Foxtrot Charlie

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March 27th - Fog

Fog creates suspense in movies situations, but also in real life. It hides your direct path and can mean that anything can pop out at you from any direction at any time.

Fog is scary.

Times like these though, I don’t mind wading through the fog. At this particular moment, I was walking in the rain/fog with G, as he held my umbrella to make sure my camera didn’t get wet and I could get the perfect shot in the middle of the street. I loved it because I had a spotter, someone watching my back, making sure I was okay. I pride myself on my independence, but I love that in a scary, fog filled world, I have someone who’s willing to risk everything with me for the perfect shot.

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March 26th - Obsessed

No matter what’s going on in my day, if this little lady is in the office, I know it’ll be a good one.

Having dogs in the office is like built in therapy, I often find myself over by Ramona, seeking affection and just muttering my frustrations to her. She doesn’t much care for it, and would sometimes rather chew on a bone and rawhide than suffer my affections.

While I make a daily wish to get my own dog, I realize the responsibility of caring for another life is long ahead of me, when I’m more mature and can properly care for myself.

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Ah, babies! They're more than just adorable little creatures on whom you can blame your farts.

Tina Fey

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March 24th - Kensington

Working downtown has it’s perks, like being a short walk away from some of the best restaurants in the city. While I love the proximity to fancy shmancy places like Montecito or Figo, I personally love being close to Chinatown and Kensington.

There’s just something so perfect about getting food from an OG restaurant or sketchy stall like Jumbo Empanadas or Pancho’s bakery to get churros. Some of my favourite restaurants are all along the Spadina strip, East or West of it. 

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March 23rd - Auntie x2

This rushed photo was taken the day after my nephew was born. I was rushing because it was the first time I got to meet him. 

My sister’s daughter graced this world last year in December, but my brother and his wife were expecting at the same time. That feeling of seeing your flesh and blood for the first time never gets old.  My extended family is rather large, so I’ve been experiencing this goosebump raising, heart melting feeling, for quite a while now.

I am lucky that I love my family, and that they love me. Given my extended family’s size, my own immediate family is rather small. Just my parents, and my brother and sister. 

I never expected my sister to have a baby, but she’s here, this teeny, tubby, bossy little girl. And exactly three months later, I have my nephew. And while he won’t be home for a while, I’m over the moon that he’s here. 

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March 22nd - My Town

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March 21st - Date Night

Knowing this lady is leaving my daily life has been so hard. She has been a constant source of inspiration, love, and support. I know our relationship and time together won’t be the end when she leaves Toronto, but having her here has been so nice.

Most of our dates go like this: photographs, some form of tea or food (or both), and a lot of TMI. They’ve mostly been impromptu dates, after work or during hard times, but it doesn’t mean that they’re not necessary or appreciated. She is my muse, and I think I might kind of be her’s, at least in the way of stalking.

I love her dearly, and am rue to see her go, but I love knowing that she’s moving forward in her big life adventure. 

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March 20th - Kicks

I’m one of those girls that has a million pairs of shoes, but wears the same pair almost every day. I’m trying to change that, but it’s difficult when you have a solid pair of kicks like these Vans and the rest of your shoes are too fancy to wear with your Hufflepuff cardigan.

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March 19th - Web

I feel like the city is just covered in this giant web, connecting things, and people where it can. Despite the TTC’s short comings in that area, there is no denying it’s presence, much to my original chagrin when I took this photo.

There have been all these ads and posters showing how “The TTC connects us”, and they’re right. I wouldn’t be able to get to my job, where I’m surrounded by great people, where I can meet anyone across the city in usually an hour or less. While most despise it’s tardiness, cleanliness and general outdated means, I love taking the TTC everywhere.

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March 18th - The “Castle”

The R.C. Harris Water Treatment plant is one of my favourite places to go in the city. The architecture is this absolutely stunning art deco design, that would have you believing that what’s inside isn’t just a giant poop cleaner.

My brother-in-law always told me that it was a castle by the lake, and for a brief moment, I believed him. To me it has always been the landmark that marks my place of tranquility. 

Despite the fact that most Torontonians find Lake Ontario to be disgusting, I find it and the beaches so calming. In the hustle and bustle of the city, it’s nice to just find a pocket of nature that allows you to lose yourself in it, if you turn at the correct angle away from the shore and encroaching cityscape.

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March 17th - Under Construction

Much of my life this past month has been dealing with my kitchen renovations. It’s driven me to the brink of madness and hunger due to my inability to cook or even store food adequately.

Contractors have been in and out of my home, sawing, hacking and restoring my kitchen, and it’s nearly there. I am hoping my allergies survive

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March 16th - Self(ie) Love

I find it hard to take photos of myself lately, I used to take more when I was 15 pounds lighter and I was about 3 years younger.

Despite the concerted effort to take creative photos of my life, I find it hard to put myself in front of the lens. It’s different when I had someone, namely Ritu, taking photos of me. I had someone directing me, finding my angles, capture cute candids, but trying to take a self portrait has been so difficult. My weight is partially to do with it, but I feel like I’ve lost some of my physical identity. I’m in my late twenties now, I feel like I’m hovering between a comfy, casual wardrobe, and one that’s more polished and mature. I don’t know where to find the good middle.

If this project of mine is going to work, I’ll have to find ways to break free of this fear, and try to get in front of the lens more, even if it means begging strangers to photograph me. Even more so, finding it in me to feel comfortable with photographing myself without deleting a million selfies.

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March 15th - Style

I often struggle with personal styling because I go back and forth between what’s comfortable and what looks good for my body. I used to be a stylist at Free People so I’m always thinking about the clothes that would fit my body type and being hypercritical of how things fit.

I tend to gravitate towards accessories because I don’t have to worry about how they fit and regardless of how much weight I gain or lose I’ll still be able to wear them.

I try to take the little wins wherever I can, even if it’s just a really great ponytail for the day.

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March 14th - Zella Day: Seven Nation Army

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March 13th - CDO

This is Calvin, he’s the CDO of our company; Chief Dog Officer. 

I’ve known him for over a year now and this pupper has grown. He’s still pretty much one of the silliest, kinda dumb dog I’ve ever met, who’s intent on being a lapdog, but he’s a sweetheart.

He’s really spoiled because everyone at my work loves him and loves to play with him, so he pretty much gets everything he wants. He’s gone through at least 20 leashes because he bites through all of them and uses our $300 beanbags like they’re his personal dog bed.

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March 12th - Trees

If I were a real artist I’d say something about the composition or coloring in this photo, but I’m not a real artist

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March 11th - Lights

I’m trying to appreciate little things and find shots everywhere I go. I’ve become pretty obsessed with symmetry and lights recently so you’ll see a lot of these,