The Struggle to Keep the Balance

The holiday season is upon us, and I feel overwhelmed and I have my boyfriend to blame for this! He has no idea that I'm this stressed about the holidays - but I am. The trouble with our particular relationship is that he's away for work a lot. When he is home during the week he is very tired and has to get up early each morning - so I rarely see him except for some weekends. Which weekends? I don't find out until last minute usually.

Weekends are precious, and I tend to keep my Saturday nights open with the hope that he'll be home. This is much harder during the holidays because pretty much every weekend leading up to Christmas is booked with some event.

This coming weekend I have the downtown tree lighting to attend with my family, the following weekend I'm planning to do a Santa 5k run, and I also have a Christmas gathering with old friends on the 11th. The weekend after that I've been invited to an ugly sweater party, which I have check "might attend" on, and then it's Christmas!

My boyfriend is going to British Columbia for work in January and will be gone for a while I imagine, so you can understand why I would want to squeeze in all the time I can get with him before he goes away. Because of this I'm reluctant to commit to anything on the weekend because he might be home. This causes a lot of anxiety.

I'm anxious because I don't want to look like I'm being a bad friend. I really like being organized and planning ahead so I can try and please everyone - but it's so hard. I want everyone to know that I'm not ditching them for a guy, even though I kinda am. It's just that I can see friends on weeknights usually, while he tends to only be free on the weekend.

I'm not a bad friend, I swear. I want to be a good friend and a good girlfriend, and a good daughter, and granddaughter, niece and sister.

Things would be different if he was home more, but he's just not - and I knew that going into this relationship. I wish I could squeeze in a few extra hours per day so I can see everyone and make everyone feel cared about.

Am I alone here? Do any of you feel like you're being pulled in a thousand different directions this holiday season?

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #125

I let myself sleep in very late today and I have to go to work soon. It's also raining and cold. This means I have no time, nor the inclination to come up with a creative theme this week. I'm going to let my shuffle do the work for me and hope for the best. Sorry I'm so lame today :(

1. Train Song by Ben Gibbard and Feist (cover)

2. Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I by R.E.M.

3. Good Love by Bats for Lashes

4. I Want to Be Something by Weezer

5. Drunk Teenagers by Joel Plaskett Emergency

6. The Sun by Jukebox the Ghost

7. Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel

8. Whistle Blower by Arkells

9. High and Dry by Radiohead

10. Far in Time by Mother Mother

Enjoy!

Do You Hear What I Hear? (Poll Results)

Two week's ago I asked you guys if it was too early for Christmas music, as it is still only November. The results varied:

 Yes! It's Still November! 6 (54%)

 Heck no! 4 (36%)

 Depends 1 (9%)

I will agree with the majority - it's still too early for me. I bought the She & Him Christmas album, but I refuse to listen to it until December 1. I have, however, gotten a jump on my shopping - that's just economical.

Hurray for Consumerism! Deals Deals Deals!

Just a quick announcement for those of you who care - I've added a coupon code to my Etsy shop for the holidays. I recently made a holiday appropriate bangle, and hope to have some New Year's hair accessories made this week as well.

Enter: HOLIDAZE for 15% off at Quarter-Life Crafts

The Peppermint Party Bangle

I guess I'm doing this to fit in with the whole trend of Black Friday that has been imported from the States. But I am a big believer in unique, handcrafted gifts. While I still buy stuff from major chains and love a good deal, I think that holiday shopping should be more about buying things that make you think of loved ones. Things you know they'd love, but would never think to get for themselves.

I love holiday shopping because it allows me to really be creative - it should be fun, not a mad dash to the finish line. I try to buy a few things from Etsy sellers every holiday because it means I'm getting something truly unique while also supporting a gifted artisan. It's a win-win.

So this holiday season I encourage you to buy something homemade. It doesn't have to be by me - but by someone. Even a cookie from a bake sale - something.

Cheers!

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #124

It's a really windy day and the cold weather is definitely on its way - so here is a playlist for blustery days.

1. Four Winds by Bright Eyes - Feels like there are four winds blowing out there - so windy!

2. Caught a Long Wind by Feist - This would be great...if I was a bird.

3. The East Wind by Gord Downie and The Country of Miracles - East, West...doesn't matter! I'm cold.

4. Winter Winds by Mumford and Sons - It's getting there.

5. So Cold by Holly McNarland - I'm going to get into my bed and take a nap!

6. Hurricane Drunk by Florence + The Machine - I probably shouldn't get drunk, but it's sorta hurricane-like out there (not really).

7. Shiver by Coldplay - I'm shivering!

8. Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones - I've taken shelter in my room.

9. Hold me Tight by The Beatles - Wish there was someone with me now...

10. Northern Wind by City and Colour - Being in Canada assures me that I'll always feel that northern wind!

Things I Bought

These are a few of the things I bought (the socks aren't exact, but the belt & ring are) to go with my new dress based on some of the suggestions from last week's post! I also bought a emerald green skinny belt at Forever 21 - but couldn't find anything like it on Polyvore.

Things I Bought by alliweb featuring a cap sleeve dress

Old Navy cap sleeve dress
$40 - oldnavy.gap.com

Urban Outfitters above the knee socks
$7.99 - urbanoutfitters.com

Glitter ring
$23 - modcloth.com

Gap Skinny Bow Belt
$20 - gap.com

Dress Me Up

If you have a polyvore account (or even if you don't) help me think of ways to style this dress.

Dress Me Up by alliweb featuring a cap sleeve dress

Old Navy cap sleeve dress
$40 - oldnavy.gap.com

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #123

This week I am annoyed (I know, it's only Tuesday) - so here is my list of songs about that!

1. A Stone Would Cry Out by Sam Roberts - For a slow song I really love this one..."It gets so hard...that a stone would cry out."

2. Why Not Smile? by R.E.M. - Because I dropped my phone and now I have to pay more money and I'm poor and it's almost Christmas!

3. Hurt Feelings by Flight of the Conchords - Because sometimes you just need a laugh.

4. Scream by Michael and Janet Jackson - I just want to scream sometimes!

5. Dear Pain by Holly McNarland - Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic.

6. Tired Eyes by Hey Rosetta! - Because sometimes you just need a nap to make it all better.

7. Bittersweet Melodies by Feist - I got a new phone, so I guess it's bitterswseet.

8. Calm me Down by Mother Mother - Sometimes you just need someone to calm you down.

9. Hard Enough by Brandon Flowers - Oh, did I mention that my bank account got compromised too this week?

10. It's Getting Better by The Beatles - It will - pedicure tomorrow :)

What The Water Gave Me OR Boys Aren't the Only Ones Who Are Bad with Cellphones

So last night I dropped my phone in water.

Yep...I sure did. And after hours of drying it, taking the battery out, and fiddling with it's buttons I got it back working...kinda. The wifi was busted and the camera no longer took clear photos on account of the lens having water in behind it. I fucked up big time. I was happy that it was working though. I texted a few people, set my alarm on it and took the back cover off of it for the night so it could dry a bit better.

The next morning my phone was still on...hallelujah, right? But this annoying alert kept coming up telling me it was plugged into the USB - it was not. So I decided to turn off the phone and re-boot. Bad idea. I know the phone probably would have bit the dust anyways, but I still blame myself for it's premature demise - it did not re-start.

After my early morning shift I usually go home and take a nap, but not today. Today I walked to the mall to go talk to my cell provider about using my smartphone insurance to get a replacement. The guy was nice, but handed me a pamphlet and told me I needed to call them. Okay, fine. But then I asked if they could give me a loaner phone so I can communicate with the world while waiting for my replacement phone to come in the mail - they could not. Apparently they don't have loaner phones at that location and I'd have to go to another mall for that. Oy!

So I am still without a phone - but I hope to get a loaner phone tonight from the other location. Seriously? Why would one store not have loaner phones? That's stupid? And why can't the store just give me my replacement phone and file the insurance claim in house? Instead I must run around trying to fix this. I guess that's what I get for dropping my phone in a sink full of water.

FML.

Will I Just Forget?

Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada - a day where we reflect on those who died for us and those who fought and lived for us during the first and second world wars and Korea (and Afghanistan, though our mission just ended there).

I'm not here to get political about our troops and Canada's military involvement in international conflicts, I'm here to talk about the only grandfather I ever knew and why today was special to him.

As a child he was shot near his eye while hunting. I don't know the details, but I know that he lost vision because of it. For this reason the Canadian armed forces would not let him enter the Second World War. And for reasons I don't really understand, he was able to join the Norwegian Merchant Marines. He was not Norwegian. I don't know much about his experiences at sea, but I know it was something he felt he had to do.

My grandfather and I had a shared love of history. I loved learning about the Great Wars and used to talk to him about it. He would give me books to read, which I never got around to, but it meant a lot to him - so I always took his stack of hardcover non-fiction books with a smile. I should have read them, but I was just a high school girl.

Every Remembrance Day he would wear his medals and go to the service downtown by city hall. He would march in the parade of veterans; a group that is shrinking more and more each year.

My first Remembrance Day after his death was memorable. We did not go to the service, but instead went to the city he grew up in for breakfast. As we drove by his old house "The Last Post" was played on the radio at 11:11 am before the minute of silence. The sound of the trumpet never fails to make me teary eyed. We then drove to the cemetery, where I pulled the weeds and grass away from his foot-stone and left a poppy by his grave.

This year I watched the service in Ottawa on TV and thought about how I should visit the cemetery soon. I always say this but never go. Each year it becomes less and less urgent for me to go. Will the weeds one day grow over the whole thing? Will I just forget?

Attn: Etsy Shoppers (Poll Results)

Me modeling one of my fascinators for sale at
my Etsy shop.

Two week's ago I asked you guys if you'd ever bought anything from Etsy.com, and you said:

Yes - several things 5 (50%)

Yes - Once or twice 3 (30%)

No - But I look at stuff all the time 1 (10%)

What's Etsy? 1 (10%)

For the 50% who frequently buy on Etsy, this is my shop, add me to your circle if you'd like: http://www.etsy.com/shop/QuarterLifeCrafts

The 40% who have bought one or two things, or just browse a lot - what stops you from buying more?

And for the 1 person who doesn't know what Etsy is...I'll tell you. Etsy is a online craft/vintage/supply shop where users make their own "shop" and sell their homemade items, vintage wares, or crafting supplies. Sellers set their own prices and ship from their homes. Great way to share your talents and buy homemade things. Etsy is a great place to holiday shop too - people tend to appreciate these types of things more because they're unique.

Indoorsy Types Who Enjoy Chugging Wine and Have Boyfriends who Don't Charge Their Phones

I just checked my blog's stats and aside from the usual boring searches (a lot about hockey) I had three very specific and hilarious key word searches:

1. Indoorsy Types

2. Chugging Wine

3. Boyfriends phone died

I'd like to be friends with these people who searched this. If any of you read my blog and enjoyed what you saw, please comment.

I'm always searching for like-minded people who don't like camping, enjoy wine in a not-so-classy way, and have boyfriends who never text them back because they didn't charge their phone. I think we'd have a lot to talk about.

Happy Wednesday!

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #122

This week's theme is "Time" - clocks just went back an hour this past weekend, so I thought it would be appropriate.

1. Time is Running Out by Muse - It certainly feels like that anyways. Where did September and October go?

2. Right on Time by The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Nothing ever feels like it's on time.

3. The Time Warp by Rocky Horror Picture Show - A bit late for Halloween, but why not?

4. Time Flies by Weezer - It certainly does!

5. The Clock was Tickin' by Brandon Flowers - A good ol' country song by Brandon Flowers

6. Clocks by Coldplay - Oh those ticking clocks!

7. Stop the Clocks by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Just an excuse to put a song from this album in. It just came out today. It's safe to say that High Flying Birds totally blows Beady Eye out of the water. Sorry Liam.

8. Past in Present by Feist - Time doesn't erase the past (which is unfortunate sometimes)

9. The Past Recedes by John Frusciante - True.

10. Ring the Alarm by Black Dub - And make sure it's set so you don't sleep in.

I Suck At Blogging Lately...I'm so Boring

Hey guys - so I realize that I have a few little things I haven't written about because they're so small that they don't warrant their own post - so guess what? Update blog!

1. Etsy

I added a few new things to my shop with the hopes I'd get more traffic and possibly some sales. I buy more on Etsy than I sell. It's sorta sad. Good thing this isn't my career.

Quarter-life Crafts

2. The TASG

A month ago The Transatlantic Support Group got back together to blog weekly for your entertainment. If you're unfamiliar with our blog, allow me to explain. Last fall fellow bloggers lalalalauren and TbR (Tom) and I got this idea that we could better deal with our collective misery with the 20-something life if we created an international support group blog. We blog on the same topic each week and call each other by our nations' pet names (The Brit, The Yank and The Canuck). Our topics range from the silly to the semi-serious.

The Transatlantic Support Group

3. Halloween

I blogged about this on The TASG blog, but not here. If you want the full story I suggest you go there. But I dressed as Joan Holloway (Harris) from Mad Men. Only one girl knew who I was - which made my night. I had an okay time, but spent most of the night having sore feet from wearing heels and wishing I was on my couch watching Edward Scissorhands.

4. Christmas

So as soon as Halloween ended people started talking about Christmas - it freaked me out at first. But last night I went to the local garden centre for a yearly, by invite only, Christmas sale. They have so many beautifully decorated trees - they whole place screams magical wonderland. It always reminds me of what I love about Christmas. Everything sparkles. I spent way too much on ornaments, but some were gifts. Some will be part of my growing collection. I've never been a fan of trees that match a certain colour palette, as I love a tree full of old and new favourites. I like giving ornaments as gifts as well because (hopefully) that person will always remember who gave it to them when they hang it on their tree each year.

5. Sick

I have a weird "cold" right now - but it's only my throat. I wake up each morning with a dry and sore throat. It's not even a cough - but a sore throat. It's really annoying because it won't just go away or get worse. It just stays the same. I describe this as being in sickness purgatory.

4. That's all I'm afraid...

Hope you all had fun weekends. I'd love to hear about your weekends? Halloweens? Do any of you have an Etsy shop that I don't know about?

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #121

I'm off today and I plan to have a very lazy November 1. It's gloomy and cold, so I plan to curl up on the couch and catch up on TV with the fireplace on.

1. Wasting Time by Jack Johnson - Sometimes it's good to waste time.

2. Lazy Susan by Sweet Thing - This song is actually critical of a girl who's really lazy, but I say one day isn't so bad, right?

3. Sweet Lazy by Holly McNarland - It's sweet to be lazy today.

4. Daysleeper by R.E.M. - I am sorta a daysleeper today.

5. Wasted Daylight by Stars - Love the line "I don't mind...this shaded, wasted daylight."

6. Wasted Hours by Arcade Fire - Thematic of the Suburbs - kids wasting hours doing nothing.

7. Good Day by Jukebox the Ghost - It's a good day when you don't have to do anything!

8. Tired Eyes by Hey Rosetta! - I have tired eyes for sure!

9. Hideout by Sarah Harmer - My bed, my couch...these are my hideouts.

10. The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars - I don't normally like music like this, but it's too perfect for this theme not to include.

What are your lazy day songs?