when I return...

Because I haven't been back to the West coast in a year and a half, I have started planning my trip a few weeks in advance. Here's just a few musts...

• go to J.crew and anthropologie in seattle
• ohhh, ahh and listen at the experience music project
  
• eat at White Spot and have a BC burger, and an old school chocolate milkshake
  
• eat at Earls and have the unhealthy spinach and artichoke dip for lunch
• play golf or pretend that I know what I'm doing
• buy at least one pair of lululemons to replace my grungy holey pairs.
• spend hours with my nephew
• spend hours with my animal nephew, Merlin
• go to West fourth and find one piece I love from the Lifetime Collective
• walk on the beach
• have a peppermint hot chocolate at the original starbucks
• think that New Years will not be all that
• find the perfect family photograph outfit
• bike around victoria
• go hiking
• spend hours with my nana, Granny and Grandad
• read several of my penquin £2 classics
• spend hours with my childhood best friend..... you hear that...

Image via Jimi Hendrix, golf, Lululemon pants, peppermint hot chocolate, lifetime collective tee, Victoria

Virtual gingerbread

Given up sugar this Christmas? L2 gave up sugar last January (well to be more precise, sweets) and we've kinda done without any Christmas baking. He says he won't be tempted if I want to make something, but I think of it as a good excuse to just eat a few pieces at friends' houses and walking away.

Instead I'm decorating this house!

Image via

a little light reading

Every time I get on a plane, I always head to the local airport magazine shop and pick up three magazines that have anything remotely to do with decoration, design or fashion. However, as plane rides have become a bit more common, and I keep picking up magazines even when I'm not travelling - I've run out of selection for this month! The upcoming 10 hour journey has me a bit scared that I'll be terribly bored. I'm not sure the plane has individual movie sets for each seat (yes I was spoiled with Air Canada?!?) and I have a problem with my eyes that makes it near impossible to watch a movie on a plane unless I'm directly in front of the large screen in the middle. So what can I bring to pass the time - Penguin publishing has the answer!



I was recently introduced to this amazing idea by friend backpacking around Europe. She had just picked up a few of classics (including Jane Eyre, Oliver Twist and Pride and Prejudice) for £2 a book. It's a simple green cover and it's not incredibly long lasting. But they are perfect for travel. Engrossing, flexible, light, fit in your handbag and will never cause a judging glance from your fellow passenger when you take it out.

last weekend in london

before L2 and I embark back to the Canadian west coast, we figured we had to say bye to London. We're gone for two weeks and I'm worried about seperation anxiety. I haven't been away from London for longer than eight days since I arrived.

Yes, I know that's insane.

So, we headed out with a few of L2's friends down to Kingston and didn't decide to return until very late and very silly. We wasted Saturday and watched Christmas movies (Love, actually which was far more fitting as we live in London), exchanged some prezzies with a fellow canadian and had breakfast at 4 p.m.

Sunday was far more productive as I rushed around to try to find a few more London specific presents, enjoyed my favourite market - Spitalfields, had brunch with a friend, did the oxford thing and was suprised at how empty it was..., and then sat back to watch Elf and make the family phone calls.

image via

All in all a typical canadian in london weekend.