// I finished up my Christmas shopping today with a little help from Q and having to go outside and brave the cold weather. I'm so glad it's supposed to reach 6 degrees by the middle of the week as I don't know how much more cold weather everyone can stand!

Next year if its this cold I'm just buying everything online and not even bothering going outside to do it. Its so much easier to find unique gifts online as well.

I was tempted to buy a few t-shirts online from Threadless for Q (This, this and I just noticed this.) but I was worried they wouldn't arrive in time for Christmas. I ended up getting something completely different, but way more useful :) (no hints here!)

I'm also planning on ordering some tea from Adagio soon as they have amazing blends + you can create your own tea! Very cool & a co-worker has some from the site and it was the best tea I've ever had!

// I also caved in and bought my paid membership again for 2 months so I could have all of my icons / storage back (mostly for the icons), and because everyone is posting again! Yay! :)

Let's keep up the posting and interesting stories / content :P

I know, I know... I haven't posted on here forever but I found something for Tanya and Jenn and all lover's of the Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich at Earl's. It's from The Main on Food Network and although it uses figs instead of apples I can't wait to try it this week:



Chicken and Fig Ciabatta with Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients:
Chicken
* 2 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
* olive oil
* salt and pepper

Aioli
* 1 large egg yolk
* 1 pinch salt
* 1 dash pepper
* juice of 1 lemon
* 1 cup olive oil
* 2 small cloves garlic
* 1 dash hot sauce, optional

Sandwich
* 4 slices ciabatta bread, 1/2 inch thick
* 1 clove garlic, cut in half
* 1 cup toasted walnut halves, (about 8 pieces)
* 4 fresh figs, sliced in 1/4 inch slices
* 4 slices brie, about 1/4 inch thick
* 1/2 cup arugula, washed and dried
* olive oil
* salt and pepper
* 2 tsp honey (optional)

Sweet Potato Fries
* 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and each cut into 6 wedges
* 3 tbsp olive oil
* pinch cayenne and smoked paprika
* 1 green onion, chopped
* juice of 1 lime
* salt and pepper


Directions:
Chicken
1. To prepare chicken, season breasts with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over medium high heat until done, about 6-8 minutes. Let rest before carving into 1/2 in thick slices.

Aioli
1. To prepare aioli, combine the egg yolk, salt, pepper and lemon juice in a medium measuring cup or tall glass.
2. Using a hand held stick blender, gradually blend in oil in a slow stream. Buzz in the garlic, and hot sauce if using. Season with more salt and lemon juice, if necessary.

Sandwich
1. To assemble sandwich, turn broiler on. Toast bread until light golden; rub each slice with cut side of garlic clove and season with salt. Spread aioli generously on each slice.
2. Top each slice with chicken, walnuts and figs. Place brie on top and broil until cheese melts. Remove from oven and place on serving plates.
3. Place a loose handful of arugula on top of melted cheese. Dress lightly with olive oil, honey if using, salt and pepper.
4. Makes 4 open-faced sandwiches.

Sweet Potato Fries
1. Preheat oven to 375. In large bowl, combine sweet potatoes, olive oil, cayenne, smoked paprika, salt and pepper; toss well to combine.
2. Arrange on baking tray and bake, turning over occasionally until cooked through and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
3. Toss with green onions and bake another minute. Squeeze lime juice over and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Well, well, well... looks like I won a prize from Rock 106 as I was called very early this morning. I wonder what it could be :) Hopefully Ill find out as soon as I get through!

// More packages arrived in the mail today as my Etsy obsession continues (makes for great gifts!).

One for Jenn *wink, wink* and the stripey one for me! Such cute critters and he's going to work to be a desk pet :)

// I really need to get cracking and get some jewelry made otherwise I'm going to miss the Christmas season, but even just collecting the vintage beads are a fun thing to do as well ;)

Likely though I'll just end up buying more Etsy things as I've had nothing but excellent experiences and conversations buying so far.

If you saw ME in a police car, what would you think I got arrested for? Answer me, then post to your own journal and see how many crimes you get accused of.

// I've been too inspired lately with jewelry creation and not enough with work and studying for extra courses / tests that I am doing. However... I am now free to announce that I start a job with Service Improvement for 6-7 months starting on the 24th monitoring calls! So happy about that one and a nice change for a few months if it doesn't turn into something permanent :)

My newest favorite beads:






Just to show a few of the new beauties I am going to be getting :) I really am addicted to Etsy, and soon Q and I will have the shop up (I hope!)


// That and I'm so happy that Obama won the election! (although I'm still not impressed with what the stock market is doing...) We'll have to see what he can do starting in January to try and fix the mess that Bush left behind.

I'm off however to study (ok, likely bead) but night all!

// Hello everyone, and hope that you all had a fabulous Halloween night! Decided to go dressed as a pirate to a Halloween party and for work on Friday. I found the coolest parrot at the dollar store, Q sewed him onto my shoulder and I finally have an awesome pirate costume that I can pull out when needed ;)

Q went as a character from the Channel 4 news team (Ron Burgandy, Anchorman) and I was going to go as a news caster with them, but after a long day at work and feeling a bit crappy when I got home decided to watch Ghost shows and Ghostbusters instead ;)

// I've been collecting beading / jewelry items which should hopefully arrive soon and I'll start posting some pictures once the creation process begins (will likely get a flickr account for that). If anyone is looking for any jewelry (earrings, necklace, etc.) for a Christmas present

And if you want an example, here is the first set of earrings I made :) A nice winter theme which I don't want to come, but might as well make jewelry to match.

// Out soccer team ended up losing yesterday 6-5, although we were losing 6-1 going into the second half and scored 4 goals in around 3 mins which is quite an accomplishment for the team. I'm really starting to love the indoor soccer A LOT!

Time however to really get ready for work because 6am is still just to freaking early!

// It's hard to believe there are less than 2 weeks until Halloween! Any plans yet for parties and the like for everyone on the friends list? Usually it's been the Slice, or on a couple of occasions Blarney Stone, but I think this year may bring a house party perhaps.

I have my costume all pre-planned as I did not get a chance to wear it last year for an elf/night-elf type character for work, but for the regular costume it is likely going to be part of the Channel 4 news team team (think Anchorman, Ron Burgandy) which will be heading out on Halloween and priceless!

What is everyone going as this year as well? Always interesting to see the creative idea's out there :)

// I need to stop looking at shopping web sites online as well... they make it too easy to purchase things online without having to get up and leave the house. Although next stage in the planning process is to use this to my advantage and start making jewelry to sell on the soul-sucking website Etsy.com.

I have made three people at work addicted to that website alone in the last 2 weeks. It is because everything on there is so different and unique that you just can't find anywhere else, and that is my main idea for the jewelry store idea I am trying to concoct.

( A few of the things I have found/purchased: )


Need to get that plan off the ground once a few things are planned and worked out to see if it is feasible.

// Hope that everyone is having an awesome weekend (even though yes sadly tomorrow is Monday), but enjoy the rest of Sunday! :) Also giving credit to jenn_renae for stealing the //'s again ;)

I have figured out that I am now addicted to Etsy.com and all of the artsy handmade items located on the site. I think that it is time to rekindle the crafting talents and perhaps put up some items, or suggest that my mother do so for her scrapbooking items / handmade items.

Picked up a few items from one of my favorite sellers to watch Adorn You, and waiting for them to arrive in the mail! Very talented Canadian jewelry maker as well :)

Managed to snag myself, and Q did as well an iPhone before the prices go up on 9/11 (ironic date don't you think?) for only $250. It's actually cheaper than you would be able to buy a Blackberry (I also have mine for sale ;) and figured might as well and have another iPod, internet / You Tube, and phone all in one.

It did take a while to adjust to texting with a touch screen keypad instead of the normal Blackberry texting, but I do like the phone and it is very easy to use. One complaint that I have however is the short battery life because of the graphics involved in the applications, and high costs for car power adapters which are handy because of the short battery life.

Work has been going a bit better lately although I am not happy with summer being nearly over with and the days turning shorter every minute. It isn't good for the psyche when you wake up at 5:15 am and leave for work and it's still dark out in the mornings :(

Just thought that I would share some quick tidbits, and hope you are all doing amazing!

I wish that I had the design flair for clothing design, well that and a few other design talents as well. I've been anxiously awaiting the new fall/winter clothing line for Gentle Fawn for around a month now, and finally some of the first pieces have started to show up online.

Yes I know that I am a bit clothing obsessed as Q can attest to, but I have never been as crazy about a clothing line as with Gentle Fawn. Almost makes me wish I did live in Vancouver so that I could try and work/design for them. Love their prints, their cuts... everything!

Just a few examples I've seen that I like so far, I really like the fall/winter stuff for the jackets as well:




( Click here for even more fawny goodness! )


Cannot WAIT to get some of this stuff... that and hockey! :)

Yes, I know I haven't written an entry on here in forever when I said I was going to try and update every day. Truth be told I have been trying to stay away from spending too much time on either Facebook or online activities.

Although I have been wasting spending most of my time watching the Olympics instead. Was quite disappointed that Canada had yet to win a medal before winning three on the same day, and the flood of medals now seems to be coming in.

Mostly I have been watching the Equestrian events on Bold with the powerful dressage horses (so beautiful...) and now the Team / Individual show jumping. The only downside to watching the equestrian events is that they have them in the evenings in Hong Kong because of the insane heat.

This translates to a 5am start-time on Bold. Needless to say I have been watching the re-play in the afternoons at 3pm instead of 5am, although I'll be able to watch a bit of it before going to work tomorrow morning as I have to be up that early anyways.

I'm hoping that Canada can win an Individual medal with Eric Lamaze being tied for first going into the finals tomorrow, and a Team medal as Ian Miller aka 'Captain Canada' is now competing in his 9th Olympic Games (just think... 36 years), and has yet to win an Olympic Medal. Sad but true, although he has won everything else including World Championships and Pan Am medals, just not an Olympic Medal.

It's only two weeks to be glued to the TV, and then another 2 years of waiting for the Vancouver Olympics. I know I'm wasting my summer away by doing that, but I get my soccer exercise during the week, and it's too darn hot outside to go outside! :P

That and I have been studying like a mad woman for my next LOMA test for work. I'll be using that money to safety the new car whenever dad feels like working on it... *ahem* which may not be a while depending on how everything goes. I'm sure it will be soon enough though.

Need to start saving money instead of spending it, although I have found a new online shopping addiction to Ebay and other sites instead of going to the mall. Just as bad to spend money, with 1/4 of the effort ;)

Some of the new findings:

That and I am still addicted to Gentle Fawn clothing. Likely because they are Vancouver based, one of the original creator's was born in Medicine Hat, and I LOVE their patterns and designs.

Time to get thinking of some graphic / pattern ideas and submit them to see if they will take them, as well to try and get on their blog team as they never did respond to my request of joining the team :( Need to get a tablet first which they now have some awesome cheap Wacom tablets called Bamboo, shown below:





Of course the blue is web only... but the White / Black versions are very nice and only $100. Normally they're at least $300, so not a bad deal at all.

Time however to get ready for bed and the long work week ahead. I really do not like Mondays...

A very weird last couple of days it has been with a huge wind storm/possible tornado taking out trees while I was watching the Dark Knight, to learning that I will soon have a new(er) car that I can name! Yay! :)

Went to the theatre yesterday at 5:20 and waited in line for a good hour and fifteen minutes before they let us in for the 7:00 showing... but man was that movie ever worth waiting for and getting tickets a week early!

While waiting for the movie, I'm glad to have missed the huge wind/rain storm that blew through and wasn't around to watch it otherwise I am sure I would have freaked out just a little bit. I was really hoping for more thunderstorms this summer compared to last when we had 1, but I forgot that possible tornadoes follow those around as well.

Once the movie was done made a phone call home to discover that dad had purchased a car from SGI salvage for me for my birthday/Christmas present. Good old 2000 Olds Alero, which is a version of a Pontiac Grand Dam.


Before:

After:

Should be a nice little car, just need to now find out how much the insurance changes, registration, and safety will be as it is a SK car. Can't wait until it is done though! Yay!

Then I'll have to think of a new name for it, and I'll likely be selling Esther is AB otherwise it would have to be re-safetied in SK which is a waste of a couple of hundred dollars.

Time for bed however as it is much too late, and I can actually sleep in tomorrow! Night all.

Sore and tired are two words that I can use to describe how I am feeling after the races today. We have at least one more race tomorrow @ 9:45, if not two if we manage to get into the finals or a Mixed Cup in the afternoon would would be fun.

However, I am a little disappointed that only around 7 people made a conscious effort to dress up as superhero's for the competition. We may be better paddler's this year, but team spirit is a little lacking for the theme that we were going for. By the end of the day I was exhausted due to the sun / paddling, and didn't stay around for the team cheer competition which I do feel bad for. I did need some rest in an A/C environment and liquids though which will make tomorrow much better.

Still so far the Dragon Boat experience has been a rewarding one, although if I do this again next year I think I would like to try out drumming and take a more active role in tent decorating / team theme a little earlier on and make sure that everyone is going to participate with a fear of death!

It is a very fun and rewarding experience, and to everyone that has yet to try it I would say to give it a shot next year!

Another idea that I am toying with is thinking of some creative venture to start an Etsy store with some sort of creative idea. Anyone have any ideas to share as I'm too tired right now to think of any? ;)

I guess I also missed the boat with the pledge to update every day, but at least I'm on the right track now to update more than every couple of months. Time to go and play some Wii however, and I will try and update tomorrow! Haha!

For all of you Facebook junkies out there, this is compliments of Q:




As well for you Star Wars freaks, another link:




// Not too much else to report on the day besides passing my LOMA exam with flying colors (94% Woot!), and having both Dragon Boat and soccer tomorrow which if it doesn't kill me is going to be a miracle...

Only two more work days to go and then a short 4 day work week next week with 4 days off in a row next weekend! Woot! Cannot wait for that and the Dragon Boat festival itself!

Off however to play Mario Kart Wii and unlock some levels before bed, have a good night everyone!

// Oww... sore thumb and the side of my hand from 'paddling' tonight, but it's going to be a blast for the actual racing part.

That and the guy paddling in front of me was not doing it correctly and not reaching and was knocking my paddle each time which accumulated more sores on my hand. It's time to get some gloves for it now as I can see I'm going to need it.

One more practice and stroke improvement on Saturday and hopefully I'll be ready to go. I may go to one of the nights and jump on to one of the boats for another team as I feel bad I missed the first two practices for the SLF team and I want to make sure that I am ready.

Not quite sure who is coming out on the July 4th weekend, but I'm sure it will be fun and nice to have a cheering audience ;)

// Soccer is another one of those activities that I do like, but it seems every time that our team plays we get into a fight or the other team wants to fight with a few of our players which ends up making me more mad than actually enjoying playing the game.

Injuring my knee the other week hasn't helped with my morale while playing soccer along with missing practices, but we'll see how that goes as the team needs girls as one of us has gotten injured which is never a good thing.

// Time to get back to studying for LOMA as it is the last day I have to do so, so I promise to post something much more interesting tomorrow and more in-depth ;)

// I just have to post about this after reading it on Jeff's site about the history of the meme.

This site: Internet Memes

Covers all of the most popular memes from the Dancing Baby to the Ok Go video, and just brought back all of the great memories of All Your Base Belong To Us and Badger Badger Badger ;)

// The other issue I am truthfully a little bit ticked about tonight is email responses. I know already that I am guilty of doing this on many occasions when I receive an email and need to think about the response, tuck it away in my memory, and then never end up responding to said email.

The issue around email is just purposely ignoring a question/email when it's something I actually spent time to write and want to have a response back for to know the answer/reason. I'm not really 'mad' per say just a little bit annoyed that sending a question harbors no response or concern in some cases. That and it hurts just a bit, but give it week and I'm sure I'll be better ;)

Although no one on my LJ-list need be concerned with the above comment, you're all awesome and amazing and I am the one who is behind to post entries and responses to friend posts ;)

// Another issue I have is my 'desire' to go to practices for sports I have signed up for. I was going to go to soccer practice tonight when my cold hit me again and I desperately needed a nap along with studying for LOMA on Wednesday, and completing my 6 month review as well for work.

I really need to work on keeping commitments and practices and stop using excuses to not go anymore. Just another goal to work on for the year ;)

// I remember the other topic I was going to touch on tonight was the honesty wall I had on my Facebook right after I first joined last year.

The comment that struck me the most was to the effect of: "Stop always talking about yourself first in conversations or relating yourself to every situation, it's not always about you."

I admit at the time it hurt quite a bit and stung along with the fact I was quite shocked at the same time - but it was truthful. I wasn't admitting that I was really doing it, interrupting people, and being quite a bit self-centered at the same time. I'm pretty sure I know who gave the comment, and all I have are thanks for being truthful and honest.

Since then I try to ask questions to get others to express feelings first and not to focus on putting myself in the situation or relating it all the time to one of my experiences. I really do try and think about it when conversing with other people because it was something previously that I never took into consideration.

When after a week I head back to Facebook I'm going to find that app if it still exists and put it back onto my page. I do want the true answers of what people really think of me even if they aren't the sugar-coated responses we all hope for in one of those applications.

Lesson to learn is sometimes the negative and truthful comments are the ones that stick with us the most and the longest, and time to learn all of those comments so I can see what else I still have to work on in this world. ;)

// Well as requested by a friend that I haven't posted in AGES (thanks jenn_renae ;) I have decided to post tonight after debating and vowing to stay off of my Facebook for an entire week. I will post to Livejournal instead ;)

What has been going on in the past few months in the little world of mine? Still at Sun Life getting a bit sick of calls, but still managing to deal with it none the less. I have been looking for other employment opportunities lately and have applied for a few along with part-time work if I just stay at SLF or switch departments.

It's been a bit stressful I won't lie with Q being let go from Convergy's and their closing by the end of August. If he goes back to school I will have to take up a part-time job along with full-time work which will not be good for the old social life, but will help out monetary situations.

However, I am willing to do what it takes if going to hair school is his dream. I'll enjoy my summer with events planned like SLF soccer, Dragon Boat, and dodge ball and then focus in the fall when we've fully decided on what is going to go down in regards to work / school.

// The past few weeks have not been the easiest for Q or I in terms of admitting some faults and mis-adventures, coming clean about the past, and vowing to always be truthful with one another and honest. It's been a week of tough love, and although we both have some demons and fears to work through I know we're going to be ok and work through all of it.

I'll just call it an adventurous start to the summer, and looking for some fun events to fill up the rest of it! ;)

// I am missing the hanging out as well of old University, LJ, and Convergy's friends alike. I know it is what happens when people enter into the real-world and have real full-time jobs to consider along with moving to different locations - but that still doesn't mean I have to like it. :(

Secret wish list of things I want to do this / possibly next summer:

- Go camping (like I never had time to do last summer)
- Go riding with Sarah (I kept asking yet never follow-through... this is something I NEED to do ;)
- Go to more events / planning music events (been working on this with volunteering for work events, but need more outside of work events)
- Stop spending useless money. This means making a budget, saving for desired items, and sticking to the plan again.
- Getting a gym membership to the YMCA. I miss swimming, and having the gym membership in one will help as well.
- Find a new hobby whether it is an art class, club, fitness class, etc. Need to try something new and get Q in on it too if possible ;)
- Set short and long term goals. I haven't done this in quite a while and it may help to try and get back on track both personal, financial, and career wise

...about all I can think of right now in this short time frame, but I know I will have more to add to the list.


I should however get back to studying LOMA for work, and cleaning up a bit before bed. Hope that you all have an excellent week and I'll try to post at least once a day now that I'm cutting Facebook out for a week. Let's try to create an LJ comeback! ;)

SOOOOOOO good... I wish he would make more movies some weeks instead of the 20 secrets. I have yet to send one in, but you never know one day I may be brave enough to do so...