Mind my way

DESERTED

I'm alive, in the desert somewhere. As you can see, Norman is with me too. I don't have much internet contact here so I really do feel deserted but anyway... updates to come this Saturday, from Los Angeles.

Cheers everyone xx00

Cause baby you're a firework

 (Vintage top courtesy of avec-moi.com, Vintage white belt, High waisted shorts)

A week off work ! Cause for celebration!

NYC & CMJ (October 22, 2010)

  Braids @ Cake Shop, NYC: photo by Michael Ligon

Ok it's been about a month since coming back from my 5-day long stay in New York City and I still have a couple of days to cover, so I do apologize if these next few posts seem rushed, because well they are. Day four started out with me packing as I unfortunately I had to check out of the Jane Hotel as I was unable to book it for the next few nights, but before checking out I took it as an opportunity to stroll and bike around area which later I'd find out is called the Meatpacking District given its origins at the beginning of last century as home to 250 slaughterhouses and packing plants and nowadays gentrified with boutiques, restaurants, lounges and even an Apple Store. I also got to stroll through the High Line. Other areas of NYC explored this day included Washington Square Park and Greenwich Village, the Kimmel Center at NYU, the Broadway shopping district including the Strand Bookstore (which bills itself as "Home of 18 miles of New, Used, Rare and Out of Print Books"), Union Square (which itself has a history as a site of political activism and on this day the site of the "October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation") and then it was back to Brooklyn to take in part of the day show at the Knitting Factory. Later I'd trek back to the Jane Hotel to pick up my luggage, head over to the Chinatown hotel where I'd been staying for the next few nights, grab some Chinatown eats and then head out for night four of CMJ. And I stil had one more day/night of NYC/CMJ to do.

And at this point I guess I should run down my CMJ happenings on this day but I'll keep it brief since I really I don't have the strength to do do an in depth review. Back in Brooklyn late afternoon, my first stop was Knitting Factory to catch Diamond Rings' set, this being the second time I'd catch Jon live during CMJ. Without the technical difficulties which plagued him during his set at Cake Shop a few days earlier, it was a much more fluid but still brief set. Sporting a Toronto Blue Jay Cap this time around, Jon alternated between keyboards, and guitar, and occasionally busted some enthusiatic, spastic dance moves. Although, the response was appreciative in the spacious(compared to Cake Shop), though only partially filled venue, I still wished the crowd had shown a little more energy.

I decided to stick around for a few more acts, with local Knitting Factory roster band Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers up next. The least 'indie rock' of the bands / artists I saw during the festival, while there were signs of some fans in the crowd, they didn't seem to correct with much of the crowd. I'll admit they do possess some musical merits, especially in the full-throttled vocals of Ms. Shilpa Ray. Instrumentally, Ms. Ray's harmonium playing lays a foundation for the rest of the band who competently contributed guitar, drums and bass. Elements of blues, folk and rock weaved their way through the band's songs so I'm hard-pressed to really categorize them. They weren't really up my alley but if it means anything to you, Nick Cave is a fan, so much so that he invited her and her band to join his band Grinderman for a few recent tour dates. Toronto wasn't one of them, but Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers will be in Toronto in the new year for a set at El Mocambo on April 8 according to The Windish Agency.

With still a little light out this early evening in Brooklyn, I decided to stay for one more act at Knitting Factory which was Wisconsin's Cotton Jones. Forming the core of the band is Page France alum Michael Nau and Whitney McGraw. Nau's and McGraw's vocals melded nicely, with the latter's sweet vocals adding a nice contrast to the former's laidback drawl. The band did have a nice, rustic, indie-folk quality, embellishing their tunes with, instruments like banjo and glockenspiel. The band's current album "Tall Hours in the Glowstream" is out through Suicide Squeeze and the band will be in Toronto for a show at the Horseshoe Tavern on February 26 opening for Nicole Atkins and The Black Sea.

With the day's light now dissipating, I headed back into Manhattan to check in to my hotel in Chinatown, grab a quick bite and then head out again for the night portion of CMJ, which I kept decidely low-key (ie. no club hopping this night. I planted myself at Cake Shop for the night (which was hosting a showcase for local Williamsburg, Brooklyn indie record label Kanine Records), getting there before 10 pm and catching only a bit of Pepper Rabbit's set and would catch only two full sets for the rest of the night before calling it quits. Having multiple opportunities during the festival to catch Montreal's Braids and with nothing else that night really interesting me at that time, seeing Braids was a no-brainer. I hadn't heard a note of them prior to that show, but I was quite aware of how keen some of you are of them, so that was my primary motivation to check them out. Combining an experimental approach with more conventional pop and anthemic qualities, think a marriage between Bjork and Arcade Fire. Definitely on the artier side of my musical tastes - if they ever play The Music Gallery in Toronto, I am there. A video of one of the band's performances at Cake Shop during CMJ surfaced on YouTube - really good stuff. They will be playing Toronto in the new year at El Mocambo on February 19 and I very possibly will be there.

And rounding out the night for me was a shoegaze band from San Francisco called Young Prisms. A genre band to the hilt, as shoegaze bands (or bands for that matter) go, they weren't particularly innovative, but their dreaminess was effective nonetheless. Immersed onstage in light and shadow with a video projection playing out against the band for most of the show, these were particularly fitting visuals for the band's hazy, shoegazey, guitar-drenched, pop music. Similarly, the band's vocals, alternating usualy between band member Stefanie Hodapp bassist Giovanni Betteo, were buried beneath the sonic mix, contributing to the overall dreamy, hazy quality of the music. The perfect soundtrack to play in my head as I left the venue to wander the streets of NYC before heading back to my hotel for a good night's sleep.

Photos: NYC & CMJ (October 22, 2010)
MySpace: Diamond Rings
MySpace: Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers
MySpace: Cotton Jones
MySpace: Pepper Rabbit
MySpace: Braids
MySpace: Young Prisms

Summer dreams

(Tumblr)

Some inspiration for my summer wardrobe. I must start packing soon because I know ill forget something if i don't have time to check. Last time it was my sunnies and the time before that was my thongs (to cairns, silly silly girl)

Two sides to every story

This is my BFF, aint she a looker ? *wolf whistle* She's the salt to my pepper, the Dolce to my Gabbana. 

A darling dreamer, lover and a fellow clothes hoarder. 

Also the proud owner of avec-moi and my constant style confidant. 

Love you darling!

Satisfaction

Another week of frantic work, indulgent shopping and gluttonous eating! I must stop rewarding hard work with food! I'm getting so chunky Chubby! My goal for summer is to stick of a strict beautification regiment of exercise, rabbit food and lots of rest. Not to mention trying to curb my increasingly powerful addiction to shopping and hoarding clothes.
Lots to do this week, so many photos to edit and outfits to compile. I also have an assignment from work to edit a photo of the MD for the company newsletters *gulp* We'll see how it goes...

Sunny Sunday

(Stripped Supre Top, Beige shorts from random store, Gladiator heels from HK)

I cannot believe how hot it has been the last few days, I still have the urge to bring a jacket with me every time I leave my house. This weekend was so fun getting out and about for once. Right after work me and the boy got some cheese&crackers and basically sat in the park and watched as impatient drivers honk as each other on Victoria road. Its a nice change from being one of those impatient drivers in peak hour. We then headed down to my area with some drinks with my locals and pokies. I won 15$ yay! (A high roller!) 
I spent Saturday walking around IKEA, not looking for anything in particular but managing to pick up some children's cutlery for work (idea courtesy of my manager) and a shoe rack for the boy
Sunday was the normal waking up at midday and wandering around the shops for a couple of hours with nothing to show for it.

I'm planning to pack my bag tonight if i have the energy, but I realize I have a major shortage of summer clothes to wear in the undoubtedly humid and sticky weather i'll be flying to. This week I want to pick up some short shorts, some strappy sandles and lots of sunscreen!

Norman The Bear

When I was a child, I didn't really have a special "blanket" that I carried around, nor did I have a certain stuffed animal that I had to have with me everywhere. Sure, I had them but nothing I formed a real "bond" with. Maybe I was just a kid without many emotional attachments, I don't know...

I did have many imaginary horses, though. Ah yes, I wonder if good ol' Jeopardy would come by and say hello if I asked. Best imaginary horse ever!

Anyway, about four years ago for my birthday, my boyfriend surprised me with some roses and a stuffed bear (among other stuff). I wouldn't even call him a teddy bear, he's much too real for that. But he was the cutest thing ever and I was instantly in love with NORMAN (my bf's middle name ha ha).

Since then, Norman has become the closest thing I have to a dog or a child. Now I don't want the latter but I wouldn't mind the former. I cuddle with him when I'm alone, my boyfriend often puts Norman in compromising positions for me to stumble upon (like, in the shower?) and he's a fabulous traveling companion. He's one of those pillow type animals, so you can flop him around and fold him and he makes the perfect pillow for plane and car rides.

Anyway, I was contemplating bringing Norman on my upcoming road trip to Palm Springs when I realized he had been before. This bear has gone everywhere. My boyfriend was OK with the idea, though he warned me to not lose him: "I would just feel bad" - funny how you can feel bad for a stuffed animal, but that's Norman!



Sometimes he tries to steal me away from my bf...





But they get along the rest of the time



He also embraces our newest member, Muk Muk



Norman has gone everywhere, here he is in Palm Springs with my old dog Ellie



Here he is at the cabin



On the way to Seattle...



Going to Disneyland!



Getting a last minute hug from Mike before I leave for Finland



At my cousin's in Helsinki



With his Finnish/Canadian bear friend in Finland



Let's not forget Hawaii!





Here's to many more adventures with NORMAN THE BEAR!

My Rocketeer

(Stripped Maxi dress, Gladiator heels from HK, Diva wood bracelet, Vintage shoulder bag, Urban outfitter Sunnies)

We were driving out of a shopping center when we spotted an empty parking lot and decided to jump out and take some shots to the irritation of the people who were driving behind me. The photos turned out so pretty despite the gloomy weather (with a little help from photoshop =X )

This week I have been flat out with work, promotions and preparing for Fon's website launch. There are simply not enough hours in the day! 

Also been scouring my way through fashion magazines, websites and blogs for inspiration for my summer wardrobe. So far I've picked up so many mini jackets and maxi skirts which are less then appropriate for the impending heatwave. 

Im still loving the ruffles, vintage prints and leather. I really want to pick up some super mini leather shorts and also anything in chiffon for the easy-to-throw-on uncluttered outfits.