Destination Vancouver, BC

Finding my Birkin, it is going to be difficult, I will feel stress, but I will never give up on Hermes. You can call me Miss. Sherlock Hermes; was this title inspirational, yes. If you love fashion as much as I do you would know that this is not only a book but it is also the most exclusive hand bag in the world and not only
do I want one...I want atleast five styles that I can call my one and only collection. Expensive, fabulous and unique; Hermes Birkin Handbags; its like finding love that you can call forever, literally forever, Birkin won't break, fade or even say good-bye, he is yours truly. <3 you. xo.

Bringing Home the Birkin (Older writing, before I left to go to Vancouver)

It's a time of a new year, as I sit at my favourite retreat in the entire world and look out the large window, sipping on a grande caramel macchiato and thinking this is exactly where I want to be. When I finally come back to reality, I realize that Im actually sitting in a chapters, looking out a dirty window at a town that I have lived in for the past 17 years and I think to myself, is this really where I want to be?

As I stare out the window, there is about a million things going on in that town but the one object I can not seem to take my eyes off is the no trespassing sign sitting in the middle of a frozen pond and it only wants to make me do the exact opposite, is it because its dangerous?...is it a risk?...or do I finally want to live my life without constant boundaries. I have never been on my own long enough to know the true meaning of'alone', I have been living a safe life with money, shelter and protection, therefore, I haven't left.

The most common word in my life is most likely the second most commonly used phrase in the world; good-bye. When I was sixteen, it started, when I was eighteen, it happened, and when I was twenty one, it changed the meaning of good-bye forever. Now, at the age of twenty three, it has once again been used...and I have had enough. So this time, I am the one saying good-bye, not to a person, but to a number of people and a town that has only ever been home to me; I am too comfortable here and I have let too many people go without a word being said except good-bye and their response..."you'll be okay".

On Tuesday, I will be leaving this town, will I come back?...that't not the question I want to answer right now. I have learned to let life be and if it is meant to be, continue to let it go in that direction, you only live once is what I've been told and sadly, I've seen, felt and experienced it. So I will live like Audrey; Hepburn that is and get out of this small town to live in a city where I feel represents my self...by myself. To marry rich? ofcourse not...to find love?...never...or to feel free?...no but to be free.

mj.

Knight in shining croc.

I have come to realize that this title only directly relates to the black patent crocodile Dooney and Bourke handbag sitting at home in my closet than it does to any man in my life. D&B will wait until I get home, D&B won't be mad at me for leaving to Vancouver and it will most definitely not lie to me and leave me stranded to fend for myself on a joyous occasion. We have an agreement, a relationship that means more than any man has ever given to me because it compliments me, it doesn't bring me down and my handbag will always know that I will come back for it and I will not choose anyone else over it, not even a birkin.

My love life came to an abrupt halt today when I realized that the past year and a half has been a lie. Not only did I believe everything that I was told but I also took a dive "head first, fearless"...what a rude awakening it was to me when I realized that I made a huge mistake. Good thing it happened a month ago and I was already over it but what I don't understand is how can a person be so selfish? I will never be able to answer this question because I fell for a person who was; so does that mean I am a victim too or does it mean I am a person who cared too much about someone else and forgot about myself.; I actually lost myself. In the end the only word that comes to mind is betrayal; it is the only way I felt over the past couple of hours but I keep forgetting you warned me.

As I continue my journey, young and free I remember the past that has made me into the person I am today. I stay positive and always remember that the only people that matter are those who treat me right and I forget the ones that don’t. I believe that everything happens for a reason and the reason that this happened is because I encountered a case of wrong identity; he in fact was not my knight in shining armour. I don’t regret ever meeting him, since in my new life, I thrive on being positive so I believe that he has lead me on the path to something great. From now on I will only be inspired by fashion, people, art, music and culture by the way I see it, I will not interpret something or someone based on other opinions because everything in my life should be seen through my eyes; an individual, trying to make something of myself in a world filled with great opportunity.

So as I begin a new life in Vancouver I will devote my time to finding myself because I know that my knight in shining croc is out there waiting for me to find him to complete my perfect outfit...or even to complete me! Until then I will focus on my surroundings, grow within the company of choice and prove to myself that life on my own really isn’t so bad once you get your priorities in line. So for the next few days I will be travelling to Ajax, to do a major cleaning of my past to create a fabulous future for me, myself and I. Actually…let’s call it a tidy…not all of it was so bad, I reunited with a friend who I now realize I couldn’t live my future without and we vowed in the future to never touch a crack heads hand ever again, to smoke cigarettes (not really), to make a complete mess and chase pirates; in translation; have fun!

Knight in shining croc, was inspired by the one and only Marc Jacobs. I watched his show on the plane and his interview has taught me to see everything in my own perspective, have your own interpretations and be successful by simply being yourself and not being so concerned with if people like who you are or what you have done but to be happy and do your own thing. Thanks Marc.

mj.

Post Secrets.

This book was recommended to me by someone, a person who appreciates art, music and thoughts of others. I decided to head over to the Vancouver library this evening and see if I could find it...as I slowly flipped over each page I realized the secrets of people who by their decision sent in a post card to a man named "frank" who printed their secrets in this book.

Some I could relate to, others were funny, some sad and a large percentage of them were simply unbelieveable. The art work was fantastic and the idea was unique. If you are looking for inspiration, always look beyond your comfort zone because you never know what you could end up finding and it may help you to realize your secrets or that "I have given away all of my secrets...and I can feel so free"

mj.

Career Chop Suey.

Hello...Tory?... Tory Burch? that's all I kept thinking as I sorted through my suitcase, not in a neat and organized way because come on if you know me you would know I am not an organized and neat person when it comes to getting dressed. So after the mess was made, Tory, Marc, Theory and my Citizens reunited to create a fabulous outfit. "Perfect!" I would say so for a day in the city.

In the past week, Vancouver has been good to me, it has introduced me to yoga classes; hot, flow and yin, it has showed me that burberry rain boots are put to good use once you leave the boundaries of Toronto and that dreams can come true...one step at a time. I found myself in a confusing state today, something even the "chill out" classes of yoga couldn't save me. I've talked to various people, thought to myself and came to a conclusion; I will fly home. Why?...a lot of people have asked me, I thought you loved Vancouver?...Correct, I do LOVE Vancouver but I have one suitcase, no personal belongings and a car sitting at home, not wanting to be left behind while I go explore these new territories. Therefore, a whole week at home will cure this mass confusion going on in my head right?...

If I miss Vancouver, I will return but this time not alone, boxes of clothing will trail behind me with UPS and I will wait for them to arrive anticipating being able to put them in my brand new closet. On the other hand, Toronto is a great city too...right? I've lived in Toronto my entire life, well east of Toronto so technically I've never lived IN Toronto, so why am I judging a city based on living around it? Probably because I applied for jobs there for 6 months and got nothing...talk about feeling like a failure...no wonder I am so against it and jumped on the first plane I could to get to Vancouver.

So...I am going back to Toronto, this time with a much more positive attitude. Hey, if our relationship doesn't work out then I know Vancouver will be waiting for me with open arms and a trendy job. Believe that everything happens for a reason, if you get a chance;take it, if it changes your life; let it. Nobody said it was going to be easy, they just said that it would be worth it.

mj.

you can call it your own...

Anthropologie. Creative, artistic, elegant, vintage & individual...the one of the kind store that has characterized their store to the country it is located in. What else can a fashionista ask for in a store; with the exception of low prices and an abundance of sale racks?
Thank you Anthropologie for making my closet that much more interesting.

The Vanouver Way.

It rains here, is that so bad? So far rain is the only negative part of this city. I arrived in Vancouver Tuesday January 12 2010, why should I share the date with you, well because it’s the middle of winter in Canada and its raining. Warm temperatures, green grass, mountains in the distance and beaches all across the coast, this is what surrounds me; so why wouldn’t I stay?

I ventured around the city today, to Kits and UBC, it’s indescribable even for someone who likes to write, its potentially the best place for me to be. I had a feeling that my life was headed in this direction “west’” and the best part is this time it was for me. Inspiration, I’m always looking for through books, people, places and simple what I surround myself with, BC is one of the most beautiful cities in Canada, hence the license plates “beautiful British Columbia” they only speak the truth, honesty it s a great start to a relationship.

“Not tied down…maybe later” I found this quote on a Hollister t-shirt, lame, but it was a quote that I have been saying for years and never followed. I lived my life for everyone else except for myself, I was scared to live my own life and experience it alone. I believed in being independent, I believed in being strong, I believed in a lot of things that I didn’t actually do. Therefore, as I continued my tour through Vancouver, I realized MY life is the only thing I want to focus on and I discovered this because of some else, ironic?…maybe.

I introduced myself to a friend yesterday and again today, we had great conversation, epic food, and still as I sit here writing, am I laughing about all the crazy and ridiculous things we said to one another. I did say that I introduced myself, it was the first time we have seen each other in about 3 years, even those years ago we didn’t hang out, we simply just knew each other from school, it was a great feeling to have someone put so much effort into helping me out and taking interest in my life, those guys don’t exist anymore. Vancouver has opened my life to things I never knew existed, is it love or lust?…I guess we will find out as I continue the search to find my Birkin.

mj.