Hibernation

Winter! Just when you think it's over...

Snow Trees by thepolyvorina

Everything gets covered in snow and ice.

I tend to go into hibernation mode in the winter. I try to go out only when it's absolutely necessary. I work from home, so I can manage to not leave the house for weeks at a time if need be. But by this time of the year, I am going stir-crazy. Major cabin fever over here. I'm getting restless and the inside air is starting to suffocate me. I'm one ax away from being Jack in The Shining.

I yearn for summer. For the sun on my skin. For easy slip-on dresses and walks in the park. I even yearn for the blistering heat, the sticky sweat and the hair-frizzing humidity.

Turquoise Wanting by thepolyvorina

Summer Yearning by thepolyvorina

But then again, ask me how I feel at the end of summer.

Saved by a Ninja

I've mentioned my love of smoothies here before. I love them so much in fact that I broke my blender making one the other day. I thought I'd burn out the motor before actually using it so much that the base cracked right in half, but there you have it. Seven years of use will do that to a cheap $30 blender.

But no worries! Hakuna Matata! A ninja came to my rescue!

Ok, so the Mister  came to my rescue. But with  a ninja. 

A new Ninja blender that is.

I have to admit that I was a little disappointed to see him come home with a blender. When the Mister said he was bringing me a ninja to make my smoothies, I had great expectations.

This  Ninja is still pretty great though.

Absolutely satisfying my new-found need for green smoothies.

Green Smoothies by thepolyvorina

Now I suppose I'm more into being healthy-enough  than really healthy, so I thought it was a weird idea to put spinach in there too. Like why would I want  to do that? Spinach is good for me, sure, but if it tastes like I'm drinking spinach, I don't need to be that  healthy.

I'm happy to say it tastes nothing like spinach. At all! The flavor is really just of whatever other fruit is in there. Granted, I don't put in as much spinach as you are supposed to (4 cups?! Insert picture of Grumpy Cat here. He says "NO"). 

My basic recipe is a couple of ice cubes, a good handful of spinach, a banana, sometimes berries, and a healthy splash of orange juice. I use frozen spinach, but fresh baby spinach is better - make sure you chop it first, although I've never had issues with bits of spinach in my smoothies. I also use frozen fruit and sometimes fresh oranges instead of juice if I have them. Obviously don't include the peels. Or do, if you're into that kind of thing. Either way, if you've been thinking about trying green smoothies, I highly recommend them!

And RIP to my Black and Decker Crush Master.

Foggy Winter Morning

It's a foggy morning in Montreal!

Foggy Forest by thepolyvorina

I love fog and rainy weather. Some find it gloomy, but it makes me think of fairy tales.

Il était une fois... by thepolyvorina

Winter Fog by thepolyvorina

Right outside my window, there's a big mossy tree that's all gnarly branches. It's almost all I can see beyond the gray mist. That and the small glowing orbs of distant streetlights. The early morning light is giving everything a greenish tint.

It's all eerily beautiful.

Curated Likes

With all the image collecting sites out there, like Pinterest and Polyvore, you start to see a pattern in the things you like. Maybe it's rustic interiors or strawberry-based desserts or anything purple.

Well, turns out I like the mid-century modern aesthetic. Furniture and spaces with a strong minimalist Scandinavian influence and a sort of organic feel. I see it with warm woods, lots of plants, neutral colors with some mint-green and sky-blue. Lots of metallic accents, mirrors and windows to reflect natural light everywhere. I like to think it'd be like living as one with the outside natural world, only without the bugs.

And, you know, with electricity and toilets and all those other niceties not found in the natural world.

                        

My meager Polyvore sets cannot convey the simple elegance, but there are plenty of examples to see online. One of my favorites is the apartment of Alexis Stewart recently featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine (and on the website). The living room, playroom, bedroom and vanity are perfect displays of mid-century style.

REAL Winter

Is there any way to be stylish in winter?

Well, warm and stylish?

What I'd love to be wearing...

stylish winter by thepolyvorina

Wool blend coats are just about the only way to stay fashionable in cold weather. Unfortunately I live in extreme cold weather. I can only get away with even the thickest of wool blends for so long. And heels? In 3 feet of snow? You try it. And don't even get me started on the lack of decent winter accessories out there - ever seen a stylish tuque?

No, this is what I actually have to wear if I want to stay warm...

real winter by thepolyvorina

There's no hope.

Time to move to Vancouver (above 0° temperatures this week)!