Blurrrr-smooshing Dec and Jan together

Blur... Dec and January have come and gone and left me asking "HOW"? How is life so incredibly fast some months and slow in others? I blink and the month is done. Well we have at least been enjoying ourselves. Dec was a whirlwind of Christmas parties and a visit home to Edmonton. Snowfalls and rain. And food. food. and more food.

Our "small" group at Westside can't seem to stay small.. Its currently 23 people small. We can't split either cause there is nobody else to lead so we pack out our living room every week, and it has been a fun time of chillen and chatting. And in this case... eating. We moved out some furniture and ate a Christmas feast in our living room. Tables and desks covered in tablecloths. Did the full deal - 2 turkeys, mashed potatoes, berry crumble. You name it. We ate it.


For my birthday Danny and I got hooked up through my work at the Four Seasons Whistler Resort. It was a glorious time of royal treatment - we were upgraded to some ginormous suite that could sleep a large family. Which was nice...but a bit too much. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but we just aren't the "rich" type. So when we are in a ritzy place with fur coats, a mystery butler who always knew when to turn on our fireplace, and how to fold our clothes, and Louis Vuitton luggage we can't help but think "whats the point of all this?" BUT we enjoyed ourselves with snowboarding and hot tubbing nonetheless.

Going home was INSANE- (as per usual) Christmas Party after party after party, living room dances with the youth, family times (movies, chats, meals), shopping (a little TOO much-our credit cards hurt us), playing survivor - the real version - in -34 degree weather (celsius!), getting sick-perfect time for the flu-NOT, and COFFEE DATES with friends. One of my fave things was a girly brunch I had with my good friends Erin, Jenna, Lisa, Danielle, and Jessica. I've known Lisa since grade 7 and the rest since grade 10 or 11. Good to still be in touch with these lovely ladies and be a part of their lives. It interesting that any friends I am making now are really having to "learn me" and me them. There is something about having history with someone that can bring depth that doesn't just come naturally.


New Years was rad in Seattle. So short, but so fun. We counted down with our good friends from Vancouver Chad and Lynda. We walked and walked and walked everywhere. Fireworks shot out of the Space Needle and it was awesome. People drinking champagne, yelling, and kissing. Good times.


It has been SNOWING a lot here. We are not used to this for Vancouver, as the city doesn't know how to co-exist with snow, so it has been an adventure in winter wonderland lately. Digging the car out, shoveling, wearing a WINTER JACKET, etc. etc. etc.

My BEST Christmas gift was tickets to the Off-Broadway of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Given to me as a surprise from my lovely husband Danny. I was soooooo excited as this was one of my top 5 favorite Disney movies I loved when I was a kid. It was an AMAZING show nearly identical to the movie, just acted by real people. I LOVED listening to the kids in the audience gurgle with laughter when something funny happened. There were tons of little "princesses" all dressed up for the show. Too cute.

Yes, an umbrella to keep us from getting snowed on. Only in Vancouver. ONLY in Vancouver.

Other than that Danny and I have been keeping SO BUSY with work, church, the gym, and spending time with friends. I had a lovely morning the other day starting out with my favorite movie... Breakfast at Tiffany's...


Topped off with my favorite cereal... LUCKY CHARMS.

And some of my most favorite people...Bonnie and Jon! We had a lovely coffee with these 2 parents-to-be in Burnaby. SO EXCITED for them. :)


It is now FEBRUARY. Can you believe it!!!!? FEBRUARY. I really want to live in the moment this year. Not let time take over. Do things I want. Spend my time how I feel I should. January was a good month. Life is good. But I have to force myself to be intentional with how I spend my time. I am trying to read one book a month this year. SO far my goal is a success! I read 'A Weekend in Paris' in January (fiction novel) and now I'm reading 'Paris to the Moon'. Let's just say I am on a bit of a Paris kick, and can't let go. My whole being just wants to be there learning French and walking their beautiful streets. But... living through my books will just have to do for now! Au revoir...

Lately I'm Craving...

New York.

It's 7:00 pm on a Wednesday, and I'm sitting here at the end of a long day at work, listening to Putumayo French Cafe - just resting. Thinking. For whatever reason I can't stop thinking about New York. It's been 3 days now, and its like a craving I can't seem to kick. Its my drug. It feels like a need, not a want. Doesn't help that I work in the travel industry either. I'm content with Vancouver, and my life here. But I have officially been bit with the travel bug, and badly.

What's so great about New York? Really.
You know... there is almost too much that is great.

For one, the shopping is crazy. Even if you don't buy anything its still fun to peek in little boutiques in Soho - you can be in almost any store and you will probably find something worth looking at. The fashion is of course to die for as well, but at the same time will no doubt make your outfit seem inadequate.

The cafes are darling. We didn't get to try out many of them while we were there, but after seeing this book, I now have a New York mission whenever my next visit occurs. If you ever come across it, its a cool book - lots of good places we're all missing out on. MMM Latte Art.

Two Words. Central Park.

Magnolia Bakery. Life changing Cupcakes. Literally. One bite and its like the cupcake fairy has come and blessed your mouth. I STILL remember what the icing tasted like. Name one other cupcake shop that has a bouncer. I'm telling you, these cupcakes make people go crazy.


Times Square. Does it ever get old? I don't think so. This is literally a place to lose yourself, and lose track of time. Dudes everywhere selling these delicious fresh honey roasted nuts, everywhere you look you see taxis and I heart NY shirts, people galore, BROADWAYS, restaurants, shopping, bright lights and giant advertisements.


I could go on forever, but I wont. I've been trying to lose myself in books to keep my sanity lately. My nicorette, but for travel addictions. I'm in Borneo right now, at an orangutan sanctuary. Adventure Divas. Good book so far about women making a difference in the world. Not stuffy either.

Collecting Kiwi

Seeing as you all haven't really been properly updated on my new job, I figure that I should fill ya'll in.

My passion is travel. The world. Anything to do with culture, I am usually interested. My main passion for my career life is to mix travel and humanitarian aid. I love helping people. I want to make a difference. I think everybody does. But this isn't as easy to find in the travel industry, nor does it pay well. So, to gain experience and to pay off my hideous student loan, I have taken a job at a company that deals with pretty much the opposite of what my passion is - luxury travel. More specifically luxury hotel rooms. I am Content Manager for the website, so that when a new property signs a contract with us I get info on the hotel and write about it. This means I could be writing about a little Inn on the South Island of New Zealand, or a gorgeous chateau in the South of France, or even a large-and-in-charge hotel in downtown New York City. Anything goes. As long as its luxury. This job unfortunately doesn't involve any traveling, but the job isn't without other perks.

I still haven't lost my passion, and I still desire a career in humanitarian aid... but for now this is good. This pays the bills, and is a pretty positive work environment, so I can't complain! However, 40 hours a week is proving to be a lot! So that is my job in a nutshell! And for the record, at this point I can't really get any hotel deals for anybody, but I will sure to post if the day comes when I can!!!  If you want the name of our website, let me know. :)

Blogger Problems: Here is November - my sincere apologies

Oh Blogger issues. How many times have you cursed my blog? Bonnie - be honest. haha I know the blogging police are royally frustrated with me. But my blog will not let me post!!! Even a simple post like this has taken over an hour. And my uploading of photos is getting to be ridiculous. It takes us to 3 minutes a photo. I am thinking of leaving blogspot. I really did start this blog over a month ago. But yes...here it is... only a year late. Well let's quit wasting time and get started. :)

Sister visits. Natalie that is - Kyla lives above us. So she is always visiting. ;) We spent our time with fondue at Chocoatl. shopping on 4th. mainstreet. robson. mary poppins watching. going for dinners. sight seeing. All good fun, and it was a good visit although poor Danny was the only guy... and our professional photographer.

After Nat left I headed to Calgary solo where I got to witness and share in Erin's joy at her wedding. We couldn't afford for Danny to come so Danielle was my unofficial date - although I have no pics on my computer of the two of us!! I got to hang with Ruth from Capernwray too which was so fun!!!  So nice to hang with good friends and see Erin and Dustin so in love.

 

Wish I could have stole Jessica away for a nice long chat but she was in the wedding party so she was busy with her duties!!!

November was lovely. A good month. Adjusting to my new job so I was very tired. Sleepy Hailey comes to town! It was fun to prep for Dec. though. I LOVE CHRISTMAS and decorating, and its a winter wonderland here. We decorated on the last day in Nov. and the festivities began. I will update you on Dec. soon. If my blog cooperates that is.

A group of us friends got together for an early Christmas dinner party because it was the only time that worked for everyone. Christmas dinner number 1. Number 1 of  5 I think? Lets just say I have probably eaten an entire turkey on my own in the month of Dec. BUT: Yummy food = Good times.

We enjoyed our party poppers with Chad and Lynda and the crew - Danny scored a sweet necklace in his. I am so glad he doesn't wear it on an everyday basis. EW!

SO that is our Nov. in a nutshell. Food. Family. Friends. A great month. A HAPPY LATE CHRISTMAS to you all! And a DELICIOUS AND WONDERFUL 2009!  Hope you all enjoyed celebrating our blessed Savior's birth. I am forever grateful we have HIS birthday to celebrate. Thank you Jesus - for all that you were to us in 2008...

October...Just in the Knick of Time!

[So this blog is just a total mish mash due to the fact that our pics are all messed up as well as the blog was being annoying... And I know I'm one day late people. Just cut me a little slack here. I had my final exam of the year, and the biggest project of my life due, YESTERDAY. That was the scariest part of my Halloween.] ;)

What a beautiful month October has been though. The colors are just UNREAL in our neighborhood-I can't get enough! Autumn takes my heart when it comes to seasons. We have been to Edmonton twice in the past month too! (The end of Sept and mid-Oct)Well first we hit up Steve and Kim's wedding on Sept 27. And that was just a blast. I will talk more about that later on. Then we had many other adventures this month such as Thanksgiving in Cowichan Bay on the island. And our second trip to Edmonton was for Robbie and Ashley's wedding. It was an absolute delight as well! So so so nice to be home as we haven't been since June.

So seeing as Halloween was yesterday I thought I would post this BEAUTIFUL shot of Danny and I. This first photo of us is in Superstore where we went with my sis Natalie, and did a little shopping and tried on wigs. I could NOT stop laughing every time I looked at Danny. He looks so creepy/pretty!!!!!

Next here we have Ashley and Robbie's wedding. The most recent of weddings we've been to. They had a perfect Edmonton Fall day on Oct.17. Darla and I were in charge of opening the doors for the girls before they walked down the aisle. It was fun to be behind the scenes! Ashley did really well at holding herself together before heading down the aisle. Darla and I on the other hand had quivering lips and we had to force ourselves not to cry. No wonder this is normally a boys job!!!!


Here is the Robbie's handsome best man. My husband. After the wedding I said something to Danny that confused him/made him frustrated and I took a picture of him as I said it. This picture makes me laugh. True frustration with me. ;)


It was hard to get a good shot of the place but this is the church-Gateway Alliance. Danny and I got married here too. Just completely different decorations. It was very pretty!!!

And now we have the happy couple after they were pronounced husband and wife. Too cute!


Yesterday was a big day for me.  It was my last day of school.  True story!!  I am done, and start a brand new job on Monday at Kiwi Collection.  www.kiwicollection.com.  More to come on that in weeks to come.  Anyways...These are MA GIRLS! My class was primarily exchange students, and we are all female-so it has been SUPER fun getting to know them and learning about their cultures. 2 weeks ago we were studying tour guiding, and got to escape the classroom for nearly a week.  We got to go on the ever-so-exciting Aquabus as part of our tour.It was fun to spend our last days together doing something not involving listening to lectures.  I keep feeling like I have homework. I have been so busy with school lately I can't even say!!! I am so happy to be done! But I will miss these ladies dearly!

Now on to Kim and Steve's wedding. It was great to see people, and Danny did such a great job with the sermon too. (He married them.) And if you are an Office fan...(the tv show) You will be happy to know that Danny even managed to say "That's what she said" IN the ceremony. After Kim said her vows. I just about died!!!! And everyone eventually burst into laughter.

Here is a pic of the pastor (Danny), the talented photographer (Ian) and the groom (Steve).

We snagged a shot of us before the wedding. I flew solo this day though...missed my man. He was off taking photos and being there for the groom!

I picked up this lovely lady however, and we spent the day together. My hot date was Janae! We had heaps of fun out and about in Edmonton.  I miss my hometown.

Steve and Kim were VERY talented at cutting the cake. I was impressed.  I don't have any good shots from the ceremony because I sat kind of far away from the front!  I look forward to seeing Ian's good shots.

Our good friends Steph and Jer were in town from Germany too! They are staffing a YWAM Biblical Studies school there now, and they just left again a day ago! :( We will miss them.

The dance was a good time. I love getting people in mid-move. ;)



And on to Thanksgiving. WE LOVE THE ISLAND. Let me just put that out there before we go any further here.  Everything about it. We had a great great time with Mama and Papa and the crew. My Auntie Pip made a killer Thanksgiving dinner with the help of Mama too. And get this- 5 minutes before we were about to sit down to eat, the power went out on the ENTIRE island! Thankfully all was ready and we ate up! Then at night we went to my cousin Riley's show at this hall. And I am so proud to say even my Mama and Papa came out for the late night! They were definitely the oldest people there!!!!




Okay so at this hall they have a "Not-So-General-Store". That's what its called. And it was SO strange. But I found these cat puppets that made me laugh so hard. I couldn't stop making faces with them. Oh it killed me.

This cafe below is called Moziros. They make amazing coffees, but the real treat is their Mint Smoothy chocolates. They are seriously life changing. I promise.  I loved the art and vintage feel in here.

We came across pumpkin heaven.  I just wanted to jump into the pile but of course that would be painful so I didn't.



This is the courtyard for this restaurant there. I mean how cute is this!?
So that is more or less our October.  I can't believe it's November already.  It scares me to think about how fast this year has gone.  INSANE.  But I am getting SO incredibly excited for Christmas.  It will be great.  I hope all is well with everyone else!  Here's to a good November!