I'm Sorry?

Wow.  It's been over a month since I last posted.  Bad, bad, bad blogger.  I could write the usual excuses - work, everyday life, holidays, stress, traveling, family, projects, friends.  Oh my.  It's true, it has been an exceptionally time for me. In short, I've been writing my hands to the bone, flew to New York City to meet all the FrockOn girls (each one of them is incredible), survived the holidays and am back in business.

Today I am reminded of forgiveness.  I've noticed that I am really quick to forgive others and usually give others the benefit of the doubt. For some reason, when it comes to myself, I will hold a grudge for months.  Other people can make mistakes, learn form their actions, try something and fail, but not me. This is something I've been working on for a long time, but I'm finding it really hard.  Why do we do this to ourselves? A close friend reminds me all the time that as long as you learn from your mistake, it really isn't much of a mistake.

What can you forgive yourself for today? How do you go about it? Are you harder on yourself than others? Are you harder on others than yourself? Keep track of that critical inner voice today and see what it has to say.  'Shut Up' is a phrase that may come in handy.

Are you a SpaRitualist?

My most recent article on FrockOn is up! In this article, I sit down with the founder or SpaRitual and chat 'spa industry' with Shel Pink.  Spa quality, eco-friendly (and animal friendly!) holiday gifts? Yes please! Stay tuned for Part 2 of my article, but until then, check out Part 1!

One is silver and the other, gold.

I'm proud to say that I have very few conflicts in my life when it comes to friends and family.  It hasn't been easy, but over the years, I have worked very hard to develop my relationships and nurture them so they grow as I grow.  Unfortunately (as expected),  not all relationships change as you do.  It's sad and I've certainly shed my tears, but this only emphasizes the fact that the relationships that do stick around and stay strong are incredibly precious.

I was reminded today of how important the few really special people in our lives are.  You know the ones.  They are the people that have been around for years, through ups and downs and you would do anything for them.  When necessary, you hate their jerk ex-boyfriends (or ex-girlfriends), eat copious amounts of fast food during lunch hour at school, clap as loud as you can at their performances, or just laugh your faces off until one of you feels like you want to puke.  That, my friend, is a friend. 

One of my best friends showed her full fledged, pure and loving support for my dream I am pursuing and it was at that moment that I realized how much she really means to me.  No matter what, I know she will support and love me, and that feels incredible.  I could tell her I'm trying to grow a pineapple out of the top of my head and she would come back with a bunch of information to help me achieve this. Damn, I'm lucky.

Do you have anyone in your life like this? Is there someone that you think could be this person for you? Do your friends know how much you appreciate them? 

Could you be this person for someone else?

Family Matters

I certainly didn't need a reminder, but if I did need one, I've received one.  I've spend my last couple days visiting with family and the more time I spend with them, the faster time seems to disappear.  What I miss the most aren't the dinners, parties, events and outings.  It's sitting around drinking a coffee in the family kitchen, laughing at the dogs, making dinner and sitting on the porch.  It really is these times that I count my blessings and wish that I could make those little moments last forever.  Time flies and it's constantly increasing its speed.  Take a step back, look around you and be thankful for the family you have.  Maybe it's your mom, aunt, cousin or a step parent.  Maybe it's your dog, best friend, or your cat.  Whomever you consider family, remember how special they are to you and even though you may bicker, yell or hold your breath until you turn blue, they will always love you. (Sorry for sounding like a Whitney Houston song there.)

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to draw your attention to my favourite new stock photo website, Stock.xchng. It's a free website full of beautiful, unique and perfect photos.  Thanks Stock.Xchng!

Patience, my dear.

Today was an exercise in patience for me.  Starting with my morning, my day seemed to be taunting me. From my (constantly lost) keys that seem to have a personal vendetta against me, to my personal favourite, spilling my lunch in my purse (don't ask why I carry my lunch in my purse). After the lunch in the purse incident, it was downhill from there.  I'll spare you the gruesome details, but I had to exercise constant patience and compassion today.  I had no choice and I literally felt like I had to swallow the swear words I wanted to spit out in front of me, for everyone to see.  I kept on repeating phrases like 'breathe' and 'stay calm,' 'just wait' and 'don't judge.'  I now understand why so many mothers are such patient, kind people. I also understand why so many mothers are not patient, kind people.

Who deserves some patience in your life? Is there a friend, family member, or stranger that you could count to 10 and let the steam out of your ears for? If it's not a person, what about a situation in you life? From the grocery store lineup to your significant other coming home late, practicing some patience can help you and someone else.

Aha! Moment

I finally figured it out.  Aha! moment, light bulb moment, eureka, whatever you want to call it. 

My blog is going to be a daily reflection about one small (or large) important moment that I notice each day in my life.  Everyday, 'things' happen to us and we make 'things' happen.  This blog is going to draw attention to these things and (hopefully) improve my daily awareness of life.  It's not always going to be good, but I'm going to try to stay on the positive side.  Maybe something provokes a question, a thought or brings up a wanted or unwanted feeling.   The great thing about this concept is that whatever my observation for that day is, it will apply to all my readers as well.  I'll ask questions that don't necessarily need to get answered; they just need to be aired out. I'll bring up general issues, problems and obstacles that many of us need to overcome.

This is a new project for me and I can only hope that other people get something out of this too.  Here we go.

Comfort

I am finally starting to feel 'cushy' again.  I don't really know how else to describe it.  I am getting back into my BNYC (Before New York City) life and I'm feeling good.  Despite the fact that I literally have no free time as of late, things have become good again.  I don't feel so strange waking up in my own apartment anymore and the mountains certainly have their charm.  It's no big apple, but it will do...for now.

Writing for Frockon has suddenly made things click for me.  This is what I want - no, need to do.  Aha moment! Check out my most recent article on Eco-Fashion week here.

I have been thinking a lot about the Universe, God, Buddha, Vishnu, Mom - whatever/whomever you credit for the good things in your life.  It's sometimes mind boggling how the puzzle pieces of life suddenly fit together or a chance meeting changes your life.  It makes me really question how much 'power' we think we have on a daily basis.  We can plan all our lives (as some people do...ahem...me), yet at the end of the day, our entire plan could blow up in our face.  I'm trying really hard to learn how to 'go with the flow,' but I never have been one for going with anyones flow but mine.

OK, so there's a learning curve.

THE SECRET IS OUT!

Yes, I've been busy and yes, I promise to make up for it. Excuses, excuses, excuses...

Well here it is!! My recent mistress is FrockOn.  I am now writing for a New York fashion website and I couldn't be happier.  The girls are incredible, supportive, smart and devoted.   I can't believe how fast I have become a part of  a 'fashion family.'

Todays reflection of the day is expanding horizons.  How can you stretch yourself today and try something new? It doesn't need to be a huge gesture; how about trying a new coffee shop on your way to work? Walk a different route home. Make a new recipe for dinner. Apply for your dream job. Take a vacation somewhere you have never been.

Switch it up!

It's been a while

Yes, it's been a while.  But I have some great excuses, I swear! First of all, I was really, really sick for about four days straight and then I suddenly woke up one morning and felt perfectly fine.  Guess that means winter is coming.....ew.  I also hate to admit it, but I think I may be one of those people that always get sick after flying, or at the very least, sick after a vacation.  Yes, I'm usually that annoying person that gets back from a holiday with a stuffy nose, headache and a list full of complaints.  Hey, at least its not malaria.

I have been writing a lot lately and one of my projects is top secret, but I should be able to post something about it sometime next week.  Stay tuned.

Just a short post to (hopefully) kick start my blogging again and get me back into a routine.  There really aren't enough hours in a day and someone needs to fix this problem.  I'll add that to my "to do" list too...which seems to be growing exponentially.

Hot hot heat

This just in....i am sick of sweating 24/7.
In other news, friends make everything better.

I saw some of my amazing friends today and I am always amazed how great things seem when you have a friend (or four) around.  I saw them for just a short period of time, but I always walk away saying to myself "why the Hell don't I dot this more often?" I always have some sort of excuse from being too tired, to being too busy, to needing to brush my cats teeth.  In all seriousness, friends really do make everything better and tend to put things in perspective.  I'm the kind of person that has a few extremely close friends and I love it that way.  I know everything about my sistas from anotha motha and they know everything about me.

I also have to give people that are opposite to me, major credit.  How someone can be a socialite and find friendship in a mass of people, astounds me.  Maybe I don't have the confidence or the know-how, but I tip my Chanel hat to you folks who are.

What friends in your life could use a quick phone call? If you don't have time for a phone call, what about a text? A hug? A coffee date? Chances are, they will be just as happy to hear from you, as you would be to hear from them.

This heatwave has really started to get to me.  I can't scratch my head without sweating and frankly, sweating profusely is not a good look for me.  When I was in New York, I was more than happy to sweat from parts of my body that I thought were impossible.  But now that I'm back home and know people in my city, it's not exactly convenient.  I also find it really frustrating that everything reminds me of New York, even the act of sweating.  Although the dewey look is always sexy, I would not describe this heat as "dewey inducive."  I would describe this heat as "sweat from the bottom of your feet and earlobes" inducive. Bet you didn't even know your earlobes could sweat.

Round two - here we go again

It's been one day and I'm already excited about what I'm going to write about next.  I'm doing it because I love it and frankly, I have a lot to say (maybe nothing of value though!)

Going away on my New York trip was a blessing and a curse.  All I can think about is the past and how I'm going to get myself there permanently.  I'm a big believer in staying in the present, but this trip has made me more independent, alive, vibrant, risk adverse and has made me that much more driven.  Unfortunately, it's not that easy for me.  I live in Canada and in order to get into the beautiful U S of A, I would need to prove that I have unique abilities and jump through a  million hoops.  With that said, this doesn't mean that I won't try or accomplish it for that matter; it just makes it daunting.  I did some research today and my eyes started to cross within an hour.  Weeding my way through the endless pages of government lingo, acronyms and links started to fluster me and I decided to switch to writing.  It always calms me and once I am able to throw my thoughts onto a page, I find myself functioning more efficiently, clearly and directly.

While I was in New York, I went to the Montauk with a great friend of mine.  He introduced me to a bunch of people and one of them was a young, beautiful, successful woman.  She lived in an area of New York that I would die to live in and worked a job she enjoyed, but worked ridiculous hours.  All she could talk about was how she wished she lived in Canada, away from the city, close to nature and experienced basically the opposite of everything she has.  All I could talk about was how I wanted everything she has (maybe minus the ridiculous hours). Is the grass always going to be greener on the other side? When we do get to the other side, does dusk suddenly set in and the grass is no longer green? Being well aware of this age old saying, I took this trip to find out.  I was hoping I would get to the big apple and hate it.  I was hoping I would hate breathing in pollution and being pushed by busy New Yorkers on the street.  I was hoping I would be bored with the city lights after my first week.  I was hoping I would find myself longing to be back with my blue skies, endless beaches, mountains, oceans and fresh air.  Well, we can all see that that did not turned out as I was hoping.

In other news, I have been distracting myself with my favourite activity - thrifting.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  Thrift store shopping amongst the dirty sweaters, dingy books, dusty sandals and unique treasures.  I'm a closet thrifter, so to speak.  I pride myself on the fact that I rarely pay full price for an item, but I don't think I look like it. Maybe I'm wrong....maybe I stand out like a sore thumb and have a big sign above my head that says "OBSESSED WITH THRIFTING."  Either way, I found the most incredible boots and blazer today.  Each only $6! I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't wait until fall sets in so I can put them into action.

The start of something new...

Well, hello.

I'm not sure where to start, so I guess I'll just begin and see where it takes me.  I am new to blogging, but aren't we supposed to try something new each day? With all the changes and upheavals in my life lately, I thought blogging may help to quiet my all too active mind.

A recent philosophy that I have adopted is "Follow Your Bliss;" I have been repeating this mantra to myself over the last two months and for better or worse, I have been doing exactly that.

I find myself living a bit of a Clark Kent lifestyle.  I have a steady 9-5 job, but I find myself craving creativity,  new things and excitement.  I constantly feel that I am running after and trying to tame my creativity, or at the very least, fit it into a small, tidy box.  By day, I am corporate, but as soon as I can, I journal, make jewelry, work on my book that I'm writing, act, devour literature, read about fashion, scrap-book...the list goes on.  Especially recently, I find myself being a jack of all trades as I fill my roles as an actor, business woman, partner, writer, negotiator, sister, lover, friend...again, the list goes on.  This is not an unusual discovery. Every human being has multiple ways to describe themselves.  I am currently trying to find out what exactly my core descriptions are.

I just got back from a life changing trip and I suspect this blog will help me to adapt back to real life or to "get a grip," as my grandmother says.  At this very moment, I am feeling lost, awkward and unsure.  I am a perfectionist at heart and the idea of ambiguity is a terrifying concept for me.  Yet, this past two months for me has been exactly that - eight weeks of ambiguity that I somehow have managed to not only enjoy, but thrive in. Normally, I'm a thinker, very sensitive and I need time to mull things over.

When I was a little girl and my friends had pictures of Jonathan Taylor Thomas on their wall, my room was plastered with pictures of New York City.  It's for this reason that I finally broke down years of wishing, went to New York City by myself for two months.  I left my 'safe life'.  This was a really big deal for me.  I don't know how else to make the adjustment back to 'real life' and not knowing what I want or where I stand has only left me feeling more lost.  I do know a few things though.  I know that I love writing, acting, fashion and creativity.  I plan on to continue to pursue acting and eventually complete and publish my book (I love it so far!) That's why for now, my compass doesn't say North or South, it really just says "Bliss" or "No Bliss."  I'm trying to go after the bliss part.