Ma, look what I made!

Summer Drive from Erin Stodola on Vimeo.

I want to work on more of my videos. This was a really fun project.

K-A-T-E Kate.

Though I shouldn't be, I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself these days. So, in an attempt to cheer myself up, a list of Why I Should Be Happy:

1. I got my museum job!
2. Cyril is coming back on Thursday!
3. The weather is gorgeous!
4. My sister is visiting!
5. I am babysitting a Canon Rebel for the weekend and I have officially fallen in love! Sorry Cyril.
6. This poor, baby deer is so cute!
"Dear Deer" by Kate Micucci (she played Stephanie Gooch on Scrubs)
Thanks to my brother for the introduction.








Cyril and I having fun at the laundromat.

Willy Wonka. Willy Wonka. The amazing chocolatier.

50th post. Nicely done.

I went on a wee vacation with the family, south to America, this past weekend. It's been a yearly thing for those that are able to go and I hadn't for at least 5, 6, 7? years so the highlights of Spokane in my mind up 'til this trip were the pool at the hotel, the hotel and Cyrus O'Leary's restaurant. This time I fell in love with the brick.





It was gorgeously sunny & warm. Some of the things I wore.


UO top, Target skirt (AA replica!), thrifted belt, watch & locket were gifts from my darling Granny.


AA skirt & tee, thrifted belt, H&M flats & shades, necklace made by Caroline (who I miss a lot!)

Know who else I miss a lot? Cyril.
My Swiss guy has been back in the motherland for 23 days now! Cyril, I think that's enough now. Canada wants you back. Oh and me too, just a little bit.

Animal crackers in my soup. Monkeys and tigers loop the loop.

Let's talk about shoes.

I love those words. But not today. I spent the weekend searching Spokane, Washington for my summer sandals. Which are nowhere to be found. Seemingly. Seemingly, because last summer when I was stupidly, duh, not looking for sandals, this style was all ovah thuh place and now it's only: gladiators. Contrary to popular taste at the moment, I hate gladiator sandals. I hate the way they look and I especially hate the way they look on me. So, what's the deal, yo?

Here are the cousins, if you will, of my perfect sandals:



Here in a size 7, boo.



Here in a size 5.5, extra boo.

Wanna hear another sandal sob story? Yeah you do.

All of this winter I came across so many of these babies (pictured below) that I thought, sensibly, nah, I will wait until I come close to needing them. And you really think I can find any now? Also, I can say with total certainty that my mum had a pair of these not too long ago that have since disappeared or been trashed. Is it weird if I cry just a little bit?



Here in size 7, again.



Here in size 7.5 (maaaaaybe).

Shoes, really, where's the love?

STV in English

As a Part II to my last post, the STV issue clarified by my dear friend Jeremy.

"So the two things it changes are:

1.

-In First Past The Post (FPTP) only one person can win a seat in the Legislative Assembly. Its not majoritive in that one does not need 50%+1 of the vote to win, it is a plurality, where the person with the most number of votes wins. This means there could be 5 people running, and if 3 get 20%, 1 person gets 19% and one person gets 21%, the last guy wins, even though 79% of people wanted someone else.

- STV gives the voter the ability to rank candidates, instead of choosing one. This means that if there are again 5 people running, you would write 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 beside their names, instead of just giving one X.

- This means that There will be somebody who has the most No. 1 spots, but there might be someone who gets more No. 2 spots than everyone else. There will also be someone who gets more No. 3 spots than everyone else. However, the person with the most No. 3 spots might also have had more No. 2 spots than the person with the most No. 1 spots.

This is confusing, but essentially it makes it so someone has to get at least 20% of the No. 1 spots, as well as 20% of the No. 2 or 3 spots in order to get elected.

So what does this mean?

It leads me to the second big change that would happen:


2. In BC there are currently 85 ridings, or constituencies. Each riding gets 1 MLA or representative.

- STV would break BC into 20 or so ginormous ridings, instead of the current 85

- Because there are fewer ridings, each riding would get 3 or 4 seats in the legislature.

- This means that the people who had the most No. 2 and No. 3 spots, mentioned earlier, would get a seat in the House

- This means that in one riding, say the Okanagan Valley and West Kootneys (all lumped together) there could be a Liberal, NDP and Green member elected


So what does all this mean?

1. The idea of locally representative government disappears because the ridings become huge, and there are multiple members in each riding

2. It means that a party that gets 12% of the popular vote (as the Green did in the last election) would get 12% of the seats in the Legislature

3. It brings an end to majoritative government in BC where either the Liberals have 50% + 1 seats or the NDP do, as we see an increase in Green membership, and maybe even more radical parties or independents. Essentially permanent Minority Government, but with the possibility for Coalition governments of multiple parties.


So there's a Poli 100 class in a nut shell. I think its awesome because local representatives on the provincial stage don't do much any more, considering all Education, Health, Crime and Welfare are province wide concerns. Also, having the most number of votes doesn't make them the most popular, and this gives rise to people who were everyone's second choice, and thus better for everyone."

Jeremy is hella smart, guys.

I voted.

That's right, it's voting day.
You know what to do, British Columbians. Be cool, like me, and you will get a sticker!





My voting outfit.
Actually it's not so much a "voting outfit" as a "this is what I had on when I went to go vote outfit".

Red Primark jumper, thrifted cardi, Uniqlo trousers, H&M kicks, necklace from my mum & dad.

When I was young, my family used to say that who you voted for was a secret. So, instead of asking: "who did you vote for?" I would ask: "are you happy about who won?" And would think myself very clever indeed for finding out who they voted for depending on their answer. But now they just tell me when I ask the first question.

I can't get no, I can't get no, I can't get no JOB.

Job: I really thought I had it with that last one, people. But due to some technical difficulties on their part, I was just advised "to find another job". On the bright side, because she put it quite like that, I like to think: were they not experiencing technical difficulties, I would be hired!

So, whatevz, y'all.
I shall give you some gloomy pictures now.









At our Mother's Day dinner last night in America at our (second) favorite Mexican restaurant, after ordering beer I thought "oh no! Am I old enough for this sort of thing here? Oh yes, I am in the clear" and then I liked it because I won't be able to have those moments of am-I-old-enough for anything one of these days. And it makes me feel like a fresh little baby.

We're not going to believe Mr Shamboozle this time.

Another interview outfit. Hopefully this will be the winner. The job. Not the outfit. The job. O rly?
I had (have) on navy/black nail polish and I wasn't sure if that is an interview etiquette no-no or non, so I left it. None of them shook my hand, though, so I suppose they didn't see its ravishing dark beauty. But it's a bad thing to not shake hands, right?



Skirt: AA, cardi & tights: H&M, belt & blouse: thrifted.



I know you can't see the outfit, like, totally at all, but you know, it's, like, art.
Actually, I just haven't found the money shot of all self-timer shot locations in and around my house. There shall be experimenting.

Clap your hands say yeah hello how are you?

I moved back to the desert (only desert in Canada, thx) to pile on the sweaters & slippers and dream of soup in the rain. What?



This is from a few weeks ago, but I thought I'd share. Because. I can.
I wore this to our new favorite thrift store in Vancouver where a cute photographer asked me to be in the Street Stylin' portion of this magazine! I'm kind of (really!) excited. My attempt at a nonchalant "this happens to me all the time".

Blouse, belt & shoes: thrifted, skirt: H&M, earrings: gift from my mum.

A date with many blankets and Russel Brand's Booky Wook is well in order. Cheerio loves.

Plumes et Prises de bec

If you should feel a little tummy-grumble arise or you just feel like looking at some FOOD, why not take a look at what Missus Mustard has got cooking up in the kitchen these days. I am updating it fairly often these days; my food photos are scratching at their folders waiting to get out. Let them be free!



I wore this to an interview this afternoon. Fyi, I think it went well.



Jeans: Uniqlo, blouse & belt: thrifted, shoes: Wal-Mart.

I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow and still can't decide whether I want blunt or side-swept bangs... the decisions I am faced with!

And replay and replay and replay.

A little something before I turn in.
So's ya still know I'm alive.

(Am just settling down after moving back home for the summer.)

Our Version of a Wicked Dance Party


Cyril & Caroline
(Of the famous shoe-giver/jewelry-maker variety of Caroline!)
I have added a new "made by Caroline" tag, so you can check out her creations more easily.


Cyril & I.

We are silly people.

On him: shirt: thrifted, jeans: H&M.
Oh her: dress: thrifted, tights: Coop (of Switzerland). I'm also wearing a necklace made by Caroline, but I'm too busy groovin' in this photo for modeling.

The Cs are possibly going to scold me for this.