Five Senses Friday

Happy weekend, friends! It's meant to be a sunny one here so I'm crossing my fingers that we'll be able to head down to the beach and hang out on a patio or two!

:Hearing:

First Aid Kit's 'Heavy Storm' on repeat (there often seems to be something on repeat with me).

:Seeing:

A new babe born.

:Feeling:

Relaxed and enriched after hanging out with lovely people and visiting lovely shops.

:Tasting:

Salty chocolate

:Smelling:

New books and cedar incense.

Five Senses Friday

It's Friday! What's more, I see blue sky (but still someone walking around under an umbrella?)! I feel like this week has flown by, which is great because fun times come quickly but also a little scary because I can't quite wrap my head around the fact that it is already June. June! Here's some reflections for the end of the week.

:Feeling:

Torn about selling this floral lawn like Italian scarf. It was originally photographed for the shop but in a fit of whimsy I tied up in my hair last night and quite liked it.

:Tasting:

Fresh raspberries and So Delicious coconut milk cookie dough ice cream. That ice cream is ridiculous.

:Seeing:

This empty lot in Strathcona acting like the boundary between old and new. This morning I read an article that Richard had brought home for me, it was all about the gentrification of our neighbourhood and how a few of the older and more 'colourful' folks who have lived here for decades have recently passed away. They all bought their homes for a song when it was still considered a slum and now houses are going for over a million. Not only that, but these stunning old homes are being pulled down to build....pretend stunning old homes? Makes my heart heavy.

:Hearing:

Hilarious dramatic pauses that were used quite liberally in Mad Love. Highly recommend.

:Smelling:

Coffee being brewed as I work in my new 'office'. I'm going to start coming down to the local Bean Around the World in the mornings to get my computer work out of the way while Richard sleeps. It smells so good, I kind of wish I loved the taste as much as the smell!

Have a good weekend friends! If you're in Vancouver, you should probably come out to the Spool of Thread grand opening. Don't know what Spool of Thread is? It's an extremely cute sewing lounge and fabric store recently opened by some of our besties in East Van. An amazing selection of fabrics and patterns, sewing machines that you can rent by the hour and fun classes!

Five Senses Friday

image via bonjour celine

It's Friday, it's sunny and it's my birthday weekend! I'm hoping to spend the weekend meeting up with friends, drinking a cocktail or two, eating cake and soaking up the sun. I have been totally smitten by this cake up here (made by Nikole of Herriott Grace) ever since I first saw it back in February. One day I hope to have a cake as fanciful and dreamy as that! Like Jeannette, I like to make my own birthday cake so it's exactly how I want it, although Richard did make me a rather delicious one last year. I've got my sights set on the Salty Sweet cake that she mentions, although vegan-ising it looks pretty much impossible, so we shall see! 

I hope you're all gearing up for lovely weekends! Here's my Five Senses Friday...

:Tasting:

Fresh, home made salsa on soft tacos for Cinco De Mayo.

:Hearing:

This song on repeat on my bus ride home from work.

:Seeing (and swooning over):

 The dreamiest of cats on Anabela's new tumblr

:Smelling:

Lilacs. Possibly the best part of Spring.

:Feeling:

The sun on my back. Sigh.

Five Senses Friday

photos from a camping trip in the Tararua's, via tschick

This week has flown by! I'm sure the weekend is going to be no different, especially as I've somehow only just realised that Got Craft? is next weekend. In my head it was at least 3 weeks away! I see a huge amount of crafting happening over this weekend! On grey days like today, I like staying inside and working but as soon as the sun comes out all my mind seems to be able to focus on is sipping some kind of alcoholic beverage on a patio somewhere. So, depending on the weather we shall see if I in fact have any wares to hawk next Sunday!

:Feeling:

A little sore, but also accomplished after starting a new fitness regime with Jeannette early this morning.

:Seeing:


This book arriving in the mail today. I'm quite excited.  

:Smelling: 

Lawns being mowed. 

:Hearing:

Rehearsals For Retirement on a rainy Friday afternoon. I can never get enough of that sad voice.

:Tasting:

Vanilla (soy) ice cream with blackberry syrup and roasted pecans. Let me tell you, this was one of the most delicious things I've tasted in a long while. I was craving something sweet but was all out of sugar for baking, all out of chocolate and all out of being bothered-ness, but then Richard found this syrup we'd bought when we were on Salt Spring and I remembered we had pecans somewhere in the depths of the pantry. It was amazing. 
 
I hope your weeks went well!

Five Senses Friday

purple underbelly by afton lorraine

Fridays are a little funny around here. With Richard working the night shift (and now often with extended hours since we're trying to save, save, save for NZ) it means that he doesn't usually get up until around 12ish, we have lunch/dinner around 4 and then by the time I'm ready for bed in the evening it's the middle of his day and he's ready to do stuff. Which means we try and squeeze as much in those in between hours. It can get a little frustrating for us both I think, but daylight savings making it a little easier, as is taking the time out to reflect on my week like this. Also, the idea that just because it's The Weekend it doesn't mean I have to instantly start wanting to do a million activities. Why I have a brain that thinks like that is totally beyond me, it is almost never what my body wants to do!

:Tasting:

Blue Sky Cola, I love it so.

:Seeing:

The results from the first rolls of film I've had developed in a couple years.

:Smelling:

Spring rain on hot asphalt, easily one of the best smells in the whole world.

:Hearing:

More birds and a few bees as we've started leaving the windows open.

:Feeling:

Excited to go check out some Record Store Day sales tomorrow!

Hope your weekends are all fantastic!
xo

Sunshiny Days.

technicolor eden by rod graves

As much as I love stormy evenings and grey Fall skies, it is amazing how much the sun coming out can lift my mood. It is a gloriously sunny here today, and having the sun still streaming into our apartment at 7.30 in the evening makes me so happy. Everything is that little bit brighter and I find the motivation that seems to hibernate during the winter. It looks like this weather is sticking around for the weekend and I plan to make the most of it by getting outside as much as possible. I see sidewalk cafes and patio beers in my not too distant future. Here's my weeks reflection, a Five Senses Friday, I hope you join in and that you all have lovely weekends!

:Tasting:

Rhubarb. Rhubarb crumble, rhubarb pastry pockets, rhubarb stewed on granola or ice cream, rhubarb muffins. I love rhubarb, a lot.

:Feeling:

The sun on my back as I ran errands.

:Seeing:

The excitement of a mother as she talked about the upcoming birth of her second babe, and the relief I was able to give her by letting her know that I'll be with her all the way.

:Smelling:

New peppermint conditioner and lavender dish soap.

:Hearing:

The lovely Laura Gibson on repeat during my bus ride to work.

You might like to check out a post over here where I talk about my love of Farmer's Markets, and over here where I did a little interview.

Happy weekend!

Five Senses Friday

Five Senses Friday is something I've been meaning to take part in for awhile now, and well I guess I have but up until now it has mostly been in my head. You can see what it's all about over at the incredibly talented (and lovely!) Abby's place. Taking time to stop and reflect is something I'm trying make a habit of so I'm going to attempt to do this on a fairly regular basis! Let me know if you decide to play along, I'd love to see!

:Tasting:

Blueberry pancakes for dinner, buffet lunch at All India Sweets and apple cinnamon pretend cheerios.

:Touching:

Heathered yarn and smooth wooden needles as I attempt to start a Barn Raising Quilt.

:Hearing:

Creedence Clearwater Revival and Richard singing along while he makes pancakes.

:Seeing:

The amazing early colour photographs by Russian photographer and chemist, Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii. I was floored the first time I saw these on Enhabiten, the colours are just incredible. I've been looking at these one's in particular as part of some research I'm doing for a project I'm working on. I love all the amazing textiles and patterns in them. If you want to see more, there are some fantastic landscapes and rural scenes, go take a look over here.

:Smelling:

The freshness of the city after rain.

Happy weekend, lovelies.
xo