This is Halloween, this is Halloween, Pumpkins scream in the dead of night!

As you may know, tomorrow is Hallowe'en, my favourite holiday. My costume is ready to go, and last night at the shelter I got to lead pumpkin carving with the youth (when asked if I would do it, my response was "I LOVE PUMPKIN CARVING!!!!!" and I got a few funny looks).
None of our pumpkins looked like these, but here are some beautiful ones I would on Martha Stewart's site (I think she is one of the few people who like Hallowe'en as much as I do!).











I will post pictures of my amazing Hallowe'en costume soon!!

Yup, It Will

Jessica Williams photograph via Black*Eiffel.

(Sold Out) Print by jessgonacha via etsy shop.

More Fiscal Responsibility by Erin

I went shopping today, as every unemployed student should, and I thought I would share with you my major purchases:
Matt & Nat "Depeche Mode" small bag in earth, comes with a long green across the body strap, exactly what I wanted - something larger than my lovely Roots Village bag, but still an across the body bag, so my hands can be free but I can ride the subway without feeling like my bag could be stolen. And Matt & Nat - we've already covered how much I love them here, here, and here.

And new boots! Kind of like these, only with a buckle instead of the loops and made of leather not fabric. Otherwise basically the same. So comfy! I wanted short boots that were completely flat, because the other boots I bought this fall are a bit too tall and fancy to wear every day - especially at the shelter. These new ones will be perfect for everyday!

I also bought a new pair of jeans from the Gap, and these hilarious Unocorn slip-ons, only in blue and yellow (on sale for $15 at Winners!).

Maybe someday I'll learn to be fiscally responsible... But for now I will be pumped about my new purchases!

Happiness...

1. Pieces of Me - My Family, 2. my friends are..., 3. Just For Zippy, 4. sleep the clock around, 5. Retail Therapy..., 6. About US - Dave Matthews Band, 7. TV, Circa 1963, 8. Kids playing in the playa of El Rodadero in Colombia, 9. Picturesque, 10. The WFC Summer Camp Hub., 11. Laptop Keyboard, 12. Untitled

I am a Terrible Person

Talking to my friend this evening, who just found out that I guy she was seeing is back with an old girlfriend, and she says that he just seemed really nice.
My reply: "yeah, but so do most sereal killers, so it could've been worse i guess..."
...
I am an awesome friend.

Feeling a Little Burnt Out...

Photo: "Burnt Out" by bikesnotscott

Been sick for almost 2 weeks, tired all the time. I feel like I need to sleep for a long, long time. And maybe take some multivitamins. I need a break week, but I don't get one. Time to go eat a Popsicle.

I Was Tagged!

I've been tagged by Lily Speak in a meme! I've never been tagged before, so I'm pretty pumped!

Here are the Rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Here are my 6 things:

• I bite my nails. I am trying really hard not to, but I have been a nail biter since I was little, so it's not an easy habit to break.
• I like Diet Coke AND Diet Pepsi. I know, this is practically blasphemy, but they both have unique but delicious tastes. However, I have not found a non-name brand Diet Cola that I can stand on a regular basis. I really really hate the taste of every brand I have tried other than Coke and Pepsi.
• When I was 2 and a half, my little sister was born, and we got a VCR and a copy of The Little Mermaid. Mom says that it was her saviour because it meant that I could quietly sit in front of the tv, reciting the words and singing along to The Little Mermaid while she dealt with a newborn. I still know most of the words.
• My mom and dad, and some of my aunts and uncles, all met at Kenesserie Camp. I worked there for most of my teenage years, but did not have the same luck in meeting the love of my life.
• My Dad owns a jewellery store, which I work at every Christmas. I very rarely wear much jewellery, but love to shop for fun costume jewellery. I have to try not to wear the costume jewellery I buy in front of my parents.
• My favourite animal is the moose. It used to be more of an obsession, I had a moose website and a room full of moose paraphanalia. I have toned it down a bit since then.

Okay, so now I have to tag people... Lenorenevermore, Grey Street, Shannon, Christie Lou Who, Badriyyah, and emaura15.

I don't like the idea of sending people a comment on their blogs to tell them they're tagged. If they see this, they'll figure it out!

A Vlog!?

It's 20SB's Vlog Day! I've spent my day watching other people's beautiful vlogs, so it was finally time to make my own. Warning: I am awkward and there is no cameo by Thunder Kitty. Here goes! Note: Turn your volume up loud, apparently I talk quietly.

vlog #1 from Erin Walker on Vimeo.

I *Love* Mail!

A few weeks ago, I was the WINNER of Oh! How Lovely! Shops giveaway from Picky Picky Designs... AND THE PACKAGE ARRIVED IN THE MAIL TODAY!!
Look!!

I used great restraint in taking the picture before ripping open the package!

My prize is wrapped up underneath!

A beautiful acorn necklace and a personal note from the seller! Yay!

Totally made my day!! Thanks, Sally and Jamie!! Go check out Sally's shop and find yourself something pretty! And, seriously, go to Jamie's site and enter the giveaways, YOU could be the next winner!

A Brief Update

You're not getting a vlog just yet. I know, I know, it's 20SB vlog day.... I woke up not too long ago and am taking a sick day because I'm feeling crappy. You'll get a vlog maybe tonight or tomorrow, sometime when I am feeling prettier.
Oh! And I have an update for y'all regarding the crazy neighbour - last night as I came home around midnight and quietly shut the door behind me, some one else from our hallway came in and let the door shut loudly - and got bitched at by my neighbour!!! Is it bad that this makes me so happy!?! It's not just me!
Anyhow, you'll probably hear from me later, I'm taking a quiet day at home today.

I am Clearly NOT the Crazy One Here...

Okay, so let's start out by telling you a bit about my apartment.
I moved here a little over a year ago, and as a general rule, I never see any of my neighbours. This is what I know of them: I live on the end of the hallway, when I look out the door, to my left is the outside. To my right lives a 30 or 40-something single guy, who is never home, with the exception of mid last school when he was busy building something inside there. Across from him is an old man. He has a lot of stuff in his apartment, like he has lived there for years - I know this because sometimes he leaves his door propped open so I can see inside. Beside him on my right is the stairwell, and beside him but across from me is a woman. From what I've seen of her, she appears to be in her late 20s or early 3os. She's got lotsa tattoos and I've seen her in the hallway not wearing any shoes. BUT, the most I've seen of her is when she's been bitching out people who come door to door in the apartment, including the nice old ladies who came around last year to register us to vote.
So, a few weeks ago, I go to leave my apartment to go to placement for an evening shift, I see this note stuck on my door:


So I am a little bit miffed. I feel guilty, but also angry because I do not slam my door, and feel violated by this note. Not to mention smirking at the use of the word "reframe" instead of "refrain."
I took it down, threw it inside, and went to placement. When I get home that night, this note is folded up and left in front of my door:My response is something along the lines of WTF. I highly doubt that either of these notes were from the guy beside me or the old man across from him. I really really think they were both left by the woman across the hall.
So what do I do? I write a disgustingly nice note back apologizing and asking what's with the two notes, leave it in the hall.... and it is promptly ignored by my neighbours for days until it is cleaned up by the landlords.
Here are my issues with this:
1) Is this not a little crazy? Maybe my neighbour has some sort of mental issues?
2) If it is not from one person, are my neighbours ganging up on me?
3) I am not even slamming the door! It makes me feel like showing her/them what door slamming really sounds like.
4) Seriosuly!? I have been a pretty good neighbour. I am quiet, I barely even have people over, I have never had a party here, I don't play music loudly - unlike other people in the building.
5) Really, putting up with things is part of living in a building full of people, either suck it up or find your own place.

Any thoughts?

I am Basically a Fangirl... Please Stop Me Before I Start Writing Fanfiction Involving The Two of Us!

Shit, kids. I just caught up on the past 3 weeks of Heroes, and the answer to the question "When is Sylar hotter than normal?" Is right here:

In the future as a loving Dad,

AND

Acting as a good guy, aka no longer a sociopathic killer?

Note, is it sad that this is all I picked up out of 3 episodes of Heroes? Hot dayum, that man is good looking. He could cut my head open anyday!


Next up, to catch up on the last 2 weeks of Pushing Daisies.

Thoughts on my Birthday Party

So, last night, some friends and I went out to celebrate my birthday. I love birthday parties, and have been planning mine for about a month. We had dinner at The Keg (I love steak) and went for some dancing at the Bier Market afterwards. I've been putting my outfit together for weeks, and was super-pumped about my pretty dress and hot shoes (even if I do now have a massive blister on the side of my foot). All of my favourite people who didn't live in another province, have an exam, or a funeral, were there. Overall, I had a great time - I drank too much, had amazing food, danced, felt awesome, and was way too loud chatting with my friends.
There was just one thing.
A lot of people who said they'd be coming told me within the past week or day that they couldn't make it, and some said they'd make it and didn't show up. I totally understand that things come up and people have other things to do, but many people didn't a)have any excuse, b)tell me myself that they weren't coming, but instead told a friend to tell me, and c)didn't show up at all, no word as to why. It just left me feeling a little down. I am reasonably close with these people, and really would have loved to celebrate with them.
It just left me feeling that I'm not important to them. When I tell someone that I'll attend something, especially a birthday, I make it a priority to be there, or at least have a darn good reason why I can't and show them that I feel badly for letting them down. Isn't that normal? I thought that's what people did.
I don't know... I think I just really wanted to be peoples' top prority, especially for the one night I've been planning for a month in order to celebrate a special day for me. Is that unreasonable?
BUT, the people who did come were ones that I really wanted to be there, and they made it a fantastic night for me - even if I am lame and went home before 1am. I'm glad they were there to celebrate me and make me a priority!

It's Meant to Sell Gum, But...

I love this commercial. It's for gum, but whatever. I think it makes a good point - we spend so much time with people online that we really don't spend that much face time together. I mean, when you say "I poked so and so the other day" nobody thinks you actually physically poked them. And generally when you say you talked to or chatted with someone, that doesn't mean face to face, it means through the computer. Plus, the commercial is just plain adorable.

I'm Sorry...

I've been a bad blogger. In my defense, placement was busy this week and I was sick with a cold.
My birthday party is tomorrow, and today I went shopping with my neighbour-classmate-friend to find the rest of what I am wearing. I came home with a very large bag of stuff, it was an excellent shopping trip. And a hair cut, I came home with one of those too. Perfect! Just a bit of grooming and nail painting and I will be ready to go for tomorrow night! Just that pesky problem of having things to do for school in between now and then. Clearly, I am not doing school work yet, but instead watching tv and browsing Etsy.
Just a note: Wheel of Fortune makes me really angry when people just can't figure out the answer to the puzzle and it's really obvious.

Another Note: I want this unicorn mask to wear for Hallowe'en... or just whenever.

Also, I want this cat costume for my cat. Or any of Seamstrocity!'s cat costumes, for that matter. I think I might be able to get away with dressing TK up on Hallowe'en and not have my friends and family disown me.

That's all for now, I'll try to post more in the coming days and be less negligent towards my blog.

Long Weekend Update

1) Toronto traffic is crazy - especially on the major highways at rush hour(s) on a Friday night of a long weekend. I miss living somewhere that I didn't need to plan my day around when I can drive.

2) Mom looked better than I thought she would. She just finished her first week of chemo. She has 4 weeks total, spread out over 4 months, so one week on, 3 weeks off. Considering that the last time I saw her, she was lying in her hospital bed, pretty much anything is an improvement. She is trying really hard to make things seem normal, but everything is more difficult for her now, even sitting in a chair can be uncomfortable. Everything hurts and she is just so tired. Poor Mom, she really is trying hard.

3) Why I love my Grandparents:
Grandpa: If you were in Turkey, you'd have to wear a "kimona."
Me: Umm... Kimona? I think it's Kimono, and those are Japanese. I think you mean a Hijab or a Burka?
Grandpa: Oh yeah that's right.
Me: I'd look pretty funny wearing a Kimono in Turkey!
Grandma: Well that's okay, they wouldn't know it was you because they could only see your eyes!
Me: Uhhh?

4) I had the most terrible start to my birthday ever. I woke up at 6:00am to use the washroom, and when I got back, my fitted sheet had come off of my bed. I went to put it back on properly and what did I see on my mattress.... MOUSE POOP. Oh my goodness. We live in an old house, so we have had mice in my room before, but we dealt with them a long time ago and thought we had all the holes patched up and therefore there were only mice now in the basement. Guess not. So clearly I was NOT going back to bed after that. And I came down full out with a cold. Gross.

5) When you're feeling crummy and on cold meds and you want to stay as far away from Mom and Grandparents as possible so they don't catch it, you don't really feel like being social at a family gathering. Therefore you feel kind of out of it the whole time, like you haven't really gotten to visit with anybody. Sucky.

6) My littlest cousin is in grade 5, and she really likes to hang out with me and talk to me. She told me about her new love:
Maddy: Do you know who the Jonas Brothers are?
Me: Yup! You like them?
Maddy: Yeah! Nick is my favourite.
Me: Do you have a favourite song by them?
Maddy: No, I don't really like the songs.
Me: Oh, so you just like the boys!
Maddy: Yup, I like Nick best, Joe second, and Kevin last.
Me: Yeah, nobody really likes Kevin do they?
Maddy: No.
On top of her being HILARIOUS, I am glad that I am hip enough to know who the Jonas Brothers are! That's right, I am hip and with it!

Overall, good weekend, nice to be home and see everyone. Would have only been better if I had felt better. So good to be at my old home, but also good to be back at my own home, even though I have a lot to do now that I am back.

Foxy Lady

Lately, I've been loving clever foxes.
Here are some of my favourite foxy prints on Etsy:
-------------------------------------------------------
The Duke Of NY riding his bike print by matteart

Fall Fox - October Series by hadleyhutton

Hello Little Fox - Open Edition Giclee Print by numbereight

foxy music print by missbrigette

Free Ice-Cream - FOXES ONLY by amberalexander

duet by tollipop

Fox on Sunday by krisblues

Running Fox by ohmycavalier

Fox Print - ANDREWNEYER


They Were Always Scheming by sarahogren


can i be a little fox vintage illustration by littlebighead

Guess what...?

I am 23 today!

It's A BIG Weekend

I just arrived home to my parents' house tonight. It's been almost a month since I've been home this time, and 6 years since I moved out, but it seems like every time I come back, things go back to being comfortable and the same as always. I like it.
And, it's Thanksgiving Weekend!! They are harvesting the crops around our house, smoking the tobacco in barns, the leaves are changing colours, the houses are putting up decorations, the days are getting cooler, but inside it is warm and cozy. I have two big family get-togethers this weekend, and an old friends gathering afterwards. My 23rd birthday is this Sunday, and I still get giddily excited for it days in advance.
I'm so glad to be home, comfortable, and loved.

On Homelessness

Sometimes, I catch myself being a bit of a hypocrite.
I am trying to cut the word "hobo" out of my vocabulary... You know, seeing as I'm doing placement at a shelter for homeless youth this semester and loving it enough to consider working there afterwards. Granted, I do come from a small town, where, to my knowledge, there aren't any homeless people. The only time I had ever seen one growing up was from the car window on one of our trips to bigger cities, or maybe outside of the theatre when we came to Toronto to see shows. I was taught by my parents to be afraid of homeless people and do my best to either ignore them or politely decline their requests for change. And I continued to do so, with the very few homeless people I came across in London and then when I moved to Toronto, walking past them quickly, not making eye contact, afraid that they might jump up and grab me. Until this semester, that is, when BAM, all of a sudden I am working with homeless people.
Talk about a shock. Before a month ago, my idea of homeless people was fairly narrow, including the old dirty man with a crazy beard asking me for change to feed his drug or alcohol addiction, or the crazy old woman who shouts gibberish at you while you walk by because she has schizophrenia. Granted, those people do exist, but not the clients I work with. Yes, some do have mental health issues, and some are recovering from drug and alcohol problems, but most of them just look like normal kids. They can't live at home anymore for a variety of reasons, maybe a bad family situation, maybe they were kicked out for their sexual or gender identity, maybe they are refugees who went through hellish experiences in their country and have been lucky enough to get to Canada. There are so many heartbreaking stories.
Part of our job at the shelter is to help them get the resources to get employment and a home. Those resources do exist, but they have to put in the effort. We don't let them panhandle or work in the sex industry, and they have to get a legitimate job if they are job searching.
That's why I do not give money to panhandlers in the city. First of all, I haven't had a job that pays money for a year now while I've been in school, so it's not like I have money to give. Secondly, there are resources for these people to use as long as they're willing to put the effort in. Panhandling is a survival tactic, not a way to get out of homelessness.
And what makes me even more angry - homeless people who are panhandling who have dogs. You know what, if you can't make money to feed yourself, what are you doing with an animal? Those poor dogs. Drives me nuts.
But here's my issue, where I find I catch myself being a big giant hypocrite: I work with homeless youth, I have a great deal of compassion for the homeless because I can really understand how difficult it is, I understand mental health issues and have worked with teens with them too, but when I see the homeless adult on the street or in the subway, the crazy-looking person walking around, I still get freaked right out. They always seem to come stand by me on the subway, and instead of feeling compassionate for their situation, I get my guard up. I don't want to help them, I want to get away as soon as possible. I suppose it's because I never feel vulnerable around the homeless youth, because I'm an authority there, but I always feel vulnerable around homeless adults. To them, I suppose, I'm just another one of the people with money and a home, walking around dressed well and clean with my iPod and cell phone. I don't know... I shouldn't be scared and disgusted around homeless adults, after all, they are just people who haven't had the luck I have, but I am and I can't help it.
On a happier note, however, I was waiting outside of a coffee place for my friend last night at around 2am, and I homeless person walked up to me. I was guarded and ready to avoid eye contact and tell them sorry, but no I have no change, but it wasn't money he was after. He told me that he was a panhandler, but we wasn't panhandling right now. He said that he had a bad night, the crowds of people ignoring him when he asked for money, and he was getting kind of down. Then, someone asked him if he needed some change, he looked up, and this guy handed him $100. He was so excited! He told me that he went inside to check and see if it was real, and it was. Apparently he just wanted someone to tell about his good luck before he hobbled off. In spite of my dislike of panhandling, I was happy for him. I'm glad he had a good night too.

Nuit Blanche

Last night was Toronto's Nuit Blanche. It's an "all night contemporary art thing." It does sometimes border on pretensious, but usually there are some cool exhibits. Mel and I took it on like pros, and ended up walking over 11 kms around the city. It was chilly and crowded and the transit ride home sucked, but there was some really cool art and a great atmosphere, thousands of people taking over the city for a night to experience the same thing. Here are my highlights.

Mel and I weren't too sure what this exhibit was all about.


I was being a creeper in an alley.


A pig head on a stick... a little Lord of the Flies... I'm fairly certain it was real.


Photos of people moving, they were really cool.


A faux-snowman on the railroad bridge. Don't jump, buddy! Winter will come soon enough!


Lit up stairs that lead to nowhere under the train bridge.


These are oil barrels with letters on them, must have taken FOREVER!


I am tying my wish onto one of Yoko Ono's wish trees!


Yoko Ono's "Imagine Peace"... I think they were dropping stuff from a crane, I missed that though.


We walked forever! This was near the end of our journey, I think it is fitting.


So, overall, Nuit Blanche was an awesome but tiring night. There was a lot we didn't see... but with the amount of walking we did, I don't think I could have handled much more! If you're in the Toronto area and didn't go to it, I strongly reccomend you go next year.