Theory of Everything

Yesterday, my girlfriends and I saw the movie, "Theory of Everything". It's a movie about the relationship between the physicist, Dr. Stephen Hawking and his wife.

Before watching the movie, I didn't know much about Stephen Hawking. I've just heard his name in science classes that I took in high school and university. And after watching the movie, I still don't know a lot about Dr. Hawking. But I do have a new appreciation for the time, love and commitment it takes to care for someone with Lou Gehrig's disease.

According to the ALS Association, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Basically, your motor neurons, which reach from the brain to the spinal cord and the spinal cord throughout the body, degenerate, and you lose your voluntary muscle action, causing you to eventually become totally paralyzed.

This movie definitely shows the stages of ALS in a human being, and its affect on a relationship between husband and wife. Caring for anyone, with whatever illness they have, is life changing. You truly need to be selfless to care for someone you love, who is unable to care for themselves. This movie showcased the highs and lows of being a caregiver, both positive and negative.

Though I didn't really know what to expect before watching it, I do know I was truly touched by both Stephen and Jane Hawking, and their life together. I laughed and cried throughout the movie, but I think, more importantly, reflected on all the people and their families who deal with the realities of living with ALS. My thoughts, prayers and sincere admiration go out to each and every one of them.

Product Review: Eye Shadow Base

A few years ago I realized something that changed my life forever. I have oily eyelids. Seriously. I used to get so frustrated because every time I'd wear eye shadow, I'd get the dreaded crease.

Well one day, I walked into a little store called Funk N' Frost which sells make up, and in particular, the NYX brand. A lovely lady suggested I try the NYX HD Eye Shadow Base.

THE BEST $7 I HAVE EVER SPENT!!!

I swear by this product. I've been using it for over a year now, and I love it. It's applicator is like a lip gloss brush. I just dab a bit of the eye shadow base on my eye lids, and smudge with my finger. I let it set for a minute or two, and then I apply my eye shadow. When I get home after work, my lids are in as good of a condition as when I left my house in the morning.

Try it. It's $7. If you hate it, it was only $7. And if you love it like me, it's the best $7 you will ever spend.

February 1, 2015

My beloved Seahawks lost in the Superbowl today. Though I clearly have no personal investment in the Seahawks, I felt like a piece of me died. I felt sad for the players, coaches, fans, myself. Even a bit nauseous. I know it'll pass, but today, it hurts.

So, after the game, to try to make myself feel better, I took a hot bubble bath.

And I decided to blog again.

So here I am. Sad about the loss. But excited to blog again.

Stay tuned..

A little blogging inspiration

I work with some amazing people. People who are passionate about the work they do from 9-5, but also passionate about the fun they have from 5-9. Every day, I learn something new from the people I work with.

Last week, my colleague Diane hosted a lunch and learn titled, "Blogging for Fun (really), Fame (sort of) and Fortune (not really)." Creative title, right? As I sat there and listened to Diane share her blogging story, I felt inspired and energized to recommit to my blog.

Meet Diane.

Now as you can see, she's an accomplished communications professional, and highly successful blogger. So when she told us her story of how she started blogging, and why, it inspired me to get my blogging act together.

That, and a little push from my colleague Erin.

Meet Erin.

Another accomplished communications professional, and highly successful blogger. Erin started her blog, My Urban Suburban, when she left the hustle and bustle of the city to move to the calm and serenity of suburbia. Only to find out and blog about all the amazing things going on in suburbia.

Both Diane and Erin, when talking about their blogging experience, say exactly the same thing. It's fun until it's work. And then it's work. The key to blogging is ensuring that it stays fun. And for me, right now, it's fun.

So here's to two amazing colleagues, amazing bloggers, and a whole lot of little inspiration.

Happy birthday, Mom!

I'm quite fortunate and grateful to have the Mom that I do. I'm blessed to have an amazing relationship with her. Not only is she my Mom, she's my best friend. She's someone who I can tell almost anything to, and I know will still love me through it all. She's the one who I tell my problems to, my joys to, and just my everyday adventures to. She hugs me when I need to be hugged, and she laughs with me when I need laughter. She shares her life's trials and tribulations with me, so that I realize my life isn't so bad. She teaches me through example, how to be kind, humble, and compassionate. She's the best role model a girl can have.

Happy birthday to the most amazing, kindest, caring, thoughtful woman I know. Love you Mom!

Gratitude

At the end of every year, I like to take some time to reflect. And looking back, I realize what a year 2012 has been!

I read a quote today by CS Lewis - "Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different..." Isn't that the truth?

For me, looking back, 2012 has been quite the ride. 2012 has had its ups and downs, births and deaths, lovely days and days of heartbreak. But when I look back I realize that despite all of that, I'm grateful.

I'm grateful for the unconditional love of my parents. I'm grateful for the protectiveness of my brother. I'm grateful for my friends who tell it to me like it is. I'm grateful for my job that I love, my health that I cherish, and most importantly my faith that keeps me strong. And it's with that faith that I know I'll have even more to be grateful for in 2013.

Hope you all have a happy and safe New Year. See you in 2013.

My obsession

So I have a confession to make. I have a little obsession. A guilty pleasure perhaps. I'm obsessed with nail polish. Yes, nail polish. Don't believe me?

This is a small selection of my collection. See, when I visited a friend in Toronto in September, she let me in on a little secret that her and her colleagues partake in. All the girls bring in their nail polishes to work, and share. Every girl knows that it's pretty much near impossible to go through a bottle of polish. So I told the girls at work, and now, we all have at our desks, our collection of nail polishes. 

The picture above is my work collection. Sadly I have pretty much the same collection at home. If you can't think of anything to buy me, buy me nail polish.

I do find it funny that I'm obsessed with nail polish. And here's why. 

If you know me, you know that I don't like change. Well it's not that I don't like it, I'm scared of it. I'm one of those people who like the tried and true.

That's why I think I like nail polish. It gives me the flexibility to change frequently, without being permanent. It allows me to push the boundaries of my fear, in a small, yet temporary way.

So on Christmas eve, I thought I'd go for the sparkly nail. Tomorrow, I'll change.

(No those are not my fingers. I'm not a hand model for a reason. Photo credit: http://nailsbycatharina.blogspot.ca)