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This morning I was thinking about some of my role models. Specifically I was thinking about older people that achieved the life they wanted – and I realized that they all had a huge amount of discipline. I thought about their habits and patterns, and how even in the later stages of their lives they stick to a steady routine that keeps them healthy and happy. Sure, they are humans, so they splurge on occasion too, but for the most part they know their limits.
It seems like we get messages everyday to do new adventurous things – like spend a little more money on a super fancy lunch, skip our exercises and go to the movies instead, forgo cleaning the house for drinks with friends on a patio – but there seems to be a hidden value in discipline that is easily overlooked.
Sometimes discipline or routine seems boring – like eating a healthy and well portioned diet everyday – but that’s what often keeps us balanced.
So today I’m going to think about all the ways my discipline has served me well. For starters I know that discipline got me through my masters thesis. I hated the whole proces…I wasn’t that excited about the subject, the huge amount of hours in the lab doing research were painful, the many, many revisions to the writing was tedious, and the finished product isn’t something that I am particularly proud of…but I made a decision that I was going to finish it and now I can say that I have a masters degree. The only reason I have my masters is because I had the discipline to go to the computer lab everyday after working a full time job, plug away on the computer, and stay until I had reached my goal for the day.
I hope you’ll think of the ways discipline has served you well too. Maybe instead of thinking of discipline as boring and routine you’ll find it to be a major asset.
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This year our summer in Ontario was not so perfect. Until mid August the temperatures were well below our seasonal average, and we had so much rain it felt like we were in Vancouver!
When the good weather finally hit the whole province seemed ready to celebrate. Here in Toronto people seem much happier, friendlier and positive.
To get the most of this good weather I try to take in every morsel of sun and nice weather possible. And then I found the secret.
Morning walks by the lake.
During the week I set my alarm a little bit before my usual time. I pull myself out of bed, grab a coffee and take a nice long walk along the lakeshore.
It’s so nice to see the city before everyone has woken up. The air is still, the sun is white, and the grass is dewey. Joggers pass by, people walk their dogs, and the boats gently cut through the waves.
I get half an hour extra of summer weather everyday.
It’s the perfect way to start the day.
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In Toronto there have been some very cool things happening on our Harbourfront over the last year.
My favourite addition are three wave decks – pedestrian bridges designed to look like waves.
They opened up at the beginning of summer and have added a whole new aspect to the waterfront.
It’s fun to see everyone pointing at them, trying to see if they can climb up the steep inclines (it’s hard, I’ve tried), but best of all I love the fact the folks at Harbourfront Toronto incorporated this awesome design into the neighbourhood. They could have done a purely functional bridge (boooring) but instead they went out on a limb and set up these super fun, and functional, wave decks.
Hooray for taking chances with design!
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I’m not sure that I’m a good girlfriend all of the time…I do have my indecisive, cranky and grumbly moments, but most of the time I think I do a good job of being a girlfriend.
One little trick I learned to be a good girlfriend – sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all.
Like when your boyfriend is trying to do something and he can’t figure it out, that’s a good time to keep quiet. It happened to me in Italy. I guess the way you fill up a car with gas is a little different than in North America, and it got a tad frustrating for him…I could see my boyfriends face looking more and more grumpy, he was scratching his head, he didn’t want the other people to help him out, he wasn’t sure how to get the money in the machine….
So instead of standing over him and asking him what was wrong I found my own fun…and started taking pictures of nearby cherry trees.
It worked wonders. Five minutes later the car was filled with gas, the furrow in his brow was gone and we were on our way. Sometimes saying nothing is the best thing you can do.
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All year round there is one accessory a girl shouldn’t live without. They conceal sleepy eyes, glamourize a casual outfit, and protect eyes from sun damage. Better yet, they stop you from squinting and getting crow’s feet around your eyes.
That’s right, sunglasses are a girls best friend.
This summer I’m really loving my Prada sunglasses. It doesn’t matter what I’m wearing, but I look just a tad more polished with my fancy glasses.
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A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I took a last minute weekend getaway to Langdon Hall, a country house outside of Toronto.
I wasn’t sure what to expect…it was a pretty pricey place and I was worried that it would be a bit stuffy. But when we pulled up to this country house, which really is a country mansion, I realized I was dead wrong. Instead, Langdon Hall is a beautifully manicured property with lovely gardens and an outstanding restaurant.
We arrived on Saturday afternoon and were upgraded to a split level suite – quite nice indeed! After settling in we had a relaxing glass of wine in our room, got ready, and then we went for dinner at the restaurant. It was lovely. I had truffle and asaparagus salad and a wonderful steak, and of course, a few glasses of wine that the in house sommelier picked out for me. It was so nice to get to dress up for dinner and go to the formal dining room. And best of all, the crowd in the restaurant was mixed – some young families, couples celebrating their anniversaries, a few older ladies who lunch types.
The next day we completely missed breakfast, but instead went down for an early lunch. And since we were at a fancy country house, why not start the day with champagne! After having a lovely lunch on the outside patio we just lounged around, took little walks, read outside in the garden, watched the fish in the pond, and relaxed. It was wonderful.
It turns out my worries that it was going to be a stuffy place were totally unfounded. Everyone was lovely, the service was great, the restaurant was outstanding and the country mansion was beautiful. My only caution – my boyfriends dinner, a kobe beef steak, was very pricey at $60, and not amazing. We didn’t want to be restaurant complainers, so we didn’t say anything, but it was nothing short of highway robbery for a mediocre main.
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Enter to win a Revolution Organics Freedom Glow and a Revolution Organics Body Balm, valued at $71.
These amazing products work wonders (read the product review here) and you’ll be looking sexy minus the nasty preservatives in most cosmetics!
Winning is Easy!
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what makeup item you can’t live without.
Entry is open to US and Canadian (except Quebec) residents aged 16 and above. Enter once before September 18th, 2009.
Enter away!
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Last night my boyfriend and I went to see Ovo, the lastest Cirque du Soleil masterpiece. It was OUTSTANDING!
The music was great, the costumes were beautiful (and very creative), the tricks were excellent, and the sets were stunning. I was very impressed with the wonderful mix of gymnasts, trapeze artists, dancers, and jugglers, which thanks to the choreography, all complimented each other extremely well on the stage together.
The last time Cirque du Soleil was in town was for Kooza, but this was ten times better.
I don’t want to spoil it for you, so I’m not going to tell you what happens. But, I will tell you, when I left I felt like I’d been to the best party of my whole life.
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One of my favourite shirts is a green and white polka dot shirt. The cut of the shirt is lovely; very feminine, light, fun, and office appropriate – that’ hard to pull off in one shirt.
Recently I was at a film studio working on a tv series and I wore my polka dot shirt. Sometimes when you film tv the studio walls will be painted green, and later when you process the film it will be taken out.
But just for fun’s sake, I couldn’t resist taking my picture in front of the green screen.
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As many runners will agree it’s always best to go running into the wind for the first half of the run, and have the wind at you back on the way home. It makes the first part of the run more challenging, so when you’re naturally tired and heading home you have less resistance from Mother Nature.
One day I explained this to a friend. He looked at me and asked how I knew where the wind was blowing from. I leaned in and in hushed tone told him I was a witch.
But really, I look outside and see which way the flag across the street is blowing. Tricked ya!
