Pick-Me-Ups - Favourite Things Project

I've already mentioned how much I love coffee. Another one of my favourite pick-me-ups is watching a fun show or movie in the evening, or playing a PS3 game.

What about you? What are your favourite pick-me-ups? 

If you write a post about it, please link it up here. If not, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments! 

Favourite Neighbourhoods - Favourite Things Project

I was thinking about this week's topic for a while, trying to decide what to pick for my Favourite Neighbourhoods. I like certain sections of San Francisco, but haven't lived there, so how can I know for sure? And, I like specific parts about the west side in Vancouver, where I lived for almost a year. . . but not entirely. So, what did I settle on? Well, I decided that the feelings associated with my old neighbourhoods in Calgary fit best with this theme. I don't think that I can ever truly love everything about a particular area, but my old yellow house (with Greg) brings about so many great feelings, that I find it difficult to think of the not-great things about living there.

What did I love about it?

• there was a small farmer's market at the nearby community centre.
• it was walking distance to Kensington, an area with lots of small shops, cafes and restaurants, not to mention a great foreign film theatre.
• it was a nice walk (longish) to downtown, a lovely huge park and lots of other areas. 
• there were tons of beautiful trees around, and a small park right across the street from our house!
• a library and mall were just up the hill from our place.
• you could actually see the stars, and the Northern Lights in that neighbourhood!

View from our living room window to field/park in front of house - with community centre and swimming pool in distance. I miss the snow. 

And this is in our living room, showing how much warm light came in. What I really loved was that we could keep our curtains open without worrying about anyone looking in! 

I don't have many pictures of the neighbourhood itself, since we hadn't bought a digital camera until we'd lived there for almost a year. 

What is/are your favourite neighbourhoods?

Ways to Relax - Favourite Things Project

Is everyone having a nice summer/winter so far? In August, I usually go to visit Greg's parents at one of their places. They are always at their lake-side place in Interior B.C. this time of year, and it's always fun to swim, go out on the boat, cook, visit and just relax! Usually August also means visiting my family in Calgary - the lake place is halfway between here and Calgary, so we stop there on the way to Calgary and again on the way back. I just finished an exam yesterday and I can't afford to make a trip this summer, so I am stuck here. . . good thing I have these
ways that I like to relax:

This print, which I bought from the V&A Museum in London hangs on the right of my bed. I love to lie in bed and look at this print. It is one of my favourite things to think about when I think about relaxing. Sun shining, birds chirping, and a clean spot to rest in the grass. . .closing my eyes, reading or looking at clouds. . .doesn't that sound relaxing?

I also find that looking at art is very relaxing. I can lose myself in a museum/galleries for a whole day just looking and dreaming. I love to watch movies/good shows in order to relax as well. . .or go to the symphony and listen/watch people play violins and other instruments!

Modes of Transportation - Favourite Things Project

How do you most like to get from point A to point B? 

This week's topic/theme is all about modes of transportation - what are your favourite?

I suppose it's no secret that I long to have a sailboat someday:

2 Tiny Bears Against the World by studioahimsa

And, if you've been reading about my love of trains, like on this post, or this post,

this picture should come as no surprise: 

Grain Train by studioahimsa

Of course, I do love the occasional road-trip, but to say that cars are my favourite mode of transportation would be a huge stretch! I also LOVE walking most of all, but that just can't take you everywhere.

People in My Life - Favourite Things Project

This week's topic is People in My Life, which I hope many people participate in! 

Here are my favourites:

This is a picture of my mom, who just turned 65 this January. She used to own a Montessori/learning daycare in Houston, Texas when we lived there. She now lives in Calgary, Alberta where she is a 24 hour caregiver for my aunt (in the picture). My brother is also in this picture. He lives in Calgary as well. We have a lot in common related to 'basic' things like shows, movies, games and humour, but he is definitely not an environmentalist.

My other favourite person is someone that I have mentioned a lot on this blog - and who is now a regular contributor. Greg, my best friend, and I met in high school, while working on our school yearbook. We have travelled together and lived together for the past 9.5 years!

I haven't been highlighting other participants for this project each week, as I had planned, but mainly this is because not many people have been doing this project. I think this has a lot to do with it being summer (in part of the world), and things are generally slow online this month. Hopefully more people will join in in the coming weeks/months and I will be able to highlight another blogger each week. Maybe you can spread the word about this project? :) *reminder that anyone can suggest a topic for future weeks. What would YOU like to share in picture form??

Please leave a comment after you link up your post so that I know when you have done so and can come visit!! Next week's topic: modes of communication

Shoes I Own - Favourite Things Project

the code for this button is in the right sidebar

Favourite Shoes I own

Forrest Gump: Momma always says there's an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they're going. Where they've been. I've worn lots of shoes. I bet if I think about it real hard I could remember my first pair of shoes.

So, what do your shoes say about you?

These are my current hiking boots. I haven't been able to wear them very often - it doesn't get cold enough here in the winter to wear them then (like I used to wear my hiking boots during winter in Calgary), and I can't afford to go on trails very often. I lugged these all the way to New Zealand when I lived there for a year, and didn't make much use of them. . .it was often too hot to wear them, and we didn't do a whole lot of hiking. 

Shoes by John Fluevog, a Vancouver-based shoe designer.

I talked about these shoes in this post. These are the shoes I wear most often - mostly the dark ones, which go travelling with me. These ones say that I am vegan  - these are totally non-animal based. They also might say that I like casual shoes (I don't wear or even own heels), that are comfortable. 

Now, it's your turn - what are your favourite shoes that you own and what do (you think) they say about you? Please don't forget to comment after you link up your posts so that I can come check out your blog!! 

New to the project? 

What is the project about?

• It is a 52 week visual project starting July 2010 
• It is inspired by the idea of acknowledging and appreciating the smaller, often unnoticed things in life, the things that are important to us in some way.

This is the main project page.

Next week: people in my life

Things to Drink - Favourite Things Project

Click image above for button code


This week's post is all about my Favourite Things to Drink


I enjoy iced tea, water, apple juice, and other drinks...but my favourite is coffee! I like americanos best, but I also like espresso and soy cappuccinos as well. I never put milk (soy or otherwise)in my americano/espresso/coffee but I do add a bit of brown sugar. 

Coffee Coffee Coffee Limited Edition Print 

Our vintage Joe Columbo Boby Cart with Rancilio espresso machine and grinder. I love this as a coffee/tea cart because it has a space on the right side to store coffee/espresso cups and drawers for spoons and tea strainers/infusers plus 2 storage shelves for our loose teas. The back of the cart holds long travel mugs and other things. 

This is a sign from a cafe in South India. Coffee in India is either instant from Nescafe or very strong 'filter coffee', which is a bit hard to describe. Greg really liked it, but I always thought it felt like drinking tar. 


Next week's theme is Shoes You Own. I have posted the next 5 themes as well. Just a reminder - anyone can suggest a topic or theme! 


What about you? What are your favourite thing(s) to drink?


PLEASE leave a comment when you link up so that I know when you've posted/linked! :) Thank you!!
Feel free to join in any time and link up whenever you have a chance! 
All the information for this project is here. 

Modes of Communication - Favourite Things Project

Click image to get code for button

For the second week of this project I am focusing on my favourite 

Modes of Communication

 

photo via enfield26's civil war collection.

I love to write letters. I have had penpals from age 10 or so until now. I have met many of them in person and have known a few of them for over 15 years! 

photo via limonchung

And what beats talking to someone in person? I really don't like talking on the phone or texting or any of that. I much prefer to see how the person reacts and preferably speak to someone over some coffee or desserts!

What about you?

If you would like to participate in this project, all the information is here. Feel free to join in any time or to suggest a topic! Next week's is: things to drink.

Please leave a comment as well as leaving your link!! :)

Iconic Things - Favourite Things Project

Welcome to the first week of the Favourite (or favorite) Things Project! If this is the first time you are hearing about this new 52 week project, go here to find out all the info! You can join in any time this week and link up to this post at the bottom, or join in on the project any time this year!

I have put together this button, which you can add to your blog or post, if you like. There is also a larger version in the right hand column on this blog.

<a href="http://beingtazim.blogspot.com/p/things-i-love-project.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Being Tazim" src="http://www.minimumharm.com/beingtazim/sml.jpg" /></a>

In honour of 2 national holidays this week (Canada Day, yesterday) and Independence Day (4th of July) in North America, the first topic/theme for the project has to do with:

Iconic Things About My Country

This is a Maple Syrup candle! The great thing about this candle is that this maple syrup actually exists in this can - so it looks completely authentic. It also smells authentic - makes me crave waffles or pancakes, all the time - even when it isn't light! Maple syrup always makes me think of Road to Avonlea, the episode where Felicity is making and selling maple sugar using an old Quebec recipe. Ah, so Canadian. 

Because maple syrup is really an Eastern Canada thing, I thought I'd pick a Eastern Canadian icon as my 2nd picture. This is a stuffed bear named (by me) Grizz. This Haida Bear was created by the famous NWC Haida artist Bill Reid (you may know his Raven and the First Men work from the Canadian $20 bill). It is a replica of sorts based on the giant wooden bear that stands in the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia (one of my favourite museums, at the university I go to). 

So, what about you? What are your favourite iconic things from your country/city? 

Leave your links in this linky below, and you may be selected to be featured next week! All the links for these posts (my Friday posts) will be on the main project page so that you can go back if you'd like to link up later. 

Please leave a comment after you link up!