Two coincidental pirates and an adorable scarecrow

(My) Halloween Costume Details

Grey curly costume wig: eBay
Ghost Pirate costume and hat (sold together): eBay.co.uk
Ghost parrot (on my shoulder): Party City
Bat skull necklace: Wal-Mart
Skull handle pirate sword & skull and bone bracelet, both: Spirit Halloween
Four buckle belt (seen in numerous outfit post here over the years): Forever 21
Black faux leather tall boots: (I think) Zellers (had for several years)
Costume make-up: Walmart & Spirit Halloween
Lip colour: MAC Diva
Nail colour: Wet 'n' Wild Black Creme


Photos - a mix of iPhone and DLSR - taken by Tony Cangiano, as well as some iPhone snaps captured by my step-dad

(My necklace kept flipping over all night, including in this shot, which no one spotted at the time. Oh well! No biggie!)

♥ ♥ ♥

Not everyone in my family dresses up for Halloween night, but those that do make a point of not discussing their costumes with one another in advance (save for me and Tony telling each other what we’ll be sporting). The element of surprise as to what each of us will be wearing has become a much beloved part of our family get-together and always results in big smiles and rousing cheers.

Perhaps none have been more enthusiastically exclaimed than those that went up this Halloween when, by 100% pure coincidence, my mom and I both came dressed as pirates. She of the more traditional (costume) ilk, whereas I was a ghost pirate. We both did double takes and burst out in the biggest grins - what are the odds that we'd each opt for such similar costume theme on the very same night? Slim, I'd say, and that just makes the fact that we did all the more cool!

I first started thinking about, and searching in earnest for, my Halloween costume for this year back on Canada Day (July 1st). I felt pulled towards being a ghost this time around, but wasn't finding too much, especially outside of the classic bed sheet ghostie style, that was catching my eye until I struck upon this awesome Ghost Pirate costume. I'd been both a ghost and pirate as a child (see this post for fun photographic proof), but never an ensemble that married the two.

Though I did keep looking at various costume options for another two or three weeks after first spotting this one, in the back of my mind, I kept returning to it and by August, I knew the time had come to place my order. No Canadian sites were selling it then (and I'm not sure if they ever did) and the most affordable source actually turned out to be eBay.co.uk, which was nearly half the price - even with shipping and the conversion rate factored in - as the lowest American source I could find for it (that is not something that happens every day by any means).

I scoured eBay for a curly, Lady Pirate appropriate grey wig and came across this fun (surprisingly comfortable) costume one for a total song. A few accessories and some make-up gathered far closer to home, plus a trusty pair of boots (that I've had for the better part of a decade now) rounded out the high seas meets graveyard inspired mix.

It was an immensely fun costume to wear and one that I could easily see myself sporting again down the line. My darling husband went for something not only fun as well, but awesomely iconic in terms of the season for his festive garb: a cuter than cute scarecrow costume, that he looked so fabulous in! I've never gone as a scarecrow myself, but I must say, after seeing how great Tony looked as one, I'm giving serious thought to finding a similar costume of my own for a future All Hallows' Eve.

Speaking of the big day itself, on the morning of last Saturday, it was raining absolute buckets and didn't stop until the early afternoon. I think that this may have factored into why we got fewer trick-or-treaters than in recent years (we kept a tally and had 45 in total by the end of the night). Still, thankfully some did come ring our bell and we weighed their pillow cases and plastic pumpkin pails alike down with oodles of sweets, as it quickly became apparent that we weren't going to be getting the 100+ kids we'd been thinking we might (and bought treats for) based on past numbers and the fact that it was a Saturday.

Inside and out, our condo was appropriately attired as well and I must say, I think this year was my favourite ever in terms of the decorations. I certainly loved my costume, too, as well those my photo mates are sporting here. My mom looked marvelous as a pirate and I'm still smiling ear-to-ear like a carved jack-o-lantern that we, independently of one another, both opted for the same sort of costume. Like Halloween loving mother, like Halloween loving daughter! :)

It's yard sale day!!!

Not only in front yards, driveways, garages and back lawns the world over, but this week, I'm turning the tables (quite literally) and am on the selling side of things for a fabulously fun change.

Earlier this year my parents, Tony and I all decided that we should have a collective garage sale, so after a few weeks of having to bump the date of our sale up due to weather, holidays (like Easter and Victoria Day), and various other reasons, unless the mother of all storms hits, in three hours time precisely, our sale will commence.



{The sun is shining in abundance, the grass is gloriously green, and the tables are being set up as we speak for today's exciting yard sale. If you happen to live in, or passing through, the Penticton area, why not pop on by say hello. Image source.}


It's been almost ten full years since the last time I held a yard sale and that one was a dozy, as I was selling off darn near everything I owned because I was moving to Ireland after our wedding, which happened a couple of weeks later, and couldn't bring most of my worldly possessions with me aboard. Nothing quite that grand or necessitated by circumstance here today, but we've still got plenty of treasures and great buys all the same.

Though I know it's fairly unlikely, as I don't have many local readers, I figured there was no harm in using this post as an opportunity to cordially invite one and all to come check out our multi-family yard sale today (some of my parent's neighbours are adding items to the sale as well, so three households will be represented). It's on from 8am to 3pm PST and you can find the address and further details here.

Not only am I psyched about this sale because it's my first in ages (I should mention, I adore holding garage sales every bit as much as I do going to them), but it's the first that Tony has ever had, as they're nearly unheard of in his native Italy.

I don't have any illusions of grandeur here when it comes to profits. Making anything above $100 would be super swell, $200 or more an I'll be giddy as our Annie when you tell her she's going to the dog park. I don't foresee more than that, just based on how the items are priced, but you never know! I'll be sure to report back here in a future post as to how much Tony and I cleared in the end.

I'd love to chat more, my sweet dears, but I've got tables to load with items and a long, fabulously fun day of selling ahead of me so I'll bid you adieu for now and in doing so wish you each a weekend that is busting with fun and enjoyment, whether yard sales are involved or not for you, too! :)

*PS* As I know some of you will be curious, no, I'm not selling many vintage items at our garage sale today. The spotlight is on high quality, lovely modern items that we no longer want, need or have room for. Most of the vintage pieces that I have available to buy are either already in or destined for my Etsy shop, or will be sold at various flea markets and local antiques & collectibles shows that I hope to attend later this year.

The incredible joy of time spent with family

What an amazing past few days I’ve just had. Busy, but sublime. Memorable and deeply rejuvenating. My parents flew in on the 28th (of May) and visited for about a week with my husband and I (it’s the first time we’ve been able to get together in almost two and a half years). Though we spent each day with one another, filling the hours with sightseeing, home-cooked meals around the table, and many wonderful conversations, it feels as though their trip passed in the instantaneous blink of an eye. It seems no sooner was I hugging my mom and step-dad hello, then I was fighting back the tears as I embraced them good-bye.

I come from a small, broken (as in my biological parents divorced) family, and my relatives all live on the other side of the country, so time spent together is a rare and precious gift.

There are many daily stresses in my life, worries and concerns, those sorts of nagging thoughts that keep you up in the wee hours on the night sometimes, yet for a few brief days, in the light of my mother’s timeless smile I was able to sweep them out of my mind and reconnect with the simple act of having carefree fun and being in the presence of loved ones. During their visit my health held up surprising well and we were able to visit a number of interesting destinations around Toronto such as Black Creek Pioneer Village, the CN Tower, and Centreville Island, each of which I’d never been to before. Though they were technically the ones on vacation, it felt as though they were giving my husband and I a holiday as well.


{Darling husband and I on the ferry to Centreville Island. Despite the cheery sunshine there was a bitingly cold wind that was turning our cheeks and noses pink. Still it was so enjoyable to be on a ferry for the first time since I was 14!}


{Here hubby and I gaze out at downtown Toronto and the CN Tower from the shores of Centreville Island.}


{In this shot I'm admiring a lovely doll house that was on display in the foyer of the welcome centre at Black Creek Pioneer Village. Though this was a modern doll house, it was somewhat done up to resemble the Victorian homes that dot this charming historical site.}


{And here we have the back of my head ;D Or to be more detailed, a shot of me gazing out from the observation deck of the CN Tower as I scan the city looking for our apartment.}


{The little redhead on the left is me, the stunning blond in the middle is my mother, and the chap at the end is a statue of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould. This bench is located in downtown Toronto near the CBC building.}


{My mom was snapping photos of my cat, Stella, on our bed, and decided to turn the lens on me when Stella jumped off. This picture was taken on the afternoon of the last day of my parents trip. I can see a bit of fatigue in my face, but there is something about this shot - despite the dusty soles of my bare feet - that I genuinely like, which is a very rare thing for me to say regarding photos of myself.}

{All of the photos above were taken by either my mom or my step-dad during late May and early June 2009. I cherish them and the many others now saved on my hard drive. Thank you both for taking just as many family snaps these days as when I was a youngster. The memories they preserve are utterly priceless.}


Only time will tell when the four of us will be able to get together once more, but even without an exact date, I’m already counting down the days. Cherished relatives are too dear, too important, and too vital to not want to spend time with.

I’m afraid that the all this recent activity caught up with me yesterday though and now I’m a bit run down. That doesn’t matter though, I’m still abuzz with the wonderful feelings these past few days have filled my soul with, my head too full of bliss to mind if my body needs a while to recoup.

Tonight in the wee AM hours I’ve been responding to the awesome comments that have recently been left here, and have begun to catch up (slowly) on about two weeks worth of blog feeds. I hope that you are each well and would love to know how you’ve spent your days lately and what elements have been bringing joy into your lives.