Five Crazy Things: Colour

Barbara: When the kids were young, they often asked me which was my favourite colour. (Maybe as subconscious wondering as to which was my favourite child.) My answer was always, “I don’t have a favourite colour because it depends on what the colour applies to.” (And, of course, I have no favourite child given that I love them both beyond measure, and which immeasurable measure is exactly equal.)

But we’ve talked a lot about meaningful colour here, so why not “crazy” it up? Okay, so which 5 colours have significant meaning for you? OR: pick five colours and let us know how they make you feel.

1. Yellow. Makes me happy. Obviously, the symbolic colour of light and sun. Uplifting. I have several rooms painted yellow. Love it.

2. Green. Makes me calm. Zens me out. I would say it’s my “favourite” colour in general, yet I don’t have any green rooms (yet), and very few green clothes (this could change). Nature, mmm.

3. Red. I love to wear red. I love the warm shade against my skin colour. I love the strength of it. I do have a room painted red and have not gotten tired of it (although my daughter tells me she has!).

4. Blue. Strangely, I think I don’t love blue. And yet, flowers, stones, water when blue, sky when blue, all inspire me. I want to stare at blue when I write. It’s possibility. I love blue jewelry (turquoise, moonstone), cobalt glass.

5. Brown. Okay, this is maybe the colour, if we can call it that, that I am most comfortable in: clothing, furniture, accessories. It flatters my colouring. But also for its nature (forgive the pun): branches, soil, sand, stone, wood, riverbed, spring (the season), and on and on. To me, brown is the root of beauty.

Deb:

1. I love green. My wedding ring is green. Emerald green is a favourite.

2. Turquoise is my ultimate favourite colour. I have always been drawn to its calm beauty.

3. Red is my power colour. I love wearing red. I think red flatters everyone. I adore using red accents with grey.

4. Mellow Yellow, the soft colour of butter is one of my favourite wall colours.

5. Black and white. I know, I know, not colours, but colours I live in and adore!

Five Crazy Things: Motifs

Barbara: A personal motif isn’t something I used to think much about. In fact, my thinking about motifs at all may have sprung from some of you mentioning your own, or asking about what mine might be. Lately, I’ve noticed that certain motifs come up all the time, in fact, and that they certainly reflect who I am and how I feel. I thought it would be a fun “Five Crazy Things” to list ours here.

When I say “motif”, I’m talking about a design feature or element that particularly appeals to you or resonates with you, or comes up again and again in your environment (like in your decorating, clothing, or jewelry). Obviously, if you do have a meaningful motif or motifs, it might just be one or two. So let’s call this 1-5 Crazy Things!

1. Leaves. The leaf pattern has come up again and again in my jewelry or clothing. I absolutely love the texture of the leaf and it’s sensual shape.

2. In the same theme: the Tree. Many years ago, Deb gave me a “tree of life” necklace, and it’s one of my favourite pieces. The meaningful shape of the tree—both in design and in life—with its branches reaching upward and its mirrored roots grounding it below makes me feel at peace.

3. The feather. The feather is a wishful, quiet, almost not-there symbol. Subtle, beautiful, serene.

4. Gem-stones. Amethyst, rose quartz, jade. Not fancy jewels, but smooth, decent, solid, talismans.

5. Stones. Especially beach stones. Again, for their simple, steady, speckled smoothness. Calm and solid. Evocative of holding the sun’s warmth and the coolness of night. Somehow, absolutely somehow, something quiet living inside.

Deb: I don’t know if it is just because we are friends or if it’s because we are both true Cancerians, but I share many of these with Barbara.

1. Certainly the stones I collect from everywhere I go and place in a lovely bowl at my bedside. Sometimes the cleaning lady puts earrings on top of it or a safety pin and it makes me mental. It’s not the catch-all bowl, for heavens sake, it’s my stones. Always makes me laugh when she does this. 

2. Moons and stars shaped jewelry. Since as young as I can remember this has been my precious theme.

3. Things that are 3’s, my lucky number. I have 3 jewelry and a 3 ring which I just got for Christmas.

4. Pinecones. I am besotted with them and use them a lot in my decorating. They speak to my surroundings. Along those lines, I also have a big collection of Canadiana china and glasswear, trays and tablecloths. I love them so much.

5. Stuffed animals. My darlings. I have one which I have had from birth and I gently touch him once in a while, as any more handling will lead to his demise. He is frail in stature but so strong in his soul.  I have many wonderful Steiff animals that I adore. Yes, I am that stuffed animal gal. They have deep meaning to me.

Five Crazy Things: Failed Resolutions

Barbara: We like to keep it positive here on the blog as much as possible, but it can also be fun to poke a little fun at ourselves from time to time. And what better time than the infamous resolutions time? Okay, so what 5 resolutions are you going to make this year that will definitely not last?

1. Meditate every day.

2. Get to the gym 3 times a week.

3. Get away from the computer at regular intervals.

4. No wheat.

5. Not resort to platitudes and clichés in my writing ever again.

Deb:

1. Sadly, number one just might be the same as Barb’s. Meditate every day! I live in hope!!!

2. Read more books on a regular basis!

3. Stop over-punctuating!!!

4. Rid myself of my ticks and twitches. Sit STILL!

5. That’s it, I think. I am happy with everything else!

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!! Have a great one xoxo

Five Crazy Things: Holiday Must-Haves

Barbara: Pick your favourite holiday (especially if you don’t celebrate Christmas), and answer this question: It wouldn’t be the holidays without… ?

1. Turkey.

2. Games.

3. Plates of sweets on every surface.

4. Family.

5. Cuddling around music/fire/blankets/books/movies.

Deb:

1. Turkey and Colin’s stuffing.

2. Leftovers for Boxing Day sandwiches (I think I love this more than the actual dinner).

3. Family and friends.

4. Reading new books and magazines the week between and listening to new music cuddled up!

5. Festive table settings and memories of Christmases past.

Five Crazy Things: Holiday Treats

Barbara: We’ve talked junk food and comfort food on our lists here, but holiday goodies are unto themselves, aren’t they? What are your favourite holiday sweets? (I should add that I mean any holiday treats, especially if you don't celebrate Christmas.)

1. Chocolate Rice Krispie squares.

2. Buttery shortbread.

3. Apricot squares.

4. Crackle.

5. Chocolate-caramel covered apples.

Deb: My friend Sandy is the super best baker ever! I get some of her frozen cookies every year and bake them! So...

1. Sandy’s Chocolate shortbread, almond wafers, gingerbread cutouts, buttery shortbread.

2. Chocolate/caramel apples by Treemendous Apples. We get them every year as favours for our guests when we entertain.

3. Rum and Eggnog with fresh grated nutmeg on top.

4. My friend Kathy’s snowball cookies.

5. My friend Carolyn’s cookies!!!

Five Crazy Things: Platitudes

Barbara: Okay, let’s face it, platitudes can be annoying. But they can also be cute and helpful and quick and easy… and true! Today, what are your five favourite platitudes or sayings (OR, conversely, what are the 5 platitudes you love to hate)? My current faves:

1. Be true to yourself.

2. Bird by bird (courtesy of Anne Lamott, which roughly translates to “one step at a time”).

3. Look around you.

4. Live in the now.

5. It’s better to be kind than right (courtesy of Deb).

Deb:

1. I also love "Bird by Bird" and use it all the time.

2. I don’t know who came up with that one actually. I think it is specifically: “Would you rather be right or kind?”

3. Stop and smell the roses

4. To thine own self be true.

5. Think before you speak. I work on this one, for sure! 

Five Crazy Things: Lazy Days

Barbara: Seeing as the holidays are fast upon us and that many of you just enjoyed a Thanksgiving long weekend and that I just enjoyed an extended holiday because my daughter and her boyfriend are home, what are your 5 favourite ways to loll about doing (or not doing, as the case may be) when family and food are the main focus?

1. The long walk (even in the cold).

2. Playing games (which my immediate family hates, but my extended family loves—well, some of them—so the holidays are my only chance to partake).

3. Listening to music (this might sound odd as, of course, we can listen to music any time, but strangely I only really listen to music when I’m in the car or working out. But when people are staying over, the music comes on—oh, and especially the live music, guitars and piano!—that listening to music is almost a sense-memory connection with being around loved ones).

4. Eating junk food (maybe the only time I indulge in “bad for you” treats like chips and cookies).

5. And, of course, chatting. Catching up, challenging each other with conundrums (“What would you do if you knew the world was going to end in 5 days?”, etc), sharing accomplishments and fears, just chatting.

Deb: Lovely one, Barb. And because we have been together with our little nuclear family these last months, I have been living some of these and I love it!

1. Playing games after dinner! We have been doing this with girl and boy and having such fun!

2. Talking and laughing around dinner prep. Some interesting info always comes up.

3. Yes, walking. Winter walking. I love love love winter walking.

4. I have music on a lot especially during dinner and I love it.

5. Dinner at the table with boy and girl every night. Candles, fireplace, music!

Five Crazy Things: Body Parts

Barbara: I’m going off-schedule this week—Five Crazy Things for today, longer blog post for tomorrow. Long story, but suffice to say, it’s better this way!

Okay, so body parts. I want to know what 5 things you love about your physical self today. Yes, 5! This may be super-easy for some of you (and we want to learn from you), but we all know now that confidence is more attractive than actual “perfection”. Let’s adopt some confidence today. And no provisos! (ie I love my nose, but it’s really long and pointy, so maybe I shouldn’t, or whatever). Today, we are all gorgeous!

1. My nose.

2. My feet (this probably would never have a proviso attached. Even on a bad day, I’ve always loved my feet).

3. My lower back dimples.

4. My lips.

5. My softer tummy (I used to covet the flat, flat tummy, and even while naturally thin, of course, could never achieve it. Today, I truly love the soft roundness of my older tummy. And, yes, I said “today”.)

Deb:

1. My eyes. Whenever my face is looking sleepy, I just look in my eyes and am happy.

2. My feet. I should have been a ballerina. My feet are great and I love them.

3. My eyelashes and eyebrows—Dark, long, dependable.

4. My hands—My mom's hands.

5. My knees—My Dad's knees.