Uncomfortable

I want to get more comfortable being uncomfortable. I want to get more confident being uncertain. I don’t want to shrink back just because something isn’t easy. I want to push back, and make more room in the area between I can’t and I can.      

 --Kristin Armstrong

Music Monday - Florence + the Machine

I have been a massive fan of Florence + the Machine for several years now. I was first introduced when The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was being released. One song from Florence's album Lungs was on the movie's soundtrack and it lead me to discover and devour the rest of her music. Lungs became the soundtrack of my summer that year as I listened to the tracks over and over and over..

Since then, I feel like Florence's musical style has changed in little ways (like collaborating with Calvin Harris on a few songs) but her crazy amazing vocals continue to make her music special. "Spectrum (Say My Name)" has another version with Calvin Harris, but I chose to post the original because you can appreciate her voice and the harp instrumental a little better. You can hear his remix here. I would list a few favourite songs here, but really both her albums and all of her singles are great. Enjoy!

My Oscar Picks

I'm a real sucker for awards shows -- all awards shows. If it's televised, I'm present. From the People's Choice Awards (which is hideously staged) all the way to the Academy Awards, I'm there...in front of the television...judging the red carpet gowns and the acceptance speeches; cheering on my favourites and scoffing at the winners who I find undeserving. The Academy Awards are my favourite though, not because they are the biggest or most influential, but because one of the newspapers in my area puts out this full page spread where you can tick boxes in each category with your predictions. And not just for the acting and directing categories, you get to predict them all, right down to Best Film Editing & Best Production Design. While I'm the first to admit that I'm no expert in the Sound Mixing or Visual Effects department, I do my best to give that award to best recipient! It's really all in fun as I'm usually pulling for my favourites rather than my predictions (and the two are not always the same).

 (all images taken from the Oscar Legacy website)

For the sake of space and small attention spans, I'm going to keep my predictions for this post narrowed to Best Supporting/Lead Actress & Actor and Best Picture. Drum roll please...

Word of the Day

Scintilla     \sin-ˈti-lə\     (sin·till·ah)
    n. Latin for "spark". A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling.

Image taken from We Heart It

"..there was not even a scintilla of doubt in her mind.."

Music Monday - Said The Whale

Do you know that feeling when you hear a new band and you really love them AND THEN you find out that they're a local band? It's the best! It makes me love their music even more and makes me feel really proud of where I'm from. This is how I felt when I first heard Said The Whale. My brother was playing a really cool song over and over again until I had to ask him which group it was by. That song was "Curse of the Currents" and it's still one of my favourites by this group. I also really like "Loveless", "2010" & "Lucky".

In 2011, Said The Whale won a Juno for New Group of the Year. That's a pretty huge deal when you realize that the award had previously been won by groups like Rush, The Tragically Hip & Alexisonfire! I'm lucky because I get to experience that great feeling I described earlier pretty often. The music scene in Vancouver is fantastic and it seems like I'm always discovering or being introduced to great local music. Happy listening! =)

Best Part of My Day

This video had me laughing so hard that my cheeks were wet with tears after. I'll admit I'm a little sleep deprived today so everything is slightly more hilarious, but even so I think you'll like it. Also I'm thinking it might be funnier the second time through. Enjoy =)

Curry Cravings

I'm stuck in a craving rut. Chocolate? Not feeling it. Soup? I'm okay without it (this is shocking if you really know me). Peanut Butter? It's all good and well, but I'm definitely not craving it. For the past two weeks or so all I can think about eating are dishes with garam masala, coconut milk, cilantro, basmati rice or naan. I've had Indian food on the brain and the cravings are driving me nuts! A couple days ago I just had to get in the kitchen and do something about it. I had seen a delicious looking recipe for Aloo Gobi, or Cauliflower Curry, on Pinterest and decided to recreate it.

Image taken from my Instagram account

It was reallllly delicious and I may or may not have had a bit of trouble sharing it. I did make a few alterations to suit my personal tastes, such as increasing the amount of each spice, adding a bit of tomato paste and also green peas at the last minute. YUM! If you decide to try this one out, ensure that your potatoes are not cut too big, unless they have been parboiled, or you'll be waiting awhile for them to cook through. For me, this is warm, comforting soul-food and I would eat it daily if I could!

the Scared is scared

"You just think of something else until the nervous has gone out of you."

This short film is genius and is so applicable to my life right now.

Music Monday - Matthew & the Atlas

I was studying for my exam early last week and I had a Songza playlist going in the background. I wasn't paying a lot of attention to it, but when this song came on it made me stop, put down my notes, and write down the band name and song title so I could hear it again! It's been played many times since then. I can't get enough of banjo in my music these days. This song features a great banjo solo that reminded me a little bit of Mumford & Sons and Sufjan Stevens. Anyways, enjoy the song and let me know what you think! Happy Monday =)

Sunday Morning

cold feet as I step

outside to get the paper

coffee cup in hand

Image from Flickr

An Interview with the Co-Founder of Greenpeace

Open publication - Free publishing - More 2013

My brother is a fantastic writer for the Cascade, a student newspaper. This week he put out an article featuring an interview with Rex Weyler - a pretty intelligent and interesting guy. It's kind of inspiring - hope you're ready for it.

Want. Need. Love.

How is your Wednesday going so far? Mine has been straight up stressful. I wrote the most important exam of my short life this morning. There is a lot riding on those results. My plans for tonight include take-out of the Indian variety, my least flattering (& most comfortable) pair of sweats and my PVR'd episode of the Bachelor (don't you dare judge me). And of course a little retail therapy never hurt anyone. Here are the items topping my wishlist!

1. I'm dying for the criss-cross straps on this tank. PLUS, the fabric is made especially for hot yoga!

2. These loafers would look cute with a dress, skinnies or shorts.

3. I love this print! "Take in the beauty of the real world".

4. These notebooks crack me up -- there are about a million covers to choose from too.

5. It's kind of my life goal to obtain this blanket. Seriously.

6. This plum-red shade is the perfect colour for February!

7. This is part of my goal to read more books this year.

8. BB creams seem to be all the rage these days - I'd love to try this one out.

9. Shut up. These are the cutest milk and cream "cartons" ever. 

10. A little out of my budget, but how deluxe is this stool?!

Music Monday - Local Natives

Have you heard music from Local Natives yet? They are AWESOME! I find myself humming along and tapping my fingers to so many of their songs. Gorilla Manor, their first album, came out a few years ago. The above song is my favorite from that album (and of all time I think). It's kind of refreshing to hear a song that isn't about a failed romantic relationship...even if it is about your grandfather who has passed away. But I digress; their music is suuuuuper catchy, which is always a huge plus for me. The catchier a song is, the more I seem to like it.

The new album, Hummingbird, actually just came out a week ago, so I'm still picking favorites. So far I'm really digging "Breakers", "Black Balloons", "Wooly Mammoth" & "Bowery"....okay.. they're ALL good. Go check this group out!

Weekend Time!

(Original Image from By Jessie Kay)

Hope your weekend is full of long sleeps, hot sips & kitty snuggles. 

Or at least that's what I hope mine is full of! =)