Favourite Things: Red Kitchen

Mémère's apron

My kitchen is small but it's oh so fun. The red walls, white trim and checkered floors make it a vibrant space. White wooden cupboards with tongue & groove shelves just add to the charm. Just another one of my favourite things ...

A Blogging Milestone

Friday marked two years since my first post here at Urban Living Experiment. Hurray!

For the past two years I've chronicled my thoughts and experiences, sadness and joys, insights and ideas. The process of writing kept me on my toes and helped me notice the world around me - one of the reasons I chose to blog in the first place. It also taught me a lot about myself.

It's time for a change though. My original Urban Living Experiment is ending soon and I think this particular blog should end with it. I will continue to blog but I want my space in the blogosphere to evolve with me, and in the next few months I hope to change things around a little.

I'm excited about creating something fresh. It's a chance to redefine the medium through which I note, observe, communicate and process what's going on in and around me. I hope you'll continue the journey with me.

In the meantime, I thank you for staying with me for the past two years and I celebrate this milestone. Who knew I'd make it this far? I certainly didn't.

And It's Open!

The Rideau Canal is open for business! I just came back from a one-hour walk along the Canal and it's beautiful. People of all ages, shapes and sizes are enjoying the outdoors and the experience of skating on the World's largest skating rink.

There was so much to take in.

I delighted in watching skaters confidently weave their way in & out of the crowd as much as I enjoyed watching beginners teeter through their first strides - children and adults alike. I smiled at the sight of a group of young girls wearing ankle-length skirts and bonnets on their heads, laughing and chattering as they skated almost in unison. But the highlight was without a doubt watching a little bundle of pink Gore-Tex discover the properties of ice as she repeatedly kicked a piece of frozen snow, oblivious to the world around her.

It took a lot of energy to get my butt off the couch and into the cold but the energy gained from the experience was well worth it. Next time I might even strap on the skates.

Favourite Things: Girly Lamp

girly delight

I love the rosettes and texture of the crisp white lamp shade against my purple wall.

When I walked out of the store with this lamp a lady at the cash exclaimed "Oh what a beautiful lamp for a little girl!", to which I responded "Are you kidding?? This one's for me!"

Happiness is a Good Hair Day

I remember reading a quote about how nothing lifts your mood like a kickass haircut. I just got back from a much overdue hair appointment and I feel like a million bucks!

Sometimes happiness is as simple as a good hair day.

Favourite Things: Curlicued Radiators

curlicues on radiator: function and art

As a farewell homage to my beloved apartment I decided to revive the Favourite Things theme I started last year. This morning I played with my camera, trying to capture some of my favourite features in my home.

Since Day 1 I've admired the curlicues on my radiators and pointed them out to many a visitor. They just don't make 'em like that anymore.

The End of an Experiment

I've been wanting to write for a few days now but since my apartment is full of move-related "to-do's" these days, I realized the only way I'd write anything would be by escaping them completely. So here I am happily perched with my laptop at my favourite coffee shop.

I wasn't even sure what to write about when it dawned on me that two years ago this week I moved to my sweet downtown apartment. Although the blog came a few weeks later, my urban living experiment has hit its two-year mark. Wow.

Enhanced by my sabbatical, the past two years have been a whirlwind of emotion, laughter, tears, friendship, new experiences, independence, discovery and love.

Going in, my goal was to stay at least two full years in my apartment - I craved stability. I did it. I gave myself a home. I built an amazing circle of friends. I fell in love. I had tea, I did lunch, I got drunk. I danced, I skated, I hiked. I explored, I hunkered, I relished what life had to offer. It was an amazing journey for which I am forever grateful.

Soon my urban living experiment as I know it will come to an end. Although technically I'll still be in the city, it will be different. As it should be. So I will enjoy the few weeks I have left in my urban home and continue my experiment 'til the end. After that? I guess I'll be busy relishing what comes next.

Shreds of Life Past

shreds of life past

I've been doing some prep work for my February move to the new digs with D.. I spent the last two weeks sorting and shredding paperwork I've carried with me for way too many years. I dumped receipts from Christmas 2003, relegated bank statements from 1995 to the shred pile, and destroyed 121 ATM slips. It feels good.

Addendum to Previous Post

Who knew a 60 minute documentary on chickens would make me cry - three times!

Frugal Experiences: Free DVDs

I picked up a few DVDs at the library this afternoon:

Glen Gould, The Russian Journey

The Natural History of the Chicken (PBS)

Tales of the Rat Fink, The legend of the world's greatest kustom car builder Ed "Big Daddy Roth"

For Me and My Gal

Don't you just love the variety? There's no way I would pay for something like Tales of the Rat Fink but from the library, for free ...

A Few Gratefuls

I've been nursing a cold for the past week and have been taking my non-working hours very easy, hence my lack of posts. Now my week is over and I am enjoying the prospect of a three day weekend.

I felt like sharing a few gratefuls tonight ...

• Work is going well. A team I helped coordinate should be ready to deliver a project they've been working on for more than a year on Monday - on time.
• As of January 23rd I'll be receiving an increased paycheck due to a temporary promotion that will continue until the end of August.
• D. and I are moving into this beautiful house mid-February.
• D. put his house up for sale on the market yesterday and got an offer this afternoon for full asking price with a closing date on our move day.
• My apartment is warm and toasty.
• I've been eating well and drinking lots of water.
• Despite my nursing a cold I feel a newfound energy.
• Cassie is staying with D.'s brother while his house is for sale so we can hang out in my urban digs more often without him having to worry about going home to feed her or let her out.
• Last night I spent almost two hours giggling and gabbing with a friend I hadn't seen in over a year. It felt like we'd spoken last week.
• Saturday I'm going to a Wii potluck party.
• Tomorrow is my day off.

Many gratefuls today and many gratefuls to come. Today I don't think I could ask for much more.

Transitions

I feel like I'm in the midst of a major life transition or at the end of one that's been brewing for the past several years. I feel I'm on the cusp of something big, but I'm not sure what that is. I feel sad and joyful, scared and excited, grateful and overwhelmed. The uncertainty of it all is a source of both fear and exhilaration.

So I will take it all in and be gentle with myself. I will be still when I need to be, honour the sadness of letting go of the old, celebrate the excitement of embracing the new, and let myself experience it all with faith that something beautiful and wonderful is waiting for me at the other end.

All is good.

Happy Happy Year

Happy New Year!

May 2008 bring you happiness, health, laughter, connection and love. May it bring you tiny wonders as each day goes by. May it bring you delights bigger than you ever could've imagined. May it bring you fun, adventure and discovery. May it bring you closeness, stillness and peace.

Blessings to you for a great year,

Steph
xo