domesticbliss's Xanga

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:46:44 GMT

i heart NY (but not air canada) picture post

we stayed the night in toronto ... yeah, that wasn't planned ...

a lovely evening on the rooftop patio with good friends & wine

jakey hottie gyllenhaal may love air canada, but we're not fans ... after another cancellation we spent a night in montreal ...

"when in rome"

and then we finally made it to new york ... two days later ...

pizza & sangria in the east village & late night photoshoot outside the hotel in chelsea

free friday nights at moma & a central park serenade

the brooklyn bridge & the statue of liberty from the staten island ferry

movin' on out to williamsburg & the canadian consulate party downtown

breakfast in the village at my fave spot (the grey dog) & last chance shopping on broadway & on bleecker

(more pics on flickr.)

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 21:18:50 GMT

adieu jane

in this month's jane, the zooey deschanel cover story interview takes place in vancouver, a city the writer calls "shiny, fresh and a little bit too predictable" ... it looks like that writer's days of quasi-dissing my city are over -- the 10-year-old alt-mainstream women's mag got the conde nasty axe this week. the issue hitting stands on july 24th will be its last. the staffers have left; the fashion closet has been raided. while its sassy tone frustrated me at times for being too negative, jane offered actual written content as opposed to 80% ads... which likely led to its demise. i'm a bit sad it's gone, and i don't care what people say about the death of the magazine as a medium - i bought five this month alone. (what? it's a career-related expense!) i just have to get around to reading my april issues and i should be up-to-date by 2008...

indulgence #1 of the week: tv links (current faves: human giant & psych)
indulgence #2 of the week: regis & kelly's daily host chat
vimeo of the week: margaritas
free song downloads of the week: silly pipe dreams mixtape
whistle while you work site of the week: finetune
where are they now update of the week: details
style blog of the week: the sartorialist
movie plan of the week: once

speaking of human giant, just for some cheeky summer fun ... CLICK HERE.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:52:22 GMT

fun times picture post from the last ... forever

first off can i mention how much i despise how every third sentence these days contains the word facebook? make me hurl. therefore, hello again xanga! it's been too long, old friend.

&

let's start way back in the day...

krissy and i drove south with our mums (aww) to the annual tulip festival in western washington. want to cross the border and get zero questions + a smile? go with your mum. to see tulips. (more pics here.)

&

then i got a new job. sadly, that meant no more free s%$#. which has been a huge bummer for both me and my friends, who now have to actually pay for things like shampoo and aerobeds. but back to the job... i was travelling back and forth to central/eastern alberta, researching and associate producing a 10-part documentary series premiering next january on the cbc. check us out. basically we went into a small town and took away all the women for one week to see what happens to a community & the traditional family unit when you subtract women from the equation. i spent the actual week in the rockies with 115 women. 18-hour days are super fun. (more pics here.)

&

currently on repeat...
belle & sebastian - the blues are still blue
jason collett - fire
justin nozuka - down in a cold dirty well
serena ryder - my heart cries for you
sondre lerche - say it all
hillsong united - hosanna
albert hammond jr - call an ambulence
oceans above - gazing
amos lee - freedom

&

in other news.... i've started a new job - again. good ol' short-term tv contracts. more on the job front + nyc vacay pics + stories to come.

ps: did you watch live earth? what? you didn't stay inside for 36 hours of music television? me neither. thank the good lord you can stream it on demand on the 'net. check out my aussie fave missy higgins here.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 22:18:44 GMT

neglect (ni-'glekt): to give little attention or respect to; to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness.

photos from flickr.com

whoops. it's been awhile. it's a long weekend, i'm watching when harry met sally (it's coming up on that scene) and i spent the morning walking the seawall and browsing west 4th (a.k.a. kitsilulu) with a friend. light rain, cherry blossoms everywhere ... makes me love this city (and no gore-tex in sight - the times they are a changin).

in other news, i'm starting a new job on monday. slightly scary.

finally, because my blog has the word "domestic" in it and because people always ask for this recipe,
i give you my go-to signature dish. it's easy, quick, yummy and healthy.

maple-glazed chicken

2 tsp paprika
2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cumin
boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp dijon mustard

preheat oven to 450F. spray baking sheet with nonstick spray.
combine paprika, salt, cinnamon and cumin in a bowl.
rub mixture over chicken breasts and place them on baking sheet.
bake 15 minutes.
meanwhile, combine maple syrup, margerine and mustard in a small saucepan over low heat.
cook, stirring until margerine melts and mixture is well combined.
after the chicken has baked for 15 minutes, brush with maple glaze and bake 5 minutes.
brush chicken again and bake until cooked through, about 5 minutes.

ps. if you're in toronto tonight and in the mood for some hip hop (hooray) ...
put on your parkdale finest and go to big primpin's 4th anniversary party.
new website photos have been promised, so stay tuned if you can't make it.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:58:02 GMT

why?

because it's been awhile since i've posted about mk, or any quality journalism for that matter ... (because it must be quality if it's in the times, right? hmm? jayson blair who?) and in true documentary style, i think the content speaks for itself.

Brand Loyalty

By Mary-Kate Olsen

Published: February 25, 2007
The New York Times Style Magazine

I have a large, red quilted Chanel bag that I borrowed from my sister Ashley. I wore it to an event and never gave it back. Luckily, she's moved on to another bag, so I'm safe for now. I'm not quite sure how many bags I have, but let's just say I have a few. When I find a bag I like, I tend to wear it to death until I become obsessed with another one. This probably happens three to five times a year. But I always come back to the Chanel. The size isn't overwhelming, and it has enough subtle detail to keep it interesting.

I also have the smaller version in blue and in white, but the red is definitely my favorite. I don't have a stylist — I'd rather just do my own thing and put together my own outfits. The chain-handle bag is the perfect accent to almost any combination I come up with. I look at everything with a designer's eye, but I wouldn't change a thing about this bag. I think that's why it's a true classic.

from the contributors page:
With her latest clothing line, The Row, Mary-Kate Olsen has graduated from the style pages to the garment district. Available at Maxfield and Barneys, the high-end knitwear is designed by Mary-Kate and her sister Ashley and their friend Danielle Sherman. The Row cements Olsen’s status as a fashion icon. In recent seasons, her much-photographed look — layers, leggings and giant sunglasses — has influenced collections by Marc Jacobs and Chanel. In turn, she says, “My clothing lines are inspired daily by fashion, art, music and culture.” Olsen praises her portable source of daily inspiration: her Chanel bag.

PS. can you believe doesn't use a stylist? well, you can, but you know, shocking nonetheless.
PPS. i made reference to the classic mk & ash movie to grandmother's house we go in an earlier post. did you know that grandmother's house is the same one that is on men in trees? and the same one seen in the photos of this summer get-together? i know, c-r-a-z-y... don't even try to pass off my town as "seattle" - i know it's vancouver in a minute flat. it's a totally useless gift.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:56:16 GMT

40 days until spring (come quickly)

ysl spring 2007 via style.com

oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
and give us not to think so far away
as the uncertain harvest; keep us here
all simply in the springing of the year.
robert frost

spring is nature's way of saying, "let's party!"
robin williams

things i love (besides springtime)
the post-your-outfit-online trend :: examples here and here
jjbean on main :: mid-morning coffee break
new music :: brett dennen
o'coco's :: i buy them @ whole foods
$10 well spent :: vogue living australia
roche-bobois mah jong seating system :: if only i had a sunken hippie living room and $12,000
comic strip :: show and tell by spencer fruhling

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:44:12 GMT

it's sunny. it's a good day.

photos: cate in marie claire and jake in gq

even though i've cut down on television lately, i feel the need to share that my new favourite show is ace of cakes on the food network. if i lived in baltimore and had a spare three grand, i'd buy a cake and have a party.

my new favourite andy samberg short is laser cats 2 (check out awesometown, too).

and unlike the 37.3 million other people watching, i've decided to drop american idol (for now). the meanness of the judges, the delusion of the contestants and the drunkenness of the paula have turned me off. in related idol news, i may be working at the canadian idol auditions. it will at least be entertaining, right? can ben mulroney really be that cheesy in person? i'm on the case.

leggings for dudes?!
sufjan stevens' majesty snowbird mp3 via here.
matt wertz tix are on sale now... february 14th - you couldn't possibly have any better plans ...
who hasn't always wanted to see a golden girl work-out video for active seniors?!
i can't wait for proenza schouler at target. i also just discovered that i can ship online nordstrom purchases to blaine, WA and pick them up for only $2.50. i think i'm in cross-border-shopping heaven.
the new shins album is streaming free on aol right now.

belatedly posted new year's pics...

this weekend nethy's down from whistler and we're going to get lost together.

ps. season 2 of the hills starts soon ... lauren must face the consequences of her poor choices. i hope.

***new york this spring. does anyone know any good places to stay (preferably more downtown than up)? i can't stay with friends this time 'round because there are three of us ... travelling with tacia & shelby. (e-mail me or myspace me)***

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 20:23:33 GMT

the end of an era

after 6 bestselling albums, 4 amazing seasons, 2 spectacular eyebrows and 1 celebrity best friend...

my favourite show is bowing out february 22nd.

i am a hardcore fan and have defended it to the bitter end. much like how my love for making the band led me to defend "liquid dreams," which, looking back, may have been in error. i now think it was just dirrrty. but i will never change my mind about the oc. it will live on in my heart through dvd.

i will miss you, seth cohen. you stole my heart.

we'll always have chrismukkah.

from pop candy...
"this feels like the best time to bring the show to its close," says josh schwartz, the show's creator and executive producer, in a press release i just received from fox. "thanks to the hard work of our cast, crew and writers, we have enjoyed our best season yet, and what better time to go out than creatively on top. it has been an amazing experience and a great run. for a certain audience, at a certain time, the oc has meant something. for that we are grateful."

i, for one, will be sad to say goodbye to the newport gang. on the plus side, at least they're going out on a high note with sharp writing and a great, mischa barton-less cast.

and if you like the schwartz, here's some good news: he's already working on an "action comedy about twentysomething spies" called chuck for nbc.

i leave you with my idea of tv's most romantic moment...

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 17:05:06 GMT

oh la la (news from the shallow end of the pool)

it would pretty much be the understatement of the year to say i'm excited about these things (but then, it's only january 4th)...

urban outfitters coming to vancouver - feb 2007 (they're hiring!)
h&m coming to vancouver - fall 2007 (they're hiring!)

photos: flickr.com

help me jesus - i'm a little worried about the bank balance with these shops in town

et finalement...

matt wertz & jon mclaughlin coming to vancouver - feb 14 2007

Sunday, December 31, 2006

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 02:13:14 GMT

party time!

photos: the cobrasnake (complete with la lohan and cory kennedy)

do you ever get tired of defending your! fabulous! life! to other people when all you want to do is be real?

christmas/new year's is party time and inevitably you've answered the "sooooo, what are you up to?" question many times over. i abhor small talk, yet i see its value in keeping up with people. would i be as interesting if i only worked at a coffee shop? you can't really get deep during chit chat, but do you tell the truth or keep up a facade and tell people what they want to hear? that you're great, your job's great, etc. doesn't it all seems like a f-ing competition?

something to think about, hmm?

:: yea for 2007 :: have fun partying ::