Mostly Waiting

Dude Passes Out By Being Tickled

2012-02-05T15:08:00.000-03:30

There are few things I hate more than being tickled...just because I'm laughing doesn't mean I'm having fun. This is crazy.

60 ideas to get you glowing

2012-02-04T10:51:00.000-03:30

Here are 60 ideas to get you glowing:

60. Eliminate shoulds.

59. Enjoy down time.

58. Run towards your fears.

57. Be dependable.

56. Embrace self-responsibility.

55. Be completely honest.

54. First meet your own needs.

53. Notice the beauty around you.

52. Open your mind to change.

51. Respect your body.

50. Set attainable goals.

49. Go at your own pace.

48. Honour your individuality.

47. Open yourself to umlimited possibilities.

46. See the humour in things.

45. Celebrate your imperfections.

44. Reward yourself.

43. Be flexible.

42. Be gentle with yourself.

41. Be open to being wrong.

40. Laugh for no reason.

39. Light candles.

38. Enjoy nature.

37. Get a message.

36. Congratulate yourself.

35. Know yourself.

34. Appreciate where you are today.

33. Give yourself space.

32. Breathe mindfully.

31. Communicate your emotions.

30. Learn to relax.

29. Meditate.

28. Say no more often.

27. Experience new things.

26. Take mini breaks throughout the day.

25. Create personal affirmation cards, use daily.

24. Hang out with positively happy people.

23. Schedule fun times for yourself.

22. Make your car a sanctuary.

21. Dress for success.

20. Be impeccably groomed.

19. Balance your energy.

18. Recharge your batteries.

17. Refuse to argue.

16. Balance your diet.

15. Sleep sound.

14. Persevere.

13. Feel and express gratitude.

12. Give up self put-downs.

11. Develop your intuition.

10. Learn to hold your own hand.

9. Accept your physical appearance.

8. Keep your cool.

7. Vent in a positive way.

6. Speak kindly of yourself.

5. Be brave.

4. Learn to calm yourself.

3. Listen to music.

2. Make the most of every opportunity.

1. Start fresh each day.

{Source: The Bold Life}

Rooms

2012-02-02T08:12:00.000-03:30

Blue

2012-01-28T08:10:00.000-03:30

Thoughtful Moments

2012-01-28T08:01:00.000-03:30

Simple Things That Really Make My Day

2012-01-26T12:35:00.000-03:30

Hearing a new song and knowing I’m gonna like it.
Being warm enough to keep the windows open all night.
Someone telling me that they appreciate me or something I've done.
Forgetting it is Friday in the middle of your work day and remembering just as I'm about to leave.
Coming home from a long day and taking my pants off immediately.
Splashing in puddles. It’s still fun.
Checking things off the to-do list.
Being at the grocery store and realizing that I, as an adult, can buy potato chips for dinner and no one can say shit about it.
Sitting in the park, on a sunny day, knowing that I have no obligations whatsoever for the entire day.
A really great piece of fresh fruit.
Knowing you did the right thing.
Anything to do with sleep. Waking up in the morning and realizing that I still have more time to sleep and being able to go back to sleep. Napping uninterrupted.
Flowers: smelling, buying, looking, touching, planting them.
Being in a situation where some pseudo-authority figure is yelling and then suddenly realizing, as an adult, I could just get up and leave.
Watching the rain race down the window.

White... No Snow Here.

2012-01-20T16:23:00.003-03:30

Thoughtful Moments For A Friday Afternoon

2012-01-20T16:22:00.000-03:30

Craving This...

2012-01-19T16:18:00.002-03:30

Not sure I believe it...but neat nonetheless.

Ingenuity

2012-01-16T16:53:00.000-03:30

Shit Yogis Say

2012-01-15T13:02:00.000-03:30

Namaste, mutha f*ckas. #shityogissay

Moksha Yoga St. John's

2012-01-15T12:55:00.000-03:30

Cool... I mean hot... new yoga studio opening in downtown St. John's soon! I hope they have classes at lunch time. http://st-johns.mokshayoga.ca/

The Gentlemen's Rant: Hipsters

2012-01-13T11:23:00.002-03:30

Happy Friday Funny!

Tips for Winter Running

2012-01-11T17:24:00.002-03:30

A few tips that I have found helpful so far, except the slowing down one...I already run pretty slow. ;-)

Wear trail shoes or a traction device. They will give you better traction and stability in the snow.
Choose fresh snow over ice or packed snow. You will get better traction on fresh snow and reduce the chance for slipping. Watch out for snow-covered cracks and holes in the road.
Shorten your running stride and keep your feet lower to the ground. You will run more efficiently and reduce the risk of slipping, falling or straining muscles.
On challenging weather days, throw your planned pace out the window and slow down.
It is better to focus on getting in a solid run safely than to hurry pace and risk getting hurt. It's also okay to cut your mileage short in snowy conditions. You'll be working a lot harder than your normal runs and the intensity will be much higher.
You may be sore in muscles you didn't even know you have. Running in snow and ice requires your stabilizing muscles on the inner and outer legs to work twice as hard as they work to keep you upright.
Focus on full body flexibility exercises (I recommend yoga) and ease your way into snow running. Alternate an outdoor snow run with an indoor treadmill run for a few weeks until your body adapts to the greater demands.
When in doubt, walk through an icy stretch. It beats getting hurt slipping on ice. You can also slow down and use a gliding skating step as well.
Relax and focus on the road ahead. Part of the tranquility of running in the snow is that it requires you to be in the moment and focus on every step you take.

Misfits BBC

2012-01-11T15:05:00.002-03:30

I've been on a video posting kick clearly of late. I am currently flying through this show - Misfits - it's in its third series now on BBC. Awesome if you like sci-fi, superhero, British stuff...I'm pretty sure this makes me a geek.

The Rapture - Echoes

2012-01-11T14:58:00.001-03:30

I'm addicted to this song today. :)

Office Space. Great.

2012-01-08T17:23:00.001-03:30

Lauren Anthony "The Way I Am" (Ingrid Michaelson)

2012-01-06T17:16:00.001-03:30

Luncheon with Glenn Stanford, COO of the St. John's IceCaps

2011-12-23T10:43:00.000-03:30

Luncheonwith guest speaker Glenn Stanford, COO of the St. John's IceCaps

Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: The Holiday Inn, St. John's (180 Portugal Cove Road)
Fee: $40 for members; $60 for non-members

The Chief Operating Officer of the hottest ticket in town - the St. John'sIceCaps - will address IABC-NL members. Mr. GlennStanford will share hisfirsthand perspectives of successfully bringing a brand new AHL team to thecapital city. He will discuss building the brand, marketing and promoting theproduct, as well as connecting and communicating with the public and communitypartners to generate support.

Register by Monday, Jan. 2 at eventsiabcnl@gmail.com. Please indicate any dietaryrestrictions.

More Jewellery

2011-11-25T17:35:00.001-03:30

Mostly Waiting Jewellery. Visit my Facebook Page. Click here.

Christmas Earrings

2011-11-25T17:33:00.001-03:30

Mostly Waiting Jewellery on Facebook. Click here.

IABC-NL Luncheon with CBC Radio Morning Show Host, Anthony Germain

2011-11-23T14:42:00.001-03:30

Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Location: The Holiday Inn, St. John’s (180 Portugal Cove Road)

Fee: $40 for members; $60 for non-members

Get to know the new host of the St. John’s Morning Show on CBC Radio. Anthony will share some of his varied experiences from a career in different media/journalism roles – from China foreign correspondent to the voice of the Morning Show.

Register by Tuesday, Nov. 29 at eventsiabcnl@gmail.com. Please indicate any dietary restrictions.

Visit the IABC-NL website at http://nf.iabc.com/ for more information.

Pearl Bobby Pins

2011-11-15T12:29:00.001-03:30

Funny...and a Little Geeky

2011-11-03T13:58:00.000-02:30

Spaghetti and Meatballs

2011-11-01T15:00:00.002-02:30

Quick Friday night meal.

Orange

2011-10-28T16:12:00.001-02:30

Some colour on this miserable day...

Chocolate Chip Toffee Snickerdoodles

2011-10-27T16:52:00.001-02:30

I was so disappointed to learn that snickerdoodles didn't have snickers bar pieces in them, that I decided they should have something like it in there. So I added toffee and chocolate chips...and they are so much better with them.

makes 16-20 cookies
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup toffee chips
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup sugar + 1 tablespoon cinnamon for dipping

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar until blended. Add egg and vanilla. Combine well. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon mixture. Add in milk as needed. Fold in toffee bits and chocolate chips. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon on plate. Remove dough from fridge and roll into 1 inch balls. Roll in cinnamon sugar mixture and place on baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Snickerdoodles

2011-10-26T09:47:00.000-02:30

These pictures didn't turn out the best, but the cookies sure did.

(makes 16-20 cookies)

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup sugar + 1 tablespoon cinnamon for dipping

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar until blended. Add in the egg and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon mixture until dough comes together. Add in milk as needed if dough is crumbly and dry. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon on plate. Remove dough from fridge and roll into 1 inch balls. Roll in cinnamon sugar mixture, flatten slightly and place on baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Carrot Cake... Cupcakes!

2011-10-24T11:32:00.000-02:30

Back to Running

2011-10-24T11:29:00.001-02:30

Started running again following a long hiatus, even though I was only a novice runner to begin with. Today marks the beginning of week two of my running clinic at the Running Room. I am hoping the regular schedule of the clinic will help get me motivated and I'll hopefully stick with it this time around.

There are some really good articles on staying motivated to run. Try Runner's World for a great bunch of articles. So far so good with the clinic. I am feeling good about it despite being a little discouraged about how much endurance I have lost. I am looking forward to getting back to where I was and then moving forward from there. I'm also committed to running a few races in order to keep myself committed. The first will be the Resolution Run on December 31, 2011. I'll let you know how it goes!

Festival of New Dance

2011-10-18T14:13:00.000-02:30

Margie Gillis

I took in some of the Festival of New Dance last week. Pretty amazing the calibre of artists this small city of ours can attract. It is produced by Neighbourhood Dance Works and was the 21st year of the festival. It offered something for everyone and it was amazing!

Cas Public

Coats...How I Love You!

2011-10-13T16:47:00.000-02:30

While Fall is always a little depressing for me with the colder weather and shorter daylight hours, I do love that I get to wear more coats. Most women have a close relationship with their shoes...I have one with my outerwear. :)

Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-07T17:13:00.001-02:30

Jambalaya and Pulled Pork Lasagna

2011-10-07T17:13:00.000-02:30

I love my slow cooker, but I often find it hard to go beyondstews, soup and chili. I did manage to cook two meals from a pork tenderloin. The first was a pork jambalaya and the secondwas pulled pork lasagna.

Jambalaya

Place in slow cooker on low for 8 hours:

- 1 (2 lb) pork tenderloin

- 1 canned of stewed whole tomatoes, hand crushed

- 1 small onion

- 1 green pepper

- Cajun spice

- Hot sauce

- Pinch of salt and pepper

Once cooked, remove pork and letcool 15 min. Shred pork by pulling apartwith a fork. Place back in slow cooker. Sautéed sausage pieces and shrimp and setaside.

I still like to cook my riceseparately rather than add to the slow cooker – becomes too starchyotherwise. Add cooked rice to deepskillet with cooked shrimp and sausage and half of the pork and tomato mixturefrom slow cooker. Let rice absorb sauce.

Pulled Pork Lasagna

I used the remaining pulled pork (abouttwo cups) from the previous night to make the lasagna. I added an extra bottle of pre-made tomatosauce and let simmer. And I added broccoli florets at the end to get my vegetable quota up.

I assembled the lasagna with thepork tomato sauce and lasagna noodles, with a mixture of mozzarella,cheddar and parmesan cheeses. Bake for45 min. Yum!

Christmas Jewellery

2011-09-30T10:05:00.002-02:30

Reindeer Earrings

Jingle Bells!

Christmas Tree with Burgundy Accent

Reindeer with Burgundy Accent

Christmas Tree with Emerald Accent

Christmas Tree with Red Accent

Christmas Tree Necklace

Cupcakes and Jewellery

2011-09-28T16:30:00.000-02:30

What does one do with her evening? I worked on some new pieces of jewellery and made cupcakes for the folks at work.

My Love of Typography

2011-09-28T16:13:00.000-02:30

Occupy Wall Street Protest Enters Second Week - Still No News Coverage

2011-09-27T17:12:00.000-02:30

Does anyone else find it amazing that thousands of people have occupied Wall Street and the mainstream news outlets have not covered any of it? Anyone who has studied media will understand why, but still I am even surprised.

At least in this day and age, social media sites and YouTube videos get the word out. Makes you think what else is happening that we don't get to hear about.

One video below by democracynow.org

Yellow

2011-09-27T12:45:00.000-02:30

Weekend Chili

2011-09-26T17:46:00.001-02:30

Ingredients:

· 1 pound lean ground beef
· 1 pound ground pork
· 1 can red kidney beans, drained
· 1 can chick peas, drained
· 1 can stewed whole tomatoes, roughly cut up
· 1 cup chopped white onion
· 1 can tomato paste
· 1 cup chopped green pepper
· ½ cup chicken stock
· ½ cup chili sauce
· 3 tablespoons chili power
· 2 tablespoon Louisiana hot spice
· ½ teaspoon garlic powder
· ½ teaspoon dried parsley
· ½ teaspoon dried basil
· ½ ground coriander
· ½ teaspoon salt
· ½ teaspoon pepper

Preparation:

In skillet brown ground beef, pork and onion – drain excess oil.
In slow cooker combine all ingredients.
Cover, cook on high heat for 4 hours stirring occasionally if home (or low heat for 8 hours).
Stir before serving.
Serve with shredded cheese.
Makes 6 to 8 hearty servings.

Chocolate Cake

2011-09-26T17:46:00.000-02:30

I made chocolate cake on the weekend. This time I added coconut milk in place of a third of the water. It turned out unbelievably moist and there was no added coconut favour. Amazing!

Purple

2011-09-26T14:08:00.000-02:30

Green

2011-09-26T13:03:00.000-02:30

Two New TV Shows - Kinda Cute

2011-09-22T09:17:00.000-02:30

The first is called New Girl and it stars Zooey Deschanel. Looks cute so far.

The second is 2 Broke Girls and stars Kat Denning. Also cute.

New Jewellery

2011-09-21T20:58:00.000-02:30

Check out my Facebook page for more pictures.

Mostly Waiting Jewellery

Fishtail Braids

2011-09-21T17:04:00.002-02:30

I am going to master the fishtail braid this evening. Perhaps.

Thoughtful Moment #6

2011-09-21T16:54:00.001-02:30

Be Good to Yourself

2011-09-20T09:37:00.003-02:30

My lovely friend Susan emailed me the following quote as I missed our yoga class due to my having a school class.

Each yoga class starts with an intention and yesterday evening had a great one:

"Love yourself—accept yourself—forgive yourself—and be good to yourself, because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things.” - Leo F. Buscaglia

BFF

2011-09-19T14:14:00.002-02:30

September 2011

Circa 1989

I'm Addicted to HelloGiggles

2011-09-17T14:20:00.001-02:30

I am addicted to HelloGiggles, a site founded by actress/musician Zooey Deschanel, producer Sophia Rossi and writer/internet sensation Molly McAleer.

The site is described as "the ultimate entertainment destination for smart, independent and creative females." I just think it's great for my girlie fix everyday - food, odd pop culture references, music and tv. For example, I can read an article titled "Never Date a Man with a Panther Tattoo" right next to another post called "Things I Learned From My Grandma, Part 12". Love it!

Hurricane Maria Hitting Newfoundland

2011-09-16T16:31:00.001-02:30

The End of Ashton Kutcher

2011-09-14T17:01:00.000-02:30

What the hell? Maybe I'm way behind the times, but Ashton Kutcher is the new guy on Two and a Half Men. This is wrong on so many many levels. He won't be playing "Charlie" but I am assuming they are going to add in the same type of character. Let the hilarity ensue.

Heavenly Creatures

2011-09-14T11:31:00.000-02:30

I have decided to foster a cat from Heavenly Creatures. Not really a drastic move, but one I am excited about. I have a few friends and co-workers who support this organization and have adopted either a kitty or pup from them with happy results.

I have had my initial phone interview and should be selected a kitty in the next few days. I'll keep you updated and post a few pictures when I found out who I will be getting!

If you're interested in fostering a cat or dog, you can check out the Heavenly Creatures website at http://www.heavenlycreatures.ca/

Epic Tea House Server

2011-09-11T20:25:00.001-02:30

ZICO: My New Favorite Thing

2011-09-09T13:41:00.000-02:30

ZICO coconut water is my new favorite thing. It's dubbed Mother Nature's energy drink. It's crazy good for you and low in calories. And I think it's pretty tasty.

2011-09-09T09:41:00.001-02:30

Thoughtful Moment #5

2011-09-09T09:39:00.000-02:30

Confessions of a Hipster

2011-09-08T10:58:00.000-02:30

Lovely Night for a Walk

2011-09-07T09:21:00.000-02:30

After the Long Weekend...A Few Healthy Substitutions

2011-09-06T12:20:00.001-02:30

1. Whole wheat flour for white flour. In virtually any baked good, replacing white flour with whole wheat can add a whole new dimension of nutrients, flavor, and texture.

2. Unsweetened applesauce for sugar. Using applesauce in place of sugar can give the necessary sweetness without the extra calories and, well, sugar. While 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce contains only about 100 calories, a cup of sugar can pack more than 770. Perfect for oatmeal raisin cookies.

3. Vanilla for sugar. Cutting sugar in half and adding 1-2 teaspoons of vanilla as a replacement can give just as much flavor with significantly fewer calories.

4. Meringue for frosting (I'm not a big fan of this one). Made from just egg whites and sugar, meringue can be a great fat-free substitution for traditional frosting.

5. Graham crackers for cookies (in pie crusts). Who doesn’t love a fresh baked cookie-crust pie? But next time, refrain from the traditional sugar or Oreo cookie crust and grab the graham crackers.

6. Turnip mash for mashed potatoes. While 1 cup of mashed potatoes made with whole milk racks up about 180 calories (before salt and butter), a cup of mashed turnip (which doesn't need milk or butter to get that creamy consistency) has only 51 calories. Add some fresh herbs in place of the salt and it’s a much healthier version of the classic mash.

7. Ground turkey for ground beef. Ground turkey (or chicken) is a great substitute for ground beef to cut down on saturated fat and calories. A reminder: because of the lower fat content, ground poultry often ends up drier than beef, but a few tablespoons of chicken stock can solve the problem.

8. Arugula, romaine, spinach, and/or kale for iceberg lettuce. All greens are not created equal. Darker greens usually mean more nutrients like iron, vitamin C, and antioxidants.

9. Pita for bread. One 4-inch whole-wheat pita runs around 80 calories and only 1 gram of fat (though there is some variation from brand to brand). Compare that to around 138 calories in 2 slices of whole-wheat bread.

10. Avocado mash for mayo. Half a mashed avocado is a great substitute for mayo on any sandwich. Both give some moisture, but avocado packs a big dose of vitamin E. Great with tuna!

11. Fresh herbs (or garlic/onion powder) for salt. Fresh herbs can provide a flavorful-punch without adding sodium.

12. Soda water for tonic water. Yes, it’s clear and bubbly, just like soda water, but tonic water is actually full of sugar. Adding plain soda water and a pinch of lime gives almost the same taste with less sugar. My preference is to add gin as well. :)

Surprise Day!

2011-09-06T12:11:00.000-02:30

Friday was Surprise Day at work...just a special thank you day.

Surprise #1 - Tim's coffee/tea/ice cap and muffins.

Surprise #2 - Lunch

Surprise #3 - A little gift upon our return from lunch.

Surprise #4 - Chocolate chip cookies at coffee break.

Thoughtful Moment #4

2011-09-01T16:55:00.000-02:30

Who doesn't love Kat Dennings?

2011-08-31T16:46:00.000-02:30

Who doesn't love Kat Dennings?

Preview for 2 Broke Girls:

Mango Corn Salsa

2011-08-31T11:35:00.000-02:30

The colours in the pictures didn't turn out nearly as vibrant as they actually were. This was so healthy (minus the corn chips), yummy and down right pretty.

I didn't follow a recipe, but here is a list of the things I finely chopped and put together.

tomato

red onion

mango

corn

green onion

cilantro

lime juice

salt and pepper

Stanley Cup in Newfoundland

2011-08-30T12:12:00.000-02:30

I could see the helicopter and Stanley Cup from my office window. One of my colleagues went to grab a few photos of Michael Ryder (I only learned who he was yesterday) while it was next door. Kinda cool for hockey fans in Newfoundland today.

Vanilla and Chocolate Marbled Cupcakes

2011-08-29T08:47:00.000-02:30

I am bringing these to work so that I don't eat them all myself!

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2011-08-29T08:45:00.000-02:30

I went on a little baking kick this weekend. I started by making these muffins. The chocolate frosting was a nice addition!

Right out of the oven

Added chocolate frosting this time

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
½ cup of walnuts
½ cup of milk chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Mix in baking soda, salt and flour. Serve in chocolate chips and nuts. Pour mixture into buttered cupcake tray or paper cups. Bake for 2-25 minutes. Cool on a rack.

Thoughtful Moment #3

2011-08-29T08:41:00.000-02:30

Friendship Birds

2011-08-26T17:29:00.001-02:30

Oakville, Ontario

St. John's, NL

Thoughtful Moment #2

2011-08-26T10:57:00.000-02:30

Fogust

2011-08-26T10:56:00.000-02:30

Need I say more...

Thoughtful Moment #1

2011-08-25T09:07:00.000-02:30

Creative Marketing Campaigns

2011-08-24T11:43:00.000-02:30

Last Day in Halifax

2011-08-19T14:27:00.000-02:30

A few pictures from my last day in Halifax...

Ferry from PEI to Nova Scotia

Gazebo at the Public Gardens

Yucca plants

Cacti garden

Graveyard in downtown Halifax

Joey Jeremiah sighting

Goats Appear and Fade Away

2011-08-19T14:16:00.000-02:30

I went to see Colin Hay play in Halifax the last night I was visited. Most folks would know him from Men@Work but I actually know his solo work. The Garden State soundtrack and Scrubs sort of revived his music to my generation. Who doesn't love the song "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You"? I expected a fantastic night of acoustic music, but I was not expecting Colin to be so funny. He relayed so many funny stories about his touring as a musician and his encounters with the likes of Paul McCartney, Sting and Ringo.

Colin Hay at the Carleton

The funniest story was probably about fans that approach him, from people asking him to speed the show along because they have a baby sitter waiting and they wait to hear Down Under before they can leave, or some dude mistaking the lyric from Overkill as "Goats appear and fade away" instead of "Ghosts appear and fade away". i will never be able to listen to that song again without laughing.

Last Day in PEI

2011-08-14T09:29:00.000-02:30

On my last full day in PEI, I went for a walk downtown with Jewel, checked out Province House, the home of confederation, went to the beach for a few hours, and spent the evening at the Brackley Drive-in movie theatre. I have not been to one of those since I was a child. It was nostalgic and fun!

Province House.
No costumed townsfolk like the website though.

Waiting for the movie to start.

The Beach and Sandspit

2011-08-14T09:21:00.000-02:30

Spent a day at the beach. The whole family went but the boys had to be bribed with a trip to Sandspit Amusement Park afterwards. When did going to a sandy-shored beach become a chore? It was sort of like a permanent and better, but not much, Thomas Amusements. It was a beautiful sunny day, as most days during my trip were cloudy, and I was glad to get to go. The amusement park was cute. It's funny how we don't have a lot of the things in or near St. John's given that Charlottetown is only the size of Corner Brook. I picture Sandspit being a cute date night when you're a teenager.

Rustico Beach

Sand castle

Deconstruction of sand castle

Check out the joy on Evan's face

Clear skies

The rickety roller coaster

The Gouda Lady

2011-08-14T08:52:00.000-02:30

I had time after the Green Gables, Preserve Company and the Dunes to visit the Gouda Lady and the Great Canadian Soap Company. The cheese store was a small, one-room place but the cheese was yummy and they had windows to see how it was made.

The Great Canadian Soap Company was a farm with a store selling molded and regular...well soap. Cute spot and you could pet/feed the goats.

The Preserve Company of PEI

2011-08-14T08:44:00.000-02:30

The Islanders certainly know how to make every square inch of the place into a tourist attraction. The Preserve Company if PEI in new Glasgow was no exception. It was started in 1985 and is not only a place to buy yummy preserves but also a garden, cafe, specialty food and tea shop. Most of the preserves were similar to the ones you'd find at home - blueberry, rhubarb, strawberry...

Lucy Maud Montgomery

2011-08-14T08:35:00.001-02:30

Lucy Maud Montgomery was a fabulous author and I am more familiar with her short stories than I am with Anne of Green Gables. If I have this correctly, below are pictures of an active post office that was like the house she use to live in, her Cavendish home.

It was her grandparents' home and although no buildings remain, the homestead fields which surround it are there, as are the lanes she walked, the gardens she tended, and the old trees she sat under to dream and write.

The post office

The foundation of the old place

Green Gables

2011-08-14T08:25:00.001-02:30

I spent a day and did as many tourist attractions as I could handle/wanted to see. The first was the Green Gables National Historic Site. I have never read Anne of Green Gables and I vaguely remember the show on CBC, but the site was nice to walk around and I can see how it would be lovely for a fan of the books.

According to the website, Green Gables is part of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site and has become famous around the world as the inspiration for the setting in Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic tale of fiction, Anne of Green Gables. In real life, this farm was the home of David Jr. and Margaret Macneill, who were cousins of Montgomery's grandfather. Designated in 2005, Lucy Maud Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site includes the Site of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Cavendish Home and Green Gables.

Green Gables

Lover's Lane

These dolls creep me out!

Mini Tea Set

How to Maintain Long Distance Friendships

2011-08-12T00:59:00.000-02:30

The lovely Anna, my bff, sent this article and I thought I'd share. We've pretty much had a long distance friendship since we were 13 years-old. Some things, important things, do last.

How to maintain long distance friendships from HelloGiggles.

Lobster Supper at Fisherman's Wharf

2011-08-12T00:49:00.000-02:30

It wasn't the most eloquent of dinners yesterday, but it sure was tasty! It was a cafeteria-styled restaurant where you pre-order. It had a 60 foot long salad bar...what more do I need to say.

One and a half pounds of goodness

The remains

Gotta love a place that gives you a bucket

Toy Factory and Cows Ice Cream

2011-08-10T23:19:00.000-02:30

We went for a drive the other evening to Cavendish to get Cows Ice Cream (did I mention I started running again on this vacation?) and went to a local shop called The Toy Factory. I thought it was a very whimsical place with a lot of unique toys. I enjoyed that the front porch had a life-sized medieval armored soldier and large umbrella holders that looked like boots. Easily amused.

The Toy Factory

The boots

The ice cream didn't last that long to get a picture. I am reliving my childhood on this trip. :o)

Victoria by the Sea

2011-08-10T23:09:00.000-02:30

Went on a quick day trip to Victoria by the Sea. A beautiful and quaint little sea port with a lot of shops, cafes and a local theatre. A great place to get a few souvenirs!

All the streets were lined with pretty little
houses like this one.

Red Sand Studio was a jewellery shop and was actually in the artist's house...displays in the living room kinda thing. Inside she had the sign below...I thought it was cute.

Unattended children will be given
espresso and free puppies

Art Gallery of PEI

2011-08-10T21:27:00.000-02:30

Went to the art gallery yesterday at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Small gallery comparatively but had some interesting exhibits. I particularly liked Aganetha Dyck's Guest Workers where the pieces were impacted by a living bee hive.

Another artist but I can't recall his name...Cyril something...terrible me...

The Dunes

2011-08-09T11:00:00.001-02:30

Also managed to get in a quick visit to the Dunes Studio Gallery and Cafe. It was a very cool place with handcrafted items, paintings, furniture, clothing and jewellery for sale. There was also a cafe/restaurant and the gardens outside were beautiful...even on a rainy day.

I popped back to the Dunes to grab a coffee and wander the gardens when the weather improved. Beautiful place. All the menu is made from fresh local produce. The rooftop fountains were neat too!

Cupcakes with the Boys

2011-08-09T10:51:00.000-02:30

First full day in Charlottetown was rainy. It was 20 degrees though. I went for a little drive to scope out downtown and had some Thai food at some dive spot. It was pretty good and I enjoyed that their medium was actually quite hot.

We had a pretty chill day otherwise. The boys decided to stay in their PJs all day. Evan and Russell made cupcakes and even let me help!

Watching the cupcakes rise

Being foolish
I think he may be like his mother

Enjoying the fruits of their labour

Welcome to PEI

2011-08-09T10:41:00.000-02:30

Arrived in PEI on Sunday. The day was hot and humid. It took about three and a half hours from Halifax. My first time on the Confederation Bridge. The world's longest at 12.9 km joining PEI to New Brunswick.

The beginning of the Confederation Bridge

The bump in the bridge.
Not much a view otherwise.

Russell in the back of the car

The days of travelling in the car have changed from when I was young. Russell had his choice of music or dvds and his booster seat was even decked out with his own kid-sized cup holder. I wanted to sit in the back with him!

Day with the Family

2011-08-08T11:15:00.000-02:30

My sister, Jewel, and one of my nephews, Russell, came to Halifax for the night before we headed back to Charlottetown. We headed to Dartmouth to do a little shopping, see some sights, and hang out at the hotel - Russell loves hotels.

Heading to Dartmouth

On the MacDonald Bridge

The extent of my artistic abilities. A drawing on the
paper tablecloth at Montana's.

Russell's drawing of trains.
Clearly the kid can draw better than I.

Russell

Ship in the Halifax Harbour

Jewel and Russell on the waterfront

Too cute.

Music in the Park

2011-08-08T11:08:00.000-02:30

I had a great day two in Halifax. Caught up with some friends and met Tara's little baby boy, Emmet. Total cutie. He loved sushi even more than we did! We went to Hamachi Kita at the Hydrostone Market.

After sushi we noticed music coming from the park. It was a performer named Ryan Macgrath. He had a beautiful voice. We didn't know who he was at first and decided to refer to him as Royal Wood II since he looked a little like him. It was part of Music in Hydrostone Park. Salvatore's Pizzaiolo Trattoria was serving pizza during the performance...but I was already too full to try any.

The Hali Girls, Lesley and Tara, and little Emmet

Yummy sushi at Hamachi House

Music in the Park - Ryan MacGrath

Farmers' Market - Halifax

2011-08-08T10:09:00.000-02:30

Spent Saturday morning at the farmers' market. A much larger scale than in St. John's but more or less the same...except for the vegetables and fruit. Things actually grow in Nova Scotia! We had a quick walk around. I didn't purchase much as I was leaving for PEI the next day. Some beautiful jewellery and interesting crafts.

Crowds at the market

Maple dressing Lesley bought for spinach salad

Handmade bagels

Dumplings and spring rolls

Fields tomatoes

Vacation Day One - Halifax

2011-08-06T09:23:00.001-02:30

I had a fun day one. After arriving I freshen up a bit and then headed downstairs to say hi to folks at the Four Points by Sheraton Halifax. They are people I work with via phone and email and it was lovely to finally meet them in person. Jody is the reservations manager that I email a lot and she often sends things for the newsletter. It was so nice to meet her in person. She greeted me with a big hug. Too sweet. I met Natalie too, she will be working with me on sales collateral so again good to have a face with the name. Really great group.

I walked around downtown to see what had changed and what has stayed the same since I lived there. I also may have went to see Harry Potter...and there may have been some crying involved. I'm such a nerd.

I grabbed lunch at a little Vietnamese place called Star Anise (thanks Grant). This was not in Hal when I lived there. Vietnamese cuisine is probably my favorite food next to Italian. So fresh! I ordered Bún chả giò. It's a vermicelli plate with noodles served with salad greens, sliced cucumber, carrot, cilantro, bean sprouts, spring onions, roasted peanuts along with shrimp and a spring roll. Also, they give you this fish sauce with chili. It sounds gross but it is the best thing ever!

Bún chả giò

I also went shopping and got some fun stuff at Bath and Body for gifts for the ladies before heading to the Carleton for dinner and drinks with my friend Lesley. I ordered a burger and frites (they were homemade shoestring fries, so good). It was amazingly awesome...all organic free range. The beef, not the frites. Decently priced.

Organic free-range burger with bacon
and cheddar with a side of frites

Way more than any of the two readers of this blog need to know and I doubt I'll be writing this much going forward. Really my vacation is going to be a food blog.

Now off to do some hotel room yoga!

Much Appreciated

2011-08-05T09:41:00.001-02:30

I've just arrived in Halifax and got the shuttle to my hotel. Upon my entering the room there was a cheese and fruit platter and a bottle of wine. (You think it's too early to open this?).

I thought since the company I work for owns the hotel perhaps the staff were kind enough to greet me with this lovely gift. However, upon opening the card, I found out it was from my boss wishing me a relaxing vacation! How's that for employee engagement? It was so sweet and incredibly thoughtful...and yummy! Thanks Gail.

Off to Halifax!

2011-08-05T05:28:00.006-02:30

It's 5 a.m. I'm wearing a warm sweater but it was surprisingly warm on the way to airport in the taxi. I'm through security with minimal hassle this time and I'm uncomfortably sitting in a blue bench-chair at the airport waiting to board my flight to Halifax. I can't wait to see friends, visit some of my old favorite places and explore some new sites.

A few of my favourite places:

Uncommon Ground - a great coffee place on South Park that I use to frequent. Best sandwiches and homemade brownies.

The Public Gardens - a lovely little park with pretty flower beds, big trees and a duck pond.

Maxwell's Plum - a total student pub but there is always the familiar Blackhorse sign in the window. Sixty beers on tap. Awesome grilled cheese sandwiches too.

Atlantic Film Festival - is ongoing this weekend and they are having outdoor movie screening. This year is all Bill Murray movies. What I fantastic idea! I may have to check out Ghostbusters.

Buskers Festival - it's this weekend too. Funny, I am missing the St. John's festival.

I'm sure there is lots more but my sleepy, cloudy mind can't think of anything else this morning.

Oh, and I'm staying at the Four Points by Sheraton. I have to plug it. :)

A Contented Heart

2011-08-02T11:59:00.000-02:30

I spent a weekend in Heart's Content and had a blast. I was up at 5 a.m. Saturday morning to catch cod. The morning was cool but there was little wind. And I spent the afternoon in Northern Bay Sands. Alas, there was no sun and the ocean was cold. Still a beautiful day.

The Best Sugary Cupcakes in St. John's

2011-07-28T16:49:00.000-02:30

Question: Who has the best cupcakes in St. John's?

Answer: Stockwood's Bakery and Delicatessen on Freshwater Road. :)

I'm not sure why exactly, but everyone tries to "fancy up" there cupcakes...red velvet, cream cheese icing, etc. Don't get me wrong, they can be good. Yet, when I am craving some sugary goodness, Stockwood's vanilla cupcakes are the way to go.

Homemade Sliders

2011-07-25T12:26:00.000-02:30

Made BBQ sliders a.k.a mini burgers on the weekend. There is something about smaller things tasting better, don't ya think?

My New Office

2011-07-22T11:39:00.000-02:30

When you work for a company that rents office space, you get moved around quite a bit to whatever pocket of space is available. Paying tenants get the best space, right? Personally, I like the change from time-to-time and the space is usually quite lovely. A few days ago, I was informed that I would be moving again...likely by mid next week. I'm excited!

Here are a few pictures of the new space. It will get a fresh coat of paint and a carpet cleaning before I move in. I do like the view!

Glass pane looking into the office from the entrance.
Note Danny sitting on the sofa outside in the waiting area.

Inside the office.

View from the window.

My First Fifteen Dollars

2011-07-21T16:14:00.000-02:30

When I brought in my jewellery to work to gauge interest, I was not expecting my colleagues would actually be interested in buying any of it. But they were! It was so lovely to have people actually like the pieces that I created. I felt like I really earned that $15. Pretty neat!

My first customers.

My first fifteen dollars!

Thanks Jackie, Betty and Bernice!