August - To Do

Sorry for the lack of posts, I have been really busy but I can't seem to figure out what I have done! The sun has been out pretty constantly for the past month, so I haven't had much inside time... But I have been thinking of you, and all the beautiful things I would love to blog about.... if only I had time! Hopefully I will remember them when the ski clouds over and it rains for months on end!

Vancouver needs a breeze like this! via Oh Joy!

Anyway, back to my to do list... As mentioned, July has been a scorcher, especially the last two weeks, the heat slowed me down, and I didn't get to as many tasks as I would have like to... but that's okay, I'll just do them in August!

1. Contact old professor regarding portfolio (no longer need to do this - I have a different plan!)
2. Organizational tasks* - who really does these in the heat of the summer?
3. Purchase 2 staple work clothing items
4. Sew dark roman blinds for bedroom
5. Swim 10 times (Okay, I only swam 8 times...)

I'm taking holidays for two weeks in August, and then I am away with work until mid- September, so this list is going to be a joint August - September list:

1. Organizational Tasks - 3 of them
2. Sew Dark Roman Blinds
3. Sign up for courses
4. Move bedroom wall art

I'm cutting down on the number of things since my performance last month was quite dismal. I think that this one is doable...

I am looking forward to have time for tea during my vacation....

Styling by Ludyina Moodie via Automatism

Does anyone else have summer vacation plans? I hope they are relaxing and rejuvenating! xo

Beachy Bag

I'm heading to the beach the long weekend.... I am hoping for warm weather, sun and lots of relaxing! If I was stylish, this is how I would carry my surf board....

Via Elements of Style (check Erin's beach style - she has some great posts!)

And wouldn't it be lovely to carry your beach wears in this?

From India Rose (love!) via Simple Song

May Flowers

It has been too long since I last posted! This intermittent posting has become non existent! Unfortunately I think it is going to be this way for the next two months. I am just swamped, but loving it!

Here in Vancouver May so far has brought some showers over flowers.... but that is fine with me. As I am sure you know I don't love flowers... I am much more of a greenery person....

I have had this photograph by Adrian Briscoe stored away for a while, probably since the first month I started blogging! I just love how the green adds that punch (especially the plant in the foreground) but it still keeps the area cosy and earthy.... two ambiances I love!

I think May Flowers have been seeping into my bones though, lately I have been toying with the idea of buying some flowers for my room.... If I could I would buy these hydrangeas and put them in this stunning vase - or maybe a sterling silver one....

Photography by John Bessle

Do you have flowers in your bedroom? If so what flowers do you have?

(Speaking of bedrooms - Once these two months of craziness pass I hope to show you a few photos from my room... I am oh so slowly decorating it, and I would love to have some input! )

Hot Hot Sun

I have been totally MIA lately... Enjoying the holidays to say the least! I hope you are all having a good holiday break!
I am currently in California where I am trying to soak up some sun... lucky for all of you, I will be home in a few days with lighter posts... literally, no more wanting to cozy up near the fire place... its all about light and colour here, and I am going to go with it!
Until then dears...

Both images from Living Etc.

Easy Eco Mondays - Powerwise

So I look a little labour day holiday on my Eco Monday post - but I am back today - with a short but sweet post on Air Temperature

Powerwise

Has anyone seen the David Suzuki TV Powerwise commercials? They are pretty witty, but they convey simple messages on how to conserve everyday. Below is the one that I initially saw. You can watch them all at http://www.powerwise.ca/. This commercial is about keeping your a/c really low in the summer.... seriously - who wants a house at 20 degrees in the summer? I want to be able to walk around my house in shorts and a tee.... 25 degrees is a minimum for that!

On a side note: I used to remember at university where we would try and wait as long as possible before turning on the furnace. Some of my friends made it all the way into December, which is amazing for Kingston, Ontario.... I think my house only made it to the end of October..... But compared to how I just turn it on without thinking now of days - that's pretty great. So this fall, I am going to throw on one of those stylish sweaters and a pair of socks before I head to the thermostat!

Every degree counts!

The Island House

My second post on Toronto island - Wards Island Houses

They are just amazing - each house is so unique, it takes hours to take them all in. The best part about the neighbourhood I think is that there are no roads, only walk ways between the houses, a neighbour across the 'street' is about as far away as your next door neighbour - I like that.

Character anyone?

Like the houses the people here are so unique. Some are busy working away at at some household task, some are helping, some are relaxing and enjoying a home made sandwich in the garden, while others have lively arguments with family. Each posess this sense of calm (yes even the one arguing!) and rustic flair to match their homes. They all own bikes fitted with the most extensive parcel carring systems. Whether it be a wagon they pull behind their bike, or just extra large paniers covering every possible spot, or the makshift baskets bungeed on here and there. They all serve the purpose of getting their everyday bought items from the mainland back home.

Note the slant and the peeling paint - Adds charm!

The homes themselves are in many different states. Boarders are fuzzy here - between rustic, and run down, ecclectic and junky, between holiday home and vacation cottage (I am in Ontario now, they call cabins cottages!) and full time residence. Some have well manicured lawns, others have natural flowing gardens, and yet others have overgrown landscapes. Somehow however, it all seems to fit.

Extremely well kept - and the sign in the window -Boycott Toronto Island Airport - makes me think these are year round residents!

A view of Toronto from the Ward Island Ferry Terminal

One of the best things I saw - and I am so sad I didn't get a photo of were plants in people's bikes - I don' t think they were just bringing them home - I think these plants had a permenant residence on the bike - and added a nice spruce to it!

Island Calm

Yesterday I went down to Toronto Island. I spent some time on the south beaches - and well couldn't get enough!


This is what I wrote while I was over there, on the back of a receipt while lying on the beach:

The busy city is just a memory, a distant silhouette on the horizon. Here you feel raw uncomplicated calmness. You don't need a yoga mat to feel the ohm emanating from your body. Sundresses, straw hats and bathing suits are a must. The small waves entice you into the crystal clear blue body of water. Looking out at the sail boat in the distance and the disappearing blue sparkle on the horizon you question if this isn't the ocean - But one splash of the crisp water lets you know it is salt free. Kids jump and swim in the lake while their mother keeps an eye on them from ankle deep water. Wooden boardwalks and grassy dunes remind me of the east coast, but the dry light breeze brings me back to Toronto. It is just the right temperature, surprisingly not humid at all. Planes are the only thing that break the expansive blue skies, their propeller engines hum and grumble as they descend their way to the island airport. As I lie back, I ask myself - why have I never come here before, and how am I ever going to convince myself to leave?

Well luckily for me, I managed to take the ferry back to reality. It was surprisingly not difficult to leave the island. Once I moved on from the beach side (south side) it was a natural progression back. First there was the boardwalk around the water, then glimpses of houses, then a small little 'town' or in other words, grid of houses (more on that in the next post), and then a little walk through cafe to re-energize me before facing the big city.

Below are some images of the beach side of the island. "Life's a beach and then you die"

Looking down the beach from the main pier
The Sailboat in the distance
Pebbles on the shore instead of shells
The CN tower in the distance, sand dunes in the for front

Dear Toronto Island - You are just what I needed- With love, Ashley

Quality vs Quantity

So I was biking with some friends to Deep Cove the other weekend and I had a very bull headed moment. I had biked around there before so I kind of knew were I was going so when my friends turned off my theoretical route, I questioned it quite vigorously (trending towards venomously) the route decision. But then my fellow biker said something that almost literally stopped me in my tracks. “Quality over Quantity, Ashley, we are going for Quality over Quantity.” That was it, that was what this blog is about. It is to remove my deeply ingrained sense of faster, bigger, better into more enjoyable, happier, fulfilled. Now I am no where near getting there but the rest of that bike ride I spent the time really taking in the ride, and enjoying it. Not trying to get there faster. And what a beautiful ride it was. I saw an area I had never seen before and some spectacular views that I didn’t even know existed. If I ever do ride out to Deep Cove again, I will take that route…. As I will also try to always choose Quality of Quantity!

Vacationing

So I'm back from vacation (as noted from the lack of posts!). The good news is that I am plum full of post ideas - mainly thanks to the invigorating conversations I have had over the last two weeks. If nothing else this little hiatus has made me so thankful to have amazing, inspiring, and diverse people in my life. Their thoughts on the world contantly push me to view things in a different light. I hope I never become deaf to the wise words of my friends....


Below are a few images to keep my light, airy and carefree vacation feeling alive. All images are from House to Home(UK) I love the way they have placed the vases in front of the fire place. It really summer's up the black box!
Nautical but without the blue and red! I love the muted colours next to the deep dark wood.
Summer reading? Yes please!

Not your normal summer look but the mixture of light sand colours make me think of the beach, and the hint of lime green - so fresh! I will probably refer to this picture when I go to redocorate my bedroom!
Summer entertaining. This looks like it took a little too much work for the summer time, but it does lend an image of long relaxing meals full of discussion and and laughter.

Calm.... that is the only word for it.

City Scorcher

We just had the most beautiful weekend of the year. Sunny, hot and no breeze. I was outside enjoying the weather and water so have not posted. Here are some pictures from the weekend that I found on Flickr. I'm loving the beauty of the city.
Looking north from underneath the Lions Gate Bridge.

Taken a couple months ago for a photo contest - Vancouver's North Fairview.

Spanish Banks, (where I spent some of my weekend) Looking back towards downtown and the north shore.

The new addition to the "white flags" (the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center) At the bottom of Howe Street.