My first "Ten on Tuesday"

I have seen quite a few bloggers posting their "Ten on Tuesday" posts so I figured I would give it a go around. I haven't pre-read any of the questions so here we go...

1. From your childhood, what do you miss most about summer vacation?

Thats easy... the fact that it was 2 months long and all the slip & slides I would set up in my backyard with my sisters and all the neighborhood kids.

2. Are you going anywhere on vacation this summer?

Not that I am aware of. I went to Vegas for BiSC and that was a spontaneous booking so who knows what else will be sprung upon me this summer. I would LOVE to go to Kelowna for a long weekend and enjoy the sunshine, beaches and beer. Nat? You reading? Lets do it!

3. What foods do you like to barbeque?

Im really good at grilling veggies. Especially asparagus or corn on the cob. AND I just saw a new little trick for grilling corn on the cob when I was watching The View yesterday so I can't wait to try it out. Thank you Guy Fieri!

4. How do you celebrate the Fourth of July?

I don't. Im Canadian. LOL But Canada Day is only a few days before. I have mixed feelings about Canada Day. My mixed emotions have nothing to do with it being Canada Day (I am a PROUD Canadian) but the fact it was the same day that my sisters funeral was held on. So every year I am proud to be Canadian but sad to remember what happened on that day for me personally.

5. What's your favorite beverage to drink in the summertime?

Now its frozen Mojitos thanks to The Flamingo hotel and BiSC. Other than that its my tried and true drink, Gin & 7up (which... side note... I just learned is the same thing as a 7&7 so now I'm gonna order it my by that name and sound more grown up!)

6. What movie are you looking forward to seeing this summer?

Bridesmaids, and I saw it already. It didn't disappoint. I almost fell out of my chair laughing so hard during the airplane scene. Go see it.

7. In the car: Windows down or AC?

Sunroof open ALL THE TIME!

8. Have you ever had a summer fling?

Yes. Summer is the perfect time for romance. I hope to have one this summer too! Any takers?

9. Do you wear sunscreen?

If you were around me at the pool in Vegas you know that I was sunscreen crazy! I did NOT want to get burnt like I usually do on vacation so I was reapplying every hour. Spray on sunscreen is a god-sent.

10. Do you have any favorite summertime activities?

Stampede (obvs!), playing tennis in the sunshine, going for a run by the river just before sunset, rafting down the river, bbq's and bonfires, getting my drink on with my friends on a patio. I love summmmmmer!!!

The post every single girl should read.

I heard this story from my massage therapist a few weeks ago and this story has stuck with me (by stuck with me I mean terrified me forever) so I decided I should share it with all of my blog friends.

The story is about a girl who recently went to the Dominican on a vacation. While she was there she had a fling with one of the workers at the resort.

On her second last night there, he asked her to go back to his house to "party Dominican style" with him. She really liked him but she felt uneasy about it so she said she would think about it and let him know. She went back to her room and talked to her friend about it and her SMART friend talked her out of going.

When she got back home the next week she was having some down-under-lady-issues so she went to her doctor to get checked out. He did the normal tests and said he would get back to her in a week or so.

The very next day he called her and said he HAD TO see her that day. She obviously went in (probably freaking out inside) and the doctor asked her:

"Do you have a significant other?".

"No."

"Have you been sexually active recently?"

"Yes..."

She proceeded to tell him about her Dominican fling. He instantly asked what the Dominicans name was, what resort he worked at, if she knew where he lived and if she knew if he was active with anyone else.

You're probably thinking right now what I thought when I heard this story for the first time. OMG she has AIDS???

Worse.

The doctor proceeded to tell her she had a disease that one can only get from having sex with dead people.

You read that right, dead people. Process that for a moment...

Eventually police found the guy and raided his house where they found bodies of 3 tourists.

There are so many disturbing things to this story. First, he was obviously having sex with the bodies and then with her (and probably other women at the resort too), and if her friend hadn't talked her out of going to his house, she would have been the next victim.

Im not saying that this happens all the time, I'm saying it CAN happen. This world is full of crazy fucked up people and when you are in a foreign country (or even your own familiar country) you really have to be aware of your surroundings and the people you are with. Watch out for yourself and for your friends.

I pray that I never hear of something like this happening to anyone I know... or you know.

BiSC Recap

People have been asking me since I got home from Vegas how my trip was. I can sum it up in two simple words.

Absolute Magic.

I'll admit... I was a wee bit nervous when I first signed up. I kept saying to myself "Am I crazy? Am I really going to Vegas with a bunch of people I only know through the internet?". The night before I left I even had an anxiety outburst and thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. It eventually went away... obviously.

But as soon as I landed in Vegas the magic took over.

It felt like a giant family reunion, like finally meeting that long lost cousin that your Aunt always said you would get along great with and you heard a million stories about but never met. Just like that.

I instantly felt welcomed and part of the family. And Nicole (who is AMAZING beyond words to have arranged all this) radiated with excitement which got everyone else even more excited.

Meet & Greet night was insanely fun. It was even better then I could have imagined. The part best was when you started talking to someone and a few seconds into the conversation you both recognize each others twitter names written on your arms (the @ tats) and say "OMG!!!!!! Its YOU!!!!" and the hugging and instant friendships began.

Through out the weekend I was blown away by the love. The "Vegas" part of it was ridiculously fun (acrobats, unicorns, Diamond Bob, fondue buffets, mojito's the size of my arm, dancing until my legs literally gave out on me, flashing lights and money-money everywhere), but to me it was the connections and friendships that were made which made this trip one of my favorite. Ever.

Every single person I met holds a special place in my heart. And I know for a fact that some of those people I will be friends with for years to come and I would, with out a doubt, travel for hours to visit them. And in turn would open my home to them if they came to visit me.

I want to thank all of you. You ALL made my trip so wonderful and special in your own way and I cant wait until next year!

Love is in the air...

So... remember last week when I posted about the "Dream Love List"? Well... when I posted that I knew a secret.

I knew that last night by best friends boyfriend was going to propose to her. And that he was going to do it at a restaurant. And that right after he caught her off guard and proposed to her, he would lead her blindfolded to a different room downstairs at the restaurant where 30 of their closest friends and family were waiting to surprise her and celebrate the magical moment.

It was spectacular. I talked to her this morning and she told me it was by far the greatest night of her life. That gives me chills. I was so beyond grateful to be able to help plan and pull off the big surprise.

I can't wait to help her plan her big day, the day we have talked/dreamed/planned about since we were 12.

I can't wait to see her marry the man of her dreams.

Love... is amazing.

The Dream Love List Continued

Yesterday I posted about "The Dream Love List" my best friend and I wrote when we were 17. I thought about it last night and bloggers share everything so.... here you go! The complete list:

1 - Have to be appealing

2 - Have to make you laugh

3 - Have a decent job

4 - Have to be able to dance

5 - Have a car

6 - Good family values

7 - Sense of style

8 - Act's the same around me and his friends

9 - Has an adventurous side

10 - Must be taller or as tall (my BFF is model-tall and always wanted someone taller then her)

11 - Like's to travel

12 - Is romantic

13 - Treats his lady like a princess

14 - Likes animals

15 - Listens when we talk

16 - Doesn't lie

17 - Doesn't cheat

18 - Shows his love for me in public

19 - Good kisser...

20 - Our parents approve

21 - Has his own dreams and goals

22 - Doesn't feel controlled by me

23 - Has other female friends that are just friends

24 - BIG HEART!

25 - Looks after himself and his belongings

26 - Not a perfectionist

27 - Has a good body

28 - Good hair

29 - Has his own interests too

30 - Has a life outside of me

31 - Respects everything about me

32 - Loves music

33 - Likes to have a good time (party)

34 - Security in his future

35 - Would like a family some day

36 - Creative

37 - Believes in and has his own traditions

38 - Likes quality time

39 - Doesn't mind shopping

40 - Is himself - doesn't put on an act

41 - Doesn't smoke

42 - Likes to try new things

43 - Isn't a player

44 - Has an education

45 - Should be around our age

46 - He knows when he is wrong and knows how to make up for it

47 - He is always intriguing

48 - Confident but not cocky

49 - Knows the value of a best friend

50 - Loves me for me!

Seriously... I think the list is great and the fact that we wrote it at 17 when all we cared about was boys and lipgloss just blows my mind. Now I just need to find someone who fits into it. What do you think about it?

The Dream Love List

A few years back... okay 10 years back (where does the time go??) my best friend and I created a "Dream Love List". It was a list of 50 things that we wanted in a perfect man. We were 17 when we wrote it so of course its written in blue marker and the pages are covered in glittery lips stickers. So. Freakin. Cool.

We made a pact (because thats what you do as best friends, pacts mean you're serious) that we wouldn't look at it until one of us got engaged or considered marrying someone. If they didn't fit the criteria, you couldn't marry them. Okay... maybe that seems a little harsh but we were 17, it was all or nothing.

The list got packed away with all the other old photos and everything else from our pre-adult years and we moved on with our lives.

Flash forward to a few weeks ago when I was going thru some of my things in my parents basement (actually, I was looking for my GOLD pants from an old disco costume to possibly wear to the Black/White/Gold party in Vegas... no luck in finding them though). But I did come across some papers folded together and tucked neatly in my yearbook. It was the Love List.

I had a little squeal of excitement and reminiscing and unfolded the papers. I instantly remembered what it was and knew I couldn't read the list with out my BFF there with me. So I took the list home and called her right away. She of course squealed in the same high pitched voice as me and said "DONT read it with out me!!". Thats why were BFF's, we get each other.

A few days later we were in the same place, at the same time, with THE list.

Now... although I am awesomely single, she is in a very long term relationship. Almost 8 years now. They are not married or engaged (yet...) but she knows for certain that she wants to and will marry him. We went thru the list with him in mind.

Shockingly he got 93%!!

It was like this list was written for him! We couldn't believe it! The things he didn't score full points on were sort of silly things like

- Treats me like a princess (he got 1/2 points because he doesn't quite do that ALL the time)

- Isn't a perfectionist (apparently we thought this was important at 17, i think one of us dated someone who was a bit OCD and we were hella-annoyed by it) (did i just say hella?? this flashback post is making me write like im 17 again too...)

But he got ALL the important ones right!

- Is close with his family

- Can dance (very important!)

- Is okay with acting silly sometimes

- Loves me for me

There are many more items on the list (44 more to be exact) and I am so happy for her that she has found what she has always wanted. It fills my heart with rainbows and unicorns and sugar plum fairies. I love her and it makes me so happy to see her happy.

It got me thinking... maybe I should bring the list with me everywhere I go and use it as an interviewing tool for potential boyfriends.

"So...Are you close with your family?

Yes? Okay good... lets see here...

In your opinion, what is the value of a best friend?

Hmmm.... Interesting...

Would you say you are the type of person who likes to try new things?

Yes? Please give an example of something new you have tried in the past month?

I see, I see.... what about dancing? Please provide a sample of your best dance moves.

That's enough, thank you. Please fill out your name and number on this form. Someone will be in contact you if we are interested in a second interview"

Its pretty much a flawless plan, don't you agree?

This is what happens when...

I am left working alone in an empty show home with no internet or phone for hours and the only thing I have is my MacBook.

I'm not vain. Just bored out of my mind.

Im sure the neighbors had a good laugh if they saw me.

(this one was actually taken at my house a while back but the "headless Mich" was too weird and funny to not include it.

Also... I plan on bringing my laptop to Vegas/BiSC so be prepared to take awesome pictures like this with me if you are going too! Two weeks! Woop Woop!!