Instant of Affection

I thought I knew you.

I thought I had memorized your smell and finally felt comfort with your warmth. You offered me your story and in exchange I had given you my heart, my trust, my tears, and my laughter. I thought time would attach our souls and let us dance forever. Forever had turned into an era – and it lasted for what only seemed a minute. I can no longer close my eyes and feel your breath against my skin. I can no longer trust you to put colour in my life, for the picture has become black and white. I can no longer let myself melt into you, and hope that you won’t crackle my shell. I have grown to you, with you, and now will grow apart from you.

So until we meet again, Summer,
you were the greatest friend.

- MF

The 7 Chakras

Each of your Chakras has its own unique “personality”, each controlling a specific aspect of your life. So if you’re experiencing any form of physical or mental shortcomings, limitations or challenges in your life, there’s a high chance one of your Chakras is weak or closed.

1. The Root Chakra influences your career and money mindset.
Location: Base of the spine
Primarily influences your career, money mindset and sense of belonging.
Energies: Earth, grounding, focusing, centering

2. The Sacral Chakra influences your sexuality.
Location: Lower abdomen
The energy center of sexuality and pleasure.
Energies: Fire, energizing, charging

3. The Personal Power Chakra influences your self-esteem.
Location:Above the navel
Influences your personal power/ability to channel this power into the world.
Energies:Fire, energizing, charging, lends energy

4. The Heart Chakra influences your relationships.
Location:Center of the chest
The Chakra for love, relationships and self-acceptance.
Energies:Water, calming, soothes, relaxes

5. The Throat Chakra influences your self-expression.
Location: Throat
The Chakra of your “true voice”.
Energies: Water, calming, soothes, relaxes

6. The Intuitive Chakra influences your intuition.
Location: Center of the forehead
This Chakra acts as your inner compass.
Energies: Air, meditative, intuition, promotes thought

7. The Crown Chakra influences your connection to source.
Location: Top of the head
The Chakra of divine consciousness.
Energies: Air, meditative, intuition, promotes thought

Source: chakrahealing.com

So Totally Relaxed

Resting at my open window
I gaze out at mountains
A thousand peaks of blue and purple
Rise above the pines
Without a thought or care
... White clouds
Come and go
So utterly accepting
So totally relaxed.

~ Han-shan Te-ch'ing (1546-1623)

My Essie

My favourite colours for Fall :)

Bobbing for Baubles

School of Hard Rocks

Case Study

Russian Roulette

Sew Physched

Angora Cardi

click to visit Essie website

Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu revealed his elegant Fall/Winter 2011 collection at the Old Dia Center on 22nd Street. It was a gorgeously polished collection comprised of immaculate tailoring, exquisite lace detailing, and Baroque inspired ladylike class.

Orly Genger for Jaclyn Mayer

Artist Orly Genger’s Fall 2011 collection for Jaclyn Mayer. Inspiration: the juxtaposition of the hard metal with the soft jerseys and ropes, wrapping of Egyptian Mummies to the colors of African Safaris.

Magic

If we keep focusing on the troubles of the world, we will surely continue to miss out on the beauty, art and magic around us. We were given eyes to see colour, choose not to see smoke. We were given ears to hear music, choose not to hear screams. We were given lips to speak kindness, choose not to speak pain. We were given hearts to feel passion, choose not to miss out.

- MF

"That is the hardest thing of all.
It is much harder to judge yourself
than to judge others.
If you succeed in judging yourself,
it's because you're truly a wise man."

~ the little prince, antoine de saint exupery

My Space

Home is a place not only of strong affections, but of entire unreserve; it is life's undress rehearsal, its backroom, its dressing room.
~ Harriet Beecher Stowe

Thought I would share a couple snap shots of my bedroom & living room... Nothing too personal. That's for the very few ;)


Curtains and long wool sweaters...well, Autumn has sure arrived. A lot of my inspiration is taken from Anthropology, Urban Outfitters, Tricia Guild and simply going to Indigo to find new ideas.


A small preview of my book/magazine corner. Constantly collecting, always reading. I keep most of my books in my living area however my current read (The Creative Life) is by my bed.


Buddha rests in both rooms. Always. On my night table sits my smiling Buddha, there to tell me good morning and good night and to remind me to BREATHE.


2 of my favourite candles, paired up like a perfect match. Every evening after work I always light a candle or two.


Hung above my bed, the main art piece of my bedroom. I try to separate my "retro" side in my living room and keep my other my sanctuary, where I find it easier to reflect and rest.


Audrey Hepburn, my love. You will hear about her a lot from me.


My fathers art work, a Patrick Nagel painting from '83. He's a talented guy. This is a huge piece hanging over my leather sofa. The colours used to be quite brighter but from facing sunlight it has faded. The blue and red are to die for.


Pillows! and lots of 'em. Different patterns for different moods.


With love
- MF

Temporary Madness

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."

~ Captain Corelli's Mandolin

RIP Steve Jobs

“That’s been one of my mantras — focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

Genius!

Original Mind

Mind has no color,
Is neither long nor short,
Doesn't appear or disappear;
It is free from both purity and impurity;
It was never born and can never die;
... It is utterly serene.
This is the form of our
Original mind,
Which is also our original body.

- Hui-hai (8th cent)

The ABC’s of well being

Yesterday, while my 3 year old niece sang the ABC's to my family ending it with "now I know my ABthee's, next time sing me" I thought to myself, what a wonderful little idea...

A – act only with the intention of resulting happiness
B – believe in your intuition
C – cancel all doubts
D – detect your good thoughts & watch them
E – eliminate all negative behavior
F – focus on the moment
G – give to the less fortunate
H – hear your happiness when it speaks
I – introduce new colours to your life
J – joke when the time is right
K – kiss your significant other passionately
L – love yourself unconditionally
M – measure your success by feeling, not time
N – nurture your hair, body, skin and nails
O – offer a helping hand
P – play with your kids
Q – quit the self pity
R – rest when you are tired
S – share your ambitions
T – treat others how you would want to be treated
U – use your mind to focus on the moment
V – visualize where you want to be 5 years from now, start working
W – walk, run, exercise and eat well
X – xpect me not to find a word for x ;)
Y – your own clock is more important than the worlds
Z – zen. find it.

- MF

Today

Yesterday, I filled my cup with hope
Today, I fill my cup with gratefulness
Tomorrow, I will fill my cup with positivity

And the pattern will continue.

Looking at life through a window with a silver lining, instead of questioning the shoulda, woulda, coulda's. We are not to aim for perfection but we must accept the daily gifts we are given. Saturdays will feel better than Mondays, but no day is more precious than today.

- MF

Butterfly

My Mom surprised me with a beautiful card yesterday, went a little something like...

In the dark of the cocoon, the butterfly finds it's wings. Even now, hope is fluttering softly in some quiet corner of your life. Not long from now, it will open wide into sunlight... taking wing, touching the sky. You are becoming.

And the best part about it - she gave it to me just "for being me"

When the sun shines brighter, the birds sing louder, the leaves fall slower and the moon glows deeper - that to me, is a good day.

- MF

Refresh

Ok – so I might be jumping the gun a little.  But when I woke up this morning and felt the cool air, I thought to myself (my exaggerated, moody, morning self) “Holy – Winter is HERE!”

Living in Toronto has it’s summer time perks: visiting the beautiful city, enjoying the hot sun, and sitting outside on patios.  On the other hand, living in Toronto also means: hibernating from November – March, feelings of depression, eating too many carbs, pale skin and unmanageable, static hair.  And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be experiencing a winter without anyone to cuddle with - Gosh, can you feel sorry for me, please? ;)

So here we have it, besides fall fashion and a couple pretty leaves to crunch on, I basically have a dreadful, cold, winter to look forward to.  So I’ve come up with a list of ideas of how I’m going to keep myself happy and glowing.  Perhaps some of these tips will work for you…

1)      Lay off the alcohol, munch on some salad:  Although it may be tempting to pour yourself a glass of wine, wrap yourself in a blanket and watch a romantic comedy – maybe it’s time to try something different.  Make yourself a healthy salad (whether vegetables, or fruit, or both) and be sure to get the nutrients you need for the winter.  You’ll notice you feel a lot weaker and tired during the cold seasons, typically we eat too many carbs and too little protein.  Want to try a delicious steak salad?  Visit Moxies Restaurant!

2)      Start your 2012 resolution list early:  January 24th, 2011 was known as the most depressing day of the year.  Why?  Because it’s the Monday that everyone feels like they did not accomplish their new years resolutions.  Well duh!  How can you accomplish anything in only 24 days?  Why are we all scrambling around during the last week of December trying to finish everything from the year behind, and also trying to plan everything for the year ahead?  Let’s give ourselves a little more time, shall we?  Start thinking today of what you’d like to achieve for 2012.  Here, I’ll start:  I want to meditate more often.  At least three times a week, spend 30 minutes just living and breathing in the moment.  It’s a lot easier said than done – especially with a busy schedule.

3)      Who says there’s no sunlight in the winter?  One of the biggest problems I have with fall and winter is the lack of sunshine and vitamin D my body is getting.  It’s important to begin taking at least 500 IU’s of vitamin D beginning September 1st.  Also, look into investing in a sun lamp.  On a budget?  Keep your curtains open during the day for some natural sunlight.  You’re not a vampire.

4)      Buy yourself some Christmas presents:  Ok, ok, don’t get too excited here.  I’m not talking about buying yourself gifts, wrapping them up under the Christmas tree, labeling them “From Santa” and pretending to get all surprised on the 25th.  I just mean, if you’re treating your friends and family to all these special gifts, why not put aside a little dough for yourself?  Buy yourself something you’ve always wanted but never got around to getting.  Looking for inspiration? Visit freepeople.com

5)      Write out your list of books and movies:  I’m an addicted movie renter,  you name the movie, I’ve seen it.  When it’s cold outside and no one wants to drive around town, call over some friends, make some popcorn (don’t burn it), and rent a couple chick flicks.  Some suggestions for this season are: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Friends With Benefits, The Lincoln Lawyer, Lost In Translation. Alternatively, nothing feels more refreshing than cracking open the first page of a new novel.  Some novels I suggest for this season are: One Day, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, The Help, Heart of the Matter.  And while you’re at Indigo/Chapters, purchase a new scented candle to light up while reading.

6)      Play in the leaves, play in the snow:  When I was about 10 years old, I ran outside and jumped in all the leaves my Dad had ever-so-patiently raked.  Bad idea - I had hives covering my body minutes later.  However, that doesn’t stop me from taking beautiful Autumn walks and enjoying the crunchiness of the fall leaves (thumbs up if you love that sound too!).  In the winter, go tobogganing, try snowboarding, make snow angels.  Get that nose running!  Don’t forget to exercise on the regular, no matter how unmotivated you feel.

7)      Take a picture:  One thing I look forward to this fall is taking nature walks and capturing photographs of all the gorgeous changing leaves.  Photography is such a well-known form of art, and it’s so easy too.  Even using your regular “let’s go clubbing and take pictures of each other” camera will work well.  Just play around with your settings and see what you can create.  Suggestion: Sepia tone, Landscape view.

8)      Learn to bake and cook: This is one I struggle with.  No matter what I seem to try and make in the kitchen, I end up burning, undercooking, overcooking, reeking up the place, or simply going off the wrong cooking instructions.  Hence the reason my Mom asks me to “cut up the mushrooms” instead of “marinating the steak” – (what? Salt and sugar look the same!)  But, I hear cooking and baking is a major stress reliever and if you’re happy with your meal, sharing it with the friends and family will make you feel accomplished and proud.  I’ll stick to setting up the dinner table and washing the dishes.  Looking for a great cook book?  Check out Recipes From Mark McEwan

9)      Educate yourself & take a course: There are a couple courses I’m looking into taking this Fall/Winter.  One of them is event planning management, and the other is jewelry making.  One will exercise my work side, and the other will satisfy my creative side.  Most of you might be students, but even so, think about what you’d like to do in your spare time.  Whether it would be joining a new yoga class at your gym, or taking up pottery, it never hurts to take on a new project.  You can count this on your new year’s resolution list, too!  Yes – we love killing two birds with one stone!

10)     Don’t forget to take vacation time: This year we were lucky enough to have a warm new years day, but 2012 – I doubt the luck will follow through.  Hopefully I will be in Miami, or Vegas, or just somewhere in the sun.  Either way, treat yourself to a getaway at least for a few days during the cold seasons.  It might cost a few bucks, but hey, it’s totally worth it when you come back looking all tanned and sexy!  Some suggested websites to book your trip: tripcentral.ca, redtag.ca, airbnb.com.  Looking to take a smaller, 1-2 day trip?  Book yourself a spa day at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, or Cosmopolitan Hotel – all located downtown, Toronto.

So stop building your igloo and crying about putting your summer shorts away. Let's make the most of the next few months and see how excited Summer is to return!

With love,
- MF

How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days. ~ John Burroughs

I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me. But it's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once...and it's too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst. And then I remember... to relax, and not try to hold on to it. And then it flows through me like rain. And I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life. You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. Don't worry... you will someday.

~ Lester Burnham from American Beauty

When I'm Ready

And there I stood; with my vulnerability and guilt. I was moments away from asking for your forgiveness and in return was willing to give you my loyalty, my trust, my happiness and heart. I ignored the doubts that sent me packing and pushed them aside accusing them of being jealous and wrong. I had missed you – deeply. Missed your eyes and your neck and your bed. I selfishly wanted to use you again to fix me.

And then I stopped.

I turned around, and looked far into the field ahead. I could already see myself walking away in the distance, alone, with no one by my side. Independent and free. Lonely and clueless. Full of questions and empty of answers.

But it hit me. I no longer needed your reassurance to remind me what I was capable of. I no longer needed your touch to remind me I was worthy. I no longer needed your love to substitute the love I lacked for myself.

My doubts spoke louder, and started sounding like my own conscience, sounding more like angels, telling me to move on. And a little thought inside my head whispered “I will be back when I’m ready.”

- MF