Oh, Trader Joe's

Yes, late to the game. But I have seen the light, and there is no turning back.

I was shopping at Whole Foods and Eataly for my first week in the city. Well, that was mainly because my mother was visiting and paying. Once I was on my own, I started to branch out and made a trip to Trader Joe's in Chelsea (about 5 minutes walk from my apartment, lucky me.)

And I also went the next four days, in a row, until there was nothing else that I needed to purchase. So when I went on Friday, it was for a frivolous purchase that's made me very happy:

• Alstroemeria, $3.99

I had my doubts about whether these would last, but look at how beautifully they bloomed! The only downside was a lot of ragged leaves that I had to cut away. But, that may have been my fault because I dropped these flowers on a subway grate because I was trying to balance a pile of books I'd picked up at Strand and a cup of ice cream from Eataly. Technically it was gelato, but couldn't type that without feeling like a poo.

Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale - a baby haul

It's the Bath and Body Works semi-annual blowout extravaganza sale of the century 10-for-1 super sale.

Really, there is nothing here that I needed - and I also didn't need the migraine that came from smelling all of the wallflowers in the store.

• 3 for $10 mini-candles: Mahogany Teakwood (times 2), Honeysuckle
• $4 medium candles, regularly $9.50: Leaves and White Barn #2 Chestnut & Clove

A few of these were definitely holiday scents - White Barn, at least - but the scents were fresh and clean so I picked up a few. The pickings were slim for the medium candles (at least at the 23rd and Park location), and slimmer after I picked up all the White Barns. There were a few Summer Boardwalks left, which smell like the vomit that would collect under the boardwalk. I smelled that candle in the store, and made an involuntary gag face that one of the employees noticed. So I had to avoid her for the rest of my time in the store. 

Mahogany Teakwood smells like a good man smells. Woody and a little spicy, I keep it on my bedside table. And I smell it before I go to bed like a creeeeeep.

I picked up a few wallflowers as well - I stuck to the 75% off ($1.63 each!)

• London Calling: apparently lemon and tea, I just have a craving every morning when I wake up after subconsciously smelling it all night. It's an interesting scent, unlike anything else I've smelled from Bath & Body Works, Glade, Lollia, any of those. Still very fresh and comforting.
• White Barn #2 Chestnut & Clove: I hope I enjoy this scent for a while, because clearly I've committed to it.

This is actually a pretty good sale, albeit for things you don't really need. But, if, like me, you enjoy a tumble of pretty and nice-smelling things on your bedside table and bathroom counter - go early. I went on Thursday and again on Saturday, and the inventory was a lot better earlier in the week (with limited restocking.) If you went tonight, it would probably be a lot of the Paris collection sitting around. 

My apartment does smell a bit like a brothel right now. The delivery guy tonight is a lucky man.

This was me when:

Someone asked if I wanted to eat lunch outside:

This was me when:

My flight was delayed 2 hours so I pulled up around 1 am outside my bf's apartment:

Also gratuitous use of Hamm gifs.

Bought: Sweatshirt/blazer hybrid

Bought: Sweatshirt/blazer hybrid

Where: Vero Moda courtesy of The Bay

Price: $40ish

I talk a lot of shit, so its common that this shit comes back and bites me in the ass.

Example: When everybody started wearing fuzzy boots six years ago, I bashed them pretty hard. Then I bought a pair and wore them each and every day until the spring thaw.

But no, I did not learn my lesson and start reserving judgement. I did the same thing with cotton blazers - talk about how they were maybe a step above a pyjama jacket.

Then I bought this:

It's cotton-polyester. It's a sweatshirt. I will wear this to work. 

I can't decorate, but I can copy

I survived what I thought was an impossible, painful, fruitless apartment search. Now that I've calmed down a bit (and started to settle in to my new place!), I realize this is probably what most apartment searches are like. I was dealing with somewhat of a perfect storm:

- Looking for three bedrooms (non-existent)

- Parking (good luck)

- Fun and safe area (2 possible streets in Toronto)

- For September 1 (competing with students who are willing to live without air conditioning. Or heating.)

BUT - we found something! Two days before we had to be out of our old place. We're in an older building now, but we have a lot more room. So - its decor time!

In my previous apartment, decor was easy. I had floor-to-ceiling windows for 2/4 walls in my bedroom. But now that I have walls, I can hang some of the many prints and posters I've collected.

Here is the inspiration for the wall opposite my bed:

Wall in the back room at Le Select Bistro (Toronto.)

Le Select is a cute restaurant in the King/Wellington West area of Toronto. Highly recommend it - so much so that I hosted my sister's bridal shower there. The back room has an 20 foot ceiling, with one wall plastered with posters from gallery collections, art shows, and operas. The above photo is about 1/5 of the wall (and doesn't include the incredible The Magic Flute poster which I've been trying to track down.)

So, with the one clear wall in my room - which doesn't have a 20 foot ceiling, but I will make it work - I decided to do the same. Flipping through the posters and prints I've collected, I realized that I have more of an Asian-influenced theme going on. I love realizing that I have an interest or preference - or style, I guess - once I've already started the collection.

So here is what I'm starting with:

A Madama Butterfly posted I scored for $5, and a print of The Great Wave at Kanagawa that I scored for free by being tricky.

So, along with a few smaller prints, this should be done within the next three months. Hopefully with minimal structural damage to my building.

Bought: Flats, without looking four

What: BDG Skimmer Flats

Where: Urban Outfitters

Price: 10 dolla (sale!)

Here is a new discovery, for me.

Rounded toe flats = I look four. I feel like I'm toddling around, do de do de doooo. But - COMFIEZ.

Slightly pointed toe flats (see figure 1) = I look older (maybe 14.) And I'm walking, not toddling. And still, comfiez are to be had.

And for $10, you know I'm happy. My only slight issues are:

1. You have to shovel through Urban Outfitters merchandise to get what you want. Even if they're full price (and therefore not in the back bottom corner of some sales bin in that nasty, hot sales area), they're in a crate, on the floor. Have fun.

2. What does "skimmer" mean? If it means that they are cut very low on your foot, which they are, then skimmer also means "shoe likely to be inadvertently kicked off your foot, and will then slide across the concourse of your office building causing you to hop over to it."