September 29, 2012

The Discovered Modelling Agency of Regina put on a fashion show and charity event at a car dealership in Regina tonight and Crave did the catering for it. So it also meant that I was lucky enough to spend a Saturday night not at the restaurant on one of the busiest nights of the month, and instead chilling at a fashion show. Not too bad, huh!?

September 28, 2012

I know, I know...another dog picture. But this is the only thing I did today that was worth documenting.  Slept in, got a few things done, took the dogs for a walk, and before I knew it it was 3:30 and I had to get ready for work! But sheesh they're the best.

September 27, 2012

From the time I was young I have listened to 54-40 because it's been a staple band in my parents' music collection. Also I won't lie (and make fun of me as you wish), I just love their music. That's all fine and dandy if you're 40+...but for a twenty-something to listen to 54-40 is kinda funny. I embraced my inner middle-agedness and went to the 54-40 concert tonight with my parents and brother. It was a crazy awesome time of singing and dancing and the only thing missing was that damn middle child and sister of mine. ;) (Missed you a lot, Al)

September 26, 2012

Classic me...a dog photo! 

I missed these little cute faces so much while I was gone. We hung out all morning and as much as I could during my short time at home between my lunch and night shifts.

Seriously, could they BE any cuter!?

September 25, 2012

Ah, my last day in Van City. I spent the morning out for breakfast on Main with Tori, then headed to MEC for one last time to look at my future travelling pack and to buy a small day pack, and then made the trek back to Tori's house through giant tree tunnels and fall leaves. It was the perfect way to spend my last few hours.

September 24, 2012

Well, there was absolutely no question about which photo to put up for this day! This picture almost looks fake, like some piece of painted art that isn't real. Or maybe that's what I was thinking in my head as I walked up the giant stairs and saw this football field for the first time. Today Cody, Tanner and I took a little road trip down to Seattle. My first (and certainly not my last) NFL game. It was not only quite the all around adventure, but also one of the most poorly officiated and controversial games in history! I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE I WAS AT THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME! 

Next on my dream list: see the Packers play at home, Lambeau Field. (I already google mapped it...would only take 17 hours to drive there, it's not a big deal...)

September 23, 2012

Sunday - a day of rest after a pretty crazy few days. And also the first Sunday since NFL started that I haven't sat on my couch all day long and strictly watched football. As HEARTbreaking as it was for me to be away from it (hehe), it was also very nice. I got to spend the afternoon cruisin' The Drive with Kaitlin, and then went on a solo downtown adventure. There were so many neat photos from this day that I just had to use my handy dandy Diptic app so I could show you 3 of my favourites. After my downtown adventure I met up with Tori, we went for really, really yummy sushi and then headed back to her house to chill on the porch. The photo depicts 3 things I miss on a regular basis: my dear friend/porch hangs in general, incredible views of mountains and ocean, and adventuring in/having a wicked downtown.

September 22, 2012

Alright, I know I know. I'm exceptionally late on the past 4 days of posting now. Not having a computer with me in Van kinda set me back a bit. And as nice as it was to be without it, it was also a wee pain in the butt. And my 2nd excuse [;-)] is that I've been waiting for my dear Kate to send me her photos, because hers are from a real camera, not an iPhone, and thus are much better quality. But until she sends me hers, this awful one with our ghostly faces will have to suffice. Don't be scared off, look back later and a (hopefully) better one will be in its place.

As for what's going on in this photo...I'm allowing this picture and all its unflattering quality to suffice because it is very special to me, because the girl in this photo, Kate, is very special to me! It was her 30th birthday, and even though she knew I was going to be in town, she had no idea I was coming to this well-planned party for her. So I showed up with Stacey and surprised her! It was so wonderful :)

This whole day and night was filled with beautiful moments of Vancouver life and beautiful friends and  an all around gratefulness for my life.

September 21, 2012

One of the reasons I chose this specific weekend to come back to Van for a visit was because Jason Mraz was performing here. And perform he did!

Today was a fantastic day. Had breakfast with Tori, hung out on The Drive with Kindie, got a bit dressed up and met some girlfriends for dinner and wine before we headed to the concert!

Christina Perri opened the show and she was incredible. What a voice! I was really impressed. And then Jason Mraz + band came on and played for a little over 2 hours! It was fun and happy and joyous and energetic, yet peaceful at the same time. The atmosphere in that arena was amazing...filled with positive energy and people who were just loving life. Jason Mraz has an infectious love of life and music, and as lame as this sounds, it was an honour to see him perform so selflessly and just completely live the music. At the end he gave this encouraging little speech about following your dreams and supporting your friends to follow theirs. It was beautiful. What a man. What a show.

Sidenote - once again, this was uploaded from my phone…so the quality of this photo on here looks awful. I will fix it when I'm home on my own computer!

September 20,2012

Goodbye prairies, hello west coast!! I believe I took a similar photo several months ago...but I think it would have been the other way around. Today begun my whirlwind trip to Van City for a 6 day visit. As I flew into the city I realized how normal it felt but so weird at the same time. I've never been a 'guest' here before. It's going to be a very jam-packed few days of good friends and good times in the city I love.

PS - I didn't bring my computer with me so the formatting will be a bit screwed up until I can fix it on a computer. My phone will have to make due for now! I also could have almost 100% sworn that I already posted this. But apparently not.

September 19, 2012

Took a trip out to the lake to grab a few things. It's officially autumn out there! And it was incredibly peaceful.

September 18, 2012

Awe, looking at this picture makes me a bit sad all over again. Last night puppy Jet got sick. Dad got home from being away on business and we noticed how Jet wasn't very energetic or excited (which he always is). It got progressively and quickly worse and at midnight Matt and I found ourselves with a sick puppy at the 24-hour Animal Care Clinic. We had to say goodnight and leave him there so he could get hooked up to an IV and be re-hydrated. Poor little puppy! He's still there all day today. I'm counting down the hours until we can pick him up and I can see his cute little face!

September 17, 2012

I don't think I realized how behind in posting I was! Yikes!
Anyway...my mom and I had some late night tea, and upon searching the cupboards for a tea pot she came across all her grandmothers' (both sides) antique tea cups. So we steeped our coco-chai tea from David's Tea in my mom's grandma's tea pot and drank it from her grannie's tea cups. It was a special moment :) My favourite one is that yellow one on the bottom right.

September 16, 2012

A neighbourhood family 50th birthday gathering tonight at the Sigurdson's. I don't know why I get such a kick out of these wine openers! I really think it's the funniest thing ever! It looks like a person who is super stoked. And Matt added a pickle...so maybe the wine-opener-person is stoked on the pickle. I don't know. I'm always stoked on pickles.

September 15, 2012

Hung out with Mom all day. We hit up Winners to scout some great deals. Managed to find one or two! ;)

September 14, 2012

Today was a long day. I worked a split shift at the ol' restaurant, which meant I was working 11 and a half out of the 16 and a half hours that I was awake yesterday - phew! It also means that my picture sucks. On my couple hour break I opted for the 100% non-productive activity...I watched Boy Meets World in bed until I had to head back to work. Seriously I don't think I understood how truly AWESOME this show was when I was a kid. It makes me laugh so hard! This is totally embarrassing to say, but I downloaded all 7 seasons. I'm now on season 2. Stay tuned for more Boy Meets World related posts. ;-)

September 13, 2012

A normal gongshow Mario family dinner (minus Ali, of course). Making Mom's famous pizza. Sorry you're a bit blurry there, Mom. Must have been an action shot of a tutorial that probably had something to do with how to put the mushrooms on next. A DELICIOUS and lovely dinner.

September 12, 2012

Well it's official -- autumn is here. 

September 11, 2012

Today's the day I realized that not living out at the lake anymore will take a serious toll on my photo blog.
I worked a split today and had quite a lengthy break between shifts. Just enough time to have a catch up coffee date with my dearest Mel and go home to hang out with my cute puppies. Classic Jet -- one ear up and one ear down. Seriously I don't think he could be any cuter.

Also, it's officially jacket weather. Apparently there's a frost warning out for tonight. I nearly burst into tears when I heard this on the radio. I'm so not ready for cold prairie weather. 

September 10, 2012

Oh just another casual day at work. Today I got to work the U of R Cougar Alumni Basketball golf tournament at Deer Valley for Crave. So essentially I drove around the golf cart all day from hole to hole giving people free stuff. Who doesn't love free stuff?! It didn't hurt that it was a beautiful day, albeit mega prairie windy, but sunny and hot. Not a bad way to start the week!

September 9, 2012

FOOTBALL SUNDAY! The best day of the year. Besides Christmas.

We celebrated the for real last day of summer with a fun summery martini while we watched the Riders beat the Bombers in the nail-biting Banjo Bowl. (Dad had a Pil-tini -- I poured his Pilsner into the martini glass)

The Packers played the 49ers shortly after and I stayed glued to the couch as I watched my #1 favourite team lose to my other kinda favourite team (which is technically my dad's team that I've just come to adopt...it's in the blood). Father vs. Daughter. Father won. The 9ers and their kickass defence dominated. Oh well, this is only the beginning!

I should mention that while I was camped out on the couch all day the boys and Mom were working hard to take out the pier, boat, boat lift, sea doo and sea doo lift.

Adios beach life, it's been incredible.

September 8, 2012

A beautiful September day and also the last day in the boat! Sadness.

September 7, 2012

Alison and I went to visit our grade 5 teacher, Miss B. This is her and her 3 beautiful kids! 

Al and I were Miss Belliveau's (now married...but we're still attached to her maiden name) first class as a teacher. As Alison is a new teacher herself, we figured we should get in touch and catch up with the teacher who was the reason for one of our most memorable years of our youth. Twelve years later we were able to reminisce about elementary days, kids we went to school with, and the amazing memories we have. What a happy and amazing experience!

September 6, 2012

An evening getaway at the lake with Alison! I feel like tonight was like a retreat - get out of the city, drink wine, make an incredible dinner, and have real talk about life. Sometimes it takes chatting with a friend you've known for 18 years to see different perspectives, to come to different conclusions about things, and to celebrate a mutual love of life! 

September 5, 2012

Some days so many things happen and I'm so in the moment and having a great time that I forget to take a picture. And today was one of those days. My dear friend Alison Sakundiak is visiting me. We hung out all day! And we also went for lunch with another dear friend, Jessica. Why didn't I take photos then?! Oh well - such is life.

My puppies are really cute though. Teash just got a little hair cut today.

September 4, 2012

Tadaaaa! Our tie dye results were a screamin' success! Sorry Ali, I know it was terrible timing. There will be something for you, fear not :) 

September 3, 2012

Today really and truly seemed like the last real day of summer. It was kind of sad! Ali left Alberta bound, beach stuff was packed up, rooms were being cleaned, fridge was being emptied. At the same time, it was a very lazy day. Matt and I watched a movie (Like Mike...hahahah childhood flashback - VHS and all) and after 2 months of trying to plan to tie dye, we finally did. As expected it was a bit of a gongshow.
Labour Day weekend, you did not disappoint me!

September 2, 2012

My first time at the Labour Day Classic in FIVE YEARS! And a great one it was...a shut out of 52-0 for us. We really needed that big W! 

This is my Papa. He comes to every game with us and loves the Riders with his whole heart. 

September 1, 2012

The new and beloved Hot Tub Patio (also known as the HTP). This deck is completely sheltered from the wind. It's AMAZING. Many days and evenings were spent on here hiding away from the often fierce prairie wind, tanning, eating spitz, eating dinner, chilling in the hottub, and just basking in the peacefulness that is the HTP.

August 31, 2012

The benefits of having a sister who has worked in the same fine dining restaurant for 6 years! She got behind the bar and made our drinks. My last night out with Ali before she heads back to Edmonton

(Britt + Ali + Kyla + Sam)

[Late edit...yikes I didn't realize how terrible the quality of this photo is. For a second I questioned my own eye sight until I realized how blurry and awful this picture is!]