Last Published on May 4th

Gosh... it has been a long while, hasn't it? So much has happened in the last 2.5 months... both good and bad, exciting and sad. I've been wanting to get back on here but haven't had much motivation. It's always hard to get back into things like this when you feel like there's just so much to catch up on but where do you start???

I'm choosing to start randomly, listing things in no particular order. I miss blogging... nothing but to get back into it, head first.

What's been going on since I last posted:

1. The greatest reason I quit blogging for a bit: we lost my aunt Caroline on May 7th. After 5 long years courageously battling cancer, she is finally at peace. Those left behind will forever feel the hole that she once filled in our family and in our hearts. I made a sketchbook page similar to the page I made for my grandpa last year - that deserves its own post though, so more later.
2. Another reason I quit blogging: my laptop was so old, it just became extra frustrating to use it. I don't think I used it more than once or twice in the last 2 months (and only because I absolutely had to). Lucky for me, Pat bought me an early (very early) birthday gift: a new Lenovo ideapad S400 touch. A beautiful laptop that runs at lightning speed (at least compared to the old one!). Pat even made it better by switching the hard drive to an SSD one and installing Ubuntu on it (no more Windows!). I love it!
3. Promotion and raise. I love my job!
4. A few of the girls at work and I wrote an abstract about our program and submitted it to a large international conference. It was accepted within days. Unfortunately, no one expected us to get in, so we can't go present it because there isn't money in the budget to send us. Frustrating and disheartening to say the least.
5. My brother and his girlfriend came to visit and we went to Wonderland (among other tourist-y Toronto things). I love roller coasters! We had a great time! I especially love when our family stays at our place: they get a taste of the big city (and visit us here as opposed to the usual opposite where we go North to visit them) without having to worry about crazy hotel costs.
6. Pat and I took a few days off to make Canada Day an extra long weekend. We went North for about half of it. I was able to spend a night with gramma at her cottage. We had a lovely time. It had been so long since I was last there. I went swimming (alone) for approximately 7 seconds, visited with family, had a delicious supper (and wine) and had a great chat with gramma, spending the evening (and half the night) in the gazebo. I wish I could spend 2 weeks there like the old days...
7. We bought a new car! Pat's been wanting a new one for almost a year now... and he finally settled on one. We pick it up on Thursday. I can't wait! It's beautiful!
8. We hosted Pat's aunt & uncle for supper last Saturday. It was such a nice visit. We always say we need to do these things more often... let's hope we do. If point #1 has taught me anything, it's to spend more quality time with family. 
9. I started a book club at work. This was one of my goals for a while now and I finally organized it a few months ago. It's been quite a success so far! More on this later (probably when I recap my 28 List).
10. Pat and I celebrated 13 years this July. We went out for dinner and the waitress was shocked - no, not just shocked, she was absolutely flabbergasted - with how much food we ordered. Which was basically an app and meal each (Greek food, so there was salad, rice potatoes and meat with each meal + the app - hummus for me & a souvlaki skewer for Pat)... and although the portions were big, it wasn't that much food. Very odd. You'd think she'd try to sell us more food, not less...?

OK... that's all I can think of right now - I'm sure there's more, but these are the high(& low)lights. I have quite a few posts lined up in my mind though, so I think I'm back in the blogging groove. Fingers crossed anyway!

2013: A Year In Review (Part 1)

Favourite Posts

The Sketchbook Project Collaboration

The Sketchbook Project 2013

My Vintage Tea Cups

Excerpt: Anticipation and Dread

She Art 3

She Art 3 Backgrounds + Background 5 + Background 6

Evolution of a She Girl Part 1 + Part 2

The Art of Spring: Bunnies + Ducklings + Eggs

I Love You Pumpa

Spring Vignette

My Window Garden

She Girl Two + Three

Walking the Waterfront

12 Things to Love About Summer

Playing with Gelatos

Back From Our Travels

Busy

Pumpa's Cuff Links

Doodling

Hiking Humber Arboretum

Mini Collages

Royal Tyrrell Museum

27th Birthday + 28 List

28 List September Bon Appétit Recipe + October

HerStory Workshop

Sketchbook Pages: White on White + Colour + Leftover Paint

Stitching Away

Happy

List of Recipes

None! I blogged about food but I didn't post any of my own recipes. That will change this year - I have a few up my sleeve that I'd like to share.

List of Recommended Books

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I read The Great Gatsby in April and didn't recommend anything else since. But I did read quite a few books! Here's my list of books I read in 2013:

• The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller
• The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling
• The Vinland Sagas, Norse Sagas
• The Man from St. Petersburg, Ken Follett
• The Secret Keeper, Kate Morton
• Silver-Tongued Devil, Jennifer Blake
• Midnight Waltz, Jennifer Blake
• The Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood (re-read)
• Arrow to the Heart, Jennifer Blake
• Girl with a Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier
• The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield
• Orphans of Eldorado, Milton Hatoum
• The Wind Through the Keyhole, Stephen King
• Baba Yaga Laid an Egg, Dubravka Ugresic
• The Ghost Brush, Katherine Govier
• The Diamond Hunters, Wilbur Smith
• The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, Philip Pullman
• A Dangerous Fortune, Ken Follett
• Tender Betrayal, Jennifer Blake (the 4 Blake novels were a digital package, for something light)
• Absolution (short story), F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Douglas Notebooks, Christine Eddie
• The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton
• The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
• Of Bees and Mist, Erick Setiawan
• The Housemaid's Daughter, Barbara Mutch
• Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
• The Rise of Ransom City, Felix Gilman
• The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin (started a couple years ago)
• A Room with a View, E.M. Forster
• When Like Minds Collide, Ashful (on Wattpad)
• Under the Dome, Stephen King
• Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak
• Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, Tom Franklin
• The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman
• Who Has Seen the Wind, W.O. Mitchell

Total = 36

Total new novels started in 2013 = 33

Plus, I started Anna Karenina (Tolstoy) at the end of November and have been powering through it, though I'm still not done.

Not a bad list. I didn't reach my goal of 50 books, but I did dip into some older literature, especially in the second half of the year, which I found to take considerably longer to read than contemporary novels. Older books are just written differently - the sentence structure and word choices require one to slow down a bit to catch their meaning. 

I did make a bit of a dent in my "own but haven't read" list though. However, I do need to update that list since I went shopping at a used book store over the holidays and left with no less than eight "new" books... oops! I'm pretty sure I've vowed more than once not to buy new books before I finish that list. As if!

OK, that's it for now - my next 2013 in review post will include photos, I promise!

2012: A Year in Review (Part 2)

Month-by-Month

January

I started with a recap, along with a look at some of my favourite photos from 2011. I shared my glassware display for the first time. I finished The Sketchbook Project 2012 - Forks and Spoons.

February

In February I shared one of my favourite collection, my teapots. We celebrated Valentine's Day and I curated a Spring Palette. I started the 21-Day Yoga Challenge, which I found incredibly motivating and inspiring. 

March

In March I challenged myself to wear a skirt or dress for an entire month. While I didn't document the entire month (here are weeks one and two), I did complete the challenge and was glad for the opportunity to branch away from pants every day. I had a supernumerary wisdom tooth pulled (and found out I had 6 wisdom teeth total!). I went looking for inspiration downtown Hamilton and found it. I lost my grandfather on the first day of spring.

April

I hosted ACEO-X (4.0) in April. I updated my glassware display. I dragged Pat to an antique show, where I picked up my first teacup. I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers in concert, one of the best shows I've ever seen. As soon as the weather turned nice, Pat and I were out hiking around Hamilton. In April we explored Darley Mill and Webster's Falls.

May

We hiked some of our favourite locations in May, including the Royal Botanical Gardens (with Pat's aunt and uncle), the Devil's Punchbowl and Eramosa Karst. In fact, we discovered Eramosa this month and returned a few times to explore all the different trails. I submitted The Map Project, The Chronicle Project and a photo into an amateur contest. I shared my collection of tiny dishes as well as some of my favourite book quotes, something I'll be sharing more often.

June

I participated in (but didn't finish) the 30-Day Journal Challenge (parts two and three). I adopted a new friend (that didn't last). I blogged about my painting supplies. I ate tons of asparagus and tomatoes. I curated a Summer Palette and posted some photos inspired by those colours.

July

I spent most of July painting three pieces for my sister-in-law (started in June). Angie and I started our Sketchbook Project collaboration. I posted an excerpt from my Krez story before heading North on vacation. 

August

August is the best month of the year - my birthday month! I celebrated in Hamilton with Pat; my mom sent me my gifts in a tantalizing package and my sister-in-law spoiled me early when I went home in July (here are those photos: part one, two, three). Pat and I discovered and explored Christie Lake. I made my 27 List and got a haircut. I showed off some of the vintage finds I picked up from my mom (some previously my grandma's, like this teacup, and great-grandmother's) as well as my updated glassware display. I shared an update on Angie's and my collaborative sketchbook project. I ended the month sporting my new dress (bought for our cousins' weddings).

September

The month opened with a long weekend up North for Pat's cousin's wedding. I shared the felt and fur hats my gramma gave me (they were her mom's) and the liqueur glasses that were my grandma's. I curated a Fall Palette. I made myself a Chakra key chain. I posted a tutorial for painted number stones. I listed the pros and cons of e-books versus real books.

October

Instead of going North for Thanksgiving, we saw Neil Young in concert (and then saw my family at the end of October at my cousin's wedding). I ended my "vintage finds" feature with a stack of old cookbooks that were my grandma's. I posted a tutorial for an easy fall banner. To celebrate Ada Lovelace Day I shared a recent feature of mine. Most importantly, I got a job! As a result, we decided to move. I documented my last day off with a photo-an-hour and quickly blogged on my first day. I bought my first Metro pass for commuting.

November

November was a busy month but a quiet one on the blog. Mom and I went to see Swan Lake and loved it! We moved from Hamilton to Etobicoke (I had one last furry visitor). I shared my third update on Angie's and my collaborative sketchbook project. I hosted ACEO-X (5.0) but it wasn't as successful as previous rounds. I showed some pictures of where I work. And I worked!

December

December had even fewer posts than November, which is too bad. It went by so fast, I would have liked a bit more of a record of it. For example, I don't have a photo of my housewarming gift from my mom (a gorgeous Jim Shore Santa holding a teapot). Pat surprised me with flowers. I shared photos of my new (to me) wall shelf and my new view. Most exciting (blog-wise) was a comment by Jill K. Berry on the post inspired by her book. I decorated for Christmas with only a few of my ornaments and tree, and went home for a short Christmas holiday, but none of these were documented.

My Favourite Sketchbook Pages

Janus

366Pages Sketchbook - January 2012

House of Innovation

Large Sketchbook - February 2012

Year of the Dragon

366Pages Sketchbook - February 2012

Dark Wings, Dark Words

Altered Amber Book - April 2012

Great Escape and Keeping Hope

Large Sketchbook - May 2012

Joy

Fabric-Covered Journal - June 2012

I Believe In...

30-Day Journal Challenge - June 2012 

Colour and Dust

Large Sketchbook - August 2012

Splatter

Black Sketchbook - September 2012

Year That Answer

Green Sketchbook - October 2012

Word Grid

Altered Amber Book - October 2012

Fertile Grounds

Altered Amber Book - October 2012

And now on to 2013!

2012: A Year in Photos (Part 2)

Here are my favourite photos from the second half of 2012.

July 27 - sunset on the water, Verner, Ontario

August 6 - Christie Lake, Hamilton, Ontario

August 13 - ratatouille soup

August 20 - birthday flowers

September 24 - autumn colours

October 11 - vintage recipe books

October 24 - collaborative sketchbook project and skating

November 12 - the sky on the train during one of my last commutes from Hamilton

November 24 - our last visitor in Hamilton

December 2 - surprise flowers

December 5 - our new view

I haven't been taking as many pictures over the last few months, so I really want to change that this year. Just one of many goals for 2013!

2012: A Year in Photos (Part 1)

Here are some of my favourite photos from the first half of 2012:

January 19 - visitors:

February 13 - my Valentine's Day flowers:

March 14 - out and about in Hamilton, Ontario:

March 26 - rose from my grandfather's funeral:

April 16 - my first tea cup:

April 21 - Webster Falls and Darley Mill, Hamilton, Ontario:

May 12 - Eramosa Karst, Hamilton, Ontario:

May 19 - Devil's Punchbowl, Hamilton, Ontario:

June 10 - Princess Falls, Ancaster, Ontario:

June 12 - pencils:

Up next - the second half of the year!

2012: A Year in Review (Part 1)

Best of Mosaic Monday

January 9 - Resolutions

February 13 - Conversation Hearts

May 7 - Purple and Yellow Macro

May 21 - Long, Lazy Weekend

June 11 - Valley

June 18 - Betta Fish

List of Recipes

Seedy Banana Date Muffins
Napa Cabbage Side
Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Salad
Leftover Ratatouille Soup
Peach Crisp (and galette)

List of Recommended Books

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Empress by Shan Sa
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi
By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Bread by Mathew Ferguson
Personal Geographies by Jill K. Berry

Lessons Learned

• When you're writing a long blog post, save the html in a word or notepad file so you have it when your browser or blogger fails.
• My blog calendar was awesome! I'm definitely keeping it up again this year.
• At the beginning of the year, I was posting daily, if not twice daily. By the end of the year, I was posting much less frequently, but these posts were more personal, more thoughtful. I realized over the summer that I was no longer blogging for me but for increased readership. So I stopped Mosaic Monday and Project 52 and I switched from weekly to monthly forecasts. I want to continue this trend of blogging for me - things that make me happy, things I want to remember. After browsing through Mosaic Mondays from the beginning of the year, I may start them again, once a month or something. We'll see. I also want to revamp my blog a bit, change the colours, the banner, etc. Slowly, as I find time.
• I didn't take that many photos of everyday things, family or nature, especially the second half of the year. I want to change that this year. I want to use my camera more. 
• Looking at photos of our old place in Hamilton makes me feel strange... odd that I can't go back there, that the place technically doesn't exist anymore (as it was in those photos). Change is rough, but I'm glad I'll always have those photos... which is just another reason to break my camera out more often this year!

As you may have caught from my first lesson learned, I had a much longer blog post prepared for today, but somehow, blogger wasn't saving it every time I pressed save. So.... back to the drawing board, here's a better version of my year in review! The month-by-month recap will be rewritten for a later date. 

Next up - a year in photos (also in part 1 and part 2).

Monthly Forecast

What happened to November? Am I the only one who missed it pass us by? I guess that's what happens when you're busy!

Last month brought a lot of changes - new job, new apartment, new commute, new city to explore. Plus a lot of boxes to unpack and garbage to throw out and stuff to donate. But I must say, despite all the go-go-go and busy-ness, the stress levels around here have been greatly reduced (mostly thanks to my paycheck and the shorter commute). It's been wonderful!

I expect this last month of 2012 to be just as jam-packed as November. Here's what I have planned for December:

• work, work, work 
• unpack the remaining boxes (mostly my supplies) and sort through those in our storage unit 
• empty the storage unit in Hamilton 
• organize the kitchen, living room and office
• donate a bunch of stuff to GoodWill 
• decorate for Christmas
• Christmas baking!
• work on my personal Sketchbook Project 
• restart daily yoga and check out the gym downstairs  
• go skating every weekend 

As for blogging, here are a few things you can look forward to:

• more photos of my new apartment, city view and neighborhood
• glimpses of my holiday decor and baking
• pages from my many sketchbooks, including my commuting one and my Sketchbook Project 
• recipes: comfort food that you can make in advance for work lunches
• recommend: a few books I've read recently

Lastly, click on the Advertise tab for more information about sponsoring my blog.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and productive month!

Monthly Forecast: October

October is certainly off to a good start! I had my interview yesterday and I feel it went really well. Now to wait and see... they said I'd hear by the end of the week. My fingers are crossed!

Along with October comes full-on fall. I plan on making the most of my favourite season: wearing hats, tights, knee-highs and coats, baking (both with the apples we picked last weekend and the start of my Christmas cookies), bundled-up hikes and getting back to the rink for some skating!

So here's what's in the works for this month:

• JOB SEARCH: hopefully done with? 
• Neil Young concert on Saturday
• our first Thanksgiving in Hamilton 
• my cousin's wedding at the end of the month
• work on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement course I'm taking
• The Sketchbook Project Collaboration - send it back to Angie after finishing my pages
• daily yoga  
• hike every weekend and skating Sunday nights
• baking, baking, baking! (and cleaning out the freezers to fit it all in there!) 
• journal daily - catch up on 366Pages and work on my personal Sketchbook Project 

As for blogging, here are a few things you can look forward to:

• ACEO-X (5.0) - sign ups will start tomorrow!
• one more vintage "find" I inherited from my grandmother 
• photos from our fall hikes around Hamilton and up North 
• pages from my many sketchbook, including the Sketchbook Project Collaboration
• collections: beautiful coffee table books 
• recipes: fall fruit and vegetables, Thanksgiving food
• recommend: a few books I've read recently

Lastly, click on the Advertise tab for more information about sponsoring my blog.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and productive month!