Happy Birthday!

This is one of my favourite pictures of my mom. She is not a fan of it. I love it. It is like the best caricature of her ever.

I grew up in a home filled with everything good. Love, laughter, humour, discipline, chores, road trips, friendship (there is more, way more).

When I talk about my mom I always say two things….

“If you looked up the definition of unconditional love, you would see a picture of her there.”

“My mom is like Martha Stewart without the need to be famous. Amazing baking, homemade halloween costumes, cake decorating course birthday cakes, hand made moccasins, a creative and well decorated home and a garden that was delicious. Oh yah, she also worked full time.”

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Trout

TROUT – noun

1/ any of various game fishes of the salmon family of the genus

2/ Beautifully Made Canadian Clothes

More great Canadian designed clothing. Check them out here.

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Me-wow!

I have never shopped at Tiffany, but this December I randomly received their catalog in the mail. Their catalog showed up the same day as my Meowingtons watch.

Coincidence, I think not.

Tiffany knows I got great style.

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

My Cinderella Shoes

This summer I was wandering around Vancouver and came across the most amazing second hand clothing store ever, Timeline Boutique.

Their collection of clothing and shoes is stellar! It was here, I found one of my most coveted second hand purchases ever – Gucci heels. The previous owner broke them in perfectly for me and Timeline broke them in for my budget. Retail 575.00, I paid 125.00!

Beautiful black with a bamboo heel. So god damn pretty that I was getting complements on them on a dimly lit dance floor.

Have a rockin’ beautiful New Year’s Eve!

All the best in 2015!!

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

‘Twas the holiday season

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Canadian Chic

About 12 years ago I started to notice people in Toronto dressing like high end farmers….worn out jeans, t-shirts, beat up baseball hats. A few years after that winter boots were hip and cool. Then all-weather appropriate clothing was on runways and it was awesome. As a teenager I remember never wanting to put on my winter gear because it was big and ugly but now its just full on Canadian sexy and I love it.

Even our toques are in! Check out this cool local company, Tuck Shop.

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Politics and Fashion

This week I headed over the to Design Exchange in Toronto for their show Politics of Fashion. It was a great show and I have fallen madly in love with Rudi Gernreich’s iconic bathing suit. Stunning! I think I need to add this to my wardrobe.

I love clothing and I love certain labels but I never wear them on the outside of my clothes. Quality yes, billboard no.

The first item of clothing I remember wearing for any political stance was in Grade 10. White t-shirt with black lettering stating, “Closets are for Clothes.” A few years later when I came out to my parents, they were not really surprised (go figure). Its always good to dip your toe before plunging in.

I learned early on the power of clothing. On days when I felt like blending in and being invisible I dressed more like a “guy.” In my more androgynous days I could all but disappear into the crowd with my over sized outfits. Now a days, its heels and tight pants. I love the empowering feeling out of being a woman in well tailored, stylish clothing. On nights when I am in the mood to cause a little commotion wherever I go, I head out in my cats pants!

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

When it rains, I love it.

Let’s embrace Swedish melancholy. Embracing rain is a good start.

“Melancholy shouldn’t be confused with depression. Melancholy is an active state. When we’re melancholic, we feel uneasy with the way things are, the status quo, the conventions of our society. We yearn for a deeper, richer relationship with the world. And in that yearning, we’re forced to explore the potential within ourselves – a potential we might not have explored if we were simply content. Through our melancholy we come up with new ways of seeing the world and new ways of being in the world. Melancholy and creativity go together like ebony and ivory on a piano.”

I enjoy moments longing as much as I enjoy the moments of being in love. I sit comfortably in both places. Of course, it is always better to be on the love side of the line, but nevertheless, you can make some really great things happen when you are in a state of longing. Its good to be empathetic, vulnerable and wired to your heart for a bit.

I longed for one of these beautiful rain jackets for about 6 months. The longing did not go away so I figured it must be love. It was. I love my Stutterheim jacket.

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

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