pearl.

Growing up, I remember having a reading list during summer vacation of books I was required to read before the prior school year.

Even though I loved to read, I detested not being able to choose what books I wanted.

The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I required to read several historical fiction books in preparation for my AP European History class. I also was required to buy my textbook so I could highlight and make notes in it like a real university student.

I remember getting required books and starting to flip through the pages of the text. I was captivated by the photos - especially of the European art we would be studying in context to the various time periods.

One of the photos in the textbook was the same as the one on a historical novel - The Girl with a Pearl Earring. I had never heard of Vermeer and had no interest in learning more about Holland. But for whatever reason, this image of the turban-clad girl with the piercing eyes struck me.

I started reading Tracy Chevalier's fictional novel of the same title, and absolutely fell in love with the text. To this day, Girl with a Pearl Earring is still my favourite book.

Little did I know that about five years later, I would come across Vermeer again in an art history class during university. Our final essay assignment was to analyze and study every angle about a piece of art we had discussed during the semester, and I immediately know what I would do.

My study of Girl with a Pearl Earring had me running around Toronto to paint stores studying the pigments and other colours used for the piece, slipping into the University of Toronto's main library to access their expansive art history book collection and writing over 2,000 words about the mysterious girl.

My friends have even gotten into it. I've received cards, books and little quotes all reflecting elements of The Girl with a Pearl Earring. 

As I start to compile my reading list for the rest of the summer, I'm grabbing as many books as I can that I haven't read. However, I stumbled across my original copy of Girl with a Pearl Earring from all those years ago and knew it was time to fall back in love with the story again.

gatsby.

"It was only a sunny smile,

and little it cost in giving,

but like the morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living"

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

commit.

Is there anything better than waking up to no commitments?

No work, no school, no alarms.

Usually this is a type of luxury reserved for the odd Sunday or even a vacation away for me. Growing up in a family of five people and two dogs, minus Christmas Day, someone is always up early for whatever their day is bringing them.

Living in residence and now in an apartment with roommates is very similar. True, we aren't all functioning as a proper family, but we're still aware and cautious about each other's schedules.

There's also the part of me that is very carpe diem, and believes sleep is for the dead. We're young, free and allowed to do whatever we want. why waste it on sleep?

Welcome to reading week, where every night is Saturday, the sun is shining and for the first time, I'm completely free of midterms, essays and commitments. This week is open (minus a few things I have to do, because I finally have the time) but that's just it - here's the time that we've been given to catch up on because we've been out doing other things instead of sleeping for the past seven weeks.

Carpe diem indeed. Time to sip coffee, watch a few episodes of Sex and the City and spend long, luxurious hours reading in coffee shops and window shopping.

When your everyday is full of high energy activities, these quieter ones can feel like an adventure all on their own.

I leave you with one of the chillest songs I've found lately: Fleet Foxes cover Robyn's "Dancing on my Own" below (check out their cover of Lykke Li's "Little Bit" as well)

windows.

Take a moment each day if you can to look out the window at the passing world. You never know what treasures you may catch and the beauty that lies on the other side if you don't have a look.

Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend!

lipstick.

I've been a Kate Spade girl my whole life.

I remember holding my mother's hand while she carried the classic striped purses (both real and not-so-much), and must have looked like we were walking within the ads. The Grant Avenue store in downtown San Francisco is my mecca - white crown moulding, bright colours and perfectly-manicured saleswomen. It is a throwback back to when ladies used to really dress for the day, wear gloves and never smeared their lipstick.

I know perfection isn't always possible, but Kate Spade is pretty darn close to it for me.

That's why I'm over the moon excited about their new collection. Being a writer and English literature enthusiast, I almost flipped when I saw their new book clutches. I'm trying to figure out how to get my hands on one of these lovelies (preferably the Romeo and Juliet one, hint, hint).