drawing myself (spoilers: or a dinosaur!)

The other day, Jesse showed me his self-portrait... and it was amazing.

So, after crying for a little while at my own lack of art skills... I decided to draw myself!

...it didn't exactly go as planned.

As you can see, the facial ressemblance is totally there, especially in the teeth. (This is referring to the unfortunate period of time in which I had braces. My mouth was unfortunately pointy because of the weight of metal, and saliva frequently dripped from my glamourously coloured elastics... when they weren't snapping in people's faces, that is. SEXY TIMES.) Also, the butterfly wings. (I can see myself as a child wearing these.) Obviously, this is also a one-of-a-kind creation, which also fits my personality and style. (How many winged dinosaurs have you seen lately? Probably none. How many Tatianas wearing cat ears have you seen? Also probably none. There is some margin for error here, but it's Infinitesimal. ("Nothing really touches, bro, just kinda floats...")

The worst part, though? I was babysitting while I drew this (we were having an Art Time. I did not just abandon the poor child to fend for herself in order to create this masterpiece) and the girl's reaction, after looking at it dubiously for a few minutes: "Well, you did say you hadn't drawn in a while..."

Sigh. Apparently I should not rely on my drawings to get me by.

If you drew yourself, either seriously or in jest, how would you do it?

bad wolf day

Just like Impossible Astronaut Day, today was another Doctor Who holiday! (Just another good reason to watch Doctor Who- you can participate in all these random activities and have something to look forward to on Mondays.) I don't want to provide too many spoilers, in case any of my posts are encouraging you to watch it (or maybe any time you see/hear Doctor Who, you immediately recoil in horror. Some of my friends do this. I'm not sure how we're still friends) but suffice it to say that 'Bad Wolf' were major arc words in season 1.

So, when I saw this, I was obviously thrilled!

A chance to weird out my fellow students? How could I resist? I wrote it on whiteboards...

on other random notes (for the uneducated, apparently "I Cereal You" is now the way cool kids say "I Love You"...?)...

...on training schedules...

on desks...

...and on Kleenex boxes.

Did anyone notice? Was anyone deeply disturbed by it? Maybe not, but I like to think so. (Or at least think they'll look it up, discover Doctor Who, and be hooked. You never know!)

And finally... there's just a couple more hours left for the S-Trip Scholarship! If you'd like to help me win trips and an internship, please tweet or comment on my submission. 

you know you're overthinking it when

I was never the type of girl who had imaginary friends. To be honest, even at five, I thought the idea was... kinda silly. (Why make up a friend when you could play with your Beanie Babies?... okay, so maybe my logic was a little faulty, seeing as it amounts to the same thing... but I was five okay?) However, the older I get, the more I find myself taking refuge in imaginary worlds and, if not pretending that their characters attend my every move, imagining that they do exist. (Somewhere. Parallel universes totally exist. Just watch Doctor Who.)

My thought process goes something like this...
-omg I love this character!
-why do they not exist in real life to marry me or to be my best friend
-...let's face it, I'd probably be too antisocial to hang out with them anyway (...while I'm confessing)
-BUT THAT'S OKAY, I can pretend
-next time I make cookies, I will totally make extra for them and eat them (calories don't count after midnight or when they are consumed for imaginary friends)

...I think we can agree I might be a little obsessive. My current read: Dracula. (I know. I'm a teenage girl reading about vampires. How very cliché.) Why do I love it so much, you might ask? Because of the characters. (Again, no, I am not in love with Dracula.) I find them very vivid; I can totally picture Jonathan Harker as that quiet shy kid in hipster glasses and cardigans who you later discover has a black belt in karate. Or John Seward as the know-it-all who everyone's in love with.

Something else I love is when I find an actor who's played in several shows or movies that I enjoy. Right now, Jonny Lee Miller tops that list (having played an antique dealer who kills vampires, Sherlock Holmes, and Mr. Knightley, a love interest in a Jane Austen adaptation... swoon) with Billie Piper coming a close second (Rose, my favourite Doctor Who companion, as well as Fanny, the main character in a different Jane Austen)... really, if the two of them were together in a show my heart might explode from fangirl excitement.

Does anyone else ever do any of these things? If you've read Dracula, what were your impressions?

Happy Sunday, blog ninjas!

questions that have no answers... except they do!

More questions and answers? Yes. Just because they're fun. (Plus I told Jesse I would, and I am a good friend, right peeps?)

What size is your bed?

Single? but I need a bigger one... there's just so many stuffed toys I share it with

What is your song of the week?

This is kind of embarassing...

but Little Things, by One Direction.

Yes, you can shoot me now. 

I'm also loving everything Ed Sheeran, if that helps? (In my defence, it was written by him.)

Plus, Jesse sent me this video and I'm obsessed with it:

Just gorgeous. 

Would you bury treasure if you had some?

No way. SHOPPING SPREE!

Are you afraid of heights?

Not really... like, I'm not super fond of balancing on things (like those high ropes courses) because I have the balance of a drunk toddler (no I have no idea where that metaphor came from) but in general they don't bother me.

Do you sing in the shower?

I sing EVERYWHERE. Public, private, it doesn't matter. Let the music continue!

Do you believe in ghosts?

Yes. Oh my, yes. (Read this post for more info on my ghosts.) I think there are many things that exist both seen and unseen around us. 

What was the worst injury you had?

I've had a couple of broken fingers, but that's basically it. 

Coffee or tea? why?

BOTH. They're both so delicious! (I like tea better when I just want a hot drink, and coffee when I want caffeine.) I'm drinking cookie dough tea right now.... mmmm.

Are you patient?

LOL no. 

What was the last text message you sent?

"Omg I was so jealous when I saw it! I am totes buying it next year when I'm at uni if it's still offered! (Who cares about food when you can have tea? XD)" 

(Just to clarify: I was talking about the David's Tea Advent Calendar. Feel free to send it my way as a Christmas present peeps! -wink-)

What do you want for your first tattoo/what was your first tattoo?

Do I need a tattoo? This question seems very discriminating!

LOL, just kidding, I don't know if I want a tattoo or not... the idea is intriguing, but it's just so permanent- it would have to be something super meaningful. 

So there we go. Did you learn anything new? Were you surprised by any of my answers? 

let it snow

Today -drumroll please- IT SNOWED.

like oh my gosh, guys, it snowed.

How to tell if you are a Canadian: this thought is actually exciting and not a source of terror. (Minus 30? PLEASE.)

Okay, actually, this might be more a sign of "How to tell if you are Zia" because honestly, no one else in my highschool seemed all that thrilled. It started during lunchtime, and I asked several people if they wanted to go for a walk with me, even offering the promise of a stop at the pizza or poutine place; the lure of fresh air might be negligable, but junk food rarely is... but even that was not enough of an inducement. (Thanks guys. I love you all too.)

So, instead of being constrained by their lameness, I headed outside to, as one boy put it, "frolic" in the snow. A random photo shoto ensued. (Apologies for the no-makeup face... I hadn't realised there would be so much excitement!)

From almost no snow...

To the beginnings of a BLIZZARD!

(Okay, not really, but still.) Look at this. Seriously, it's beautiful.

I had to fulful my frolic duties, after all!

Good thing I went out, too... because how much is there now?

NADA.

...sadness.

Hopefully I'll dream of snow tonight and it will be there when I wake up.

What are your thoughts on snow?

facts about me (fascinating title? I think so)

Well, the lovely Kori over at The Musings of an Awkward Panda recently nominated me for an award... and yes. I am actually doing it. WHOOT! So, here go the FACTS. (100% true. Promise.)

1) I went through a soup-hating phase for about two years. (Like, no soup. At all. Ever.) This just ended about two weeks ago. (As you can imagine, my friends and family were greatly relieved.)

2) When I was in preschool (so, like two) the teacher told my parents that I was developmentally handicapped because I couldn't use scissors. (However, I still can't, so maybe she was right...)

3) Salad, chocolate and grilled cheese sandwiches are my comfort foods.

4) I LOVE SNOW. Like, so much. I nearly cried yesterday because it started snowing while I was at work and I couldn't get outside to see it... and then it was gone by the time I finished. Saddest moment of my life.

5) On a slightly related note, I cry all the time. You may have noticed I'm an extremely dramatic person... my highs are Everest-high and my lows are Marianas Trench. (Except not the band- them I adore.) So basically I'll be sad/angry/stressed about something, will have a huge sob-fest, and then will feel fine. (Until the next sobfest...)

6) I love stamps. There's just such a variety, and they're all so pretty! (This cropped up in a convo with Jesse... the things we talk about...) Stamp designer... Another job possibility? I think so -wink-

7) It drives me absolutely insane when people play with their hair. Like, I can't even look at them without wanting to scream. (I understand if you're fixing it or hand-combing, but not just random fingering. Ew. Stop.)

8) I'm pretty depressed right now because I think I have to start taking iron supplements again... seriously, they taste like eating a melted spoon. (I would guess.) GROSS.

Now, onto the questions! (Yes, I know there were supposed to be 11 facts. Shhh...)

-Guilty pleasure?
Chocolate? Junk food in general? haha, I'm so predictable. 

-3 bad habits?
1) picking at my nails
2) talking too much
3) eating when I'm not hungry

-Favourite TV show(s)?
Well, I think you've all heard about these multiple times (and will again, muahaha) but Vampire Diaries, Doctor Who, New Girl, The Mindy Project and Sherlock. 

-Favourite fast food joint?
Starbucks? Does that count? I'm not really a fast food girl... vegetarian, not so much. 

-Place you would most like to work?
HarperCollins publishing house, omg. I have no idea why, but it's been a dream of mine for several years.

-Apple or Blackberry and why?
Hmmm... both? I love my Blackberry phone, but I also love my iPod nano (the old, cool kind, without a touch screen.) 

-Whip out your iPod and stick it on shuffle. The first 5 songs that come up are what?
1) Your Star- Evanescence (what can I say, I went through an emo phase)
2) All The Rowboats- Regina Spektor (an album I downloaded and never really got into... I do that often)
3) Utopia- Within Temptation (VAMPIRE DIARIES SONG LOVE)
4) Return The Favour- All Time Low (I don't even remember this song)
5) Pretty Baby- Vanessa Carlton (I actually hate this song. Why is it on my iPod? DELETE)

-Do you swear? If so, how badly on a scale of 1 to 10?
Like, 1? I try not to... sometimes I swear in my head, and I've noticed myself doing that more often (blame being surrounded by teenage boys) but I do really try not to. 

-Favourite endearing animal?
Penguins, platypus, kittens, owls. (They're just TOO CUTE. Don't ask me to just pick one, come on!) 

-Favourite sport to watch?
None... -hides under the sofa from sports fans the world over-

-Views on pop culture music?
I like a lot of it -hides once again- but I don't like listening to the radio... like seriously, some nice shallow music is fine one or two times a week, not constantly. 

Some artists really annoy me though... like Lady Gaga, seriously, ughhh. 

...and there you are. This is me. Now, onto YOU! I'm not going to tag anyone specific, but if you'd like to, I'd love to hear some random facts about you. (And seriously, I think my questions are pretty cool, so ANSWER THEM.) Here are my questions:

-Ninjas or pirates and why?
-Who's your dream concert?
-What moment do you want to relive?
-What's your opinion on emoticons and text words? 
-What's your favourite word?
-What made you choose your current job?
-Pet peeve?
-Would you like to know what it would be like to be someone of the oposite sex for one week?
-What's your belief system?
-What's your first memory?
-Favourite thing to cook?
-First thing you notice about people you're attracted to?

You know you want to answer, dearest listeners. I dare you. 

things i think about on saturday mornings

• OMG it's six o'clock why am I not up
• I have to go get ready for school omg I haven't started math homework yet! -sitting up-...wait a second
• IT'S SATURDAY! if I wasn't so tired I'd be doing a little dance in my bed right now
• except I have to work...FOUR HOUR SHIFT! for the first time in like ever
• ok I'll just lie here and pretend I'm a vegetable, I think I'd make a cute chili pepper... I should get a little green cap... And dye my hair red!
• except my skin is already red enough, so it's okay
• I should make a blog post about this
• why do I make lists of blog posts and then never do them? they're so cool... then I write a post like this that doesn't even make sense
• but then that is an accurate state of mind... this is me 
• I should maybe be worried about that... OMG WHAT WAS THAT NOISE
• oh it's just my stomach
• because of course I'm starving 30 seconds after I wake up... not an earthquake, it's all good, I don't have to go rescue the kitties
• good thing because they'd probably just run away 
• ...so yeah, I should probably go eat... but the bed is so warm and cozy and I love my blankets they're so cute, they have strawberries!
• ...WHICH IS FOOD
• okay fine, I'll get up now.

Too bad there can't be fancy squiggly charts on Blogger, because that would really represent my thoughts more accurately... plus I had a radio soundtrack playing at the same time. (Mostly Imagine Dragons.) Is this what you do in the mornings too?

things I realise while packing

So it's Friday (YAY!) and I left school early to pack for another university visit (DOUBLE YES!). Of course, this means a blog post (procrastinating can be fun!) because I have to share all this excitement with y'all! (No, I never say that. I just like writing it and pretending that I do.) 

• I have way too many clothes, and I only wear about ten percent.
• Random dance parties= the best thing everrr.
• OMG I don't work again until Tuesday! that's worth a dance party right there by itself, no music necessary!
• ... I'm kind of a loser.
• And (as I trip over my piles of clothes) I will never be a professional dancer (surprise, I know!). 
• I should probably eat less chocolate, because that little dance session made me feel out of breath... time for a blogilates break! 
• Ok I'm back. Kinda sweaty and cat-furry (read the next point) but not yet dead.
• I love my cats, but sometimes they are a pain. (Aka, Amber is currently rubbing himself all over me and trying to step on my keyboard. Not exactly helpful.)
• Why can't he just help me choose shirts? I'm currently putting in ten for two days... logic= not my forte.
• Or eat my chem book so that I don't have to take it with me? (I mean really, you'd think my teacher would realise that picking a future is more important than doing a lab report right now... ok, not really, but I like the thought.)
• Plus I can't find a pencil or an eraser. Hopefully I don't make any mistakes...

This was my dance party song... trust me, it's contagious.

High Five for Friday, dearest listeners! 

vérités de la vie

aka life truths... with my French twist. (I have to insert a little bit of French somewhere... I don't want to break the school's heart. And why yes, inanimate objects most definitely have hearts.)

-If you need to surrepticiously eat a snack (aka during class, not that I ever do this, cough cough), you will have brought something like apples or carrots.

-Plus, because you need to eat it quietly, the sound will be magnified a thousand times. (This is also true for wrappers.)

-There are two types of knee sock monsters. One steals socks and builds his nest with them so that you can never find them again; the other puts the mismatched remaining socks in pairs so that you show up at school with two completely different socks.

-The day you decide to put your hair in a messy bun and not wear makeup will either be a) picture day, b) the day all the other girls decide to look good (somehow without informing you; I suspect a plot) or c) the day you're supposed to be on a trip with a chance to see cute boys (and, because you are not groomed, they will appear).

-If you are not in class a full five minutes before the bell, you look like a slacker because everyone else will be.

-One side of the school will be a sauna: so hot that you have to take your tights off in the middle of class and just hope you're not flashing the people sitting behind you. The other side will be a freezer: so cold you have to wear a winter coat, a blanket and two hoodies in order to avoid becoming an icicle. (To be completely honest... both of these happened yesterday.)

To finish, this video... is kind of my life.

Except for two key differences:
1- we sing O Canada. Every morning. Except it's more like standing awkwardly and shooting glances at each other like 'why are we hereee?" because no one actually sings.

2- I don't bring notes to leave. I just disappear, and when asked for a valid reason smile and say that I was working on yearbook. (Works every time. This is probaly because enough people have witnessed my hallway meltdowns and are now too scared to confront me... SUCCESS.)

Any of this seem familiar?

Linking up here!

universally acknowledged truth

This.

(Confession: this post was originally meant to be about random facts... then I started writing about tea... and I was unable to stop. I blame YOU, Jesse. And I'm at school, with no near kettle... sob sob.) Really, there is nothing that tea cannot heal. It's just happy-making. (And whoever said that adding hyphens to make new words is not valid is a LIAR.) 

So, for a lovely Friday... I thought I'd talk about my favourite kinds of tea!

1) Actually, the tea-makes-everything-better fact is a lie. (Sorry.) Tea cannot heal not having tea... because then you don't have any. (Logic: Zia's strong suit, right?) I'm almost out of my Ice Cream Cake type from David's Tea... Heartbreak is imminent.

Honestly, how can you NOT want to drink Ice Cream Cake tea? It's like a calorie-free milkshake with Neapolitan ice cream: there are sweet hints of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate all at once. MMMM.

2) My second choice: pumpkin chai, also from David's Tea. 

It's perfect for a rainy day; sweet and cinnamony and, of course, pumpkin-y. (More hyphenated words, yay!) 

3) Let's face it: we all know that clarity is not my strong suit. That's why I drink this tea!

It tastes like blueberries with a hint of spice. Plus... it turns BRIGHT PINK! How can you not want to drink something that's bright pink? 

4) Okay... so you might be starting to see a theme here. David's Tea= love. Dessert teas= love. Strawberry Shortcake? LOVE. 

This is a wonderful summer-afternoon-in-the-air-conditioning tea; light and fruity and sweet. The sad thing is that I have to go visit one of my friends whenever I want this one, because I don't even own it. (I love you, Sophia!) So I'm a mooch. I admit it. 

5) Love hot chocolate, but not the calories? Try this tea.

It's rich, and chocolate-y (hypens again!)... the perfect treat for a snowy winter day after a hike. (Ok, so I have not tea-sted that theory out yet, but I'm sure it would be! This is actually another one owned only by a friend... love you too, Kori!

Yet another universal realisation:  I could buy it online... my life is complete. (Some people online shop for clothes. I online shop for teas. Cool kid here!) However, while browsing their site, I realised that another of my favourites (English Toffee, it literally tastes like caramel candy!) has been discontinued... and that I couldn't find this one either. (So really, this realisation was pointless.) How could they do this to meeee?

Sob. 

Okay, I'll go sample some different teas later and I will feel better. (Universally awesome, in fact.) 

Happy Friday!(Linking up for High-Five For Friday here!) (And Alpha-Thursday here!) Do you like tea? What are your recommendations? 

party timeeee!

Our basketball team actually won a game today! For the first time in two years! -totally dancing around the room- I'm still not altogether certain it wasn't a dream. However... I suppose that, since my dreams are 

either: 

a) full of blood and gore/crazy chainsaws/wasps and mad chase scenes

b) me turning into a mythical creature (some popular choices are unicorn, vampire and princess)

...this thought can perhaps be discounted. (Although there were plenty of bruises- I'm actually having trouble breathing from all the elbows I recieved in the ribs, nose and general face area... and okay, all the falls I took, this being me- there were no serious injuries. Except to the other team's pride. Because losing to us is seriously humiliating; we're known as the 'lame French school who sucks' plus a few choice curse words.) 

Anyway. WE WON! (Maybe if I write it a few more times, I'll start to believe it?) 

Second of all (and perhaps more importantly) I would just like to say: this is my life.

(And see, this is why I play basketball: so I can eat lots of pie. Mhmm. You know it. I'm sure I'm not the only one here.) 

excitement takes many different forms

I wanted excitement... and I got it.

(Are you ready for a thrill? Drum rollllll...) Yesterday, I got to go the dentist!

(I bet that's more exciting than you were expecting!) My teeth now feel all squeaky clean...time to go eat some chocolate! However, I also learnt that I soon have to get my wisdom teeth out... so be prepared for chipmunk cheeks.

I felt bad for the hygienist, though... near the end, my mouth was beginning to foam as much as a mutant squirrel with rabies. I did not know it was possible to have so much spit in my poor little mouth. (Ok, so maybe my mouth isn't that small... some might even say I'm a blabbermouth... but still.)

...WAIT A SECOND. Maybe I contracted rabies on my earlier wilderness hike. (That might explain all the foam!) There was some quite dangerous wildlife...

Oops, wait, that was just us. I meant this little guy.

Who knows, maybe he was a poison arrow frog in disguise. Mud can hide a lot of things.

Also... you might be amazed by this but... I did fall over. (I know, it comes as a shock.)

Plus, there was a mysterious pool of water surrounded by a fence... horror movie material, right there. Perhaps it was a pool of biohazardous waste? Or maybe we'll all turn into dinosaurs? The forest did remind me of Jurassic Park... (That would actually be pretty epic.)

Or maybe I just have a lot of spit. Who knows.

(Also, all photos are courtesy of Claire! Go check out her lovely photography blog.)

falling is only a beginning

Before you ask: this title is irrelevent. (I just wanted to write something vaguely poetic that talked about fall... I don't know if I succeeded but at least I tried.) Actually... well, I guess it applies a little bit... because lately I've been in the mood to DANCE! (You know you're a klutz when dancing= falling...)

Yay for Oppa Gangham Style! (You can tell I'm Canadian from the heavenly cup of Tim Hortons in my hand. Yay x2 for coffee!) Who doesn't like crazy dancing in the middle of the street, right? (Honestly, plus the glasses, I probably looked like an alien... but a gorgeous one, of course.) Of course, it's a little less glamourous when one trips over innocent passersby... but let's not speak of that.

...I'm so bored right now, guys. My life consists basically of school: long discussions about whether or not Henry VIII had a son (the answer is yes, no matter what Physics Boy says), trying not to burn off my nose in Chemistry (because somehow I don't think I'd be as cute with a little stub), writing poetry (watch me drown in a pool of angst) and drooling sleepily (SEXY!). I apologise for the lack of posts, but the truth is that I don't have much to post about.

On the plus side, this means that I'm overdue for some excitement... come on, universe, fulfill my wish....and at least I have lovely friends who can comfort me with their beauty.

Plus, let's face it: no matter how down you feel, it's almost guaranteed that a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate will make you feel a teensy bit better. (The perfect remedy for a Monday.) 

a slight case of blabbermouth

I was told this morning that I was 'too happy' (although how this is possible I am not sure)... so I apologise in advance if this post is bothersome to you, dearest listeners. To combat this possible overjoyedness, I will confess a secret:

I live in fear that I will one day walk into my basement and discover that a tramp has taken up residence there.

...yeah, ok, moving on now.

The current dilemma of my life: exercise, read, or blog? (This is why I shouldn't eat chocolate any later than four. I get all hyper and bounce around like the Energizer bunny, frightening the cats in the process. However, they often frighten me with their unearthly howling- maybe that's why I think a tramp is in the basement? More like an elephant- so I suppose we're even.)

EXERCISE BREAK! Get up and do ten jumping jacks or run around your room for a while during my distraction... Okay, I'm back. You may now stop your mini-workout. (Did you actually do something?)

Without any graceful segue (which is really pronounced sedge-way... how bizarre!) this was my amazing outfit for casual day today!

(Glamour bathroom shots foreverrr!) I love casual day. It is literally the best day of the month. (No wonder I'm happy today!) Except this photo worries me a little... like, do I look like a Bratz doll? As in, is my head too big for my body? (I swear it's not like that in real life...unless I'm wearing one of my extremely large and lovely hats.)

Also, for your personal edification (yes, I'm in a big-words-mood) today was the birthday of the French-Ontarian flag! It's partyyyy time, y'all. (I really need to stop that...) Except not really... because there was only a boring ceremony -sadface- Not so happy.

However, I had Carly Rae Jepsen's new album to comfort me. I was literally dancing a bit (read: all over the place) in the hallway this morning. (This may also account for the 'too happy' comment.) Seriously though, how can you listen to this and not want to dance?

(Yes, you guessed it: I'm dancing again.)

Let's just end with: dinosaurs are the best. (Thank goodness I have pens to occupy myself during math class...) 

Kthanxbyeeee!

being a cashier has taught me...

Happy Wednesday, dearest readers! Is anyone else as tired as I am? I can't wait to go home and sleep.... (I'm currently trapped at school, as is too often the case.) My days lately have been divided between classes and cashiering (is that a word? Spellcheck isn't marking it as wrong, so maybe so! However, once I wrote 'speculate' and spellcheck told me that what I really wanted to say was 'semen'... so I wouldn't put too much faith in it.) Since I've been working so much lately, I've learnt a few things about being a cashier, and I thought I'd share some of my wisdom with all of you!

-Trust me, we don't want to chat. (Or maybe I'm just antisocial. That's possible too.) The number of times I have to chat about the weather... To be brutally honest, I have no interest in your life.

-It's my job to ask you if you have a rewards card, and trust me, I'm just as sick of it as you are. (So don't look at me as though I ate your child.)

-I'm a teenager. My brain is fed on emo music and Vampire Diaries, so don't expect me to know that Visa and Mastercard are credit cards. Just tell me!

-Snarking at me is absolutely useless and will in fact make me want to work slower and help you less.

-You have one item. In plastic packaging. It's sunny outside. Do you really need a bag?

-Don't give me that weird look. If you'd been standing here for three hours, you'd be doing squats and stretches too. (Actually, this one might just be me... I have yet to see any of my co-workers doing this.)

What are some things your job has taught you? For your sake, I'm just hoping it's more exciting than mine!

Also: YAY I designed a new banner! (And it only took me about three hours to put it up. Yes I am technologically challenged, thanks.) What do you think of it?

openminded to oddness

It is a truth universally acknowledged that dancing is fun. (Okay, maybe it's not universal... but it should be! Just think of how much happier the world would be!) Another universally acknowledged truth is (or again, should be) that dressing up makes everything better. It logically follows that, when you dress up to go out dancing, it's one of the most enjoyable activities possible to girlkind... and in this case, logic did not disappoint. What was I doing, you may ask?

Why, Jane Austen dancing, of course!

Have you ever watched Pride and Prejudice? If not (and shame on you, go watch it now!) here's a quick clip to show you what I mean.

Yes, I can actually dance that. Be impressed -wink- The other night, there was actually a ball near us! Well, more precisely a reenactment- and the only reason that part is important is because reenactment= volunteers= cute boys... in Regency outfits. (Score!)

Let's just say... it was a lot of fun.

However, our merriment caused some of the other dancers to become alarmed- and not only because we were so confused that we kept messing them up... tripping over poles and each others' feet... dancing the wrong dance entirely... etc! By virtue of being the youngest regular dancer, I've become something of a pet to the others. (Case in point: both my dress and the hat I sometimes wear- which can be seen here- were handmade gifts from two of the other lovely members.) The shockingly forward behavior (in Jane Austen terms) we were exhibiting (read: shameless flirtation) led one of the other dancers to whisper in my ear: "Remember, Wickham was a redcoat!"

Now, at this point, you will either start laughing (or at the very least give me a smile, come on!) or stare at the screen thinking... what? To the second reaction, I have only to say again: read Pride and Prejudice! Or watch the movie! (You know you want to stare at a young Colin Firth.) 

Really, though, all you need to know is that Wickham was a Bad Man- not someone you'd trust farther than you could curtsey. (Does that even make sense? I don't believe so, but oh well.) Never fear, dearest readers. I was in no danger of losing my heart. (Only my shoes, since I stepped on my own toes so many times.) 

Moral of the story: dancing is fun and Pride and Prejudice is wonderful, kthanksbye. 

And if this post doesn't count for my PDA prompt of 'something weird that I own'... I don't know what does.  (We're in the home stretch now! The full list can be found here!) What's your secret oddity? Are you a Jane Austen obsessionist too?

the narcissistic view from my window

So... I know I'm still doing the photo challenge... but today I am cheating a little bit. I already took a photo of the view from my window (and it can be seen here) so I decided to, instead, give you all a quick view of what is happening through the window of my mind. (Yay for metaphors!) Follows a (somewhat complete) list of everything I've been thinking about recently... (Also it gave me the opportunity to, as I mentioned last week, use the word narcissistic in a title! because let's face it I can be slightly self-obsessed.)

-why do I keep biting the inside of my lip? it's all swollen and sore, and I don't know why it keeps happening, I think my teeth are in the wrong spot but I used to have braces so that can't be right

-maybe I just eat too much gum, 4 pieces a day is perhaps excessive

-but then I'd just eat more chocolate-covered almonds OMG they are my life why are they so good and why do they have so many calories? it's just sad

-also salted nuts and roasted veggies yay food!

-but also exercise, running is so much fun, I ran to the post office and I am so proud...why does no one ever send me exciting parcels? A MYSTERY

-and why is amazon so slow? My gorgeous phone case probably won't arrive for a month and I want to show you all the amazingness that it is

-it's British and we all know that British things are the coolest

-during the university tour the guide thought I was British because this was my outfit:

-aren't we cute? Yes we are and we look so university-ish, OMG I can't wait to be a university student, I AM SO READY and yet I will probably cry a river when time comes to actually leave but it is so thrilling

-school starts in 5, yes FIVE DAYS, and I work this entire weekend so I can't even enjoy it

-I will be bored, but I will have money (yes I think about this all the time and have even posted about it I think, but whatever you all probably feel the same, amiright?)

-except school doesn't even pay me and yet it is probably more boring (except for english class because I get to write on my blog, hahaha)

-however the thought of fall is exciting, I am sitting on the deck and dying of heatstroke right now

-why does my laptop generate so much heat? Is it going to spontaneously combust? OMG I'M GONNA DIE, you may all share my hat collection

-thank goodness my cellphone is not this warm or I would definitely pass out since it is always in my pocket

-although really, I don't text that much, I swear I'm not that annoying girl with her phone always in her face

-no I'm the annoying girl who's always holding a book

-OMG I just read Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl (go read it now, link to Goodreads provided) and it is literally my favourite book ever, I don't say that a lot so you know I really mean it this time, it is so funny that I CRIED and had to stuff my face in a pillow for fear of waking the children I was babysitting up

-THANK GOD I am an only child because I think I would be tired all the time if I had a sibling

-especially if they decided to spray Febreze in my mouth, that stuff is VILE

And now I'm out of breath and must stop. (Gag. Even the thought of Febreze is revolting.) What are some things that have been on your mind recently?

And, as usual for the Thursday, this is my contribution to Jenny Matlock's wonderful linkup!

kindness is komplicated

I wrote that title with some deep theme in mind, but now all I can think of is the book 'A Complicated Kindness' which is filled with dead chickens... so not altogether kind. To the chickens anyway. (I'm glad I'm not a chicken. It doesn't seem like a very stimulating life. I wouldn't mind being a cat, though- they seem to have such a unique perspective on life. Plus I'm pretty good at the whole 'leave me alone, I'm much cooler than you' thing that they have going on.)

However,  it's also a book considered 'literary'... which is, for me, a warning sign. I tend to find that genre of book confusing. I arrive at the end, and am like... wait a second. Was there a plot? Did I miss something, or was those Deep Musings On Life really all there was to it? (And, as you can tell if you've read any of my posts, Deep Musings on anything are not my forte. Obsessing over pointless details is far more my style.) (And I'm hoping to possibly study Literature at University. Hmmm...)

ANYWAY. Kindness takes many shapes and sizes, but it is also very subjective. To one person, it might be saying "You look fat in that dress," but to another it might be the exact opposite. (Or saying, politely, why do you want to study Literature when the label 'literary' is a warning sign? Or, less politely, ARE YOU A MORON? The answer to the second one, by the way, is probably yes.) This, right there? Why I hate buying clothes. How do I know which person I'm shopping with? Do I actually look good, or are you just saying that? (This also applies to cooking/writing/cleaning... really about any activity that might possibly involve another person. This is why my life would be so much easier if I could just live in a cave and be a hermit... I wonder what moss tastes like?)

The point I'm trying to make here is that...ok, I just reread the three previous paragraphs and realised it didn't actually have a point. Never mind. You may now return to your previously scheduled programming. (As long as it doesn't involve Jersey Shore. I am doing you a kindness, right now, in saying that that kind of show will just rot your brain.) (And in writing that sentence, another question occurred to me- why is it that 'kind' is also 'type'? OMG, and then 'type' is also 'type' as in 'I am typing nonsense on my keyboard'... Mind. Blown.)

Yeah, so I'm just going to stop here and say... this oh-so-fascinating post is my contribution to Jenny Matlock's linkup this week!

You're so welcome.  

Also, I am being KIND and participating in my friend Jesse's Photo of the Day for August (which can be found here)... starting tomorrow. (I would start today, except I want to dedicate an entire post to it and this... I don't know what this was, but it was not a post. Also, I don't know where my camera went. It was possibly eaten by the cat.) Just a head's up, so that if I don't post tomorrow you can smack me with a fish. 

burning questions of life

...alternatively, Pointless Things I Think About When Home Alone And Am Too Lazy To Actually Look Up.

1. Why is cottage cheese called cottage cheese? It's not like Play-doh or something, so you can't make cottages out of it... Was it originally made in cottages?

And, since it is called that, why is there no packaging that has little pictures of cottages on it? THAT WOULD BE SO CUTE. Marketing industry, you're really missing out on something here.

2. Why would anyone buy this?

I mean really, you'd sound like a sleigh and possibly poke someone in the eye. (Actually scratch that, I'm hoping no one's face is quite that close to your chest...)

3. How is it possible that girls back in the Victorian Era weren't completely overweight? THEY SAT AND ATE CHOCOLATE. How is this fair? Why was I not born then? I could totally drink all that tea! YAY TEA!

4. How do you walk in these things?

Is there some kind of High Heel School I missed out on? I trip over my own feet without any shoes on...

5. Why are bathing suits so expensive? THEY'RE TINY SCRAPS OF FABRIC. And yet they can be more expensive than a nice sundress. Let's all rebel and just go swimming in our clothes! (Or underwear, if you're feeling daring. Or, I suppose, nothing at all... maybe not in broad daylight, though.)


6. (This probably falls under the category of "no one cares but me"...) Why is it that Stars' only Canadian shows are with Metric? I DON'T WANT TO GO SEE METRIC. I just want to see Stars! 


7. Why do none of my friends think that Ninja Cupcake would be an amazing name for a band? Come on, you know it's great. We could all wear adorable shirts like this!

Because everyone knows that cupcakes are wonderful, bands are wonderful, and ninjas are the coolest things ever... so why not combine them?

Are there any burning questions that have been bugging you? Any answers for mine?

happily, this is all in the past

I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast today. This simple fact made me inordinately proud, for the reason that the last time I made pancakes was four years or so ago and it was a traumatizing experience. (So traumatizing, in fact, that I don't even remember what happened...)

(If you're wondering where this is going, the answer is: absolutely nowhere, except maybe you'll want to go to the kitchen and eat a snack. If that is the case, please do, because I'm making myself want a snack and I'll feel less guilty if I know someone else is eating unnecessarily too.)

You know what else is traumatizing? Putting your entire hand down on a hot stove to check how hot it is. DON'T DO IT. It may seem tempting at first (what if your one finger just doesn't have the right heat receptors?) but it is definitely not worth it.

(Ok, now I'm eating pie. IT'S DELICIOUS. Pie is the best food on Earth. And please don't confuse this with a love for the number Pi, or Life of Pi, because I never really got either of those. I'll stick with my calculator and my YA fantasies, thanks.)

Finally, last up on the traumatizing list- looking at old pictures of yourself. Looking at me now, you would never guess I used to be a fashion disaster. (Modesty, oh yes.) I think I'm a fairly stylish person. However, when I was younger, I wore... things (not even clothes. Things) like this.

But in bright pink or bright blue...paired with something like this.

Gorgeous, right? And yes, my mother let me leave the house. She thought it was 'cute'... now dooming me to humiliation whenever I look back at those photos. Even better? I used to wear leopard costumes everywhere. I had two, and they were my FAVOURITE THINGS EVER. (I was like ten. How did I not know better?) What are some traumatizing moments of your past?


This is also my (admittedly pointless) contribution to Jenny Matlock's wonderful linkup!