Urban Vancouver

While streets, yards and sidewalks all over the South Coast of BC are being washed clean of the fluffy white stuff, there’s one place that the snow is definitely sticking. Despite a slight delay with the opening of the 2008/2009 ski and snowboard season, Mount Washington has been kicked into high gear with a base of over four feet of packed powder, with more fresh stuff falling every single day!

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort - snapped at 10:35 a.m. on January 6, 2009

I’m sad to say I’ve yet to get up there this season, and my snowboard gear is currently collecting dust in my mom’s garage. Fear not, o’ my faithful readers, as yours truly will be strapping on her Forum board, grabbing Miss604 and hitting the slopes on Friday, February 6, 2008 (one month to the day!) for another installment of the Kokanee Day For Dudes [event page].

“Wait a minute - you’re not dudes!” you must be exclaiming. True, but the only thing better than snowboarding is snowboarding with eye candy. So for those of you gents wishing to experience my favourite mountain at a bargain price, head up. $62 will get you a full-day lift ticket, all-mountain ski or snowboard lesson, a Kokanee aprés event, prizes, entertainment and - of course - Kokanee girls! Look for us snowbunnies on the slopes…

(And click here for my Flickr stream of good times to be had at Mt. Washington!)

Have you voted for Raymi yet? Do it. It’s probably the most important thing you’ll do all day. And then do it again tomorrow, okay?

If you’re like me, there are television shows and movies that you find yourself watching more than a few times. Sex and the City is certainly no exception, and I decided to crack open season one this evening and re-live it all over again - for the fourth time in two years.

As often as I see the same scenes and hear the same dialogue over and over and over again, something new always seems to catch my eye. I just finished watching the third episode of the first season titled “Bay Of Married Pigs.”

Please note Carrie’s t-shirt.

“First time you ever plugged somebody?” Eddie Lee asked Jack Burton after Jack fired a number of rounds into one of the Wing Kong’s henchmen with a semi-automatic weapon. Visibly shaken, Jack composed himself, puffed out his chest and shrugged it off before replying “Course not.”

Big Trouble In Little China has been my favourite movie for as long as I can remember. That particular instant in the film, the first time Jack killed someone, has been seared into my memory since the first time I saw it. My young, saucer-like eyes understood the power of a gun.

It wasn’t until I first saw No Country For Old Men that I actually wanted to fire a gun.

Photo: Paramount Vantage Pictures on Rotten Tomatoes

Early in the film, Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon a drug deal gone really bad and finds a satchel full of cash and a shiny, silver handgun. Upon picking up the handgun, he pulled out the cartridge to inspect his new piece of hardware.

I was in awe. The sound of the cold steel in his hand, cracking against itself, echoed so heavy and so strong. I wanted to feel that gun in my own hands, to experience the weight of it as my slender fingers wrapped around the handle and to know what several rounds exploding feels like against my palms. There’s a fluttering in my stomach right now just writing about this.

Over the Christmas holidays, Amy and Lindsay felt the experience firsthand, and now Amy’s begging me to try. While we were hoping to visit the Pacific Shooters Association in North Vancouver, it appears to have closed down indefinitely due to licensing problems. That being said, does anyone know where we can go to get our shots off? And further, share your gun stories! Good or bad - I’m expecting flack from this post as it is, so feel free to fill me in.

I do not condone the use or possession of illegal firearms, nor do I condone the use of firearms for the purpose of hunting. It should be clear that my interest in guns is purely recreational.

Being that many I know were housebound due to snow yesterday, including Raul, I felt inspired to share my famous enchilada recipe. A batch of ten is yielded, giving you ample food to freeze and re-heat should you find yourself snow-trapped.

Always begin with good music. With the snow falling, I wanted to listen to something snowy, but not Christmasy. The last winter I lived in the Comox Valley, I’d go for walks everyday in the snow with Sam Roberts loaded on my Sony Discman, so that was my record of choice for this snowy evening.

Wash your hands and clean your counters! I’m in love with Method’s all-purpose cucumber spray.

Here’s what you’ll need: 10-pack tortilla shells, 1 pound ground beef, 15oz. enchilada sauce (I prefer Safeway’s brand), 500g cheddar cheese, 11oz. cream of mushroom soup, 14oz. refried beans, small container of sour cream and a bit of taco or fajita seasoning (as you wish).

I should preface this by saying that, were I to live anywhere in BC other than downtown Vancouver, I’d most likely have access to a Superstore and the price would be slashed nearly in half. However, $29 - exactly - is what I ended up paying for all of my ingredients at the Davie Street Safeway. Though even so, it’s still only $2.90 for one meal.

First, grate your cheese block - you’ll probably need it all.

Preheat your oven to 350/180 degrees.

After spreading out all 10 tortillas on your freshly-cleaned counter, dollop about one tablespoon of sour cream on each tortilla and spread it length-wise across the shell.

Real girls use pink pans.

Fry up all your ground beef over medium to high heat until all the pink disappears. Then, add taco or fajita seasoning to the beef (if that’s your thing) before stirring in the entire can of refried beans. It doesn’t look pretty - trust me.

In a saucepan, whisk together the can of cream of mushroom soup with the jar of enchilada sauce over medium heat until smooth and bubbling. Spray the sides and bottom of a 9″x13″ casserole dish with cooking spray before coating the bottom with just enough of the mushroom/enchilada sauce to cover it - about 1/3 cup.

Scoop the meat and refried bean mixture into 10 equal portions on the tortilla shells.

Follow that up with a bit of cheddar cheese - a little bit on each, but you can decide how much or how little you want.

Roll all ten shells and squeeze them into the casserole dish like piggies, seam side down.

Pour the remaining mushroom/enchilada sauce over the enchiladas, covering them as best as you can.

Sprinkle all the remaining grated cheddar cheese over the enchiladas.

You can prepare this the night before and bake it the next day if you want. If that’s the case, you’ll need to bake the enchiladas for longer (maybe 20 minutes). Being that I just prepared them and I’m putting the enchiladas directly into the oven, only about 10 minutes is necessary - until the cheese gets melty and the sauce becomes bubbly.

Et voila! You could eat just one and garnish it with some shredded lettuce or tortilla chips and guacamole, but I was super hungry so I dove into two.

Scoop each remaining enchilada onto a sheet of wax paper or cling wrap, roll it up and put them all in a Zip-loc freezer bag for each dinners next time Old Man Winter decides to surprise you.

Toothpaste, toilet paper, potato chips, bubble bath, Kleenex and even tampons were among his purchases. Well, the tampons were promptly returned to the shelf. Anyone who’s within my age bracket (and grew up in Canada) must remember Joey Jeremiah’s infamous shopping trip to Shopper’s Drug Mart.

Photo: Playing With Time Productions Inc. through Epitome Pictures

During the second season of Degrassi Junior High, Joey misinterpreted “sexy” signals from the new girl in school, Liz. He assumed that an after school study date was an invite for sex - hence the impromptu shopping trip. As can be assumed, Joey was in the wrong and Liz promptly kicked him to the curb. That detail, however, is moot to this post.

For as long as I can remember, “use condoms” has been drilled into my impressionable head. It was a lesson taught to us by the kids of Degrassi, through our schools’ sexual education programs and, hopefully, something our parents were comfortable enough to be frank about. If abstinence isn’t the choice, safe sex is the only option.

What I have noticed in the last year or so - and what is completely surprising to me - is how the idea that condoms are a non-negotiable has been completely lost. While the situations are different for everyone and alternate methods of birth control are perhaps more desirable given varying circumstances, it is altogether amazing to me at how many people I come across on nearly a daily basis who’ve waived their right to rubber.

Photo: trec_lit on Flickr

Quite recently, I asked a girlfriend of mine in a fairly new relationship - less than two months - if they’ve discussed using just the pill. She quickly informed me that her and her new boyfriend never used condoms from day one. I was shocked! At 28 years old, I can truly say that since becoming sexually active, I have only had one partner I trusted and communicated with enough to forego condoms in favour of only the birth control pill.

This fornicating phenomenon doesn’t seem to end in real life. Just the other day, another girlfriend of mine seemed somewhat taken aback by this potential topic when I mentioned it to her. Only hours later, while watching Young People F*cking, two of the main characters got busy on a first date without a condom. “Trust me, I’m clean. And I can just pull out…” is all he said - while he was already presumably inside her.

For an idea that was thought to practically be doctrine as I grew up, the concept of condoms seems to have left the building a long time ago. Friends don’t encourage friends to use them (I won’t hesitate to shove a condom in a friend’s pocket if need be) and mainstream media shuns sheaths for more “glamourous” sex. While I could fill this page with more stories, I digress.

This is where you talk to me: have you noticed a drop in condom use, generally? And further, what is your overall take on sexual health and protection?

To learn more about contraception and sexual health, visit SexualityAndU in connection with The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.

And just in case you forgot, click here (NSFO).

Nine hours, 108 songs on iTunes, 8 Twitter breaks and $70 at Shopper’s Drug Mart - that’s what it took to clean my apartment yesterday. Nine hours, you ask? I busted out my inner Monica Geller and accomplished no less than the following:

vacuumed (including emptying and washing the canister)

dusted

mopped (with my new lavender and vanilla Swiffer Wet cloths)

cleaned my entire bathroom (and also washed the ceiling and walls)

re-organized everything under my bathroom sink

cleaned my entire kitchen (including cleaning under the sink, wiping the fridge and walls and vacuuming the tiny corners)

re-organized my entire hall closet

took down my Christmas decorations and returned them to my storage unit

watered my fern and bamboo

lemon orange-oiled my dining table

re-folded my entire closet of clothes

washed six loads of laundry

hauled seven bags of old clothes, jackets, mittens and shoes to the alley behind my building

Windex’d all reflective surfaces

Wanna lurk in my apartment? Thought so.

Extra space is becoming a hot commodity around here these days.

My favourite part of today? Creating a special new home for my knitting gear.

Very few of them embarrass me.

January to January, but I’m missing April 2008! Can anyone help me out with that?

This is what I like to call my “messy corner.”

Hey, wait… wasn’t Jen sitting on a dark couch the other night? Yep, washed my slipcover too!

Did I mention that I also hauled away three bags of recyclables?

Everything is full, shiny and topped up!

So clean you can see yourself in it…

It’s not that “Exquisit” - trust me.

Probably should’ve wiped my canisters a little better…

I promise I’m going grocery shopping this weekend, Mom. Also, that’s not red wine. It’s this stuff. So good!

I should do this for a living. $300 per hour… any takers?

The excitement doesn’t stop here. After grocery shopping on Saturday, I may go and buy a paper shredder to get rid of old bills before de-pilling all my sweaters. Jealous, I know.

I really hope you appreciate this photo post and show it lots of love and tenderness because creating it was a nightmare! I need to gain some more WordPress skills - soon enough.

So about last night… no resolutions, no celebrations, but also no staying home and crying over Titanic with a jumbo box of bon-bons either. All Jenny and I wanted was some decent food, yummy cocktails and a little bit of adventure. Lately it seems to be becoming tradition to kick off evenings out with chardonnay at my place. I’m a red wine snob, so don’t ask me why we bust out the white.

These are my Lippmann Collection nails.

Boobs.

After a few glasses we set out for Yaletown. Lame, yes - but Yaletown’s got my favourite Cactus Club and they always make their lime margaritas on the rocks (which I love)!

Cactus Club was closed to prepare for the New Year’s Eve party they were throwing. Apparently tickets were still available but even if I was a New Year’s Eve party girl, I am pretty sure that my first venue of choice wouldn’t be Cactus Club when the Opus Hotel is directly across the street.

We ended up at Wings on Granville Street because: A) it’s not pretentious; B) it’s cheap; C) they have really cheap martinis and cocktails; D) I love chicken; E) I love chicken that I can lick off my fingers; and F) they have a fireplace that we got to sit next to.

Except maybe I’m NEVER going to Wings again because I bit into one, pulled it away from my mouth and looked down to see this:

Except maybe I will go to Wings again because I ♥ their mud pie.

After we finished up, Jen and I decided to pop in and visit Duane since he was chillin’ with some Diet Pepsi and AppleTV. On the way, I saw this lady in Blenz and she was seriously head-to-toe Elle Woods.

Nice try, Butters. I see you hiding behind my wine glass.

Duane had some poo paper. I am pretty sure it was just a chocolate smudge on a utility bill, but calling it “poo paper” allows me to use mini alliteration.

Let me just beat you all to it and say “yes, I know this is pretty much a direct Raymi rip-off, and it wasn’t intentional but it’s pretty much undeniable in style.”

I was home before the midnight mayhem, so that was awesome.

Okay, now share some sentiment because this post was an entire labour of love.

Though only a few minutes into 2009, I decided to follow suit after Rebecca and share some of my most memorable moments of 2008 in Flickr form. Being that I have close to 90 pages of photos from the last year, doing so was no easy task. While Rebecca chose just one or two photos from each month, I found doing the same to be nearly impossible. Being as minimalist as possible, I present to you January through December, 2008…

The horrendous windstorms of January on Vancouver Island forced our family to have many of our majestic trees cut down, providing a new playground for Charley.

Photo: Retrocactus on Flickr

The first birthday of the year belonged to none other than Rebecca herself. We all celebrated in true Mexican margarita style at Poncho’s on Denman Street.

Birthday No. 2 belonged to Amy, and a group of us treated her (and her gorgeous new ‘do) to beer, wings and bowling. I believe this was the same night we all discovered the magical Granville Street arcade.

Rebecca and I kicked off February with a girls-only trip and found ourselves waist-deep in powder on Mount Washington in the Comox Valley.

Not long after, we headed to BC Place for the Green Living Show, representing happyfrog.

In March Amy, Rebecca and myself enjoyed a ladies’ night with Barbra Streisand’s The Way We Were. Rebecca ended up helping herself to a little too much Peanut.

Free bubbly at Boneta.

It didn’t take Amy and I long to discover the best cookies on Earth at Farfalla in Gastown.

A group of local bloggers teamed up and tied up (their bowling laces) to raise money for Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver at Xcalibur Lanes in Surrey.

2008 saw Easter’s arrival in March instead of April, so I packed up my two favourite monkeys, my snowboard and headed to Vancouver Island in anticipation of my brother’s surprise visit.

I think it goes without saying that, by the end of the weekend, the boys were fast friends with Charley.

With April came an evening at 8 Rinks in Burnaby with Amy. While everyone chowed down on nachos and beer, I enjoyed a delightful combination of herbal tea and vegetables. Living on the edge, I know.

Nothing says “Happy Birthday, Duane!” like a festive and bright Christmas tree.

Sequoyah turned 11 and wasted no time digging into the four-cheese lasagna I made for him…

…while Lilah was more than happy to help with the cake!

With summer sun around the corner, my first purchase of May was my retro, one-piece from Jantzen. I saw it in Vogue and was instantly consumed with lust.

Nothing says “West Coast girl” more than braving the rainy elements for an early morning walk on the seawall with Jenny. The starfish we found were unbelievable.

I wore my leg-warmers over my jeans with heels. It’s hip to be square.

Somehow I managed to slice open my knuckle and lock Jenny and I in the apartment all in one night. Frustrated and sad at the time, character-building in retrospect.

I felt the first rays of Summer’s sun at the Woodland Gardens craft fair on the May Long Weekend. Charley and my mom came along too.

A little pink from the sun, I (almost) enjoyed a dinner with my mom and aunt at Crown Isle’s Timber Room. Never. Again.

It was a night for “mommy and me” at Boneta in Gastown for Rebecca, myself and our respective mother-dears.

In June, Benji enjoyed the lush grass on one of our many trips to Crab Park…

…and I was lucky enough to snap the greatest photo of Casey ever taken (in my humble opinion).

Ribs for breakfast with Duane; he ordered them, not me.

Kortney and I hit up the Freakin’ Coffee Shop on one of my countless trips to the Island.

I managed to soak up some delicious rays from the blue, blue sky by the blue, blue water in my blue, blue bikini at Comox’s Goose Spit Park.

I closed off June with a trip to Victoria to visit Antonio and hit up Lucky Bar while I was there. Memories, sweet (and sour) memories.

Normally we’d expect sunshine and hot, hot heat in July, but that’s not the way it started. The rain didn’t keep us all from having a total blast at Playland!

When I was a teenager, I’d distract myself from my fear of the Enterprise by singing Stone Temple Pilots’ “Interstate Love Song” to myself at the top of my lungs. Now, not so much. I’m a brave girl.

Who can resist spending an sunshine-filled afternoon with these three munchkins?

It’s truly once in a blue moon that Ashley, Emily and I have the opportunity to spend time together, but we were all fortunate enough to have one fabulous July evening to put on the ritz!

We had sunshine at some points this Summer - I promise! It just never happened during the first weekend of August when Jenny and I found ourselves in Tofino for surf lessons and adventures in camping.

Sometimes the best photos are the ones you never intend to capture…

What’s the one thing better than the Comox Valley’s annual Filberg Festival? The Filberg Festival plus Amy plus Moose Tracks ice cream!

Filberg Park is a unique spot where special things will happen…

September was unreal. Rebecca invited me to be her official photographer and partner in crime for an interview with Hanson and attendance at their Commodore Ballroom show.

Not long after, I gathered the troops to walk for the SPCA. Matthew and I raised over $7,500 for our local Vancouver shelter - Benji, Casey, Pete and Bella were over the moon!

Things got a lot hotter in October when Marc Jacobs decided to join the party in my closet - thanks again so much, Jack!

Granville Island holds special treasures every single time I visit, and I managed to discover some new hidden gems when John, Becky and myself found ourselves there on one rainy Fall afternoon.

I could not have asked for a more rad way to end October. Jenny and I headed south on the I-5 - our destination? Seattle.

Apparently we’re Swedish twins? A lot of Americans seemed to think so. Plus, it was sunny! Fancy that.

Our reason for going was singular and lovely - emphasis on the lovely. Jenny Lewis, the girl with the voice the could make angels rage with jealousy, played to a sold-out crowd at the Showbox Theatre at Pike Place Market. It was one hour of pure bliss for this girl.

What better way to invoke the true spirit of Halloween than to exploit the cuteness that is Benji and Casey?

For some reason, the excitement that November held was seemingly non-existent. That is, of course, except for the fact that I found out that I’ll be an auntie in the Spring, and saw the first ultrasound photos of my future niece!

A life does not have to be human to be great. Becky and I were shown that this is true when we attended a screening of Saving Luna in early December.

The first annual Best of 604 awards were a huge success, and I had a blast attending the awards reception at the Cellar on December 11 with some awesome ladies.

Lindsay and I got in the Christmas spirit a little early after one or three vodka cocktails. I’m pretty sure she had a sketchy Red Bull too.

Good deed for the day? Jenny and I pooled our cash together and bought a huge haul of treats, toys and food for the various animals in need of daily care at the Vancouver branch of the SPCA.

It was rather appropriate to kick off my Christmas holidays with a merry and bright shopping adventure with my mom.

So many grumbled about the endless snow over the holiday season. None of these grumblings, however, came from Charley. She loved every last delicate flake and couldn’t get enough!

With all its ups and downs, 2008 proved to be - at the very least - better for me than 2007. I’m not one to care much for the clock striking 12 and have never been much of a celebratory lady when it comes to New Year’s Eve. I never make resolutions and consider it like any other day. As I recently read, however, there is something inspiring about rolling over the clock, hanging up a new calendar and getting rid of what’s old to make room for what is to come.

My many wishes and hopes to you all for blessings, love, joy and life in 2009 and each and every year beyond it.

This afternoon, the Ottawa girl over at The Quack Attack posted answers to five questions posed to her in an effort to let us all get to know her better. Agreeing that it would be a neat-o idea, I zipped an e-mail off to her and received five original questions asked of me.

These are my answers.

1. When you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grow up?

I had so many career ideas as a little girl (including pursuing a law degree - yikes!), but the earliest two memories I can recall were either a figure skater or a cheerleader. Oddly enough, I never learned to do either.

Photo: Duane Storey on Flickr

2. What is the one task you procrastinate on more than any other?

The older I get, the less I find I tend to procrastinate. I’m more of the “do it now and get it over and done with” type. This even includes laundry and cleaning toilets. The same could not be said of my homework in grade school.

3. Name one thing you love about living in Vancouver and why.

I know I have a tendency to rag on this city more often than not, but one thing I know for sure that I absolutely love is the little ways in which Vancouver constantly surprises me. Though I’m a diehard homebody, there’s also a spontaneous streak somewhere inside. Meeting friends for beer and cheap wings at the last minute, sunset trips to the beach to watch the waves roll in or random bowl-a-thons are always some of my most treasured memories of this place.

Photo: Duane Storey on Flickr

4. If you could go back in time and change one decision you made, what would it be?

This is an answer I tend to search for quite a bit for my own reasons, but as cliché as it may be to say so, I don’t think there’s anything I regret so much that I’d change, given the chance. I’ve made a lot of bad decisions, inexperienced choices and the like in my lifetime, but there’s nothing I’ve experienced that I haven’t ultimately learned something from. I could try to put a certain value on those lessons, but the truth is that it isn’t possible.

5. Totally for fun: if you found yourself in the same place as Javier Bardem, would you be brave enough to approach him? Got an opening line?

Five years ago I probably wouldn’t have had the courage to approach him, but knowing what I know of myself now, I don’t think that it would be a problem for me. I have the confidence to do so, though I don’t know for sure what I would say in that instant. But, um, let’s be honest… would I really need a stellar opening line?

I jest.

(Sorta)

Want to get in on the fun? You can be a part of it by following a few simple steps…

Send me an e-mail with the subject line “Interview Me”

I’ll respond within 12-ish hours with 5 questions directed to you (I promise to try and be unique)

Answer the questions on your blog (or Facebook or MySpace) and link back to this original post

Invite others to participate by re-posting these steps

Earlier I was speaking with a friend in an attempt to find a topic to blog about. After politely declining the subject of the Middle Eastern conflict (you can read about that elsewhere), he suggested “the fleeting nature of women’s fashion and how it breeds unnecessary consumerism.” Seemed to me that was a bit of a sore spot so I probed further…

As it turns out, his wife was petitioning to him for a new pair of boots, justifying said boots because they were on sale from $350 down to $250. It seemed reasonable to me. His argument, however, was that she already has a number of perfectly good boots. And further, she wanted these new boots simply based on the fact that “the toes are more blunt on these ones.” And with that, I sided with him instantly.

Photo: HBO on Fashion Nation

I can readily admit that it took me a long, long time to finally understand the concept of shoes beyond basic function. I could appreciate how essential it is to own a pair of sneakers, a pair of heels, maybe some galoshes for the winter and, most definitely, snowboard boots for obvious purposes. But it wasn’t until I finally hit my mid-20s and decided to buck fashion trends for what I wanted to wear that I was able to recognize just how crucially footwear is correlated to fashion.

They say that shoes make an outfit, and it’s true. Imagine a dreamy, creamy summer dress paired with black, square-heeled pumps instead of ballet flats or espadrilles. Or a sleek and tailored pantsuit with a pair of Doc Martens. Ridiculous, I know. But does this mean that it’s necessary to hit the shoe shops for countless pairs to match with each and every outfit? I think not.

Why did I disagree with my friend’s wife’s attempt at rationalization as mentioned above? To purchase a pair of boots simply for a different toe style is completely unnecessary. Flip open any Vogue magazine. While the pages are plastered with couture, cruise wear and the unconventional, a running theme is fashion that exudes class, style and tradition. I’m of the opinion that it’s okay to spend several hundred on a pair of boots - bearing in mind that they should be both functional and timeless in their design.

While my sturdy pair of Frye boots may run upwards of $350, will I still be wearing these a decade from now? The chances are quite likely. The same can’t be said of footwear (or any fashion, for that matter) that is trendy or fad-ariffic. Style du jour will fade with each season and disappear like a tumbleweed. And other items, such as the perfect pair of jeans, a stunning little black dress or delicate heels are comparable to a Chanel suit - iconic fashion statements that transcend the passing of time. Those pieces are what are worth the extra dollars.

Something For The Men

On a final note, what is it with men and boots? My friend also confirmed to me that almost every man finds a woman in boots irresistible. Perhaps I’m just a little naïve (or maybe my brain doesn’t function as imaginatively), but what goes through a man’s head when he sees a woman in boots? And further, do you men prefer a woman in boots or a woman in a sexy pair of shoes?

I’m exhausted. Completely, positively, entirely exhausted - mentally, physically, emotionally. Oddly, however, not spiritually.

As the sun started to set over the late afternoon in Vancouver and a damp cold crept back into the air, I arrived back in the city. The last nine days have been spent on Vancouver Island, in my home, with my family. The majority of those days I spent in pajamas and hoodies while playing Dr. Mario and cuddling with Charley.

It was a respite I so desperately needed, even if that’s only apparent to me after the fact.

I’m a girl. Sometimes I’m a tough girl; sometimes I’m a fragile girl. Some days I can skip through with a sweet smile and let the test of tenacity roll off my back. Other days, I feel like my get-up-and-go has finally got up and went.

Life is hard.

The only person who told us otherwise was Walt Disney.

Sometimes I find myself wishing to get up and walk away from everything. Sometimes I feel like circumstances, feelings, situations and every day life are more than I care to deal with. Fresh starts offer fresh hope. However, what I’m reminded of are those that have been there before and those that will go there after me.

In May of 2003, an experienced hiker found himself in the midst of the impossible. Aron Ralston was enjoying a solo hike near Moab, Utah and in the blink of an eye, his arm became lodged between a rock wall and a large boulder. After days without food, water or human contact, his options were unthinkable: die or amputate. Ralston chose the latter and removed his lower arm with a crude pocket knife and crawled his way to help and safety.

In a book summarizing his entire experience, Ralston recalled questioning “will I be able to think through this as I do it and will I be able to make good decisions when I’m halfway through it?”

Perhaps the same can be applied to life, generally. Believing in one’s self and knowing that we do have options and choices is what makes all the difference. We’ll never hit the target every time, we’ll fail at other times, but as long as we try and believe that we are able to make good decisions as we move down the paths cut out for us, we have the hope of success.

Right now, I choose to be where I am. It’s my choice, and knowing that is sufficient for today.

To read more about Aron Ralston and his story, visit the Wikipedia page.

The fire’s still burning, South Park is playing in the background and everyone is in bed but me. Technically it’s Boxing Day, and I couldn’t be more glad that Christmas is over. Normally, it’s one of my most favourite times and days of the year. This Christmas was the exception and I feel far less merry than I normally would.

All was not lost though…

I woke up at 8:00 a.m. to find Charley eagerly licking my face. I think she must know when it’s Christmas and feel the excitement.

After I set the table on Christmas Eve and laid gifts under the tree, Charley marched back and forth, sniffed the presents and laid next to them as if to guard them all. On top of that, she was so eager and full of beans all day today.

My mom created a gorgeous centrepiece for our Christmas meal.

For some reason, “Santa” still spoils me rotten on Christmas this many years later. Among other lovelies, I got a fistful of gift cards, amazing cookbooks and an 8G iPod Nano.

After baking breakfast buns and hopping into a quick shower, I slipped into couture and headed for the kitchen. Taking over the turkey dinner reigns from my mom was something I welcomed with open arms a few years back.

On the menu? Three-day buns, turkey, stuffing, applesauce, buttermilk mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, yams, red cabbage, carrots and sweet gherkin pickles.

I was fortunate enough to have my longtime friend Rebecca join us for Christmas dinner this year. Her and her bottle of red wine were a welcome sight at my front door this evening.

After packing in a full meal, we all still managed to find some room for sweet goodies and tempting treats. My peanut butter cup cookies were the first to go!

Sending love and holiday wishes from Dawson Creek, Trevor and Laura (and baby Mellis - 6 months!) modeled their new Christmas threads for us.

Despite what could have been, there were still shimmery glimmers of goodness throughout my day, and everyone at my dinner table was someone that I love.

Perhaps I feel anticlimactic, perhaps I’m just getting older or perhaps life has jaded me somewhat. The one day I feel is always filled with magic instead seemed empty, void and not unlike an unfinished painting. I’d like to say “here’s to a better Christmas in 2009,” but instead here’s hoping for an entirely different Christmas…

Between Twitter and Flickr, my need of diary blogging on this site has seemingly become obsolete. While I haven’t felt much inspired to get deep lately, that’s no excuse to neglect you, o’ my readers.

Here’s a little of what I’ve been up to since arriving on Vancouver Island on Friday afternoon…

The mercury dropped as quickly as the snowflakes, so naturally Charley and I had to make use of our pending white Christmas. That little girl loves the snow, and if you don’t believe me, you should probably check out the video I posted.

With Christmas celebrations comes Christmas dinner, and with Christmas dinner comes Christmas dessert. My mom and I spent time on Sunday and Monday in the kitchen: she made her famous whipped shortbread; I made gingerbread shapes and Auntie Amy’s peanut butter cup cookies. And yes, they’re as good as they look!

A few weeks ago, I decided that it would be my Winter project to take up knitting. Mostly I want to be able to make a baby blanket for my soon-to-be-born niece (yes, they’re having a baby girl!), but I also thought it’d be fun to whip up some scarves for friends and for charity next Christmas.

Okay, so my tension sucks, but I’ve picked up the theory of the knit pretty quickly, and my mom’s BFF is bringing some perfectly-sized needles and fun royal purple wool for me on Christmas Day. The woman knits, weaves, cross-stitches, sews, quilts and who knows what else. She’ll have me knitting like a pro in no time!

After three days of cabin fever, my friend Rebecca came to my rescue in her boyfriend’s 4×4 and whisked me into downtown Courtenay.

London fogs, Christmas card shopping and finding some manicure implements were on our to-do list.

After our “date,” I met up with my mom for some McDonald’s for dinner. Tasty, I know.

Ugh, I gotta give myself a very, very thorough manicure tomorrow. After copious hand-washing while baking, my hands are in some serious need of TLC.

The snow is starting to come down again something fierce, so there’s nothing better to do than curl up with Charley and my fleece blanket and kick my mom’s ass at Dr. Mario. Yup, old school Nintendo. I might even bust out Rad Racer later.

Being that in only a few short hours, I’ll be on the Island with my family and lovable baby girl Charley, today’s post is dedicated solely to her cuteness. My mom’s been snappin’ shots like crazy lately, particularly with all the snow that’s been falling on Vancouver Island. Charley is one dog who can’t get enough of the fluffy white stuff…

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

Those pictures pretty much make my heart burst and I can’t wait to get out and run around in the snow with my little pumpkin.

P.S. In case you were wondering, Mount Washington opens today (the lifts start running in 10 minutes!) and from what I can tell on the snowcam, things are really, really ridiculously good-looking on the slopes. In celebration of the mountain’s 30th anniversary, passes are only $30 bucks today!

Wham bam, it’s Christmas, ma’am. Sure there’s still a lot to get done, especially considering that there’s only one week plus a day until Christmas Eve. I am, however, enjoying every little bit of it as best as I can.

Photo: Gus Greeper on Flickr (Used With Permission)

After dinner last night, I rolled up my sleeves and baked six dozen sugar cookies - the only sound being Eli’s pitter-pattering paws as the snow started to silently fall. Snowflakes have been falling ever since, turning Greater Vancouver into a true Winter Wonderland. In all my 28 years, I have yet to experience snow on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, so I am keeping my fingers crossed inside my mittens.

With work, packing, laundry, Wings with friends, cards, shopping, gifts and so much more to get done before ‘The Big Day,’ who knows how much time I’ll really have to blog between now and Christmas. So, that being said…

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Me to You! xo

I haven’t blogged in a few days. You missed me, I missed you, so here we go.

Finally I’ve received word that Mount Washington will be hitting the ‘on’ switch on their lifts this Friday, December 19. Being that it’s the mountain’s 30th anniversary, all adult alpine lift tickets are only $30, so strap on and get up there.

You asked questions. I answered.

Life’s been busy lately - really busy - and I am quite sure there are more commitments than there is “available Keira-Anne.” Cookies aren’t getting baked, my Christmas cards are sitting in a sealed stack waiting to be stamped and mailed, my Christmas shopping list is far from finished and there are only three more sleeps until I leave for holidays on the Island. Am I the only one running around with too much to do and too little time? I doubt it…

Oh but I got something else and it’s awesome.

Photo: Shu Uemura

Just this morning, I was saying to myself how bent out of shape my Clinique eyelash curler is. Lo’ and behold, this morning I received yet another Christmas gifts from one of the lawyers I work for. She gave me one of Shu Uemura’s 24K Gold Limited Edition Eyelash Curlers - one of only 100 in Canada, apparently. It’s pretty.

After a tough, teary week of work for Jen and a potential “Mexicoma” lurking in my future, Jenny and I decided that a day dedicated solely to making ourselves feel good was absolutely key. Kicking off the day with peppermint mochas and cranberry bliss bars from Starbucks was non-negotiable.

Mission No. 1: SPCA’s Toy Drive for the Animals at the Vancouver shelter. Particularly at Christmas, every charity under the sun is in exceptional need of help. While all charities are worthwhile and important, it should be known that the SPCA receives zero funding from any level of government, including municipal. Local shelters are 100% reliant on the generosity of you and me. Jenny and I Skytrain’d it out to Superstore in an attempt to stretch our dollars.

We walked away with four boxes of milk bones, dog toys, cat toys, cat treats, bunny food, rodent food, hamster food, gerbil fluff and a few other items that our shelter desperately needs.

After leaving our donation with administration, I took Jenny to the kennel area for a quick tour. There, I met and fell in love with Buddy. His family moved and couldn’t take him with them, and it was apparent by his instant liking to me that he craved attention and affection.

We also met Max, a black lab who got the boot when baby no. 1 came along. Pardon my self-righteous rant, but when you have a dog, he or she is family and that’s not up for debate. When the going gets tough, the tough don’t get rid of their dog. Dogs are a lifelong commitment, and one that should not be taken lightly.

Of course we couldn’t leave without having our photo taken with Santa. He was a pervy Santa. “So have you girls been good this year or naughty?” After trying endlessly to convince us to sit on his lap, he threw in a “Wow…I can’t decide which of you girls smells better” for good measure.

We ran into John and Rebecca at the Broadway Skytrain station.

Following our SPCA adventure, we may have found ourselves at Holt Renfrew. Also, we may have taken advantage of their 40% off designer sale. That said, we may have walked away with some new Marc Jacobs goods. And a sale like that calls for celebratory manicures.

I opted for OPI’s “Siberian Nights.”

Jenny said “You Make Me Vroom.” I think she was talking to Mick Dundee.

Pretty nails!

The end to a fabulous day calls for delicious pinot noir. My red wine of choice? Firesteed from Oregon. Yum.

Oh and we also had Indian food. It was pretty much the worst frickin’ butter chicken I’ve had in my life. I hope to rectify that disappointment next weekend.

That’s it for now, folks. And now, back to Crocodile Dundee 2.

P.S. I just received an e-mail from the SPCA’s Vancouver shelter and found out that over $10,000 in cash and item donations was received this afternoon. I want to send out a huge thank you to all who helped out and contributed to this worthwhile cause. Buddy and all his friends are grateful!

Tonight was the Best of 604 awards reception gala at The Cellar in Vancouver. Rebecca did a phenomenal job in pulling together such a stellar event with fantastic sponsors and the expertise assistance of her husband John. I know I can speak on behalf of many in saying that the night was fun-filled and exciting. I’m not normally one to partake in the social media scene’s events, but this was most certainly an enjoyable evening.

I tagged along with Jenny, Amy and Lindsay for the night and we managed to get into some gin and tonic-induced shenanigans. Rather than just tell you what the night was like, allow me to show you.

The girls came over after work for some pre-gala chardonnay.

Our bartender was like Jeremy Sisto meets Javier Bardem. That’d be hot if he wasn’t a BARTENDER!

Once all was said and done and the awards were handed out (check Miss604’s website tomorrow for a complete list of winners), the four of us packed it in and headed up Granville Street to the arcade for some, ahem, adult entertainment at the price of 25 cents per minute. It was a first for Lindsay and Jenny.

Our bellies empty, we decided we needed chicken wings. En route, some random stopped Lindsay, handed her a Red Bull from the flat of them he was carrying and told her it was “just because you’re beautiful.” And she is.

We got side-tracked on the way to Wings by Dare To Wear. It’s trouble!

We finally made it to Wings. $3.99 paralyzers. Phewf.

The girls got naughty on Davie Street on the way home. Paralyzers, beer and hard liquor will do that to you. So glad I have to work in the morning.

Since the summer of 2004, I have lived in a 12th-floor apartment in Vancouver’s West End - a slice of home that lets in a lot of sunshine and warmth.

Though the apartment holds as much charm as it does memories, like most places, it’s not without its ghosts. The building itself has a high turn-over rate of partiers, poor management and far too many residents who enjoy playing Cher’s music at high volumes. The kitchen is as tiny as an office cubicle and the entire building is zoned “NO PETS!”

Last night I surfed the internet seeking apartments for rent in the West End that were decent, were of reasonable rent and allowed for pets. I came across this…

This afternoon on my lunch break, I went to have a look at the place. The square footage is roughly the same size as my current place, but there’s no balcony, no view and it’s on the second floor of a three-storey walk-up. The flat’s recently been gutted with new everything in the kitchen, which includes stainless steel appliances and a dishwasher. The bedroom nook is very Carrie-esque, and even though the bathroom isn’t the most desirable one I’ve ever seen, it is definitely a suite that can be lived in. And best of all: it allows pets! The price tag, however, is nearly $200 above what I pay now.

I am willing to get rid of cable TV, and the hydro is apparently a bit less than I pay now, but I can get a dog of my very own! Eek! The building is also a mere four blocks from my office, which hugely adds to the convenience factor. My problem is that I don’t know if I’m scared of an apartment that is very different from what I am so used to living in, or if I’m just scared of such a huge change after almost five years.

Any kind of input and insight from you, o’ my readers, would be most helpful!

My Christmas Spirit came late this year. For weeks, I had nothing decorated, nothing bought, nothing baked and nothing planned. Holy does time fly by quickly - and everything else changes just as fast! I feel like I’ve got a laundry list of planning, purchasing and preparation ahead of me in the coming weeks, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Original Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

On top of all things directly related to Christmas, there’s a pile of other fun stuff for this chica to (potentially) look forward to! See what I mean:

The Best of 604 awards reception at the Cellar (located at 1006 Granville Street) tonight - sold out! Look for me on stage aka I’ll be Vanna White

My Christmas luncheon party with work tomorrow - planned and organized entirely by yours truly

Circuit training on Saturday morning

The SPCA Toy Drive this Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the 7th Avenue shelter in Vancouver. There will be Timbits!

Christmas baking all day on Sunday with Amy in the midst of “Christmas Town”

Baking sugar cookies for a few special people next week

Pack for my Christmas holidays on the Island!

Ferry home next Friday…

Last minute Christmas shopping with my Auntie and copious cuddling with Charley next Saturday afternoon

Dinner at The Great Escape in Cumberland followed by the town’s Winter Solstice Festival. My super hot friend Kortney will be dancing in it - I’m stoked to see her!

Marley and Me

Christmas shortbread baking with my mom

Christmas shortbread baking with Bethany

Turkey dinner!

Meet my friend Jenny’s new baby girl, Grace

Boxing Day deals…

Snowboarding at Mount Washington - keep your fingers (not your ski tips) crossed!

A weekend adventure to Chicago to see my pal Brent’s new trés chic apartment

Hunting around for a new apartment - I’m desperate to own a dog and need to find a place in which I can do that

So tell me: what’s on your laundry list that you’re looking forward to?