Waking Up in Winter

The other day I discovered a foolproof plan to be happy when waking up - even when it's dark and absolutly frigid outside. Here's my recipe:

1 hot beverage (I cannot live without my morning tea, but whatever floats your boat)
1 record player (or any other music-playing device, but a record playing has an extra yummy factor)
great music (selection will vary, but it HAS to be upbeat)

So, hot beverage - check. Like I said, for me it's tea - but I'm British, so that goes without saying. Preferably English Breakfast Tea. If it's actually from Britain it tastes infinately better. But whatever does it for you - coffee, espresso, latte, herbal tea...

As for the record player, this is something I bought as a gift to Ilya and me for the holidays. I got a great little portable suitcase-style one from Sears of all places!! It's amazing and works perfectly. Now after lugging around boxes of records for the last 6 years, we can finally actually listen to them!

Now for the music. What really made me happy the other morning (and has initiated this whole routine) was this amazing Ray Charles record that I didn't even know we owned. SO, SO, SO GOOD!

Really, what more can I say except this combo put a great big smile on my face?

Live Music at Relish!

Ok kids, hold on to your hats. On Friday October 21st at 4pm, Steve Brockley WILL BE PLAYING LIVE right here at Relish!!!!!!

This is the album you need to own!

Steve and his band have toured through Hamilton a few times, and every time their performance is outstanding - the music is moody and catchy and the lyrics are both witty and heartfelt. You will absolutely be hooked once you hear these guys live.

The band will be giving us a live acoustic sampling of their great music - did I mention it will be LIVE?! - and then will be playing a full show later that evening at The Pearl Company. The performance at Relish is free and CD's will be for sale!

You do NOT want to miss this!!!

Pets & Art & Music

I'm working away today, so no design project to report on until tomorrow. This means my dog Bertha is bored because I'm sitting at the computer all day. This is what happens when she's bored...

She sits as close as she can to Atticus (notice he's sitting right on top of the heating vent? genius!), and then starts nibbling his toes and licking his head until he can't take it any more and runs away. Poor guy! But damn is it funny!

So despite the weather, we had quite an eventful weekend! My cousin Christina was participating in an artist talk at the ROM in Toronto, as her photographs are part of an exhibit that has been there since October. (If you get a chance, you've GOT to go see this - it's incredible!) The exhibit is called Position as Desired - cureated by Wedge Curatorial Proects - you can check out a press release from the ROM about it here.

So later that evening we went to Joe Mamma's on King St. Not a bad spot, and had room for the huge party of people we arrived with. And then the music started. Holy moly it was awesome!!! Not sure what the name of the house band was, but they were seriously great! What a great dose of live music!