6 Things to Do in BC before I Die

Not that I'm planning on departing any time soon, I just don't like the term bucket list.
I was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and there are things that I've always wanted to do but haven't gotten around to.

Come to think of it, I can now see four of these six from my balcony. Nothing like a daily reminder.

1. Ride in one of those really big tug boats
2. Tour the BC Sugar Refinery
3. Hike up The Lions/Sisters
4. Tour the Mascot gold mine in Hedley
5. Go to Haida Gwaii
6. Tour the Port of Vancouver at night

Strawberry Mint Muddle is Not Leningrad Stew - Cocktail Recipe

stacy reynaud

Voila - mushy strawberry mint cocktail!

Ingredients:
1 - 2 ounces white rum
3 big ripe strawberries sliced
3 big fresh mint leaves
2 - 3 tsp. blue agave syrup
Add all ingredients to a rock glass and muddle with a wooden spoon
Add ice cubes
Top with soda and stir
Eliminate the rum if you don't want a boozy version.

Enjoy!

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Momo the Cat and Kevan - the stuff of legends

1. natural disaster
2. suspense
3. human compassion
4. cute quirky Canadian
5. and Momo the cat

Three cheers for Kevan and Momo!

Calgary flood June 21 2013 - a full list of organizations looking for volunteers for the clean up can be found here.

all images © Jordan Verlage/Canadian Press
photo set at CBC

My Kitchen Table

The other day I was catching up on blogs before they disappear from my Google Reader and I came across one from God knows who because now I can't find it! Anyway, it was a post on tables or work spaces or her table or something like that and she asked, 'What does the top of your kitchen table look like?' Well, I took a photo of what my kitchen table looked like just then - and still looks like now but the tabouli has been replaced by oatmeal. Who are you dear blogger? I want to link to your post!

This image reminds me of one of the vocabulary activities I used to give to a beginner ESL class - I gave them a photo and had them identify as many things as they could. Oh, the good old days!

The Luxury Crafstwoman

Popular during the 1960s and 1970s, Italian designer Gabriella Crespi abandoned her career at its height in order to 'settle the inner conflict that had torn her existence forever'. Crespi moved to India in the mid 80s to work with her spiritual advisor Sri Muniraji. In 2008, after nearly two decades of life in India, she worked with Stella McCartney in a limited reissue of five of her jewelery designs from the 70s. The proceeds from the line, which debuted at McCartney's Paris flagship store, were donated to an eye care hospital in the Himalayas.

Gabriella Crespi

Ellisse - Cubo Tondo - Scultura tables

brass - design 1976

table top right $31,250

image Architectural Digest 1979

Essential Coffees That are Dishwasher Safe

Hey, remember this?
Well you can buy it, for a kind of weird function.

Take Me With You | 5 Ways

I won't leave you in the Google Reader graveyard. The reader is toast as of July 1st, 2013. So, to follow my Bijou Living blog with another reader select that orange icon in the right hand column. Flipboard is also a cool platform to use.  Where am I posting when I'm not blogging? May I suggest subscribing to my other social media channels to keep totally up to date with my ramblings? You can do so right here: 

1. Twitter feed
2. Tumblr feed
3. Facebook feed
4. Blog feed
5. Email 

Whatever you choose, please know that I really appreciate you sticking around!

8 Hot Living Rooms

images via arkpad

6 Quotes from My Teens Grow Up

While reading some bad poetry of my youth last night I saw a common theme in quotes I admired from way back when. 

Here are some of my teen faves and how they've grown up:

1. If it's meant to be it will be. Don't just sit there, go and get it!
2. If you love something set it free; if it comes back it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was. I got married.
3. Hang in there, baby! Pull yourself together, damnit! - in Mid-Atlantic English accent
4. If at first you don't succeed, try try again. F*ck it. 
5. Carpe Diem.   
6. I think I can, I think I can.

One of my cousins must've had the cat poster in their bedroom when I was growing up because it remains indelibly etched in my mind.

Design Traps for Birds

True or false? Birds can't perceive right angles as indicators of obstacles.
True. Right angles, glass, transparent windows - all are architectural obstacles that birds cannot perceive. When birds sees clouds and sky reflected in a glass high rise or trees and shrubs reflecting off your living room window they merely think it's a continuation of the sky or their reflected habitat. Reflected vegetation is the most dangerous, however, birds also try to fly through transparent windows as they try to reach a perch seen on the other side. For more dangerous architectural bird obstacles read this great article by Christine Sheppard on Architecture Week or Bird Friendly Building Design on the American Bird Conservancy site.

images top: Dundarave bungalow -  a 'tunnel' and a window reflecting tall trees and shrubs

center: Staples Residence West Vancouver - a bird death trap. Transparent windows, tunnels and reflective glass

bottom: Cordova St. Vancouver - a combination of architectural eras. Which is the least bird-friendly?

1986 Vintage Gucci Flats

I've been hanging on to this Vogue 1987 vintage Gucci post for awhile and then boom - here they are on eBay. Of course, not in my size. The auction ends today and they're a size 10. Get them and tell me how cool they look okay.

Prada | Wes Anderson | Candy

I can never tell if these sorts of flicks are parody or pretension. 

Ah, mais la vie est la parodie, mon cheri. 

Needless to say, I like their suits and it reminds me of Truffault's Jules et Jim.

Prada, Roman Coppola and Wes Anderson team up for Candy L'Eau.

Annual Purge Yard Sale | Saturday June 8th

stacy reynaud

Coincidentally, I purged my closet last weekend and our pal Rachel has decided to have a yard sale this weekend. It's a purge so everything will be super cheap. I'm selling mainly clothes - and some Danish stuff. We'll be set up by the West End Farmer's Market.


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One - Two - Sold

You know the old 'truth', in the 'power of three', (my marketing instructor self speaking). Consumers love threes. Don't give us too many choices! Once you see something three times, act on it. Case in point, black cane rocking chairs. I was going to buy one for $50 from a lady in Kelowna two weeks ago but forgot, (the one above). Now in the last 24 hrs I find two saved on my computer.  Mom and Dad, are you coming down soon?

Tip of the Week - Iced Coffee

stacy reynaud
Put your left over morning's coffee in an ice cube tray in the freezer. The next time you have an iced coffee it won't get watered down with regular ice cubes.

A familiar pile of dirt - Another West Vancouver Home Demolition

Mansions of Vancouver Architect Dan White from bijouliving

  I'll give you a hint, I originally wrote about it in June 2010 and again in October 2011.  I wonder if I can get my hands on the blueprints now (West Vancouver City Hall wouldn't let me see them in 2010)?  Think the beautiful bird sanctuary of a front yard ended up in a Smithrite?  For more images, click one of the dates above.

My latest fix

You know me, I'm always getting into something! This time it's teak tables with tile tops circa early 1970s.