Half Of What I Say Is Meaningless

Five Golden Rings

I must confess that I'm not at all a big jewelry wearer. I only wear my wedding rings and an occasional necklace. Perhaps I need to revisit this. I love jewelry as it is such a showcase for great design. And it makes a fantastic gift. I bought my mother this cool silver necklace with a rectangle pendant last Christmas and she loved it. It's an indulgence, something we generally don't purchase for ourselves. People hang on to it, unlike a lot of other gifts (can you say re-gifting), because it is sentimental, and because it's small and easy to store. I prefer jewelry that is affordable. When it requires it's own insurance policy, it only adds stress to life. So I will forgo diamonds for the time being and instead go for pieces that are well designed yet won't break the bank. Sure to make my husband happy. I also like classic, a simple pair of pearl earrings. Note that I'm generally a necklace girl, had to work here to broaden my horizons. Some of my favourites (trying to include only those sites I haven't posted before):

On The First Day Of Christmas - Cool Jewelry

Silver Diamond Rings - Alissia Melka - not real diamonds, just a diamond shape. Also the love acrylic ones. Very cool. She's a European designer, must try to find a source here.

Mother of Pearl - Blend Creations - the first time I saw these online I didn't realize that the couple who designs them are from Ottawa. Then I saw them in a shop here. Adore them. Simple, classic.

Dot Necklace - Jewelry by Jessica - There are a bunch of fun ones here. All necklaces are $20, how cool is that.

Intergalactic Necklace - Rena Tom - She is a very popular jewelry designer from NY. Affordable and unique collections. I love lots of pieces on her site.

Bonbon Lariat - Muscovie Design - this might be my very favourite piece. You have to click through a bit to find it. Under neck and then the top, left circle. I also like the polka band rings. All the pieces are very innovative. On the other side of the website, looks like they do custom bridal pieces. Beautiful stuff.

Organix Collection - Maya Kini - These are different, pieces of organic material encased in resin and framed in silver. Very hip. I want lemon inside a square. My husband I could guarantee would think that this is the most ridiculous thing ever.

Circle Jewelry - This whole site deserves a browse through, a ton of cool stuff. I really like this Nuts and Bolts Collection, especially with the diamonds (going against everything I said earlier). Erica asked me a couple days ago if I knew of any cool birthstone necklace, there is a cool one in this collection. Check it out. :) Also like these necklaces with the diamond or pearl embedded in the place. I'm such a square/rectangle girl.

Elsewheres: Independent Art And Design - this website always has a plethora of cool items, from a variety of designers. The Bellalulu Bracelet, love the colour combo with the blue, white and brown. Tribe Ring by Imooi, a total steal, silver inlaid with colour rubber, very cool, also like their cuff links (not for me). Hoopla Bracelet by Ryan Kundrat - finally some circles, with a little bit of rubber cord. Silver Beer/Soda Can Cuff by D-Licious, make me smile. And last but not least, these Silver Bangles by GK Designs that you can have stamped with words or a phrase. Really like the look of the imprecise stamping.

So there's my list. I'm not holding my breath that I'll actually receive any of these, but I definitely had fun choosing. Stay tuned for more lists. :)

My True Love Gave To Me - Gift Giving Guides

Again, so busy. Should be less so by tomorrow. But I have a little idea. Extension of the lists I suppose. I want to do twelve days of gift giving guides. Now I could just put all these items on my Christmas wishlist, and cross my fingers. But it's just not going to happen. My husband, not so much of a shopper. I'm generally better served buying things for myself. But I like choosing things I might like, things I think are fun, cool. Whether or not I ever purchase them is an another matter entirely. The thrill of the hunt.

As children, my sister and I waited for months for the release of the Sears Christmas Wish Book. For we lived in a town without an actual toy store or department store for that matter.We poured over that thing incessantly, identifying items that we both so desperately wanted. We diligently marked the pages, and waited for Santa Claus with bated breath. My mother though, not a Sears shopper, so many of those wishes went unheeded. But with all due respect , my mother did a tremendous job of selecting gifts (she is the best shopper I know :). She bought things we perhaps didn't know we needed and steered clear from some of the impractical, crazy whims we had. So I never received the rock tumbler, the Snoopy snow cone machine, nor the wood burning kit. In retrospect, that was probably for the best.

But the Wish Book fascination gives me some insight into where that interest stems from. As I grew older my tastes became more sophisticated, yet the process was the same. Seventeen magazine (my first real magazine subscription) nurtured this interest again, particularly the gift guides. Also would read my Mom's Canadian Living magazine particularly the pre-Christmas issues in hopes of identifying the perfect gifts.Today I still love those lists, and a have the embarrassingly large stack of magazines from the last two month to prove it. Then of course, Oprah's favourite things episode, well if that is just not fuel to the addition, I'm not sure what is. I'm saving up for one of those Burberry Duffel Coats, it's going to take a while. In all honesty I'm not much of a shopper, maybe more just a browser.

So I'm on a quest to create twelve days of lists in a variety of categories. Of fun, unique, hopefully stylish (to me in any case), or things I would like to own. Hopefully give you some ideas for yourself, or something to buy for others. Categories I'm thinking, accessories (not clothes, because I'm a bit clothes impaired), jewelry, for the kitchen, soft goods (bedding etc.), stationery, for the office, for kids, artwork, environmentally conscious gifts, books. That's off the top of my head. Will come up with more. If there is anything you want to see, let me know. I will browse for you. :) First list, expect it later today.

Second Star To The Right and Straight On Till Morning

First a quick update, we have a winner of the DW Digital book...Katy!!! So when you have an minute Katy, email me with your address and I will send with book and some goodies along too. I also will email a few other people (because William enjoyed the whole drawing part) who I have little goodie packs for as well. :) Have to pare back the supplies somehow. Thanks all so much for reading and participating.

In other developments, we have exciting news, well exciting for us anyways, considering we haven't been on a holiday in almost two years. And never a "real" holiday with the boys in tow. We are going to Disney World, the four of us. It's coming up fairly soon, though will be after the holiday season. We were aiming for a time with cooler weather and more manageable crowds. The boys of course are thrilled, even though the thought is beyond their comprehension. At four and two, I feel the whole endeavour is slightly risky. Considering I have not yet recovered from a six hour solo flight with my boys a year and a half ago, I'm kind of panicking as to what I've gotten myself into. Let's just say that airplanes and travel bring out the wild. And in Thomas' case magnify and multiply. But I fall into the school of thought that believes children must be exposed to new and challenging situations (i.e. decent restaurants, airplanes, among others), so that hopefully they will learn to behave like gentlemen in these locales by the time they are twenty. Never comes without a little bit of pain though. Anyway.

We are staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a week. The boys love the whole animal thing thus our rationale. I've never been to Disney World and only once to Disneyland. And that was exactly twenty-five years ago. We were there for the 25th birthday party, the exact day and received these cool pins. Well cool in an eighties kind of way, and I was only seven at the time. I need to get my parents to track those things down. It was a fluke that we arrived on that particular day, totally unplanned by my parents, but there we were. And twenty-five years later I still have the extraordinary memories of that magical trip. I also have the not so fond memories of a whole vomiting episode at Sea World onto the plants at the Shamu show, but that is beside the point. Hoping to keep the stomach woes at bay on this trip.

As fate would have it (OK, not fate, just the passage of twenty-five more years, ha), this year (2005/2006) is the 50th anniversary year of the whole Disney parks thing. As a child I had imagined that we would indeed be back for the 50th, weird. So I guess in a way we are, they appear to be celebrating it in quite a large fashion, even seem to have extended the year to eighteen months. I guess when it's your birthday, you make the rules. :)

So despite the inevitable challenges of travel, of being away from home, of the stress of vacationing (sounds like an oxymoron, but I have two kids under five), I can't wait. Because for a child this place, Disney is magical. And there is nothing like seeing magic through the eyes of your children, that will indeed transport you there yourself. 

So if you've been and have any tips to share, please do.:) I'm thinking I need all the advice I can get!

List #9 - Merry Christmas I Don't Want To Fight Tonight

Last list for today, before I wear you all down with excessive discussion and you begin to feel like my poor husband. I'm like a virtual, irritating Time Life Treasury of Christmas Music. But I'm not a list combiner, I can't compare old to new, love these for different reasons.

Modern Christmas Favourites

1. Christmas Song - Dave Matthews Band: This song is haunting. One of very few songs that makes me flip the CD player back to start it over again. Can listen to a snippet here. If you've never heard it you need to download it from iTunes. It is the song that turned me into a DMB convert.

2. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon: well obviously thing one was going to show up on my list. :)

3. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid (original version): the song that started the movement 20 years ago and con tined with Live 8 this summer. The message resonates with me and brings to mind the painful imagines of the famine in Ethiopia so many years ago. 

4. Tom Jackson - Huron Carol - if you are Canadian you likely know this song (and you probably also know Bob & Doug Mackenzie's 12 Day of Christmas, but that is another matter entirely). The Huron Carole is a traditional First Nations Carole, apparently the first Canadian Christmas Carole written in 1642. Our grade one class sang it in the Christmas pageant, so many years ago. We spent months memorizing the somewhat complicated lyrics. And let me tell you how jealous I was that I was not the one holding the fake beaver pelt. I still know all the words. There is an annual Canadian concert tour that raises money for local food banks by the same name, organized by Tom Jackson.

5. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - U2

6. Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) - The Ramones: just because it makes me smile

7. Zion's Daughter & Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord - Boney M: perhaps the most fun Christmas album ever.

8. Hark The Herald - Charlie Brown Christmas, Vince Guaraldi Trio - makes me smile

9.  The Seven Joys Of Mary - Great Big Sea - Love the band from the Rock. They do an awesome celtic rendition of this song. You can listen to it here. One of my very favs.

10. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Diana Krall - another wickedly talented Canadian, awesome rendition of the classic song

That's it for now. Only 34 more days of good listening. Just not the same after December 25th. Wishing everyone a holiday season of Peace & Joy!

List #8 - Sleigh Bells Ring Are You Listening

Continued from earlier today. :) Because you know the subject is worthy of endless discussion. Well my poor husband disagrees, and eleven Christmases later the topic has worn him down. He likes the music, yet unlike me endless discussion on any topic is not exactly his forte. For all my wordiness and propensity to drone on incessantly, he balances me with a quiet countenance, interspersed with the more thoughtful and occasional profound thoughts. The good man that he is, has been known to tune me out on occasion (OK frequently), probably with reason. :) Many years ago (like ten), I'm pestering him to find out his favourite Christmas carol . Obviously not really thinking (just to end the debate on the topic), he rattles out "Deck The Halls". The minute he said it, he knew it was a mistake, with all the fa la la-ing and such. To this day, I've never let him change his answer, although I do know that his real favourite is the Little Drummer Boy. My boys favourite - Jingle Bells - Batman version (Barenaked Ladies do it, very fun). How predictable, yet charming. I'm always looking to add to my lists so I would love to hear any of your personal favs. :)

So I'm breaking my list into two parts, classic songs which include the traditional carols, and more recent favourites. Some may be harder to specifically categorize (like it really matters, ha)

Classic Christmas Favourites

1. Mary's Boy Child - unquestionably my favourite Christmas choice. Harry Belefonte does my favourite version, but I love when anyone does it. Boney M also does a fun version in a medley with Oh My Lord.

2. Winter Wonderland - Louis Armstrong

3. I Saw Three Ships - lots of versions, don't have a particular fav, Nat King Cole, The Chieftans, The Beatles, even BNL. I doubt that it would make anyone's list but mine. :) But, it was almost completely ruined for me by a Teletubbies video that William watched incessantly three-ish years ago. Seems that they borrowed that for some ship sailing segment - Teletubbie land filling with water. Ugh.

4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Julie Andrews: I had to put this in because I don't think the entire soundtrack of the Sound of Music exactly qualifies as Christmas music. And that movie is a Christmas tradition for us. But this is another all time favourite, I will always love Julie.

5. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano:  For as long as I could remember, this played at home at Christmas, beloved by all. The very first song that made William dance, at about nine months old hanging on to the furniture. Happy, happy memories.

6. Little Drummer Boy - Johnny Cash: Miss Johnny, looking forward to "Walk The Line" out sometime soon I think.:) His Christmas album (one of them) was a Christmas morning tradition growing up.

7. The Friendly Beasts - Peter Paul & Mary

8. Perry Como - There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays

9. O Holy Night - many versions

10. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Frank Sinatra

11. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland - notice this is the only song that makes both lists.

You can mix in to this list the favourites I mentioned earlier from my album listings. Will stop here, probably will have to come back and add. :)

The Return of the List (#7, #8, #9)- Christmas Music

First off, thank you SO much for all the wonderful comments the other day. You guys are so motivating. If anyone else wants in on the draw, just post on Friday's entry and I will make the draw tomorrow. Well William will be in charge of the draw, four year old like that kind of stuff. :)

In case you were wondering where my lists were, today they are back with a vengeance. For I've been debating when I should post this one. I must confess, I wanted to blog about it last March, and last month, and many times in between. But I held off, trying to portray some semblance of normalcy. How early in the season can you a. start listing to Christmas music, b. start talking about Christmas music, before people start thinking you're a little off. It's a fine line, but I've been bursting with excitement for several weeks (OK, at least a month). And I know that you've all been waiting with baited breath to hear my thoughts on the topic, not. But I held off until this weekend until we actually started playing it, and now the holiday music is in full rotation. It is undoubtedly my very favourite part of the Christmas season, the music. It is the magical connection to the Christmases of my childhood. And it is now the backdrop as we forge new family memories.

List # 7 - All Time Favourite Christmas Albums

1. Bing Crosby - White Christmas - if I had to choose one, this would be it. This brings back for the the happiest memories of my childhood. To me, this sounds exactly like Christmas. Growing up we had the record, I miss records to be honest, scratches and all. Affectionately referred to as "Bing" in our household it receives an embarrassing amount of play. Of course everyone knows and loves White Christmas, but that is not my favourite. That would be Silver Bells, not even sure why. I also love Christmas in Killarney, the Irish in me most certainly. And as a child I was so enchanted by Mele Kelikimaka, Christmas in Hawaii, I couldn't even imagine the thought. One day maybe, hopefully. Christmas would not be Christmas without Bing.

2. Harry Belafonte - The Best Of Christmas - this is what I'm listening to at this exact moment. This man has honestly the most glorious voice and I love me a little bit of calypso music. Another one that received wide play throughout my childhood. Includes my all time favourite version of Mary's Boy Child, but I also love Amen, The Baby Boy, Jehovah The Lord Will Provide, among others. For someone who does not classify herself as particularly religious, I sure go for the religious themed music, it speaks to me. You will notice this is a recurrent theme.

3. Barenaked Ladies - Barenaked For The Holidays - new last year, if you don't have it, consider it a Christmas present to yourself. The quintessential Canadian band, fun for the kids, and the adults. I'm always hesitant to embrace "new" Christmas music, yet the songs are total BNL, filled with nostalgia, perfectly capturing the Christmas experience. We love The Elf's Lament with MIchael Buble (adore him too), totally laugh when William starts chanting about "crappy little gizmos", which just happens to be story of our life. Adore the three Hanukkah songs. I Saw Three Ships, Do They KNow It's Christmas, Christmas Pics make me smile. My favourite is the last one Auld Lang Syne, never a song I particularly cared for. But Steven Page sings it so beautifully here.

4. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song - I think he does the most beautiful version of O Holy Night. And of course the The Christmas Song.

5. Christmas With Nana Mouskouri - most of your will probably have never heard this. We, particularly my sister and I love Nana. If you happen to love this little known treasure of an album as well, you must tell me. Old Toy Trains just makes it feel like Christmas and now that I have two little boys of my own it particularly resonates with "Little boy don't you think it's time you were in bed". Hopefully they will come to love it as well. However, yesterday William asked me if there was a Power Rangers Christmas song, so I'm not holding my breath. I also love the French Christmas songs, Petit Papa Noel, Minuit Cretien. And her version is Ave Maria is my all time favourite.

OK, this is getting long as usual, so I will break up my posts. When I get back from school pick-up will post my favourite classic and new Christmas songs/carols. Can you tell I've been waiting all year for this.:)

Tina Sparkle

I've been a blog delinquent the past couple weeks. Just trying to make my way around some crazy deadlines. Will be back to regular posting next week. But just for fun I'm going to share the "diva" version of myself created by none other than the fabulous Rhonna. She is so amazingly multi-talented and on top of that just such a genuine human being. So thrilled to call her my friend.

So anyway, this diva is "Tina Sparkle" my alter ego, my very occasional nickname. You may have seen the original Tina Sparkle in the Australian movie Strictly Ballroom (a great movie). Thank you again Rhonna, completely made me smile this week.

Another thing I wanted to mention about Rhonna, I had a opportunity to work on her book Designing with Digital several months back. Along with several other awesome girls, you completely inspire me, but digital and traditional artists. Just recently I received my copies, and was in awe of the amazing work in there, and the book design itself is stunning. Now of course mine are not completely digital pages, mixed actually, which are traditional pages that use elements of digital techniques for extra impact. First I nearly hyperventilated when I as asked to do some work, because my digital skills at that point were how shall I say it, lacking. But in the process I learned SO much, and I am officially a convert. I doubt I will ever be completely digital, but these techniques have broadened my enjoyment of the hobby, and totally expanded the creative possibility for my work. And I love almost everything I did for the book. In fact one of my all time favourite pages is this one: The Myth of Fingerprints.   I created a digital brush of Thomas' finger print and applied it to the photograph. Also incorporated the print in a few more areas on the page. One thing though, getting a good fingerprint out of an under two is about as simple as fingerprinting a cheetah.

So now I really need to crack into that book and do some learning. It includes a huge CD tutorial and a ton of amazing digital elements. If you don't have it, you definitely need need it. :)

I have a few people I'm sending copies to, and I promise that I will be mailing them off next week. And considering I will be at the post office and all, I might as well send one out to a blog reader too. So I will do a little draw for a brand new copy of DW Digital. If you are interesting in being in on the draw just post in the comments section. I'll throw in some other goodies as well. I will let you guys know by next week.

Have a super weekend everyone!

11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

For every November 11th of my memory, this day has had a bitter cold. Today being no exception, as the first snowflakes of the season fell yesterday and a freezing wind whips through the air this morning. I can only pinpoint the day, because each November 11th we as a nation observe Remembrance Day.

"On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause and remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War and during peacekeeping missions."

As I small child I remember standing at the cenotaph on this same day in the little town I grew up in. In a beautiful little park the cenotaph stood, amidst totem poles and a wonderful fountain that enchanted me as a child. Similar services of memorial and remembrance are conducted across our country. Today here in Ottawa on Parliament Hill our Prime Minister and Governor General, along with veterans from across Canada, honour the sacrifices of brave men and women spanning the generations. Particularly poignant as this year has been designated "Year of the Veteran".

"The first Remembrance Day, held in 1919 throughout the Commonwealth, was originally called Armistice Day. The day commemorated the end of the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.: the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month."

In lieu of attending the ceremonies downtown (I don't think these two boys quite yet have the patience to endure two hours of standing in the cold), we will head to WIlliam's school for a ceremony at 11:00 am this morning. The schools here (as was the case when I was a child) do a wonderful job instilling the significance of remembrance, sharing the reminder of the legacy of war. For I believe that we must understand the tremendous sacrifice, the horrors, the devastation of war, of conflict, if we want to truly achieve peace. This is why we remember.

"The first poppies were distributed in Canada in 1921. Today the volunteer donations from the distribution of millions of poppies is an important source of revenue for the Royal Canadian Legion that goes toward helping ex-servicemen and women buy food, and obtain shelter and medical attention."

And we wear the poppy, the flower of remembrance. Poppies are one of my favourite flowers in fact, beyond their significance. If you are Canadian you know the poem, perhaps the most famous Canadian poem. Perhaps the only poem I have completely memorized in its entirety. It gives me chills whenever I hear it, when I think of it. I can only imagine that William is hearing it for the very first time at school this morning, in the tradition of all Canadian school children for generations before him. Connecting us, connecting us to our past. In Flander's Fields, written by Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae in 1915 upon seeing the poppies growing on the grave of a friend who died in battle".  Today I reflect, as the words of this poem run through my mind.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- John McCrae, 1915

Photo Friday

Happy Friday! So excited that it's the weekend. Hopefully a relaxing one. Just uploaded a new photo album of various pictures I've taken this fall: Autumn Photos. The autumn colours are just beautiful in Ottawa, it seems to be later this season than last. Time to break out the winter coats I think.

While You Were Sleeping

I've already mentioned that I have sleep issues. Well I can usually sleep after a while, but I need perfect sleeping conditions. And I'm thinking right now they are sub optimal. I wake up every morning with a sore neck and I think it is my pillow. I used to use a feather pillow and about six months ago I bought a memory foam one. But I think I bought the wrong type. It is crazy heavy and solid, weighs a ton. I find it comfortable if not a bit hard. But when I wake up I pay for it. Isn't that contrary to what these new fangled pillows are supposed to do for you. So I need some recommendations, if you have the perfect pillow. I'm really leaning towards the Tempurpedic one, but I need to know before I buy. I only want to do this once because the smell of these new pillows when they are new, like they have been dipped in a large vat of chemicals, is something I can contend with only one more time.

In the meantime, let's talk about pretty pillows instead. Not the bed kind, but the decorative kind, throw pillows. To get my mind off of that smell (maybe I'm too sensitive to the whole odour thing). Because we all like some good links.

Hable Construction - I want like twenty of these. Because I have such an addiction to felt, especially the lovely wool felt. Especially love the first ones, the flags and the stars. And maybe octy for the kids room. And becuase sometimes you have to be an adult, the Mums, Algae, Poppies. These are truly divine. Check out the Christmas Stockings too.

Hybrid Home - these are fun and hip. As always love anything bird.

Amenity - These ones by Amentiy are gorgeous. Very organic and subtle. Like the rectangle ones.

Salvor Fauna Pillows - These are different. Animal shapes. I think they would work very cool in a kids room. There are also tres awesome kids T-shirts.

Sprout Home - Just an assortment of different pillows here. Sprout Home always has cool modern stuff which I love. Those felt ones, the pink bird and the one with the house, my favs.

Varigated Bedding - OK, so there's lots of bedding here too, that's fine with me. The branch pillows in all those different colours though, totally do it for me. Graphic, yet organic. Cool combo.

Three Sheets 2 The Wind - Another one of my very favourites. Click on the rectangle pillows and select view more photos. There are many, and they are gorgeous. The colours are so lovely especially with the black silk screened designs.