aveda

things i'm loving lately

a few things i'm utterly obsessed with lately.

1. my wunder unders. spending a week and a half in a truck, and then spending another 2 and a half weeks continuing to live out of suitcases. that is one of the few scenarios during which leggings can become a second skin, and be perfectly acceptable. not fashionable. acceptable. i lived in my lulu leggings for over a month. there's something about not having a home, and being in an item of clothing that still makes you feel comfy, that is so perfectly appropriate for living in a rainy, sort of lost feeling, city. they were washed and retired to the closet for a period of time when we moved into our new place - don't worry.
2. alan's war. i received this graphic novel from my dear friend leigh right before i left toronto. for some reason i've been in a huge WWII kick, in which every book i read (unintentionally) is about WWII. this one fit right in. but instead of being depressing (wait! don't get me wrong. it was heartbreaking), it was also beautiful. and i've read 2 more book since this one, and i can't stop thinking about it. sometimes i take it off of my shelf and just look at the drawings. i highly recommend it.
3. the botanical kinetics toner from aveda. so here's a story. imagine 2 people are driving across the country (hypothetically, of course), and they have everything they own shoved into the back of a truck. THEN imagine they stop for gas, and one of those people opens the back truck door, and out tumbles some stuff... and *SMASH*. a bottle of aveda kinetics toner packed so neatly and protectedly within a box smashes all over the parking lot of said gas station. and now imagine this.... imagine that REALLY HAPPENED. to me. on our way here. needless to say, all i can think about when i wake up, and when i go to sleep, is how much i miss my spray toner. and how when i get a job, the first thing i'm going to buy is more toner. until then, i've literally been having dreams about it. this toner is the best toner i've ever used, and i challenge anyone to tell me otherwise. *before said challenge, remember mine smashed in a parking lot in winnipeg. soooo.... yea.
4. the no. 5-J necklace. so, recently i did a huge shop update, and posted a ton of new stuff i made here in vancouver. but then this little necklace was staring at me from my desk... so sad and without a person to wear it. so sweet, and lonely. so, i had to make one for myself. not the same (i didn't have the same materials - the only downfall of working with vintage), but close. and at least now, they have one another (the original is still available for purchase here)
5. my moleskin journals. i can't say much else about this, other than i've used my moleskines that i brought with me every single day since i arrived. grocery lists. song titles. photo editing lists. phone numbers for jobs (ha! yea right). jewelry organizing. it's all in there. i have at least 2 on me (in different sizes) at all times. i don't know where i'd be without them.
6. jj bean's vegan double chocolate brownie cookie. ok, i admit, this photo is actually from here. and i DO realize that the photo makes them look like piles of undesirables. but let me tell you something. imagine this - standing outside, on a half rainy, half cool but sunny day, with a stranger (who became a friend by the end - i like to think the cookie had something to do with it), for hours on end. duriecting people to another location. over 6 hours. 5 people came. now, inject chocolate brownie cookies... and then my discovering that THEY ARE VEGAN. i now live in a city where vegan goods are a natural part of the menu. and this coffee place - jj beans - incorporates multiple vegan options daily... including a to die for vegan zucchini chocolate chip muffin. and not only that.... they are literally some of the best things i've ever eaten. ever. i think i may currently be living in heaven. if you ever get a chance to eat one of these cookies, please do yourself a favour and do it. i promise you - you would never ever ever ever ever know these are vegan. even the ever discriminating jeff agrees.
what are you loving every second of every day lately?

bruce springsteen and hair styling

baby you were born to styyylllle. (sorry. i know. i spend a lot of time alone now, and this is what my head does when it's left to it's own devices).
on thursday, katie and i filled ourselves with sushi, and then made a night out of aveda's born to style competition - four finalists, who had submitted videos of themselves and were chosen to come to the aveda institute, and display their talents in front of the judges. the winner walked out with a full scholarship to the aveda institute in vancouver.... think, top chef, but for hair. and with better outfits. and wine.
not really sure what to expect, we showed up to be escorted in, coats taken, and offered hand massages and some drinks. without even seeing hair, we looked at one another, and did silent fist pumps for deciding to attend. once the show got down to business though, we smartened up, and acknowledged that we hadn't even touched the tip of the iceberg.
top photo by me; bottom photo by lindsay elliot
judges (from left to right) Anya Georgijevic (Western editor for Flare Magazine), Ray Civello (President\CEO of Aveda Canada) and Marta Murray (Creative Director of Aveda for Western Canada) were all sitting front row, watching the styles as they came out. we all watched, and inhaled delicious snacks, and some drinks all night. 
all four finalists had to come up with a runway (models to the right above), and a ready-to-wear style (models to the left above), while also deciding on their clothing choices, and makeup styling. what came out of it all was fantastic - creativity, and a true reflection of why these women were the chosen finalists.
by the end of the night, bobbi-jo cronk went home with a full scholarship... and well deserved.
thanks aveda, for having us!
check out more photos of the event on the vancouver aveda institute's page here

a cut-a-thon is a lot less violent than it sounds

when you move to a city, and you are used to being surrounded by friends constantly, there is seriously only 1 way to make new ones. say yes. say yes to things that put you outside of your comfort zone. anything. it's a little like the movie 'yes man', minus a lot of the hysterical antics (plus more embarrassment).
so, when the aveda institute of vancouver called out for volunteers to act as witnesses for their leg of the 24 hour cut-a-thon, i said yes. i didn't really know what i was getting into - only that i would spend 8 hours at the salon, and would be the world record witness for their guinness world record book attempt.
i have to say, it was one of my favourite vancouver experiences so far. i arrived to the smiles of excited stylists, who had just walked 6km to symbolize the walk that a girl in east Africa must complete in order to attain clean water. they were all energized and ready to go.
a few of the lovely ladies on the vancouver institute team, working to spread the word outside the salon

i was promptly whisked off into the chair of julie - a new stylist who works in the salon of the aveda institute - who massaged me, washed my hair, and styled me and my recent haircut (that i had yet to figure out how to style myself). (hey everyone. get an appt with her. she's fantastic and wonderful, and so sweet). i then spent the day watching as the students, teachers, stylists, and every other person working at the institute, spent their time with each person in their chair.... with all funds from cuts that day being donated to watercan
essentially, it was all part of a global 24-hour cut-a-thon that aveda international was coordinating. beginning in asia, aveda salons across the globe were coordinating in 8 hour shifts, to raise the most money from haircuts and styles, in a 24 hour period - ever. they had been working tirelessly throughout the month of april to raise money from various events, and this day was the culmination of not only the vancouver institutes hard work, but also of a strong bond across the globe from the various salons...
me having my hair delicately handled by julie (top left) - among the other clients that day (from aveda institute vancouver's instagram)

it was an awesome day. so much money was raised. so many people had smiles on their faces all day. i was offered so much hospitality and spoiled rotten by all the lovely people who i met that day - leah who arranged the whole thing, julie who took care of me right away, kirk, who was insistent on ensuring i was comfortable and happy all day, and Shallynn who sat with me and chatted, and gave me a wonderful gift.  it was clear from all the lovely LOVELY people at the aveda institute of vancouver that they were simply passionate about what they were all contributing to that day.
i have to say - from my experiences within corporate culture, i had become jaded... i had lost the faith in a corporations passion for believing in something other than profit. spending the day with the folks at the vancouver institute was so inspiring... and a reminder that corporations are not only capable of keeping their eyes on a goal other than profit, but can be motivated, energetic, and humble about it.
thanks for having me aveda institute of vancouver - i will see you again very soon!

to book a service with the vancouver institute in vancouver, check out their website here. you can also keep up withtheir happenings from their facebook page here, or their twitter account here. also, this is isn't a sponsored post - just love these folks!

my weekend in summary (is going on hiatus)

hey friends.
i hate to be the one to say it, but i've been distant.
there's been lots going on, as i adjust into new life, and seek out the best of the best in jobs, apartments, and hiking trails.
and, though perhaps slightly selfish, i am going to take a break from 'weekend in summary' for a little while.
NOT LONG. not to worry. just a little break until i'm back into a routine. 
to distract you from this, here's a video that i find particularly endearing.... 
Lena Dunham for Rachel Antonoff / Best Friends Fall 2013

i'll also share that today i'm pretty excited to be working with Aveda Institute Vancouver to be part of the AVEDA Global Cut-a-thon today. 100% of the proceeds of services today will benefit WaterCan. if you're in the area, come get a haircut! i'll share some stories, and some photos tomorrow. 
happy monday - this week is allllll yours....