Reset: Rewind

This blog has been moved to a new space:

http://mwiktoria.com

Hope to see you there.

MWiktoria

Byrds, Buttons & Twits

I came to the realization today that I  haven't really spent much time on this space.  Though to be frank I haven't felt completely writer-y, or creative lately (unusual for me).  I wanted to avoid "poisoning" this space and your mind(s) with half-assery, instead preferring to wait it out, whatever "it" is.

Much of my absence in the world of creativity in a proper way  I think may be  because  

I've been focusing a lot on other aspects of my life. Not that being creative isn't an important aspect, it has always and will always be a part of what a value in myself.

The voice of my creative brain sounded like (more of an internal dialogue): 

Creative Brain:"We should write a blog post, it's been a while and we like to write".

Logical Brain: "Yes we should write, but, we should really avoid sounding like a complete twit.  We want to post content we may be comfortable to stand by and not hide in shame because we just wanted to be creative.  If we're gonna head down that route let me just get you some Popsicle sticks, white glue and glitter". 

Creative Brain: "That's not very encouraging, humph.Hmmmmm. well it is  a beautiful day today, we should write about the weather".

Logical Brain: "We've done that, it's too Canadian always going on about the weather it won't translate.  Do we really want people out there being like, reading her blog is like turning on the weather channel?" 

Creative Brain: "Well, no. I mean we should write something...about makeup or fashion or buttons.

Logical Brain: "Buttons?! Really you want to write about buttons? You know nothing about buttons".

Creative Brain: "Well yea who doesn't love a good button, buttons are awesome.  We could do a whole appreciation of the button post. Put that degree to use and do some proper academic  research.

Logical Brain: "..."Even better!  We could do a series. Part 1: Pre-history of the button".

Creative Brain: "See?! Great idea! Buttons!"

Logical Brain: "Go home Creative Brain, you're drunk".

Conversations are not normally as well structured inside my cranium, it's usually a more frazzled dialogue, should I shouldn't I?  I want to but what do I write about?  

I think maybe it's called writer's block.  I've never experienced it for so long before, but, I didn't like it.

I think the cover song by The Byrds represents this struggle and that I've come to an understanding that to everything there is a time to...

MWiktoria

Fringe Benefits?

In the early afternoon on the day which I was supposed to set off on my Spanish vacation, I had booked in a hair appointment, believing, rather foolishly that I could accomplish all that which I had set out for the day and still take care of all of those last minute tasks, in a graceful and calm fashion I'm an adult, isn't that what adults do?  Handle everything with grace, calm and with and, um, hm.  Yea I don't know who I was channeling at the time eitheir.

In my eagerness to get everything done before I had left for Spain (more on that later), I had scheduled things too closely and ended up late, not too late but late enough that the girl at reception did her best to make it understood that she thought my lateness was akin to the equivalent of a world catastrophe ( I called, apologized that I would be late, and  I was still given the go head to come on in). I now understand why those that can do have personal assistants.  

I never did get anything done with my hair that day,  the salon was incredibly apologetic for Ms. receptionist's behaviour and her drama filled reaction to my lateness in front of other salon patrons.  The salon offered to make amends, I was appreciative and I left it at that, the fault was mine after all.  All in all this is a first world problem and though slightly annoyed, I decided to take this in stride and wear my hair au naturel, in  all of it's thick, wavy, sometimes curly glory.  

Barcelona & Mallorca hair au naturel

I was going on vacation after all, and didn't want to chance any house-fires by taking my straightener (I know now I wouldn't have used it even if I had taken it. Way too much effort for a vacation).  In all honesty, I think it all worked out for the best.  Where vacation was concerned. My apparent want to get my hair cut was tempered by the sights & sounds of Spain, too enthralled by the new world around me, the desire to do anything worthwhile, let alone spending a great deal of time and/or thought into my hair was just not going to be on the cards.  I much prefer discovery and adventure over preening over my appearance for hours, although I do preen, not for hours, but, quite regularly (personal hygene is a must). 

Back in more familiar territory and routine, the desire to preen.  Before I had left I thought I knew exactly, precisely the image I had wanted to do. I wanted something chic, yet bohemian, yet classic, age appropriate, but fashionable.  Since these are all 'buzzwords' that tend to mean very little, my image of the perfect hair was a  light rose-gold pale concoction.

Rose-Gold hair via Pinterest

This was the image that I would show my hairdresser on my phone.  I would say something ridiculous akin to "Give me hair colour, sophistication,  joie de vivre, work your magic and work it well"! (swiftly followed by an appropriately timed please and thank you) as is my custom.  This image seemed like a good image this plan seemed like an excellent plan, my nearest and dearest to me agreed that this image would suit my person, lifestyle and skin tone.  I had agonized for weeks to make sure that the image presented before you, was the image at least to a certain extent was the image I would represent, the hair I would wear every day, until inevitably boredom set in.

Then, while editing vacation photos, I heard it in the late hours of the night, it approached out of nowhere like that nefarious looking character that your loved ones and guardians pull you away from (or should) when 'the stranger' approaches you in their scraggly looking demeanor.  They try to entice you with promises of sugary dreams that never seem to pan out.  In my case the nefarious character did not take to presenting sugary treats (which I would have welcomed). The nefarious character this time a-round made its appearance in the form of the idea of  bangs, fringe, the devil's minion, whatever you'd like to I heard it calling to me, like a voice at in the night being carried by a warm wind. It tried to seduce me by  "But, don't you want to look impossibly chic, sophisticated? Sexy? Coquettish even?!" 

Fringe: Trying to look impossibly chic, sophisticated, sexy, coquettish even!

I've had bangs/fringe before, given the right hairdresser one does tend to look impossibly sophisticated (only though right after leaving the salon, then it's all: "You fool, you fell for it again"! As from day to day you struggle to personify chicness, inevitably this will happen.  These pictures are ones whch were taken in most cases after leaving the salon, to you know, inform all of my friends of how chic and sophisticated I looked.  This vibe lasted for the day, maybe two...as long as I broke out the hair straightener every.single.day.

The reality was that I didn't and I know I will not break out the hair straightener every day, I have impossibly uncooperative hair when it comes to fringe/bangs.  In the moments when I have them I yearn for a live in hairdresser to straighten my hair, I don't foresee that in my immediate future (How unfortunate you say). It is it is unfortunate that I am drawn to fringe/bangs like a siren song found in the journey through life's great oddessey.  I've reasoned and I have used logic (you have two cow-licks I think to myself), yet logic does not deter me and I always seem to talk myself into them, every single time without fail.

This time around things are going to be different, this time I will not show the hairdresser hair with fringe/bangs, I will persevere.  I will walk into the salon and say "Give me something to suit my face shape and skin colour".  I will  let her work her Edward Scissor Hands like magic, I will trust in her years of experience and expertise and what I assume will be good taste.  I will not fall into the spell of the chichest of chic fringes throughout the internet.  And I will trust that I will walk out with the most chic, sophisticated sexy and fringe free coquettish free hair...I hope.

I'll let you know how that all goes.  In all honesty, is it worth all the work styling, battles with nature and re-growth for some fringe benefits?

X,

Marta

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

I've learned, and have been reminded most recently over the past two months or so that change is the one constant in life.

About two months ago I lost my job, but, I was fortunate to find a new one, which seems to promise a more rewarding professional future. In that time, I've also been fortunate enough to be able to travel internationally and really had the opportunity to take some time out to really consider the "options" available as a woman, a person and most importantly a human being.

I plan in continuing to utilize this blog as a creative space, I wish I could give those of you searching for a category in which to place this space (my little piece of the internet) a label or a decisive category in which to place this, such as "lifestyle", "food" or "fashion", but I don't even know how this space will evolve and what eventual category (as much as I hate to categorize things) will become.

If you're up for it, I invite you to continue to keep an eye on this space as I try to muddle through...all these changes and all of this life happening all around me.

Here's hoping to a continuous journey of self discovery!

X,

Marta

Back in Business

Well hello there,

I've missed you.

Mission new laptop accomplished. New blog post coming shortly.



X,

MWiktoria

When technology fails

For those of you interested in reading my little piece of the Internet, I thank you sincerely.

The lack of posts of late is not due to lack of interest or care. You see, dear reader...technology has failed me...and when technology starts to die so does my ability to post content. So please bear with me if you're out there reading this.

I should have access to a laptop shortly, so this blog space can get on rollin' properly in 2014.

Thanks again for keeping an eye on this space.

Best wishes! Til later!

MWiktoria

On the Third Day of Spring

Fake Flowers at Michel's

There is no spring in Canada.  This winter has been unrelenting.  

Baby it's Cold Outside, has turned out to have been an event foreshadowing the epic winter which had befallen us.  I've never been more thankful for hats, gloves, scarves, boots and all things woolen and shearling.

On the second day of spring I awoke to a chill and upon taking a peek outside the window, there appeared to be a fresh blanket of snow on the ground.  While  beautiful to look at through the window, snow in mid-march is not exactly a welcome sight.  Only two days before in a full blown case of optimism, as a result of experiencing a slightly warmer day which I naturally, but, falsely believed signalled the end of our deep freeze I was in full pining/online shopping force in preparation for spring.

My hopes were considerably dampened when, we were hit by snow.  But, one mustn't give up, one must go on.  In an effort to recuperate from the shock of freshly laden snow I sought companionship.
On that second day of spring I was spending time with some friends when I was introduced to the magical properties of an Ethiopian snack: kolo. 

Coffee and kolo, a traditional Ethiopian pairing.

"Just take some of this and chew on it", were the  instructions I was given. With enthusiasm I took some of this grain mixture (typically barley, chickpeas and peanuts which have been roasted and spiced), and bit.

 I was rewarded with a wonderful crunch, and chewiness with a bit of a spicy kick.  Traditionally served with coffee and often accompanied by it's friend popcorn, kolo is part of the Ethopian culture, as sort of afternoon ritual.  After some conversation, coffee and kolo, I found my spirit restored.  Laden with provisions (a container of kolo), I made my way home through the under-belly of the Canadian spring 'frost'. 

Fueled by coffee, kolo and my impatient anticipation of spring, that night I dreamt of a bohemian life in the spice markets and bazaars of the world.  I dreamt of a sub-tropic world and a mishmash of cultures I have yet to visit and of a wanderlust I have never known.

X,

MWiktoria