So Long, Mo!

For some, November, aka "Movember" is the most anticipated time of the year. For a full month, it becomes socially acceptable for men of all ages to grow handlebars, goatees, ratstaches and any other pervy combination of facial hair imaginable. Instead of being ostracized or labelled a creepo, people celebrate ridiculous moustaches.

Let me be clear... I think Movember is a fantastic concept and a fantastic cause. I think it's amazing that such a simple idea could raise such a loyal following. This year more than ever, participation in Movember has spread like wildfire! I heard on the news that Canadian men have raised over 32 million dollars for cancer and prostate cancer awareness this year! Way to go participants, and way to go donators!

But...

That doesn't mean that I'm not gleefully celebrating the end of November.

Good-bye, Mo! I won't miss you.

I bow to you, Gilette!

Until next year, let's leave it to the gentlemen of a certain age and dignity to truly pull of the moustaches.

I leave you with... Tom Selleck.

Photo Credit

And honourable mention to David Spence!

Photo Credit

Artists in the Art Market

Every year the Telus Convention Center hosts an Art Market. I've attended for the last three or four years, and every year I end up oggling the artwork of Jim Nodge. I haven't been able to find much information about Jim, but a quick bio explains he is a farmer who has spent his life working with machines and metal parts. He says, "With my welder, my twisted imagination, and a bit of humor, I create creatures from familiar pieces." (Saskatchewan Craft Council)

Here are some examples of his work:

Photo Credit: Circle Craft Flickr

After all these years of oggling I decided that this was the year I was going to bring some of his artwork home! I thought this might be a problem because we are running out of wall space in our condo for artwork, but I made it work. This guy is the newest addition to our household!

A fish made ENTIRELY of utensils! It's so delightful I can barely stand it!

I did my yearly stock-up of Ultimate Gourmet hot chocolate-- we're trying raspeberry, dark chocolate orange, gingerbread and Belgian chocolate flavours this year.

I also picked up a new luggage tag since we broke our previous one coming back from Paris earlier in the fall. Mally Designs also makes the cutest leather bibs! It made me wish my niece and nephew were little again so I could buy them one.

Mally Designs

I'm a big fan of the Art Market! Every year you are bound to find something unique or tasty.

Now I need to get cracking on sampling that hot chocolate...

Keep warm!

Norway Revisited

This afternoon I picked Tom up from the airport. He spent the last week in Stavanger, Norway, for some business meetings.

Last time Tom went to Norway, he brought me back a toque as a souvenir. It really was a lovely toque, but Tom forgot that I have an abnormally large head, and the toque isn't quite large enough. If I don't keep the chin strings tired, the toque won't stay on.

Take 1: Too small Norwegian toque.

This time Tom brought me back a new toque. He got it extra large so there was no chance it wouldn't fit me! Moods of Norway is a Norwegian clothing line. It should be very warm for the fast-approaching winter.

Take 2: Extra large Norwegian toque.

Tom didn't take many photos of his trip, but here are a few from Stavanger.

Stavanger- November 2011

Stavanger- November 2011.

I really have no frame of reference, but this is how I imagine the Maritime provinces in Canada look. These shots are from Tom's last trip to Norway in February 2010.

Stavanger- February 2010

Stavanger- February 2010

Bergen- February 2010

Bergen- February 2010

Oslo- February 2010.

And now Tom is home-- jet lagged, but safe and sound! I think this concludes our international travels for 2011. More to come in 2012!