Playlist: The Break Up

Hi Ladies & Gents,

I've made you a mixed tape! I decided to add another feature/category to The Speakeasy called {record} play the list. I thought it'd be fun to have themed playlists.

Have a listen to the Playlist on the right sidebar and let me know what you think. I take requests! As always, I love to hear your feedback and news.

Yours truly,
ae

THE BREAK UP

Domestic Bliss

Images: W Magazine

"There’s a debate in our culture about what really makes us happy, which is summarized by, on the one hand, the book “On the Road” and, on the other, the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The former celebrates the life of freedom and adventure. The latter celebrates roots and connections.

Research over the past thirty years makes it clear that what the inner mind really wants is connection.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” was right."

- How the new sciences of human nature can help make sense of life by David Brooks, The New Yorker

Egypt Cries Freedom

Egypt: Today is day 5 of the protests in what has become the largest uprising in three decades. You have to watch this...




Image: Totallycoolpix

Wise Guy

Images: Ryan Gosling

"…men walk past each other, they pass each other without looking. Or then they stalk a woman. A woman is standing there and four men direct their steps more or less toward the spot where the woman is standing. It occurred to me that I can never make a woman in any other way than motionless, and a man always striding; when I model a woman, then motionless; a man, always walking. It’s the totality of this life that I want to reproduce in everything I do."

— Alberto Giacometti in discussing his bronze “Places.”

This morning I was brushing the snow off my car when a random stranger began belting out a serenade to me from his balcony.

This is what a lot of men do.

You're writing your life's work at a coffee shop and some wise guy asks for your number. You get on an elevator at a hospital and some funny romeo offers you a lame one-liner. You're late for work and some clown decides he's going to serenade you.

Yes, it's flattering and funny. But it's also incessantly annoying. I have a life and men who weasel their way into my day are not part of it.

When my morning jester's musical number was met with my mediocre response he chivalrously called down, "What, no response? Nothing?! Aw, c'mon. Where you going anyway, honey?"

Charming.

I couldn't have been more disinterested in the cute-wise-guy romeo who steps out onto his balcony barefoot in the middle of winter to sing to pretty strangers who are obviously on their way to somewhere. But I realised, many women would have been charmed. He was being charming. There was a definite appeal to him - he was spontaneous and cute and funny and not half-bad as a singer.

I'm quirky and bohemian and I like doing stupid/silly things that have nothing to do with seriousness. But when you get right down to the heart of it, I want a gentleman. I am most attracted to a well-dressed, well-mannered man of integrity and talent who is able to carry himself in serious conversation and tell witty jokes in equal measure. If he manages to have some musical ability, all the better.

But I realised this morning that what I want is a man. A real man. And real men have somewhere to be on a Friday morning that doesn't include clowning around on balconies for pretty passing strangers.

I know Ryan Gosling managed to get the girl in The Notebook fellas, but you're not Ryan. And this isn't a movie. And if your ex-girlfriends ever forced you to sit through the movie, you'd know that Ryan was actually very romantic and dead serious.

In other words, gentlemen need only apply. So beat it, wise guy!

Punk Rock

Image: Egypt Protests

Possibly the most punk rock moment of the century.

RESPECT to this anarchist in Egypt who hurled himself into a crowd of military riot police and was likely beaten and arrested for it.

This guy is Jesus. He did it for us. He did it for freedom. And he's a motherfucking God for it.

Join a revolution at least once. Give a damn about something. Protest anything. Fight for your freedom. Stand up for what you want.

Don't surrender to your boss. Never listen to your parents. Ignore your best friend. And fuck your boyfriend. They're all full of shit.

Be bad-ass. Be yourself. Live your life and to hell with the rest and consequence.

To Egypt: Power to the people. Fight the fight for your political freedom. Long live democracy.

To the Virgin Radio 106.9 host who quit this morning with a rebel yell: Fuck yeah! That was punk rock. Long live The Bear!

To You (you know who you are): You always loved my passion and admired my anarchy. I could be a pacifist and give you what you want, but I won't. I'm going to pay you back in kind and let you reap what you sow.

And to the rest of You: Know your rights. You've many. Always go out with a rebel yell.

A Gentleman's Goodbye

Image: Elizabethtown via The Always Gentleman

Reblogged from The Always Gentleman

How do you say goodbye?

I’m the type of person who just doesn’t let anyone in his life because I really hate seeing people walk away or just lose communication. I actually don’t do goodbyes, you’ll just realize that I’m not there anymore.

So I guess that’s just the way it will go. I just received some news concerning my health. It has reached to that point where I had to make some decisions. Haven’t slept for a day thinking of what to say.

So yeah like I said I really am crappy at goodbyes haha I’ll leave with what my grandfather told me before he died:

The word impossible should never exist in your life. Treat everyone with respect. Love only one girl and even through the bad times stay with each other, show her that your love is forever. Smile whatever you’re going through. Be well mannered and well dressed. Have Love and Hope in your heart, always.

Michael

For those of you who haven't been following... in a twist of fate, The Always Gentleman (Michael) survived a motorcycle crash a few weeks ago only to discover he was dying of cancer.

He is only 23 years old.

From his latest blog post, things are looking bleak. Michael hasn't much time left. And yet, even as he walks in the shadow of death, The Always Gentleman demonstrates more strength and courage than any man I've ever met - save one. The man is a marvel.

I send you love, Michael. Love.

... I miss you like crazy, Nanu. My grandfather was a brave soul. I am still in awe of him.

"So you failed. Alright you really failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You think I care about that? I do understand. You wanna be really great? Then have the courage to fail big and stick around. Make them wonder why you're still smiling."

- Kirsten Dunst, Elizabethtown

Here And Now

Image: Chagrin

13 billion years ago, the universe came into being with fire. It took the time between then and now to make you exist. But now is where you exist. And where I exist. And we can only ever exist in this way this once before we are never more.

What we make of our passion, our love, our fire is the only trace that proves we exist.

You are what makes me matter. Here and now and ever.

Never Say Never

Image: Steven Spielberg's An American Tail

When I was a little girl, I was enthralled by the story of the little Russian immigrant mouse Fievel, who bravely journeys West to New York City on a lonely and seemingly hopeless quest in search of his missing family. Fievel is afraid he will never find them and sings this little song, "Never Say Never" that helps him to believe.

Somehow at the age of 5, I connected to this story. Maybe I knew it would be significant to my life. Everyone remembers a miniature 5 year old me singing, "Never Say Never" over and over and over again.

Children are remarkable little beings with innocent hearts that bleed and believe. If you pay attention, you can almost see the grown up person he or she will become. Because they already are. And if you pay attention to their remarkable interests and individualistic personalities, you can glimpse the significance any child will become.

As I grew older, I forgot all about Fievel and his little quest but something about his message stayed with me. It sometimes seems my whole life has been about finding family. Every now and then when I stumble upon the word "never" I remember the little mouse Fievel. And after all these years, I never can say never. I still believe.

Umbrellas

Image: Paisleytreepress

If I had a backyard and it was summer right now, I would make this outdoor umbrella chandelier for a summer party.

I love doing things like that.

Chocolate Marshmallow Cake

Image: Fine Cooking

I am craving this sinful looking chocolate marshmallow cake.

Someone quick! Bake it and invite me over.

Adorable

Image: Sister|BrotherStyle

We match!

What I'm wearing today is a grown-up version of this little girl's outfit. We could be in a mommy & me feature!

She is super adorable. Those fringed boots! I'm melting.

The Tide

Image: Devenirgris

“She is like the tide, she comes and she goes, she runs to me as in this stupendous photographic image. In my poor and tormented youth, I had always dreamed of this woman. And now when this dream occasionally returns, I extend my arm and she is here… by my side. If you have not met or known her, you have lost much in life.”

- Richard Burton wrote that on the back of this photograph of Elizabeth Taylor running towards him.

Absolutely No Regrets

Image: La Vie Boston

"I feel like men are more romantic than women. When we get married we marry, like, one girl, 'cause we're resistant the whole way until we meet one girl and we think I'd be an idiot if I didn't marry this girl she's so great. But it seems like girls get to a place where they just kinda pick the best option... 'Oh he's got a good job.' I mean they spend their whole life looking for Prince Charming and then they marry the guy who's got a good job and is gonna stick around."

- Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine

I watched Blue Valentine tonight. The horror movie love story begs the question: Where does love go?

My answer: Where it exists in the first place.

The best decision I ever made was calling off my engagement.
I was settling. He was enabling. I loved my fiance, but I wasn't in love with him.

I'd never been more terrified or alone.

Thankfully, I believed we both deserved more. I hoped there was more. And what can I say - I'm a brazen girl.

For once, I was right. I have absolutely no regrets.


Image: Bohemea

Tiramisu Pancakes

Image: Tiramisu pancakes reblogged from Ivory Hut

Breakfast for dessert. Yum!

For the pancakes:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder, slightly rounded, sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
a generous pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cups sour cream
3 large eggs
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons instant coffee

For the glaze (optional):
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons softened butter
2 tablespoons coffee liqueur

For the cream:
4 oz. mascarpone cheese
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons coffee liqueur
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions:

Start by preparing the cream and the glaze. For the cream, beat all ingredients together and whip until you have soft peaks. Set aside in the refrigerator. (Tip: this cream tastes amazing, and is what really makes these pancakes. If you like generous amounts of cream on your pancakes, you might want to make a double portion.) The glaze is optional, but very, very (and I mean very) good. Simply combine the ingredients well. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure the cocoa powder is well sifted, so that it will dissolve evenly.

In a separate bowl, combine the milk and sour cream until smooth (it helps to slowly dilute the sour cream with the milk while whisking, which reduces the chances of clumps). Add the instant coffee powder and mix well until dissolved. Whisk in the eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until you have a slightly lumpy batter but without any large clumps of flour. If batter is a little runny, add a tablespoon or two of flour.I like to transfer my batter to a measuring cup or something else with a spout, for easier cooking.

Let the batter sit while you preheat your griddle. When griddle is hot, drop batter in portions desired (1/4 cup for regular-sized pancakes) onto the greased griddle. When bubbles come up and edges look cooked, gently flip to cook the other side. Once pancakes are cooked, transfer to a plate.

To serve, dollop a generous amount of the cream in between layers of pancakes. Top with more cream, and then top with shaved chocolate, or a light dusting of sifted cocoa powder.

Serve with extra cream and/or glaze on the side for dipping. A bonus: these pancakes taste amazing even when cold.

(Recipe serves 5)

The Object of His Obsession

Image: Flikr

It's an old folktale.

A man becomes infatuated with a very beautiful woman. He pursues her until she agrees to marry him. She cautions him to never question why she wears the ribbon around her neck. He agrees - he'd agree to anything to be with her.

Until one night, when he lies awake in the dark marvelling at her mysterious beauty. His curiosity consumes him. He is obsessed. On impulse, he wakes her. He persists until she is overcome. She allows him to tug at the tie.

You already know what happens.

As the ribbon unwinds, the truth unfolds. Her head falls off. The woman comes undone.

His obsession unravels her beauty.

Smokin'

Image: Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Love that licks and crackles... Smokin' hot.

A Gentleman

So you know I’ve been undergoing treatment and reblog this until I get better so we can all do something positive out of this situation! Thanks for the support everyone. I appreciate it. Thank you.

Reblogged from: The Always Gentleman

The Always Gentleman

Image: The Always Gentleman

Reblogged from: The Always Gentleman

This story touched me. I'm a fan of The Always Gentleman and I sent him a note and prayer. I hope you send him some of your love...

Hello

After a week of questions, encouragements and everything. I think its time to clearly tell you guys what I need to say.

January 6 I was riding my motorcycle and a car decided to overtake on the oncoming lane and collided with my bike. I was fortunate enough to be wearing my full gear. I left the accident without any grave external injury. The doctors still insisted that I get tests and scans done to see if I broke any bones or had internal bleeding. In the night of January 6, after the tests and scans, I arrived in the hospital with no major injuries but I was a 23 year old that walked out with cancer.

The doctors have been honest with me to say that the only reason they’re optimistic is that I am young and that they are willing to put me under severe treatment and higher dosage of medication to cure it but it will also come with the risk of killing me. Cancer is spreading at an alarming rate, it is a deceptive and deadly disease. I am doing my best in prevailing over it. Even so, we have to accept that this is a part of life that I have to face that’s why I said I may not be coming back. We now know the cause and its effect and the two different kinds of results that we can get.

Thank you for the encouragement, prayers and wishes of good health. Thank you for reaching out and supporting this stranger. I am forever grateful and humbled to what everyone has done for me and you are always in my thoughts and in my heart. The outcome may not be what we want it to be, but I already owe you all so much. You guys know who you are Thank you for that with all my heart.

- The Always Gentleman

What The Always Gentleman said when he found out he had cancer: "Fuck cancer."

Remarkable!

He seems so very brave. He reminds me of my grandfather. I've lost many family members to cancer and... it's not so easy to be brave. It's easy to feel defeated. But this man is no ordinary man. He is always the gentleman.

I hope his story becomes a blessing in disguise.

Hoax

Correction.

Your sign hasn't changed. My favourite astrologer (because she's so accurate), Susan Miller claims the new method
doesn't work. According to Miller, the planets - not the constellations are what matter.

There is no new 13th sign "Ophiuchus". And your sun sign is not changing.

The Road

Image: open road

"A pain stabbed my heart, as it did every time I saw a girl I loved who was going the opposite direction in this too-big world." - Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Ours is a road. It is scattered with goodbye.

At some point you realise you've gone too far. You have to go in a different direction. The only possible thing left for you to do is to stop. To leave the person you love alone and go another way. Not because you're giving up. Not because you don't want to try. You have to draw the line. Deep down you know what is truly yours, would be yours. And what is not, no matter how hard you try, would never be.

And with that realisation, I drew a line and I buried the father I never had. The father he never wanted to be. And years later I drew another line and I sent my lover away. The lover I never had. The lover he never wanted to be.

We don't belong to people. We belong with people. You belong with the people who want to belong with you. You begin where they end. You end where they begin. There are no dividing lines. There are no exit signs. Just an open road.

Falling in love and being in love are not the same thing. Are you capable of real love? Or do you hurt and fear too much? Letting people go is easy. Anyone can do it. Letting them in is harder. Not everyone is capable. Establishing an unshakeable unbreakeable connection is hardest of all.

You always hurt the one you love. The one you shouldn't hurt at all. Because you love them most of all. And the people who love you, who belong with you, they never leave you. They travel with you. If they leave, they never loved. If you never loved, you leave.

If it's real, when you get to the crossroad you stay together. Your love is enough.

Hotel Versailles

Image: Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette

Live as a courtier! The Palace of Versailles is about to become a 5-star luxury hotel.

The original Hotel du Grand Controle was built in the 1680's to house King Louis XIV's treasurer. It was evacuated during the French Revolution and fell into disrepair.

The now dilapidated mansion will be restored by Belgium hotelerie Ivy International, to become the Hotel de l'Orangerie. The project will be complete in January 2012 and feature 23 luxurious rooms where guests can live as courtiers did some 300 years before.

I can see it now: modern-day guest/courtiers sipping champagne, nibbling macrons, and strolling the gardens of Versailles en vogue with iphones and Blackberries in anticipation of the night's masquerade ball.

Oh la la!

Yellow

Images: Domino & micasaessucasa

Classy Queen

A violin cover of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. This must be the closest a violin has come to being shred.

Nameless

Image: Breakfast at Tiffany's

"Did I tell you how divinely and utterly happy I am?"
- Miss Holly Golightly, Breakfast at Tiffany's

Hate/Love

Watch this.

See, "That" guy? The "I really hate that guy and how much does he make?" guy?

He's also the, "That guy... I love that guy!" guy?

Well, his name is Amiel Beausoleil. And he's an actor friend of mine based in Toronto who landed a spot in this super cool short film entitled, "Hate/Love" by Leo Burnett.

The short opened for the 2010 Advertising and Design Club of Canada (ADCC) Awards and is about love for when things are going well, and hate, when they aren't.

Sound familiar? I have a few of those hate/love relationship days... Am i alone?!

Show Amiel and the ADCC some love and support local art... Like Hate/Love on Youtube.