Elusively aloof

Hey gang, ready for one of those things that I do here? Good me too. Lets get it over with. None of this is in order, rhyme, or reason. I’m managing several projects as usual and this is just a dump post of IG images plus some extras. I go crazy if I don’t blog here and my life (in pictures) accumulates.

*Psst: I started writing this yesterday (Sunday) fyi.

Tuesday went to Southern Accents (aka Southern Comfort lol easy mistake) after Guu now called kinka izakaya. Tuesday was a funny day I had a couple appts, hit the mall to do a long-standing chore then met up with another new colleague. Hey whatever I dont need to explain myself to you people!

Life is about balance. I am also addicted to “going out”. That balance I speak of.. the other half of my life is spent sitting in front of my laptop working so “lay off me”.

Errrm. If you go into a library you’re gonna read a book and if you see a bottle of absinthe you’re gonna have a sip. It was the perfect storm and I totally nursed it like a lady.

I ventured out dressed in gonna speed-walk home gear so felt like a desperate housewife eating at Kinka Izakaya just a little. I made it work.

I have misplaced my Detroit Tigers hat. Whoever has it, Give it baaaaaaack.

On Earth Day last weekend I was feeling a little cooped up and so guess what I did haha. I painted the down just a bit. Birthday month kinda thing.

Double-header blog gig day a couple weeks ago one job being with Toughroof, flat roof repair. Went out to the jobsite pretty under-dressed for it which resulted in another cold a few days later that is still in my throat. I have a kennel cough.

This view never gets old and largely is why I stuck around here so long haha.

When my hair is unwashed it goes more red. I am trying to stretch out salon visits in between colourings rn. When I wash it all the blond pops out again. My roots make it so I have to do that model-hair flip thing. Hair hair hair etc.

Happy I finally got the right size bracelet for my teensy wrist. Aside from my nose, all my other features are small like hands, ankles, boobs, wrists. The more ya know. Actually while on the topic, my boobs are not that small they are deceptively small in appearance but are actually quite the scoops. It’s my platform and I’ll declare whatever the hell I please here on it. I wonder how addicted to charms collecting I’ll become.

Adore this place. Don’t ever leave or change.

Sometimes you just need some spicy octopus. This cleared my brain right out. I took a bite and got back to yammering then all of a sudden I felt like I was going to sneeze and my eyes watered right up. I find that if you senselessly flap at your mouth and at the air like an idiot for a bit the heat will subside and you’re left with a nice little buzz and your co-eater is like, you ok bruh? While tears and snot streams down your face, “I’m fine.”

Turns out eating and drinking lots gets you fat. What? The zipper on these bit the dust. You have to wear them on a skinny day. With spanx. Anyway, I stopped ordering pizza for a few weeks and have slimmed down finally. I am exercising too. I want to be toned. I have a vision. No more farting around.

Dream come true. Everyone loves my DJ name Babysitting Money. “My DJ name”. I am Raymazing. Remember when I used to have joie de vivre and say things like that? I must have been kicked in the head by a mule, or by bitches. Too many bitches, so little time. So many distractions. Y’all don’t even know. The object of the game is to keep it that way. I am well blessed in accruing lots of great mentors and cool people, peers and colleagues along the way. I love collecting good people who are good to me and believe in me. Tired of people hating me for breathing.

We thought the event went at 7. It started at 5. I was late. Showed up to a swarm of nerds. My big coat and I trying to make our way through the crowd I was having a mega-anxiety attack. I needed a drink stat. I am not a .ca member, I only own .coms so I had the white lanyard aka a loser. No open bar for me! No biggie I was the star of the party and had all my new friends and future colleagues getting me dranks through the night. You need to rsvp for next year. Don’t wear a turtleneck though. I was dying. My jokes were on fire though.

I wanted this but I was in a stingy bitch mood. I still want it though, it was a little big. Distressed clothing is the best I have their contact I’ll nag them for stuff. A shirt like this would have seen me through summer.

Canada was not cool enough to be represented in fashion. That’s cool we good.

One of my bigger life regrets is not buying a tartan plaid mini blazer that I tried on at a clothing sale in bar in Ottawa. I have pics in it I’ll show ya. Ugh. I haggled and the girl would not budge the longer she looked at me in it cos she knew I needed that blazer it was made for me. I did not want to lose so I did not buy it. REGRETS.

Was not expecting to go here but it’s just around the corner from Kinka so why not. I like escapism bars. If you never leave the fucking city you kinda have to.

We had such a blast we stuck around for trivia and then it got ugly. Hella competitive. Okay not ugly but they wouldn’t let you even touch your phone and sometimes you need to reference stuff (not cheat!) or follow whomever you’re talking to on IG and then all of a sudden you’re getting yelled at for being on your phone in front of the entire room. Plus you’re drunk. I was just like FINE. We had too many people at our table and at first were split into two teams and we were mean af to each other then got nice when we just banded together so whatever it’s just one over the limit why not merge teams but not before one of us said Duluth instead of Buffalo. Rowdy is fun though I love talking trash as I’m sure you’ve noticed.

When you’re not feeling your body, going out is a chore. Especially if you are a last minute outfit planner like me but it worked out I think. I’ll be gross and unshowered-ish for days then shower and feel like a beauty queen and take a bunch of pics then kind of hide for the rest of the week in my jogging pants.

A gf said this is one of my high fashion looks. The socks and the shoes like that. She just has a Melanie Griffith in Working Girl (those pumps and socks!) boner, so I am a little skeptical. I do notice a lot of women flicking their eyes down at me when we pass in an, oh that’s an idea kind of way. I know when things look trendy. I am not an idiot. Okay well I am but not in that capacity. I could be a legit stylist if I got my shit together. The more I brag about myself the longer this takes.

Hey again. I have a lot of these.

Club 54 disco inferno dress.

Earth day. Unexpected fun! Makes you feel like you saved the Earth a little. I bet in the future it’ll be mandatory to do it once a week for an hour and then more and more as we deplete the Earth of its renewable resources.

I bet these billboards were all lit though.

During bed to couch rotation I get to see the most spectacular ways of the sky over the city. It takes my breath away or would if I were properly awake. Then I go back to sleep for awhile.

RIP Rob Ford. You will be missed. It’s been interesting seeing the pitchforks come out and kind of disappointing. People love when villains die.

Winter hair. Wild animal. Can’t wait til it’s monstrously gigantic.

A Kir Royale. Loved our bartender this night. I have memories sitting at this bar. Kind of got a chill. I was so much younger. Felt like a kick in the pants.

Shotgun houses.

Lots of memories down here in the bunker of the Drake.

My celeb mogul besties list gets longer. My friend Dave knows Jelleestone (J!) and we recently became social media friends.

A refresher if you will. I went by Grasshopper records to see Dave after I went to The Darling Mansion and he knew J would be there, the stars just all aligned and now we are homies! Go Raymes.

Love hanging here. Hadn’t seen Dave in a month too. I know Dave through Geoffrey. It’s all very complex who cares.

So it was a good night. We hung around Dundas, went to Get Well. Record store. Studio. I am a lucky girl. Or I just spent a good deal making connections in my life and being awesome in general blah etc snore zzzz lol.

I also hadn’t seen my nice lady friend Tanya in a bit so I decided to drop in. More on that later!

No comment. I enjoy the composition. Kind of comical. I ate 4 taquitos and I don’t ever want to forget it and thus never do it again.

Beeeeeautiful.

Easter was a success. Some couldn’t show because of all their barfing kids so like I said, a success! Love our dysfunctional fam though. I’ll do an homage post when I have some time never.

My brother and I’s birthdays are ten days apart. Mine is on march 31. JUST SAYING.

GOOD TIMES. TTYL GUYS time to watch The Walking Dead and edit this post.

Head’s up 100% going to this so get a ticket and come with. Or better yet Retweet my tweet and win a set. I’m giving away two pairs of 2.

The Darling Mansion pt. II

Hello hello. Finally the second installment of The Darling Mansion photos from that epic boxing day bash, the ones too racy for Raymi Toronto but not for you minxes here. The rest of the best!

“Welcome to an inside scoop of the ever-successful Air B&B masterpiece The Darling Mansion by proprietress Tanya Grossi located at 224 Dovercourt Road which was also featured on the front page of The Toronto Star’s Entertainment section last Wednesday, January 27: What goes on inside Toronto’s Darling Mansion? All photos in this Raymi Toronto post taken by Tracey White Kirouac aka my mom.”

Darling is synonymous with Tanya. Anytime I hear that word I think of her immediately. That’s how you build an authentic brand. Claim a word. Be a darling.

It’s a beautiful place. A lot to see and feature.

aaaaaaaaaand Tanya is homies with Geoffrey Rush. He goes there. Sigh. I had the Shine movie poster on my wall as a teen. Fact.

Loved her. Body goals.

I thought this was me when I originally went through all these photos hahaha. Tanya has a great collection of mannequin parts.

Giggle collapse in the Madam’s quarters. It happens.

Great details taken by my mother.

End of the night evidence thanks mom. That’s just Clem nbd.

Exterior of the office. IRL on your tiptoes you see a lot more.

By the end of the night everyone is best friends. Best friends for one night only!!

Hi mom. This was taken in the opium den, the master suite.

What’s up Gurpreet.

Nice.

I was just sitting there and it became a happening. It typically does.

Tanya is pipes goals. Love ya darling.

My instagram “I am a model” phase lol.

Double shooters.

Oh mom. Hi Alastair. This is the downstairs Playboy theme bathroom. It’s very dated. You will love it.

Salvador Dali was a hell of a guy and Tanya’s main squeeze. Inspiration.

Just exquisite. You may find out her name over on Raymi Toronto.

Oh that art. Such a sweet piece.

I’d show it off too baby!

Wowzers.

So amazing.

Nostalgiaaaa.

This is my mom’s friend. Well. He wrote the feature on her for The Toronto Star on her rock collection story. Don’t get me started.

It was a fun party indeed.

If everybody does it it’s okay.

A classic print.

What’s with the face ma?

Mom you are hilarious for taking this.

Va-va-voom! Part of Tanya’s brand is her boldness and confidence with nudity. She is very flexible, used to do back arches on her bar. Iconic. Toronto woman legend for damn sure just lurk her Facebook or google her man, no one compares.

You may admire art like this but Tanya admires it by amassing it in full blown print form. Got you beat again gooses.

This is in the pink room. The Wes Anderson room. Well anyway I’m sorry it’s over but as always, more soon. Have a beautiful rest of your Sundaze.

See part I HERE: The Darling Mansion Part I.

Drake 150 with me

Hey you all. Do check out Raymi Toronto for my Drake 150 feature. Love that place!

awhile ago I had dinner + drinks at DRAKE ONE FIFTY and it was maaaahvelous. Adore that scene. Definitely going back and fangirling hard over it cos I think I looked “on fleek” that night and took hella selfies to show for it. Capital Whatever. Lets go.

ENJOY TTYL!

HoHoTO @ Virgin Mobile Mod Club

The HoHoTO recap is over on Raymi Toronto yo: HoHoTO 2015 @ Mod Club! Oh what, it’s March you say? Irrelevant lol.

It was a great night and successful charity takings too.

aaand like I said you gotta hit up Raymi Toronto to check it all out so TTYL TGIF.

Loving my new #416ers hat! Thanks @raymitheminx

A video posted by 40deuce (@40deuce) on

I could watch that for hours.

bored press send bored press end

Hey player haters. Holy my life is a stupid blur. I have to go on my FB to see if this photo was even used here yet I’ve seen it so much before already. Insert more endless blog complaints about blogging.

SO into this look in fact I gotta collage it bruh. My client was too cos the night of the Oscars he was all (texted) it is spellbinding (my word) how much Kate Winslet and I look exactly the same and I was like, huh now??

You know I googled that the very next morning and was like she even got the hair swoop down good work Kate’s team of stylists who obviously follow my instagram/entire life. Hopefully you will never have to see this picture of me again. I plan to “cover” my dinner at Drake OneFifty I dig it that much and intend to go back until they get sick of looking at me. I like to take pictures of great spaces and I also love a cocktail of theirs called the Rum Diary.

I had steak tartare and oysters. You’re just gonna have to wait til I upload the rest.

Hung out at my friend’s record store near the bar a couple Fridays ago. Very fun vortex night. One for the books? Went all over town and by that I mean like, two more places lol I am old. Do yourselves a favour and look up the time John Lydon was on Judge Judy. Classic. Maybe prep yourself a drink beforehand.

Tony took this of me at Swan Dive the same two weeks ago.

Cray nails. Whenever I hodge-podge them it’s just another thing for me to pick off. You think if I have a gf of mine manicure me I’ll leave them alone? Does that help?

My little wino buddy Heather and I learn a lesson in not putting glasses on the floor. Don’t cry over spilled wine just pour some more.

I’ll post more of this lady friend in time. The reactions kind of get too much tbh. All the people we already have in common LOSE IT knowing she and I “hang out”. People are babies. It’s super foreseeable. I’m an adult baby for life so I should know.

Went for food at this amaze place around the corner I’m not telling cos I don’t want it to be slammed when I go back. It’s a fine line of patronage vs promo on the little gems in the city.

Also the night I wore my cat dress. My outfits are layered and versatile. I also don’t take that many selfies believe it or not, whatever that many means. I just do it all in one night and then feed off those for days while in actuality I look like a disgusting slob behind scenes. FAMILY SECRETS.

Charlie Brown (gigantic) Avocado tree and its one ornament that I got for whining about being an adult on twitter b’y. When losing is winning.

Mike Sent a print of the time I got naked in a box at Lane Studios. It’s nice and big thank you. I bet one of my boys will want it for their wall. I’ll buy you a shawarma when that happens.

Played with an icicle the other day and had the time of my life. Just kidding I immediately threw it in the sink after this picture as it was cold and wet. Please tell me what to draw on that awesomely prepped canvas I am all out of ideas. Something hipster I presume. Haunting. Timely. No irony though we’ve all had enough of that.

Finally made time to go through Tony’s newer prints. Lovely, lovely. Might use that top right one as a profile photo it’s very Alicia Silverstoner, long hair-like. Guy’s got an eye.

Well looky-loo. Another Drake OneFity. I just convinced a client to meet there next week alternatively to a spot he had in mind. Pumped.

That’s what I wore to dinner. When in doubt don’t wear pants. Throw a blazer over it to tie it all in there. Maaaahvelous.

All I did this weekend was relax and eat. Made meals around the clock and watched films. The Salvation is disturbing word to the wise but it is also gripping and you’ll want a tattoo on the side of your temple once you see this one character named Princess who had her tongue cut out yeah I don’t mess around with my cinematography yo.

Went to an apres ski party on Thursday at The Everleigh. If you’re not in the mood to party I swear, things just happen in the universe that annoy you even more, no? That being said I had a good time catching up with “the crew” in “that scene” and as always look forward to the next.

I felt fat and crabby from trying to make an outfit to hide it and turns out I have no ski clothing, who knew lol.

Went to a day event last-last week as well was kind of a whirlwind couple of weeks there that’s why I feel none too guilty when I balance it out by being lazy af. I ate three of those cake pops. Been mad lit in the food dept lately bra. Now I know why it was vocalized once in my family that “no one can understand what Lauren is saying on her blog”. I try to give to all audiences. Just Urban Dictionary any word you don’t undertand or leave a comment about clarification. Don’t be shy.

Was nice to catch up with some old buds on Friday after work. I like Motel too. I like to visit places I used to go to I am constantly romanticizing shit.

My oh yeah I am a singer/musician hat. Shut up! Okay mates we’re getting the band back together. Lets have rehearsal STAT Boylord or bust. Alrighty then gotta scoot sorry if this post was boring af to you. xoxo

too close to the flame

Heather came by a couple weeks ago. We fooled around with makeup and her camera. Here’s how the shots turned out.

I try and be a good subject when I can.

Orig.

And touched up by Heather. No clue what she did or how but which do you prefer and does it really matter?

My eyebrows are covered in glitter goop. I had a pimple on my chin that’s why I placed a jewel on it, off to the side all weird like lol.

Heather has been a reader of this blog for years. I forget how many but enough to be moved to paint pictures of me and my RTM name in water colour then become my friend. Cool story bro, birds of a feather. We both bartend.

I bought this jacket in Germany. The pink shirt was Lizzy’s from her bluegrass band days.

My personal favourite. I like that I can look this cute without any touch-ups. Just a lot of make-up and camera angle tricks. I will be 33 at the end of this month (March 31) that fact is not lost on me bruh.

Alrighty then have a nice frigging day. I’m at Swan Dive tomorrow night (Monday) fyi.

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New RAYMI TORONTO post: The Addisons Residence Respect the Agave event

Read it.