S n O W f L a K e

Oh hi there!!!  It certainly has been awhile since I have written a blog post.  Life has been super busy since I started teaching.  Unfortunately as a new teacher my work day doesn't end when the bell rings.. I probably put in a good 10 hours a day with teaching and planning combined.  I'm not complaining though.  I do love what I do. :)

Anywho,  I woke up with the sun this morning and decided to make myself a pot of tea and write a post.  So here I go...

As y'all know I love the winter almost as much as I adore the summer.  I guess I am just one of the crazy ones.  When I look outside and I see a beautiful white blanket covering all around me, a smile instantly appears on my face.  I know it's cold and can be annoying (shovelling snow, waiting for your car to heat up, being stuck inside for the day, etc.), but with that being said, I have been witnessing a lot of good from this crazy winter we have been having.  Everyday when I log onto my facebook,  I see a shout out to the kind strangers that woke up extra early to clear driveways that don't even belong to them.  I hear about the bosses who call their employees and tell them to take the day off because they worry about their travel.  Small acts of kindness.  I, myself live out in the country and every morning I wake up, some kind farmer has come by to plough my driveway.  Along with the generosity, I see beauty in this season.  Have you ever seen a snowflake up close before it melts or combines with the million others on the ground?  They are so unique and beautiful.  And to think that something so fragile and tiny can combine to cover a whole town over night.

Not to mention, snow is so much fun!  I think that as we get older we sometimes forget what it's like to be a kid again and we lose that innocence.  But it doesn't have to be like that!  I look at the kids I teach and it doesn't matter how cold it is outside.  When there is a big snowfall, that is where they want to be.  Their little imaginations see the ample opportunities presented to them.  Some would say I am still a big kid at heart and I would say that is one of the best compliments I could receive.  I love playing in the snow.  I love building snowmen and snow forts.  I love having snowball fights in the middle of the night.  I love ice skating outdoors and playing pond hockey.  I LOVE snowboarding.  I love taking snowy pictures.  I love being stuck inside with a fire going and a warm cup of tea.  I love big winter boots and even bigger winter coats.  I love earmuffs and hats.  I absolutely adore mittens!  And my list goes on....

Is there anything I hate about the season?  OF COURSE!  But why be negative about something when there is also so much beauty to be seen.  As I grow up, I find that adults can be much more negative about certain situations.  I know that I can get into moods sometimes where it's impossible to see the positives (For example, when I went into a ditch.. ekkkk).  But, with that being said, I know that life is more enjoyable when we focus less on the negative and more on the positive.  We need to find that inner kid in us to help see the beauty of every situation.

So, I know that this winter has felt long and been cold and frustrating, but I urge whoever is reading this, to remember what it's like to be a kid again.  Remember what your favourite thing to do in the snow was.  Wake up today, look outside and think happy thoughts!  You are alive another day and you get to decided how you are going to make the most of it! :)

Surrounded by love...

It's crazy how at one point in your life you can feel so lost and think that you will never find your way... your purpose. Then all of a sudden, one day you wake up and you are looking at the world differently.  You realize that that lost puppy you once were has found it's place.

For awhile I used my blog as an outlet to vent.. a way to try and find myself.  It was encouraging to know that I was not alone in this unfamiliar place.  Many people wrote me kind emails and messages thanking me for the posts for they too were feeling slightly lost.  I think sometimes when we get stuck in this place, we feel like we are alone and no one truly understands.  But the truth is, no matter who you are, you have been here before and most of us can relate. 

I hate to say it but I sometimes feel sad for humanity.  People are so quick to judge and make opinions.  I myself have had people in my life judge me for things they never would fully understand. I use to care and sometimes I still get a little insecure but then a friend sent me the quote posted below and it made me open my eyes a little wider and realize that if I'm comfortable with who I am, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or says.  

Life is like a puzzle and I finally feel like my pieces are finding its place.  I am unique.  I am different.  We all are.  I love taking and posting photos.... once I start working out, I become obsessed... I can be immature and act silly... I am a big kid... my favourite piece of clothing is a boy's sweatshirt... I would rather listen to vinyl then anything else... I drink wine at least 3 nights a week... I cry almost every time I finish a book... If i could, I would eat cereal for every meal... My family is the most important to me... I'm a homebody... I wish Neverland was a real place... I have a weird obsession with zombies... I am very competitive in almost everything I do... and my cat is one of my best friends... 

All these things and more make me who I am and I am proud of the person I have become.  I try hard to be the best version of myself and to be kind to everyone I meet.  It is easy to get caught up in the drama and gossip but I have been making a conscious effort to stay out of it.  It is poisonous to our well being and not worth it.  

I have realized over the past few months how important it is to surround yourself with the right people.  The people that will bring you up and help you be the best you.  This past weekend I hung out with some of my favourite people.  I had an amazing weekend filled with laughter, excitement, and unforgettable memories.  There was not one bit of drama... not one negative comment.  It was a perfect weekend.  I feel like I am lucky to have these people surround me and I look forward to many more memories...  And yes, I probably will take photos of those memories because that is who I am and I am not ashamed of it.  One day I can look back and have a journal of pictures that will make me smile because I was surrounded by love!

Thank Kristin :)

My happy place :)

Since returning from my week vacation in California, I feel refreshed and extremely happy.  I finally feel like I am at a spot in my life I want to be and stay for a long time.  I have always had an appetite to travel and try new things.  Since a young age my imagination has ran wild and I think it truly dictated the life I wished to live as I grew older. 

This year I turn 30 and I have been married for three years so you can only imagine how often I hear from people, "When are you going to have kids?".   If you had asked me this question even a year ago, I would have said never.  But I am slowly starting to like the idea of a little Whitney/Jeffrey running around conquering this crazy world we live in.  That being said, this adventure will be waiting... at least another year.

I am lucky to say that my parents and Jeffrey's parents have never pushed us in the direction of having children right away.. if ever.  Maybe it's because our siblings have had enough for both our families ;)  But I think they want us to live our lives doing the things we love.  Traveling, road trips, sports, nights out, quiet nights in.  All these things I love would be a little more difficult with a "bundle of joy" around.

I think the reason I am slowly liking the idea of kids though is because the past few years I have been living my life and slowly checking things off my bucket list.  Having experienced these small adventures made me realize how lucky I am to have the opportunities and one day I would love to share these experiences with a family.

California was a bit of a spontaneous trip.  I decided one day I wanted to go so I booked that day and we flew out less than a month later. Having nothing really planned as far as hotels and what not, we basically went off the "seam of our pants" and discovered Southern California in a little rental car driving up the Pacific Coast Highway.  In that one week I realized how lucky I was to have the life that was given to me.  I met some pretty chill people who live "simple lives" and love it.  All around me were people of all ages, genders, etc whose passion belonged to the sport of surfing.  This was something all the people in the small surfer towns we visited had in common.  Everyone was so nice and relaxed I never wanted to leave.  They look forward to that early morning surf that they describe as their form of yoga and meditation.  Better than coffee is how one person described it.  Surfing in these towns isn't just a sport, its a lifestyle.  Everyone has surf racks and boards on their cars and every house you drive by has at least 2-3 boards sitting out front.

Having only surfed a couple times before heading to Cali, I was in no way close to being good but that did not stop me from embracing the culture.  We rented boards every chance we got.  The thrill of that perfect wave when you finally get up and feel the push is exhilarating.  It really is like an escape from reality.

California and the people we met along the way taught me that life doesn't have to go so fast.  We really need to slow down and enjoy everything life has to offer.  Yes I may not be working my dream job but at least I am working at a place that allows me the time off to do the things I love.  Yes I live in an unfinished house, but weekends and week nights are filled with memories in return.  The "unfinished house" thing use to weigh on me but after getting back from our trip I looked around my house and felt grateful.  In some ways I like that the house is still "under construction" because it means we are living!  Living the life I always dreamed of!!

I found this quote on Pinterest and absolutely loved it.  I find that in life people tend to focus too much time and energy on the so-called "BIG things".  Careers, mortgages, money, etc... we stress about the big things and sometimes forget about the simple things in life.

Just the other day I looked at my student line of credit and thought, "How the heck am I ever going to pay that off?"  I had a mini panic attack but then after talking to the people close to me, they made me realize that, ya I may be paying this off for quite some time but, at least I am still able to do things and live my life.  Slowly but surely that line of credit will dwindle away but that doesn't mean stopping my life until it does.  

This past year I got to make some incredible memories with my favourite people.  I attended my very first Country Music Award Festival in Nashville, I travelled to New York City at Christmas time with my twin, I lived like a hippie for a weekend at the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover, and in two weeks I'll be renting an RV and surfing the coast of Cali with my boy.  I feel blessed to have these opportunities.  

But not only did I get to travel and see some of my favourite artists perform, I also have a lot of memories of the simple pleasures that I appreciate almost more.  Hammock cuddles with my best friend,  bike rides with the hubby at the cottage, Tuesday visits with my girl Erica out in Bluepoint, paddle boarding with new friends, watching my brother-in-law win the Canadian National in motocross, jet skiing at sunset, 11am visitors to my office, local concerts with my parents, outdoor movie nights with the family, dancing in the rain with my twin, rainy nights listening to records, swimming in the waves in Bright's Grove, long chats with my texan, playing outside with my nieces and nephews, and my list goes on.

Life is full of unexpected moments and unexpected memories.  Make sure you open your eyes wide enough to really appreciate those moments!  For its been said that what seems like the little things now, can be the big things later.

So as I end this post I ask that you mentally make a list of little things you need to do more of... Things that make you appreciate the life you were given.

Here is my list...

Things I want to do more of...

-admire the stars
-buy more flowers

-read more books

-swim in the waves

-nap in my hammock

-try new things (maybe kite boarding will be next)

-worry less

-yoga

-running

-cartwheels

-midnight swims

-wakeboarding
-girls nights in

-candy runs ;)

Flowers in your hair...

Gypsy:

noun (plural gypsies)

• 1 (usually Gypsy) a member of a travelling people with dark skin and hair, traditionally living by itinerant trade and fortune telling. Gypsies speak a language (Romany) that is related to Hindi and are believed to have originated in South Asia.

• 2 informal a nomadic or free-spirited person
  
  
  There is something about the Gypsy lifestyle that excites me... the thought of having no set plans and just flying by the "seat of your pants".  I sometimes feel trapped in this thing called LIFE.  Working 9-5 jobs, paying bills, and having to take vacations at a set scheduled time... just seems unfair.
  
  
  Yesterday I decided to join my parents at Sunfest in London.. something I have done since I was a very small child.  I walked around the festival and felt like I was in a dream world.  So many unique people, things, and food.  Everything from the sights, sounds, and smells excited me.  People watching here is like no other.  Men with longer hair then me playing the bongo drums, a yoga session in the middle of the park, a 10 piece band bringing the crowd to their feet... People drinking beer, smoking weed and being carefree... I felt like being here, not one person had a care in the world... at least in that moment.
  
  
  Maybe in a past life I lived a gypsy lifestyle.  That would explain my love for barefeet, my need for constant travel, and my fascination with different peoples and their cultures.  
  
  
  Having had a few close calls in my life, I have learned to really open my eyes and appreciate the things I have.  Although I have tons of school debt and really can't just take off and travel the world at this moment, that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy life being right here.  Going to small festivals like Sunfest, enjoying the company of my amazing family and friends, helping change the lives of people with disabilities, and moulding the minds of young children.  Just because I can't pick up and go whenever I please doesn't mean I can't enjoy the little things life has to offer and live with the same carefree mindset.  
  
  
  I have seen a lot of amazing people's lives end short.  We often think we are invincible and that nothing will happen to us but life is incredibly fragile and unpredictable.  We have to stop holding grudges, remember to tell the people you care about just how much they mean to you, and live your life doing the things you love!  
  
  
  I will probably never be a true "gypsy" but I can at least learn a little from their carefree lifestyle and be happy with what I do have and the life I was given!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Aloha Moana - - Hello Ocean!

I often wonder if in a past life I lived by the ocean and surfed everyday.  Surfing has been something Zoe and I have talked about since we were very small.  Our obsession with the ocean, having never been there until our 20's, was that of a fantasy.  Maybe it was what the ocean represented to us... almost like a fairytale.  Growing up we use to tell people we were Hawaiian and most believed us... our dark features and tan skin always raised questions of where we came from.  We never liked to wear socks and preferred bare feet.. still do to this day.

The first time we saw the ocean, we were amazed.  The smell, the taste, the waves.. everything about it was exactly as I had imagined.  I felt like I belonged there and I never wanted to leave.  Still to this day the beach is my absolute favourite place.  I feel that it is a place where I am most comfortable.. most relaxed.. most like me...  

Although I have only surfed a few times, it was something Zoe and I picked up quite quickly... the natural feeling of the wave pushing you forward and pulling you up.  It is so exhilarating.  Every time I got out into the ocean and surfed a wave, I felt infinite!  

I often think about moving someplace like Hawaii, buying a small house, opening a surf shop and living a simple life.  I would never wear socks again ;)  Surfing would become a daily routine and the ocean would be my safe haven.  

One of the things I love most about the ocean is how mysterious it is.  There is so much yet to be discovered and so many beautiful creatures live there.  I read somewhere that the ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth's surface yet more than 95 percent of the underwater world remains unexplored.  How crazy is that?  

As you know from reading my blog, I am a sucker for quotes and one of my favourite ones is: "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf!"  Life is crazy and unpredictable.  Shit happens that we can't control but having dreams, ambitions, and happy thoughts can help you get through the rough times.  

When life throws me lemons and curve balls I think of the ocean and what it represents to me.  If I had access to some gnarly waves when I was feeling stressed.. I feel like my troubles would disappear once I hoped on a board.  But because my life doesn't involve an ocean, the beach is the next best thing.  When I feel overwhelmed or stressed I sit in the sand and think.  For some reason, I always leave feeling refreshed and happier.    

So, next time you feel overwhelmed with the crazy "waves" in life, venture to the beach.  Listen to the water and just relax... Think about the life you are blessed with and the beauty of that moment will help you realize life isn't that scary after all!  

Heavy heart...

Today I decided I wanted to write a blog post.  I had a topic in mind and I was ready to just write.  But then I heard the tragic news of the Boston Marathon and I realized my venting over something so trivial was pointless.  My heart is so heavy for those involved.  Tragedy such as this one and the Newtown shooting really makes me question humanity and unfortunately my faith.  Don't get me wrong, I believe in God.. at least in some form.  But I question how a greater being can allow innocent people to be faced with such tragic events.

Children are the most innocent souls and deserve a chance to live.  They don't deserve to have their last memory be one of fear.

I know I say this ALL the time, but life is so unpredictable and so short.  Just the other day I attended a funeral to celebrate a life of a young man who got caught up in the evil world of addictions.  His life was taken from him too soon and right at the time that he was ready to get the help he needed.  It just seems unfair.

I've been trying to live my life doing all the things I love and with the people I love.  I have been trying to not get caught up in negativity and trying to stay positive.  Some days are harder than others.. especially when you hear of such tragedies.  But during these sad times, we have to remember the value of our lives.  Do we want to spend the last day in a fight with a friend or family member or being stressed out about something at work??

I believe that everyday we get to wake up, we are blessed.  Everyday we go to work, we are blessed.  Rain, snow, sunshine, no matter what weather, we are alive.

So I ask that anyone who reads this, remember how it is a privilege for you to be here right now.  Don't take that for granted.  Instead of stressing, be happy that you are living.

Don't get caught up in gossip, drama, and negativity.  It's not worth it.  People will talk, people will judge... It is up to ourselves to not let it get to us and not to get involved in it.  Don't allow anyone to control your life... you are the one behind the wheel.  Make sure you go in the direction that makes you happy.