iTunes Playlist Tuesday #177

So the holiday season seemed to be in full swing now, and you know what that means - traffic! Shopping, parties, gatherings, tree to buy, extra groceries to stock up on, you name it - this means more cars on the road at any given time. If you're an unfortunate soul stuck in traffic here is a playlist to make it more tolerable.

1) Stompa by Serena Ryder - This song is one that makes you just want to sing out loud in the car and not care. It's like Adele only 100 times better.

2) There's No Glamour in The Hammer by Whitehorse - "There's no getting out of this."

3) Top Yourself by The Raconteurs - The country-ish sound to this one can make you think you're driving on a country road in Tennessee instead of the salty asphalt of the suburbs.

4) The 400 by Stars - I believe the title of this song refers to the 400 highway - one where people can definitely get stuck in traffic!

5) Hey Ho by The Lumineers - A pretty chilled out song.

6) Youth Without Youth by Metric - A song that makes you want to turn it up.

7) A Cold Road by Danny Michel - Just cute :)

8) Keep the Car Running by Arcade Fire - And try not to have uncontrollable road rage!

9) Little Black Submarines by The Black Keys - This one is a slow burn, but it rocks out at the end, so you can do some in-car head-banging if you so desire.

10) The Distance by Cake - You probably aren't going for the distance or speed, but you can pretend.

Thanks Lauren for helping me think of a topic!

There's Arsenic in My Love Potion

So this morning I woke up from a dream - a very real feeling dream. In it I was going to my old local pub for a beer with my dad. When we got there the main bar was rented out for a private party, so we had to go to the back room (in real life it's the opposite, but whatever - I won't argue with my subconscious). In the dream I was worried about running into my ex there, as this is his regular pub. As we walked in I saw him - he was going to the washroom and my heart stopped. We ordered and I saw him come back and sit down with his friends. He leaned over and whispered something into his friend's ear. The friend turned around and looked at me. All of the sudden he gets up (my ex, not the friend) and walks right up to me and says he wants to talk.

So we go into some back-room and he says something, I forget what - doesn't matter. All that matters is that in my dream it took me all of a couple minutes to forgive him and tell him I still love him. Then that Taylor Swift song came into my head..."We are never, ever getting back together."

I woke up.

What this dream reminded me was that when it comes to this particular person I am weak. I hate him for hurting me still, but I get these pangs of nostalgia that make me miss him. Especially this time of year when it's so easy to feel lonely.

So really, I need to make sure that A) I never, ever see or talk to him again and B) if I do, I must remind myself that "we are never, ever getting back together."

Cat Naps

This is a weird post - but yeah, I'm about to write about napping and it's role in my daily life. When I was younger and all throughout high school I never napped. Didn't need to, and really couldn't sleep when it wasn't dark out. It just wasn't something I felt I needed to do.

Then I started university. Even in university I hated napping - I always woke up groggy and disoriented after passing out with a boring article about writing theory on my face. I would feel almost hungover after and not at all refreshed. So unless I passed out, I never napped.

This all changed when I got a job at a coffee shop and was given morning shifts. This is were I discovered the necessity of daysleeping. Right now I get up at five in the morning 4-5 times a week. This is crazy early, and right now it's still pitch dark when I leave for work. I make it though my shift and finish at noon and make some lunch when I get home. Now I've tried soldiering on and staying awake throughout the afternoon into the evening, but I find myself fading fast if I do that. What I learned from my university napping errors is that I can't take short naps - they just don't work for me. I've always had a very difficult relationship with sleep - so if I'm going to sleep it's going to be for longer than half an hour.

I basically sleep for the better part of the afternoon. This might seem like a huge waste of time, but if it means I can go running in the evening twice a week without falling over, or catching a bit of TV, then I consider it totally worth it. I mean has anyone actually watched daytime television? It sucks. If I'm being honest, if I wasn't sleeping I'd probably be on Facebook, or browsing Etsy, or online shopping for stuff I can't afford - so really sleep is actually a better way to spend my time. I can actually meet up with friends and have a social life in the evening because I sleep all day! It's a totally productive way to spend my day - I'm taking care of myself by resting.

I'm not young anymore - I can't burn the candle at both ends. I need sleep because my body is tired and 5 am is so unforgiving. So cheers to my cozy covers and my soft pillow! You are there for me day and night when I need you!

The only thing that makes it better is when there's a cat at my feet.

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #176

So, as per my last post - I'm in the wedding party for my brother's wedding (on her side, not his). Because of this I've been snooping her Pinterest board (I don't have one, but I can still look at it). She has a whole board of wedding ideas and stuff. One pin stuck out in particular - it was a suggestion for RSVP cards. The idea was that you should put a space for people to request a song. Then when the cards all come back the couple can pass the songs along to their DJ. I thought it was such a neat idea - that way your wedding music will please everyone - all generations will be happy! Obviously we're a long way from receiving invites - as they haven't even booked a venue yet - but it's kinda fun to think about.

1. I'm Shaking by Jack White - Cute song, plus would be super fun to dance to.

2. A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins - Even though this song always reminds me of Halloween for some reason, I love this sort of gothic-esque take on a love song. Would be good for dancing as well.

3. Got My Mind Set on Your by George Harrison - This one would get the old and the young dancing.

4. Don't Stop Till You Get Enough by Michael Jackson - Almost anything by MJ would work.

5. The Book of Love by Peter Gabriel (cover - I think??) - For a slow dance.

6. Here Comes Your Man by Pixies - Wedding appropriate I think.

7. Cousins by Vampire Wedding - Get all the cousins on the dance floor!

8. Buddy Holly by Weezer - Again, I think this one can be appreciated by multiple generations.

9. Open Window (Wedding Song) by Sarah Harmer - Another slow one that old people would probably like.

10. You've Got the Love by Florence + The Machine - Dancy plus about love and stuff.

What would you request?

Bridesmaids 2: Coming Soon to My Bank Account

So remember when I posted this Dress Porn last week? Not many commented, but perhaps you read it. Anyways, it was just a bunch of dresses I thought would be appropriate for my brother's wedding in June 2014. Really it was just an excuse for me to gush over a bunch of cute dresses that probably won't be in style in 2014. But I will have to settle for just gushing over them on the internet because I will not be choosing my own dress.

That's right, I'm a bridesmaid. I know I whined about not wanting this in another post, but the reality is that you just have to suck it up and enjoy the fun aspects of it. Plus, I'm one of six bridesmaids, so I can leave all the planning up to the maid-of-honour and the bride's sister and I'll just show up when I'm told.

I do have some stipulations (all having to do with the dress)

• I do not, and cannot wear a strapless dress. Being somewhat busty can be a blessing and a curse. When it comes to strapless dresses, it's a curse. Strapless bras never work right, and stuff just slides down anyways. And believe it or not, but there is such a thing as bad cleavage. Everything needs to be nice and secure so I can comfortably move.

• Nothing too short. I've noticed some brides opting for short bridesmaids dresses, but I think this is silly if one is expected to dance and move about a room comfortably.

• Can't be too tight. I wore a dress that was too tight to a wedding before and it really made the whole experience stiff and uncomfortable.

I'll leave the colour choices up to the bride-to-be, but I hope she lets us all choose the styles that fit our individual body types best. But it's not for a while now, so I won't panic...yet.

And in case anyone was curious, this was my favourite dress from the previous post:

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #175

I don't know what it was that triggered this, but I started thinking of songs that make me think of my university years. Now these aren't songs that came out during those years, but songs that I have specific memories from those years attached.

1. Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi - This was played during several frosh week events and every single collage formal I ever went to. A crowd favourite.

2. Mony Mony by Billy Idol - The DJ at formals would turn it down during parts and everyone would scream a profane ad-lib.

3. Home for a Rest by Spirt of the West - Loved watching everyone drunk Irish-jig to this one.

4. I Don't Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats - My friend Michele used to always play this song.

5. Looking Out My Backdoor by Creedence Clearwater Revival - My neighbour in first year was obsessed with CCR. It was really the only thing I liked about him.

6. White Lightning by Danny Michel - I used to play Danny's Valhalla album on my iPod (and possibly my CD walkman!!) for my long walk to class.

7. Celebration by Kool and the Gang - Always a party favourite.

8. California by Phantom Planet - We were kind of obsessed with The OC.

9. Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand - This one makes me think of me drunkenly walking to the bus after my second year formal with my friends.

10. Iron Man by Ozzy Osbourne - My asshole neighbour from first year played bass. This was one of two songs that he knew.

Dresses Galore!

Click to Enlarge

It's been awhile since I posted a sort of fashion related post, so here it is. I'm obsessed with Modcloth! I seriously visit their site everyday and save dresses to my wishlist. Now that I have actual fancy events on my horizon (my brother's wedding in a year and a half) I keep thinking about what I will wear. I know styles will change by then, so I won't buy anything - but just look at how gorgeous all of these are!

But if the wedding was say, this Spring instead of next, which would you choose? I prefer some better than others I'll admit, I just wanted some other opinions. Anyone else obsessed with Modcloth?

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #174

Welcome to my U S of A Playlist in honour (not honor...'cause I'm Canadian) of the election happening south of the border today.

1. Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen - For those of you born in the USA, I hope you are voting if you haven't already.

2. World Leader Pretend by R.E.M. - Let's see who gets to be king of the whole universe...

3. Young Americans by David Bowie - I hope all you young Americans vote too! Can't let old people decide your future!

4. American Woman by The Guess Who - Someone will be saying, "bye, bye" at the end of this thing. I know who I'm rooting for...

5. Freedom at 21 by Jack White - You've got freedom in the 21st century, such as the freedom to vote.

6. Ohio by The Black Keys - The news tells me this is an important state for this election. A battleground and such.

7. Sitting, Wishing, Waiting by Jack Johnson - People around the world will be sitting, waiting and wishing by their televisions and computers.

8. The Power of Equality by Red Hot Chili Peppers - Equality is a huge thing this election for the US.

9. World Sick by Broken Social Scene - "I get world sick every time I take a stand." Don't let the haters  bring you down.

10. Workingman's Blues #2 by Bob Dylan - The 47%.

If You Do an Online Quiz to See if You're a Hipster, Does that Mean You Probably Aren't?

Slouchy beret, bangs, horn-rimmed RayBan glasses, and photo taken using Instagram.

Yeah, that's right, I just took an online quiz to find out if I'm a Hipster and the results are....

I'LL NEVER KNOW BECAUSE I'M NOT AMERICAN!

So after clicking answers to something like 25-30 questions I was unable to get my results because I had to "sign up" and there were no options for anything resembling a Canadian address. Yes, I could have used my old trick of using 90210 as a ZIP Code, but I didn't care enough to try. Though it does seem silly to not make it open to anyone. Canadians can be Hipsters too, just go to Montreal! You can throw a rock there and hit and American Apparel store.

So maybe I should make a list of things that are Hipster-ish and Non-Hipster-ish about me and maybe we can figure this out together, without the stupid quiz:

HIPSTER-ISH

• I own a instamatic style camera.

• I have at least three, maybe four berets.

• I have bangs.

• I like some indie bands, or bands that are less mainstream.

• I love vinyl records.

• I have a blog.

• I'm poor.

• I have several pairs of skinny jeans, some coloured.

• I own Ray Ban sunglasses (and now eyeglasses, though I really do need them - not fake).

• I run an Etsy Shop.

• I went to a liberal-arts based university and studied writing.

• I am a barista.

• I love cardigan sweaters.

• I'm a social-democrat.

UN-HIPSTER-ISH

• I don't shop at Thrift Stores.

• I live in the suburbs and kind of like it.

• I'm not a vegetarian nor am I a vegan. I really like meat - sorry.

• I don't "get" American Apparel.

• I'm kind of athletic.

• I shop at The Gap and Old Navy.

• I don't enjoy riding my bicycle.

• None of my friends are in a band and I'm not in a band.

• I took a quiz to see if I'm a hipster.

I'm sure there are other things I could add to both of these lists - I just can't think of them now. Basically, I don't like to slot myself into any category. Where's the fun in that? Then you have to live within those definitions. Making fun of hipsters seems to be the fashion these days, just as it was cool to make fun of "emo kids" 5-10 years ago. 

I feel like I'm the whole Breakfast Club rolled into one - The Brain, The Freak, The Princess, The Athlete, and The Criminal.