Updates

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

You can check out more of my Bluesfest album here

Absolutely Inspiring!

Need a little inspiration today? http://holly101list.wordpress.com/

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!

Nobody puts baby in the corner

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!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmILPAcRQo

http://reason.com/blog/show/136078.html

Yes!

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.

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!

Back to the 'real' world

Working in Marketing and Communications for the better half of my time, as well as on the web team here at the Gallery, I recently decided that it was important for me to brush up on my social marketing skills. I started a Twitter account a while ago but let it fall by the wayside (much like my little blog here). I will be updating regularly again, so please ch-ch-check it out if you tweet, too :) @jamiemcglashan

I'm also going to try and be really really good with my blog posts from now on. Fall will mean (a little) less time outside and more time for sitting down and letting my words flow out freely :) My 101 Things in 1001 days project will not work on itself.

Song I can't stop playing this week :D Its a goodie. Jay-Z feat. Rihanna and Kanye "Run This Town".

**update** my apologies, had to remove the link here due to copyright.