Five Blondes » friends

Home For a Rest

Lauren — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:22:38 +0000

Okay, I take that back. When I went home last weekend with Rhian (my roommate whom you may remember from this post) it was anything but restful! Our train left at noon from Ottawa, so for 4 hours we talked, looked a scenery, took pictures, did homework, and watched “Talking to Americans” on youtube. We met Leah in Toronto for some dinner and a glimpse of the CN Tower, then it was off to London. As we were walking into an Irish pub in Toronto that a homeless man kindly pointed us into, Leah started mentioning that it was so fitting that we were going to an Irish pub! Turns out she thought Rhian was from Ireland, not Australia.

My friend Leah (not to be confused with my sister Leah) picked us up from the train station in London and we headed to her house for a pre drink before going to Cowboys, our favourite country bar, where a few of us rode the bull!

On Saturday we had promised Katelyn that we would babysit Hails and Brianna while she cleaned and got ready for the baptism the next day. Babysitting may have turned into playing then all of us taking a nap, but we then went to the mall with Hailey in tow to meet Erica and Denis.

Check back for more pictures and an exciting story from our weekend away from school!

Winter Thoughts

Lauren — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:15:12 +0000

Christmas and New Years just snuck up on me, and now that second semester is here, it feels like it should still be October, when school was just starting, Hailey was still under a year old, Mic was still pregnant, and winter hadn’t even started yet. It’s not that Hails and Casey growing up isn’t an awesomely cute thing, and that the new year starting isn’t a good thing, it’s just that I feel like I’m not ready for 2011 yet. For me, 2011 means growing up, and moving, and that when people ask what I want to do when I’m done school, I should have a legitimate answer. I feel like even now, when people ask me that and I have no answer they look at me like I’m crazy, but it’s true! I can’t help but get frustrated and closed up when people bring that question up, and it’s definitely what I dread most when meeting adults and at dinners with adults/people related to me, and believe me, it always comes up. Anyways, in true Lauren fashion, this post is filled with random thoughts that I’ve thought of during class this morning, and am filling my hour break with writing.
First off, here’s a song. I just downloaded it, and I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. Yes, the video is extremely boring, but it was either this or a blurry picture of Lee Brice playing the guitar. So here it is, Beautiful You, by Lee Brice.

I mentioned that I have an hour break today. Well, this semester I have a super weird schedule. Mondays I have four classes- 9:30-10:30, 11:30-2:25, 2:30-4:30, then 6:05-8:55, Tuesdays I have one class- 2:35-5:25, and then my next class isn’t until Thursday from 6:05-8:55. So I have a lot of free time if you’re not counting Mondays. This week was especially boring. I know I could take all this time and be studying and doing my labs and such, but because of Scotiabank’s annoying holding cheques rule (more on that later), I couldn’t buy my textbooks yet, so spent most of my time reading my syllabus for each class, watching movies, creeping facebook, and hanging out with friends. The fact that my Thursday class was cancelled last week because my prof was sick didn’t help either. That would have given me a lot of statistics work to be confused over. So Scotiabank- their slogan is “You’re richer than you think”. I agree with that, because I have money in my account, but because they are holding my cheque and can’t buy textbooks or anything yet, so I think they’re taking that a bit too seriously. So right now I’m feeling poor and hungry, but tomorrow when they hand over the money (a week and a day after I deposited the cheque), I’ll finally be able to eat at school and buy my textbooks.
I was at my friends house a couple of nights ago watching a Sex and The City marathon on COSMO, and we realized something. Life is not at ALL like Sex and The City. Well, I guess we knew that already, but we really started talking about it during 2 episodes. In the first one, Samantha got picked up by a guy walking by her on the sidewalk. In the next one, she got picked up sitting alone at a bar. Of course the whole “that would never happen to me!” conversation commenced. Earlier in the week I was discussing this with another friend, who then challenged me to talk to as many guys as I could by the end of the week. Well, by the end of the week I had talked to 5 guys. 3 were on my cheerleading team, 1 was gay, and the last was my friends ex-boyfriend who stopped by to pick up their dog for a walk. I decided that I failed that challenge. It seems so easy for some people though. I have never had a boyfriend in my 21.5 years of life, but some of my friends have had 5-10 boyfriends, and gone on countless dates. A few, even a couple of days after they had broken up with their long term boyfriend. Personally, I just don’t get it, but maybe that’s just me.
Last thoughts: a blog and a picture from a new years party!
This adorable couple is expecting their first baby any day now! I love reading this blog and looking at the pictures. Enjoy!

Sorry about the red eye ladies, but you know that if I tried to fix it I would wreck the whole picture. The blonde, brunette and redhead best friends!

Lauren

She's over the prairies and far away

Leah — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:26:19 +0000

If you’re an avid reader of our cutie-pie little abode, you just might recognize the name “Natalie” – Natalie is my Calgary BFF and has even written a few guest posts for us in the past. Her gorgeous mug is plastered all over my posts, so creepers? Stalk away.

Well, friends, Natalie has taken a big step in her life – she has started her Very Own Blog.

over the prairies and far away

Let’s all help out with breaking her blogging virginity and leave her a comment or two … or ten. She’s a beautiful writer and I promise you won’t be disappointed. (And she’s got quite a few stories to tell that’ll keep you busting a gut over and over again.)

Bathing Suits, Dresses, and Tmos Big Move

Lauren — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:38:38 +0000

I love looking at clothes online. Clothes I’d never be able to afford, clothes that don’t even ship to Canada, clothes that I could never wear, just clothes. Since the weather has been so nice lately I’ve been looking at bathing suits and dresses more than actual clothes. The main place I go for bathing suits has always been Victoria’s Secret. For my 20th birthday mama got me 2 bathing suits from VS, I would choose which one I liked best, and we would send the other back. Obviously we “forgot” to send one back. When I was in high school one of my friends had a bathing suit with underwire, and me and my other friends thought it was soo weird looking, and hello? she didn’t even have boobs for it? She now has the boobs for it, and I have a new love for bathing suits with underwire! Like this one:

and this one:

These have way better support than the bathing suits Mic and I used to wear:

Speaking of new fashion trends I’m getting into, big/embellished shoulders is really one of them. Before my drive to Toronto on Monday for the fashion show I stopped in Kingston to go to Urban Outfitters for a dress. I actually ended up with 2 (thanks tax cheques!). One being the one I wore to the show, and also this one.

Recently Tmo and I moved from the “problem house” in with one of my best friends for most of my life Emily. So far it’s been good. Tmo is having a bit of trouble adjusting to living with a dog (remember Kardi?), they get in fights, Kardi eats her food, Tmo hides under the couch, you know, the usual. Living with Emily again is pretty funny. We both think the same things a lot, and are used to being around each other 24/7 from high school. Today she made me supper (steak, corn and noodles), and in return I fed her mini eggs. Hopefully living here will be better than the old living arrangements!

Tuesdays with Micaela: Dresses and Long Distance Relationships.

Bloggy friends and big days

Leah — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:43:41 +0000

Before any rumours about the status of my relationship go flying around, I would like to start this post off by stating that this question is purely out of curiosity and no, I am not getting married (anytime soon).

I think about weddings a lot, both my own and my friends and family (I have been a bridesmaid three times and am currently an ecstatic maid of honour for my best friend’s wedding next Spring). I pretty much have my wedding planned out and pages in my diary strictly for jotting down ideas for when my times comes.

The thing I am certain I will stress out over the most is the guest list.Though as I get older this happens less and less, in the past I would have classified myself as a people pleaser and spent way too much of my time worrying about what other people think. I am worried that when it comes time to invite people to my imaginary wedding I won’t be able to draw the line on people who don’t need to be there.

Over the years of blogging and tweeting I have made many friends over the internet (as I am sure many of you have as well). These are people I talk to almost every day and develop wonderful, supportive friendships with. People like this girl and this girl. People who I tell some of my deepest secrets to and people who are there for me when I am upset or having troubles.

My question is: Do you invite these friends to your wedding? Do you invite your bloggy friends to your wedding? What if you have an anonymous blog – do you invite them and make up a story of how you met? Do you invite someone to your wedding who you have only met in person once but talk to almost every day? Or do you have to put this huge part of your life aside when it comes to your wedding day?

I for one know that when it comes time to mail my invitations you’d better believe that Reggy and Michelle will find one in their mailboxes. And I would be delighted if they chose to attend.

Raspbaby Shower

Kate — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:58:34 +0000

On Sunday my sisters threw me a baby shower! Mic was the main organizer and she did a great job. The theme was RED for RASPBABY. The shower was for my family and friends, after the baby arrives Scott’s side of the family is going to throw one (they are the lucky ones who get to actually hold the baby at the shower).

We got lots of clothes, nice warm outfits and blankets, a cradle, an amazing quilt, diaper bag (that matches the stroller perfectly), and a MEC baby carrier!

We played a few fun games

break the baby’s water – They froze little babies into ice cubes and the guests had to melt the baby out without touching the ice (it was in a plastic cup)
Mingling Bingo- get signatures from someone who… went to university with Kate, knows Kate’s birth weight, knows Kate’s birthday… etc.
Guess the size of Kate’s belly- my sisters thought I wouldn’t like this game but it was just fun to see what people guessed. Most guessed way too large! It turns out that my belly is 41inches around.
Left-Right Story. Mom read a story and 2 people held prizes, whenever she said left or right people would have to pass the gift left or right.

I took photos at the beginning and Lauren was nice enough to take photos during the gift opening.

Washcloth cupcake

Diaper cake filled with goodies- washcloths, baby toys, spoons, baby blanket, stuffed animal and the cutest baby mittens (my most favourite baby accessory)!

Frozen baby game

Mic gave Raspbaby and Raspberry themed gift! Raspberry tea (for me), 3 raspberry onsies and a raspberry pacifier.

Quilt made by my aunts! I love it so much.

After opening gifts they handed out these pages for the guests to fill out with Wishes for Raspberry. They were all so cute, and being the pregnant woman that I am I even teared up while reading these at home. This baby is going to be and already is so loved.

Here’s a few (okay a lot) of the wishes:

I hope you learn

patience
how to sing (fittingly from Michelle “the piano player” )
the difference between good and bad
to play baseball
to ride a bike
that you are loved
to dance
to play an instrument
quickly
to quilt or weld

I hope you aren’t afraid

of pigs
to try new things
to be wrong
to dream big
of me!
to speak your mind
, ever.

I hope you love

life
your mommy and daddy lots
to sing
farming!!
life, sunshine and rain
everybody

I hope you get

lots of love
not as much as you want
good schooling
lots of birthdays
a hug everyday
a sibling
lots of hugs from Lauren

I hope you laugh

every second you get
every day
a lot
easily and every day

I hope you never forget

to smile
how much you are loved
your roots
how excited we were for you to come
the joy you brought to your family
to believe in yourself
those who love you
to call your mother

I hope you ignore

jealousy
insults
drugs
everything Louie says
people who ever doubt you
jerks around you

I hope you become

musically inclined
all you want to be
a world traveler
a good person
a father or mother
a ski racer (from Lau)
successful at whatever you love
the best you can be

I hope you respect

your mommy
your grandmother (from who else??)
yourself
your heritage
life
the earth

I hope you inherit

kindness
your parents’ kind nature
good health
your mommy’s good looks
your grandmothers work ethic
your mom’s blonde hair
your family’s zest for life!
Kate’s smile

I hope you grow

big and strong
only as much as you need to
older and wiser than me!
up happy and healthy
10 feet tall
big and strong like your auntie Lauren
in faith and trust of what you can do
up surrounded by family
up to be just like your parents
and grow and grow
raspberries in your garden
slowly so we can all watch and enjoy

Procrastination At It's Best.

Lauren — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:23:15 +0000

Soo I have 2 more exams left. TWO! Jeez, most people are done by now! I have my next exam tonight at 7, and my last exam tomorrow at 2, then I’m home on Monday night for some Christmas fun! Hopefully this time it won’t take us 12 hours to drive home. I tried to listen to Cheerfm while studying…but that failed. So now I’m listening to Super Smash Bros and Girl Talk, which sort of makes up for it. Also, I think the guy sitting in the comfy chair across from me in Rooster’s is taking pictures of me on his blackberry…and it’s really creeping me out, so I had to do something other than study to distract me from the creepiness. This post is going to be super random, because what other kinds of posts do I honestly write?

First thing, this movie is for Aley. Puppy vs. Cat We were talking about what I should write about, and her suggestions were something along the lines of “me, puppies, me, kittens, procrastination, me”, so there you go Al. I also have to post this video, because Nicole Kraumanis is my amazing cheerleading idol. Nicole Team Canada Audition

Second, my car died yesterday. It was a sad day spent at home, not being able to go to school without scrounging up $3 to take the bus there, and probably $3 back. I hardly got any studying done there, because T-Mo distracts me at every chance she gets…so does the lure of my comfy bed. I called CAA this morning to go to school, and they told me it would be about 4 hours. Thank goodness it only took about 1.5 hours. So I drove around Ottawa for about 20 minutes because the CAA man told me to, and I would have done whatever he said to make my car okay again. During my drive I realized that Ottawa is an awesome city in any season. Most cities are only fun to walk around in in the summer, and dreadful during the winter months (if they do have cold, snowy winter months), but Ottawa is just so nice. In my opinion there are 3 things that make Ottawa so beautiful during the winter.

1) Parliament.

source

If you can find something in your city that looks as amazing as this during the winter send ‘er over. Otherwise this wins the prize. Here’s a better picture of the lights on Parliament:

source

2) Rideau Canal. For those of you who don’t know, Ottawa has the world’s largest skating rink (Winnipeg has the longest, but I guess it’s skinnier), measuring 7.8km (4.8 miles) long. Along the way they have Beaver Tails, hot chocolate, skate rentals, and it’s the focus of the Winterlude festival.

source

Me and my friend Andrena skating last year.

3) The Byward Market.

source

To be honest I don’t know a lot about the Market. I know that most of the good bars are there, there are some super cute shops, and they have cute vendors on the sidewalk. Oh, and my favourite restaurant- Lonestar! It’s a nice place to take a walk, which is what Kaylee and I do a lot there.

Anyways, this post just justified my love for Ottawa. I do love it a lot, but I will love going home on Monday even more I think! Especially once my exams are all over and done with!

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Home from Nationals!

Lauren — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:52:13 +0000

Heyy everyone!

Hope you all had a great weekend, I know I did! Cheerleading Nationals were this weekend in Brampton, and pretty much the whole fam jam came. 4/5 blondes were there, 3 aunts, 1 Dave, 1 brother in law, 1 oma, and 1 mom! I always have the biggest entourage there and I love it!

We came 4th! Our awesome coaches Anson and Meagan are in the front.

Karlene, Ashley and Me at awards.

Me and Ashley at the Afterparty! Which was innnnsanee.

More pictures will be coming, this is just all I have right now!

What I can't live without.

Leah — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:16:03 +0000

As per the 20sbblog carnival, and with it being my turn to blog for NaBloPoMo, I introduce to you not just a thing that I can’t live without, but a person.

Coincidentally, this person is also having her 22nd birthday today! This is Stef, who has been my best friend since I was three.

When we were children, Stef and I lived 10 minutes apart. We would play dress up (she had the most awesome dress up clothes), we would go to each other’s school dances, we would play Nintendo 64, and would always go camping every summer with our families (our Mom’s also happened to be best friends).

We would tie bars of soap to our feet with elastics and jump on her trampoline with the sprinkler on underneath.

When we got older, Stef’s Mom moved their family away from the farm and to our nations capital to further her career, so started the family road trips to Ottawa.

I couldn’t live without her so far away, and I was so happy when she came to the same University as me.

Then I moved to Calgary, and can you believe that I didn’t see Stef for 14 months? She got an internship that brought her to Calgary (did I mention how absolutely brilliant and sought after this girl is?) and we got to be inseparable again for a few weeks.

I love this girl, this magificent woman who is there for me in joy and when I just need to cry.

Happy Birthday Stef!

I just can’t live without her.

A Thank You

Leah — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:44:18 +0000

I moved out of my parent’s house for University when I was 17, and when I was 21 I took that honors degree and moved across the country with my boyfriend. I have gotten many comments about my situation, some good some bad. I get the whole “You are too young to be living with your boyfriend,” and I often get “Wow, you are so young and so adventurous.” I often agree with both sentiments.

There is one reason that I have been able to have the wonderful adventures I have had in my life – support from my family and close friends. I know I am biased, but I think I have the best friends and family around. Throughout my whole life, and I know my sisters can say the same for themselves (and probably will in the comments), I have felt nothing but unconditional love from my family (including my sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts, cousins, uncles) and as an adult, from my three best girlfriends.

I was talking to best friend/often-mistaken-for-a-sister Stef tonight, and she put it really well – “I love hanging out with your family, it is like a burst of unconditional love.” I love that line, and I love the thought. The love I get from my family makes my heart smile, gives me the energy to keep on keepin’ on, and gives me the motivation to be the best person I can be.

So, to my family and to my friends, thank you. Thank you for encouraging me to leave, for teaching me how to be a good person, for making me laugh and smile, and for always being there for me when I need you (and when I don’t need you). You have all helped me to discover who I am, and because of your help, I really like that person I can call me.

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