I love this picture! If I could have a get together with all my closest girl friends for a glass of wine, this would be the kind of spot I would like to re-create for our gathering :)
ps. Happy Anniversary to Josie and Dave
pps. yes I am procrastinating!! I don't want to do my online course...one more week!!

My checklist

I realized over the weekend that I do not have any concrete goals. I have things I want to achieve, but nothing I have really given myself a timeline for. I think because over the past year or so I accomplished lifelong goals of mine and I have been over the moon about them. But now is the time I am ready to write down some more goals...I've always been told, if you don't sit down, reflect, and write down your goals, you will never be accountable for achieving them. So here goes...within the next 5 years or less I will (in no particular order):
1. Complete a long course Triathlon (or more than 1)
2. Become debt free - yes career changes can do that
3. Climb to base camp or higher on Mt. Everest
4. Get my yoga instructor level 1 certificate
5. Achieve an A4 status in teaching
6. Raise $2,500 or more for the Ride to Conquer Cancer (June 2011) and of course participate in the event (Team Hope)
Wish me luck!! I can, and I will...watch me ;)
"The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching our goals,
The tragedy of life is not having goals to reach for."

Recharge your battery

Rest when you're tired. Take a break when life stales. Take time to recharge your battery.
Energy isn't something you have - it's something you are. To give and give and give, to put out without taking in, depletes your battery. It drains you, runs you down. Running on a low battery is no longer necessary, because now we know how to live differently.
Taking time to rest, renew, and refresh yourself isnt wasted time. Recharge. Choose what energizes you. Nature. A song. The voice of a friend. A nap. A hot bath. A cup of tea. A favourite program. A movie that makes you laugh or cry. A walk. A run. A prayer. A poem. A book that speaks to your soul.
Actions that emerge from an energized source are easier,
go further, accomplish more. Let your work and love come from a vital spirit.
- journey to the heart

Being injured is soo hard for me! I have been able to workout, do yoga, or even go for a walk since Sunday...I haven't even gone to work. Chris sent me a text to say let myself rest and re-charge...and though that sounds easy...for me it is near impossible! My body feeds off the action of doing things. I need to keep saying..."just let yourself heal" argh!!

Kim's weekend!

So this past weekend a bunch of us gals celebrated Kim's bachlorette! What an amazing weekend, celebrated by such amazing females. I love hanging out with some of my best friends, but also love meeting and getting to know the important females in Kim's life. We all had so much fun, and really got to share thoughts, feelings, dancing and cocktails with each other. Friday night we of course started the weekend off at the Kim's parents house (hands down best house in Mississauga), with some amazing food, wine, bon fires, dancing, pin the..., questions& more questions, discussions, and strolls along the water. Fab night...to then wake up after our slumber party in her parents room, to have again some more fab food, a walk through jack darling, a jog, to then slowly get ourselves ready for a night on the town! After our sketch limo ride, we made it to Nood (totally recommend) on Queen West, where some other gals were awaiting Kim's arrival. After a delish din we then holla'd a cabbie to Ultra...and this is where life went down hill for me :( For the majority of the night, things were lots of fun, we were all catching up, enjoying our company, to then realize there is a dance floor on the main level. holla! We danced our hearts away, for a little while, and then I decided to join my fellow dancers up on this run way sort of thing...and CRASH!! I didn't quite make it up, and landed on my back (yes I was that girl!). I have the largest bruise I have EVER seen, and have yet to be able to walk/sit/stand normally. Argh!!! I went to the Chiropractor for the first time on Monday to get an adjustment, acupuncture and some sort of electrical current, and I still have not seen improvement - the doctor even said I did quite a number on myself. I go again today at 5. Cross your fingers! This year has officially been the year of injuries. I think it's my body telling me I am no longer in my 20's. So here's to a speedy recovery! This pain I am feeling is a night mare. boo hoo!!!

ps. Kim, Liz and Cathy! Thanks for an amazing weekend! (Despite my mis-hap!!). Can't wait for September!

tid bits

sorry for the lack of posting. I have a desk job for July (which I am so grateful for) and am doing an online course during my 'spare' time (ha!). So my computer hasn't seen any personal loving. But today I have the day off, and before I jump into my online assignments thought I would share a couple tid bits (also am seriously procrastinating).
1. Happy Birthday Heather!!
2. I did my first day of P90x yesterday (Chest, back and Ab ripper) with Chris as my cheer leader...and this morning I woke up very tender! argh! You think you are in shape, but when you do something other than biking, yoga, and running you get a little bit of a wake up call. Today will be day 2 - Plyometrics?!? As long as I don't have to do any more push ups I should be fine?!?!
3. TEAM HOPE is up to 6 official participants...with a couple in the works! You don't have to be an experienced biker to join. So any of you who are thinking they would love to, but just don't think they are ready...then join us!! why not?!?! It's going to be an experience to remember!
4. Kim's Bachelorette weekend starts tonight!! Can't wait!
5. Alert: For all you shoppers out there, I need a yellow or gold dress...if any of you see any cute ones please send me some info on where I can go to scope it out!
6. Went to TOPSHOP yesterday on Ossington. Not what I hoped. Give it a 5/10. And by the way I am a serioud topshop fan so for me to say that says a lot. Boo hoo!
7. Though it's been some time since my yoga weekend...I just want to say it took yoga to a new level for me. It was a weekend to reflect and definitely a weekend to get your ass kicked. I would do it all again...and hope I will be able to but perhaps next summer I will do the week long bootcamp in NY? hmm
ok time to sign off, get my assignments over with and get ready for this eve and the rest of the weekend. xo

there's always a first

This morning my mom and I did our first live (always done his tapes) Baron Baptiste class at PYC...and it was great!! I then somehow got convinced my my mom to stick around on the lovely long weekend and attend the Yoga Foundations in Action Workshop being held in Toronto at the Westin this weekend. Sure why not?!?! So with a little bit of sponsoring, I will be attending and spending the weekend doing yoga. oh dear! Tonight is a 2 hour meeting, followed by Saturday doing yoga and additional 'stuff" from 8am - 9pm and Sunday from 8am - 6:30pm. We are last minute joiners so for any of you out there who would like to come visit: baronbaptiste.com or poweryogacanada.com to check out more information. hope to see you there! namaste :s

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!)