April 30, 2012

Last day before Mexico! Got off work really early and had to get a few more things done. I was strollin' the Drive and walked by this beautiful street (Charles St.). Flower petals on the ground, pretty trees, and a flower shop! 

Also I'm not sure how posting pictures will go in the next little while. I'll do my best but won't have my computer with me - just my phone + wireless. So formatting might be a bit weird and pictures may be posted late if at all. Either way, I can fix everything and add things when I get back on home soil.

April 29, 2012

An apres-church breakfast feast...demolished.

April 28, 2012

Today I got a few things done (room-cleaning being one), and then worked at night. So by the time I got home, this is all I wanted to do with my Saturday night - watch Friends! And I feel great about it. I've seen every episode like, well, a lot. Season 3 and 8 were tonight's favourites.

April 27, 2012

Mexico prep definitely involves a manicure and a pedicure.

April 26, 2012

This is a public storage place. And I just kind of realized how creepy it looks!? 

I helped Cody, or rather my vehicle did, move his stuff to his storage locker. 

Also this place used to be a meat packing warehouse. Strange.

April 25, 2012

A very rainy sea bus commute from downtown to North Van. 

It was an absolutely miserable day in Vancouver today. Luckily I made good use of it by working 2 jobs.

(Come ooonnn Mexico)

April 24, 2012

Leaving for Mexico exactly one week from today! Tonight I had a team meeting with my fellow travelers to discuss some important trip details...like food/meal ideas, money, logistics, car rental stuff, potential activities, how many hoodies is too many, etc. It's been a long time coming but the trip is nearly here! Excitement!!!

April 23, 2012

Day off? Yes please! 

Went for lunch with Lauren to the Black Frog where Steam friend Neil Gillis now works! Tasty food, tasty beer.

April 22, 2012

It's my little brother's 19th birthday today and it breaks my heart that I'm not there. So this photo of the day is dedicated to him! 

April 21, 2012

Kathryn and Stacey's second appearance in one week! Amazing.

 K Gibb just finished exams tonight so we had a little celebration at our place of work (well, one of mine)/Steam-town. 

Friends are just the greatest.

April 20, 2012

I had a wonderful Friday. Worked for a few hours, visited Steamworks and saw some favourites of mine, went to the gym, took a walk down the Drive after the gym, ate sushi, and drove to Langley to visit Jenny Punnett to talk Mexico (in 10 days!). I feel like this adequately sums up my big city life. Always something to do, always somewhere to go, always friends to see. Gosh, I love this place.

This street is just off Commercial. It looked way cooler in real life because you could just see the outline of downtown beyond the trees, but the picture obviously doesn't show it. It looked like such a pretty and peaceful street in contrast to the bustling Commercial Drive you have to turn off of to be here.

April 19, 2012

Stovetop popcorn is an essential in the Mario household, and it has now become a staple in my household. My dad makes the best stovetop popcorn known to human kind. I'm not even kidding! (But perhaps I'm a tad biased) Just trying to make him proud ;)

April 18, 2012

Knitting, the perfect wind-down activity after a night at work. Though I feel like I'm definitely a minority in thinking it's a "great wind-down." ;-) This is going to be a warm cozy toque!

April 17, 2012

Good times with good friends! Awe they're so cute! (Stace, Lauren, Kathryn)

April 16, 2012

I believe it was one of my first photos-of-the-day and one of my first nanny days where I had a similar photo with K, except with rain boots. Today was my last day of nannying and it was a great one at that! Happy kids, Robert Munsch stories, sunny weather, and dancing to Abba. An organic and joyful ending. 

April 15, 2012

A LAME photo for today...oh well...

This walk to the seabus has become a staple in my every day life. It is quite the pretty walk, because on both sides are windows and as you can see, the view is pretty incredible...but this walkway is also a source of great irritation. When I'm running late and fearing missing the boat (like today) this concourse could not seem any longer.

April 14, 2012

A beautiful day to go for a run outside. Spring in Vancouver is seriously the most beautiful thing ever. This is also what I like to call allergy tunnel...

April 13, 2012

Well this is kind of cool! Walking down my street to the bus and I guess someone wanted to get rid of this painting (understandably) so they left it out front. It was kind of neat to see though.

Also...
I feel like I've been slacking lately and I got kind of disappointed in myself. I suppose I need to realize that if I'm going to follow through with doing this for a year, then I need to come to terms with the fact that there are going to be "photo lulls." And some weeks every photo may be of me on transit (sheesh I hope not). Also I realized that when it comes down to it, I'm doing this for myself. It's a project that I have embarked upon to seek inspiration, to notice things I wouldn't normally, to get out there instead of staying in. Of course along that path I hope to also inspire others! But in the end, I'm doing this for me, and I have to stop worrying about what the [probably] five people who look at this may think if I'm a day late in posting or if my photo is the most boring thing in the world. This is only month 4...the other 8 will be very long if I don't take this epiphany to heart! I feel like this is the first little bump in the road on my year in photos journey, and I'm sure it won't be the last. So here's to continuing to seek inspiration and focusing on even the little things, whether they're important or not.

April 12, 2012

I've taken a Kindle break and gone back to a "real" book. For serious, there is just no replacing holding a book in your hands. Was able to catch some rays and start my new book before work this evening! 

April 11, 2012

I drive by these bushes 4 times a week, and every time I say "I have GOT to take a picture of that!" I finally took the time to, and I'm glad I did. These bushes look like they're on fire! And are beautifully contrasted by the lovely little daffodils.

April 10, 2012

I was on the usual commute from East Van to North Van for work and just bookin' it from the bus when I got downtown so I could stop in at Steamies and say hi to my beloveds. I stopped mega quick to take a photo of this wall right by Woodwards, because I've always wanted to. I didn't think much of it but when I looked at the photo on my phone later I couldn't believe how well it worked out! I like it.

April 9, 2012

Another travel picture of similar sorts to the one I took from the air a few days previous. But I couldn't resist...because for real, how WICKED is this country's landscape?! It's mind blowing that these photos are taken within about an hour of each other.

April 8, 2012

This almost looks too good to be true. There's a run on Panorama called 1000 Peaks, and they don't lie! The view is so incredible from this hill...there is honestly nothing like it. Snow covered mountains beyond snow covered mountains and deep blue sky that seems to go on forever without a cloud in sight. Just beautiful.

April 7, 2012

A pretty mellow day of skiing. 

Snow was not so awesome, but when the sun is shining and the sky is the bluest of blue, you can't complain! 

Quick stop for a coffee and back out we go.

April 6, 2012

My ski buddies for the day. :)
Dad was heli-skiing and Matt was injured. 

April 5, 2012

It was a crazy and forgetful morning prior to flying away. And I've concluded it all stemmed from not having coffee this morning. But here we go -- goodbye Vancouver, hello Edmonton!

Actually this Easter weekend will be spent takin' over Panorama with the fam jam. Flew into Edmonton from Van, Mom flew from Regina, Ali picked us up at the airport, and we made the 5.5 hour drive to Pano where Matt and Dad are! 

Here come the Mario force five!

April 4, 2012

The Live At Squamish launch party @ The Commodore tonight. This is Current Swell. I've never heard a band whose musical style changed so drastically from one song to the next (and did it well). From blues-y John Mayer to chill-rock Weezer to surfer-rock Jack Johnson to legit rock 'n' roll. Check 'em out. Also, The Matinee opened for these guys and KILLED it. Man live music is just the best.

April 3, 2012

Gosh darn this city is wicked. I know I posted a similar, gloomy version of this view not too long ago, but how could I possibly keep this beauty to myself!?

Today my day involved work and only work. I'm trying to juggle 3 jobs at the moment, and it's no easy task! I was over yonder (kind of on the left side of the buildings there) for the day at Steamworks, and on the exact opposite side of it getting to look at this pretty view for the evening. I have a feeling I'll be taking a few of these shots of downtown over the next while, because having a new job on the North Shore means I'll be spending most of my time staring at exactly this. Good thing it's not too hard on the eyes. 

April 2, 2012

My favourite spring flowers. "Nanadils" 

April 1, 2012

Today wasn't so much Sunday Funday but rather Sunday-hard-work-completely-exhausted Day. But it gradually became a true Sunday Funday when I met Lauren at a pub on Main St. for beers.
Aaah, good friends are refreshing!