Home for the Holladayz

I'm bacckkk!! Back from Cuba that is. I was gone from the 18th to the 25th (yes I spent my Xmas day travelling on a bus, plane and taxi cab) and just finished celebrating my belated Xmas with family. These past 2 weeks seemed to just fly by, but while I was in Cuba, time seemed to be moving slower than usual. I believe it's because I did not have access to my blackberry, so I felt like I had no sense of time or responsibility, it actually made me feel more anxious than anything, which is terrible! How sad is it that I can't even relax without clutching to my blackberry and checking my messages every 5 minutes? Something is definately wrong with that picture, and I am positive it's not just me that feels this way.Our whole society in general is hooked on these technological mind-numbing gadgets, but this isn't new, this was just the first time I was able to see firsthand how much of an addict I am. Thanks Cuba!

But besides my withdrawls from the outside world, I would say overall I had a good time. The beach and poolside were beautiful. The resort staff was just lovely and I got to really bond with my family. It made me sad to see the poor Cuban people working so hard for us, cleaning, cooking, entertaining, yet they never expected a tip. I felt so uncomfortable being waited on and treated like a queen. While we were on the beach, we overheard that lifeguards make 10 pesos per week!! Per week people!! That is probably equivalent to 15 dollars a week. I couldn't believe it, but then I looked at how much they love life and seem so happy. At first I didn't understand how they could make so little and be so content, but then I figured they probably don't even realize what they are missing because they don't have luxuries like we do in North America. These people probably don't care about facebook updates, or obtaining the latest Iphone, because their culture doesn't care for it. I wonder how much happier our society would be if we made life a bit simpler by toning down technology use, limiting our beauty and spa appointments, owning less "stuff". Could simplicity be the answer to finding true happiness? I am starting to believe it to be true.

Speaking of simple living, I have decided to spend the rest of my holidays at home with my parents in the country. There's nothing better han coming home to family, my dog, and curling up on the couch by the fire and reading a nice book. I will have to wake up a little earlier the next few days to take the GO train into Toronto, but it's worth it.

New Year's Eve is on Friday and I still have no plans. I don't care much for NYE, I find it overrated, crowded and a rip off. I would rather stay in with my loved one and go out for a nice dinner instead. Crowded clubs? No thanks! But to each his own, and I wish everyone the best in 2011!

Let it Snow for the Show!

Well I've come to my final post for the 2010 Christmas Dance at the Eaton Centre. If I could describe the performance in one word I would say it was magical!
Before the show, I had a few hours to kill so I roamed around the mall and checking out the scene. And as I predicted on Monday, the place was packed. Christmas shoppers scattered everywhere rushing to all the sales, promotions and giveaways going on. I must admit I was getting pretty nervous.
To relax a bit, I ate some dinner and sat on the bench going through the dance in my head. It was going to be a straight shooter...no practice run or anything, so I wanted to visualize everything in my mind beforehand.
About 20 minutes before showtime everyone met up to change and grab the flowers (I picked a nice purple one) and we headed down to our "stage" area. Once we got downstairs, a huge sea of shoppers were planted around the tree. I quickly panicked wondering how on earth we were going to dance through all of the people, but thankfully security helped clear the crowd our of our dance space. And then the tree lights lit up, the hall dimmed and we were on!

It was amazing to see the huge crowd wathching. I love having a big audience! Surprisingly, I get less nervous with a big crowd, this way I don't really notice individual eyeballs staring directly at me.

Once the music started, I felt good. We had done this dance so many times, I knew we were going to rock it! That's when I noticed snow falling from the ceiling! It was so beautiful and gave such an elegant and picturesque look to the whole dance. I couldn't help but smile. As we danced, I noticed the crowd watching intently and smiling with us. There were lots of people which kind of cramped our space a little bit, but we all managed to work around it, taking smaller steps here and there. Overall we danced through it gracefully. For some reason it felt like I had been dancing for 20 minutes instead of 5! I think I got a little anxious once I spoted my friends in the corner watching and taking pictures.

Once the performance was over, we got a great big round of applause as we did our bows and scurried off stage. The shoppers seemed really delighted and that's what made me the most happy. One man even thanked me which was really sweet. I love how dance can provoke all sorts of emotions and can captivate almost anyone.

And so folks, that is the end. This was yet another wonderful experience with the National Ballet School Adult Class. Hopefully there will be more to come in the spring time.
Happy Holidays!

Dress Rehearsal: Almost Show Time!

Why is it that on night's I go to dance, I have a tough time falling asleep!? I just got in from the group's dress rehearsal for Thursday night's performance and I am giddy with excitment! Everything ran pretty smooth this evening and we are pretty pumped to perform. It turns out there isn't as much scaffolding and pillars that we were anticipating, so there is more room for us to dance. Since we rehearsed after mall hours, the space was pretty open but I guarantee it will be filled with mad dashing Christmas shoppers on performance day. It will be a bit of a challenge dancing through the crowd, but as long as we stay in a close knit group we should be fine.

We did some last minute formation and spacing changes in order to keep us close together. At one point in the dance when we do our diagnol walks, I felt as though I was going to walk into a store, so I have to make sure to keep tight with the rest of the group.

As we were dancing, we had some audience members of people walking through the mall. It was nice to have them appreciate our dance. They even smiled and clapped which was nice. There were also people who walked right through our "stage" area which was a bit of a challenge, but we must be prepared for that to happen on Thursday. It willl be interesting to see how it all folds out. So far it looks great and we are all well rehearsed. The flowers that we get to hold throughout the dance gives the piece a splash of refreshing colour too!

Come check it out, this Thursday at 7pm at the Eaton Centre right in front of the Swarovski Christmas tree.

Rehearsal Day 2: Keeping it together!

Well there wasn't much more of a turn out today as we had expected for the 2nd rehearsal for the Waltz of the Flowers Christmas dance. I guess this time of year everyone is busy with holiday plans, so the original group of 60 dancers has shrunken to a sweet set of 16. Not that I mind as there are pros and cons to dancing in both larger groups and smaller groups. A plus for dancing in larger groups is that you blend in with the crowd more and no one can really notice if you make a mistake, but I guess this could be a con as well if you enjoy the spotlight. I also like the look of a big group dancing in sync, but seeing a smaller group sometimes looks more neat and compact. So it will be exciting to dance in a smaller sized group this time around. (No mistakes allowed!) :P

Today's rehearsal went by surprisingly fast, we picked up exactly where we left off on Wednesday and cleaned up some of the choreography. Now, working in a smaller group means we had to change some of the spacing and lines. We also practiced working in tight clusters to avoid the look of empty space. Throughout the piece there are 5 small groups of 2-4 people all while taking turns coming on and off the stage, breaking up the piece nicely and giving it a nice flow.

Of course we won't be able to figure out the actual dimensions of the area we will be dancing in until next Monday at our dress rehearsal, but we figure that we will have a lot time to draw out and sustain our movements with less people.

For those of you interested in coming to check it out, it will be happening on Thursday December 16th at 7pm at the Eaton Centre, right in front of the Swarovski Christmas tree. A diamond tree AND a ballet performance? What could be sweeter?! Hope to see you there!

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!

MMVA Madness

MMVA's!

Aloha!!

It's officially SUMMER! Time to bust out the bikinis and BBQ's! This is my favourite time of the year where I am an official social butterfly and barely have anytime to chill. I feel like I have something planned every weekend, and I like it. I love when I am busy and when I have plans...I love getting the most out of life and feel like when I sit around I am wasting time. It must sound crazy, but I am young and have lots of energy and want to experience life to the fullest.

This past weekend were the Much Music Video Awards which I got to help work. It was fun checking everyone in (including some celebs). Just having bands come up and show me their driver's license was kind of funny. It kind of makes you remember that celebrities are regular people too, who still pay taxes, who still go to the bathroom and who still need to follow the rules with the rest of society. I was most excited to see Katy Perry, Down With Webster, Hedley and The Stereos at this year's award show. Too bad my faves Billy Talent were not there, because I would have loved to see them at the after party!! Oh well, maybe next year :)

So what's on tap for the rest of the summer?? Well....as far as I am aware....I SHOULD be moving out in August! I know, finally! I won't reveal too much details yet as nothing is set in stone....but I will keep you posted.

I am still doing my acting classes, they finish up pretty soon. After I am finished I will be able to join the agency and start auditioning for commercials. I am a little concerned though, as I am not sure how many auditions I will actually be able to do seeing as how I work full time. And I will need to somehow come up with some extra cash in order to pay for headshots. They are not cheap!! I know I will for sure need to get some part time gigs, maybe doing more promos, to help pay for things like this when I move out.

Anyways, that's all from me for now.

Later Loves

xox

Summer in the City

Greetings!
So it's been awhile! Sorry I have been terribly busy this month with work, social events and family. It seems as though I am always very busy in the summer months. Every weekend I have something planned and while I enjoy being busy, sometimes I get very overwhelmed and all I really want to do is sleep!
This weather has been up and down, last week was very hot and this week has been rainy and cold. This past Sunday I did my Becel Ride for Heart! Unfortunately I didn't end up doing the full 50k, it was far too windy and rainy for me to continue. But I did 25k which I was really happy about! It wasn't that bad of a ride physically, just the rain ruined it for me. I mean, how often do you get to take your bike and ride along the Gardiner Expressway and DVP! Not everyday!! It was pretty incredible and I promise that I will ride again next year, raise even more money and finish the full 50k!!

In other news...I am hoping to move out this summer. I think it's time. I don't want to jinx it though. I know I've said in the past I was moving....but this time I feel it for real!!! If I can do a bike ride in the disgusting cold rain for 2 hours, I can move downtown. I think in my mind I am making it a bigger deal than it really is. Yes it will be challenging at first, but I will get the hang of it. Kind of the same thing as starting a new job....it's scary at first but once you get the hang of it, it becomes comfortable. I think I just need to dive in and do it. It will take a lot of discipline that's for sure. I may even need an extra side job to support my extravagant lifestyle!!

Anywho, that's all for this post. Gotta go get me some sleep!!

Peace Love and Cocoa Puffs!
xox

It's HOT!

Greetings!

I know I have been really bad at blogging this month, but I've been really busy!!! I promise I wasn't being neglectful. Today is the first day of June!!! And it's HOT! All week it's been scorching hot, in the 30 plus degrees! Last week I was in Vegas with some of my closest friends and we had the most amazing time. It was a great vacation that was definately needed. I love my friends more than anything, and I truly value their friendship. These are the friends I can talk to about anything, the friends that know me best and the friends that make me laugh until I cry. I took tons of pictures and am currently in the process of getting them all developed. We also did a cool video-blog while we were there with about 20 videos in total. Watching them after the trip was quite hilarious. I am hoping we can get it posted online sometime soon. I am really interested in getting a video camera now; they are so much cooler than regular cameras! A little machine that can document a piece of histroy, bit by bit, word for word, action by action....it's really one of the best inventions in my opinion and worth every penny.

I have posted a few of my photos from the trip here. While in Vegas we stayed at two hotels, MGM and Treasure Island. While MGM was really nice, I don't think I would stay there again. It was way too big (the 2nd largest hotel in the world might I add) and getting from Point A to Point B was such a mission. We could barely find seats by the pool it was that crazy.

Treasure Island was the best. I am biased though because of my fetish for pirates. There was an amazing Pirate show called "Sirens" that they perform 4 times a night!! It takes place on the pirate ship outside the hotel and includes singing and dancing from the pirates and wenches. What a cool job that must be!! I would love to do something like that for a living.

Since returning from Vegas, I've been hit with this nasty cold!! It's been awful, it's been a week and I am still sniffling! Who gets a cold in warm weather anyways?! Sheesh!!

All in all, Vegas was an amazing trip and I definately want to go back. There is so much to do and see that one trip is not enough, heck 3 trips aren't even enough! I think I will just keep visiting until I am old and wrinkled, still yanking on those slot machines. :)

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful, loving Mothers out there, especially mine!!
Even though mothers should be thought of everyday, today is one of those Hallmark holidays where we can spoil our moms with fun presents and cards. Remember when you were little and just bringing home a handmade gift was enough? I miss those days because I used to love crafts. If I were a mom, I would want those handmade craft gifts over anything else. There's something special about homemade gifts, no one else will have them and they are personal.
This year I had a tough time deciding what to get my mom as I feel like I've gotten her everything already....pictures, flowers, spa packages...but in the end decided to go with a framed photo of Katrina, Beau, Mom and I, a cookbook, makeup and some cute salt and pepper shakers in the shape of Beau :)

I feel like MOTHER is a word that can be used to describe not only your biological mother, but the other mother figures in your life. A Mother is someone who cares for you, gives you advice, helps you when in need, lends an ear for listening, a shoulder to cry on. A Mother is someone you can trust and someone you can go to whenever you need. I feel like I have a lot of Mother like figures in my life and I am appreciative for each and every one of them.

I often wonder what it would be like to be a mother. Sometimes I feel like I am so darn selfish and would never be able to care for another human being. But I think once it does happen to you, you naturally become more selfless. Of all the moms I know, that is one word that can be used to describe them all. I hope one day I can be just as strong and wise as all of them.

My Buried Life List

Aloha friends, family and followers!
Hope you are all doing well. I think I am. And you know what? For once in my life, I don't care how "well" I am doing. Lately, I have been feeling a lot of pressure. Pressure that has accumulated over the past two years since graduating university...the pressure to succeed, the pressure to be somebody, the pressure to have my life figured out in one simple paragraph or less. This 1/4 life crisis has yet to cease, but I have decided to embrace it as opposed to fight it. Yes, the twenties are a stressful time in life because there are no guidelines or strict paths to follow in order to be "successful". I have come to realize that being successful is not determined by your title, your assets or your status in society. No, I truly believe that being successful is determined by how happy you are and by how much you get out of life.

I am sure you are all familiar with the MTV show, The Buried Life. A show about a group of guy friends who create a list of crazy things they want to accomplish before they die. Together they travel the country in a tour bus trying to accomplish the most craziest things ever known to man. It's quite hysterical and definately worth a watch.

Anyways, these boys have inspired me to reach beyond my limits! Sometimes I feel like I am so old and that my life needs to be figured out in every which way....I never feel totally fulfilled. While some aspects of my life seem to be figured out, there are huge gaps in others and then I begin to stress and dwell on them. This is NOT healthy. It's time for me to realize that having everything figured out doesn't make you more successful than someone who does. And figuring things out is part of the magical path that is life. In other words, it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. It's time for me to enjoy the journey of life and stop trying to rush through it.

So in reference to the Buried Life show, I have decided to make my own Buried Life List of things to do!! And I have already started a few!!!

1) Travel More (Vegas and Chicago trips lined up this spring/summer)
2) Learn to paint (I have started a few, but nothing too fancy. Want to sign up for lessons)
3) Get into acting (Joined an agency and am currently taking acting lessons)
4) Dance more
5) Get my own place (Eric and I are hoping to move in September)
6) Venture into new hair colours besides blonde!
7) Learn to cook
8) Have kids (not quite yet though!)
9) Swim with dolphins
10) Take more pictures and learn more about photography
11) Write a screenplay
12) Volunteer more with kids and the less fortunate
13) Get Married
14) Go to Europe

Those are just a few. But seriously this list gives me hope for the future. I hope I have maybe inspired you to get out of your shell and do something for YOU!!!!!!!!!! The best investment you will ever make will always be in yourself!!!

A picture is worth a thousand words

Pictures. This post is dedicated to pictures.

Lately I have been yearning to do something creative and fun that would allow me to learn something new. I've always been curious about painting and how to actually work a canvas! Today I decided to drive my bike to the dollar store and just for fun I purchased a few canvas boards, some acrylic paint and some brushes. Now, I am sitting here just admiring my new materials but I have no idea where to start with this whole painting thing. I tried viewing some videos on Youtube which weren't very helpful. I think I might just sketch something first in pencil and see where that takes me. Looking for inspiration is tough, as I am not sure entirely what I want to paint. I would prefer something easy that doesn't have too many details or colours. Perhaps I should have signed up for some type of art class before buying all these things, but where's the sense of fun in that?! Haha.

I was also thinking of taking a photography course. Taking pictures is so much fun, it would be great to learn how to take really neat ones! I am so used to being the story teller through words, that now I want to jump sides and tell stories via photographs.

I feel like all these types of classes are so expensive though and that I could probably teach myself through a book or youtube. It would be nice if there were more classes offered, but it seems there are very few. Art is such a wonderful thing that deserves to be shared amongst the rest of the world, it bothers me when classes are so limited. I remember when I was in grade school art class was only done once a week (usually Friday afternoons) and the teachers treated it as a "fun" class. So if a child was misbheaving, they were not allowed to participate! Can you believe that nonsense? I also remember art being pushed back or cancelled for the week if something else "more important" came about. The shame of it all!

In other news....this week I am going to meet with a Modelling/Acting agency. I have decided that I really want to get into commercials. I remember enrolling with an agency when I was younger with my sister and cousins and it was fun going to the auditions. I don't think my mom liked us doing it very much so we just stopped going. It's always been my dream to be a star, and while this won't get me famous or anything, it will be a nice outlet where I can at least try my luck at getting some TV time :)

That's all for now. Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Sunny Sunday :)

Ride Your Heart Out

Hello Friends,
Can you believe it's already April? Where has the time gone? That's a question I always seem to ask myself, but the answer is always the same in that I just don't know!
I would like to bring to your attention some exciting news about a fundraising event I will be participating in this June. It's the annual Becel Ride For Heart happening in downtown Toronto on June 6th. I will be riding my bike all across Toronto with my coworkers for a grand total of 50km! Sounds crazy right? But I think this is something I can do if I really try. It's for a good cause and I have been kind of bored with my life lately and feel like a real challenge.
All I need is a little training, a little motivation and $100 to raise! This is where you pretty people come in :)
If you could help spread the word to help me raise my goal of $100 that would be awesome!! Every little bit helps and it's going to a great cause! I am sure everyone knows at least one person who has been affected by heart disease in some way or another. It's pretty scary to think about but it is one of the leading causes of death in Canada. With all this processed food we eat, and unhealthy busy, stressful lifestyles, it isn't that hard to believe.

So come on and be a sport, make a donation today :) Put your HEART into it!!

http://www.rideforheart.ca/faf/login/partMenu.asp?ievent=334877&lis=1&kntae334877=8C168FBD44D74D30833254571008E479

Thanks for all the support!
xox

BILLY TALENT ROCKS MY SOCKS

They came, They played, They conquered. Yes, I am talking about the one and only Billy Talent. The fab foursome: Ben, John, Aaron and Ian made their way to the Air Canada Centre Sunday night along with Cancer Bats, Against Me and Alexisonfire. It was a long night, starting at 6:45pm with the Cancer Bats. I was actually kind of glad I had seats for this one, I don't think I could have lasted standing in the pit of teenagers for more than 4 hours!

What can I say about the Cancer Bats other than they are loud, noisy and could probably outdo anyone in a headbanging competition. They didn't seem to excite the audience, but maybe that's because half of them hadn't shown up yet. They did a good half hour set which included a cover of the Beastie Boys' "Sabatoge". And the crowd went wild.

Following the Bats were Against Me! The only non-Canadian band in this show's lineup. I have only heard a few tunes by these guys, but I must say they are quite catchy. "Stop" and "Thrash Unreal" are my two favourites. They have a catchy, folkish sound that kind of reminds me of Franz Ferdinand. Halfway through their set they actually brought on Aaron and Ian from Billy Talent to do a song. It was pretty neat to see live.

Once Alexisonfire came on stage, this was when the crowd started to really come in. People were standing in their seats waiting for these guys. I was shocked to see how different Dallas Green was looking. He seemed a little more rugged than usual and had shaggy long hair. They played a bunch of songs from Crisis and a few from their latest album as well. I love how this band can pull together the hardcore screamo punk with Green's mellow notes, it makes for a pretty wicked sound.

Billy Talent made their way on stage promptly at 9:30pm. This was the moment I had been waiting for. Even though I've seen them so many times live, I get excited everytime!! They really know how to put on a show! They played a lot of their old songs like The Ex, Line and Sinker, Try Honesty and a few of their new ones like White Sparrows, Rusted From the Rain and Saint Veronika. At one point in the show Ben had everyone in the audience whip out their cellphones and lighters....it was so cool, like being inside a galaxy of stars. My camera couldnt capture the essence of it all, you had to be there.

Ben went on for a bit about Canada winning the Olympic hockey gold medal game and waved his Crosby jersey high and proud. I love how these boys are from Mississauga and have come so far. Ben explained in the show how Billy Talent have been touring for 8 years now, but they have been a band for about 17. They are fighters who never gave up and look at them now. Such success stories make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Haha.

It felt like Talent's set was only 5 minutes long. I was having such a good time that I totally lost track of the time. By the time they came for their encore it was around 10:40. They performed Devil on My Shoulder and Red Flag. They always close with Red Flag I don't know why. But I like it!!

Great show all in all! In conclusion: Canadain Music Kicks Ass! (And Against Me! too!)

Operation: New Body!

Hellloooo friends! And Happy Spring!! Spring officially sprung this past Saturday March 20th at 1:32pm! Although, the whole weekend and today have felt more like dreary Fall. Hopefully by the end of the week we will be seeing more sunny skies and higher double digit temps. In the meantime, we can all start shopping for our new spring outfits because I know I did a lot of that this weekend! Shopping for new seasons is the best! Everything is fresh and exciting, especially spring and summer clothes. It's time to peel off those layers and show off that sexy skin. I know this year I am super motivated to become fit and toned with our upcoming trip to Vegas in May. This year I want to actually get into a small bikini without feeling like Shamu. Despite going to the gym everyday, I still maintain the same weight and shape. I don't think I am challenging myself enough and everything has become so routine. Over the past week or so I have been attending some more of the group exercise classes that Goodlife offers. I absolutely love them!! Not only do they push me out of my boring comfort level, they make me feel nice and sore in the morning (that means it's working!) Hopefully if I can pull off doing at least 3-4 of these classes a week, I will manage to tighten up a bit.

Of course, with weight loss the most important factor is diet. Now this is where I have the most trouble of all. Throughout the day I am fairly good, I eat small low-cal snacks throughout the day to keep me full, but once I am off work and into the house...all hell's kitchen breaks loose!! I become some type of animal that needs to feed off every piece of food in the house. It's like my body goes into a coma and inhales whatever it feels necessary. This must stop! To help monitor my eating habits and to keep me motivated to stay on track, I registered last week with the website Fit Day (http://www.fitday.com). It's actually a really good website where you enter in everything you eat in the day and it adds up the calories for you. There is also a pie chart that shows you what percentage of your daily food intake went to fat, carbs and protein. It's all very fascinating! There are loads of other features on the site like a journal and calendar. There is also an activity calculator where you enter in all the activities you do in a day and it shows how many calories you burn. I really like the site and I hope it can help me keep my eating in check.

Check out the site for yourself, you'd be surprised how many calories some foods are!!

Happy Healthy :) :)

Blonde Ambition

Good evening and Happy Friday to you all! TGIF!!

So winter is slowly coming to a close and the warm weather we have been having has been making us all yearning for Spring even more!!! To help welcome in the new season, I went to the hair salon today to dye my hair more blonde :) It looks super fab and I love it!

For some reason I have always had an attraction to blonde. Born a dark brunette, I never liked my dingy, depressing looking hair. I always wanted to be like a Barbie.

Maybe it's just me, but I think when I was a kid I was sort of brainwashed into thinking blonde was better. I mean, look at Barbie. She was the "It" girl. She got all the pink clothes, the cool car, the guy.....and what did her little brown haired friends get? Nothing! Just some BLUE clothes. They were the official sidekicks! I think the media always glorifies blondes, which I think I have subconsciously agreed that blondes do have more fun and are more attractive. And it starts with Barbie. But then you also look at other famous story book characters like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel...they all had the long beautiful blonde hair.

I once watched a show about being a blonde. They did a test with one lady who pretended that her car had broken down. She did this 3 times, each with different hair shades: blonde, brown and red. It was amazing to see how many men stopped to help her out when she was blonde compared to the other colours. I also saved this article from The Toronto Sun that was printed a while back called "Love is Colour Blonde". It basically describes the human's natural attraction to the lighter hue. We associate blonde with sweet, angelic feelings as opposed to the darker, more serious colours.

I too notice that when my hair is blonde I get treated very differently than when my hair is dark brown. When my hair is lighter, I feel like I get a lot more attention at bars and people are generally more nice to me, whereas when my hair is dark, people treat me more maturely. Perhaps it's just the way the colours make me feel and in turn that's the way I present myself. So when my hair is light, I feel happy and youthful and my personality maybe naturally goes more bubbbly. But when I am darker, I feel more quiet, deep and serious and therefore I look more unapproachable.

Hair Colour is such a funny thing. It can really change your personality and change the way people act towards you. And it's only natural. I mean, what would you think if you saw someone with blue hair? Do you think they would be big executives of a company? In a band? Or maybe an employee at Starbucks? It's really funny to think how such esthetics affect our impressions of others.

Welcome Beau!

He has finally arrived!! After a month from meeting him, he is now finally ours. For those of you who don't know who I am talking about...it's our new West Highland Terrier, Beau!! Coming home on Friday felt like Christmas. I arrived before my parents had brought him home. I anxiously texted my Dad demanding to know their ETA. Fortunately, it wasn't long before he was in the house and cuddling in my arms. I spent the whole weekend at home with him, cuddling him, feeding him and teaching him where to go to the bathroom. It was quite fun and I can honestly say I haven't felt so full of joy in quite a long time. Just holding him makes my heart melt. There is something about puppies that get me so emotional.

Watching him investigate the house and making himself comfortable made all of the family just a little bit closer. It's safe to say, Beau is the best thing that has happened to our family in awhile. I know Dad is simply smitten and Mom and Katrina secretly love him, even though they were reluctant to getting a new dog.

Beau had many visitors this weekend....I think altogether at least 10. He is very popular already. Now I am faced with a dilemma. I live with my grandparents, and have been for the past 6 years. I live here because it is closer for me to get to work everyday, and I *sort of* have my own independence. While I love being at home, everytime I go for a visit, I feel very bombarded and annoyed. It seems to me that my mother can't wrap her head around my being an adult. A grown woman who can fend for herself. I know she means well, but whenever I am at home she is almost TOO attentive and TOO motherly. It's a big clash and I just hate the way things are whenever I visit. I wish things were different. But now that Beau is here, I feel like I want to be at home with him. I've been toying with the idea of moving back home for the past month, and Mom is so excited she is getting my old room all redone. In theory it seems like such a good idea, but I know I will go crazy if I go back. I have some deep thinking to do. I really enjoy the relationship I have with my parents now; I don't want to ruin it by moving back home and cramping their style and vice versa.

This Boomerang Kid thing is tough I imagine for parents and their children everywhere! Once you have lived away from home for awhile, you grow into your own person, a mature adult with a mind of their own. But with parents, you will always be their baby, no matter what. SIGH! What's a young adult to do?! Here is a list of the pros and cons I have come up with for moving back home.

PROS

-getting home cooked meals for FREE

-seeing Beau everyday!

-coming home to a CLEANER house

-closer to my hometown friends

-andddd did I mention Beau?

CONS

-super far and expensive commute to work

-dealing with the overbearring parents

-no privacy (it's a bungalow)

-fighting over the internet with Dad

-far from my Toronto lifestyle

What to do!? What to do!?

Broken

Look into my eyes
and tell me I am the one
The one that can make you believe it's real
And we are the exception

The exception to these rules
That everyone seems to live by
Break them, take me
And tell me it's a joke

You'll never know
Just how much my heart beats
So hard until it breaks
Now look what you've done

I'm broken.

Condo Hunt: Phase 1

So the search for my new diggs is officially underway. I have been humming and hawing over the idea of getting my own place for a while now, but now it is for real! I am nervous/excited/anxious all at the same time. Finding a place to call home is not an easy task. Everything has to be perfect: location, price, space...and just the overall feel of it. Last weekend I went looking at new developments in and around the Toronto area. They were all very nice, however, nothing a first time homebuyer could really afford on their own. On Saturday I went to look at some resale condos which were near the Lakeshore and very adorable. One place we looked at, I absolutely fell in love with. It was a stacked townhouse bachelor condo in Liberty Village with a little patio in the front. When I walked in, I fell in love. Unfortunately there was already an offer on it, and my agent advised me that it would probably go for more than the asking price which I simply can not afford. I am determined to find another one in that pocket or at least something similar.

Of course, everyone is advising me to take my time and not to rush in, which I don't plan too, however, since I am only looking for a small bachelor for myself, I don't think I will have a hard time choosing. I guess my main concern in all this is not having enough money to support my lifestyle. Cutbacks in my spending are definately in order--blackberry bill must be cut in half, no more buying "stuff", no more eating out, and no more going out every weekend. It will be tough, but I see this as a challenge to myself and I think with a positive mindset and strict budget I can definately do it.

Originally I wanted a one bedroom condo, but it seems like now I can really only afford a bachelor. I don't mind having a bachelor because they are perfect for me and it's all I really need. It might be lonlely living on my own, so I think I might get a cat or fish just so I don't feel so alone. Even though I would rather have a dog, cats are lower maintenance and can be on their own for hours at a time. But we will see what happens.....

Right now I am watching the Maury Povich show....oh how I love holiday Mondays! Happy Family Day everyone!

Missing the Arts

If you were to describe yourself to someone who didn't know a thing about you, what kind of things would you say? Would you describe personality traits? Facial features? Ethnicity? Job? Talents? When someone asks you to describe yourself, what are the first things that come to mind? How are we defined and what makes us different than everyone else?

I have been pondering this question because lately, I don't even know who I am anymore. I mean, I know who I am inside, but I often wonder what others think of me or how to describe myself in one sentence or less. When I was younger I used to describe myself as a creative girl with a passion for dance. Nowadays, I don't even know what my passions are because I simply do not have anytime to persue them. I feel like passions and talents are what make us unique and give us a streak of definition.

Yesterday while taking a BodyFlow class at the gym, I felt I had improved a little bit on my flexibility and muscle which made me very excited. This made me think back to my teenage years as a dancer when doing splits, jumps and turns were second nature to me. I miss those days of being full of life and energy. Dance was what defined me. All my life I have had a creative flair. Art was always my favourite subject in grade school and I have been documenting my life in journals for just about almost all my life. I've always had the passion for the arts and being creative has always been a characteristic I love about myself. But these days, I feel like I am missing out. Like I should be making more time to release my built up creative energy.
I have been thinking of taking classes in either sculpting, painting or photography. Or something in the performing arts like singing lessons. Unfortunately lessons in any type of art are very expensive. Thankfully I have found some reasonably priced clay and paint classes through Vaughan Parks and Rec which I think I will sign up for.

So what will the new definition of me sound like? Probably a 20 something fun spirited girl with a creative flair and a love for the arts. Or something like that! Not that I am trying to reinvent myself, more like reconnecting with my inner strengths and passions, reconnecting with the younger Tasha.

Goodbye January!

The weekend is over! It always seems to go by so quick doesn't it? Thankfully we have a long weekend in 2 weeks.

I love Sunday nights because they are so calm and chill. Right now I am watching the Grammys. Lady Gaga and Elton John just opened up the show together which was pretty awesome. It was almost like watching a pair at a duelling piano bar with Elton on one side and Gaga on the other. Who knew Gaga even played piano?! I sure didn't! But I applaud her. I think she is truly the next Madonna! She has that shock value where you never know what to expect. Her outfits, her hair, her sets....it's always one big unconventional show. She is one crazy lady and I like it!

This week was quite the week! On Wednesday I went to a USS concert presented by YouTube as part of Advertising Week in Toronto (see pics). This was my second time seeing these guys perform (first was at Sausage Fest in August). I've liked these guys since their hit song "Hallow Point Sniper Hyperbole" hit the airwaves early this summer. They have a very unique sound--kind of a spunky funk/dance feel. They also have amazing energy on stage! While they were performing on Wednesday they began jumping around on stage and even came down to dance with us in the crowd! I really love when bands have fun with the crowd, it really sparks a great connection with them. And what makes this band even more great? They are CANADIAN!! :)

On Friday night I went to another show at the Hard Rock Cafe with my friend Ashley. There was some sort of rock competition show going on and Ashley knew one of the bands, Moira Darling. They are a metal/grunge band from Belleville and to be honest, I am a HUGE fan of such hard rock, but these guys were pretty good! I like the Hard Rock Cafe, it's a nice comfortable venue and very clean. It's right at Dundas Square so the view is amazing while chilling in the upstairs bar area.

Last night I went to visit Eric in Barrie. We went out for a nice dinner and then relaxed at home. Today I went to visit my parents. It was nice to see them because I think they really miss my sister and I not being home all the time. I guess it's a hard transition period to see your kids growing up and fleeing the nest. But I hope that they know they are still needed and I will always be around for them. Especially now that we are getting our new puppy!! I have been thinking about maybe moving back home for a few months starting in March just to help out with the training. However, as much as I love being at home....it can also drive me a little crazy :S

So tomorrow is February! I can't believe it! I am very excited though because next week I am officially starting my condo search. The areas I am mainly looking at are Liberty Village, Bloor West Village and Downsview. It's going to be fun looking for a place to call my own, but it's also going to take a lot of work and patience. In the end I think it will be worth it though.

So goodbye January! Welcome Fabulous February :)

Life's Puzzle

Do you ever look inside your heart
to see what it is you really need
what you really desire
what you really crave
What is your reason to breathe?

You can blame the common people
for things you can not change
Conform yourself to one of them
Before it's too late

If for just one moment I could turn back time
Worry less and forget about the rest
I'd listen to the heart beat telling me to stop
Turn around and try again

Cooking can be fun! Who knew!?

Today is January 24th. JANUARY! And it is RAINING outside and 5 degrees!!! What is happening to this world. After spending 300 dollars on snow tires and 120 dollars on waterproof winterboots...I am a little ticked that there is barely any snow this winter. It makes me wonder more and more about global warming and what exactly is happening to our once beautiful green earth.

The weekend is over....it always seems to go by so fast! I had a rather pleasant weekend. Eric and I went to a cooking lesson last night for couples in Barrie. I bought him this as a present for Christmas. We arrived to the cooking school at 7pm (actually 7:05), Eric was late getting out the door which really angered me, but we got there and that's all that matters. Once we arrived we saw the other 11 couples waitig in a lovely dining room area and we were introduced to our chef/instructor for the evening. He was a cute old British man who reminded me of a typical chef you would see on a cooking show. He gave us each a menu with the courses we were to make for the evening. Everything looked so delicious...but also way over our heads! We NEVER cook, so this looked like a challenge!

We started with the dessert, a yummy tiramusu made with coffee dipped lady fingers and cream. Once the chef showed us how to do it, we all went to our own tables to make it ourselves. It was so simple yet so wonderful! It took all of 4 minutes to make! It was then taken away and put in the fridge for us to eat later.

The next instruction was on a delicious appetizer salad with mozarella cheese and tomatoes. Just watching him show us how to make it was making me hungry!!! He then showed us how to make mushroom risotto rice and three other entrees. We had a choice of which entree to make and us, like most of the couples, chose the chicken with sage and proscuito. It seemed hard at first, but with a little help we were soon grilling up the chicken on the stove and frying the asparagus in a pan of butter. We were actually doing it!! Amazing for first timers!!

Almost 3 hours later after all the slicing, dicing and flouring.....we were able to sit down to a delcious gourmet dinner with the other couples. I was extremely pleased with what we had made. At first I thought it would have been completely disastorous but it was actually awesome!! Who knew cooking could be so fun, simple and yummy!? Usually when I read recipes and see the huge list of ingredients, I get anxious, nervous and worried! Mostly because a) I don't know what half the ingredients are and b) It looks complex and time consuming. I realize now that cooking should be an enjoyable thing that takes practice and patience. I wish I didn't eat out so often, but I feel like society gives us no options...everywhere you go there is something quicker, faster and cheaper than making your own meals. Especially after work when you are tired and just want to go home and eat without worrying about boiling water, thawing the meat etc etc.

I think I am going to make more of a conscious effort to make my meals at home. It will be tough indeed, but I really want to try for my myself. For my health and my wallet! It will require some planning and organization...but I am good at that! Cooking can be for me and you! It can be for everyone :)

New Dog...Old Feelings

Well it's been 8 lonely months since our beloved West Highland Terrier, Calvin passed away. It's been so rough not having him in the house. I used to get so excited to visit home because I knew I would always be warmly welcomed with Calvin's sharp bark and warm cuddles. I feel like a piece of the family puzzle is missing. When Calvin was around, somehow, our family all connected. He was the center of our world. When he died, a little part of each of us died inside. I had never seen my father in such an emotional state; it was indeed the deepest tragedy our family has had to go through.







And now...here we are, already with a new westie ready for us to pick up and take home to call our own. It feels a bit weird to be getting another one so soon, but I am also excited. I know it won't be the same as Calvin, but I am hoping it will bring some happiness and life to the house, especially for Mom and Dad. With my sister and I gone from the house, they are pretty lonely and need something to keep them entertained.







It's amazing what animals can do for people and their spirits. It truly is a remarkable thing that I will always treasure. Pets are what make us complete. I never understood people who hated pets, because I feel like they are really missing out on great companionship, amazing memories and a piece of their soul.







I have attached a picture of my two previous pets, Buzzy the bunny and Calvin the westie. Sometimes just looking at the pictures make me weepy, but they also bring back old feelings of happiness and joy. In addition, I have attached a picture of our new westie, who is still nameless! We are getting him in a short one month's time! So far the names we like are: Mac, Charlie, Simon and Ben. What are your suggestions?

The Winter Blahs

It's January! Surprisingly the month is going by at a rapid pace. It seems like winter has been pretty calm this year as we haven't had any real major snow storms *knock on wood*!
I never really liked January, the holidays are over, everyone is miserably trudging into work from the snow and the days are frigid and unpleasant. But at least the days are getting longer! It is now still light out when I get home from work which is awesome. We all need a little sunshine in our life, and that doesn't necessarily have to come from the actual sun.

Sometimes when I am down I think about all the great things I am thankful for. I think about all the things in this world that cause me such great joy...no matter how big or small. Here is a list of just some of those things! What are some things that make you happy?

1-Taking a nice hot shower
2-Going to the salon and getting a snazzy new cut and sharp highlights--I feel like a true star :)
3-Ripping open a new CD and listening to it for the first time
4-Cruising in the car with the music loud and riding along the highway---I feel so free!
5-Spooning!
6-The soreness my body feels the day after a really good workout
7-Laughing until tears come out of my eyes
8-Coming home to fresh meals
9-Going to the library and collecting new books to read through
10-Riding a bike in the summer time to anywhere and everywhere
11-Cat naps
12-Dancing
13-A pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks--with skim milk and no whip!
14-Waking up on Christmas morning and seeing everyone's reactions to your gifts
15-Wearing a sexy pair of heels
16-Back rubs from my love
17-Getting an eyebrow wax
18-Snuggling by the fire
19-Sipping cocktails at a fancy bar
20-Getting a smile from a stranger

Goodlife Fitness--The McDonald's of Gyms

So I've been a member of Goodlife Fitness for the past 6 months now and I must admit it is quite convenient. There are clubs everywhere I go, so there is really no excuse for me not to work out. The location I use most is the one across the street from my work, I go there on my lunch hour almost everyday and I feel like it has now become part of my regular routine. If I skip the gym for one day I feel guilty and upset with myself. I like that I can incorporate fitness into my life because Goodlife makes it nearly impossible for me to make excuses about location or hours.

While I have a lot of good things to say about this gym, I only have one complaint and that is that each of their classes is exactly the same at every location! Same music, same moves, same types of teachers. It is like the McDonald's of gyms....it's always the same no matter where you go. So far I have done classes at three different locations: Toronto, Georgetown and North York and not one was any different than the other. Personally, I like going to any type of class where I can experience something new and make a connection with the teacher. But it seems like each instructor is so robotic that almost anyone can teach these classes. It also bothers me that the classes barely use any equipment i.e. yoga balls, light weights, steps, stretch bands. I feel like for the majority of their classes are moves you could do in your own basement on a video DVD.

Today I tried a BodyFlow class which was really good. It was a combo of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates. However, the whole time we just stayed on a mat. I think it would be more beneficial to use a type of stability ball or light weight in that type of class, but I don't understand why they don't do this. Yesterday I did the Body Attack class and all we did was run around the room non stop for an hour. It was just boring. If people want people to enjoy fitness programs, they need to make them a little more fun.

I love Goodlife Fitness for the most part, but that is just my one and only criticism.
As Body Break would always say "Keep Fit and Have Fun!"

Eff Resolutions!

So it's officially the new year...welcome 2010!
I suppose this is the time of year where people think it's a good idea to make changes. These changes aka resolutions, in my opinion, are stupid. Why must we wait until January to make changes in our lives? If we want something to change, why can't we do it right away? It never made sense to me. But I guess there is no harm in trying to better yourself. At least with a positive mindset, one can at least attempt to achieve these goals. But as I said, I don't make resolutions, because knowing me, they would be broken within two weeks. Instead, I like to look at what is ahead for the following 12 months and see what amazing things are ahead.
This year I plan to take a vacation to somewhere warm. Perhaps Miami or Mexico. This past weekend I just bought a pair of skates and hope to get out and actually try to enjoy the dreadful season of winter. My family is also hoping to get another dog in the spring, so that will be a lot of work on all our parts. But I am looking forward to it because I miss having a dog. This year shall bring some crazy fun, that is for sure! But I assume there will also be a lot of bad things happening in the world as well....
Yesterday night I went to the website for Psychic Nikki, a frequent guest on the Dean Blundell radio show on Edge 102.1. On her website she gives a giant list of her predictions for the upcoming year from upcoming fashion trends to celebrity deaths. At first I laughed as I scrolled down the list, until I reached the bottom of the page where it shows the predictions Nikki made last year and which of them were true. Among the 2009 predictions were the death of Michael Jackson, Sarah Palin's tell all book and the plane crash over the Hudson River.
This kind of freaked me out a little because of how accurate and specific her predictions were. For her 2010 predicitions, she predicts such things as a terrorist attack in Toronto, Buckingham Palace catching fire and an Obama assassination. How scary is that?!
I don't know much about psychics or how accurate they are, but if she predicted the above mentioned things for 2009, I am a little bit worried.
But who knows? Maybe she is just guessing. Or maybe it's like those tabloid "newspapers" you see on the stand that claim "Jesus is coming" and the "End of the World is Here". Complete and utter fluff. But who knows?! These are just the opinions and predictions of others, wheteher we choose to believe or not is another story.
Check out some of Psychic Nikki's predictions for 2010 here: http://www.psychicnikki.com/predictions.html