Reference Material

Lisa, creator of 20 Something Bloggers, writes "If somebody were to write a biography of your life... what would the recommending resources (like recommended reading but various types of media) include? They'd be representing the way you feel, the way you think, the things you like, etc. Let's say you have to limit yourself to 15 pieces."

Mine would be.....

• The Queen's University Website
• Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster
• The 1995 Julia Ormond version of Sabrina
• Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
• New Soul and the cover of Britney Spears Toxic by Yael Naim
• Cannonball by Damien Rice
• Warren Kinsella's Blog
• CBC.ca
• The Chatham-Kent Community Portal
• The Babysitter's Club book series
• This movie (eek!)
• The Well Rounded Geek
• 20 Something Bloggers
• A Case of You by Joni Mitchell
• My family trees

*Thanks go out to Lisa and Peter for the inspiration....

A Welsh Corgi Anyone?

I want a puppy just like this little guy.... I am wearing the perfect short sleeve white button down top, grey pinstripe wide-legged trousers, a red silk short sleeve belted cardigan, and the most beautiful red patent leather loafers. This outfit is good for the soul....I wish the Canadian Liberal Party would just act already...our indecisiveness makes us look wishy-washy, silly, and irresponsible. All of which, I believe myself, not to be....I am ready for spring....I am ready for progress....

My Version of the Warm-Fuzzies

These words really resonated with me today...

"I feel warm and loving toward myself, for I am a unique and precious being, ever doing the best my awareness permits, ever growing in wisdom and love."

I came across a sampling of affirmations at one of the productivity blogs I read regularly, and while reading I was filled with a strange-quasi-warmness in my chest. And I started to think about how important positive self affirmation has been in my growth as an adult.

Silly as it may be to some, I truly believe that self-esteem can be built, nutured, grown over the years. I reaffirm my own self-worth everyday, and the words I choose to use are quite similar to statement shared. I wish I could show people how important affirming my worth to myself has been over the course of my adulthood. I guess the real testament is from those individuals who've shared this crazy journey with me, have watched me grow from the 18 year old girl floundering to find her way, to figure out her voice, to understand her worth to the 26 year old woman, who for all intensive purposes, has her head on pretty-straight, knows who she is, knows what she wants and knows who to love....

Catching Up with Life

Richard's Grandfather passed away two Saturday's ago.

Since returning from the visitations, funeral, and internment we've been slowly playing catch-up around the house and at work.

I will do my best to post something entirely entertaining in the next couple of days...

For the Book-Lovers Out There

I was inspired by a blogging-friend to share my favourite authors, whom I am loving right now, and whom I love in general....

So here goes.....

1) Jhumpa Lahiri - I love everything about her writing, it's so evocative and crisp. I really enjoyed the Namesake, and the movie which came out this past year is the best book to movie adaption I have ever seen.

2) Maeve Binchy and J.K. Rowlings - These two authors I lump together because they are my guilty pleasures! I was incredibly happy with how Rowlings tied up the series...personally I think Binchy hasn't been on her "A" game for the past couple of books, but her earlier work I can read over and over and over and over...some favourite are "Quentins", "Tara Road" and "The Copper Beech".

3) Lori Lansens - This author is from my hometown so I have a kinship with her novels, they extoll the "virtues", shall we say, of rural Ontario. I love the way she writes, the honesty and integrity of her stories. Check out her debut novel "Rush Home Road" or "The Girls". I promise they won't dissapoint.

4) Kazuo Ishiguro - "Never Let Me Go" has become one of my all-time favourite books. Haunting, errily touching, and lord did it ever make me think about life and what I want to leave behind for future generations.

5) And cause she rocks like it's 1999 - Jen Lancaster is the last author on my list. "Bitter is the New Black", "Bright Lights, Big Ass" made me laugh like no other book ever has. I CAN NOT wait for "Such a Pretty Fat".