Smile of the Day

Even on the most "meh" of days any random picture of a cute animal can make me smile. What is it about cute, furry little creatures that brings out the gooiness and best in people? Their innocence and funny peculiarities make them sweet and no matter how blah I feel, I'm instantly transformed to a place of momentary joy. 

How can you look at these and not smile? Try~ I dare you! 

Babies out for a little stroll! 

Did your heart just melt or what?! 

This pet pig in England likes to jump on the trampoline. 

ps- I'm never eating ham again.

This guy is seriously dreaming of his next meal!

Serce the flying bunny! 

Are you smiling yet? I hope so. 

Happy Sunday! 

The Best Things on Earth

Okay, I couldn't wait for Monday for the second installation of 

The Best Things on Earth. 

This Saturday needs an injection of happy! 

The Best Things on Earth Part 2

Midnight phone calls that last for hours

Running through sprinklers

Laughing for absolutely no reason at all

Laughing at an inside joke

Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep

Your first kiss (either your very first or your first with someone new)

Playing with a puppy

Sweet dreams

Hot chocolate on a winter night

Road trips with friends

Swinging on swings

The smell of cinnamon buns or cookies

Running into an old friend and realizing that some things never change

Watching the first snowfall of winter

Watching the sunrise

Getting a hug from someone you care deeply about

The Christmas spirit

Looking at old photos that bring back sweet memories

Knowing that somebody misses you

Thank you again, Kayli! 

The Best Things on Earth

My good friend Kayli sent me this last night~ a long list of the absolute best things on Earth. I think these loves are wildly universal and that everyone can relate to nearly everything on this beautiful list. It's a wonderful way to start the weekend! 

This is half now.... the other half I'll post Monday! 

The Best Things on Earth

Falling in love

Laughing so hard your face hurts

A hot shower

A special glance

Getting mail

Taking a drive on a pretty road

Hearing your favourite song on the radio

Lying in bed listening to the rain outside

Hot towels fresh out of the dryer

A bubble bath

A good conversation

The beach

Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter

Laughing at yourself

Having someone tell you that you're beautiful

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and thank you, my lovely Kayli! 

Trust

Despite being the big 3-0 I am about as naive as they come about many things in this life. I've never grown a thick outer shell over the years to protect me. I trust implicitly and let people into my life and into my heart without fear or hesitation or doubt. This has caused me to get hurt (and feel wildly stupid), many many times. Platonic girlfriends and bad boyfriends alike have been welcomed into my heart only for me to pay the price weeks, months, years later when things go wrong. 

I never wanted to be the kind of person who put up walls, who judged others or who didn't take a chance on someone. However, sometimes I don't listen to my instincts either. Should that change? Do I have to become the sort of person who lets no one in? Do I have to maintain my close circle and never take a chance on anyone else? Sometimes I think this would be okay (I have amazing people in my life) if it meant I avoided pain and disappointment. This reminds me of my favourite quote, "Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt." Oh, Kurt Vonnegut, you got it right. That is the life I want to lead. 

Today is a new day. While I woke up with a heavy heart I know that it is for the best that it is so. I tried. I opened myself to something I believed in and I'm proud of myself for that. Should I have nipped it in the bud at the start? Rejected this event in my life? Maybe. But I didn't. I refused to put up those walls and despite the aforementioned heavy heart, I'm glad I was open to what life had to offer me. I'm trusting, I'm loving and it gets me into trouble. But I wouldn't have it any other way. 

I'm open to love and open to life. 

This is the greatest adventure of all. 

I Wouldn't Be The Same Without You

To the people in my life,

Almost at 200 posts on this little blog! Thank you for reading! 

xoxoxo Ally

Love Each Day

Coming Up For Air

I am starting to feel better. Like myself again. Yesterday I was driving to work at around 6pm, going over the Granville Street Bridge into the downtown core. The sun was getting low and the light was incredibly beautiful, bouncing off the glass highrises that dot the Vancouver skyline. There was literally not a cloud in the sky as far as the eye could see. It was warm for late September and I was hot despite my window being rolled all the way down and the breeze in my hair. I was listening to my favourite piece of music in the world (curious? click here to hear it) and for the first time in days, weeks, I could feel it. Feel the music in the pit of my stomach, feel the beauty of the perfect evening. For a few moments while speeding over that bridge I felt completely happy in the world. And I knew that everything would be okay. 

More Dreamy Light

A few weeks ago I posted photographs I had been collecting along the way, all bookmarked because of the striking beauty of the light in them. I have found more to love and share. You know that saying, do something everyday that makes you happy? Looking at these does that for me. They also make me itch to take that photography class that was my New Years resolution/promise to myself nine long months ago. Maybe soon....

(Photos via Paper Tissue)

Novels

(Image via Le Love)

Big Style In A Small Space

Sometimes it is very cool to be on a "hello" basis with someone you admire from afar. That happened to me the other night and I got a little kick out of it. It might not mean much to other people but to me it was a small thrill.  

As I have mentioned before my favourite store in the world (think of the way Holly Golightly feels for Tiffany&Co.) is the Yaletown home decor mecca, The Cross. When I walk in the doors and the 5000 square feet envelopes me, I weirdly feel like nothing bad can happen to me. To be surrounded by so much beauty is a heady thing. I often feel transported to an entirely different place~ a gentler, English-speaking Paris perhaps? No matter~ I adore everything about it. My consistent wanderings through over the past five years has gotten me on a hello, chit chat basis with the staff while there. I experienced role reversal a few evenings ago when Peter, one of the store's amazing designers, stopped by my work and we exchanged genuine greetings of the "nice to see you" variety. A solid friendship it is not, but a little random connection in this city is a funny, lovely thing. 

At any rate, the exchange reminded me of Peter's gorgeous home, featured in the August 2008 issue of Canadian House & Home. He lives in a 625 square foot apartment in the downtown core and though the physical space is small, as it is apt to be in the centre of a city, it is broad with impact and style. Besides, as many of his furnishings are from The Cross, it was inevitable I would absolutely love it! The juicy hits of colour and wall of books makes me swoon! 

(Photos via The Cross from Canadian House and Home)

Dreamy Light

p.s - As I wandered through the painting gallery (see post below), taking in the pretty landscapes, it occurred to me that everything I really loved involved either a beautiful sky or soft, dreamy light. Just as in painting, many of the photographs I bookmark for this blog have that same ethereal quality. I think I find it soothing and sweet and that nature is bestowing us with a lovely secret or a spontaneous gift when things are so irresistibly beautiful. A few photographs of dreamy light that give me goose bumps... just because it's raining again, and though I love it, this is prettier. xoxo

(Photos via Paper Tissue)

Quote of the Day

"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes along their way." 

-Karen S. Magee

(Photo via Paper Tissue)

Marshmallows Are From Heaven