Upsizing,

I've been using a small purse recently, but like all purses, no matter the size, I pack it full to bursting, usually meaning I can't do it up. We're heading to a cottage this weekend with my family, and since I'm using one of my smaller suitcases, I, of course, need a bigger purse. ;) My big purse has been sitting in my room. When I downsized to the small purse, I only moved out the most important daily purse articles. It's only been a couple of months, but I had to go through my big purse today to use it. (I also plan on using it as my secondary carry-on when we head down to the DR in a couple of weeks, so it's a job that needed to be done). And what should I find in one of the pockets...? A gift card from Starbucks. I left my old job in June, which broke my heart, but I received lots of thank yous and wonderful farewells from staff and students and families alike. It was a sad leaving but it was full of love. This gift card is from one of those co-workers. It just made me smile. It was in a card. I had forgotten it in a side pocket of the large purse when I did the downsize and I found it today. All of the love and gratitude I received from all of those people flooded back to me and back out of me as I fondly remembered working with them and being an important part of that team. I am grateful to be working and to being a member of a new team. Making new friends, setting up new roles and responsibilites, finding where I fit in best. I'm happy and excited and I know so many wonderful and fabulous opportunities lie ahead of me. It's funny how cleaning out a purse can be so rewarding. :) With Love ~sarah~

What motivates you?

I have been feeling unmotivated for a while, in a number of areas. Professionally, weight loss, exercise, life direction. I continue to ask myself what motivates me? How can I get "started"?

Last week our weight watchers meeting was about motivation. Our levels of motivation change as our situation around us changes. When I first started Weight Watchers almost 3 years ago I was extremely motivated. I had just gotten back from a wedding down south and saw the pictures of myself next to 3 beautiful, slim, blond girls and I felt like a troll. My own wedding was 6 months away and all I could picture was that troll in a white dress. I was motivated to be the princess I felt like inside. That motivation pushed me to loose 32lbs in 6 months and I felt fantastic.

I had my motivation, my wedding day. Since my wedding day I've been "maintaining" my weight...although I haven't really maintained, as I have gained 10lbs over those 2.5 years. However, I can't seem to find the motivation to lose that 10lbs. Not even knowing that in a month I'll be spending a week in the DR, in my bikini, with a large group of friends. I'm happy with the way I look, I know I'd look and feel better if I lost 10lbs, but "better" doesn't seem to be enough motivation for me.

The same thing goes for work. I'm not motivated to go out and do something big or life altering because I'm waiting for something to shift where I am currently. For the past two years I worked my butt off and was motivated at work, but when, due to union boundaries, I had to take a lesser position (in order to eventually get back what I had permanently), I've just been "comfortable" to wait it out. Only I'm not comfortable, I'm restless, but not enough to motivate me to do anything big.

And the exercise, I'm getting more than I was, but not as much as I'd like to want to. In my head I'd love to be working out every day and seeing improvements, but I don't have the motivation to actually do it, and when I do go out and do it, it's not due to motivation but sheer force of will (and believe me...I'm forcing it). I like working out, but I just don't have the motivation to really attack it.

I've been extremely motivated to do all sorts of things in the past, but I am currently missing my muse, my enthusiasm, my motivation.

How does this all make me happy? At our Weight Watchers meeting this evening, a girl behind me talked about her motivation. How she has done the program more than once, successfully, and other times not so successfully. Last week's meeting about motivation did just what it was supposed to do, it motivated her.

When she spoke about her past week about tracking and exercising, about feeling good, feeling motivated she was so happy and excited, I wanted to join in her joy. I did, I was and still am so happy for her. I wish a weekly meeting could do that for me. It has in the past, I hope it will again.

If you read my blog, I'd love to know what motivates you. What motivates you to strive for better? To eat less and eat healthier? To get off your butt and move? To take chances professionally? To go out and take a risk? What motivates you to do that thing you say you want to do but never do? What motivates you to do that thing you have to do but don't want to? How do YOU do it?

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Social Media - For Better or For Worse - Part 2 (or She Made Me Think!)

So....back to the question @fleur_de_lotus asked that made me think...
How Different would your life be without social media? Better? Worse?

And this is the second part of "It Made Me Happy" today, because for the most part, social media makes me happy.

I should let you know, social media for me is Twitter, Facebook, how I get most of my news and a little blogging here and there. I've got a Google+ account but haven't used it since the day I got it. There is much more social media out there, but I don't understand it all, know much about or use it.

I also do not consider myself to be a social media expert or specialist or anything, but I do use social media as part of my life, on a daily basis.

Why does social media make me happy...why do I feel like my life is better because of it? Because I keep in touch with so many friends and family. I see pictures that I would never see. I find out about weddings, and birth announcements as they happen to a wider circle of friends and loved ones. I am able to keep tabs on a wider circle of friends, to support them, be happy for them, and celebrate their lives with them.

Social media gets my news to me faster. When the earthquake happened June 2010 in Ottawa, and I had a scared little boy in the office with me, I was able to tell him within seconds what was going on and that it would be ok. I received information faster and with more clarity than over the school board's emergency information line.

Social media allows me to share. It gives me an outlet. I am able to ask questions, give answers, and express myself in a manner that I enjoy. I feel like a student, an expert, an artist, a writer, and a performer, all at the same time.

However, I believe there are some parts of social media that makes things worse...potentially.

I can easily slip into patterns of not TALKING to my close friends and family as much. I don't need to pick up the phone and call, and have a conversation as much as I would if I didn't have Facebook. It's easy not to have to commit as much time or focus on relationships as much, and still appear to be very involved. Taking the time to maintain personal relationships personally is important to remember. Social media is a tool not a crutch.

Social media sometimes feel like it could overrun my life. NEEDING to know all of the time what's happening on Twitter, on Facebook, in the news. It would be easy to be more involved with my online life than with the world offline. Instead of telling others what's going on in my life, I can just make the information readily available for all to read and see, instead of again, talking with them, making it a conversation rather than a "look at me".

There is also the possibility of opening myself up to all sorts of negative people. Short of keeping top security on everything I do online (which I sort of see as defeating the purpose), a lot of my life is online for others to see, which has the potential to put me at risk. So I try and monitor just how much I share, and how much I allow comments and opinions to affect me.

I know people who avoid social media altogether for privacy and security reasons. I also know I could allow myself to get so carried away with social media that the "real me" could cease to exist. However, social media is another area of life, where In Moderation strikes me as being important. I feel like I'm am learning everyday how to properly balance this fabulous world of information, learning, news and people with my life outside of social media. Keeping social media...social.

Thank you again to @fleur_de_lotus for asking the question this morning and giving me something to ponder.

With Love
~sarah~

She Made Me Think! Part 1 (or Social Media - For Better or For Worse)

I rarely blog during the day and I barely ever sit down at the computer anymore to do it, but I have the time, access, and my brain is firing away, I have to get this out of my head.

On Twitter this morning @fleur_de_lotus asked a question. Often when I encounter questions on Twitter I think quickly and reply quickly using the 140 characters and move on. Today, I read the question, went to answer, went to answer again, thought about it, thought about it some more and then it grew into a huge conversation in my head.

THIS is the first first part of "It Made Me Happy" today. My brain getting all fired up with thinking, and thoughts, and questions, and answers. Working only a couple of minutes every day at the school doesn't give my brain lots of time to do much thinking. So when my brain got some exercise this morning it started to run, and felt wonderful.

So what did she ask?
How Different would your life be without social media? Better? Worse?

And this the second part of "It Made Me Happy" today, because for the most part, social media makes me happy.

Cont'd in Part 2

Decadence

What a delicious evening!

A long soak in a hot bath with fudge cake bath bubbles. Candles burning & some soft meditation music healing my mind. Then some yummy milk and honey lotion to soothe my tired feet.

Candles still burning, music still lulling and the sweet smells of chocolate and honey fill my nose as I cuddle under the covers all snug as a bug.

It makes me grateful for all that I have. Thank you for this decadence.

Remember that you can't be of any good to anyone else unless you take care of yourself. Tomorrow when I wake I will use all of my healthy rested self to help make the world a better place, if only just a little.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Yin Yoga

I went to my first Yin Yoga class today. I don't yet have a favorite style of yoga, they all offer something different and are all equally beneficial.

I'm really happy with the yoga studio where I attend classes. It's the Yoga & Tea Studio in Carp. I'm even happier that they have a different class from 1pm to 2:30pm every afternoon which works perfectly with my current schedule. Although I'm dying to get back to full time work, not being able to access these daytime classes will be disappointing.

But I'm loving it now.

Today's class was fantastic. I will have to double-check the schedule, but I think it's the only class this instructor teaches. I really like her teaching style and felt lovely and zen after the class.

I'm already looking forward to next Tuesday's class.

Namaste

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

More of a "It Made Me Think" post today

Recently I've been avoiding both the thinking and the doing. I've been in a holding pattern now for awhile, waiting for something to happen. They say, "God helps those who help themselves", but I'm not quite sure what I want to help myself achieve.

Probably because I want it all.

I spent the weekend with a friend and today we looked at some open houses in the Brighton Ontario area. Waterfront properties, in a small town, surrounded by small towns, where my husband and I neither live nor work. All the while I imagined a new life I have yet to create.

I talked about the research I would have to do in each neighbourhood before putting in an offer on each house. I imagined all of the renovations they might need or would benefit from if we wanted to improve them. I mentally put our furniture in the spaces and repainted the walls. I knew where we'd golf, and where we'd moor our boat and what the boat would look like. I saw the car I want to buy. I talked about the garden I'd have and the canning I'd do. I figured out where my husband might work and what I'd do if I did or didn't work. I talked about raising our family there.

I love the dreams and fantasies I created there today. These are the fantasies I create every day.

From my constant mind wanderings you would think I wanted to change my current situations. But rather the contrary, I love my life, my husband, my family, my friends, my home, my career. But I keep dreaming about all of the other possibilities, all of the other opportunities, all of the other.....

So how do I move forward with anything? I'm like the kid who wants to play tennis, learn to ride a horse, dance, play soccer, paint, and then tomorrow it's something new. I want it all and I pursue none of it.

And so instead of letting God help me by helping myself, I wait to see what opportunity, dream or fantasy presents itself.

I have always wanted to be a Boradway star, but I have never persued that dream, not in any aggressive manner, instead I sing with the windows open in the car, while I'm walking down the street, while I'm working, because I dream a producer/director/agent will hear me and say "YOU! We want YOU!"

And so here I wait in limbo, a holding pattern of sorts...should I wait or should I persue one of my many daily fantasies, in the hope that it doesn't end up in the closet with the chess set, book club bestseller and bonsai tree?

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Organization

It appears I took a bit of a sabbatical from blogging over the summer months, and although technically there is still almost a full month left of summer*, my summer vacation ends today. Tomorrow I go back to work, and as I re-enter a more regularly scheduled program, so too should my blogging.

Would I have liked to have gotten more accomplished these last 8 weeks? Maybe. Have I truly enjoyed wasting away the hours watching mind numbing episodes of H2O on netflix.ca? Yes. Last summer was an overdose of energy due to the prednisone. I couldn't figure out how to take a break (I don't think I was physically able to take a break). From cooking and baking and cleaning, to soups and running errands and making jam, last summer was a flurry of nervous energy beyond belief. This summer has been a lovely, lazy attempt to make up for all of the possible resting I wasted last summer. I plan to have perfected summer weeks off for next year...a balance of both :)

However, all was not lost. Two of the big ticket, get-to-do items on my list were to organize both our home office and the back basement room. So with a little hard work and elbow grease this weekend, the chunk of both of these tasks has been accomplished. There are still some "touch ups" and micro-organization required, but we can now walk into both rooms and feel like they are usable spaces once again.

I love the feeling of a well organized space. Looking at a shelf and being able to find what I need. Seeing cupboards and knowing exactly what lie behind the doors. Lying in bed and feeling balanced and content. A place for everything and everything in its** place.

So although I might have spent more than one day this summer (too many days) where I managed to watch at least 8 episodes of H2O: Just Add Water (such cheese!), I also completed large scale projects that have been crying to be done for months. Not too shabby for my lazy summer off.

Tonight I sleep well in my organized home. (Tomorrow we start cleaning for long weekend house guests!)

I promise that these posts will now be much more frequent. :)

*Fall doesn't start until September 21, so all of you Negative Nellies out there...summer is NOT almost over, just the vacation aspect.

**I don't like how the iPhone tries to autocorrect "its" to always use an apostrophe! There are TWO spellings! Grrrrrrrr...

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Top 10 Things That Make Me Happy...

...about Wil Wheaton

10. His "I am in" yous and his "So this happened"s.

9. His stupid cell phone videos.

8. My memories of growing up watching him as Wesley Crusher.

7. That he knows how to laugh at himself.

6. His love of fart humour.

5. How he stands up for that in which he believes.

4. The conversations he has with his pets and share with us.

3. How much he adores his family.

2. The way he has embraced geekdom and has made it the coolest.

1. His love of life.

Thank you Wil Wheaton for being my (and million of others) thing that made me happy, today and other days too :)

(and thank you for being the happy thing that brought be out of my blogging leave of absence) :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Girlfriends

I have just spent a fabulous weekend at the cottage where we ate too much and drank too much, got too much sun and some of us too many bug bites...and the laughter can never be too much, neither can the friendship, the sisterhood or the love.

We reminisced. We gossiped. We giggled. We full on belly laughed as we made new inside jokes, "Okay girls...spaghetti!"

We were overjoyed to see one another. We ate delicious meals. We had all of our favourite drinks. We played @sshole until 2 in the morning. We talked, we helped, we healed.

We listened to each other and we read gossip magazines. We drank wonderful tea and ate delicious bagels. We sat on the dock in the sun. We swam. We drank. We listened to our favourite old 90s dance songs.

We help rescue ourselves from dock spiders. We tidied and washed dishes. We vacuumed curtains. We mopped up spills. We weren't afraid of the fridge.

We ate cold chips. We made vegetarian s'mores. We mixed Rootbeer and Malibu rum. We got pizza stuck, which made it taste even better. We prepared for a possible trip to emergency.

We are the best of friends. We push each others buttons. We are there when we need each other. We miss one another. We listen to each other. We offer advice. We ask for help. We make each other laugh. We share each others fears. We support each other. But most of all, through it all and through and through we love one another.

Thank you for being my friends. Thank you from my heart, where you all live :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Another

Another busy week, and holidays were supposed to start. You know you really love a job when you consider working all summer without being paid.

Yup, seriously. I could go in every day and get a little more done. Organizing, tidying up, finishing off, straightening up. There's is so much that I'd love to get my hands on, I kind of just want to be there.

I will miss the school in September. I have a new school and I'm sure I will be just as happy, but I really felt like this school was my home. I will miss it, truly, deeply.

I can honestly say that I have never loved a job so much.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

To Sarah, July 3rd, 2011

I follow Dr. Diane Chung on Twitter. She is a naturopathic and energetic medicine doctor. I also subscribe to her mailing list, which is wonderful. She doesn't bombard your inbox, but when she does send you a little something they are pieces of spiritual and often life changing information.

A couple of months ago, when I signed up for her email list she sent out her Six Big Questions for a Healthy Life worksheet. I started working through the questions a bit when I first received them. Then things got busy and I didn't have a chance to look at them but I knew I'd find time again.

Today, on my last day of a girls weekend in Montreal, we did a couple of hours at the baths at Le Scandanive spa. During my rest portion of the bath cycle I pulled out my journal and my print-out of Dr. Chung's questions, and started thinking and opening up and going into my heart.

After doing the full baths rotation 4 times, on my last rest period, I started answering the question about what advice would my 100 year old self give to myself now. I thought I would have a hard time with it, but the words and the love flowed. I wrote a letter from my future self to my present self, dated today's date in 2077, which in itself is a little overwhelming.

But then I began, and I opened myself up to the love and the joy and the pride and the heart and so many wonderful things that my future self had to say to me now. I passed on some great advice (that I hope I'm not too stubborn to listen to), and in my true nature, wouldn't give away too many clues about what lies ahead (I really don't like spoilers, they make me even more stubborn than I already am!). ;)

It was a wonderful experience and even now my future voice is still speaking to me saying all the things that she ran out of time to write in the letter. I never want to forget how much I love myself, how proud I am of the woman I am and of the women I will continue to become. I want to remember how important it is for me to listen to the wisdom that I have and the wisdom that I share with others. To know that everything will be okay, to hear the voice of my future telling me that I will have it all, it's all waiting for me and it's really exciting and wonderful. I really am fabulous and I love me for it.

Do yourself a favour...take a minute and check out Dr. Diane Chung. http://drdianechung.com/ or on twitter @Drdianechung. If nothing else sign up for her email list and get her Big Six Questions and answer a couple. Or simply do the one I did today. Write a letter to yourself from your 100 year old self. Remember to be gentle where needed and firm in other areas. Remember to advise yourself as you believe you would and be true to yourself. And mostly don't do any of it because I said to...do it if something I've said makes you want to. :)

Lastly, I just want to say thank you Dr. Chung. You say in that first email to let you know how it goes. And all I can offer you is my gratitude for sharing those questions with me. For putting your best intentions out when you asked them. For trusting me (and everyone who receives them) to be true to ourselves and to continue to learn and grow. From the bottom of my heart I offer you my thanks. :)

Happy July 3rd everyone.

In Memoriam - Susan Saville, today she would have turned 46 years old.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:University St,Montreal,Canada

How forgetful!

I forgot how much fun it is to dance the night away until your feet hurt. I forgot that bars in Montreal stay open until 3am. I forgot how much I love to sing in the streets. I forgot how good Montreal pizza tasted at 3:30am. Thank you Montreal...thank you!

I also forgot how to sleep in!

I say all the time how much I love Montreal, so sleep or no sleep...time to hit the streets and be the loving tourist that I am!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Boulevard Saint-Laurent,Montreal,Canada

My Badge

Thursday nights this summer are Frisbee night...ultimate frisbee night. My gawd do I ever love Thursdays. :). I laugh because when I was single in Toronto I loved Thursdays for a whole other reason. ;)

I love playing ultimate frisbee. I love that I can be as good or as lazy as I want. I love the exercise. I love the comraderie. I love that each week a teammate brings BEvERages to the game for half time. I love having an outlet for my aggression, not on the other players but in a playing hard-blowing off steam kind of way. I love that I'm pretty good at it. And I love making a great dive to catch the disc and score a point.

Tonight I did just that, one point away from our win, breaking up their 3-point run, looking fantastic while I did it and scraping the hell out of my ass. It looked pretty spectacular when I caught it (always the show-woman) and the results on my butt are pretty spectacular.

Something on the ground, in the grass, scraped up my upper-thigh/butt cheek pretty nicely and yet...I show it off. I have no idea why, but I wear it with pride...a "look how hard I played" injury. Nothing debilitating, but brutal enough to look awesome. :)

I had a great night and now I have the wound to prove it! ;)

Tomorrow...Girls weekend...Montreal!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Lots to do

Sometimes having too much on my plate can stress me out. However, mostly I love being busy...cope-able busy, but busy none-the-less.

Tomorrow is the last official day of school. There's a ton to do right there. The good news is that I've pre-booked a couple of mornings of overtime next week, so I won't be panicking tomorrow trying to get everything done. There are deposits to do, cheques to cut, finances and books to balance, report cards to mail, reports to print, filing to do, kindergarten information packages to prepare and mail, people to say goodbye to, kids to wave to through teary eyes.

I will plow through what I can tomorrow amidst the people and the kids, the stress and the goodbyes, the last minute questions and the see you again hugs. We have breakfast and lunch brought in so their will be socializing and I want to enjoy that too.

I look forward to getting it all done and closing the books in a calm, cool and organized fashion when I officially leave next week. I take pride in all that I have done and I respect the person who is taking my place and I want to leave her with a clean slate, to make the school her own.

My current "lots to do" is making me feel very happy and very non-stressed. I have enough time for everything that needs doing...just the right amount. And lots of time to do all of the other things I have ahead.

I've been reading about patience - be patient there's no rush, learning about time-management - there's exactly 1 minute for everyone 1 minute required (you can't fit 2 minutes into 1, so stop trying), and letting go - I have little control over most outcomes, all I can do is my best while being true, the rest is up to the universe around me.

And so once again I head to bed in this happy state of contentment. I have a "plan", I know what I'm doing, and I'm happy, grateful and excited for all that I have and for all that will be :) everything does workout just the way it's supposed to...we just can't always see it right now. (note to self: read this when I can't see it) ;)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Got it! #2

I have now gone through two 0.25 position interviews and the second position has been offered to me tonight. I accepted, it was a lovely offer, not financially, there's very little wiggle room in there, but just in how wonderful and positive and hopeful she spoke about me in the role. Now I have to see tomorrow if it's possible to shift the hours slightly to be able to do both 0.25 jobs.

I had another interview this afternoon and although I thought I presented strong and was myself and true, the way the principal closed the interview made me feel as though I won't be getting the job offer. This is the same hours as the other two put together, and I can walk there from home, however, I didn't necessarily feel the same pull for this job. A part of me kind of hopes I don't get the offer so that I don't have to turn anyone down.

I have trouble making choices when presented with too many options. I want to do everything, to help everyone. I hate saying no, or missing out on an opportunity. I like restaurants will small eclectic menus and small plates so that I can order lots of different flavours without having too many choices from which to pick.

And...Hmmmm...? Maybe I just answered my own question here...small eclectic plates...am I just suggesting that I should stick with these two 0.25s and turn down anything else?

There's still another outside company with which I'd like to interview...more to help them out over the summer, possibly under my new company (under development) while also working for my singing teacher.

I have so many things I want to accomplish, so much I want to learn, so many people I want to help. Please help me to do all of this...and do all of it well, while taking care of myself and my husband and our family and friends. Just enough time and energy for everything. :)

That being said...my first week of summer holidays starts next week and I'm already booked solid with work, workshops & meetings. I really do love my life. :) This feels busy and fabulous!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

And I thought it poured last week!

I know I keep using this same expression...but it's so appropriate!

Today I was so happy I felt like head was going to explode. Like the pressure that builds in the air before a storm. I have so many opportunities presenting themselves. I feel so blessed to have so many options, so many choices, so many possible outcomes.

I continue to feel gratitude for everything that is offered to me, for everything that is meant to be and will be.

There were so many other things that I wanted to blog about today, but the feeling that hit me mid-afternoon, when another opportunity presented itself, it was such a giddiness, such a feeling of bliss and joy, how could I not share it.

And all that happiness from an email and another job interview tomorrow. I am trusting, I am having faith and I am grateful for all of these positive, joyful feelings which are just radiating through me right now. Instead of keeping this all to myself I am sending it outward, to everyone reading my words, to my friends and family, to all of my loved ones I share this feeling of glee with all of you too. I thought I wouldn't be able to contain all this happiness and I was right, buy not because I can't but because joy like this is meant to be shared with everyone. :)

I am not worried about what tomorrow might bring. I trust and have faith that the next couple of months will fall into place just as they should and I am going to enjoy every step of this journey, like I did today. I will also continue to share out all of this positive energy with all of you, feel it, have it, use it...it's yours ;)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Not only happy...but grateful too

I don't know where to begin. This piggy-backs on my "When it Rains it Pours" post.

I have had more opportunities present themselves to me today.

I should let you know that I never went for the financial services interview. The morning of the interview the headhunter called to discuss salary prior to my meeting with the firm (one of the downsides to going through a head hunter...I can sell myself better than they ever could). The hiring company's maximum salary offer did not come anywhere close to my current salary. I knew I would not consider the position without at least matching what I'm making at a job that I love to do. Needless to say the headhunter and I both agreed that the interview would waste both my time and the time of the financial firm, seeing as our numbers were not close. That being said, I knew the offer would have had to be something special, not only to change my current "plans" for the future, but also to get me back into the financial industry.

I put the word "plans" in quotations, because although I put out there all the things I would love to do...I know that whatever plans I try to control will only be at the mercy of what the Universe has in store for me when it hears what I'm really asking.

My "plans":
- to work for the school board in a part-time capacity, for both the permanent long-term job security and the benefits, but also to continue working and learning in the field of education, in a role that I have loved doing
- to continue working as the studio manager for my vocal teacher, because I love to help and make a place better and more organized and because I love her and love helping her too
- to take my slower summer months "off" and start my own administrative consulting company (with me as my only employee), an administrative specialist of sorts, helping individuals along with both small and large businesses with all of their administrative needs.
- to make black-raspberry jam again this summer!!! ;)
- to someday run for school-board trustee, because I really feel like I can make a difference
- to continuing persuing the performing arts and maybe someday doing any or all of them professionally (still more of a dream than anything else)
- to continue writing as much as I can

What I actually ask of the Universe every moment:
- to be my most successful both professionally and financially
- to make a difference where ever I am
- to continue to love passionately and be loved by others in all that I do
- "The be the Best for Me. To be the Best for the World Around Me."

So with the honest heartfelt request of the above I know my "plans", albeit hopeful, are only thoughts in my head, and not necessarily where I will end up.

After the school interview last week, I was offered the job of the 0.25 assistant in September and I accepted it. Today I received a phone call and will be interviewing for another 0.25 for which I applied. And then, much to my delight and heartfelt gratitude, I received an email from a parent hoping not to offend and asking for my resume for a position which might interest me.

I have no idea what the Universe has in store for me. But am I ever excited! I trust that the next part of my journey will be amazing and fantastic. I have faith that I will make a difference and play an important role. I believe that I will be doing something that will be the best for me and the best for the world around me.

Tonight I thank the Universe for everything I cannot plan and am grateful for all that I have received. :) I am truly blessed!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Happiness is...Happiness

Last night I had the honour and the pleasure of singing at the wedding of a very good friend and his now beautiful wife who I look forward to getting to know more in all our years to come. I still feel blessed to have been able to bring my voice to such a wonderful occasion!

And it was during this magical evening, throughout the ceremony and the reception, with new friends and old, that I was reminded that happiness is what it's all about.

I watched two people so blissfully and happily in love join themselves together and promise each other to continue on in this happiness. :)

A wedding day is an important day of love, family and friends and everyone sharing in that love and happiness. We are witness to the promise of two people whom we love, and to be present at such an occasion is a blessing to all.

Congratulations Sean & Sue!

With Love
~sarah~

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When It Rains It Pours

I had an interview this morning and it went really well. I wouldn't say I knocked it out of the park, not necessarily one of my top interviews of all time, but it was definitely a solid performance.

The good news is that I got the job. I spoke to the principal of the new school right after she called my current principal as one of my references. It was a good feeling, everyone was happy and excited for me and I could see the shape of my future a little clearer.

A little while later my new principal copied me on her email to her staff introducing and welcoming me, and as I was reading the email, before I could even enjoy the moment, my cell phone rang. A random name and the word Work came up. I didn't recognize the name, but I must have programmed it in.

As soon as I answered I knew who it was...a guy at a temp/placement agency with whom I had spoken a couple of times, but months ago. He was calling me to ask if I'd be interested in a financial industry position, similar to what I have done in the past. It caught me completely off guard, but knowing never to turn down an opportunity (at least not until I've thought it through), I said I would interview for the position.

So I am reminded again today that not only will I always be able to find a job, but that I should NEVER get comfortable thinking I know where my life is going. Change and opportunity are constantly bombarding us. I have already thought through 100 scenarios, and there hundreds more that I can't even fathom yet.

And so, knowing where I would like to see myself, I head into next week with a job in the summer, two jobs for the fall, tons of other plans on the horizon, and one visible possibility that all of this could change at any point.

I trust that what is supposed to happen will happen. I will continue to focus on my prayers, my mantra, my daily manifestation.

"I ask for the best for myself; financially, successfully, emotionally, physically & spiritually, while at the same time asking for the absolutely best for the world around me."

I am grateful for the rain, whether it sprinkles or it pours. It's like a fantastic movie and I can't wait to see what happens next!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Those three little words...

Thai. Chicken. Pizza.

Tonight I did one of my favourite things...I made dinner. I made my trusted stand-by, something I loved when I worked at Boston Pizza, Thai Chicken Pizza...it's sooooo good.

But tonight I had to mix it up a little. The pizza sauce is supposed to be peanut sauce, and although Ian assured me that we had a jar of peanut sauce in the fridge, he was wrong. But thanks to the glory of the Internet I found a couple of different recipes to make your own peanut sauce by using peanut butter.

And as I prefer to do, instead of following one recipe, I look at a bunch and use them and adapt them and make up my own recipe. Peanut butter (unfortunately all we had creamy...chunky would have been perfect!), water, brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, fresh lime and a little sesame oil. It didn't taste exactly the way the jarred stuff does, but it worked beautifully on the chicken and on the pizza.

I threw on broccoli which I've never put on this pizza before along with the normal fried onions, chicken, peppers and lots of lots of mozzarella. Topped with some fresh green onions when it came out hot and voilà...fantastic dinner.

Ian loves this dish and cleans his plate every time, even when I hide a couple of mushrooms under the cheese!

I also love cleaning up after myself while dinner cooks. There is nothing better than a spotless kitchen before you even serve the meal. It's much more relaxing to know that the dishes are already done.

Perfect night, fantastic meal, a couple of episodes of Eureka (great show) and I'm not watching that which will make me sad (#Canucks). I can wait for Twitter to let me know when I wake up (but it's not looking good).

Yup, great day!

And oh yeah, and I have a job interview tomorrow morning ;)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Directions

At many times in my life I have felt like I was at a crossroads. Feeling like I had to be careful what choice I made because it would mean the first day of the rest of my life.

You could say I'm in one of those places right now, however it feels much less dire that it has in the past. I have previously described the feeling as waiting for the other shoe to drop. Nervous anticipation of the unknown.

This time I wouldn't even describe it as a crossroads. I don't feel like it's a yes or no decision, a left or a right. Instead I feel nervous excitement. There's a little fear and apprehension of the unknown, but there is so much faith and positive energy, enthusiastic optimism that I can't wait.

And yet with all of this energy that should be driving me forward, I am really enjoying finishing everything I'm leaving behind. A little part of me wants to stay, but I also know very strongly that my work here is done.

My favourite part of looking forward right now is the unknown, which is the part that normally scares me. Right now I look ahead at ANYTHING I WANT! Really! My own business doing whatever I put my mind to, or maybe travel to another country, or settle down in a long term stable job and have kids, or become a world famous performer. Or a little bit of everything or even none of the above...something I can't see or even fathom from where I'm standing!

I never thought I could stand in a moment like this and just enjoy and appreciate and be at peace in this place. It's a wonderful feeling...almost...dare I say it...waiting patiently. Okay, maybe not totally patient...I AM excited! :)

I'll let you know what it is when I get there, but for now enjoy this place with me :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Bombarded with life!

What a fabulous day...no one thing made me happy. Every THING made me happy today, from start to finish.

As we were lying in bed this morning my phone rang and I got to spend 2 hours catching up with an old friend. We haven't seen each other in ages, too long. But we talk and chatted and discussed and delved and I miss her and am so glad she called this morning.

While I was on the phone Ian made me a friend egg sandwich and one of his fabulous Americanos (better than any coffee shop). I feel so loved and spoiled by him...I really am!

We spent what was left of the morning and into the early afternoon preparing fun food; bruschetta, salad, crostini, guacamole, hummus and flank steak.

Another old friend came over and brought her 11 month old, who I also haven't seen in ages. We caught up over food and white sangria. It was so great seeing the two of them today. They are both so happy and look fantastic...how I've missed them.

While they were over, Ian was working hard on relaying our front pathway, almost finished. And it looks great! Now for some dirt :) And I also missed a call from another old friend. I'm sorry I wasn't able to catch up, but I'm already looking forward to calling her tomorrow and catching up with her too :)

Then Ian and I straightened up and started getting ready for dinner and my dad arrived.

We ate, we drank, we laughed, we talked, it was a fabulous night all around. It was great to see him too.

We finished the day and the bottle of wine, Ian and I, cuddling on the couch.

I couldn't ask for a more perfect Saturday. I feel surrounded by life and love.

I am truly looking forward to all the world has in store for me. I awoke from my dreams this morning with sadness in my heart and I recognize it and will not ignore it, but I will also move on and point toward the future.

I am grateful for days like today that make everything worth it. Days like today and what make life worth living! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

A New Piece, A New Viewpoint

It's funny...I haven't taken a ballet class or any dance class in 5 years, but I think of myself as a dancer. I feel confident that I could walk into an audition or a studio and I would be able to learn an enchainment or a piece of choreography no problem (except Hip-Hop...I can't figure out Hip-Hop!). And not only could I learn it but I would do a fabulous job.

And acting, well, I never worry about that. Put a script in my hand and I look forward to analyzing, studying, creating, learning and performing. I've always been an actress. When aren't I performing? ;)

However, although I've been taking voice lessons going on TWELVE years now (!!!) I still feel like a child who doesn't know what she's doing.

And then a night like tonight happens and I realize I'm better than I think. I mean I know I can sing, but it's more than that.

The piece I learned tonight is not the most complicated composition, or the longest, and I've heard it before, but it's a beautiful piece of music, and in Italian, and I learned it in a half hour lesson well enough that, aside from memorizing the words completely, I would feel confident performing it tomorrow.

Don't get me wrong, I realize there is still a ton of work left to do to make it sound really beautiful, but tonight made me realize that I'm not just a dancer or an actress anymore...I'm a singer, really and truly.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Garlic

Ian forgot to cook dinner tonight while I was out at my other job. I had called and changed my hours and in the change he forgot to prep anything.

He told when he picked me while suggesting shwarma. I mentally did a once over of the fridge and pantry and realized it was probably a take-out night. Problem was, once shwarma was mentioned I couldn't think of anything else.

Needless to say...we got the shwarma. And now, my mouth stinks. I reek of garlic. My breath is so garlicky that I can taste it. As gross as I feel, I also feel wonderful as well.

I really love garlic. :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Prayer

Some days it's harder than others to think of the happy things. There were lots of happy things that happened to me today. I got a lot of work done. I connected really well with my coworkers. I made a little sad boy with a boo-boo smile. I bought a happy new dress and two fun hairbands. I had a delicious meal of leftovers with my wonderful husband.

However, there are sad things happening around me and in all of my joy and happiness, I know that not everyone is in the same place as me.

I am reminded of how wonderful it is to have this happiness. I am reminded to be grateful for all I have. To be thankful for my health, my stability, my love, my family and my friends. And amidst this thanks and gratitude I offer prayers.

I pray for those who are sick, who are fighting to get well. I pray for their families and friends around them who are loving and supporting them. I pray for those who are out of work, who have lost their jobs. I pray for their families and friends who want to help any way that they can.

I do not want to lose my happiness through sadness for others, that helps and strengthens no one. And so from my happiness I offer prayers of strength and love. Prayers of hope and happiness. Prayers of peace and fullness.

If you are reading this with sadness I offer these prayers for you, and if you are reading this in happiness I ask for you to join your prayers with mine.

I am not a religious person per-say, however I feel strongly about the power of prayer. I believe that our thoughts and our love have the power to conquer and heal.

"The mind is a muscle that can move the world." (Firestarter, Stephen King)

Thank you.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Great show!

It's been a fantastic day today, starting, of course, with Give Away Weekend. One of my favourite bi-annual events in the city of Ottawa. I'm a big fan of reduce, reuse, recycle, and Give Away Weekend does just that. Basically you put stuff you don't want at the curb and other folks can take it. No not garbage, just stuff you don't want. Sundays are often better because the folks that forgot on Saturday put some good stuff out on Sunday. Today we found a fantastic armchair for our living room. We might get it re-upholstered someday, but it's nicely retro and fits perfectly.

Then the in-laws came and the men conquered the kitchen while I started on dinner. The end result is the kitchen looks fantastic and dinner was delicious!!!!

Then after dinner we treated our in-laws to a wonderful production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels by Orpheus at Centrepointe Theatre. Many of our friends performed and they were fantastic!!! :)

David McLaughlin was absolutely fabulous as the hilarious Freddy Benson...no one can thrust and air hump quite like Dave!!!

If you don't have tickets already, do yourself a favour and buy yourself some and get your butt there. Money and time well spent. Orpheus never disappoints!!!

Uhm...oh yeah...and Canucks won Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals at 11 seconds in to overtime!!!!!

GREAT Saturday!!!! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

PD Days

Different people like PD days for different reasons; embittered teachers because they can go to work when there are no kids there, happy parents who enjoy the extra day with their kids, baking and playing games, the local malls, when the kids come in to increase their weekday revenues. I always like them because I bank some overtime and take the day.

Not so today. I have the overtime banked, but it's June and I'm way too busy to take a full day off. Instead I scheduled our annual furnace maintenance in the afternoon, so worked the majority of the day, managing to get our supply teachers paid, and then rushed home to be there for our maintenance time window.

My happy thing today is how much work I managed to get done at home on this short afternoon off. The kitchen is squeaky clean, the powder room is disinfected enough to eat in, and the rest of the house is tidy and organized, with all of the laundry done to boot!

Knowing that I'm heading home, after a wonderful dinner party, to a completely clean and tidy home, where no work needs to be done, is a fabulously wonderful feeling.

There are many household chores that I don't mind doing, but when I get rolling I really enjoy cleaning because I love working toward that feeling of a clean and tidy house in which I can just relax and enjoy.

And so now here I sit...Ian with a glass of wine in hand, and me finishing up my blog, while listening to some 50s music...knowing that my work is done.

And I already know what my happy thing for tomorrow will be...It's Give-away-weekend!!!! One of my all time favourite events! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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First game back!

Well I'm back on the frisbee pitch and loving it...although the field was in pretty lousy condition. Lots of rain this spring and it hasn't been mowed yet. So knee length grass to run through, but at least the ground was soft enough to take some of the impact and hard enough to give enough support. (plus soft enough to not break me when I'd dive.)

It was a really great game, both teams equally matched. The final score was 13-12 for us...iFlick...and we had to really fight for it. It felt fantastic :)

I don't know what I love about frisbee the most. My team is awesome, the exercise is great, after almost 10 years of playing I'm actually pretty good, and I love sensational plays...like diving, rolling and spectacular falls for some fabulous catches. I'm a bit of a risk taker on the field and I love it. :)

It's only game one and I'm so excited for the next 2 months...plus...more stuff about which to be happy...

Nationals are in Ottawa this year!!! :) YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!

Sleep now and hoping my legs will continue to support me in the morning ;)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Back into the groove

Not an easy day, you'd think, to find something happy about which to blog. It was confirmed first thing this morning that I will not be continuing to do the job that I've been doing for the past two years, due to a union technicality, that didn't permit me to be in the running for it, all because I believed I was doing the right thing ethically last fall.

So, now that I'm passed my little rant (there's a much bigger rant that I'm working at releasing because it's not going to do me or anyone else any good) I will try and move on with some happiness in this blog. Because even on an understandably difficult day, I have a TON of things about which to be happy.

So many people said so many wonderful things about me, TO me today! How unique I am. What a fabulous job I do. How I'm the most efficient person they've ever known to do this role. How much they've enjoyed working with me. How much they'll miss me. How much I shine. How much happiness I bring to their day. And the list goes on and on.

So although this day made me sad...sad to my core because I still feel somehow cheated by a system for which I worked so hard...sad because for the first time in a long time I felt like I was in the right place doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing...sa because I have felt every say that I was making a difference...sad because I love this job...my heart continues to have wings :)

My friends and loved ones around me are supporting my hopes, my dreams and all of the fabulous opportunities ahead of me. I could not move forward without all of this support and for all of this I am truly blessed!

So I will continue to work on releasing the dark & negative, sad and ugly thing inside me..,it wants ito get out so I will just let it go. And instead I will focus on my blessings...how could I not? They are everywhere I look. And I thank the Universe for all that it has provided and conitues to provide.

A friend said to me...every shitty thing that happens = 2 good things :) I am looking forward to these two and many more good things in the days and weeks to come.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Back to blogging

I know I know. It's been too long. And I realize I'm starting to sound like a broken record when I say it. Things are busy these days, so when the busyness stops for a minute I enjoy the total and complete laziness...which ends up as a lack if blogging.

However, I really miss blogging, and I can't really put my finger on the "why" I haven't blogged...I mean laziness can't be the actual reason...can it?

I'm wondering if it's because I haven't really felt like being happy about anything. Not depressed so much as being in the doldrums (which reminds me of one of my favourite movies from my childhood, about which I'll have to blog sometime).

Well, I've had enough of the doldrums...and although I think I might still be quite mired in them, I would like to start working my way out.

I have so many things to be happy about...even more than happy...grateful :)

I'm looking to get "my groove back". Never saw the movie to see how Stella got hers...but I'm definitely working on mine.

I would like to say thank you to someone tonight...your words this evening were unexpected and wonderful. Thank you for cheering me up (while making me teary-eyed), for making me feel very special (while grounding me too). Thank you Jen. You made me happy today when I needed it and I'm grateful to have people like you in my life. :)

It really is the little things folks. Always remember that your little things make the world of difference to someone else. :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

My legs are still screaming!

Saturday afternoon I drove to Belleville to cheer on one of my best girls, Jenn, who was running her first half marathon ever. (I am SO proud of her).

When I arrived I remembered that the "30 minutes in May" (30 minutes of activity every day in May) started the next day. I suggested that I could get my 30 minutes by running alongside her, and she noted that 30 minutes running was like 5k.

After my other friend, Jamie, arrived we both continued to joke about running the 5k race the next day. Neither of us having trained for it and me, 6 months from any exercise.

After getting partway through a couple of bottles of wine that evening we decided that this was a GREAT idea, and Facebooked and Tweeted about it. We were now accountable.

Sure enough we woke up bright and early the next day and headed out to the race start. After some silliness and last minute thoughts of backing out, we ran the majority of the 5km. (a couple of walking breaks else we might have keeled over)

I can't say whether I enjoyed the experience. My body currently hates me for it, aching and stiffness that I didn't know could exist. But I didn't quite HATE it the way I have hated running in the past. I'm even considering doing it again, if I'm ever able to walk properly again.

I'm not sure how this 5k was different from when I tried to train before, maybe it was the race component, the last minute decision, or the accountability, or that I was doing it to support a friend who was doing so much more, or that I was pushing another friend to join me. But something got me do it what I have previously refused to do. So we'll see where that leaves me.

I am still in quite a bit of pain, I couldn't even manage my 30 minutes yesterday (will aim to do 60 today). But I am really proud of myself for having done it, and happy that it's on my list of things I've done. ;)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Basil Macdonald Way,Nepean,Canada

Gewürztraminer

Many people hate a "sweet" wine, but I LOVE them. I write "sweet" I quotations this way, because gewürztraminers get a bad rep, so do some Rieslings for that matter.

Yes, typically speaking a gewürzts is a sweeter wine, however some can be quite dry while extremely flavourful. I'm not a fan of the overly floral ones, but a nice crisp citrus with strong apple flavours are to die for!

This evening Ian and I stopped by the Brookstreet hotel in Kanata on our way home for a bevvie. I was all dolled up for my competition earlier in the evening, and I wanted to have a drink somewhere my velvet gown wouldn't look too out of place. Brookstreet was perfect (not to mention convenient).

The only gewürzts was by the bottle and I had no intention of drinking that much, however the lovely gentleman behind the bar humoured this diva and allowed me to buy by the glass.

The wine is from the Beamsville Bench, part of the Niagara region where my mother grew up, where I spent all of my summers as a child and where our family is still working the land.

I love supporting Canadian wineries, especially local ones. And this wine was fantastic. Long and smooth, sweet and crisp. Ian got a breathful of orange on the finish. I loved the apple-y mouth I got.

It was so fantastic that I wanted a second and our wonderful server topped up my glass. The only thing missing with this fantastic wine was a nice pungent cheese. I inquired into a cheese tray but unfortunately there was little available to compliment this wine :(

Needless to say, I have a couple of recommendations (requests?). I realize a hotel bar menu must be quick and easy to manage at all times of day at all levels of busy-ness. :) However, I think these items might not be difficult to incorporate. :)
- cheese list/tray
- edamame
- oysters (okay, yes difficult but I adore them!)

Anywho, just my two cents...but either way, definitely keep that gewürztraminer, from one "sweet" wine lover to another.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

Unimpressed

With myself that is!

I blogged 35 times in January, 20 some odd times in February and then it just drops off from there. This just will not do!

There is a ton of stuff making me happy for me to blog about. It's all about setting priorities. Although I acknowledge that I've been awfully busy this month (as a digression, I am going to stop using the word "awfully" after this post as it's rather negative), it doesn't justify not blogging.

So I intend to place some more focus and more importance back onto my blog. I really enjoy doing it, so why leave it until the last part of my day when I'm too exhausted and I get no enjoyment from it as I'm losing out on precious sleep time!

And with that...an actual blog post about something...actually!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

Conversation, conflict and comprehension

A night with friends is awesome. A night with friends whom you haven't seen in months, with whom you haven't shared and discussed and argued...there is no comparison.

We arrived around 4pm and a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc was opened, then an Argentian Cabernet Savingnon, then we cooked with some scotch and a red, then a drank a French Merlot (the memory gets a little foggy after dinner).

All the while we talked media, we argued politics, gossiped, laughed, made fun of one another, drank and ate.

There are very few things that I can compare to the enjoyment of friends, food and frivolity! :)

A big thank you to the universe in all it offers and in all I receive! ;)'

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Gainsborough Rd,Toronto,Canada

Matching

I read a tweet recently that stated something along the lines of "although there is no actual statistical proof, wearing a matching bra and panties makes you more productive".

And you know what...

...I think it's true! (statistical proof not withstanding).

I agree with this statement, today especially, because I was wearing one of my favourite bra and panty sets, and by golly, I had a heck of a productive day. And considering how chaotic a day it was, I'm very proud with how well I managed to juggle everything, get things done and do as much as I did, including ending the day with a 90 minute French course and a 30 minute voice lesson. Yup, busy, yet extremely productive day.

Thank you matching bra and panty set, thank you very much!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

I'm awesome

Because my performance review says I am!

Yup...one of the best performance reviews I have ever received! Not only was it a strong and positive review, but there are many other good things about it.

a) I didn't have to write it myself. For many years when it came time for my annual performance my superior would hand it to me and tell me to write it myself and he'd sign it. That might sound great but it doesn't lead to much personal growth. Plus there was never any accountability even if I tried to set goals for myself.

b) I haven't been told by my current manager that no one ever exceeds her expectations. Yup, I've had that happen too. I worked for someone who told me they NEVER give "exceeds expectations" on a review. Sooooo...if I already know I can't exceed, why even bother trying?

c) the performance review was written by someone whom I respect and admire, strive to impress and for whom I work hard daily.

When I received the written report, glowing with praises as well as positive and humbling quotes from co-workers, parents and volunteers alike...well, gratitude and humility flooded my senses.

When I read it to Ian, he said "I think you've figured out what it is you should be doing.". And you know...I do believe he's right.

I really love my job and the review I received today confirmed back to me that not only is job good for me...but that I too am good for my job. :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

Sparklies

My gawd I love things that sparkle! I like sequins and flashing lights and crystals. I just like sparkly things.

We went to look at chandeliers again today. Our contractor is concerned that the delicious sparkly chandelier that we bought might hang too low from our standard 8 foot ceilings. But frankly I don't give a damn!

We've looked at a few and some of them are so huge and gorgeous and sparkly that I'd be willing to have them hang and touch the floor in bathroom causing us to have to walk around it!

They're so pretty to look at all prismy and sparkly and twinkly-tinkly and just beautiful!

But I love the one we already have and I can't wait to see it up. I know it will be perfect! :)

That being said we've located a back-up if the one we have really is too long. *fingers crossed* that it's perfect!

(yes, yes...there will be pictures...eventually) :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

The Bulk Barn

Things that come in bulk have always made me happy. I remember going to Loblaws as a kid with my Mum. They used to have a fantastic bulk food section. I loved it because there was always a ton of candy.

Then even after the majority of the bulk food products disappeared from grocery stores there was always the bulk hard candy still available. Remember those, the ones that you could drop a nickle in the box if you wanted to sample? I miss that. They were good candies too.

But now there's the Bulk Barn...the shiney glory of all that is bulk. I love them for their bulky goodness of candies and snack foods, but now I love them even more for their discounted prices on specialty products. I saved at least five dollars today on quinoa (organic no less) and steel cut oats. So I bought some candy and salty snacks with the fiver that I saved.

And best of all the Bulk Barn had a special today. If you spent more that ten dollars you received one of their reusable bags with your purchase.They have the best reusable bags ever...they're the ones with both the short and the long handles.

Thank you Bulk Barn for being all kinds of wonderful!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

Motivation

I went to my bi-monthly office administrators's meeting today, and instead of the usual meeting format, we had the priviledge of listening to a fantastic speaker, who reminded me of some things I had forgotten, while raising some ideas I hadn't heard before and giving me lot to think about and reflect upon.

His name is Bob Koehler. You can learn more about him at http://www.bobkoehler.com/

I had an appointment before today's meeting today. It was an important appointment that I chose not to cancel and it ended up running late. I wasn't in the greatest mood afterwards, and almost didn't attend the meeting, even considered calling in sick for a minute or two. But although I knew I'd be late for the meeting, I knew this was something I needed to attend and was I ever right.

My blog would be fifteen pages long for me to describe everything I learned today, all of the thoughts I had and the decisions I began to make.

To sum it up he reminded me that our perception drives our lives and that I am blessed with all of the things I get to do every day (rather than have to do).

I plan on not just being interested in what Bob had to say today, I want to be committed to the the changes I am going to make and the work I am going to do.

Thank you Bob, thank you for waking up the other 90%.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

Democracy

I watched the federal debate tonight, and although it was disappointing not to have Elizabeth May included in the debates (those men are just too afraid of a strong woman) I really quite enjoyed myself.

There's something about watching the leaders of our political parties discuss what they're going to do for us, for Canadians and for this country. Listening to all of the positive things that they want to do, gives me hope.

Every so often there was a glimpse of agreement, of possibilities for the future, for our future. The debate didn't necessarily sway my vote, but it did re-emphasize the things that matter the most to me and what I deem to be important in this election.

Health care, education and our environment. I did not hear enough about any of these three and they are most definitely the items about which I am the most concerned when it comes to our government. The first two might be governed by the provinces, but they are financed federally and the money is needed so greatly.

I am looking forward to change happening through this election. I am hopeful that voter turnout will icrease, that students under the age of 25 will turn out in the millions to vote and that the voter apathy in this country gets a boost of enthusiasm and passion for politics.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

My happiness

Your happiness is what you make it, and mine is what I make it.

When I question or doubt or worry, I take away the possible happiness from an otherwise wondeful situation. I can be having a grand old time, but then that little voice in my head pops up...one of my inner mean girls and she causes me to stress. Whether it's about me, another person, or the situation, those negative thoughts can ruin the event.

And worse, is when you take those thoughts home with you and then you share them. You bring the inner mean girl out in the open. She wasn't pretty on the inside and she's horribly ugly in the light of day.

So what do to? I'm trying to remember to talk to her. Tell her to go away, tell her that her negative words are poison in my brain and I won't listen to her anymore. She ruins my fun, my enjoyment, my happiness.

It's hard work, but it's totally worth it. Telling that inner voice, that inner mean girl to go back where she came from, to counter her negative thoughts with my positive ones, it makes the time happy and enjoyable. And I also feel good conquering that mean girl.

Tonight I say to that inner mean girl...what do you know anyway? You're just mean and nobody likes a mean girl. If you can't think anything nice, don't put it in my head. I would much rather e having fun than listening to your nastiness. I am not a mean girl and I won't let you turn me into one.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

I Surrender

The difficulties we face in life are the lessons we need to learn. Each lesson brings with it knowledge and wisdom, along with the tools we require to face the next difficulty and the next lesson. If you choose not to face your difficulty, it will continue to be offered to you until you have learned that lesson.

Yes, yes...I know the one with which I continue to struggle. I need to learn to let go, to surrender, to release control. I'm working on it...and I think part of the problem is to stop the working on it and just do it!

Not necessarily what is making me happy today, but definitely the thing that has been blocking my ability to blog about the happy things. I blame it on time, because I am using my time to work on letting go and letting things be. But trying to so something which is about doing nothing is difficult.

This is the difficulty I face and I look forward to the lesson I will learn.

Face your difficulties, and reward shall follow. Walk away and it will return for you to face again.

With Love
~sarah~

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Dancin'

Tonight was the night of the Spring Fling at the school where I work. It was an all family dance where students and their families were all invited to come and join in the fun.

They started with the school jazz band as the guests arrived, then there was a dance instructor, who had been running a "get funky" dance class for half of the students this week, who lead the kids in a couple of group numbers. Lastly the band game on.

And they were great! A seven piece band with a strong brass section. The played R'n'B and a little funk to boot! :) who knew I liked R'n'B so much?

And I danced. I danced and danced and danced and when that was over I danced some more...my God I love to dance! :). It's been a long time since I've danced so much and for so long! Which is a good thing. We had a couple of appetizers at Montana's before the dance and I really needed the dance floor to pay off the food debt :)

It was a fabulous and fun night and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Exhausted now...g'night!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

My apologies

I haven't given up my New Year's resolution of a happy thing a day or of blogging in general...I've just been in love with sleep.

Last week was an extremely busy week with the show which meant a lot of late nights and early mornings as we tried to find time to get everything done.

I usually blog in the evening, so needless to say I've been enjoying early to bed this week in order to catch up on my beloved sleep. And the extra sleep has compromised my blogging ability this week.

With a couple of extra minutes this morning I wanted to send out a quick FYI update and let you know that I'm still here and I plan on getting back on the blogging horse :) Neiiiiigh :)

Alrighty...have a fabulous day full of things that make you happy and I'll update you all here with mine :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Great Show!

I love the way a show comes together! :)

A week ago we knew our music, knew our staging, kind of knew our costumes, didn't know what lighting, orchestra, theatre or audience would be like. Then we officially opened last night and BAM...it all comes together like a jigsaw puzzle.

I have never had a show put together quite like this and I'll admit I was a little nervous, but I get nervous about anything where I'm not in control! ;). Yes, I like being in control...LOL.

Our invited dress on Thursday was our first full, start to finish everything (except lighting) show and even then there was stopping and starting.

Last night felt spectacular...and the quick assembly has made the show feel really fresh and keeps the cast on it's toes and constantly focused.

There are still two performances left and if you'd like to check out an interestingly fabulous contemporary opera, some wonderful and young local talent, and an entertaining evening or afternoon...contact me for tickets or get them at the door.

Lady of the Night
by Jose Hernandez

Kailash Mital Theatre
Carleton University
Tickets are $30 at the door (discounted if you go through me)
Tonight, Saturday March 26th @ 7:30pm
Tomorrow matinee, Sunday, March 27th @ 2:00pm

Email me for tickets:
princessdoubt at rogers dot com

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Iris St,Ottawa,Canada

My life as Liz

So I should have gone to bed by now, but I discovered this awesome little show on www.mtv.ca called My Life as Liz and I just can't stop watching it :)

I can't describe it but it's awesome and absolutely adorable. I wish there had been shows like this when I was in high school.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

Crumpets and Jammies

Need I say more?

But seriously, today was a pretty great day. I have so many things about which to be happy, so many fun and exciting things I could blog. Not to mention that it's good to be back at work, I feel really "right" when I'm there. And two rehearsals under my belt today too.

But how better to end my day than to crawl into bed wearing my coziest of jammies while eating a plate of delicious crumpets dripping in butter and jam. Why is my iPhone screen sticky you ask? Yup, my homemade blackberry jam, that's why! :)

Jamies are lovely. Warm, fuzzy, comfy and pink..,of course pink,...always pink. I just feel so snuggly and cuddly when I'm wearing jammies :)

And then there's the crumpets. They have to be one of THE most wondeful foods in the world. First you get them all toasted and warm. Then you smother them in butter so it gets all melty and drippy all through their little holes. Next you smother them in jam so that it fills all the holes. The crumpets slide around the plate because of the butter that has leaked down the holes and covered the plate in greasy buttery goodness, and the sweet jam is filling the holes and mixing with the salty delicious butter. The whole concoction all warm, crunchy outside, soft sweet and salty inside...Oh. My. Gawd. This is what I would order as part of my last meal for sure! :). Mmmmmmmm

And on that note G'night! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

Prepping

I'm sorry the blog has been quiet this weekend...I kind of crashed after our short March Break Adventure and with my busy week ahead I kind of did absolutely nothing these past couple of days.

Today as I head to bed I'm happy about all of the prep work I've done for the week ahead. I have rehearsals and shows every night this week and into the weekend. I won't have time to head home after work each day, and some nights I won't get home until at least 11pm.

We have our contractor starting tomorrow and he'll be demolising our bathroom...YAY!

So we emptied the bathroom and will be using the basement bathroom for the next couple of weeks. So the basement bathroom is ready for getting ready.

Then I prepared lunch and dinners for the week. All of the food is lined up by day in the fridge ready for me to throw it in my lunch bag. I have enough munchies, snacks and meals to be well fed.

I'm looking forward to the week ahead. I haven't done a show in a while and it will good to be on stage again. :). I'm feeling very strong and very prepared. :)

Have a great week all!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

My Own Bed

Home again, home again, jiggity-jig.

It's lovely to stay in hotels, to have other people make my bed, cook my meals, clear my plates. It's nice to be waited on, but no matter how nice the pampering, there is nothing quite like crawling into your own freshly made bed at home after having been away for a couple of days.

Your clean sheets and fluffy pillows, your purring cat at the foot of the bed.

Our cross-border adventures this week were a lot of fun, although tiring (lots of driving and walking), it's just wonderful to be back home, lying all cozy in my own bed, covers pulled up to my chin.

As we returned this afternoon I realized that I have so much beautiful luggage that we must travel more to get good use out of it all, while at the same time I am already looking forward to the coming home part.

As a little piece of advice...before you go away on your next vacation, make your bed just before you leave with new clean sheets...even pop a couple of dryer sheets in the bed so it smells extra fresh when you get home. Take the time to unpack everything and then crawl into your cozy bed with nothing else to do ahead of you...it's wonderful!

Off to dreamland now! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

Shopping

I love to shop!

We've been doing quite a bit of shopping while on this mini vacation. I loved the outlet mall in Pennsylvania. I love calculating how big a discount we're getting, how many dollars we've saved.

Two of my favourite purchases at the outlet mall, I have to say, are my Calvin Klein pink spring coat and my Coach carry-all bag, practical and very me (and a great deal to boot!)

We then did more shopping today at the Pier in Atlantic City. We started with It'sugar :) mmmmmmmmm we got a lot of fun and yummy candy.

Then I found a great accessory store where I bought a fantastic scarf which goes with my new jacket perfectly and the most adorable hairband. I've been wearing both all day.

Lastly, the shopping we did today was a blast. We went into the really high end shops and looked at stuff I'd never dream of actually buying. (I find uber-expensive stuff a waste of money...I don't care how fabulous and practical and comfortable a pair of shoes might be...$500 is a waste in my eyes). But I digress...

So we walked around these "fabulous" stores and tried stuff on and looked at different things. I discovered that I love Betsy Johnson's designs and that I look fantastic in Tiffany jewelry ;) none of which I ever plan to purchase, although I wouldn't turn down a gift of the $3k gold necklace I tried on, but tons of fun just the same! :)

Hitting the road back to home tomorrow :)

No karaoke for us tonight.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:S Morris Ave,Atlantic City,United States

The Things That Make a Girl Happy

So, this morning at breakfast when the woman bussing the table spoke Spanish to me, that made me happy and I started planning the blog I'd write about that little moment of joy.

That was until about 3 hours ago, when I discovered a Karaoke bar in Atlantic City. In. My. Hotel!

Needless to say, since the minute we learned this information, our goal was to reach this establishment. And reach it we did.

The name of this fantastic location is the Planet Rose. It's located at our Atlantic City hotel, the Tropicana. The staff there is awesome, you'd have to be to work at a karaoke bar. Some of the people who pick up the mic shouldn't be allowed out of the house, much less singing an amplified song in public.

Yes, of course I sang...and the best part...this bar has EVERYTHING! Seriously, musical theatre friends unite. We need to plan a group trip here and just hang out in this establishment for hours.

I started with my tried and true,I Will Survive, but finished with Defying Gravity (which I realized very quickly was the duet version...oops). Bu brought the roof down, none the less.

Ian has already realized that tomorrow night will also be spend going through some more of my repertoire :)

Ya, I love Atlantic City! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:N Morris Ave,Atlantic City,United States

Day 1 - Part 2

Once we settled in to our holiday the little glitches fell away. The landscape along the I-81 is beautiful.

When we crossed the state-line into Pennsylvania we decided to stop at the Pennsylvania Welcome Centre. The woman who worked there was absolutely lovely. She was all smiles, asking us where we were from and where we were going. She provided us with lots of information including coupons for a free coupon booklet each for the outlet mall where we were headed, and a new map. :)

Then we drove for a couple more hours through Pennsylvania, to our first destination, Tannersville.

We checked in at the Days Inn, where we had a coupon from one of the flyers from the welcome centre. The staff at the reception was friendly and welcoming. This Pennsylvania place is lovely. Then we dropped our bags and headed for the outlet mall.

(Ian would like to point out that we didn't head straight out. That rather I chose to "dawdle" having been able to finally access WiFi and had to check my Facebook, Twitter and email accounts before going anywhere).

So then off we went to The Crossings, the outlet mall here in Tannersville.

And then there was shopping. Glorious, wonderful, fabulous shopping. We bought coats, and shoes, socks and underwear, accessories and shirts...and we're planning to head back again tomorrow! :) We're happy with our purchases and delighted by the savings. What a shopping adventure.

After shopping came dinner. If you are ever in the Tannersville area and you enjoy food Indian food, you MUST stop in at Tandoor Palace, next door to the Days Inn. The food, service and atmosphere are fabulous!

The server was both sympathetic and concerned by my dairy-free and gluten-free diet. He worked with me and the kitchen to ensure a safe and delicious meal. And what a meal! Ian and I are both stuffed! And the server made me promise that the minute I am able to introduce dairy into my diet once again, that I must come back for their gulab jamin (one of my my favourite desserts), which they make themselves in house.

All in all, a fabulous start to what will be an amazing adventure...makes me already want to not plan a trip again!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Hill Motor Lodge Rd,Tannersville,United States

Day 1 - Part 1

Today was the first day of our March Break adventure! ;) Although there were quite a few Homer Simpson "d'oh" moments, they all made me smile. Here is how the first couple hours of our trip transpired!

- We're off to a GREAT start! A little confusion, I thought we were still on the 416, but really we were already on the 401. So instead of crossing at Ogdensburg we're crossing at Ivy Lea...my horoscope did say I'd be okay with complex things today, only the simple things would cause me confusion! ;)

- uh oh! The empty gas tank light came on before we reached customs where we sat idling for 30 minutes before crossing the border, I hope we have enough gas to find a gas station! How long do you have while idling on empty?

- Then we paid $7.50 for a $2.50 toll because the guy gave us the wrong change! (probably because we distracted him by asking how far the nearest gas station is to the border).

- oops!i realized at the gas station that I have no idea what my PIN is on my US MasterCard

- 12:45pm - 20 mins over the border, I realize...WE'RE GOING TO THE JERSEY SHORE BITCHES!

- I'm having trouble with the GPS. I didn't change the state from NY to PA...we could've ended up in the wrong place!

- we forgot some basic toiletries...oops

- I realized that the map we're using is at least 20 years old (if not older) and the city to where we're heading isn't even on the map!

- Ian is overly excited by the real BBQ sauce used at the US McDonalds...I look at the ingredients, first ingredient...high fructose corn syrup!

So although there were many little glitches this morning as we started our adventure, they all caused us to laugh hysterically. It was a ton of fun and enough to make me want to not plan a trip again! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Hill Motor Lodge Rd,Tannersville,United States

Last Minute

I'm a planner...I LOVE to plan. The 18 months leading up to my wedding was FANTASTIC! All I did was plan. Every time I go on a vacation I plan. Disney World in Florida was a great trip because I got to plan in high gear.

I research resorts, I look at pictures, I read reviews. I compare hotels. I plan, what to do, what not to do, where to go, how to get there what to see. It's fantastic.

Well...this time I planned for Cuba...and it fell through. So today we decided to drive south until the snow melted and the temperature went up to at least 10 degrees (Celsius). So at first we decided on Myrtle Beach. Then about 2 hours ago we changed our minds.

We're going to an outlet mall in Pennsylvania and staying there one night, then we're heading further south to Atlantic City for 2 or 3 nights. As a side note, Atlantic City during the week in off season is extremely inexpensive!

So we'll head out tomorrow morning and see where the road takes us...who knows...we might change our minds again! ;)

And no worries about the Fanny-cat while we're gone...Mum will come in and take care of her while we're gone...which works out well, she needs somewhere to stay while Phil is renovating their kitchen.

I'll try and blog while we're gone. :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada

Grey clouds and cold toes

Some days it's harder than other days to find my "it made me happy" that day. It's not to say that nothing made me happy or that nothing stands out, but more that it's because something is standing in the way. Usually that something is bringing me down and is making it difficult for me to see anything.

Today is one of those days. I'm upset, over something that at the end of the day is pretty frivolous. I should really be focusing my gratitude and happiness on everything I have, on all the good that happens to me every day...but instead my brain is full of grey disappointment which is blocking out all possible sunshine. It's me that has the power over this, and me that is letting it spoil everything else right now.

So it's baby steps tonight for my "it made me happy". Tonight it's that my husband, as I type this, is letting me warm my frozen toes on his warm legs...and let me tell you...I have lousy circulation and when I say frozen toes...I mean frozen!

So not only does it make me happy that he allows me to do this tonight and every night, but also grateful for the little things that make him so awesome. And my toes are happy and grateful too. :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada