Toronto?

What a strange past week it has been...is this picture really taken on my beloved Queen West? The beginning of last week I was doing the usual drives from Chris' making my way down University to make it to Hurontario and I felt a little bit weary of my surroundings. It was as if Toronto was preparing for an outbreak of some sort of virus (perhaps I was being influenced by the strange novel I am reading), but none the less, I had to drive through the soon to be caged up security zones and felt it to be a little too quiet for my liking! As the G20 approached so did our lovely earth quake! earth quake?? I was teaching kindergarten at the time in LP and of course didn't feel the movement, but it just felt so strange to hear there was an earthquake??? So as soon as I could I packed my bags and made my way to the cottage bubble and stayed away from the kaos! Of course I heard through the news, friends, family and fb that Toronto was a bit of a gong show and it made me so sad to hear what was going on?!?! I am making my way back into the city tomorrow evening and I hope life has gone back to normal!! I just can't believe all that went on. Really did all that drama really need to happen?? If you need to make your voice heard, please do it in another way! Here is to a great week - Last day of school tomorrow, Jen comes home, Canada Day, Chris comes back, attending a Baron Baptiste yoga class on Friday, and hopefully lots more to come! booya

Where we land is sometimes better, than the place we've fallen from.

dvf - words to live by

In this months Elle Canada, Diane Von Furstenberg shares with us her top 10 rules to live by...and I just couldn't help but to rip out the article and share it with mon amies. So here goes:

1. Trust Yourself. "The secret to feeling attractive, and to being attractive, is the confidence that comes from knowing who you are and what you believe in."

2. Accept the passage of time. "The older you get, the more you should learn to love life and appreciate the beauty that comes with age."

3. Document your days. "Carry a camera and create an inspiring visual diary of your life."

4. Your suitcase symbolizes your life. "The best way to know a woman is to open her luggage. If she knows how to pack well, it means she understands, and cherishes, how to live a simplified life."

5. Fashionable Friends. "Choose fashion that makes you happy. I hope the clothes I design will become my clients best friends. That way, when they open their closets, they will always encounter someone special."

6. Dress your personality. "Always choose styles that also accentuate your personality. Don't use fashion to try and project a different persona. Authenticity is key."

7. Use you feminine power. "My mother taught me that being a woman is priviledge because the world revolves around us! It is a precious gift, and its power should be used in a subtle and respectful way."

8. Your handbag is your guide. "Before leaving home, check your agenda and organize your bag according to what you have to do that day. Keeping everything in order makes life easier."

9. Induldge yourself. "If you are like me, and don't want to resort to Botox, book regular massages. I'm sure it helps to keep everything firm and in its place."

10 Lead a balanced life. "The best regimen is to keep moving! Never stop working, travelling and seeking adventure. Drink plenty of water, limit alcohol and sugar and get to your yoga class!"

I just loved everything DVF had to say! What a great top 10 to live by...and I think I really do try to live by what she said...perhaps that is why I needed to share! on a side note: i am an excellent packer! Must be because I currently live out of a bag!

ps. 1 year today since CC and I met xo

TEAM HOPE

Many more details to follow ... but today I officially joined TEAM HOPE and will be riding on June 10-11 2011 from Toronto to Niagara (200k) in The Ride to Conquer Cancer! Though it is a year a way I am looking forward to a year of fundraising and training and the events leading up to a weekend I am sure I will never forget! Many more posts to come but just wanted to share the exciting news! For anyone else who would like to join our team let me know! xo
ps. Happy Father's Day! Love you dad! xo

monday holla

First off would like to say my AQ course is fin-e-toe! Submitted my final assignment...now I have some time to breath before I start my next online course July 5th. Never ending! But self inflicted torture as always.

Anywho, so this weeked was an interesting one...but in overcast weather managed to tackle some projects and venture out in the city (kind of).

Project 1: Rascal Flatts comes to the t-dot September 5th! Chris and I will officially be there, and I will be marking a check mark on my never ending bucket list. Have ALWAYS wanted to see them live! I will not count down the days, as summer will be over, but I will be over the top excited! holla!

Project 2: I was a little ol' Betty Crocker this weekend! Very proud to say. Made a pork chop dinner Friday, made some super organic bran berry muffins (props to Heather who gave me the recipe), and made some pita chips as a snack last eve. I am definitely venturing out! I have found a couple website I have been noticing myself browse. For some reason I am in this kick of if I take the time to make something...it should be as healthy as I can make it...so soon I will post some links on the side of sites I take a gander at. (just re-read what I wrote...when did I turn 50?)

Project 3: Put together an Armoire with Chris...took us till 2am.

On a side note: Baron Baptise is coming to PYC on Friday July 2nd at 10am. All you yogis out there, should be a class not to miss!

Trust the process of Growth

Be patient with yourself. It takes time to work out issues, to work through things. It takes time to learn lessons. The more important the lesson, the longer the cycle to work it out and work it through.
We may live in a technical age, but our souls aren't technical. They're still connected to nature. We grow and change as nature does. Learn her ways. Study her seasons and cycles, and know these same seasons and cycles are in each of us. The process of change is like planting a seed and watching it grow and bloom into a flower.
What are you trying to develop? A project? A change in yourself? Is there something new you're learning, trying to do? are you trying to adjust to a major change in your life? Is there an old habit you're struggling to let go of? A love relationship or friendship you're hoping to begin or attempting to end?
Each stage of the process of growth and change is important. From those first moments when we see the idea, or the change begins, to those long moments of nurturing and nourishing the idea, each stage counts. Is there change in your life that's begun, one you've started to notice? Are you thinking about it a lot, talking about it a lot, but not quite ready to action? That stage is important too. You're nurturing and nourishing the seeds of change.
It takes time for nature to change things into what they're becoming. It takes time for things to develop. Be patient with yourself and life. Trust the process of growth.
~ Melody Beattie - Journey to the Heart

coupon #1

I am the queen of coupons! I love a deal on regular priced merchandise (who doesn't?!). In my wallet I constantly collect coupons I pick up along the way, or carry free membership cards that let me cut a spending corner somewhere or allow me to earn points that later can be redeemed for goods - clearly take after my Dad in this situation! Anywho I am also on many different company email lists that send out coupons to their lovely customers. c'est moi! So I thought seeing as I believe in karma, here is a coupon from me to you...and I will start to post more deals I come across. Though Gap isnt necessarily my fav store, I did score some vintage jeans the other day, and today bought a new cardi (30% off...booya!)

did someone say Topshop comes to Toronto!?! June 19th?!?

Topshop takes Toronto
Get ready to shop Topshop: Jonathan + Olivia opens high street boutique this June
By Andrew Sardone (NOW magazine)

Jonathan + Olivia’s Jackie O’Brien has pulled off the retail score of the season and landed U.K.-based Topshop for her Ossington store. O’Brien is blowing out J + O’s back wall to create a 800 square foot Topshop boutique that will open to shoppers on Saturday, June 19 at 9 am.
“I don’t want to sound like a geek but I’m really excited to exclusively bring Topshop to Canada,” said O’Brien this morning. “It’s nice to be able to buy fast fashion and mix it with Jonathan + Olivia’s other designer labels like Alexander Wang and Isabel Marant.”
Speculation about which Canadian retailer would land the coveted high street collection has been swirling since the Bay announced they were in talks with Topshop last December. Holt Renfrew carried supermodel Kate Moss’ Topshop holiday line in 2007 but the Jonathan + Olivia debut will be the first full representation of its main line and Unique Boutique womenswear and shoe collections in the country.
“We’re a forward looking store that debuts new designers in Canada so it’s a good fit,” said O’Brien.
Only 11 other independent stores worldwide, including The Department Store in Auckland, New Zealand and Incu in Australia, have similar access to the collection. Previously, the closest Topshop for Torontonians was its sole U.S. store on Broadway in New York City.
O’Brien talked to other retailers who have launched the line and to avoid the boutique being cleaned out, she will be restocking the Topshop racks ever other day over the launch and bi-weekly after that. The Kate Moss collection and Topshop’s new cosmetics line will arrive at Jonathan + Olivia in the fall.
Launched in Northern England in 1964, the retailer now has over 300 stores in Great Britain and more than 100 international locations. Designer collaborations and accessibly-priced merch with high fashion flavour have put it on the global style map while its sponsorships of emerging talent have helped names like Erdem and Todd Lynn onto the London Fashion Week catwalk.

This is FABULOUS news!! During my many visits overseas throughout the years I would visit Topshop on Grafton my first day of arriving to scope out my future purchases. I would then leave sans purchase and re visit the next day so that I wouldn't impulse shop with all the excitement. As I have not had the opportunity to visit Topshop I have had to resort to other shopping locations to get my fix. HOWEVER, nothing comes close to a sweet, original ,trendy, yet classic find that only topshop can offer! Can't wait for a little Topshop wardrobe revamp! June 19th - I will be there! (well might be at the cottage...but will be there shortly after!)

to cook or not to cook?

most often the answer is 'not to cook', but rather enjoy the meals and delights of my surrounding family and friends, and when there is no other option (cooking was never one), I would either order Sushi or Thai. So here goes ... drum roll please... this summer I will take up the habit of actually preparing delish meals and sharing my creations with my loved ones. Please no chirping from the peanut gallery (you know who you are). It first started with Chris wanting to cook a meal for my family in Florida...i was like do you know who you are dating? I really don't enjoy it! I much rather help out when forced while drinking a glass of wine...and do the cleaning afterwards. Anywho getting off track. So he has somewhat inspired me, and though it's been rare that we actually do cook I would like to change 'rare' into 'sometimes' (baby steps). Also doing this cleanse has really made me realize if I am only allowed one meal a day it better be a healthy damn good one!! I even bought a clean eating magazine yesterday to browse the recipes. hmmm?? Perhaps this weekend? we'll see. So stayed tuned for recipes that have been tried par moi (and Chris...as I would never do it alone!). Ok procrastination over...onto my online course!

the countdown is ending!

Tomorrow night Josie, Erin and I hit up the theatres to sit back, relax and take SATC all in! One more sleep!

ps. went out for a great bike ride this afternoon in Georgetown...despite the pouring rain it was amazing to be on the roads!

pps. because of this lovely (sarcasm!) cleanse I am on I have not had Starbucks in 10 days. Will I cave?