For the eyes. For the heart. For the ears. For the feet. For the soul.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Long weekend lust.



Long weekends are the bomb. Leading up to one, everything is just a bit busier. There is a sense of urgency in the air that reminds me of scurrying hamsters on a wheel, except with the point being to actually get somewhere and relax.

My mom shares a birthday with Canada and July 1st has always been associated with her special day. This next week is going to be quite hectic. Tonight I have a shoot with some real estate agents to complete a long anticipated printed brochure. I'm packing for an out of town wedding with my girl, Charity Swords and some friends. We are Sauble Beach bound at the crack of dawn on Friday morning to scope out the wedding location which, I'm told is a fabulous secret garden and the coolest location to shoot. We're also hoping to get in some beach time.

Sunday, Michael will pick me up, animals in tow and car packed for a week away at a waterfront cottage. We simply cannot wait, although I must admit I'm bringing my computer to do some editing in case it rains, sans internet access of course. When we arrive home, I have to throw together a 40th birthday party for my husband that night.

It's going to be a fabulous and busy summer. If I am behind on my blog posts, it's because I'm away with no access to the web but I'll be sure to absorb myself in writing and photos while I'm smack in the middle of God's intended paradise. I'll hopefully have a clear head and a lot to say when I return.

For now, have a great and safe long weekend, drink, dance, relax, sleep in or do whatever your heart wants to do. We lust after these extended holidays all year long. Now it's time to enjoy it.

p.s. If you like drinking Caesar's (I don't), check out Michael's latest blog post, sponsored by Mott's Canada, leave a comment and he will randomly select someone to win a Caesar kit of your own.


Love,

Wendy

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Never as good as the first time.


I'm seriously sad I didn't know about the Sade concert tonight. The last time I saw her, I have to say, it was the coolest vibe, most amazing crowd and greatest concert I've ever been to. Perhaps I should be happy with seeing her once. Sometimes when we try to recreate an amazing night, we are left disappointed or slightly underwhelmed.

Sometimes, it's never as good as the first time.


Monday, June 27, 2011

Viva Italia




It was a birthday party for an adorable one year old. The day included a huge and gorgeous property, bocce ball, a pig, a candy buffet, wine, lots of food, a corvette blaring "That's Amore", dancing the tarantella and lots of presents and wonderful people. Sounds like a day with the Italians to me!

Happy Birthday Matteo! Many more photos to come.

xoxo

Love, Wendy


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Consider things, from another point of view.



It's no secret on our street that our next door neighbours are rude. We all have done our best to be welcoming but man some people are tough nuts to crack. Sometimes as adults, we take it out on the wrong people; the kids.

Michael is funny. In so many aspects I think he would be a great dad but in many, he is set in his ways. We are both only children so we are used to doing our own thing. The neighbourhood is mostly full of boys so the little girl next to us is always bored. She always picks the strangest times to come over and play with our animals or show us her pet caterpillars or ring the doorbell. The other day, I actually saw Michael running away from her. She is six. He was hiding behind the barbeque afraid she would come and want to play. He pretended I called him inside and ran in. The cat chased Michael. She chased the cat. And round and round they went until Michael could scoot the cat inside and shut the door. I watched this scene unfold and couldn't help but laugh.

I scolded him that he was hiding from a little girl. "She's annoying" he would say.

Last night, like clockwork during dinner, the doorbell rang. We looked outside and it was the little girl. We didn't answer the door. This morning we awoke and there was a drawing on the front porch from her. He mentioned to me that we are both going to feel like assholes, and handed me the child's drawing.

Tonight, I think I'll invite her over to play tea party. Sometimes, you have to consider things from another point of view. Sometimes, a six year old needs to put things into perspective for you. Thanks for the life lesson Julia.



Monday, June 20, 2011

An unconventional father's day post




Father's day, like most years came and went without any thought put into it. I grew up without a relationship with my father and I think the lack of a male presence has a profound influence on a person. My dad remarried a few times but never had any other children. It was just me.
I've never been a parent but I know the love they have for their children. It baffles my mind that some can just walk away from their flesh and blood and never think twice about it.

I'm not sure if males and females are affected differently however Michael's latest post reminds me that it is important for dads to be there for their children. I have married a kind and sensitive man, and can only hope that if we ever have children one day, it can somehow heal the wounds of the parental absence we have both felt.

You can read his heartfelt post here:

I love you Michael and we love our moms dearly for being both a mother and father throughout the years.



Saturday, June 18, 2011

Pure Home Couture





Since I've started working for myself, I see my mom at least weekly. We meet up for a lunch date and shopping. Yesterday's adventure took us to Hamilton's Locke street. I ran into a childhood friend of mine who's mom just so happens to be my mom's best friend. I saw my great grandmother's old home and memories came flooding back of my childhood where weekends were spent with my dad and my cousins running up and down the street to the variety store.

We shopped, ate lunch and then found a gorgeous store that made me "ooh" and "ahh" the moment I walked in. I asked the gentleman if I could take some photos and it just so happens they need some for their website. His wife, he explained used to be a designer in NYC and her collections kept company with superstar designers such as Marc Jacobs. She suffered a brain aneurism and now they have their Hamilton store which completely cried out to my visual senses.

Thank you for a wonderful experience in your store and your touching story. Here are a few photos of the exquisite merchandise you can purchase at Pure Home Couture. Looking forward to our Oakville jaunt on Friday mom. xoxo

Pure Home Couture
174 Locke St. S
Hamilton, ON
L8P 4A9
(905) 572-6060

































Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Best friends need not apply.




Wikipedia defines a best friend as: someone (singular) with whom one shares the strongest possible kind of friendship. Yesterday I blogged about my heart being cold to abandonment and change. I dug deep into my soul and had a sleepless night trying to put myself in my old shoes, as well as other's shoes who are currently going through heartache. After all, how can you sympathize, nevermind empathize with someone if you can't yourself be in that moment.

Growing up, I always had many friends. My cousins all had sisters but they also had friends. My friends had siblings but there was always room for me. Spending time this weekend with a young boy who is an only child was interesting to me. You could see his imagination working overtime. Michael and I are both only children and I think that lends to our creativity. You had to be creative as a child to keep yourself entertained. My mom always wishes she had more children but I think there is something unique to an only child and I wouldn't have it any other way.

For me, the lack of a sibling placed more emphasis on friendships. It's odd because I am not someone who likes relationships to be labelled. Michael will often refer to me as his wife and although I am of course proud of the title, I feel like the label somehow brands me as his ownership and property. I didn't like it when someone would formally ask me to be their girlfriend. I used to cringe and roll my eyes at the corniness of it all. Friendships are different though. Although I find it odd at our age to introduce someone as "my best friend", there is a certain term of endearment about it.

Being a wanderer, I have always made friends easily but usually lost touch with people in my many moves and career changes. A lovely lady told me at my first wedding I shot that I have a natural gift of making people feel welcome and that people are drawn to me. I find that flattering yet ironic since I push people away when I feel they are getting too close.

I have often found myself in the middle of a friendship threesome. There was G&K&J with whom I was best friends with individually through elementary, highschool and university years. Moving to Toronto created a different path in life and I drifted from them. There was A&A who were great, but longtime best friends. There was C&C and then C&S who got close and welcomed me into the group, but being an all or nothing type of person, I never felt I could get to the level of friendship a 25 year long relationship could. There was J and all her sisters who referred to me as daughter number five, but blood is always thicker than water. There were my highschool friends A&H with whom I still keep in touch, but not having children keeps me out of the loop. There was S and her three sisters who once told me that she remembers a specific moment at her sisters wedding where all four of them were in the washroom, one on the toilet, one in the shower and two getting ready in front of the mirror, and she vowed that she would never need girlfriends since her sisters were everything to her.

Enter J.....

Josie and I met on my first day at a Pension company in Markham. I instantly noticed she had big front teeth like I did and a hearty laugh. We hit it off instantly and were inseparable for 8 years. We went to concerts together, nightclubs, cottages, went shopping, did nothing and everything together. We had deep conversations about our past, spirituality and our dreams...all without any type of judgement. We talked for hours at work, on the phone and I spent many weekends with her and her husband Eugene. They were parents in the city as well as friends. People found it odd that there was a difference in age. In hindsight, I think she offered stability to me and I offered a youthful and vibrant perspective. Our friendship was unbreakable. We never once had a fight. I knew how it felt to have a third party come out with us and want to be part of what we had and in our heads we both knew that there were no new joiners welcome. She got me, accepted me and loved me as I was. We experienced many many laughs and tears together. Something changed in her relationship with her husband, and something changed when I met Michael. I suppose she felt as if I no longer needed her as much, and I felt she was drifting as I quit my job. I refused to accept the fact that our friendship was transient and that just because I no longer worked with her, it could come to an end or become different but that in fact is exactly what happened. Sometimes, through no fault of one particular person, things change and fall apart.

She was to be my maid of honour in my Mexican wedding and once I became engaged, I never heard another word from her, other than an "I'm sorry" text message 2 weeks before I was to get married. She left her husband and left her friend behind to start a new life. She cleaned out her home and the only thing left behind was a framed photo I had given to her which read "Sisters". I have dug deep, admitting my flaws and acknowledged them however my many emails, phone calls, letters and visits have been met with nothing return. Silence is sometimes so deafening and absolutely gut wrenching.

There is something so heartbreaking about the loss of a friend. It leaves you feeling ashamed at the failed relationship when mutual friends inquire. It's not the same as an asshole ex-boyfriend which the two friends could berate together. When I see struggle between two friends, it breaks my heart because I have been there. Sometimes you wonder if it's reparable because what usually happens is the secrets and trust you have put into the relationship, usually come back in your face when it all goes sour.

I have many friends both male and female. I have a great friend in my husband and my mother. Of course I have the loyal friendship of my pets. I'm not saying I'm unapproachable or don't want to hang out with you. I'm always open to new relationships, friendships and experiences....but....if you want to be my best friend, you need not apply. I've already been down that road, I don't want to replace her and I don't want to ever feel that hurt that I still feel when looking at photos or digging deep in my memory banks like I did last night.

Two weeks before my wedding I asked Michael if I should invite Josie to our wedding, despite her absence over the previous year during the most important time in my life and he shook his head at my constant self-inflicting punishment and need to want to see people in their best light. Some things never change.

Do not keep on with a mockery of friendship after the substance is gone - but part, while you can part friends. Bury the carcass of friendship: it is not worth embalming. ~William Hazlitt