Tuesday, July 31, 2007

My Yoga inspiration

The following is written on Lululemon.ca about Becky my Ashtanga 2 Yoga instructor. She is crazy good! Some of the poses she does I just watch in awe! Anywho I thought I would share a little tid bit about her, as she is my reason I keep going back every Tuesday night at 7pm! Namaste! (I now have Jen hooked too...or I mean Becky has her hooked!)
Rebecca (a.k.a. Becky) dreamt of becoming a dancer when she was in her teens. As a teenager, she danced throughout her high school years. It was also during this time that she was introduced to Hatha Yoga, which was an integral part of her dance classes. Rediscovering Yoga as an adult, Rebecca feels she has finally "come home". It was definitely love at first sight with her first Ashtanga class which to her, felt much like an elegant dance. She was especially captivated by the strength, flexibility and gracefulness of Ashtanga yogis/yoginis. She knew she was hooked. Since then, Rebecca has benefited from yoga both physically and mentally. Physically, Rebecca credits yoga for ending her years of suffering from stomach ulcer. At the same time, she learns to breathe through situations confronted off the mat as if they were another challenging yoga postures. Although Ashtanga yoga has remained Rebecca's main practice; she respects and practices other traditions and encourages her students to do the same. Rebecca has an M.B.A. from York University and is a blessed with a challenging career with a multinational corporation. However, her love for yoga has inspired her to teach. She currently teaches at Moksha Yoga in Oakville and 5 Elements Yoga in Brampton. Her classes are often demanding but they are filled with a sense of lightness and humor. "It's only yoga" as she often says in her class. Whenever she stands in front of her class, she reflects on what one of her teachers said to her "it is the people who come to your class that will be teaching you". With that, her gratitude goes to those who practices with her; to those who have loved her unconditionally (including her 4-leg friends) and to her teachers for their mentorship and for showing her that it's kind of fun to attempt the impossible. "If you are not kind to other living beings and you practice yoga, then you are just someone who are flexible; ok, but not a yogi" – Dharma Mittra on what it means to be a yogi/yogini, 2006 Yoga Conference, Toronto.

holidays around the corner...

These last few weeks have been a wee bit overwhelming for me; a lot of life altering moments seem to be occurring. I usually can handle one or two at a time, but when life takes me by storm I seem to deflate a lil’ bit! It’s good to know I have great friends (and bf) by my side for when I need a little chat and support with as well as a little retail therapy! Last week us Sheridan girls (we need to find a new name), all met (missing Angela of course) at Heather’s to celebrate her birthday (with a little D.Q ice-cream cake). Always the fav place to go for aps, dinner and wine! Then Heather and I last minute decided to head downtown to meet up with friends afterwards at Wayne’s patio…you only live once right? Who needs sleep? It was a fun night out on the town. We then had a H&E weekend and did a little shopping downtown. Let me tell you it was much needed. I am about to enter into the world of the broke (student life at 27) so I thought seeing as I have a pay cheque or 2 to go that I should splurge a little (I have been saving like a mad woman these past few months/year…so please don’t judge!). It wasn’t extravagant, but it was nice to buy some new jeans and venture to ForeverXXI! Welcome to Canada Forever 21!! Now my only reasons for going cross border are to visit J.Crew and Target! Any who it was strange to be home this weekend as I am a cottage jet setter when Friday comes around, but it was a nice change to my life routines if only for one weekend. This weekend cottage time!
Ps. Happy Birthday Zarine (who has now started her starbucks collection!)

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”

Friday, July 27, 2007

Revised 31.07.07: Boobyball

This year Heather and I have decided to join the Boobyball 07 committee to help support the cause! To give you some back ground as to what Boobyball is and how it all started please read below: (written on http://www.boobyball.com/)
What began as a quest to raise money to help support our close friend Sarah O’Regan’s battle with breast cancer, has quickly evolved into a yearly event that generates thousands of dollars for breast cancer research. Sarah was diagnosed with stage 4 Breast Cancer at the young age of 23. Through her strong will and relentless determination, along with the support of her family and friends, she can now be counted as a survivor.
The Booby Ball, which was spawned in 2001, continues to be a huge awareness building event as well as a very successful fundraising initiative. Over the last 5 years it has raised over $250 000.00 and attracted over 850 people each year (continually selling out in advance). On Saturday September 29th, 2007, The Booby Ball and its dedicated committee, hope to build on this success and surpass our fundraising goal of $100,000. In order to accomplish this goal we need your help! We, her friends and family, are asking for any donation that you could provide monetary or silent auction items. All proceeds raised from this year’s Booby Ball 6: Glammified, will be donated to Rethink Breast Cancer, a charity who is thinking differently about how to beat breast cancer (www.rethinkbreastcancer.com).
The Booby Ball has come to symbolize how inspired we are by Sarah’s triumph over breast cancer and how determined we are to find a cure for other young women like herself. Incidentally, it has also initiated a chain of other parties and soiree’s, inspired by The Booby Ball, geared towards young philanthropists’ in Canada.

I am on the gift bag committee...so if anyone can help with the cause and help donate some items or know anyone who can please please please let me know!!
Ps. Heather is on a roll...her contacts have donated amazing items!
Pps. Picture: 2006 Boobyball group & The girls from the Society with Sarah.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Happy 32nd Anniversary!

32 years ago on July 19th 1975 my parents got hitched! (32 years ago last Thursday!). So amazing!! And it was 32 years ago that my dad wore a baby blue tux...ha! Only he could have pulled that off, I'm sure my nana had something to do with it, as she was the most fashionable woman I have ever known. As I sit here trying to write down things to say about my parents, I can't help but think about how much I miss my nana and papa...especially looking through my parents wedding pictures, and seeing all their smiles, and knowing exactly what they would have been doing when helping to prepare for the wedding. Also I'm sure my papa or nana said some sort of speech in how they were the ones who introduced my parents (Dad was the bar tender at their golf course...and because they are from Scotland and Wales...my dad had them at hello!) Any who I could write a novel about my nana and papa and how they touched my life; I will always remember them and all they were to me! So congratulations Mom and Dad for 32 amazing years! Thank you for showing me how amazing a relationship can be, and for raising such great kids...if I don't say so myself. xo
Ps. What an amazing group of people! My mom, nana, and grandma were and are so gorgeous! The boys are pretty handsome themselves! Pps. Sorry for the blurry pics...I dont have a scanner.

Luck of the Irish

Well of course golf was on all weekend, luckily in the early morning so that we could still enjoy the gorgeous weekend. As most of you who were born into a golfing obsessed family like myself or who are one of many who obsess over the game of golf (because it is an obsession...a love, hate sort of thing) will know that Padraig Harrington beat Sergio Garcia in a play off match this afternoon to win the 2007 British Open. It was an up and down day for everyone playing, but a very entertaining one at that. I almost started to cry for Padraig when is ball when into the water twice in one hole...yowza! That's more my style ;)! None the less he pulled through and won his first major (correct me if i am wrong). Well I'm not much of a sports commentator, so I will stop at that...."but fair play to him", and I'm sure he will want to "tank his family and friends and your one". "Tanks a mil! Bye bye bye bye bye bye"

Monday, July 16, 2007

Coming to America

I am a fan!
Tonight I sat down with the Dold's and watched "Coming to America" with the Beckhams, or more so with Victoria aka Posh. I couldn't help but to giggle sporadically through the entire hour....not laughing at her, but laughing at her jokes and her english sense of humour. I particularly liked when she was in the license office taking her test and Bill the officer (test watcher) on duty says after watching Victoria cheat "Victoria, I am watching you..." and Posh replies "Bill I am watching you too". The way she said it made me laugh! I also liked when they were in the "Earth Quake Simulator" and the entire truck starts shaking, and Victoria and her friends are caught so off guard. Super funny! Ha! Anywho for those of you who have not seen the show I have it taped on PVR, but I'm sure Youtube has it online. It's very quirky and honest. There is something about her personality that I thinks great! I think it's also because I have read her book and can somewhat relate to some of what she says (not that I can see much similarity, but she does seem super happy and has great arm candy...something I can definitely relate to!) Anywho it was nice to enter into the world of the Beckhams if only for an hour.

***It is now Tuesday morning, and I thought I would add a little bit (especially since reading Lainey gossip and her take on the show). I agreed with everything Lainey had to say (http://www.laineygossip.com/), I think what was most appealing about the show was that Posh puts herself out there, and says things that most people would never dare to say!! I love that she is soo over the top materialistic and wants everyone around her to know it - and yet it seems she has somewhat of a head on her shoulders...

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Change of direction

On Friday I finally stepped forward and made a change of direction in my career path and my future. In August I will be heading to teacher's college (Niagara University, Toronto Campus). It's something I've always had in the back of my mind as a career that would completely suit me, and one day I was like "I am just going to apply and see what happens"...no regrets! And then the acceptance letter came in the mail, and I shed a couple tears while on the phone, and knew that I had made the right decision. It's only the last month or so with a couple family situations and feeling very comfortable at Mosaic that I have been trying to way the pros and cons of it all...and debating if in fact I want to go back to school and scrape by with no money. I just find that this is the one moment where I have to think about myself and only myself when making my decision....and so here it is...in December 2008 I will officially be a teacher!
Just up north at the cottage at the moment, I think I see the sun...so going to suit up and go for a bike! Yesterday was a packed day (well kind of) did some yoga, then Jodie's new "in-laws" were over at the cottage for some apps, then Kevin's "in-laws" were here for din din, and then I headed to the Edge to meet up with Heather, Holly and Marty to celebrate Heather's bday!! (Happy Birthday Heather) (It was also NHL night at the Edge...the boys were a little mesmerized). I always think it's so great when your different circle of friends all start to overlap. Well time to get outdoors, peace out!

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Live Earth

THE CONCERTS FOR A CLIMATE IN CRISIS
http://www.liveearth.org/event.php
Live Earth was a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07 that brough together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis.
Last night as Andy and I were trying to adjust to the time change of BC, we decided to watch a litle of the Live Earth concert. I wasn't able to see much of the 24 hours the concert was on for, but I did see a tid bit of it, and it hit home for me. I promise to turn off more lights as I leave a room, to cut back on water bottles (try refilling instead) and to cut back on plastic bags (instead carry around reusable bags....was able to do it in Ireland so why not here...people have to purchase bags in Ireland, so everyone carries around reusable bags in their purses and backpacks!) The world needs to come together, and everyone needs to make one tiny step...we all have to do it together!
What are you going to do?

Beautiful British Columbia

This weekend I headed to Vancouver to attend Kristin and Craig Lennox' wedding. It was a gorgeous wedding and the bride and groom looked amazing! Weather was amazing, location amazing, and decorations and dress amazing! It was kind of a whirl win trip, but I am happy that I decided to go. Vancouver is such a great city...hoping to go back soon, maybe next time for a week so I can go hiking and see some relatives. (ps. The MC at the wedding was Jessi Cruickshank from MTV hint: The red head from the hills after show...interesting) (Pps. I paid $35 to get my hair washed and dried to then go home and have a shower...man oh man...memories of grade 8 grad when I had a pineapple sitting on the top of my head, and I shed some tears and jumped in the shower...never again!)
Sooo when checking facebook this morning (yes I still visit occasionally) my sister has now broad casted to the world she is PREGGERS!! So that being said...I am soooo allowed to speak about it publicly! My sister is almost 4 months preggers with Matt Binkley! CrazY!!! I have been kind of hinting at it since I have found out, but now I am allowed to finally exhale and share it with the world! It as if someone put something in the water around Easter, because now everywhere I turn everyone is announcing they are pregnant and are going to have their babies near Christmas...and I am telling you EVERYONE and their mothers are preggers! So exciting though...I can't wait until we have a little one running around here...we just have to get Jodie back in Ontario so we can see the baby everyday! (she is moving to Calgary..and is there at the moment) Nic and I went to the Ultrasound with her a couple weeks ago, and got to watch the entire thing...amazing...nature of life is such a surreal thing! The baby is supposedly an active little thing (of course) it even waved to us at the ultrasound ;)
I feel I could write forever right now...but I will wait and maybe post later.
Peace and Love!
Ps. I forgot my cell phone in BC!! I feel naked without it!
Ps. That's my cousin Michelle's super cute Chloe!!