....and make it count! This June 2010 my friends and I are going to be participating in one of the 3 Ottawa-area Relay's for Life. We are pumped and are starting our fundraising now. Our team captain Kate has already got the major ball rolling and we are receiving a very generous donation to our cause from her workplace. Thank you to Newell Physiotherapy for the help!!!!
When you register to participate you are asked to set a fundraising goal for the team, and we have decided our goal is to raise $3,000 to go to the Canadian Cancer Society. It is our sincerest hope that we surpass this, but $3,000 is something we feel we will be proud of. :) Any amount to the cause counts and we will have fun working together to meet our goal. We've already got a list of fundraising ideas and events that we will be using in the coming months. We are going to succeed :)
My life has thankfully not been directly touched by Cancer, but I have close friends and extended family who have. The more we can do to help the research continue and to help the cause, the better. It all makes a difference, not only the funds but the emotional support we can give each other. We have named our team in the memory of our friend Eddy's mother and we will be walking in her name. Angels for Alice are ready for a great challenge.
If you would like to learn more about CCS and the Relay for Life please visit www.cancer.ca. Additionally, if you would like to sponsor myself and our team please visit my personal page http://convio.cancer.ca/goto/jamiemcglashan. Or start your own team and take a walk and make it count !!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Knocked off the list are two recipes from September = my first try at lasagna which I mentioned earlier and recently a Lemon Squares recipe which got a rave review :) With Thanksgiving around the corner, I've got some things planned so I have some new things to add to my repertoire.
I have been stuck at home sick the past week and half and this is the first day back to the real world. It feels good to be doing something productive again, but at the same time....haha, sleeping in and being lazy had its benefits. Being sick with asthma however, does not. It also reminds me how badly I need to get on with finding something that suits me better than my current situation. That is always in progress, but I've really stalled since this summer.Otherwise, things couldn't be better.
Things on the go now are thanksgiving plans, and Halloween plans. Family Thanksgiving plans are being made including our traditional venture up to the Gatineau Hills to see the pretty leaves and take a few snapshots. As well, Shawn and I have got our Halloween costumes figured out - this is the earliest I have done this in many years. I'm very excited for my costume, it's a theme I've been wanting to do for some time. Stay tuned for those pictures! Also on the list of things coming up is a wedding this Saturday for Shawn's cousin. I love a good excuse to get dressed up, and do some dancing.
Speaking of dancing, one of our next date nights will be dance lessons. I am very very very excited for this. Shawn has some dance training. I...not so much..as in none. We've talked about taking lessons together and finally it is going to happen. he;s up for whatever so I've chosen ballroom. Fingers crossed I don't end up having a case of two left feet.
What else is new - I have been bad with the 101 list lately...but I do have a lot of time still to finish it off, of course, but it's always a little victory when I get to cross something off. Come to think of it...dance lessons are on my list. So is a hike in the Gatineaus which is also coming up in a couple of weeks, we have a hike and picnic planned with some friends, hoping it will be a nice afternoon, not like all this rain we have been getting.
More news....ohh a favourite - Jocelyne and I have started back on with our pole fitness classes. It really is a great workout and its something fun and not something I dread doing. I've recently fell out of love with my gym membership. I keep it for group classes, but otherwise we have not gotten along since early this summer. Jocey and I took up pole fitness classes around this time last year and progressed through 2 of the levels. Well then came other expenses and then my fractured wrist and signing up for new classes got put off for a while. Recently the instructor opened up her own studio and Joce and I are now back to it. And after a week off due to illness, going back to class this week will feel great. Plus I have a lot of catching up to do. Jocey's got a lot of things down that I don't quite have the hang of yet, so tomorrow night will be catch up night! We laugh cause people think it's got to be really sexy...but often we just end up laughing at ourselves cause its not at all sexy when you are learning...there's a lot of bruising, and a lot of hesitation. It's all very awkward looking at first...falling, pole "burn"...but its also so much fun and I always leave exhausted after a class.
One last thought - things I need to get back on are reading! I need time to read, and I'm going to make a point of it. We have what I think of as a big-small library at home, a collection of books includes Steph’s collection, my collection, and a load of books donated from friends. Gotta start somewhere! I'm also keen on getting my finances in order, as I've talked about it in length with some close friends and gotten their sage advice on some steps that so far has things finally settling now and getting into a good spot. Getting by with a little help from my friends :)
Meant to post this yesterday (Monday), I saved it and just got back to it now. See you next week!
An update post (to save you from having to jump back to my first post for those that are reading to check on my progress).
15. Put my credit on ice for an extended period until my balance is back at zero. :: Have accomplished not using my credit cards for the last month and a half. So far so good.
16. Set a monthly budget, decide on a strategy and stick to it. :: in process of making one
18. See a favourite band in concert. ::June 17th 2009 - Went to see No Doubt in Montreal with my sister!! Amazing show!! ::July 2009 - Got to see several amazing bands including favs Metric and Our Lady Peace at Bluesfest. ::September 17th - Another great show to be I'm certain, going to see Kings of Leon play here at ScotiaBank Place.
29. Go to an outdoor concert. :: Done July 8-18 - I had the amazing gift of a festival pass to see all of Bluesfest!! I saw amazing shows, some noteable favs: Metric, OLP, GirlTalk, Paolo Nutini, Estelle, Ice Cube, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cake...and there are many others that were AMAZING. Thanks for the gift of music Shawn :)
36. Give up my bus pass for a month and bike to work every day. ::Attempted and Major Fail! - will try again!!
70. Have a spa day with someone. ::And How!!! My girlfriends Pam, Tor and Kate, along with a little help from my boyfriend kidnapped me on my birthday and surprised me with a day at the Nordik Spa. It was my first time there, and the baths are AMAZING. It was honestly THE best way to spend a hung over morning, lol. Thanks again girls for the great afternoon and I hope we do it again soon. ::August 15th Shawn and I went to Holtz Spa for a couples hot stone massage. Again - amazing :)
83. Update my resume. :: recently updated my resume a few weeks ago.
93. Try 2 new recipes a month. ::May: 1) Rolled oats apple cake - and it was a big hit! yay! :: September - Ok so I let this one get away from me and I have some updates to make but the latest addition is Lasagna. I made it at the start of the month for Shawn when he was coming over for dinner one night. And it was delicious! I have been keeping to my 2 a month goal but I will have to add those here later when I can remember what they were!
Thanks again to those who are following my blog - I know I don't post quite as often as I'd like but if the last few days have been an indication I will do my best to keep it up!! More pictures to come as well.
And too my lovelies Pam and Kate (who both just realized this blog exists) - I hope you've enjoyed catching up on my posts. :) xo
If I haven't mentioned it before, I know some pretty inspiring people. Another one of them is Holly. She's been a good pal for several years now, she's been a close friend and like a borrowed big sister many a time :)
Holly started her 101 Things in 1001 Days project last winter, and so far has been ticking things off the list like mad! Way to go Holly! She's been cooking up a storm, kissing in the rain, sleeping on her blacony, reading, writing letters and even becoming a local celebrity of sorts. She recently was on a local radio station, Hot 89.9, to play in their daily competition "Crush Rush". One of her goals was to do this..and she did it!! Yeah!!! But it didnt stop there. She contacted the station after to ask for the audio and explained she wanted to add it to her collection of things to show that she has been progressing through her list...which then lead to her explaining the list. They were so wowed by the idea they had her come back on the show to explain to all of ottawa what she is doing and so far has been getting feedback from tons of people who are inspired by what she is doing. Which is not only really cool, but excellent as one of her goals was to inspire 5 people....she's definitely overpassed this. Keep going Holly, you really are an inspiration.
Check out her blog, where you can also listen to her two appearances on Hot 89.9 as well as check out all the fun pics she's been taking in documenting her experiences.
Today: Is number 56. "Get over fear...give blood! " Holly and 4 other friends of ours are going to give blood, some for the first time just like Holly. What a great goal. My friends like to save lives...what do yours do? :) Hahha..I kid. But really this is a fabulous task and I wish you much luck today Holly, Pammy, Kate, Tor and Dan (the seasoned pro). Love you guys you all rock!
Ok so it actually took me many years before I ever saw this movie. But I've sinced watched it at least a dozen times. Its one of those movies that I watch and I get chills.
In memory of Patrick Swayze, and his battle with cancer, here is the final dance scene from Dirty Dancing. (My favourite of the movie...chills!!! chills!) Enjoy!
Found it! I posted a link to the audio for this a few weeks ago, well I came across this on you tube today and have been listening/watching it over and over. Love the song. Video is pretty wicked. Makes me miss the days when I was in high school when I used to watch Much Music and there was actually music videos playing.... Also makes me miss having Much Music ...basic cable..you are kinda sorta boring.
Monday, August 31, 2009
I just finished spending a fabulous week with one of my favourite people. Shawn and I spent the past week and a bit house/cat sitting for my friend Gen and her husband Steve while they jetted off to Italy. A well deserved vacation and much needed break from life for someone who has been busting her behind all summer on her ever growing new gig as a photographer. Fifteen:Fifty-One Photography has been booked solid for this summer wedding season, along with some maternity shots and family portraits. Italy came at the perfect time I think.
Now she's back (YAY!) and her stories have made me ache even more to just get the heck outa dodge and see more of the world that is waiting for me to see it.
Anyhow, back to the wonderful man I got to spend my down time with for a week. It was a great experience. It's probably the most time we have spent together since we began dating almost 4 months ago. Things with Shawn have seemed to just easily, so easily, fall into place. We clicked practically from day one. His open and warm smile, and his (lame) jokes are the first thing that brought me in. It took him 2 weeks to pop the date question. On one hand, it came outa no where, but yet, at the same time, I thought "took you long enough!".
Now almost 4 months later, it feels like I've known him for longer than I've known most of my closest friends. He's also fit in quite well with the closest of them, which has been very important to me. My girls are the pillars in my life. There's family and then there are those who are like family, just as close as family, and I have some pretty amazing people in my life whom I count in that group. I love them and I don't know what I would do if they were to disappear.
Shawn - well he's made life interesting since he came into my life. For a couple of 4 months we have actually had a couple of ups and downs that we've both weathered through mostly unscathed, and I have little fear of what is to come for us next. We have talked really openly about where we are at right now and at time where, in the past, is often when I get cold feet and jump ship, I feel glued to this spot and I don't want to move. And "playing house" for a week in a beautiful home, pet included, things were pretty...nice :) Making dinner together, taking walks, doing chores together, just spending down time with each other... and...oh especially BBQing - my favourite as I live in an apartment where we can't have BBQs or grills on the balconies - things just felt right. I know 4 months is early, but I already know that Shawn is someone special and someone who I know will stay in my future.
Thank you Gen and Steve for allowing us to watch over your beautiful home while you were gone. If it wasn't for not wanting to live on Reactine any longer, poor Tugger would have been kidnapped home with me!! You have a lovely home. And p.s. I love my little piece of Italy, Gen. You can never go wrong with jewellery with this girl. ;)
Ohhhh and before I go, a few updates...
A new book is on the go thanks to Kate (I may have mentioned this in a past post)...I've been slowly going through it as August has been a crazy month, but with fall I feel curling up with a book will be done much more easily, especially will the fresh weather we've been having since last week.
I also hit my two recipes a month goal this time around. An Oreo-Cheesecake for dessert the night Shawn and I were at Gen and Steve's prior to their departure. I also tried my hand for the first time at cabbage rolls. Verdict = good but I did not season the meat enough. Should have used a bit more salt. They cooked well, but it just needed more...taste. But overal, I'm pleased. I was worried they would turn out uncooked or just....a mess. Next...I've got my eyes set on making Moussaka and maybe...Lasagna...? Or another dessert... Baking has always been my favourite. My dad mentioned they were "low" on oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Just a hint I guess!
