Winter Cheek Balm

I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow the moisture away...

Lets face it (literally), living in Canada,  winter can not be avoided (unless of course you are a snow bird and fly south for the winter). Depending on what part of the country you live in you might find yourself facing  -40°C wind chills, 8' snow drifts, or turbulent winter storms (some coming form the ocean, others just passing along the prairies). Some places it gets cold and stays cold till the great spring thaw, other places bounce between -20°C to +20°C in a matter of days, and then again... other places stay green all year long under a great gray cloud that doesn't lift for 4 months.

And all of these reeks havoc on our skin. Or at least my skin. I'm an outdoorsy kind of person. I walk to work every day- rain, shine, -40°c windchill, it usually doesn't bother me. I go hiking once a week and don't let Old Man Winter keep me away from exploring the hills and mountains. My skin however has a different idea. Yes, I use a winter moisturizer. Yes, I try to drink as much water as possible. Yes, I use a humidifier at home and at work but I still find myself with dry, flaky skin. It never seems to be enough. I've gone so far as to slather my body in baby oil twice a day and put chap stick on my face (the non-medicated kind).

Then I came across this -> Winter Cheek Balm. It's to-the-point protection for your skin. True, the packaging isn't sexy- so what. Sure, we can all have a little giggle over the name of the company, Green Beaver. However, in the end... this stuff works. It's Petrolatum and silicone free. Certified organic, vegan, gluten free, biodegradable and totally safe to use on babies and children.

Do your usual routine with your moisturizer, sunscreen, primer and whatever else. Do up your face in all the blush, bronzer and concealers. Then, smooth the balm over the sensitive areas- the tip of your nose, the apples of your cheeks, your chin, even your ears. Any place that you think needs to protection. Then go out and brave those nasty north winds and laugh in the face of Old Man Winter with his dry sense of humor.

2010: A Year In Retrospect

Welcome, 2011. With open arms I great you with warmth and excitement mixed with a slight tone of nostalgia for time passed.

2010 was a year of learning for me. Entering into it I was turning 30, a mental challenge all in it's self. The anxiety associated with the sudden realization that life was (and is) actually real and passing before my eyes was, well... scary. I am an adult now, a real adult and though there is always room for mistakes, I should know a bit better now. 

I started doing things, learning things and being things. I took control of life and made it work for me. I discovered for the first time that doing well in school had nothing to do with how "smart" I thought I was or wasn't- it had to do with hard work. Dedication and understanding priorities. I did well. This rule I discovered also applied to other areas of my life such as work. Regardless of the economy or any of that jazz that we see screaming at us from the front pages of news papers, my hard work paid off  and I was rewarded.

I joined a gym for the first time I then I quit the gym. I tried, it wasn't my thing. At least for now.

I took funk fusion dance classes and learned how to wack and Vogue instead.

I learned that death happens and there is nothing that you can do to stop it. It can't be controlled or predicted, it just happens. Yes, it doesn't make sense- at least it doesn't to me but I really don't want to spend my life thinking about it and trying to figure it out. And I really don't want to be scared of it.

Wholesome, whole wheat, home made pancakes are the perfect way to start the day. They really are.

My friends really stepped up this year, I am so grateful for all of them. There were times when I needed to turn to someone to hold my hand, walk me home or sometimes just sit and wait till the storm had passed. And they were there, without hesitation, judgment and with endless patience.

I took many steps out of my coveted comfort zone and learned to relax a little. A lot of it is just state of mind. 

I learnt that one person can't hold me back in life, that I can't sit around and wait for them to join me on the dance floor (metaphorically speaking). I also learnt to follow passions, no matter how old they are or how silly others may see them, the fire in my belly isn't silly and I need to follow it. 

So with that, I am set with what I want 2011 to expand into. 

Keep following my heart and that fire in my belly. Keep engaging my passions and going with it. 

Continue to seek out connections and maintain the ones that are important to me- to whatever degree that may be. 

Keep trying new things every month, I made a goal last year to try something new every month. It could be something as simple as taking a class or attending a seminar. Getting out there and being the most involved and interested person I can be is important to me. 

Work towards my decade goal of having a house and a family. I want that more than anything right now, I want a back yard to mow, a garden to weed, a front driveway to shovel in the winter. I want a family to share life with, even if it's just me, my partner and a couple of dogs. 

I want to travel this year. 3 trips. Plan them, book them and take them regardless of how insane work becomes. 

Maybe I'll even get a car? Maybe not. 

Spend time with family, I do that already but I want to keep doing it. It's important to me. 

2011 will bring change as does any year. Keep doing what I'm doing and make sure to always be extending myself even a little past my comfort zone.  Exciting and a little scary, I'm ready for it. I was born ready. 

So looking back on it, what was 2010 like for you? What do you think 2011 will bring? 

Happy New Year and Happy January! 

Flashback

This morning the past zipped up and swatted me on the side of the head- 3 times!

Incident #1: Jon-a-tron
Walking to work, I cross the street seeing a man walking towards me with a baby stroller. Didn't think anything about it but then all of the sudden something seemed familiar, so I looked back at the guy. He had a big smile on his face and I knew, it was my friend Jonathan. I hadn't seen him in years, I know he's happily married with his first kid. Floored I gave him a giant hug and then introduced myself to Cameron, the little guy.


Jonathan was at one point one of my closet friends through a very tumultuous time in my life. We hung out every day for months but as life goes, things happen and relationships drift apart. The last I remember talking to him he had just proposed to the woman of his dreams. Though delighted, our lives took separate turns and we just stopped talking. People come and go and this just happened to have been one of those situations.


As it turns out he now lives at the end of my block (small world!) with his wifey and baby. It was nice to reconnect, though it was only for a brief moment. It meant a lot and put a smile on my face.


Incident #2: married man
Many months ago, actually maybe it was a year ago, I kept running into this man who worked in my office building. I'd see him when I'd go grab breakfast and I'd see him when I'd go out for drinks with the girls on Friday. He made some pretty forward advances on me and I found out he was married. Well, I tore a nice little strip off of him and put him in his place. Every time I would run into him he would instantly lower his eyes to his shoes and turn bright red. I wasn't bothered by the situation at all, he was the married one with the shity moral values. Today, I ran into him first thing, taking the elevator up to work. It was just me and him so I smiled and made polite conversation. I can tell he knows my boundaries but it was pleasant to be able to have a normal conversation with him. I was pleased to see that he was also wearing his wedding ring.


Incident #3: John
It has been years since I have talked to John. He was a former boyfriend which waffled between a serious relationship to a not so serious relationship to a serious relationship again. For my own sanity I had to remove myself from contact with John because it was important for me to establish some space and grow without the distraction. I am not exaggerating when I say that I haven't had any contact with John for years. When I came into work this morning I saw that I had an email from him, it wasn't anything personal it was actually information from him informing me that he was doing an epic ride/adventure for cancer. In the past he has donated to all my causes and this morning, my gut said "Blanche, it's time to come out of hiding and show some support". So I did. It may not sound like much but I donated to his cause and wrote a little note of encouragement. This was an important step for me to take to marry all the growth that I have done now with my past.


I am sure none of these things sound like much to you, but for me they were gigantic moments especially to happen all in one day. I am reminded of who I was, the strength I have and who I am today. There are no expectations or forecasts over any of these events, they are what they are. Isolated occurrences to remind me of lessons I've learnt.

Flashback to 1988

Surfing in Tofino with the Olympic Torch

I was 8 years old when the 1988 Winter Olympics hit Calgary with a boom. And a Chinook- trust Calgary to have +20°c weather during the Winter Olympics. I remember the things that a child would remember from that time... the mascots Hidy and Howdy, the laser shows every night, the opening and closing ceremonies, making nose at the speed skating competition and that crazy pin collecting fad. Fast forward 12 years and I started to meet people who were old enough to party during those times. People with storied of parting with the Jamaican Bobsled team (I'm not allowed to repeat any of those!).... I heard a whole other side of the Olympics and just what joy they had brought to this city. We were the first city to actually make money from the Olympics and for years to come we were applauded for being the best.

The Torch in Drumheller, Alberta (Canada has interesting topography)

Last night, the torch, which has been making it's way across all of Canada (seriously), made it's way into the core of downtown Calgary. Me, Laura and 60,000 other people gathered at "Olympic Plaza" to watch as the torch made it's way here. There were cheers, fireworks and lots of noise. I giggled when the moment finally came, I could tell that it was coming by the growing cheers and the flash bulbs from digital cameras. With my camera ready my heart jumped at the first light I saw- which turned out to be a camera man. Ooops. He was leading the way for the torch and filming the whole things... so I got pictures of the camera man but NOT of the torch. I did see the torch though and it was pretty awesome. I can't help but feel sentimental and lovey to others during the Olympics (except during the hockey games when I get a little too serious for everyone involved). Sure, there are the "realists" that get grouchy over "misused tax dollars" and "a major road being blocked off for 3 hours" but I don't care... it's something special so why not indulge a little and maybe take a different way home- it's only one day.

The Torch at the most furthest north it's ever been Alert, Nunavut

So now, as Vancouver is counting down the days I wish the same experience for them. I wish for them prosperity, celebration and unity. All the things that the Olympics should stand for but seem to have lacked the last few years.