shiny nickel

I have a sudden urge to take apart a piano...

2009-05-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

5/6/09

2009-05-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

10/10

2009-04-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

The winner of M83's fan-video contest for single 'We Own the Sky':

04.20.09.

2009-04-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

was fuckin hot out today. Hmm.

Slow Loris

2009-04-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

I want to someday feel that good.

Hay there.

2009-04-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

Yup

2009-03-28T00:59:00.001-07:00

u know u love this

2009-03-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

don't even act like that wasn't awesome.

blazer project

2009-03-10T23:14:00.001-07:00

I should have taken a before picture, but it was basically plain black with black plastic buttons that really weren't too visible.

I sewed the plaid on and new buttons but I think even those will be replaced once I find time to hit up Dressew and get buttons that match the coloring a little better.

aaand to think, I only fucked up like, twice.

cool etsy alert

2009-03-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

I Heart Norwegian Wood

um so ya. Peep that.

This is also pretty sweet:

lol.

greek mythological glamour art

2009-03-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Righteous.

This Owl Is For Real

2009-03-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

oh hi.

2009-03-09T16:57:00.000-07:00

Old People Hate Animal Collective

Loves it.

2009-02-02T02:58:00.000-08:00

Everyone is talking about it...

2008-12-20T10:20:00.000-08:00

This Story

Gregor's response was inspiring, two new shelters already. I had no idea homeless people were given an allowance every month, that was aimed for shelter...yet even on nights where our temp is dipping to -25 with windchill they choose to be outside. Have they spent that money elsewhere? Shelter vouchers for the win.

The cart thing. This is interesting, because I don't think the regulation is in place to prevent any person seeking shelter from bringing what little they do own in with them overnight. This is a space issue. People over carts. Put your shit in a backpack, and get inside. Some people have this really preachy angle on this, that they own nothing and how would you like to leave your precious things outside to possibly be stolen etc. I am going to go ahead and doubt that their valuables couldn't fit nicely into a duffle bag, leave the other materials etc that they gather outside.

There is a comment on that cbc story about how women seeking shelter could possibly be afraid to do so out of fear of being raped. Please show me these unstaffed, unsupervised shelters where this would happen. I'm thinking the likelihood of such a traumatic experience would be heightened on the streets, and not in the shelters.

I'd be interested in talking to other realists over this issue, because so far you either run into the complete 'Get a Job' jerk-guy, or the naive advocate of social rights-guy.

Bands that Everyone Thinks are Awesome but I Don't Give a Shit About

2008-12-18T05:25:00.000-08:00

1. Chairlift

One part this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtHvrIc8WU8
One part this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxn567bHny8

And we end up here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS1HnH-yUD4

The prosecution rests.

2. Fleet Foxes

Just shut up. Yeah, I've heard White Winter Hymnal, zzzz. I've also had just about enough of the folksy front-men who resemble Jesus. Releasing a video featuring more than a dozen livestock isn't helping your case.

3. Lykke Li

I'm so sick of that annoying, pared down, tinkertoy sounding crap, on clear display in Li's "Little Bit" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUC0ezAlHwE). Just listen to Goldfrapp, already.

Things I Talk About

2008-12-17T05:12:00.000-08:00

I am going to attempt to go all day tomorrow without mentioning how fucking cold it is all of a sudden. I'm downsizing my complaints department in light of the economic crisis. Should be easier considering I don't have to go to work. Then again Santino actually thinks I'm going to get on a bus and meet him at Metrotown. Ha, sooo not happening.

The Province newspaper's blog is like, a goldmine of hilarity by the way. If it's not the posts written by actual Province employees it's the comments section. Behold:

Headline:Deep Freeze — Vancouver wind-chill to hit -17 C Monday. Snowy, icy streets cause 44 accidents.

Comment:Tyrone

December 15, 2008 - 3:49 PM

"So much for global warming that many places the temperature is much lower than ever".

lol.

Now excuse me while I go link Conjunction Junction into the comments panel.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm running on like 4 hours of sleep for a full day of Christmas shopping tomorrow. Budget's near the fifty dollars-ish mark, with over half of my family members remaining. Spoiler alert: You're all getting "free hugs" for Christmas. (Offer is conditional - one hug per family member, not longer than 5 seconds -on second thought, no hugs --though I might ask you how you are doing).

Wanna take a picture of the snow but my camera is saying no, no, no. Batteries, unfortunately, required. Not a Winehouse reference, by the way, she can eat a dick. I'll pre-powder the tip in Cocaine, just for her.

...I'm going to hell.

2008-08-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

Weekend Roundup

2008-07-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

In order of ridiculousness:

1. High heels for your 6 month old. I don't know what's worse, that they're heels for infants or that they're called, "Heelarious". Sickening. Just sickening.

2. I feel as though I'm sort of asleep at the wheel on this one, but I just noticed that there was a whole ton of Cauls on the runway at Alexander McQueen. Cauls...really? Can't be too surprised with McQueen however.

3. This picture:

On Saturday night I was able to catch Curtis Santiago with Empire Alley at the Media Club, accompanied by some other acts I don't remember the names of. It ended up being a great show despite the lackluster attendance. I was thinking that Santiago might bring out more peeps, he definitely deserves a larger fan base.

Huge BBQ's are great when you have no food in the fridge, thing is crammed with leftovers now. Thanks everyone for leaving your food. Mighty nice of you considering the prospect of water and a tin of Superstore brand black olives for both lunch and dinner wasn't very appetizing. So thanks again.

R.I.P. Gran

2008-07-03T20:54:00.000-07:00

Marjorie Bowden
01/03/1915 - 07/03/2008

Happy Caturday

2008-06-28T17:46:00.001-07:00

I promised myself this wouldn't become that-cat-blog but gosh darnit they are cute.

When bad stylists happen to good bands...

2008-06-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

Not one,
not two,
but three,

THREE awful sideways bangs in a band of five people. And then there's that kid with the bowl cut. That's a crime.

Hey guys let's make cow-heart mobiles! And then there's the flowers, and the pills, and those awful sideways bangs again...and that one cow heart at the end that goes all black...oi.

Fun song though. Video...epic fail.

Graphic T-Shirts: The Science

2008-06-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

The Good:

This House of Holland-esque Zara tee

The Bad:

This...thing.

While the first shirt is modern and draws attention to the entire ensemble, the second is washed out to look "Vintage", and draws attention to the chest area only. The first shirt also makes more of a point as to who the wearer is, and why they would choose it, whereas, a shirt that sports the corporate logo of a breakfast cereal makes no point whatsoever. In fact, I don't trust anyone who would go as far as to say they enjoyed Lucky Charms as a child. They probably only ate the marshmallows. Posers!

Notice the cuts on the shirts as well, the first is a little bit on the slouchy side, a tad oversized, this shape is going to be far more chic than your average crew cut tee shirt, and also adds character.

2008-06-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

I never go into stores "B2", or even stores like Spring/Sterling where one can get a fairly good quality shoe for 60-70 dollars. I happened, however, to be hanging with my dad's gee-eff and she was persistent on showing me the difference between quality footwear and the junk I buy from Payless on my retail wage. Now, her qualifications on the matter are undisputed, growing up child-to-the-owner of Freedman's-who-then-became-Manager, lady knows a good shoe when she sees it.

Inspired by all of this, my fall fashion resolution is to learn to walk in heels, and not just lil' itty bitty training wheel heels, but the kind that are actually quite high as well. As it stands, I can manage an inch or so in height, but my feet, from years of scuffing the asphalt in flats and sneakers, are untrained and bewildered by this whole heel-toe thing. You'd think I would be pretty good at it, after all those years in hockey skates, which are around 2.5-3 inches off the ground, but unfortunately that ability isn't relevant. I digress, I tried on some heels from the Brown's Fall collection, retailing at $I.Cantaffordthese, and it was definitely surprising how comfortable and wearable they were.

...In fact, I can't stop thinking about them.

I'm more interested in the brown ones, but there was also this green color, black, and violet. It may be worth it to start stocking my wardrobe with more expensive looking shoes, because I think it is true that Chloe Heels could make a Hanes tee look as though it cost hundreds of dollars.

So that's the good end of designer shoes, but then...then there is this:

My friends, check these little gems, hot off the Runway from who else but Balenciaga. Yes, they're latex. Yes, they look like condoms.

Bill C-61 gets owned

2008-06-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

James Bay NDP Member of Parliament Charlie Angus v. Minister of Industry Jim Prentice, basically, Prentice gets owned in the face, and refers to our country as "Cameda" at 1:07. Nice. We need more Charlie Angus's in Parliament. You got to love the NDP, nothing to lose and perfectly willing to stick their finger in the eye of Canadian Government time and time again. I'm not terribly threatened, should the bill even pass, it is far from enforceable to any degree.

Kegger in T-2 hours. Woo!

Sun-day

2008-06-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

Finally! A day where I could actually wear shorts and not still freeze despite it being deceptively sunny outside!

I ended up going to The Astoria last night, The first band we saw was Catamaran, followed by Safety Show. Their tunes definitely sound better on their myspace than at the Astoria, maybe it has sound issues. We wandered down to Pub 340 but it was 2 am by then and the band there was ending, didn't catch their name. It's not important though...all I know is that they sounded like Blink 182. Which was totally cool. In 1998.

This is my new obsession

I am wondering what a Playboy Mouth is though. Hummm...

Hmm

2008-06-14T21:15:00.000-07:00

I think I need to find a good club night on Saturdays, or at least go out and do something, because I've been listening to Radiozero all evening and I'm now two-thirds the way through a bag of Hershey's Chipits. Oh yes, that's right, I know how to get crazy on a Saturday night.

I saw Young People Fucking last night. Good, but not as good as I had hoped. I thought "The Couple" storyline was a little over-geekified. "The Roommates", and "The Friends" brought in the most laughs, "The Exes", and "The First Date" seemed a bit predictable. It's kind of weird to eat popcorn in a theatre that has no more than 10 people in it. You can hear the crunching, and we're talking puffed corn here, who knew it was so noisy?

The Cat Came Back...

2008-06-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

Poor thing had dead leaves stuck to her butt all over the show, but she has recovered now and is no worse for wear. Fingers crossed she's not gone and got herself knocked up. I don't suppose anyone wants a kitten, if she has?

I made this headband today, Leather strip was 99 cents, brown cording was 49 cents, not spending 35 bones on a "hippy" style headband at Urban Outfitters? Priceless.

Today needs a song, because the news keeps making me watch that thirty second clip of the birth of the new Beluga whale and while everyone is busy cooing and being all, "awww cute little whale", I am like, "Whoa that is a lot of Amniotic fluid in the water and that is pretty disgusting".

My boyfriend just got home. Instead of going to his optional lab today, he went to the casino and won 900 dollars. What. The. Fuck.

2008-06-10T23:21:00.000-07:00

So apparently wishing your cat a happy birthday on your blog is some kind of curse, as no one has seen my cat since yesterday evening! Oh noes!

HBD's

2008-06-09T12:05:00.001-07:00

I may be a day late but...better late than never, happy birthday to Chris!

You know who else shares an early June birthday...

Mreow~

Finished!

2008-06-07T17:29:00.001-07:00

A week or so ago I started work on a DIY newspaper print clutch purse...basically, one old clutch from Value Village, a jug of Polymer, scissors, newsprint, and a button. I don't know how it will hold up out in the real world but it doesn't look too shabby at all. I predict that I will have broken it within a week. Place your bets, ladies and gents.

How it started:

Snipped off the gross handles, of course.

Finished product

The button makes it. I need an excuse to use it now!

2008-06-07T16:59:00.001-07:00

Second Saturday off in a row in like eight months.

Level of stir-crazy: 10/10. Nay, 11. 11 out of 10.

I just went through my entire closet and shed excess clothing that fit poorly or was thrifted and never worn...I never do things like that. Ever!! Is this the face of a new, highly organized self? Don't count on it.

Anyway, I have some pretty lightly used and brand new stuff that I will be consigning, so if you're small or medium sized and want to possibly get some free clothes gimme a hollah.

Betsey brings back the Beatnik

2008-06-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

Classic.

I think I may just need to throw together my own version of this look for Fall. Without leggings, I swear to god. There will be no leggings. Cigarette jeans maybe, leggings no. Well, Cigarette jeans yes. Leggings still a no. I bought a pair of black leggings a while back for general house-lounging, and I'm very pleased to say that they have not forayed out into the world without the supporting cast of a skirt or a good short. No one will make a Lindsay Lohan out of me.

And now for a song...

Huzzah.

Ad-d-d-dictive

2008-06-05T23:15:00.000-07:00

So catchy!

I finally won an auction!

2008-06-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

It only took me 3 weeks of bidding on various blazers, but I finally won this sucker

Now if only I can track down my older brother's old church bowtie...it's red and white pinstripe and would be oh so killer with like, a high necked blouse. I'm having a really big blouse phase, which is a nice change from the band shirts thing I normally tend to curve towards. For blouses I pretty much love Forever 21, because they're inexpensive but don't fit poorly and are almost all 100% Washer safe, which is a huge draw for me. If I can't wash it in an automatic washer, then forget about it.

I'm kind of loving this for its like...Sound of Music simplicity...but Shani is not allowed to spend anymore money. Someone has to start stealing my ideas and wearing them so that I can at least have some sort of vicarious enjoyment!

I dislike this constant rain stuff, it's pretty harsh after seeing some of the beautiful weather up North has to offer, but, Environment Canada predicts a nice, hot Summer for us too. And when do they expect this to start? Hello, it's JUNE.

We Can't Stop Here, This is Marmot Country...

2008-06-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

I have returned from the Okanagan, and I am pleased to announce that my skin tone has gone from "Anemic" to "Slightly Anemic". Success!

Wine tasting is pretty sweet, as it turns out. I didn't know if I'd be a huge fan but it was like, "Would you like to have some free alcohol..followed by more free alcohol...and we'll finish it up with a nice glass of free alcohol?". I don't really weigh enough to support this activity for more than an hour or so, so I may or may not have ended up running around the Naramata hillside hunting Marmots, which happen to be fucking cute.

See?!?

I kind of want to go see Crystal Castles at 1/2 Alive but I just spent a boatload of money on a vacation. Humm...

Crimewave!

lol craigslist

2008-05-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

I used to be pretty infatuated with Craigslist, I've used it to look for apartments, to look for models, furniture, and props. My interest is kind of waning with it though, given how marred in scams it seems to be these days. Well, scams are one thing, and using it as a vehicle to sell your unwanted bastard child is another. Oh Vancouver Craigslist, the home of "I am renting a suite but I am in Africa and you must send me one month's rent and I will send you the keys!" rental scams and now, the baby black market.

Coffee time.

Not Coolio, I promise.

2008-05-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

I've just unearthed these wonderful videos of Beirut at the Commodore:

Nantes

Scenic World - This was among one of my favorites all night...

Why?

2008-05-24T21:56:00.001-07:00

Why not?

Wait Till My Wallet Hears About This

2008-05-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

With the new H&M opening tomorrow at Pacific Centre fast approaching, I've been busy sharpening my bony yet effective "shopping elbows" for tomorrow's chaotic fitting room crush. Note that "shopping elbows", and "concert elbows" are too entirely different strategies, which I bring up because:

Beiruuuuut is tomoorroooow!

I'm not at liberty to explain them, as that serves only to weaken my techniques, which are to be nothing short of devastating. Just know that they go by the names of "Cruiser" and "Bruiser", and you best be getting out of my way before you inflict the wrath of my 103 lb frame. I'll like...kick your shins, and pull your hair...but only for a bit. I get tired.

I finally caved and bought the bag (Pictured above except mine is black) I had been coveting at work for more than a month. I believe these are affectionately dubbed, "Weekenders". Great, I've got the bag, all that's missing is that part about taking the bag on vacation with you. Perhaps not for long though, if I can successfully convince my Dad that a family trip to Penticton for his birthday would be righteous. That place has beaches falling out its figurative ears. And it would be "quality family time" blah blah blah...I mean, I love...quality time with my family...like that Whistler mountain biking experience a few years back, when that other cyclist flew around the blind corner right into me? Yeah, that was a slice.

Fashion Styling - Oct 07

2008-04-02T18:36:00.001-07:00

The poor girl, that bowler hat was like, three sizes too big for her, but that is what I get for shopping at Dressew. This was my Styling assignment for 'Editorial Fashion Styling' at John Casablancas this past October. My partner for the assignment made that top...I kind of wish I hadn't gone with the tie now, but we had no neckwear for her! Good little alley outside the school to take photos in though, just opposite the Leckie building on Cambie st.

Fashion Icons - Alison Mosshart

2008-04-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

The Kills are in town playing Richards May 14th, so I figure now is as good a time as any to celebrate Alison Mosshart (or as she's known to Kills fans, "VV"), for her perfectly chic and brilliant Brit-Grunge style (I really tried hard to avoid creating a pretentious word to describe it). Alison recently graced the cover of the Jan/Feb Nylon issue along with Kills partner Jamie Hince. Nylon also did a web special for their article, which can be found here, complete with embedded youtube video for URA Fever, the first single from the recently released Kills' record, "Midnight Boom". I for one, think that pictures speak louder than words though, so no more blah-blah-blah.

Just for fun..."No Wow":

Remix Picks

2008-04-02T17:11:00.000-07:00

I managed to sift through all 14 or so new pages uploaded onto Wardrobe Remix last night, and it basically made me want to go shopping pretty badly. Like very badly. I digress, here are some adorable entries that got my attention:

This is basically the thrifted sweater of my dreams, but enough about that, I'm off to hack all of my old jeans into daisy dukes.

And here we have a very rare example of white leggings actually looking good. Oh I'm sorry...was my leggings bias coming through there? I just don't think they are appropriate for all occasions, as a certain fire-crotched celebrity would have you believe.