lets get a little of hawksley shall we....

so sad for mark right now as vancouver lost the cup (vs. boston). sigh. but i am sure there are a certain bunch of people in a small town in n.b. that are absolutely thrilled.

this song (having nothing to do with any cup) is one i adore. both artist and song, actually. i have been to two of his shows (once at the winspear...excellent) AND since i really have no news to share here you all go!

so far on my summer vacation i did...

the summer days have been wonderful this past "celebratory" week. it brings me to talk about what i have been up to this summer. thus far i have:

• attended a graduation, 95th birthday, and wedding celebration
• gone to FOUR summer movies thus far: hangover 2, bridesmaids (most excellent), pirates four, and super 8 (my favourite movie thus far this summer).
• worked my two jobs still, and still having fun
• started training for a half marathon again...i obviously don't remember the pain from last year ;)
• started "eating" better for my training. big step for me especially when it is green onion cake season.
• shopped around for venues for our upcoming BIG DAY! when it comes to wedding planning, i would love to have the whole wedding planned and done in a week but i guess it doesn't work that way! :)
• visited with some AWESOME nursing friends that i have not seen in awhile...fun evening ladies!
• gone to the muttart, a place i don't ever remember going (unless i was fairly young). fun times.
• canoe trip from devon to edmonton involving two very crispy people that may have not put on sunscreen....sigh, I KNOW YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED MOM! :)
• enjoyed some summer walks, market days, and just being outside!

so far this summer has been nice. have much more to look forward to, too! until then...
love

happy graduation

a bachelor of education allows you to:

• go on a ski trip in the "outback" of the mountains
• gives you an idea of what to expect with children at different ages
• learn many different dancing styles from hip hop and jazz with videos to prove it
• having fun (and sometimes difficulty) with sports from curling to hockey, gymnastics to badminton, swimming to kayaking
• being able to debate about people such as piaget and erikson
• wanting to learn more about reading comprehension
• getting to teach twice in a classroom setting and confirming many times over that that is what one loves to do
• knowing that one cannot simply condense it all on their blog but realizing.....
• ...that having a degree allows you to finally do what one wanted for so long! 

CONGRATS TO MARK ON HIS GRADUATION! GREAT JOB AND WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU! 

love

i'm so excited

since i have done MANY dedications to my father when it comes to music i thought i would do one for my mom! i think i managed to get both of their tastes in music integrated into mine. i love that old school rock from my dad with a mix of some eclectic beats. my mother (like myself) loves all broadway all the time...seriously when we get to new york one day broadway will be ours! but she also loves the "woman" singers (as dad calls it) and the fun mainstream pop.

this little music video is a reminder of my mom when i was young. she (like myself) loves to pump up the music loud especially when cleaning (again like myself). i still remember her jamming out to this while vacuuming...the image is forever ingrained in my mind. love it! :) this song is now a motivator for me while i run. so enjoy!



love

soooo

so this is a lazy post with a story. i JUST saw bridesmaids with my bridesmaids and laughed till i cried....still ladies take some hints (ha ha ha, joke). the movie brought a song close to my heart from the elementary era when i would listen to it with my dad...so dad this is for you right here! :) sorry i couldn't get one without commercials!



love

the stool

my mom told me to throw it out. we were cleaning out the "junk" in their basement. i came across a broken stool that mom got back in the day at county's reach. i loved that stool. it reminded me of a country/cosy style that fit in my parent's house perfectly. mom told me it was junk. toss it. i restrained. call it nostalgia...or that i wanted to grasp whatever i could of my parents but i was determined to make this stool mine somehow. thus the wheels started turning....

cut to two months later i went to a fabric store (i rarely frequent them). i came across this fabric (below). i know what you are thinking...orange??? but it matched a chair that we happened to have and the flowers are really pretty...or at least i think they are. i headed to casey's house for a craft night and we set up on stapling this fabric on to the cushion. easy-peasy.

the last bit i needed help. i didn't get a before picture but the stool was in pretty bad ruins and it was confirmed what my mom had originally said. it was junk. the wood was slightly cheap and a handy kind of handy man managed to put it together but warned not to put too much pressure on it. i promise i won't.

it now sits idly by the orange chair waiting for a nice kitty or a foot. the project is finished and i am happy!

thanks so much david for your hard work! :)

time to be appreciative

its been awhile since i have wrote about what i am thankful for. i really enjoy doing it as it allows me to concentrate on positivity rather than some of the negative things that can happen in life. here is what i have today!

• dance offs with my boyfriend...leading to hysterical laughter
• lilacs blooming. it is officially spring
• biking to work and having paths to do so
• running outside. i have missed it so much
• fresh fruit
• finishing one scrapbook project that i have been trying to accomplish for two years. felt good!
• spring walks
• downtown market opening. it makes me so happy as its my favourite market!
• having a job. i really do like working!
• hanging out with friends that i haven't seen in awhile
• movie dates
• pillow fights (yes, event though i am "how old" i still have them...and they are fantastic)
• sun because it is finally out in all its glory after so many months
• my library card...seriously, why didn't i get this sooner. so much fun! :)

that is it, for now. have a glorious sunday! :)
love

nursing in my genes??

came across these pictures that my dad put in my digital frame...what do you think? was it meant to be? *wink wink*

love

barbra streisand

so glee had a flash mob with the lovely diddy below. it brought up a goal that i would like to accomplish. i want to be part of a flash mob. i have added it as part of my "likes" on facebook to alarm me of any in canada.

what else could i do? suggestions??



love

biking part IV

i rode
i went
got to work
very nice
home time
i rode
i went
flat tire
again
not so nice.

maybe its time to get a mountain bike?
don't get shocked/dismayed my dear father...
love

she came and went

so it has been a week since my mom has been here and i have not written about any of it. SOOOO here is a little summary of all the events that occurred during the 2011 mother visit.

1. went on a roadtrip to calgary. visited my great aunt (who i think i have seen in atleast 16 years...yikes) and my mom's cousins.
2. numerous expeditions to the mall where even mark accompanied us once (a promise of chapters may have been made)
3. a mandatory trip to costco for a hot dog of course...
4. a bridal/engagement shower may have occured leading me to think that mark is WAY more bridal than myself
5. wedding dress shopping AND buying. one solo trip with just my mom (exactly how i wanted it) and then with a crew to see if they also thought the dress was the dress...IT WAS!
6. brunch (mark's favourite meal) at the sawridge. a place that mom swears dad needs to visit.
7. renting "the girl with the dragon tattoo" and all of the sequels. very enjoyable, if not a little risque.
8. going on a mother/daughter (plus friend) movie date like we used to. (p.s. jeaninne said it was like hanging out like old times at your old house).
9. sushi attack for jimi's belated birthday party with sugar overload after.
10. waking up early in the morning to see the royal wedding...craziness!!!
11. babysitting a little gal.
12. lobster rolls!! YUM!

plus many more events but overall it was nice to have her around just be there.
glad you could come up mom. lots of people sure missed you (of course i am included in that combo). glad that you got to see all your friends, we got to spend lots of time together, and you got to go on a bonding shopping trip with my little bro.

glad you made it safe back home and that you are with dad. lets face it: he totally missed you!
love you lots
xoxoxoxo

beware of mush

mark asked what i wanted to do today. i wanted to walk downtown and get some ice cream.
"really, that is what you want to do?" he said.
"most positive," my response.
i love our walks. we don't do it on a regular basis (which we should) but it does make it all the more special when we do spend that outside time together (especially when we have slightly different interests: he being a gardener and me a runner).
it reminded me of our first times together in the summer of 2007. one particular time i took the bus downtown from my parent's place. met him up with him then walked to MEC and bought him some hiking boots. then off for some ice cream. next back tracked to a lot of mark's favourite trees in the downtown area. during our trek we watched people running the obstacle marathon, the live bands in churchill, just downtown people and finally soak our feet in the city hall pool.
today it was just as sunny, with some fantastic wind. the ice cream was coconut and raspberries for me, for him birthday cake and gummi bears. we walked downtown to the legislature, down to the river valley, back home.
both are nothing special but to me, something i love and feel the need to appreciate. like in i said in the title: pure mush!
love

a love

glee covered a "mash-up" version of this song last week. reminded me of the original and how much i loved these gals! :)



love

biking part III

conquered the hills.
got to work on time.
had time to change.
success on all fronts!

biking part II

a little bit of wind
the sun was shining.
the bike's tire was newly changed.
no mishaps on making it to work.
success.
now i just need to conquer those hills....

love

biking

i was determined to bike today.
even though it was raining,
a soft little drizzle.
it didn't look so bad,
until i started to ride.
the rain fell harder,
the wind blew harder,
the gravel seemed more slippery.
i finally made it to the top,
with just five minutes to spare.
then i got a flat tire.
sigh.
hopefully tomorrow will be better.

what i learned about the royal wedding

1. three am is much too early to watch a royal wedding. especially since your father laughs at you via skype.
2. good laughs are bound to come if your fiance is catching bits on television. imitations like "twist from the wrist, from the wrist you twist" are said with an impeccable english accent.
3. princes don't have to wear rings...but according to your fiance they are not "betrothed" (again in said english accent).
4. even prince's get nervous as they have trouble getting the rings on their princesses.
5. normal brides don't need to be nearly as nervous as 750 million will not be invited, let alone watching their wedding (hopefully).
6. it is terribly sad that one has to wait 2 hours for the groom to finally kiss the bride...especially when that is what this writer was waiting for and fell completely and utterly asleep by the time it happened.
7. no matter what the stipulations are for a bride, she does always look beautiful and the groom looks so very handsome.
8. little kids in your bridal party are quite amusing for those serious moments, especially since the service may be a little long.

AND FINALLY, MOST IMPORTANTLY WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE ROYAL WEDDING:

9. hats are fabulous fashion pieces to wear at any event, especially a wedding. i particularly enjoyed the fascinators. absolutely gorgeous. i really think that canada is in need of these fantastic head pieces!

love

horrible horrible horrible sister

yesterday was my fantasticly fantastic brother's birthday. so i must Must MUST say to him: 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMI!

i wish you lots of love and hugs for this upcoming year. you deserve it as you are one of the most kind, good natured, lovable, goofy, humor filled, laughter-loving, relaxed people that i know. love you lots dear jimi-jam!

love

let the planning begin

i know our wedding is so very far in the future but with my mom being around and school over the planning has begun. we are in the final stages of refining our guest list so that we can go through (the painstaking) process of finding a venue. lucky for me i have a very thorough and dedicated fiance to look through the venues to find one that suits our needs (seriously so lucky).

mom is dying to do some wedding dress shopping in the next two weeks (my very own say yes to the dress if you will). wish me tons of luck on that one!

AND tomorrow i have my first shower/party to attend. this should be fantastic as i haven't seen anyone really since the final study session began. so i get to see my lovely friends and more (i have no clue who is coming). sigh...it begins.

so far in this very beginning process i have discovered that i am not very bridal and mark is not very groom-al(?). but we have established that we just want to have a fun day, with good food. PLUS i want a fabulously awesome honeymoon (he has my list of places to go, tee hee).

continuing on my lists...
love

dreams

since i have study brain and i can't really think, let alone write, i will just have this picture as my blog post.

oddly enough, i had a dream i went to australia with my mom and cousin last night. the lovely thing about dreams is the flight was super fast, we found just what we were looking for (for some reason that was seals) and i woke up content and happy.

ahh back to the 10 hour study session!

love