i am a baker!

another one of my goals completed. i did one of my favourite recipes!! queen elizabeth cake. this (to me) is a signature nan recipe. everytime she made it, dad and i competed on who could eat the most. i am sure the other eaters were not impressed.

it was my first attempt at broiling and using dates. both went well! the taste testers (my parents, mark, and my beloved brother) all agreed as the cake pan was licked clean. i may have helped out just a wee bit.

its been a most fabulous long weekend. i have done nothing related to work. so great. just staying at home scrapbooking, watching movies, baking, general housework, with a little bit of yoga mixed in. it has been wonderful. no complaints from this gal!

love

roadtrip 2008

mark's cousin, emma, married will in june 2008. the next day, on our drive home from calgary we decided on a detour and took a trip to drumheller. i hadn't been there since i was 13. it is amazing what the 13 year old mind forgets to appreciate. great visit back to dinosaur land! here is my scrapbook spread:

love

pink floyd

i thought of my dad today while listening to the radio. i listen to k-rock (its classic rock on the radio). i used to listen to that station with my dad. it was always on in his car as he dropped me off  at work (at 6am), on our various driving lessons, and numerous road trips. of those times my BIGGEST MEMORY is dad and another brick in the wall by pink floyd. the volume would get progressively louder as dad started to "play the drums" on his steering wheel.

i was first introduced to pink floyd when i was around 6 years old. dad would take out his old records led zeppelin, pink floyd, rolling stones, and orson welles. my overall favourite was always pink floyd. much to my mom's dismay dad and i would sing (maybe shout?) "hey, teacher! leave those kids alone!" at the top of our lungs. i loved it and urged him to play it again and again. he made me promise not to recite the lyrics at school, in turn he would give in to my wishes.

that was what i was thinking today when i was listening to the radio.
thanks dad! love you!

click on the link of pink floyd if you want to hear it!

hot yoga

so i tried something new . hot yoga. i had callously dismissed this previously. the idea of sweating while doing stretches sounded more revolting than actual exercise. however the opportunity came up, so i decided to challenge my preconceived notions.

NOTE: hot yoga (according to yoga life studios):
An energetic class in a room heated to around 38-40 degrees Celsius. Hot Yoga is famous for the detoxifying and cardiovascular effects on your body. The heat facilitates a  deep stretch, enhances your physical workout and allows your body to remove toxins through perspiration. Hot Yoga is a unique Yoga experience and you will leave feeling like you`ve never felt before!
What you can expect: Those who practice Hot Yoga generally enjoy a challenging practice. Your body and mind will definitely be challenged, and you will enjoy the benefits of a detoxifying sweat

the co-worker that was giving free yoga classes is now working at this studio. because i enjoyed her classes so much i decided to go to yoga life and support her. i noticed that they had quite a bit of hot yoga classes. my co-worker told me it wasn't too bad. when i asked if i would be okay if i just wore my t-shirt, and capris her response was, "yeah, you should be fine." HILARIOUS! i have never sweat so much in my life. i was hot, exhausted, and my shirt was dripping within the first 15 minutes. all i could think was: a) when will this be over and b) when are we taking a break. ahhhh. not to mention the lack of materials i failed to bring as the people around me seemed to have towels, face clothes and were dressed for the beach rather than yoga.

because of my ill prepartion in my first trial, i knew i had to try a second time. i forgot my towel, but i wore a tank top, shorts, had ice cold water, and a cold compress. ahhh the sauna experience of hot yoga was a success! my mat was a little slippery near the end (hence where the towel would have come in handy), however the overall stretching was fantastic. the heat allowed for a deeper stretch than i could have ever done in hatha. i felt like gumby in the end. added bonus it was a chilly outside from the rain, so it was refreshing to be all hot coming out into that weather!

i will definitely be going back for the next three months!

lesson: my parents are right: it's always great to try something new...never quit...try, and try again! :)

love

lovely lovely friends

ahhh my fantastic friends...even better than my fantastic friends? karaoke with them! a wonderful night of singing, laughing and making "zoolander" poses at casey and sal's housewarming party.

love

26 degrees

for those that complain about the alberta weather: it is 26 degrees.
and for those that complain: it is may 17.
there are tulips, lilacs...blossoms everywhere.

this is for those that complain.
remember.

love

winter fun

so let's go back to winter (i know we just got out of winter)! mark's granddad was renting out a skating and curling rink (in 2008) for a family get together. because of this, i wanted/needed to buy skates. i hadn't skated since my figure skating days 17 years prior, so mark and i went on a practice run at hawreluk park. similar to riding a bicycle, i picked up where i left off...AND loved it. i forgot how much fun skating was. when you are 11 and have to go to lessons the fun wears off after awhile. to be on the frozen pond reminded me of all the good times i had with my dad and brother on our pond in sherwood park. we just skated around, and enjoyed the snow sculptures, attempted a snowball fight. it was a really great night!

love

christmas shopping

he he...so on this hot spring day i am couped up in an apartment high above the sky.
what can a girl do?
think about christmas shopping...
crazy?
yes!
but i can't help it. i personally would like to have most of mine done by september so i can mail the parcel off to my parents in time for my dad's birthday.
unrealistic?
possibly.
but i already have purchased a few items...and just purchased a couple more.
i love the internet!

love

opening day

saw some friends
ate some food
yummy green onion cakes
and a hot dog
admired the jewelery
bought some veggies
apples
plants
great day at the downtown market

love

goal one is complete

so fresh from my trip i decided to keep busy and accomplish one of the goals i set for myself in april. what was it, you ask?

BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

ahhh. i remember my mom making this numerous times and it was a sugar attack on all my senses. i loved it! so after working out in the am, going to work, going to hot yoga after work (holy man that is the hardest thing i have ever done...another story), making a pasta salad for work potluck, i started the baking process. it was ambitious.

i started with the pie crust. not my specialty. really i would have probably been close to quitting soon after i rolled the dough out if i was in my right mind. yet i muddled through. (p.s. if anyone has a good pie recipe out there, i am interested). next was the filling, my favourite part. because our pots are all different sizes i was slightly exasperated on how i attempt to boil it...however with some ingenuity by mark, the double boiler process went quite smooth as he made a contraption to keep the pots in place. the meringue was last. i love the process of making meringue. it is fun to watch the egg whites get "beaten" to a pulp and start to rise into a smooth frothy fluff. so cool.. however, i do have the problem, of flat meringue. a work in progress, which will only improve with age, i assure myself. i put it in the oven...baked till the meringue was tan brown, placed it in the fridge to allow it to mold together. as i waited, i attempted to do the dishes. exhausted, after such a long day, i drained the sink halfway through, and went to bed. mark, excited at the prospect of butterscotch pie, was the first to taste it...judge rules:

SUCCESS!

ahhh, my pie is no where near the experts. the crust was imperfect, the meringue was flat...yet it was made with determination, a little love, a little madness, and manages to taste great. i should know. i have an expert taste tester in the kitchen!

love

is there a doctor in the house?

ahhh so after my exams but before i left, i went out with anita, mark and two former co-workers (from elves). one of the girls been out of the country for about a year but had previously worked (on and off) at elves about the same time as me. we got to talking and the subject turned to doctors. ugh. this is an extremely touchy subject for me as i have been having issues with mine for years.

well i went on my rant and my co-worker said, "haven't you been talking about this doctor since before i left...or even when i started working at elves?"

huh...well that hit me. relatively hard. it got me thinking. i really need to find myself a new doctor. my current doctor is competent. she is thorough and pleasant but the fit just isn't there. AND when i think about how much thought i put in the "picking" process it seems like i took more time figuring out what car to buy, and what to wear on trips than i ever did in finding my doctor. is that right? this is someone i should be having a personal relationship with and be able to talk to about my problems. yet i don't feel comfortable with either.

so that is that.

there are a few issues i need to get straightened out before hand (nothing serious) but i think by the end of the summer i will have a good fit with someone i am comfortable with.

i even wrote it on the calendar! :)

p.s. i am back!

so new york was an absolute fabulous vacation. i am speechless (for once) on how to explain what i did and what i thought. i am sure i will think of stories every now and then and post them on the blog but here are a few words (free association if you will) on my trip:

noisy-busy-taxis-subway-entertainment-walking-lights (everywhere)-sleepless (both me and the city)

shopping-expensive-famous designers-playing dress-up-inexpensive-bargains-spending

broadway-musicals-fantastic-amazing-longing (for the same)-immense pleasure

museums-thought provoking-learning-interesting-wacky-fun

weather-amazing-hot-humid-love

people-fun-entertaining-open-very open-fabulous-melting pot of cultures-friendly-different

parks-breath taking-quiet-flowers-greenery-carousal rides-alice and wonderland-nannies-zoo animals

coney island-nostalgic-boardwalk-ferris wheel-protesters-fortune teller-photo booth-hot dogs

food-chocolate goodness-22$ banana split-hot dogs-more hot dogs-egg sandwiches-fries-more fries-italian restaurant

ahhhh i hope that give a great idea of what i did! loved it!
love

happy mother's day

to my mom:

thank you for your smile. it brightens up a room whenever you enter. i am lucky enough to share the same responsibilty. thank you for fostering my creativity. for setting up drawing, painting, playdough stations every afternoon when i was young. thank you for the gift of reading. i love books because of you and our endless trips to the library and bookstore. thank you for being my brownie leader, pushing me to do new things, helping me get badges, getting me involved with other young girls my age. thank you for taking me on "ladies trips" when being around a brother and his friends seemed a little too much. thank for the advice. you are great at it. always there to listen to my problems and offer whatever you can to help me solve them. also thank you for listening. i always know i can go to you when i have an issue. thank you for encouragement. you have always supported anything i do regarding my school, travels, relationships, and athletics. thank you for everything mom. there is so much you do that cannot be written and so much you will do in the future! love you. happy mother's day!

love

operation nyc to commence...

...in less than 24 hours!


i will be on the plane ready for my first NYC experience! this is very exciting. i have been planning this trip (in my head) since i was 12 (about the first time i saw les miserables). new york was the place to go to see the most fantastic musicals and to have them at my fingertips. the actual planning of the trip was done about three years ago when i started putting 20$ away every week. the plan was to always go on my thirtieth year, so as you can imagine it adds up. mark smashed the piggybank this weekend so everything is coming into place. i am off to do some fabulous shopping, sight seeing, broadway musicals, and have some excellent eats!

i just need to keep pumping echinacea down my throat...i refuse to let this cold ruin my nyc dreams! :)

what to pack...

so this is my packing list thus far:

clothes:
dress(es) for fancy evenings and lovely days
t-shirts with casual coats
jeans (two for when the ketchup spills on the first pair)
capris (wishful thinking for hot weather)
walking shoes
skirts (refer to dresses)
flip flops (refer to capris)
dressy shoes (refer to dresses)
undergarments;)

misc.
camera
ipod (for the plane)
toiletries (for any kind of occassion)
sunglasses
sunscreen (again refer to capris)
sun hat (???...MUST CHECK WEATHER NETWORK)
money...money...and more money!
travel diary
travel book

i think that is it...am i missing anything?

love

done done done....DONENESS!!

ahhh it is a fantastic feeling to be done. the exhaustion, stress, grumpiness has passed. my shoulders are left feeling like feathers and i am  greatly satisfied as my marks start to filter in and my hard work has been rewarded. and I AM DONE!!! YIPEEE!!!

i was telling a girl yesterday that we were done, we finished the hard stuff of our nursing schooling. she was quick to remind me that we still have many clinicals to overcome and mounting expertise to acquire in 5 short weeks. ahhhh...it was a poke at my bubble but it refused to burst because the hard scholastic part is over. i just feel so happy right now. and mark, being mark, was quick to point out how he was right and my grand displays of dramatics were unjustified till i received my marks. i am so happy right now that i can say...the one and only time (hopefully he he he) MARK YOU WERE RIGHT AND I AM DONE!!!

now on to operation nyc....

love

here comes the grump...

ahhh the end is almost near. seriously it cannot come soon enough! i have one final to write in 40 minutes, and the last is FRIDAY!! (3 cheers) frankly i am tired. tired of the books, tired of the notes, tired of looking endlessly at the computer to kill time....TIRED! :) and i am grumpy...ask mark. apparently he can't wait for me to finish my finals either (i don't even think he cares when he finishes his).

ahhh i can't wait for the sun, for the patios, for the scrapbooking, for the shopping, and NYC! 

love,
the grump

going good

so operation final exams is going good. i got quite a bit done yesterday so i am pleased. i am actually (SHOCK) ahead of schedule. so with my extra time, i chose to make some yummy chocolate chip cookies. you have to have something to snack on...right?

ahh its short and sweet (literally) messages for the next while. must get back to the books. NYC is not too far away, so the next two weeks couldn't come faster (and be done with)!

love

gotta love the dorkiness

ahh i am hitting the books officially (have been at it all afternoon, and still going). but while studying i do get distracted by my computer picture slide-show. i came across this picture and it just made me smile. our hiking trip last year when we got attacked by the monstrous mosquitoes and still managed to kiss through our nets! ahh we are silly dorks sometimes...but I LOVE IT!

back to the grind
love :)

i'm a gleek!

this scene is what made me fall in love with this show...so fantastic!

i need the fear

so i did not study today. i think i need a bit more fear in me, so that i can be motivated and hit the books...monday looks to be just that day! :) so this might just be my last post for a couple (or more) days. but i did get thinking of some summer projects i would like to do. last year, i wanted to run 10km. because i tore  my hamstring that dream (slightly) vanished. this year i would like to rely on other skills that don't require as much physicality as running (even though the race is still in my head). so these are the projects i would like to preform this summer:

In the baking category i would like to perfect making:

-my nan's raison bread, queen elizabeth cake

-my mom's butterscotch pie

In the crafting arena:

-i would like to try something new with scrapbooking

-finish some of my old albums

-start the project for one special young lady i work for

-buy a piece of furniture (second hand) and distress it

-as well as learn how to upholster furniture

In the department of athletics:

-run a race...i don't know what kind yet...but i am doing one this year!

-go hiking...already know that is a check!

-surfing surfing surfing in TOFINO :)

i will keep you posted on the possibilities of accomplishing these goals!

love

so completely unmotivated

that time of year has come. it always comes at the most inopportune times for me. right now i am constantly, completely, and utterly unmotivated to study for my final exams. it comes every year, i work so hard for three months and when the end comes, i am just so tired. PLUS, it is spring out so i just want to be outside in the warm air. AND i just want to think about my trip to NYC OR get creative and work on my scrapbooks.

ahhh. alas, only two more weeks to go....so i will try my best (today?) to hit the books.

love

EEEKKKK!

sweetest teacher ever

so, i just finished my lab component for one of my courses. i had one of the sweetest instructors ever. she was so helpful this whole semester with all of our lab skills, offering input, advice, and real life experiences. she is a great nursing instructor and would be a great nurse too. i have had the opportunity to have a mentor ever semester so far, and she definitely made the list this year. i don't think i would ever pursue my masters in nursing, but if i ever decide to be a NP, and have the opportunity to teach students, like her, she is the model i would use. our last day (today) she baked us all cookies, gave us one of her favourite poems, and some words of encouragement for the years ahead, especially when facing obstacles like cutbacks. it was such a great experience this year, so thanks!

here is the poem (this was not written by my instructor):

I Am Your Nurse

i am your nurse.
i ease your pain.
i bathe your skin.
i make your bed.
i rub your back.
i meet your needs.
you heal me.

i am your nurse.
i feed you meals.
i give you rest.
i tend your wounds.
i sense your suffering.
i answer your questions.
you teach me.

i am your nurse.
i know your pain.
i share your loneliness.
i feel your despair.
i taste your joy.
i sense your spirit.
you touch my soul.

and sometimes,
for just a moment,
i am you,
and you are me,
and we are one.

together,
we go beyond limits
of ordinary experience,
to live the extraordinary.

written by: Beth Perry, RN, PhD
Moments in Time
Images of Exemplary Nursing Care

look what my mom made me!

A TABLE CLOTH...actually two but this is the one on display as of now. i love them!

went fabric shopping with mom and she just whipped these up in a day...she was not pleased with the red and blue, but i told her to trust me, it will look fabulous...now she agrees!....it is nice to have mom who is so handy...LOVE YOU!

little chocolate pleasures

isn't this the most beautiful sight you have ever seen?

mini eggs and to be precise 1kg worth! :)...i have said many times how much i love these little chocolate balls of goodness! obviously i dropped some not so subtle hints about how i love easter and visits from that beloved bunny. guess what? the bunny came through in a big way. an egg hunt through out the apartment. the bunny was sneaky though hiding things in a decorative basket and inside the fridge. great fun!

it has been another fantastic weekend of what i shall call "springness". it is amazing how that great big sun can make me feel revived and renewed. don't get me wrong, i love the winter: the snow, the soft snowflakes, and the quiet peacefulness of the cold (i know i am one of those people). but i feel energized now that spring has made its way back to us. so delightful. mark and i took advantage of the nice weather and walked downtown doing various and not so various errands on friday. it was so fantastic we even splurged and went to marble slab for some ice cream. nothing can get much better than that, can it?

well i am off, must make a dent on some chocolate!

love

april is here

things i love about april:

1. school is almost over, the end is near, a break is coming!

2. spring is here! the sun is out, the snow is melting, the birds are back, and the flowers are coming! :)

3. i can start running outside again. i can breathe fresh air and have outdoor running adventures

4. going for walks (like today's towards downtown)

5. the windows can open and all the stale air will leave the house

AND FINALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT!
6. its my brother's birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMI-JAM!

love

all about the chipboard

for the last couple of months i have been pining away at these chipboard albums.

 source

 source

 source

i love scrapbooking. it is the one hobby i have that allows my creativity to flow AND gives me a nice keepsake of my photos/memories. i don't want to totally give it up since i have slightly stopped drawing and painting. but lately, as i continue through my 2008 album, i am overcome with questions of how i will ever keep up with my endless photos. not necessarily now, but in the long term when i have other responsibilities that may take priority. then i came across chipboard albums. these would be fantastic to store photos with special themes like friends, vacation, life, love and happiness! AND they still promote the artistic side in you. i think this will be my summer project once the semester is over. i will tell you how it goes!! :)

a little something, something.

i saw a flash of something yesterday.

so extraordinary, yet could my thought be true?

mark wanted to try to unclog the sewer.

"now?" i questioned

"it will only take a second", mark replied, "besides the water is getting out of hand...too much mud".

half an hour later, mark is still searching for that clogged ice.

realization: i clean the house and make it tidy for myself, friends and family,

mark tries to clean the world and make it tidy for everyone.

or he likes to play in mud!
either one, they both make me smile :)

perfection

ahhh two posts in two days...crazy. but since i want to remember little moments of my life, love, and happiness in this blog i have to share this one! these are the days that make me feel content and happy with my life. it is nothing special that marks it as extraordinary to others. but it leaves me with absolute satisfaction.

as i wrote previously, i went the market with mark, and met up with anita and her sister, cindy. there is something i truly enjoy about hanging out with sisters. i never had one, and would NEVER give up my dearest brother for them, but frankly sisters have a bond that i wish i could have. they can do many things together like girlfriends, yet know each other better than anyone else in their world. i have seen it with my mom and aunt, my two cousins, and numerous friends. they give off such a beautiful energy that i just like to absorb.

anyways, we strolled the aisles buying our fresh produce, and homemade items. since we were on whyte, and the day was gorgeous, we walked over to plaid giraffe to "oogle" at the pretty jewelery and to maybe make a few purchases. ;) mark being the good sport that he is, sat himself in the "man chair" joking around with all of us. his face was precious as he watched us look at the potential buys, not once anxious for us to get out. after stopping for a fat frank on the side of the road, we made our way over to the bay. cindy, who is getting married this summer, wanted to check out the store for potential things to register for. mark and i went for the purpose of frying pans since i had previously promised mark i would buy new ones (reason: i was unaware of the damage metal on a frying pan caused...oops!).

i had a really good time. everything was just so natural. i don't know if it was because mark was there, in the presence of my friends, doing things that i liked and liking it too. or if it was just a perfect spring day to spend with the perfect pair of people. it won't be replicated, but it will be forever appreciated.

love

market time

source

ahhh it is spring. i hear the birds chirping, the canadian geese coming home, the sun is out, and the breeze is cool (but not overbearing). i love it!

off to the farmer's market this morning to meet anita. maybe do a little jewellery shopping (eek), and buy some fresh produce....and i am thinking maybe some pretty spring flowers! :)

wish me luck!

love

food is the new crazy

i love to eat. i love spicy, sweet, sour, hot, cool, creamy, basically i love food!

recently (maybe more within the last year) i have become slightly more concerned with my health. i have been one of the fortunate ones to never worry about my weight. i am not very skinny but athletic and have never really had weight issues. due to good genes, high metabolism, and my love of working out i thought i was fine and could eat whatever i want. cut to my annual physical last year. for my age group, i have high cholesterol. i was shocked. due to my genes, poor eating habits, and my growing age, food has finally got the better of me.

it isn't only me. it seems like everyone (or maybe they all had and i just started listening) have gone healthy. i hear about food factories, eat organic, don't buy cans, avoid salt, sugar, and butter or is it margarine: regardless avoid both!  food....like real food has become the new craze! within this age of technology, where faster is better, immediacy is desired, and "i can't stay and eat, i have to go" is the philosophy, i wonder is our culture able to (or can) adapt? i hope so!

i (and whether mark has noticed, he has) made some friendly food choices. just to name a few:
1. always eat breakfast, and have flax seed in the am
2. when it comes to using canned veggies vs fresh...always choose fresh
3. substitute butter for apple sauce (believe me it really works)
4. whole grains are my friends: embrace them!

i am hoping that with these small lifestyle changes i will be able to continue and move forward with further products that will enhance my health. let's face it i will always love the spicy, sweet, sour, hot, cool, creamy. i won't give those up! however, with moderation i will be happy with all my foods and most importantly HEALTHY!

love

me night

mark is going to his friends tonight so i am planning the perfect alone night:

1. get into my comfy housecoat and spend the night in it

2. do a little bit of homework/research for my paper

3. give myself a pedicure

4. rent a girly movie...maybe two

5. relax

sounds fabulous!

love

great friend

let's talk about case...just because!

initially, i met case, in jr. high. apparently all she remembers of me was my long pink sweater that i thought was hot...and apparently was not (side note: why do we seem to remember each other's clothes...must mean first impressions are important!) regardless our friendship did not take off in grade 7. she moved at the end of the year.

we met up again, in high school as she was in the same social circle as me. i remember one of the first times i hung out with her. it was in her blue firefly, going to christine's. when we talked we found out that we shared the same chapstick, were close to our moms, and (when we would go) shared the same church. that was our initial bond. and it stuck! casey was always (and still is) up for anything. i remember i wanted to jump in puddles on a rainy day just because. she was there in a full body rainsuit splashing around with me! we would always try to do things like bike rides or go to the gym but spend half the time on the ground laughing, or talking...or going to mcdonalds! she was my consistent bar partner, as we acted foolishly, and danced to violent femmes and dee-lite. i would go over to her house (or her to mine). we ordered ham and pineapple pizza and jalapeno ranch dip, and watched endless television/movies. i would sleep through them, she would wake me up, in her casey way, i.e."TRACEY, WAKE UP!" and tell me what i missed. our greatest movie bond, and greatest sense of nerdom was lord of the rings. i had the first two extended versions...we watched them back to back and then went to see the last movie. i don't think i have seen those movies since that time! :) she is fearless, energetic, and extremely social. i love and admire each of those qualities. that is what makes her a special friend. i had the honor of being a bridesmaid in her wedding. a wonderful day that was so intimate and compiled of so many people that love her and her husband. she is also the reason that mark and i are together (you can read it in a different blog post). she is a wonderful human being who will always be one of my bestest friends!! BONUS: she is a wonderful mom!

love you case!

i have one more thing to say

ahhh a nice relaxing evening for st patrick's day. had some really good green food today. started my day with two green suckers, then had cucumbers, celery, spinach dip, and guacamole, with two green cookies. ended my night with some green milk and green pancakes!...ahhh if you can't enjoy it through food it just isn't worth it!

anyways...had a great scrapbooking night although still am really crappy with the photo taking. but here is my spread. it was in 2008 on valentine's day. casey, jeff, and i decided to do action shots as the camera person yelled out a word. needless to say it was endless laughter.

happy st patrick's day again!

love

this is all i want to say:

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!

love

short and sweet

i went out for dinner for a co-workers birthday
it was a good dinner
i had great laughs
i went out for drinks after
they were good drinks
i had greater laughs
what a fantastic night

thanks for the fun everyone!
love

thanks dad

while i was working the other day i noticed snow valley from our drive back to program. snow valley is one of the city hills in edmonton that i have been to twice in my life. usually (coming from a semi-skiing family) we would trek to the mountains rather than go here...ski snobs as you would probably conclude. anyways, the two times i went to snow valley were on school field trips when i was in grade 5. i thought about my dad (a die-hard skier). he would take the days off work and chaperone/ski with me. i totally forgot that he did that until i saw that hill. we would usually stay later than the kids from school and ski. he would buy me a chocolate bar and we would talk about things in my grade 5 mind. so this is a shoutout to my dad. thanks. i had tons of fun and enjoyed our late afternoon skiing. thanks for taking the time. love you!

scrapbook night

i love to scrapbook

and i love my friends

not quite that good at the picture taking and don't own a scanner so this is what you all get. in reality, i don't think it is quite that crooked ;)

love

spring cleaning

with the creation of facebook i see into the lives of many friends all at once. spring cleaning is what everyone is saying today. i love a clean house. sometimes, when i have a million things on the go, i.e. grocery shopping, studying, paper writing, working...i will start cleaning. stress? maybe, but i just love organization and i love the finished product.

cleaning is something that mark despises. when i look at him, i see mass chaos. yet he seems to survive quite well, better, without my underlying ocd need to create order. that was one of the most difficult things we had to adjust to when we started living together. my difficulty in "letting go", realizing not everything is an emergency and i can function. his difficulty and wonder of why i need things the way they are. it was very hard and stupid fights would ensue. yet with fights you learn and love. our relationship grew and we accepted our differences.

NOW that we have adjusted to living with each other compromise has begun. mark helps me clean even though i know how much he truly utterly dislikes (maybe even hates?) it. yet he chooses to help. i on the other hand, let go of the need to nag and harass him to do things that really are not important to him. in the end it is just a stupid dirty dish.

isn't it amazing what a little spring cleaning can get you thinking about.

love

my pick of the night

if i was invited to the oscars this is what i would wear. beautiful.

love: part 1

my mom had been volunteering at the mustard seed for awhile. i was searching for something so i decided to join. i enjoyed it immensely. i felt like i had a purpose. a higher goal in life. with that volunteer job, there was a tiny itty bitty feeling to do so much more for these community members and others that were just as vulnerable. the mustard seed was also when i had my first encounter with mark. my mom always liked him (somehow i think she wanted to set us up but did not know how). he didn't talk much. neither did i. i was not looking for love, lust or anything remotely similar. i was striving for happiness within myself. so for a year, he was just mark, the mustard seed volunteer.

enter casey. after volunteering for a year, casey expressed interest in joining. i, welcome at the idea of having a friend doing this with me, pounced at the opportunity. casey, being casey, fit in right away. the volunteers and community members fell in love with her outgoing personality, humor and beautiful smile. and casey, being casey, was never shy making friends. she immediately latched onto mark. that is how he became part of our little group of three. four months past. we started giving mark rides home. i became slightly intrigued yet self protective. i knew little about him besides being a volunteer. however you can count on casey unravelling the puzzle as many questions were asked. it became casey's sole purpose to get us together. karoake was the doorway. a bunch of us were going to go singing in the millwoods area. i was struggling to get casey to come. mark overhearing this expressed interest. the opportunity came! casey said she would be there if mark was there.

that is how our relationship started. karoake became a scrubs marathon, became a movie date, became a home cooked dinner date, became long distance texting to this: a loving adventure three years later.

i guess thanks is given to my mom and casey. to my mom for her very subtle pushing and getting me started at the seed as it gave me more opporties than i can count. and to casey's lack of subtlety and for her just being her.

love

oscar night

so tomorrow is the oscars.

i used to be a fanatic about these things. even as a kid, i would stay up late and watch the academy awards special. i remember when billy crystal used to host and do all his spoofs. when whoopi goldberg was the first african american women to host the academy awards. i remember steve martin, david lettermen (uma/oprah), chris rock, and john stewart. i remember ellen degeneres with that ridiculous swan costume. i remember the outfits. i loved the dresses, the glamour, the make-up, the illusion. the big party where everyone would dress up for one special night. i always wanted the invite...but only if i could dress up too! and the wins were my favourite part. when roberto benigni jumped all around the seats after his name was announced. when matt damon and ben affleck were in disbelief as they randomly shouted words/names as they clung onto their statues. when little anna paquin hyperventilated (just a little) before her speech. when hilary swank forgot to name her (then) husband for a beautiful yet small movie. and when james cameron declared he was "king of the world" for a beautiful yet large movie.

it was an event i shared with my mom. that one sunday we would sit, and watch certain musical numbers, wish for certain winners and be intrigued with certain movies that we never took note of before. when my mom was away, i took my oscar fix to my very awesome(est) friend casey's house and would sit with her, her mom (my mama b), and her aunt. we would watch musical numbers, wish for winners, and wonder about movies all the same. when i was away in australia, my travelling commrades and i staked out the television in one of our hostels up the northern coast. in our little shelter, under the pouring rain, with a feast for plenty(liquorice, tim tams, chips, candy, much more) we watched muscial numbers, wished for winners, and planned on those movies.

in the last couple of years i stopped watching the ceremony. i still cared as i would hear about the winners on the radio the next day. i would admire the dresses in the magazines the next week. i would see the movies in the video store the next month. i still love the idea. it is that one magical day, where those selected actors/actresses get a chance to be in a fairytale.

i think i will watch them this year.

love

just like that

i went to michaels last night...
spent a small fortune...
just like that...

now the scrapbook creations begin

love

Jeaninne Date!

i have a jeaninne date today! very excited! jeaninne has been one of my very good friends for about 14 years now. I saw her first in 10th grade and admired her fashion sense...she laughs now, but i thought her blue track pants with a white line down the legs were extremely cool. ahhh what were we both thinking? 

we were meant to be friends. she had a love of dance and we had a fair share of dance parties: backstreet boys, spice girls, paula abdul, and darren's dance grooves. west edmonton mall was and is still our marathon. we love the same music, sometimes really bad music. AND just having good old fun! frankly the girl makes me laugh like no one could, and she is one of the few whom i can cry with. she never judges, always listens, and we have such good girl talks. Plus its like we have our own language as she can talk in tangents just like me. she is one of my greatest friends. we have shared so much: clothes, laughs, tears, graduation, life ponderings (thankfully not boyfriends). and done so much with each other: camping trips, toured italy, summer festivals, skiing, karoake++++, shopped till we dropped in montana, movies, going to new york (may 2010...eek!) and so MUCH MORE! AND i had the privilege to be a bridesmaid in her wedding (let me just say: not one bridezilla moment. she says there was one but i think she was awesome). 

so needless to say i am pumped to see her tonight. we don't see each other as much as i would like (i would like to blame school, and my two jobs, and her busy job for the reason...more my stuff then hers) but i talk to her atleast once a week...and frankly couldn't imagine my life without her. she is fantastic!

AND i still think she has impeccable fashion sense! :)

love

wake up in the morning

i have consistently been going to the gym five days a week for the last 3.5 months. in the beginning i was eager, ready to sweat away all the excess sugar i was consuming over my birthday and christmas. mid january i started to falter but pushed through. my idea is once i start making excuses not to go to the gym, i will stop going. experience has taught this to be true. well today: wednesday, march 3 ,2010 looked to be that day of failure. my alarm went off twice: 5:50, 5:55. i laid in the bed fairly still. evil thoughts entered my head, "i'm tired"; "i didn't get any sleep last night"; "i can work out at night"; (something that has taught me to be untrue). just as i was starting to believe my lies. WEDNESDAY, popped into my brain.

every wednesday morning at 7:45am a co-worker teaches yoga (for free) at my work. she believes that every workplace should have some form of a health program and since ours doesn't have one, she generously took it upon herself to teach us yoga. having experienced injuries in my life, and being hopelessly flawed when it comes to stretches after workouts, i keenly attend her classes without fail. it leaves me feeling refreshed, walking straighter and longing to enroll in more yoga classes. yet it is no joke, my body is constantly challenged by how far i can stretch almost teetering out of balance (darn you dance poses!).

so i would like to say thank you to that lovely lady! you are the reason i ran on the treadmill today. as all i could think about was how great i would feel in one hours time.

love

battling addiction...REPHRASE: SCRAPBOOK ADDICTION

ahhh, to scrapbook. what can i say. i am an addict, been one for about 17 years now. my mom started working for welcome wagon and came across a sponser who did creative memories. she rehauled all of our albums (my brothers and mine) and compiled a baby book. me being me, was not satisfied with the progress she was making (even though she was rasing a family, working a job, and doing countless other things). so i took over my album at 13 finished it. mom, seeing my interest, bought me a scrapbook travelling bag, filled with all things that would delight a crafter: glittery pens, beautiful paper, artistic scissors, endless stickers and all other necessities to make my own albums. so the scrapbooking began. now 12 + (?) albums later, i still continue the NEED to scrapbook. my travelbag is now a room. the glittery pens, beautiful paper, artistic scissors, and endless stickers are in abundance. also some helpful additions have fueled my addiction even further. THE CRICUT has helped me escape the need to die cut paper for hours. the brads, eyelets, ribbons, glitter, and chipboards have ehnaced my pretty little scrapbook pages (what i believe) into works of art.

ahhh to scrapbook. the only problem is there really is not enough time in the day to do all i want. i am currently (although) slowly working on my album from 2008 (yes you heard it right), a wedding album for a bestest friend (i love you case) from 2006 (i know i am horrible friend), and an album for a very dear lady i work for. there are definitely worse problems!

ahhh to scrapbook.

love

hopewell rocks

so as i study for my midterms i look over at my picture screen saver and can't help but stare at the one's of hopewell rocks.

hope you enjoy! :)
love

belly laughs

i love to laugh.

i love being around people who love to laugh and make me laugh till my stomach hurts 

the best is when you make someone else laugh so hard that you can hear it in their belly.

like the anticipation of getting tickled or doing the tickling.

it makes me laugh even harder.

a long time to succeed

so i decided (all along) that after my first degree i was going back to school. i went straight to university right out of high school. i really had no clue what i wanted to do (maybe an inkling was felt for healthcare). i first enrolled in the bachelor of science in engineering. my father was an engineer, i enjoyed science and was supported by numerous family and friends. but i just could not see that being my big picture. i ever so slightly (in my very dramatic way) freaked out and my father ended up calling the registrar and getting the info to apply again.
i applied for a bachelor of science degree. i really had no idea what to enroll in (being that the options are endless) so my dad, helping me out registered me in: chemistry, biology, genetics, computing science, calculus, and my required english. needless to say: YUCK!

getting a footing for this whole university experience, i dropped the next semester's computing science and took a psychology course. YES, this is where i needed to be. i fell in love with the scientific intricacies of the brain, classical conditioning, and the art of information processing. my hardcore nerd-dom came flying through. i minored in linguistics with the idea of going into speech pathology. i said all along that that was my intent to my friends and family but the drive really wasn't there. there were exams to take going into grad school and i continued to miss them feeling an impasse of what was really in store for my life. i loved psychology, but could never figure out how to integrate that love into a "lovely" career.

i thought i found my calling in occupational therapy. i worked really hard to get into u of a (four times in fact) and got rejected each time. frustrated with my lack of progress, yet determined i looked at other routes and strategies that could get me where i wanted to go. then it came to me. in the back of my mind i wondered what it would be like to go into nursing. my mother had always told me that i did not have the stomach for it. at the time, i whole heartedly agreed. but as time progressed from graduation to the present my jobs were centered in the healthcare field with a focus on nursing. my stomach seemed able and willing to handle it all. my mother retracted her statements and with her support (plus many other proud family members and friends) i enrolled at both universities in my area. being accepted by both, i felt gleeful and somewhat vindicated to reject the u of a that had dismissed my application 4 times previous.

now here i am in my second year. a thirty year old student, with a little bit of life and education experience, going through the motions again. this time i feel like i really belong. i have my drive and it feels fabulous!

happy moment

well i am just on a roll...two blogs in two days! how does that even happen?? :) i am sure this is just a fad.  its like the beginning of a exercise program - BUT, i have managed to keep that up, so this too may stay!

really i just wanted to write about a small, itty bitty, moment i had yesterday with mark. we have been together for 3 years now, and living together for a year in a bit. in that time, i think we have eaten together, at the actual dinner table 5 times (if that). AND it was all in the beginning of our relationship. you know, when your eyes are only for each other. since then we have recieved a beautiful table from mark's grandad and 4 equally beautiful chairs from mark's parents. yet, we still would eat supper elsewhere. i would be in front of the television, and he would join me or be at his computer. well yesterday marked a milestone. i had made slowcooked stew from the morning and bought a chocolate cake after school. when i got home i served us up some supper. i debated watching curling yet the chairs seemed to be calling me, enticing me to sit in their loveliness. so resigned and sat down. mark watching me from his "office" came over, poured us some milk and sat with me. we talked about school, olympics, and any other thing on our mind. it just felt so NICE (i know such a simple word, but a perfect one all the same). our little family (just me and mark...oooo and kitty) had a very simple yet beautiful moment together. we really should do it more!

I am back

after a long hiatus i am back and have changed the formatting of my blog...just a wee bit!  i will see how it goes from here. but i thought it woud be easier (since this blog has my name and everything) just to make this about my life.  not that i really have one (hardy har har). 

this is a pretty significant year for me. it is my 30th (or i guess depending on how people look at it my 31st) year.  i made a list back when i was 26 (and before that made a list for when i turned 25) of things to do before i turn 31.

Accomplished goals were:

-scuba dive the Carribbean
-move out and be happy: and with lots of work and love continue to be
-volunteer for something i feel passionate for: lucky me, found a person i am passionate for too
-eat healthy, be healthy, and feel comfortable about who i am and who i am going to be: that hit me on my 27th year, aren't the late 20's fabulous...so much self-discovery and change that is sooooo good
-do something that is extreme and thrills me!: frankly that is something i should strive for everyday, but all in all, i do many things that thrill me whether they be in the form of an adventure, a relationship, or a career change
-ski somewhere other than Jasper or Banff: not that there is anything wrong with those...i love those hills with a passion! however this year we were luck enough to visit Fernie, a 'beautiful, down to earth, have they really heard of tourists' town...it was a great place to relax from school, and watch the olympics begin in vancouver..."hey do you know if canada has won a gold medal on home soil yet?" (jk)
-go to Mexico and have a blast with some friends: yes i did go...and maybe had too much of a blast, (if possible???)


Goals in progress this year (some with crossed fingers):


-New York, New York: this will be happening at the beginning of may with one of my dearest friends, a very exciting girls trip planned of shopping, sightseeing, eating, and girly debauchery (if there is such a thing )
-surfing in Tofino, B.C.: i fell in love with surfing in Australia, and have been craving waves ever since.  Alberta, being alberta, does not have an accessible ocean like B.C. so that is hopefully where i will be heading this summer with mark (he seems excited too, although more on the hiking aspect)

Other goals that (most likely) won't be accomplished are more places that i dream to travel.  but those are endless, and i will get to them in my lifetime, not in just a 5 year list. my grandmie told me once that in her lifetime she wanted to see the AB Rockies. she saw them when she was 70.  so places are a lifelong goal! :)

An Incredible Journey Into the Backcountry World

I lived in Jasper for 4 months in 1999 and enjoyed many things. I was never too extreme. However i saw plenty of wildlife (bumped into a black bear and cubs, plenty of sheep, elk, goats). I spent most of my Jasper culture, out of the bars and on the road biking, and day hiking.



Little did i know what I was missing in the mountain universe. The BACKCOUNTRY! A different beautiful outlook of the world and what Alberta possesses. The endurance is a testament to your strength: moving you forward. The food is a testament to the fuel: allowing survival. And the lack of showers is a testament to your vanity! The accomplishment at the end is euphoric! The idea that you hiked with the clothes and food on your back for a 3 day period amazes me.



I was introduced to hiking first in 2007 starting at the Sunshine Ski Lodge (a place I am fairly familar with in the winter). It was fantastic! I have continued on with many adventures and hope to continue in the future. But my first had many memories that I will always treasure :)

Trip to Stanley Part Deux

so when i was in new brunswick last year i had another blog. i recorded the memories i wanted to take with me back home. i love you grammie!! i am thinking of you...and i know where ever you are you are giving them your spunky attitude!! RIP

Friday, February 09, 2007

random things
okay so of all the things i have done down here, one thing has not changed, grey's anatomy. but i must say, with all the hype from the preview, i really could not get that into it. agree? and you know the person in the "cliffhanger" ending is going to be okay because of the previews for next week.

i have had my molasses and brown bread and mom and i have had our lobsters. apparently grammie doesn't like lobsters so while we ate those, she had pizza (which again, she apparently doesn't like but she likes the cheese). and remember how i used to say that the lobster scream when they go in the pot, i got that tidbit from my grandma. my mom still denies that there is screaming, and i agree as our lobsters were rather quiet.

i have concluded that the game of scrabble is a horrible game meant to show off literary geniuses extraordinary vocabularies. i suck at it. my grandma said i didn't do too bad but when you have your mom and grandma helping you and you still lose...and really the opposing player giving you a hand??

and lastly my twang has come out. my mom was making fun of me just now! atleast my speech seems intact! :)

well i will see you all soon! i must go onto ebay and bid on a cigarette roller for grammie!!
Posted by Tracey at 6:10 AM 6 comments

Thursday, February 08, 2007

relaxing and a little drunk...
i love stanley. stanley is one of those extremely small towns where i think everyone knows everyone else.

yesterday i spent the day relaxing/reading and stayed in my pajamas till about 12:30. it was freaking awesome! first, there is a school down the hill from my grammie's house that woke me up by singing "o canada"(i love small towns!!!)...i watched a bit of the morning talkshows with mom and grammie until they turned on jerry springer...seriously people have you watched that lately? i remember back when i did....BUT NOW there is a bell that they ring as soon as the people start fighting (like in a wrestling match) and a live band plays (with trumpets, drums) while the fight goes on!! it is insane!!

me and mom went for a walk into town (which is 5 minutes away) and i was once again told i look 19 but i am partly blaming (sorry jeaninne) the bunny toque, i love it, but i think i have a more youthful look when i am wearing it! :) lol...or maybe i just look 19, whatever.

more people came to visit...my mom's cousins came and left. then grammie's good friend doris, her boyfriend marty (mom's age) and freda (her daughter used to babysit me) came over so i decided to have some beers with them...and 4 beers later i was a little drunk. lol. and that is all i am going to say on that! actually no, i will tell you that a police radio was brought out and conversations occured that i wouldn't dream of eg. how suddam is not dead.

ahhh that is it for now guys, here is a little trivia for you to ponder: an elephants is the only animal that has four knees!
Posted by Tracey at 7:02 AM 3 comments

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

My Grammie
okay...frankly my grandmother cracks me up and i think its because i never know what is going to be coming out of her mouth. it has actually been quite interesting looking at the family dynamic with my mom and grammie as i am seeing way to many deja vu moments (its my future, or my present???...ahhhh)

anyways some funny (cute) tidbits about my grandmother:
1. she likes mean girls so she bought the dvd

2. she has a stuffed moose but insists it is a beagle with antlers

3. she got a really cute stuffed hippo for her bday but she will not sleep with it because it is a girl and my grandma does not sleep with girls

4. and watching the notebook with her i never realized what a comedy that movie was, instances:
-apparently alley was asking for trouble when she went walking with noah alone at night on their first date, but then it was alrite b/c she was being coy, and it looked like a nice "courtship"
-cut to the "seduction scene" (as she put it) and how disgusted she was as alley is going to get pregnant and ruin everything.
-noah is apparently doing it all wrong b/c he was suppose to take off alley's clothes (i seriously was laughing way too hard at this point)
-ooooo and when alley started talking to noah during the great seduction, grammie was shouting at the tv, "don't believe anything he says, they will tell you anything when your in that position, damn fool"

ahhh grammie...i love her! :)
Posted by Tracey at 5:45 AM 6 comments

Monday, February 05, 2007

3 Hours Ahead
hello everyone!!!

well i am finally in new brunswick! i flew in on friday and had a cool moment as i was flying into the sunset (geek moment right now) and you could watch the sky around the moon go darker and darker by the second...(geek moment over).

also had a layover in montreal (thank goodness i had jeaninne's dvd player and "how to lose a guy in 10 days"~sidenote~freaking hilarious movie). my flight was delayed in montreal because i guess the plane hadn't arrived yet and then when i got on the plane they de-iced it...that has never happened to me before so i was worried that the plane may freeze in the air but many people have assured me i was fine and it isn't straight water they put on the plane and yeah i am still alive!!

the party was at my aunt beth (mom's sister) and uncle rino's house. my grammie was surprised, shocked, and i think a little confused as she at first thought i was heidi (my cousin). then proceeded to tell us that we were stupid miserable good-for-nothing stinkers (something like that) for keeping secrets. ahhhh grammie, i love her!! i think she had a lot of fun. it was actually cute because two of her friends that she went to university with were there so there was some unb alumni from the class of 1949.

after the party, my cousins, mom, aunt, and i played the longest game of trivia pursuit in my life (4 hours of never-ending trivia)!! and it was the kind i have played before (pop culture dvd edition) dear gosh i think i now know how jeaninne feels playing that game...lol!

another side-note heidi has a long haired cat named lucy that likes and it even slept with me at night!!...the second cat in my lifetime to like me!!!

well i do not want to get too long with this post but in other news i spent the night with my nan and we celebrated her birthday with my dad's brothers, their wives. i finally met my little cousin ewan and of course hannah. apparently i say hannah's name wrong as i don't "twang" it with my western accent (see i am western after all). and in some slightly distressing not so distressing news...when ewan is 25, i will be freaking 50!!! AHHHHHH.....

i will blog another post later....i miss you all! luv ya!
Posted by Tracey at 8:56 AM 1 comments

i love the weekend!
Hey everyone...

I'm gonna say that my lack of posting just means that my life is pretty boring right now. Yeah...that's it. Jane, hopefully you're having a nice little vacation with Grammie!

HI GRAMMIE!!!!

Did everyone catch Grey's Anatomy? I can't mention much about it because I don't know if Tracey has watched it yet, but it was such a good one! I especially laughed out loud when Alex said "now you're Callie *beep*!" Do you know what I'm talking about? Tracey, did you watch it yet?
Anyway, I saw this trailer for a new movie with Katherine Heigl in it, and it's by the same guys that did '40-year old Virgin' so you know it's going to be one of those dumb movies, but the trailer is really funny!

BE WARNED: IT'S GOT SOME OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE (F-BOMBS) SO TURN IT DOWN IF YOU'RE AT WORK OR WITH GRAMMIE!
Posted by casey at 8:39am 1 comment

faced with fear

i have always been a big fan of the water but i NEVER had an inkling of a want to scuba dive. when planning the big trip to oz one of the major expeditions for my travel companions was to scuba dive the great barrier reef. for me, a person who had never snorkelled before, i couldn't understood why. as a kid, i hated my swimming lessons~ back and forth, back and forth throughout the length of the pool. why would i want to do that underwater?

here is the story of my first open water dive:

the day before
tense
couldn't speak
silent.
when spoken too i would break into tears
too much anxiety/pressure/everything!
secretly hoped/wished/willed that i would be unable to go
wanting to fail the medical
get stuck in another place
sleep in
but to no avail.
i was on the boat!

our first dive,
put air in my pfd
put the regulator in my mouth
jumped
let out the air out of my pfd
my body would not go underwater.
i willed it not to
definite hypervenilation
underwater now
i took a breath
then two
three, four, and many after!
it was okay
fantastic
fell in love

JAWS: the clownfish

their home

okay so this is not real although we did see a shark but it was night, so picture is unavailable. looks pretty realistic though hey???