Regina Spektor rocks my saucy little world.

We first saw her when she came to Vancouver in early 2007. On the stage at the Commodore she was wonderfully awkward and alone.  She filled the room with her voice, with only her chair (brought from NY), guitar, and a piano (unfortunately not her own) to accompany her.

Today she took the more grown up stage at the Orpheum, in front of rows upon rows of screaming but generally polite fans. Rather than the sparse stage of the first show we’d seen, this one was filled with cables and speakers and instruments and other people. Her new stuff is powerful with the addition of drums and strings and extras, but I was pleased when everyone else left and we could listen to Regina alone. She is marvellous!

Reilly has graduated from bad crowd photos with snuck in cameras to being a portable recording machine, so he may have music to share at some point. The acoustics in the Orpheum weren’t quite perfect so the recording has a more bootleg feel than the Ani show we saw last week, the recording of which sounds like it was properly mixed in studio. Even though we own most of the released recordings of both artists, there’s something about having a cut of a show that you were actually witness to.

The power in either of these voices can’t be captured on tape, but each recording combined with my memory is good enough for me.

I used to write to share what I was up to with friends and family, mostly, and so I had something to refer back to. Now, between Facebook and Twitter, my blog just seems so disconnected for those things. Not everyone who could read it knows about it, I can’t control who does see it, it’s separate from my photos and feeds and status updates, and so on.

So, rather than using it to keep everyone else up to date, it makes sense that it would fall back to the role of journal. Only, that *scares* me.

I hate and I love that I don’t know who reads this. While on one hand I never write, I also know many people read blogs via RSS so regardless of whether I say anything at all for months on end I’m sure this will pop up in more than a few feeds. A few my friends and family, a few complete strangers, and the scary part – a few people who know me or know of me in person, but are business or professional contacts and I’m not sure what I think about that. I wish I could say I will ignore that, but in reality, it means that I’ll end up being more censored than I would be with just strangers and my close peeps.

Today is November 1st, and the start of NaBloPoMo. Last year, I even finished. I’m highly hesitant to commit as this is going to be one hell of a month, but at least for this moment, I might or I might not try to post. This may happen tomorrow as well and the next day, or it may not. However, the way these things work is if I don’t start today then I don’t get the option later, so there you go.

On the agenda for this month: deal with my broken-as-of-yesterday right hand aka iphone, finish a bajillion albums, shoot 3 weddings and some portraits, hang out in Tofino for a few days, get back on track with the magazine, figure out a way to cook more and order less, craft up a storm for the December edition of Got Craft, begin working with a personal coach to stay more focused, pack, move into the awesome new home/studio we just bought, and maybe have (yet another) major surgery. How about you?

(this was a wonderful day // taken with my iphone on Galiano island while travelling for a wedding this summer)

Well, today is a happy day for anyone who is larger than a rail and whose eyes light up with jump-on-the-bed joy over the thought of awesome tights in every colour imagineable!

It’s true – I stumbled upon We Love Colors and almost tripped over myself on the way to the ordering page. They offer colourful plus sized tights in not only large sizes but in unheard of large sizes – as in, wayyyy bigger than me, even. Good times!

They had two options for regular opaque tights, and I bought a few of each as I wasn’t sure what the differences were, so I’ll attempt to share my thoughts on each. I’ve listed the pros and cons to both, but overall I’m very thrilled with my purchase and will definitely order again!

Solid Color Plus Sized Tights – $9. The good-if-they-fit option:

- These tights were the thicker of the two

- While I didn’t sacrifice a pair to test, I think these would be quite a bit less likely to run as the other type

- The toe is quite bulky – not super sexy for walking around shoe-less

- 45 colours. FOURTY FIVE. !.

- The sizing on these ones is off, but in a weird way. Unlike normal nylons with infinite stretchiness, these ones have a definite end point for stretch. So – in my case – they are more than long enough and big enough in the lower leg and waist, but my thighs are definitely at the limit of their size and I should be right in the middle of the size I chose. So, of course, this is my main challenge with this pair. I can squeeze into them  – barely – enough to wear them, but there’s no way with my shape that I could be any heavier. THAT being said, if I had legs that were better proportioned I wouldn’t want to go to a bigger size or they would be bunchy as there is a lot of length.

- Fitting issue aside, these seem like a great low cost pair of tights. They reminded me of putting on tights for dance class when I was little as they’re definitely tights as opposed to nylons. And dude, plus sized!

Plus Size Nylon/Lycra Tights – $15. The OMG check these out option:

- 45 colours. FOURTY FIVE. !.

- These ones are much softer and infinitely stretchy

- More like other nylons, these look like they’ll eventually snag and run so I’ll probably only get a few wears out of each pair

- These fit well and seem accurate to their sizing, if not a little on the big side

- The only downside to mention is that the seams at the top are a little bulky, so wouldn’t be ideal for a super clingy & showy dress

There are all sorts of other options on the site that I didn’t explore, but these alone make it a super great find. Ordering was easy, and they took just under 2 weeks to arrive to my place in Canada, which is expected for the cheap shipping. Outside of this find, black tights have been the only option that I’ve found to date, and I’ve always been at the largest size. Now, I have every colour under the sun and there are sizes for gals way larger than me. Good times!

Check them out yourself here – We Love Colors

Enjoy!

Over the past few months I’ve been pulling together the business plan for my newest venture. My mind races with possibilities, I tell people in half completed sentences what it is that I’ll be doing, and when people say they can’t wait to hear the full details I reply that neither can I.

I’ve had many streams of thought on the same topic… so many ideas and plans in the same areas, trying to figure out how to bring them together. I’ve been completely moving forward, and yet struggling on really solidifying the exact details so I can begin actual work instead of the endless brainstorming and planning I’ve been doing.

Then,  I was reading through one of the business blogs I frequent when one sentence jumped out at me like it was the only thing on the page.

And all at once, everything fit. The block I had in moving forward vanished as though it had never been there. I know exactly the structure that I’ll be using, I know exactly how everything I’d been planning fits in, and I know exactly how to incorporate all of the other cool stuff I was thinking that I’d love to somehow involve.

It answers every single question I had, and every one I keep coming up with. The planning has been simple – now the real work begins.

I believe in jumping in with two feet. I believe in the creativity and tenacity of every entrepreneur, guy or girl with an idea, and free spirit trapped in the corporate rat race. I believe being terrified is most often the beginning of something great. And I believe that you’ve never even dreamed of all that is possible.

Sassy Little Biz: The magazine for creative entrepreneurs

Issue 1 // mid-2009              Inspire Your Craft

www.sassylittlebiz.com

- If you do not already read Joy’s blog, you should do it now. She is marvelously witty and Hunter S-esque, only picture a small Canadian girl in Japan with much liquor and shenanagins. If you are my Mom you will not enjoy Joy’s blog. For everyone else, today’s post is particularly entertaining me: http://www.negativespace.net/shots/

- When my leg is finished being broken I am going to take Kimli up on her offer to come with and go visit Joy in Japan. It would be a fantastic trip.

- We have OPERA TICKETS! I am very excited to go to the closing night showing of Carmen next Thursday night. 5th row. I will wear my corset.

- I had my first session with my personal trainer today, and we meet again tomorrow. She is awesome.

That is all!

25 things, as tagged by basically everyone. Tagging no one specifically in return, but if you haven’t done this already go forth and complete – post it on your blog or as a note on your facebook profile.

Many things, some of which you might not know about me:

1. I believe there isn’t anything that I can’t do if I decide I’m going to do it

2. I remember the first moment that I saw Reilly. It was February 1992 in Smith, Alberta (think 400 person small town in Northern AB), at a Junior Forest Warden curling bonspiel. I Was 12, he was 15, and I had heard about him and demanded to have him pointed out to me when we arrived. He was a legend. We became friends 3 years later, and married in August 2000.

3. I’m a much happier and more cheerful person that I used to be

4. I would do well if left alone in the bush for long periods of time, but not as good as if Reilly or Josh were there. It would take me all day to produce fire; I’d put them to a race but I’m guessing under an hour walking in with nothing but their hands and the clothes they are wearing.

5. I, also, envision falling down the stairs every time I go down them. This has only increased x1000 since breaking my leg + knee, and now is a much more realistic outcome.

6. I sit in the other room during Reilly/Shan/Darren band practice and sing along to their songs. I love the music they write. It gets stuck in my head. They are practicing now.

7. I am a serial entrepreneur and always have multiple projects on the go, many just waiting for their time to be launched.

8. I adore our clients and while I’m not a girly girl at all, I love hearing about and helping where I can with all the wedding and photo plans.

9. I’m jealous of the photographers who shoot with Reilly when I’m unable because they all have a unique perspective and capture images I never would have thought of. I <3 all of you and think you completely kick ass.

10. I was very, very blonde as a kid

11. And skinny

12. If I had a more negative self image, I would probably not weight as much as I do. Sometimes being hard on yourself can be a good thing

13. I like and will eat almost all foods

14. Except watermelon

15. Have I even told you about my leg recently? I don’t think so I finally received the full diagnosis within the last couple of weeks. I will have 2 more surgeries this year and won’t be able to walk for a large portion of it. They are going to break my tibia and change the alignment of my leg with lots of metal along with some ligament repair, then when that heals they’re going to repair the rest of the ligaments. I will have pain, problems, and wear a brace for the rest of my life. I consider myself very fortunate and blessed, and while I have on and off days you will never hear me complain about it. I might ask you to bring me chocolate, though, for the cripple.

16. I like to make things, and have snagged a table at May’s Got Craft event so I have something to make things for.

17. I have a really, really hard time with coming up with truly new ideas. Given a starting point I am extremely creative in running with something or expanding it, but I spend a large amount of time scouring everything from fashion magazines for posing ideas to 50’s housewares catalogues for craft inspiration so I can do my own thing. People think I’m creative, but I’m just good at repurposing and recycling other concepts I’ve seen.

18. I like to cook and want to take some cooking classes to learn new things

19. I own a small letterpress and hundreds of pounds of lead type, many fonts worth. It is fun to use the word font as a noun and mean it.

20. According to a full day psych profile I did for my old corporate job, my “warmth and compassion for others” is significantly below average. Which, if you’ve ever been my employee or know me well, you’d know is completely hilarious – I don’t coddle and I definitely don’t have time for bullshit, but I will fight passionately to ensure people are treated fairly even if it means putting my own ass on the line.

21. I was an honour student at the top of my class until grade 12 when I moved on my own from my small town to Edmonton so I could go to a “real” school for my last year. There, I was decidedly average, and I am glad I had this experience to knock me back into my place. Back in the real world, I find the average population is somewhat closer to my small town student population, but I know the truly intelligent ones are out there and it keeps me on my toes. I gravitate to these people and have incredibly enriching friends and colleagues as a result.

22. I have an IQ of apx. 140 and I almost applied to Mensa when I was stuck inside after breaking my leg last year. I paid and ordered the initial package, but I didn’t take the test because I decided it was kind of vain. That, and I was secretly terrified I wouldn’t qualify. I prefer to live in a world where I am just too good for them, so I never have to face that possibility.

23. I really, really, really like candy of all kinds. Especially ones from when I was a kid, like 5 cent bins, lik-m-aid fun dip, and lotsa fizz strips.

24. I hate memes, but I haven’t been blogging lately so I feel like I owe it to everyone

25. I believe that you can also do anything you want to do if you decide you’re going to do it, and I’ll support you in any way that I can in getting you there

(all photos by the super talented Tracey Heppner, our dear friend and second shooter when Erin doesn’t snag her first

I’m still in some form of awe over Indie I Do this past weekend. Together with our friends Andrea and Rob over at Lotus Events we put on what I can honestly say is – to me – the best damn wedding event that this city has ever seen. Billed as Vancouver’s first alternative wedding show we brought together over 30 of the area’s local, independent, edgy vendors for an event like no other. We wanted to show that there are alternatives to frilly and white, and whether you’re a totally off beat couple, a same sex pair, or even a tradtional bride looking to add a touch of something different to a more conventional affair that there are options.

All told, we had over 700 people through the doors including a lineup down the block before we opened. The raves and reviews have been tremendous both from vendors and from attendees. There is no question that this has been a long time coming in this city.

And, today, we’re already finalizing the date for 2010 to get the booking organized before olympic fever takes over every venue around.

We received a tonne of press including most notably an article in the Globe and Mail, a great piece on CBC Radio (listen to that here), and a piece on Shaw TV (which I’ll post when I get it from the producers). It was a lot of work but it was a lot of fun.

The roles were roughly divided between making the show actually happen (get vendors to apply, get space, find cute burlesque girls, organize the details of actually making the show occur) – this was Lotus Events – and making sure people knew about and could find out about the event (website design, advertising and marketing campaigns, PR and media, tickets, press packs, interviews) – and this was what we did. And, seeing as I’m a self described marketing junkie, I had a tonne of fun doing it, too.

This is probably the worst review ever, but I think all of you have seen the pictures (facebook) and have checked out the site so already know all about it. I’m still recovering and getting back to regular life, but I just wanted to share how thrilled and happy I am. It is really really awesome when you pour yourself into doing something and it works, nevermind when it works so damn well.

*We DID that!* Nothing is quite so gratifying as to make things happen, no matter how big or small.

xoxo!

Dear Photographer,

Nice work but it’s awfully unfortunate that you can’t write your own content. Please do not steal our words – changing a few things and calling it your own hurts, and is dishonest. It feels like you spit on my shoe.

Go be your own person. It’s sad that you have to copy from us.

Love,

Miranda & Reilly

** update: This photographer has emailed us and updated her sites, and has apologized for her actions. Other than the screenshot, I’ve update my post to dissuade Google from continuing to show this post rather than her site as the first site returned on a search for her company name.

Best of 604, originally uploaded by Raul P.

Blue Olive took third place for Vancouver Photography site!

Not quite the first or second that I’d hoped for, but as many of our friends also placed third in their respective categories we’ve decided that third is clearly the best place to be

Thanks for everyone who voted for us!