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~

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Jackson Ct,Ottawa,Canada