Monthly Archives: November 2009

I Fibbed*

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Shop Girl| 20 Comments

Remember that time when I told you that Christmasy things weren’t going to happen in my house until December first? How I was going to wait this year?

Well, I made it to November 19th. (which really is like an insane record for me as I have begun listening to Christmas music in August in past years. I like Christmas. Don’t judge.) And really, it wasn’t even really my fault. I had had a really crazy stressful week, felt like a terrible sister for bailing on a road trip I was supposed to go on and I needed a little Christmas to make things better. So, after a very, very long day I put in a Christmas CD in my car as I drove to my french class and oh… Christmas music makes evvvverything better!! By the time I reached my school it was like Bing Crosby and Gene Autry had melted away my stress. Love.

Obviously after I start listening it wouldn’t make any sense to stop (…uhm…) so I’ve been listening to it in small doses. And by in small doses I mean in my car, or for short periods of time.

Really, I’ve been quite good. (However, there are no promises once Tuesday gets here. Poor Hubster… I hope he’s ready for a non-stop dose of holiday tunes! WOO!)

So, now that I’ve caved and have been listening I’ve also been hunting for this year’s song. I have an …extensive… collection of holiday music (so much so that itunes tells me it would take me over a day to listen to all of it… ha) but for the past three years I’ve found one song that sticks out and becomes the song for that year. Let me explain:

In December of 2006 I was bored of my tiny collection of Christmas CDs and mixed tapes and wanted something new. We always listened to classics growing up–Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Frank Sinatra, etc–and while I heart them with SO much hearting, I wanted something a little… stronger. One night, on a ride into the city, a song by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra came on the radio and I was hooked. I got absolutely everything I could get my hands on, and then I discovered THIS. This is quite possibly the greatest thing I’ve ever seen–the Griswold’s ain’t got nothin’ on this:

SERIOUSLY. Can you imagine if you lived across the street from that?! I can’t decide if I would sit there all night (every night) and be completely mesmerized by it, or if it would drive me absolutely insane.

Who am I kidding, I’d watch it forever! haha

The Christmas of 2006 passed quickly, and by the time 2007 came around I grew tired of listening to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra over and over (and over and over… the Hubs will attest. haha). I went back to my oldies, but I felt that my collection needed something a little more current to it to round it out a bit. Now, before I show you, let me be clear–I normally abhor remixes of Christmas songs… but I began searching through some more “modern” music and I found THIS. As soon as I heard it I knew it was the one… and it even became the theme song for our family Christmas movie that year. It’s absolutely infectious and I LOVE IT.

YEEEEEAH!!!!!! Let me hear you say: HO HO HO!

Ahem. Back to business. If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll remember that Peeah (my oldest sister) got married at the beginning of December last year. The wedding was fabulous and consumed just about everything as the Christmas season kicked into high gear. Spart (older sister–I am the youngest of the three girls) was the fabulous dj for the wedding and I tried to help her find some Christmasy music for the reception and I found THIS. I love it so much it almost made me wish I had been a Christmas bride so I could have danced to it at MY wedding. (The Hubster and I just danced to it at Peeah’s instead. ha) Listen and love:

*siiiiiiiiiiigh* Isn’t that SUCH a good song? Love love love.

So that brings me to now… it’s less than a month to Christmas Eve and I haven’t found this year’s song yet! This year I am completely open to anything, so I thought, why not take to my favourite place and see what my fabulous readers have to say? I’d love to know what song you loved as a kid, or are loving right now!!

What is your favourite Christmas / Holiday song??

(Please tell me the name + artist as every version is different!!)

Posted in Cool Stuff*, Random Junk*

Shop Girl Shares the state that i am in & Kinetic Wave Scuptures*

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Shop Girl| Leave a comment

So let’s pretend that today is MONDAY and not Tuesday and that I’m not a day late with my Shop Girl Shares post, okay? Okay. :)

Last night I was exhausted after volunteering all morning, coming home to have to quickly do laundry & clean my house before rushing off to work and closing the store and I had a total I’m-so-tired-my-life-is-so-hard-poor-me night. I don’t even like being around myself when that happens, so I went to bed instead of posting. Sorry loves. BUT, I’m here today!

1 – the state that i am in

(via: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2778/4021841653_eed90cbe6b_o.jpg)

Meet Erin, an early childhood special education teacher / fabulous blogger (who was also last month’s featured blogger on 20SB!). I started reading Erin’s blog some time ago after learning that she was a fellow teacher, and was immediately struck by her openness and honesty in her writing–which is often about her struggles with infertility. She recently summarized her journey into an “infertility timeline” which shows exactly what she’s dealt with over the past year and a half. My heart goes out to her every day–but while sometimes life gets her down–as it does us all–she remains positive, motivated, and continues her journey with hope. She is a constant inspiration to me and I cannot wait to one day hear her good news!

2 – Kinetic Wave Sculptures

(via: http://www.psfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/picture-36.png)

Okay. So I realize that this a little different from what I normally share with you, but it was just SO cool that I had to post it! The Hubster actually gets credit for this find–he saw it and shared it and I just happened to click the link. I have to be honest: art doesn’t usually do anything for me. A beautiful piece of music or a well written piece of work can move me to tears, but I’ve yet to find artwork that has the same effect on me. (Except maybe photography. Maybe.)

Anyway. I digress. In my oh-poor-me state last night I was looking for things to distract myself and I came across this video and I was absolutely mesmerized. If you are not usually a video-watcher, just watch even the first 60 seconds. I want one of these in my house!

Seriously–how cool is that?!

Posted in Shop Girl Shares*

Let’s Whine About Swine*

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Shop Girl| 37 Comments

You know, I had absolutely no idea how to begin this post.

I wrote the title, then sat here and stared at a blank screen for nearly 15 minutes before giving up and saving the entry (aka: nothing). I opened it again today to try and write it, but I couldn’t think of a creative way to begin an entry about a subject that has been completely monopolizing the media for months on end. Swine flu this, H1N1 that.

We always seem to follow the same cycle: people get sick, the media splashes it all over every format possible, we panic, life goes on, we forget. Repeat for new illness.

Remember SARS? The epidemic we thought would never leave and would permanently change the face of Toronto’s tourism industry? I’m guessing that you probably just nodded your head and thought something along the lines of, “Oh yeah… I forgot about that!”

I think a lot of people have. Its the cycle, and it’s been six years since the SARS outbreak. Have you been to Toronto recently? It suffered a bit of a blow for a while, but it’s still the same, bustling, vibrant city we know and love. Besides, we have the swine to whine about now.

I will say this though, I believe that some positives have come out of all this hype… people are learning about the importance of washing their hands properly and often and are making good use of hand sanitizer! I hear teachers and parents preaching at their students / children about coughing into elbows instead of hands, so maybe by the end of this some personal improvements will have been made!

Anyhoo. Back to business.

Last month the death of Evan Frustaglio, a healthy, 13-year-old hockey player from the GTA who contracted the flu over a weekend, rocked Ontario’s sense of security where H1N1 is involved. Shortly thereafter the vaccination was introduced and for a time people were in an absolute frenzy to be the first in line to get their shot. I was working the first day the clinics opened, and was listening to the vaccination updates on the radio over the course of the morning. Though they were open from 8am until 8pm, by 2:30 they were turning people away because the lines were too long. Let me clarify–that’s six and half hours in advance. Holy mother of pearl.

Things seem to have tapered off a bit since–they’ve opened the clinics to everyone (at first it was just priority groups) and the rush to get your arm poked seems to have dwindled.

So here’s the thing: I’m completely on the fence about it. I’m sure there are benefits to having it done–you know, like the whole not dying from it part–but I’m still really leery. With videos like this floating around facebook, what’s a girl to think?

See what I mean? I know it wasn’t the H1N1 shot, but still. *sigh*

And then there was the whole recall in Ottawa due to several adverse allergic reactions to the vaccination… now I realize that a reaction like that is a one-in-a-million chance, but still. It’s something to consider.

I know being vaccinated for H1N1 is probably a good thing, but I guess I’m concerned that it’s still so… new. I’m also not someone who is prone to get the flu–I think I’ve had it once in the past 10 years–so I’m not in a huge rush. The Hubster also makes me take vitamins so I pretend I’m immune. :)

So what do YOU think? Are you getting the H1N1 vaccine?

*Do YOU have a blog or personal website (Myspace, etc)? CLICK HERE for an opportunity to win a pair of Whooga Ugg Boots!!

Posted in My thoughts*

Wanna Win Some Ugg Boots?

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Shop Girl| 6 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I kinda sorta love free stuff.

Really. I kid you not.

I don’t always have the best luck with competitions, but I always enter them because I find them kind of exciting and I figure that one day my luck’s gotta change, right? Right? Exactly.

Wanna know what else I love?

SHOES.

I know that’s probably a bit of a surprise, but I thought I’d put it out there anyway. (riiiiiiiiiiiiiight.) I love shoes. One might even say that I heart them. So wanna know what I think is just TOTALLY awesome? Let’s do some math:

Contest + free shoes = FABULOUS.

Because I love you all so much, I’m going to tell you a not-so-secret-secret. I found out about a contest where you can win a free pair of Whooga Ugg Boots this month! Want to know the best part? It’s not a one time deal. There is a new contest every month where you can try again if you don’t win immediately!!

Wait–what is a Whooga Ugg Boot you say? Well my dears, let me enlighten you! They are like the super Ugg Boot. Superior comfort, durability, warmth, AND they are eco-friendly. But don’t take my word for it (actually, do. ha), it’s all there in print ‘n’ picture for your reading pleasure!

I’ve already signed up (free boots? I’m SO in) and if you’re interested you can get all the contest details via the link below!

uggs

CLICK HERE TO WIN A PAIR OF WHOOGA UGG BOOTS!!

Do it. Sign up, tell your friends! Retweet this bad boy and let the world know! There are boots on the line! haha

I hope you win. I hope everyone wins! Whooga Ugg boots for all!!

Posted in Exciting News*

Shop Girl Shares Belle Renee & People of Public Transit*

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Shop Girl| Leave a comment

I’ve come to love Mondays.

Seriously. It’s true. I love sharing new things with people. It makes me sound like such a geek, but when I find something that I love or that makes me happy (which probably means I love it, let’s be honest…) I get so excited that I have to share it and want other people to love it too. I do this with evvvvverything in my life… if I find a good song, sale, TV show, book, restaurant, etc–I immediately tell everyone I know. I like sharing. Sharing is good.

The past two weeks have just been really off weeks for me… ever have those? I worked a lot, felt exhausted and had no positive / creative energy to channel here, so rather than venting / complaining, I took a mini-break. But I’m back in FULL force…. like my brain is exploding with things I can’t wait to write about. Like I actually wrote a list of all the exciting things I want to write about so I won’t forget any. Seriously.

Be excited.

(I say that a lot, don’t I? Sorry lovelies, I just get excited and I hope to do too.)

ANYWAY. Today. Sharing. Excitement. Yes.

1 – Belle Renee

(via: http://bellerenee.wordpress.com/)

Meet Renee, one of the loveliest 23-year-old newlywed bloggers you’ll ever meet. I have this little group of blogging ladies whom I’d love to meet in real life someday, and Belle Renee is certainly one of them. Her blog is such a happy, feel-good place of stories from her job as a Barista, her new marriage, moving and just life in general. She became a bit of an overnight blogging celebrity with her fabulous 20-Something Bloggers video. She is quite possibly one of the most adorable people I’ve ever come across. (we were asked to make “vlogs” about what 20SB means to us, and hers was simply fabulous.)

vlog day 8/17/09 from Renee W on Vimeo.

Go give Renee some love. :)

2 – People of Public Transit

(via: http://www.peopleofpublictransit.com/)

If you remember, a few weeks ago I shared People of Walmart with you–a little website I’m sure we can all relate to. Walmart draws an… interesting… crowd. Let’s leave it at that. haha!

Well, shortly after I received an email letting me know about a sister site that is just… awesome. If you’ve ever had to use public transit for any length of time, I guarantee you will be able to relate to People of Public Transit. I rode the subway / bus for five years before the Hubs and I purchased our first vehicle and there is just something unique about many of the people who ride the bus. Something special. Something blog worthy… and what do you know, here it is! haha!

I absolutely must close off with my favourite subway experience of all time. When I was a young girl of 19, I moved to the Big City by myself and often rode the transit system on my own as I traveled from point A to point B. Coming from a small-town I was instilled with a fear of the unknown, so I often tried to find a seat away from others where I could sit by myself. One day, this large, robust, colorfully dressed woman made this impossible. On a day when the subway car was emptier than usual, and there were plenty of available seats, she chose to sit right next to me. Fine. Whatevs. Normally I’d just quietly sit until my stop came along. But oooooooh no… this was not to happen that day.

There was a pile of newspapers on the seat next to her which she picked up–I assumed to read. Umm… no. She sang out the headlines and stories at the top of her voice for everyone in the subway car to hear. I slyly began the bum slide across empty seats to provide a bit of space between us, but that really wasn’t necessary as she rose to a regal position to sing out with all her might.

It was an opera of crime stories, political pieces and human interest stories (I think there was a bit about a dog in there). Those of us in the car watched her in disbelief as she continued to sing the paper in a note that was slightly off-key until she came to a page with a Canadian flag. She abruptly stopped, put her hand over her heart, lowered her head and began belting out “Oh, Canada” in what I am assuming was Italian… it could have been Klingon for all I know. As the song continued she strutted up and down the subway car and then out the door and onto the platform.

It was a magical subway ride. Sadly, I never saw her again. *sigh*

Tell me your magical public transit stories… now! I know you have one!

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Posted in Shop Girl Shares*