How to Show Your Man You Love Him

Good day! I've had quite the blogging hiatus lately but am currently curled up on the couch taking breaks in between chapters of Reamde and thought I'd finally get back on here. Jordon and I had our three year anniversary last week. There seems to be a lot of couples breaking up lately. I started to wonder if there was something in my relationship that I had to work on, something that I had to compromise on, something that could unfold into a bigger problem that would lead to my relationships' untimely demise.... and there was only one thing... this mindset. Just being in love and not over-thinking it is what makes my relationship with Jordon so strong! We know we love each-other, but as actions speak louder than words, SHOWING that we love each other is another reason our relationship is awesome. 

I wanted to share some ideas on how to show your man that you love him. Woman seem to be easy in this aspect (hello chocolate), but after three years, I have figured out some easy ways to show Jord my love.

1. Buy Him a Drink

This has been my easy go-to when Jordon's having a rough day/week. Coming home to some beer or scotch shows that he was on my mind and that I would like to make it a little better. 

2. Give Him some Space

When I need to feel the love, all I want is to curl up, hold on and not let go.... ever. This one was a bit tough for me to come around too, but because I love spending time with Jord, he knows I'm respecting his wants when I give him his space.... which is usually a small space the size of a computer desk. 

3. Take an Interest in His Hobbies

I don't have much knowledge when it comes to investing or gaming, but that doesn't mean I don't try! I've learnt more than I can remember about Oblivion in the last little while and I have now realized I should drag Jordon to all my bank appointments. 

4. "Make Him a Sandwich"

Don't yell at me. I am not an awful woman who thinks you need a man or you should give your life up for a man.... but having supper or breakfast ready is another easy way to show your man you're thinking of him. Most nights we make supper together, but occasionally one of us will cook for the other, which I can say feels awesome when you come home in no mood to cook. 

And there you have it! I guess the most important thing is to find a way to show your SO you love them and make sure you're with someone who's willing to do it back!

-Vanessa xo

The Lazy Man Workout

Or woman! As I am. Exciting news folks; Jordon and I just booked a trip to the Dominican Republic! It's 6 months away but I felt very "motivated" to work out this morning and work my way towards that bikini bod. I was talking to my friend Camille the other night, who is an awesome fitness trainer in Calgary. Check out her blog Burpee Bliss for some real fitness advice. My favourite part is where she talks about not trying to schedule your workout and just go and do it when you have 15 - 20 minutes. However, if you are like me and hate working out (even though my health is important to me) here's some "lazy" ways to get a workout in!

1. 7 Minute Workout App

It is literally 7 minutes. Not 6, not 8, 7. Which is NOTHING. It's easy to do at anytime during the day. You can even do it at work if you have a private space. 

2. Take the Stairs

We've all been told this but it is actually really effective if you have stairs to go on everyday. I work in an office building and take the train 5 days a week. I take the stairs at the LRT twice a day and try to do some flights of stairs at work twice a day.

3. Go for a Walk

I really enjoy walking in the evenings. It doesn't even feel like a workout and I can go for quite some time. 

4. Watch TV or a Movie

This isn't really part of working out, but it is a lazy task that usually (for me anyway) makes working out go by quickly. If I time by workout by episodes, then before I know it I've been doing strength exercises for 25 minutes!

I hope to be able to get in more shape over the next year, but it is a slow and steady process for me. Using these 4 tricks ensures I'm getting some exercise every day!

-Vanessa xo

Message to the Young Ladies

The world we live in is continuously changing. It can be difficult to find your way in this big world, especially as a teenager. I'm sure some of these can be applicable to teenage boys, but my message is to the teenage girls. I have a little sister going through this part in her life and I hope some of this advice is useful. 

1. Teenage boys are silly. Give them some time

2. You define yourself and are not defined by what others say.

3. Bullies are everywhere, even after high-school

4. You are not "cool" when you are being mean. 

5. Stop dying your hair. You'll have 30 + years to do that later.

6. Read a book.

7. Read many books.

8. Stop shopping at Garage. 

9. Try and spend some time with your parents, even if they embarrass you.

10. Set a goal, any goal.

11. It's important to do well enough in school to keep your options open.

12. Never be the gopher for your friends, let them get their own things.

13. Start learning how to cook, it's a great life skill and you can bake cookies for your friends when they are down.

14. Put your phone down. 

15. Put your Ipad down.

16. Put your laptop down.

17. Do you even need those!?

18. Get your licence. Even if you don't have a car, you can drive when you need too.

19. There is a way to pull off a crop top and you're doing it wrong. 

20. You are never alone, no matter how alone you feel

21. There is always someone better off than you.

22. There is always someone worse off than you.

23. The world does not revolve around you. 

24. You are not entitled to anything. 

25. Have a night at home watching bad television.

26. Live a life where you could leave thinking "I did good."

27. Admit your mistakes and learn from them. 

28. It is a great defeat to get to a point where you love your body.

29. But it is totally worth the work.

30. Beauty and health are two different things.

31. Cut out the fast food.... sometimes.

32. Your first boyfriend will not be your last, though it's a nice thought.

33. Though I don't know what SnapChat is, it should only be used for funny face pictures to your friends.

34. Believe in your own religion, or no religion.

35. But always be respectful of everyone.

36. No boy will act like the characters in teen fictions and you shouldn't act like the females. 

37. It's okay to enjoy video games, cars and construction.

38. It's okay to enjoy makeup, clothes and art.

39. It's okay to enjoy a combination of the two, or anything else you want to add in there. 

40. Be nice to your older siblings, they'll be the ones to cover for you.

41. Be nice to your younger siblings, they'll invite you out when you feel "too old."

42. Be a stupid teenager, but be smart about it.

43. There are two things that you MUST do in life: become a better person and make the world a better place.

44. How you choose to do that is up to you.

45. It is not okay for a boy to hit you.

46. It is not okay for you to hit boys. 

47. Get blackout drunk... once. Then work on knowing your limit.

48. Surround yourself with friends who will hold your hair. 

49. The high/drunk you is less enjoyable than the sober you. 

50. There is someone who loves you. 

  

A Hot Date in Edmonton

I love spending time with the ol' ball & chain. Living in Edmonton, it can be difficult to find enjoyable dates to go on, but there are things to do in and around the city. I thought I would share some ideas before this weekend starts.

1. Walk & a Picnic

There are a lot of great places in the River Valley to sit and enjoy a nice lunch. If you don't mind driving first, packing a picnic and driving to Pembina River is another awesome location. The Devonian Botanical Garden is only about 20 minutes from Edmonton with lots of green space and overpriced ice-cream. 

2. Rapid Fire Theatre 

Every Friday and Saturday night, you can go see Rapid Fire Theatre at the Citadel. It is an improv group that will leave you bent over, crying in your seat... in the good way. Tickets are affordable and can be bought online or at the door. It's first come, first serve seating so make sure you get there early enough.

3. Corn Maze

Going and trying to find your way (or get lost) in the corn maze can be a relaxing walk.... or a competitive race. Whatever your dating style is, it's enjoyable on a nice Summer/Autumn evening. Mind the flying corn. 

4. Try a New Restaurant

Edmonton has new restaurants opening all the time these days. Going to your regular place can get boring (please don't choose Boston Pizza for a date!). I recommend: The Glass Monkey or Louisiana Purchase. If you've tried a great restaurant lately, let me know in the comments. I'm always looking for great new places!

5. Stay in and Cook Dinner Together

Choose a really fancy dinner (or homemade pizza) and make a home cooked meal together. Buy a bottle of wine, light some candles, put on some tunes and attempt to make something that you wouldn't regularly make. 

6. Cheap Tuesday Movie 

I cannot justify spending upwards of $40 at the movies. Summer always provides blockbuster hits so go see a show on cheap Tuesdays. I think we're going to try and see Guardians of the Galaxy before the summers up. A talking tree and gun slinging racoon are right up there on my list of awesome things to see. 

7. Walk on Whyte Ave & Dessert

Enjoy some good ol' fashion people watching on Whyte Ave and then stop at Block 1912 for dessert and some coffee. Or Julio's if you're more into the alcoholic desserts. 

8. Go-Karting

This is another way to tap into your friendly competition side... or just to see how good of a driver your date is. 

9. Cooking Class

This is a bit more pricey but is a great option for a group date. We went with a bunch of our friends when some of them were moving to Calgary. Sorrentios provides a lot of great options. 

10. City Hall during Christmas Time

I know you can't do this now, but keep it in mind for when the snow falls. It's beautiful and if you're not afraid of making a fool of yourself (as I am not) attempt to go skating. 

So go have a night on the town with someone special... or your cat.

-Vanessa xo

New Digs

Happy Saturday folks! Hope your weekend has started off right. I woke up this morning and cleaned the house. Exciting, I know. Anyway, yesterday my friend came into work wearing what looked to be the coziest sweater. As we have about 8 months of Winter in Edmonton, I wanted to see if I could find the same sweater, as I am not original. Jordon and I headed to West Edmonton Mall this morning and I thought I would share some of my finds from today and previous shopping trips.

1. Polka Dot Portofino Shirt - $35 from Express

I love these shirts. They are so comfortable and versatile. I own it in... 5 colours now. They are on sale right now down from $59. 

2. Bright Pink Portofino Shirt - $35 from Express

3. Bleach Long Mesh-Stich Sweater - $40 from The Gap

This is the sweater my friend was wearing but in grey, so I didn't completely copy her. This sweater was on sale as well, down from $70. Everything seems to be on sale right now

4. Red Flowered Wedges - $28 from The Bay

I had been trying to find a good pair of summer wedges. These bad boys were in the clearance section on The Bay's website. They were originally $109 so I got quite a deal and I had a gift card so it cost me nothing!

5. Blue Toms - Unknown

These were a gift from Jordon when I didn't buy myself the classic Toms. I love the colour and they have more shape than the classic ones.

And there you have it. I also got a pair of tan jeggings (I don't even like typing that word) and a navy t-shirt but they did not make the picture cut, because I had already put them away. 

-Vanessa xo

Bookworm

Every summer I think I'm going to take the time to read a bunch of books, but never actually do. I like the idea of sitting in the sun and reading every morning, but then the latest show starts streaming on Netflix... and, well I'm sure you know how that goes. BUT NOT THIS YEAR! I have actually gotten through quite a few books this summer and thought I'd do a quick review. 

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

This book takes you on an adventure across the Galaxy. If you don't like books with a silly story line, then keep moving down the list. The premise of this book is that Earth was destroyed for an intergalactic highway and there's only two earthlings left. They travel through the Galaxy with a couple of aliens and an extremely depressed robot named Marvin (who is my personal favourite). It is an easy read, light and comical but very repetitive. The humour in this book reminds me of Arrested Development.

It is a solid 4 towels out of 5





2. Bite Me


I am just finishing this book up... also skip this if you don't dig ridiculous story lines. Basically there are a bunch of vampires in San Francisco, and no, not the Edward Cullen type. One vampire ended up turning a cat, and that cat turned more cats... so the whole city of San Francisco is getting attacked by vampire cats. The book is written from the perspective of all the different characters. Moore's character development is one thing I really enjoy about this book. They are all so different. If you choose to read this book, get past the first chapter as the chapters written from Abby's perspective can be a bit much.

This gets 3 1/2 hungry misting vamp kitties out of 5


3. The Sisters Brothers 

Let's go back to the old West. This story is set in Oregon and California in 1851. Eli and Charlie Sisters are assassin brothers sent to kill a man who stole something from their boss, the Commodore. During their travels to California, Eli starts to think of what his life could be like if he quit the business. It's a pretty quick read and can be quite dark at times, but overall it's a story where you do want to find out the end game.

I give it 4 gunslinging, cowboy hat wearing assassins out of 5

4. The Fault in Our Stars

It's good. I read it in a day. It's sad. There's not much I can say about this that you probably don't already know. It focuses on Hazel, a teenager living with cancer. She meets a boy, who has been cancer free for a while. They go to Amsterdam, fall in love and say "okay" a lot. It's really difficult to give a review to a book that just makes you feel. I have yet to see the movie, but I can say, read the book.

5 runny noses out of 5

I hope you can read one of these books during the last month of summer!

-Vanessa xo

Tuesday Tunes

I've always been a little self-conscious of my blogging habits as some may see it as lame and useless. But last night Jordon was really impressed with my 1600 + views. So there is someone out there reading! Hurrah! I wanted to make a Friday Favourites post... but it's Tuesday. So that is unacceptable. Instead my friends you get a Tuesday Tunes post! I do this thing where I find a song and listen to it on repeat for days on end. I thought I'd share my current music high. Maybe there's a song you'll enjoy!

1. Dark Doo Wop - Ms Mr.

Most people have heard the song Hurricane. If you enjoy it, listen to the rest of their album.

2. Taro - Alt J

3. Riptide - Vance Joy

4. Icarus - Bastille

I hope one of these songs can be added to your music rotation!

-Vanessa xo

Sometimes, Life Happens

I've had some decent ideas for posts lately, but this one just had to be shared because I'm sure some of you feel this way too. I'm the type of person who likes to know what I'm doing, where I'm going and what time I am expected somewhere. There are certain things I'm flexible with, but more often than not, I like having a plan. As you may know, I graduated this year and currently do not have a plan for September. This terrifies me. But this past weekend was a good reminder that sometimes, life happens. So here's the story:

What The Plan Was:

Jordon and I don't get to go anywhere this summer so I booked a weekend camping trip just to get out of the city. We went to Long Lake and here is what we were suppose to look like all weekend:

Look at how much fun they're having! Sunny weather and water to escape the heat in. Once at the campground we were going to do the following:

-Sleep

-Drink

-Eat

-Read

-Repeat

So we packed everything up, hopped in the car and drove 2 hours to the campground for our weekend of fun, but.....

The Flaws in the Plan:

First off, the weather on Friday was not hot. It rained all day and there was rain forecasted for that night and the next morning. But that did not stop us, no sir. We planned on building a tarp city! Anyway, we got to the campsite and found out that the lake now has the blue green algae. Please look back up at all those people having fun in the water.... that was NOT going to be us. This was a big let down, but we still had our beers and books, so on we went to our campsite...

No trees. Can't tie our tarps up to anything. That's okay though, we'll just pull out our tent and put this awesome fl.... no fly. WHY IS THERE NO FLY! So now we have a half set up tent with nothing to cover the mesh at the top... awesome. Maybe these kind folks aroun.... is that man drunk? Yup. Is his 10 year old twin girls drunk? They're sure acting like it. It was like the Night of the Living Rednecks. All three campsites surrounding us knew each other. I looked at one frustrated Jordon... we were driving back to the city that night. We threw the tent with NO FLY back in the bag (also, who takes down a tent and looks at the fly thinking "Hmm I won't put this in the bag", I'm looking at you, lil' sis) and made our way back home. We were mad, sad and felt like idiots. We should have checked the tent. We should have called instead of booking online. We should have somehow predicted the future about the algae. But it was no use...

What We Did Instead:

It was about 10 o'clock by the time we got back home. We didn't want to feel miserable anymore. So we pulled out our cooler and dragged it into the living room filled with our camping beers:

Next, we curled up and browsed Netflix for a movie to help lighten our mood. We chose Cabin in the Woods (watch it!). People getting killed while camping put us in a "Eh, could be worse" mindset. By the end of the movie we were laughing and smiling again.

Saturday we had an awesome breakfast along with coffee (which we wouldn't have had at the campsite). We played some Starcraft and then had some friends over for boardgames.

Sunday we got groceries and headed to the Devonian Botanical Gardens for a picnic. This was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

Maybe you're thinking that this post was just a boring story, and that's okay. But maybe you too needed to stop worrying about what could have been and what should have happened... and just let life take you along. This whole weekend was spur of the moment plans and you know what? It was probably one of the best weekends of the summer.

Next time you're getting worked up over something not going right... maybe it'll be better if it goes wrong.

-Vanessa xo

7 Things that Should ALWAYS Go Together

I've been slacking on the blogging front lately. This summer has been filled with "wonderful" days in the office, "wonderful" yard work and actual wonderful sunny days with Jord. Guess what else I found out? I have someone who is a "fan" of my blog! Shout out to my cousin Mo. Anyway, about a month ago, I wrote a post about 7 things that should never go together. You can read about it here. As soon as I wrote that one, I wanted to do one about 7 things that should ALWAYS go together. Alas, here it is:

1. House-cleaning & Wine

During my student-teaching, I looked forward to Spring Break like I was 10 years old again. The dismissal bell rang at 3:15 pm and I had the bottle of wine open at 3:32 pm. I kid you not. What was the very first thing I chose to do with my week of freedom? Clean the entire house of course. And yes, I did more than just spray everything with Febreze. Drinking the wine while cleaning made it feel like a party!

2. Pizza & Beer

Do I have to explain this? No. 

3. Morning AAJ & Camping

Sometimes I make up my own acronyms. AAJ is Adult Apple Juice, such as Strongbow. I remember how amazed I was that everyone was okay with starting our drinking at the crack of dawn when we went camping last summer.

4. Bailey's & Hot Chocolate

Yes. 

5. Bailey's & Coffee

Double yes.

6. Bailey's & Marshmallows?

I haven't tried this yet, but I should as this blog post says that it should ALWAYS go together.

7. Screwdrivers & Writing Papers

Did you think I strayed from my theme? WRONG. I mean the OJ & Vodka kind. I once got a 85% on a 12 page paper drinking screwdrivers... please take this combination with a grain of salt. Okay, don't always put these two together.

You may have noticed a pattern in this blog post. But following the advice of K. Walker: 

-Vanessa xo

Rules of Friendship

Do Opposite Sex Friendships Work?

First off, I just discovered this band called Alt-J and they are SO good! Listen to one of their tunes while reading this:

Now onto the topic of this post: opposite sex friends. Something we have all had to deal with and I'm sure many of you know it can be a sticky situation sometimes. So does it work? Can a man and a woman be friends without one having feelings for the other? The answer is yes, definitely. However, there are some rules to follow when you are in a serious relationship to ensure the friendship stays that way. Okay, maybe these "rules" are more like guidelines but I feel it can help you make the line very clear.

There are two different types of opposite sex friends you can have: the ones that were your friends before the relationship and the ones you make during the relationship. If this was someone that was your friend before the relationship then hopefully you've already worked out your potential for feelings and have overcome them. If this is a friend you've made during the relationship, TELL YOUR SO! You don't have to say "Hey honey, just so you know I made a friend today and he's a man (or she's a woman) and I don't even think they're attractive and you have nothing to worry about and I think they could be gay anyway and even if I was single I wouldn't go for them." No, you can just mention something from a conversation you've had with them. 

Regardless of the type, try following these guidelines:

Guideline 1: Introduce them to Your SO

This should be no problem for you...ever. If your relationship is healthy and the friendship is just that, then this is the easiest thing to do. If you feel you can't introduce them to your SO, you need to re-evaluate your feelings.

Guideline 2: Leave the Friendship Where it Should Be

Wherever you know the friend from (work, school, an extra curricular activity) leave the friendship there. As soon as you make the extra effort to see a friend one-on-one outside the time you normally see them, that's when it can lead to extra feelings. For example, it is completely convenient to grab lunch with a work friend but takes effort to meet for a coffee at 8 pm somewhere half way across the city. Of course there are expectations, but I think a good rule of thumb is to do group hangouts where your SO and friends can all hangout. 

Guideline 3: Never, EVER, Put the Friend Before the SO

There is a reason you're with your SO. They have something that you didn't find in someone else and should always come before any OS friends. Now I'm not saying your SO has to be number one priority all the time.... I'm just saying that telling your SO that you're going out with another man/woman when they want/need you can be damaging to your relationship. 

Just a couple things to remember:

1. This is opposite sex friends

2. A lot of it pertains to one-on-one interactions (group hangouts that include the friend doesn't always have to include the SO, but it's still nice to invite them)

My relationship means the world to me, as I'm sure yours does to you. But I do notice some relationships head down a rocky road for this very reason. So if you find yourself in this situation, I hope these guidelines can steer you in the right direction.

-Vanessa xo

Edmonton Summer Festivals

We are finally getting the beautiful summer weather here in Edmonton. So nice in fact that my shoulders decided to turn beet red in excitement yesterday! With such little time to enjoy the weather, I want to do ALL THE THINGS. Edmonton has a ton of festivals during the summer months. Some are great and some may not be worth the hassle. Here's a rundown of what you can find in this city.

Edmonton International Street Performers Festival (July 4-13)

Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square. This is a free festival... in a way. There are no tickets and you can just walk around which is always enjoyable. However, if you are planning to watch the performers (and why wouldn't you) then you want to bring some loonies and toonies to put money in the hat. These performers come from all over the place and it is rare to not be mildly entertained. It can get pretty crowded on the weekend, but going on a week-day evening worked out really well for us last year. 

Taste of Edmonton (July 17-26)

Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square. Have you ever sat for an hour or so with your SO arguing about where to go for dinner? Then maybe you need to go to Taste of Edmonton to try some food from different restaurants. Jordon and I had never heard of Bistecca and we ended up going there for our anniversary thanks to the bison cannelloni at TOE last year. You buy a sheet of tickets and then try small dishes from all the different booths. As it can get really busy, check out the link above to see what each place is serving up. This way you have an idea of where to head once you're there. They also have a beer gardens with live music and it was a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon.

K Days (July 18-27)

Location: Northlands. I love rides, but I'm especially fond of rides that are well taken care... which these are not (maybe). Okay so I don't like going on rides that can be set up in a matter of hours. BUT if you don't care about this, then hop on! It's pretty pricey to go for what you get now, but the atmosphere can still be fun. However, a lot of teenagers think this is the coolest place because it's the first year their parents let them go alone. If you're a 50-year old on the inside (like myself) and this annoys the hell out of you, maybe stay clear. 

Heritage Days (August 2-4)

Location: Hawrelak Park. I have only been to this festival once and thought it was awesome. A bunch of different cultures/countries set up booths where you can try different foods, see different forms of art and watch performances. It is similar to TOE where you buy a sheet of tickets to buy the food, but going to spend the day in the park is free. There is no public parking in the park for the festival but they have a bunch of buses going to and from the park all day. 

Folk Fest (August 7-10)

Location: Gallagher Park. Hope you don't want to go to this festival after reading this post...because all the tickets are sold out. This is a "save and spend the money next year" review..though I've never been. All I know is parking sucks at Jordon's parents for Sunday dinner because they live right on the top of the hill. I think you have to enjoy a certain kind of music, but the location is great for a nice summer evening. Check out this years line-up to see if it would be something you'd enjoy.

Fringe Festival (August 14-24)

Location: Various areas on Whyte Ave. If you're a drama fanatic then this is the festival for you. There are hundreds of plays going on! The one problem I found with the Fringe is that because there are so many plays, it is difficult to distinguish the plays you'll enjoy from the ones that are a little too artistic for you. We saw a play last year that was a one man show and was suppose to be a comedy... needless to say we didn't laugh very much. Either way it is an awesome atmosphere with all the booths and street performers.

I hope you can enjoy at least one of these festivals this summer!

-Vanessa xo

23 Things You Might Not Know About Me

TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY! I'll be 23 years old.. 2 years away from 1/4 of a century and I still refuse to floss my teeth. I thought I'd write a post listing some interesting and some not so interesting things about me... 23 things to be exact!

1. I'm 23 and I still refuse to floss my teeth.

2. I am completely incapable of whistling or snapping my fingers.

3. I have been confused for being Lebanese on many occasions. Only two people have guessed my nationality correct the first time: Italian. 

4. I use to be quite the tenor saxophone player.

5. I like to do art and always seem to be trying to draw Disney princesses.

6. I am not very good at drawing Disney princesses.

7. I once, very long ago, was amazed that I was born on my birthday. Talk about coincidence.

8. I love my scars, and no, there is no cool story to go along with them. I'm pretty sure they were from falling off a bike.

9. I once was a nun in a play... I think the director was greatly mistaken about a suitable role for me.

10. I use to hate my birthstone (pearl)

11. I now love pearls

12. I always over listen to my favorite song at the moment. I'm talking on repeat for a couple full days. Right now it is Dark Doo Wop by Ms Mr.

13. There is something extremely soothing and magical about listening to movie scores. I also match the movie score I'm listening to to the situation I'm in. For example, you can feel quite swashbuckler-y in the bathtub with Pirates of the Caribbean playing in the background.

14. I had the biggest crush on Robin Hood when I was little... and yes, I'm talking about the cartoon fox.

15. I use to be convinced that I could call Robin Hood whenever I wanted... and yes, still talking about this cartoon fox:

16. I have chosen to pursue a career in teaching.

17. I have chosen to have a backup career as a Document Control Clerk incase the above does not pan out.

18. I think Switzerland would be an incredible place to live and it is my number one travel choice.

19. I was left on a doorstep as a baby.... just kidding. I know what you thought, "Wow Vanessa! Finally something decently intriguing!" But I am adopted...seriously.

20. Depending on what we're eating for supper, I get overly excited about certain foods.

21. I have traveled to England, Ireland, France, Amsterdam, Australia and New Zeland... my favorite trip was a road trip down the West Coast. Read about the road trip here!

22. I honestly think I am not that interesting of a person which is why typing this post was super hard (that's what she said). I don't have much talent in any one thing, but feel happily mediocre at a bunch of things.

23. LAST ONE! I finish things 99% of the time

-Vanessa xo

Hopping on the Bandwagon

Are you one of those die-hard hockey fans that frown upon people who only watch games during the Stanley Cup? Have you read all the Twilight books, fan fictions and binge watched all the movies but can not stand those girls who can not justify their choice of Edward or Jacob? Then this post is NOT for you. This post is for those of you who, just like me, like to like things when other people like things. I am here to tell you that IT IS OKAY! Here are 5 things we are jumping on the bandwagon for. 

1. FIFA World Cup & any other big sporting event

GO ITALY! Well I was cheering for them..... because I'm Italian. I think I'm switching to the Netherlands, or maybe Costa Rica (I always love me an underdog). I know nothing about soccer.. or hockey and football for that matter. But I like to be able to understand why I see all these flags attached to cars and I like to be able to have a small conversation about something that everyone is focusing on. 

2. Awful teen fiction & fiction for women

Two words: Christian Grey. Two more words: Edward Cullen. If you have read these books then you know how awful they are, but you stuck to it. You got through the terrible dialogue between under-developed characters. Maybe we did it so we could have evidence on why we thought it was terrible. Or maybe it was this:

3. Orange is the New Black

Actually, any show that everyone is watching. Game of Thrones, House of Cards and Big Brother can be put in this category. If you have the smallest amount of interest in a show that people are chatting about, you WANT to hop on the bandwagon fast! Run after them, jump and hold on for dear life. Otherwise someone will ruin it with their spoilers.

4. Gluten Free Diets

DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT GLUTEN IS!? This is one I am currently not on the bandwagon for but I know many of you are. Here's the thing; gluten free diets are NOT healthier for you unless you have an allergy. Filling your diet with gluten-free carbs and hoping to loose weight is useless. Just try and cut back on the gluten-filled carbs. Also, watch this for good measure:

5. Blogging

....whoops. 

-Vanessa xo

7 Things that Should Never Go Together

So I've seen some of these "combinations" over the last couple of weeks and they influenced this post about things that should never go together. There are just some things that make you question why the world is the way it is. 

1. A Student Accepting a Bachelor of Education Degree in a Club Dress

As you know, I had my graduation last week. There's something odd about seeing a girl who chose to be a role model for children as her career accepting her degree in a dress that hardly covers the goods. Go for it when you're going out, if you want to risk it, but try and keep it classy for one stroll across the stage.

2. Pink & Red

Unless you're Cupid or Emma Stone (how does she look so flawless?) this colour combination is the worst and more likely then not, you'll end up looking like Ariel, and not the adorable mermaid version.

3. A child who is not cared for properly accompanied by a parent buying the new Iphone.

Have you ever been a witness to this? Maybe not specifically buying an Iphone but parents who are not using their funds in the best manner. It's pretty disheartening to see materialistic items come before kids, but that's where our society is going.

4. This sister & her loving brother

5. Orange juice & freshly brushed teeth

How have we not found a solution to this!? I somehow always forget that I brushed my teeth before drinking OJ

6. A baby bump & smokes/alcohol

You are the worst. I hate everything you choose to be. 

7. Hashtags & everything

#sostupid #bloglife #happy #exceptaboutthehashtag #annoying #Annyong #unlimitedjuice #I"MAMONSTER #Redwedding

There you have it. 7 terrible combinations that we will just have to learn to live with... except the OJ and brushed teeth... someone has to fund finding solution. 

-Vanessa xo

Graduation Beauty Tutorial

I graduated yesterday! It's been a long 5 years but I finally got to walk the stage. For the last couple weeks I've been thinking about the dress, the hair and the makeup. The dress was the easy part, a nice little summer piece from the Gap... hair and makeup on the other-hand... I don't do my hair and makeup often. It is very rare that I have anything more than mascara on. I watched numerous youtube tutorials about how to get the perfect cat-eye or awesome red lips. Youtube told me it was easy. Youtube told me I'd get it right the first time.... WRONG. It is not easy for someone who never does it. So here is my beauty tutorial for all of you non-makeup wearing regulars.

Also, this song was on repeat as I was getting ready. It's just too catchy!!

Here's the fresh face and washed hair. I used the big bottle of Dove shampoo from Costco and some conditioner I took from a hotel... no costly products here my friends!

I put on, what I find to be the best face cream... because it is the only one I've tried. It's from Kiehl's and it probably has some voodoo ingredients to make my face feel nice. I bought this Dove frizz-proof cream and applied that to my t-shirt dried hair before blow drying. It smells good and my hair felt a bit softer but I still had frizziness. But I looked professional while putting it in, so there's that.  

Now it was time to start on my hair. I had this perfect vision of nice wavy hair. First step: part your hair into chunks... just any chunks. Mine was in two chunks. Don't waste your time with layers and shit... ain't no one got time for that! Also, don't worry about clipping it up nicely. Get the 5-year old pig-tail look going on. I did half my head in four curls and then felt so done with it I needed a bagel break. 

Testing out the hat with my 8 curls hair. Who thought these hats were a good idea? It makes everyone look like they're trying to hide a slight cone head. In order to cover the forehead, I decided to leave the bangs out. I then sprayed some cheap hairspray all over my head and in both my eyes. 

All my makeup products... and they are all old. 

After about 15 minutes on the hair, I moved on to the makeup. I used old makeup. I know it's probably bad for my face but it's nice for my bank account. And honestly, it did not make a difference for the one day.

First, take some powder junk and put it all over your face. I have these nice makeup brushes but I have no idea which one is supposed to be used for what. I chose the brush that looked like it belonged with powder... because of the colour at the end of the brush.

  

Did that even do anything? Maybe

Blush - that is as hard as a rock. I still seem to get enough powder on the brush. Put this somewhere in the cheek area... but not enough to make you look like a China doll. We still want to look classy ladies! 

I used the lighter brown to cover my lid. Brown shadow matches brown eyes.. because brown goes with more brown...or something. Whatever, don't worry about it being perfect, as you can hardly see it. 

I then used the dark gold to do the crease. And yes, I used the same brush during this entire process. I tried to "highlight" my brow and the inner corner of my eyes... and that's as good as it was going to get.

 I used the purple from the above eye-shadow to line my eyes.... and you can't even tell I did that. I debated going over it again and trying to make a thicker line... but then I remembered how lining your eyes is a terrible process. One always looks thicker than the other and then you spend 20 minutes trying to even them out and end up creating a smoky eye that looks like it was done after pre-drinking on a Friday night. 

Thumbs up! Hair curled: 15 minutes. Makeup: 15 minutes. A total of half an hour. Throw on a classy dress that makes me feel like a house wife from the 50's and I was ALMOST reading to go.

Trying to put on the hood. I sent this photo to my friend looking for her guidance on how this thing was suppose to go. I had it right the first time but didn't think so much fabric would just hang there! Another silly graduate accessory. 

One more picture for good measure. My OFFICIAL degree in a beautiful frame from Jordon.

And there you have it. You don't need all those silly tutorials and you don't need to feel awful when you can't achieve the Zooey Deschanel eyes or the Emma Watson lips. It can be a quick and easy process!

-Vanessa xo