Kate Moss Thursdays

What a better way to spend Thursdays than by browsing through countless amazing photos of the beautiful, sexy, and alluring Kate Moss. She truly is a style icon.

Thank you The World's Best Ever for Kate Moss Thursdays.

Freaks and Geeks

Last week, I attended a talk at the TIFF Bell Lightbox with Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, which was absolutely amazing! It was such a treat to hear Judd speak about his process while working on hilarious comedies such as Pineapple Express, The Five Year Engagement, and 40 Year Old Virgin.

This spawned a serious commitment to completing the entire series of Freaks and Geeks, start to finish. Everything about the series is great, especially the (now) all-star cast. Linda Cardellini is perfectly angsty, while James Franco has all the right moves for a do-nothing badass.

While the cast isn't immediately known for its style-icon fashion sense, I can't help but find a couple style inspirations each episode, whether it is the short-sleeve-button-up-over-long-sleeve combo that Daniel and Ken sport, or the high-waisted bell bottoms that Cindy and other 'hot girls' rock throughout the halls of  McKinley High, I've become obsessed with picking up style cues from the Freaks and Geeks wardrobe!

Just What I Am

I have never been a huge fan of Kid Cudi, but when I heard his latest track, I flipped. The beat and vocals are infectious, it has moved right up there with my repeated songs along with Frank Ocean.

"Just What I Am" is the first single off of Kid Cudi's upcoming album titled Indicud. I'm curious to hear the full album.

I'm On Fire

I might have an addiction. To Bruce Spingsteen.

I may have created an entire playlist dedicated solely to covers of "I'm On Fire." Although no one does it better than The Boss himself, I do a few top picks for Bruce covers. It was a close tie between White Arrows' version and the cover by Chromatics. I have been obsessed with the Chromatics' rendition of I'm On Fire for a couple of years, and it is undoubtedly on almost every one of my 'feel-good' playlists.

The version that is on repeat every morning while I get ready would have to be this one by a good friend of mine, Travis Lefebvre, a very talented musician (and not to mention highly attraction male). Travis is part of a great musical group (troupe, some might call them), The Richardson Band. I guarantee one listen of Travis' sweet, sweet chops, and your heart will be on fire too.

Antique x N-Product

With so many ties still in Ottawa, I can't help but get excited when I see my friends and familiar names/faces doing such cool stuff! My good friends at Antique skateboard shop have been coming up with some pretty great stuff since their opening almost a year ago. Most recently, their custom collaboration line with N-Product has me sending two thumbs up to these guys!

N-Product is a pretty wicked company, also Ottawa-based. A husband-wife duo, N-Product has committed themselves to making products that are unique, beautifully-crafted, and, for the most part, local. Love it!

I might have just made a special order for one of these crew-necks, and will be eagerly waiting for a size XS to arrive at my Toronto door step.

AnOther

Joaquin Phoenix on the cover of AW05 issue, part of their AnOther x tumblr: Cover Stars series

Established early in the millenium, AnOther Magazine has become recognized for its original content and features from emerging photographers, stylists, and writers. In 2009, AnOthermag.com was launched, and has developed and grown into a haven for men's and women's fashion and culture. I adore the authenticity of AnOther's content both online and in print, and visit their online publication (more than) frequently. My go-to for exciting and inspiring images is always the "Loves" section of AnOthermag.com, which combines together images that seem unrelated, but together work well in an aesthetic mish-mash of creativity. 

AnOther is well-rounded and original in content and layout, which keeps me and millions of readers coming back for more. If this website isn't in your bookmarks, or the magazine isn't on your coffee table, I encourage you to take a look and grab a copy!

AnOther is released in print biannually and Issue 23, featuring Carey Mulligan as their cover girl, is on sale now.

The Acorn, missing Ottawa

While browsing Paper Bag Records' list of artists signed to their label, I came across the beautifully-written description of Ottawa-based band, The Acorn. Paper Bag's introduction to the band and their origin from my hometown made me miss Canada's beautiful capital city.

Despite Ottawa being pigeon-holed as a boring government town, its quaint presence and "rural origins linger, drenched in woodsmoke, bar-brawls and glinting saw blades" (Paper Bag Records). The culture doesn't hit you in the face as you enter the city, but being deep within it was much more rewarding.

While living in Ottawa, I created a very close bond with the arts and music culture that the city had to offer. Artists and musicians from the small city were always being compared to those living and working out of Montreal, or Toronto, and although Ottawa is a much smaller pond, I never felt uninspired by the artists I was surrounded with.

Enjoy this video and song by fellow Ottawaians, The Acorn.

Also, great video directed by talented filmmaker, Graham Rapsey.

The Last Prom

Tumblr is one of my favourite photoblogging and social networking websites, and it is evident that a huge portion of the interweb population feels the same way. Within two weeks of its debut in 2007, Tumblr gained 75 000 users, and has continued to grow, with millions of blog enthusiasts posting, connecting, reblogging.

For many users, Tumblr is a place where one's aesthetic loves and interests can collide into a personalized mood board. The Last Prom has become exactly that for me, and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't post my newest favourite image!

Check out The Last Prom, and if you like what you see, make sure to follow me! 

Small Black, back

I had forgotten about Small Black for a while, but recently with my IPod playing on shuffle, this track came on. I find this song so addictive, and the video by Nick Bentgen, is perfectly menacing yet romantic in a playful way.

Wang x A$AP, Diplo, & Penn Badgley

I love the way Alexander Wang combines three drastically different men in a collaboration of art and culture. To commemorate the opening of his flagship store in Beijing, Wang has produced this short video featuring actor Penn Badgley (love the hair, by the way!), rapper A$AP Rocky, and dj/producer Diplo. The soundtrack is great, the styling on point, and the men...well, I think that's pretty clear.    

Ora Leather Bags

I'm in love with Ora Leather Bags, an amazing line that uses both new and vintage leathers to handmake each of their bags. Each bag is designed and manufactured by Randi Obenauer in the west coast of Canada. I always get more amped on a line or designer when I find out they are Canadian.

I also love the added bonus of a line that is (mostly) unisex.

Not to mention the video for Ora's FW12 collection is adorable and awesome, and on top of it, the song rules. I immediately looked into the band featured in the video. Night Beats are from Seattle, Washington, and their sound has been described as 'psychedelic, garage, soul.' Into it.

Although I can't afford and Ora bag (just yet), I was able to find something similar (but definitely not as beautiful) this past weekend as Durumi. It's a cute, army green canvas back pack with leather detailing. It gets the job done, and for now, my Night Beats dreams of Ora Leather Bags will have to do.

Newness

I have been in Toronto for just over a month now. It has been a great experience moving to a new city where I know only a handful of people. This was exactly what I needed at this point in my life.

Tonight I stumbled upon this band, Lowell. I still have yet to really find out much about the band, other than they are associated with Apparatjik, the supergroup featuring members from Coldplay, A-ha, and Mew. It's no wonder the Lowell sound is both raw and refined.

Follow Lowell on Twitter and Facebook, and keep your eye out for touring locations! Fingers crossed for a Toronto show in the future.

Sunday Night

basement floor organ band

deep sounds of lower level key board tones

ring through the building;

the bandmates meld their music notes,

the bass vibrates the walls.

adjacent to our home, the Rasta men yell

making jibberish noises with their rolling tongues

their tempers rise as they blast through heated conversations

a debate for the beginning of the week.

the organ picks up and a techno beat kicks in

the tone of a young dreamer, sorting through piano chords

sharing tales of his weekend temptress;

juvenile discoveries.

a deep grumbling yell, passing the blame around the table

their voices are muffled by walls and crooked teeth;

it is the perfect mixture of sounds

a passionate temperment of hard-life living.

Daycaller Lives

I have decided to revive my blog. I've been super active on Tumblr, but my Blogspot has taken a little dirt-nap for some time now.

New to the city of Toronto, I have decided to bring this blog back from the dead. Expect great posts about music, fashion and my day-to-day favourites.

Take a listen to this great new track by Sky Ferreira. She is so sexy in this video, it makes me want my blonde hair back!