I’ve come to the realization that my blog hasn’t contained a lot of substance lately, and apologize for that. It’s been all photos and costume and fun! I guess I can admit that it’s laziness. Or writer’s block. Or not wanting to dwell on anything that doesn’t quite matter in the long run, and I don’t think I’m quite ready.

This sort of came to me after spending 4 days of (almost) solitude in my house. After Halloween I was in quarantine with the flu. The usual hot and cold chills-fever-cough-immobilization was pretty much the worst thing to physically happen to me in a year. I went on a massive Wes Anderson kick. It was fantastic. The Royal Tennenbaums, The Life Aquatic, Bottle Rocket, Rushmore and the Darjeeling Limited with a few other movies thrown between them. What can I say? I was awake, alone and couldn’t force myself to read or make anything.

After three days off of work and a very large and unexpected hydro bill, I’ve decided that it’s time to pull out the crafts and never leave my house again. Most people, after being stuck inside for 4 days straight, would jump at the opportunity to go outside or just get out. But not I. Once I get the taste of lazy domesticity, I would rather do it forever than do anything else.

Here are some legwarmers I made this week. Well, technically it took me like 6 months to make them, but most progress was done this week.

My current project is making a cowl like the ones I’ve seen at H&M for over $20. I’m making a cream coloured one, and will be trying to finish it soon so I can wear it and get on with making Christmas presents.

Current song: Múm – The Land Between Solar Systems
Current movie: 500 Days of Summer

What have you been doing lately?

Today marks 365 days of this little blog being in existence! I started writing here to try a different way of recording my thoughts. Rather than writing in a journal, I would be able to organize my thoughts easier, and portray them differently if I typed them. Whenever I have a physical paper journal, I tend to lose interest after the first month or so writing in it. For the first couple of weeks I go crazy with decorating and collecting clippings and taping everything I can fit in it. But after a while, it starts to feel like a burden or chore, so I get lazy and procrastinate.

This blog and I have gone through a lot in the past year. Previously mentioned technology fail, childhood stories, craft projects, moving into a new house, and all of the other day to day stuff that I feel the need to share to whoever’s listening out there has taught me that I can still stay on board as long as I keep the train going. The people I have met along the way have been crucial to this success! Thank you guys so much for your comments and emails and ping! messages whenever they were called for.

Stay tuned for future tales from the life of Awmb. They’re out there somewhere. But for now, here’s a nice song for you (the part where he is drumming on the watermelon is my favourite). Thanks for stopping by!

So the time has come for us to get into character and go out trick or treating to get our drink on. I have been slaving away at my costume as much as I can for the past week to get organized for tonight, and I can finally say that it is complete. Some people gave it a shot and tried to guess what I was going to be based on the photos that I had put up, but no one could do it.

So here, I am finally revealing my secret. I am being..

FALCOR FROM THE NEVERENDING STORY

I'm supposed to look like this...

But think I may look a little more like this...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

It all starts with going to the fabric store. No, it started with an idea, then the fabric store. And the pressure of finding an original idea for Halloween. I bought the fabric, and for the first time ever, I can say that I am in the middle of making my own costume. It hasn’t been easy, though.

After getting the material together, I ended up staring at it every day in my living room. It was waiting there while I watched all of that television, and made all of those dinners. It was there on nights when I came home at 6am the next day without sleep, and when I woke up at 3pm and procrastinated. For some reason I couldn’t find motivation past looking at it from afar.

Last week was nothing but going out and enjoying fall. I have been taking a lot of photos of autumn in the city, and have been acting like a 6 year old, mostly. One of those days I ended up riding my bike with a friend all around our neighbourhood shouting, howling like a wolf, and going ‘Aw-aw-aw-aw!!!’ like an Indian (I realize this may sound politically incorrect, but it’s the best way to describe it; think old Western movies). It was one of the most exhilarating days this year, and one of the most exhausting. I swear by 10pm I crashed into my bed and fell asleep as soon as I landed. No costume making happened on that day.

Okay, back on topic: The fact that Halloween is 3 days away is the scariest thing to someone who has their costume half done. However, after picking it up yesterday, I feel pretty confident that I can get it done in time. I still won’t reveal my secret until I have the whole thing done, but I can say that it is a big, white, furry costume. I made a lot of progress yesterday and am excited to say that it actually looks like a jumpsuit as opposed to a bundle of fur. Thanks to Taylor who came over and got me motivated to start working on it again.

This week is going to be busy.

Breakdown of To Do list is as follows:

• Dressew for more fabric!
• Rat food from the pet store after dressew (2 birds with 1 bus ride)
• Blog about costume & post photo of it for my lovely readers (you know how much I love you)
• Work on costume!!
• Call dentist to schedule a consultation for my wisdom teeth pull-age (*cringe*)
• Food. Make food. At some point.
• Stop writing blog posts at work

Any guesses on what my costume is yet?

I recently went home for a visit to my parent’s house with one of my greatest friends, Taylor. I swear we spent every moment of the day taking photos and I thought I’d share. I also recently started learning how to use PhotoShop to make rounded borders. If anyone knows any super easy tutorials, let me know!

This has been blatantly stolen by Just a Titch who first stole it from Kapachino. When I saw it I knew it was exactly what I was in the mood for.

Current Books: I have been working on reading Julie & Julia for a while, and haven’t been completely sucked in. Although it is great, I have been reading right before bed which makes me fall asleep in about 2.5 seconds every time. Next on my list is The Neverending Story

Current Playlist: I recently downloaded most of what I didn’t already have from Freak Folk for Dummies and am completely in love with it. Current obsessions are Múm and Blonde Redhead.

Current Guilty Pleasure: At the moment nothing really. But the only thing that comes to mind when asked this question is Jay-Z pretty much every time. HOVA, FTW!

Current Color: I love green right now.  I’m hoping to pick a great colour to paint my room and will be getting a lot of swatches from General Paint this week.

Current Drink: Earl Grey tea, every moment of the day. It has been making me pee like Sea Biscuit, but I don’t care. So deliciously comforting.

Current Food: I have made Potato Leek soup about 4 times in the last 3 weeks. Big batches that last me days, mind you. I’ve also made Apple Crisp and am going to be experimenting with Pumpkin Pasta this week.

Current Favorite Show: The Office is pretty much the only thing I turn my TV on for. *Side Note: Hey There, Yogi Bear was on TV yesterday and it was phenominal.

Current Wishlist: Motivation to make my Halloween Costume. Cutesy fabric to make something special. Someone to cook for me right now.

Current Needs: This shirt.

Current Triumphs: I managed to have a super low key weekend with absolutely no one around for most of it. I saw Where The Wild Things Are and dressed myself like a 6 year old both yesterday and today. I managed to get up and make pancakes this morning, even when I had no one else to feed by myself.

Current Bane Of My Existence: My teeth and having to go to the dentist every 2 weeks. Blech!

Current Celebrity Crush: Cate Blanchett and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. They both have two t’s at the end of their names.

Current Indulgence:  Craft ideas!

Current Blessing: Having my roommate gone for the weekend.

Current Slang: Hmm… well it’s always been and probably always will be ‘your mom’ jokes, and ‘that’s what she said’ jokes. They’re the funniest jokes.

Current Outfit: From head to toe: Hair up, gold braid headband and black feathers in my hair, Gogol Bordello T-shirt, Black skirt with white lace, grey leggings, and pink, purple and black striped leg warmers. No socks.

Current Excitement: Going to a friends so we can make butternut squash peanut curry delicious!

Current Mood: Fanastic.

Current Link: There are so many… but the one I want to share today goes to…This T-Shirt scarf Tutorial. If you look close enough, you can find the words ‘t-shit’ in there somewhere. Haha!

Hope you lovelies had a wonderful Sunday!

Okay. This is the last of the set of 3 photo blogs because-i-felt-like-it. This set was all taken by me on my Pentax ME 35 mm that my step mother gave me in the spring. I had some serious issues with it, but it has finally started working! And I am so happy with the photos I’ve taken. These are just the best of the ones I took, but if you’d like to see the rest, visit my brand new flickr page!

Jessie and her mother during a beautiful sunset at Kitsilano Beach

I have a bit of an obsession of taking photos of old cars.

By far my favourite photo of myself this year.

Ratface! Isn't he just adorable?

Taylor, have I ever told you that you're my favourite sometimes?

How was your summer? I hope it was magical.

I haven’t photo blogged in a while, and felt like sharing.

Halloween supplies? Any guesses?

Super awesome hair days rule my world

Dinner from tonight

Quality rat time.

Over in the continent many people are starting to plan what they will be for Halloween this year. Many may already have their costumes, and some may have no clue what they’ll be. I am glad to say that I went to my favourite craft store in all of Vancouver, and bought the supplies I need to work on my get up for the year. I don’t think I will be able to disclose what I’m being for Halloween just yet, and that I will have to let you keep guessing until the time comes. I feel that it’ll be better this way, and will keep some of the fun for the actual night we’re waiting for.

ps. The album of the day has been Blonde Redhead  – Misery is a Butterfly. I just got this album, and cannot believe that I have lived without it for so long.