this is my one-hundreth post

or 10 blogs I like and why:

Back when I started this thing on Dec. 7, 2009, I had no idea what I was doing - still don't. But I did have a vague idea of why I wanted to do it. I love pretty things, I like to journal, I like to take pictures to remember my life (I have a terrible memory), and I like to take pictures of Marcel because I think he is adorable. I wanted a "place" I could put these things so that I can look at them and enjoy them and perhaps some other people might too.

(pretty)

But it wasn't until I tripped over Mabel's House that I realized that the kind of blog I wanted to do was just some kind of extension of myself. I think Liz does this brilliantly and eloquently as she writes about her life: her house, her decorating, her dog Mabel, her yard, her sisters, her man's cooking (would be nice to be able to post about that!) - and she does it all with her own photos of her own surroundings - I love it all! So thank you to Liz for the inspiration and for starting my obsession with vintage pottery.

(the bowl that started it all)

One day Liz introduced me to Elsa Mora & her blog The Hidden Seed. Elsa is an incredible artists and I absolutely adore her sweetness, thoughtfulness and great style. This woman knows how to rock lots of colour and poufy skirts and she illustrates her own beautiful & fanciful backgrounds. She inspired me to start doing "outfit of the week" because half the reason I get up in the morning is just to put on something pretty that makes me smile. But I find taking the actual self-portraits logistically challenging (I always seem to cut off my head). So I've been slacking on that although there have been some particularly inspired outfits lately with the change in the weather and the arrival of some new boots.

(miz mooz boots)

Emily from cupcakes & cashmere also inspires me with her personal style. She rocks the soft-n-girly with rock-n-roll footwear and was so helpful when I was figuring out how to wear my super-sale-impulse-purchase rocker booties.

(last outfit of the week)

My love of swearing and interior design meant that I was bound to find Jenny at My Favorite and My Best at some point and of course I have been in love with her ever since. She is rude and she is funny as shit - and she has very good taste. And insane sparkle-talent that means she can find insanely wicked stuff on craiglist anywhere in North America. She also posts about the transformations going on in her house and funny things like trying the Tracy Anderson Method (and she loves Gerard Butler as much as I do).

Jenny led me to Raina Cox at If the Lampshade Fits. This woman is funny-dry-acerbic-funny, has incredible taste and loves to point out when other people don't. She is also renovating an amazing house which she lovingly refers to as her Barbie dream house because "life is too short to live ugly" - I would have to agree.

And because I really do love a well detailed renovation job, I found my way to Naomi at thirteenth and south. She and her other half are in the midst of GUTTING a row house in South Philly. Naomi knows what she is doing here because she owns a remodeling firm with her dad and the progress she is making on this place is amazing. Also, she's funny.

Elizabeth at A Quirky Delight is just that - and I love a good quirky delight. She describes herself thus: "I have a dirty mouth and a twisted sense of humor. Just like your mom. (See?)" - and I could not sum it up better. We both like shoes, diys and ranunculus.

Which is why I love the gals of small stump & studio choo. The beauty that goes on in that place makes me sooooo happy and gives rise to dreams of opening a flower shop ...

which my friend Alison of Coriander Girl actually did recently - so brave of her!

She is an incredibly talented florist who loves to get down to great tunes and kiss all the doggies that show up in her gorgeous and sweet little shop in Parkdale.

Last but not least is Boops from A Very Curious Cookie who got me thinking about why I like all of these blogs in the first place. She had me at "hello" with her "Jeffrey Dean Morgan moments of the week", her lovely photos of where she lives now (being originally from Canada), her kindness towards animals and her encouraging comments on my blog - thanks so much for these!

This is an incredibly lovely community to be a part of and I'm seriously enjoying my time here. I hope I've contributed to you all enyoying it too!

xo - Jessica

I want to adopt

The Toronto Humane Society is closing on April 12 for renovations after a much discussed scandal that makes no sense to me. But there are around 50 cats that still need to find homes by Sunday.

I would happily adopt Jai! There is just something about him ... maybe because he looks a bit like Marcel, but I think it is that knowing look in his eyes and his bandit mask. Some idiot had him declawed and then continued to let him be an outdoor cat where he could not defend himself and one battle too many left him with FIV and then they didn't want him anymore. FIV is not that big a deal but most people don't know that.

But Marcel rules the roost around here and would have a crazy turf war with any other male cat. He would probably loose but he's got serious claws so there would be carnage and that's just bad all around. He might tolerate a female cat, especially one as tiny as Dousa (who I was instantly smitten with) but happily she has already found a home.

A very lovely person has started a blog with very detailed profiles of all the sweeties still left at the shelter, so if you have been thinking about adding a cat to your life, and older cats make wonderful, mellow pets, please have a look: http://helpthethskitties.blogspot.com/ and think about giving a needy kitty a home.

UPDATE:

They have just added a picture of Poppy.

We are talking cat super-model here and she makes me want to go over there right now and bring her home. But full disclosure - I am actually kinda allergic to cats and as much as I love them another would probably put me on oxygen. I cannot go into pet stores without wanting to cry from the cuteness and I should really stop looking at this blog. But I hope somebody brings this gorgeous darling home!

marcel likes fake flowers

I'm not quite sure what the appeal here is ...

but he cracks me up.

sun, sand & sandals

We had phenomenal weather here this weekend and I didn't want to miss a bit of it so I took Thursday & Monday off and pretended I was on vacation. I took picnics to the beach and read books all weekend long.

Thursday - Trinity Bellwoods Park & The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Friday - Wards Island & The Girl Who Played With Fire

Saturday - Sunnyside Beach & the rest of The Girl Who Played With Fire

Sunday - Bluffers Park & a meeting with Perry

Monday - Balmy Beach & Little Bee

Such a treat and these are some fantastic books! I got a bunch of freckles and I even wound up my little vacation with a whole lot of #3 from yesterday's post. I am feeling very warm & happy!

Happy 101

Boops over at A Very Curious Cookie nominated me for a Happy 101 award. She's a transplanted canuk and she loves her some Jeffrey Dean Morgan so we understand each other - thank you Boops!

My job now is to list 10 things that make me happy, so here goes in no particular order:

1. Marcel - he's the only real pet I've ever had and he's been in my life since shortly after I moved back to Toronto from the usa. He never judges and he loves me in the special way that only animals can, unconditionally - and he's very soft.

2. Dancing - has been my job and my hobby but dancing my ass off is truly my ultimate happy place, especially if it involves a spinny-skirt.

3. Smootches - I love this on it's own, I love what it's a prelude to, I love it so much I have it tattooed on my arm.

4. Siblings - they are the best people I know: Sethy and Heather-feather (aka Ceciley), and funny too!

5. Friends - they are scattered far and wide but they are always there when I need them. They appreciate my loudness and my quiet. They have made dark days brighter and make bright days into fireworks.

Rory & Kelly (Damzels!)

Emi - she is truly family, people even ask us if we're sisters which is obviously ridiculous (and I get Tomio & Julia too).

Pat, Patio, Patty-daddy, dancin fool.

Connie - partner in crime.

Tamar - sometimes I think we are the same person.

Anne - listener extraordinaire.

6. Sun & sand - it is my goal in life to live in a warm place by the beach like Sayulita, Mexico.

7. Books

8. Flowers

9. Live music

10. My house

I am so grateful that I have so many things in my life that make me happy - woooooooooooooo!!

bathroom shelves

Saturday Matt came over and put up the shelves. They were left over from an old shoe rack that did not survive my move but were actually the perfect size for this space.

After looking at all sorts of nice shelf brackets I decided I wanted to spend as little money on these shelves as possible - thank you Ikea. Clearly they need to be painted but although the weather this weekend is fabulous I don't feel like doing it when I could be on the island basking in the sun. The roomie made short work of putting her stuff in here so they were a much needed addition.

I got my last mccoys in the mail finally.

I love the little bird bath! but it is much smaller that I was expecting and I really don't quite know what to do with it. Maybe actually use it as a planter and put a little ivy or violet in it?

Also don't know what to do with the TP. It used to have a holder here.

This is hiding the radiator shut offs and needs some kind of camouflage.

And I really need to do something about the lighting ... thoughts?