Springtime Procrasta-cool

Spring is coming!
Does that opening line summarize my enthusiasm for this particular upcoming season? Technically, spring is upon us, but has yet to show its face. This coming Friday will prove my point for any doubters: Montreal is calling for 5-10 cm of snow.

Nonetheless, you can smell spring in the air and it has definitely put a little bounce back in my step. There are so many things I have put off since I graduated from post secondary last may: changing my residency, getting provincial medical coverage, finding a job that is actually in my job field, creating a realistic budget, etc etc. There is something to be said for people who fend off procrastination and get things done, and if there was one word I could use to summarize how this feels, it would be 'Success'.

A bad habit I've been working at breaking is procrastinating. Sometimes it is intentional. Sometimes it is subconscious. One way Ive discovered to detect procrastination is to evaluate how clean my bathroom or floors are. If I have chosen to clean my bathroom instead of doing a chore/assignment/task (even if I blared Beyonce and lip synched while doing it and totally loved it) , I am procrastinating. If I have picked up everything off my floors, swept and then mopped, I am procrastinating.

The thing we have to keep in mind is how glorious we will feel when that task is finally done. It is a pretty good feeling. Putting something off, ignoring it, and delaying its completion is good for no one. So, why not set your alarm for five minutes and get to it once the alarm goes off. Better yet, set up a reward system. And finally, be open and honest about why you don't want to do what you're putting it off, then make it worth it somehow. If you can, organize yourself to prevent the same situation from repeating itself again in the future.

After two weeks of practicing this philosophy, I have crossed so many important things off my to do list and I am seeing results! The best reward is knowing that I don't have to keep that task in the back of my mind and I can free up some head space for focusing on what's next.

Practice makes perfect, and I am an amateur at this. If I keep at it though, I will be the MTL Martha Stewart in no time and I will be completely happy with that.

Blank Walls

Two days ago I mentioned that I need to find some art to hang on the wall. I was first inspired to do this when my employer was giving away a number of large frames and I thought it was perfect because I have a lot of blank space in my apartment where there ought to be something nice to look at. More recently, I was visiting a friend in Ottawa who had taken the time to hang some nice photos and it just really tied everything together. It was the cherry on top. So... here I am restarting my quest to find something to decorate my walls with.

In beginning my search, there were some criteria I realized I needed to follow:

1. It has to be abstract and non figurative. It's a personal taste, although I did find one artist who made me create an exception to this rule
2. It has to be bright and the colours have to be versatile. Next year, Seb and I will be moving and almost definitely purchasing new furniture. I want to make sure that what I buy now will also work with whatever furniture I purchase in the near future.
3. Seb has to approve

For this conquest, I went to etsy.com because I know the selection is wide ranging. Here are some of the paintings/prints I found that I will be asking Seb to weigh in on!

These first two are the exceptions to the 'abstract' rule:

Hence by Leigh Viner

Ingenue by Leigh Viner- Seb has already vetoed this one, which I wasn't surprised

to hear, but I had to try anyways

And now for the abstract beauties...

Pastel Salmon by Villavera

Soft pink White Original Abstract Painting on canvas by Duealberi

My top choice is probably Hence by Leigh Viner, and the second being the painting by Duealberi but the search will continue and I am excited to see what will be chosen! What with spring coming and my optimism of snow free streets and warm breezy days, the final chosen piece will undoubtedly reflect this and that will make it a great year round piece to look at and liven up our living space. Ill post the final choice when it is made!

Spring Cleaning

A month or so ago, my boyfriend and I rearranged our apartment with the advice I got from my cousin who is an architect. I knew she'd be able to give great advice since proportions and space are in her field of work. The beauty of the revamp was that there was nothing to buy, it was all a question of rearranging. My boyfriend was apprehensive but open to it and we got under way the following week. Along the way, Seb (the bf) insisted we clean, disinfect and dust. It was annoying at the time but I have to say now that Im quite pleased with the little Martha Stewart inside of him because now I dont really need to do any spring cleaning!

This got me thinking though: why does spring cleaning have to be limited to the physical space surrounding you? What about your body? Mind? Wardrobe? Routines and habits? This is the sort of thing that can be extension of, say, New Year's resolutions. For example, I love going to the gym, but I also love playing hooky like I did yesterday. Committing to something you know is good for you, but just a little harder to get around to, can be a spring cleaning in itself because you are cleaning your mind of lazy habits.

This year's spring cleaning will be a matter of shaking off the non-physical cobwebs of body and mind to reveal a clearer, more optimistic, streamlined self.

When it first occurred to me to write this post, I remembered a trend forecast that I did for summer 2012 that very much applies to what Im going after right now. I just look at it and smell lavender. I picture white linen, canvas totes, loafers and my Ray Ban Aviators. Sigh.

Here's to Summer 2013

Spring Summer 2012 Trend Forecast

Beginners (luck?)

I decided to play hooky today since I have the apartment to myself. The world doesn't seem to want me to go outside anyways (read: there is a massive snow storm right now and I was getting ready to bust out my flats). Today's theme is new beginnings. I am downright miserable with the job Ive now held for almost a year and am ready to burst into my actual field with a new job. The portfolio and CV are complete and up to date and I have begun the tedious task of online career window shopping. Its not enough that I don't like the idea of emailing my info to a stranger somewhere in around the Montreal area, but I have no job experience in women's wear and everyone wants 3-5 years experience. Fun? Oh, yes.

I also need to find artwork for the living room and bedroom. With my attention waining, I am sure I will have found the perfect pastel abstract print on Etsy come night fall. I digress...

The beauty of this particular job search right now is that I don't have to jump at the first opportunity I get because I am already employed. I get my five days, health benefits and the (ever ridiculous) protection of a union. 

I have been in touch with a top recruiter, checked out Craigslist, created my LinkedIn account, and have yet to submit a single application but the wheels are turning and it's exciting to see where life will take me next. Every time I say that, I have this little voice in my head say "Ya, 30K a year is thrilling!", but you have to start somewhere, right?