoe design handmade by Upper Street; every girl's dream right? The task was arduous as half the fun of shoe shopping is getting to slip into a brand new stiletto and having my breath taken away. The other half is being able to feel the shoe and study the fine craftsmanship.

   It was difficult to know what fabrics and colours complimented each other. I did not want to go overboard, but I also wanted something whimsical and not available on the high street! Alas, I was up to the task and here is the creation that is due to arrive in 4-6 weeks!

   The body of the shoe is a black satin, with hot pink satin accents. The heel and base are a zebra animal skin of some sort, as is the strap. These will go perfectly with my dress-predominant wardrobe. (Who am I kidding I pretty much ONLY wear dresses so I can wear fabulous shoes!)

My competition entry

This is another design I did for Upper Street's Facebook competition. I never expected to be shortlisted to their Top 20 designs! The shoes were inspired by the Fall 2010 trends as shown on the European catwalks. Animal prints are back, as are rich metallics. I suppose these two trends have never faded into obscurity but instead are more featured this upcoming season. I have always considered both of these trends to be timeless staples!

I hate voting competitions as I do not like getting my friends involved in my hobby of comping but if anyone feels inclined to, you can vote for my design here until August 31st, 2010 :)

VOTE HERE

Live at Squamish & Random Canadian Music Ramblings ...

2010-08-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

With under two weeks until the Live at Squamish festival, I have begun my preparations by perusing the MySpace pages of the artists. Anyone who has ever been to a festival knows that a plan is necessary to ensure no great music is missed. Take for instance Field Day 2008. We managed to catch 1.5 bands and by the 0.5, I mean we made it to the tent but were distracted by the downpour all around us so we didn't actually savour the music! Field Day 2009 was a bigger success, as we managed to see Little Boots, Mogwai, The Temper Trap and more :)

The artists I am most looking forward to at Live at Squamish are:

Jon and Roy

I went to high school with Roy and even then, he was distinctly a talented percussionist. They have had success touring Canada and as with any other homegrown band, I hope they cross the pond more often and explore a different market. Dan Mangan has done amazingly overseas :)

We Are They City

I discovered this 3-piece from Kelowna while Googling for new Canadian artists. After listening to their entire album as a stream on their website, I am convinced they have the potential to be revered as one of Canada's best new bands .

Matthew Good

This guy still needs to redeem himself for his act of arson during a show at The Commodore over 10 years ago. I was not impressed when he lit an unsuspecting plush panda on fire during the show :( It was the most adorable thing, until it engulfed in flames and died a slow, miserable death! All that aside, I remember having a great time that night, but it has been too long! Another local GVRD boy who has had a commendable international career.

As you may have noticed, I am going to Live at Squamish to see the Canadian artists! As a supporter of home-grown music, I must mention Canadian Blast.

Canadian Blast is an organization dedicated to promoting Canadian music around the world. I have met their representative, Shaun, in London and I am thrilled Canadians are getting this exposure, with support from the government!

At one of their many showcases in London, I discovered Nova Scotian Rich Aucoin. He absolutely brought the audience at Pure Groove Records to their feet when he performed on a Canadian Blast night a few months ago. Even the reluctant wallflowers found themselves singing along to the lyrics and joining Rich's team huddle. You have to see it to believe it, although be forewarned, he may alienate those who like to stay out of the action ...

The crowd getting involved at Pure Groove (London, May 2010)

Can I digress and say Bryan Adams was amazing this weekend at Empire Field? Talk about a successful Canadian! I should have known better and stationed myself at the front so I could have been picked to sing When You're Gone with him. I forgot that he always chooses an audience member at every show. Here is an extra special performance of that song with THE Mel C in London, November 2008.

O2 Arena, London, November 2008

And while I am celebrating Canadian musicians abroad, there is a photo of Dan Mangan performing an acoustic set at The Lexington in Angel.

Dan Mangan, November 2009

Clearly I am too musically excited to focus on a proper update today. Sorry for the random digressions! There are not enough hours in a day for me to rant about my lovely musical experiences :)

Current musical obsessions ...

2010-08-17T03:04:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, I get an itch and have to hit up the trusty iTunes to buy some new albums. Lately I've been saying "OMG that's an amazing song! I need to get it" way too often yet not remembering to get it right away.

Erland and the Carnival

Intrigued by the name, we checked out their set at The Great Escape Festival. Pretty impressed by their sound, not to mention, their lead singer was pretty fit. Well, at least in the dark and from the back of the room :) This London band was formed by Simon Tong, formerly of The Verve and played parts with Blur and the Gorillaz.

One Republic - Wake Up

This is one of the best under-rated bands! I was at The Forum in September of 2009 when they debuted some of the new songs off this album before it was released. I saw them again a few months ago at Shepherds Bush Empire and once again, a polished, international-level show. Sometimes I wonder how Ryan Tedder ends up saving all his best musings for One Republic and not spend them on his other ventures (his Production Credits here). The band has a very European sound, which make sense because they spend more time in London/Europe than their own native USA.

Jónsi - Go Do

Both Jónsi and Sigur Ros somehow turn everything they touch into musical bliss. I'm not sure how they do it! Although their sound is not typically mainstream and rarely, if ever, makes it into the charts, ask anyone and they will say they have heard of them. And if you haven't, you actually have, you just didn't know that was their music! Rachel and I were fortunate enough to see Jónsi live at 3 Mills Studios in East London when we answered an advert to be an extra in his second video. Dressed like animals as requested, we showed up only to discover we were going to be a test audience for his new tour! Pure bliss :)

March 2010 - 3 Mills Studios, London

Gin Wigmore - Holy Smoke

I discovered her when I was shopping at Hollister (gasp!) and couldn't get this song out of my head for days. When I like a song, I have to find out what it is and after searching high and low, I stumbled upon a website for Hollister in-store playlists. Very soulful and very reminiscent of my other favourite, Paloma Faith, I find her sound intriguing and hope to hear more from her in the future.

Next up on the list: She & Him: Volume I, and Goldfrapp - Rocket.

Oh, and the new Arcade Fire ... check out what the hype is all about :)

Helsinki 2005 - A Walk Down Memory Lane

2010-08-11T00:53:00.000-07:00

   I did a bit of cleaning up and I stumbled on some photo CDs! Imagine that, I haven't used a photo CD in years ... so I decided to back them all up onto my trusty hard-drive. I ended up flicking though a lot of the photos and I thought I'd post a few and share the memories of a time in my life that I will hold close to my forever. While most people settled down and got proper jobs, Melissa and I embarked on a journey halfway across the world to experience something most people never get to experience: living, loving and most of all laughing (all the while completely confused as we spoke not a word of Finnish).
   OK, we knew how to say "Little Boy" (pieni poika) and surprisingly, that came in handy numerous times!
   Also, one random memory that just came to me was the first time we went to the supermarket in Helsinki. We were looking for something as simple as salt. But when you're in a foreign country with packaging in languages you can't comprehend (Finnish or Swedish), finding salt can be the most challenging thing. After about 5 minutes of debating a) which one is salt and b) what the different coloured labels are, this random dude from another aisle casually walked by and said "that one"! Well that sorted us out! That was also the supermarket that taught me cilantro and coriander are virtually the same thing. I looked around and around for cilantro, only to "settle" for coriander because it smelled the closest thing to cilantro .. doh!

At the Pasila train station after a night out at Amarillo ... it was so fun we even took their sign home!

Yes, we went to class (sometimes!) Here is Mauri working hard on his screen printing.

The Italian leaving do ... we came, we stayed until sunrise on a school night, but no, we did not conquer!

Spring cleaning, or rather our one and only ever flat cleaning! Look at all the crap we found in our "Crack room"

You know it's serious when you make Sangria in a bin and stir with a bottle!

We lived in the same building yet for some reason, it's easier just to all crash at ours ...

Easter Preparation Part I

Easter Preparation Part II

Helsinki, I will love you always, even when you are freezing cold...because you're beautiful!

So all the photos above are from March 2005. Wow, in one month, I lived a lot. And that's how life should be ... Hope to find more and immortalize them in the Blogosphere!

Holiday in Whistler

2010-07-27T01:55:00.000-07:00

After having lived in London for the past few years, a visit back to Vancouver is always interesting. I guess you don't really miss what you have until you leave it for a while! I know Vancouver is beautiful, but it didn't really hit home until my boyfriend came to join me for a few weeks ... then I started to look at Vancouver through a tourist's eyes again and have now regained a new found inspiration from the landscape (great beaches help too!)

We spent our first few week exploring Whistler. The last time I was there, it was a one-night party trip with a few friends and we barely explored the Village. This time, with five full days, we were able to try a few new restaurants, hit a lake, go up to the top of the mountain, and more importantly, work on our tans!

Capturing the 2010 Olympic spirit!

Gorgeous and patriotic moment :)

   Dinner on our first night was at Bearfoot Bistro at 4121 Village Green. We chose this restaurant as our 'splurge' over Araxi because of its fantastic 3 course dinner menu for $45. I just noticed the price went up to $55 though ... You may also recall the winner of Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen (US) Season 6 recruited it's winner to be the Executive Chef. Sadly he left Araxi shortly after the Olympics so that bit of novelty factor also swayed me towards Bearfoot.

   We had fresh Effingham oysters and a seared scallop to start (+$8), followed by an angus beef tenderloin and a lamb shank (+$5) for me. In between courses, we went to the sub-arctic vodka tasting room (why not!). For $16 a pop, not cheap, although we are always game to try something fun! To top it off, I finished off with a Coconut Snowball (swirled with a coriander dressing! my fav!) while Darren had a box of handmade chocolates. Pastry Chef Dominic Fortin really outdid himself with a basil infused strawberry chocolate amongst other flavours!

Atlantic lobster mini-starter

Lamb shank with bone marrow (served in a bone!); Beef Tenderloin in the background

The following day, we took a Ziptrek Ecotours Tour (Bear Tour). I would recommending the extra splurge to take the Eagle Tour since it has a line that is twice as long as the longest line in the Bear Tour. We had to watch our budget though, but had an equally thrilling time on the Bear Tour I'm sure!

Me, upside down!

Totally gorgeous right?

   Next up was a day at Lost Lake. No photos though, it was just the most relaxing day, jumping in and out of the water and working on our tans while getting on with our books. Take-home message: when you can't reach somewhere, get someone else to put on your suncream for you :) My bf burned his back, just in the parts he couldn't reach. I didn't do my wifely duties (ie nag) because I saw he took the initiative to slather himself in SPF. Little did I know he had missed a (massive) spot!

   We got an amazing offer on the Peak to Peak Gondola (2 days/$39.95 each) and took full advantage of it. It's the longest unsupported Gondola in the world! Once we took the gondola up to the Lodge, we went even further up with the Peak Express chairlift. I have to tell you, it is one of the most exhilarating experiences when you feel the sun shining down on your while a light arctic breeze keeps you the right amount of tingly cool!

Enjoying the view at the top!

View at the top

Looking down in the Peak to Peak Gondola

I had been on bear-watch all day and we had spotted one in the gondola on the way up. I clearly recall shouting "BEAR! BEAR!" like a little kid ... Can't help it! We spotted one from our chairlift on the way back down the Blackcomb side:

So cute!

Next day, we went up the mountain again, and in the same spot as the previous day, we saw a mama bear and her cubs!:

We rounded out our Whistler trip with one last gulp of the breathtaking views ... I obviously skipped on a lot because in my true Chinese style, I took a picture of virtually everything. This edit took restraint ... I kid you not! I will end with these last few pics ... everyone must experience Whistler in the winter AND in the summer :)

So beautiful with thick feathers for the cold

So cute but not sure what he is ..

Another bear! Dragging his hind legs :)

Sorry for the lack of updates ...

2010-07-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

... but my boyfriend is in town for 3 whole weeks from London!!! Needless to say, we've been out and about enjoying the sunshine. We spent 5 days in Whistler and we had the most gorgeous weather. The bf even got a massive sunburn. Ouch! Will post some pics later once the dust settles and I'm all alone and bored again :(

Here we are at the top of the Peak Express in Whistler ... I loved feeling the heat of the sun while getting cooled by the breeze of the air blowing off snow ...

Hot Pot Heaven

2010-06-28T00:23:00.000-07:00

   Thanks to my "girls", I had the most amazing meal on Friday night! When I was asked to come around to hang out, I assumed we were going to order takeaway. I already had my stomach set on some sushi, possibly even some pizza! Good thing I wasn't fashionably late because as soon as I walked through the door, dinner was served! And by dinner, I mean a hot pot with the most luscious array of ingredients fit for princesses like us!

   I kept gasping in excitement as the "girls" brought forth one surprising dish after another. Highlights included fresh lobster (which David thinks he killed humanely), fresh oysters, sea cucumber, cuttlefish paste, cuttlefish, chanterelle mushrooms, fish balls, lamb fillets, beef slices, a seafood mix with clams and mussels and loads of assorted veggies. My favourite was definitely the lobster brains and cuttlefish paste. The sea cucumber, I was not a massive fan.

   I still can't stop thinking about that meal. I only wished I had a second stomach that night to eat all the leftover bits we couldn't finish!

Lobster brains:

Thanks for a wonderful night :)

Cupcakes Galore!

2010-06-24T02:26:00.000-07:00

What is a better thing to do on a semi-dreary day in Vancouver than to go to the first annual Cupcake Challenge at the Yaletown Roundhouse put on by Follow Me Foodie and Nicole Marie Events! Nothing!

   With the increase of interest in food propelled by the great new shows on the Food Network, I'm not surprised at the turnout of this event. It seems nowadays, everyone considers themselves a budding foodie with me as no exception. From spending countless hours on the couch absorbing every word Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay have to say, I now think I am a food critic when I am dining out. What makes the experience more fun is foodie friends like my friend Catherine and my boyfriend. Neither of them are afraid to try anything once, albeit if you put a fried cockroach in front of me, I may vomit before I actually ingest it! One of my favourite foodie experiences was the night my boyfriend and I went to Archipelago in London by Warren Street Station. In the span of an hour and a half, we tried a crocodile fillet, seared zebra, and kangaroo! Since then, we've also had kudo, springbok, escargots, and some other off-the-beaten-path delights.

   I'm getting incredibly off topic. This is what food does to me! Ah, yes, cupcakes! After a full stroll around the Roundhouse community centre due to lack of signage, we approached a wee table managed by Mijune of Follow Me Foodie. She was absolutely lovely and told us several vendors already ran out of cupcakes because some 800 people have already been through the doors. The Cupcake Challenge started at 11am, we arrived at 1:30pm. When we walked out an hour later, I'm sure I heard someone say 1000 people had been there!

   Armed with a ballot and an empty stomach, we made our rounds to all the vendors. While some only had their cards and portfolios left, some still had cupcake samples. My favourite flavour was the Caramel Crunch by Frostings Cupcakery

Here are the results (From Follow Me Foodie):

Congratulations to the 2010 Winners of Vancouver’s 1st Cupcake Challenge:

Vancouver’s Best Cupcake Food Bloggers’ Choice – Big City Cupcakes

Vancouver’s Best Cupcake People’s Choice – Frostings Cupcakery

Vancouver’s Best Cupcake Judge’s Choice – Frostings Cupcakery for Neopolitan Cupcake

Bon Gateau was another front runner for me. Although they didn't come away with any awards :(

Big City Cupcakes was very knowledgeable and friendly. Their samples were divine too!

Overall, I deem the first annual Cupcake Challenge a tremendous success. Everyone on my Facebook had some sort of status update about going. I know for the vendors, a lot of people showed up for free cupcake samples. Although that motivated me to go, now I'm aware of cupcake/cakeries I would have otherwise never have found. As the event was promoted on Blogs and websites targeted to my deomographic, it will surely result in increased sales for weddings, birthdays and births! I know I spotted a certain cupcake I'd want at my own wedding ;)

Robert Randolph & the Family Band - Live @ The Commodore

2010-06-23T01:33:00.000-07:00

   Last week, Livenation was giving out tickets as part of their #tickettuesday competition on Twitter. The gig? Saturday June 15th, Robert Randolph and The Family Band at The Commodore. My first instinct? Ask the boyfriend who Robert Randolph is because he's my go-to music man. Without hesitation, he spoke highly of Randolph and his band, raved that all of them were great musicians. That was all the motivation I needed to enter the competition for these tickets, and I won!

   As most of my Vancouver friends don't see "gigging" as a regular activity, it was difficult to find a gig buddy. Especially when none of my friends had heard of this American funk and soul band fronted by who some call a master of the pedal steel guitar. He also suspiciously looked like a younger version of LL Cool J. Brenda ended up being game for a night of new music. After all, tickets would have been $40 each (in other words, too good to give up!)

   Robert Randolph and his band did not disappoint. Neither did the pot-smoking Vancouver hipsters who always conglomerate on the Commodore ballroom floor. As I noted in my review of The Temper Trap a few weeks back, also at The Commodore, it always amazes me the precise timing of the lighting of the first joint. I would estimate it to be at the 1.5 minute mark of the first song. Just enough time for someone to scope out his/her surroundings but no later because the room-wide synchronisation would be ruined. I should note that this gig was not sold out, so there were a lot of gaps on the floor. Nevertheless, joints were lit all around me, and soon enough, extinguished by security around me! It made for a good laugh ... fools! There goes your $40!

   Although Robert Randolph and his band were clearly leaders in their genre, slow soulful melodies drained me on this Saturday night. We left on a high note (for me anyway!); after a cover of Lady Gaga's Poker face, souled-out style!

   We grabbed a coffee (both of us were driving) and did our traditional stroll down Granville Street. A lot has changed since I've been gone but I don't go to many places on the strip anyway so it doesn't affect me. If anything, the pedestrianisation of the area is a brilliant idea and should have been done ages ago.

   I do want to point out that the old Buffalo Bar (I won't even get into the crazy times we've had there!) is now The Forum Sports Bar. We were invited in for a looky-loo and it turns out Brenda new the doorman there. We also thought the host looked incredibly familiar and after a few questions, we realised we recognised him from the Wild Coyote days! We had a good laugh ... and he invited us back for lots of World Cup fun and food. $10 for all you can eat hot breakfast served all mornings with big screen TVs for the World Cup matches. I'll definitely be heading down there for that!

A Typical Day of an Unemployed Woman

2010-06-18T01:04:00.000-07:00

   At 10:55am, Brenda and I tried the doors to the Yaletown Milestones but to no avail. Once again, just like in Victoria, we were a bit too eager to order their luscious prime rib hash! Bang on 11am, the hostess unlocked the doors (super slow just to torture us). Runny poached eggs, perfect bite-sized pieces of prime rib and plenty of hollandaise sauce; you are my weakness!

   With a full tummy and visions of the next prime rib hash floating happily in my mind, I headed down the street to Skoah at 1011 Hamilton Street. I received a voucher for a free sweet skin facial ($35) from the Obakki fashion show goody bag. I opted not to upgrade because I am a firm believer that if something is meant to be free, it should be free!
   I never really understood how women can afford to go to facials every 6-8 weeks as recommended by the spas. Sure, if you have the money, it's a great way to relax and get pampered. Yet a lot of the creams and things applied during the treatment can be done at home. Personally I can't justify spending $75-100 every two months so someone can massage my face with sweet sweet lotions! But to each their own.
   Overall, I would rate Skoah slightly above average. The rooms and treatment were standard. Their products (natural and alcohol free) smelled wonderful and I'm sure with commitment, would do wonders for my skin. I was shamed for not using a toner (balances out the pH in your skin after striping everything off with the cleanser) and not wearing SPF. The last bit I understand! Maybe I should have horrified the lady and told her that I actually don't even wash my face before bed or take off my makeup.
   The downfall was that throughout my entire 20min facial, the facialist just kept pushing their products. She crossed the line between educating the client to making one feel a bit obligated. I also felt like she thought I was there just to take advantage of a free offer. Fair enough but that's what the vouchers are for!
   Funnily after my rant, not only did I come out with a $20 toner I didn't need but I was a hair shy of succumbing to their re-booking offer. If you book a treatment $75 within 8 weeks, you get $10 towards product or $100 and $20 respectively. Not too bad! Honestly though, I love my drugstore Organic Surge products from Boots. Rachel and I scored a whole bunch of their products during a promo they did involving a girls night out and SATC at a cinema near Baker Street. They GAVE me the products and it left me wanting more!

Despite my mediocre experience, I would recommend this spa based on its atmosphere and professionalism. Maybe if you actually drop some hard cash, they will treat you what you are worth ... Sorry, do I sound bitter? Oh yah, I had to clear space in my bathroom for my Tonik and I didn't even need it in the first place!

My Life is Complete!

2010-06-15T00:16:00.000-07:00

Yes! Apparently this could be my lucky day! I've been offered a Travel Exclusive of a lifetime! Wow, thanks Spam filter for flagging such an important email for me. Imagine how distraught I would have been if I had missed it ...

I had a thought today. My friend Carlie was bird-shatted on twice this week so everyone suggested she buy a lottery ticket. Apparently, it was also one of the best weeks of her life. Figures. So here is my dilemma: Do I buy a lottery ticket anyway or should I wait until I get a sign from above. I always say, "You gotta be innit to winnit!" (with thick Cockney accent...) but then I'm guilty of saying I always want to win the Lottery but not ever actually buying a ticket.

What would you do if someone gave you a lottery ticket for your birthday as a card stuffer, then you ended up winning millions of dollars? Does that person technically get the cash because he/she can prove he/she bought it? Or would you just be expected to throw a few consulation dollars his/her way?

On a side note, some of you may know about my hobby of winning random things. This week, there was a Brylcreem men's hair set, a 50quid M&S voucher and a Cowshed lipbalm. Blame it on my Chinese genes. I don't see it as hoarding ... I see it as preparing for the future ;)

Like I said, You have to be innit to winnit ... You don't try, you don't get. Let me leave you with that to ponder ...

Eating Our Way Through Victoria BC

2010-06-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but my favourite thing to do on any holiday is to eat my way through it! Although our mid-week trip to Victoria wasn't so much a holiday as my friend Catherine was there for work, we spent the majority of her downtime seeking our next foodie conquest! While some of our choices were uninspired (ie chain restaurants), we did hunt down some local specialities. Since Victoria is a harbour-side city, seafood was at the top of our list.

We stayed at the Fairmont Empress hotel, an icon in downtown Victoria. Although I was tempted to experience their traditional afternoon tea, a walk through the lobby where they serve it one afternoon was enough to quash my idea. I'm sure the tea, cakes and sandwiches were fantastic but the ambiance was a bit too mellow for my liking. Especially on a gorgeous day out, it seemed like a shame to spend $45-$55 indoors sipping on hot tea! Will add it only my list of things to do in the future.

On the topic of tea, my favourites in London are at Laduree at Harrods and at Bob Bob Ricard in Soho. My favourite treat at Laduree has always been the Le Saint Honoré Rose-Framboise. Their macaroons, are to die for as well! They come in the cutest collectible boxes.

Wow, cake fantasy over! What was I going on about before that departure? Oh yes, food. Without a doubt, the first place we dined at was The Keg Steakhouse on 500 Fort Street. The exterior gave the restaurant an outdated appearance yet the interior proved warm and inviting. We stuck to our old favourites: Mushrooms Neptune, Escargot, and rare Prime Rib. Mine was a regular cut, rare, with an all-dressed baked potato. No point in messing around!

Craving a sweet ending to our meat feast, we came across The Soda Shoppe on the corner of Government and Humboldt Street only to see that it was closing. After a stroll through the Empress, we decided to get cakes via Room Service along with a cheesy chick flick on Pay-Per-View (When in Rome). Our last Room Service experience ended up with us spending $100 on chicken fingers, pizza, nachos and "two of everything!" so we were more careful this time. Even with this pricey experience as a caution, we still ended up spending about $45 on two pieces of cake! ($14 per cake, delivery fee, taxes and gratituity included AND we gave an additional $5 tip in cash!) Another lesson: check the bill to see if gratuity is included before handing anyone a tip!

Our second foodie day began with breakfast at Milestones. I had the Prime Rib hash, an utter saucey feast in my mouth! They are smart to incorporate last night's left over prime rib into a truly meaty breakfast. Topped with two oozy poached eggs and (not enough!) hollandaise sauce, I knew I made the right choice when the other girls dug into my plate before theirs.

We reunited at 4:30pm at The Oyster Bar on Humboldt Street for Buck-A-Shuck oysters. We rounded out our 7 Fanny Bay oysters each with a Steamer of mussels and clams in a Pernod cream. An absolute delight for little damage to our wallets!

As if that wasn't enough food, we reconvened a few hours later to hit The Soda Shoppe for an old fashioned ice-cream dessert. I had a Capital City banana split all to myself to the amusement of a few patrons. For some reason, we were still hungry after this, though I'm not sure how it was possible. After much debate, we ended up at the trusty Earls at which I ordered some hot wings. This was my first "OMG it's Wing Wednesday!" moment in two years. I had to indulge!

Last but not least, I capped off my visit with the discovery of Red Fish Blue Fish. I expected a casual dine-in restaurant but strolled down a ramp to find a delightful little fish shack. It had just opened 5 minutes prior but the queue was already growing. For good reason! We had their BBQ Fanny Bay Oyster Tacones, Tempura Cod Tacones and curry fries. Simply delectable street food! If I had a few more days in Victoria, I would have definitely returned to try their fish and chips.

This pic is just a representation of the Tacones ...
Finally, I must have to add that the highlight of this trip was not just the food, but my visit with my old friend Melissa and her cutey-pie Kole. It's amazing how time flies yet when two friends are together, it's as if nothing's really changed (other than maybe the fact there is now a toddler on the loose!)

A Fight Erupts at My Doc's Office ... Just another day at the office!

2010-06-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

Now before anyone gets all excited, by fight, I don't mean a physical one. Although, I was so frustrated with the reason for the verbal fight, I had to resist the urge to step in and play mediator. A woman showed up late for her appointment and expected to be slotted in right away. She wasn't expecting to have to wait like a walk-in patient. After an hour, she erupted and accused the receptionists of shady operations. Long story short, she kept yelling while walking around the large waiting area, hoping someone would support her plight. To no avail.

I almost walked out. I was really hoping to use my two-hour wait to dent My Single Friend. This book reminds me of an episode of the Tyra Banks show. Girl lives with best friend who is a geeky boy she has known for years. She and 2 friends do a "Project Henry" on him and now she's in love with him. I bet they end up together!

Ah, back to the "fight". After a lot more yelling and overall, aggressive behaviour, the doctor even pulled the angry lady into her office to have a chat and apologise for any frustrations. So now she is wasting MY time too because she's taking up MY doctor's time. Ugh! She was eventually escorted out by 2 security dudes, but only after she called the Police who obviously knew she was not in a "big, big, BIG fight"!

The whole point of my doctor's appointment was because of a stupid thing I did to my ear. On the recommendation from my mother, I used an ear pick. You know what it's for! I hate to get into the gooey grossness of a description. Apparently it's very popular with Asians because of the type of ear wax we have. They even make Hello Kitty ear picks (apparently). So I was stupid, heavy handed and probably shoved the wax right up to my eardrum because not only is my ear in pain, I can HEAR this weird pulsing wave sound.

After 2 hours of waiting and the entertaining fiasco, my doctor told me I was an idiot, laughed at me, cracked a joke and sent me on my way with a prescription for antibiotic eardrops. I bet my easy to fix malady was the highlight of his day!

Click here to see a fascinating blog from a few years ago about Japan and its fascination with ear cleaning ...

The Temper Trap - Live @ The Commodore June 1, 2010

2010-06-06T23:25:00.000-07:00

A typical gig at The Commodore consists of long queues at the bar, dancing on a great bouncy floor and of course, the smell of weed when the headliner comes on. What's odd is, people light up not a second before the band plays its first chord. Then as if the smell of Vancouver wafting up onto the stage was an appropriate welcoming gesture, the room is filled with antsy blokes trying to "blend in". The dude beside me had obviously not seen any war movies. He didn't have the soldier smoking method down and I was sure he'd get busted. But alas, maybe even the bouncers were so entranced by The Temper Trap, they all became Aussies for one night and didn't give a shit ... just wanted to have a good time ;)

This is the fourth time I've seen The Temper Trap. The other times were all in London: Gibson Guitar Studio (Samsung Bebo Nights), Dingwalls and Field Day. Thanks to Russell Fawcus, we were able to get an overseas hook-up with free tickets for the night! He's been in Australia working with TTT on tracks for their second album. He's also worked on the Wild Beasts record Two Dancers which is simply amazing so everyone should give that a listen as well.

I didn't make it in time for the local opening act Elizabeth. I'm all for giving new bands a fair listen but judging from their last song, people were politely listening but waiting for TTT. Bless them ...

From the darkness, TTT emerged with a long melodic intro which warmed up the crowd better than Elizabeth. Given that most people in attendance were Aussies or knew TTT from their lead singles off Conditions, the intro wasn't so much a warm-up but more like a tease! Finally the band erupted into Rest with its undeniable hook. Dougie Mandagi adds a sharp soulfulness. His bassist added a blonde bun and a wicked polka dot shirt. But I kid! TTT created an energy in a usually chilled-out Vancouver crowd that I have never experienced before. People clapped along, people cheered, people longed for more! I finally didn't feel like an idiot singing loudly and dancing to my favourite songs: Down River, Sweet Disposition and Drum Song. Oh soz, I loved it all!

Vancouver setlist (includes new song):

Intro
Rest
Fader
Fools
Down River
Love Lost
Soldier On
Sweet Disposition
Resurrection
Drum Song
---
Rabbit Hole
Science of Fear

What sets TTT apart from a lot of man-fronted rock bands now is their unforgettable melodies. Some may cringe when I say its even almost pop, but there's nothing wrong with being "popular". With songs placed strategically in TV shows and adverts around the world, the band is gently creeping into our consciousness. I genuinely hope these guys do well. And I'm glad to dance happily and go along for the ride!

I've been having a few camera issues lately (i.e. I left my good one in London with the bf), so excuse the poor quality of this photo. I've stuck in photos from previous gig for good measure :)

Me and the CAN of wine that made me really really ill:

Two photos from the intimate show at Gibson Guitar Studio (July 2009):

Click here for an old review for the Samsung Bebo Nights gig. Yes I am on Bebo, but no I don't use it. I had to post my review on there since Bebo was the sponsor and they had me go cover the event ;)

And one from Field Day (August 2009):

I blame the wine ... from a can?

2010-06-03T01:57:00.000-07:00

Accidently had a bit of a rough night last night at The Temper Trap gig at The Commodore. Absolutely fantastic, have never seen Vancouverites so excited about anything more! The problem was this red wine in a can business. Since TTT are Aussies, it was almost funny I was handed Aussie wine in a can. Never. Again.

Will post a review of the gig tomorrow.

In the meantime, today is my 30th Birthday!!!!!

BillyRock Station Wine - I thought wine from a carton was bad, but a can is just plain weird!

A Music Day

2010-05-31T12:12:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I've had a solid day dedicated to listening to albums beginning to end. There are a few albums I've been meaning to check out and a good day cannot go by without listening to Ellie Goulding's Lights at least once.

Side note, I can't get over how Usher croons this in OMG featuring Ludacris:
"Honey got a booty like pow, pow, pow
Honey got some boobies like wow, oh wow"

How can he sing this with a straight face? Regardless, it's a darn catchy song ... As is Taio Cruz's Break Your Heart (good on him for making a name for himself in America!)

Albums I am currently listening to:

As you can tell, my musical tastes are incredibly diverse. I am definitely a music PR's dream as I always buy into good reviews or hype. If a band/artist peaks my interest, you can be sure I'll give them a go. Not everything turns out to be roses though, as although I am open, I still known when polished shiny crap is still just crap.

She&Him features actress Zooey Deschanel on vocals, piano and banjo along side M.Ward. Yes she as cute as pie but she can easily be the new Patsy Cline. Chirpy enough to bring a nice Spring breeze to anyone's dreary day.

I will be heading to The Commodore tomorrow night to check out The Temper Trap. A review will follow so keep your eyes locked here ... I've seen them three times before in London (Dingwalls, Gibson Studios and Field Day). They've never disappointed. Their live shows bring more pow-factor than their album. It's almost as if they began coming into their own the more and more they toured. Can't wait to hear how their second album turns out.

EP!C Weekend Ending in Overdose of Junk Food ...

2010-05-30T23:55:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Mauri and I took a leisurely stroll to the New Vancouver Convention Centre to check out the EP!C Sustainabilty Expo. During the Olympics, this building was closed off to the public and it was our first time inside. What an amazing building!

This is what greeted us from above as we walked in:

Specifically, we aimed to check out the Fashion Marketplace as Anita was involved in its organisation. It was also an opportunity to see if Vancouver's sustainable fashion industry has grown since my last exposure to it during my final year at Kwantlen. At that time, designers were beginning to explore the eco-market more in-depth, coinciding with an increase in the availability of eco fabrics such as bamboo, soy and organic cottons. Despite only highlighting a handful of designers, the Fashion Marketplace runway show brought to light the existence of eco-friendly wearables to a primarly non-fashion crowd. Education is the first step to making an informed choice.

Dahlia Drive - An eclectic Vancouver based label designed by Wendy Van Riesen.

Arte Filum (my favourite piece from the show) - A Fairtrade company focused on connecting the art and culture of south America with the rest of the world.

Vancouver fashion will always have a casual flair as people have a need for functional clothing with all the outdoor activities this city offers. Although I respect this need for functionality, I hope to see more designers bridging the gap between function and fashion. I am a firm believer yoga pants belong in a yoga studio (or at least worn en route to yoga). Even if the rain pours down relentlessly, Fashionistas should be given more upbeat options than a hooded waterproof parka. I'm just sayin ...

On a side note, we came across this interesting building one block up from the Vancouver Convention Centre. I can't remember which hotel it is. I commend the design for being somewhat bold amidst all the characterless high rises going up around the Lower Mainland. What I can't decide is whether I prefer this phrase repeated on the building or if a poem or prose would look better. I suppose it can be a bit tricky picking exactly what is said, maybe it was better to stick with one idea. Who knows?

Oh I should mention how junk food factored into this weekend that started oh-so-healthily at the EP!C Fair. Mauri and I tried everything from Hemp chocolate milk to gluten-free children's snack bars. We concluded that all health foods have this funky aftertaste that just screams "I am made from the Earth!". I enjoyed the hemp milk but wouldn't buy it if it came down to that and regular full fat chocolate milk. You just can't mess with the original! Another product I was skeptical about was beeswax treated reusable food storage bags. The vendor assured us our food wouldn't get the wax smell and that a quick wash was all it needed between uses. It's not so much the idea I'm against. It's the fact that I really like my Tupperware!

On the opposite side of the spectrum, I spent all of Sunday working on the set of a short 3D film called Defending Maldito doing wardrobe. I passed the time, as you do whenever you're on set, by eating. A quick tally of what I consumed in a bit over 12 hours: 3 cans of Coke, 2 bags of Cheetos (NOT called Whats Its!), a pot of instant noodles, many glasses of mocha flavoured protein shake, 3 cups of coffee, loads of veggies and dip, sushi and 3 slices of pizza. Not too bad! This is why I work behind the scenes :)

Obakki Fall/Winter 2010/11 Presentation - May 27, 2010

2010-05-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

My first foray back into the Vancouver fashion scene came in the form of a fashion show on Thursday night at Obakki . I always have a camera with me, as I often find beauty and excitement in everyday things. (That and the fact I am one of a handful left without an iPhone or any phone capable of photos ...) On my way to Carlie's today, I specifically removed the camera from my bag, thinking, "I'm not going to go anywhere interesting today". I was blatantly wrong!

So not only was I electronically not prepared, I was physically not prepared. I didn't hear about the show until just before, so despite my better judgement (didn't want to go sans heels!), we arrived at an Obakki teeming with Vancouver's fashionistas. It was a bit intimidating to be back on the scene so soon. Wearing flats and a Primarni special (you Brits will know what I mean!) was not the look I wanted when meeting fashionistas for the first time. So today, I took a step back and played observer.

Despite it being a fairly balmy night, the inside of Obakki evoked a feeling of being caught outside on a hot Vancouver day wearing a merino jumper. Trust me, I've done it. The perfect fix? Lavender Dry Soda. Comes in 6 other flavours, and as pointed out by Carlie, each flavour is 70 calories or less. Totally west-coast appropriate then!

Highlights of Obakki's Fall/Winter 2010/11 presentation (images from the LookBook):

Look 1: Draped asymmetrical sweater dress (100% wool); Wool Scarf (75% alpaca, 13% wool, 12% nylon) - Ombre effect on the sweater is stunning and effortlessly chic.

Look 2: A-line double breasted trench coat (85% viscose, 14% fleece wool, 1% elastodiene); Single seam tee (50% cotton, 50% nylon); Draped trouser with cuff (88% viscose, 12% silk) - Didn't get a chance to feel this trench but am curious to see how the fleece wool and elastodiene feels. Elastodiene adds a subtle sheen.

Look 3: Button front cropped capelet (100% sequined silk), Single seam tee (as before); Cuffed trouser (98% cotton, 2% elastodiene)

Look 4: Short sleeve button front shirt (100% cotton), Denim style pant with suede detailing (stretch leather) - The most classy substitution for leggings.

Look 5: Funnel neck sweater (75% alpaca, 13% wool, 12% nylon); Cropped pant with quilted panel (stretch leather)

Look 6: Maxi dress (100% cotton with stretch leather) - A shorter version was also shown.

Obakki infuses a classy elegance into relaxed Westcoast style dressing. A breath of fresh air without having to hike The Chief ...

Currently not blogging due to ...

2010-05-29T01:53:00.001-07:00

a slight addiction to this SATC2 game I found!

Sex and the City 2 - Trivia Game

Went to the Epic Expo with Mauri today ... loaded up on free samples of healthy foods, ie. gluten free, hemp based or flavourless (the three most popular types). Hopefully more about this tomorrow. Gotta get back to beating my best score. Attempt #1063

x

Divorced before Marriage .. is it possible?

2010-05-28T02:21:00.000-07:00

If Darren and I ever get married, we run the risk of getting divorced before we even get married! The amount of paperwork and payment required for me to get married in the UK is horrendous. Ridiculous.

I wonder if we should just get married in Canada?!?!?! (Because apparently you can roll up as a visitor and get married.) Will shed some light on these findings when I find out more :)

x

5 cookies & a Lavender Dry Soda Later ...

2010-05-28T01:53:00.000-07:00

It's 2am and I'm staring at my Twitter blatantly in need of sleep but cannot tear myself away. Instead of wasting my time hitting F5 every few minutes, I decided to supplement my addiction with bouts of productivity ... which led to finally sorting out this blog!

Now you would think my last two years living in London would have resulted in ample tidbits worthy of a blog and although I did consider keeping one while I was there, it simply never happened. It was sort of a catch 22, there was so much to do and therefore so much to write about but because I was doing so much, I never found time to blog about it.

So here I am, back in rainy Vancouver. In an unfamiliar unemployed state, I have spent countless mind-numbing hours on the Internet. I have also managed to power through half of my new read: One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell. How SATC2 of me!

I see no reason not to adopt my mantra from London: Take a chance and try something new everyday!

Last night, thanks to Donovan Mahoney, I scored some tickets to his comedy night. I haven't been to The Cellar since circa 2005 when the fashion girls and I had many rowdy nights. The Cellar now has a bit more character though I am hesitant to call it *gasp* classy! It was a comedy night, not some debauched Saturday night on the Granville strip! I had a great laugh with Mascha, from my BR days. I suggest everyone to check out The Cellar for its other LoL nights as we had one of the best laughs in recent memory.

Tonight, I ventured out into the Vancouver fashion world with the vivacious Carlie Wong. For a taste of what we got up to, check out Obakki here. Strange to be back ... more about that laters :)