foggy monday

Upon arriving home on this cold Denmark day, I wanted to take advantage of being able to do daytime things I am not able to do when I am working in the office. So, I biked over to the Black Diamond, a.k.a the Royal Danish Library, to get some work done in the reading room. What a great place to work, read or just be alone with the voices in your head. A wintery treat, I hope to enjoy again.

I was introduced to glögg by the lovely Miss Hanna two years ago. Since that initial winter treat that she made me with such care in the kitchen at Youthography, I have moved on to have now experienced three kinds of this yule time drink! I spent pre christmas eve fighting off a vicious cold by nibbling on 'apple peices' (that contain no apples, by the way) and sipping danish glögg. The Danish version has almonds and dried fruit with wine, of course in it. It was very yummy and indeed a perfect ending to 2008 in my adopted town of Copenhagen. While in Austria I enjoyed many glasses of gluhwein on the hills, at apres ski and also in our chalet. My favorite has to be at the apres ski on the first day. I happened to be apres spa that day and very pleased to have a chair waiting for me by the bar to kick back and sing along while doing some serious merry making. I loved sipping the good stuff as I talked to Mum and Dad in Canada, from the mountain top. While in Stockholm I will see...

I arrived home this morning from Germany to catch up before I head off to Sweden tomorrow morning. The old Candy and Martin flick welcomed me in, what a nice little surprise. Lucky me, I was able to enjoy Christmas in Mainz. It is such a pretty little town, especially when introduced by Matisse, owner of the Weinhaus Zum Spiegel. Delicious food and wine was enjoyed and a perfect prep for the drive to Austria the following day. I can happliy say that I got myself to the hills in a fitting style. I spent day one in spa and outdoor sauna to kick a cold that had taken me down, then joined everyone in Ischgl for a day of swooshing into Switzerland to Austria and back again. What a beautiful area of the world. I don't think it is possible for me to explain how wonderful it was to be atop these mountains. I will try a meager attempt.... For a girl who learned (very poorly) how to ski at the age of 16, I was so very happy to be able to take on these hills with the encouragement of my fello...

I had the wonderful pleasure of spending some time under the Spanish sun in Palma. It added a major spring into my step and I felt I could actually live up to the name glow during that time. I know this Christmas song is anything but Spanish, but it is cracking me up tonight as I type away trying to cast away this cold that has taken my body over. I am going back and forth between the Crosby and Andrews' sisters version, as a tip of the hat to my Dad, and the Chris Isaak version. I am torn, so I am enjoying them both. Sorry Dad, but the Isaak version is just too funny. After my all too brief 24+ hours in Spain, I have made the very happy choice that I would love to return. It was a quick trip filled with tapas, wine, sun, flip flops and summer dresses. However, getting stuck in the airport while trying to depart, was a little painful, but nothing a little wine and good conversation could not fix. Thanks to all who encouraged us all 'to land on our own moon' hopefully we all...

I am off to Spain tomorrow morning to take in some sun and fun. It will be an early morning, and not warm enough to swim, but I will be taking in some tapas, cava and vitamin D through as many pores as possible. Moving on from my Queen Street COCA days, we will see how the real Spanish fare measures up. I am sure it will be warmer than this breezy day up at the cottage. I remember a serious downpour of vodka soda's and gt's. Polly, the fantastic br-ish photographer that she is, thanks for capturing my elegant nose plugging move. I shall never be a fabulous swimmer, but I will always try and stand up to the challange of running off boathouses. When the water is FREEZING and all the insane people think bikinis and cocktails are what is appropriate, sometimes you just have to close your eyes, plug your nose and jump in!

I am tired and just want to be in a nice warm bath. I don't have a bathtub anymore. So sadly, no claw footed little heaven awaits me when arrive home. I do however have an active imagination. So when I am taking a nice warm shower after my chilly ride home, I will think I am under this canopy instead of in my little Danish apartment. The piece really had to interact with nature and lucky for Gustafson Porter , landscape architect and designer, the weather allowed for such a billowy vision. Nicely done Mother nature & Gustafson.

I am quite still today. This is usually not the case, no toes tapping, no hair twirling, no fingertips strumming - very unusual. I am not sure why, maybe it is the weather, maybe other reasons. Whatever the case, I saw this illustration done by Maira Kalman and adore the style she brought to it, and also take comfort in the message.

Kate Spade has been doing this on the site for years and I think it rocks. It is a 'sneak peek' behind the curtain. A platform for showing off things that are really interesting or news worthy to the design savvy users that would put down thousands for a handbag with her little name stitched inside. The New York section is a great example of how this information has been displayed, at a high production value here, but great idea of using the map of NYC to navigate around to different stories about the city. The navigation for the Events and Projects works really well, in that the scroll is at the bottom for stories, but you also can go through the visual sections in the main frame as well. It feels jam packed full of info, without being text heavy, great job! I love visiting her boutique in Soho when I am in the city. I still have not bought anything Kate Spade, but I love looking at all the candy colored goodness she puts out there. The style harkens back to days of playing dr...

I awoke at 6:30 this morning, not because I felt suddenly like a morning person, the room was shaking around me. Denmark experienced a little earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale. It was funny to feel and luckily it was just a wee one, so no damage. A few glasses toppled over and that was about the extent of it in the household. It made me think of all the quakes Dawn has gone through in Japan and as well Peter in LA. I can't imagine living through them, I am not sure how I would react. I can say, for the little shaking this morning, I stayed in bed all the while and did not think, oh god, I have to take cover, perhaps a bad sign? Not sure. The only other moving under my feet happened while Mum was in mid wedding cake ensemble years back. Luckily the cake did not topple and Mum did not have a breakdown. All in all, me and earthquakes get on quite well. Hopefully this will stay true for the future shaking that will come in and out of my life. The image above is from a show ...

I think I might be in love. with a woman. again. Sorry Dawn, Hanna, Gaynor and all the lovely ladies that fill my heart, I am making room for one more. Joanne Goddard, a New York city writer has stolen my heart by posting these rad pics of Denmark. I love her because, she bought wellies (tretorns I was unable to find, errr!) thinks Paul Newman was the sex god and today posted these pics of Danish bikers. Joanne writes: Here's why Denmark is awesome: Denmark has topped the World's Happiest People surveys for the past 20 years. They buy more candles than any other nation. Eighty percent of Copenhagen's cyclists continue to ride through the Copenhagen winter. Hopefully Denmark will quickly approve my request to renew my residents status and we will see if I can be part of the 80% that makes it all the way through the winter on the bike!

While I had the use of a car, I took the opportunity to drive up the coast on a sunny Sunday afternoon. As I had not driven in what seemed like forever, being behind the wheel felt so nice, like an indulgence. I came upon this beautiful station on my journey, and just had to share it. It was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1936 and was originally intended as a prototype for Texaco. It was closed when I was there, but maybe some sunny day I will visit it again.

Is this what love would look like captured on film? Maybe. Or maybe this is what happiness feels like. In any case, I would love to be in her shoes, I think I could manage a better expression than hers. This is what I felt like on the night of November 27th. Thank you to everyone who surrounded me, encouraged me to keep the tradition of dancing atop high surfaces and to those who whirled me and my dress around the dance floor, it was a night to be remembered.

I met this guy at Pride Parade in Amsterdam. It was summer love...I think he liked having me on his arm. However, I just liked looking into those big eyes of his.

I saw this vintage poster for the beloved Air Canada today. Goodness do I miss the style in which people traveled. Now, Wardair to me that was the pinnacle of traveling in style. Those big tables, nice stewardesses, and of course the fact I was about 5 the last time I flew with the carrier might make my view of the experience a little skewed. Regardless, I hope that my flights over the next while can have a little style to them. Perhaps, if I bring my hat box on my flight back, it will set the stage, or just be big pain in the bottom. We shall see...

Since bright, natural light is non existent today, I am starring at these gorgeous shots instead.

Tulips are in the flower stands these days in Copenhagen. It has made me nostalgic for my temporary home in Amsterdam. Here is a shot of the tulip fields, so effing pretty. I am looking forward to filling the house with fresh cut tulips, it will help with the very very early sundown here.

I am taking on the dark Denmark days by treating myself to a very indulgent book. This book is filled with 31 songs and stories that describe how they make the author feel. I am working my way through the book while listening to each song. Thanks You Tube and hello, rainy afternoons!

Is a little part of the world, that is simply breathtaking. I had the great opportunity to visit this small town in Switzerland this week. It was a brief 24 hrs filled with homemade pasta, calvados, Swiss chocolates and a view from a balcony...that was to be repetitive, breathtaking. It was also filled with work and presenting idea's to a mixture of very interesting folk. Hopefully, I will be so lucky to get to visit one day again!

I am off to Sweden tomorrow morning with my colleagues, to inspire and be inspired. Fingers crossed my presentations will go smoothly. Last weekend, Tyler and I visited Broholm, a manor house on the Island of Fyn. It was a wonderful Autumn weekend. It was my first stay in a 1600's castle, fit with a moat! Very warm and cozy and an amazing place to sit by the fire with a glass of Saint Emilion.

I am in the midst of writing a presentation for a creative seminar and having trouble narrowing down my aim. Something that I do like, very much in fact seems inappropriate here, as everyone seems to be a fan of the bicycle as much I am. So, I have crossed out anything bike related from my talk, but felt the need to share my joy somehow. I was reading the New York Times the other day and came across an article called 'A Field Guide to the New York City Bicyclist'. It went through a variety of riders who are bringing their style to the streets of New York. I stopped in my tracks when I saw Miss Adams, a 27 year old graphic designer and art director. The title read 'THE VINTAGE-BIKE FASHION GAL'. I was thrilled to see her endorsement of the skirt+heels combo while biking and her practical sense of having a bike that looked super cool to her, but not as much to bike thieves. Her green Schwinn Varsity 10-speed reminded me of the bike I left back in Toronto, I could only hop...

I went to the K bar last night and enjoyed one too many k bar martini's. So instead of hiding under the covers, I am working away while dreaming of my headache subsiding. I really wish that I could recover on the bed in this environment instead! A fairytale filled room, with a huge bed to cuddle up on, in Venice of all places. However, it would involve me going back in time to 2003, which wouldn't be all that bad. I would be getting ready to meet my now betrothed, Teatro would just be opening up and I would be enjoying brunches at Xacutti, I would be living iin the little blue house, I would be learning to cook and how to drink wine with Gaynor, my friend Dawn would be living in the same city as me, instead of living in a different country, I wouldn't need my glasses as much as I do these days, I would be learning about the world of advertising from Sabaa, I would own a little VW that allowed me to zoom around town and go on road trips, I would be getting my dose of Wagamam...

I have been very lucky, to have been very busy. In the past few weeks, there have been loads of plane, train and bike rides mixed with dashing about town on foot, to keep things moving. In my travels I have taken so many pictures, but have taken waaaay to long to post them. So here are a few of around Copenhagen and what the impending fall feels like.

I visited Amager beach this past weekend to take full advantage of the warm Danish sun. It was filled with smiling Danes grooving to electronic beats and looking oh-so stylish. The architecture of the beach stations felt brutalist yet beautiful, a hard combination to pull off. I felt as if R2-D2 could wiggle past at any moment. A short trip from the city centre, but a feeling of being a million light years away.

After seeing the sad face of Mr. Igor Kent, the now infamous Toronto bicycle thief that was found with 2,396 stolen bikes under his charge, I felt rather amused and nostalgic. Having more than a handful of bikes stolen over the years in Toronto, I wonder how many were the works of Mr. Kent. I lived up the street from his shop and I am sure my most memorable theft was thanks to him. Only a person like him would have masterminded a stolen ‘bike trade’. A few years back, my shiny new (used) bike was swiped and a less valuable stolen bike left in its place. This seemed at the time quite strange, but after learning more about his demented ‘Robin Hood’ mind, it seems to make more sense to me now. So, goodbye Igor, it looks like the bikers in Toronto can ride with a little less worry these days.

I may not look as cute as the natives, but they have said, officially I am allowed to be one of them! I am so grateful, now on to more important things – like finding out where to get this coat…

Greetings from Copenhagen! I have moved on from the land of windmills and bitterballen and am now in the land of snaps, pølsevogn (sausage wagons) and very tall and thin Danes. I do not have my camera hookup here yet, so stay tuned for more personal shots. This past weekend I went to the Royal Café for brunch, among other things and fell in love with the place. I may make it a weekly habit. The café was filed with people enjoying the little hideaway that seemed more like a fairytale dining room. The café made me remember going to see Cinderealla’s castle in Disneyland when I was about 5 years old and feeling really bummed out to see that is was just a façade really. However 25 years later, I am happy to report I have found a real magical place that fulfilled all those childhood dreams. I enjoyed a brunch that was made up of various foods, all in miniature proportions. They specialize in smushi, a petite version of the Danish open faced sandwich that somewhat resembles the construction...