french kiss

Running away to a foreign city to surprise a friend certainly doesn't get your blood pumping. Nor, does it require the upmost secrecy. showing up on a friend's door step will certainly not result in a friend crying & hyperventilating for two minutes. None of these things took place this past

weekend.

Montreal is not one of the most romantic cities in Canada, every street and alleyway isn't filled with beautiful heritage buildings, iron spiral staircases and stunning bay windows. Students and locals alike rarely whiz past you on bicycles with fresh bread under their arms and smiles on their faces. The corner stores aren't generally filled with fresh flowers and local produce.

alright, alright. enough with the false negatives.

Montreal is honestly my second favorite city in all of Canada. I've been incredibly lucky enough to see most of the large cities in our beautiful country, and in my humble opinion, Montreal ranks right up there.

I chose to {surprise} a dear friend who lives in Montreal. After a short flight to snowy Winnipeg, I boarded my connecting flight to MTL. A twenty minute cab ride took me to the

Montgomery Building with it's strong wooden french doors.

After a quick & sneaky phone call to Catherine's roommate/ my surprise accomplice - Olivia, standing behind those stunning double doors was a bewildered Catherine. Crying & hyperventilating ensued briefly, smiles and laughs lasted all night.

Buildings that have history are innately romantic. Anything with age always makes me wonder what stories have already unfurled within it's walls. The Montgomery building boasts its

beautiful mosaic crest as you enter through it's doors.

The inner courtyard is reminiscent of a scene from a Shakespearian play - with sandstone lining window sills, and an iron spiral staircase.

The weekend consisted of amazing coffee shops, gazing and wandering down streets like St. Laurent, St. Viateur & St. Catherine's. Eating the best bagels, Montreal smoked meat, poutine and amazing vegetarian food at Lola Rosa.

// The amazing thing about Lola Rosa wasn't only the incredible squash soup, tofu curry (photographed above) or the mouth watering ginger & balsamic creme brulee. But each vintage, heavy wood table had little drawers, and when opened revealed a mass of handwritten notes, stories, quotes & drawings from previous diners. I'm officially in love.

Lastly on the culinary tour of Montreal, we delighted in the expertly crafted cocktails at Baldwin's Barmacie {This also included swooning over the design and type of their menu. wow.}

You really didn't think that I didn't go shopping did you? St. Laurent is home to stunning independent boutiques and Friperies alike {Free - pur - ri} // also known as vintage stores //

If beautifully crafted clothing is your vice, I would certainly recommend either Les Etoffes and Unicorn Boutique. Or if searching endlessly through vintage gems is more your thing, make sure to make a stop at Kitsch n' Swell.

Any trip to Montreal can't be complete without visiting Old Port. Also known as Old Montreal. The cobble stone streets, heritage buildings, art galleries & boutique hotels all had my heart jumping. Once there, make sure to visit Boutique Rooney.

The store's floor lay out is simple and elegant. The racks display beautiful clothing designed by talent's such as Ella Moss. While the raw wooden tables display gorgeous biannual magazines

like the gentlewoman {with the incredible Adele gracing the most recent cover.} Or stunning crafted leather bags by Heritage Leather.

Old Montreal also allowed me to take out, re-spool {in complete darkness. I would be lying if I said it took anything less than 20 minutes} and shoot with my beloved 620 Kodak Vigilant. This black beauty has been waiting patiently on my dresser for the moment it would be filled with 120 film, and cracked open to capture memories again.

In time, the film will tell back the story of smiles, laughter, wonder, adventure and love.

Paix & L'amour,

Brie

typelove

it's been a while since I played in this sandbox. it seems as though when my writing is my homework, it drains all creativity and drive from me to explore other forms of expression.

however, I recieved a Moleskin notebook for my 21st birthday from a dear friend and since have been moved to scrawl words on the pages.

this entry was from March 14, 2011.

Typeography is the most incredible art form. each type with a personality and voice of it's own. as simple as a persons' handwriting. something that evolves over a lifetime, but is as distinctive as a fingerprint. maybe her hand instinctively links together her 'h' and 'e', like the two have been married, never to be seperated. or he might vary his 'a' depending on the word he uses.

a lifetime is wrapped up in the etchings we put on paper.

does your handwriting say you rush when you write? or does it illustrate your patience? do your hands concern themselves with the space of the page? maybe your handwriting enjoys spreading itself across the page, completely relaxed.

so much pleasure can be found from the fluid movements which direct a pen put to paper. I suggest you give your fingers a break from the incessant clacking of computer keys, and grip a pen.

{yes, I realize the irony and hypocracy in this statement, but it was initially written in a notebook}

peace, love & handwriting.

Brie

wait, mr. postman

today I received a long awaited 'letter' from my best friend in Montreal. it was a belated birthday gift, and it was more than anything I could have asked for. it was a mini scrapbook of sorts, with mementos from her life in the french speaking city. every other page had either poetry, photographs or handwritten love filling it's pages.

i am a sucker for nostalgia. whatever form it takes, whether it's a smell, a feel, a voice, a laugh, a photograph or a place. her beautiful gift to me was one of memories.

because she isn't in my vicinity, city or even my province. i'll take these memories and think of them until she returns to make new ones.

peas & luhv,

Brie

hearts don't break , people do

they say that it's your heart that hurts,

when it lacks the love, to make it work.

your blood will boil, your chest will burst.

your foolish pride is at its worst.

and if you're blood's not scalding hot, it's freezing cold

your veins they clot, or scab.

like an electric chair, you know it's ending quick, and painful

with lonely hearts and foolish pride

it makes no difference, to be defined.

it's just the way we talk about,

when love runs out, when love runs out.

you'd think a heart thats broken, would just shrivel and compact.

the valves they'd shut, the pressure build,

the seams and sinews warp and crack.

i know that's quite poetic, you know that doesn't make it true.

in fact the brain does much more suffering, than a muscle like the heart will ever do

your minds a fragile thing, romance just wrecks its wiring

your senses dull, your logic's gone

and you can't even see or talk to anyone.

and if everything, just stays the same,

expands and then contracts.

and symbolism won't line up with scientific fact.

and when you say your heart's decaying, i know that's your way of saying,

you just don't know how to be on your own, you just don't know how to be on your own.

with lonely hearts, and foolish pride,

it makes no difference to be defined.

it's just the way we talk about,

when love runs out, when love runs out.

with lonely hearts, and foolish pride,

it makes no difference to be defined.

it's just the way we talk about,

when love runs out, when love runs out.

hearts don't break, people do

{david vertesi}

&.&.&.

Ray Lamontagne once said something along the lines of "just because I write sad songs, doesn't mean I experience them all the time. I simply find so much beauty in sadness"

as do i. this song, although i am not currently experiencing these emotions, resonates with me.

twenty-one

I feel the need to start this post with an apology for leaving you so long without any form of reading material flowing from my fingertips. But, that apology would insinuate that there is a large following that relies on my frequent posting. & I am not diluted enough to believe that. Either way, it hasn't been due to a lack of inspiration, but a mere lack of action.

&.&.&

Life makes me laugh more often than not. Serendipity, fate, coincidence or kismet - whatever word you choose to label the instances of a perfect falling into place of your thoughts and the everyday moments of life is your choice.

I bring this up because my most recent vessel of inspiration to write came in the form of Adele's newest album, 21. As I clicked to life the first track - Rumor Has It, I felt a flow of descriptive adjectives bubbling behind my lips. The part of this inspiration that brings me to laugh is that in five days I will be celebrating being alive for twenty-one years. Pretty fitting right?

My twentieth year on this lovely planet has brought me some completely amazing experiences, new relationships, blissful discoveries and endless lessons and growth. I think a great way to summarize my twentieth year is the word love.

I have fallen in love with music more than I ever thought possible thanks to :

Aidan Knight

David Vertesi

Amy Seeley

Michael Bernard Fitzgerald

The Black Keys

We Are The City

Dan Mangan

Yukon Blonde

Any artist who was part of The SHOT AT THE DARK series.

I have opened my heart to the beauty of my lovely hometown - Calgary, through some incredible grass roots initiatives, such as :

{yyc coffee disloyalty program} // {market collective} // {WeLikeWeLove}

My mind has expanded with the growth of my love for my future profession :

Public Relations.

And most importantly, my hearts introduction to the new relationships I have formed with friends & loved ones {which are in fact, the same thing}. The people I have met in my 20th year have inspired, excited, motivated & challenged me. Listing these people would take a significant amount of battery life, but i sincerely hope these people know who they are. If you are reading this, you are more than likely one of them.

So, this post might not have turned into an album review but more of a life review. & I'm alright with that.

Peas & Luhv,

Brie

{a note to a friend}

my dear friend,

Oh, if the world only knew then. How bright this girls smile is, how deep her lovely pondering eyes have penetrated the globe's soul. Or, how her words add unmeasurable beauty to this world.

It's your birthday today.

I hope you wake up knowing how much the world loves you. You have given so much to the people who walk this planet, & you deserve any and all good things that make their way to you.

Throughout the day, I hope memories both good and bad knock on your door and visit. They will tell you their stories of how they have shaped the woman you are today.

And in the evening, let the serene darkness show you how endless your future will be. You have the power to de-rail your train and lay new tracks wherever necessary. Live in the present of the moment you are in. Unwrap it's delicate ribbon and smile from the heart at whatever is inside.

It's your birthday today.

Mile Markers

There are certain moments in everyones life that have a profound effect on shaping who they will become in the future. These moments are mile markers on the the winding highway of life.

Your asphalt might lead you through beautiful valleys only to turn a switchback corner onto a desolate stretch of road with only the horizon in sight. But you can trust that along the way, there will always be solitary metal or wooden signs skirting the road that will act as breadcrumbs to remind you of where you came from.

My earliest, most significant crumb came in a shape of a thick brown paper square, it felt sturdy and smooth, the artwork was abstract and almost childlike and it sounded, my gosh it sounded like a stand-up bass and a weeping cello. It sang about the misconceptions, tribulations and harsh honesty of a floundering relationship.

What I am to you, you do not need.
What I am to you, is not what you mean to me.
You give me miles and miles of mountains, and i'll ask for the sea.

Damien Rice's album "O" changed my life at the age of 13. The song volcano sank me deep into a solitary space of beauty and wonder. Being too young to fully understand the intricately woven poetics of the songwriting, I was simply drawn to the raw melancholic honesty. The easiest way I could ever explain the experience was that the music spoke to me in a language that I neither fully understood, nor needed to understand.

Each track off the record is an earth shattering emotional blow directly to the center of your soul. & 7 years later, the sound of the timid oboe opening on "Cheers Darlin' " still makes me yield control of what I am doing - only to make me close my eyes and smile.

This record also gracefully introduced me to the smoky, soft voice of Lisa Hannigan. In a seemingly perfect marriage, Damien and Lisa vocals have a undeniably magic to them.

I am still dumbfounded and left speechless at the effect that music has on me. Ok Go's lead singer, Damian Kulash said it best

"Music was the perfect bottling of lightning: A powerful experience could be packaged in plastic and then bought and sold."

I can't say that this record will have or has had the same effect on you, only you can feel what makes your soul ache in the most perfect way. I am just forever thankful for the time, effort, heart and soul that was generously poured into this work of musical art. I would not be who I am today if it weren't for that solitary mile marker.

Peas & Luhv,

Brie

*This rambling of my brain was inspired by the music and grace of Amy Seeley, who's beautiful song "Mile Marker" is linked at the beginning of this post.