Quick updates...because I've fallen behind



Pic from here


In the last week or so...

MrFinance responded to Eva's text response (the itsnotyouitsme excuse that she wrote him on my birthday) with...
Hey Teagan.  Happy belated bday.  I hope you had a great day.  Thank you for letting me know.  I understand and respect your decision.  However, I would like to say that I believe in who you are as a person and believe that there is potential for us to be great together.  I wish you the best as well.
And part of me debates whether it is worth a shot...but sometimes the spark just isn't there. 

I went to the Jay-Z and Kanye West concert.  It was AMAZING.  They are truly talented and consummate professionals.  Not only did they play music from their collaborative album Watch the Throne.  They played all their good hits... like Golddigger, Stronger, Hard Knock Life, Big Pimping and their interaction with the crowd was incredible.  There was 50 foot rising platforms with video on all sides that was amazing too.

That day I also had my work review.
It went awful.
I can't even begin to get into it but it went horribly.
At the above mentioned concert I may have had 5 or 6 glasses of wine...oopsie can we say stressed much?!

On Thursday I had a ROUGH day at work...after the previous already rough day.
And I was set to meet up after work for a date.
A date from online...that I sort of wasn't that excited to attend.
I picked the place and I had to keep pushing back the time and I looked like CRAP because I came from work....and I wasn't expected it to be all that great to be honest.
Well we met.
And our 7:30 drink date turned into a bite to eat and then lasted until after 11:30.
The conversation was amazing.
He was so cute.
And bonus points English accent...so we will refer to him as MrBrit.
And hopefully you will hear a lot more about him.
I'm trying not to get too excited about him yet.
We are supposed to hang out again but nothing yet set in stone (darn it).
But I'm being hesitant to message him but I really want to.
Maybe I should message him.
Ughh maybe I shouldn't.  I won't for now.

Friday was work Christmas party.
Which was awkward considering how Wednesday went.
And I got hit on way too often and it is such a boys club and I can't quite grasp that I'm apparently supposed to use this to my advantage only I have no idea how.
And I left feeling all aggitated and stressed.

Saturday I went shopping with another sorority sister and then we watched Breaking Dawn Part One.
It was okay.
To be honest I was kind of disappointed.
I was supposed to meet up with another boy for a date only he got "kidnapped by his friend to a club downtown".  You can bet I scratched that.
Even when he messaged me the next day to hang out.
Yea I don't think so...if this is how you are for a first date imagine what he would be like when he is comfortable in a relationship?  I'm all for saying no to date-ditchers.

Another one who I was supposed to go on a date with this coming Wednesday we've been texting.
Based on his text messages alone I don't want to meet him
But now I don't know how to get out of it.
Let's call him MrEbonics.
Because everytime he texts it goes like this.

I am going to d gym.
chat l8tr
how was d weekend
how d weather in TO?

Seriously...and it completely bothers me!  So I think I'm going to not go on this date.

So much so that I already planned another date with MrEngineer on Wednesday.
I know can you keep up? Because I barely can!
But it's fun.

Tonight was another trip to the vet because of my dog.
He is not doing well and this has me pretty stressed.
He totally was crying in the vet.
And I could barely keep it together.
He is sleeping in my lap right now and I do not know what I'm going to do if he continues to not do well :(

So the quick rundown of upcoming things...
Tomorrow I am hanging out with my sorority sister Laurel.
Wednesday date night with MrEngineer.
Thursday we have a night alumni event at a place called Eat My Martini :)
And Saturday Jacob is supposed to come into town for a visit.
Oh wait did you read that right?!
Yup I was hoping to gloss over that...

My life is totally nutso right now.

Happy birthday, Teagan. Welcome to 30, and you've certainly made a mess of it.

Okay so I totally borrowed the title of this post from a quote from Episode 402 of One Tree Hill  "BROOKE: Happy birthday, Brooke. Welcome to 18, and you've certainly made a mess of it".

So a ton of randomness to begin.
I've been super stressed.
Like super stressed making my period 3 days late (I'm good like that for stress...is that TMI...oh well I'm feeling in the sharing mood.)
My first two months in Singapore I was about two weeks late from stress alone.

What do I have to be stressed about?

• Jacob for like the gazillionith time "coming for sure to visit this weekend" and bailing yet again.
• A seminar I signed up for in trying to avoid turning 30 and then pulling out of because I didn't have the time to prepare (and the thought of arriving there at 7:30am didn't seem appealing).
• Having to deal with work drama.  The fact that I had a 3 month review with the person I am supposed to report to on my contract and having a new three month review scheduled with head office/corporate 3 people panel has me freaking out beyond belief).  On Friday that new three month review was pushed until Wednesday (great 2 extra sleepless nights)...but only after I made an idiot of myself responding because I thought they had moved it two hours later same day and not reading careful enough I responded I couldn't do it then and then being corrected that I could from big boss CEO's assistant (careless and dumb on my part ughhh).
• And the fact that I turned 30 which to me is just devastating.  I don't think it sounds cool or sophisticated and while it's great that everyone says its the best time ever (ummm wasn't that supposed to be high school years?) I don't believe them.NO Wait!!! I DO believe them if it is coming from the mouths of married/happy couples.

I realize this makes me sound like a bitter horrible single person but whatever.
I'm sure YOUR life is great in your 30s...I'm just not so sure mine is.
Though it is actually good to hear it...it's like I believe it for everyone but myself.
So I've been wrestling with all this.
And all the time trying to forget about my birthday curse...which totally exists.
More about that later.

So Saturday started off okay.
I slept in, did some cleaning, watched a random movie (Flyboys if your interested which I actually really liked).  Of course here's the trailer.

I had Eva come over for a later afternoon lunch of soup/salad/samosas.
I meant to take a picture of the table but totally forgot.
And I even folded the napkins all cute as sort of cutlery envelopes.
Anywho Eva was the 2nd 30th birthday pep talker.
And I was like ummm okay.
Yes YOUR life in your 30s is great married/new house/trying to have babies/awesome vacations every year...my life?... not so much...but was able to smile and nod anyway.
Eva did help me finally compose a "itsnotyouitsme" text to MrFinance (finally putting a close on that chapter).
Then she had to go get ready for date night/her birthday celebration with her husband at an uber fancy restaurant (and me trying not to be all green eyed about it).

Then I busied myself getting ready.
And I found myself actually enjoying it.
Put on the new Drake album and took my sweet time getting ready putting on makeup and debating outfits.
Val came over (we had plans for dinner) and she helped me pick out this outfit winner.
And I was so so SO excited.
We were going to eat at a fabulous trendy place.
And we decided to stay downtown and go drinking/dancing/basically get up to shenanigans.

So on our way out the door Val snagged a samosa.
Val who has been dealing with some digestion stomach issues.
You can probably totally see where this is going.

So we drive downtown for our 10:15pm reservations (clearly this place was HAP-PEN-ING).
It was #1 in the 2011 ten best new restaurants in Toronto Life magazine.
Check out the article here.

It is called Origin on King Street East downtown.
As we pulled up the first thing I noticed was the super cool pinky/purple-y lights (awesome).
I wish I had taken a photo as I can't find any on the internet....next time.

Then as we walked up there was a buzz of excitement.
The place had a great atmosphere.

Light fixture is made of 1600 godzilla figurines...who comes up with this stuff?  Perfect birthday party table though.

The kitchen is totally open and smack in the middle of the restaurant we were lucky enough to be seated right around it.  Front row seat baby!

Yup some liquid nitro awesomeness!

Those from Dallas it is like sitting around the tables at Mr. Sushi where you can watch them make things.  Check out their online gallery HERE (it really was beautiful).

I got a cocktail and Val was looking a little queezy at that point but said she would be fine if she just made a trip to the ladies.
Then we sat down and ordered.
Our appetizers came and Val barely poked at it (despite our agreed deliciousness factor).

Beet + goat cheese + pickled red onion + walnuts + sherry dressing + yogurt _13

Indian lentil soup + coconut _6

Brussel sprouts + smoked bacon + sherry vinegar _9

Spicy Spanish fries + chorizo + manchego _12

At that point I suggested leaving but Val insisted that we stay.
So we ordered our mains.
And a few minutes later the poor girl broke out in a sweat.
At that point I was like okay we are leaving.
So we snagged the waitress and got our mains to go.
Val didn't even get a chance to drink her wine before we left.

She had driven that night so I offered to just take a cab home but she insisted on driving and thought she would be up and awake and miserable anyway.
So she drove me home and immediately headed home herself.
Here is some of our mains in their to go containers.

Leftover apps of the brussel sprouts and Spanish fries.

Origin beef burger + avocado + smoked mayo + arugula _17

She was fine by the next day and she laughed that at least she did know she for sure could not eat things with green pepper in it.
And to clarify she did know it was in the samosa before hand.
I wasn't pulling one over on one of my besties.
And she had eaten them all through Uni well we recognize NOW that they did cause some issues.

So it was an early birthday night for this girl.
And as I lay in bed.
I sighed.
I hope my 30s will be the best years ever.
But I don't have that kind of faith right now.
I just don't.
I really need to get to be who I am beyond this heartache and fear.
I am trying.
I just wish that turning 30 didn't feel like a set back.

Here's how Episode 402 ended...

LUCAS: There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads. Afraid, confused, without a road map. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. Of course, when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back. But once in a while, people push on to something better. Something found just beyond the pain of going it alone, and just beyond the bravery and courage it takes to let someone in, or to give someone a second chance. Something beyond the quiet persistence of a dream. Because it's only when you're tested that you truly discover who you are. And it's only when you're tested that you discover who you can be. The person you want to be does exist, somewhere on the other side of hard work and faith and belief. And beyond heartache and fear of what lies ahead.


Non food close up pics from here here here

PS.  The Teagan birthday curse seems to be continuing...just saying.

Sunday Shop-A-Thon

We got up early on Sunday so we could do some home things.
Like adjusting and assembling my shower caddy corner shelves.
Which I've had in a few different places.
This one is by far my favourite.
ORB (oil rubbed bronze) which is also an obsession of some of my favourite bloggers at Young House Love.

Then new (well recycled from my Aunt's old kitchen cabinets) drawer pulls!

Remember when I scored this dresser (minus a few knobs) in this post here (aka "the before" picture scroll to near the bottom).
Here's what they look like up close.

These home "repairs" are much more my speed then this failed attempt here.

Then I got dressed in some comfortable shopping clothes.

And this new bangle my mum gave me.

Okay I think I've said it before but the way my family shows we care is through material things.
SO on Sunday what else was there to do except shop?
We headed over to Yorkdale mall because I had gift certificates to JCrew and TopShop (courtesy of the girls you can read about that here).

So of course when you have gift cards what do you find???
Nothing.
Seriously not one thing.
That made me want to part with my precious gift cards.
Isn't that how it always goes.

So I did have a chance to pick up these things.

Compact for Shiseido Makeup, Urban Decay Eye Primer, Smashbox PhotoFinish primer, and my birthday bonus gift from Sephora a yummy vanilla cake shower gel (which I am LOVING!) and if you look really close it says "Happy Birthday Beautiful' on the bottle.

And of course my parents totally spoil me.
But this year it was a change.
I tried on these boots from Burberry....swoon!

After all if I have to suffer in the cold miserable Canadian north
I may as well do it in some fabulous boots.
And I've only been pining away for a pair of Burberry boats since forever (or this blog post).
Only when I tried them on I felt...

guilt.

Then I looked at the price tag....$440 (PLUS 13% tax).
And my dad said "get them" and I said "well let's put them on hold".

Then we went to Ann Taylor to look at full length wool coats.
After all I had to survive another Canadian winter.
And I tried on this DKNY pretty.

And again I looked at the price tag $575 (and you guessed it PLUS 13% tax).
My dad said "get it" and I said "well let's put it on hold".

And though it killed me.
I didn't get those things.
Because I need to grow up.
And sometimes these gifts come with strings attached.
So I left them all behind.
Which makes me think I need to put things on hold much more often.

But of course that doesn't mean I didn't get spoiled with other things.
Like these gloves (on sale 30% off brought them in at just $41 dollars).

They are AMAZING because they have  a little square of fabric on the index fingers and thumbs so that you don't have to take your gloves off to use an iPhone!!!!
GENIUS!
Especially because I do NOT care for these type of glove/mitten mutation monstrosities.


And then I got these fun reasonable tops from Joe Fresh.

I love this sweater because to me it is soooo Canadian.

My mum did compare it to an ugly Christmas sweater...sigh.

Oh well I still like it.

And magazines.

And FOOD, and a Christmas plant.

Food for my dog (special food because he is isn't doing great).

Chocolates.

And really that is more than enough spending and spoiling for this princess.
And you know what I made it through this years birthday (so far) without balling my eyes out like last year.  And without wishing I didn't wake up the next day.  And without such a big huge gaping hole where my heart or stomach was supposed to me.  And THAT is a massive improvement.

Pics from here here here

Saturday Night Family Dinner

So my parents came into town to celebrate my birthday this past weekend.
My actual birthday is this weekend but because they have plans every weekend up until Christmas they decided to come up and spend the night.
So I had to cancel my plans with Val for Korean BBQ and a movie.

So it went from being a jeans and casual hole in the wall restaurant to dressed up fancy restaurant. 
Here's what I wore.

Dress Calvin Klein (winner's find), Shoes Mimosa

Bracelet from a small no name boutique in Singapore.

Cocktail ring from my travels in New Zealand.

I made reservations at Sassafraz which I haven't yet had a chance to eat at.
Here's the description on their website...

Set in an array of Victorian rowhouses, Sassafraz has evolved through the decades to become a magical space in the heart of historic Yorkville. Located at the corner of Bellair and Cumberland, the little yellow house has “seen it all” from the early hippie movement of the 60’s to the lack of movement that comes from too much Bordeaux. Sassafraz offers an exceptional menu serving market-driven, French-inspired Canadian cuisine.

That's in Yorkville (you can read here (Hemingway's), here (Ciao)  and here (Trattoria Nervosa) when I've been in that area before).
Pretty eh?

I guess it is considered a celebrity place.
Like here when Michelle Trachtenberg and boyfriend Scott Sanford ate there.

Or here Matt Damon ate there.

And basically a bajillion other celebrities.
Here is what it looks like outside Sassafraz during TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).
Note the iconic yellow colour and the CROWDS of people hoping for a celebrity citing.

Alas it was not jam packing outside and I didn't run into any celebrities (though I'm not sure I would actually say or do anything if there were).
Some nice surprizes besides the impeccable service.
An amuse buche (I'm probably spelling that wrong).
Tomato, goat cheese mousse and panchetta.

Mini complimentary dessert of chocolate and strawberries (failed to take a pic).

All in all a pretty great dinner.
I love Yorkville.
Hmm maybe one day I will be lucky enough to live there.
Here's hoping.




Other pics from here

Countdown is ON!!!!

Courtesy of timeanddate.com (a frequent obsession of mine) 

 

I present ...Teagan and Taylor Ruin Toronto Part Deux 

Counter

Time until Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 12:10:00 AM (Toronto time)

60		days
1445		hours
86735		minutes
5204121		seconds

Alternative version

It is 60 days, 5 hours, 35 minutes, 21 seconds
until Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 12:10:00 AM (Toronto time)

Current time is

Monday, November 14, 2011 at 6:34:39 PM EST (local time in Toronto)

At time of loading, accuracy was within 0.137 seconds

Hanging out with the cool kids

So let me tell you about my amazing Friday night.
Had a crazy day at work and then hopped in my car to drive downtown because I was late already.
You see I've been trying to meet up with (oh lets call her) Laurel for a few weeks since we met this night.  She is a sorority alumni who recently moved here.

So Friday afternoon we were going to grab coffee.
Then I ended up late at work so she invited me to have dinner with her and her fiance.
And I had a blast.
I totally didn't feel like a third wheel.

They are SOOO much fun and so nice.
They met will at graduate school in the UK (he is Canadian, she is American).
And I felt like I was hanging out with people who were in the "in crowd" in Toronto.

Too bad I was in a sweater vest haha (I swear I will take a pic the next time I rock that look).
So they said to meet up at Salad King.
I was thinking it was going to be like a salad bar thing.

Ummmm NO WAY.
It was a cool, trendy and super packed Thai place RIGHT downtown.
Look how amazing it is.

I loved the bright colours everywhere.
It was lively and bright and trendy and fun.

It is basically long tables so you end up sitting amongst groups.
And last night it was JAM PACKED.

So cute.

 And the food was AMAZING!  So so so good.

And tons to pic from.

May be a place Taylor and I have to hit up when she comes to for TDot Round Two.

We spent dinner talking about how we can improve the alumni night group.
We were laughing and just having great conversation.
Then Laurel's finace suggested a movie and invited me along.

So I agreed and we went to the coolest theatre ever.
We took a cab a little uptown.
The theatre was tiny and had super comfy seats.
They are into film festival type movies (and have memberships to TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).

So we watched Martha Marcy May Marlene.
Starring Elizabeth Olsen (sister of the famous Olsen's).

I admit not my usual movie.
But it evoked some strong feelings.
Mainly discomfort.
But in a weirdly good way.
Ending was not to my liking too much but it suited the movie.
Boy did I feel trendy last night.
Maybe my movie tastes are evolving.
I had never heard of it until last night.
Here's the trailer.

Then they walked me to the subway (so I could get back to my car).
And I gave them both big hugs and we promised to hang out again soon.
Seriously great night.

And while riding the subway towards downtown for a second.
I felt like a young single girl...
Living downtown  and having a great Friday night that I didn't even see coming that morning.
 

Pics from here here here here here here here here here