Something Gray

Meet Cotton...

I want you.

Sleepy thing...

You can steal him for me at the petting zoo at the PNE.

Green Gucci

Love this dark green leather from Gucci's 2010 Fall collection.... to be worn with a cream, gold, black, and blue silk scarf... or just a nice gold charm. I'd take you everywhere!!!

Love love.

I've Decided...

Parisian grays


Pale petal pinks


Crisp Whites


Luxe gold


Glass


Mirrors


That seductively dark espresso shade


... my room

Aquaness

Riesling + my Natbot cup @ M's

Emerald, waiting for her pho

Brother + me + kiddies @ Vancouver Aquarium

Seal show (hug-a-seal)

Beluga getting ready to splash the audience

Octopus! Sooo scary and big and invertebrate-y glob glob glob

Touching slimy and spiky creatures

Scarily huge sunflower starfish (other starfishes move out of the way for these giant things that are even bigger than my head!!)

Mister green sea turtle I remember from my last trip to the Aquarium almost 15 years ago. This guy might even outlive me (they can live to be 140)! Emerald took this picture.  He looks wise.

Tub of lards (seals) resting

Near the lab

Racoons

Loved the sea otters and jelly fish....

"Mama" Simona comes in with a bag of chocolate covered almonds (they're giant) and pretty much sticks it next to my face from the side while I'm typing away.


"Natasha!!"


I look. "uhhhhhhhhhhhh...." like, you know, I shouldn't... after already taking hoards of other chocolates, coconut macaroons, beard papa cream puffs, and gummies when offered.


Simona: Oh come on. You know me. I'm trying to get you fat so you can join the club with the rest of us. 


Gee thanks...


Wondering what I'd look like with a giant headband like this. Might be good for the Winter because it covers my ears a bit. Snow bunny look??

IKEA Catalogue: I love pictures along stairways!!!

Designer nail designs. Love the Chanel one for my 4th finger and the Dior and YSL would be cute for my index finger.

lalala

Staying On Track

OK so I have tons of ideas when it comes to decorating. I see things in store, in magazines, and online and am SO inspired, go about dreaming, and get set on acquiring THAT look. But, when it comes down to it, reality hits and time gets in the way. I don't make it a priority because, honestly, the project is for noone but myself. I end up making my designs simpler. Now, everything in my room is suddenly from IKEA (though, I must say, their designs have evolved quite nicely. I'm even lusting an IKEA kitchen when I move out)! It's everything I didn't want - thoughtless and matchy matchy, lacking warmth and individuality. Yet, at the same time, its what I like - simple, clean, extremely reasonably-priced, and modern classics.


I keep reminding myself, well, justifying, "it's ok - I'll just get this simple piece and will dress the room with accessories that define me better after". An end-of-bed bench from Homesense with a pattern (shock!) gets replaced by a solid, cold-feeling black-brown wood storage bench that matches my bed frame. My search for an ornate gold full-length mirror ends when I see every 4th person in the IKEA checkout line rolling in the classy black-brown HEMNES mirror which makes me think of how smart and streamlined it looks. 


Anyway, some days, well, recently, I've had the wish to just start from scratch and live a super inexpensive, down-to-earth, and minimalist life. 


Just like Victoria here.


I sure would save a LOT of money, I'm tellin' ya.

Cute kitty in the middle of the road. Alive.

 Washed my brushes. Makeshift drying using elastics. Best to dry them upside down so water doesn't collect at the base and mould.

 Such soft bunny buddies at Chapters. Hao!

Bye Jerry! 

 Taken in the saddest spot in Vancouver... YVR departures...

Grar I hate how I can't edit these pictures on the netbook. Dull pics..

Some Words (of Wisdom)

Seth Godin

EXPLORATION AND THE RISK OF FAILURE

People seem to be in one of two categories:

Those who seek stability, affiliation, work worth doing and the assurance it (whatever it is) will be okay.

Those who explore, need to know that failure is an option and quest to make a dent in the universe.

You can be in either category, the world needs and rewards both. But pick a brand and a job and a posture that matches your category, or you'll fail, and be miserable until you do.


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FOUNDATION ELEMENTS FOR MODERN BUSINESSES

When you sit down to dream up a new business, you can imagine a world without constraints. Or you can choose to build in fundamental pieces that will make it more likely your idea will pay off.

Here are some fundamental pieces of most new successful businesses. The goal is to build these elements into the very nature of the business itself, not just to tack them on. For example, the Scotch tape people at 3M can't do #5, because of the structure of retail distribution and the way they mass produce and can't track who is buying what.

You can live without some of these, but go in with your eyes open if you do:

Build in virality. Consider: Groupon.

Don't sell a product that can be purchased cheaper at Amazon.

Subscriptions beat one-off sales.

Try to create an environment where your customers are happier when there are other customers doing business with you (see #1).

Treat different customers differently.

Generate joy, don't just satisfy a need for a commodity.

Rely on unique individuals, not an easily copyable system.

Plan on remarkable experiences, not remarkable ads.

Don't build a fortress of secrets, bet on open.

Unless there's a differentiating business reason, use off the shelf software and cheap cloud storage.

The asset of the future is the embrace of a tribe, not a cheaper widget.

Match expenses to cash flow--don't run out of money, because it's no longer 1999.

Create scarcity but act with abundance. Free samples create demand for the valuable (but not unlimited) tier you offer.

Tell a story, erect a mythology, walk the walk.

Plan on obsolescence (of your products, not your customers).

Some Fall Lusts

All Saints Damson Jacket (100% Leather)
Swooooon

I actually really like this even though it's 1. Ugg and 2. Clog-style. I think it'd be really comfy for Winter and durable in mild snow. 

Love shorts with an oversized cuff like the Paul&Joe ones Betty from le blog de betty is wearing.

Really really eying the Fall maxi skirt. Would love to try some on. Dark gray please (more casual, more wearable for everyday)! This one is beautiful though - the intricate lace overlay detail. But oh right - I still need to wear my French Connection maxi dress haha! oops....

Forgot where I got this picture from.. it was just sitting on my desktop. I like the mod oversized collar, but it's very similar to my Zara coat. Mod.

Net-a-porter.  Adding safety pins makes luxe into tough-luxe. I love! DIY.

And just something cool I was sent at work. I believe this is all by Johan Ku from Taiwan...

Fall Lust List:
- dark coloured maxi skirt
- lace-up/strappy-wrap bootie
- to-the-knee leather boots with a bit of a heel
- fur-collared cinched waist jacket
- leather gloves
- chain jewelry
- wool coat (possibly Club Monaco)
- sequined skirt
- chunky sweaters
- slouchy knits
- 2 pairs of jeans
- parka
- possibly hair extensions
- clutch
- bagbagbagbagbag

Days

On the way to work, an ugly Corolla was hitting on my Odyssey.

At work, I got a manicure so that a student had something to do for an hour.

After work, I ate leftovers at home.
After dinner, I drank a mango Lassi at Bombay Bhel with Bern.
After the Lassi, I drank bbt with B and M.
After the outing, I came home.
When I came home, I found Nad had dropped off a whole box of Ganache Pastisserie Macaroons!

 Because of all the sugar, I went to bed at 2AM.
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On Saturday, Melanie and I went down to the States to pick up my digicam.
On Saturday night, we went to Diana's house for her birthday dinner. Lots of food, people, and games!

On Sunday, I went paintballing at Tactical where we had to wear oh-so-flattering garb. At least mine was the same shade as Jbrand's latest Houlihan pants.

On Monday, I watched 500 Days of Summer (funny)
After, I ate kimbap with Melanie and sang karaoke

All done ^^

Length Lust

Classiest maxi dress I've come across....
From Net-A-Porter

Want...!

Death by Fortune Cookie

Possibly the worst thing that could ever happen...

OK. I Admit. I'm Insanely Spoiled.

Song I've been listening to recently:

G.NA - I'll Back Off So You Can Live (MV)

Would you still be my friend if I looked like this?

...  no?

How about if I had biiiig teeth like this?

hehehe had some fun using photobooth last night.

Baby and I were treated to dinner at Sanafir by the boys. Happy 23rd!! Look how much we've grown up!! I wish I had a picture of us from Gr 3 on this netbook to compare.

Sanafir wasn't bad :) We shared a ton of tapas. I went to Trattoria the day before with my family and had a super lovely watermelon mojito. So much food two days in a row! 
Sanafir - Arabian-style (inspired).

I would still say that the Italian Kitchen is my favourite out of all of the Glowbal restaurants I've tried so far.
Then we hung out at my house (Bern came later) and played games w/ soju until I lost many times in a row and found myself in my bed.. yea. It was fun.

Beautiful birthday bouquet from the boy (hah. alliteration)

On Sunday, Melanie had me over for our yearly tradition - sleep over at her house where I'm completely spoiled. She picked me up from Renfrew and Hastings and when I went upstairs, she had a pretty display of pate, cheese, veggies drizzled with EVOO, pita, and prawns cooked in wine and garlic. Candles and a floral centerpiece... whala

Riesling!! Bird-label LOL

Then we played Scrabble in her front yard and in the middle, she went inside and brought out a homemade turtle cake!! So sweet~~~

The next morning, she made me a Spanish Latte wannabe with the espresso beans I bought her from Artigiano along with her well-loved basil/mint/cheese/spinach omelette. Mmm Mmmmm

This is Max.

BEFORE my birthday, M and Baby surprised me downtown with the pair of Gucci sunnies I've been eying!! Aahh I love them!! I don't have a decent picture with them on... but here they are. Yes, I know I'm indoors and please excuse the messy washroom. I was trying out my bright orange lippy and a blush combo (bronzer with orange) but they don't really show brightly in this picture.

 Don't I have the sweetest, most thoughtful and generous people in my life? I feel so special and truly blessed.

Thank you [heart]~~~~