One Year Later

One year later I think my life is not interesting enough to keep blogging (joking, just not as interesting as it was)! I am no longer travelling "Here, There, and Everywhere" and have decided to spend a year at home. This was a difficult decision.  Turning down a hockey season (aka an adventure) is always hard! Not to mention, Jordan is in San Francisco this year, one of my favourite places. 

First of all I will do a quick recap of how I got to where I am since leaving off in April?! Jordan came back to Toronto for the summer and we had an AMAZING time living in the city. I landed a legal job (something I have always wanted) literally across the road from the apartment we rented and it could not have been better. It was an amazing time to catch up with friends that had not all been together in years. By far one of the best summers to date and I can't see us being all together again for awhile (and therefore so thankful that it happened). 

Summer 2012

When I came back from Austria last year I decided to take on the project of saving my childhood skating club from folding. I contacted the Past President just to check in on how things were going and he broke the news that after over two decades of great skating, Ice Fyre was going to fold. My friend Jackie and I (another former Ice Fyre skater) took it upon ourselves to try and save the club and start fresh with a young group of skaters. At first my expectations were not high and I continually told myself it would be the decision maker as to whether or not I would go with Jordan for the 2012/2013 season... If I was able to form a team I would stay in Whitby and coach, if I could not then I would go to San Francisco. Either way, I would be a very happy girl! 

The more work we put into saving the club the more I wanted it to succeed. When we held our first tryout in April we only had four skaters come out (we needed at least eight) and we started to lose faith. Our fight to keep it together was not over and we worked hard over the summer to find skaters in hopes of having a better turnout in September. We were more than overjoyed when 13 little skaters appeared at our tryout in the fall.  My happiness was bittersweet; I would be staying in Whitby for the hockey season and missing out on a year in San Francisco. 

So that brings me to now.  I have the cutest little beginner synchronized skating team whose theme this year is “California Girls,” a mix of Katy Perry and the Beach Boys (seeing as how I cannot be in California this year, this is the “California” in my life).  We practice every Sunday and it is the best two hours of my week.  Not too mention a few Ice Fyre Alumni come together to help me out (which is so thoughtful and very appreciated) and it is always great to see them (Brooke, Val, Jackie, Amanda). 

I am living the commuter life and working a legal position in Toronto.  That’s about as interesting as that gets (haha). 

I have been to San Fran for one visit this season and had an amazing time.  Great food, good shopping, a free bluegrass festival at Golden Gate Park, and my favourite part of the trip… getting drive through In-N-Out Burger, driving too an amazing spot off of HWY 1, and watching the sunset over the Pacific.  I am looking forward to my next trip over the Christmas holidays.  We have big plans!  Christmas in Lake Tahoe with the team, skydiving, and Jordan’s family is coming out over new years. 



Not my picture, but this was our view eating In-N-Out in our rental car

Although I miss Jordan it is nice to be at home with my family.  I miss them a lot when I am away and we spend a lot of time together when we are all at home.

That is all for now.  Hopefully I have more exciting things to write about as the year goes on :)

Flashback Friday

I was going through a few old emails and found this picture...


Jackie, Chelsea, Britt, Brooke, Jenna, and me at Wonderland

 EVERYTHING about it made me laugh, the closed eyes really put it over the top.  Such great memories with amazing friends.  I figure skated with these girls on "Ice Fyre" and at this time in our lives we were attached at the hip.  We were always together, even when we weren't at the rink.  Even on the forgettable/unforgettable night that I met Jordan in Peterborough.

Don't you just love our matching team Canada jackets?  We were at Canada's Wonderland for the day... not a competition of anything... Or our flared jeans? I'm pretty sure Brooke and I both had fake hair scrunchies in.  Hot, right? I think the skateboard shoes and flared jeans will rotate back into fashion at some point.. NOT.

I love looking at all pictures.  I will need to keep up with flashback Fridays!

Happy Birthday Baby Sister!

Yesterday was my baby sisters bithday... Stef isn't a baby anymore, she turned 18!!  Where does the time go.  It feels like just yesterday I was the one turning 18.  She celebrated by going skating with a couple of her close friends at the "Shops at Don Mills" and then went for dinner.  The rest of us went shopping, hungout at Starbuck's, and went for dinner at Joey.

Stef, Lauren, and Pascale with their cakepops at Starbucks

The After Party

Stef popped a bottle of Bambino

The rest of us a Starbucks

For Stef's birthday I signed us both up for sewing lessons at Whitby Fabrics.  It is a two hour class every Tuesday for the next seven weeks.  Look for our summer fashion line in a month or so...

Stef you are the smartest, funniest, most  beautiful 18 year old Mackie in our immediate family.  Love your big sister Mel. xoxo

Family Day... or Father's Day?

Monday was family day and we all had the day off of work.  The whole family went to the new Panera at Young and Dundas in Toronto and then to the Toronto Auto Show.  It is my dad's favourite time of year.  He went multiple times this past weekend, and may go again before it's over.  We are all into cars, so we were happy to accompany him.

My Favourite

Stef and Brooke

Stef and me in the convertible Smart Car

I have been so busy lately I have not had time to write.  I have been covering for people at work and have avoided looking at a computer screen when not in the office.  I wish I was a more dedicated blogger!  There are so many things I want to write about (my sister's newly decorated room, sewing lessons, job hunting) but I just haven't had time.  I will make sure to post again soon with a big update.

Mel

Sunday Starbucks

We are dog-sitting Lacey for the week and unlike our own dog, this one requires exercise.  Starbuck's is just up the road and we will likely be walking her there everyday this week.  A Skinny Vanilla Latte is a nice treat and a great incentive to go for a walk.  We now have another excuse to go, Lacey needs her exercise!  Lacey is only two years old and Keltie (our dog) is twelve.  She has a hard time keeping up, so we bring her stroller just in case she gets worn out and can't make the trek back.  Brooke (my sister) bought it for her before she went to Florida with the family this year.

I know what you are all thinking... "a dog stroller? really?"  Yes really.  Keltie is a little dog, with little legs, and is an old lady.  She does her best to keep up but she's not the best walker anymore.  Our family enjoys going for walks and instead of leaving Keltie out, we opted for the stroller.  We get ridiculous looks, and I feel pretty silly pushing her around in it haha, but it's a good laugh :)

Oh and they need their sweaters too!  It was cold out today, and just like us, they need to keep warm :)

Happy Superbowl Sunday!

Bitch Please

I always put on a smile and do my best to act like nothing bothers me, even when dealing with people who have been hurtful towards my family, friends, and myself at one time or another.  After an encounter with someone I don’t like that has disrespected me (or someone I love) I get mad at myself for being so fake and phony, pretending like everything is all good...  If someone is going to treat me poorly, why do I need to act like its ok?  It is not ok. 

In fact, being too nice is a serious problem.  There are many books written about “Nice Girl Syndrome” and “People-Pleasers.”  Just like nice guys, nice girls finish last.  For real.

People that are too nice are doormats and get walked over ALL the time.  Well I’m sick of it.  I’m so mad at myself for being the fake phony person that puts on a smile even if I can’t stand the person and their disrespectful ways.  Of course this is the mature thing to do, and I always tell myself that I am “killing them with kindness”, but one of these days I want to have enough courage to just be a total BITCH.  I need to get a “take no shit from anyone” attitude and start applying it.  I don't want to get confrontational (confrontation scares me haha), I just want to turn my back and walk away from hurtful people (this is as far as bitchiness would go for me).

Being “too nice” sucks.  People use you and will do so repeatedly if you don’t stand up for yourself.

Easier said than done right?  At the end of the day it is always easier for me to smile and keep my true feelings to myself.  Then again, maybe I have it right and "killing with kindness" has some truth to it...

Maple Leaf Square

I just love it there!  Can't wait to move in on May 1...

Here's hoping we survive a summer in 400 square feet.