Cat Dead, Details Later

Sexy in Tablet Form

2012-02-16T15:57:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to do something I seldom find myself doing when it comes to new hardware: gush. With that in mind, I'd like you to meet the sexy new metal-man in my life:

Meet the Asus Transformer Eee Prime!

I'll say it outright, right now. This is, at present, the best tablet you can get (as far as Canada goes, anyway). Forget the iPad, Galaxy, Lenovo (ugh), Transformer is the place to be. Don't even bother arguing with me on this one unless you've tested all the ones listed. Which is not to say the iPad and Galaxy (The Lenovo has its own special circle in hell reserves, just for it) are not good in their own right...it's just that the Transfomer Eee (particularly if you've upgraded to the latest Ice Cream Sandwich firmware) surpasses them.

So just a few fun facts off the top of my head:

Fast, reliable booting of the Android OS. Comparing this to the worst of them I've owned: Lenovo IdeaPad, which took 10 minutes (if it decided to boot at all)
Beautiful, crisp screen/graphics. HD awesomeness, drool-worthy quality. (2 1.0GHz dual-core CPU and up to 1080p capable playback. Want to watch your subtitled MKV anime? It's never looked better: Also, I recommend the mVideoPlayer free app)
Smooth scrolling from page-to-page. Absolutely NO lag in the weeks I've owned it. No stuttering when switching screens, no lag when moving from one app to another (and having a ton of them open at once has so far, not hindered me at all)
Up to 16 hours of battery life (with a bit of tweaking, obviously if you have ten things running it might cut into it. For best battery life, I recommend: switching off Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, turning down brightness, turning off any unnecessary apps) and expandable by an additional 10 hours with the amazing keyboard accessory, which should be a given with this tablet!
New Android firmware is now available, switching from the old Honeycomb FW and its predecessor, Gingerbread, to the new Ice Cream Sandwich, which comes with some fantastic new advantages itself. I could break said advantages down for you but I'm just too damn lazy!
Some beautiful independent widgets to add aesthetic appeal AND convenience (weather, news feeds, clocks, stickers, movie lists, and tons more) along with some app-associated widgets that place things like important notes, calendar events, and more at your fingertips, right on the home screen!
Wi-Fi and GPS capable
The hardware is just gorgeous on its own. Sleek design, very attractive silver metal backing (far more durable improvement to the previous plastic one) and an overall weight of only 1.49lbs, incredibly light and slim at just 12.98mm thickness.
Great marketplace etiquette. Bought an iPad app recently and had to go through the wishful song-and-dance of getting your money back because it loads to a black screen? I bought an app for $4.00 which I realized I actually didn't need five minutes later (don't you hate it when that happens?). Upon uninstalling, was greeted with a very welcome, "App has been uninstalled and your payment has been refunded". Whoot.
Very easy and quick USB (and now also Wi-Fi only, optionally) to PC for transferring any files you need (music, movies, manga, whatever).

Well, I could go on but I'm exhausting my poor fingers XD So, yeah. Go out there and get yourself an Asus Transformer Eee Prime (make sure it's the latest version out, the stores may try to shluff off the previous version on you, as was my experience) Perhaps try ordering it online instead, since it's pretty hard to get a hold of it in stores at present.

Attention Canadians

2012-01-10T13:26:00.001-05:00

As a proud Canadian citizen (Seriously, I friggin;' love this cold-ass country), some recent developments have given many of us some pause for concern:

Familiar with this little gem about to be passed? Let me just detail a small number of changes this will entail for Canadians. Direct from the source, check this out and prepare to piss yourself with rage:

We're not just talking about a few safe, fair changes to help reduce unlawful copyright infringement here. We're talking about someone else telling you what you can and cannot do with the very things you own. Things you've bought and are now apparently being told you've lost your right to. Want to back up that game you bought for your own collection to avoid your XBox eating it? Tough. That music CD you bought that you want to back up to your own computer (NOT for uploading/torrents, merely personal use)? Fined. The EBook copy of your favourite novel that you want to back up so you can read it on other machines? Screw you.

If you even remotely care about some stranger in office telling you what you can and can't do with your own property (and within present confines of fair law, obviously), then you owe it to yourself to spend a moment filling in a short, pre-written form to your local MP. It literally takes less than a minute:

Sign the letter to stop the Canadian DMCA!

The Help, Take 2

2011-12-19T12:41:00.001-05:00

Some posts ago I wrote about The Help, the fantastic novel from author Kathryn Stockett, which addressed several important social and personal issues: equality, race, the endurance of personal tragedy, and the strength of learning that as a human being, you're entitled to all the rights and freedoms as the next man.

Having read the novel (and because I prefer to read a novel before I see any screen adaptation of it) I decided to rent the movie as well, and just wanted to share briefly the ties and themes it stayed true to in regards to the original story.

I was actually pretty surprised and happy to find that the story (and much of the snappy dialogue) remained. As far as faithful adaptations, having read the story prior was definitely an enjoyable part of the whole experience. The emotional impacts it makes are far stronger when you've taken the time to develop these characters in your mind as you read the novel.

As far as the movie goes, it was definitely a powerful, emotional ride. Much as with the novel, you spend time in the grip of anxiety, just waiting, waiting for the inevitable storm that will result from the behind-the-curtain going-ons happening in the story.

Definitely have some tissues on hand for this one too, I'm not embarrassed to say. Nothing will beat on your heartstrings quite as much as listening to the tragic monologue of the main character and watching her evolve past that sorrow come the end of the film.

Daily Bzz: The Help

2011-12-16T12:00:00.001-05:00

The Daily Bzz
The Help - Kathryn Stockett

Summary: The wildly popular New York Times best-seller and reading group favorite. Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who's always taken orders quietly, but lately she's unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She's full of ambition, but without a husband, she's considered a failure. Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town...

This was, no doubt, a fantastic book. I finished it in two rather long sittings (it really was rather hard to put down) and wanted to share the experience:

It's no secret that I love a good story. Nothing draws me in better then a well-woven tale and nothing makes said tale more interesting then when it's based in a world or time period that I've had no experience with. Growing up in the 20th century paved the way for luxuries (both social and technological) that the people of days-gone-by may not have taken for granted as much as we do today. Which is why reading about the trials of people from these moments in history is all the more interesting.

On top of that, we have a winning recipe for a compelling book: Intrigue! Mystery! Confession! Drama! All from the point of view of a social position many of us can only ever read about. Nothing tells a story better than a good combination of strong narration and page-turning plot.

Additionally, there are a few fun facts that pique my interest:

Released as a major motion picture via Dreamworks (View the trailer)
Nothing quite like first-hand experience: Author Kathryn Stockett grew up in Mississippi and was accustomed to most households employing black women as caretakers, cooks, and cleaners, a stigma which escaped her until moving to New York years later.
Featured on the Today Show's, "Ten Must-Read Books for Spring".

Mmm, Free Stuff!

2011-09-28T18:46:00.000-04:00

So I was trolling around online as I'm apt to do when a friend of mine referred me to a website I can only refer to as "pure, awesome-sauce!"  It's a free-auction site, meaning you basically spend no money and buy/sell stuff via auction (pretty much the same technical make-up as Ebay) for free! The system utilizes a point method to spend when you get stuff (so if you sell anything, you earn points and when you buy something, you use those same points!)

HOWEVER, the site gives you a ton of points as a bonus just for signing up! :D  I bought a variety of cheap-point (but really kickass) jewellery, books, a game, and some other sweet stuff!  So I thought you guys might definitely be interested in this.  They have a pretty kickass variety of things up for offer (and if you want even more points, some really quick and easy surveys and such to get them for free)  Most of the listings are free shipping worldwide too! Whoot!

If you want to check it out, sign up for LISTIA here!.  You'll be glad you did, I promise :3

Daily Bzz: LunchBots

2011-09-25T20:31:00.003-04:00

The Daily Bzz

LunchBots: Stainless Steel Containers

Summary: LunchBots are a healthy alternative to plastic containers for packing lunch to go. Made from the highest quality 18/8 stainless steel, LunchBots do not leach chemicals like plastic does. Eco-friendly and reusable means saving money and the environment.

When I'm not running around doing freelance photography, I'm working as a personal support worker on-the-go. My days can be pretty jam-packed sometimes and I usually find myself throwing something vaguely edible into a plastic bag and bringing it along with me. The luxury of paying for all my meals out is just not something I can do every day, so I make do with slinging together whatever I can. I'd heard of the convenience of bento-like lunch boxes in the past, but was put off by the fact that many were either just one whole container (with no separators if I wanted to bring some small variety into my food, meaning I would have to mash it all together into a lump in the box) or were usually made of plastic, not the healthiest thing a person can eat out of if modern health has taught us anything.

LunchBots offer a safer, more presentable alternative to what I've had so far. Stainless steel is easier to clean, far more aesthetically pleasing, and healthier if you don't want chemicals leached through plastic and into your food! There are also a few additional fun facts that, as someone involved in the health business, that make me feel good about taking LunchBots with me into a hospital lunch-room:

The Lunchbot lids are coated with a special coloured powder to give them a more attractive design. The powder coating is long-lasting and doesn't emit any harmful organic compounds (which, in places like hospitals and long-term care facilities, is especially important!)
They have been tested by Metallurgical Laboratories in California and certified as completely lead-free products!
The company responsible for the production of Lunchbots is a well-respected and unionised since 2002 and has applied for ISO 9000 certification (a standard related to high quality).

Review: Dragon Nest

2011-09-25T20:10:00.000-04:00

FREE MMORPG REVIEW - DRAGON NEST

My game of choice this time around comes in the form of an addictive,

humorous little MMORPG known as Dragon Nest.

THE GOOD

A nice variety of fairly populated servers, making for a pretty good social experience (and quick way to find a guild or group if you are in need) without sacrificing bandwidth or having to put up with much lag.
Detailed and bright graphics engine with a nice variety of creatures and locations.
Fast, dramatic, dynamic combat with a good choice of skills and abilities based on your class of choice.
Pretty balanced XP/leveling mechanic, with newbies levelling at a pretty even rate and an increase in the difficulty curve as you go without overwhelming players.
Fantastic voice acting/dialogue/script. Seriously funny stuff and perfect for anyone who wants to get more involved in the RPG elements of an MMO.
Several interesting, creative little side-quests in the midst of an ongoing greater plot. Side quests never get too complex or too many at once (so you do not lose sight or focus from the main quest).
Pretty good fan-base of players with many active guild communities and helpful players.

THE BAD

Not much variety in your choice of characters. Many, MANY Sorceresses present (your choices are Warrior, Archer, Cleric, or Sorceress) with a fairly limited character customization.
Depending on your choice of server, there can be quite and influx of player-characters standing around with your standard "BUY GOLD HERE $$$$$" chat-spam above their heads, taking away from the role-play aspect quite a bit. Something the mods/admin should really clamp down on judging by the sheer amount of these annoying guys all over the place (particularly concentrated at the exits out of most towns, however, so you don't need to see them all over the place).

Review: Scarlet Legacy

2011-09-17T18:24:00.001-04:00

FREE MMORPG REVIEW - SCARLET LEGACY

Source: http://screens.latestscreens.com

I've recently decided to start sampling some of the large variety of MMO's/MMORPG games available for free online. Mostly due to the usual habit of my well running dry when it comes to maintaining interest in World of Warcraft or Lineage 2. So in an effort to educate (and save you all some cash in the process), I've decided to try playing some of the other Massive Multi-player games you can download for free. My first game-of-choice rated highly with many people: Scarlet Legacy.

THE GOOD

Beautiful, bright, eye-catching graphics
Good frame-rate with minimal lagging/skipping (even amidst the more crowded areas)
Fast respawn rate for mobs/monsters, reducing situations where you find yourself stuck trying to compete for mobs to finish your quests or earn XP.
Interesting storyline, well presented during story progression without taking away from the game-play too much
Quick, simple levelling
Extremely easy navigation (points of interest clearly marked on your map)
Simple quest navigation (clicking on the name of the mob/quest giver will cause your character to run toward them--great if you turn yourself around)

THE BAD

Obviously a Chinese port. The language is in Chinese, not in itself an issue except that the game suffers from a painful amount of "Engrish" during any point that requires you to read (which is quite a bit). It breaks the flow of the story when there are several grammar mistakes in a single sentence.
Repetitive, grinding game-play as you progress (kill three wolves, now kill three more, now kill three bandits, now kill some spiders!)
While mobs are plentiful and re-spawn quickly, the sheer amount and physical closeness to each other makes the combat areas look very copy-and-pasted.

Ancient cities...

2011-08-27T16:34:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I last posted. I've had good reason, being out of country and with pretty unreliable internet :( The good news, however, is that I've come back with some serious awesomeness. Having visited Italy while I was gone, I was lucky enough to tour through a nice variety of historical areas!

One of the amazing places I had the opportunity to explore was the ancient city of Pompeii. Most of you are familiar with Pompeii and its tragic history in connection with Mount Vesuvius, which erupted in AD 79, completely burying the city and all its citizens.

Below are a small number of photographs I wanted to share:

One of the things that struck me first was the sheer massive size of the remnants of the city. You would think that being such a popular touritst destination a tour of the city might be a bit of a crowded experience. However, the place was so huge that there were rarely times when you couldn't take a nice, tourist-less photograph.

WARNING FOR SQUICKINESS!
The saddest part about being in the city had to be the remains on display. I won't post some of the more disturbing, sad photographs (a dog and pregnant woman, to name a few) but you get some idea of the full force of events when you see the following photos:

Hot Stuff

2011-07-17T18:59:00.000-04:00

The Labcoat and I found ourselves at a local A&W last Friday, only to come out to billowing black smoke coming from the nearest intersection. Then there was this. Not something you see every day:

By the looks of the thing, the engine overheated and caught fire in the oven-like weather Mississauga's been experiencing. The firefighters showed up moments later and nobody was hurt.

Geek-tastic!

2011-07-11T18:08:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to share this quick snap I took of a cooler The Labcoat and I picked up during a garage sale raid. It cost $10 and I'm considering turning it into an outdoor flower planter. R2-D2 looks like he would make a good planter :3

The Pictures

2011-06-28T12:29:00.002-04:00

I went to the movies with my father and sister to watch Super 8. I love those "group of kids vs. unseen menace" themes! Had to snap a quick shot of the USS Enterprise hanging from the ceiling...

Decadence Ahoy!

2011-06-14T20:25:00.004-04:00

The Labcoat and I went to have dinner at Alice Fazooli's today. Healthy eating, what's that? XD

Plane Ride

2011-06-06T12:56:00.001-04:00

So what did I do recently? I flew in a WWI Tiger Moth Biplane :3

You can't hear a thing up there, the wind velocity is so strong. The pilot was seated behind me and I could only just barely hear him via the headset. The plane itself was used during the first world war and is 69 years old! Originally put together in England, it has since come to Canada and is now available for rides, if you have the stomach for it :)

On Life After Death..

2011-05-30T20:18:00.001-04:00

"Under the influence of sleep/DMT time is not measured or perceived 'normally'. So for all the stories of tunnels or great fire and screams it's all because of a chemical.

Think about this... What if when you die, you are in the dream state so deep that you 'live' forever in that state since time means nothing? Almost like the concept of limbo in the film 'The Inception'!

...I think my mind just blew a little.

The Rapture

2011-05-25T19:53:00.000-04:00

So like every good apocalypse-geek, I waited for the end of the world as it came...then went. Now it seems the date has been pushed up again (seriously, indecisive much?), so I've decided to take matters into my own hands (really, I guess you just have to do it yourself!) and let everyone know exactly what will be going down:

The only thing I want to know now is...have you been touched by his noodly appendage?

Crafts: Card #1

2011-05-24T19:24:00.000-04:00

So I finally visited a local scrap-booking store I've been meaning to check out for a while now. The Labcoat's uncle sent us a fantastically creative home-made postcard and I wanted to do something equally fun in return.

I don't normally do much in the ways of crafts, but I'm pretty proud of this one. It was particularly fun to put together :) Decided to take a shot of the back as well:

Snapshot Sunday #6

2011-05-22T14:56:00.013-04:00

Snapshot Sunday #6
May 22, 2011
This Sunday I've got a mix of Canadian and UK snapshots!

Absolutely no idea who this girl was, but I dug her style :D

And in other news....

Lastly, I'd like to thank the bible for once again getting my hopes up this last Saturday. Predictably, the world did not end for the 1,000, 000, 000th time this weekend. Nice job there guys, thanks.

Cracked Article #1

2011-05-17T14:35:00.000-04:00

I wanted to inject a bit more humor into this blog, so I've decided to share some of my Cracked-submitted articles. I think I'll introduce the first few items on the list and then just link right to the article itself :)

8 Scary Japanese Urban Legends

Whatever country you visit, you are sure to find plenty of folklore. Nowhere does this take a more pants-crapping creepy turn than Japan. We now present 8 of Japan's scariest, creepiest, just plain odd as hell urban legends...

#8: The Snake Woman (Nure-Onna)

Do you enjoy a nice, cool swim on a hot day? Perhaps you are particularly averse to receiving a cooling dose of urine and prefer not to enter swimming pools? Maybe you just like the sand beneath your toes as you walk the beaches, choosing a nice, quiet, isolated spot far from the rest of the city plebs.

You put down your towel, throw off the constricting second skin that is your clothing, and head toward the waves.

But hark! You spot a woman in the water; long black hair flowing around her alabaster skin as she flails weakly. With speed and grace to rival the very best studs of the Baywatch era, you fling yourself into the oddly calm waters and swim her way.

You swim toward the endangered beauty, your eyes meeting as you work desperately to save your drowning Ophelia.

...except that now you seem to be paralyzed. Also, Ariel now appears to be using her long, prehensile snake-body to gracefully close the romantic distance between you. Perhaps, you consider, she simply wishes to save you from this terminal case of leg cramps? Perhaps the piercing of your tender man-flesh by her snake-like tongue is some odd form of mermaid CPR? No, you are now being slowly digested by the Snake Woman, or, "Nure-Onna".

The moral of the story should be fairly obvious: Don't try to save a drowning woman. She could be a snake-monster in disguise!

READ FULL ARTICLE, "8 SCARY JAPANESE URBAN LEGENDS"

Snapshot Sunday #5

2011-05-15T19:04:00.001-04:00

Snapshot Sunday #5

May 15, 2011

Welcome to another round of Snapshot Sunday!


Unpacking the new laptop. Meet, "Krank". Yes, I am a City of Lost Children fangirl.


Krank, in all his glory

The Labcoat decided to take some awesome pearl shots :3

Giveaway Winner!

2011-05-13T19:10:00.001-04:00

So I have some pretty awesome news :D Seems I won my very first giveaway! The isavirtue Giveaway. I'm pretty excited, since the prize is $10 to spend at this totally sweet store!

A hearty thanks to Lindsay @ Scenic Glory for hosting the giveaway!

Versatile Blogger Award

2011-05-08T14:22:00.004-04:00

I was very happy (and surprised) to find myself the recipient of this awesome Versatile Blogger Award:

Many thanks and cookies to Sunny @ Idyll Toast

(did I mention what a cool blog name that is? M'yeah!)

The rules of receiving the award:

Thank the blogger(s) that tagged you
Share 7 facts about yourself
Pass the award on to 15 other bloggers

------------------------------

Here are 7 facts about myself (fascinating stuff, I know):

♥ I was born Slovakia, I've lived all over the world since and I love to travel!
♥ You can find me to the North in Canada, living with the Labcoat and our beloved laptops
♥ Canada is a great place to live! We have friendly people, delicious bacon, and only have to battle polar bears every other day!
♥ I love to draw--mostly cartoon-y stuff or fan-art--and you can find it all over at my Deviantart
♥ Every once in a while I'm bit by the lit-bug too and I might come out with a short story or a novel-length. I'm a big fan of horror/romance stories.
♥ Crafts and sewing show up every once a while too. I like to me custom My Little Ponies (though they can be on the creepier side).
♥ Snark-y reviews and articles are also a favorite of mine. I review movies, iTunes apps, books, and more.

Snapshot Sunday #4

2011-05-08T13:38:00.002-04:00

Snapshot Sunday #4

May 8, 2011

Yay, another Snapshot Sunday :D Check out the randomness today!

Why am I eating those pearls? 'Cause I'm hungry D =

This record-player seriously belongs in Rapture

Awesome clock is awesome!

Do Want

2011-05-04T22:30:00.001-04:00

So I was looking trough the T-Shirts on sale over @ SharkRobot and just had to share this:

Must. Have. I'm a huge Portal fan, for anyone missing the reference. And that is just so sexily stylized I can't stop looking at it. ♥

Tasty Tuesday

2011-05-03T11:38:00.000-04:00

IT'S TASTY TUESDAY! :D

The Labcoat was awesome enough to take us to East Side Mario's, where I got to bury my face in their favorite dish, Baked Garlic Shrimp!

Wow...seriously, if you like any kind of combination of garlic, shrimp, and joy, this is the meal for you! :D

Snapshot Sunday #3

2011-05-01T12:30:00.001-04:00

Snapshot Sunday #3

May 1, 2011

We begin the new month with a brand spanking new Snapshot Sunday! So enjoy this bit of randomness and some gecko love.

TPIAP Giveaway

2011-04-29T22:00:00.000-04:00

Do you like delicious snackage? Do you like pretzels?
Do you like delicious snacky pretzels?

Check out Tara over @ Three P's in a Pod!

Enter for your chance to win some of Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels

ENTER NOW!

Fab Friends Friday

2011-04-29T09:30:00.002-04:00

It's Fab Friends Friday over @ For the Love of Blogs! So today is going to be about visiting all YOUR blogs. Leave a comment and, if you like, give me a Follow too :)

Funny Adverts

2011-04-29T03:00:00.000-04:00

Today I was vegging around the internet as I'm apt to do and discovered a site showcasing a few great creative adverts. I wanted to share some of my favorite with you!

Deal Day #2

2011-04-28T08:48:00.001-04:00

What? 2 Deal Days in a row? Sorry guys, I just couldn't help myself. Not with the sexyness of this bed. I love it!

Deal Day: Bedding Time

Black and white, simplistic, elegant. Very nice. :)

PURCHASE NOW

ELIGIBLE: USA

CANADA TIP: Sign up for Free @ MyUS.com to forward purchases to a Canadian address!

DEAL DAY: $44.99-$67.49/each + FREE S&H

REGULAR PRICE: 59.99-$89.99/each + Shipping & Handling

EXPIRES: 19 HOURS 30 MINUTES (as of 04/28/11 - 8:30AM - Eastern Time)

Thirsty Thursday!

2011-04-28T07:56:00.000-04:00

It's Thirsty Thursday over @ For the Love of Blogs!

Want to link-up? Head on over there and visit some other, interesting & creative blogs! Don't forget to leave a comment before you go! ♥

Deal Day #1

2011-04-27T15:30:00.010-04:00

Deal Day: Felicia Damask Aprons

Do you enjoy cooking? Do you enjoy looking good? Do you agonize on how you might do both?

Fret not, Followers! Now you too can look snazzy while you heat up the kitchen!
BONUS CODE: TARGET10 (10% off, unverified)

NOTE: The deal banner on Target's site accidentally quotes the list price as the deal price. The verified deal price is $12.99

PURCHASE NOW

ELIGIBLE: USA

CANADA TIP: Sign up for Free @ MyUS.com to forward purchases to a Canadian address!

DEAL DAY: $12.99/each + FREE S&H

REGULAR PRICE: 19.99/each + Shipping & Handling

EXPIRES: 12 HOURS (as of 04/27/11 - 3:00PM - Eastern Time)

New Season

2011-04-27T13:57:00.006-04:00

We've had a pretty miserable week in Canada. With the exception of a few moments of sunshine here and there, we had a pretty gloomy, rainy time. Today, we had our first solid taste of Spring in seven days.

Hope you're all getting your cameras, picnic baskets, and camping gear ready!

UPDATE: Oh wait, nevermind.

Post Feature #1

2011-04-26T17:51:00.001-04:00

I've been toying with featuring one of the blogs I follow in some small way. Ms. Domo Roboto saved me the trouble of looking too far :)

Why, you ask? Because I love to play games. Particularly on my iPhone. Particularly Plants. vs. Zombies. The lovely lady @ Ms. Domo Roboto enjoys crochet projects. Most recently, she shared this:


Credit: Ms. Domo Roboto

Do you see the awesomeness? Because that right there is awesome. Really, how much more awesome needs to be produced? Go visit her. GO NAO!

And buy Plants vs. Zombies for the iPhone while you're at it!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T17:42:00.000-04:00


Stock Source: Compot-Stock

Bit late here with the Easter greetings, but there you go! Hope everyone had a great weekend and that you've all enjoyed Easter this year (and not gorged too hard on chocolate eggs!)

Activity #2: Little Things

2011-04-23T16:30:00.006-04:00

ACTIVITY #2: YOUR KNICK-KNACK PILE!

Activities are fun little blog posts that you can take part in on your own blog! Don't forget to comment and/or grab a button if you decide to participate!

All the little things...

Let's face it: we all have knick-knacks. Little gifts, items, and things close to our hearts & memories that we just can't bear to part with. I should know, I'm drowning in mine. Here are just a few of mine to showcase!

Show everyone your collection of knick-knacks! And grab a button to boot:

Artemisa Giveaway!

2011-04-22T17:35:00.002-04:00

Want to give your blog/website a creative, original flair?

Check out Janeth over @ Artemisa Blog & Web!

Enter for your chance to win a free blog button design!

Activity #1: Your Purse

2011-04-22T17:05:00.016-04:00

ACTIVITY #1: WHAT'S IN YOUR PURSE?

Activities are fun little blog posts that anyone should feel free to take part in on their own blog! Don't forget to comment and/or grab a button if you decide to participate!

I was trolling around the blog community a short time ago and stumbled onto Kate and her blog:

Her post about the many contents to be found in her purse spurred me to try it myself (though I have to admit my purse is not as awesome as hers). So without further ado, try to contain your excitement:

1. My CyberDog Wallet: Bought this awesome wallet while in England with the Labcoat. We got to visit one of the coolest stores I've ever been to!

2. I'm Rich in Spirit: Yeah, Monster money, right there.

3. Skittles Chap Stick: Strawberry Flavor. It's delicious.

4. The Sonic Keychain: I have keys like!whoa, apparently. Sonic Screwdriver!

5. Amber Scorpion: Yes, that is a real teeny-weeny scorpion encased in amber. A gift from my dad a few years back when he came back from one of his tours of duty.

6. Nuka-Cola Lighter: Why yes, I am an enormous nerd! :D

7. My iPod Touch: Ah, beloved "Doc", how could I ever get by without you? Now that I know your tender, Apple-infested touch, truly I need no other. Also, yes, that is Batman. Fighting a shark. With a light-saber. Badum-Tish!

8. So Many Pens: Huh...yeah, I don't even know. I have many pens. Then I forget those pens and I add more. Then I forget those. It's funny how it works.

The Classics

2011-04-21T13:38:00.015-04:00

Didn't I just write up a post on healthy living a short time ago? Curse you, Golden Griddle, curse your damning deliciousness D=

So yes, the Labcoat and I went to have munchies at the Golden Griddle today. There was much delicious evil to be found!

Cheers Bethani Giveaway

2011-04-20T11:25:00.005-04:00

THE CHEERS BETHANI GIVEAWAY!

Visit the lovely Lindsay @ Scenic Glory before April 27th for your chance to win your choice of a awesome Cheers, Bethani tag or card! These are really pretty, so seriously give it a look!

Snapshot Sunday #2

2011-04-17T14:42:00.011-04:00

Snapshot Sunday #2

April 17, 2011

Today is Sunday, so have a Sunday Snapshot with some adorableness on the side!

And just in case you wanted to listen to her snore, live:

Also for Sunday Snapshots is our newest wave of Canadian weather. Thank you, mother nature!

Surprise Saturday!

2011-04-16T13:36:00.005-04:00

Hell Bunny line. The girl isn't me, but the dress was a gift from the BF when we visited England ♥

Commuting With Nature

2011-04-15T15:28:00.005-04:00

Canada is a pretty green place! Took a walk with the BF yesterday at a local nature park/preserve: it has a variety of birds & squirrels and you can't walk through without hearing something from any and every direction!

...it would be pretty creepy to walk around here at night D:

♥♥♥

Sprinkle Thursdays?

2011-04-14T15:00:00.005-04:00

Well...not really. But it was just such a colorful little donut!

Mmmm...donut

Getting fit, keeping fit

2011-04-13T11:20:00.014-04:00

For the Love of Blogs is having a spot on fitness and healthy living, The Getting Fit Blog Hop, so I thought I would chime in about my own lifestyle:

I hate to admit that as far as staying fit goes, I've never been very good at staying to regiment. I know I should eat healthy, exercise moderately each day, maybe have a stretch first thing in the morning, I know all this...I just can't be bothered. Maybe it's my lack of will, or interest, or genuine commitment, but there was always something in the way of my success!


Stock photography: http://freethumbs.dreamstime.com

♥ Probably a bunch of these ♥

Not for lack of trying, mind you! I joined gyms, bought exercise equipment, tried to jog, went on diets, and probably didn't really keep my efforts all that healthy in themselves, on reflection.

Then I did something very simple: I sat down, took out a notebook, and wrote a grocery list:

As I listed what I normally ate each week, I saw a pattern. Cans of pop that could easily be switched for Zero versions with no calories. Fatty breads that could be replaced with healthier, but still delicious alternatives.

Chocolate and other junk foods that could be considerably cut down. I also began to keep track of my eating habits. I was a three-meal a day girl, with an especially filling dinner in conclusion. I decided to change that around completely and now eat small portions more often throughout the day (leaving me feeling far less hungry and apt to snack on junk).

*gasp* COOKIE! Cookiecookiecookiecookiecookiecookie!

Exercise found its way into the plan too, though not in typical fashion. There is no jogging, no stretching, no regiment of any kind: My exercise is randomized throughout the day based on how much energy I have at any particular moment. I may be feeling hyper in the morning, so I'll clean house with my iPod singing in my ears and dance until I build up a nice sweat. Or I may chase around or wrestle with my other half. Maybe a walk with my camera to get a few snapshots while I'm at it.

My point is, that in my efforts to find a healthier lifestyle, I've found that there is no RIGHT answer for everyone. People will tell you that there is. That all you need is a regiment that you MUST follow...except you don't. You can simply keep health one of the forefronts in your mind and adjust for it accordingly throughout your day :)

Reboot

2011-04-12T21:01:00.001-04:00

When I was out the other night...

Painting with light. The "Marilyn Monroe" Tower.

Snapshot Sunday #1

2011-04-10T22:05:00.001-04:00

Snapshot Sunday #1

April 10, 2011

Sundays are pretty low key for most of us. Today I went on a walk with my awesome boyfriend and decided to make Sundays my new, 'Sunday Snapshot' day. So every Sunday (if I'm not to lazy) I will take random snapshots of fun/interesting things locally.

My Little Reaper

2011-04-09T21:37:00.001-04:00

I really need to make a few more custom My Little Ponies. I made the "Reaper" pony (inspired by the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy cartoon) some time ago and found the process a bit hard, but still pretty fun. Here's the picture I took of the finished Reaper-pony:

I also decided to try my hand at some dress designing. I have absolutely zero experience in anything remotely professional, so don't blame me for the utter oddness of the designs!

Wow, Disney...that's cold.

2011-04-08T19:41:00.002-04:00

Now...I'm not going to spoil Tangled for people who haven't seen it, but I have to admit: as far as Disney death scenes go, this has one of the most disturbing ones. Disney has dabbled in freaky deaths before, but it was always more implied to be a horrible death than anything.

Sure, Gaston plummeted to his death at the end of Beauty & The Beast and Clayton snaps his neck at the conclusion of Tarzan, but we don't get to see it happen in all its child-scarring glory. Although...I'm not really complaining. Heck, a little childhood scarring can build character. Still, it's just a bit off-putting in a Disney movie to see the act...well, in the act.

Cosmo

2011-04-06T18:32:00.004-04:00

So I happened to be visiting my family for a few days when I noticed an issue of Cosmo being pulled from the mailbox. I didn't think too much on it at the time. I don't hate women/beauty/fashion magazines or anything like that, but I don't follow them whatsoever (being hopeless uncool and all).

It wasn't until a little later, reading a particular article on Cracked about the 7 Psychotic Pieces of Relationship Advice that the name popped up again. And again. Then some more.

Wow, Cosmo, thought I. You just...cannot be serious.

So I decided to do some digging and found 7 Sex Tips from Cosmo That Will Put You in the Hospital. Huh, I mused. no, this must be a joke. They couldn't possible be that stupid. Cracked is not exactly the forefront of good investigative reporting, so I decided to expand my search a tiny bit.

Hey, isolated incidents, right? Cosmo doesn't actually want to hurt me, my faith in my loved ones, and my own self worth as a human being, do they?

No, of course not.

Well, I'm convinced.

On the other hand, maybe I'm wrong! Maybe the folks at Cosmo are actually brilliant business geniuses. Because as of this moment, I'm tempted to grab a few issues purely for their unabashed comedic value.

And on an utterly unrelated note, here, have some art!

Animal Planet

2011-04-05T22:52:00.006-04:00

I was digging through some of my photography the other day (stuff I keep because I either genuinely like it or because it's good enough for stock) and ended up looking through a few animal shots. So I decided to take three of my favorites. The funny thing is they were all done with my terrible digital camera of yesteryear. Also known as my "stand still for 78 seconds!" era.

I love my new camera ♥ I also love my boyfriend for giving it to me. Seriously. It is a sexy, sexy camera, friends. Sexy.

The first two were taken about two years ago while in Egypt. The first was taken on a street in Cairo. By the way, The Egyptian Museum was amazing! :) The third was taken at Warwick Castle in the UK.

Too hard to resist...

2011-04-05T14:26:00.013-04:00

After spending the better time of a week browsing blogs, I must admit I became thoroughly hooked on the idea of blogging. I'm pretty spread out internet-wise anyway, so a blog to connect with sounds pretty nice. I'm also of tired of LiveJournal after so many years and I hardly ever post there anymore.

On to introductions: I'm 27 years old, I live in the Greater Toronto Area and I like to do a bunch of things. Mainly draw: Check out my Deviantart if you like, write: my published horror/romance series, The One Who Waited, write funny articles for Cracked:

8 Scary Japanese Urban Legends
10 Bizarre Japanese Mythological Creatures
6 Awesome Facts About Black Holes
6 Most Disturbing Written Works

I also manage a secondary blog, App-O-Plectic, where I post daily reviews of some of the more useful, unique, or awesome (Free!) iTunes applications available!

Whenever I find the time, I also enjoy doing cynical video reviews of Horror/Fantasy/Science Fiction films at Video UnReel

(WARNING FOR LANGUAGE!)

Paranormal Activity

I also like to fool around with photography a little bit, mostly snapshots when I travel or see something interesting. Here, have one: