My Creative Space: placemats

Last weekend I had a housewarming party to go to. I was teaching that morning and I only had a couple of hours before I had to be at the party, but I knew I wanted to get my friends something for their new home.

Now, for some reason I haven't been crafting very much lately. Blame it on business, laziness or a combination of the two, but the fact is that my sewing machine has been lonely. And so I hauled it out, and all of the little bits and bobs I need that live all over my apartment and I started cutting, and folding and ironing and sewing and next thing I knew I had 4 whole placemats done in just over an hour. I tied them up with a bow and gave them to my friends who were so sweet about my little handmade gift. Thank god for sewing; it's seriously one of my only practical life skills :)

Calgary

I stumbled upon this video the other day and I just had to share it. It's the single from Bon Iver's new album. I adore him and could (and do) listen to For Emma, Forever Ago for days on end. And this video, it's just magic. My heart fluttered when I first watched it, and I hope yours does too...

My favourite podcasts

via, via

via, via

One of the little rituals that grounds my week is listening to my favourite podcasts on Sundays. While I listen, I potter around the house, tidying up and doing chores. And it is seriously one of my favourite ways to spend a morning. My four favourite podcasts are: the Vinyl Cafe, Definitely not the Opera, This American Life and the Dirtbag Diaries.

The funny thing is that when I was a kid my dad used to take my brother and I on drives and he would always listen to the CBC. His favourites were the Vinyl Cafe and DNTO and I resented both massively. I just wanted to listen to my crappy top 40 radio stations. But now that I'm an adult, and I've moved to the other side of the world, I so appreciate the gentle, simple, canadianess of both of these shows. They remind me why I love Canada, and they make me feel like I'm still connected, silly as that may sound. Do you guys have any favourite podcasts?

My little brother

My brother is the one on the left.

Today is my little brother's 20th birthday. I can't believe he's a real, live adult now and there's no longer a 'teen' at the end of his age.

Happy birthday Mateo! I hope you have a great day and a fun night (but not too fun)!

love,

Your annoying big sister

My Creative Space: A really useful fabric roll

This little case is the 'really useful fabric roll' from the first Meet me at Mike's book. I think it's pretty darn cute, but the problem is that I just can't quite figure out what it should hold, which means that it hasn't been particularly useful yet. Any ideas on how to make this little number live up to its name?

For more creative spaces, go here.

A breakfast date

This morning I got up at the crack of dawn (seriously, it was 5:30 a.m.) to go teach an early morning class. Sadly, no one turned up (as is often the case at the crack of dawn) so I went home and husband took me out for breakfast instead. I had yummy homemade baked beans on toast and a big coffee to wake me up and I'm feeling much better now and ready to teach my other two classes. Husband also felt bad for losing (or 'misplacing' as he calls it) my moisturizer so he bought me some more, hence the above photo of him holding girly moisturizer. Hope your mornings are off to a good start! xx

A busy week

I snapped this photo on my phone last Wednesday while I was class planning over a latte at my favourite cafe. It pretty accurately presents what my week looked like. It was 8 a.m. and I had already taught one yoga class (which started at 6:30 am!) and was on my way to teach two more. All in all I taught 8 classes last week, and also worked several days at the studio. While I'm still nervous, I am beginning to feel more and more comfortable with each class that goes by. And I can say with absolute certainty that I LOVE teaching yoga. It can be tricky because you can't always tell if people are enjoying themselves, but if even one person comes up to me at the end of class and says "thank you" I feel happy.

I also handed in a big freelance project last week which had been eating up all of my time lately. I'm hoping that this week I can do all of those little chores that fall by the wayside when you're busy, as well as finally see some of my friends! Here's hoping...

My Creative Space: late

My crocheted garland of teacups and teapots.

First of all, I CANNOT believe that I just went 3 weekdays without posting! I'm going to blame this on the fact that I've barely been home over the last 3 days, and my internet has been spotty. Hopefully it won't happen again (anytime soon at least...).

I'm going to consider this post my 1 day late "my creative space." Remember a few days ago when I said that one of my wintertime goals was to decorate my place winter? Well, here's the first thing I did. I swapped out my foxx garland for this crocheted garland of teapots and teacups.

Back when Notebook magazine was still alive and kicking, there was a tutorial for this garland and I ran home to make it. I know it's totally nana-ish but I love it anyway.

I love mail

I've mentioned this before, but one of the best things about living overseas is that I actually get mail now! And I get good mail, not just bills (though there are, of course, plenty of those as well). Just this month I got 2 wonderful packages: my mom's best friend sent me 2 tops and some makeup from the states, and then my mom sent me a top from Anthropologie. She knew I was jealous because Anthro finally opened in Vancouver and I'm not there to see it, sigh...

In the meantime, at least I have sweet family and friends to mail me things. Thanks guys!

Winter goals

Inspired by Elsie's summertime goals, I decided to make up my own list. Of course, I live in Australia so I made a list of wintertime goals instead. I love that she focused on fun, non-work related things because I'm also swamped with work right now. But I want to make sure that I take the time to enjoy winter, because it's a season that I love.

So, my slightly silly goals are:

1. Go to the Katoomba Winter Magic Festival. I've been meaning to do this every year that I've lived here and I haven't yet. This is the year!

2. Make gingerbread cookies. Probably these ones...

3. Decorate home for winter. I like changing little things up around my home with the seasons. I'll probably throw in some more flannel, switch up my fox garland etc.

4. Knit something for myself. I feel like it's been forever since I've knitted/crocheted anything! This is just not right and must be rectified immediately.

5. Catch up on oscar movies. This one is really silly, but I missed every single oscar nominated movie this year and I'd like to change that. Starting tonight...

Sydney love: even more confusion

* I posted this on my private blog last year, when I was working at a very Aussie pub. It ties into what I was talking about last Friday, with my Australian glossary...

A funny conversation at work the other day:

Me (behind the bar): What can I get you?

Customer: Just a lemonade please.

Me: So, like, pop or juice?

Customer (with baffled look on face): What?

(Photo via tasted by two)

Me: Pop or juice?

Customer: I don’t know… Just a lemonade please…

My manager (who happens to have overheard this conversation): What are you on about you crazy woman?!?!?

Me (staring at the fountain drink controller in my hand): Ok, so did you want squash (a lemon flavored pop they have in Australia)? Should I push the "Sq" button for squash or the "l" button?

My manager: Just push the friggin "l"!!!!!!

Customer walks away with a "lemonade," whatever that means.

Manager: We don’t say pop in Australia.

Me: Ooh.

Manager: And we certainly don’t sell old-fashioned lemonade, or juice, as you call it. We’d have to charge $15 a glass if you tried to give him lemon juice.

Me: Ooh.

Manager: And while squash is, in fact, lemon flavored, if someone asks for lemonade, you push the "l" button. If they want squash, they’ll ask for squash.

Me: So what is behind the "l" button?

Manager: It’s sprite.

Me: What??? You people call sprite lemonade. I didn’t even know sprite was supposed to be lemon flavored.

Manager: You Canadians are weird.

Me: You think that’s weird, let me tell you about a very popular drink we have called a Caesar…

My plate wall

When we first moved into our apartment nearly a year ago, one of the first things I did was put up this plate wall over our table. It took me a while to collect all of the plates I wanted to use(and most of them came from op shops) and then it was another mission to buy plate hangers but I persisted! I really wanted that plate wall, damn it.

I'm so happy I did because I love the way they look. And since our living space is open plan, I think it helps separate the "dining room" from the "living room." But the best part is that I get to hang this gem of a plate...

Isn't it coolest plate you've ever seen?

p.s. I apologize if posting is a bit lighter than normal this week. I have a big project due on Monday so I'm short on time until then!

My life in iphone photos: round 2

I really enjoyed doing a post entirely dedicated to iphone pictures, so I thought I'd do it again. Here's a smattering of photos from the last month or so....

Having drinks with fellow yoga teacher trainees. Babysitting my friend's baby Lucas, I love him.

These four are all from the last retreat I assisted.

Hanging with my friend's kitten. Me posing at our teacher training graduation.

Sunny lunch at a cute cafe with friends.

The Opera House all lit up last night for Vivid Sydney, a festival going on right now. And some more lights, but these were at a bar.

Hyde Park.

Vegan yum cha today in the city with friends. Yum!

Sydney love: Do you speak Australian?

Well not to worry, I'm here to help! After nearly 3 years of living down under, I've come to the conclusion that Australian English is very different from North American English. Trust me on this one. When my mom came to visit in November I realized that a) She didn't understand half of what was being said around her and b) My vocabulary has changed spectacularly since living here. I've adapted. So without further ado, here is a short glossary of Aussie terms that I've compiled. And people, this is just the tip of the iceberg...

Aussie North American

Avo = Avocado

Arvo = Afternoon

Bikkie = Cookie

Bloody oath = So true!

Blue = Used as a noun to mean fight. E.g. I got in a blue last night.

Bludger = A lazy person

Bogan = White trash

Boot = The trunk of a car

Bottle-o = Liquor store

Buck's night = Stag party

Bush = The forest

Bushwalk = Hike

Cark it = To die, e.g. He carked it.

Chippy = Carpenter

Chrissy = Christmas

Chook = Chicken

Chuck a sicky = To call in sick for work.

Copper = Police Officer

Cozzies = Swimsuit

Daggy = Tacky

Doona = Duvet

Dunny = Toilet

Esky = Cooler

Fair dinkum = For reals. And I'm not even kidding - Aussies actually say this!

Fairy floss = Cotton candy

Flat white = A kind of coffee which is very similar to a latte, but they still have lattes here

Hen's night = Stagette party

Icy pole = Popsicle

Journo = A journalist

Jumper = Sweater

Lemonade = Sprite

Lollies = Candy

Maccas = McDonald's. As in, the fast food place.

Middy = A quantity of beer (like a pint, but it's not the same quantity as a pint)

Mozzie = Mosquito

Muso = A musician

Nappies = Diapers

Op shop = Thrift store

Pash = To make out. E.g. I pashed this guy last night. (p.s. I LOVE this one, so funny!)

Petrol = Gasoline

Postie = Mail person

Pram = Stroller

Prezzy = Gift

Ripper = Awesome

Sambo = Sandwich

Servo = Gas station

Singlet = Tank top

Snag = Sausage

Spag bol = Spaghetti bolognaise

Sparky = Electrician

Squizz = To have a look at something. E.g. Just taking a squiz.

Sticky beak = To have a look at something. E.g. I'm just having a sticky beak.

Sunnies = Sunglasses

Uni = University

Teaching yoga

I taught my first "real" yoga class today! I've taught my friends and fellow teacher trainees before, but this morning was the first class I taught in an actual studio to people who I don't know. I felt super nervous beforehand (and tired since I had to wake up at 6 am!) but I tried to remember the words of my teacher: "You're there to serve." Whenever I get nervous thinking about being up in front of people and teaching them, I just have to remind myself of her wise words. I did feel awkward for the first few minutes and then it got easier and easier. You know what they say, practice makes perfect. Must keep practicing!

p.s. This photo has nothing to do with anything, except that it's of me. I just can't post without a photo!