Music Mondays: Week 01

So I wanted to start a small series because it's summer and I want to do something different. Music has always been a huge part of my life - unfortunately, I can't play an instrument but listening to music always does wonders for my mood. Basically, I have a song attached to some of my favorite books, shows, and memories and I'm sure many of you can relate to that. With that in mind, I decided to do something called 'Music Mondays' where I would put out a list of some of my favorite songs that I've been listening to during the past week.

So this past week - more like this entire summer thus far - I've been loving OneRepublic. I don't know what happened but I listened to their newest album, Native, and found myself loving every single song on the album. Which, let me tell you, has never happened to me before. Then I found myself going through their older stuff and re-listening to all of the older songs. So it makes sense that my first MM would focus on songs by OneRepublic, right?

Well, here they are!

What You Wanted (Native)

All This Time (Waking Up)

Everybody Loves Me (Waking Up)

What is some of the music you've been listening to lately? 

30 Before 30

I haven't been updating this blog as much lately because  I just haven't had the best few weeks. Between term papers due pretty much every week to midterms and lab reports, this little baby has been ignored. Oops? It also may have something to do with the fact that I just haven't felt inspired enough to write in general.

Picture taken from a Wallpaper app on Android. 

But it's time to break that cycle and I want to do it with a simple post that I've been seeing a lot of lately: the 30 before 30. Basically, it's a list of 30 things that I want to do before I turn 30. I have just over 7 years to get everything in this list done but I'm determined to see it through.

1. Write (and publish) a book.

2. Graduate school. //completed

3. Tour the Warner Bros. HP studio in London.

4. Spend a month or two travelling around Europe.

5. Go back to India for at least a month and spend time with family there.

6. Get a tattoo. //completed.

7. Spend Christmas/NYE in New York City.

8. Go back to Harry Potter land (Wizarding World of HP) in Florida.

9. Get my own apartment.

10. Get a dog (or two!).

11. Take a road trip.

12. Figure my shit out -- answer the age-old "What am I doing with my life?" question.

13. Begin a clean-eating journey.

14. Complete The Happiness Project.

15. Learn HTML and Photoshop.

16. Become a better person in general.

17. Commit to something - anything - wholeheartedly.

18. Learn to appreciate the simpler things in life.

19. Constantly tell those I care about that I love them.

20. Skydive.

21. Go on the biggest roller coaster in the world - wherever that is.

22. Learn to swim.

23. Keep this blog updated consistently.

24. Learn more patience - especially with my parents.

25. Become more fit and healthy.

26. Learn to keep in touch with my friends without flaking.

27. Keep writing. Write, write, write.

28. Go to the Tomorrowland music festival. Or Osheaga. Or even Coachella.

29. Be more comfortable in my own skin and become more confident in my abilities. Let the past go.

30. Learn how to read music and eventually, learn how to play the piano.

+31. Be more happy. Discover what happiness means to me and push for it.

Do you have a 30 before 30 list? 

If not, I highly recommend you make one. Not only does it give you the chance to really look deeper into yourself but by the end, you may just realize what you give the most importance to. 

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A Love Affair with (David's) Tea

Winters in Canada are harsh - obviously. While I drink coffee like it's water during the summer, it's a different story for the winter.

In winter, I begin a love affair with tea.

I have a ridiculous amount of tea but I've realized that there are a few that I've kept near and dear to my heart. So I thought this would be a good idea to blog about.

Because why not.

My tea stash comes from David's Tea. It's the only specialized tea store that is close enough for me to walk to and I've fallen in love with how amazing all their teas are. I have yet to be disappointed by a tea I've bought from them. But here are my current favourites!

1. Gail's Organic Cold Remedy (green tea)

Sadly, this tea has been discontinued now. This was in my stock for a year now and when my throat began to go particularly scratchy, this was the tea I went to. I was really really disappointed to find out it'd been discontinued but hopefully it may make a comeback next year? David's Tea, if you're reading this, PLEASE BRING THIS BACK.

2. Coffee Cake (black tea)

Again, I don't know why this wasn't on their website. This tea was part of their Winter collection and I can't even deal with how delicious it is. I don't usually take tea with milk but this tea is absolutely phenomenal with a splash of milk. Right when you open the lid, you're hit with a very sweet and soft scent that just overwhelms your senses. Craving that coffee cake from Starbucks? Skip that dessert and drink a cup of this instead. You won't regret it. 

Promise. 

3. Lemon Creamed Honey 

This is one of the newer sweetners that I've seen at David's Tea and when I bought it, I was battling quite a nasty cold. Since I live in residence, I didn't really want to go and buy a jar of honey and lemons separately so I figured I'd try this particular product out. And I'm glad I did! It just melts so easily in your tea and you can even dunk your fingers in and eat it plain. You can definitely taste the lemon flavour quite distinctly but it's molded together with the honey so well that it's just amazing to add to your tea. Not interested in the lemon flavour? They also have cinammon creamed honey!

4. The Perfect Tea Mug 

I couldn't find the design that I have since I suspect it's been sold out on the website. It was part of thier holiday collection so I believe it may make a comeback next winter maybe! But I love these mugs. They have a stainless steel infuser that fits right into the mug so you can put your loose-leaf teas in the infuser and leave them to steep right in the mug. At $20, they are kind of expensive but if you are a tea lover, this is the one mug you need in your pantry. 

Do you have any tea favorites?

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Christmas Shenanigans

The 2013 holiday season was one of the best seasons I've had in a while. Usually, my parents and I spend the holiday break in Atlanta but since my mom was in India, my dad and I spent the break at home in Toronto.



This meant seeing a lot of my friends, going to Christmas Eve and Christmas day dinners, and of course, some good old shopping. Here are some of my favorite moments.

Fantastic holiday. Fantastic people. And fantastic end to 2013.

Here's to 2014.

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Blogmas 05: DIY Mason Jar Tea Light "Candles"

So this year, I decided to do something different for my Don house team for Christmas/Hanukkah presents. Usually I just buy things but I'm not the best at buying things for people. This is where Youtube and Bethany Mota (Macbarbie07) came in. I saw a video she posted about DIY mason jars with tea lights in them and I knew that's exactly what I wanted to give. So with a few supplies from the Dollar store and a local art store, I was ready to go!

What You Need

Mason jars

Glitter

Spray adhesive

Vinyl adhesive or frisket film (I used frisket because it was cheaper!)

Tealights

Glass beads - various colors

Step 1: Cut out the shape you want out of the frisket film, peel off the backing, and stick it on the side of the jar where you want the cut out  to be.

Step 2: Shake up your spray glue jar and spray a generous amount inside the jar. 

Step 3: Very quickly, pour in the glitter color that you want the jar to have, close the lid, shake it around, and empty the access. I originally did just one coat but I decided to do two instead. So I let the first coat for an hour, and repeated steps 2-3. 

Step 4: VERY carefully, peel out the frisket film. Make sure you do this step slowly and carefully.

Step 6: Put in some glass beads and the tea light. Bam! You're done.

I really like how easy this DIY is. I'm famous for messing up even the simplest things but this is definitely an easy DIY that makes a great present for anyone in your life. This was particularly perfect for me because as Dons, we are not allowed to have any candles in our rooms. The fact that these give the same ambience as a candle makes it a great present. 

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