30 Day Challenge: DAY 13: My favourite artist

Day 13: A picture of your favorite band or artist.

"Nas is like..

Sex to a nympho, but nothin sweet
I'm like beef, bustin heat through your windows
I'm like a street sweeper, greenleaf reaper
Like Greeks in Egypt, learnin somethin deep from they teachers
I'm like crime, like your nine, your man you would die for
Always got you, I'm like Pac, dude you would cry for
I'm like a whole lot of loot, I'm like crisp money
Corporate accounts from a rich company
I'm like ecstasy for ladies, I'm like all races
combined in one man; like the '99 summer jam
Bulletproof Hummer man
I'm like being locked down around new faces, and none of em fam'
I'm the feelin of a millionaire spendin a hundred grand
I'm a poor man's dream, a thug poet
Live it, and I write down and I watch it blow up
Y'all know what I'm like, y'all play it your system every night

"Nas is like life or death.. I'm a rebel.. "
"My poetry's deep, I never fell.."
"Nas is like.. half man half amazing.."
"No doubt.."

- NAS

30 Day Challenge: DAY 12: I love...

Day 12: A picture of something you love.

 I love travelling.
If you know me, you know how obsessed I am with speaking about places I'd love to visit, and asking people questions about different places they've visited.
I'm just so curious. I get bored very easily, and I'm consumed with imaging different places I can possibly visit or travel through.
I wanna know how other people in the world live, and I like waking up and not knowing what to expect.
Maybe its all the books I read as a child, and the incredible imagine I had. Perhaps it's all the summers spent travelling to, and then around Egypt ever since I can remember. Or, maybe its all of my father's romanticized, idealized stories (that I can recount by heart) of the whimsical cities he's seen.
I think its a combination of all these and my need to explore what's around me.


I've always thought I was a restless kind of soul, and when you really think about it, don't most of us spend our lives looking for the fulfilling feeling of being home?
I guess that might be what I'm looking for...

(K, fine. I cheated with 2 pictures.)

30 Day Challenge: DAY 11: I hate...

Day 11: A picture of something you hate.

I HATE feeling under-, or un-appreciated. Whether it's in relationships, at work/school, or in any other aspect of my life, I hate when I don't get the praise or recognition I feel I deserve.

I mean, its not like I do favours just so people can owe me favours, or just for that self-righteous feeling of doing good, but when they go unnoticed its discouraging. 

My parents have never really been the type to pat me on the back everytime I did something good or exceeded at a task. In fact, my accomplishments are usually overshadowed by their persistent pushes that I do something better and beyond. 

Maybe that's why I over-kill the "thank-you"s... Hmm...

(p.s: finding a picture to express "unappreciation" is really difficult)

30 Day Challenge: DAY 10: person you do crazy shit with

Day 10: A picture of the person you do the most fucked up things with.






Whether we're getting wasted at her birthday and dancing all over glass, or randomly running down the street from my mother at a teenage New Years celebration (for no reason- Mom wasn't even looking for us), my best friend/sister from another moms Bee is someone I always end up doing crazy shit with.

The first time we got piffed in the 9th grade we ended up at some forest (after I'd bought a XXXL hoodie, convinced it would hide the smell) with our distaster of a spliff, vowing never to tell anyone about our adventure. She was right by my side as my birthday/New Years Eve took a crazy turn in Montreal, and I can never forget our countless midnight adventures as 15 year olds who thought they were so cool staying out till 2 am on a weekday.
We've gone to wild parties, witnessed crazy moments that you wouldn't even believe if I told you, and encountered some of the most psychotic characters the world has to offer. One of my only memories of my first part-time job (which of course, Bee and I had together) is of us intentionally jamming nuggets, coffee, fries, sauces, and apple pies into the soft-serve ice cream machine, only to be let off the hook with a slap on the wrist when it broke.
I've gotten into more mischief with this girl than anyone else I know, and somehow I don't seem to mind. It's like we feed off each other's energy- almost competing with/challenging each other to do fucked up things (like the time she bought me chocolate-covered crickets and dared me to eat them). Anyone who knows either of us always seems to know that when one of us is in trouble or doing something reckless, the other ones nearby.

I look forward to doing so much more fucked up shit with Bee, and taking our reckless adventures around the world...

30 Day Challenge: DAY 9: whose gotten you through the most?

Day 9: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.




I'm sure this is supposed to be the part where you get all sentimental, post a picture of one of your conveniently appointed "best friends" and write a bunch of crap drawing on memories when he or she "got you through" something. While that's lovely and all, and I would not be who I am or where I am today were it not for the selected number of people who have helped me overcome things, this is also an exercise in honesty and self-realization. And what I'm slowly to coming to realize is the strength of my character, the tenacity I've surprised myself with, and the amount of bullshit obstacles life has thrown my way that I alone have climbed over and can look back at with a feeling of accomplishment.

I remember around the 9th grade, when I started becoming aware of the diminishing role Christianity (and any religion for that matter) was playing in my life an being more vocal about this, people's go-to question would be: "so what do you believe in?" And in automatic response, my reply would be "myself".
But as adolescence turned adulthood, real life, failure and plenty of proverbial scrapes on my knee would soon show me: it's not that easy to believe in yourself. I mean it sounds good to, and I'm sure all those mantra's you're taught to say while looking in the mirror are beneficial, but is that real? I guess, yes and no. More and more, I'm finding that in my darkest moments and lowest points, when my friends and family have failed to be there (whether thats their fault or mine), one thing remains constant- and that is me. I disappoint myself like every other human does, I make mistakes that I can kick myself for, and I exhibit very poor errors in judgment. At the end of the day though, when shit hits the wall and no one is around to clean it up, I leave myself no choice but to pick up and move. Move on, move forth, move away, move up- just move.
While I appreciate the role my loved ones have played in ensuring my sanity and helping me pick up the broken pieces, I've learned that I cannot always rely on this extra help. 


Thus, the person who has gotten me through the most is: ME.

30 Day Challenge: DAY 8: laughable picture

Day 8: A picture that makes you laugh.

Snapped a few years ago at my birthday celebrations in Montreal, this picture captures everything that night was. From a last minute change of plans that had us doing the New Years countdown with our crazy French cab driver, to ending up at a strip club and popping bottles the night away...

This foo dropped my birthday cake, we took over that hotel floor, and we smoked a super blunt. There were more bottles in our rooms than guests, and the drive was fun, (even though its tough to coordinate a 3-car road trip). 

The people on this trip made it so worth it, and I had such an awesome birthday! 

Oh yeah, and that writing on his back? That aint even the half of it... you should've seen the makeup on his face ;)

30 Day Challenge: DAY 7: treasured item

Day 7: A picture of your most treasured item.

my mind.

When time takes my most valued possessions, when expensive items I've owned get lost or destroyed, when I wake up and am having an "ugly day", and when people walk in and out of my life, there's one thing I treasure- my mind.

I love that I question things. I love that I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. I love that I'm insanely curious about the mechanics of the world, and that I seek to learn new things. I love that I can take a critical approach and that I sometimes over-analyze. I love that I can think pragmatically, but that my creativity allows me to interpret the beauty of things.

I value my mind and my thinking process.

30 Day Challenge: DAY 6: someone you'd like to trade places with for a day

Day 6: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

"First I snatched the streets, then I snatched the charts,

First I had they ears, now I have their hearts,
Rappers came and went,

I been here from the start.

Seen them put it together,

Watched them take it apart...

This is not an image

This is God given

This is hard livin'..."

I wanna know what it's like to walk onto a stage, and see thousands of people cheering for you.

I wanna know what it's like to be quoted by artists, academics, fans and critics alike.

I wanna know what it's like to push limits in a genre I helped shape,

and then I wanna know what it's like to set higher bars and reach those too.

I wanna know what its like to be credited, scorned, and etched in the pages of history by people who have never heard another hiphop song.

I wanna know what its like to be recognized as a creator, success story, hard worker, artist, and entrepreneur.

I wanna know what it's like to be looked up to by kids who aint got shit but a dream and a standard that I set.

I wanna know what it's like to grind for years, make millions off my grind, and then go in even harder.

Most of all, as someone making something out of nothing, I wanna know what it's like to sit in my Italian leather seat, in my penthouse suite, looking out the window at my city-skyline view, and know that I did this all for me...

30 Day Challenge: DAY 5: favourite memory

Day 5: A picture of your favorite memory.

Sharm (Red Sea), Egypt- 2010

Some of my favourite memories always seem to stem from my trips to Egypt. I've discovered close family members, met new friends and family, partied till the sun came up and experienced new sounds, tastes, and views. I've spent countless hours reading on a sunny beach, travelled horseback/camelback and aboard a plane/train/antique car/boat/ and any other transport imaginable. I've marvelled at the creations of my ancestors, learned what we as Canadians take for granted, broadened my political palette, and met people from all walks of life who have left ineraseable impressions on me. 


Most of all, I learned a lot about myself and my place in the bigger picture. And those are the sort of memories one can never seem to forget...

30 Day Challenge: DAY 4: my night

Day 4: A picture of your night

(Photo courtesy of: Karla 'Hustlegrl' Moy)

Getting to see my favourite rapper perform, right in the front of the crowd, with VIP tickets and an after-party to match: Need I say more?

30 Day Challenge: DAY 3: favourite cast

Day 3: A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

I've grown up with them (even though they never actually age), and they've been the source of much of my laughter over the years. I would not be the same me if I wasn't quoting Homer's stupidest statements, imitating Sideshow Bob's evil British accent, or analyzing episode-by-episode.


I see a little bit of each character in me: Lisa's cute nerdiness, Homer's ditzy moments, Bart's bad-ass-ness, Marge's worrisome moments, Selma & Louise's roasting sessions, and Moe's constant search for anyone who cares about him.


The Simpsons has always been one of my favourite shows, and like the timeless characters on it, I'm pleased with the new episodes but treasure all the classics...

30 Day Challenge: DAY 2: closest person

Day 2: A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

This one was easy: my big sister (right), MARZ!! (a.k.a Marlin)


We never agree about anything, we get under each other's skins, and we're both the hardest-headed mofo's I know- but that has allowed us to become as close as can be. You taught me most of what I know, you encourage me to challenge myself and push the limit, and even though you don't always show it, you believe in me and my dreams.
I couldn't ask for someone who understands me, forces me to face myself, and makes me own up to my consequences more than you do.
You've guided me, protected me, loved me, travelled the world with me, altered my thinking, partied hard with me, and accepted me. Whenever we have a falling out, I know it's never the end- not just because we're family, but because we complete each other. You're the yin to my yang, the milk to my Lucky Charms, and the Brain to my Pinky.
As my tarot-card reader once put it, we're one soul, divided in half and that is why we'll always find our way back to each other...

30 Day Challenge: DAY 1: Me

Day 1: A picture of you and 15 facts

1. I have a deeply embedded love affair with readings/books/literature and am obsessed with the idea of recording one's internal workings on paper (or blog, for what its worth :p)
2. I need to be challenged in order to be productive.
3. I'm misunderstood.
4. I hate the texture/smell/taste of most seafood, but envy those who know their seafood.
5.  Yellow and black are my favourite colours, but I wear too much black!
6. I often toy with the idea of picking a destination at random, buying a one-way flight and seeing what unfolds (till reality reminds me of the limits of being a female).
7. I'm deathly scared of failing at life, and that is the source of much of my restlessness
8. I'm a dreamer in the thorough-est sense, and sometimes that can distract me from acting on my dreams
9. The number one place I want to see most is India, followed by 25634 other places I wanna see before I die.
10. I'm drawn to people who can vibe with my thoughts, challenge my thinking, provide insight into who I am, discuss current affairs with me, engage in thought-provoking conversations, and see the world on multi-levels like I do
11. "I'm like Che Guevarra with bling on, I'm complex"- I often find myself torn between the innate materialist with a capitalist mentality who dwells within me, and the idealist with humanitarian values and a sometimes overly-whimsical vision of how I can change the world.
12. I place certain people on high pedastools, and unfortunately this has made me all-too familiar with disappointment.
13. I hate tomato insides, spicy food, white onions, chicken wings, raisins, dark chocolate, bacon (and most red meat), pizza toppings, etc, etc, etc- I guess I might be a bit of a picky eater 
14. I can be kinda selective when it comes to guys, and that usually gives a wrong impression about me
15. I find I'm usually drawn to men/friends/acquaintances who are older in age

30 Day Challenge

I was on my cousin's Facebook a couple of weeks ago, when I noticed something she was doing that really caught my attention. Enter: the 30 Day Challenge.
Based on the 30-Day Tumblr Challenge in which post-ers were asked to post something new everyday (i.e Day X- favourite song, Day Z- photo of someone you love, etc.), this one is picture-based. The idea is to help others gain some insight into who you are at your core, while teaching something new about yourself to those who already know you well.
Anyways, it seemed like a really cool idea, and when I noticed how creative/unique my cousin's choice of photos were, I felt obliged to take part.


The list is as follows:


Day 1: A picture of you and 15 facts
Day 2: A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.
Day 3: A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Day 4: A picture of your night.
Day 5: A picture of your favorite memory.
Day 6: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
Day 7: A picture of your most treasured item.
Day 8: A picture that makes you laugh.
Day 9: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
Day 10: A picture of the person you do the most fucked up things with.
Day 11: A picture of something you hate.
Day 12: A picture of something you love.
Day 13: A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 14: A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
Day 15: A picture of something you want to do before you die.
Day 16: A picture of someone who inspires you.
Day 17: A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
Day 18: A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 19: A picture of you when you were little.
Day 20: A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
Day 21: A picture of something you wish you could forget.
Day 22: A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Day 23: A picture of your favorite book.
Day 24: A picture of something you wish you could change.
Day 25: A picture of your day.
Day 26: A picture of something that means a lot to you.
Day 27: A picture of something you like to do often.
Day 28: A picture of something you're afraid of.
Day 29: A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30: A picture of someone you miss.




Look out for my pictures!!