It only makes sense that I read this when I should be doing homework...

So this evening in my browsing of the Internets, I came across this blog and this post which is exactly what I have been thinking about this last little while. The gist is that life is really short and that one should just do the things one needs to do to be that person that one wants to be.
For example, earlier this month I wrote a list of the kind of person I want to be. I feel I have been taking some steps in becoming this person. I want a group of girlfriends to do the girly things with. So I went out and joined things to meet other women.
I read another blog called makeunder my life. Jess is working on designing the life she wants and living with intention. I have been thinking lately about the kinds of intentions I want to live my life by. Every Thursday, Jess has interviews with other inspirational people who are also living with intention. It's probably my favorite blog feature as it always leads me to think about my intentions.

So far I have thought of three that I want to start living by:

1)Having a positive mindset. Instead of looking at the negative, finding the positive. For example, my dog often wakes me up multiple times in the night to go outside. Instead of being annoyed with her for it, I am learning to be happy that at least she is still here to wake me up. Molly is very sick and every day could be her last. If that means waking up multiple times to spend time with her, then I am very thankful for the opportunity to give her one more cuddle.

2)Treating everyone with kindness and respect. From the cleaners at work to the CEO of the corporation, we are all the same inside. We were all created the same way and we all deserve to be treated fairly. And you never know...today's bike courier could be working on tomorrow's bestseller, today's janitor could be working on tomorrow's thing we can't live without. I know that I am more than what people just see so I should treat other people that way too.

3) Being accountable. If I say I am going to be somewhere, I will be there. From facebook events to volunteer opportunities to friend's milestone moments. Being there when I say I will be there makes me a happier person. And if I really can't make it, I need to be accountable and tell the person why. I also need to be accountable with following through on what I say I am going to do.

That then brings me to the two essays I need to be working on right now to help me achieve my degree. I need to be accountable to myself and get those done.

Heroes quote

"Will you choose your own path or will you have your path chosen for you?"

Light the Night

Last night I walked with hundreds of other people carrying illuminated balloons to show support and to remember those in our lives battling or who battled a blood cancer. My best friend's mom passed away last September from myeloma after many, many years of showcasing impeccable strength in a battle against the blood cancer. Unfortunately, Cheryl was not able to make it to the walk with me, but her dad did. It was really nice to walk beside him.

Cheryl and my team raised $1602.50 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada through online and cash donations (cash donations are not up online yet). Our goal was $1000 and we surpassed that. I would like to thank all of my friends, family and fellow bloggers who sponsored me. I would also like to thank all of the random people I talked to at the bar on Friday night about this cause who also donated whatever they had in their pockets. Every penny counted :)

A shared thought

"Never be afraid to try something new: amateurs built the ark, professionals built the titanic" anonymous

Falling back into Summer

Today was a beautiful fall day. A gentle breeze would occasionally blow by and shake a few of the golden coloured leaves off of the trees. I stopped in the mall this morning to pick up a few essentials and window shop browsed at a few fall pieces I long for. I came home and sat on my balcony, sipping vanilla biscotti coffee while I read for school. My throat is killing me and my sinuses are stuffed, but I still allowed myself to enjoy the 34 degree Celsius day that Mother Nature thought was best suited for autumn. Remember two days ago when the last day of summer turned into the first day of fall? Because someone forgot to mention to Lady Gaea it was time to trade her summer hat for some autumn accessories. Here in Calgary anyway.

I am not complaining. I think its great to wear flip flops and shorts while walking my dog through piles of crunchy leaves. I just really want to start wearing some fall outfits! I want to wear my cute new boots with tights and dresses. I did enjoy reading on my balcony today though, and soon enough I will be wishing for days like today so I am glad I was able to take advantage of it -- even with the cold symptoms I am battling.

I just have to get through this week of finishing up a course and then exciting October is upon me. I have a lot of events with GirlTalk: an evening of meal prep so my freezer is well prepared for the winter (or will have at least 6 meals in it anyway), discussing the Time Traveller's Wife at Food and Fiction AND Eat, Pray, Love at Books and Brunch, and watching some fabulous musical dinner theatre inspired by the King himself --the King being Mr. Elvis Aaron Presley. I bought myself some blue suede shoes this evening online (SO DANGEROUS!!!) for this event.
This is what I am thinking about so far:


I do have an Elvis professional helping me out too :)

And then at the end of October, I will be travelling out to North Battleford to partake in my lovely friend's Halloween themed wedding! I can't wait to see it all pulled together --the ultimate Halloween party of the year :)

But like I said, I just need to get through this last week of September. Finish these two papers and tell CanLit to hit the TransCanada Highway.

Also, I am walking Light the Night on Saturday evening. I am still accepting donations if you would like to sponsor me

The world would be a better place...

...if we could all learn to laugh at ourselves. Or not post such ridiculous things on facebook that will be reposted for the everyone to laugh at you about.

www.lamebook.com

Actually, I take that back. Please keep posting ridiculous things so that I can keep laughing. Keeps me young.

Will you be my friend..check yes or no

There is a lot of talk in the blog world today about making friends now that we are all grown up and not forced to sit next to someone in school or partnered for phys ed. class. Both Krystal and FB wrote about their struggles with trying to meet girl friends. I think all girls have this issue. Somewhere after 13, its like we decided we only get along with guys which instantly put up a barrier. We had our best girl friend or group of girlfriends and didn't need to branch out. Except when we left the instant friend setting (aka school and the parties that are in between school hours)and we all started taking different paths in life, we started feeling as though we had no friends.

I have always had guy friends too. And I always said it was because I got along with guys better, but I think deep down it was because I didn't like the competition of another female. I enjoyed being the only "lady" in a group of guys. Instant attention and you could practice all of your flirting skills. When I started a serious relationship and all of my guy friends started serious relationships, our friendships sort of ...dwindled. My boyfriend's didn't like me hanging out with all of these guys and my guy friends were with girls who didn't want them hanging out one-on-one with another girl. Fair enough....but where did that leave me?

At first, I did nothing about it. Just sat around, read, watched tv, spent way too much time with the boyfriend to the point where I didn't even have my own life anymore. I discovered www.meetup.com and joined a couple of groups that looked interesting. One was all about trying new stuff in Calgary...the issue I had with that group is that I kept meeting guys! The point was for me to meet a group of girl friends, so I looked for a women's only group. This led me to find GirlTalk Events. I signed up for Pottery, Pizza and Wine night, paid my fee and imagined what it would be like.

The event took place on a Saturday evening. The entire day I had an inner battle. I was going to skip out because how creepy was it that I was meeting people off of the Internet? And I was going to seem so lame because I felt like I had no friends in the city I am born and raised in. And every other little thought that eats away at one's self esteem went through my head. But, I would keep telling myself that I paid for this, the worst that could happen is I would at least paint a piece of pottery for my place and if anything else, I had paid for wine...

I went. And it was hard. I had to sit at a table with 6 other girls (I think there was a total of 30 ladies there). And make small talk with people that I knew nothing about! I won't say that I made a best friend that night, but I did gain some confidence, enjoyed the atmosphere and made myself sign up for another event when I got home. The more you show up to outings, the more people recognize you and the higher the chance of friendship.

GirlTalk also offers a book club that meets at a different restaurant every month. I love to read and there are so many different places I want to try eating at so I was really excited to sign up for that!

Last month, the owner of GirlTalk sent me an email asking if I would be interested in the opportunity to co host a second table at the book club events. As well as other events that may need hosting. I am really excited about this new chapter in my life. I have gone from the position of the girl who was afraid that they were all going to laugh at me (Carrie reference!!) to the girl who draws the new girls into conversation and creates an atmosphere of friendliness for everyone. So that their experience can be as positive as mine, and they will come back and maybe meet a great group of girlfriends while getting out of the house.

My advice to all the ladies that think its hard to meet friends after college is to really put yourself out there. And never decide you aren't going to do something because it looks lame. As soon as you make that judgement, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Le Chien Chaud

Today I stopped for a gourmet hot dog for lunch on 4th Street. I chose a Mediterranean hot dog that was topped with hummus, artichoke hearts, feta cheese and olives. So yummy! I also bought the world's biggest pickle to chomp on.

This place is so cute. They have about 10 different hot dogs you can try ranging from the Canadian to the Mexican to the Ukrainian. The decor is hot dog themed (obviously) and the wall contains a collage a la A&W restaurants with vintage hot dog ads and new photos of staff and patrons enjoying their Chien Chaud.

My favorite ad was for a Valentines meal: Steamed rice molded into a heart, surrounded by hot dogs and radish roses, served with chili sauce. I think I might actually serve this for Valentine's day next year :)


I enjoy Le Chein Chaud because it seems to take the gourmet hot dog seriously. Tubby Dog is another similar place in Calgary that deals with hot dogs, but seems to be laughing at itself in a sense --I did try Tubby Dogs Cap'n Crunch, Peanut Butter and Jelly hot dog and it was actually pretty good.

Pop Rocks Rock!

I am sitting here today enjoying a bag of pop rocks aka THE best candy in the world. And I was thinking about how they are made. Luckily in this day and age when the powers of google are in font of me at all times, I was able to find out.

This technology infused candy is basically packed with tiny 600-psi carbon dioxide bubbles. When the candy hits your tongue and begins melting, all of those bubbles are released creating the popping sensation. Here is a more technical explanation if you need it.

Once, Dairy Queen had a pop rocks blizzard. It was like somebody saw the genius of pop rocks and thought "how can I make this even more awesome?" I sure miss that blizzard but it was a limited time only thing. I wonder if I brought a bag to Dairy Queen, if they would make me one.....

Tonight is GirlTalk Food and Fiction and we are discussing Marley and Me (even though it isn't fiction....) I am ready to hear lots of tear jerking stories of the groups pets. I know while I read it, I bawled many times and often had to stop just to hug Molly. I also laughed out aloud many times. I recommend this book. I hear the movie is pretty well done too.

I am also volunteering my time at the Dream Centre radiothon this afternoon. The Dream Centre is for homeless men that want to get off the street. They apply for a room and if they get in, the centre offers courses to help these guys stay off of the streets and obtain ways to live a brighter future. It's a really good cause I think.

This makes me laugh

www.peopleofwalmart.com

It might make you laugh too. Don't shoot the messenger.

GirlTalk Rollerskating

What a fun night! A great way to spend a Tuesday evening-- meeting new friends and hanging out with old friends.

Life could be worse...

...poor little ducks

Light the Night

Last September, my best friend's mom lost her battle against cancer. Every year she would walk the Light the Night walk...some years in remission, some years in battle mode. Unfortunately she was unable to walk it last year. Cheryl and I are going to represent her mom this year in the annual walk and we are raising money to help end the fight. If anyone would like to sponsor me for this, I would greatly appreciate it.
The walk takes place September 26th 2009. All participants receive an illuminated balloon that is a different colour depending on if you are representing someone, supporting someone, are in remission or battling. I think the visual impact this walk will have will be awesome.

Thanks to anyone that can sponsor me.

I'm a real wild (eighties) child

Next Tuesday I am co-hosting my first event with the GirlTalk events networking group! We are rollerskating at the roller rink and the theme is 1980s fashion, fads and favorites. I am thinking today about all things I loved about the 1980s. I was born in 1982 so was a child and most of my favorite memories revolve around Saturday morning cartoons, toys and imagining that i was either Jem or Barbie in an all girls music band.

I am working on trivia questions today and keep remembering all of these things that make me really gleeful. For example, watching Star Search on Saturday evenings/early afternoons or Gummi Bear Cereal :) Not only did I collect Cabbage Patch kids like every other little girl in the 1980s, I still have my Kooza (spelling?) Cat...a cabbage patch pet :) Cuddles was my first toy that I loved and dragged around and still sits on my shelf. I wasn't a huge my Little Ponies fan, but I did have a million and two Barbie dolls...Perfume Pretty Barbie, Pretty in Pink Barbie, Superstar Barbie, California Barbie etc. etc.

And finally, I keep thinking about our Atari...I wish we still had it. We had this game called Plaque Attack where you used toothpaste to shoot the hamburgers and candy attacking your teeth. I loved that game and it might be the sole reason I have never had a cavity my entire life.

What do you remember about the 80s? Were you a teenager that chilled at the mall with big bangs and high tops? Or were you little like me and remember when cartoons on Saturday morning meant something?

Please Vote!

A entered a photo contest. Please vote for him!

And yes, now you will know his name so I probably won't refer to him as A anymore. I am kind of getting tired of this anonymous-ness anyway.

The kind of person I wish to be...

...wakes up early, enjoys listening to the birds while sipping coffee and doing a crossword puzzle
...always looks fabulous and pulled together...whether it's walking the dog, getting a litre of milk or presenting an idea to her department
...gives back to the community with her time and energy
...has a great group of girlfriends that do not cause drama, support one another and learn from one another
...does not put up with anything less than the best treatment from her man
...buys herself flowers just to brighten her apartment
...lives her life with intention

Life is too short for me not to be getting out there and becoming what I wish to be.

Today's plans:
Grocery shopping
Art Gallery hopping
organizing of new home
Molly cuddling

Today's Plans:

Korean BBQ for lunch at a restaurant I have been wanting to check out for awhile
Last minute stagette preparing
More unpacking and organizing
School work

Staycations Rock!