de facto redhead

Last Christmas, my friend Joanne, of A Warm Cup of Joe, did a blog post about her special Christmas ornaments. I thought it was a great idea and wanted to write my own version, but I didn’t get around to it. This year, I made a pledge to myself (and to Joanne!) to DO THIS POST, and since I was always good little Girl Guide, I try to keep my blog-post pledges. I want a badge!

This is my newest ornament on the tree. Kristy gave it to me at the ornament exchange a week ago. She got it at the One of  a Kind Show, and there’s a personalized message on the back, along with a secret scroll that falls out of the bottom when the ornament’s string goes slack. It’s so special, and I love it!

This one was purchased at the gift shop at the top of the Banff Gondola ride, and it’s been my favourite for the past few years. I bought this with Kristy when she was in Alberta on a work trip.

Darcy and I bought this inukshuk in Jasper when my parents came to visit us in Edmonton. That seems like it was so long ago!

Let’s go back in time…to circa 1988 when I made ornaments in school and thought I had a talent in visual arts.

I also made this beauty, with each piece carefully and logically glued onto a shell. What genius! What promise!

Darcy and I also bought this one on a trip with my parents, but this time it was to the opposite end of the country – PEI! This was Darcy’s pick in the gift shop at the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers.

This ornament is very special to me because it used to belong to my Grammie and Grampie, and the names on it refer to me and my brother, not me and Darcy the boyfriend. I remember taking this ornament home from PEI the first time I went back after my Grampie died. It was a sad moment in the basement when my mom and I were going through my grandparents’ old ornaments.

I also brought this one home with me on that same trip. My Grammie made it, and from Christmas to Christmas, it has alternated between being hung on the tree and hung from some sort of hook around the house.

Another PEI ornament! This one is handmade as well, and it’s an actual starfish. Santa be a starfish, son!

This ornament came from PEI as well, and it used to be part of a pair…until I broke the other one. My clumsiness is a fact of life around our home.

This one may have belonged to my maternal great-grandmother. I know my mom has an identical ornament on her tree. Mom?

This vintage ornament belonged to Darcy’s Baba. It looks perfect among the vintage vibe of our tree!

I bought this little guy for Darcy last year. He loves penguins!

This is one of the first ornaments Darcy and I bought together, during our first Christmas in Edmonton. We bought it at Hallmark, which means we spent too much, but how can you say no to Hermey…?

…And if you can’t say no to Hermey, how can you say no to Yukon Cornelius?!

Erin gave me this ornament for our annual exchange a few years ago, and it arrived in the mail with a cupcake ornament that’s also hanging on the tree. It references my then-obsession with Flirt Cupcakes in Edmonton. (Truthfully, the obsession still exists. I. Just. Can’t. Get. Them. Here.) I digress. Isn’t this dove pretty?!

I bought this one last year in Hamilton, at Citizen Kid. Erin and I went shopping after the Santa Shuffle, and now, in addition to me, my mom and Jen also have this decoration hanging on their trees. (Jen was Erin’s pick for the ornament exchange last year, and as for my mom, well, I’m just a good daughter like that!) Erin, did you buy one, too?

My mom gave me this vintage postcard last year. That’s a redheaded girl, of course! The clothespin technique is one I thought of this year, and I admit I was pretty satisfied with myself when I came up with the idea. Patent pending.

Last but not least, and in honour of the person who inspired this post, I give you the sparkly shoe! Joanne sent a set of ornaments to me for my birthday this year, and this was included, along with three other glittery, girly accessories. Thanks, Joanne – for both this idea and for the thoughtful present!

Shoes, Winners; tights, gift; skirt, H&M; top, Guess; belt, thrifted; purse, Aldo; earrings and brooches, vintage.

Last night was Bryony’s annual Christmas party, and while Darcy and I were waiting for our ride into Toronto, I actually had time to take pictures on a night I was going out. That never happens! And forget about taking outfit pics when I get home – that also never happens, and it doesn’t take much imagination to figure out why. I did manage to get one other picture last night, though:

That is Darcy pushing Erin and Mikey J.’s car…at 1:30 am…yep, we ran out of gas. This had never happened to any of us, and it was surprising how suddenly the whole fiasco went down. The gauge said we had six kilometres left in gas. Nope. It was more like one or less, and, thankfully, we were pulling into a gas station when the chugging started – and ended – in about five seconds. Then, after Darcy got out and pushed and Mike steered the car into the station, we realized we had pulled up in front of the diesel pumps. Noooooo! Mike got out of the car to help Darcy push, and Erin took over the wheel. She successfully got us over to the right pumps, and then almost knocked out the teeth of both Darcy and Mike when she quickly threw the car into park to stop it from moving any further. Driving Miss. Edna! Everyone saw the hilarity in the situation, but that laughter could have quickly turned to tears and PO’ed boyfriends had we literally waited another two minutes to pull off the highway. Is that you, Santa? Thanks for saving us. We believe in the magic of Christmas in the face of fuel emergencies…

Boots, Spring; leggings, Dynamite; tube-dress, Spoof; shirt, Old Navy; jacket, closed-down boutique in Toronto; scarf, gift;  purse, thrifted; hat, Aldo.

Christmas is, indeed, 10 days away, but you wouldn’t know it by the weather today – it was 12 degrees in Burlington, and this is what I had on while running errands this afternoon. I made Irish soda bread this afternoon, and had to open the kitchen window because of the warmth of the oven. It was heat upon heat, this balmy afternoon of December 15. Unheard of, dear sir!

Over the past couple weeks, I have been counting down to Christmas by participating in all things festive. The month started out with the annual Santa Shuffle 5K:

Erin and I after this year’s Santa Shuffle. The random person we asked to take our picture told us were were “shiny” after she took the shot. Erin and I glanced at each other as if to say, “That’s rude!” but then we looked at the picture and realized she meant our reflective gear. OK, we forgive you.

Here I am at my staff party, which was was a couple weeks ago. We had a fantastic dinner at Red Canoe Bistro in downtown Burlington, and while this martini looks fabulous, it was not. Tequila and salt overload! I finished it, though, so I guess it wasn’t that bad… I am wearing a one-piece pantsuit from Anthropolgie, a fact that my co-workers thought was hilarious – a one-piece pantsuit!?!?

Last weekend, the girls and I got together at my place to celebrate our seventh annual Christmas gift exchange. We started out with actual presents and switched to cookies somewhere along the way, but we are now fully committed to ornaments. We are also fully committed to our annual Christmas exchange potluck. Oh, food. We crawled from the couches to this position, and then collapsed in unison after the picture was taken.

I also guest-blogged over at Dear Edna today, and if you want to look at some lovely pictures of holiday Pyrex, head over there, like OMG, now! And, finally, this Saturday is Bryony’s annual Christmas party, so I need to stop everything and focus on the big things in life, such as what to wear. Ha.

I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my last post! I had an editing project due in the middle of the month, and then I spent a week planning, shopping, and decorating for my Halloween party. I also admit that I took that week to catch up on my TV shows and relax. Unfortunately, however, when I am either too busy or being too lazy, the blog is the first thing to fall by the wayside. It’s a sorry-but-true fact. So, to make up for my ignorance, I am going to give you a picture-heavy grab-bag blog post that plays a little game of Fall 2011 catch-up.

Here is my Halloween costume – 1980s exercise queen! Every piece is from my closet – no purchases necessary. Shoes, Giant Tiger; leg warmers, gift; tights, Secret; bathing suit, Old Navy; tank top and belt, H&M; bracelets, gifts and Liquidation World; button, free from Edmonton Transit System; earrings, gift; scarf, vintage.

I had the most unexpected party guests show up at my door: Wanda (of Where’s Waldo? fame), Slash, a gangsta (yo), and a classy couple from the 1930s (did they find a hot-tub time machine?).

Me, today in my backyard, wearing my new boots that I thrifted this weekend while antiquing around St. Jacobs and Cambridge with my parents. The close-up is below, but if you’re interested, I’m also wearing Costa Blanca jeans, a red Smart Set sweater, a black H&M tank top, an H&M leopard-print jacket, a vintage scarf, and Foxy Originals earrings (gift from Caroline).

This is how I have taken to wearing my hair now. It’s either this or a side-braid. It’s too long and wild to do anything with, but I have decided to push any hair appointments to the end of December, which is when I last got my hair cut two years ago. Twenty-four months; it’s time to donate.

My new boots! I found these for $10 in an antique mall in St. Jacobs. They were labelled as never-worn and were in the original box:

Who is the woman who owned these boots? Why didn’t she wear them? There was another pair for sale (also for $10), but they were all brown, with a small heel, and I didn’t think I needed them. I’m kind of regretting that decision now. Uh-oh – non-buyer’s remorse!  The worst!

My first Pyrex purchase of the weekend – a Town and Country 403! It was $5.95 at an antique mall in St. Jacobs.

I couldn’t go home without something for Darcy, so I picked up this little brass penguin ornament for $3.50. He loves penguins, and he loves, well, things like this.

I have one metre stick up on a wall here at home, but left room for two more to be placed above it. I found one of those two elusive sticks at a Cambridge antique mall. Well, actually, my dad found it, and at $1.50 it was a steal since I didn’t see one other metre stick for less than $4 all weekend.

I didn’t buy all of these this weekend – just the red one, which was $4.95 and completed my primary-bowls Pyrex set. Yay!

I also found this other 403 bowl for my collection – it’s Snowflake Blue, and cost me $9. I have 11 bowls now!

I have one other wooden hanger that I found last year at the Aberfoyle antique market, and I want to put a few of them on a wall in the bathroom, but I need to find more before I do that. Wooden hangers like this are actually a bit difficult to find – especially when I won’t pay more than $5. I found this one at the Freelton antique mall, and it was $4.50.

Darcy came around with us on Antiquing Day 2, and spotted a box of comics that he thought we could frame. I thought it was a great idea, and once I find the right frame, we already know where these will be hanging. Love them for $3 each!

I have wanted a vintage cocktail shaker for a long time, so I finally decided to take the plunge and buy one this weekend. I picked this lovely guy up for $14.95. I can’t wait to use it!

Darcy spotted this board game underneath a pile of who-knows-what, and it came home with us, of course! Hockey? Management? Trades? Vintage? Sold, for $15!

I bought a set of the glasses on the left last year, but since then have broken two (of six). Luckily, my mom found matching ones priced individually for $3 each. Darcy and I also have a set of the Bluenose glasses, and I found another one to add to the collection for $0.50.

Next up this month is the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, and then it’s a quick slide into December when I already have something going on every weekend! How does the calendar fill up so fast? Stay tuned!

Hi Readers! How was your Thanksgiving? I had a great weekend! I left Burlington on Saturday morning, and just got back last night. I travelled, I purchased, I ate too much, I slept late, I laughed, I watched TV, I thrifted, I drank wine, I visited. Can I do this all the time, please? Here is a recap in pictures:

Forgot to remove the time stamp. Too lazy to redo the picture. In other news, here are the two Darcys and me, hangin’ loose in mom’s kitchen.

Darcy and I went on a little tour of Manitoulin Island, and this is the bridge to Little Current from the mainland. It swings open every hour in the summer, to let big boats through, but in the off-season it only opens based on need, so we didn’t get to see it in its glory on this trip.

A boat docked at Boyle Marine, in Little Current.

Darcy and I love photo ops based around wooden novelty signs, and I think this one turned out particularly good! Hallo, good mate!

Fall is happening in Sheguiandah! (Darcy also thrifted a retro green desk chair, two books, and a board game here! All for $20, thanks to my bartering skillzzz.)

Darcy is getting in touch with his spiritual side.

My first pair of moccasins, purchased on Manitoulin Island (but made in Quebec) for a very reasonable $29.95.

I have been collecting vintage cookbooks for the past year or so, and I found this fun little guy for $0.49 at Sudbury’s Salvation Army.

I found this lovely cake stand for $2 at Val Caron’s St. Vincent de Paul.

These bowls were also discovered at St. Vincent de Paul. I bought the set for $5, and figure they will be great for serving food at my Halloween party at the end of the month. They’re amber-coloured, and have a vine pattern on them, so beside black and other decor items, they will be nice and Halloweeny.

Two belts! The navy one was $1 at the Sudbury Jarrett Value Centre, and the red one was…FREE! It was supposed to be $1 at St. Vincent de Paul, but the cashier gave it to me for no charge. I still don’t know why, but who I am to question the higher powers of thrifting?

My only regret from the weekend was over a pair of pristine black Calvin Klein slacks at the Sudbury Value Village. They just didn’t quite fit. But oh! They were so nice, and for $12.99, I thought they were a steal. If the gluttonous life would have given me a few more days in Espanola, I might have eaten enough to fit into the pants…

What the flag says.

I know there are plenty of people out there celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with carbohydrates of another variety (the variety that involves green dye, hops, and alcohol), but here in the De Facto Redhead brewpub, Irish soda bread was our top o’ the evenin’.

If you chose to participate in today’s “holiday,” I hope you had (or are having) a fun day. As for me, in about five minutes, my fun time of the day is about to involve a plate, a knife, some butter, a chunk of bread, and American Idol, followed by Shameless. C’est delicieuse et decadent, mes leprechauns.

As promised, here is Part 2 of my Family Day Weekend. It’s 11:30 pm, and I can see the toothless yokels outside my window, growing restless with their torches and pitchforks…

This is a bad-quality picture of a good-quality bowl. I couldn’t seem to snap a decent shot of this lovely primary-yellow Pyrex bowl that I snagged at the Freelton Antique Mall for $5 (!!!), so you can either imagine its beauty, or you can take a look at an original ad for it here.

Another find at Freelton. I look at salt and pepper shakers every time I go thrifting, and nothing has ever caught my eye like these did. They were $8 for the pair, which is more than I wanted to pay, but I loved them on sight, and you can’t barter for a lower price at Freelton because the vendors aren’t at their booths, so I threw caution into the wind and spent the $8.

I also obsessively scour the glassware shelves at antique malls, looking for the perfectly priced set of drinking glasses. On Sunday, I found that set at Freelton, and it was $7 for seven glasses! I couldn’t believe it, and snatched all seven into my tender, loving arms as fast as I could.

My dad and I have played cribbage for years, but I never actually owned my own board – until now! This vintage board was waiting for me at Freelton, and it was reasonably priced at $7.

Onward to the St. Jacobs Antiques Market, where I found this vintage Pyrex coffee carafe priced at $5.10. I have something similar that I keep milk in, but it doesn’t fit a whole bag, and I think this new carafe will, so this just might be my new milk jug! Isn’t that exciting news?

Darcy loves anything that looks like this (sad creatures doing odd things, or that have a general hangdog demeanour), so I knew I had to pick this up for him (it was only $4.76 at our last stop, Market Road Antiques).

Does Emily Post approve of smoking? If she does, she would have been looking at me with distaste a couple weeks ago when a friend was over and asked for an ashtray, and I had to tell her to leave her cigarette butts in the snow on the balcony. Classy! However, from now on, it’s sophistication all the way with this ashtray I bought for $1.50 at Market Road.

My mom came running to me with this licence plate, which is not only PEI-related, but is also from the town in which she and my dad went to high school. Go, Montague Regional! I couldn’t turn away this item that was loaded with sentimental value, and for $4.23 at Market Road, it now hangs in my den, on the picture wall.

These two bowls, I got for free! The Early American pattern on the left arrived with my mom (she bought it for me at the Cookstown Antique Market for $11.86), and the Spring Blossom bowl on the right was acquired by my mom (for me) in a Pyrex trade with a nice woman named Taylor, who lives in Georgia. These bowls are now enjoying their stately home on top of my kitchen cupboards.

My mom and I both wanted this, and we spent much time examining it, and deluding ourselves with grand illusions of entertaining guests at our homes, who would then be served their food from this Golden Poinsettias casserole dish. The unreality of this scenario made us laugh like loons.

I’ve converted and sworn off technology. Bonnets and lanterns only.

And there it is – my Family Day Weekend, Parts 1 and 2. Upcoming on the blog is my Oscars dress review, and my and Ami’s next recipe, Baked Peanut Butter and Banana French Toast. Yum!

Well, it was a long weekend, so that means the exalted or reviled grab-bag blog. As 50 Cent is fond of saying, hate it or love it? Daddy ain’t around, probably committin’ felonies. OK, not true, and my Family Day weekend wasn’t spent with my jailbird daddy – it was spent with Darcy, Susie, my mom, and my dad, who ain’t committin’ no jacked-up felonies.

Boots, Spring; tights, Aldo; shirt-dress, H&M; cream belt, vintage; brown belt, Suzy Shier; tank top, Urban Outfitters; earrings, gift from Erin; necklace, bracelets, and bird pin, vintage; nameplate bracelet, craft fair.

Sure, the nameplate bracelet is broken, but I like to wear it anyway, and it’s survived about 15 years of ownership, so give it some slack, all right?

Darcy and I went out to East Side Mario’s for supper on Friday because every so often we like to gorge on unlimited salad, soup, and bread at what we call “Generic Restaurant TMs” (the “TM” stands for the trademark symbol). And, as per usual, we left wondering why we ate at said Generic Restaurant TM. It’s like Bart with Lisa’s electric-shock cupcake – we never learn, and keep going back for more.

The La Palette experience.

Saturday at noon, you could have found me at La Palette, in Toronto, where Susie and I went for lunch/brunch before heading to the National Home Show. I sought out this restaurant after reading an article in Toronto Life about its French onion soup, which, for the record, is soup I have a hard time not ordering if it’s on the menu. Thus, my ongoing quest for the perfect French onion soup. Toronto Life called La Palette’s concoction “peerless,” and I have to say I disagree. I was disappointed in the soup because I didn’t think it was cheesy enough, there was an odd tang to it that made me wince slightly every time I ate a spoonful, some of the bread chunks were hard, and it arrived at the table merely warm, not hot. Sorry, Toronto Life, this March’s Food & Drink article was wasted on me and my common taste buds that can’t appreciate a slow-roasted beef bone broth. On the bright side, though, Susie very much enjoyed her omelette, greens, and “frites,” and the bread basket was pretty decent.

What I wore to the Home Show: Boots, Spring; tights, Secret; sweater-dress, Le Chateau; feathered necklace, Charlotte Russe; bracelet, necklace and bird pin, vintage; earrings, gift from Erin.

Susie and I.

The pictures above were taken just before Susie and I left the Home Show, and our smiles mask our bitter disappointment with the hour and a half we basically wasted at the Direct Energy Centre (it was good fortune that Susie won the tickets, and that we didn’t pay for them!). The show was oddly bi-polar, as if it couldn’t make up its mind to be a flea market or an actual home show. One minute we were looking at hulking garage doors and scratch-resistant flagstone, and the next minute, our eyes were being blinded by the shiny silver buckles of knock-off purses dangling precariously on particle board across the aisle. So strange!!! Susie and I went to see the Rockettes and their Radio City Christmas Spectacular a few years ago, and the performance was so weird and disjointed that we joked we must be on an acid trip. The Home Show experience elicited similar comments.

The endangered Krispy Kreme, in its natural habitat.

After Susie and I were finished at the Home Show, we decided we wanted/deserved a treat. Cupcakes won out as the most desirable confection, and this decision was determined by the simultaneous squeals of excitement we both let out once the word “cupcake” was mentioned. Fast-forward two and a half hours, and Susie and I are sitting in my car, eating chocolate-glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts.* We couldn’t find a cupcake shop in the area we were in, and since we each had a voucher from FabFind for six free Original Krispy Kremes, we gave up the cupcake search after high winds, transit inadequacy, and pure frustration left us deflated and rabid for sugar. Family Day Weekend, Part 1, end scene.

Tomorrow I’ll regale you with Sunday’s second-hand purchases. The antique malls brought forth much bounty, and I can’t wait to share the fruits of my foraging!

*Did you know a bizarrely located Krispy Kreme standalone store exists on Harbord Street in Toronto? I can’t decide whether it’s good or bad for me to have acquired this little piece of information.

Our Valentine’s Day crowns. Thanks, Mary-Sue!

Did you know yesterday was Valentine’s Day? Haha. My Valentine’s Day greetings included cards from my brother and my mom and dad, a gift from Darcy’s mom, and then a night out in Etobicoke and Mississauga with the D-Man. For Christmas, he bought me (us) tickets to Moulin Rouge: The Ballet, at The Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, and, conveniently, the show fell on Valentine’s Day. We debated going somewhere “nice” for dinner, but we hadn’t made reservations, and instead decided to eat at one our favourite places that ended up satisfying us just as much as anywhere else could have – Apache Burgers, in Etobicoke.

Delicious food abounds.

We only eat here every few months or so because it’s not exactly health food, but oh my God, is it good. We both agree that it’s the best burger we’ve ever had, and the onion rings are scrumptious. For under $30, we got a burger and onion rings each, a pop to share, and two chocolate malt shakes to top off the meal. Mmmmmmm…malt shake.

Right: Poster, self-explanatory; Left: Our view from the right balcony.

I took the furtive picture on the right after Darcy saw someone else pull out their camera. There were signs and announcements about NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY!!!! so I felt like Big Brother was about to seize me at any minute, but I managed to get out alive in the end. We both enjoyed the show, and Darcy was pleasantly surprised at how much he liked the ballet, especially after making jokes beforehand about how he was going to fall asleep. Giving the ballet another chance will definitely be in our future. I went to one about four years ago, so this was practically my first time at the ballet as well. I have to admit, though, I kept thinking about Black Swan, and imagining Black Swan-esque things about the lead dancer who played Nathalie. I won’t go into details, so as not to spoil the movie for those who haven’t seen it, but did I see scratches on her shoulders? Anyway, Moulin Rouge is my favourite movie, and while names and parts of the story were different in the ballet, the premise was pretty much the same, and I wasn’t disappointed at all.

Here is what we did when we got home:

Boots, Spring; leggings, Dynamite; green tube-dress, Spoof; T-shirt, Esprit; belt, Le Chateau; necklace and earrings, vintage.

It’s me at 11 pm.

After taking outfit pictures for me, Darcy opened our Valentine’s Day package from his mom, and among some candy and pajamas were crackers (I failed in making mine “crack”), from which we pulled a piece of paper that ordered each of us to get our significant other ice cream and write them love letters.  HAHA. We doth don yon crowns instead.

Happy belated Valentine’s Day!

Welcome to De Facto Redhead, 2011! I just got back on Saturday from over a week away with family in Petrolia and Espanola, and now I don’t want to do anything but lay on the couch and consecutively watch every episode from my newly gifted Will & Grace Season 4 DVDs. Thus, in the middle of taking down the tree and Christmas decorations today, I found the entire exercise to be too depressing and watched two episodes of W&G while having a tea and eating a few Godiva truffles my brother gave me as part of my Christmas gift. Later this evening, I caught up on my blog-reading, and in the spirit of their short holiday posts (I’m still feeling mentally stagnant), here is my week off in pictures:

Yep, that’s me looking dopey, but the holidays aren’t about looking your best, even when you feel happy (more pictures to come that provide evidence for my theory). This picture was taken just after I finished opening my Christmas gifts from Darcy, and after I spent all day (and week) baking, wrapping, packing and readying ourselves for the holidays. I was really tired.

It’s Christmas Eve, and isn’t Uncle Darcy fun?! And isn’t my niece doing a good job of pulling off my fedora?

Me, Darcy, and Darcy posing like excited children in front of our stockings on Christmas night. Will Santa find us, even though we’re hoping for him a day late?

Well, apparently Santa recognized me all grown up and without makeup on, because he left behind a Popple for me!

Susie, Me, Cristiana, Sheri, and Heidi roasting chestnuts on an open fire on Boxing Day. These are my Espanola High School ladies, and we can cackle with the best of them. Kristy, we missed you!

Game night at my parents’ house, with my brother and his girlfriend Kayla. Guess who’s making a funny face and refusing to smile for the camera…?

The annual family shot on the back deck. A reindeer took our picture and then kicked Darcy in the face.

And there you have it – Christmas vacation, over in a flash. Sigh. The first week of January is the worst! But it’s not all bad because guess how much money I’ve spent on clothes, etc. in 2011? $0! That’s right, it’s time for Tally it Up, Part 2. I’ll write soon with a final total from 2010. Did I make it over $700? I bet you spent the last week torn up and wondering.

Happy New Year!