Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Ottawa Fashion Week
Anyone who spent much time with me in the past couple weeks knows about the excitement- bordering on obsession- that I had with Fashion Week. First of all, the fact that Ottawa has such an event in the first place is exciting and shows how far the city has come in the fashion world, even just over the past few years. Not to mention the fact that it was held at the National Gallery-- hello glitz and glam! The Gallery itself is an architectural masterpiece and the catwalk looked amazing surrounded by windows on all sides showing the Ottawa river and parliament in the distance. This seasons show was especially exciting because my fabulously talented boss, Alison Hughes, was chosen as head stylist for the event-- what an honour!! She is amazing at everything she does and has a great eye for styling, so naturally I knew the end result of the show couldn't fail to impress!
The show started a week earlier for me this year because Ali asked me to help out at the model fitting the weekend before. Picture a hundred models, designers and clothes all piled into the LOFT hair salon downtown-- it was craziness! Fittings for each of the shows were going on simultaneously. The volunteers were amazing at making sure each of the models was in the right place at the right time! I spent most of the morning with a camera taking head shots of the models and then photographing models in the outfits we had chosen for them. I also helped fit models, which basically involves going through the runway outfits and choosing which ones go on which models, making sure they fit and look good. Before the end of the day I helped manage the male model casting call--- hello hot male models! All in all the day was so much fun and as an added bonus I got a sneak peak at all the clothes before they hit the runway!
After the fitting, Friday couldn't come fast enough as I was even more excited for all of the fashion shows. Since HUSH sponsored Fashion week this year, the HUSH girls were all given VIP seats, along with awesome swag bags that night!! We had front row seats for the shows that night and oooeh and awwed at gorgeous jewellery pieces by Micalla, and the awesome animal-inspired hair for the Goldenfish swimwear show. It was so much fun getting dressed up and as an added bonus Ali gave us a sneak peak of backstage.
Me and Jared-- Front Row! woo!
For me, the absolute best part of the night came right at the end. Leading up to Fashion week I was most excited about Adrian Wu showing his line. For those who don't know, Adrian Wu is a 20 year old genius designer from Toronto who is wonderfully talented and is on the verge of making it super big! Anyways, as we were chatting with Ali backstage, Adrian Wu, in a fabulous knitted floor length Camel-coloured dress, walked up. I seriously need to work on my tact. In situations like these you always hope that you will act cool and collected just as if you were meeting anyone else. Unfortunately, this is me we are talking about, I turn red at the drop of a hat. This instance was no exception, and the calm cool exterior I so desperately wanted, I failed at considerably. I was so surprised/shocked/excited to see him that the first thing I said (picture this in a 'he is dreamy' kind of tone) was "Oh! Adrian Wu". I'm really hoping he didn't hear that part, although I dont think its physically possible to stand 3 feet away from someone and not hear them exclaim your name! Anyways, Ali introduced us, I turned bright red and giggled uncontrollably (Remembering this is both making me very happy and horribly embarrassed all at the same time), we shook hands and I walked on air for the rest of the night!!
Now, if this were my Work Bestie's blog, I would tell you all about how amazing Saturday was because I got to hang out with Jessica Biffi and Adrian Wu all day by helping with their fittings. Sadly for me, that was Thea's day and not mine. Jared and I did go to a couple shows that night though and luckily I had my camera! Jana Hanzel's designs were flawless and were right in step with the 'ladylike ultra feminine' trend that is popular right now. My favourite part of her show were the gorgeous hats that I wish I was brave enough to wear in the spring time. (I'm really tall and feel like hats, especially big statement hats, just make me look like the Statue of Liberty!)
Judy Designs line was edgy and raw. The part of me that is obsessed with studs and motorcycle boots loved every minute of it!
Right before Judy Designs show, Adrian Wu and Jessica Biffi showed up at the end of the runway. Spurred on by Jared I went and asked to have my picture taken with Adrian! Seriously that man makes my heart beat soo fast-- I'll let you decide whether I'm talking about Jared or Adrian! ;)
All in all Ottawa Fashion Week was everything I hoped for and more! I had so much fun dressing up and checking out other peoples outfits! I think I could have gone by myself and entertained myself people watching the whole time! Whoever says that Ottawa Fashion doesn't exist seriously needs to rethink their stance.. we are a growing force and after the success of this years Fashion Week putting us on the map, it can only keep getting bigger and better!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Spins and Needles
Attention all thrift store junkies and craftionistas (ya I'm pretty sure I made that one up!) On Friday night I went to an Ottawa event called Spins and Needles and absolutely had a blast because it combines two things I love--- shopping for clothes and altering clothes!
Basically the event is a huge clothing swap, where everyone brings at least one bag full of clothes and gets to go through huge piles in search of a new item that they will wear! I went with a co-worker and a few of her friends. We spent the first 45mins or so going through the huge piles, trying stuff on and socializing with other people. It was a little overwhelming because there were tons of people all trying to get at the same things at the same time--- luckily there were no fights (I really thought there would be)! I tended to shy away from the big crowds. If you think of lions eating a carcass, I was more like the bird that comes and takes a few bites and runs away. It was a little intimidating, I felt bad since no matter where you are, you are always in someones way! I spent quite a bit of the time telling people what I thought of the outfits they had created, or whether or not the shirt they had found fit-- basically it was like working but not getting paid. Those who know me know that I love my job so obviously I loved every second of it! I found an amazing Beaver vest (and by Beaver think little boy scouts rather than actual Beaver fur). The problem was that it was for a 10 year old boy and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get it to work on me. I tried to convince a smaller girl how cool it was but she didn't seem quite convinced! During the whole night there was a live DJ, hence the 'spins' part of the title, so it created a fun atmosphere!
This picture does not do the crowd justice because this is much later in the night when it had died down considerably.
After the swapping had died down a bit (I say a bit because people continued to arrive throughout the night so there were always piles of clothes and people going through them), tables were laid out with sewing machines, beads, fabric, stenciling supplies- you name it!- for people to use to alter their clothing. I spent the next two hours sewing on sequins and fake pearls to the shoulder of a purple turtleneck that I had scored from the pile. Seriously I have a new found respect for any type of beading or sequins on clothing because it was so tedious and time consuming. I had originally planned on sewing both shoulders but given how long it takes, I settled for an asymmetrical look instead.
Throughout the night I met lots of new really nice and cool people. Everyone was extremely open to meeting new people and I even had a few people recognize me from HUSH. The girls I went with all stenciled awesome designs onto shirts they had found. By the end I think people were going through the clothing pile just looking for anything that they could tear apart and alter!
Clive Doucet, who is running for mayor, even made an appearance which impressed me, even though he didnt seem too interested in going through the mens pile and sewing a couple buttons.
This is the girls (Rachel, Emma and Ruby) getting their stencils ready! Ruby even made me a shirt with a bright pink bulldozer on it!
All in all I really had a great time and am looking forward to the next night, scheduled for the end of November!! Let me know if anyone wants to join!
-B
Basically the event is a huge clothing swap, where everyone brings at least one bag full of clothes and gets to go through huge piles in search of a new item that they will wear! I went with a co-worker and a few of her friends. We spent the first 45mins or so going through the huge piles, trying stuff on and socializing with other people. It was a little overwhelming because there were tons of people all trying to get at the same things at the same time--- luckily there were no fights (I really thought there would be)! I tended to shy away from the big crowds. If you think of lions eating a carcass, I was more like the bird that comes and takes a few bites and runs away. It was a little intimidating, I felt bad since no matter where you are, you are always in someones way! I spent quite a bit of the time telling people what I thought of the outfits they had created, or whether or not the shirt they had found fit-- basically it was like working but not getting paid. Those who know me know that I love my job so obviously I loved every second of it! I found an amazing Beaver vest (and by Beaver think little boy scouts rather than actual Beaver fur). The problem was that it was for a 10 year old boy and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get it to work on me. I tried to convince a smaller girl how cool it was but she didn't seem quite convinced! During the whole night there was a live DJ, hence the 'spins' part of the title, so it created a fun atmosphere!
This picture does not do the crowd justice because this is much later in the night when it had died down considerably.
After the swapping had died down a bit (I say a bit because people continued to arrive throughout the night so there were always piles of clothes and people going through them), tables were laid out with sewing machines, beads, fabric, stenciling supplies- you name it!- for people to use to alter their clothing. I spent the next two hours sewing on sequins and fake pearls to the shoulder of a purple turtleneck that I had scored from the pile. Seriously I have a new found respect for any type of beading or sequins on clothing because it was so tedious and time consuming. I had originally planned on sewing both shoulders but given how long it takes, I settled for an asymmetrical look instead.
Throughout the night I met lots of new really nice and cool people. Everyone was extremely open to meeting new people and I even had a few people recognize me from HUSH. The girls I went with all stenciled awesome designs onto shirts they had found. By the end I think people were going through the clothing pile just looking for anything that they could tear apart and alter!
Clive Doucet, who is running for mayor, even made an appearance which impressed me, even though he didnt seem too interested in going through the mens pile and sewing a couple buttons.
This is the girls (Rachel, Emma and Ruby) getting their stencils ready! Ruby even made me a shirt with a bright pink bulldozer on it!
All in all I really had a great time and am looking forward to the next night, scheduled for the end of November!! Let me know if anyone wants to join!
-B
Monday, October 18, 2010
OK here it GOes again!
Friday Night. Capital Music Hall. OK GO.
Ok Go is a band known for their ridiculous costumes/outfits worn to awards ceremonies-- does anyone remember the wallpaper/carpet suits they wore to the 2008 Grammy awards?
--they're also well known for their music videos. My two personal favourites are the video for their song 'A Million Ways', where they choreographed a whole dance routine in someones back yard, it has a homemade going back to youtubes roots vibe to it. Plus I'm not going to lie Angela (my old roommate) and I spent hours practicing that dance, we are just that cool- it was a blast! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbdbVhBGETQ
My other favourite has become a cult classic on youtube because even if they hadnt performed the song 'Here it goes again' in the background, the video itself stands alone as really impressive. In fact it won a Grammy in 2007 for Best Short-Form Music Video! The guys choreographed a dance on treadmills!! Enough said, go watch it!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA
Two bands opened up for Ok Go. Erica and I got seats on the upper floor of the club so we were excited that we'd be able to see really well. The first was a Californian band called Summer Darling. Maybe it was because just prior to the start of the set a girl jumped in front of me and stole my awesome spot so I couldn't see that well, but I wasn't overly impressed with Summer Darling. They had a good sound, but their songs felt like they were hours long and the lead singer jumped around erratically with his mouth open, even when he wasn't singing! Anyways it just wasn't anything I was really surprised and excited about.
The second band is from Chicago and is called Company of Thieves. They have a female lead singer with an amazing voice! She really got into the music -- she was kind of insane-- and was extremely entertaining to watch. I was very impressed with their songs and loved listening. I sometimes write notes on my phone as if I was really a reporter so I dont forget details, this is what I came up with that night-- "Ok Go ahead and call me cheesy but Company of Thieves stole the show. They put the others out of business." get it cause its a company!.. of thieves! .... I realize I'm the only one that thinks I'm clever! :)
I originally went to the concert with all of the Ok Go pop culture symbols in my head, hoping the bands music would live up to that status. Seriously, they didn't fail to entertain. Not only do they have a great sound, catchy music, an amazing lead singer (did I mention gorgeous lead singer?!) but they also made the show their own. True to form, they added lots of details to make the show as Ok Go worthy as possible! They put cameras on their microphones so that the backdrop could show up close shots of each of them throughout the concert, they recorded the entire concert so that people could by it on a usb afterwards, they put up a phone number for people to text to get a free music download, the lead singer, Damian, jumped into the middle of the crowd to play a song and they even played one song entirely with hand bells!
This was so unexpected at a concert-- soo well done!
Possibly the coolest thing about the show was the 3D!! At the beginning of the concert each person was given free 3D glasses as they were going into the hall. Halfway through the concert the band announces that they recently made one of their music videos 3D and that we would be the first people in the world to get to see it!!! So everyone threw on their glasses and watched the video on a giant screen! The video itself was dancing mixed with choreographed dogs doing tricks-- the dogs were pretty impressive!
They played the video just after Damian had sung in the middle of the crowd. This is him announcing the 3D video!
Erica and I decked out in our 3D shades!For their encore, the band ran back out on stage with jackets on that could show words on the back of them -- I really dont know how to explain that better.. think of those huge belts that have words running across them like a sign -- a moving sign? Anyways I hope that makes sense! Throughout the song different things showed up on their jackets as well as lazer beams coming out of their guitars into the audience!! It was pretty wicked!
These are the back of the jackets, you can kinda see their legs out the bottom!
Lazer beams coming off of guitars.. What What!
I know I say this every time I go to a concert, in fact I'm starting to think its the only thing I want from a concert, but I'm sure Damian and I had a moment! Mind you he jumped into the crowd so he quite literally had a moment with every other person in the audience, but where he stood in the crowd was right in front of Erica and I! He looked up to talk to all of us on the top floor and sang to us! If you watch the first couple seconds of this video, you can take part in that special second in time that we shared!! ;)
"Here it goes again"-- the Real Deal!
-B
Monday, October 11, 2010
"I knew I should've stayed home today!"
Today I experienced for the first time the joys of the Greyhound Bus. Now before you start judging my upbringing, I have traveled by bus before. Just because I'm from a tiny town doesn't mean we took field trips in those stuffy boiling hot school buses. Well lets be honest, we usually took trips in those buses, but sometimes for longer trips we would take coach buses. Today, however, was the first time I ever did it with strangers-- a.k.a I had no one to talk to for five hours and there was a high potential of getting stuck with someone awkward, disgusting or rude. I seem to have no luck with the people I get stuck with while traveling. My history speaks for itself. There was the drunk man who hit on me from Fredericton to Toronto (when I was maybe 16 at the time), the anti-Mormon who yelled at/chastised me from Denver Colorado to Salt Lake City Utah (although honestly he was pretty entertaining and I made sure to wave to him the next day when I saw him protesting downtown). Finally, don't forget the man who licked his hands obsessively from France to Toronto. The worst part was when he shoved those same hands into my candy bag because I was too nice to tell him how much he disgusted me! Bleh! Just thinking about that plane trip makes me feel a bit sick!
Luckily today I managed to come away from the trip unscathed by any horrible incidents with other passengers. In fact, it was completely the opposite. Surprisingly, instead of having an interesting story about the crazy on my bus, I found that no one talked to one another at all. There were no words from the bus driver about stops or arrival times, no hellos from the girl sitting next to me. The only interaction I had all morning was when I asked the girl sitting next to the washroom if she knew if the door shut, she coldly answered that she didn't know and returned to her ipod. I couldn't get the door to shut and no one offered to help me. I found the whole experience very impersonal. At the end of the trip the bus stopped in downtown Toronto, and when I asked the bus driver when we would be going to Yorkdale Mall, he informed me that he had been told he didn't need to go, so he went directly downtown!.. What kind of a business doesn't inform the clients about an important change like deciding to miss a stop!? If the #4 OC Transpo bus decided one day that it could probably skip going through Carleton Campus because no one on the bus looked like a student, people would have a fit!! Anyways, that is my Greyhound rant for the day. It actually didn't make me angry today, it mostly just made me upset because I was stuck downtown with heavy luggage with no idea where to go! Luckily I managed to get to the subway and get to Yorkdale okay, and all is well!
I have to admit, getting to the destination is actually one of my favourite parts about vacations. I've always found that I meet some of the most interesting people while traveling. After a while, being so lonely makes you a little crazy and you start finding yourself talking to strangers when you normally wouldn't. I've always liked traveling alone because it forces me to go out of my comfort zone and I'm always surprised how bold I get with strangers. I guess what I've learned is that the world is a pretty big place filled with lots of different kinds of people, but after awhile of being alone, it forces you to look for similarities between you and other travelers. You start to make connections with just about everyone and suddenly the world is a lot smaller, a lot less scary and much more manageable.
Traveling alone also gives you far to much time to think!
As I was waiting in line for the bus today, I could see people taking seats at the front of the bus. My first thought was that that must mean that the rest of the bus was filling up and I'd have to find an aisle seat next to someone. I got on the bus and realized that there were many seats that were empty and that the people I had originally been looking at, had purposely chosen to sit at the front.
It got me thinking: Does where you sit on the bus say something about who you are?
From the time we were little the back of the bus was always the cool place to be. It was a status symbol. Somehow the back meant that you were cool or it was a reward because you were finally old enough to inherit a seat in the hallowed back seats. They are furthest away from the driver, and during school trips, furthest from teachers and parents. Since it was furthest from authority, we would come early for trips just so we could score it, and it became the place to play truth or dare and other types of secretive games. It occurred to me today that maybe the idea of the back of the bus as 'cool' still continues with some people as they grow up.
Do the rebellious or those 'cool' status seekers naturally flock to the back?
Do the conservative, fuddy duddy (a.k.a people who dress like their parents) people prefer the front? Are they aware of this concept and openly rejecting it by sitting at the front because they have grown and matured?
Lastly, what does this say about me for sitting almost perfectly in the middle of the bus? Does this show that I have trouble choosing between my conservative side and my edgier fun side? Do I have an identity issue? Is this proof of my indecisiveness?
Perhaps this allows for the best possible bus experience all around, because you will likely end up sitting next to someone similar to you. You could even take it a step further! Are you a pretty conservative person who's looking to walk on the wild side of life? No need to go to a club or start sky diving lessons, just sit at the back of the bus and not only experience things in a new way, but you will be presenting yourself to the world in that new way. Don't worry, no one will question the seating, the seating speaks for itself!
I'm not sure if there is room in this bus theory for the crazies. They've never been known to follow societal conventions so its likely that no matter where you sit, or how you decide to portray yourself to the world based on where you sit, you'll always be just like everyone else! How you may ask? You'll have the same chance as every other person of having a crazy man who licks his hands sit next to you! Luckily I've already had that, and there's gotta be a rule somewhere in the universe that says that I can not be subjected to that twice in one lifetime! Looks like I have a lifetime of boring seat companions ahead of me!
-B
Luckily today I managed to come away from the trip unscathed by any horrible incidents with other passengers. In fact, it was completely the opposite. Surprisingly, instead of having an interesting story about the crazy on my bus, I found that no one talked to one another at all. There were no words from the bus driver about stops or arrival times, no hellos from the girl sitting next to me. The only interaction I had all morning was when I asked the girl sitting next to the washroom if she knew if the door shut, she coldly answered that she didn't know and returned to her ipod. I couldn't get the door to shut and no one offered to help me. I found the whole experience very impersonal. At the end of the trip the bus stopped in downtown Toronto, and when I asked the bus driver when we would be going to Yorkdale Mall, he informed me that he had been told he didn't need to go, so he went directly downtown!.. What kind of a business doesn't inform the clients about an important change like deciding to miss a stop!? If the #4 OC Transpo bus decided one day that it could probably skip going through Carleton Campus because no one on the bus looked like a student, people would have a fit!! Anyways, that is my Greyhound rant for the day. It actually didn't make me angry today, it mostly just made me upset because I was stuck downtown with heavy luggage with no idea where to go! Luckily I managed to get to the subway and get to Yorkdale okay, and all is well!
I have to admit, getting to the destination is actually one of my favourite parts about vacations. I've always found that I meet some of the most interesting people while traveling. After a while, being so lonely makes you a little crazy and you start finding yourself talking to strangers when you normally wouldn't. I've always liked traveling alone because it forces me to go out of my comfort zone and I'm always surprised how bold I get with strangers. I guess what I've learned is that the world is a pretty big place filled with lots of different kinds of people, but after awhile of being alone, it forces you to look for similarities between you and other travelers. You start to make connections with just about everyone and suddenly the world is a lot smaller, a lot less scary and much more manageable.
Traveling alone also gives you far to much time to think!
As I was waiting in line for the bus today, I could see people taking seats at the front of the bus. My first thought was that that must mean that the rest of the bus was filling up and I'd have to find an aisle seat next to someone. I got on the bus and realized that there were many seats that were empty and that the people I had originally been looking at, had purposely chosen to sit at the front.
It got me thinking: Does where you sit on the bus say something about who you are?
From the time we were little the back of the bus was always the cool place to be. It was a status symbol. Somehow the back meant that you were cool or it was a reward because you were finally old enough to inherit a seat in the hallowed back seats. They are furthest away from the driver, and during school trips, furthest from teachers and parents. Since it was furthest from authority, we would come early for trips just so we could score it, and it became the place to play truth or dare and other types of secretive games. It occurred to me today that maybe the idea of the back of the bus as 'cool' still continues with some people as they grow up.
Do the rebellious or those 'cool' status seekers naturally flock to the back?
Do the conservative, fuddy duddy (a.k.a people who dress like their parents) people prefer the front? Are they aware of this concept and openly rejecting it by sitting at the front because they have grown and matured?
Lastly, what does this say about me for sitting almost perfectly in the middle of the bus? Does this show that I have trouble choosing between my conservative side and my edgier fun side? Do I have an identity issue? Is this proof of my indecisiveness?
Perhaps this allows for the best possible bus experience all around, because you will likely end up sitting next to someone similar to you. You could even take it a step further! Are you a pretty conservative person who's looking to walk on the wild side of life? No need to go to a club or start sky diving lessons, just sit at the back of the bus and not only experience things in a new way, but you will be presenting yourself to the world in that new way. Don't worry, no one will question the seating, the seating speaks for itself!
I'm not sure if there is room in this bus theory for the crazies. They've never been known to follow societal conventions so its likely that no matter where you sit, or how you decide to portray yourself to the world based on where you sit, you'll always be just like everyone else! How you may ask? You'll have the same chance as every other person of having a crazy man who licks his hands sit next to you! Luckily I've already had that, and there's gotta be a rule somewhere in the universe that says that I can not be subjected to that twice in one lifetime! Looks like I have a lifetime of boring seat companions ahead of me!
-B
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Winter's Comin On, Summer's Almost Gone
The leaves have started to fall and change colours, the nights are starting to get chilly and school has started for everyone except me-- that's how it feels anyways! You know Fall is around the corner when men get more excited than usual about women wearing skirts and shorts. Men realize that skirts will be shunned for the next six months as pants, jeans, boots and layering take over the fashion scene. They can instinctively feel Fall creeping in and compensate by creeping a slightly longer than usual stare knowing that any skirt could be the last they see until next spring.
Fall is literally a day away and I decided that before I embrace this new season, with all its splendors like Apple Cider, orange leaves and endless layering possibilities, I need to first take a moment to reflect, maybe even wax nostalgic, on the amazing Summer I had.
The summer months flew by and there is no way I could or would want to write down everything I did. So instead, I've decided to narrow it down to a few key ingredients that made my Summer so much fun!
1) Biking
In case you weren't aware already, bikes are the new coolest accessory for Spring and Summer. As usual North America is almost always trailing behind Europe when it comes to whats hot. Bikes are hot! I remember when I was in Amsterdam it felt like literally everyone in the entire city had a bike, they even had whole parking lots devoted to them. Somehow all of the people managed to look uber cool and fashionable while riding their bikes as well-- men wore dress pants, women wore cute skirts and dresses. I wish I could say that I mastered the uber cool biking look, but that is miles from the truth. I always end up having to bring a change of clothes wherever I go because a bike ride leaves me looking disgusting and far from the cool and collected Europeans I wish I could emulate.
While they have small vintage inspired road bikes with banana seats, I have a big heavy guys bike. I tried to make it feminine by adding a basket to the front but now it really just looks like a bad cross-dresser. On the other hand, what my bike lacks in looks it totally makes up in style. My bike has been decked out with a bubble machine! It feels very 'Pimp my ride: Bike Edition'!! When I ride down the street bubbles come out the back of a bubble machine which is attached to the back wheel. Eight year olds all over Ottawa have ooeed and awwed over it. Bubbles along with the endorphins from exercising pretty much make me the happiest girl around. Its great exercise, I get to enjoy being outside and every ride is an adventure. Its given me a tan, countless bruises, a couple scary close calls and some good stories --- Seriously, give bikers space when you're passing them, we need more than two feet!! I still havent figured out the gears and I had to google the turning signals but for the most part I have really liked biking and will be sad to see the weather turn and force my bike into storage.
2) Camping
A group of friends and I spent the weekend Camping in Algonquin Park this Summer. We rented a couple camp sites, packed up a couple canoes and a kayak, bought the most delicious camp food you can imagine and had a blast. We planned kind of complicated meals so it ended up feeling like by the time we finished a meal we were starting to get the next one ready, but it was totally worth it. We ate like kings--- Perogies, pancakes, baked potatoes, ribs! The rest of the weekend was spent hiking, canoeing, fishing .. trying to catch a chipmunk that I nicknamed Chippy because he kept stealing our food! Definitely a memorable weekend away!
Group shot on the beach in front of our campsite!
This is Chippy!! He was so used to humans that I could click my tongue and hold out my hand and he would run right up!!
We took clams out of the lake to cook on the fire! They were delicious with ketchup-- but seriously what isnt?!
3) Fishing
I only got to go fishing a couple of times this Summer and I think what I realized is that I'm a huge suck. Growing up I only ever fished a couple of times and because I'm the youngest, someone else would always bait the hook for me. Somehow the idea of ripping a worm apart and then sticking it on a sharp hook is not my idea of a pleasant time. I think the reason I like to fish is so that I have an excuse to sit outside and do nothing-- when you fish, not only is it acceptable but its expected! Luckily Brynne was around to fish with me, she baited my hooks so that I could enjoy the rest of fishing. Next year I think I will get a license and make sure we go more often!
Me with the Catfish that I caught!! Did I mention that I caught the biggest fish of the night?!! Ya baby!
Jess caught this one by the dorsal fin!!
4) Sauble Beach
A trip to the beach in the Summer is an absolute must, a trip to Sauble Beach in the Summer is Heaven!!
Sauble Beach is the second longest fresh water beach in the world and is about 8 hours away from Ottawa. My family has had cottages there for a couple generations and there are only a few summers in my life that have gone by without at least one visit there. This Summer Jessica, Derek and I spent a few days on the beach and I would recommend it to anyone! Of course I fell asleep on the beach the first day and looked like a lobster for the rest of the trip-- but really since I don't tan I'll never look like one of the beach's regulars so the only way to fit in is to be a burnt tourist! This Summer the beach was most memorable because of the HUGE waves! Seriously I have never seen waves that high in a lake, they would go far over my head.. knocking me and sometimes even my bathing suit down!
This picture doesn't even come close to showing the awesome waves!!
Sauble Beach thrives off of tourism so there's soo much to do there!! We went to the Sauble Beach Funland and had a blast on these Bumper boats that sprayed water at each other!
This is a fairly new sport called Kite Buggying that Derek and I watched on the beach. Basically the person sits in this buggy and holds onto a giant Kite, once it catches wind it pulls them all over the beach. It looked like so much fun!!
5) Softball
Finally, probably my absolute favourite thing of the Summer was the Softball team I joined. The last time I played any type of baseball was in elementary school, I played T-ball. Every time I was up to bat, it ended up being more of a bunt than anything because I would only ever hit the T so the ball would just kind of roll off. Another time my parents tried to stick me in a league, they neglected to explain the rules (I should write a blog about the neglect that happens when you are the youngest child-- seriously my parents never took me to the zoo until three years ago, and that was only because they were sick of me complaining that I had never gone before!) Anyways, the coach stuck me in the outfield because usually the ball didnt get that far. During one of the innings the ball was headed towards me, my dad yelled from the sidelines that I needed to put my glove up in the air (so that I could catch the ball). Without moving or even noticing that the ball was coming toward me, I put my glove in the air. Another kid from the outfield had to run over and grab the ball that was a few feet from me because I just stood there, ever the obedient child, with my glove in the air just like my dad had asked me to! With this in mind, I started this summers softball league with a little trepidation. The first few games were a bit rough, many of us didn't know each other and had never played softball before. By the fourth game we were all pretty comfortable around each other and were playing great. That game marked the beginning of our summer long winning streak. We ended up in the championships and came third over all! I'm pretty sure I was the teams weakest link, but seriously I had so much fun being a part of it! During our last game while I was playing second base, the batter hit the ball right at my calf causing an awful spasm and a massive bruise-- which a couple weeks later, has still not completely healed.
(This was taken over a week later, I really wish I had gotten it in all its blue and purple glory!)
Its a reminder of the fun I had playing this Summer being part of a team. Now I have to live vicariously through Major League Baseball on TV, and find something to do with my Thursday nights instead of missing Softball! I guess I'll have to find a new sport to tide me over until Softball season starts next year.
At the same time I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about Autumn! Walks in Gatineau Park alone vindicate the Fall for stealing Summer's place. Its a beautiful time of year .. and if it was Summer all year long I wouldn't appreciate it nearly as much!
Fall is literally a day away and I decided that before I embrace this new season, with all its splendors like Apple Cider, orange leaves and endless layering possibilities, I need to first take a moment to reflect, maybe even wax nostalgic, on the amazing Summer I had.
The summer months flew by and there is no way I could or would want to write down everything I did. So instead, I've decided to narrow it down to a few key ingredients that made my Summer so much fun!
1) Biking
In case you weren't aware already, bikes are the new coolest accessory for Spring and Summer. As usual North America is almost always trailing behind Europe when it comes to whats hot. Bikes are hot! I remember when I was in Amsterdam it felt like literally everyone in the entire city had a bike, they even had whole parking lots devoted to them. Somehow all of the people managed to look uber cool and fashionable while riding their bikes as well-- men wore dress pants, women wore cute skirts and dresses. I wish I could say that I mastered the uber cool biking look, but that is miles from the truth. I always end up having to bring a change of clothes wherever I go because a bike ride leaves me looking disgusting and far from the cool and collected Europeans I wish I could emulate.
While they have small vintage inspired road bikes with banana seats, I have a big heavy guys bike. I tried to make it feminine by adding a basket to the front but now it really just looks like a bad cross-dresser. On the other hand, what my bike lacks in looks it totally makes up in style. My bike has been decked out with a bubble machine! It feels very 'Pimp my ride: Bike Edition'!! When I ride down the street bubbles come out the back of a bubble machine which is attached to the back wheel. Eight year olds all over Ottawa have ooeed and awwed over it. Bubbles along with the endorphins from exercising pretty much make me the happiest girl around. Its great exercise, I get to enjoy being outside and every ride is an adventure. Its given me a tan, countless bruises, a couple scary close calls and some good stories --- Seriously, give bikers space when you're passing them, we need more than two feet!! I still havent figured out the gears and I had to google the turning signals but for the most part I have really liked biking and will be sad to see the weather turn and force my bike into storage.
2) Camping
A group of friends and I spent the weekend Camping in Algonquin Park this Summer. We rented a couple camp sites, packed up a couple canoes and a kayak, bought the most delicious camp food you can imagine and had a blast. We planned kind of complicated meals so it ended up feeling like by the time we finished a meal we were starting to get the next one ready, but it was totally worth it. We ate like kings--- Perogies, pancakes, baked potatoes, ribs! The rest of the weekend was spent hiking, canoeing, fishing .. trying to catch a chipmunk that I nicknamed Chippy because he kept stealing our food! Definitely a memorable weekend away!
Group shot on the beach in front of our campsite!
This is Chippy!! He was so used to humans that I could click my tongue and hold out my hand and he would run right up!!
We took clams out of the lake to cook on the fire! They were delicious with ketchup-- but seriously what isnt?!
3) Fishing
I only got to go fishing a couple of times this Summer and I think what I realized is that I'm a huge suck. Growing up I only ever fished a couple of times and because I'm the youngest, someone else would always bait the hook for me. Somehow the idea of ripping a worm apart and then sticking it on a sharp hook is not my idea of a pleasant time. I think the reason I like to fish is so that I have an excuse to sit outside and do nothing-- when you fish, not only is it acceptable but its expected! Luckily Brynne was around to fish with me, she baited my hooks so that I could enjoy the rest of fishing. Next year I think I will get a license and make sure we go more often!
Me with the Catfish that I caught!! Did I mention that I caught the biggest fish of the night?!! Ya baby!
Jess caught this one by the dorsal fin!!
4) Sauble Beach
A trip to the beach in the Summer is an absolute must, a trip to Sauble Beach in the Summer is Heaven!!
Sauble Beach is the second longest fresh water beach in the world and is about 8 hours away from Ottawa. My family has had cottages there for a couple generations and there are only a few summers in my life that have gone by without at least one visit there. This Summer Jessica, Derek and I spent a few days on the beach and I would recommend it to anyone! Of course I fell asleep on the beach the first day and looked like a lobster for the rest of the trip-- but really since I don't tan I'll never look like one of the beach's regulars so the only way to fit in is to be a burnt tourist! This Summer the beach was most memorable because of the HUGE waves! Seriously I have never seen waves that high in a lake, they would go far over my head.. knocking me and sometimes even my bathing suit down!
This picture doesn't even come close to showing the awesome waves!!
Sauble Beach thrives off of tourism so there's soo much to do there!! We went to the Sauble Beach Funland and had a blast on these Bumper boats that sprayed water at each other!
This is a fairly new sport called Kite Buggying that Derek and I watched on the beach. Basically the person sits in this buggy and holds onto a giant Kite, once it catches wind it pulls them all over the beach. It looked like so much fun!!
5) Softball
Finally, probably my absolute favourite thing of the Summer was the Softball team I joined. The last time I played any type of baseball was in elementary school, I played T-ball. Every time I was up to bat, it ended up being more of a bunt than anything because I would only ever hit the T so the ball would just kind of roll off. Another time my parents tried to stick me in a league, they neglected to explain the rules (I should write a blog about the neglect that happens when you are the youngest child-- seriously my parents never took me to the zoo until three years ago, and that was only because they were sick of me complaining that I had never gone before!) Anyways, the coach stuck me in the outfield because usually the ball didnt get that far. During one of the innings the ball was headed towards me, my dad yelled from the sidelines that I needed to put my glove up in the air (so that I could catch the ball). Without moving or even noticing that the ball was coming toward me, I put my glove in the air. Another kid from the outfield had to run over and grab the ball that was a few feet from me because I just stood there, ever the obedient child, with my glove in the air just like my dad had asked me to! With this in mind, I started this summers softball league with a little trepidation. The first few games were a bit rough, many of us didn't know each other and had never played softball before. By the fourth game we were all pretty comfortable around each other and were playing great. That game marked the beginning of our summer long winning streak. We ended up in the championships and came third over all! I'm pretty sure I was the teams weakest link, but seriously I had so much fun being a part of it! During our last game while I was playing second base, the batter hit the ball right at my calf causing an awful spasm and a massive bruise-- which a couple weeks later, has still not completely healed.
(This was taken over a week later, I really wish I had gotten it in all its blue and purple glory!)
Its a reminder of the fun I had playing this Summer being part of a team. Now I have to live vicariously through Major League Baseball on TV, and find something to do with my Thursday nights instead of missing Softball! I guess I'll have to find a new sport to tide me over until Softball season starts next year.
At the same time I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about Autumn! Walks in Gatineau Park alone vindicate the Fall for stealing Summer's place. Its a beautiful time of year .. and if it was Summer all year long I wouldn't appreciate it nearly as much!
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