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

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