thought a LITTLE too soon

You may notice that there is a blog missing that was here before about me moving to BC to go to school to be a fashion merchandiser. Well, I guess I posted that one a LITTLE too quickly. B/c I'm not going anymore. After thinking more about it and praying a lot I know that it isn't what God wants me to do. Instead I'm back to original plan A...moving to Winnipeg and getting a job/maybe going to school and taking a course to be a Medical Administrative Assistant. I just can't leave Winnipeg, I'd miss the snow too much ;) (yeah right...that's pretty much the only reason I WOULD leave). Who knows...maybe next week I'll want to be an astranaut. Don't worry if you can't keep up with my life, neither can I.

changes, changes....changes

So yes I've changed my blog address to something more hip. I thought it was a little boring and lame that it was just my name before.
Keep checking back in the next few weeks...changes are ahead in life. I can't say too much right now but soon and very soon I will. I feel like my dream might be starting to coming true right before my very eyes... haha, I know that's going to keep some of you in suspense for a while :)

26 is still mid 20's

Last Friday, January 19 was my 26th birthday. I am now past 25 which I thought at one time was the end of life. But I guess its really not, because now I'm 26 and still alive. It was such an awesome birthday weekend...And yes, 26 is still considered mid 20's. This is the scale according to ... well, me: 20-24 = early 20's, 25-27 = mid 20's, 28-29 = late 20's. Therefore, I am still in my mid 20's...and for another whole 2 years!!!

Thursday my mom came to be with me for the weekend. I am so glad she came for my birthday - it made it so great. Friday was spent at the mall...my home away from home. I didn't buy ANYTHING for myself!!! I know, it was a miracle! But I found the most amazing blazer at Tommy for $35 (so seriously cheap) and my mom bought it for me for my birthday! Oh and side note, I found a skirt that I am in love with. Like literally...in love with. It's navy blue, A-line but with some pleating at the top and some extra fabric underneath and, and, .... IT HAS POLKADOTS!!!! (white). Polkadots are my favourite. If only it wasn't $188 :( Anyways, back to my birthday. After the mall, my mom and I went to Olive Garden. I just love that place, it has so many wonderful memories for me (my CMU graduation supper, Misty's birthday, Larissa's birthday). Then it was off to Chapters for some serious book shopping (well looking at, not so much buying). I had got some birthday $ from my Grandma so I got the last Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants book. I can't wait to read it (but first I'll finish the other great book I'm reading..."Fashionably Late" by Beth Kendrick). Oh how I love Chapters...especially the Fashion book section. I spent an hour straight just in that one area.

Saturday was also really good - my mom and I went to Lisa's cafe in Rosenort for Waffles and Egg Muffins...mmmmm :) Sunday was my birthday party with my friends. We went bowling at Academy and then to Applebees for appetizers and drinks. Let me tell you, I LOVE my friends, they're awesome. Our team (the best) which was me, Larissa, Lisa, Kelly, Mike and Misty have developed the new sport of speed bowling. Look for it at the next Olympics, its intense. Here's some pics from bowling.

So anyways, that was my awesome birthday weekend. I guess 26 isn't all that bad...

Crying and the Crocodile Hunter

So I'm kind of an emotional person - I cry during sad movies and in every single episode of Grey's Anatomy. I even had to stop watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition because I was getting headaches from crying so much. And you know that Coke commercial with the penguins and then the baby polar bear slides down the hill and joins them?? Yep, I cried during that. And March of the Penguins. And Happy Feet. And throughout all of Free Willy.

There is something about ANYTHING to do with Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter that makes me cry. During his memorial service I litterally bawled as I watched his little girl Bindi read a memorial to him. Then a few weeks later Barbara Walters interviewed Terri, his wife. If it had gone on a minute longer than it did, I would have had to turn it off because I was getting one BAD headache. The worst part was when she told Barbara that she had lost her prince. Oh dear, that did it for me...tears were pouring down my face and kleenex was all over the couch. Then yesterday, Terri and Bindi were on Ellen. Seriously Bindi is the cutest thing in the whole entire world and of course yes...I was crying by the end of this too. She told Ellen that all she wants is for her Dad to be proud of her. Oh goodness...

I tried to put the videos of these things on here but they weren't working...just search Terri and Bindi Irwin on youtube and you'll find them.

What on earth is it about this guy that makes me bawl everytime I see his family talk about him??? I mean I watched his show and I thought he was entertaining but now I just can't stop crying when I watch these things! Yeeesh.

Larissa's birthday + YA retreat = F-U-N

This week has been interesting. In some areas of life its kind of sucked. But that's not what I'm going to talk about. No, no...I'm here to talk about FUN!!!

Wednesday was Larissa's 25th birthday which means for the next 12 days we will be the same age. It was a great day. She and I went shopping for the afternoon and she spent her Xmas and birthday money and I spent...well, my money. Then we met up with her sister Rachelle, her aunt Rose and our friends Sarah and Sherisse for supper at Olive Garden. Oh it was GOOOOOD. I had shrimp and asparagus on risotto with creamy tomato sauce and I think its my new favourite thing there. The day helped me remember what a great and wonderful best friend I have and how awesome it is that we help each other through so much stuff. God has truly blessed me with her!

Thursday wasn't really a major day but in one way it was GREAT. Kelly and I watched the first episode of the new season of Beauty and the Geek and it looks like this one is going to be a WINNER of a season! My favourite couple is Nate and ... Candice??? is that her name?? Anyways, I like them. My favourite guy is most certainly Piao (but you can call him pi as in the mathematical figure). Seriously, there were a few moments during the show I thought I was going to lose it it was so funny. And P.S. I'm an expert in things I know.

This weekend I went to the Young Adult retreat at Koino with Kelly and Leah. It was a super awesome weekend! Friday night we just hung out, had our first worship session and ate the world famous (at least Mennonite Manitoba famous) Koinonia cinnamon buns. Oh and played broomball. I am not good at broomball and I think the guys on my team were kind of annoyed when I accidently shot the ball away from my net. oops. Saturday we had another worship session and then in the afternoon Leah and I (and another girl Nadia) decided we'd go on a little walk outside. That "little walk" turned into a 45 minute hike in the deep, deep snow. I was pretty sure death was upon me I was so exhausted. But it was a good workout and definitely wore off whatever calories were in those cinnamon buns the night before! Sat. night we played some serious dutch blitz (I lost the first game and got 2nd last in the other) then everyone but Todd and I went tubing down this toboggan slide they have there. Which brings me to one of the funniest things I find about living in Manitoba. In Sask, its pretty flat but I come from just outside the Cypress Hills and my grandma's house was right across the street from the biggest hill in Swift Current. So we don't need to build artificial things out of wood to toboggan. I think toboggan runs are the most hilarious thing about Manitoba. Oh...other than the Blue Bombers ;) Anyways, then I was deemed "official photographer" for broomball, mainly b/c I was NOT making a complete fool of myself again and then proceeded to stay up until 1:30 when I had told a few people I'd be in bed by 11:30. It never works out how you think it will! Today we had our last session, had the very predictable lunch of Taco Salad and said our goodbyes. And Kelly thanked the camp manager Matt for sleeping with her... haha, you won't live that one down Kel!

Going to the retreat was really good for me. I needed to get out among different people for a bit and it was nice to see some people from CMU I hadn't seen in a while. The worship was amazing (as always) and being able to sing those familiar songs brings me so close to God and I am so thankful for that. That Backstreet Boys sing-a-long was pretty good on the way home too... :)

Christmas celebrations 06

So I finally figured out how to put pictures into my posts. I feel very intelligent right now. So anyways, here are some pictures of some stuff in the past few weeks: Christmas parties with friends and family and the snow fall I wrote about (p.s. Lisa and Larissa both got here and it was a SUPER fun New Years!)

<--Me, Misty, Ty and Mike. Yes that's Last Holiday, yes we all got it as a gift from Kelly and yes its a bad movie.

-->Lisa and I made everyone calendars with all of our pictures of everything we've done together the last year. We were so proud of ourselves and I think everyone really loves them.







<--I have been wanting one of these huge vases with a gerbera in it forever. I guess Lisa's been listening because she had Michael make me one for Christmas! Its so super nice.

<-- Jarrett is not a very good present wrapper. This is him wrapping my gift. To the right is the final product. And if you're wondering, that is in fact wedding paper.

-->Cassie even got presents! (3 jingle balls, a fake mouse toy and some left over ribbon from Jay's wrapping experiment)

<--my Grandma Smith and I. One of the most influencial women in my life. She has worked as a seamstress for over 65 years and it is from her I get my love of fashion. I just wish I had thought to put makeup on that day...

<--Jay and my Grandpa Downey at my Dad and Edith's. The following photos are curtesy of my 8 year old cousin Emily. my dad (yeah I know, nice), Edith cleaning up, my cousin Kyle, Brett, Em, hanging out in the sunroom

My car buried under the snow.



My street after it was plowed.