Best. Day. Ever*

Today I took one of the kiddos I take care of to the ROM. I got my membership last week and wanted to take advantage. We had a blast! Well, as much of a blast as one 29 year old single chick and 19 month old kid can have.

On the way home I got an email from the people I am sending/receiving treats from in a vegan food swap - so delightful! Basically it is a chain letter, but with food - you send a package to someone and you will receive one from a different person. I'm excited to put mine together and definitely excited to get treats in the mail. Part of the swap is that you blog about what you get, so you will definitely see all my goodies later in the month.

The afternoon flew by and I got home before dark for the first time in AGES. It was a real treat. After catching up with my neighbours/landlords/wonderful people I share a house with, I got my mail and came upstairs. My mom had sent me knitting needles and crochet hooks that belonged to my grandma! So sweet and wonderful.

So I called her to thank her and she, out of the blue, told me I was talented and sweet and smart and all these other nice things. I mean I know that she is my mom and is obligated to think those things, but my family isn't particularly mushy when it comes to telling each other stuff like that, so it meant a lot that she made the point to share her thoughts.

Tonight I am making vegan pizza, homemade Lara bars, and writing a review of Inside for my book blog. Expect an update on the food (teaser - I just finished the Lara bars and they turned out amazing).

After a terrible week last week and a draining weekend, this was a truly awesome day. Thanks, universe. You're all right sometimes.

*Not really ever, more like best day in the past month or so. Gimme a break.

Makeover Makeover

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all had a great day.

So after my book making DIY afternoon at Hanji on Saturday, I made my way home via Home Depot and arrived paint in tow. I decided that it was time to turn my ugly bookshelves into something I could actually stand to look at. As previously posted, I like the paper-painted look, so I used a variation of that and whipped up something. I think I did a pretty good job! Check it out:

Primed, painted and pasted some decorative paper on the back. 

Everything back in place - looks nice, no? (Ignore the dining room chairs.)

Next to the drawers that I found on the side of the road. Quick paint job and some new hardware made a huge difference. Painted these in "Forest Glen" - the picture doesn't really do the colour justice. 

Primed, painted, and a change of hardware. Not bad. 

happy in its new home. 

I also did my night stands, but I think I will wait to reveal those unti my bed frame is also done. 

Besides, I'm exhausta-pooped from making dinner all day. It was great though! With the exception of the stuffed peppers, which were not great/done on time (stupid lying recipe!) But hopefully my homemade brown bread rolls made up for it. 

And the highlight of the meal? This vegan, gluten-free pumpkin pie. Pecan crust, delicious pumpkin filling. And look how pretty!!!!!

I used this recipe from Oh She Glows - the pecan crust and classic filling. Delish! (And so pretty).

It was a great night with friends, even if the food wasn't spectacular (stupid lying stuffed pepper recipe - seriously! Not cool!) I haven't had people over really at all since my break up, so it was nice to have other people around in my space. I think I was a little starved for socialization. 

I'm super pleased with how this weekend went - I got a lot done around the house and made some yummy food, had friends over and was reminded of all the things I have to be thankful for. 

Weekend!

Hey everyone! I am going to take the weekend off from blogging here, but don't worry - there is lots of blog-worthy things in the works. A few teasers...

• My first two furniture makeover projects - I bought paint, paper, and new hardware so I'm going to see what I can do. I will do my best to take pictures throughout, but this is less a "how to" and more a "can I?" kind of thing. 
• Nerd alert! I'm cataloguing my library. Yes, I'm going to write about it. 
• Thanksgiving is this weekend and I'm cooking a vegan feast.
• I have something coming in the mail to tell you about...
• Two things coming in the mail actually! Exciting!
• I made something this weekend. I'll be blogging about it tonight at my other blog. Check it out out. 

Thanks all. My weekend will be spent writing, reading, painting, and watching Freaks and Geeks on Netflix, because I love Jason Segel. 

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!!

Psst...

I made my vegan Thanksgiving dinner menu today. Nothing weird or scary for the omnivores coming over to dine, just lots of really good, hopefully tasty, vegetable-based dishes. My biggest concern is that right now I have 4-6 people coming, plus myself, and only 2 chairs at my kitchen table (and only 4 dinner plates!) Methinks a trip to Ikea is afoot...

Also, I found something today that may mean I will get to put a big check mark next to one of my 30 goals. I don't yet want to say which one, but it is exciting! I have to figure out some details before I know for sure.

My plans for the weekend pretty tame. I am going to buy some primer and purple paint (more a lavender) as well as some new hardware and spruce up a set of drawers I have. I also want to paint all my bedroom furniture, but that will probably have to wait. I have a bunch of mis-matched pieces that I am going to replace hardware on and paint. I've been looking through pinterest looking for some ideas, but I not really made a plan yet.

I'll leave you with some project ideas that I'm toying with trying.

I love the colour on this one and how the simple hardware change give its it a whole new look. 

This is an Ikea hack (Hemnes) and I loooove it. I love the colour and the paintable wall paper detail. This is also much closer to the style of my dresser, so I think that I may do something along these lines. Not the paper and trim (because I am NOT that skilled) but the colour and maybe some white porcelain hardware?  

Not a fan of the top of this one, but I like the open section underneath. My side tables are UGLY but I could easily take off their front doors and get this open look. 

My headboard needs some work too. I have NO ideas. 

Alrighty. Friday. Let's do this. 

And Update on Updates

I'm having a craptastic week (although my neck is totally better! Yay hot water bottle!) Nothing big, but just one of those days where everything things to seem a million times worse that it probably is. In my experience, it is best to wave bye-bye to Tuesday, go to sleep, and start Wednesday with a fresh outlook.

But before I do that, three things:

1. I'm reading Inside and guys...it is SO. GOOD. I almost don't want to share my second copy with you but I realize that having two of the same book won't allow me to enjoy it twice as much, so I will still give one away. But it is that good; greed-inducing great literature. 
2. I'm reducing updates on here to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The thinking being that my "running" days are Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays so I will update during that half hour in the morning that I would otherwise be spending outside. Book blog will get all my my Saturday and evening attention. 
3. Medical intervention is official on the running. But we are going to re-evaluate in the new year and go from there. That will still give me 9 months to get to the 5k, which I think is totally doable. And not risking my health is pretty cool too I guess. So while I can't go running, I am cleared for light exercise like Yoga, so for now my morning "run" is going to be 30mins of yoga.   I can live with this. 

That is all. Now if you'll excuse me, Imma make my lunch for tomorrow, measure out the coffee and set the timer, and then going the #%* to bed. 

I've become that girl on the subway...

If you thought my first #Vegtober dinner would be fancy, you forgot that I never get home before 8:30pm. Sandwich with veggie meat, veganaise, and guacamole. Delish. 

Happy Vegtober!!

Happy Vegtober! I went shopping yesterday and got some vegan treats. I'm a little hesitant on the Veganaise, but mostly because I love mayo more than the average person. But I'm going to give it a shot!

I also ate my last non-vegan meal last night, which may or may not have included an entire package of goat cheese. Overall, I'm really excited about this month. I don't think it will be hard, but mostly that it will definitely be inconvenient (meeting friends for meals, finding foods while I'm out, etc.)

I am continuing to collect vegan recipes, and if you have one please share it! If you share it here you can enter a silly little contest to win an awesome book (see below). For those who commented last night, the contest just opened TODAY so comment again so you can win :)

Oh - happy electric shock update: I feel SO MUCH BETTER!

And last call for October birthdays - if you want a card, speak now!

That is it for today. Make sure you enter the contest (mostly because I want your recipes). Also check out Erin's blog - she is joining me in the #Vegtober challenge and I can't wait to see/try some of her recipes.


a Rafflecopter giveaway