the explorer's return

So... hi.

Did you miss me? Did you think I was dead? (Honestly, at some points, I thought I was dead. I have never been so tired as when I got off that plane... but here I go, already getting ahead of myself...) Well, I hope you did, and I'm not.

Things I learnt from Explore

• EDWARD SNOWDEN
• French grammar yo (had to stick it in somewhere) 
• Peanut butter peanut butter peanut butter (aka I am not alone in my obsession)
• There is such a thing as too many wraps
• Also too many sandwiches
• Running twice a day is advised
• It is not possible to sing a song too many times (Elle me dit, anyone?) 

• I'm not as smart as I think I am
• It is possible to be entirely consumed by mosquitoes
• I am not as socially awkward as I had always suspected (whattt)
• You need sweatpants
• No matter how sad you feel, mini doughnuts will help
• Sleep is overrated
• Dancing in the rain is not
• POURQUOI?
• I own way too many clothes
• Being pushed in a shopping cart is the way to travel
• You will never regret taking photos
• How to do the carwash (...our own special dance, too special to be explained)
• Tea is the addiction of our generation
• So is flax (go figure, people just got really excited)
• LOUIS RIEL
• Bowling= bonding
• Cold showers after long runs are the best things of life

And, most importantly: 

• it is totally possible to be in love after five weeks (or even much before)

I have never met a group of people I felt this strong a connection with. At the beginning, I felt so many misgivings... but it has been the best summer of my life. I haven't been blogging as much as I might have liked, but in exchange I've definitely been living! 

on biology

Sometimes I stare into the mirror and try to count my freckles. I'm nearly certain that (at a rate of one per year or so) they are increasing... however I could be mistaken and it could just be pen stains. (Yes, I wash my face frequently... but I also have acquired the bad habit of chewing on my writing utensils. I noticed this only after I offered to lend someone a pencil and they refused with a horrified stare... causing me to realise that said pencil was currently in my mouth. Whoops.)

Having more freckles is actually comforting, not only because it means I am getting vitamin D (or so I tell myself- I'm no longer taking biology and so try not to trouble my pretty little head with such conundrums) but because it means that, in some intangible way, I am evolving. It's nice to know that my body manages to do things without my conscious self sometimes (although I must say, dreaming three times about The Office last night was not a conscious decision either. That seems to border on obsession... what other things am I thinking about without even noticing? SCARY) because it seems that, in general, I am inclined to think too much.

...speaking of: did you know that the tobacco plant has different reactions depending on what predator lands on it? Sometimes it's poisonous. Sometimes it's spiky. Basically, its leaves... have brains. Am I the only one scared by this? Everyone's worried about the zombie apocalypse- I think I'll fear take-over by plants.

But to return to talking about myself (because we all know that's my favourite subject... actually that's a lie. My favourite subject is literature. However, are my favourite books only a reflection of myself?... #TooComplicated #TimeForANap)... I still haven't decided on a university.

-hides behind the sofa-

Yes. Despite having recieved my offer in DECEMBER, I have yet to decide which program to choose. (At this point, I'm actually hoping for that tobacco plant apocalypse so that I don't have to make a decision. Or I might just draw it out of a hat- that would be far more productive!)

Yeah, so... that's that. Another example of indecisiveness: I've been thinking about making popcorn all week and I have yet to do so because plugging in my air-popcorn maker just seems like too much work...

DECISION TIME: I'm going to go make popcorn- all that's prevented me from doing so before now is the fact that it is downstairs and I am not, and no one has yet invented a teleportation machine. (I am 100% certain that, if such a thing did exist, it would be used primarily to get food.)

also: I am finally on Bloglovin! Go me! (And go follow me!)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Happy Sunday, blog ninjas! (If you've gotten all the way to here, let me award you some honorary popcorn.)

hootin'

The title of this post started out as 'ootn' (which is here an acronym for 'outfit of the night') but the strangeness bothered me too much (hypocritical much?) and I needed to change it. 

So instead, you got "hootin'". 

Which is, in its way, strangely appropriate- the whole reason for this outfit (because who am I kidding, it's a Friday night, I usually only wear pyjamas) was because I attended Bohemian Nights last night! This is, for you poor uneducated souls, a night dreamed up by a volunteer group in my town geared towards 'youth involvement' and ensuring that teenagers find somewhere other than our local McDonald's to haunt. 

Whatever the occasion is, I'm happy to be all dressed up! 

glasses: Ardene's

cardigan: AE

shirt: Bluenotes 

jeans: Sirens

Incidentally, this is my 'skinny shirt'. It's that one shirt that, whenever I feel bad about myself, I wear... and voilà! Five pounds gone! (Everyone should have a skinny shirt. The fact that mine has a penguin on it is either slightly unfortunate or very reflective of my personality...) 

(And confession: the only reason I'm blogging right now is to stop myself from eating more of these peanut butter pretzel chocolate chip cookie bites because I've already eaten more than I want to confess and I need to remind myself that yes, fitting into jeans is important... However, I am going shopping tomorrow, so I can always buy new ones!) 

...I just looked at the clock and realised I've been on the Internet basically all day. 

What am I doing with my life...

radical roman (italian) ramblings

...and radical they were indeed. At one point in Florence, we actually walked off the map! (Does that mean that the town ceases to exist? What a deep philosophical question... However, it more likely means simply that Mum and I continue to have an extremely bad sense of direction.)

As gorgeous as France was (you can see a small selection of photos here should you care to do so) I must confess that I preferred Italy. Why? Because... they had better food. (Surprise, surprise right? You should know by now that the way to my heart is through my stomach, for sure.)

really though just look at that. I don't think you can find a more gorgeous landscape

Our travels started in Pisa!

see how pretty this is? the town was unbelievably sketchy... not somewhere I want to be after dark

the basilica was unbelievably creepy... the place Weeping Angels go to die I swear

but really, is this not ridiculously crooked?

Then, onwards to Florence...

this was the best coffee of my life omg like really, it had ginseng and how cool is that? plus all the waiters were in fancy suits so love for that

we also went to the best restaurant. I can't even describe how good it was. plus it looked like we were in Versailles!

it seriously rained all day, I thought I was going to lose some appendages

and yet people still ate gelato, I feel my coffee was a far more sensible choice

I swear I'm moving here someday

After taking the bus yet again (I have so much more sympathy for those who take public transport all the time now) we arrived at Assise!

my new favourite (as are many things on this trip) church... really, can you beat three stories and gorgeous artwork filling every square inch? rhetorical all the way

adorably narrow streets, yes please! (as long as I don't have to drive... these people be crazy)

Finally, proving the saying "All roads lead to Rome" right by finishing our journey there. (Where does that saying come from anyway? I feel like it's somehow deep and mythological...)

so can anyone tell me what's on her chest? does she have a lot of extra breasts? are those melons?

crazy to think all maps looked like that at one time..

(Side note: these past two photos were taken in the Vatican, which is technically another city. I still can't believe that I stood under the Pope's window!)

I knew it was enormous and overwhelming and a world wonder, but I didn't know it would be quite that wonderful

and again. How is it possible that I walked around the place where Julius Caesar died? 

yet again. Rome by night, ancient and powerful and all too gorgeous. 

We also visited the Trevi Fountain (possibly my favourite stop on the trip... thankfully, because Mum and I got lost once more and had to hang out there for a while... I think the theme here is that Mum and I should not go places alone)- however, no photos remain (they somehow all disappeared, eaten by the faeries perhaps?) so... that's that. 

Also, how are there such random and gorgeous statues everywhere in all these cities? Send some to Canada for me, please! 

The nostalgia is growing... I think I'll go watch Roman Holiday! 

sunny day confessions

It's actually gorgeous outside today, so this title isn't wishful thinking!

-It still feels bizarre to be blogging under my real name... but I like it.

-Even more bizarre? I am incapable of pronouncing my own name. I love hearing other people say it, but the way I say it just sounds stilted. (This makes introducing myself difficult...)

-Older ladies often tell me I'm gorgeous but I rarely hear this from people my own age. This confirms my suspicion that I was born in the wrong age.

-Even my mother has now accepted I will be a Crazy Cat Lady... just look at what she gave me for Valentine's Day!

(Hint: it wasn't the clothes... Also, apology for the slightly creepy smile, blame it on the awkward changeroom lighting!)

-The thought of prom is a bit dispiriting right now. Everyone's talking about their dresses, dates, etc, and all I can think is a) I have no idea where to look for my dress b) I'm probably going to be the only one without a date (in a graduating class of ten people, this is not an exaggeration) and c) what if, when I find my dress, it doesn't fit?


-This weekend is going to be a total Chocolate/Junk In General Overload... but whatever, it's so delicious and it's just one weekend, right? (Except it's three days instead of two... oh well, living in a chocolate buzz makes the extra calories worth it!) (Hm... maybe this is why I have no prom date? And why I worry about fitting into a dress? Shhhh)

-I'm scared of putting gas into the van by myself. I'm worried that, just as I put in the nozzle, someone will leap out and kidnap me.

-I'm addicted to this line of body products.

They all smell absolutely luscious- like candied fruit and dessert and everything nice- and I can't stop using them! (Thank you once again, Mum and Sephora.)

What do you have to confess?

confessions from the heart

1. Wearing these shoes makes me feel kinda gangsta.

(and yes, I realise that as a white girl who screams at spiders, that is not an appropriate thing to say)

2. For the upcoming Emilie Autumn concert, Erika and I are planning to look like, in her words, "crack-whore faeries"... so be prepared for some pretty crazy photos!

3. I REALLY want this foundation.

source

However, every single time I try to buy it either online or in-store, it's out of stock. I think the universe is trying to tell me something...

4. I also REALLY want this palette.

 source

My birthday is coming up, world... feel free to send it my way! More seriously, though, I think I'll simply not buy any neutrals for a while, then when I run out, buy it.

4. I wish people would mail me letters (or presents... I'm not picky!). I think it's an art that's been lost within my generation, and that saddens me. Is there an official letter day during which we can all share addresses and mail each other things?

5. I don't understand why chip bags contain so few chips.

Like, seriously? (For the record, these aren't even my chips. These are Kori's, so it's ALL HER FAULT.)

6. My right eye is slightly less open than my left eye, all the time... and I hate it. I can't make my eyes match, and I'm really insecure about it.

7. Despite the fact that Friday's snow day caused many accidents and that no one appreciated it except for our town's minority of highschool students... I'm hoping for another one tomorrow. (Yes. When it comes to days off school, I am very selfish.)

8. I can't do a messy bun, and for this reason (amongst many others) I feel that I fail at being a girl.

9.  I'm currently addicted to this song.

(Amongst many others. My friends are kind enough to lend me CDs, and I thus discover much lovely music!)

10. David's Tea no longer sells my favourite tea (Ice Cream Cake)... I discovered that this morning and am still upset.

And that's it for this week, dearling ninjas! (and yes, that is spelt intentionally incorrectly. Because I can never remember any of the lovely and educated words I know, I am forced to invent my own) What do you have to confess?

ravishing rice pudding

While making rice pudding yesterday, my thoughts were as follows:

1) Why do we have so many bags of lentils in our cupboard? Does anyone even like lentils?
2) Oh, here's another bag of rice that has less than a quarter cup left.
3) No, but seriously, this is a lot of lentils.

(So maybe the lesson here is that I should learn to make lentil pudding? Hmmm, somehow it doesn't have quite the same ring...)

Anyway, I haven't posted a recipe in forever- mostly because I haven't baked anything in forever. However, today I decided to make rice pudding... because you know, my diet of the past few days has included bread, fajitas, cereal and more bread... so might as well stick another carb into the mix, right?

Zia's Rice Pudding (adapted from this recipe)

4 cups (soy/almond/regular... whatever you have in the fridge) milk

1/4 cup milk powder (for extra creaminess)

2/3 cup Arborio rice (or any kind, again: this is just what works best and makes it super creamy!)

1/2 cup honey (sugar also works) 

Cinnamon to taste

1 tablespoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in a oven-safe bowl (yes, it looks like there's not enough rice- that's normal), and put in oven.

Before cooking:

(It looks like a lunar landing...) Remove and stir every 20 minutes or so.

Partially cooked:

It'll take 2-3 hours to bake (so don't make it when you're hungry already!) and when it's done it should look something like this...

And done:

(Note that this one has a little bit of a skin on top, because someone -coughmymothercough- didn't stir it after I left to slave my legs off at work. It was, however, still delicious, as evidenced by the fact that a photo was taken only after half was eaten.) Top with milk or cream, and enjoy!

sense and sensibility and saltines

So, in continuing the theme of yesterday's post, I thought I'd talk about the little joys of... grocery shopping?

Yes. Does anyone actually enjoy grocery shopping? I would... if I had unlimited money and needed to eat nothing but chocolate. (With some arugula thrown in for good measure. Also some grilled cheese sandwiches. Seriously, that would be the perfect diet. I should market this. Let it be known as... The Ninja Diet!)

However, today was joyful because... we bought salted saltines! You wouldn't think there is another version... but yes, you can buy unsalted saltines. What is wrong with the world? It's in the name. By making an unsalted version, you're contradicting your own packaging. I'm just super happy about this because, twice in a row, we have accidentally purchased the unsalted ones -major sad face- You know there's something wrong when you have to put salt on your own crackers...

Also... Doctor Who. Jesse's and my typical conversation about it:
-OMG why is it so sad
-tears
-my feels (this is Jesse, the term feels should be repugnant to anyone with sense)
-why can we not stop watching this
-it's some kind of brain control but in real life
-wtf so much confusion
-random quotes from random episodes because they're amazing

Yes. Saltines and Doctor Who. This is my typical Saturday, world. (With several hours of math homework thrown in. Apparently spending several hours every weekday just isn't enough.) How's yours going?

travelling through the snow

I'm sitting on a hotel room bed in my favourite city while my mother watches Extreme Couponing. The first part of this sentence is exciting; the second, not so much. (What is wrong with these people? It looks like they're preparing for the zombie apocalypse!) Amazingly enough, this time our hotel is not sketchy! (Not yet anyway... we do have one more night. And great, now Maroon 5 is going through my head...)

However, there was a problem. Remember that hotel that had a waffle maker? This one had a pancake maker. (Which do you prefer, dearest ninjas? I can't decide... BOTH!) I waited for like an hour and a half to  use it... before someone finally told me that it wasn't working. (Like seriously, you couldn't have told me this before? You didn't notice my longing looks? The sadness of my life..) (And as usual, I'm talking about food. I definitely have my priorities straight!)

So what are we doing here? Well, so far, there's been a lot of driving. (Round and round... mostly because no one knew where we were going.) There has also been a play. What play, you ask? Are you imagining something Shakespearian? In this case, no. (Although I do love Shakespeare. Except for Othello, because everyone is caught in a morass of stupidity and deserved their deaths. Yes, I am bitter- reading that in my English Literature class might have scarred me for life, much like the time my parents forced me to drink a glass of milk. These moments were both equally awful.)

Omg, I totally forgot what I was writing about. What I was getting to: the play we saw was a spoof of Snow White. Actually, Snow White + James Bond. What could be better? Also, there were cute boys who were dancing to "I'm Sexy and I Know It" in pink velour suits... just the icing on the cake! (Does that sound bizarre? It was legit hilarious.)

Oh, and there has been MAJOR shopping. Haul post coming up soon? I think so! (No more spoilers, though -wink-)

So how has your break been going? (I just realised that some of you are not on break and that question may have caused you to break into tears. If that is the case, I apologise and send you hugs and tea!) (Not the sip I just spit onto my keyboard, though- the Extreme Couponer's husband just said that her pregnancy was making her 'unfit to coupon'. I hadn't realised it was such a sport... If I'm going to keep up all this shopping, maybe I should try this out? New way to exercise!) (Omg, they just said she spent over 10 hours at the store. And is freaking out that she has to spend 56 cents. What's wrong with these people?)

hold me tight and let it snow

This post will be an exercise in speedwriting- we're waiting for our dinner guests to arrive! (As always. I can't remember a Christmas Eve they weren't at least an hour late- once we ate without them... yet we love them anyways.) It may also be slightly incoherent- I am absolutely famished. (For some reason work makes me hungry. It must be the effort of being polite. And yes, I worked on Christmas Eve... sadness)

So, last Friday... I mentioned I was snowed in. YES. This means... that there was snow! Legit snow! And there still is! My life is made. If nothing else had happened over the holidays I would have been content. (But stuff did... so I am over the moon.)

So, what do I decide to do in a snowstorm? Walk to Starbucks. One of my friends owed me a hot chocolate (I gave him my wonderful mirrored sunglasses- seems like a fair trade, right?) and we thought, oh, it's not too bad out... let's go!

Hahaha. Right.

We were soaked within five minutes of our walk. We were pounded by wind and ice pellets. And, believe it or not, it was lovely. We debated running away on the train, but decided that our remaining five cents- Starbucks is expensive!- wouldn't get us far enough.

Aren't we pretty?

(And so was his hair after our trip.

Doesn't he look like Edward Cullen? I looked like Medusa... reason there are no photos of me!)

Then, what did I find when I arrived home but... a package from Jesse! Video to come- a response to his, although I don't know if it'll be quite as good (cause omg that was pretty sweet) so I won't reveal too much... but let me just say, if I ever decide to get a tattoo, it might look something like this!

(Hahaha no. But I do like the placement! This was my happiness touchstone during work... I just looked at it and reminded myself that people do love me and that I am not the reason for the downfall of the world, as some irate shoppers seemed to think.)

At the risk of sounding cheesy and cliché... I love my friends and family. I believe myself to be amongst the luckiest people on Earth because really, they are all wonderful. I laugh with them, cry with them, steal their food and smack them. (But not too hard because they probably all have better reflexes.) I don't know why they love me, but for some reason they do... and I am absolutely blessed. My wish for you: that you can be as lucky as I am.

Happy holidays, lovely ninjas, and may all your wishes come true.

i wish...

Tis the season... for impossible wishes! 

• well I think you can guess the first one (it starts with s and ends with now)
• at the risk of sounding like an old geezer (not that everyone old is a geezer, just to specify) I’m certain there was more snow when I was younger
• so I also wish for a time-travelling machine
• it’d be nice to know if my prediction that I will be a crazy cat lady actually comes true

• and also I’d really like to have a snowball fight with my younger self
• or simply have friends who would have snowball fights with me because my friends are/were just lame
• that I personally could be less lame sometimes (I mean really the word lame by itself is pretty bad) (and let’s not even discuss my burning desire to use sophisticated words) (okay at least that’s better than using “like” fifteen times a day)
• that I was less hungry right now
• seriously, the last period before lunch always kills me
• that’s why I’m writing a blog post and not actually working on my English project- I WANT THIS

• eggnog pie, like seriously, how amazing does that sound?
• that unhealthy food was less tasty- or that someone invents a healthy chocolate, come on, we’re long overdue

What are some of your wishes this season?

"baby, baby, where'd you put the bagpipes?!"

Did that get your attention? (How could it not?) It certainly captured mine in the middle of the night as it was yelled outside my hotel room. For whatever reason (ok, the reason being that we are frugal, or cheap) we tend to stay in hotels that are just this side of sketchy... not quite in the bad area of town, but definitely in the weird one. (However, I am grateful for this, since it means I have money for tea and university!) Gotta love big cities, right?

The next morning, on we went to the university open house!

Just a little advertising in the Science building. (If you're here from that, let me just say that I am amazed, and welcome! ...confession though, I am most definitely not into science.)

Of course there was a Tim Hortons! (I also managed to get in a visit to Starbucks- is anyone else in love with the Eggnog Latte?- and TWO to David's Tea, my dream place. Expect tea reviews soon!) 

After many tours, we went to the... James Bond exhibit! (I found out that he wore aviator sunglasses in the movies too, just further proof that mine are the coolest things ever.) 

My attempt at 'femme fatale'... might have been a little more successful had I not been wearing a plaid shirt. The exhibit was super cool though, I would definitely recommend it! OMG blinged-out dresses... every single one was dripping in glitter... my sort of clothes for sure.

Of course, they might not quite match my current object of desire...

I want one of these hats so badly, omg. Christmas is coming up, guys! -wink wink nudge nudge- (Because really, who doesn't want to look like their head is being eaten?) 

Who doesn't love random rickshaws? (Alliteration is fun!) Seriously though, this was just sitting in the middle of the street... I have no idea what it was doing there... and it was gone when we walked there in the morning. Maybe the people looking for bagpipes decided to steal it instead?

Sometimes street signs express things that you could never have put into words yourself, but that are oddly appropriate. 

The next day (which I somehow have no photos of, silly me) we toured another university (which was equally wonderful. Why are there so many that I have to love?) and bought... mittens? l,sjdkhgaiwehg it was COLD. Like, my fingers were nearly falling off. 

You can see the faint purple tinge here. (I actually love this photo so much... I may not have been able to find glasses to try on, but at least I had a mask!) 

...and nearly expired from hunger (okay, maybe that was just me. I think I have a problem...)

This is actually my mother's food... by the time she mentioned taking a photo, I had already inhaled more than half of mine. (Shh. It had been a long walk.) (Also, before you think she's a genius, let me just mention that she also talked about the 'warm womblike washroom' at the restaurant for quite a while... yeah...) 

After eating, we waddled (what can I say, the food was REALLY GOOD) over to the museum to go see... DINOSAURS! 

This is an actual dinosaur skull. Doesn't it look like a vaccum cleaner?

I thought my hoodie was quite appropriate! (For once. In what other situation is wearing a giant eel approriate anyway?) 

The one thing that would have made the exhibit better would have been if they had dinosaurs to sit on... I mean really, taking a ride on one of them would have made my day! (If you can have ride-on dinosaurs in playgrounds, why not in museums? I'm positive I wouldn't have been the only one pleased by this... so the remainder might have been under ten, but still.)

I love this city. For a small-town girl like myself, walking down the main street in the middle of the night (ok. So it was like nine. Whatever) filled me with such an energy and a feeling... I can't describe it. Do you city-dwellers know what I mean? (I figure that, for this, I could deal with the noise... let's see if I still feel that way when I have no money left for tea.)

xtremely difficult conundrum

In the comments of a lot of the exercise videos that I watch, people say things like "OMG these videos have changed my life! I have abs now! YAY!" and this makes me feel a little sad... because then I think, "Why is this miraculous transformation not happening to me?!" and then I stop and think again... "Do I want abs, or do I want this fudge-covered apple?"

Yeah. I think you can guess which one inevitably wins. 

Plus, eating it was this whole long setup. The process went as follows. One: attempt to look cute for the camera, and take a small bite.

Two: kinda fail at that, and look like a stoned vampire instead.

Three: go back to my normal slob eating habits and get fudge all over my nose.

And yes, this was my dinner tonight. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE PICTURES. I somehow look slightly cute in these (if slightly vampire-ish)... but that is most certainly not the case. I kept taking extremely large bites (and almost drooling on myself... and I wonder why I am single...)

In case you haven't guessed, I love Halloween. Free chocolate, people! What is there NOT to love? Plus, my costume was pretty epic: I was a time-travelling gangster from the 1920s! (Although somehow I am not in any photos. Disadvantage of being the photographer...) I also looked like a female Josh Ramsey (from Marianas Trench)... that was a pretty felicitous realisation. (Just cause he's awesome.) 

So yes. Right now, I kinda sit around and eat chocolate and that is my life. (Except for when I'm too lazy to go get any more. Then I just sit.) 

Also, this song is lovely... a little note of seriousness.