{book celebration in TO}

This past weekend I spent in Toronto to attend a party celebrating the publication of my sister's new book, Recounting Migration: Political Narratives of Congolese Young People in Uganda. An amazing contribution to scholarship, the book refutes assumptions and stereotypical representations "by presenting young Congolese refugees' nuanced understanding of the complex power relations that affect their everyday lives." In the words of Lieutenant-General the Honourable Roméo A. Dallaire "Clark-Kazak captures the humanity of Congolese young people through their stories, moving beyond the identities that have been cast upon them by the outside world. This book is a must read for anyone working on refugee and migration issues to better understand the complexities of the topic."
 My sister, always amazing at everything she does--Oxford PhD, Cambridge MA, loving sister, wonderful mother, etc.. etc.. seems to make things look easy when they're not. and anyone who knows her knows she's down-to-earth and the last person to blow their own horn. So I'm doing it for her! Congrats to a huge accomplishment. While I do archival research for my work, she has to spend months in refugee camps and put her life at risk. There's dedication for you!
Well, I was a bad sister and didn't take many photos at her party. (& no, that's not because I had too many Pimms!) So here are just a few photos from my trip to TO.
Congrats again!

{my little hand made card of congratulations --also a bad sister, I haven't got her a gift yet}

{Christina in her home--they've just done huge renovations on their gorgeous old toronto house}

{some of my family were present through their contribution of these beautiful flowers}

{Sam, her husband, made some fantastic tandoori chicken}

{a very gorgeous gift of flowers from guests at the party--yes, she's expecting #2!!!}

{at brunch the morning after the party-my darling niece & my sis}

{Quotable Thursdays}

To start my quotable Thursdays off, I chose this one from Emerson. I thought it particularly appropriate for August...nearing the end of Summer & back-to-school anxiety/hype.

{via birch+bird}

(& yes, the time on this is correct--I'm up very early to catch a coach to see my darling middle sis--more on that upon my return)

{Happy 1 Year Tiddley-Bits!}

{via we heart it}

It is officially 1 year since I made my first post. Thank you to all of you who read my blog, comment, like, follow, etc... It's an enjoyable activity for me, so I hope that you still stay tuned. Any particular things you'd like to see added? I think this year I'll start to do Quotable Thursdays--I'll try to put up one of my favourite quotes every Thursday. We'll see how it goes!

{I'd like to think I looked this stylish as I write my blog--but the reality is...I'm not. via brown eyed belle}

If I could, I'd throw a 1 year anniversary party & decorate like this:

{from good things wedding favors}

We'd have champagne, and cake of course...& cupcakes...& all things pink!

{pink delectables from lemon+lavender}

{from one charming party}

{aren't these gorgeous? this one & the cupcake above from daisy pink cupcake}

{via tig-fashion}

{via prettystuff}

{via being brazen}

we'd know we were having a good time when it was...

{via erin ever after}

{via paulozelinsky}

{via boingboing}

Thanks to all of you for reading! Perhaps one day we'll have a real party, but cheers to our virtual celebration:

{from fineartichoke}

{via ffffound}

{bunting obsession}

{via bird+birch}

For those of you following me on pinterest, you'll realise I'm slightly obsessed with bunting (I have a whole board dedicated to it). In fact, I can't quite get enough of it. I bought this oh-so-cute bunting from Sass&belle--perhaps my favourite shop in London:

I could spend hours in their shop--but their website is pretty delicious too!
Anyway, I've hung this lovely British bunting in my bedroom...and now I've started thinking about decorating my fireplace (which is not-so-nice--very 70s in a bad sense) with bunting. I've got some fabric and am just trying to figure out how to hang it (since I'm lacking a sewing machine). I've got plenty of more before & afters to do (particularly because I'm not yet in the 'after' stage) but you can see how simple bunting & a changing of a coverlet & curtains can transform a space:

{my bedroom before & after}

In the mean time, I've been googling bunting & pinteresting bunting...and there's so much lovely bunting out there! Par exemple:

{from ashley ann photography}

{via all sorts}

{via sis boom}

{I found this on pinterest but the original url is no longer working unfortunately. so I can't give credit where credit is due}

{from antiquitea}

{Lovely way to make any space feel like an occasion. via unabashed bliss. check out her directions on how to make bunting here}

I also really like the looks of these ribbon tendrils and loose cloth as bunting. Adds a bit more of a rustic detail: 

{via snippet & ink}

{I just think this is simply gorgeous. & the italian blog from where it comes is simply bellissima: valdirose}

With my obsession for bunting, an interest in other types of garlandy, pom-pom & what-have-you decorations has developped. I'm currently loving this amazing 'coffee filter garland' made by Pam Garrison (she's got instructions on her site). So simple yet so elegant:

I could say (& show) a million more things & images on bunting & pom-poms as it has become an obsession but here are just two more of my favourite examples:

{from opulent couturier}

{via maison boheme}

Stay tuned for more!

{Happy Birthday Samundar!}

{Samundar aboard Passat}

Our family cat (who I've had from childhood) turns 19 today! Now that's a pretty big achievement for a creature so small. She's a blue-point Siamese--a sea-going Siamese at that. She's sailed internationally, travelled across Canada a few times (she moved in with me in Montreal when my parents were barging in France), and is an adventurer. She's been the mother of numerous litters of kittens, and is a caring sort of cat, who loves those around her. Her name means the sea in Hindi--an appropriate name for a cat who currently resides on a boat and whose paws are the colour of light blue (hence blue-point Siamese). She's got a whole long list of nicknames: wools, woolly, rat, ratty, mammadoo, lamby, lamben...the list goes on.
So happy birthday dear Samundar the sea-going Siamese! we love you!

{sniffing the sea breeze}

{Samundar & my nephew, Christmas 2005}

{wools in my flat in Montreal}

ps: a particularly cheesy ditty my sis & I came up with to the tune of 'It's a small world after all':

She's a cat we call woolly, 

a cat we call lamb, 

she's a cat full of tuna

a cat full of ham, 

There's no doubt when we say, 

we are loved everyday, 

by a good, good, cat.

She's a good cat after all, 

She's a good cat after all

She's a good cat after all

She's a good, good cat

{shopping in & around London}

Well, there's always plenty to see in lovely London. On one of my last days in that lovely city (before it was set to flames by rioters) I ventured into Marylebone-close-ish to my old 'hood near Paddington & a wonderful spot. High street Marylebone is especially lovely & often goes missed by tourists & Londoners alike.

{spent ages in Cath Kidston & bought some lovely things}

{spotted this old car}

{this kids' store was oh-so-cute. love the mouton in the window}

{reflection in the looking glass}

En route home, I stumbled upon an excellent shop in Islington that had a collection of cute stuff for kids, gifts, as well as funky furniture. Quite an eclectic store as the pictures demonstrate: 

{funky old chair}

{ecclectic mix of things}

{downstairs they had a bunch of random things--like these tea boxes discovered in a  wharehouse near the Thames dating from  ages ago}

more to come for sure...
xo
L