Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends, and anyone celebrating!

I’ll keep this short and sweet, but I would be remiss if I did not share at least a few things I’m thankful for…

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The Mindy Project. Or, just Mindy Kaling‘s existence in general. I know, I know – when am I going to stop going on about my love for Mindy? The answer is NEVER!!

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Marshmallow Fireside Candles from B&BW. I light them pretty much every day from September to February, because they smell so cozy. That’s the best way I can describe them! For me, they embody the Swedish custom of fredagsmys – curling up indoors on a Friday night to light candles, cuddle under a blanket on the sofa, eat candy and watch a movie. To embrace the cold and be COZY! (via Cup of Jo)

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Having a library in my neighbourhood, and also close to my office. I love going to the library. I feel instantly calmer, surrounded by beautiful books, knowing I could pick one off the shelf and just escape for a little while.
As an extrovert, I rarely feel the need to avoid people around me, but it’s nice to have a place where loud conversation and exchanging social pleasantries are frowned upon. I can peruse the aisles at my own leisure, and don’t have to make eye contact with anyone.
Also, checking a book out of the library is basically like shopping for free 🙂

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The fact that things like these stickers, this tree topper, and this colouring book are all available to buy online! Filing this in my “little pick-me-ups” category. Sometimes it’s nice to give yourself a present!

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And lastly, I am thankful for all the love in my life. I am so grateful to have supportive parents who let me live at home, take me to cool plays and restaurants, and let me leave my shoes all over the house.  I love my friends and family, who listen to me worry about stupid things, watch me continually do stupid things, and still have faith in me for some odd reason. I love my better half, my boyfriend, my “photographer” :). We are two weirdos who have found our crazy weirdo match in each other.
I feel grateful to live in a country where I have access to clean water, where women have a voice, where I can eat poutine at one in the morning, where education is accessible, and where I can VOTE and it MATTERS!

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Honourable mentions:

• Uber
• The Balmain X HM collection
• Google Doodles

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xoxo

Image by Emily Isabella via DesignLoveFest

It’s the little things… (my Oprah magazine subscription is the best $40 I ever spent)

My Favourite issues of O

I have a confession! I absolutely adore O magazine. I don’t know why I feel like this is a confession – maybe because The Oprah Show, and O magazine seem like such “mom” things to like? I guess I’m ok with that! I seem to love “mom” things: mom jeans, mommy blogs, mom breakfast items (Special K and activia, duh), and obviously I LOVE my own beautiful mom 🙂

O magazine is not just for moms, though. In fact, it’s not even just for women. I think that anyone who picks up a copy of O would find some value, and come away feeling just a little bit happier. My mood is instantly lifted when I see it in my mailbox, and since subscribing in April not one issue has let me down.

Each month’s theme is thoughtful and relevant. They are more unique than any other magazine on the stands. I’ve read interesting articles about post-traumatic growth, how to console someone who is grieving, lack of mammogram funding in the United States, and what it’s like to be a zoo keeper at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

I also love the sharp and witty advice column written by Lisa Kogan (everything from how to deal with a picky eater to a pushy mother-in-law),

The gratitude meter (similar to “Cool Find/Links I Love” but in print),

The well-curated book recommendations and excerpts (like this month’s latest from Gloria Steinam!!),

and of course the wonderful fashion finds. The fact that I’m praising the sartorial choices of a “mom” magazine, probably means it’s not a “mom” magazine. 🙂

Reading my O magazine brightens my day, and reminds me to find joy in other little things as well. Such as:

• Last week’s episode of Doctor Who took place in CAITHNESS, Scotland (year 2119)
• Coconut milk being offered as a dairy alternative at my local Starbucks
• A pair of shoes I’ve been eyeing are currently 40% off
• Because of my trip to Montreal, and the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, I get three short work weeks in a row! YAAASSS!
• You can now send gifs in LinkedIn messenger!!!

Me and my Doctor Who Van Gogh TARDIS poster

xoxo

Why Don’t You?

Get a library card! And carry your books home in this cute tote 🙂

Take a fika! What’s a fika?

Use some coloured eyeliner. According to the expert, orangey/gold will make your blue eyes pop, lilacy/purple will make your green or hazel eyes more intense, and blue works wonders for brown eyed beauties.

Get out your coloured pencils – colouring books are back in. “Five of Amazon’s top 10 last week were adult colouring-in books, as were six of Brazil’s top 10 non-fiction list. Last year in France, the combined colouring-in industry sold 3.5m books.”(source)

Order your Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade with a couple pumps of raspberry syrup – Thanks to the Jaclyn Hill fanclub for this tip!

Find some new music! Listen to what the cool kids are listening to these days.

Write a greeting card to someone, just because!

Have a spare moment and want to waste some time? Take a Buzzfeed Quiz 🙂 I particularly enjoyed this one.

Contemplate: giving less f@*#s

Take advantage of the season! Use peaches to make this Peach and Crème Fraiche Pie. I make it every year for my little brother’s birthday in August.

Enjoy your long weekend, fellow Canadians!

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Why Don’t You?

Try a type of food you’ve never eaten before? I just recently had bibimbop for the first time, and I can’t wait to go to Weslodge and try a Scotch Egg

Spray paint your handles pink?

Buy a large pitcher, some delicious tea, and keep it iced in your fridge all summer long?

Bring a disposable camera to your next get-together, and have your friends snap pictures all night long? Get the film developed and drop them off to your friends the next time you see them – with a little note on the back 🙂 🙂 Facebook captions, IRL!

Buy your BFFL/Bae/cat a little present just because? Hint: This is nice, and so is this!

Eat breakfast for dinner? Who doesn’t like the sound of Mexican Scrambled Eggs with some vino? And you can’t go wrong with nutella French toast.

Buy a square silk scarf, and wear it all summer? Tie it into your braid, on to your purse handle, wear it as a belt, and especially on your head when you drive in your convertible and into the sunset.

Make your own icecream at home, without a machine, and only two key ingredients?

Claim a signature cocktail? Master the recipe for just one, really delicious bevvy, and break it out at every dinner party!

Write me an message? Thank you so much for following along. This month of blogging has been great, and I’d love to hear what you think 🙂

Happy Father’s Day

E-Card by Redstamp

PIVOT!

Hello friends!

I’m really excited, and a little nervous, to announce that my blog is going through a pivot! I’ve always loved blogging, so in an attempt to turn my hobby into something more, I’m taking Jocelyn Caithness and sharing it with the world! …I hope the world likes me.

I’ll be writing a Toronto Series every week, as well as book reviews, sharing things I love, and personal style posts. I’ve created a shiny new Facebook page, Instagram account, and a twitter. A TWITTER!

Thank you so much for all of your support, and for sticking around and reading! If you want to get in touch, feel free to email me at jocelyncaithness@gmail.com 🙂