July 21, 2011

simply put

this past month has been a struggle to say the least.  where i originally thought our summer would be spent running around the city with friends on the patio, weekend getaways and backyard bbqs, it quickly turned to be a lesson about patience.  it seems our life lately has been curve ball after curve ball.  for awhile there it got hard to recognize the good in each day when we became so heavily exhausted by it.  What surprises me the most, as we deal with a situation similar to some around us, is finding how childish people choose to be.  What is so hard about communicating, and more importantly listening?  

where hostility and negativity so easily exist, why does it seem that what flatters people the most is the hardest emotion to extend?

simply put: just love.

hold a door open.  let someone in to your lane of traffic.  smile at a stranger.  clear the way for others on the  subway {this one is a bit personal to me}.  help the woman with the stroller up the stairs or the elderly man bringing out his trash.  don't think you know someone if you have never onced asked them their opinion.  we are all from different minds, upbringings and agendas but we are still here, right now.  we see the same faces walking down our streets or at the local store.  we share walls, sidewalks, roads and knowledge of the neighborhood and city.  we are, for the most part, a community just by being here.  does this mean everybody should smile and wave?  no- but have respect for the person you don't know and even more for the ones you do.  choose optimism over pessimism and communication over none.  realize that people might be extending more than you think by offering to help or wanting to talk- and try, try your best, to not lace a conversation with your own ideals. 

not every battle will be worth fighting, and not every one will be won, but if we can inch forward more times than not we will always be going in the right direction.

July 20, 2011

shower teaser

big sister gets married in t minus 73 days and what kind of 'lil sister would i be if i didnt try to torment her in her time of anticipation, right?  right!  next month we are hosting a little shower for this bride-to-be and though she knows her theme, she has no idea what's to come.
 
 
so, here is teaser number one, with many more to follow! 
 hmmmm, i wonder what's going on here?

July 12, 2011

a hot walk home

jay and i have tried our best to walk home every day after work{and doing pretty well} now that the weather is nice enough for us to enjoy.  lately though, the weather has been less enjoyable and more hot hot hot!

...thank god my latest obsession, this local ice cream shoppe, is on the walk home!

it makes the end of a hot walk much more enjoyable.


July 06, 2011

toronto pride 2011: in pictures!


{love}

how cool is this girl?


full sleeve artwork by violet - she signed it too


painted on mustachios courtesy of nika


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4th of july in canada...

...without patriotic treats, but with sparkler pictures that didn't turn out so well.

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i tried.




July 04, 2011

toronto pride 2011, with the evans maxwell family

yesterday marked my first ever toronto pride which we spent with some new friends and their amazing family!  not only did we get to see the glitz and glam {and by glitz, i mean sweat and glam} of one of the best pride parades in the world, but we got to show our support for a super cool junior roller derby girl: nike evans maxwell.

of course i was also there to support the LGTB community, but with a sea of supporters from not only toronto but all over, i didnt feel bad about being more excited that miss nika was showing her support by skating in a parade that defines the true meaning of genuine spirit, creativity and life.

there are many more pictures to come {a lot, i promise!} documenting our day at pride, but for now, here is a snap shot of the beautiful evans maxwell family; we are so happy to have gotten to know you guys!


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more pictures to come shortly!