Before the movie, we met Keira at the mall, then headed to one of my favourite stores in the Byward Market, Zone. This store is amazing, and has absolutely everything for decorating a kitchen, living room, office, bathroom, and bedroom. My mom bought these for me when I moved in to my residence room to make it prettier:

They’re not made to hold jewelry, but I needed somewhere to hang my necklaces, and it worked perfectly! Rhian loved mine so much that she bought her own set to take back to Australia with her. At Zone they even have butterfly wall decorations that look identical to the ones on Serena’s wall on Gossip Girl- my favourite! Don’t be scared away if the website is in French- the company started in Quebec, and this is it’s only Ontario store. I am buying a Christmas gift for Micaela this year, and I literally called her when I was in the store and needed some guidelines because I was so overwhelmed! If you’re ever in Ottawa, I would definitely recommend going to the Byward Market, and would for sure recommend going to this store, which is also just a short 5 minute drive from Prime Minister Steven Harper’s house! Which yes, you can drive right up to and is absolutely beautiful.

After our movie, our bus stop was right by Parliament Hill, so Rhian got a roommates picture in front of the Parliament Buildings, which are crazy awesome during the Holidays.

Sorry about the picture quality. I probably should have propped my camera on the fence. If you’ve never been to Parliament Hill, you can go right up to the building, as well as walk all the way around it. It’s pretty awesome, and is one of the things I’m going to miss most about Ottawa when I graduate and move home right before Christmas. Moving home has it’s downside (not cheerleading, leaving my friends, leaving this amazing city), but I’m also super excited to be able to see my nieces and nephew whenever I please!

Yes! Only 4 more days until I go to Owen Sound with Mom, Dad, Micaela, Casey and Kent for Kent’s sister Nadine and her fiance Rami’s wedding!  As the unattached and boring sister I’m going as the official babysitter, which I’m actually okay with since I’ve heard a LOT about this wedding for a while, and I’m super excited to see it!

Noo! I had a longer description of this particular No, with fear of being too TMI I’ll just say this: Cramps. Are. Killing. Me. I seriously don’t know what to do.

Yes! Next week I only work 3 days then I’m off to Denver for our cousin Joe’s wedding! Everyone in the family (even the new babies!) are going to Denver except Leah and Tim.  We’ve never been to Denver, and I’ve heard lots about the airport so I’m pretty excited.

Noo! I’m at that point where I should probably be figuring out what I want to do with my life, and it’s not very fun.  When I say I don’t know to some people they just start throwing things in my face as ideas, but when I say I don’t know to other people they say “oh that’s awesome, I’m so jealous, you can do anything and go anywhere!”. But when I get that answer I just think “no, it’s not okay, because then I’m just going to sit around like a bump on a log for the rest of my life. Then what?”.  As of right now I have 2 options, both I would be okay with, but I kinda just want someone to tell me what to do.

Yes! Joining with that last No, I have been semi planning a trip to Greece with 2 friends from high school, then a trip to Africa maybe with a friend from Ottawa after I graduate.  I really want to go on a trip (to an English speaking country) and work while I’m there.  There are a lot of programs you can go with, but I feel like I’d get to the place and not be able to get a job. Then what?

Yes! I got this shampoo from Bath and Body Works last week and it smells amazing, and makes my hair feel even better.  I’m clearly not getting any of the stress relief I’m supposed to be getting from it, but it works all the same.  Even if my hair is up in a gross hat all day and not down like it likes to be.

I decided a couple of months ago that I’m going to go back to school for another semester.  It was a hard decision because I was planning on going home for the summer and not having to leave my family again or go back to school, but I kind of need to, so I’m getting more and more used to the idea every day.  One upside is that I’ll get to be on the cheerleading team for another semester, and go to another Nationals competition.

Also, my friend Amber recently moved to Halifax for an internship, and I’ve persuaded her to keep up with the blog that she started for a class, so go read it here!

1) My cheerleading team

Being a part of a cheerleading team basically means that you have 35 other people who you are with for 2 hours, 3 times a week, who you have to get along with.  You can’t really fight with them, because one of them may save a part of your body from being injured.  We try not to hurt them, and they try not to hurt us, but it happens sometimes, and we get over it.  We have to learn how to work together, and even though I’ve only known most of these people for 3 months now, being with them feels like being with family.  Over the past couple of weeks we’ve been getting stressed out and frustrated at things that aren’t going as planned, or people getting hurt, or school assignments, but as soon as someone sees one of their teammates start to well up and start crying, there is always someone there to help- I know from many experiences.  Someone is always there to lift your spirits, and say ‘why don’t we try it again, and maybe we’ll try something different this time?’, and it always helps.

Below: My team! This was taken last week after practice.  5 points if you can find me!

2) School

This is my last year at Carleton, and although there has been construction going on during all 4 of my years here, I’ve just been realizing that we have a beautiful campus, and I’m lucky to have gone here.  I’ve met all sorts of awesome people- most through the cheerleading team, who have made my time here even better.  I’ve had my fair share of stressful living conditions and ‘friend’ drama, but the library or the ‘couch room’ as I like to call it, have made a great getaway for me.

3) Food and Shelter

I’m pretty sure this is a given, but as I said before, I’ve had my fair share of stressful living conditions.  That being said, I’ve always had a place to go if I wanted to get away from it all, whether it be a family friends house, or one of my friends apartments.  As for food, when I was home this past weekend I made some banana chocolate chip muffins.  And since, well, I love them, I brought some home with me.  The other day I brought 2 to school. One to eat on the way to school, and one for the middle of my class when I’m feeling tired and want to sleep right there on the desk.  On my way to school I passed a couple of guys asking for food/money.  I learned somewhere not to give them money, because who knows how they will spend it- I know all people on the street asking for money aren’t looking to spend it on bad things, I’m just saying- if I’m giving my money to someone who is hungry, I expect them to spend it on food.  Since I had a muffin on the seat next to me, I decided to give them that.  Well, in the end I don’t think they ate it, because when I gave it to them they looked at it like it could have been poisoned.  But hey, I tried, right?

4) Family and Friends

And lastly, the most obvious one.  Something that mostly everyone is thankful for, and needs no explanation.

Does anyone have any advice for me about how to fall asleep better/easier?

Ps. Check out this song. New favourite. The Finish Line -Train

It was Thursday evening. I had spent all day working on my final essay for class – I had completed my long lists of works cited and everything. My notes and books were stacked next to me, ready to be recycled or returned to the library. All that I had left was a concluding paragraph…

Den had arraved home and was making himself some dinner. The microwave was going when he started the toaster and…Black. The toaster popped the breaker, cutting power to the kitchen and the computer desk, which is just around the corner from the kitchen. Off he went to talk to the landlord and restore power. I hopped into the shower so I would be energized and ready to tackle the final paragraph of my essay and submit it electronically to my professor.

When I returned to the computer, I could tell that something was…wrong. It restarted as I had expected it to, but there was no message from my word processor indicating that there was a document to recover. I knew it had been saving periodically, so I wasn’t worried about losing my work. I opened the file only to discover that my entire days work was gone. All. Gone. 4 pages! My jaw dropped. I’m sure I made some sort of frightened, devastated noise. My exam for this class was the next morning at 9 AM. How would I study and finish the paper? I was panicking.

Wait, I told myself. This can’t be right. Auto-save, remember? I dove into my files and tried to find the rest of my work. Try as I might, I couldn’t find it. I was near to tears when Denis told me to email my professor and then go study while he tried to find the file.

Fast forward an hour or so…my darling husband saved the day! I finished the essay and sent it off to my professor. You think this kind of thing is only ever a ‘story’ that students tell profs to get an extension…well, I can attest to the fact that it is completely real and possible. And frightening!

Have you had a similar experience where you thought you lost something really important?

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!

Needless to say, I have had cold feet for abouuut 2 years, and I have not had adequate footwear to help with that.  In first year I got some Emus-

and they were warm for about a month, until it started snowing and getting slushy, and THEN they packed out and I had to wear socks and oma slippers in them in order for them to fit/be moderately warm.  I was not impressed, but I stuck it out for 2 winters and both adventures above, have now decided that it’s time for a new-GOOD- pair of winter boots.  Ottawa winter-proof!  I’ve been looking around on the internet and at Rideau Centre.  I didn’t really find anything at Rideau, but I’ve found 3-4 online that I’ve been thinking about and guys, I need advice!

Pair #1

Timberland’s Mount Holly Earthkeepers- I saw these at Rideau, but I didn’t try them on because it was at Town Shoes and all the people around me were trying on stilettos and it just felt weird, haha.

Timberland’s Design Your Own Boots- I just designed my own (the tall version), and they had pink on them, and they were cute and I loved them.

Sorel’s Joan of Arcadia.

Sorel’s Helen of Tundra…

And the boots that started this all,

So tell me what you all think! Do you have amazing boots to share?

Ps. I have the coat in #2 at the Community website.  The Technical hemp hooded parka.

I used to make millions of collages.  Clear tape was my best friend, and all my magazines were all cut up!

Had to include this in here. It looks so amazing, and I wish I was there right now. I might be alone on this, but I WANT SNOW!

so. cute! All of them!

Also had to add this.  Oh hello Bode…move to Ottawa and ski with me! That is all. Who cares about all your scandals, you are still amazing.

Definitely makes me wish I could draw.

This kind of looks like my shelf at home…

Dresses, dresses, dresses! I didn’t used to be a dress girl, but lately I want to wear one every day.

Not too sure why there are…bolts(?) in her face, buut I love her hair, and I want to draw this.

This looks so comfy right now

Thinking we should incorporate a ladder into our bookcase at home..(seen here in Erica’s wedding photos at Last Forty Percent!)

Such cute patterns!

I want this lipstick! I have become obsessed with lipstick. I had pink for Micaela’s wedding, and I just recently bought red for our Cheer pub.

Anyone else (in our family or another specific family who owns it) think this looks like the party barn? I pretty much want this as my wedding.

Baby!! I literally tear up every time I look at a picture of Kate or talk about Razzle.  Which is funny, because Kate says I’m the only one who didn’t cry when she told me. I argue that it is because I was out of the room (surprise, surprise) and she didn’t actually tell me. Don’t worry though, not getting any ideas!

Does this remind anyone else of Oma’s house? Scrabble and tea!

This picture is so cute with the candy canes and the desserts together!

This picture is SO ADORABLE! It is Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof (from Buffy!) and their daughter Satyana on Halloween dressed up as, obviously, a Kangaroo family!

Last one- I love everything about this picture. The purse, the adorable dress, and of course the jean jacket. So cute all together.

Also making me happy (at this very moment actually), is Lady Antebellum! Particularly Need you Now, and Looking For a Good Time.

What is making everyone else happy in this weird, tired weather?

OC Transpo Bus

For the past week (and before the Christmas break), I’ve had to find different ways of getting to school almost every day because there are no buses running.  Wednesdays I have no class, but I had to be at school to help recruit for cheerleading, so I was going to walk the hour to school, then someone recommended to me that I should take the shuttles (Carleton has school buses running from different parts of the city every half hour to help students get to their classes).  The closest shuttle stop from me is a half hour walk at our nearest shopping center/O-train stop, so I got bundled up, and left at about 3:45, since I had to be at school for 5, and figured that would give me enough time.  I got to the stop at about 4:20, and noticed a sign on the times board saying “Due to the weather, the shuttles will not be running today”.  There I was, boots on, with slippers underneath, down filled mitts, tights, yoga pants, a short sleeved shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a sweater, a down coat, and BOTH hoods on (I later got made fun of when I mentioned that I took off my hoodS.).  In other words, I was totally bundled up, and totally pissed that I walked half an hour to a bus stop where no buses would be coming.

After I got over my initial shock, and about 5 minutes of trying to call a cab (obviously busy every time I called, because how else would people get around these days?), I walked to the nearest Second Cup and called a teammate to come pick me up and bring me to school.  On our way to school I find out that they had changed the recruiting times from 5-7 to 4-6.  It was now 5:20.  So I get to school, take off my layers (and my hoods), and starting trying to recruit people.  Now has anyone ever had to attempt to recruit university aged guys to try out for a cheerleading team? NOT fun, let me tell you that.  Pretty much our approach is “if you think the guy is hot and jacked, go hand him a flier and chat him up”.  I’m clearly not very good at this.  I attempted to recruit for about 20 minutes, then a group of us decided it would be better if we’d just go to the residence and try to force people to try out hand them out there.  Well.  In order to get to the tunnels (do you really think we would walk outside?), we had to walk past one of the campus bars.  Now you should know that one of our favorite sayings is “Our drinking team has a cheerleading problem”, and we do live up to that saying.  We decided it would be easier for us to talk to people if we had a beer in us.  Well one beer turned into two, and two into three, and next thing you know we’ve forgotten all about handing out fliers, and were now talking about siblings having the same tongues, and things only the fiveblondes would understand like “touch tongues!”, and living on farms/ranches, since the group I was there with consisted of two sisters from Texas-Kelly and Kristina, and one guy who works on a farm-Matt (did I mention that he also is from a family of five siblings?  Only one sister though).  Kristina, by the way is my twin.  If you are looking at pictures from my cheerleading you’d better look twice to make sure that it’s actually me, because we have to do the same thing.  We were then talking about staying for trivia night, when I got a call that Krys was waiting for me outside res commons-almost all the way across campus.  So I grab my coat, say my goodbyes and run across campus…only to be met by a chihuahua in Krys’ truck!  Now I assure you, I wasn’t drunk enough to be seeing things…okay well maybe I was, but there was honestly a chihuahua in the truck.  I’ve never seen one up close, and Radar is enough to turn me off of them.  No offense to anyone who has one, but chihuahuas are creepy looking dogs in my opinion.  It turns out that this lovely dog is staying at my house for a couple of days while Krys’ sister visits us from Montreal.  I’ll let you all know how this goes.

I had totally forgotten that we (me, Emily and Krys) had planned a Monopoly date with Krys’ friend Dan and his girlfriend Felicia.  Monopoly is a touchy subject in our house.  We usually end the game in a big fight, and a win for Krys.  This time was different though.  This time I won!  It was a crazy game, and I didn’t quite understand how I won, but I’m not going to fight it, I’m going to take that win and be happy that I’m the one who broke Krys’ winning streak.  Oh yea, he also wins EVERY single  game we play, including Risk, Clue, and Whoonu.

Anyways, that was my wonderful adventure with the OC Transpo strike.  I was only planning on making it about my adventure getting to school for the recruitments, but I tend to ramble when I’m bored, and have 5 hour breaks in my schedule, which I do every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.