My Everyday Carry

Posted on January 31, 2018March 13, 2018 by Melissa Harrison

Here they are: the secret contents of my purse. The things I carry everyday. Depending on the day, the weather, the plan or the purse, I frequently carry more, but never less.

So, what’s always at my side?

( from top, down; left to right)

chap stick (Lip Smacker, bubblegum flavour)
stitch ripper
safety pins
handkerchief
cleaning cloth for my glasses
compact mirror
wallet
notebook
hand lotion
gum (the weirder, the better)
ruler
band-aid
pen
nail file
Tide To Go spot/stain remover
lighter
business cards

Some of the things I would be absolutely lost without are my stitch ripper, safety pins, pen, notebook and ruler. As a seamstress, I can’t responsibly leave the house without my stitch ripper and safety pins. They have saved the day on many occasions at weddings, parties and markets. I take a strange joy in asking a man if his suit jacket is new and then helping him remove the temporary stitching on the vents. I use my pen and notebook everyday for lists, ideas, recording or giving out information. I don’t know how others live without them. My ruler is especially handy when shopping or settling those strange arguments that only happen between close friends.

I don’t get to use my lighter often, but I keep it full and ready for those exciting occasions when someone needs a gentleman to light a candle or cigarette. I delight in being a gentlemanly woman among average men.

Some things you may think are missing from my bag are keys, phone and tampons. I hate carrying keys. I don’t drive often and we installed a fancy, futuristic keypad code lock the first day in our new house, so I don’t have much use for keys and frequently forget to take them when I leave the house. I do usually carry my phone, but not always. It’s far too easy for me to work from my phone, so I leave it behind when I need to force myself to rest, relax and be present. I recently freed myself from the need to carry a clutch of tampons and liners when I switched to a menstrual cup and Thinx period panties backup system (both of which I highly recommend). I don’t leave the house feeling unprepared for life with a uterus anymore, so I don’t usually need to carry any disposable products with me.

All photos be me.

False Start

Posted on January 29, 2018March 13, 2018 by Melissa Harrison

I was sick with a bad cold and stuck inside almost all of last week, so I didn’t get to enjoy the unseasonably mild weather we’ve been having. It’s been a strange feeling, being sick and bundled up inside at the end of January but looking outside at a garden that looks like early spring. The birds are chirping and the sun is streaming softly through the windows between gently rolling rainstorms but I can’t let myself get excited because it doesn’t feel real; it’s too early to be spring.

It’s hard to know how to dress for this type of weather. We’re still in the middle of winter but the temperature’s above zero in the afternoons and all the snow is gone. The colourful clothes of spring don’t match the browns, greys and muted greens of the world outside but my winter clothes feel a bit too heavy. I’m keeping the spring clothes tucked safely away so I’m not so crestfallen when the chill returns but I couldn’t help but sneak out the kitschy rabbit earrings while the weather is calm and promising.

Sweater ModCloth
Skirt ModCloth
Socks McGregor Socks
Earrings old
Ring old

All photos by Matt.

The Great Indoors

Posted on January 23, 2018March 13, 2018 by Melissa Harrison

I as mentioned in a previous post, one of my favourite things about January is spending lazy days indoors. There’s no pressure to go outside and enjoy the weather when it’s -20 degrees Celsius and windy or the backyard is a swampy mess of melting snow and mud. We can stay inside and cuddle up to watch movies or read books all day without feeling like we missed out on anything. The puppy still needs lots of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, but she’s just starting to appreciate a good snuggle session – and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Sweater ModCloth
Jeans ModCloth
Socks Roots
Earrings ModCloth
Ring Blue Ridge Notions

All photos by me.

Constellation Cupcakes

Posted on January 18, 2018March 13, 2018 by Melissa Harrison

I loved these little pearl sprinkles the moment I first saw them. I bought some not really knowing what I would do with them. I’ve used them here and there with other sprinkles, or on their own on white icing for a minimalist look, but never really found a great use for them.

That was until I was using them the other day, just to use them up, when I had a sudden realization that they looked a bit like stars. I had a cute idea that I couldn’t shake: use them on a dark blue icing background to make constellation cupcakes.

I made the icing colour by mixing black and sky blue gel icing colours until I got the night sky shade I wanted. I flavoured the icing with rosewater for a mysterious, “ooh, what’s that” vibe to go along with the curious colour and put it on chocolate cupcakes. I then used pearlescent white and metallic silver dragée ball sprinkles to form a real constellation on each cupcake.