power of love.

This weekend has been LOVELY and LOOOONG!

Aaron's away on a boys weekend which consists of beer, boats, fire, and more beer.
I'm very happy that I am not there because I can only imagine the trouble that has ensued.

However, I find it very weird not having him around. It is strange to wake up alone, go through the day and then retire to bed all alone.

Because of his absence, I had the time to hangout with my best friend Georgina and her wonderful boyfriend Mark. We spent our time planning our weddings (neither of us are engaged...yet), shopping, laughing, and dancing around.

It was lovely.

The weather also had a large impact on the fun factor. Toronto is absolutely gorgeous in the summertime and I am incredibly excited for what this summer in particular has to offer :)

My darling best friend C is coming over this evening for some late summer evening food and chats. It's been a long time since we've sat down and dished.

So even though I am boyfriend-less this weekend, I have not been without love. My friends are such great people and bring me so much joy that I feel so utterly blessed and inspired.

x

Need You Now.

We're going to a wedding tonight.
Aaron and I are not super close to the couple but we are very excited to go to a wedding.
Well, at least I am!
I LOVE weddings!!

Aaron bought a new grey suit and it is stunning!
He's going to look really good...mmm.

It's almost Valentine's Day.
I love this holiday, regardless if it is cheezy or cliche or annoying or Hallmark-created.
I love a day to celebrate LOVE.

Well, I definitely didn't like it when I was single, haha.
I LOVE it now.

Aaron's having a hard time understanding that he is dating, possibly, the most romantic woman in the world.
I live for flowers, cute cards, that lil extra something.

Valentine's Day is a day to show the one you love, that you love them.
Going that extra little mile to show them you care.

I think it's delightful.

I don't think Aaron feels the same way.

Maybe the wedding will make him a little mushier.
Who knows?

On another note, still LOVE related, my friend Kayla is getting married in December.
And because she knows I love weddings and am obsessed--she's letting me plan it!!
AND to make it that much better, she has asked me to be one of 3 bridemaids!

I've never been a bridesmaid before.
Can't wait.

I'm getting more into musicals again...I go through waves.
And now I'm in a WAVE.

I wish I was a singer.

xxxx

free.

Day 2 of my cold.

Urgh.

I am feeling better today. I think this is the tail-end of my cold. Thank goodness because I was beginning to get really bored!! I wrote up a list of things I want to do around the house and things I want to accomplish before tomorrow. Keeping busy and not infecting anyone with my sore throat and sneezes.

Eddie is running around the apartment with an abundance of kitten energy. He is fabulous to have around--especially being sick...it's nice to have some cuddling. He loves me even with my snotty nose.

He had his first Vet visit yesterday. Aaron and I took him together--I mustered up all the energy I had and made it there. We went as a family. It was cute. Aaron really wanted me to be there--I guess being sick was a blessing in disguise!

Eddie is very healthy and he took his needle like a champ. We're very proud. Major dorks. WOW.

I'm beginning my 2011 wedding research and I have a feeling that I'll be working on some wedding planning of my own this year...on New Year's, Aaron told me that this is going to be a big year for us. YAY! I'd love to be engaged.

Because of this cold, it has allowed me to watch HGTV all day. It's awesome. I have HGTV On Demand and I watched every episode of Sarah's house and Sarah's Holiday Party...and Sarah 101..

Ok, Ok, I have a problem. I'm a Sarah-addict. She's so great!! She is very inspiring and I love the witty banter from Sarah and her sidekick Tommy--who is equally inspiring and super crafty. I already have brilliant ideas for the future. It's very exciting.

I've been reading a lot of blogs and once I understand how to fix this blog up PERFECTLY, I will post who I follow and my inspirations :)

It's time to conquer the sewing machine and more importantly the instructions...I'M DETERMINED TO BE GOOD AT SEWING!!

Achoo!

x

you got the love.

Wow. I haven't blogged in forever! 4 months is WAYYY too long!

Today is the last day of 2010. I figured what better way to cap off 2010, then to blog about my favorite things from the year.

MY FAVORITE THINGS FROM 2010:

*Our lovely trip to Mexico. It was beautiful, inspiring, and magical.

*Our beautiful new apartment that keeps getting better and better with all the new create we put into it and all the love that is growing.

*Edward, our new kitten. He was a Christmas gift!! He's so sweet and playful. He matches our colour scheme too, haha. He's PURRRFECT!

*My family is all healthy, happy, doing well--I couldn't be happier.

*Every single day of 2010, I have woken up and gone to bed beside the most amazing, most gentle, and honest man I have ever met. I am the luckiest girl.

*My girlfriends are all fabulous--busy and working hard. I receive a lot of support and love from each and everyone of them, even if and when I don't see them.

*Emily. The most adorable 16 month-old. She is the greatest little ray of sunshine and I count myself very lucky to be able to be in her life. She rocks my life!

*I've been working and volunteering for the last 4 months and I have never done anything that requires so much confront, passion, and knowledge. I love it. I am highly productive and love it.

HERE I COME 2011!!

I'm not usually a fan of resolutions because I always seem to break them...haha every year I "try" and workout. Hilarious.

But this year, I want to eat more vegetables (ha!), blog more (PROMISE!), take better care of my body, listen more, whine less, and have fun. I really want to make the time to do the things I love without feeling stressed and angry at the obligations I do have. I want to make more money and pay off debt, start saving for a house (my DREAM), and read more. learn how to cook and enjoy it! Knit more. Learn how to sew. Study wedding planning. Interior decorating. Start planning for a future. LOVE.

Sigh. I think 2011 is going to be a great year! I can feel it!
(I might say this every year but this time I REALLY MEAN IT)

My house is a home.
And here is my new kitty, Edward.



Happy New Year!!
x

felt.

ahh i haven't blogged in forever! the summer's been great and i've really enjoyed it.
it's starting to get a little windier--i think fall is just around the corner.
i love fall, especially the fashion. ohhh how i love fall fashion.
leggings, gigantic sweaters, cute scarves, and light jackets. mmm. delightful.

with fall comes my birthday. every year i get really excited when september comes around because that means only one more month til my birthday (oct 9th)...so naturally i begin to think of what i want gift-wise, and also in lieu of back-to-school time, i always reflect on what i want to do this year.
for me it has always been september that's felt like a new year...

so. i'm turning 24 this year. and normally i'd be delighted for a new birthday but urgh, 24 is getting me down. it's almost 25...

i think the more depressing thing (and also a kick in the ass thing) is what have i done with my life? eee. i have incredible people around me, i have an amazing life, but am i on the right path to be where i want to be in a year, 5 years, 10 years?

there are so many things i want to do and i know i have plenty of time. i think for me the biggest challenge is starting something. like REALLY starting something. and because i feel so awfully self-aware, i've decided that yes, i love my life and yes, i am not where i want to be right now.

however instead of moping about it, i've decided to do something about it.
i am going to write out a 5 year plan. and i'm going to also write hobbies i'd like to start or things i want to accomplish amidst my lifelong dream to be a successful, working actress.

some hobbies i've already thought of...sewing. it has never appealed to me before, maybe because i felt majorly enforced to enjoy it when i was in brownies as a child, but i like crafts, and i've found some amazing craft blogs that i love. how cool would it be to sew a beautiful fabric garland that i could use at parties or to decorate a holiday in my home?

also, jogging. not jogging to be all fit and whatever because everyone and anyone who knows me knows i HATE working out...well i hate starting the workout...urgh.
i live close to the park. and i like being outside. i figure, why the hell not?

being more naturey. enjoying nature more. being active. being productive. saying i'm going to do something and do it.

all this isn't even considering my non-existent but passionate career as an actor.

hmm.

oh, and i want to be good at cooking.
food for thought.
x

lost together.

summer is here full blast. i am presently melting in my apartment. i actually enjoy sweating though. it makes me feel...alive?! ya.



i had a great june! it was aaron's birthday, my trip back to ottawa, & matt and lisa's wedding. it was awesome!



i like going back home--it was the perfect amount of time back (10 days)--not too much and not too little leaving me wanting to come back for more family time.

we spent canada day up north at aaron's grandparent's house. it was nice to be out in the country--hanging out by the campfire, paddleboating, cutting down trees (haha), reading, relaxing, and playing with the 4 year old who lives next door. he was such a funny kid. we jumped on the trampoline for a good while. made me realize that i was getting old...you know when you used to go on swings or jump on a trampoline for hours, higher and higher you'd go? now i feel way too sick doing that! i'm like 'oooook holly's gonna take a breather' (groan).



i made scalloped potatoes for the first time on canada day too--obviously i had help from aaron's mama, but still. i was rather impressed with myself.

matt and lisa's wedding was beautiful. it was so wonderful and they're so happy and lovely, and in love! so cute. aaron and i had a blast! it was wonderful that he got to meet the whole clan.



i need to get off this computer before i break it with all this sweating i'm doing. urgh. feel nasty.

x

ps check out the music video aaron's boys made. i'm the girl with the red cup being serenaded to by a dude in a blue dressing gown. yaaa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2VL1yFr3Mc

these are my confessions.

i woke up totally awake and ready for my day. i made a delicious smoothie and made some phone calls. i really needed to change my address on all my credit cards etc. i had to eventually just sit down and call...wait on hold forever...and finally get my stuff in order. i feel really good now that it is all done.

i like to make a list for the day. things i need to accomplish. pretty proud to say i did everything and it is not even 3pm yet. i cleaned the entire apartment and i've been devising a birthday plan for aaron.

since i haven't been working very much, my cash flow is very low these days. i really want to get him something nice for his birthday. he also mentioned to me that he didn't think birthdays were a big deal...no one really did anything for him anyway. THAT WAS UNTIL HE MET ME. and i'm the queen of birthdays and christmas and all feel-good holidays. i thrive on that shit.

so here we are. i'm saving a whole bunch of pictures to my email and i'm googling love quotes (gross) and i'm going to scrapbook a little something something for him. i don't exactly know when or how i'm going to do this before thursday but i like the idea of a challenge. maybe i'll make him cupcakes for his actual birthday and then when i'm home, i can do all the scrapbooking there...mama does have some super sweet scrapbook stuff. hmm.

been listening to alot of GLEE soundtrack songs and i have to say, i wish i was a musical theatre star. there i said it. dancing, singing, performing. ahh. love it.

i want a dog. aaron wants a dog. perfect right? WRONG.

i want a puppy:

(yorkie)

aaron wants a puppy:

(mastiff)

grr. i was thinking maybe a compromise?
what about this cutie?

(australian retriever)

now that i look at them--i don't know. yes, the yorkie is cute. but yappy, and too little to be around children. yorkies are more apt to get frightened and nip. mastiff's are oh so cute as puppies but get bigger and slobbery and heavy and so manly ruff ruff ruff. the australian retriever is perfect. cuddly, active, great with children...

yaa i have no clue what we'll do. maybe we won't ever get a dog. SAD.

x