So Pumped

For the past 3 years I have upped my pumpkin carving game by using a site called Zombie Pumpkins to download stencils. Now you have to donate a bit of money (I know, you probably think I'm a sucker) but I think it's well worth it, since I haven't been able to find any free sites with designs like these.

Here are my pumpkins from the past 3 years:






















The Corpse Bride


















Sweeney Todd






















Morticia Addams

There's No Crying in Baseball - Poll Results

Best Girl Sports Movies:

Whip It!
1 (33%)

A League of Their Own
3 (100%)

Bend it Like Beckham
1 (33%)

Million Dollar Baby
0 (0%)

Ladybugs
0 (0%)

Guess not many of you have seen any of these. A League of Their Own definitely deserves the win. I wanted to be Dottie when I was little.

iTunes Playlist Tuesday! #16(66) Muh ha ha ha ha!

Halloween Playlist.

What songs do I recommend you play on Halloween? Whether it’s a party, or just background music while you hand out candy - this is my top 10:

1 . Thriller by Michael Jackson - I know this year it is especially cliche to play this, but what is a halloween without Thriller?

2 . A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins - The music sounds like a variation of Monster Mash to me. I’ve always felt like this was a halloween song in disguise.

3 . What’s He Building in There by Tom Waits - More spoken word rather than music, but it’s scary. We played this in our common room in residence my first year at York.

4 . I’m your Boogie Man by K.C. and the Sunshine Band - This song usually makes me think of that scene in Superbad where McLovin’ is dancing with the redhead. But it would be a fun one for a halloween type party.

5 . I Put a Spell on You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins - This has probably been used for an Axe Effect commercial - but still appropriate for my halloween mix.

6 . Devil’s Eyes by Buck 65 - For a little Canadian content I’ll add this one by Rich Terfry (Buck 65).

7 . This Devil’s Workday by Modest Mouse - Hate to repeat the use of “Devil” but this one is too good not to include. I love the music in this song and the deep raspy voice the singer uses.

8 . The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead by Final Fantasy - I know I’ve used this song in a previous playlist - but come on, I can’t NOT include it. Also, Canadian.

9 . Come as You Are by Nirvana - No costumes, just come as you are. That’s scary enough! Just kidding.

10 . Time Warp by The Cast of the Rocky Horror Picture Show - Good way to end my mix, don’t you think? Begin with a classic, end with a classic.

On this broken umbrella kind of day...

i'm petsitting for the weekend - aside from the joy of being away from my annoying family, I am pretty bored. I also didn't bring enough clothes with me. It's been pouring all day, my shift at work was cancelled. I had to walk to work anyways to collect my paycheque. My umbrella blew inside-out and snapped. I had a hood that wasn't waterproof also. A man at the bank ran in from his car and said "some weather we're having" - oh cause that run from your car to the bank was so painful. The lady at No Frills never asked me if I needed bags, and I forgot to tell her - so I stuffed what I could into my purse and walked back with a carton of orange juice cradled in my arms.

The only joy I've had today has been eating mini-chocolate bars and Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers while watching Away We Go this afternoon. I ate a serving for two of a chicken dinner Skillet Sensation while watching a podcast of Oscar The Grouch being interviewed by Jian Ghomeshi. The cat won't stop meowing at me. I fed him already.

It's friday night. The umbrella set the tone for the day.

"Home is Where my Feet Are"

One of my favourite Canadian female artists is Holly McNarland - and I draw the title of this particular blog from her album of the same name, which comes from a song entitled "More" from said album. I thought about these words, "Home is where my feet are," today while I was watching the film, Away We Go.

The story is about a couple expecting their first baby (John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph play Burt and Verona) - together they travel to various places across North America in search of a place to call home. They find themselves untethered and wanting to find a place where they can raise their daughter that feels like home.

They visit friends and family and try to see if the places they call home might fit for them as well. First there's the family in Phoenix who figures everything is shit to begin with, that it doesn't matter if they pile more on top. Then, the new-aged family that doesn't believe in strollers. The couple in Montreal with a handful of adopted kids but really want one of their own. The brother in Miami who's wife left him to look after his young daughter alone. In the end Burt and Verona find their place, but the rest of their story goes untold.

The point is that your life has to be your life. You have to find your own place. If you're ever going to screw up your child it will be because of your own messed up bullshit, not someone else's. They travel around looking for a place to live, when what they really discover is not what kind of parents they want to be, but what kind of parents they DON'T want to be.

Also, much to my surprise and delight this film was written by my favourite author, Dave Eggers, and Vendela Vida (his wife). I should have known - it's totally his style and aesthetic. It's funny because I feel like I waited years for new Eggers work and now have been bombarded by it at of late.

Away We Go is funny in just the right places, and heartfelt and poignant as well. I recommend it.

iTunes Playlist Tuesday! #15

Coffee Girl Playlist.

We can’t all be like Rachel Green at the Central Perk - but we can certainly try.


1 . Coffee Girl - The Tragically Hip - The opening of this song makes me think of early mornings at Second Cup. This song is the basis of this week’s playlist.

2 . Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop - Landon Pigg - I found this song quite by accident and it’s pretty bizarre. 1) I just saw the movie Whip It!, in which Landon Pigg stars (I’d never heard of him) 2) I’d heard the song before, last christmas or so, in a commercial.

3 . Barista by Day - Anuhea - Another weird story. I recently updated my iTunes and I watched a short video explaining the new features. This song was shown and based on the title alone I looked it up. Now it’s not really my style of music, but the lyrics are pretty great.

4 . Oh, the Boss is Coming! - Arkells - The part that goes, “Oh, you better not be sitting” makes me think of my job. And the part about the boss talking in ‘the tone that’s worse than yelling.”

5 . One More Cup of Coffee - Bob Dylan - Any excuse to include a Bob Dylan song. I may have included this in a previous playlist, but I don’t care.

6 . Wake Up - The Walkmen - ‘Cause coffee helps you wake up, and if you drink too much at night, keeps you up.

7 . Paperback Writer - The Beatles - I should just quit and become a paperback writer.

8 . Daysleeper - R.E.M. - When I work night shift I sleep through half the day.

9 . Coffee Shop - Red Hot Chili Peppers - My regulars are never this lively. No one has ever danced like Iggy Pop at my work.

10 . Tired Eyes - Hey Rosetta! - Tired eyes from working a crappy, minimum wage job. Solution? Drink more coffee! Make playlists for your blog that 3 people read!

I wish _______ would go away forever...

Jon and Kate
3 (60%)

reality television (dancing, singing, fat people etc.)
3 (60%)

The Jonas Brothers
3 (60%)

Twitter
4 (80%)

Twilight (Vampire fiction in general, really)
2 (40%)

Metallic leggings
1 (20%)

Celebrity gossip magazines
2 (40%)

I'm disappointed that only two of you wish Twilight would go away. I am happy that most of you think Twitter is stupid.

A girl's sport that isn't too girly.

I saw Whip It last night with my friend and I loved it. Something about girl's playing sports energizes me - makes me want to kick some serious ass just like them.

Unlike A League of Their Own and Bend it Like Beckham, Whip It deals with a sport that is pretty much a girl's sport - Roller Derby - but these girls don't check their broken nails, they kick ass and take names. In the sporting world it is usually frowned upon when girls make contact with one another - and I'm not talking about mud wrestling. Woman's hockey has no contact - and while it focusses on skill rather than muscle, it's tame and, for lack of a better word, ladylike.

There's a part of me that wants to hip-check someone into the rails on roller skates. I can skate pretty well - so I imagine I could roller skate. I think it would be empowering and scary to try. When I got home from the movies I looked up local derby clubs - and I found several. There's one in Hamilton with a few teams as well as a league in Toronto. There's also a GTA team (not sure who they play). Well, I'm not about to spend 100s of dollars on skating equipment (plus fishnets, you can't do roller derby without them) just yet, but I'd love to check out a game (game? match? race?) I think the leagues run in Spring/Summer. I may have to wait - but I'd love to see it live.

Anyways - I made a Derby name: Angry Hepburn. But if anyone has any suggestions for something better I'd love to hear them.

Also - I love Ellen Page, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis and Jimmy Fallon. Also, did you know that Owen and Luke Wilson have another actor brother? Andrew Wilson. He's hilarious in the film as well.

Well worth checking out! Whip It!

Stuff that would make us run away from a guy's place, or at least make us question the relationship

A list my friend Amanda and I compiled over MSN. We do this often and this one is worth posting I think. Enjoy.

1) More than 2 pieces of sports memorabilia per room.

2) Full ashtrays 

3) Anything pot or drug related displayed with pride (bongs, pot leaf "art")

4) Porn on display

5) Posters of bikini girls etc.

6) Dirty bathroom - gross toilet, shower, sink...

7) Pizza boxes or beer cases piled to the ceiling

8) Sink full of dishes with dried on food

9) Posters unframed (unless it's your res room, not appropriate anymore)

10) Gamer chair 

11) Wall of action figures, unopened

12) Pictures of his kids (because he has kids, not because of the pictures)

13) Neon beer sign (unless it's in a bar/pool table room)

14) Anything pro-war, support our troops

15) Posters about drinking (can drinking team, rules, etc)

16) A collection of knives

17) Hunting gear

18) Conservative campaign material (that isn't junk mail in the trash)

19) Deer head or anything stuffed

20) Fridge of only beer

21) Fridge with only beer, and something moldy 

22) Futon (In place of a real couch and/or bed)

23) NO home or cell phone

24) No computer - seriously. it's 2009.

25) Truck in driveway with "balls"

26) A cross or religious artwork with prayers 

27) Copies of "The Watchtower"

28) Copy of Mein Kampf or anything Nazi.

29) Pet snake or tarantula

30) Kinky S&M stuff 

31) Renaissance festival costumes

32) An obvious rodent/insect problem 

33) More than 2 roommates and is over 24 yrs old or not in school

34) A jerk-off station

35) Street signs stolen on drunken nights

36) Playboy-themed stuff

37) Computer with WOW screen up

38) All the Nickelback albums

39) A collection of WWE or hockey fight videos

40) Milk crates in place of real furnishings

41) Mattress on floor with no bedframe

42) Pile of laundry that mostly consists of t-shirts that came free in a beer case.

43) Bass or guitar in a corner covered in dust and cobwebs

44) Red plastic cups and bottle caps everywhere

45) Beer and alcohol promotional materials that are quite clearly stolen from bars

46) Only owns action/thriller/slacker comedy DVDs

47) Posters or pictures of cars

48) Anything Rasta/Bob Marley if you’re not from, or at least been to, Jamaica

49) No curtains on any window

50) Nothing but a couch, TV and other basic necessities.

You may notice some missing posts...

I deleted them because I realized I was entering into the realm of the sad and desperate. That is not something I want to project out into the universe.

itunes Playlist Tuesday! #14

Songs I’m sorta embarrassed I have on my iTunes.

1) Miss Murder by AFI - I associate this band with other wannabe punk-type groups, which is not a scene I was to be part of - but I have this song.

2) All Out of Love by Air Supply - I have a good explanation for this one. The now cancelled CBC show JPod had an episode where a Chinese gangster gets the main character Ethan drunk and makes him sing karaoke. He writes the name of the girl at work he likes on his bare chest and sings this song. I downloaded this shortly after that episode.

3) I Only Want to be with You by Dusty Springfield - I bought an issue of Rollingstone magazine last year that listed the 100 best singers. I had a goal to download a song from each one - I gave up eventually, but I did download this one.

4) Cold Cold Heart by Hank Williams - I have a little place in my heart for really old country songs, but I imagine most of my friends would disagree, thus I am slightly embarrassed that I have it. But even now as I’m listening to it now, I’m enjoying it.

5) Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai - Remember this song? He wore that stupid Cat in the Hat hat and we all loved it, in grade 7. Not sure why I have this song, but I do. I suppose if I were to have a 90s party or something, I’d probably dance to this.

6) We Built this City on Rock and Roll by Jefferson Starship - Okay, I have an excuse for this one. In April 2008 I went to a Danny Michel show at the Casbah in Hamilton. The opening act, Wil, said he thought this was the worst song ever written. When I got home I downloaded it. I agree with Wil, awful, but for some reason it’s still on my iTunes.

7) Cry me a River by Justin Timberlake - Now some of my friends are probably thinking, ‘Why would you put J.T. under your embarrassing music?” I totally get that, I do. But, then there are people in my life who would look at me funny if I told them I like him. I don’t own any of his albums, but I enjoy him. I have three songs by him - I picked this one because it seems like the “worst” of the three I have.

8) I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry - Urgh, I hated it when this chick got famous for this song. Writing about taboo subjects to a dance beat shouldn’t make you famous! I gave this song a chance - it was okay, but now I mostly skip it when it comes on in shuffle.

9) Pokerface by Lady Gaga - I suppose if I were the type of girl who went out dancing, like, ever I’d LOVE this one and not be embarrassed that I have it on my iTunes. But I’m not one of those girls. I like this song when I’m running though.

10) My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors by Moxy Fruvous - If I ever get married I want someone to play this one at the wedding. It’s definitely got a 1990s Canadian sound to it. The sentiment is pretty much what my life will be with anyone with the patience to have me. It's a bit silly sounding, so I might be embarrassed if it come on and I didn't have time to explain what it is and why it's awesome.

I could have added more than 10 I’m sure, but these are the ones I’m sharing with you. Please don’t think less of me for this list. I have 100s of songs I consider not embarrassing.

If You Want to Destroy my Sweater...

I'm freezing my ass off in my house right now - so these poll results are appropriate.

This cool fall weather makes me wanna:

Die
0 (0%)

Stay in bed all day
2 (66%)

Go for a walk
1 (33%)

Go get a coffee/tea
2 (66%)

Sit by a fire
2 (66%)

Jump in a pile of leaves
0 (0%)

Cry
2 (66%)

Smile
0 (0%)

Put on a sweater
2 (66%)

Hibernate 'till spring
2 (66%)

Fly south
1 (33%)

Eat pie
1 (33%)

Go Apple Picking
1 (33%)

"This quote describes EXACTLY how I feel at this moment" and stuff like that #2

"People... they don't write anymore - they blog. Instead of talking, they text, no punctuation, no grammar: LOL this and LMFAO that. You know, it just seems to me it's just a bunch of stupid people pseudo-communicating with a bunch of other stupid people in a proto-language that resembles more what cavemen used to speak than the King's English."
- Hank Moody, Californication

12 Letters, 12 People - October

"There's something to be said for having a small manageable dream." - Douglas Coupland

I wrote my first of twelve letters today - who is my first recipient? It's a secret for now, as I want the person to be be semi-surprised when they get it. I'll post the name when I know the person's received it.

I can share one thing with you: the above notecard (made by me). I'll be sticking something like this into each letter.

So from October, 2009 to September, 2010 I'll be sending ONE letter a month to a different person each month. My goal here is to write a letter just because it's nice to write a letter - with no purpose other than to put a smile on someone's face.

So if you're reading this and you think, 'I'd like a letter from Allison, but I don't think she has my address' email me or if we're Facebook friends, send me a private message.

The first letter was fun to write - I hope this works out. I'm not sending out chain letters or anything. I'm not trying to use my friends as part of some gimmick on my blog either. It's truly about making connections through writing.

Gonna Write You a Letter, Gonna Write You a Book

When I was young I had pen pals - a few that lasted years even - and nothing thrilled me more than receiving a letter in the mail that was just for me. I also used to write to my uncle in Toronto when he moved. He'd write me back using postcards from art museums, or Batman ones cut from cereal boxes.

My mom recently found a letter my grandfather wrote my brother and me where he wrote out the entire poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee" for us. It was postmarked January, 1994. His handwriting was elegant - the handwriting of someone who grew up writing letters.

Inspired by sites such as Post Secret and one I have recently started to follow called "Today I Saw" I want to write more letters (or postcards.) I want to write you a letter. 'Cause isn't it nice to reach into your mailbox and see that your mail isn't just junk and bills? The most exciting things I get in the mail are magazines and free samples sometimes.

So I've made it my goal to write one letter a month to a recipient chosen at random. I must have your address obviously to do it. I'll try and do this for a year. So 12 people. Doesn't seem so hard now does it? The letters won't be for a reason - such as a birthday or Christmas - they will just be letters.

I know if sounds silly - but in this digital world I feel like I need something tangible - like paper and a pen. Now, I have a few addresses for friends already, but if you have changed your address or think that I might not have yours send it to me in an email.

If this works I'll post my results here - I won't post the letter or your address or anything. It's just some crazy weird idea that came to me - and it's late, and I think I'm being creative. Don't burst my bubble.

The Lesser Arts

I posted these on my Facebook account - but for the benefit of those not on Facebook here they are in blog form. I grouped together two matching images - but they are separate pieces - I just jazzed some of them up with borders to look nice on here. I may actually frame some of them.

Itunes Playlist Tuesday! #13

Unlucky 13 - I can't believe I've been doing these playlists for 13 weeks! Wow! Since my readership is small, I can't really say whether they are useful or enjoyable to others - but I like sharing music (just as long as I'm not made fun of for it - though I'm considering a playlist of embarrassing tracks soon.)

This is my HIGH FIDELITY playlist. I'm currently reading the novel by Nick Hornby - which was adapted into one of my TOP 5 fav movies of all time - starring the delightful John Cusack. Because the story is about a breakup and subsequent makeup, I've divided the playlist into two sets of 5. Since the fictional Rob Gordon seems to like to make TOP 5 lists, I thought it was appropriate. Feel free to comment with your own lists.

TOP 5 BREAKUP SONGS FROM MY ITUNES

5) It Ain't Me, Babe by Bob Dylan - "Go 'way from my window, leave at your own chosen speed. I'm not the one you want, babe, I'm not the one you need."

4) Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley - "This is our last goodbye. I hate to feel the love between us die. But it's over, Just hear this and then I'll go: You gave me more to live for, More than you'll ever know."

3) I'm Looking Through You by The Beatles - "Why, tell me why, did you not treat me right? Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight."

2) Parting Gift by Fiona Apple - "I took off my glasses while you were yelling at me once more than once, so as not to see you see me react. Should've put 'em, should've put 'em on again. So I could see you see me sincerely yelling back"

1) It's Cool, We Can Still Be Friends by Bright Eyes - "So I'm pouring some whiskey, I'm gonna get drunk. Yeah, I'm pouring myself some whiskey, I'm going to get really fucking drunk. I'm pouring some whiskey right now, I'm going to get so, so drunk. That I pass out, forget your face, by the time I wake up."

*I think it's fairly obvious why Bright Eyes gets the #1 spot.

TOP 5 MAKEUP SONGS FROM MY ITUNES

5) Tourist by Athlete - "Five days inside Zoo York, to lose myself with friends. I'm nowhere without you"

4) The One I Love by R.E.M. - "This one goes out to the one I love. This one goes out to the one I've left behind. A simple prop to occupy my time. This one goes out to the one I love."

3) In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel - "Love I get so lost, sometimes. Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart. When I want to run away, I drive off in my car. But whichever way I go, I come back to the place you are"

2) Love is a First by The Tragically Hip - "Like God's representatives on earth, learned how to hurt and how not to hurt. The thing you taught me, what I learned? Love is a first."

1) Swallowed in the Sea by Coldplay - "The streets you're walking on, a thousand houses long. Well, that's where I belong. And you belong with me."

*Peter Gabriel's inclusion has more to do with another John Cusack movie than anything.
**Coldplay only claims #1 because of my recent rediscovery of this song - it's on the album X&Y. If you haven't heard it, I suggest you do.

Just in time for Thanksgiving...poll results

AND THE BEST PIES ARE....

Apple
1 (33%)

Raspberry
1 (33%)

Cherry
0 (0%)

Blueberry
1 (33%)

Pumpkin
2 (66%)

Pecan
1 (33%)

Lemon Meringue
2 (66%)

Key Lime
2 (66%)

Strawberry Rhubarb
1 (33%)

Coconut cream
1 (33%)

Banana cream
0 (0%)

Chocolate
0 (0%)

Crafters' Corner

About a week ago I went to The Clothing Show in Toronto with my friend - it was the second time her and I had gone (they have it in the spring and fall each year at one of the Exhibition buildings). There are vendors for many different things - jewellery, homemade clothes, major label clothes, accessories etc. In the spring both my friend and I bought jewellery from SOOS - a trendy company out of Toronto. This year, because we went on the Sunday, the last day of the show, they're stuff had quite clearly been picked over. Oh well.

This year I discovered a few really cool things:

1) Yasmine Louis - a Toronto based French-Canadian woman who owns a textile printing company. She has a line of shirts called "C'est Comme Ca." All her shirts and hoodies have silkscreens of photos she took in and around the city with words written somewhere on the shirt. The sayings said things like "Today was OK," and "I rented a season of TV. I watched it for 14 hours straight." The one I bought says, "I forgot my pen, I lost my thoughts." Very appropriate I thought. I'm going to keep an eye open for her stuff at other trade shows.

2) I bought art cards at a random booth - they were homemade using what I assumed to be scrapbooking paper cut and glued on top of another piece. I am now well on my way to creating my own. I'm not copying the designs I bought, just the concept. I don't really know if anyone will care for them - but I'm trying. Most I've made so far have been 5x7 - I'm going to make some 4x6, and maybe even a couple 8x10 size pictures. Some I'll frame, some I'll leave. When I complete more I'll scan them and post. Not sure if I'll just give them away or try and sell them. The trouble with giving someone a piece of art is that they may not like it - so they'll probably not hang it. This is why I'm not good at being an artist - I can't really take criticism.

Anyways - it's pretty inspiring to see what other artisans and crafters are doing - makes me want to try harder.