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Today, I wanted to share with you some of the stuff that is brightening my daily moments. The weather is meh here in the Fraser Valley, so for me, it’s all about what brings me joy in the everyday life.
You’ll see that it’s nothing fancy at all and all about what I call my nuggets of joy.

1. The “Fir-ever grateful” and “Palo Santo” candles from Bath & Body Works. I have always loved candles, and these two are my current favorite scents. I light them in my Studio when I work on the computer or on art.
2. Dresses and skirts from Hot Topic (they have pockets!!!). I usually prefer dresses over skirts for the simple reason than it requires less thinking: the top and the bottom are already coordinated for me 😉
3. Halsey newest album “If I can’t have Love, I want Power*”
4. My Frixion* pen in all the colours. They are erasable, so it makes it easier in my planner.
5. True crimes documentaries/fictionized stories. I binged the two seasons of “Dirty John” on Netflix (trigger warning though: lots of gaslighting in both stories). It is fiction but based on true stories. I really appreciate Connie Briton as an actress. I’ll take any recommendations (I have Netflix, Crave and Prime video) 😉
6. Loud Lacquer nail polishes. You can build your own bundle in order to receive discounts, which is really nice. The colors are stunning and the names are fucking funny!
7. The Ferris Wheel Press inks. I am waiting for my order to ship as I treated myself with other inks as well as one of their fountain pen and one of their newest rechargeable ball pen as well. Some of the inks are shimmery, others are flat. They can be use for writing and for art as well. Plus, this is a canadian company so it makes it even better to support them (in my mind).
8. New collections from About.Face. They have one all about glitters (for the eyes, the lips and even the brows!). And the Fall collection has all the colors I love. Give me grey and purple, and I’ll be happy…

What are you currently loving?

It’s been quite some time since I last shared with you what’s rocking my universe right now. And you know my love for discovering new-to-me anything.
I currently work two days a week so I have 5 days at home with the entire family (my daughters are on summer break for another full month and my husband is able to work remotely). I have been spending a lot of time watching Netflix (#sorrynotsorry) with my almost 15yo daughter Mae. I have been reading as well but not as much as I used to (thank you Goodreads for reminding me that I am about 6 books behind schedule for my 2020 reading goal)

…Watching…

• Never Have I ever. Absolutely devoured it. I loved the inclusion of characters of colour and their culture. And it’s been renewed for a second season so YAAAAAY
• Grey’s Anatomy. Okay, technically for me this is a re-watch as I have been watching this show for the past 15 years and it’s one that’s dear to me for several reasons. We also discovered Doctor Mike on Youtube, which is a great addition 😉 I love medical dramas, so, yea…
• Bailey Sarian’s “Mystery & Makeup” on Youtube. This girl is AMAZING. Honestly, the contrast between the gruesome true crimes she talks about and the stunning make up she is doing while telling us all these stories? I love her!!! Yes, she’s a new obsession. Let me be 😉
• Students’ organisation videos and vlogs, still on Youtube. Because I am fucking nervous about going back to school for 4 semesters and this makes me feel like I will have a better idea about what it will be like (I do know that of course, I know nothing).

… Listening to…

• Halsey. Forever and Always. I love her music since I discovered her with New Americana. I love the woman. She’s my wife (okay… I am ten years older than her but who cares?) ahah
• H.E.R. She brings me back to the music I loved when I was a teenager. Soulful, R&B, makes me wanna dance type of music. One that makes me feel like I belong to something.
• Taylor Swift‘s new surprise album, “Folklore“. I kind of started really liking her music five years ago, when I took my daughter to her concert in Vancouver, BC. You hate her or you love her, but there is something about how she tells stories through her music that makes me feel things. So yes, I waited for midnight to have a 2-person listening party with Mae 😉

…Enjoying…

• Vegetarian meals, mostly. We are trying to reduce our consumption of animal products as much as possible.
• Long walks in our neighbourhood. With our without our dog. I try to step up my walking goals on my Fitbit 😉 I need to go back to working out but my arm still hurts and I tend to go to an extreme or another so taking it slow.
• Looking for homes in our former city across the country. It’s a bit (a lot?) masochistic but eh… it brings hope.
• The perspective of getting rid of about 75% of our belongings. Freeing physical space as well as mental space… It’s crazy how much we gather to feel better or because we think we will need/love it. But it ends up stacked somewhere, unused and unloved… I will be taking care of my art studio but still don’t know what to do with all these supplies I don’t use/care for. Ideas?

PS: you can read my post “Currently” article following this link 😉

Some videos are harder to create and even harder to share than others. For me, this is one of them. Sharing about me, about bits and pieces of my stories as a bi-racial woman of colour is not something I talk about easily or often. But with what’s currently going on in the World, I felt awful not to address it at all. Because… sometimes, silence is compliance, right?

Here’s the video:

I have been working on this for quite a long time. It took more than a month from the moment I knew I had to do something to the moment I completed the page. Yup… I had to make my voice heart. Even just for me, because crying every day helps, but not for long.

If you follow me on Instagram, you might remember me posting a sketch of the drawing at the beginning of June. Then, it took me two weeks to actually stop avoiding going further in the project and paint it… Because when your heart is aching so bad, it does not matter if you know what you need to do. It just seems impossible. And I accept that today: the need for time to process emotions and thoughts.

I am bi-racial and am myself in a bi-racial marriage. I am a woman of colour and my husband is White, which resulted in a funny blend when it comes to our daughters’ skin tones (I have shared pictures of them in the video). All my life, I have been told stuff that left me without a sense of belonging, without that deep knowledge of being enough. Too white, too black, not enough of anything. This leaves scars and wounds I am now tending as an almost 35 years old.
Before you speak, always wonder “could this hurtful?” because words can destroy more than a punch in the guts…

I told you before, I am a woman of obsessions… My mind is always in full swing going around the same stuff over and over. It is mostly annoying but I stopped trying to stop this. Acceptance is key 😉

Quinn Bouley

I discovered Quinn on Instagram. Her feed is one of the most beautiful that illuminates my Instagram.
Quinn has an online shop where she sells handmade stickers, journal stuff and printables.
Quinn is spiritual and very creative. She shares videos on Youtube about her process and I really like what she has to offer.

Billie Eilish

I feel like I am talking about her everywhere and apologize if it is too much for you 😉
Music is always playing around me, it started when I was a kid. My Mom had to work weird hours and so I was often home alone: silence scared the shit out of me (still today) so I always had music playing or the TV on.
Billie Eilish is currently 17 years old but she knows who she is, she loves what she creates and it is contagious. She is the perfect embodiment of UNAPOLOGETIC to me. Plus, I am jealous that she can get these amazing hair colors 😉
Her music is strange but addictive. And you have to check her music videos 😀 I can’t believe she recorded her first album with her brother (who produces it), in their Mom’s home, sitting on a bed. Yup.

Oil pastels

When I create, I put all my senses to play. That’s just how it is for me. If you know me a little, you know that one of my things is texture. I am always searching for new ways to create it, media to put together to come up with something different.
I use several brands of oil pastels, my favourites are: Sennelier and Caran D’Ache’s NeoPastels. Both are really creamy and come in so many colours. They are very pigmented, too. They are not on the cheap side of the spectrum but worth every dollar.

My 100 Days of Abstract Explorations project

After being part of several Design Teams and not being in one currently taught me some unexpected stuff. I need deadlines, I need structure in my routine, I need projects.
So when Elle Luna announced the current 100 Day Project, I decided to jump in. More on this in this blogpost, and this one. I need the end goal (painting an abstract painting every day for 100 days). And I accept this truth… maybe it’s finally my Virgo side showing? ahah! I am having a lot of fun, and that’s all that matters. I use all the supplies I love and I am doing my best not to run to the store not to buy more Pébéo markers and more Liquitex Gouache (I have two sample bottles of it only)…

Maybe 2019 will be the year I will consistently share bits of my life every month here. Maybe not. Who knows ? I don’t know if it is something you enjoy from me (do you?).

What are you listening to?

I am listening to a Charlotte Cardin on Google Play Music. Music is always playing in the background, no matter what I am actually doing. She is an artist from Québec who sings both in English and in French. Her voice has this something that makes me stop what I’m doing just to listen. She could sing about the weather, it would probably still be beautiful to hear… I often receive Oracle moments through random songs 😉

What are you currently wearing?

A leggin because I did my workout this morning and did not change out of it, and an orange oversized hoodie. I decided to just be comfortable today. If we did not have a needy dog that asks to go outside 4 times a day, trust me that would spend more time in pj’s all-day every day 😉 (taking advantage of working from home).

When I was a teen, my best friend’s go-to look was slim pants with an oversized sweater and for some reason, this past week is how I wanted to dress. And honoring the comeback of my hoops hearing, just because they make me feel good. I hate what I see in the mirror so I am back at better eating and daily workouts. Why tomorrow when it can be now, right?

What have you recently bought?

A few new clothes, it was a Christmas present from my husband. I found a leather jacket that I can’t wait to be able to wear (not the best when it is -18ºC outside). I am doing my best to stop my spending in 2019 as much as possible and only go for what is fully needed (yes, it means no more art supply for a while…).

What are you reading?

I am reading this book way too slowly for my own taste. The story is intriguing and I want to know what will happen next to the characters. However, I am not 200% captivated by the story…

Do you know the Pop Sugar reading challenge? It’s a list of prompt for books to read during the year. It helps me to look for books that would probably not have grabbed my attention otherwise.

I have reached my goal of reading 60 books in 2018, which makes me very happy! You can read more about it on my previous blogpost 😉