Playing Tourist in Niagara Falls

Posted on May 12, 2015May 12, 2015 by Melissa Harrison

I didn’t grow up where I live now and all of my family is still back home. To them, where I live now is lively and glamorous; it’s a place they used to save up for and go on vacation to when I was a kid. To me, however, the tourist stuff is hectic, overpriced and should be avoided. To them, it’s a destination but to me, it’s just the jumping off point.

It’s always weird to see your life through the eyes of an excited tourist, but that’s what you do when relatives are in town.

My mom booked two rooms at a hilariously out-of-date hotel for me, my husband, my brother, his girlfriend and herself. We found our balconies offered little privacy…

“As a connoisseur of air conditioning units, I find the view quite exhilarating.” – my brother

… and not much more in the way of a view.

They arrived late, so after learning that most of the drawers in the room were fake – I pulled out the top drawer to see why the bottom ones didn’t open and I called my brother in through the adjoining door to see my discovery, he rushed in holding the same drawer from his room – we went out to dinner. My mom said she wanted to “go where the locals go” but turned down every suggestion because they didn’t have kitschy themes, celebrity endorsements or mechanical bulls….

The next morning, we walked down to see the whole reason people travel to this place. I showed her how to be a strange woman who takes pictures of her outfit at the inconvenience of everyone around her (i.e. my job), then helped her do the same.

$Playing Tourist \\ Sophster-Toaster$ $Playing Tourist \\ Sophster-Toaster$

Dress Modcloth
Shoes Keds
Bag Modcloth
Earrings Craft Arts Market/ nicolegagnon

Photo credit Matt Harrison

$Mom's Turn \\ Sophster-Toaster$

The details, according to my mom:
Dress “Shopping with [a young family friend]”
Shoes “The Internet”

Then we made our way back to the local world and to Rise Above for an amazing vegan brunch (and free past-their-prime flowers!) while the other tourists had their brand-name pancake breakfast with fanning and dust tea at the hotel.

Garden Party

Posted on April 15, 2015April 15, 2015 by Melissa Harrison

Last Saturday happened to be my husband’s birthday and the local college’s annual craft beer festival held to honour the teaching brewery’s graduation class. We spent the first day that was both warm and sunny outdoors sampling the students’ final assignment recipes, as well as some seasonal craft beer from local breweries.

Garden Brewers quickly became my new favourite. Their PiperAles, a smoked, black pepper amber ale, and Green-Thumb, an IPA with ginger, were unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before. My friends weren’t as into the ginger as I was – I think it was a bit too strong tasting for them – but I loved it; it tasted like an entire garden and filled me with nostalgia, the same way smelling tomato stalks and basil bushes together always reminds me of summers past.

I wore a new dress that I picked up at a spring sale back when it was still winter, layered with some stay-warm pieces.

$Early Spring Garden Party \\ Sophster-Toaster$

Dress: Gap // Top: H&M (old) // Tights: Target // Shoes: ModCloth // Hair Clip: so old, I think it’s vintage now

We came home and grilled some steaks that were gifted by a friend. My husband said he would “do mushrooms and onions” and we all had a good laugh. All-in-all, a very good day.

Valentine’s Day Birthday, Part II

Posted on February 25, 2015February 24, 2015 by Melissa Harrison

At 27 years old, I still get excited about growing up and getting older. I’m the only adult I know who celebrates every added year with the enthusiasm and anticipation of a child still counting the years on one hand. I make sure all of my friends are seriously aware of my continued aging.

These go out in January, by the way.

I plan a party with enough food, games and long-distance guests to get my friends out of their homes and into mine on a cold night in the middle of February, when there’s almost always some sort of weather advisory (this year it was an extreme cold warning, what fun!).

My brother drove up from back home.

I found birthday cake flavoured Oreos while browsing the liquidation sales at the ill-fated Target Canada. I bought a whole bunch and made these not-so-quick but very easy Party Oreos. I only decorated half of the cookie, my friends thought I was being lazy, I thought I was being artistic.

Dress: Modcloth // Cardigan: H&M (old) // Tights: Target // Slippers: White Noise Maker // Necklace: Modcloth (old) // Earrings: gift, received them for my 5th birthday // Ring: a family heirloom

Because I was unofficially elected to be the party food maker of my friend group, I knew that if I wanted anything fancier than a bag of chips, I would have to make it myself. I decided to not overwork myself, for once, and only make easy stuff, hence the charmingly campy pigs in a blanket. My friend told me, with three days’ notice, that he would be very upset if someone didn’t make my famous steak & egg devilled eggs, so I whipped some up along with some dirty martini devilled eggs, for good measure.

My friend Sarah has made my birthday cake every year since I moved to the Niagara Region. This year I asked for either citrus or a tangy chocolate. She brought this happy yellow cake that I discovered, when I plunged my 9″ chef knife into it, was actually chocolate! I blew out all the candles on my first try.

Valentine’s Day Birthday, Part I

Posted on February 11, 2015February 12, 2015 by Melissa Harrison

I think this will be the best year of my life. We’re only two weeks into February — one week away from my 27th birthday — and the hubs and I already have big things coming together for 2015. My husband is moments away from inheriting a cottage in Northern Ontario that has been in his family since the 1920’s (don’t get the wrong idea, it’s a money-pit) with intentions of rescuing it from back tax limbo and restoring it to it’s former charm and I achieved a big goal of seeing something I made in a for-real, brick-and-mortar shop window when Craft Arts Market opened up a few blocks from my house, just to name a couple. When I was a child, I always thought 27 was the best age a person could be. I felt it so strongly that the feeling alone has survived in my memory far longer than the reason why I felt it. I can’t believe I’m finally here. I think it’s time to plan the celebrations.

$Building a Backdrop \\ Sophster-Toaster$

With a birthday that always seems to land on the same weekend as Valentine’s Day, I don’t think I’m ever had a birthday party colour scheme other than red, pink and white or a theme other than today is also Valentine’s Day. This year, I’m branching out. I’ve chosen pink, orange and gold as my decoration colours and the theme of … birthday party. Alright, I’m not great at themes.

I’ve spent the last two weeks making my invitations and decorations, and planning food, drinks and furniture arrangement. For the most part, I’m treading in unfamiliar waters and choosing nondescript seasonal decorations and food ideas over festive ones. However, there is one tradition, started by my mother, that I have never gone a year without and have decided to continue, with restraint: there will be one heart…

$Heart Backdrop \\ Sophster-Toaster$

… and I’m making it a big one. (Find the DIY I used to make the backdrop here.)

$Building a Heart Backdrop \\ Sophster-Toaster$

$Valentine's Date Outfit \\ Sophster-Toaster$ $Bow Tie \\ Sophster-Toaster$ $Valentine's Day Outfit \\ Sophster-Toaster$ $Poetic Licence Heel \\ Sophster-Toaster$

Dress: Modcloth // Bow Tie: Sophster-Toaster // Tights: H&M // Socks: The Green Room (old) // Shoes: Modcloth (old) // Hair Clip: H&M (old) // Earrings: Modcloth (old) // Bracelet: Sweet Auburn Studio

Chair is Ikea.