I sometimes live in the clouds.

Part of my routine before bed, when time allows it, is to browse for beautiful images to gaze at, in the hopes that it will lead me to dream beautiful dreams that night.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't -- but it was during one of these nights, quite some time ago, that I discovered the magical, whimsical works of Amber Gray. Her images are always so exquisitely captivating, and I always catch myself slowly falling into a trance-like state when admiring her photographs.

Time stops. And then reality melts away. And before I know it, I am finding myself riding into the lavender sunset on a peony pink winged-pony, delivering a white tiger cub to the gods above, with flowers and the wind in my hair. Sweet, sweet dreams.

My favorite places in the world, are places filled with you.

It is not a new concept, saying goodbye. But it is always so hard to do, each and every time. The lover's farewell, especially, is one that has always moved me deeply, and tremendously.

Because a day away is still a day too much, and my heart aches for those who have loved ones serving or working abroad this holiday season.

May they come back safely to you, and may you get to hold them tightly, oh so tightly, in your warm, loving arms once again soon.

"A Journey of Inseparable Love"

Harper's Bazaar Wedding Indonesia, November '10
Photography by Nicoline Patricia Malina

It was the day before Thanksgiving...

... and I haven't even packed for my trip to Ohio yet! I am, however, finding myself admiring all these beautiful vintage suitcases.

I have always preferred driving instead of flying, and traveling back then -- by car, by boat, by train -- seemed like so much more of a grand and great, exciting adventure, don't you think? Nowadays, people seem to rush, rush, rush through the journey to get to their destinations as fast as possible. And, even though there are times where taking the shortest and quickest route is absolutely necessary, it's nice to slow down a little every once in a while; to take a deep, deep breath; to admire the world and everything in it; to remember the moments and things that make this life worthwhile.




Safe travels, everyone, and happiest Thanksgiving Day to you and yours. There is much to be grateful for, always.

XO,

K

Ice, ice, baby!

I spent the first 14 years of my life born and bred in Canada, but that doesn't mean I ever learned to love winter. Growing up, I had immeasurable amounts of fun playing in the snow, but that got old (and way too cold!) when I got older, of course. Nowadays, I can barely tolerate it when it is 40 degrees outside.

This past weekend, I temporarily pushed my dislike for freezing temperatures aside to attend ICE! at the Gaylord National Convention Center, where everything in the exhibit is made of -- take a wild guess here -- ice! It was a fantastic production, despite it being a cool nine degrees and having to walk around in these oversized blue parkas. Both Manfriend and I agree that this year's event was even better than the last, as we absolutely loved the Dr. Seuss' "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" theme!

If you will be in the DC area this Thanksgiving holiday, or have relatives or friends from out-of-town, I definitely suggest working in a trip!

Mmmmm, Cookie Monster cupcakes!

Despite having to wake up early the next morning for the Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless Walkathon with a few work colleagues, I spent a few hours late Friday night baking some Cookie Monster cupcakes for my baby cousin's fifth birthday on Saturday.

They turned out great, and were quite a success with the kids! I used a recipe shared by a friend, but here is a similar one I found via Cupcake Decorating Ideas.

I am no Martha Stewart, but I have to admit that I rather enjoyed the sweet smells and warmth in the kitchen that night. It was a nice and relaxing way to end a long work week, and made me look forward to a weekend filled with smiles and memorable times.

Sweater weather.

I can't remember the details of last night's dream, but I remember this: I had on the most coziest, comfiest, softest, most perfectly slouchiest oversized sweater of all oversized sweaters engulfing me and my body.

I woke up this morning and the realization that I actually don't own said sweater in real life almost made me whimper. Sad. I honestly could have lived in that thing, cuddling with it forever. (Or at the very least, just through the winter when Manfriend's away on yet another business trip.)


via.

via.

via.

Wake up, the darkness is behind us.

Been finding myself in a semi-perpetual state of automatically reaching for black tights and then pairing them with a rotating uniform of dark and somber-colored work dresses, skirts, and dress shirts lately.

Not sure whether it is my mood influencing my wardrobe or my wardrobe influencing my moods, but I need to snap out of it, stat. After all, I received a fabulous performance review yesterday, Thanksgiving is a week away, and Manfriend and I are making a pie tonight in order to perfect the one we will be making next week when we visit his parents in Ohio.

Lots to look forward to. Not nearly enough for me to pout and frown about.

A thousand miles away.

I am not sure what it is about gray and rainy days that make me feel introspective and neurotic, but they do. I'm sure they do for many of you, too.

I awoke this morning in an empty bed, with the room still immersed in eerie, translucent tones of dark gray and barely white, still feeling the lingering remnants of a faint, farewell kiss on my forehead. I sometimes wish Manfriend didn't have to leave me so early, but I guess if we are being honest with each other, I very much relish these small, quiet moments alone. I lie there, soaking in the silence, before my thoughts start getting too loud for their own sake.


Maybe it's because I grew up in a big, noisy family, where there was always something to do or something going on, but when I was much to not-so-much younger, I used to want a busy, busy, hustle 'n bustle kind of life. When I first started here in the months following graduation, I used to relish the lifestyle that comes with being young, female, and working in the city. The wine was flowing, the men were generous. There were too many compliments paid, and too many more connections and contacts to be made. I wanted to become a high-powered partner, someday, and had the mindset and skills and backings of everyone I needed to know to make that happen.


But these days, I am a thousand miles away from that plan. These days, I find myself on auto-pilot, most of the time, from the time my alarm goes off, to the minute I glance over to the bottom-right corner of my computer screen. Auto-pilot. Because this is not the kind of work I enjoy. These are not the kind of people I particularly like. These are not the days I dream of.

This is not the kind of life I want.

But, at the end of the day, I am infinitely grateful for my current situation, as there are a multitude of things I am repeatedly thankful for.

Only think beautiful things, my horoscope coincidentally read today. And I know that, as long as I am doing my part to make a change, or even several, it will only be a matter of time before I am on the right path, for me, once again.

Images via.

All that glitters.

I don't really know what or how it happened.

There was nothing in the store that remotely screamed, "WINTER! CHRISTMAS! YAY, HOLIDAYYYS!" this past weekend, but I was somehow so attracted to these shiny, glittery shoes. They were just... calling out to me.



30% off the original price didn't hurt, either. I wore them out dancing for my good friend's 29th birthday that night, and in his drunken stupor, he kept stepping on my new babies and calling them "disco balls". The nerve!

Angela Carter; Oscar and the Lady in Pink.

My three new (used) books I recently bought off Amazon have finally arrived. One of my absolute new favorites, Oscar and the Lady in Pink, moved me tremendously.

It is the epistolary story of a 10 year-old boy named Oscar suffering from cancer, who writes little letters to God even though he does not believe in Him.


At the suggestion of his beloved Mamie-Rose, Oscar also turns a decade older with each remaining day of December, in order to not miss any important life stages, and to die normally, of old age.

(At the unfortunate expense of revealing to you what happens, in the end ... my heart cried, when he died.)

The two other titles are from one of my favorite modern female authors, Angela Carter. Her writing is beautiful, lyrical -- and hauntingly so. I was introduced to her during my sophomore year of college in my Literature of Fantasy class. I fell in love almost immediately, for too many reasons.

I remember everything.
Yes.
I remember everything perfectly.

And so begins The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman. I will be sure to remember to tell you how it goes. I have a feeling it will be insanely bizarre.