365 Days of Nothing New

Do you remember the last piece of clothing you bought? For me it ws this blue H&M dress on the left. I bought it during the last week of August and it was the final new clothing taste I have had since then. It has been 30 days.

On September 1st I went on a clothing diet. The goal is to go 365 days and buy any new clothes. The inspiration for the challenge is the "The Great American Apparel Diet" - a shopping sabbatical initiative that began in the U.S. in 2009. The "diet" kicked off its second year this September and I decided to follow along with my own attempt.

The rules of the apparel diet are as follows:

The things you can guzzle without guilt:

1. Clothes currently in your closet, on hooks, in your drawers or on your floor as long as they are not new.

2. Footwear

3. Accessories

4. Underwear—every girl should have a great pair of clean underwear on at all times.

Those items that are not allowed:

1. New clothes

“New” is anything that you pay for. An item is “not new,” if it something a person gives you (you cannot write a check to your husband or best friend and give them instructions or a wish list for your “must haves".)

A review of the Apparel Diet website reveals that women have as many reasons for quitting clothes shopping as they do for purchasing in the first place. Indulgence is like that I guess. For me the reason was twofold:

1. Financial. In the first half of 2010 I had spent over $1000 on clothes. When I lived in Australia - the purpose of which was to travel and explore - I still managed to flip my entrie wardrobe multiple times! For the last 10 years, my monthly average has been hovering around $200. Sometimes it is due to a couple of pricier purchases but most often it is the tally of WAY too many $30 grabs. Like snacking, my shopping can have an incremental effect and I was losing dollars the way one packs on calories from a series of poor choices.

2. Emotional. As much as I am an emotional eater, I am doubly an emotional shopper. Boredom. Happiness. Stress. Congratulatory. Lonely. Excited. Every emotion could be used as valid fuel for an apparel binge. Every event in life could be rationalized as a reason to buy something new. Through this process I have amassed piles of clothing over the years. I know that I have given more clothes away in the last year than many of my friends have purchased. And alot of what I have bought I did not need. Some of it I never wore. But the pure act of clothes shopping itself was enjoyable. This behaviour is, of course, the very essence of the shopaholic. I admit it. I need to find different outlets - not outlet malls! - for my feelings. So the best thing to do was remove the drug.

Which brings me to now. Thirty-days later. I have not cheated. The experience has made me re-evaluate the wardrobe I already possess. The stockpile of clothes crammed into my tiny closet has become its own department store. Yesterday I wore a jacket for the first time. A jacket I had bought in the spring of 2009! So onwards I go. Eleven months to go. I feel lighter already.

One Wedding

This past weekend I went to the wedding of my friend Cathy. We have been friends with each other for over 15 years. When we met the topic of conversation was "when to have sex with a boy" rather than when to marry one.

Yes, we are of the generation when the notion of matrimony was on a horizon far separate (and potentially distant) from the one of intercourse. At that time I don't think either of us was confident that marriage was going to be a part of the future at all. At 19, the institution of marriage; the idea of being married; the implications of matrimony all seemed like a iffy endeavour indeed. The binding construct of forever was practically unfathomable in those days of the now.

The years rolled by. I watched Cathy live through relationships and jobs, houses andd travels. She had her hands on all the LEGOS of life but nothing ever clicked into an aisle to walk down.

And then she met Gordon.

I think, if memory serves, that Gordon declared he was going to marry Cathy within the first three months they were dating. When I was home for Christmas last December it was the engagement that was the topic of much discussion. A wedding was on. The future was now. Forever had a start date. Click. Click. Click.

Then there they were. On a September autumn afternoon. The weather gods had kindly halted their spitball competition to allow for the ceremony to be held outdoors. The traditional silhouette of a man in black and a woman in white imprinted itself on a deck overlooking one of the Kawartha region's lakes. Pine needles whispered against painted leaves and silver water lapped against mottled stone. And Cathy, my dear friend, joined herself to the man she loves.


There are lots (too many?) romantic tales about finding "the one". But when you see a friend discover the truth of it you cannot deny the impact. Infinte congratulations to the newlywed couple.

Harvest Season

"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." - William Blake

So it was for me this summer. I spent the early days of spring pushing small sprouts into the bare ground just hoping they would survive the month. For my first season as a "gardener" I think I was rewarded a hundred-fold. I cannot say for sure what made the difference but I know that the early care I took to turn the soil, water consistently and prune the plants has helped to keep our backyard garden in production all summer. Even though the days are getting noticeably shorter, we still find robust cucumbers kissed by the morning sun.


Our collection of ripe tomatoes grows each day. All thanks to my mother for giving us the plants and the cages so that we could grow the tallest tomato plants EVER! We are blessed each day with a handful of red cherry tomatoes and plump yellow balls. I have to start thinking of new recipes so we can put all the tomatoes to use. Last week I concocted homemade tomato sauce for our pasta dinner. And we are still addicted to freshly chopped basil and tomato together - or on a cracker with a small spread of goat's cheese. Yummy!


I finally got around to cutting the herbs and have strung them up to dry for the winter. I missed out on our dill and corriander by letting them grow too long. but we still have a nice collection of thyme, rosemary and sage to use in the months ahead. I learned that those herbs that smell like spring need to be cut in summer but those with the hearty perfume of the fall will grow until that season. Next year I will remember and we will be able to add to the haul of herbs!


Lastly, I had to replant the front garden to get some colour for the fall. Not knowing what was going to sprout there in the spring I overloaded the bed with spring annuals. They had withered by August and the garden was filled with sad, brown stalks. Luckily, the fall mums were ready and I got the saturn coleus (a new favourite of mine) on sale! So the blue spring garden becomes a burgundy beauty for the rest of the season. It adds a touch of warmth to front of the house and will work well next month when we get the fall wreath and halloween pumpkin on display.


Once again I am reminded of the joy of having some outdoor space to call your own. I am reenergized by the project of keeping the gardens healthy and growing. I am happy to see its face change with the seasons. The Boyfriend is already making suggestions for next year. I guess that is another gift of gardening: the pleasure of perpetuity.

In the Paparazzi

Since the first two posts showed off the images I was able to snag while at a couple of TIFF red carpet events I thought it would be fun to show where I was during the entire affair. Afterall, I did spend A LOT of time securing my front row position against the fence and across from the red carpet tent.

So I took some time to find the press photos of the actors at the event where you could see ME! It was harder than I thought since I tended to be positioned exactly behind the celebrities for most of the images. Guess that means my view as pretty good afterall.

At the afternoon premiere for "The Conspirator" behind Robin Wright.


In frame for a Blake Lively moment.


Taking a shot of Ben Affleck. This one makes me sad since it would have been the only pic of me and Ben TOGETHER but instead I am blurred out by my flash. Darn it!


In the background of Jeremy Renner. I'm looking out of frame because Jon Hamm is arriving.

Ben ... Sigh

My last post was all about my odessey of a day waiting by the red carpet to catch glimpses of famous people at TIFF. The reall driving force behind select THAT particular day was, of course, the opportunity to see Ben Affleck - in person. My decision to wait outside for 8 hours on the cold concrete was a direct result of my Benji love. That I could be in close proximity to the man I have been crushing on for 15 years was the only rationale I needed. I also felt the experience required its own special post. The story goes like this...

I didn't know when he would arrive. Would he, as the film's director, be first? Would he arrive before ALL the daylight had been sapped from the sky? As it was he was in the second talent car to arrive. The black Cadillac SUV pulled up and I could see through the windshield. "It's Ben" I stated to my red carpet fan friends. And then I saw her and realized that Jennifer Garner was with him. The car came to a stop and the interior light went on. Ben leaned over and gave Jennifer a light kiss - one of those simple kisses that married people do - and got out of the car.

The fandemonium exploded upon his arrival. He moved in front of the press photographers first and my view exploded with flashbulbs. From behind he carried himself as you would expect from a star but also with a casualness that is true to form. A slight slump in his posture that is almost "aw shucks" about the entire affair. If you see the press photos of him you see an uneasy smile. But from my view, it was perfect. I got nervous while he dallied at the far end of the photo line. I wondered if he would make it over to the fan line at all. Earlier, Redford hand ignored the screaming masses completely and I was concerned that Ben's directorial duties would mean the same for him.

But then he was there. With only a couple of long strides he was against the fenceline and facing flashes and screams and pens thrust foward. It happened to fast. I was standing on my tippy-toes trying not to be pushed over the barricade by the crush of adoration behind me. He was SO close to me. RIGHT in front of me I could have kissed his chest! I didn't. I couldn't breathe. My head was surrounded by demanding arms and I tried to get my camera in position for a clean head shot. It was not to be. With a blinding flash I was able to snap a blurred close-up of his ... CHIN. And then he was gone. Moving to my left down the line and signing all the way. He looked shocked the entire time. Overwhelmed by the demanding crowd he never cracked a smile. My heart went out to him knowing that he would never be able to appease the number of requests thrown his way in the time that he had.

And then, almost before I fully grasped that he was there, he was gone. It could not have been longer than a couple of minutes. He moved back to the swarm of handlers at the red carpet and disappeared into the white glow of the press tent. Stepping on the red carpet before the TV cameras for the rest of the world to see.

It wasn't until the entire evening was over and I was waiting for the subway that I caught my breathe completely. My heart went back to its regular rhythm. My mind cleared from the haze of adrenaline. It was in that moment that I cursed myself for not filming the entire thing. How I did not think to video the experience escapes me. So I must be happy with the images - the one above was sent to me by a gal standing next to me who got a great shot while I got the CHIN! But if I close my eyes I am able to capture the moment again hold onto that feeling in memory of what it really was.

A Full Day at the TIFF Red Carpet

It is the third day of the Toronto International Film Festival. It's a Saturday and I am going to spend the day trying to get a good red carpet view of some very famous stars. I have never done anything like this before. I admit to being a bit of a star struck movie gal but being a crazy, screaming fan girl has never really been my style. I have no idea how long in advance I have to arrive but I am going to make a full day out it just to be sure. I'm going to head to Roy Thomson Hall - site for three gala presentations on Saturday.

1:30pm
I arrive at the west side of Roy Thomson Hall, late for the afternoon carpet of Pretty White Lies. It is a French film staring Marion Cotillard (Inception Oscar winner for La Vie en Rose) and even though I missed the action it appears she was kind to the early birds.


The earliest fans showed up at 9am! The group congregates across from the red carpet tent. A digital clock in the background counts down to 5pm. It is for a Bell promo but also a reminder of how long before the 6pm arrival of the next set of movie stars.


5:15pm
The photographers arrive for the first round of "talent". The early gala is for The Conspirator. A civil-war period film that chronicles the Lincoln assassination. It is directed by Robert Redford and arrived at TIFF without a confirmed distribution deal.



6pm
The first to arrive is actress Alexis Bledel ("Gilmore Girls", Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants)


What a lovely young lady.


The director - and movie icon - arrives next. What an amazing opportunity to see a Hollywood legend in real life. He shies away from the fan lines and heads straight to the red carpet.


The best crags in the business. Robert Redford! (If you don't know any of his credits you should be ashamed - all hail the Sundance Kid!)


Justin Long shows up to fandemonium. Screaming girls echo in the evening air for his lank-hairness. He is energetic and engaging. He tries to sign as many autographs as he can but is ultimately pulled away by "his people".


Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda, In & Out) arrives and dislays some quirky greetings and silly expressions.


James McAvoy (Atonement, Wanted) makes many fans happy.


And oh those blue eyes up close.


Robin Wright (Forrest Gump, State of Play) is amazing.



How can you not love her. She truly radiates. I cannot believe that I get to be this close to the Princess Bride herself!


8pm
The evening arrives. The lights come on for the red carpet. The pictures will not be so clear now. Too much light interference. I don't know how my little point-and-shoot is going to handle the motion in the increasing dark. The gala for The Town is on for 9:30pm. Ben Affleck's second kick at the director can and one of the most buzzed about flicks of the season. I've been out on the concrete for 8 hours. But I am just stoked to be here and I know that the big boys are coming out to play next!


Some Twilight flavour in the twilight of Saturday. The beautiful red-headed Rachelle Lefevre flashes a smile. I was disappointed that she was nixed as Victoria in the teen vampire flicks but nice to see the Canadian gal at a big event.


Chris Cooper (American Beauty, The Bourne Identity) is the first to arrive. He is kind to all and give warmth to the crowd. As an established character actor it is nice to see such a distinquished performer in a relaxed real state.


8:55pm
Ben is here. I forget to breathe.


He brings his wife this time and she gives the crowd lots of attention. While I am not loving Jennifer Garner's dress, there is no denying her winning smile and bright eyes.


The only actor to completely skip my section of the fan area. Jeremy Renner (Oscar nominee for The Hurt Locker) does a quick session down the line and then scoots over the press gang.


Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") has arrived.



Oh my god, Jon Hamm. He is so devastatingly handsome in person. It is unbelievable.


9:10pm
Blake Lively ("Gossip Girl", Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants is the last of the Town talent to arrive. To think I was commenting about her being "one to watch" in 2005.


I cannot believe how close I got to all of these actors/actresses. There isn't any zoom in this shot. Just pure Blake face right up in mine.


I love this shot of her outlined against the wall of photographers. I imagine this is most of her life these days. The dress is amazing. Kind of bizarre but amazing.


Rushing back to the red carpet after spending almost a full 10 minutes with fans and press. She is getting this game down good.


9:40pm
It is time to head home. The stars are inside enjoying the gala reception. Ben will be introducing the film to the those who actually scored tickets to the show. Here they are filing into the theatre.


I think I picked the better thing to do. I can see movies in the theatre at another time but seeing the stars? You need a perfect night for that and I got it!