First, there was the anxious, certainly neurotic, habit of hitting the ’save’ button like it was a new religion, a modest offering to the gods of academia informed by the desire to placate their vengeful spirits and emerge out of this fall term unscathed.  Then, in the midst of it all, there was a list, [...]

Reasons why Thursday and Friday rocked :
- starting the day with a healthy dose of chai latte & Andrew Bird;
- finally going to yoga;
- having lunch with co-workers old and new;
- receiving exciting updates on the Europe front;
- accomplishing all of my Christmas-related shopping needs in under 20 minutes;
- going West of Bathurst for the [...]

It’s (almost) Christmas present time, which in Chiara-ville can only mean one thing: handmade gifts and crafts! Yay!
The Fall Manifesto was a collaboration between me and a handful of special ladies, and though my crafty plans are not set in stone yet, I think it will take center stage in my merry gift-making this [...]

Ha. I think Lee’s is turning into my default live music hang-out. Who knew.
Last night I had the pleasure of being riveted by Snowblink (one of my new favorite bands) and the incorrigible Apostle of Hustle. Noelle and I saw Apostle of Hustle some good three years ago, I think, but this was my first [...]

(Johnny Cash, you  were right all along!)
This has been a tough week, one which still gives no signs of wanting to slow down. The bed is perennially unmade, the fridge embarrassingly empty, the dishes rigorously unwashed and the laundry still in a giant pile looking for its fair share of soapy love. But I’ve got [...]

Happiness is: a glass of warm apple cider; being able to slowly articulate your passions, layer by layer; having wonderful friends, and deciding that the unexpected will be welcomed with panache.

A group of close friends congregated in my kitchen last night for Operation Consultation: a chat and exchange on my research and its future. We [...]

As I attempt to cross multiple items off my to-do list, I find myself staring outside my window a lot. My barren living room has only one functional element in it, and it just so happens that said element is a massive, work-accommodating desk overlooking my leaf-enrobed street. On glorious fall days like this one, [...]

Last May, I wrote an email to Artscapes putting in a request for media accreditation to attend the Creative Spaces + Places conference taking place in Toronto. Much to my surprise, my request was accepted (what would I do without that powerful social network that is also my workplace?) and I was able [...]

I am happy to report that project Shut Up & Study, now in its third day of existence, is going quite well. True, I have unabashedly added a couple more projects to my roster of daily commitments,  but my book review is now due in two weeks so it all balances out (or does it?) [...]

This was another glorious, sun-drenched Sunday.
First, there was brunch on my porch, where we ate food in a circle and witnessed a lonesome leaf floating by, playfully making its descent somewhere near us.  Then, there was a radiant streetcar ride across town to have tea with Aimee and chat about life. The cafe’s south-west exposure [...]