Things that Need to Stop

 

 

 

I just read this post and thought it had a pretty good outline on what needs to be done or not done to feel that feeling we are all looking for. A lot of it rings true to me so I wanted to post it over here for easy reflection.

 

Two little words of inspiration that I always keep in my mind are:

 

Do more of what you love

and

Don't think, just do. I tend to over think everything I want to do and never trust this here gut of mine. That needs to stop a little more so it doesn't stop me as much.

 

What would you add?

The Floods

On June 20th 2013, Calgary flooded. First thing in the morning I heard news that a small town west of Calgary had suffered great damage at the cost of The Bow river. A combination of spring runoff (snow melting in the mountains) and above average rain for the month of June, things were over flowing and out of control. Emergency alerts were popping up everywhere, there began concern that floods could occur in my beloved city.

 

I thought back to a time that didn't seem that long ago. 2005, when I watched from Strathcona Ridge as the Elbow River creeped over it's berm onto the road beside it. A downtown park called Prince's Island was submerged in water up to the tops of the picnic tables. There was damage but it was small. it was just on the cuff of everyday social media. I was posting pictures and writing blogs on MySpace at the time and I don't think Facebook even existed yet.

 

That felt like the worst this city could handle. I was wrong.

 

At 3:00 PM two Thursday's ago, the neighbourhood beside me was put under mandatory evacuation as was the neighbourhood two of my close friends lived in. I thought it was dramatic and unnecessary but also safe. "Better safe then sorry" I thought to myself as my friend updated that she had arrived on higher ground with her family. I left work at a normal time, the clouds had parted and the sun was strong on my skin through the humid air. I walked down 5th street to where I lived. Things felt different, there was an increase in police cars, a sign had been placed at the busy intersection of 17th ave and 5th street SW and I saw about 12 trucks filled with dirt and gravel drive past me in a frantic kind of way. It still didn't make sense to me. The rain had stopped, the streets that were challenging the storm sewers during my morning walk to work had dried up. I didn't really understand the panic yet.

 

I dropped my things off at my condo, I live on the second floor about 10 blocks away from the river. I walked closer to the area that the sign had said was closed off, I wanted to get a better idea of what all the concern was about. My sister who lived in the area had already been evacuated and was at my parents place. A police officer had walked around her complex, knocking on doors and telling people to leave. If the choose to stay, they had to sign a waiver saying so. I figured that if I wasn't supposed to be there, someone would stop me. Someone would tell me I was dumb and that I needed to leave. No one did, as I got closer to the river, more gravel trucks passed and I saw a digging machine making a giant dirt pile about 12 feet tall. Later I learned that the dirt pile was called a berm.

 

I didn't want to get too close to things, I stood about a block and half away from where the crews were working. There were so many people and so many things set up, I turned around and walked up 4th street (the business portion of the area I live in). I saw sandbags lining door frames and people waiting for city buses with a duffel bad and their pets in hand. All while the hot sun beamed down and the clouds kept moving east.

 

When do I start panicking? Do I start panic? I have a tendency to worry about things that don't really need to be worried about. Things looked OK and I had never in my life ever experienced anything that traumatic-- at least never at the hands of mother nature. I live in Canada, in Calgary. It's like a wonderful little bubble protects us from so many problems that effect other parts of the world.

 

I come home and my Internet if down. I use my iPhone to look up evacuations maps and call my parents. I message my friend who lives across the street and he says "the water won't come all the way up here", I felt so silly. I paced the floor and looked out the window. and paced and checked my phone and called my parents and looked out the window. Normal things were happening, people were heading to musical events and to the pub. The girls who lives across the way with the golden retriever was taking him for a walk. No one seemed worried, but still something didn't feel right. I turned off my lights and lite candles, isn't that what people do in these kinds of situations? My phone rang and it was my best friend "Pony, are you still at home?" I can't remember why she calls me Pony but it's my nick name. "Yes, where are you? are you guys OK?" She tells me that they are OK and that I need to leave. "But I haven't been evacuated-- as if the water is going to come all the way over here." she passed the phone to her partner who said "B, you have to leave. It's not about the water. if anything, they are going to turn off your services-- your power, your gas and your sewage. The roads around you are closing, you might get stuck. Just go to your mum's, you can always come back in the morning." She sounded so serious. It all seemed unnecessary but, my adrenaline was high and I doubt I would sleep anyway.

 

It's better to be safe then sorry.

 

I told her I would call when I got to my parents and hung up the phone. I grabbed my phone charger, an extra pair of undies and some socks. I looked around and said to myself "I'll be back in the morning" and basically left with that. I thought about taking my jewelery and maybe my passport but reminded myself I'd be back in the morning. My exact list of things I brought with me when I evacuated was:

phone charger

hair brush

tooth brush and tooth paste

face wash

an elastic for my hair

1 pair of socks

1 extra pair of under ware

bacon and cheese from my fridge (for breakfast the next day)

and a bottle of wine 

I grabbed my purse and my gym bag (never know when you might need yoga pants) and left. I made sure that my patio door was locked for once and that my computer was off. And that was that.

 

I got in the car and drove to my parents place. The streets were filling up with water and bad drivers. People were lined up along the quickly rising river and I felt so annoyed with them. And then I felt annoyed with myself. Why on earth was I evacuating? I didn't need too.

 

I arrived at my parents place and my mum was still up, she was watching TV with my sister and I sat at the kitchen table and drank some wine. I poured over my twitter as more info came in. Some people were partying like it was a fake end of the world, others were reporting the rate in which the river was slowly swallowing up my favorite parts of my city. Everyone went to bed but I stayed up until 3:30 am seeing pictures of rising waters. Our cities mayor returned from Toronto that night and toured the areas with my area's alderman, the last picture I saw was one of the two of them on top of the Glenmore dam, our mayors face was filled with worry. Eventually I fell asleep.

 

I woke up a few hours later and reached my hand under my pillow for my phone. I opened up my twitter and right away my feed was filled with pictures. The morning sun had just come up and my streets were filled with water, waist heights in some areas. It was 5:30 am and the sky was a never ending gray cloud. I went downstairs and my parents were up, I told them to turn on the TV and everything was live. The city was flooding. My dad who thought he was going to work and I who thought I'd be returning home in the afternoon, knew that wasn't going to happen. Safe in suburbia, we watched for hours as it kept raining and the city kept floods and both rivers just weren't cresting. I had images in my mind of people standing on the roofs of their houses as they had to be evacuated. We all thought the worst, I checked in with my other evacuated friends and they were sad and scared and I told them that no mater what, I would help them get through whatever it was that was waiting for them at home. It was little reassurance to them because none of us really knew what would be waiting.

 

Some of my friends went against orders to stay home and safe, they breached "red zoned" areas and checked on their house. They helped over people who weren't as stubborn save the things they didn't think they had to move. This went on for a few days. Most of us weren't allowed to leave our houses, we were in a state of emergency.

 

As all things do though, it came to an end. The rivers crested, the sun came back out and the flood waters started to recede. Still, most of us were not allowed to go near our places. The city was vibrating with energy to fix this mess, from the start people wanted to help. They were creating groups and joining forces to start helping the city get back on it's feet.

 

Our Mayor was so excellent during this time, he briefed us constantly on the state of things. He was honest and strong and had our backs. We knew that what he said was to be followed and he knew that we weren't dumb. As communities were cleared to be safe to return, rather then waiting on officials to evaluate situations, he allowed citizen to do the work. Setting out a guideline of what to look for and what to do, he let over 70,000 people return to their homes to do self assessments on the damage. He got areas back to work, he made sure that roads were repaired in a day. He ensured that as many peoples lives could return back to normal as possible.

 

I was allowed to return home a week after evacuating. My place was fine once the power was restored and the only damage I had was a bunch of moldy food in my fridge. We were given assistance to cover expenses, which I used to restock my fridge and I donated the rest to someone who needed it more then me. My life is back to normal. I don't feel normal though. I spent a week in constant anxiety and concern for the city and people I love. My heart made a happy home in my throat as I watched people join together to create strength and rebuild communities. Everyone and every thing was working so hard to put things back to normal, a new normal and I could see the effort.  I felt different, inspired and recharged.

 

Buildings were damaged, there were issues. Things are indeed different and some might not be for the better for now. My city has been in an official "state of emergency" for almost 2 weeks but that is ending tomorrow. I'm stiff from doing dirty jobs, from volunteering my self to those I don't know to help them get back on their feet and I'll keep doing it.

 

This city, who is rich with new money and lack of morals forgot their materialistic ways and got dirty for each other.  My faith for people was renewed, and the officials and the government and the police and my neighbours and everyone. When I finally got home to a clean, dry house I cried on my couch for about an hour. My adenine was down and I cried for the people who were so kind and the struggles that others were still going through. I cried because I knew in the end, we should all actually be OK.

 

Of course, this is my perception of what happened which is different from many others. There are people who lost a lot of things and have challenges ahead of them. Rebuilding, redoing. They aren't alone though and though for some it may feel like things are back to normal, it's actually a new normal. I will keep volunteering until I am no longer useful and will try my hardest to put this city back better then where I left it on June 20th  2013.

 

 

 

For pictures, see slide show here

ON EDIT: There is so much more to write about, but I just can't. Not all in one post. I tried too and I know it's long and boring. I might talk about it more or I might not. All I can say is I have never been more moved and touched by an experience. As traumatic as it was to how uplifting it was, it changed me in a way that I can only say as better. My city does need time to rebuild, close $500,000,000.00 of damage has occurred (rough estimate, too soon to tell) but none of that damage was human death. It's nothing to make light of and at a fault of my own ignorance (I don't want to diminish what others have done though because it possible has been the worst thing in their life), it could have been so much worse. Everything worked like a well oiled machine and in my eyes, the greatest disaster is losing life. The people haven't lost life and nor has this city. Thanks for reading as I continue to processes the experiences.

Punk Rock Tuesday

I'm sitting at The Ship waiting for Punk Rock Bingo. I have leggings on and a weird jersey shirt I bought in Montreal 10 years ago. I'm wearing it because it covers my butt because the leggings leave nothing to the imagination and should be exclusively for the gym. I have gym hair from my sweaty weight training session after work and yesterday a bird pooped on my head. Today was a no wash hair day. I look questionable and the guy sitting in the corner with the " I love hamburgers" t-shirt is trying to get my attention. It's Tuesday and I'm at the pub drinking alone, writing a blog post and waiting for my ex (who is really more of an awesome friend even after a 4 year relationship that ended a little messy for him).

I'm looking at the prizes as they are put up. I want the storm trooper helmet. This is like the adult version of Kid Street. Maybe I want the mini piano instead.

Food's here, I better eat.

What Would You Do?

So, what would you do if your found this:

a bottle, with a note and two $50.00 bills in it.

 

 

 

You open the note and it reads:

 

 

and then you unfold more, it reads this:

 

What would you do with the  money?

 

 

Please leave comments below

Me and My Low FODMAP Diet

History:
I have tummy issues. They have come and gone most of my double number life. My body just all of the sudden gives out on me. One day, things are beautiful and fine and I can eat like a wild animal and then the next day, it seems that even the simplest things will not stay in me for longer then 15 minutes. I have found ways to improve it but sadly (for me) it always comes back. I have been to the doctor most of my adult life with this. The first time, I was diagnosed with IBS by my family doctor and told to eat a diet rich in fiber, fruit and veggies. I did and it made me so sick, it almost made matters worse. It came and went for a while along with other things and then 2 years ago it got really bad and I dropped down to 78 lbs (I was usually 95 lbs at that time). I went to the hospital and saw some specialists and again, I was diagnosed with IBS. They told me to eat a diet rich in fiber and veggies but what I realised was a diet rich in white bread, processed cheese and meat made me feel best. I learned that rich food and processed food didn't bother my tummy and I finally was comfortable with my tummy and knew how to handle it. Then, one day I had some mango (or maybe it was the scone) and my tummy once again gave out on me. Nothing would help it. The things that I could eat the week before all of the sudden upset things immensely. I started to panic. I didn't want to lose weight. I have finally broken 100lbs, I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week and do yoga, cardo and a lot of weight training. my body is the strongest it has ever been and the idea of losing that scared me. I started to panic.

My tummy issues triggered my OCD and the OCD started triggering other things and all that made my tummy worse and so on and so forth.

I felt like I was at the end of my rope. To me, it seemed like I had been down this road once before. I thought I had exhausted every option the last time. I thought I had fixed it all. Apparently not... nothing worked. I was going from bathroom to bathroom when out in public, trying hard to juggle my social life and my tummy. I was drinking Pepto every other day to try and give myself some kind of control. Everything except bagels and milk were upsetting my tummy (oh, and of course wine was fine as well), my life was feeling small and I had no idea what to do.

Currently:
Last weekend I ate some food that upset my tummy and I spent a lot of time on Monday in the ladies room at work. I figured it might be time I go on a diet for long term tummy issues. I had written about the BRAT diet a few years ago and it was helping me a little then just to normalise things. BRAT stands for Banana, Rice, Applesauce, Toast (not very nourishing for the ol' body if you ask me). I then remembered what I had dismissed most of my life, the IBS. I Googled "IBS Diet" and found something called the Low FODMAP Diet. It fit for me and so I started to research how to make this happen in my life. I know enough about nutrition and my body to follow something like this correctly and to be honest, anything is better then milk and plan bagels.

I talked to people, I did some reading and on Saturday I started (Friday, I again spent most of the day going back and forth to the washroom). It was amazing how I just all of the sudden was fine. Things were working normally and I felt like for the first time in a few month I was eating normally again. This part of the diet is only 6-8 weeks long, it's the elimination part of the diet and maybe the most challenging. By the end of the 6-8 weeks I will be able to start introducing my favorite foods again. That will be a test period to see, what do I have issues with and what do I not. The first category I will add will be lactose. I doubt I have an issue with it because I have been consuming it without any connection to issues my whole life. I want to make sure though, so I am making sure to follow the rules perfectly.

I enjoy Tweeting about it once a day as well, I see this as a great food adventure for me. Going into it I wasn't sure I could do it but having stuck with it for 3 days I realise that it just takes some thought and planning. It's not REALLY that limiting. I have enjoyed cooking (so far) for myself. I am curious to eat and enjoying not having issues. Tonight I made these quinoa cheese bacon tomato things. I had to leave somethings out of it but I make up for it in other areas. They are so good and perfect for an easy, lazy breakfast in the morning.

So this has been my Low FODMAP diet this far. It's been good and I am pleased 4 days into it how good I feel. I stopped trusting my body which is the worst thing because it's like not trusting a loved one. I didn't trust the diet going into it but after 4 days, I am learning to and even better-- I am learning to trust my body again.

It's nice to be back on the same side old friend.

Neil

I love looking at these old photo's of these old legends.

Mr. D and His Birthday

I'm doing the last thing I should be doing right now. It's a friend of mines birthday today, thanks to Facebook for telling me. He's one person I often wonder about; wonder if he's happy. I understand that it's not my responsibility to make everyone happy in life but I still think I have some ability to make things better.

 

I like company and I like people. But I also need my space. I tend to project my own fears on others and imagine that this might be what they are going through-- that could be or it more than likely may not be.

 

 

He posted a status update about an hour ago that he was heading out for a birthday drink tonight and wondered if anyone wanted to join him. I wanted to join him. I haven't sat and talked with him in years, if ever. I say hi to him when I run into him at art openings and garden shows. Always quick encounters along the journey pathway.

There are some people who post things about needing someone to go with them for this or that and I never have the desire to go. This is different. I want to do this but I look at the time and I know I have to drive to where he is. I know that I can't drink at all and drive home regardless of mental state (there's a zero tolerance for my drivers licence category for the first two years-- the two years is over this July) and my mind and judgment says don't.

 

and I think that this judgement is wrong. I look at the time again and my judgment kicks in. *sigh

 

So I make an agreement with myself to make an effort to ask him to go for a glass of wine sometimes soon and that sooths my guilt a bit. If guilt is even the right word.

 

I want to make change in my life (I always want to generate change) and I feel very strongly about people. Those two things promote wanting to volunteer more and talk to people I don't normally talk to and that movie Sliding Doors flashes in my mind. I imagine my other self driving to the north part of the city to see him and I imagine that only good things will happen from it. Yet, I still sit here. Writing a blog post about the things I want to do and making a situation not about me, about me even though my intention is just to surprise a friend I am fond of.

 

and so I reconfirm that agreement I made with myself to make the effort to go for a glass of wine with him on a different day and in my typical awkward way, I'll tell him too much about the reason why. That's OK though, most people don't mind the honesty.

 

"Hi Mr. D, I saw your status on your birthday about meeting for a glass of wine and I wasn't able to make it then but how about now? I can meet you at DeVille by your place" then I'll just walk home from there. It's almost summer and the days are getting longer. And we'll have a conversation and I will learn more about him because that would be nice.

 

 

(while I was writing this, a song arrived in my head and though I couldn't find a link for it you could look it up: Kathryn Calder --  Low  it's pretty and sweet and a little sad)

Candy Dish

I have a candy dish on my desk. It's filled with candy (fancy that!) and the original intention was to make it inviting for people to come into my lair office and be my friend. Well, I have learnt a few things...

Covered Candy Dishes are Lame:
Mine is a stuffy Waterford Candy dish which is special because I find fussy cut crystal to be special. I got it from my years of working in high end jewelery and gift ware. We used to get stuff for free all the time. Also, the candies still get stale. *sad face

No One Likes Salt Water Taffy Except for Me:
Truth! I love the stuff and I ate so much of it that it gave me a headache (over use of jaw muscles-- TMJ) and I thought it was from the weather and the florescent lights but really it was from eating too much candy.

No One Likes the New Girl:
It's true, people are often not too keen on the new person and the people in my group are like the cool kids in high school (I don't fit in and I don't care but sometimes I make it weird and I don't mean too) and so it's been hard. Plus I came from a smaller office that I had been at for 5 years so, I had family. I have friends at my new job that aren't just the food vendors in the food court but they aren't really in my department.

Location! Location! Location!:
My office is in some side hallway in some weird area of the floor with a one other person and then a bunch of empty offices. I am hallways and a kitchen away from my group and so it makes it hard. I could have naked girls and champagne and people wouldn't have the foggiest idea I was here until the naked girls left as well.

So yes, that was the intention behind the candy dish. I've had candy in it for about a month and a half. I have stopped eating it myself so I won't get headaches anymore (I can't stop at one) and since I hardly have visitor, you would think it would stay the same.

It's not.

Candy is missing.

So either people are coming into my office when I'm not here and eating it because it's awesome and they don't want anything to do with me (not true, they love me... they just don't know it yet).

OR

The cleaning staff is eating it.

In that case, they can eat it all and get a headache and then I'll replace it with chocolate and HIDE it because I don't need to pay people in candy to be my friend.

The END! Byeeee!

How To Write a Blog Post

I think I have forgotten how to write... I haven't blogged in so long and I think I have forgotten how to do it.

Test. Test-test. *ahem

Step One: Pick Something to Write About
Ummm... I can't think of what to write about. I used to just spill my guts out in here and write pretty little things about this or that and the flow of word to finger tip was never tapped out. I'm out of practice. I guess I am writing about that.

Step Two: Write About It
Damn it, I thought I already did! Sadly, it doesn't seem that I can outsmart myself in this thing.

Step Three: Spell Check and Proof Read What You Have Written
I usually skip this or at least let Blogger just check my spelling (half the time it doesn't work for whatever reason-- seriously).

Step Four: Find a Picture that Reflects What You Have Written

Perfect!


Step Five: Preview
I do this to make sure my pictures are the proper size and sometimes I find it easier to proof read in the preview format. Don't ask, just go with it! OH WAIT-- also, this might be the place you want to add your labels. This is where I decided to add my labels today. I choose NONE!

Step Six: POST IT!
Byeeeeee!

Step Seven: Edit Again
Becasue you didn't actually follow Step Five
Damn it.

Bringing Blogging Back

 

 

 

That's right, I'm bringing it back for the umpteenth time. The sad truth is this might be a fickle attempt but no one really notices. I'm pretty sure the only people who read my thoughts these days are spam-bots and ex-boyfriends. I am grateful to the ex's because they are real people that actually distantly curious about me.

 

It's January, my birthday has passed... am I getting old enough now not to care? I still know my age but yesterday I wasn't sure what year it was. I was ahead of myself thinking it was 2014. I haven't made my yearly goals yet. I have a new job (that's a major reason why I haven't been writing, I have actually been working) doing something I love for a company that is fresh, progressive and exciting (though I might still be in the honeymoon stage). I have a decent grasp on my life as well, or perhaps I am choosing what battles to fight and which ones to worry about. And maybe, I have a grasp on boys. Maybe. Really, right now... I don't really care about boys (shocker!). I think that almost all of my relationships are healthy ones-- that's a lovely feeling.

 

I think the biggest thing is now, I want to travel. My new company is more flexible with time and I have lots of holiday time. This year should be the year that I shock myself and do something amazing. I have the ability, I'm just scared. I need someone else to commit to something for me and then I'll be down. It's making that choice though, so difficult.

 

I want to do some crafts-- a little creating. Find a new passion perhaps, and keep working on the ones I have.

 

Things have been good, even in the last 6 months of chaos and uncertainty. I dealt with losing my job like a champ. I was without work for a total of almost 3 weeks. I have nothing to complain about and though that feels fantastic in my head, heart and body... it makes for awful writing. I am motivated by the fireworks and angst to write and pour my soul out. No one wants to read peppy meanderings of joy. Mind you, since when have I ever written this for other people. Mostly, I write this for me. This blog has changed face so much in the years it has been around. I guess a little like me, it's always been the same but it's just evolved.

 

I'm hungry, I should find something to put in my mouth hole.

 

PS: the title has nothing to do with another blog "I'm Bringing Blogging Back"

4 Easy Peasy Appies

 

 

 

 

OK, I should be working but I took my first real mental break from the new job to check my Shaw Webmail account. That email address is where all my junk and spam goes. I love it, my routine is to go through each email and real about everything happening and going on in the world. Travel deals, stuff happening in the city, other peoples blogs. It's a plethora of info and none of it goes to my phone.

 

I came across this fantastic 4 story gallery from Refinery 29 of simple appies that you can make... you need to check this shit out because it looks SO easy but will be SO impressive.

 

Herbed Shortbread anyone? How about encrusted goat cheese balls. OH--- party time you are calling my name!

Promiscuous

I was reading the headlines and saw this:

"HPV shots don't make girls promiscuous, according to a new study: http://t.co/ZT7doW8G"

Really? This is news worthy news? I suppose it could be a concern similar to those around birth control but...

I really don't see how a vaccine can "make" a girl promiscuous. It's unhealthy self esteem and sexual awareness that fuels a girls inability to make strong sexual choices. I pride myself in having a pretty healthy idea about sex. I'm liberal with discrimination. I've had sex on the first date and I've waited months before getting physically intimate. I gage it all in how I feel about the person and about myself. Sometimes there has been talks and sometimes it's all just happened so fast in a fit of passion. I've dated boys who I've never slept with. 

All in all, it has very little to do with anything except how we think and feel in life. It's silly in my mind to worry about a vaccine, sex education or a pill making "young girls more sexual". I think it's vital to expect that they will eventually have sex and to educate them emotionally to make good choices according to them-- not according to anyone else. 

And that's my rant from my phone this morning! 

Change Not Coins

 

 

 

 

There are events that occur in our lives that make no sense and we ask ourselves in the morning and we brush our teeth "what has this happened to me?"

 

There are events that occur in our lives that make all those little nonsensical things make sense finally, many months or even years later.

 

This has been one of those times, one of those events. Actually a collection of events that just flipped my life upside down like I try to do so carefully on my own.

 

I lost my job. I lost my love life. I felt kind of lost. The beauty of it was the boy happened a few days before the job so the job loss over shadowed everything. Plus, I have SUCH an amazing network of friends that I didn't have a chance to even question myself. This all happened two weeks ago and in some weird, wonderful way... life has picked me up and dusted me off so carefully, I almost might believe that there is a higher power.

 

Everything suddenly makes sense again. This is what usually happens in October. Things of uncertainty come to closure for the winter.

 

I have a new job starting next week, it's something I have wanted to try for many years so I'm excited to begin. The company is different from my last and I'm really looking forward to new challenges and lessons.

 

And as for my love life, I'm not worried about that right now. I'm trying new things, saying yes to situations I normally wouldn't and just allowing for different to come into my life. It's nice to have this moment of satisfaction because i know that soon, things will start to get challenging in one way or another so I'm not ready yet but... I will be. Things just happen as they should and I am so grateful for everyone who has been so supportive through everything.

 

I have been selfish and at times weird. I took a week and didn't want to socialise (not like me), I flaked out on plans and just listened to my gut. And as it does, it changed and the adventures started to filter through. So many beautiful, happy memories have come from these few weeks.

 

And for the first time I honestly believe I deserve all of this. I am confident that I will do my best at my new job, I have a heavy track record of it... I know I am capable of doing my best. I also believe that I deserve all these amazing people in my life, I am touched by their love and compassion... and I would do anything for them and they have proven they would do the same.

 

LOVE!!! xxoo

A Good Time with No Strings Attached

I went to a screener of For a Good Time, Call.... last night and I loved it. It was fresh, it was funny, it was bubble gum pink mixed with zombie strippers (minus the zombies). It was Bridesmaid's reduced. It was a dirty talking girlfriends and sex toy parties. It was a movie that was filmed in 16 days and you can't tell one bit. Simply perfect like confetti cupcakes and butter cream icing with sugar skull candies.

 

It's spanks as a date rape preventive.

 

It's 1-800-mmmHmmm

 

It's Snow White meets Barbarella and they become besties.

 

It's Justin Long, Kevin Smith and Seth Rogan all smashed in one.

 

It's sweet but with edge. This is a movie to bring your girlfriends too, maybe your guy friends (they'll enjoy the vulgar, sexy conversations) and perhaps your progressive, independent mom if you have that kind of an adult friendship with her. Don't bring your kids though (side note, I'm sick of people bringing babies and kids to movies that aren't meant for kids)- that's a no-no for sure.

 

Check you what Calgay's FFWD had to say about it.

 

It's girls being real, girls being funny and girls being awesome. If you have no qualms about sexy talk and sass then I think you might like it. It made my night but then I went into thinking it was going to be an awful movie that was filmed in 16 days that might make me roll my eyes out of pure classlessness.

 

I was wrong. It's fab. Its a good time with no strings attached.

 

and that's my cheese review of the day. xxoo

 

What I Plan to Do This Winter

Friggin' CUTE!!

 

While gloves and socks are made to be forever together, often they choose to divorce and spend their lives in a solitude.

 

Of course, we have to respect their decision, but it’s hard to look at them being all lonely, laying somewhere in the backs of a drawers.

 

Luckily, crafter and author Miyako Kanamori has a wonderful solution! With some plastic surgery you can turn your old and lonely glove into an ever happy chipmunk!

 

In her book, Happy Gloves: Charming Softy Friends Made from Colorful Gloves, Kanamori also gives complete instructions on how to make a frog, duck, flower, car, donkey, tiger, and more!

 

 

 

Fire Fly Jar

 

 Perfect for your kids or to add a little extra ambiance to your backyard or bedroom, these cool fire fly jars are ridiculously easy to make.

 

You just need a jar, diamond glitter, glow sticks, and some water. Granted, the glow sticks fade after awhile but you can enjoy them.

 

Use them as decorations for your next party.

 

Just follow the instructions in the picture.

I Want to be a Hobbit

 

So there for I want these slippers from ThinkGeek.

  

 

 

CUTE! it makes second dinner and second breakfast that much better!

Staying Friends with the Ex('s)

 

 

I had a messy break-up a few years ago and things ended poorly. One person was really hurt, the other was just confused and done. The hurt one lashed out in anger and the confused one took that anger as a threat and cut all ties-- no contact. And that was good. That gave time for the hurt one to come to terms with what had happened and that also gave time for the confused one to get things figured out.

 

and that was that. Until a few weeks ago when all of the sudden he popped back into my life. All has been forgiven and it's nice to know that we have both moved on. There is something special about being forgiven because I was the confused one in that scenario.

 

I have decent relationships with all my ex's. Well, I wouldn't exactly say "relationships" but I would say that I'm friendly with all of them. Should I ever run into one on the street I would never hesitate to go over with a friendly hug and say hi. That's just who I am, I shared something with that person and though I may have moved on I am still connected on some level to that person. Like an old friend. I don't see the purpose in hating an ex, especially over time. Both parties did the best they could and well, we've all learnt a lot now, haven't we.

 

It's undeniable, you can't be friends right away. That's hard. There are still too many emotions and sometimes leftover expectations. There has to be space. No contact. I always preach to my friend "90 days, no contact!" when they go through a break-up. You can deal with the after math much better when your emotions are in check. I'm not usually the kind of girl who gets in touch in the following months after a break-up. I need to get my head straight, especially when I've been the one broken-up with.

 

I guess in a way when I know I can be friendly with my ex's I know that all doors have been closed, we all have our closure and the relationship is finally done because I no longer have any emotional ties-- love or hate. Yes, I believe that's it for me. A friend of mine always challenges me and says that I just can't let go, but I disagree. I feel as though I have let go of all of my ex's but I hate that feeling of not being able to do something. That when I see something, I can't openly write and say "Hey, thought you'd enjoy this!" or what not. Is that wrong? I don't feel like it is, it doesn't cause me hurt or anxiety. I feel good about it. It's never affected my relationship, especially as I've grown more as a person and I'm able to feel confident in my choices.

 

 

What do you think? Are you friends with your ex's? Do you hate them? Or could you careless.

 

** post inspired by Cup of Jo

Easiest DIY ever. EVER.

 

Method and Tools:

White mug

Black Sharpie

oven.

 

that's it.

 

ta-DAA!

What Women Notice First

I saw this ad:

(it made me laugh)

and it states that men notice boobs first on women and women notice hair on men. The more I think about it the more I can't remember for the life of me what I notice first on a man. I don't think it's his hair or his shoes or what he smells like... attraction doesn't happen until I spend time with the guy.

When I see a man I think the first thing I notice is his mouth and his eyes (side note, I just created a spread sheet of all the boys I've dated and what they look like-- conclusion is I don't have a type unless "glasses" are a type). Then maybe his chin but none of that matters until I've talked to a guy, then I'm either head over heels and down for the count or over it.

and as for boobs, I might agree that most men would notice boobs first for a few reason:

a) they are boobs and they have magical properties

b) as women, we tend to showcase them a little because we are aware of the magical properties which make men notice them even more. It's all good, men are usually pretty good and checking things out without getting caught.

I'm not sure what the point of this post is, I just though the commercial was funny though somewhat general. The point was made that Axe now has shampoo and the type of man who would use it might also take pictures of Justin Beiber to their stylist to get a hair cut just like it.

Do you have any thoughts on this?