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All bad things must come to an end.

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Just two more days until what I think is arguably the best thing on television right now comes to and end. Yes, I'm talking about Breaking Bad (which I professed my love for in this post). If you still haven't watched it after I told you all how good it was then...I don't know what to say. Shame on you. Shame on you.

But seriously, I'm both looking forward to it beyond words and dreading it because after Sunday night...that's it. No more new episodes of Breaking Bad. And that makes me sad because it is so freakin' good.

So, on Sunday I'm hosting a small little get-together with a total Breaking Bad theme - music, food, decorations...everything. Maybe you're having a few friends over as well to watch the finale? Well if you are, or even if you're not and you just want to make an occasion of it for yourself, I thought I'd share some of my plans and ideas with you. However, before I get to it - let's talk theories! Because I'd love to hear what you think is going to happen...and I have a theory myself!

(If you aren't caught up on the series and don't want any spoilers skip ahead and continue reading after the second photo in this post)

So, here's my theory...which I haven't heard/read anywhere else and I think it is a pretty good one. I think Walt gets to Lydia and Lydia helps him find/get to Jack and his crew. (I think Lydia trusts Walt, remember he took care of the 9 in prison when Mike wouldn't, and he'll pull the "you owe me" card). I think Todd kills Jessie. I think Walt kills Jack and his crew (not sure if Todd gets away or Walt kill's him too). And then as he's trying to say a final goodbye to his family or apologize to them for everything he's brought on, I think Marie kills Walt. Didn't see that one coming did you??? Yup, I think Marie kills him....as Skylar and possibly even Walt Jr. looks on. Boo-yah! What's your theory?


Alright, let's share some ideas!

First, setting the scene. I found this poster which I think is fun - so I'll be putting that up outside my door to set the mood as my four guests arrive. What could also be fun is if you put some yellow crime scene tape up (but you might want to forewarn the neighbours so they don't think something terrible has happened!) Then to keep it really simple you can just pick up some blue decorations from the dollar store. I'll probably keep it uber-simple and just get blue napkins. And then pick up some blue flowers for the table.

Next, some appropriate music. My first three weeks in my new apartment was spent without cable so I re-watched the first four seasons of Breaking Bad on my laptop. Each time a song came on that I thought really captured the scene - I shazam'd it...and ended up with the perfect playlist for my little get together. Here it is:

But if you have access to Spotify (it's not available in Canada) there are thousands of playlists already created and ready to go for you. Easy peasy. I'm debating printing out a list of the songs (on the playlist I created) along with the season and episode it appeared in and placing it near the music for people to check out if they wonder"which episode was this in again?!?!"

Finally, the food. Here's where you can really have some fun with the theme. Don't take it too literal or else you'll just be making it tough for yourself. Here are some ideas (* indicate what I'll be serving):

- *Get some fried chicken from your favourite local place and cover the container with one of these Los Pollos Hermano's images - boom, you're serving Los Pollos Hermanos. Perfect.
- Chicken and waffles isn't really served here in Canada, but if it's something you're able to get locally the chicken can be the nod to Gus' establishment and the waffles can be the nod to the White's family breakfast...they were very fond of breakfast!
- *How about some cupcakes with blue "meth" on top?
- *Pick up an assortment of donuts and call them Hank's DEA Donuts
- *I'm not really a drinker but I'll be serving Molly's Walterita's
- *Jessie's Funyuns (remember this episode?)
- Order a pizza and call it a night (in recognition of this episode)

Be creative and have fun with it. Make a salad and call it Saul's "Know's A Guy" Salad. Serve drinks "on the rocks" in honour of Mike. Offer some specialty tea with desert in a nod to Lydia. Set up a taco bar (tacos, New Mexico, makes sense to me). Spike some orange juice and pretend that's what's in Skylar and Walt's cup in the morning at their breakfast table...

So, there are some super simple ideas to help you host a little get together...Breaking Bad style. Are any of you having friend's over to watch the finale this Sunday? Ugh, what will I watch once it's over? What shows are you currently into that I should turn my attention to next? Homeland seems to do well at the Emmy's...and I've heard a lot about Scandal...

New Routines.

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It's been a little bit quiet around here, huh? Ugh, my bad. Lots going on. Nothing big per say. Just...life happening. A little random catch up post then? Note I said random so don't expect any kind of cohesiveness.

▲ I've really been focusing on making my little apartment feel like home...which means spending time there, having friends and family over, and getting into a routine. Can I tell you, at the end of the work day I truly look forward to coming home to my little apartment. It's still a long way to go in terms of decorating but it's 100% a reflection of me and I just love the feeling of being in the space. In the beginning Howard would sometimes not want to go up the stairs but now he goes up them no problem and goes right to our door. A sign that it's starting to feel like home to him too? Also, I've met nearly all of my neighbours and so far so good :)

▲ Spending more time at my apartment means I've been trying to get Howard into a new routine as well (because we now go by mom's house less often). It's been tough. He's not used to spending entire work days home alone and has had to a few times and when I get home he is not happy. So I've been looking for a dog sitter or walker for him and finally found a dog daycare last week that I think is going to work perfectly. This is like a huge burden lifted off my shoulders because I felt super guilty the few times I had to leave him home alone while I was at work. Also, part of getting Howard into a new routine involves waking up early so I can give him a nice long walk before I go to work and taking him out to the dog park in the evening once I'm home. So once I finally do get in and settled and eat it's late in the evening - another reason my blogging has been a bit sporadic.

▲ My Breaking Bad finale dinner party was so much fun....despite my predictions being so wrong! How brilliant was that final episode? It's taken me a while to digest but as they days went by and I talked about it with other fans and had a chance to really appreciate all that was done in the episode (from the writing to the acting to the directing) I've come to the conclusion that it was basically the perfect final episode.

▲ I don't want to say too much about this next thing...because I feel like I've mentioned it a few times and never really followed through..but I am seriously working on a project that I've had in my mind for months now. I even have a date set for it to launch in 2014. I'm so so excited and can't wait to share more with you.

▲ I've been cooking more and I really enjoy it. I'm not a wine drinker but a few times with my meal I've thought "this would probably be even better with a nice glass of wine" - but I know nothing about wine! What are some of your favourite affordable wines?

▲ The commercial for that new TLC show about women from Alaska looking for love and going to Miami or something....I get SO irritated when the commercial starts and they say "Dating in Alaska is not like dating anywhere else in the world..." It's like, really? Dating in Alaska is not like dating anywhere else in the world?? Really?!? I bet it's a heck of a lot harder to date in let's say....Iran or Afghanistan or heck parts of India. Seriously. Ugh. I don't know why I let it bother me so much.

▲ Have I told you all that my sister is expecting again? Yup! I'm gonna be an aunt again...and besides the doctor (and a random lady at the library...long story) I'm the only one who knows the sex of the baby. Very fun! This also means that I'm in the process of planning a baby shower....

▲ Seriously need to do some Fall shopping. I LOVE this season (because I love layering and boots and scarves and the beautiful colours of the leaves changing...) but my wardrobe is sorely lacking. I blame this on the fact that I have to wear a company shirt, jeans, and black shoes for work. Ugh. I abhor having to wear a uniform.

▲ I'm trying to become an early riser...which is tough! But when you get up early you get so much done before, like, noon. Heck, before 10am. Do any of you get up early? Like, before 8am? What's the secret???

▲ Seeing as I'm trying to wake up early and take Howard for long morning walks, I'm looking for some good podcasts to listen to while we're out - any suggestions?Or do any of you listen/watch Ted Talks and have some favourites that are particularly inspiring? Please share!

Alright. How's that for random? What have you been up to lately?

A day at a castle.

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Earlier this week the company I work for had our annual Fall manager's meeting at the historic Casa Loma. The last time I visited Casa Loma was on a school trip when I was about 9 or 10 years old so I probably didn't appreciate the details of the castle that much then - but boy did I this time....

clockwise from top left: ceiling in the library / floor detail in one of the bathrooms / close up of ceiling in library / more beautiful floor details in another bathroom
I'm a huge history buff. I love learning about the past. About the way people lived 40 years ago or 400 years ago or 4000 years ago (hence my love of ancient Egyptian history). I am endlessly amazed that I can basically walk in the paths and sit in the rooms that people who lived decades (centuries!) before me did. That I can see things with my own two eyes that they did. [My sister things that makes me a bit of a dork but I always ask her "how can you not be excited by that?!?!" (and she'll respond by looking at me wide-eyed and in disbelief and say "you really are excited aren't you???" while she shakes her head in pity lol).] I'll have all these questions and thoughts running through my mind about the people who lived there, who worked, who visited there...ugh, it's so amazing. And the details in this castle are breathtaking. Do you see those floors? I'm saving those photos for inspiration for when I own my own home because I want floors like that somewhere in my future home. While at the castle I also participated in the Hollywood tour (where the very knowledgeable guide also told us a bit about the man who had the castle built and what became of him) and learned about some of the many movies that have been filmed there.

Do the following two pictures look at all familiar?



If you're a fan of the X-Men series (like I am) then they should!The interior of Casa Loma was used in the filming of the movies (I think just the first and second movie and then they filmed in Vancouver...so they must have used a recreated set or something) as the interior of Professor Xavier's school for the gifted - aka the X-Men Headquarters!

via
Remember when Storm was teaching her class? That took place in the conservatory. And I couldn't find a good photo from the movie, but if you remember any hallway scenes - particularly in the first movie when Wolverine was on the medical table and Dr. Grey was looking over him for the first time and he tore off all the monitors and ran through the halls? Yup! That's the exact hall above.  I've known the movie was filmed there for years now but this was my first time being there since knowing that...so it was kinda cool to walk into the room and be like, "this is where Storm taught!" or "this was Professor X's office!" Haha. I kinda am a dork.

Our meeting ended just after 5 pm and the castle closes to tourists & visitors at 5 pm - so we were the last to leave. As I was leaving I said to one of the staff that I was hoping they closed later because I would have loved to wander around a bit and they very kindly allowed me to explore until their shift ended at 5:30. Have you every wandered a 100+ year old castle by yourself? Well, almost by yourself except for a handful of staff. It was incredible. I wandered into what was originally the library and was then used as a ballroom in the 20/30s (if I'm remember what I learned correctly) where one of the employees was playing the piano. You could almost envision the grande balls that were probably had in that room. It was hauntingly beautiful.


Sorry for the terrible video quality but you get the idea?

At any rate, although I was there for the entire day most of it was spent in a meeting and I would have loved to explore more - this visit definitely whetted my appetite and I will definitely be returning for a proper visit and tour - if not later this season then in the Spring (because I expect the gardens are beautiful). If you're ever in Toronto I'd highly suggest you visit it too.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend! And Happy Thanksgiving Long Weekend to my fellow Canadians!!

Hello??? and a newly rebranded feature: Obsessed.

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Has it really been a month since my last post? To be honest, it feels much longer than that but I think this is probably the longest unintentional break from blogging I've taken. The first two weeks was due to general busyness and lazyness and then my power cable for my laptop went kaput...so I've been debating whether to buy a new power cable or just buy a new laptop (since mine is about 5 years old!) or to maybe buy a desktop...Luckily, my cousin had a spare cable and I picked it up last night - so here I am.

Sigh. Where does even one start after a month of no updates? Rather than try to recap everything I've been up to I'm just gonna get back into things - business as usual. If you follow me on twitter or instagram (@kayinto) you've seen bits and pieces of what I've been doing since I still updated there. If you don't follow me on either...well, lots of blog posts are coming up so stay tuned!

Okay - so I thought we'd ease back into things with a newly rebranded feature I'm calling Obsessed. I used to call this feature Link Love but I think Obsessed is a bit more fun. It's basically sharing things I'm Obsessed with with all of you. Obsessed as in totally loving...not in that creepy stalk-erish way!


I discovered Eddie Huang while perusing some Vice videos on YouTube and...I'm obsessed with him. This guy is honest, smart, hilarious, a bit vulgar...and just overall dope. I totally want to eat at his restaurant the next time I'm in NYC and read his book.

Behind Photographs: Archiving Photographic Legends is a book I would love to add to my collection...if it weren't so cost-prohbitive for me. I love the concept because the photos are ones we are all familiar with - they're iconic...but perhaps not so much the photographers behind those images? I'd just love to flip through it and have it on my coffee table.

I so appreciated this review of the newly released Kinfolk Cook book that Felicia wrote. It hit the nail on the head of so many things I've thought about what's happening in blogland and that I touched on in a post I wrote earlier this year. Just go read it.

So...what have you been up to? What are you obsessed with?

My Little Apartment: The current state of things.

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As I mentioned in my last post, I have lots to share and a handful of those updates will be about the current state of my little apartment. It's been awhile since I've given any updates and I have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to wait until everything is "finished" before sharing - that seeing the little projects along the way and how things naturally progress is part of the fun. At least I think it is?

So, the current state of things around here.

My bff was in town for a few days with her hubby and while here he put up a few things around the apartment for me (I think I need a hammer drill). The curtain rod went up in my bedroom so I was able to hang my curtains. They make the unfinished room look more finished, but it's now time to start injecting some oomph into the room. Some ethnic fabrics and artwork on the walls and dark elements to ground the room (it's all feeling very light and airy...perhaps a bit too much so). I also have plans for those curtains that will involve some black fabric paint and a potato...

The other thing that went up were some new blinds in the kitchen. To be specific, it's the BRUDDANS blinds that are new from IKEA and I'm kinda in love with them. I don't really know what the material is...almost a thin cotton like material? But it provides just enough privacy and filters the light beautifully. But the best part is the design. It's like an accordion and literally works via a push/pull system. There are no cords. You gently pull it down and it just stays. Or you gently push it up and it stays. Genius and perfect in the kitchen. I made a little video on instagram to show how it works if this all sounds a bit confusing.

The last thing that went up was the mirror I bought ages ago on sale because of some chips in the paint. The chips don't bother me though - gives it character. I love the curvy lines of it and it looks perfect in the entryway. If you look closely at the end of the hall you can see the progress that has been made in the kitchen...proper photos will come soon but know that the kitchen has been in limbo for about five weeks. Such is life.

And then there's the living/dining area which is starting to look slightly like a jungle? As I was walking Howard a neighbour was pruning their tree and so I took one of the largest branches and stuck it in the corner...I loved the colours of the leaves.

Anyways, this is just a little peek into what my little apartment is looking like. Slow and steady, right?

*I wanted to also acknowledge Remembrance Day and to say a heartfelt "thank you" to veterans past and present who have sacrificed and served for Canada.

Ready for the weekend.

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It's finally the weekend. And I'm off. Yes. Yes, yes, yes because I need a weekend. Desperately. Feeling so overwhelmed and stressed lately which is not good. And I owe a few of you emails that I am so very far behind on - my apologies. It seems I've become terrible at responding to email and I really feel awful that I have yet to write back to those that have taken the time to write to me. My goal, among other things this weekend, is to sit down and respond. So if you've sent me an email in the past little while please know that a response is on its way.

A busy weekend ahead when all I really want to do is lay in bed and read, but there are places I need to be and things that need to get done...including putting up the Christmas tree! Because I've decided that if it's early enough for the Santa Claus Parade then I can put up my tree and start to get into the holiday spirit. I mean, Christmas time is one of my favourite times of the year.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

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Last night I finally put up my Christmas tree...two weeks later than I originally intended to. Blame it on the fact that I couldn't find the tree stand so I had to go out and buy a new one. I'll finish putting on the decorations later this week - whenever I can find the time.

Time. Working full-time at a large company in a department of one during the busiest season of the year for my role at my company is tough. Add in trying to maintain some form of social life, family time (I have mentioned that my sister is having another baby girl in just over a week, right??), appointments, errands, and me time and well - you kinda start to wish for more time. It's this time of the year when I start to think it'd be nice to have someone around. You know, a significant other. Not just for the companionship as you're watching holiday movies and drinking a glass of wine (I've trying to become a wine drinker y'all), or for when you're putting up the tree and struggling with the lights, but to help with the household chores lolol. Right now, all the floors in my little apartment need to be mopped and polished and I just really wish there was someone else around to do it. LOL.

In addition to the above, I've been working away on the "secret" project that I've hinted at several times. Good news, the ball is fully rolling and as nervous as I am about it (nerves are normal, right?) I am hoping to share what it is with all of you very very soon. Maybe next week?

Some random pics of what I've been up to...don't forget you can stay up to date with what I'm up to via twitter or instagram - I'm @kayinto on both! Hope your holiday season is off to a great start!

got around to hanging some frames


the clarisonic i purchased last holiday season stopped working and sephora exchanged it for a brand new one - no problem...awesome customer service! so excited to start using it regularly again

finally purchased Kiehl's Ultra Moisturizer and got some little samples...repurchased my favourite brown pencil from MAC..got a tester tube of Benefit's They're Real mascara because I hear SO much about it

planned and executed my company's holiday party - for 300 people

My Little Apartment: A new media console.

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So a few days ago I finally bought a proper media console.

Truth be told, it isn't meant to be a media console. There aren't any openings in the back for air to circulate from entertainment equipment nor are there any openings/holes in the back to run cable cords through...but I digress, despite that it's perfect and I kinda love it. Kinda meaning really.

But let's rewind. This is what I started with.

Yes, that is my old coffee table from my last apartment. I'm in the process of keeping an eye out for just the right coffee table (though the more I go without one the more I think I might not get one) but rather than get rid of this one just yet I decided I could sit my tv and cable/internet box on them - classier than having them sit on the floor, right? Anyways, obviously it was meant to be temporary while I kept an eye out for the right media console - which would meet the following requirements:

- provide closed storage
- wide enough that I could put decorative accessories on top
- wide enough to take up a good portion of the wall but not all of the wall
- not too deep
- simple lines
- not too high
- on budget (less than $200)

With that in mind, I originally wanted a vintage teak credenza. Something like these. But the more I started to think about it I decided, as much as I love mixing woods, perhaps I didn't want to do that here. As you know, in my little apartment my living and dining area are open to each other and, including the floor, I've already got about 3-4 different wood tones going on...I  think that's enough. Plus, I didn't want the wall the tv is on to feel too heavy. So I ruled out a teak credenza and decided, like many others before me, I'd do a fauxdenza. It'd meet all the requirements plus be "light."

Then I was at IKEA and I saw this. And I thought "hmmm, that could work..." and weeks passed and months passed and I was still using the coffee table because the thought of trying to drill into what I believe to be concrete walls so I could mount my fauxdenza-to-be exhausted me. And then I was at IKEA and saw that the sofa table and again thought... "hmmm, that really could work..."- so I took some measurements at home to make sure it was right and it was and I went back and bought it. Plus, it was on sale - $199 down to $99. Awe-some.

So then this happened:




And now I have this:

I'm really loving it. It reminds me of this one from CB2 but for like 1/4 the price. What I like about it? It meets all of my requirements plus I like the glass shelves--more space to display stuff (plus the shelves being glass makes it feel lighter than wood). It's also surprisingly(?) solid. The back isn't that...folded cardboard like material (you know what I'm talking about, right?) - it's a single piece of wood (which means I can't simply cut a hole in the back to run cords out of...I'll have to use that circular drill bit).

I put the entire thing together by myself (and felt like a boss) while watching Mrs. Doubtfire and thought I'd share some tips with you guys about putting together IKEA stuff all by yourself:

1. Following the pictures on the first few pages of the instruction booklet, group and lay all the pieces out first...yes even the screws and the pegs - everything...I even do it in the same order it appears in the booklet. That way you (a) know you aren't missing any pieces and (b) aren't wondering if you need this screw or that screw that kinda looks like it. It seems like a tedious step but just do it.

2. Make sure you have enough space to lay everything out and turn things around and put things together. It's just nicer to work in a clear space not bumping into things.

3. Follow the picture exactly. If the holes are along the bottom, just turn the piece so that the holes run along the bottom instead of trying to figure it out in reverse. Seems like a little thing but again, just do it.

4. Go in order. Don't skip ahead. Even if you really want to or you're sure what comes next. Just follow the pictures.

Follow those steps and things shouldn't be too difficult. Oh, and if you have a drill it moves things along a bit faster but it's totally not necessary...I've put other things together without one but using one this time was a little bit of a revelation. And you don't need a fancy drill. I have a fairly straightforward, inexpensive one by Black & Decker.

Anywho, back to my new entertainment unit. I kinda love it and it makes me happy. So money and time well spent...and worth the wait. I'm really liking the process of decorating this apartment. This more...thoughtful approach of trying to bring in things only that I really love and that really fit the aesthetic I'm going for and do the job I want them to do (even if the job is to look pretty/interesting) and of waiting to find just the right piece.

Next up? I've already put the cable/internet box on the lower shelf so next up is drilling a hole in the back to run the cords through, then styling up the shelves with some books etc., then putting up a gallery wall surrounding the tv...which I've already begun. With the way I've been blogging lately who knows when I'll get to sharing that...hopefully sooner than later!

What about you? Any new furniture additions recently?

*I mentioned it above but I'll say it again, this is not intended to be a media console - it's a sofa table. So should you decide to purchase it and use it as a media console that's your decision. I decided that's how I wanted to use it and it's working just fine for me.

BIG Announcement: This Is Verity

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Just in time for Christmas, I can finally let you all in on my little/big secret...

This blog, Chronicled, has been sorely neglected over the past several weeks and it's time I come clean with you all for the reason why. This post has been a long time coming and I've hinted at working on a "project" for some time now so I am excited, and a bit nervous to be honest, to finally let the cat out of the bag and to share it with you all.

For a long time I've wanted to create something that - at the end of the day - inspires people and reflects diversity. I've had a number of different ideas but it wasn't until this post that I wrote on diversity earlier this year when I decided I really needed to go forth with one of my ideas. So often we can talk ourselves out of doing something, of taking a chance, but I decided that this time - I would execute one of my ideas. I had to at least try. And so I took one of my ideas and molded it...and brainstormed and...gradually something exciting started to take shape. And I started jotting down notes....lots and lots of notes and ideas and just...words...until I had pages of notes, and ideas, and words.. And a solid idea.

I'm so excited to announce to you all that in the new year I will be launching a new website, This Is Verity. This Is Verity is a site that aims to reflect diversity and provide authentic, accessible, and inspiring stories, tips, and inspiration. I created TIV to fill a void in an online landscape that, to me, feels increasingly homogenous, inaccessible, unrealistic, and disingenuous. (And I think, at least according to the comments on this post, that some of you feel the same way?) At the core of This Is Verity is the knowledge that, despite what some sites and blog-zines would lead you to believe, success and inspiration has many different faces, that it doesn't have to cost a fortune to live a stylish, inspired, and full life, that wandering off the beaten path can be just as full-filling as staying on it, that imperfectly perfect is as good as perfect, that there is beauty in diversity. This Is Verity will initially focus on three areas - career, travel, and beauty & fashion. You'll read honest stories from a diverse range of women (and the occasional man) about how they've managed to create, or are in the process of creating, a life they love - sometimes by staying on the "path" and sometimes by wandering off of it. You'll find beauty tips and routines from women who are every colour of the rainbow. You'll be encouraged to explore and see the beauty in cities not only like Paris and New York but also Delhi, Seoul, Lima, Windhoek, Berlin, Ankara, Bangkok, Sydney... You'll be inspired...to follow your dreams? Go after (or create) the job you've always wanted? To travel and explore? To find new favourite spots in your own backyard? To try a new shade of lipstick? To wear something you never thought you could pull off...

So we're clear, This Is Verity is not a blog and is certainly not replacing Chronicled. This Is Verity is a new online resource for people looking for diversity AND inspiration. Heck, the tagline is "where diversity and inspiration collide" - because my goal is for it to be exactly that.

I've been working on This Is Verity for a few months now and more solidly over the past several weeks and I really can't wait for you all to see it. I've reached out to my good friend Brenna of This Battered Suitcase and she's agreed to come onboard as TIV's Travel Contributor; we're working on a whole bunch of good, inspiring, informative, stuff for you guys. I've lined up some incredibly inspiring stories from women around the world who, some after trial and error, are making a living doing what they love and are passionate about. I'll be working with a great design company to have a site that is clean, simple, and super functional. Everyone I've reached out to so far about TIV has been so incredibly supportive and encouraging and I really can't wait for you all to see and dig into it.

But, until then (I'll announce the exact launch date soon) you guys can follow TIV at the following where you'll get regular updates and sneak peeks:

website: thisisverity.com
twitter: @thisisverity
instagram: thisisverity
facebook: thisisverity

If you go to the website now you can subscribe to be notified of the launch date and to stay in the know with all things TIV. I would really love your support - so if you feel so inclined I'd love for you to share the news of This Is Verity with your blog readers and followers on social media. Perhaps tweet a link to the website? Or to this post? Or go like TIV on Facebook and share it with your friends and family??

So, now you know what's been keeping me busy! Feel free to comment below and let me know what you think! Or you can always send me an email (hellokisha[at]gmail.com) - I'd really love to hear your thoughts...or maybe you know someone who would be good to feature? I'm all ears...err eyes.

Definitely scary putting this "out there" but sometimes you just have to go for it and see what happens!

So there it is! Now you know what I've been working on and it feels good, and a bit nerve wracking, to tell you all about it. *Deep Exhale*

No I'm off to go finish/start my Christmas shopping! I have a whopping 15 gifts to buy. Eeek! Wish me luck!


Thank You.

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On Friday, with a healthy dose of nerves, I hit "publish" on a post I'd been drafting for weeks and announced the coming launch of This Is Verity, a site I've been passionately working on for months. Knowing the response I hoped for This Is Verity to receive, but not being certain, I hit "publish" and held my breath. Would anyone comment? Would people "get" what I am trying to create? Would they feel it's as needed as I do? Would you all help spread the word? In true me fashion, and in true This Is Verity fashion, I'll keep it real. I've been blogging for years but I'm not one of those mega-popular bloggers with thousands (upon thousands) of followers thus giving a new venture like This Is Verity a huge automatic following by association. What I do have though, and am very happy to have mind you, is a modest number of folks, like you, who read my blog and interact with me on social media. Who are super supportive and super vocal and super encouraging. No, I might not have thousands of "followers" but the growing number that I do have are amazing and collectively, our voices are loud.

So I hit publish hoping that you all would get it...and support it...

And you did...you are.

Since Friday I've been overwhelmed and humbled by the emails, tweets, re-tweets, DMs, and comments you all have written in support of This Is Verity. Prior to Friday, although I've been working away at it since fall, it wasn't quite real to me. But now, it is and I'm even more pumped to continue to work my behind off to create something that we all feel is missing from the current online landscape.

So thank you, thank you, thank you. Yes YOU. Thank you for your tweets and re-tweets. Your kind and encouraging words and support sent via DMs and comments and emails. Your follows on instagram and twitter and your "likes" on facebook. I might be the one creating TIV but YOU all are the ones who will give it life.

I promise to keep you all posted but please, if you're not already, follow TIV on Instagram (@thisisverity), Twitter (@thisisverity), Facebook (facebook.com/thisisverity), and even Pinterest (pinterest.com/thisisverity), and of course you can visit the site (www.thisisverity.com) to subscribe to be notified of the official launch...and please continue to spread the word! By following along you'll begin to get a taste of what to expect from TIV - the types of things we're inspired by and passionate about - and in the new year I'll begin sharing more behind-the-scenes of interviews that I'm working on and specific content that is being worked on for launch week! And, of course, the launch date is still to be announced...

And in unrelated TIV news, the year is winding down - and what a year it's been. While it probably hasn't been my most exciting or productive year to date, it was a good year. A year of growth. The year I finally found my apartment after searching for months. The year I welcomed a new niece (she's one week old!). The year I made relationships more of a priority and really tried to make time to nurture them. The year I took one of my many ideas and decided to make it a reality...

Couldn't close the year out without a picture of Howard!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for continuing to read this little blog of mine. There are times when I'm not sure how I can continue to blog with all of the other things I have going on but it's something I love to do and have gained so much by doing - I've made incredible friendships, had great opportunities presented, met really cool people, and connected with a bunch more of you that I have yet to meet in "real" life. Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to see what I'm up to over here, I really appreciate it.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays and are able to spend time with your loved ones just revelling in their company; as of Saturday I have 10 days off work and hope to do just that (and work on TIV!). I hope you have a Happy New Year (I have plans to dress up, drink wine, and eat sushi with Howard as we watch a movie in the living room and hopefully fall asleep before the countdown...yes, that's actually how I want to spend New Years Eve this year!). I hope 2014 gets off to the best possible start that you could ask for.

I'll see you back here, in this space, in 2014.

xo
k

Wishing you all a safe and happy new year!

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Less than 48 hours until 2014. We say it every year but it's true, the year did seem to fly by didn't it?

I truly appreciate and value all of the friendships, connections, encouragement, comments, and support I've received this year thanks to this blog.

I'm hoping you all had a very merry christmas, happy holidays, and will have a safe and happy new year!

See you in 2014...I've got big plans for it.

*image source

Three days in.

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We're only three days into 2014 but I already have a good feeling about this year.

A personal family situation that occurred suddenly and unexpectedly just before the New Year has already made a drastic turn for the better and for that, I am so grateful. On New Year's Day my niece and I had a date at Ripley's Aquarium and to see her face and expression as she took it all in...priceless. I've finally figured out how to drill into my apartment walls and for the past few days have been hanging things up like it's going outta style. I've even begun properly outfitting the pantry closet with shelves and spacing that makes sense. I feel so organized y'all. I got tired of looking at my horribly dinged up countertops and painted them black and it looks 1000x better. I had a long, long, lunch yesterday with friends that I met in India and it reminds me of how big and small the world is - all at the same time.

And then there's This Is Verity. A few weeks ago my sister picked up a Stendig calendar for me, and I've decided it's going to be TIV's planning calendar. Beginning to put colour coded stickies up on it to plan for the launch is so exciting and reminds me that this is really happening.

Only three days in, how is 2014 looking for you?

My niece taking it all in. She's the most precious thing ever.

Frames, frames, and more frames! I've hung 10 frames in the past few days with at least 3 more to go...

For some reason, Howard wanted to attack the calendar. Such a weird dog ;-)

Hard Work.

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Holy shit. Has it really been almost two weeks since I last posted? I seriously thought it had been only a week...maybe a week and a half.

And really, most of you all know why but for those of you who don't - I work full-time, I'm trying to have some resemblance of a social life when I'm not working, I have a dog who needs fresh air and play time, and oh yeah, I'm in the midst of launching a new website. Believe me, my lack of presence in this space is not for lack of content. There's been a bunch of little updates around the apartment that I want to share with you all but every time I sit down at my laptop (a brand new beautiful laptop my mom generously gifted me for christmas) to start a post, I end up working on This Is Verity.



This Is Verity is truly a labour of love because I'll tell you this, launching a website - the type of resource that I think is missing - is hard work. Like, really hard work. I want to create and share content that is not only inspiring but diverse and accessible and honest and real. I'm almost at the point where I'll be seeking out some contributors for travel and beauty related features so if those are things you're interested be sure you're following @thisisverity on twitter and facebook! So yes, lots of hard work but I'm not complaining!

And since, let's be honest, I have no idea when my next post here will come, here are a few links to check out that I've come across really that I've really enjoyed, found interesting/fun...

- Obsessed with this coffee table featured in this before & after of a small apartment
- A photographer photoshopped herself into her childhood photos and the results are really neat
- An interesting NYT article on The Life Lessons Hidden in Reality TV
- A fun little quiz that creates a dialect map based on how you talk
- It's been about 2 years since I bought a CD but when I really love an artist/band and want to support them I'll shell out the $15 bucks for their CD. This has been my favourite song for weeks now so finally bought the album.
- I gave up on American Idol last season (I thought it was terrible - everything about it) but decided with the new judges to give this season a try and can I just say, so far - I can dig it. Harry Connick Jr. just might be the best thing about the show and may be it's saving grace this year. Did you watch? What did you think?

(I'm pretty active on instagram so you can always follow me there to see what I'm up to! @kayinto)

A beautiful Sydney apartment.

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Came across the below photo last night on Pinterest last night and was immediately smitten; it was just perfect.

So I did some clicking around until I found the original source and luckily there were many more photos of the apartment for me to indulge in:




I love everything about it. So much inspiration! From the simple colour palette, to the textiles (you all know I love textiles), to all of the textures. There's something simple about the design but it still feels comfortable and lived in and interesting. Exactly what I'm going for in my own little apartment.

Visit the site to see the full tour plus dozens of other beautiful, mostly Australian-based homes. Eye candy galore!

Image Source: Photos – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

Seeing green. My favourite indoor plants right now.

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By now it's well known that I have a thing for fiddle leaf figs - you know this especially if you follow me on instagram. I may have one four (shut up...don't judge me ;-) BUT, in my defence, their large deep green leaves and size (at least in tree form) adds a certain oomph to a space that I just love. Have an empty spot that needs something - add a FLF (assuming it's a spot that gets sun!). Trust me. And there are so many varieties - there's the tree, the bush, and the table top size (and also the kind that will grow into a tree but start at 2-3 feet tall...let's call it the small tree). There are the ones, probably most commonly featured on design blogs and in magazines, that grow large leaves then there is the compacta variety with smaller leaves. FLFs for everyone!

source
source

BUT here's the thing. While I do love FLF's, these past few months I've become more of a plant person altogether. I'm immediately drawn to them when I see them in spaces featured on blogs and magazines and have taken to noting what types I like so I can bring them into my own space. I think it's because of the lush green colour and sculptural quality they add to a space; they just add...life - as cliche as that sounds. Plus they're good for helping rid the air of pollutants so, you know, that's another good thing! Anyways, I thought I'd share a few other plants besides the FLF that I'm really loving lately - incase any of you want to add some green to your space. There are obviously many, many, many indoor plants to choose from but if you're kinda not sure where to start or just want a few ideas here you go!

Snake Plant (also called mother-in-law's tongue)
These are quite common...you can almost always find them at Home Depot for less than $15. I can attest to them being super hardy (I have one in my bedroom and a small one in my bathroom). Forget to water it for a few weeks? No problem. Low light? Bring it on...Also note: there is more than one variety - here's a handy list. I'm partial to any of the ones with the yellow edges.

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via
Monster Deliciosa (also called swiss cheese plant)
You can get this in plant form (meaning with roots in soil) but I particularly like the look of just one or two leaves trimmed and in a clear vase. Gorgeous!


source
source...and an informative short article

Boston Fern
I love a large full fern, like the Boston Fern, particularly in bathrooms and in a hanging planter or on a ledge/window sill (if you're lucky to have a window in your bathroom!). But a smaller variety of fern, something like the maidenhair fern that grows a bit wild, in a cute container is nice too.

originally in Domino Magazine
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Lovely, right? I particularly think my love of plants has intensified over the past few months because of the early sunsets and overall dreary and gray days; there's simply not enough green and sunlight! Seeing these beautiful plants is a bit of a reminder that, despite it being -20c outside (and colder lately!!), spring is not too far away.

Are you an indoor plant person? What are some of your favourites right now and which, if any, do you have in your own space?

*It goes without saying but just to be on the safe side - if you're looking to bring any of these plants into your home, particularly if you have small kids or plants, check to see if they are poisonous! 



10 Sentences That Can Change Your Life

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During the holidays I came across this pin on Pinterest titled "10 Sentences That Can Change Your Perspective On Life." Pinterest is great for these type of inspiring words and quotes (seriously, you can find quotes and sayings on just about anything on there) but this particularl pin I found pretty interesting. There are some sentences included that, I think, if you really think about them, probably can change your perspective on some things. This one in particular made me have, as Oprah would say, a bit of an "aha moment."


That's one way to think of things -- isn't it? Anyways, just wanted to share because I do think it holds a certain amount of truth to it. You can read the other nine sentences here.

Happy Monday!

Around here.

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Oh goodness.

Where to start.

Seriously, it feels like I haven't blogged in months not just three weeks. But I guess since my blogging has been so sporadic thus far in 2014 you could probably say I haven't really blogged in months.

Here's the thing, I kind of feel bad........but I kind of don't. I mean, don't get me wrong. I have loved blogging over the years and I still love it now. But I've just been so busy. I know everyone says that but I really have. Actually, let me re-phrase that. Blogging hasn't been my main priority right now. Combine that with being busy with other stuff (like working on This Is Verity, working full-time, having a semblance of a social life) and I just haven't been able to find the time to sit down and write a proper post...much less take decent photos to accompany said post. And I feel bad for the radio silence around here not because I feel bad for not blogging but because I truly do appreciate all of you who read along regularly and have been for years. I feel as if I owe all of you an apology. But, on the other hand....have you all seen "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (I think that movie is hilarious). Anyways, there's that scene where Jonah Hill's character gives Russell Brand's character a demo CD to listen to...and when he later sees Brand and asks if he's listened to it yet Brand responds, "I was going to but then I carried on living my life. " (1:50 mark) LMAO. Cracks me up every time. Well, that's kinda been how I feel every time I have had the time to sit down and blog. I was going to but then.....you know. And for that I feel like, "it's my blog...something I do in my spare time for fun...so I shouldn't feel bad when I choose not to spend time here."Does this all make sense? I hope so...

But I miss sharing in this space. I really do. So I'm going to make an effort to spend more time here again. And you know what that means, it means I need a blog makeover. I've had this one for well over a year now and it's time for a change. So, hopefully that'll get done before the month is over. And then I can begin sharing some of what I've been doing around my little apartment - because shits been getting done friends! Hanging artwork! Using branches for jewellery! Putting together furniture for the second bedroom! Laying down tile in the kitchen (the vision is being realized)! Finding my favourite gigantic plant leaves to decorate with! And I have a fun idea for a new series on living in small-ish spaces...and a post with tips on how to put together things from the big blue (since I've conquered two pieces by myself in the past few months), and a post about defining your style, and a post about cohesive design (which is something I've kinda struggled with but I think I'm finally nailing), and a post about.........

So bare with me, okay? (and if you really want to know what I'm up to on a day-to-day basis you can find me on instagram at @kayinto - I'm pretty active there!)


I want to fill my little apartment with plants.

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Guys, I don't know if it's this extremely long, extremely cold, dark, winter that we're in the midst of, that seems never-ending, or what but in the past few months I've become obsessed with plants.

Like, obsessed. 

I want to fill my little apartment with plants. Literally.

I find myself searching Pinterest and even instagram for specific plants - #fiddleleaffig #plants #smallapartment and so on - and google searching the best plants for the various lighting conditions in my apartment. Googling whether or not strategically placing a mirror to bounce light onto a plant will be as effective as direct sunlight....A quick count tells me I currently have 9 plants in my apartment and I'm hoping to make it to my favourite nursery this weekend to add some more. I've even started purchasing planters for, and very slowly decorating, my little balcony; come the first signs of spring I want it to feel like a jungle out there. Literally. I'm even thinking of adding a little lemon tree!

It's funny to think about how your style develops, changes, and matures as you get older...and how something like a plant can help and go with your design style. I've never really been into plants before. In my last apartment I had a palm at some point but I think I forgot to water it and it dried up and died. Womp womp. But now, I wouldn't bring a palm into my space. Not because I don't like them but because I don't think it'd really work with my current decor style - it'd look a bit off I think.

Anyways, I know I posted about some of my favourite indoor plants here but this time I wanted to share some pictures of spaces, with plants of course, that have been inspiring me lately.

+ via

+ via

Totally thinking of doing something like this in front of my living room window... +via

Totally doing this! + via

The planter in the window! + via
And how amazing is this indoor vertical garden that gets built?? I don't know if I could do this in my own apartment...or maybe I could on a smaller scale...but wow - what a statement!


Going vertical.

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+via 
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Maybe I should just rename this blog My Obsession with Plants because clearly, I have a problem. Three of my past five posts have been about plants and I spend a ridiculous amount of time, time which I don't have to spare, looking up pics of plants on Pinterest and Instagram. Like I said, I blame it on this brutal winter we're having here in Toronto this year. Just this week on the radio I heard them say it's been the coldest winter in the past 20 years. TWENTY years. And my very dry cracked lips are proof of that. I'm trying to keep them moisturized but then I lose my lip balm...or I dunno. It's just not a pretty situation over here folks.

Anyways, back to plants. Bringing them into my little apartment is like my way of rebelling at what's going on outside. It's like me saying, "Oh? You're gonna be -32c outside tomorrow? Really? Well...I'm gonna buy a fu&#ing plant! Yes, a plant! And I'm gonna start looking at outdoor furniture and planning my balcony too! I don't care if it's -32c. How you like me now?!?!"

And it's with that I don't care attitude I've decided that I am going to create a vertical garden/living wall on my little balcony. Those examples above? Gorgeous. In the words of Rachel Zoe, I die. (For the record, I never watched that show she had). I've found a few products specifically made for these looks, like Woolly Pockets or this wall blanket by Jamie Durie (and I'm sure there are many others) but those are a little out of my budget. So I've also found a few diy tutorials, like this take or this one on the felt pocket planters, and this one made from a shipping pallet, that looks pretty neat too.

Stay tuned. Because as soon as the weather doesn't dip below freezing overnight, I'm all over this.

+It looks like around this time last year I was also talking about plants - forgot about that post!

Living Big in a Small (Rental) Space.

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Alright, so I mentioned here that I wanted to start a new series with some tips on living in a small-ish space. Well, I'm officially calling the series Living Big in a Small (Rental) Space - fun, right? And like I said, it's not necessarily going to be earth shattering, life changing tips...but perhaps there'll occasionally be something new to you - something that makes a little lightbulb go off..like "why didn't I think of that???" or that makes you look at something differently? And, of course, some of these tips could also be useful to those of you in large spaces...who own your own home. Living Big in a Small (Rental) Space is really just a catchy title - so don't take it too literally, okay? Okay.

So let's get on with it.


Tip #1

As I was washing my dishes a few nights ago this first tip actually struck me out of the blue and I thought it would be a good one to start the series with. As I was washing my dishes, thinking about the errands I wanted to run later in the day, it struck me, yet again, how much I enjoy the location of where I live. Of how convenient it is. Which got me to thinking about all of the other things I love about my little apartment that actually don't really have anything to do with the apartment itself.

Let me give you some examples. Within a 5-10ish minute radius is: a Walmart, Winners, Home Depot, bookstore, a handful of major grocery stores, HomeSense, movie theatre, pet food stores (important for Howard), a major shopping mall, fast food places, restaurants, small floral shops...within 10 minutes I can be on one of two of the cities major highways. Although I have a car, public transportation is literally steps away from my doorstep. My building is in an established neighbourhood that is pretty quiet and my favourite dog park in the entire city is less than 5 minutes away. Some things I love about my building: I have my own parking spot, there's laundry on-site, there's a large tree (was before the ice storm) outside my window that I adore...

None of these things above have anything to do with the apartment itself, but they really truly make the experience of living in my little apartment much more pleasurable...and convenient. So it makes me think, if you live in a small space and on top of that don't enjoy the area you live in and find it inconvenient...it's really not going to help in how you feel about your home. But, if you live in a neighbourhood you enjoy, or that has amenities that makes life that much simpler for you, then living in a small space really feels like a small price to pay. So I'd say, before moving to your next home, make a list of the things you're looking for. My list was comprised of two categories: Must Have (lots of natural light, small building, dog friendly, parking space, laundry on-site, convenient location, on budget...) and Nice To Have (a second bedroom, a white bathroom, hardwood floors, top floor...). When I found my little apartment and it met nearly every requirement on my must have and nice to have lists - I knew sacrificing a bit of space would be an easy compromise.

So I guess my tip is to really think about your neighbourhood and the amenities of where you choose to live and not just the apartment size itself. Because sometimes size is not as important as you'd think it is.

Sometimes.

(I know size is relative so I'm going to take some measurements, I always misplace them when I take them, but I think my little apartment is about 750 square feet? I personally don't think it's "small" - it's more than enough space for Howard and I - but I realize to many 750 is small. I used to live in a space that was smaller and have seen condos that are smaller and house tours of apartments that are much smaller...but I know it's not huge.)

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