That Time I Pumped Gas...

On my way to an out of town meeting, I realized I needed gas. The full service gas station near my work was closed because they ran out of gas. I could drive 20 minutes out of my way to the full service gas station by my apartment and pray that no one else would be there and that construction wouldn't make me too late for my meeting. 

Or I could keep driving and stop at one of the self serve stations on my way to my meeting. 

 

I've never pumped gas before. People have told me it was easy and showed me how to do it-I was half paying attention-but have never done it myself.

At the (self serve) gas station...I got out of my car and told myself "You can do this", attempting to pump my own gas for the first time, without help and unsupervised. This was going to be an adventure.

I opened the door for the gas tank without incident. Good start. Next step, taking the gas cap off. I turned the cap...and turned it again...and again...and again. That thing just kept turning but didn't come off. I started to pull on the cap...and pull and pull. Nothing. I tried turning and pulling at the same time...that didn't work either.

It was at this time I thought about getting into my car and driving far, far away...to a full service station across town. I was already half an hour behind schedule, had an hour and half until my meeting and an almost two hour drive ahead of me. I didn't have time to drive across town. Plus there were a bunch of people around and I thought it would be awkward if I just got in my car and drove away.

So, I brought my attention back to getting that gas cap off. I turned and still nothing. Then I had the brilliant idea of trying to turn the cap in the opposite direction- it worked!

Next step, getting the gas pump to work. This I could do, it's just pushing a button. I pushed the button on the pump, nothing happened. I pushed again, still nothing. I pressed harder, nothing. I thought about asking for help. I looked around and all the people who had previously been there had left. I was alone. I started pushing the button over and over and over, in different spots, in hopes of hitting the right spot and getting the gas pump to turn on. Nothing.

I noticed the 'Help' button and seriously thought about pushing it. I looked at the 'help' button long and hard...but I decided against it.  I COULD do this. I pushed the gas button some more hoping that the pump would magically turn on. No such luck.  I took a deep breath and I lifted the nozzle... Lights went on- Literally! The button I was trying to press before lit up. I could now push buttons and things would happen.

After selecting the gas I wanted, I put the nozzle in my tank and pressed on the handle. I recalled the advice a fellow Brock Alumni had told me "just keep holding the handle down, it'll automatically stop when your tank is full." I followed her advice. Finally, something was working on the first try for me!

When my tank was full and the pump stopped, I left go of the handle and started to take the nozzle out of my tank. I again recalled Brock Alumni advice- remove the nozzle in an upward motion, being careful not to spill any gas.  Sadly, I remembered this advice too late, as I spilled a little bit of gas just below the hole for the gas nozzle, gas pooling in this spot, and dripping some down the side of my car. I prayed that no one would light a flame near my car.

Without further incident, I replaced the nozzle on the pump, replaced my gas cap and closed the door. All I had to do was go in and pay. This should be a breeze. But it's me, so it wasn't.

The guy working asked me what pump I was at. Ummm...I don't know? I looked out the window to where my car was, frantically searching for a number by my car. Of course, I couldn't see one. Then he asked me if I had put $31.22 into my tank. Again, ummm...I don't know? I didn't bother looking at the pump for a total price, I was in such a rush to leave this challenge of pumping gas behind me!

What's a girl to do? Lamely turn to the window, point and say "my car's the black one over there." I paid and went on my slightly traumatized way- proud of myself for pumping gas by myself, frazzled that it was such an ordeal and silently cursing all of those people who told me pumping gas was easy.

For the record, I was at pump 7, I did put $31.22 in my tank and I have not gone back to a self-serve gas station since.
 

Sail Away Nautical- July Cara Box Reveal

I decided to participate in July's Cara Box, hosted by Kaitlyn from Wifessionals. Cara Box is kind of like a monthly subscription box combined with a blog swap, only better! Each month has a different theme and you're paired up with two people- one person who sends you a box and a person you send a box to- which makes the boxes super personal. Plus, each box includes a letter of encouragement!

The end of the month means it's time to reveal who we were partnered up with and what we got. I was partnered with Amy and Heather.

The theme for July was "Sail Away (Nautical)".  I LOVE this theme! I even have a Pinterest board dedicated to it.

I had a lot of fun putting together a Cara Box for Amy. Head over to her blog to see what I sent her.

Heather was tasked with putting together a Cara Box for me.

I cannot tell you how excited I was to be partnered with Heather. Even though Heather and I had been partnered before, I had fun getting to know her better and really looked forward to receiving my Cara Box from her. Here's what she sent:

1. Letter from Heather...and I love the stationary (which she may or may not have made...I can't tell)!
2. Magnets...that she made from bottle caps!
3. Coffee mug...in her note, Heather said she sent this because she knows how much I love Canada and fewer things say 'Canada' than maple leafs!
4. A jar of sand from the beach near her house...how appropriate for the theme! I want to have a clear label made for the jar, indicating where the sand is from so I can display it in my home.
5. Headband made by Heather (she made one for herself too)! While not 'nautical' the fabric reminder her of my blog...super sweet and thoughtful! Plus all of my handbands have gone MIA the past little while.
6. Necklace that Heather made...I have the perfect outfits to wear this with. I freakin love it!
7. Coasters made by Heather. These are so cute and the PERFECT addition to my home and bar. I can't wait to use these!
8. Lifesavers...how creative and the perfect candy to go with this theme. I wish I had thought of it myself!
9. Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. These are hands down my absolute favourite! 

Here's a close up of the magnets:

How awesome are these??? Most of the magnets were nautical themed but she also made a New York Rangers (My FAVOURITE hockey team) and a Brock University (my Alma Mater) ones. Love them!

Heather- Thank you so, so, so much! I love all of the thought (and time!) that went into putting this Cara Box together for me. I'm blown away by your creativity and talent. By far the best Cara Box!

The July Cara Box Link-Up Reveal can be found here. To sign up for August, go here. 

 

Thanks to Kaitlyn from Wifessionals for organizing this!

Canada's Pacific Gateway

Happy Monday! Everyone knows how much I love Canada and for the longest time, I wanted to showcase Canada on my blog. So, I've asked a bunch of Canadian bloggers to answer 5 questions about their province.

This week, Bonnie who bloggers over at The Koala Bear Writer, is answering questions about British Columbia.


1. Where are you from: 

I grew up in Alberta but currently live in Victoria, BC, where my husband and I are going to school.

2. Favourite thing about your province: It's beautiful!  This struck me just the other day as I was driving with my daughters to a beach near our home.  We played in the playground there, caught some grabs and saw some herons, and then could have crossed the road and hiked through arbutus and evergreen trees up Mount Douglas to an awesome viewpoint of the city.
 

Where else can you find beaches and mountains so close together?  We love getting outside and try to take advantage of all the great parks around here.  There's so much to do on the Island, but when we are driving through the rest of the province to visit family, I always wish we had more time to stop and explore.

3. What is your region (province and/or city) known for:
Tourism.  :)  Victoria is a hotspot for tourists and with good reason.  I think it's also known as a great place to retire.

4. Where to:
a) Stay:
The Fairmont Empress Hotel downtown is GORGEOUS and has so much history to it.  I'd love to stay there (or at any other Fairmont hotel, for that matter).  There are also lots of local little B&B's that would be a lot of fun to visit - a great way to meet some locals and possibly see some of the more out of the way places that you'd miss by staying in a chain hotel.
b) Eat:
The short list or the long list???  We love going to The Old Spaghetti Factory downtown when we visit the museum or the inner harbour. The Tudor House Pub in Esquimalt has great food and is worth the drive (plus a friend of ours manages it, so tell him I sent you over there).  Nautical Nellie's is a local restaurant that is pricey but has a great atmosphere and (unless they've changed their menu) the best lobster & pasta dish ever.  Oh, and the Fernwood Inn often has live music along with a unique, local menu.

c) Go/what to do:  

The Royal BC Museum is always worth a visit, as well as the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre out in Sidney (we have annual passes to both).  Drive or hike to the top of Mount Tolmie and Mount Douglas for great views of the city.  If you really like hiking, visit East Sooke Park or go up Mount Finlayson (warning: good shoes and some experience required!).  And, of course, there are beaches all around the city - one of our favourites is probably Willows Beach.
 

5. A "must know" about your province: 
Take your time exploring.  BC is a big province and even Vancouver Island is bigger than it seems.  We've lived here for three years now and still haven't made it to all of the places we've heard about!  Ask people you meet where they'd recommend going and do some research online before arriving.

Thanks Bonnie for taking the time to answer these questions! 

For more information on British Columbia, visit Hello BC. 

Sunday Social- Food

While it has been kind of a rainy and not ideal weekend, I still had a good one! I took Friday off, so I started out with a long weekend- always a good thing- and had lunch with my cousin who's visiting from BC. I got to see her daughters and visit with my summer friend (4th summer we've spent together!). I got to see my entire family (parents and both siblings) this weekend plus my roommate from University...lots of time spent with family and friends, people who are important to me.

1. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?So hard to pick just one thing, I have so many favourite foods...I think I'm going to say crepes for the simple fact that there are so many varieties of crepes.

2. What's your guilty pleasure/comfort food?
I wrote about cake pops on Friday, so those came to mind. I can't say no to a good cheesecake. 

3. What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten?
I am by no means an adventurous eater...so it's a toss up between duck and sushi. I know, kind of standard food.
 

4. What foods do you avoid at all costs?
Seafood! Can't stand any seafood...which kind of sucks...it always looks so good, but I can't deal with the smell and/or taste. 
 

5. What meal reminds you of your childhood?
Hotdogs and little potatoes (hasbrowns). My grandma used to make this for us when we were kids and we only had cut up hotdogs and hashbrowns at her house. 
 

6. Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.

I have so many 'favourite' recipes, it's hard for me to pick just one...especially since a lot of them have great stories behind them or are super meaningful to me. Since I had lunch with my cousin on Friday, I'm going to share her mom, my Aunt Mary's, recipe for Strawberry Pie.

My Aunt Mary was a wonderful woman. This recipe was lost for years and finally found (her daughter-in-law had it). My Aunt had me over for dinner and made this pie for dessert...it was the first time she had made the pie since the recipe had been found,

Weekly What?

Idea taken from my darling friend Jenn from Party of One for Weekly What?

After not doing a 'Weekly What' post for almost two months, I thought I'd give it a try again. I love the concept of having all of your posts from the week in one post- it's a great summary of the week on a blog.

Basically, you put all of your Monday-Friday posts in one post on Saturday and then link up your Saturday post! What a great idea!

 

Here is my Weekly What?

MONDAY: I started the week off with Chelsea and Canada Starts Here. 

TUESDAY: I linked up for Hey! It's Ok.

WEDNESDAY: I shared the highlight of my day and a rainy trek.

THURSDAY: I posted...nothing. Took a blogging day off.

FRIDAY: I finished by posting my Friday's Five.

Friday's 5

After 22 months of blogging and 2 hours of trying to come up with topic for this post, I've decided to steal/borrow Friday's 5 from Kathleen.

5 things I'm loving this week:

 

Cake Pops from Starbucks

Image via Starbucks

On Tuesday, when I went to Starbucks, I was offered a Birthday Cake Pop. I was reminded how delicious these are and may or may not have bought Cake Pops for my co-workers yesterday, just so I could have the Salted Caramel one. 

 

 

Hollywood Game Night

Image via NBC

I love this show! Funny and so much fun. I possibly spent a night re-watching episodes On Demand.

Brock University Homecoming

Image via Brock University

As everyone knows, I am proud to be a Brock University grad and I am active in the Alumni Association. Information for Homecoming (formally Alumni Weekend/Brock Days) was released this week. There are tons of great events lined up- sports, pub nights, tours, guest speakers and so much more. I can't wait for Homecoming...it's going to be a blast!

Jane Austen Ruined My Life

Image via Amazon

My sweet friend Lacey, sent me this book with my Pamper Me Pretty Swap package. I've started reading it and am hoping to have the chance to finish it this weekend.

Joffrey Lupul

Image via Twitter

*sign*

 

 

I actually have today off, so I have a long weekend at the beach ahead of me. Hope everyone has a great Friday!

Let It Rain

Things have not been spectacular. 

I'm exhausted, drained, on the verge of being burnt out. A sad realization, an on-going upsetting discussion, work stress, unhelpful people, working all weekend, working on my two (of two) days off, crashing end, falling out of...Frustrated, discouraged, heartbroken, loss... all of this in the past week. 

Yesterday...I was in a grumpy mood from having worked until midnight on my day off, I was exhausted from working all weekend, I was annoyed with people and then I went into work and things got worse. I tried to smile, I tried to laugh, I tried to act like everything was ok. But really, I was livid. 

I had a Brock Alumni meeting after work. I was mad on my drive- mad about the events of the past week, mad about what happened at work that day, mad about being stuck behind super slow drivers. I did eventually make it to my meeting, with minutes to spare and a smile on my face. 

After the meeting, just as I stepped outside, it started to rain. I cut through one of the dorms and when I got back outside, it was pouring! Of course, my car was parked on the other side of the dorm that was beside the dorm I cut through.

So, I did what any girl would do...I took off my shoes and walked barefoot (partially) across campus to my car. I ran through puddles. I kicked up water as I walked. I got soaked. 

When I finally made it to my car- before I started my 15-20 minutes drive home- I laughed. Who knew that this barefooted, soaking wet trek would be the highlight of my day? While some would be annoyed at the situation, I thought it was the most fun I have had in awhile. 

I was walking with a fellow alumni, but had I been alone...I would have jumped in the puddles, danced in the rain and laughed as I got drenched. 

Being caught in the down pour was EXACTLY what I needed...I needed to be forced to take that time to have fun- even if "fun" is a less than 5 minute, barefooted walk in the rain. 

 

When I got to my car, I felt happy and relaxed. I can't put into words...what this did for my soul. It was exactly what I needed and I've promised myself, as my week goes on- it will continue to be stressful and unpleasant- I will remember that feeling of being in the rain.

Hey! It's Ok

Idea taken from Amber at Airing My Dirty Laundry One Sock At A Time.

To be more than a little annoyed that I've had to work on my days off (Friday and Monday)...days that I took off because I was also working Saturday and Sunday.

That I feel mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. Probably from working so much.

To be looking forward to having lunch with my cousin on Friday! She's visiting from BC, and while we attempt to have lunch together every year, it usually only happens every other year. I cannot wait!

That I Kate finally had her baby. I kinda figured she was having a boy...something she said months ago about tradition. I'm hoping now that she's given birth, the media (and people) will quit talking about it. While I'm happy for her, I am not one of those people who follows her every move. Give the girl some space and privacy. 

To be wanting to spend some time alone. Sometimes you just need that quiet time so you can gather your thoughts and put things into perspective.

To think that everyone should enter this really great giveaway!

Canada Starts Here

Happy Monday! Everyone knows how much I love Canada and for the longest time, I wanted to showcase Canada on my blog. So, I've asked a bunch of Canadian bloggers to answer 5 questions about their province.

This week, Chelsea who bloggers over at Olive & Ivy, is answering questions about British Columbia.

1. Where are you from:
Vancouver, British Columbia

2. Favourite thing about your province:
It has the mountains and the ocean AND the city- the best of all worlds!

3. What is your region (province and/or city) known for:
Just generally being beautiful. It's a great city in amidst the forest and the coastline, it's fantastic!

4. Where to:
a) Stay:
If you're a younger traveller looking for some fun nights out and days full of shopping and exploring the city, stay at the HI Central hostel on Granville Street. It's in the middle of all the action and is a nice hostel. If you're looking for something a bit more relaxing, any hotel along the waterfront in Vancouver would be nice.

b) Eat:
If you're going for pure quantity, eat at Robson Sushi on Robson Street. All you can eat sushi- YUM! If you're going for quality, Antons in the neighboring city, Burnaby, is HEAVENLY pasta in huge portions for a good price. It's a must try.
c) Go/what to do:
Rent a kayak in Deep Cove and go for a day trip up the Indian Arm, it's beautiful! Take a walk around the Stanley Park seawall, or rollerblade/bike it if you have the skills. 

5. A "must know" about your province:
It's just amazing. I never appreciated BC as much as I do now that I have travelled to different parts of the world. I am constantly discovering new things I love about it!

Thanks Chelsea for taking the time to answer these questions! 

For more information on British Columbia, visit Hello BC. 

Sunday Social- TV

It's been a crazy week and it's still not over! I had to work yesterday and I have to work today. So, I didn't get a weekend this week...good thing I love my job! 

But the reason why you are here:

1. What was your favorite TV show as a kid?Romper Room, Fred Penner, Under the Umbrella Tree... Full House, Family Ties, everything on TGIF.

2. What is your current favorite TV show?Big Brother! Hollywood Game Night, Dance Moms, Big Bang Theory, Awkward.

3. Which reality show would you NEVER do?

Most of them! Especially anything survivor like. 

4. Which reality show would you LOVE to do?

Big Brother is my favourite reality show, but I don't think I'd go on it. 

5. What is the TV personality/character that you feel is most like you?

Oh man...I have no idea! I can't even come up with a good answer for this. Hoda Kotb came to mind, but I don't know why... I kind of feel like I don't watch enough tv to answer this...lame, I know. What about Charlotte from SATC?

6. Which TV character would you want to date?Hmm...Toss up between Evan and Cappie, both from Greek. So, I guess, to answer the question above, that would make me Casey. Or Rebecca...she dated both of them.

Beauty Essentials Giveaway

  Disclosure: This blog complies with FTC advertising guidelines. Participating bloggers other than Spectacular She are not responsible for fulfillment of prizes.

Spectacular She is wanting to spoil two lucky fans with prizes totaling about $400!

Thanks to the Host and all of the Co-hosts who helped! Click on their beautiful faces to check out their blogs and see what other goodies you might find.

 

Who could use a little home-pampering? Up for grabs are two prizes: The Thairapy365 Tri-Curl Curling Wand set, and tons of other goodies in a prize pack! This giveaway is brought to you by Spectacular She and about 45 other amazing bloggers who make such awesome prizes possible. You can see the list of all bloggers who signed up to sponsor this event here. Please welcome our Co-Hosts and their marvelous suggestions as seen below. You can see a list of current prizes by visiting here. This giveaway will run from 7/19 to 8/2 and is open to the United States and Canada. Please enter on the Rafflecopter below. All entries will be verified and anyone with false entries will be disqualified. Good luck to all! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Borealis Grille- The Experience

I recently had the opportunity to have dinner at Borealis Grille, which is known for serving seasonal food from Ontario. I love the concept of this place- think globally, eat locally. I had heard the food was pretty good too- I've been wanting to try this place for ages. So, when a friend suggest we venture over for dinner, I said yes!

We got their just before 5, so the place was pretty quiet. The atmosphere and decor were nice. There are three places to sit- the bar, the patio and the dinning room (which was mostly booths!). We ate in the dinning room, where the one wall was all window. The room was bright and cheerful.

Their menu was pretty limited- not a ton of options- and there were only a handful of things on the menu I wanted to try. At most places, this would be a 'negative' but I won't hold this against Borealis, knowing that their limited menu is due to what is in season and what they can get from the area.

I ended up ordering... 

Chicken Pesto Linguini (chicken, basil pesto, sweet peppers, tomatoes, goat cheese)

It was really good and something I would get again. My friend had vegetable and quinoa curry and a side of yam fries- she said it was good. To drink, I had iced tea and she had a glass of 'Dolomite', a riesling by Cave Spring, a winery in the Niagara Region. It's one of her favourite wines and you can only get it from the winery (you can't buy it at the LCBO).

I didn't save room for dessert, but did order dessert to go. My friend insisted that we 'stage' a picture of the dessert...

Cheesecake in a mini-mason jar

I had to order this for three reasons:

1. I love cheesecake
2. It came in a mini-mason jar...how awesome is that|???
3. I had along day/week and I deserved/earned dessert

Oh. My. Gosh. Not the best cheesecake I've ever had...but really, really good. It was the perfect size, especially for how rich it was. It was more of a dense consistency, but a creamy enough texture and you could really taste the 'cheese'. I would go back to Borealis just for this!

Because they serve food grown in Ontario and what is in season, their menu changes frequently. I will definitely go back during the other seasons  to check out their menu and try something new. 

I also felt the price points were pretty standard and reasonable. My entire meal (entree, drink and dessert), including tax, was just under $30. Some people might think the wine is a bit pricey (my friend paid $10 for her glass), but they serve a nicer quality wine and wine that isn't easily available outside of the winery. Based on this, I think the price is reasonable. 

Did Borealis live up to the hype? I'm not sure...but if it didn't, the seasonal/local concept, to me, more than makes up for it. 

Bottom line: I would go back to Borealis and I would recommend to others.

Hey! It's Ok

Idea taken from Amber at Airing My Dirty Laundry One Sock At A Time.

To be speechless over the way that GinaMarie from Big Brother reacted when Nick was evicted. And to think that it's great that CBS is showing all of the stupid and racist things contestants are saying- it keeps 'realism' in the show and it proves, sadly, that racism still exists. I think what is being said is horrible and that there's no place for it in today's society...but the behaviour of the houseguests is a real eye opener. 

That I have some really exciting things happening at work right now, specifically with my job and the way it's going to look in the very near future. Too early in the process to say much, but I'm really excited about it.

To be sad that Cory Monteith died. I didn't watch Glee after the first season...I think it's so sad when someone so young dies.

That I missed the premier of Amazing Race Canada! I didn't realize that it premiered last night. I'm not a fan of the US version of the show, but I wanted to give the Canadian version a chance. Besides, I wanted to see Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod. 

To be unimpressed that July is half over. The month has gone by too quickly and I feel like I haven't done much with my summer. I have quite a few fun things happening in the next month and a half...but I wish I had the entire summer ahead of me still.

That I love July's Ipsy bag! I haven't opened the eye shadow yet...but I love everything else and I can't wait to try the products!

Je Me Souviens

Happy Monday! Everyone knows how much I love Canada and for the longest time, I wanted to showcase Canada on my blog. So, I've asked a bunch of Canadian bloggers to answer 5 questions about their province.

This week, Lena who bloggers over at Lena B, Actually, is answering questions about Quebec.

1. Where are you from:
Shawville, Quebec

2. Favourite thing about your province:
Bilingualism is pretty cool.  It's important for people in my province/town to be fluent in both official languages.  It's pretty cool that the kids are able to learn a new language so early on.  My husband would probably say poutine is his favorite thing....  ;)

3. What is your region (province and/or city) known for:
It's a pretty small farming community... so not a lot happens here.  HOWEVER, our local fair is pretty stellar.  People actually come from the city to take part in it!

4. Where to:
a) Stay:
We stayed at this cute bed & breakfast the night of our wedding... so relaxing.
b) Eat:
In town, the Café 349 is pretty popular!
c) Go/what to do:
There is some awesome white water rafting nearby and a few towns over are some amazing waterfalls & ziplining!

5. A "must know" about your province:
Here are some fun facts about Quebec!!


Thanks Lena for taking the time to answer these questions!

For more information on Quebec, visit Bonjour Quebec. 

Sunday Social- Music

Another weekend spent at the beach! My parents and sister are here, so it was nice to spend time with family. We have another beautiful day ahead of us...perfect beach weather!

1. What is your all-time favorite song? 
I have so many favourite songs, it's hard to pick an all time favourite, but I'm going to say Better Man by Pearl Jam. 
 

2. Who is your favorite singer/band?
Joel Plaskett, Luke Bryan and David Myles quickly come to mind. Again, so many favourites, hard to pick just one. 
 

3. What song reminds you of your childhood?
Gangster's Paradise by Coolio... we made a "music video" for this song...haha. 
 

4. What songs put you in a good mood?
Anything upbeat that you can sing and dance a long to. Country Girl by Luke Bryan and Nowhere With You by Joel Plaskett are good examples. 
 

5. What is your music to rock out to in your car?
I alternate between a Top 40 station and Country station and a CD- which is currently Ashley MacIsaac.
 

6. What is the most embarrassing album or song you own?
Some 90's Boy Band stuff.

Flip Flop Meltdown

I may have a had mini meltdown this week and it may have involved a pair of flip flops. Yes, I realize this is utterly ridiculous. But I LOVE my flip flops...I even wrote about it.

On Wednesday, I had a meeting at one of our out of town offices- about 30 minutes away- and flip flops are easier to drive in than stilettos. Plus, I knew I had to work at a community picnic later that day, so another reason to wear my beloved flip flops.

When I got to the office, I went into Finance' office, sat at an extra desk and changed from flip flops to work shoes. Had a brief chat and went into the meeting. As I was driving back, I thought 'I don't think I have my flip flops'. 

Panic set in. If I wasn't driving on the highway, I would've pulled over and started going through my bags to see if I had them. I thought about turning around and going back to the office. I told myself that was crazy...I was half way back to my office. Besides, if I had left them, two people from that office would be in my office the next day for a meeting and one of them could bring them to me then.

When I got to my office building, I parked my car and went through my bags. No flip flops. I BBM'd Finance asking if she had seen my flip flops. I went up to my office and proceed to pull everything out of my bags, panic attack in full swing. No flip flops. Finance had yet to BBM me back, so I semi-calmly called the other office. Finance was busy so I asked Reception to go look in Finance's office. My flip flops weren't there. 

More panic and anxiety set it. Volunteer and Counsellor looked on as I frantically searched my bags again. They both tried to keep me calm and reassure me my flip flops would show up. I searched my car...nothing. I tried to keep calm.

Throughout the afternoon I called the other office a few more times. I made people go and look for my flip flops while I was on the phone. Having them retrace my steps- including the parking lot-, describing them to everyone who would listen (pink, with gold straps and a peacock feather design...you can't miss them!), requesting they spread the word about my flip flops to the rest of the office, in case someone else stumbled upon them. 

I spent the day, evening and night praying to St Anthony (the Saint of Lost Things).

Thursday, we had another meeting but at my office. Boss was there and she asked me why she was being asked if she had seen my flip flops. I had to tell her the story, trying to keep my panic under control. During our meeting (4 of the 5 people had been at yesterdays meeting), I asked if anyone had seen my flip flops, described them and tried very hard to hide my anxiety. Boss suggested getting Reception to send an email blast to all staff about my flip flops. I thought that was a great idea and something I was near requesting myself...but didn't want to request because I didn't want people to think I was a overly ridiculous- which, clearly, I am. 

Late in the afternoon, Finance called me. My flip flops had been found- THANK GOODNESS!! They were under a desk, right where I thought I had left them...a place that a couple of people checked several times and had previously not seen them. Finance, who had looked the day before, said that she was standing in a different place and just happened to see my flip flops from that angle. (Thank you St Anthony.)

All is right in the world...almost. While my flip flops have been found...they are not yet in my possession. 

I hope I get them back soon.

In the meantime, I'm back to wearing Old Navy flip flops, which I used to love before switching over to Havianas. Old Navy flip flops are fine...but nowhere near as good as my Havianas! Can't wait to have them back!

And if anyone asks, I will deny/attempt to downplay how much I over reacted.

How'd You End Up Oh So Jaded

Earlier this week, Julie from Three Chickens and a Boat talked about British Columbia. So, I thought I would share one of my favourite songs by a band from BC.

On My Own- Hedley

Hey! It's Ok

Idea taken from Amber at Airing My Dirty Laundry One Sock At A Time.

To be excited that 60 Canadian bloggers linked up! I was surprised to see so many Canadian bloggers. I'm slowly working my way through everyone who linked up...I can't wait to connect with some fellow Canucks. 

That after almost 3 years of working on contracts, I'm finally a permanent employee! I had an e-mail from my boss yesterday saying that I was being made a permanent employee, which was a great way to start my day! Yesterday was technically the last day of my contract and I had an email a few weeks ago saying they were extending my contract until further notice...so the permanent employee email was a total surprise!

To be sad about the flooding in Toronto yesterday. The pictures are devastating-but artistically beautiful- and I'm sad for the people of Toronto. I'm happy and relieved that my friends and family (including my brother) are all ok and safe.

That I had to work until bout 12:30am yesterday and I'm not looking forward to getting up extra early for an out of town staff meeting. Plus, I need to get gas and with construction...it'll be an even earlier day. I want to sleep!

To have had a great weekend! I had co-workers/friends visiting for the weekend and we had an amazing time! We spent a lot of time at the beach, walking around town, sitting on the patio and just spending time together. Can't wait to do it again!

Super, Natural British Columbia

Happy Monday! Everyone knows how much I love Canada and for the longest time, I wanted to showcase Canada on my blog. So, I've asked a bunch of Canadian bloggers to answer 5 questions about their province.

First up, Julie from British Columbia. Julie bloggers over at Three Chickens and a Boat.  

1. Where are you from:
Saltspring Island, BC

2. Favourite thing about your province:The mountains, the sea, trees, the lakes, the weather! The relaxed attitude that so many of us wander around with!

3. What is your region (province and/or city) known for:

See above.

4. Where to...
a) Stay:Overnight on a sailboat, anchored off one of the gulf islands.
b) Eat:

On the sailboat of course. Fresh caught crab, salmon and greens with a crisp white that has been dragged behind the boat to keep cool!

c) Go/what to do:

 Swim, splash, sail, read, hike, fish, laugh, PLAY.

5. A "must know" about your province:

Come with a mind bent on exploring. Pack good walking shoes and bring water. Smile and say hello. And be ready to make friends that last a lifetime.

Thanks Julie for taking the time to answer these questions and share some of the things that BC has to offer. 

For more information on British Columbia, visit Hello BC.

Blogger Opportunity- Giveaway

Samantha from Spectacular She has reached 1000 Facebook fans and is celebrating with a beauty essential giveaway! She is currently looking for bloggers to sign up and participate. 

Interested? Keep reading!

>>>>>Free/Paid Blogger Event<<<<<

OPEN TO US AND CANADA – Event Dates are from July 19th to August 2nd. Signups close July 17th

The more bloggers pitch in = the better the prize = the more traffic/fans brought in = the bigger the success!

Prize: Beauty Essentials – A basket of must-have products suggested put together using a list of suggestions from participating bloggers.

Check out the current prizes here.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Think of your favorite must-have beauty item.
2. Gather links that you would like promoted through the entry form.
3. Fill out the form and send money via PayPal (if applicable).
4. I will purchase from the list of suggestions I receive from bloggers who have signed up, and the rest will be out of my pocket.
FREE link with Announcement post. You can use the post found at (http://www.spectacularshe.com/beauty-essentials-giveaway-signups/) and edit it to suit your blog. If you do not want to post the announcement, you can still purchase links below.

Choose from the following entries:
Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Blog Lovin’, and Twitter, Daily entries/votes or Comments.
Additional links are 1/$5, 2/$9, or 3/$12.
Co-host spot – $15
Includes:
- backlink
- photo of you :)
- your choice of five links/entries
Each Co-Host must submit a 300×300 photo of themselves once they are reached out to by me so they can be featured in the HTML post <3
–You can combine this with the free link for a total of six links if you have an announcement posted.

You need to post the giveaway on time and promote it at least three times a week on each social media site you have. If this is something you’re not willing to do, please refrain from signing up this time around. I ask this simply so each blog gets the most out of this giveaway.
$15 Paypal Cash to the blogger with the most referrals (more than four).
Any questions can be sent to samantha@spectacularshe.com

Sign up here.

Sunday Social- Vacations

Another fantastic weekend is coming to an end. I had friends up for the weekend- days at the beach, dinners out, nights on the patio (including making s'mores). Farmers market, craft festival, car show and shopping in town were also included. Despite the sunburn and mosquito bites, it was a great weekend!

1. What is the best trip you've ever been on?
Toss up between dancing at Disney and birthday in Australia. 
 

2. What is your best idea for a girls weekend trip?
This past weekend was a girls weekend, so I'm going to have to say getaway to the cottage. Enjoy the beach by day, drinks by night, laughing, relaxing and just having fun.
 

3. What is your best idea for a couples trip? 
See above. It's not where you go, but who you are with. I can go to the same place with different people and have different experiences.

4. What is the best vacation on the cheap?
I guess going to a cottage...especially if you're not renting. Besides that, I have no idea... I don't do things 'on the cheap'.
 

5. What is the place you most want to visit?

Rest of Canada! I haven't been anywhere besides Ontario and Quebec. I would love to see the rest of the country! I would also like to go to Ireland. As the years pass, Italy is creeping up higher on my 'must visit' list. 

 

Monthly Roud Up- June

Idea taken from Jen, from Our Love and Our Blessing. What's Monthly Round Up? On the first Friday of each month, you recap some (or all) of your posts from the previous month!

In June I...

...started the month off by having Kayla answer 5 Questions.
...posted a great Summer song.
...linked up for Monthly Round Up.
...recapped what I've been up to recently.
...shared a recipe for cheese garlic biscuits and Nacho Pringle
...reviewed a book, The American Wife, that I recently read.
...introduced a little mid-week humour.
...wrote about my sister's graduation.

Throughout the month, I shared several of my favourite things (here and here) and some inspiration (here, here and here).

I also participated in several weekly link ups;

Hey! It's Ok (here, here, here and here)

Weekly What? (here, here, and  here) 

Sunday Social (here, here, here, here and here).

Lots of different posts...I can't wait to see what July will bring!