lakes and trees

extra extra

2009-09-25T12:14:00.005-04:00

Miranda July is just too amazing. She should have babies with Christopher Walken (see below) and spawn an unbelievably cool child army. If you need proof as to how awesome she is, just check out the photos she did for Vice where she poses as movie extras from films like The Godfather and The Outsiders. I would love to vacation inside her brain for a weekend — what a marvelous place that must be to come up with great ideas like this!

This makes me so happy...

2009-09-24T13:06:00.002-04:00

There really is nothing better. Watching Christopher Walken cook chicken in his very modest kitchen. I can't help it — the guy mesmerizes me. Even the way he washes out the chicken's cavity. There is just something so sweet and sinister about it. Enjoy!

My Head Just Exploded

2009-09-17T09:40:00.010-04:00

I just found out (apparently from an anonymous source, no less) that my beloved Pavement are planning a reunion tour for 2010. The cynic in me thinks this is happening for one (or all three) specific reason(s):

1. Spiral Stairs finally ran out of material and didn't archive enough bonus tracks for a Terror Twillight reissue.

2. Stephan Malkmus doesn't really feel like putting out another tepidly received, moderately successful, semi-critically acclaimed album and needs to do something so he can afford to get his kids braces. Indie rock just doesn't pay the bills the way it used to.

3. They're all getting into their mid-to-late forties and are in need of a retirement plan.

But who cares? I am so excited for this tour (if it's going to happen), just like I was when the Pixies reunited. Sure, it's your basic cash grab. And, OK — I haven't listened to any indie rock since moving back to Thunder Bay two years ago (oddly, I can't get enough of Wilco). And yes, my flannel wearing, ironic band T-shirt days are long behind me. But (sigh) what I wouldn't give to see SM singing up-close and personal. I've had a major crush on him since Pavement was featured as a "Cute Band Alert" in Sassy Magazine.

For those of you born in the mid-'80s — um, that's like a long time ago. Oh, and speaking of the '80s — is anyone else out there as totally psyched as I am to see the remake of Fame? It opens on my birthday, which I'm taking as a sign from the gods that I must break out the legwarmers and glittery headband and shuffle-ball-change on down to the theatre.

Not only was I completely obsessed with the movie growing up, but a devoted fan of the TV show for most of my formative years. This would explain some questionable outfits I wore to school (see above legwarmers and glittery headband — this was a Catholic grade school in Thunder Bay after all and not a gritty New York school for the performing arts). My friends and I would even play "Fame" outside in the backyard where I always had to be Leroy. The show is directly responsible for me deciding to play the cello one year in grade school because I desperately wanted to be Lori Singer. My cello career abruptly ended one cold winters day when I missed my bus and had to walk home carrying my cello across my back. At one point I collapsed in a ditch and cars drove by me and laughed as I cradeled my cello ontop of me, wearing a Skidoo suit. Yes, fame costs and I did indeed pay in sweat that day.

Did I happen to mention that I still own all the cast albums?

clotheshorse

2009-09-09T16:40:00.005-04:00

To be honest, the new catalogue from Toast really didn't do much for me. That said, there are a few things I'm really liking from their Fall line.

There are a million reasons not to like this dress. The neon lime green. The garish pattern. But I am strangely drawn to it.

Minus the rubber boots and weird Zorro hat, and I would pretty much wear this outfit every day.

I love this scarf — to me it's perfect.

love at first sight

2009-08-20T11:30:00.004-04:00

(Somehow, We All Seem Connected Pt. 2 by Steven Harrington)

I can't stop starring at this Steven Harrington print. My word! How to fit this into my budget? I would love to have this hanging on the wall in my office. What do do, what to do?

just a question but...

2009-08-20T10:50:00.006-04:00

Am I the only person out there who doesn't give a crap about Mad Men? Seriously, when did misogyny become forward-thinking and make for cutting edge television? I was also one of the only people on the planet who thought Sin City was just plain gross. Granted, I had to watch it with a bunch of guys wearing Punisher T-shirts and trench coats who thought it was hilarious every time a woman got smacked in the face (I have never been so disturbed in my entire life). Honest to god, aren't we past all this yet? I get the whole "it's a commentary on the way things were," but why are we as a society obsessed with going backwards? Sometimes I just think it's lazy theorizing and another way Hollywood can justify objectifying women. The whole categorizing of women as either the "girl next door" or "whore" is just plain boring to me (as is the show, in my humble opinion). I'm so over the whole repression-as-art thing, thank you very much. The entire show is just a little too average and safe for me to find even remotely interesting or culturally relevant.

showing my age

2009-08-20T10:38:00.005-04:00

OK, maybe I'm just another one of your typical aging hipster doofuses, but I can not wait for Yo La Tengo's new album Popular Songs to be released in early September. I have loved them for so long and they are probably the only band who never disappoints when they put out a new release. They are the workhorses, the touchstones of indie rock. This video makes me very, very happy.

Bring on September sweater weather if I can get my hands on this record.

Yes, I said record. I told you I was old. Oh who cares... so are they! God this band rules.

Nickel and Dime: At the Grocery Store

2009-08-17T09:22:00.004-04:00

Plaid Blouse, $24 (Great Canadian Superstore)

I went for shampoo and left with this. That's the danger of selling clothing in ones grocery store. I shake a fist at you Joe of the Joe Line (Superstore). It kind of reminds me of the plaid blouse in the Spring Toast catalogue I posted about here — only for way less the price!

At the moment...

2009-08-13T10:20:00.003-04:00

I'm reading On Beauty by Zadie Smith after a very productive trip to the library. Highly recommend it!

I'm eating yogurt with fresh raspberries from the farmer's market. Thinking about making a toasted tomato sandwich for lunch (also from farmer's market).

I'm watching Nurse Jackie — Edie Falco is a seriously good actress. She bares no resemblance to Carmela on her new show.

I'm wearing my favourite necklace and an organic denim skirt that is incredible cool and airy to wear, especially on a hot day like today.

I'm writing my grant proposal.

I'm listening to Spiritualized, Songs in A&E.

I'm thinking about purchasing this.

my current obsessions

2009-08-07T14:19:00.006-04:00

Listening to the Sea and Cake on vinyl.

Making salads.

Writing about music again.

Sea salt chocolate bars (I know it sounds gross, but it's amazing — trust me).

Red sandals.

Barbara Gowdy's The White Bone.

Vintage buttons.

Re-watching the entire first (and only) season of Freaks and Geeks.

Revisiting David Yow's magnificence.

Wondering what it would be like to be invited over for dinner at Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon's house.

Making cheap art out of old art books and thrift store old lady picture frames.

Drying clothes on the line.

Not complaining about the weather.

David Byrne's movie True Stories.

Wearing boxers, T-shirt, white knee socks and my beige Converse. I'm going for a '70s Hunter S. Thompson thing this summer.

Nickel and Dime Update

2009-08-07T11:26:00.002-04:00

I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with how little money I have spent these past five months. Being an independent filmmaker with a limited income and a husband who helps shoulder the household expenses does make a heck of a difference. So does a little sister who regularly helps "support the arts" by buying me presents from time to time (like a pair of cream Converse sneakers!). I thought I would totally blow my proverbial wad doing this experiment, but so far I have learned to use what I have, be grateful for the things I already own and be conscious with spending. I only buy things I really need. It's amazing how much that limits you to buying when you really think about it. It'll be interesting to see if I even break the two thousand mark by the end of the summer.

lakeview lodge

2009-08-07T11:06:00.008-04:00

The restaurant near our cabin is called The Lakeview Lodge and they make the most amazing hamburgers. When my brother was in town, we took the family there for a nice summer supper. It looks a lot like the set from Twin Peaks, doesn't it? No log lady though. Can you hear the Northern Exposure theme song yet, or is it just me?

If you ever find yourself in the middle of Northwestern Ontario, I suggest you drop by and order the Bob Burger. It was the most intense hamburger I have ever eaten. I couldn't even finish it. If you do wind up there, make sure to go hungry!

Me trying to decide between the Bob Burger (no relation to "Bob" the evil spirit owl serial killer on Twin Peaks — or at least I hope not) and the Buffalo Burger. No caribou on the menu.

Greeted by the best taxidermy Northern Ontario has to offer. My niece went back to check several times if he was still dead and on the wall. She's an optimist.

How does one train a moose to do this — let alone two at the same time? If I ever wonder if I live in a truly strange place, I can reference this image and rest assured that I do, in fact, live in Cicely, Alaska.

My brother left alone in the car with my mother. In his defense, he did spend the day (and I mean, the entire day) grocery shopping with her.

breakfast!

2009-08-07T11:05:00.002-04:00

Best thing about summer, hands down.

2009-07-28T10:28:00.002-04:00

My aunt in Toronto sent me these two vintage quilts. She found both at a church yard sale. The top one was fifty cents (!) and the bottom one was more expensive — three dollars. My aunt loves to quilt and anything antique and believes that both quilts are from the 1950s based on the fabrics and colours. What an amazing score! Both are beautiful and hand-quilted. I think if I had to chose, my favourite would be the top one. The black stitching and pattern is awesome and I love the purple accents and trim with the wild fabric choices.

Gone Fishing

2009-07-13T11:31:00.006-04:00

I've been away from this blog for a bit and thought the picture above would adequately represent why... the photo is a picture of Chris taken shortly after devouring a bag of marshmallows. My husband is a lot of things. One of those being a complete obsessive compulsive about toasting marshmallows. They are works of art after he is finished — perfectly browned on all sides, crispy and melty on the inside. Mine usually look like they have survived a nuclear winter in a Cormac McCarthy novel.

When I haven't been editing, I've been out at camp. My brother, niece and nephew are visiting for a month. I plan on going out to camp, visiting, swimming (repeat) until they leave. There is something so amazing about sitting in front of a bonfire and looking out onto Lake Superior at dusk. Also last night, my sister and I started an impromptu (and inappropriately suggestive) campfire singalong including unconventional ditties from R.Kelly, Salt-n-Pepa, Beyonce and the Notorious B.I.G. Hope you all are having a great summer too!

Nickel and Dime Goes Bowling

2009-06-28T19:37:00.003-04:00

Cute little catch-all dish, a whopping .69 cents (Salvation Army)

A cute mini Pyrex bowl, .69 cents (Salvation Army)

Americana Pyrex Bowl, $2.99 (Salvation Army) -- my most expensive purchase of the week!

There is nothing more satisfying than a good thrift score. Anyone who knows me understands I have an unhealthy obsession with Pyrex. I found two Pyrex bowls over the weekend -- one from the Americana series ($2.99) and a mini Pyrex bowl (0.69) that I had never seen before. They are both seriously adorable. The small Pyrex is like super tiny and currently being used to stash straight pins in my sewing room. Does anyone out there know what its intended use was for? It seems much too small to be helpful in the kitchen, unless they were used as ramekins or something like that. Were they promotional? It doesn't really matter... I just like carrying it around the house and pretending I'm a giant. The Americana bowl literally bowled me over (har-dee-har-har) because it is brown, in mint condition and has both an American bald eagle AND cat on it. Got to love those Pyrex graphic designers in the '60s and '70s, huh? Their designs are so warped sometimes. I love the weird graphics.

cute story

2009-06-22T13:27:00.006-04:00

Cute story in the New York Times about backyard teenage indie rock shows put on by the offspring of industry bigwigs in L.A. — there is a great slideshow of the $2 show. Reminds me of when my brother was in a band during the '90s and his band would play our backyard to an audience of neighbourhood kids on a makeshift stage on our patio. The neighbours loved us. Nice to see the tradition is still going strong (even if the clothing choices are much better from when we were young).

It should be mentioned that my mom started the only all-ages venue in our small Northwestern Ontario community so that her son had a place to play shows. Yeah, my mom rocks.

sweetness

2009-06-22T13:16:00.004-04:00

Smooth and delicate stone pendants by Margaret Solow.

Dear Creature tunic/mini dress.

Adorable Alyson Fox pendant. Love this!

I'm taking some inspiration from my new favourite online shop the Candystore Collective. Cuteness overload. I'm all about big prints this summer and love natural semi-precious stone necklaces. I'm on the hunt (in my mom's jewelry box) for a rough cut amythst pendant on a long gold chain. Although online shopping is SO out of my budget for a little while (my husband is getting his wisdom teeth pulled and the cost of the operation — with insurance coverage — is still astronomical), I am taking cues from my favourite online stores and trying to mimic those styles where I live by thrifting and donations from family and friends. I'm on a budget this summer but am so far am enjoying the thrill of the hunt.

Nickel and Dime: Summer is here!

2009-06-22T11:00:00.004-04:00

Summer Dress, $29, Joe Fresh (Superstore)

Columbine by Dave Cullen, $29.95, Chapters

I love the summer. How's that for a broad generalization? Doesn't everybody? However, we had a brutal winter in Thunder Bay this year and a short, crappy spring. This weekend was the first one in a long time where it didn't (a) snow (b) rain (c) contain some other apocalyptic weather event. Everything is green and gorgeous. My parents brought over some dark purple lilacs from their backyard the other day and we had an impromptu barbecue for Father's Day — my guacamole hamburgers were a hit! Doesn't everything taste better with guacamole on it? The cottage is all set up for summer use and I decided to splurge a little and get a few things to get me ready for summer.

I spent $70 on groceries over the weekend and got both a bag of avocados and a bag of lemons (to make homemade lemonade!). The summer dress was $29 from Joe Fresh — which is basically a grocery store version of H&M. The line has been around for years at Superstore and is about as inexpensive as you can get. Although I draw the line at buying shoes there — it does offer cheap clothes along with your cheese and crackers. The dress is great for the beach (mine is brown). It's cheap enough that I don't care if it gets smeared with BBQ sauce and can be thrown over a bathing suit. Dresses are great and so simple to wear in the summer — I hate thinking about coordination when I have more important things to do... like having a sauna and laying out on the beach!

The book was a recommendation from my friend Bryn. Bryn used to be a books editor for a newsweekly. He has an uncanny ability to know exactly what someone wants to read (he made his living at it for years). The book itself is about the Columbine tragedy. It's non fiction and steeped in old school journalism — informative, well written, engaging, lots of pop culture references. It almost reads like suspense crime novel. Surreal even. Hard to believe it actually happened. The book was a total splurge — I normally get my hardcovers at the library. But as soon as I read the first few pages of the book, I couldn't put it down. Totally engrossing. It's great to get recommendations from friends who know you so well. He also told me to read Night of the Gun and Ten Days in the Hills — two books that became instant classics in our house.

Didn't make it to the yarn store but hoping to get there next week. Stay tuned for more crafty spending!

Nickel and Dime Series Hits the Books

2009-06-19T09:35:00.003-04:00

I went to Chapters to get Chris his birthday present and ended up getting myself something in the process. I have been looking for this book for literally 10 years after my original copy was peed on (yes, I said peed — long story). Ironic, that my original copy had such a seedy demise seeing as how it was a Bret Easton Ellis book. God, I love the '80s — this book name drops more '80s bands and fashion than any I have ever read. And only Ellis can creep me out royally with his visuals. It's like my brain is shocked into submission visualizing these horrific scenes that normally I would never EVER think about. ANYWAY (shudder), here's what I spent.

Less Than Zero, $16 (Chapters Bookstore) — For ME!

The Elegant Universe, $19 (gift)

Computer Arts Magazine, $20 (gift)

Ever since I started this project, I can't help but get a jolt at the cash register whenever I spend more than $20. I actually did a double take at the counter, unable to process how my total came to $69 bucks. I guess that's what happens when you become conscious of your purchases.

This weekend I'm hoping to buy some flowers for the yard and maybe hit the yarn store. Will keep you posted! Have a great weekend everybody.

Get cracking!

2009-06-15T11:21:00.004-04:00

After an insanely busy week and an unfruitful excursion on the weekend to buy a cute summer dress, I came home frustrated and decided to finish a knitting project that has been in my basket for over a year (yes, I said a year!). The pattern is from Craft magazine by this designer. It's a reversible chicken and egg toy — in case any of you might be contemplating that age-old dilemma. I think it turned out OK, I just have to finish the chicken's legs and then I'm all set.

Yes, I'm a good egg.

Auction Score!

2009-06-09T10:39:00.005-04:00

Sorry for the not-so-great photos of the above. I was just too excited to share this with you and just snapped a few reckless photos so I could post about this amazing thrift find. My dad scored me an incredible vintage dress form at a local fundraising auction held at the Salvation Army. I had been looking for one for years now. My dad was put on the case a couple of months ago. He's an expert thrift shopper and had his eagle eye out for one, mostly checking garage sales and thrift stores. He spotted this one and jumped on it. I couldn't be happier with it. First of all, it's brand new (well, relatively speaking) and has never been used. It came wrapped in its original plastic. It also came with a never-opened box of accessories and a still-in-its-original packaging plastic covering. Awesome! It looks so amazing in my sewing room and can't wait to use it. I love that it's adjustable and you can meld the mesh to contour various sizing. What a find!

These dress forms are so hard to come by because people rarely part with them. I'm pretty lucky to have such a thrifty dad — I guess I come by it honestly.

Awkward!

2009-06-04T15:54:00.003-04:00

Dear Mom,

So, um, remember when you made your three children get up at 7:00 a.m. (on a Saturday!), dress up in identical red sweaters and matching jeans and go to the local photography studio? Remember how I was crying all the way there because my hair dryer broke and my late-'80s quaff resembled the Saddle Dome instead of what I was going for — Audrey from Twin Peaks? Remember that my brother (your son!) was whining all the way there and starving because there wasn't enough time for him to eat his Mini Wheats or watch his cartoons? Katie was tucking her lovely red dress into her white tights and telling everyone to "shut up" in her adorable three-year-old cadence? And then we all got in a huge fight outside the studio and drew all sorts of unwanted attention from passersby because we said the sweaters you bought us were dorky? You told us we were a bunch of ingrates, stormed into the studio and then made us get the picture taken anyway? You really need to check out this site — Awkward Family Photos. Then you must go home and immediately try and locate said pictures and burn them. Love you!

Your daughter.

Passive Aggressive Notes

2009-06-04T14:12:00.005-04:00

The site Passive Aggressive Notes is too funny. I've spent most of the morning scrolling though and cackling at my desk like a mad-woman. When I lived in Calgary, Chris and I lived in rented houses or condos and would constantly see these little passive aggressive notes posted up and around common areas. Like most of you know, living somewhere where there are neighbours and shared walls, this is not an uncommon occurrence. I think it's the combo of seething rage and bad penmanship that makes these notes seem so hostile and hilarious. Add a few noisy neighbours, inconsiderate co-workers and animal stains, and well, you have some super (and unintentional) found art. You should really check out the website. It's a time-sucker, but oh so funny.

Found via the always awesome and entertaining website It's Nice That.

Nickel and Dime: Highbrow Trash

2009-05-30T18:27:00.003-04:00

(Henry and June by Anais Nin, $16, Chapters Bookstore)

I couldn't resist buying a little highbrow smut. I wanted something fun and trashy that I could read outside on my new patio chairs. And because it's considered a "classic," I can remain guilt-free. Inside the lives of the intellectual elite. Living vicariously through the diary of a very "liberated" woman with loose morals. Ah, yes... torment, scandal, and of course, dirty thirties eroticism. I'm blushing.