Fun Five is a monthly email I send out on the 5th. Each edition is a short list of five things I’ve been enjoying lately. Things like inspiration, design, music, food, small curiosities, and more.
June is here, and summer is officially in full swing in Montreal. Between celebrating my birthday and spending more time outside, I have been finding inspiration in some unexpected places. Here is what I found for this month.
1. The art of upcycling thrifted plates
For my birthday, my girlfriend gave me an incredibly thoughtful gift. She went to a thrift store, found a really cool plate, and learned the entire process of how to paint on plates using porcelain markers so she could immortalize my favourite place as a unique piece of art for my wall. It got me thinking about what a fun project it is to upcycle old plates into custom art pieces. It is a super creative DIY idea if you are looking to try a new medium or want to make a highly personal gift for someone.
2. Pushing the limits of the Bixi map
Now that the weather is perfect, a few friends and I went on a massive Bixi adventure the other weekend. We decided to see just how far east of Montreal we could take the bikes. When looking at the Bixi map, we noticed a few docking stations all the way out in Sainte-Julie that seemed to be the furthest point east. We thought that was the perfect excuse to ride out and explore. We discovered a delicious little cafe called Chez Cheval where we refuelled for lunch before heading back. If you have access to a bike share, I highly recommend picking a random spot on the edge of the map and making a day trip out of it. It's such a fun way to explore new areas of your city and if you get tired you can always dock your bike and take public transit back home.
3. The return of the fun soccer commercial
With national teams from all around the world preparing to compete, soccer ads are revving up again. I think this recent ad is so entertaining. It completely reminds me of the classic, over-the-top soccer commercials from the early 2000s. I just love that it does not take itself too seriously and leans into a genuinely fun premise and storyline. I also love the message leading into the summer: "You got this."
4. The joy of the planning process
My girlfriend and I have been planning a two-week trip to Portugal for September, and it has reminded me just how much I love the actual process of putting a trip together. Spending time looking up different spots, getting excited for all the cool stuff there is to see, and learning about a new place before you even get there is almost as fun as the trip itself. It builds so much anticipation and we are incredibly excited to finally travel there.
5. A thought-provoking approach to collage
I recently stumbled upon this video by @lawnmowermedia and it really made me want to try my hand at making collage-style art. He takes these interesting, dried paint remnants from a GelBlock printer and layers them with cutouts to create something completely new. It is a really fun visual aesthetic, but what really stuck with me was the message at the end. He shares a story about Olympic athletes whose entire futures depended on a single performance, posing a fascinating question: how hard would you try at something if you knew success in that one small moment would set you up for life?
Thanks for reading the Fun Five. If there’s something you’ve been really into lately, or if you have any tips or suggestions for Portugal, feel free to reach out and share it!