Lest We Forget

In Canada, today is Remembrance Day. This is the day that we honour and remember members of our armed forces; those who have served, are serving and, especially, those who have fallen.

Today and every day we remember the sacrifices that our brave men and women have made fighting to give and preserve the freedom we share today. They gave their todays so we could have our tomorrows. Thank you to veterans, active military, and our fallen.

With bravery and strength they serve. With respect, honour and gratitude we thank them.

Lest we forget. 

November Thoughts

Well, here we are in November. November is such a gloomy month for me. It's cold, dark, rainy or snowy- you never know here in Canada. It has me missing the crisp October days with the beautiful Fall colours and counting down until the festive December season. 

November is just...It's a stepping stone. It bridges us from point A to point B and give us hope of better things to come. This year, with 2020 being A YEAR, November brings us closer to 2021and the possibilities that a new year will- hopefully- bring. 

Last November, I found myself in Nashville. It was the first time I had the opportunity to visit and I really loved my time there. I can't wait to go back and have been planning my return since sitting in an airport waiting for my flight home. There is so much more to Nashville than drinking, Broadway and live music. 

As someone who travels frequently- or used to travel frequently- the fact that I haven't been anywhere since March is making me nostalgic for past adventures and thinking of where I'll go to next- whenever "next" may be.

November with all it's dreariness makes me want to stay inside, start to hibernate. I know I'll have to force myself out of my warm home to walk around my community and try and appreciate what Mother Nature has to offer this month. 

I have a pile of books, plans to stock up on hot chocolate, a new hobby I'm picking up, and some virtual time scheduled with some of my favourite people. And maybe, just maybe, some in person time too. November will be a month of self-care and making sure I have what I need to be my best self so I can continue to support others around me.

This isn't the November 2020 I was hoping to have, but that it doesn't mean it won't be a good month- dreariness and all!

What the Pod(cast)?

As a extrovert and social person, the past few months have been a bit of a struggle for me. My social life is not what I'm used to or what I would like it to be. I have gone with the flow and have tried my best to adjust and fill my time in other ways. These "other ways" is reading more (I've read 50+ books since April) and twice daily walks in the picturesque town I'm calling home during these crazy times. I've also taken to listening to podcast while I walk.

Grownups Read Things They Wrote As Kids

This is my favourite podcast! There haven't been any new epsidoes this year- as the are recorded live. But I am going back and re-listening to old episodes and they are just as funny the second or third time around.

Missin' Curfew

Former NHLers Jimmy Hayes, Shane O'Brien, and Scotty Upshall- who I've loved since he played for Canada at the World Juniors- talk hockey. Fun to hear their take on what going on in the league and hear stories from their playing days. 

You Can Sit With Us

The TryWives- who you may know from The TryGuys on Youtube- have their own podcast! This podcast is just like sitting and having a chat with your girlfriends. They cover a variety of topics, are relatable and entertaining.

Zack to the Future

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is watching Save by the Bell episodes for the first time. Fun to get his reaction and behind the scenes info. 

SimplyPodLogical

Ben and Cristine of Simply Nailogical have a podcast! My fellow Canadians cover a variety of topics. I've always loved the banter between Ben and Cristine on their YouTube channel, so I'm loving that they have podcast. These two are so down to earth and real. 

Steal from the Best

This podcast will inspire you to succeed in business and in life. Highly successful and relatable guests- lawyers, real estate agents, event professionals, etc- share their stories and experiences, and listeners can "steal" their ideas. Love that the guests are relatable and not super successful billionaires that have success that the average person won't be able to attain.

Hello October

Here we are, a week into October. The summer (and September) just flew by. I'm not big on Fall, simply because it leads into November- which along with March is the dreariest, saddest month in my opinion- and Winter. 

I do like the crispy Fall air and the beautiful foliage. Salted caramel everything and hearty soups. Cozy blankets and fleece pullovers. Thanksgiving and family celebrations- birthdays and wedding anniversaries. 

October has a lot to offer.

In Ontario, we are in a second wave and have been asked to pause our social bubbles and only interact with people in our immediate household. While it is discouraging to be back tracking, I'm more than happy to do my part to keep other safe and healthy, to do my part to help eliminate the spread of COVID. 

October will be different. No large family gatherings to celebrate. Even a small family gathering won't be the same, as my brother lives in a different province and won't be able to come home. 

This October- like the majority of the months this year- will be different than any other October. But, I will do what I can to make it one for the memory books. I will live life, embrace this unique time, and do what I can to stay happy. 

Here's to...

• Walks on the beach
• Enjoying the beauty of Fall colours
• Weekends wrapped in a blanket reading
• Warm cups of goodness from a local café
• Being thankful 
  

Make the most of October, enjoy it while you can, while it's here.

Oh Canada

One of my goals in life to travel from coast-to-coast-to-coast in Canada and visit all 10 Provinces and three Territories. I have yet to visit any of the Territories- Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut- but I had had the opportunity to visit a majority of the provinces, and two of the three coasts. 

I have seen the majestic mountains in British Columbia, toured the underground tunnels used by Chinese immigrants and during prohibition in Saskatchewan, visited historic Quebec City, immersed myself in Acadian culture in New Brunswick, watched the Atlantic ocean from Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia, and explored Anne of Green Gables in PEI. 

Technically I've been to Manitoba, as I had a layover there on my way home from Saskatchewan. I would like to go back and experience Manitoba outside of their airport. Alberta and Newfoundland are the other two Provinces I need to visit.

I'm lucky enough to call Ontario home. Growing up in the heart of the Niagara Region, spending summers on the shores of Great Lakes and in beautiful Muskoka, and visiting numerous cities, towns, villages, and communities throughout Ontario. 

Also, I've had the chance to hear some great stories and experience some traditions of Ontario's Indigenous People. The love and respect they have for our land is amazing and something we should all practice. 

Canada is by no means perfect- we have our faults, our downsides, and our negatives. We're a work in progress. But I am so proud to be Canadian, to call Canada home, and for everything that Canada represents. 

Celebrations for Canada Day will be a little bit different this year- no big parties, crowds, concerts, parades, fireworks... I will still celebrate my country, my home, my native land.

Hope...Anger...Courage

There is so much going on in our world right now, and it's not good. You should be aware of the protests and riots happening due to racism. The awareness being brought forward is important and there is a lot of work to be done. But you (should) already know that. 

I'm taking steps to be aware, to move forward in a positive and productive way, to be more intentional, to use my voice for good, to listen, to be educated. I acknowledge my white privilege, and I acknowledge that racism- something I don’t personally face- is a serious issue in our society. I acknowledge that I need to take time to listen to those who are personally impacted by racism on both small and large scales. I acknowledge I need to continue to use my voice to show support to those who face racism and to speak out against those who are racist or who do not see racism in our society. I need to use my privilege, my voice to spread support, awareness, and love. It’s not enough to say words, I need to show actions as well. Anti-racism work never stops, I’m committed to not stopping. 

My heart hurts for the world, for what's going on, for the innocent people, the families and friends. Justice needs to be served. Racism needs to be addressed and dealt with. Racism is very much still an issue in society, and an issue that we all need to work to eliminate.

We need to do our part. We need to be aware of situations and circumstance. We need to use our voices for good, to speak up, and help those who are not heard be heard. We need to acknowledge the injustices in the world.

We need to have hope that things will improve. 

We need to use our anger to motivate us into action, to hold people accountable.

We need courage to do our part to make the world a better and more justice place.

We need hope, anger, and courage to stand up to racism, to be educated on racism, to listen to those who face racism, to do what we can to eliminate racism. 

Hive: Must See, Must Shop

One of my all time favourtie stores is Hive. I've loved...LOVED...this store for years! This is my go-to for gifts for friends, or a little something for myself. Jenn, the owner, has such great style and her store- located in Bayfield, Ontario on the Main Street- is something to experience in person. Full of beautiful products and showcasing Jenn's incredible eye for design, I love visiting this store- I not so secretly would love to move it!!

If you find yourself unable to make it to picturesque Bayfield, you can now shop Hive online! Below you will find some of my favourite products in all the categories offered by Hive:

Home & Cottage

Flamingo Salt & Pepper // Anchor Glass // Bike Planter // Glass Vase // Yucatan Rug // Net Shopper 

Clothing

Swimsuit // Shorts // PJ's // Top // Upcycled Sari Cardigan // Denim Dress

Accessories

Earrings // Madagascar Basket // Necklace // Bamboo Poncho // Crossbody Bag // Bracelet

Bath & Body

Macadamia Oil Body Cream // Beach Glass Soap // Natural Deodorant // Seaweed Mask // Lip Balm // Coffee Scrub

Kids

Artwork // Stuffed Owl // Sunglasses // Bib // Slippers // Tag-a-Long Blanket //

So many amazing products and options. There really is something for everyone, anf for every occasion! Jenn is always getting in new products and will be updating her website as products come in, so be sure to check her website often- you never know what you'll find!

Take One Day At A Time

It has been a beat or two since I last posted. There was a bit going on with work, family, and my personal life that took priority. Then, I was traveling in early March- the whole COVID-19 thing exploded while I was traveling- I had to cut my trip short and get home ASAP. The stress and anxiety of that last travel day, followed by the isolation of a 14-day quarantine with little human interaction, adjusting to working from home full time and dealing with some major changes at work- and let's not forget the family and personal life priorities...to say it was overwhelming would be an understatement!

I decided to give myself grace, get comfortable with my new pace of life, figure out how to balance my mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing with my new reality. while also dealing with stressors in my life. I also needed time to mourn things I was looking forward to in 2020 that just aren't going to happen. Blogging, as I'm sad to say it often does, took a back seat to life. 

While I am on week eight of working from home and practicing physical distancing, I'm still facing challenges and figuring out how to adjust. But I also don't want blogging on hold until this whole pandemic is over- I know it'll eventually be over but who knows how long that will be! The truth is I enjoy creating content and I need the outlet that this blog provides for me.

Everyone is dealing with this crazy situation in their own way. We are all facing different challenges. Some people have set goals and have a laundry list of things to do during this time. Others are aiming to get through each day in one piece. The way we deal with this pandemic- whether it's coming out with a new skill, a well organized home, or just the ability to say "I survived"- is up to each of us individually, and there is no right or wrong way to deal with it.

Take one day at a time. 

You will figure it out. 

Don't put pressure on yourself.

Celebrate accomplishments, no matter how small.

Even if the accomplishment is getting out of bed that day, or finally writing a blog post. 

Happy Galentine's Day

As Leslie Knope from Parks & Rec claimed, Galentine's Day is only the best day of the year. February 13 is a day to celebrate your favourite gals, the friendships we have and how much these ladies mean to us.

I am so fortunate to have some AMAZING gals standing by my side, that I can call at any time and for anything. The men in my life are important too- and I have some GREAT guys in my life- but there is nothing like strong, supportive, fun, female friendships. I celebrate my gals year round, but it's nice to have a 'holiday' specifically to celebrate our friendship.

Image via TribLive

Reach out to your favourite gal pals and let them know how much you appreciate their friendship. Make plans to meet them for lunch, drinks after work, or Netflix and take out. Send them flowers or chocolate...if you are unable to spend today with your favourite gal, send her flowers or chocolate, or cupcakes, or pizza and let her know you're thinking of her. Do your favourite things, with your favourite gals, make memories and celebrate the fabulous friendships you have. 

10 Ways To Celebrate A Valentine's Birthday

February is the month that most people associate with love. It’s all hearts, candy, flowers and romance. Or disappointment, heartache and tons of ice cream or other comfort food to drown your lack of love/romance in. Thanks Valentine’s Day.

I’m not going to go into how much I loathe Valentine’s Day and the commercialism of this “pretend” holiday. Or even how I’m bitter that Valentine’s Day overshadows and gets in the way of my birthday, which happens to be February 14.

Instead, I’m going to highlight 10 ways to celebrate a Valentine’s Birthday:

1.       Have pizza delivered to them for lunch along with flowers. Everyone loves pizza and pizza, for most people, was a childhood birthday food staple. As for the flowers, flowers just make people happy. But stay away from roses…too “Valentine”.

2.       If you take them out for dinner, try and go to a place that will have live music, like a piano player. Arrange to have the musician(s) play “Happy Birthday” when they enter the room.  Everyone in the room will know someone’s celebrating a birthday and that things besides Valentine’s Day happen on February 14.

3.       Get them a really cool gift that is in no way related to Valentine’s Day and/or love. I suggest the Beanie Buddy octopus named Inky. It’s an octopus named INKY! A friend gave me this in high school and I LOVE it. Especially the name.

4.       Throw them a surprise party. Who doesn’t love a surprise party? The birthday person will be beyond touched that so many people gave up celebrating Valentine’s Day to celebrate the day of their birth instead.

5.       Bake a cake. This is a thoughtful thing. One of my best birthdays involved my roommates making me a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and ‘Happy 19^th Birthday Melissa’ spelled out in licorice. It doesn’t have to be perfect…it really is the thought that counts. I don't have a picture of that cake, but I do have a picture of this cake that a friend and her daughter made for me and surprised me with:

6.       Take them out. Blow off work/school/responsibilities to take them to a bar and do birthday shots with them mid-day (or right after work). Valentine’s Day hasn’t really kicked into full gear yet, so they’ll be able to enjoy their birthday without a ton of couples around celebrating Valentine’s Day. If things get a bit wild, that’s ok. And let’s be honest…shots really do make things better.

7.       Spa day. Nothing says birthday like being pampered. Even if you can’t afford a full spa day, send them for something…manicure, pedicure, facial even a massage. This really is the best way to spend your birthday.

8.       Dance party. Just make sure there are no ‘love’ songs on the playlist. Many of my birthdays have included impromptu dance parties and they are ALWAYS fun. Plus, this is so easy to do! Turn on some music and start dancing.

9.       Do something they love but not Valentine’s related. For example, if their favourite restaurant is having a Valentine’s special, skip it. They like to bowl and the local bowling alley is doing rock-and-bowl, this would be good.  I spent a lot of my birthdays at rinks watching hockey games.

10.   Remember their birthday. This really is just basic. Year round so many people remember my birthday because it’s on Valentine’s Day. But then, the actual day arrives and no one remembers/cares because they are so busy and focused on Valentine’s Day. Try and remember their birthday outside of Facebook- send them an e-mail, text message or pick up the phone and call them- all are better than a Facebook message (which points out who’s celebrating a birthday that day).  And for goodness sakes, do not give a combined Valentine/birthday gift and/or card.  Separate the two events.

If you know someone who is born on Valentine’s Day, do something nice for them- forgo celebrating the fake “holiday” that is Valentine’s Day and instead celebrate the day of their birth. They really will appreciate it. Trust me.

McClain Hermes- Swimming By Faith, Not By Sight

In July of 2019, I had the opportunity to meet Paralympic Swimmer, World Champion, and World Record Holder, and (at the time) recent high school graduate McClain Hermes. McClain was your typical, down-to-earth, energetic teen. She was so funny and a lot of fun to be around. McClain is also one of the most inspiring people I have met.

McClain started swimming when she was six years old and lost her eyesight at 8 years old. She holds 20 American records, 5 Pan-American records, and 1 world record- all before graduating from high school! She graduated high school with high honors and took the same classes with the same academic rigor as her sighted peers. On top of all that, 10 years ago McClain and her dad started a service project to collect shoes for the homeless and have collected and donated over 27,000 pairs of shoes. She is currently training for the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan.

To learn more about McClain's story and to be inspired by her, watch the (short) video below.

Galentine's Swap Sign Up

Chalk Full of Love and Candelles are hosting a Galentine's Swap! I participated in this swap a couple of year's ago, and had so much fun getting to know my partner and putting together a Galentine's package for her! I wasn't able to participate last year, but I am looking forward to this year and can't wait to learn about my partner!!

You can sign up for the swap here, sign ups close on Friday (January 17). Once sign ups have closed, you will be sent a questionnaire to fill out, you'll be matched with a partner, and then you swap Galentine's packages! Super easy, super fun, and a great way to meet- and celebrate- another gal! 

A Year In Review- 2019

2019 has gone by in the blink of an eye- \I can't believe we are already at the end of the year!! 2019 has been a good year to me. So, let's look back at some of the highlights...

January and February were two months full of interviews- 13 in total between the two months. I was so busy interviewing and applying for jobs, that I did very little else. January is a good friend's birthday month and she hosted a murder mystery dinner party. It was so fun to dress up and have a night out. February is my birthday. I spent the day with one of my best friends and we had a blast window shopping. The one thing I really wanted was a birthday donut, so we went to a café that makes their own donuts- only they were sold out!! My friend waited with me for about 45 minutes and made sure I got my birthday donut!!

March is when I got my dream job offer and started working for my dream company. Nine-ish months later, I am still loving every day with the company and the work I get to do. In April my dad and I were at our second home and the weather was awful- cold and rainy. So we went on an amazing road trip in the area- we went to see family friends, before going to see our ancestral home, into a couple of small towns, a craft brewery...a day that started with 'what are we going to do?' to one of the best days!!

I came home from work one day in May, and there was a surprise piece of mail from Royal Wood- one of my favourite performers!! At the end of June, I went to a see a movie- Mean Girls- in a vineyard with my cousin and another friend- it was so fun!!

July was a super busy month, as my company hosts a huge...HUGE...conference. This year, we were in Florida. While we had an intense week with a ton of work, the day after our conference we got to live #thecabanalife!! Gaylord Palms, out host hotel, gave us a cabana and the VIP treatment for the day. We had a lot of fun hanging out by the pool. 

My dad and I went on a "Three City, Two Province, One Week Tour' in August. I had the opportunity to visit New Brunswick for the first time and enjoyed my time in Moncton. I got to see the tidal bore- which was so cool! Followed this up by seeing Luke Bryan in September, which was a fun concert!!

I had a last minute trip to Vancouver, BC come up in October. This was the first time I visited BC. While it was a quick trip and I didn't have much time to truly explore Vancouver, I did have the chance to visit with one of my favourite cousins, who lives in Vancouver. It was so great to spend time with her and her husband!!

My hometown had the opportunity to host Rogers Hometown Hockey in November. It was a jam packed weekend celebrating hockey and our community. I had the chance to experience all the public events, and had the opportunity to attend a couple of VIP events/experiences.

This brings us to December, which has been a lot of fun!! I had the chance to travel to California on business, but found myself with 9 hours of free time- from 3pm-midnight. So, I headed off to California Adventure and Disneyland!! I don't remember the last time I had so much fun. We did a number of rides and laughed A LOT!!

January and February were not bad months, they were just quieter months with not a lot of highlights. I actually started 2019 off by going for a walk with my S.O. and his dog on New Year's day- this was probably my true January highlight, but I didn't have a picture to add to the collage! We have plans to do the same on January 1, 2020...I'm hoping this will become a tradition for us. Looking back on 2019 (with the exception of January/February), there were so many experiences and memories it was tough to pick one highlight per months.

I am hopeful that I will have just as many highlights in 2020!!

From the Archives: Christmas Party Ideas

It's so hard to believe that we are more than halfway through December and that Christmas is days away! December has been busy for me, but I've really enjoyed it. I feel like December has constantly kept me in motion with different projects, opportunities, social events, and travel. This week has a focus on Christmas celebrations and I'm really looking forward to it. 

Because this month has been non-stop for me, this is the first year in a long time that I won't be hosting my own Christmas Party. Part of me is relieved- when would I have time to plan and host a party this month?! Party of me is sad- I love to host and Christmas parties are one of my favourites!! 

A couple of years ago, I shared three of my favourite Holiday Party Ideas- Gongerbread & Champagne, Christmas PJ Party, and Potluck & Ornament Exchange- checkout the original post for more details! 

7 Christmas Movies: 2019 Edition

I have always been a fan of Christmas movies and try to watch as many of them as I can each holiday season- some of them multiple times!! I would be hard pressed to pick an all time favourite movie, or even a top three- it changes all the time and there are just sooooo many great movie to pick from!!

Here are- no particular order- the 7 Christmas movies I am loving this year!

Image via Good Housekeeping

White Christmas This is a classic Christmas movie and features great musical numbers. Set in Vermont, singing sisters Betty and Judy team up with singing friends Bob and Phil to put on a performance to help save an inn. I'm really just here for the music and dance numbers.

Image via Decider

Christmas Inheritance Ellen Langford is on track to inherit her father's business when she has a little mishap at a Christmas party. Her father and his business partner have a Christmas tradition where they write each other a Christmas letter. Ellen is tasked with bringing this letter to Uncle Zeke in Snow Falls. Uncle Zeke is nowhere to be found and she needs to stick around until he shows up- the letter must be delivered in person. With limited resources and hiding her identity, Ellen starts helping out at the inn to help cover her expenses. A snowstorm hits, Ellen endears herself to the locals, and discovers the true meaning of Christmas.

Image via IMDB

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I do love this movie, and it is a favourite of my boyfriend, so I had to include it on the list! The movie centers around the Griswald family and patriarch Clark trying to make Christmas the best ever. It starts with the family on the hunt for a Christmas tree and it goes downhill from there. One mishap after another make for an entertaining and memorable Christmas.

Image via Hallmark Channel

Reunited at Christmas Samantha journeys home to spend one last Christmas with her family at her late grandmother's home. Reliving past family traditions, trying to write a new book, and navigating her relationship with her boyfriend-turned-fiancé all while trying to find her Christmas spirit. 

Image via IMDB

Two Turtle Doves Doctor Sharon heads home for the holidays to wrap up the last of her grandmothers estate. She's meet her grandmother's estate lawyer and his daughter who help her accomplish a list of Christmas traditions her grandmother tasked her with doing. While working through Christmas traditions, Doctor Sharon realizes one of the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments- the two turtle doves- is missing and she is desperate to find this family heirloom.

Image via IMDB

Santa Girl Cassie Claus, Santa's daughter, has an arranged marriage with Jack Frost's son. Before getting married and taking over for her dad, Cassie want's the chance to experience the real world. Santa agrees to let Cassie go to college and assigns elf Pep to go with her and keep an eye on Cassie.

Image via IMDB

Image via IMDB

Image via IMDB

I am counting these three movies as one (listed in the order they premiered). I love these movies because they happen year over year, we find out what has happened to characters since last Christmas, and get to experience Evergreen: 

Christmas in Evergreen Evergreen, Vermont resident Allie is trying to get to Washington, DC to see her boyfriend, while Ryan and his daughter Zoe are en route to Florida. Due to a snowstorm, flights are canceled and the trio head back to Evergreen. The town takes Christmas seriously and their annual Christmas festival is in jeopardy. Allie, Ryan and Zoe ens up staying in Evergreen- where wishes made with a magical snow globe come true. 

Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa Welcome back to Evergreen, Vermont. As a small child, Lisa lived in Evergreen and decides to return as an adult. The General Store has closed and Lisa volunteers to get the store ready to show to perspective buyers. The General Store was home to Santa's mailbox, where a letter written 25 years ago is discovered. The letter is used to inspire Evergreen's Christmas celebration.

Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy Writer Katie travels to Evergreen to experience the town she has read so much about. While in Evergreen, she is asked to write a story for a magazine, and finds inspiration in the people and traditions of Evergreen. We also find out about a hidden time capsule that former residents put together and hid for future residents to find and enjoy. 

You can find some other Christmas movies that I love here and here. 

Birthday Thoughts & 35 Things Since Turning 30...5 Years Ago

While most people are celebrating Valentine's Day- or cursing V-Day because they are single- I am celebrating another trip around the sun, and the day that I made my debut to the world. 

I don't have a whole lot planned for today...I usually take a day to pamper myself, relax, and spend time celebrating with friends. I was hoping to celebrate with someone today, but I had something come up that will prevent that from happening. I'm disappointed...but what can you do? I'll still have a good day- I'm meeting a friend for lunch, and I will take myself on a little shopping spree at Indigo. My sister took me out for breakfast on the weekend, and my sweet friend Terri had a thoughtful, flamingo themed gift sent to me. 

Over the years, I have written a post about being a Valentine's Baby, and I have acknowledged my parents (An Important Day...Thanks Mom and Dad, and An Open Letter To My Parents On my Birthday) - without them I wouldn't exist.

Five years ago (WHAT?!) I was celebrating 30 and shared 30 Things In 30 Years. The past five years have been an adventure-with ups and downs- and have been five years filled with great accomplishments, once in a lifetime experiences, and  amazing memories. 

What have I been up to between turning 30 and 35? (Listed in the order that they came to me.)

1. Met Jason Priestly- We were at the Pan-Am Opening Ceremonies and I had the chance to talk to him and get a picture. He was SUPER nice, and my teenage self was dying- I MET BRANDON WALSH.
2. Travelled to Moose Jaw- I have a goal to visit all Canadian Provinces and Territories. I spent 3-ish days in Saskatchewan, mostly in Moose Jaw but I also spent a few hours in Regina. I got to see Mac the Moose! This was such a fun trip...a lot more fun than I thought Saskatchewan could ever be!
3. Travelled to Ottawa- I had surprisingly never been to Ottawa. The first time I went was in March of 2016. I have since been back at least once a year for both personal and professional reasons.
4. Visited the National Art Gallery- This was the number one thing I wanted to do when I went to Ottawa the first time. 
5. Participated in 150 Pointes- This was a project done by the National Ballet of Canada (NBC) in celebration of Canada's 150th birthday. A pointe shoe was sent out to selected participants to bring to a point in Canada, be photographed and returned to NBC to be part of the project.
6. Attended the Opening Ceremonies for the 2015 Pan Am Games- This was such an amazing experience! My dad was considered an official host of the games, so we got to attend the opening reception for dignitaries, before being escorted to VIP seats to watch the ceremonies. I also got to attend the Canoe/Kayak events.
7. Joined a Book Club- A friend from high school started a book club 3.5 years ago, and we are still going. It's been fun to connect once a month for a night out and to chat about the book. Plus being introduced to books, authors, and genres I never would have read if it weren't for Book Club!
8. Met Canadian Olympian John Montgomery- I had the opportunity to hear him give a keynote at a conference, and then I had the chance to meet him afterwards- and I got to wear his Gold Medal!!
9. Had a private tour of Parliament- I was a guest of an MP. I met with him in his office before he brought me over to Centre Block for a tour by him. I got to see different parts of Parliament that are not part of the public tours- including seeing the senate plaques where my great-great-grandfather's names are engraved. I also got to attend Question Period-which is very theatrical, so it was fun, entertaining, and interesting to be there. 
10. Rideau Canal Boat Cruise- It was fun to take a tour cruise down the canal and learn about the history, as well as the landmarks near the canal. Rideau Canal is the only UNESCO site in Ontario.
11. Went to Point Peelee- Point Peelee is the most southern point of (mainland) Canada. 
12. Visited Laurier House- This a Canadian Historic landmark, that was home to Sir Wilfred Laurier (one of my favourite Prime Ministers) and William Lyon Mackenzie King (one of my dad's favourite Prime Minister)
13. Connected with Graham aka Drunk Astrology- Graham is such an amazing and talented person. He is so funny and so much fun...seriously one of my favourite people. When I think of Graham, I think of something he said to me- "Human to Human...everyone deserves to be valued." This was life changing for me. These words got me through a tough time, and helped me set myself on a path that was better for me, and path where I would be valued and respected. Forever grateful to Graham.
14. Ate escargot- A friend was doing this thing where she challenged herself to do something new every day for 100 days. Eating escargot was one of those things, and I did it with her. It wasn't as gross as I thought it would be.
15. Attended the Women's World Hockey Championships- This was another VIP experience that I was lucky to have. And I got to see Team Canada play!
16. Built an Event App- I work in the event industry, and I had the opportunity to explore event apps, and then build an app to be used at one of my events. It was such a great addition to my event, and it was so well received.
17. Went to Quebec City- I had previously been to Quebec (Montreal), but this was the first time I had been to Quebec City, which is one of the oldest cities in Canada. I was in old Quebec, and it was so neat to be surrounded by so much history. I had a great city tour, went to Chateau Frontenac, saw the Tall Ships...I did a lot in a couple of days.
18. Music Trifecta- I saw and met my three favourite musicians- Joel Plaskett, David Myles, and Royal Wood- in the same year. I had previously seen and met David Myles and Royal Wood multiple times, but it was the first time I saw Joel perform live and meet him.
19. Tweet published in Elle Canada- I had tweets previously published in (now defunct) Flare Magazine and Town and Country Magazine.
20. 98 events in one year- In 2018, I had 98 events take place, and was working on 20-25 events for 2019. This was hands down the most events I have ever worked on in a single year. The previous record was 60-something events in 2017 (up from 30 something events in 2016).
21. Biggest event of my career- A live broadcast, that included a keynote from the Hon. David Onley. The broadcast was seen by over 1500 people in 12 locations.
22. Meet the Premier- I had the opportunity to meet Premier Kathleen Wynne (when she was Premier), and talk to her about my work. We were at the same event, which we chatted about, and then she asked me what I did, so I told her. 
23. Live recording of Grown Ups Read Things They Wrote As Kids- This is hands down my favourite podcast! It was so fun to attend a live recording with two of good friends. If you are unfamiliar with this podcast, give it a listen...it's hilarious.
24. Traveled by myself- I had previously traveled by myself but I would meet someone when I arrived at my destination. But I truly traveled by myself. I went to PEI by myself and spent about four days there by myself. It was such an amazing and fun experience to travel, explore and meet locals. 
25. Went to PEI- This ties in with the above. I traveled to this Province for the first time- PEI has always been the number one place in Canada that I wanted to visit. I saw Anne & Gilbert The Musical, I visited Anne of Green Gables, and explored Charlottetown. 
26. Went to Nova Scotia- Another Province I can cross off my bucket list. I stayed in Halifax, and did day trips to Peggy's Cove and Lunenburg- which is an UNESCO site- where I had a horse drawn buggy tour of the town.
27. Attended the Canoe Polo World Championships- Another VIP experience, attending the Opening Ceremonies and getting to watch the games from the VIP deck- which allows you to see the entire pitch. I had never seen Canoe Polo before, but this is now my favourite sport!
28. Stayed at The Lord Elgin Hotel- This is one of the most historic (and fancy) hotels in Ottawa. I never thought I would have the opportunity to stay here, but I did! The hotel is gorgeous and the staff is hands down the best hotel staff I have ever encountered. 
29. Stayed at a Bed and Breakfast- This is where I stayed when I was in Charlottetown, PEI. I had never stayed at a B&B before...it was a very different experience from staying in a hotel, but I enjoyed it and would do it again!
30. Stayed at the same hotel as the Prime Minister- When I was in Halifax, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stayed at the same hotel as me, and on my floor! I didn't see him, but I did see his security team. 
31. Burning Man- In celebration of a friends life, we had a huge party at his farm and did a burning man in his honour- it was something he always wanted to do, but never had the chance to do, so we did it for him. 
32. Dinner at the Canadian Canoe Museum- We had dinner in the middle of the museum, surrounded by artifacts and displays. This was a once in a lifetime, unique dining experience in a unique venue. Dinner was catered and delicious, followed by a mini, private, interactive tour. After the tour, we got to tray paddle and soap stone carving. Seriously one of the best experiences of my life!
33. Artwork on display in a government building- This is not as impressive as this sounds. My dad, a politician, has his office in a government building. I made a painting for him and I have forced him to display it in his office. 
34. Worked with Royal Wood (kinda)- I am a huge fan of Royal Wood and I had a goal to work with him. Unfortunately, I won't have the opportunity to see this event through to the end. But, I got the company to agree that they should host a Royal Wood concert, I made the connection, negotiated the contract with Royal and the venue, and was working on promotional material. I got the ball rolling, so I am going to count this. One day I will do an entire start to finish event with him.
35. Bought a Condo- Just over two years ago, I became a homeowner. It feels so good to have purchased and own my own place. It took me months to find the perfect-for-me home. I am still as in love with my condo as when I first saw the real estate listing. It's really nice to have my own space, and a space I can do whatever I want with...no landlord to worry about (just the Condo Board, which I am on). 

I wasn't sure that I was going to come up with 35 things that I had done between turning 30 and 35. Looking at this list is a great reminder of how lucky and blessed I am. I have done a lot of the past 35 years, and a ton of stuff since turning 30! I know I have done so much more, including the most perfect, life changing day...but I picked some great highlights for this list! 

Paperless Post: Helping People Connect In Real Life

I recently had the opportunity to partner with Paperless Post, which was perfect timing because I needed to send some thank you cards! They generously gave me 1000 coins to tryout their service. While I had heard of Paperless Post before, I had never used this service. Paperless Post allows you to send mail- invitations, announcements, birthday cards- paperlessly. The service is super easy to use; you select your design, customize it, and hit send. 

 

This would be perfect for a Kentucky Derby Party!

The designs are not your standard email template! They are beautiful and fun designs that look like cards and includes an electronic envelope. You can customize the colour of the envelope, liner, and postage stamp. So fun! 

 

How adorable is this Baby Shower invitation???

There are hundreds of design to choose from and Paperless Post has also partnered with fashion houses, lifestyle brands, and stationary designers to bring you even more selections. Some of their partners include Jonathan Adler, Vera Wang, Rifle Paper Co, HelloLucky, The New Yorker, and (my personal favourite) kate spade new york. You can find the complete list of partner brands here. 

 

Once you select your design, the fun begins! You have the opportunity to input a costume message, including the typeface and colour of the text. Next up is the envelope customization. This includes selecting the envelope colour, the design of the liner, adding a custom stamp and postmark. There are postmarks for different cities in the US, and there is also London UK and Toronto Canada. I was pleased to see there was one postmark for Canada, but it would be nice to see some cities besides Toronto. 

 

You can customize the envelope colour and liner. I love the combination of pink and glittery gold!

Another feature is the having reply cards sent with your mail. This will allow guests to RSVP to events, and include a message back to you.

Once you have you design complete, you add in email addresses for the recipients (you can send individual or you can do a mass mailing), and hit send. That's it- you're done! 

Something else that I love about Paperless Post is that they have a ton of stationary options available...you don't necessarily need to be sending a card or invitation to use this service. 

 

LOVE this kate spade new york stationary!

In order to use Paperless Post, you will need to purchase coins. You can get 20 coins for $6. I was given 1000 coins by Paperless Post, which has a value of $90. Designs start at 2 coins and then customizations (such as envelope liners) are additional coins. 

 

To give you an idea, I 'spent' 25 coins to:

• Send the same card to three people
• Send the a different card to four additional people
• Send three different cards to three people
• I used all of the customized features, except for a customize stamp (this would have been a total of 5 additional coins)

I am a fan of Paperless Post! It was so easy to use, environmental friendly, and cost effective! I am planning a celebration for someone later this month, and fully plan on using Paperless Post for the invitations and to manage the RSVPs.



***DISCLAIMER: Paperless Post offered me 1000 coins ($90 value) to test out their service for review purposes. All content and opinion are my own. For my full Disclaimer Policy, please see my About page.***