On the Road: England

Sorry things have been so quiet on the blog as of late but I have a good reason for it... I've been exploring all over England with my boyfriend, Robert for this entire month. We've been having a fantastic time travelling to Manchester, Liverpool, Wales, London, Brighton, and Cambridge. Our trip isn't over either...soon we plan to drive all the way up Scotland. SO EXCITED! I'll definitely update more about each wonderful place we visited, but for now I wanted to share with you guys something silly.

We've been watching a lot of British television because Robert's father has a great cable set up. We've been away from television for ages...we don't have it back home. And the difference between American t.v. and British t.v. is crazy...we definitely prefer it over here in the UK! I wanted to share some of my favourite British commercials...I think they are just so well done and fun to watch. Have fun!













With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

Summer Days Well Spent

Sorry the blog has been a little bit abandoned as of late, but I've been keeping quite busy and haven't been spending too much time on the internet. So far August has been spent having picnics in the park after work, watching the Lion King outdoors in Stanley Park, watching amazing fireworks displays, dinner parties at friends houses, afternoons spent at the french cafe near our home... drinking americanos and playing card games, booking flights to England for September...so very excited! And with the good comes the not-so-great...I've also been ill with a bad cold, and as soon as I got over that I had all four of my wisdom teeth taken out last Friday and have spent this weekend on the mend... eating lots of ice cream and pureed soup. There's still nearly three weeks left of August and I plan on spending them fully. Hope your summer is going well!

With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

My Journey with Graphic Novels

Hi! I hope you are all enjoying your summer. I know it's been pretty quite around here lately...but I am proud of myself for keeping up with Magical Mondays! I haven't felt like writing much because I've just been trying to get out in the sunshine with my friends, and because I've discovered a new obsession...GRAPHIC NOVELS! I don't know why I never picked them up before. I've always been interested in them but never knew where to start. I found a list of the 'Top 50 Graphic Novels of All-Time' and wrote down the titles that interested me and it's just been an awesome journey since. I've read five in the past week or so and really appreciated each one individually. I've never been good at reviews or critiques but here we go!

When I started my research the novel that stood out the most to me was "Black Hole" by Charles Burns. I knew it was the book I wanted to be my first graphic novel. I went to a great independent bookstore called Pulp Fiction and found it quickly. When I went to purchase it, the staff said "Ahh....Black Hole. This was a good time for graphic novels". It didn't disappoint. The story is dark, a little scary, and deeply human. And I loved the artwork. All black and white with so many fine lines and details. Gorgeous. Glad I trusted my instincts.

One afternoon my boyfriend and I spent some time in Chapters. I was disappointed with their graphic novel section, but found "Arkham Asylum" by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean. I like Batman stories, especially the darker side of Batman's character, and when I heard about this story I knew I'd like to get my hands on it. I read it in one sitting. The artwork is absolutely stunning and often looks like mixed media at times. Beautiful, beautiful stuff.

I borrowed "Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons from a friend of mine named Elias. Whenever you begin to touch upon the world of graphic novels, everyone mentions "Watchmen". To many it is the best graphic novel ever written. It took me a few days to finish because there are a lot of stories going on at once, and I needed to focus a bit more than the other two novels I had read previously. It all paid off though. I sometimes have a hard time with 'super heroes' and the like, but this one was so human you kind of forget they are masked vigilantes. I'd like to read it again because I think some of the political aspects went over my head in some parts though. Very good read.

 Sigh..."Maus" by Art Spiegelman...how wonderful you are. My friend Anita leant this one to me and I'm so glad she did. It was also on my list. As you can probably tell from the cover, this is a true story about the Holocaust. Mice represent the Jewish people, and cats represent the Nazi Party. So far, this was the only graphic novel to make me cry...a couple times. I'm very much looking forward to reading part two.

This was such a great find! It was also on my list, but when I was at Chapters I found it in a random place, on sale for only $5.99! It was meant to be. I finished it in just over 24 hours. So compelling. And his artwork is perfect. His use of subtle shadows and smudging was sublime. Just one frame could make my heart clench.  Please, please, go read "Stitches" by David Small. None of my friends had heard of it, so I think it is lesser known than some other graphic novels. But it is incredible.

Yes, so there you have it. My first five graphic novels...and I already can't wait to read more! I'm going to have to start checking them out of the public library or else I'll end up broke at the rate I'm going. If you're sitting there thinking about how you've always wondered about the world of graphic novels...please do yourself a favour and get out there and read some. They are beautiful pieces of art. I couldn't stop thinking about how long it would take to make one of these books. So much work goes into it. Amazing! And ladies...don't let anyone tell you graphic novels and comics are just for the boys! 

With stampedes of affection,

Korrina

Magical Mondays

This week I just really, really want to share with you some trailers for films that I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE! Just enjoy them. Gush with me. Can you tell I want it to be Halloween already?






With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

Magical Mondays

This particular Magical Monday is going to be short and sweet. It's late in the day...for most of us Monday is almost over. My day went alright. It was beautiful outside, I worked with fun people, and I read more of the first graphic novel I've ever owned (more on that later!). I didn't come up with a giant list of silly things to look at on the internet because I was working all night on my Etsy shop. It'd been awhile since I listed any new sweater clips because my boyfriend took our digital camera with him on his epic month-long bike journey, so although I have been creating clips, I couldn't list them. Anyways, they are up now and man, did it ever feel good to work on my shop again. Being creative with my own hands, and being able to share it all on Etsy is a huge source of happiness for me. I encourage all of you to create your own art, however you know how. It's so important to express ourselves in a creative way. I feel like part of me begins to decay when I don't get a chance to do this kind of expression. So, for today, all I want to share is this nice TED talk all about creativity, and hopefully it inspires you to make something this week!

With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

Magical Mondays.

This week...it's all about Etsy!

Ryan Gosling Hey Girl Patch by cathausDIY

Absolutely adore this Ryan Gosling patch. As all of my friends will know, I've had a thing for Mr. Gosling for a long, long time. At work, my cupboard is decorated with a portrait of the man surrounded by jellyfish. It makes sense, right?

Vintage Bowler 8x10 Print by ElizabethRosenArt

This print stood out to me because it features a lovely tin toy. I have a pretty big tin toy collection! There's something so beautiful and timeless about them, and this print makes me feel the same way.

Knit Bow Ring Purple by SheepishKnitCrochet

 I've been a fan of Meredith over at SheepishKnitCrochet for awhile. She makes such dainty and creative things! I love these rings, as well as her sunglass cases and crocheted tea cups! And you can read her blog over at One Sheepish Girl.

Vintage Butterfly Print Plugs by BMAMOD

And last, but certainly not least, lately I've really been dying to try wearing some new plug jewellery. I've had my ears stretched for seven years and have only ever really worn one pair of silver tunnels. Time for some fun! 


Hope you guys enjoyed my Etsy finds! I encourage everyone to take a browse on Etsy.com. The community is incredible and every day I find something awesome.

With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

An Ode to the Toy Store

The past few months have forced me to take an honest look back at my career at the toy store and reflect on everything I've experienced in the past three years. At the end of August I'll be leaving the only job I've ever known since living in Vancouver, and I'm sincerely really nervous. The owner at the Granville Island Toy Company hired me pretty much as soon as I arrived in the city. Everything moved really quickly and I ended up taking charge of the Granville Island location after only two short months. I had never been in charge before and at first it was a real struggle. It's been a ruthless learning experience. 

I've had so many ups and downs at this toy store. I've taken nearly ten seminars, I've been to two toy fairs, I've quit and returned to the job nearly three times, I've completely changed around the way the store looks, I routinely post silly things on our Facebook page, I've made relationships with lots of other vendors in the Kids' Market, I've explored every toy store in the city and can honestly say that I like ours the best.  It has truly become my home away from home. I feel safe in those red walls with the old wood ceilings and the clown face painted in the windows.

 No matter how many times I feel knocked down in my work, I can never regret my time spent there. Because of the toy store I've met the love of my life, the greatest best friends I've ever known, and my second family. And we've had so much fun together! Being introduced to the world of burlesque and true girl power, exploring Vancouver and all of the beauty it has to offer, holding our breath watching the 2010 Olympics on a tiny computer screen, laughing into the wee hours of the night playing boardgames and creating crafts, marching in Slut Walk protests downtown in the rain, watching the rise and defeat of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, three WONDERFUL Halloweens full of amazing costumes and jack-o-lanterns and trick or treaters, lavish Christmas parties with foot massages and too much alcohol, adorable tea parties with dresses, learning how to garden, being able to go to Seattle and New York City for toy fairs, epic movie nights, playing Mortal Kombat tournaments, shuffleboard and kareoke at the Legion, meeting countless celebrities,  and just generally having so much stupid fun every single day together at the shop. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I've had three awesome years full of meeting awesome people, but this past year has really taken the cake. Robert, Megan, Drew, Elias, Dejan, Anita, Leah, Dan, Tianna, Elissa (and Rachael!)... you're some of the most fantastic people I've ever met and I couldn't get through these past few months without you. YOU are why I love my job as much as I do. I feel like we fell into something really special. In a big way I'm glad this will be my last summer  because I really don't know if it could get any better than this (at least for me anyways). You've all helped me grow into someone I'm proud of. You pick me up and dust me off when I feel defeated, and inspire me endlessly. Thank you guys.

 Here's to a magical summer!
With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

Magical Mondays

Sorry this Magical Monday is a bit late in the day. It's been a long week! I don't know about you but I definitely need something to smile about. Here are some videos that really made me happy.

 
This video is so damn sweet. I was never one of those girls who thought about weddings or proposals, but this one is so creative and wonderful.



I listened to this TED talk the other day while I was doing chores and it really moved me. I've always been obsessed with film and the entire art of it, so this hit home.

 

I've been getting into So You Think You Can Dance again this season, and one person really stands out to me. His positive energy and creative dance style are quite inspirational. I thought I'd share his smile with you guys! I hope he gets into the Top 20!

Hope those cheered you all up a tiny bit! Let's have a good week!
With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

Summer of Self-Love

Today I want to talk to you guys about something I've decided to participate in this summer. One of my blogging heroes (who I mentioned in my last Magical Mondays), Amy Morby, has just started a series called  Summer of Self-Love. It's all about learning to love your body how it is RIGHT now. To stop hiding this summer and just enjoy yourself. 


Summer and I have always had a love/hate relationship. I love being able to spend more time outside, I love beach combing, and I love water parks. But I've always felt like my body isn't good enough, and I've always felt insecure and nervous in a bathing suit. I always wear tons of layers, even in the hot sun. In general, summer makes me feel uncomfortable - from lack of confidence, to just plain ol' sweating in my leggings and sweaters. Now, I don't generally hate on my body all that much. I've gotten better at accepting myself as I've gotten older. It's just when I start to show off a little skin that I feel weird, and I'd like to challenge that feeling in myself and learn to be comfortable just as I am.


I love the idea of  "embracing your inner pin up girl"! Pin up girls come in all shapes and sizes and they're all so incredibly sassy and sexy in their own unique ways. I want this summer to be the most magical summer of my life! And I'm not willing to let body negativity hold me back.

I, Korrina Ede, swear to have the best summer of my life filled with the most radical body confidence I've ever known. I pledge to:

Tune out pressure to fit into a certain body shape and size.

Accept my body wholly and unconditionally as it looks now.

Wear whatever I want to wear this summer and not think twice.

Say yes to summer activities, like swimming and the beach, even if I don't feel great in my bathing suit. I DESERVE TO HAVE FUN, and I will change my way of thinking about my body.

Stop any negative body talk I hear around me, including in my own head.

Most of all, I pledge to live in the present, do what makes me happy, and live it up with the one body I have.

I wanted to post this on my blog in case there are any other ladies out there who feel this way and who would like to challenge themselves this summer. I think it'd be good for all of us to have less negativity in our lives, don't you? Here's to a wonderful summer filled with adventures!

With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

Adventures in Film: Aquarium

Little clownfish.

One of my favourites... jellyfish!

My little brother and I looking at the new penguin enclosure.

Wee poison frog hiding.


These are photos from when my youngest brother, Kevin, and I went to the Vancouver Aquarium for the day. We had a blast using our film cameras to try to capture some of the animals. It was quite a challenge without a flash, but I love the results. I've been feeling quite inspired with my film camera lately. I have more photos to post from another day ...soon!

With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

magical mondays.

      ETSY FAVOURITES:

Cat Brooch by mattegold.
This cute gold tone cat brooch is perfect for hanging your sunglasses off of. I recently found one of an elephant and have been wearing it ever since.

Miniature Wooden Butterfly Necklace by  LadybirdLikes.

I am in love with everything in this shop, but I particularly love this butterfly necklace. The colour is to die for!

AWESOME BLOG:

Vanagon Champion is run by the wonderful Amy Morby. I've been reading this blog for months, and I've always loved it, but recently her posts have been hitting home. Lots to do with wanderlust, what the "American Dream" really means, and finding out what YOU want to do with your life.


LOVELY LINKS:

& Hello Giggles is the creation from Zooey Deschanel, Sophia Rossi and Molly McAleer and it's full of hilarious and heart-warming articles written by young creative women. There's seriously something for everyone. Just look at the home page and you'll get lost for hours (but do you really want to be found?)


& Stumbling across this wonderful video of Neil Gaiman's advice on living the creative life has inspired me so much. It's all I've thought about since I first watched it. Although he is addressing students graduating from an art school, you could use his advice in any area of life. Please, please watch it!




I hope you enjoyed this first weekly installment of Magical Mondays! It's just a short one today. I plan on expanding it as the weeks go by. I hope it makes Monday just a bit more bearable. 


With stampedes of affection,
Korrina

an introduction of sorts.

Welcome to my new blog space! I decided to try another blog because the one I created to go along with my Etsy shop just wasn't jiving well with me. I created it because I felt like I had to to be successful. I was beginning to delve more and more into the world of Etsy and handmade and everyone said you needed a blog in order to do well. I read countless fantastic blogs by others and felt really inspired by them. But my blog fell flat. I was trying to be someone I'm not. Every time I went to write a new post I felt a lot of pressure. Because of this, I wouldn't post very often and I constantly felt like I was apologizing for not being consistent. My blog ended up not being about me at all. And I felt very strange about it. I've been writing on some form of blog or another for nearly half of my life, and I really enjoyed it before. I'm hoping that by making this new blog truly about me, I'll get more out of it.

What do I plan on posting about, you may wonder? I work full-time at a wonderful independent toy store, so I'll probably write about my new favourite toys and games, as well as old favourites from when I was kid. I'll probably write about my fantastic friends/coworkers who have become such a large part of my life.

My boyfriend, Robert, and I have big plans to go on a massive round-the-world trip in the upcoming year. So, while we are traveling I'll probably update from time to time about all of the crazy things we're experiencing. I really don't want to lose touch with my loved ones back home, so this will also be a way to stay connected with them.

I've been vegan for the past year and a bit, and it's completely changed my life and how I view food. Before I would eat whatever was convenient and food felt like an enemy sometimes. But now, I feel like every new city I go to is a treasure map where I have to search for unique vegan eats, and it's so much fun! I appreciate food so much more now. It's kind of my way of doing my part for the environment too. I'll post recipes and restaurant reviews here!

From the age of twelve and on, I was a huge fan of film photography. I vividly remember getting my first camera and what I took pictures of (my Dad and brother throwing rocks in a large creek by my house). Up until I was about twenty-one years old my camera was a part of me, but slowly in the past few years I've let it slip. Lately I've been trying to get back into it and really enjoying myself. I'll post my film photographs every now and then.


Well, here's to a new blogging adventure! I found a really fun list of 101 things to blog about from Apple Blue that really inspires me. Can't wait to write about some of the topics!


With stampedes of affection,
Korrina