hellooooooooooooo (after a long hiatus).

HELLOOOO DEAR READERS...

So this is extremely PATHETIC, but it's been over a year that I have even CHECKED this blog. So... I apologize profusely to the people who emailed me and I never got back to... and all the people who commented - you are all SO SWEET and AMAZINGGGGGGG.

SO MANY THINGS have happened since the last time I posted (wayyy back in 2013, when Mr. Potatohead and I had that fun little photoshoot). Well since then, I became a MARRIED WOMAN and have continually been working on my art in order to get better! Sadly, I don't really do many DIY craft projects anymore but I have been doing A LOT more painting & drawing, and since I got a job at an art studio, I have been steadily improving!

And that is why... I've decided this is going to be my last post on this blog. This blog has served me well in the awkward year between coming back from a foreign country and starting new and exciting adventures in life (aka. marriage and buying a home!!!) but it is time to move on. And I'm so grateful for all of you have been reading all along and leaving me little comments that totally make my day!

I always seem to launch a new blog in each huge stage of my life so this is also my official announcement that I actually started a new ART BLOG last month. This new one will focus specifically on my artwork (with maybe a few personal posts here and there), and chronicle my adventures in art! So if you are still interested in following me, head along to my new art website:

ART + SOUL

www.artandsoulcreativeco.blogspot.com

Hope we can keep in touch!

<3

Laura


P.S. below are some samples of some art that is on my new blog! ;) Enjoy!

flowers through the fence

Hellooooooooo dear readers!

It's been too long.

WOW. Seeing that my last post was back in JANUARY I have clearly slipped into oblivion for the past two months and severely neglected this poor little blog (and going on the computer in general). But thanks to all you new followers who decided to stop by! (Somehow I now have more than 200+ followers? random...) - I have a huge influx of super nice comments from you all that I will eventually get around to replying... at the speed of a tortoise... in... slow... motion. 

Bear with me.

Anyway, here is a condensed explanation of my prolonged blogging absence: work, wedding planning... annnddd pure procrastination. Hey, I'm just being honest. And while I may have been procrastinating on this blog in the "online world" (ew, that sounds creepy), I have definitely been trying to waste less time in REAL LIFE by taking advantage of my free time and enjoying the outdoors, playing music, and drawing more. So it's not that I don't have anything to post - sadly, I just don't make much time anymore to crazily document my art and DIY projects like I used to. But I shall try for the sake of keeping this blog alive! =) I haven't given up on it yet! My last excuse is that I misplaced my camera's SD card and would rather not give in to posting blurry low-quality cellphone pictures on this blog (that's what Instagram is for) haha.  

My personal goal in the past little while has actually been to waste less time doing unnecessary things and spend more time doing things that truly matter to me. It's an exciting goal but it's also an everyday challenge. I feel like I've spent a lot of my life hindered by my own lack of motivation so I'm trying to break out of those lazy habits I've acquired over the years. I believe that if I just try a little harder in certain areas of my life, I can accomplish so much more. The challenging part is to keep believing that all the time. And by the way, I'm not talking solely in terms of putting more effort into a career. For me, this attitude includes spending more time with family, deepening friendships, taking care of my health, and improving the talents I've been given. These are all areas in my life that I have neglected at one time or another so I want to consciously make time for these important things. Lately, I've been trying to break down that fence of fear and failure and learn to grow past it so that I can really flourish to my full potential (too many "F words" in that sentence for you? haha. What can I say... I love alliteration). It's like the photo below (which I took last summer) where the flowers are in sight but I just have to jump over the fence to get to them. I guess it's the same in life where we have to continually overcome hurdles to get to the good stuff... although I am in no way condoning trespassing into your neighbor's yard... =) but you get the point.

So, what do you think of all this? 

Am I rambling? Probably, yes. Do I make any sense? Hopefully so. Will you still read my blog after this random entry? Most likely, no. Haha... but if you do come back, I appreciate your lurky presence... and your comments! =)

Happy New Year =)

Happy New Year everyone!!! 2012 was one of the most exciting years of my life to date - I traveled a whole lot, worked a whole lot, ATE a whole lot (of McDonalds, sadly) and generally kept life interesting with many random adventures. I also made many new friendships, and continued to strengthen old ones. For me, it was a good year and I hope 2013 continues to bring many new beginnings (Mr. Potatohead and I are getting married this year!). Speaking of that, I'm so excited about our engagement pictures that we shot a few days ago. I'll be posting about that NEXT time.

But first, here are a few pictures from January 1st when Mr. Potatohead and I decided to kick off the year with some... EXERCISE. And... (shocker!)... it was actually my idea. haha. Coming from the girl who loves burgers, fries, and apple pies, this was quite out of the ordinary. But although I don't exercise on a regular basis (or at all), I love camping, the outdoors, and extreme sports. In Grade 9 and 10 I went to a small school that focused on outdoor activities - I got to go camping, skiing, white water kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing and a whole bunch of other fun things - and I realized I really missed those days. So this year, I decided to make an actual resolution of EXERCISING REGULARLY. Dun Dun Dun... for those of you who know me, this is a big challenge since exercise usually requires some sort of bribe like going for ice-cream afterwards. 

Recently, I decided that I wanted to climb more trees, hike up more mountains, take up different forms of "fun" exercise, and do more outdoor activities. So on New Year's Eve, I turned to Mr. Potatohead and said, "I want to go snowshoeing tomorrow". So the next day, I put on my mom's dollar-store toque, and since I didn't own any ski pants that weren't full-on OVERALLS, NEON, and from the 90's, I wore.... jeans. It was pretty sad (as in pathetic) because they got soaked all the way up my legs so that it actually looked like I had peed in my pants. Needless to say, I got a few odd glances... haha. But aside from that minor awkwardness, the day was awesomely amazing!!! =) 

The Hollyburn Lodge (below) had the BEST hot chocolate ever!!!

Here I look like a poser but in reality I lost my balance and ended up on the ground with mangled legs.

(below)... awkwardly wet pants!

To all my overseas friends sweating away in tropical countries, this is what a Canadian winter looks like from the top of a snowy mountain. =) And below... this is about as Canadian as you can get: Exploring the outdoors in the freezing cold while wearing a Canucks toque and sporting red Olympic maple-leaf mittens haha. Now all we need is that stereotypical igloo...

I know for a fact that I can't bring myself to go on treadmills or work out at a gym, but I think when exercise is made into some sort of fun outdoor activity, then I'm much more motivated to do it. So, let me know - will you join me in exercising more this year? Or, if you are already an avid athlete, what are some motivational tips that you have to keep yourself going? Hopefully this resolution lasts longer than a week. Haha.

 

Help keep me accountable!! =P

 

thriftstore thursday: my new toyota beluga

Okay so today I bought something HUGE... it's not exactly a thrift-store purchase but it IS second-hand, and it's probably the biggest purchase I've ever shelled out cash for. After almost a month of searching, I finally bought a used car!!! It's actually the first car I've ever owned since I've somehow survived all these years off public transit and the pity of friends. haha. But finally, I'm able to drive myself around and it's about time since for the past few years, our family has shared fought over one car between five drivers. After perusing Craigslist, meeting up with several sellers, seeing some sketchy-looking cars with inexplicable stains or leaks, and having an awful shady experience at a particular used car dealership, Mr. Potatohead finally found this one listing for a used Toyota. So on a blustery rain-soaked evening, we drove out to see the car and meet the seller who turned out to be the nicest elderly man. It was funny because he called it an "old man car" but I could really care less what the car looked like anyway, as long as it was safe and reliable. Then TODAY after a mechanic check, I officially shook hands, sealed the deal, and drove off with my "new old car". Oh and random... I also found out today while getting car insurance that I'm actually a TEN-YEAR DRIVER. My goodness!!!!! I found that absolutely mind-blowing and went through a mental quarter-life crisis for the next half-hour. 

Oh and since I like to personalize inanimate objects, I've already named my car. It's a really unique colour because it's like a pearlized white; not full-on white but not quite metallic silver either. It's also quite a big car with a bulgy front "forehead", so I named it BELUGA. It's perfect because Mr. Potatohead's charcoal-coloured SUV is called BEAST, so Beluga & the Beast can be friends now. I suppose I could call it "Beauty" too, but I like Beluga better. =) 

Anyway, I didn't take any pictures of Beluga, so you'll have to settle with a pic of my new car keys and a sad little scrap-paper doodle. =) 

Have you ever bought a used car?

If so, was it an EASY-BREEZY or SUPER-SHADY experience?

I'm thankful for... relaxing walks in the neighborhood

Today at church, the sermon was on thankfulness. The pastor talked about how one woman who had experienced many tragic events in her life started slowly writing a list of 1000 things that she was thankful for and how practicing an "attitude of gratitude" is something that can positively affect all other areas of our lives. It was a great reminder for me. A few years ago, I did start writing a random list of everyday things I was thankful for but it was on a scrap piece of paper that I probably accidentally threw out. So, I want to start a new list... and there's no better day to start than TODAY. I've decided that every Sunday I'm going to try and post about one thing I'm thankful for.

So, here's THING #1:

One of my favourite activities is to take walks in my neighborhood... or anywhere outside really. And today, I got to do just that with Mr. Potatohead. It's getting colder these days in Vancouver, but if my parents can take daily outdoor walks all-year-round, so can I! hahaha. So I brought my coziest grandma sweater, my favourite potato-sack backpack, and my trusty camera on a nice stroll outside. After only taking a few steps out of my house, I found some wildflower bushes by the side of the road... here's my favourite shot of these gorgeous coral flowers!

Afterwards, we followed the yellow concrete curb that ran all along the side of the street. I like how Mr. Potatohead is on his iPhone while I am... just... happy to be outside! (a little too happy)...

Oh and in case you're wondering about outfit details (even though you're probably not), here they are:

me: grey cardigan - Forever 21 // floral shirt - Uniqlo // maroon pants - Zara // canvas backpack - Baggu // oxford shoes - random Hong Kong store

Mr. Potatohead: jacket - unknown // jeans - unknown // shoes - unknown // style... unknown. HAHAHA.

Near the end of our stroll, I picked up two rocks from the side of a construction site. And yes, I brought them home because I intend to paint on them. I almost wanted to take a whole pile of branches home too, but I refrained. One project at a time... haha. Oh and by the way, did you notice the tree had a big eye? creepy...

Anyway, that's one wonderful little thing that I love - going on outdoor walks! :)

What's one thing you're thankful for?