my to-do list

Well, a remedy of lots of tea, Cold FX, and funny videos means the sniffles are down to a minimum! Thanks for the get well soon wishes and recommendations. If you all haven't checked out the video/movie suggestions in the last comments, I suggest you do. It means I've put the first season of How I Met Your Mother on hold at the library and watched adorable sea otters hold hands. Definitely takes my mind off my dad giving me "are you sure you'll be good in a teaching career" lectures. 

Another thing that takes my mind off lectures? Baking. Yesterday me and my mom teamed up to make a cranberry loaf (recipe from here) and chocolate-banana bread (recipe from Sweet Treats cookbook). The Boy commented that I'm turning into "a little chef" though I first heard "a little sh-t" and then heard "a little ship" -- clearly need to get my hearing checked.

On the left, cranberry orange loaf with walnuts. On the right, chocolate-banana bread.

Other lovely distractions from lectures come in the form of tags! A few weeks ago, Tasha (who recently returned to blogging, yay!) tagged me to see what my pen(wo)manship looks like. You can see the details of this tag right here. Apologies in advance for my miniscule handwriting - years of writing in notebooks during class and not wanting to waste another sheet of paper means my writing has gotten tinier.

1. What's your name/Blogger name? 2. What's your blog's name/URL?
3. Write "the quick fox jumps over the lazy dog"
4. Favourite quote? 5. Favourite song? 6. Favourite band/singers?
7. Anything else you want to say? 8. Tag 3-5 people

 I tell great jokes. Yes.

And finally comes something originally from the talented Abby and that I first spotted on the also talented Kym's blog - doing 7 Things in 7 Days! The rules: make a list of 7 things you want to do in 7 days and actually do it. I usually make itty-bitty to-do lists on my hoops & yoyo post-it notes and thought, why not plan for a week in advance? So here goes:

Hopefully I'll share my progress once each one is completed! Feel free to join in!
But for now, I'm going to challenge you (not to a duel, don't worry). My question:
What's one thing YOU want to accomplish
within the next 7 days?

surprise! you're sick

I have always had an incredibly sensitive body - when I run a lot or stand under hot water, I tend to get these reddish-pink hives all over my left arm (why the left arm? I still have no idea). When I move my neck just a bit from side to side, it cracks terribly. I tend to get the hiccups more frequently than others (maybe I just don't know how to breathe). And last Thursday, when the sun was out and it was actually a mild 8°C (46°F) I thought, "Hey! Let's open up my window for the first time in months."

Yeah, not the brightest idea because about two hours later, as I ventured downstairs for some food, I felt it: the sniffles. Surprise! my overly sensitive body exclaimed. You're sick! The Boy made my day on Friday by coming to my house to surprise me with cookies, and then hanging with friends was comforting and brought warmth in the form of sharing blankets as we watched a movie and spicyness as we ate pad thai at a pho restaurant. Mmm mm good. Apart from that, my waste basket has turned into a mountain of tissues.

Basically the past few days have been attempts to stay warm and healthy while web designing (check out my sister's scrumptious cupcakery website here and the lovely, smart and sassy Sara's new blog design here), eating cookies, and watching The Vampire Diaries. My body is also incredibly sensitive to addictive shows, I'm guessing.

Until I recuperate enough to actually leave my house again (though I kind of don't want to since we just got another 10+cm of snow), here's some memories from last Monday's Valentine festivities.

 These pictures definitely don't do these meals justice:
on the left, homemade spaghetti (I also made some bruschetta again);
on the right, "homemade" delicious cake The Boy bought from a grocery store.

Gifts in the form of a bouquet of flowers and an adorable card :)
My gifts to him were all homemade and included a variety of teabags that had hearts attached to the end of the strings saying cheesy things, and lots of candy to get through a week of essay-writing.

Valentine's Day photo! And wearing my Ruche skirt courtesy of the BonBon Rose ladies.

So lately I've asked about book recommendations, things you love,
and now since I'm on my sickbed (aka my computer chair), I have to ask:

What's a video that never fails to make you smile?

Whether it's cute bunnies or a short skit, I'd love to watch! Many thanks in advance.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

happy day of love!

{image from here}

Unfortunately (or fortunately), I don't have a wicked mustache to coerce you to be my valentine - but I hope you're all surrounded by loved ones on this day, whether in their physical presence, via Skype, on the phone,  or by looking through photos and snail mail from the people you love.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

While most of today will be spent with me cooped up in an editing room and The Boy stuck in his office, we're coming together tonight - me with my (hopefully yummy) homemade dinner, and him with dessert. 'Til that moment, I'd like to reflect on things I love (also known as simple smiles):

01. Catching up and celebrating a birthday with closest friends over a shared plate of cheesecake dessert.

02. Fitting in random songs into conversation; PERSON: "If you just go over that hill there--" ME: "The HIIIIIILLS are ALIIIIIIIVEEEEE WITH THE SOUND OF--" Okay, maybe not quite like that.

03. Trying out new recipes (here is the recipe of the week, which I can't wait to try out!), all the while biting off my fingers in anxiety (not the part I love), only to find that everyone who samples the completed meal loves it. 

04. Getting things in the mail - ergo, the postcard project will be coming back in a couple of weeks!

05. Random lovely messages from friends. 

06. Cuddling on a Saturday afternoon. 

07. Nutella. And coffee. Mmm. 

08. Attempting to make homemade gifts that usually look pretty bad but it's the thought that counts, righto?

09. Learning various phrases in different languages. I can say "hello" in a variety of languages (mostly thanks to herro hachi), and now I'm trying to master "I love you" in many languages! Here goes: szeretlek, ja kocham ciebie, mahal kita, je t'aime, ti amo, wo ai ni, saya cinta padamu! How do you say it in your language? (And if it's English, I love you too.)

10. Watching movies with my parents (last night it was Despicable Me). 

11. Looking back at best memories and vacations, and fantasizing about where I'd love to go next!

12. Hugs. Any kind of hug (especially bear hugs). 

13. Painting my nails a different colour every other day. 

14. Y-O-U! (in a strictly platonic sense, of course.) And all your sweet comments on my last post!

Hope this day overwhelms you with love & happiness! Now, I have to ask:

What's something you love?

february freebies & blogaversary!

Today marks two years since my first blog post at Better Than Coffee! Happy blogaversary to me! It's been an amazing two years of making cherished friendships, meeting one blogger in real life (and hopefully more soon?), and finding out what makes me smile simply, what I like to wish for, and trying to keep calm and therapeutic when obstacles get thrown my way. All while recapping weekends and spending time with The Boy and with friends. 

Last year on this occasion, I wrote a seriously long paragraph thanking everyone who I've had the pleasure of 'meeting' in this sphere of blogging - and trust me, you ladies & gents are amazing. Your comments keep me going when I struggle, and make me laugh when I need it most.  It makes me smile to see that a majority of the bloggers I listed either are still blogging or I still keep in touch with, and it makes me smile even more knowing that there's so many amazing bloggers I have yet to discover. You guys have helped me through so many things. But instead of rambling, I'm just going to give. It's February Freebies times!

I haven't made a mix since October, so why not make one for the month of luuuurve.
Youtube play-button idea is an inspiration from Cafe Fashionista with her Play It Again, Sam! feature.

001. Glory Box - Portishead

002. Come Wander With me - Emilie Satt

003. Don't Be Careful With Me - Meg & Dia

004. My Love - Sia

005. Consequence - The Notwist

006. Apple and Cinnamon - Utada

007. Love Lockdown - Kanye West

008. Undisclosed Desires - MUSE

009. Sweet Disposition (Doorly Dubstep Mix) - The Temper Trap

010. A Year Without Rain (Starlab Edit) - Selena Gomez & The Scene

011. Samba De Benção - Bebel Gilberto

012. Between Two Lungs - Florence & The Machine

013. Lovesong - ADELE

014. Won't Stop - OneRepublic

015. Real Love - Regina Spektor

016. Teenage Dream - Boyce Avenue

And next are some things I made myself and, well, let's just say I'm not the greatest of artists when it comes to drawing things with pen and paper, but I wanted something that was 'made from scratch' (since I can't just send you all honey lemon loafs like I planned). You can download the PDF files below, and feel free to print them out on the paper of your choosing, and maybe even punch a hole near the top and add string to make it all fancy!

And the next ones I actually made way back in December as little 'gifts' for the Christmas cards I was sending off, but since they fit in so well with this blog's theme, I figure why not add them in? :)

I'm hoping to fill this month up with more loving and freebies, but most of all I just want to give a big THANK YOU! From the people I talk to 'on the regular', to the anonymous lurkers, to everyone in between who visits here, thank you for visiting, thank you for commenting, thank you for accepting my craziness :)

And since I made bookmarks I have to ask:

What books are you reading lately?

a tourist in your own city

When my days are full of (unsuccessful) job hunting (save for one interview which involved a job that was 100% commission), I turn to hobbies to make sure I don't lose my mind or become a hermit. Apart from the interview, which told me that I was "not aggressive enough" for the job (challenge me to a game of Super Smash Bros., and I'll show you aggressive), I filled up my week with things I actually love to do. 

Those top five things I love to do ended up being: 1) seeing people I love; 2) enjoying great food; 3) exploring my city; 4) web and graphics designing and 5) catching up on shows, namely "Community" and "The Vampire Diaries."

Here are the bits that stand out the most (maybe because I photographed them, hehe):

COFFEE & THE ADVENTURES OF THE HONEY LEMON LOAF. In southern Ontario, they dubbed Tuesday and Wednesday as SNOWMAGEDDON - didn't really show up so much in Toronto, but in my city we got mountains of snow. So I would enjoy my half hot chocolate, half coffee indoors while watching the blinding snow each morning. We ended up getting a snow day on Wednesday, and in a moment of inspiration, I decided to make something I've never made before - a loaf (Lizzy & Tiara already claimed a slice haha).

I was inspired by this recipe and then added in some honey since I didn't have too much lemon. I trekked through the snow to go to The Boy's place with this loaf and it was an amazing evening of eating, cuddling, and then napping. There's something about cuddling with someone you love (be it a person or an animal) that just warms you right up during a snowstorm or rainy days.

WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND. And being so thankful for those moments where you realize you just stepped onto a patch of ice but instead of falling on your bum you just end up skidding along, like a .5 second skating trip (if only that could have happened last week when I had a bottle of wine in my hand -sob-). And also hoping that my city stepped up with shelters so the homeless wouldn't have to endure the freezing weather and mountains of snow.

THE YEAR OF THE BUNNY & CATCHING UP. A few months ago, I wrote about my adventures in my friend's town. I haven't seen her in ages so when she e-mailed me to say she would be at our university I cried "YIPEE!" out loud. Over lunch, it became one of those moments where you don't see someone for a while but then you just pick up right where you left off ... I'm so grateful for those kinds of relationships. We ended up giving each other little gifts - I got her a sketchbook with an adorably artsy bunny on the front since it's the year of the hare and she ended up getting me a zodiac-animal-filled bracelet of sorts and my name in Chinese and carved into a stamp. I'm going to sign all my letters with this now haha :)

ENJOYING YUMMY CHEESECAKE WITH AFOREMENTIONED FRIEND EVEN THOUGH THE HOT FUDGE WAS RATHER COLD INSTEAD OF HOT. Enuff said.

BECOMING A TOURIST IN MY OWN CITY. I've always given my city criticism; it's decent, but you might as well just go to Toronto or Niagara Falls intead of my city if you ever make the journey to southern Ontario. But lately, I've realized the efforts to make my city feel fresh, clean, inspired. I spent the afternoon yesterday with my close friend just exploring one street in my city that I've only been on a handful of times. I admired the cute, quiant shops, and the ability for this single street to make me feel like I was somewhere else. I loved this one alley - that didn't look sketchy at all - and instead just had one wall covered with graffiti. And then, as my friend snapped this picture, five people walked by and just stared, making me feel like a hardcore tourist haha.

AND MORE FOOD. Monstrous bruschetta (with a picture that doesn't do it justice at all) and a delicious pizza of bacon, goat cheese, and scallions that filled me up and made me grateful that I actually enjoy working out ... since that's what I'll be doing for a good chunk of this weekend :)

Hope you all have a great rest of this weekend! And I have to ask:

What part of your hometown do you love the most? and

Is there a place you've wanted to explore?

I challenge all of you to become tourists of the place you live :)