Back on My Toes

Well it's been a while since I have performed in any type of dance recital...probably since high school. It's hard being an adult dancer and getting the opportunity to perform, so I was ecstatic when back in September my friend Jackie invited me to dance with the National Ballet School's adult ballet class for their Nuit Blanche performance in October.

The piece for Nuit Blanche was a Waltz of the Flowers with about 60 of us adult dancers, it was a really interesting experience to have so many of us perform a 5 minute piece in a month's worth of practice. It was exciting to have an audience come watch me dance again, because it has for sure been a while.

And now, 2 months later, we are back again rehearsing the piece for one of the Eaton Center's Christmas shows happening on December 16th. Tonight was the first of 5 rehearsals we have for the show. I arrived extra early, slapped on my slippers and hit the floor.There weren't as many people at the first practice, maybe around 12 of us (hopefully more will be joining us on Sunday). It was amazing to see how much we could remember of the dance after 2 months. In the hour and half we had gotten through the whole piece. I guess it's true what they say that muscles do have memory!

This time around is going to be a bit of a challenge choreographically as we will be performing in the middle of the mall where there is currently renovations happening! We will have to make sure not to waltz into some drywall. :) Once we figure out spacing I think it will look great and give a sort of flash mob kind of effect to the shoppers!

I think they will like it...who doesn't love a little Nutcracker ballet while Christmas shopping? :)
I will update more on Sunday after rehearsal and hopefully get some pics up! Stay tuned!

How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World

I've been lacking in the reading department lately, so last Friday I decided to hit the library (why not, it's only right next door!) to grab something interesting to read. My friends always tell me I pick up the most interesting books, so what I think I am going to do is start doing little book reviews on my latest finds. I'll start with just one of the 5 I picked up, How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World by Jordan Christy. A clever and cute title for this little book that holds such great observations about the female generation of today. Too much skin, blasts of makeup, texty slang and reality television are just some of the issues Christy touches on in this 196 page book. Each chapter gives a bit of insight on how women have changed as a whole in the past few decades in regards to certain aspects of life, all while giving examples of how to better oneself with suggestions and to-do lists.

The book aims to inspire young females to look beyond the trash that seems to invade our lives each and every day and maintain a certain level of class, style and elegance. Her observations make you think about your everyday demeanour: Are you wearing too much makeup? Is this shirt too low for work? What is my outfit saying to others? How can I maintain a man's attention without seeming too desperate? How can I succeed in the workplace?

Christy writes in a narrative tone which makes the book an easy, fun how-to type book to read. It's fun anecdotes and advice on everyday living are great for any young lady. (I still like to consider myself a young girl thank-you-very-much!)

It's unfortunate that the media focuses a lot of its attention on not-so classy celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton that give young females a terribly wrong idea about what a woman should be. There are plenty of great role models out there but don't get any of the attention. It's importatnt to remember that being a woman is a wonderful thing and being tacky and flashy is not the only way to be an exciting, interesting, beautiful person.

I highly reccommend this book, it's a quick read (great for you subway riders) that provokes a lot of self relflection. Hope you all get a chance to pick this one up :) Happy Reading :)

So it's been a while...

I know. I am the worst blogger ever. I just get so lazy in these short, dark fall days. It's like my seasonal affective disorder kicks in as soon as summer ends...no more late nights, no more sunshine...just a deep, dark long winter filled with sleep, cuddles and books.
Lately I have not been feeling quite like myself. Maybe because of the weather I am not sure...but I just feel kind of bored with myself lately. Like I have no ambitions, no goals or nothing to be excited about at the current time. Perhaps I am bored because I am finally just content with my life...nice condo, awesome friends, best boyfriend, good job....everything is just fine. There are no obstacles to overcome, no challenges to endure....and that seems great, but am I crazy for being unhappy?
Maybe unhappy is the wrong choice of word, but bored may be more like it. I feel like I need something new to take up and occupy my time. I feel like I would like to work towards a new accomplishment of some sort, but what?

I was thinking of taking some night classes in either french or communications. Maybe get an extra job to make some extra cash? Or taking up a new hobby...something crafty of somesort. Of course, with the holidays fast approaching I may hold off until the new year. For now I have my trip to Cuba to look forward to over the Xmas break. It will be a great time to get away and just relax with my family and have some fun. I haven't been on a trip since Vegas in May, so this is a much deserved getaway!

Today Shannon and I put up our Xmas tree in the condo. It looks wonderful and girly! It is white with hot pink decorations....how appropriate right!? It is a small tree and is perfect for the condo. On Wednesday I think we are going to make my Disney Princess gingerbread house :) Time to get into that holiday spirit!! I am almost done all my shopping (I did most of it online), just a few small things left to get and I will be done.

I don't even know what I want this year...I hate asking for gifts because if I want something I will just buy it myself. I like thoughtful gifts that are surprises. I think that's what makes me really feel special. :)

I hope to write more this week...but I can't make any promises. :) :)
TTYL!

Time for Change

So it seems Fall has decided to check in early this year, how lovely. I am not one to complain, I think Fall is beautiful and cozy. Sweaters, boots, cardigans and all the other fun fall fashion trends make this season all the more enjoyable. And not to mention the best part of the season...Halloween!! My absolute favorite holiday is Halloween. For that one night of the year, you get to be someone else. I think I like this holiday so much because I feel like everyday I am a different person. Not a different person, but a different character. I hate being strereotyped into one specific type of person. I like to be different everyday, mix it up everyday.

Some days I like to be dressy and professional, somedays I dress punky, some days girly....it all depends on my mood that day. Maybe I just have severe identity problems, but either way I would rather have the best of all worlds than be stuck in one. Life is too short to be the same boring person everyday....sometimes you require a change, whether it's a new hair colour, new pair of shoes or just a new outlook on life in general. Change is healthy and part of life. Without change, you do not grow and you resist life. Call me rude, but I despise boring people who fear risk and challenge. I call them cowards, because they are just too comfortable in their current conditions and too lazy to try new things. Life is for the living, not the living dead!

Today I went to sign up for a Toronto Public Library card and could not be more pleased. The library is right beside my condo and has 5 floors of books. Amazing!! As much as I love Chapters, it takes a toll on the wallet, and sometimes I get so overwhelmed because there are just so many good books out there, I want to buy them all. But now, all I have to do is swipe that card and I can have up to 50 books at once!! Today I only took out 4. They include:

1) Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman
I like this author, who also wrote Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs. He is witty, relatable and has that magazine style approach to his writing. In this book he talks about the impact of 80's glam rock music has made on society. I am already on chapter 2 and I am already intrigued!

2) Neon: A Memoir of A Runway Angel by Cherie Currie and Joan Jett
This is the autobiography of Runway band member, Cherie Curie. After watching the movie starring Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Curie, I am very interested in reading up on the lives of these talented ladies.

3)How Not to Audition by Kammer and Flinn
As you all know I have recently finished some acting classes and am now in the process of getting ready for auditions. This book will hopefully give me straight answers on what to expect and not to expect when I go out into the field.

4)Ask An Agent by Margaret Emory
Basically another guide to help me master this business of the acting world.

So cheers to change, good books and hot cocoa on a crisp Thursday evening :)

Beautiful Day at the Beach

It's hard to believe summer is almost over. It always comes and goes so fast, then back to our crappy winter weather. If it was up to me, summer would be six months of the year!!
Anywho, I always find in August is when I try to make the most of the summer, beacuse I realize how quickly it's going by and try to cram everything into one month. Today was one of those days where I wanted to do something fun! My cousin Tammy and I decided to take a trip to the Toronto Beaches. I have never really been there, just quickly walked through it last year on my underwear affair walk. This hidden gem of a place is absolutely gorgeous. It's relaxing and fun and filled with lots of fun character on Queen Street East.

We spent most of the day by the pool they have there. It is massive, I have never seen such a big pool. It was really nice to just relax and destress and catch up with my cuz. Afterwards we went for a late lunch at Lion On The Beach where I had some delicious Fish and Chips, then afterward went to Lick's for some ice cream.

The houses in this area were just gorgeous. Very San Francisco style, with a cute suburban feel. It was a pleasantville and I would love to live there someday.

All in all it was a nice day. I hope to maximize the rest of my summer with such fun outings. And I hope all of yours are going well :)

New Hair! New Place! New Age!

Helloooo all

Sorry I have been behind on my postings. As most of you know I just moved and am still settling in getting my ish together! I have had the past few days off to recuperate and relax which was nice. Sometimes I don't do well with relaxing though. I always feel the need to be doing something, whether it's a task like washing dishes or making my bed or a project like finding a new coffee table for our place or researching different handbags to buy. Relaxation is almost like a lost art to me.

Anyways, in my days off I did a lot of thinking about changing my hair colour. Over the weekend my roomie and my sister almost begged me to dye my hair closer to my natural dark roots. Me, always the hilighted blonde, was doubtful. But staring at those black looking roots and ratty straw hair gave me an epiphany! Why am I wasting so much hard earned money on bleaching the crap outa my hair, only to have it look like a train wreck 2.5 months down the road.

So then began my search for new hair colours. Black, Brown, Golden Brown, Red, Auburn.....so many options!! I was so overwhelmed but decided I wanted a goldenish brown and red. So after that was decided, I needed a place to get this done. I am tired of paying top buck for hair! I mean it's just HAIR right?! I would do it myself if my hair wasn't so damaged and in need of colour correction, but I needed professional work at an affordable price! Enter: House of Lords on Yonge and Isabella Street in Toronto.

I have often walked past this place on numerous occasions on my way to acting class, but never thought much of it. It turns out they are a true gem! A little rough around the edges in regards to decor, but that's what I think gives it character. With rockbands and music paraphenalia plastered all over the walls and the funky beats belting from the stereo system, I felt right at home! Not to mention all the stylists had their own funky doo's going on....purple streaks, fringed bangs and the like....I was very intrigued to see what they could do for me.

I came in around lunch time to be greeted by a nice stylist. I explained that I wanted to tone down my blonde and go a little darker. Sometimes I hate going to salons and explaining what I want, because I know what I want is always so hard to do or achieve. But this lady was super nice and started consulting with me about colours and tones at once. We decided on a nice golden brown with a hint of red. Before I knew it my head was all dyed up and I was tapping my feet along to the poppunky beats playing in the background.

Once the dye was set, the lady took me to the sinks where she rinsed out my dye but also offered to put on a treatment for my oh so damaged hair. Once I was done, she did a nice blow dry style and I was good to go. She even reccommended good shampoos to use that I get at the drugstore.

And so I go to pay the cashier, expecting my bill to be around 150 dollars....but to my amazement...only $102!! I was shocked!! What an amazing price for an amazing colour, cut, treatement and style!!

All in all I had a great experience here. The only downside...they don't take debit...and only take Visa (sucks for Mastercard users like moi). But despite some of the crap reviews I have read, I have nothing but good things to say. It's a rock n rolling, funky sweet salon! Two thumbs up!! Check em out http://www.houseoflords.ca/

UPTOWN GIRL!

Holy eff! Where have I been? Out and about that's where!! And I am here to brag all about it. Hahaha.
BIG NEWS. I am officially MOVING! Yes people, after all this talk of moving out over the past year and a half, I am FINALLY doing it. Saturday July 24th! My best friend and I had an epiphany one night that we were simply wasting our lives living at home in a sheltered lifestyle. We wanted adventure...this is our prime. Twenty something professional girls seeking the city life. It all made too much sense, and long story short....we are moving to the Yonge and Sheppard area to a beautiful luxury condo, with a pool, sauna, billiard room, gym and an underground connection to the subway. It's a nice area with all ammenities in walking distance. I am sooo excited!!! We are painting everything this weekend and moving in the weekend after...just in time for my birthday!

I feel like this is the best point in my life to actually LIVE my life. Everyone always advises me to save my money, save my money. And I do save my money...but I want to enjoy life as well. What is the point of saving until I am 30? By then I will be married and have kids and not be able to enjoy a beautiful luxury condo in the city. Life is too short to worry about the future all the time. I know it's so cliche, but people really need to enjoy the present a lot more. Take a moment to think about your day...did you really enjoy it, or were you rushing through your work, thinking about what you were doing AFTER work or what you were doing this weekend? I am guilty of it too. But I am learning to just take everything in strides and appreciate every waking moment. Because you never know when you are going to go, or what's going to happen. Life is precious. Enjoy. Laugh. Love. And Just be HAPPY!