Fashion.
I love my shoes.
I love my clothes.
I love my stuff.
Fashion.

At what point does it become too much? It seems like the western world has become consumed with an excess amount of “stuff”. At this day in age, we are so spoiled and we don’t even realize it. I know I’m spoiled. Fashion is something that I love. Some could even say I’m obsessed. When I’m studying, I often catch myself day dreaming about that dress I saw online the other day. Let’s get real here. I could spend a full 8 hrs browsing through different online clothing stores. I mean, if I got paid to do that, I’d be rich!!! (and then i could buy more clothes… haa haa). Sometimes I go shopping and I buy things for no reason. They get worn once or sit in my closet and never see the light of day.

Through my many humbling experiences in travel, I have learned that those with the least amount of stuff are truly the most generous. Generous in every way. Generous with their hospitality, generous with their giving, generous with their time, generous with their kindness. It seems like they don’t have all this stuff that clouds our vision and clutters our life. They have so little yet they have so much to offer.

When I was in Portugal a few years back, I met a man. He was old. He had wrinkles. He was poor. But he had the warmest smile. He lived in a small fishing town off the Algarve coast. As his fellow neighbors and visitors stepped off the train, he would be there to greet them and welcome them to his town as he circled around on his battered bicycle. It seemed like that was all he did all day. He welcomed me and my friend. At the time I had to pee. Really really bad. I asked him if he knew where the bathroom was. He said follow me… He rode his bike and we followed. We came up to this little shack. As he opened the door, he was gleaming with pride. “This is my home”, he said with a joyful smile. It was literally a hole in the wall the size of my bathroom- and NOT my master bathroom. In it was his bed, his kitchen, his sink, which was also the toilet.

After using his toilet slash sink, he invited us in for some tea. He told us his amazing life story as a refugee, escaping from civil war in Africa. With his broken english we laughed and joked around. He wanted us so badly to stay and watch the soccer match at a local pub. But the last train left at 9 pm and the game would only start at that time. He offered us his bed and a couple beers. He said he would sleep outside on a bench. His generous giving opened my eyes. He was willing to offer everything, for who? For strangers- yet he treated us like family.

So I wanted to create a challenge for myself and others in the name of generous giving. The aim is to create a paradigm shift in the way we relate to “stuff”. Rather than “Who I am is my clothes”, we shift to “Who I am is creativity and full-self expression. The result of this is my unique style and art”.

The challenge for this project is to give up one of your FAVORITE items or outfits in your closet. Yes yes- I know. Tears will be shed when my favorite cocktail dress and set of heels are being peeled away from my tiny little claws. But think about it… when we donate our clothes we usually give away the leftovers that nobody wants. The crap. The unwanted. The rags. What we want to create is true GENEROUS giving. Make it a “Hand Me Up” instead of a “Hand Me Down”.

Target donors: any shoppaholics or fashion-loving peeps!

Result: Gain freedom from attachment to “stuff” and allow someone less fortunate to enjoy things they would not usually get the opportunity to enjoy!

How do you relate to stuff? What does it mean to you? Why are we so attached?

Stay tuned for more details…

Fashion.
I love my creativity.
I love my self-expression.
I love my style.
Fashion.

I’m happy to be a part of a fashion show my friend is putting on this Thursday @ Ginger62. Purchase tix here

Looks like a grown and sexy night, so dress nice + play nice. Next Friday you can catch me at the DIPT 9 lives anniversary party @ Shine.

Click the link + download and unzip <— The mix is cut up into tracks.

What a year for music! Dance music has made quite the impact in 2009 whether its David Guetta teaming up with Akon or the sweet sounds coming from France, Italy, San Francisco or even my home Vancouver! I put together a mostly 2009 style house + disco + nu disco + space disco whatever you want to call it style mix, I’ve been working on for the last while.

I’ll be handing out 100 free copies at Shine this Friday, where my friends and I will be celebrating my 25th birthday. If you’re in the Vancouver area shoot me an email and I’ll make sure you’re on the gues tlist. Otherwise, sit back, spark a joint, and enjoy the trip!

Matéo

This weekend 20 of my friends and I, all of whom I have kept close since high school will be staying at the state of the art Crescendo Lodge on top of Big White, BC. We are bringing up 4 turntables, enough alcohol to start a riot, 3 boxes of boneless chicken, and some ridiculous Costco size veggie platters. I’m excited for a comfortable weekend in the cold. Its too often I go through winter freezing my ass of with nothing better to do than look forward to my next sunny getaway. I find myself drinking way too much eggnog which leads to some irritable bowels, so I end up staying home playing COD, way too embarrassed to have to deal with a public poop mishap. Anyways, this isn’t  livejournal so I’ll leave you with some photos of said destination rather than describe my stinky Winter issues.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!

Today’s been a bit of a breather from what seemed to be the everlasting sorrow of God. I guess it’s to be expected being in Vancouver, but it doesn’t mean that we have to like it. I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy the occasional heavenly cleanse, I mean some of my fondest memories are of rainy days sitting in Gastown enjoying some of the city’s finest soup, but days upon days can even begin to take it’s toll on veteran locals.

But that’s not even the worst of it, I can stand getting wet, I can stand the lack of color….. but I can’t stand people who use umbrellas undercover and think they have the right-of-way.

Nothing perplexes me more than someone who has an umbrella, walks undercover (usually by store awnings/canopies and such) AND still forces those without umbrellas to the outside. Ok, cool I get it, you aren’t a fan of getting soaked. But to take the inside and force someone without proper rain protection out into the wetness? You smug bitch you.

Not much ruffles my feathers, and I’m a bit ashamed at how small of an issue this is, but this self proclaimed right really pushes my proverbial button. There are the odd times where this is acceptable; some elderly person who’s probably more fearful for their purse/wallet to be concerned with manners, children who don’t know any better, and the rare foreigner who may just be cute enough to get away with it.

BUT, aside from those, it’s fair game. Lately it’s been happening so much so that I now play with the culprits; stopping mid-stride, hugging the walls at times, throwing in a shoulder shake, etc….. all just in the hopes of making them realize the faux pas. I guess I could just take the high road and simply ask them why they do it, but really would that be any fun? Maybe for the sake of this piece I should have asked and allowed some sort of defence, maybe I should have studied who tends to be the highest offending demographic, but this isn’t about numbers and debate, it’s about incite and passion.

So for all those brave souls walking the streets without the recommended survival gear, I’ll throw to a quote from the ever insightful Mr. Marley:

“GET UP, STAND UP: STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS”.

Until next time =)

Note: This was not written with a public health perspective. I do not condone drinking more than a few of cans of this stuff a week.

Shout ooot to Nina, I’ve discovered a few different artists through RBMA.

Hedspin slaying Vancouver Red Bull 3 Style

Red Bull BC One 09 Highlights