Bliggity blog.
I just finished baking some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to bring into work tomorrow. The 80s version of the movie "Hair" was also on TV so I definitely danced around the kitchen as I was waiting for those suckers to cook. Why doesn't anyone do those wicked dance moves anymore, like the mashed potato?! I'm gonna bring it back!!
So I'm being a bad blogger lately because my blog is all over the place and I don't know what to do and consequently I'm doing nothing! Oops. I promise to try to sort this out soon. Ish.
I got a new apartment! Did I write about that yet? The current place I'm living in was only a 2 month sublet until the end of April, so I've recently found a new apartment which I'll be living in all by myself as of May 1. I am so, so excited. It's the cutest small old brick building, and the apartment itself has so much charm, beautiful hardwood floors, but it's been recently renovated so it's all new and lovely looking. Plus the apartment is a "junior 1-bedroom" so it'll be bigger than the bachelors I've been used to living in when I was living by myself in Montreal! Excited, excited!
Although, it's been really great living with a roommate. I will admit I'm going to miss it. I was all nervous and worried about living with someone else at first, but now it's pretty awesome to have someone always around to chat and gossip with, but still someone that you don't feel guilty about just leaving if you want to hang out in your room by yourself.
Our greatest roomie adventure this week was randomly deciding that we wanted to paint the apartment. Magda got this crazy idea, and I quickly latched on because I love decorating and even though I was not wild at first about the whole painting idea, she quickly assured me that everything would be wonderful with the addition of a little wine and some loud music. So we walked on a beautiful warm evening over to Walmart and looked at all those little paint chip samples, and decided to cover the current ugly lilac walls with a lovely neutral grown-up shade of "Sandstorm" and paint one feature wall in "Mystery Storm" - aka a lovely dark blue-grey. For the record, I would enjoy the job of naming paint. ANYWAY, a lot of paint and wine and tunes later, we have a brand new apartment and it's lovely!
But you know the best thing about having a roommate? Is that when she goes away for a week on vacation, the feeling of having the apartment all to yourself is all that much sweeter and even more awesome. Yes. Love it.
I have spent all of this post talking about apartment-related things. Nerd.
Labels: apartment, food, toronto
So I'm sort of holding off blogging until I have Tumblr up and running and designed properly... which I almost do. I'm hoping to have it up by the end of today!
But I have one more important difference between Montreal and Toronto to add:
- in Toronto, barely anyone smokes, compared to Montreal. In Montreal, walking down the street it's like every second person is holding a cigarette.
Also, yesterday Lyndsey asked me for recommendations for a good brunch spot in Montreal. I listed off about 5 of my favourites and then realised how much I miss that city already!!
Labels: food, montreal, toronto
Observations - T.O. vs MTL
So I've been here about a week and a half now, and I've got some observations on the differences between Toronto and Montreal.
- Montreal is definitely more the more charming city and feels more "European." I miss stumbling upon tree-lined squares and parks at every corner.
- Toronto feels more laid back and relaxed, not as pretentious or people-pleasing.
- Likewise, Toronto's fashion is more "street" and urban, more hipster and casually stylish, less designer and trend-conscious than Montreal.
- Montreal has a better system at bus stops where everyone lines up and boards the bus on a first-come first-served basis. In Toronto it can be a free-for-all.
- Toronto has defined city neighbourhoods, like Little Italy where I live. Or Kensington Market, or Cabbagetown, or the Annex, or Queen St West. And each neighbourhood has a distinct flair. (Okay, Montreal has its Plateau, and Mile End, and Westmount, etc. but the areas are certainly not as defined or as many.)
- Montreal is far better for purchasing alcohol. It can be found at the liquor store, the grocery store, the dep, the gas station, anywhere.
- Montreal has a giant park (Mont Royal), Toronto has expansive beaches (the Beaches, Woodbine).
I love both cities. Neither is better, both have their own appeal. And I'm so lucky that I get to live in both places! :)
Labels: montreal, toronto
I can see the CN Tower from my bedroom window.
And so I've arrived. Here I am living in Toronto. Since my train rolled into Union Station on Sunday afternoon, I've been having a lot of "WTF, I actually live in Toronto now?!" moments, but today it's sunk in a bit more and life feels more or less normal. Yeah, more or less. Minus a lot of things I miss from Montreal, but suffice it to say that I've learned that building a life in a new city takes a while! Everything will not be perfect right away! And so, I'm just enjoying this time exploring my new city and being on my own.
My first two days being here have been filled with a lot of errands and unpacking and settling down. I also had a job interview yesterday, which I think went really well - I left with the same feeling you have after you know you just aced a test, so I think that's a good sign! The weather has been undeniably gorgeous and sunny and it's been making me so happy. Yesterday I drank my morning coffee outside on a bench in the sunshine and the sun actually felt
warm against my body. Spring, spring, I can't wait to greet you! Spring is a time of change and new beginnings. It's funny how I always seem to make life changing decisions around springtime.
I'm loving that my apartment is situated right in Little Italy. There are so many adorable shops and restaurants lining College St. And the fact that the street car stops right outside my apartment is pretty fan-freaking-tastic too. I can also walk to the subway in about 10 minutes and that will take me anywhere! The whole roommate situation is taking a bit of getting used to. I'm so used to living on my own, or living with a boyfriend. I've never lived with a girl roommate before, and I'm feeling a strange combination of releasing control over my living space and acting on my best behaviour.
Oh! And I can't end my blog post without talking about my amazing sendoff in Montreal! At work on Friday, there was a "surprise" screening goodbye party in the afternoon, and we ate cake and I got a card, and it was very lovely. I felt appreciated and happy and shed a tear or two upon saying goodbye. After work, a bunch of us went out for what turned into an epic night - first it was 2 games of laser tag, during which I re-confirmed that I suck so bad but it's
so much fun! We then headed off to the pub to drink a couple beers (and tequila shots - oops) and watch the Canada Olympic hockey game. From there, I was feeling pretty jazzed and enthusiastically suggested we should go to a strip club! Took a little convincing but I lead the way, and off to the strip club we went! Then the night took a turn into titties, buckets of beers, and... lapdances? Yes, I had my first lapdance, and it was quite the uh, experience. Haha! Suffice it to say, that night, and the people I spent it with, was amazing.
And as a last tribute to Montreal, I love love love this
"Montreal in 2 Minutes" video. My old neighbourhood, the Plateau, is shown between 1:37 and 1:58. I think it perfectly captures how I feel about that amazing city. Watch and love it with me.
Labels: friends, montreal, moving, nightlife, toronto
