Feeling Inspired.

Lately, I’ve really been getting geared up to do some improvements to the house.  Big improvements that cost a lot of money aren’t exactly in the budget right now… but with a little elbow grease, a few cans of paint, and some inexpensive accessories, the house feels like a brand new place.

I recently found an antique dining room set on Kijiji for $100.  I had originally planned to paint it a light colour to spruce up the kithen/dining area, but the wood on it is in such great shape I can’t bring myself to do it.  Now, the only thing left is to incorporate some dining room storage, a plant or two, and some wall hangings!  I’ve got frames to do a photo montage on one wall, and I keep checking back at the second hand stores for interesting things to put on the other.

As for the upstairs, (more…)

Of Broken Records & Halloween Anticipation.

Skull Candy Bowl, originally uploaded by Sonya Bean.

So, it’s finally October.

I learned this morning from my trusty alarm clock radio that September in Calgary was the warmest we’ve ever had. Our average temperature for last month was 15 degrees. Pretty sweet for September if you ask me. To top it off, we also had our hottest day of the year in September. 33 FRIGGING DEGREES. I am told that this is a first.

With October here, I’m also starting to get into the Halloween spirit. Yesterday on my lunch hour I decided to go out and do a little power shopping at the local drug store as I was in need of a new box of hair colour. What I found, however, was a badass looking skull that doubles as a candy bowl. I decided that it needed a new home and a loving owner, so it came home with me in anticipation of the many kids that, I hope, will grace me with their presence on the doorstep in search of candy.

Antique Train

Antique Train, originally uploaded by Sonya Bean.

This is an old toy train car that belonged to my dad when he was young. If I remember correctly, I wanted to fix it up at one point, but we didn’t have any success in doing so. It’s still beautiful, though. It’s been sitting on the window sill of the spare room in my parent’s basement getting a wee bit cob web-y.

Oh, for the love of shoes.

All Stars, originally uploaded by Ethyl Alcohol.

Okay. I admit it. I have a small problem. I AM ADMITTING IT SO JUST BACK OFF. I will intentionally buy clothing to go with my shoes. And if I see shoes that I want need that I cannot match to anything existing in my wardrobe, I will buy them anyway and then shop for a matching outfit. Luckily, I have a lot in my wardrobe that is black so shoes like these are easy to work with. My Betseyvilles, however, are something else entirely wink wink.

I’ve always liked the look of Converse, but until recently have never actually owned a pair. I grew up in a time when they were the thing to have except that I was never someone who had them. I do, have a pair of knockoffs done by Airwalk, but these little darlings I picked up a couple weeks ago are my new pride and joy. I don’t think I’ll be going back to my other knock around shoes any time soon.

For the people who know me, I just have this to say:

Don’t worry, I haven’t been kidnapped and replaced with an imposter. I know I hate pink. But seriously. Look at them. YES, PINK. Oh my god, yes.

Oh, and they are totally even more pink in person.

Really REALLY uncomfortable.

Really REALLY uncomfortable., originally uploaded by Ethyl Alcohol.

Two fridays ago, for a work outing, my entire company headed out to CFB Suffield to watch a live fire exercise take place. Keeping in mind my entire company consists of 3 people so it wasn’t as big a hoopla as one might think. We do a bunch of work for the British Army for training purposes so we were given permission to be escorted out onto the range so see what amounts to a series of tanks firing on targets. Wasn’t nearly as exciting as I’d hoped, there being hours of waiting around doing literally nothing, but as you can see I got to don some cutting edge fashion with this tarty camouflage helmet and some matching body armor. I think I am ready for the runway.

Edit: I am totally tagging this under “style”.

Cuppycakes Can Be for Cleaning

cuppycakes, originally uploaded by Ethyl Alcohol.

A few weeks ago, I purchased these adorable soaps from Soapopotamus on Etsy. They actually smell like cupcakes! Delicious. They are tiny , 1 ounce soaps I bought as gifts for friends of mine but now I think I may just need to go back and get some for me.