One Year With My Bear

One year ago today I followed an impulse that has since made me incredibly happy. It was a grey Wednesday when I left a doctor's appointment and with a free afternoon I took myself to the SPCA at Clark Street to find myself someone to adopt. The SPCA was not at all as depressing as I feared it would be. Cheerful and kind volunteers buzzed around everywhere, holding the animals and keeping them company. I took my time exploring the cat room, peering into every cage and whispering to the animals. 

I fell in love immediately with a great ball of grey fluff. She was the only one to jump off her perch and come rub against the cage door in affection. My heart was gone. Her name was Kahlua but there was no way that name was staying! I was impressed with the SPCA's detailed application process but after about two hours I was able to take my new pal home. It was my luck and her charm that made Rob, my brother and roommate, fall even more in love with her, even though he was resistant to me adopting an animal. It was his suggestion to name her Lulu and it seemed to fit her absolutely. 

It has been a wonderful year, filled with laughter and toes being bitten and 5am snuggles. I absolutely love having a pet and Lulu is an amazing one. I don't know Lulu's real birthday so we will always celebrate January 21st as our anniversary! 

I love you my Lulu monkey bear. 

(the above photo was taken the very day I adopted her with her first toy)

Christmas at Home

Here are a few images of Christmas around my home~ as you can tell, I get a little overexcited and every surface has to be decorated! I realize it's a little "much" but I adore it for one month of the year. Every time I come home to the pretty tree, the smell of cinnamon scented pine cones and the cheerful decorations I feel warm and fuzzy inside. It truly is a magical time of year! 

Now... if only it would snow! 

A Little Bit of Christmas

The first sign of Christmas around my place....pretty white lights on the spiral staircase! I'm not ready to decorate fully yet but I felt the place needed, well, something today. Lulu fully appreciated the effort~ she was fascinated by the lights, racing up and down the stairs, all hyper! 

This Much I Know For Sure

I'm in a questioning phase of life right now. Questioning my present, my future, my very near future. Questioning choices I've made and choices I have to make soon. There are so many things up in the air right now that I feel pulled in a hundred different directions. Despite all the unknowns in life at the moment this much I know for sure.....

1. French toast with maple syrup in a groovy 1950's-esque diner with my BFF solves pretty much anything.

2. Taking a veritable "cat nap" with Lulu solves anything else that #1 didn't solve.

3. I have the best ringtone in the world~ Alison by Elvis Costello.

4. I am really really excited that Christmas is coming and in another month I get to start decorating for it!

5. I really love rainy days, good parking spaces, days I have more than one coffee, days my bangs behave, wearing something new, Red Vines licorice, days when someone cute tells me I'm cute and days when I don't have to make any decisions. 

I also know this much for sure....

I want this dress from Shopbop. I also wish I looked like her, or even could just master the come hither look she's got going on. I think when I try to look like this people just think I'm about to sneeze. Plus, I love her booties. 

These tights from J.Crew are the prettiest ones I've seen all season. I visit them online every few days, they are that pretty. The shoes are pretty outstanding too. And the clutch. And the skirt. Come to think of it, I worship this whole look. But especially the tights. Sigh. 

I passed on these ridiculously beautiful stockings last year at Pottery Barn and I refuse to do that again this year. They are really too lovely to pass up. Plus, I have a mantle crying out for stockings. I'm not sure my (male) roommate will appreciate a white, bejewelled stocking, but too bad for him. He's getting one. 

I also love this eclectic, fun garland from Anthropologie. If I decide to forgo the stockings, this would be the alternative to hang from the mantle. I adore the cheery, bright colours and handmade feel to it. 

One day when I get married I will wear brightly coloured shoes like this bride. Isn't the yellow surprisingly pretty? 

Every time I see a picture of the Eiffel Tower I am happy. This one is no exception. This I know for sure.... next year I will make it back to Paris. I promise myself this. 

If I were to have one fantasy purchase this season it would be these super sexy booties from Christian Louboutin. What can I say? Swoon. And mine for only $1200. No problem (cough, cough). 

If the Louboutins were my splurge, this little number would be my save. My new obsession with Forever 21 has brought me to this hot piece for only $24. Astounding, how much style you can get for so few dollars! It's all about the high/low mix for this girl. 

This much I know for sure.....

I am lucky in many respects. Sometimes things are tough but they always get easier in time. I will decide what to do "when I grow up". Things will become clear. I am lucky for my amazing BFF and my other wonderful, supportive friends. I am lucky for my extraordinary parents. I am lucky for a pretty home and a current job I like to do. I am lucky to have an animal with such fantastic toe hair. I am lucky, this much I know for sure. 

New Hair

So here it is.... me debuting my new hair colour, with Lulu the guest star. I'm still deciding how to feel about it... but I'm trying to embrace the change! Hey, it's only hair! 

Smile of the Day- Lulu Bear

I spotted this original painting on Etsy and fell into gooey love with it! Now, I kind of refuse to buy it, because I just can't become that crazy cat lady who has pictures and figurines of the animal all over her apartment (even though sometimes the adorableness is overwhelming and the temptation is definitely there). But I can admire from afar can't I? This slice of cuteness makes me think of what Lulu would look like as a spunky baby kitten (which I never got to see as I just adopted her in January and she is 3 years old). 

Can't you see the likeness?! 

I'm smitten. 

Purchase this adorable painting here. 

Lulu's Park Day!

Today I did one of my first genuinely summery things this season~ I grabbed my book, iPod, a blanket, put Lulu in her carrier bag (with her leash) and went to the park! Lulu is an indoor cat so I wasn't sure how this was going to "go over" but she was fascinated! All the birds and unfamiliar noises had her entranced! It was so adorable to watch her discovering all sorts of new things!

Ooh! Birds!

Pretty leafy tree canopy. Dreamy light. I loved it.

Chillin'.

Being a Mom

Lulu is ill again and, like any mom, I am heartsick. I hate seeing her so uncomfortable when I can't do anything to help her (except love her and kiss her to pieces). I've just brought her home from the vet (she was wonderfully good) and I think we're going to take a late afternoon nap, as both she and I are tuckered out from the drama (especially me!). My ode to Lulu in pictures, these are some of my favourites in the 6 months I've had her. 

Lulu in Rob's guitar case! She looooves the soft felt lining! 

Lulu on the kitchen table~ she thinks she's in the jungle with my decorative grass! 

Fur

This is why I go through about one lint roller a week! White sofa + long haired cat = many many sticky lint sheets covered!