Eclectisaurus.

I take belly dancing lessons on Fridays along the Danforth, and afterwards I like to walk across the few km's to the Yonge area. This past week I decided to head down Gerrard in the Old Cabbagetown area (perhaps not the brightest thing to do at night, as the area is a little on the shady side). I happened to walk by this particular store that caught my eye with its delectable vintage items in the window. It was closed at that point in time, so I stored it away for another day.

Just yesterday my boyfriend and I were out driving and were headed toward the Beaches area in search of lunch and ice cream, when we happened to pass it by and I remarked that I'd found the place on Friday and meant to check in there at some point. Being the dear that he is, Kris put off his quest for food so we could park and go check out the store.

I've found my new favourite place in Toronto. That store is fantastic! Leslie, the owner, is wonderful and her enthusiasm for those items is exciting. We stayed past closing but she didn't seem to mind. I was in heaven, pouring over all the old things (including the gorgeous typewriters, a few wonderful old train boxes, and the greatest corkscrew of all time).

Kris had started picking her brain on the subject of finding an old silver plate to use as a trophy for his upcoming futsal league (modelled after the Bundesliga plate) before buying a pair of old cuff links that came in a funky little vintage box. It was a nice touch added by a store owner who truly ares about what she does.

I can't wait to return, and hopefully Kris already has or is planning to soon in order to buy me some things for my birthday! I pointed out a few pieces I really liked, so hopefully he remembers them.

Muffin Morning.

So I did some baking last night, to stave off my annoyance at my boyfriend having taken my keys by accident, thus confining me to my apartment while he was at his statistics class. One of my favourite super simple things to bake are oatmeal muffins (well, mine turn out to be small cakes, but it doesn't quite have the same ring to it). So I put four little loaves in to bake, and suddenly felt inspired to try mixing in some hot chocolate powder (why not, right?). So I did up two like that, then in a moment of giddy inspiration, mixed peanut butter into another two. Without bothering to try them to ensure them came out alright, I did another peanut butter one, and topped it with the chocolate powder.

They were, without a doubt, absolutely fantastic. I'll definitely be flavouring them that way again! I forgot to take pictures of them before eating them (actually, it was really more that I never got the chance, because Kris has returned by then and was hungry) but I'll probably make more tonight while he's not around. Perhaps I'll even try a half peanut butter, half chocolate one.

Beginning.

I'm Kat, and I'm branching out.

Oh, but first, the details! I'm (not quite there yet as I type this) a 28 year old currently living in the lovely city of Toronto, in the fantastic country of Canada.

I had to think for a few minutes there on how to classify myself - we all want to call ourselves something, after all. There are many things I'd like to be, but I can't quite say that I'm completely there enough in any of them to categorize myself. I'd like to call myself a writer - but what have I written? I'd like to say I'm a dancer - but how long has it been since I've truly given in to my rhythm? I'd like to say I'm a photographer - but then why haven't I been able to follow up with my daily blipfoto account? I'd like to say I'm a fanatical football ultra - but then why am I not following my team to Columbus next week?

So instead I'm just 28 (in a month and a half - but let's not get anal over the details just yet), and I'm growing into all of those things once again.

I intended to really follow through with a lot of promises to myself this year, but so far I've fallen short. This is my turning point, though. This is going to be my glorious new beginning (or something equally as overly dramatic) and this is going to help me get started. I hope.

I'm not quite sure what I plan to use this blog for - except for that new beginning. I'm sure I'll talk about my novels, I'd like to talk about my crafty side, and I'll probably talk about food. I also need a place to talk about influential things - be they furniture, projects, music, etc.

That'll probably all take place here, and I hope that here ends up being what I'm looking for.

Musical Interlude

Alive Alone - The Chemical Brothers (particularly inspirational for me tonight)