Laughing faces do not mean that there is absence of sorrow

?~"Laughing faces do not mean that there is absence of sorrow! But it means that they have the ability to deal with it.~ ?

You deserve a day where worries don't get in the way of anything

?~"You deserve a day where worries don't get in the way of anything. A day where... even if some people are insensitive or unkind, you're not going to mind because the blessings you received are far greater than the burdens you experience. Remember, stay positive.~ ?

- See more at: http://thequotesgarden.blogspot.com/2013/06/you-deserve-day-where-worries-dont-get.html#sthash.pipBpvof.dpuf

Train Your Brain to Be Optimistic

?~"Which one are you? Are you tired of life leaving you behind, and regretting the fact that if you just refused to be so pessimistic, that you could be much further along in your life right now? If so, it may be time to turn a new leaf. After all there isnt much sense in living a life that you yourself know isnt really worth living. So make a pledge to yourself and give it some weight. Tell someone you love that you are going to stop being so caught up in your own fear that you forget to live. What has being pessimistic ever offered you in your life that you could have probably gotten with much more ease if you just chose to be more optimistic along the way? Look for the positive and do your best to avoid thinking and living negatively on a day to day basis. Be an optimist, and really get a good vision for how you will live an optimistic life.~ ?

- See more at: http://thequotesgarden.blogspot.com/2013/06/train-your-brain-to-be-optimistic.html#sthash.NlLPUTK6.dpuf

Other May Walk With You But No One Walks For You

?~"There comes a point in everyone's life in which they must realize that it is time to really grow up, and make their life their own. As children we are content in the fact that there are choices being made for us, causing us to not have to really deal with huge responsibility in life. As we grow older, we assume more and more responsibility, and eventually we should get to the point that we realize that we have to wear our big boy, or big gal pants, and live life for ourselves a bit more. Sure it is nice to want to impress everyone, but we have to realize that not everyone will be impressed with what we do. People will tell us that our dreams are too outlandish. They will tell us that they can't see us going where we know in our hearts God wants us to go. Sometimes we walk with others, and sometimes we will be alone, but you have to remember to just keep walking.~ ?

If You Find It In Your Heart To Care For Somebody Else, You Have Succeeded

?~"One of the most meaningful things we can do in our lives is to be helpful to others. The legacy we leave behind when we are gone, won't be of our dashing good looks, what job we did great in, or how much money we made. We will be remembered for the things we did to people, and how we made people feel. We will be remembered for being uplifting when others felt down. We will be remembered for helping to pick up others when they fell. We will be remembered for making people smile when all they thought that they could wear is a frown. So each day let us make an effort to leave a great legacy behind. Let us be that joy and strength that this world so badly needs. Make the choices that will not only bring yourself strength, but that will strengthen others as well just as much.~ ?

- See more at: http://thequotesgarden.blogspot.com/2013/06/if-you-find-it-in-your-heart-to-care.html#sthash.GtZs74g1.dpuf

Someday, we'll forget the hurt

?~"Someday, we'll forget the hurt, the reason we cried, and who caused us pain. We will finally realize that the secret of being free is not revenge, but letting things unfold in their own way and own time. After all, what matters is not the first, but the last chapter of out life which shows how well we ran the race. So smile, laugh, forgive, believe, and love all over again.~ ?

Choose your thoughts carefully

?~"Choose your thoughts carefully. Keep what brings you peace, release what brings you suffering. And know that happiness is just a thought away!~ ?

our 10 for a happy marriage

Today is our 10^th wedding anniversary. That's a BIG deal to us.

Marriage is definitely an adventure that takes a lot of work. But, it�s worth it. I love Scott more than anything and I�m extremely proud of our marriage. A friend once told me: I love how much you love Scott. You bring out the best in each other. That comment made me feel so good about where we're at in our relationship.

And no, we're not perfect. We�ve had our ups and downs just like every other couple (there have been times when I swear we're both speaking a different language), but we�ve learned to work through challenging times and we always try to find the positive in even those less-than-ideal situations.

Although we�re far from being experts, here are 10 things we�ve learned over the past decade that have helped us to stay married and happy (we worked on this list together in between periods during the Stanley Cup playoffs):

1. Make your marriage THE priority
Don't let other things get in the way. I'm Scott's best friend and he's mine. Period. Our marriage is the centre of our lives and we regularly check in with each other to see if the other person is feeling loved, needed and most importantly, heard. 

2. Hold hands and kiss often
There's something to be said for the spontaneous make out. Even after ten years there's nothing quite like when Scott plops a big one on me (:

3. Explore new things together
We�ve taken a couples massage class, tried out circus school, ate live ant larvae in Thailand and ziplined in Costa Rica. It�s important to grow together, to push your boundaries and to move out of your comfort zone as a couple.  Stagnation is never good. The adrenaline rush you get from trying these kinds of things doesn�t hurt either.

4. Go on walks
Scott and I walk Lucy, our chocolate lab, every night and we make sure to leave our phones at home. This is our time to chat about our day, make plans for the future and sometimes even gossip (him more than me). It's uninterrupted �us� time and our favourite way to chill together. 

5. Be silly together
We have fun every single day and we�re always trying to making each other laugh. This often involves trying out dance moves we've seen on "So You Think You Can Dance" and/or singing Rihanna songs in an operatic style (okay, the Rihanna stuff is all me). It also helps that we both have the same goofy sense of humour.

6. Take turns making dinner
Shortly after we were married, I found myself at Superstore on a Sunday night shopping for groceries for the coming week. I was tired, grumpy and beyond annoyed. I called Scott and told him I was done with being the sole grocery buyer and meal planner. From then on, we shared dinner duties. Another good lesson here: ask for what you need. Your partner is not a mind reader.

7. The little things do matter
I can�t tell you how much it means to me to get an �I love you� text from Scott in the middle of a busy work day.  And vice versa.  Surprises involving baked goods and Starbucks chai lattes are superpopular in our house, too. We also like to leave each other love notes on our kitchen chalkboard. Those are the best. 

8. Keep the television out of the bedroom
Our bedroom is home to the trifecta - sleeping, reading and sex�ing. That's it. And while we�re on the topic of television, invest in a PVR, if you haven�t already. This is the best marriage keeper out there. Thanks to the pause button, I can provide ongoing commentary during a hockey game without fear of death.

9. Show your appreciation
Say �please� and "thank you" often and mean it. Don�t limit being polite to strangers and co-workers. Your partner deserves (and needs) to hear those words from you, too.

10. Learn to compromise
A successful marriage requires selflessness. Ask yourself, �Do I want to be right or do I want to be happy?� Happy wins. Almost always (;

After 10 years of marriage, this is what has contributed to the success of ours and helped us to stay connected and content. I�d love to hear what�s working for you!

Here's to love! xoxo

p.s. How we met, our anniversary two years ago and last year.

date idea: circus class

I came across these pictures of us at Firefly Theatre's A Taste of the Circus class from a while back.

It was so fun. We learned a bit about the trapeze, vertical rope, aerial silks (those were my fav!) and we had a go at juggling. Scott and I both like to fit in some exercise into our dates, so this was perfect for us. Plus, I think it's important to try out new things with your main squeeze.

We laughed and laughed at our lack of grace and in my case, lack of upper body strength. The top right picture shows how far I made it up the vertical rope. Ha! Meanwhile, Scott was able to climb the rope and touch the roof in no time at all. Such a show off, that guy (;

Would you take a circus class? Yes, or no way? It just so happens that Firefly is offering two classes this summer. I would highly recommend it, especially if you're looking for a cool date idea or birthday present.

It was such an awesome experience that I'd  love go again!

p.s. Remember when Carrie took to the trapeze on Sex and the City? On our next visit to New York, we're definitely going to visit the Trapeze School featured on that episode. Too cool.

LONDON GIRL.. VERY FUNNY

A woman goes to United Kingdom to attend a 2 week Company training session.

Her husband drives her to the airport and wishes her to have a good trip.

The wife answers: Thank you honey, what would you like me to bring for you?

The husband laughs and says: An London girl!!!

The woman kept quiet and left.

Two weeks later he picks her up at the airport and asks: So, honey, how was the trip?

Very good, thank you. And, what happened to my present?

Which present? She asked.

The one I asked for - an London girl !!

Oh, that she said:

Well, I did what I could; now we have to wait nine months to see if it's a girl!!!

THE BREAKUP - HEART TOUCHING STORY (MUST READ)

The Breakup - Heart Touching Story (Must Read)

Boy: Baby, we need to talk.
Girl: Ricardo, what do u mean?
Boy: Something has come up...
Girl: What? What's wrong? Is it bad?
Boy: I don't want to hurt you, baby.

Girl: *Thinks* Oh my God, I hope he doesn't break up with me... I love him so much.
Boy: Baby, are you there??
Girl: Yeah, I'm here. What is so important??
Boy: I'm not sure if I should say it..
Girl: Well, you already brought it up, so please just tell me.
Boy: I'm leaving...
Girl: Baby, what are u talking about?? I don't want you to leave me, I love you.
Boy: Not like that, I mean I'm moving far away.
Girl: Why? All of your famliy lives over here.
Boy: Well, my father is sending me away to a boarding school far away.
Girl: I can't believe this.
[FATHER: (Picks up the other phone, interrupts & yells furiously ERICA!, what did I tell you about talking
to boys?!!!... Get off thedamn phone!! (And hangs up).]
Boy: Wow, your father sounds really mad.
Girl: You know how he gets, butanyways, I dont want you to go.
Boy: Would you run away with me?
Girl: Baby, you know I would, I would do anything for you, but I can't... You don't know what would happen if I did. My dad would kill me!
Boy: *Sad* It's okay.. I understand, I guess..
Girl: *Thinking*I can't believe what's going on.
Boy: I need to give you something tonight, because I am leaving on flight 1-80 in the morning, so I need to see you now.
Girl: Okay, I will sneak out & meet you at the park.
Boy: Okay, I'll meet you there in 20 minutes.
[They meet at a nearby park, they both hug each other. And he gives her a note.]
Boy: Here you go, this is for you. I gotta go.
Girl: *Tear* (Begins to cry.)
Boy: Baby, dont cry, you know I love you... But I have to go.
Girl: Okay (Begins to walk away.)
[They both go back home. And Erica begins to read the letter he gave her]

It says..."Erica, You probably already know that I'm leaving, I knew this would be better if I wrote a letter explaining the truth about how much I care about you. The truth is, is that I never loved you, I hated you so much, you are my bitch and don't you ever forget that. I never cared about you, and never wanted to talk to you, and be around you. You really have no clue how much I hate you. Now that I'm leaving I thought you should know that I hate you, bitch. You never did the right thing, and you were never there. I didn't think I could hate someone as much as I hate you. And I never want to see you, for the rest of my life, I will never miss kissing you like before, I never want to cuddle up, how we used to. I will not miss you and that's a promise. You never had my love, and I want you to remember that. Bitch, you keep this letter because this may be the last thing you have from me. Fuck, I hate you so much. I will not talk to you soon bitch... Goodbye. - Ricardo"

[ Erica begins to cry, she throws the paper in tha garbage & crys for hours ]

... A day passes, she is sad, depressed and she feels so lonely... Then she gets a phone call.... 

Friend: How are you feeling?
Girl: I just cant believe this happened.. I thought he loved me.
Friend: Oh, about that. Ricardo left me a message. A few days ago. He told me to tell you to look in your jacket pocket or something...
Girl: Umm.. okay.

[She finds a piece of paper in the jacket, It says: "Baby I hope you find this before you read my letter. I knew your dad might read it, so I switched a few words...

Hate = Love
Never = Always
Bitch = Baby
Will not= will

.... I hope you didn't take that seriously because I love you with all my heart, and it was so hard to let you go thats why I wanted you to run away with me... -Ricardo"]

Girl: Oh my God! It's a letter.. Ricardo does love me!!, he must of slipped it into my pocket when he hugged me. I can't believe how stupid I am!! 
Friend: lol Okay but I g2g... Call me later.
Girl: *happy*okay, bye, I'll be at home waiting for my baby to call me!... Erica turns the T.V. on......

[Breaking news] "An airplane has crashed. Over 47 young boys died, we are still searching for survivors... This is a tragedy we will never forget, this plane was flight 1-80... it was on its way to an all boys boarding school..." the Reporter says.

[ She turns off the t.v. ... 3 days later, she kills herself, because of the fact that Ricardo was dead & she had
nothing to live for...]... 

A day after that the phone rings. Nobody answers. It was Ricardo, he called to leave a message. "Its Ricardo, I guess you're not home so, I called to let you know that I'm alive, I missed my flight because I had to see you one last time. So, I hope your not worried. I am staying for good. 

GUY IN LADIES TOILET.. VERY FUNNY.. MUST READ..

A guy in a hurry used the ladies 'toilet in a posh hotel'..

He sat down and noticed four buttons - WW, WA, PP & APR.

Curious, he pressed WW & his butt was gently sprayed with WARM WATER, he loved it so much!

He then pressed WA & a blast of WARM AIR dried him up.

Still loving it, He pressed PP & a POWDER PUFF to make him smell fresh.

Feeling pampered, he decided to press the last button APR.

He later woke up in a hospital.

A nurse smiled & said to him, Sir, APR means AUTOMATIC PAD REMOVER. When the machine couldn't find a pad on you, it went for your balls.

Your balls are in the jar over there!

MUST READ....

A True Love Story....
A young couple is very much in
love, decided to get married...
Some months before nikkah, the

bride had an accident and remained with face completelydisfigured...
" I can't marry you, she wrote to
her fiance..... I will stay sharp and uggly
forever...
Find yourself another beautiful young girl as you deserve, because i'm not worthy of you !"
Few days later, she receivedthis answer from her fiance:"Whoever is truly shamfull isme, i thrust in that following to eye
disease, the doctor just told me that i will stay blind !
If despite this, you want to accept me, i still want to marry you!"
They get married at that time, the
fiance was totally blind. They lived 20 years in LOVE, in joy and understanding.. . She was his guide and became hiseyes and light...
LOVE has guided into the tunnel of darkness.
One day, she became seriously ill and dying, she regretted living
him alone in the darkness...
The day she died, he openedhis eyes to the astonishment of all.
" I was not blind, he said.."
I pretented that i was blind, for distressed her in the thought that
i will see her face disfigured.....
Now my LOVE based on her !"

MORAL:- "TRUE LOVE SEES BEYOND PHYSICAL BEAUTY, BECOZ TRUE
LOVE, IS SEEN WITH D HEART"

Like if you liked it.

don't allow your own emotion to hurt you

?~"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. So save your anger and jealousy sweetheart, don't allow your own emotion to hurt you !!~ ?

To Succeed In Life You Have To Be Willing To Fail

?~"Life has knocked every one down at least once or twice, and will continue to do so, as long as we keep progressing towards the top. We must always be willing to get up when life knocks and down, realizing that the more and more we are willing to try, the more and more life will become easier for us. Life is about consistent planning, and consistent every day action. If we aren't willing to take the steps we need to take in order to become the people we want to become, we never will. Remember that life isn't always going to be peaches and rainbows. Keep mentally tough, and stay sharp so that you may conquer life, instead of letting life conquer you. To succeed in life you have to be willing to fail, and willing persevere through the pain of failure. To make it a success you have to fail and get knocked down in life sometimes.~ ?

- See more at: http://thequotesgarden.blogspot.com/2013/06/to-succeed-in-life-you-have-to-be.html#sthash.u1ZXk8QM.ScCWREZ9.dpuf

we're going to charleston!

 

Our anniversary trip is finally booked, y'all! Scott and I are going to Charleston, South Carolina! We're crazy excited and cannot wait to spend a week exploring its quaint neighbourhoods, plantations (especially this one), Waterfront Park and the historic City Market. The trip will be so romantic and a much needed shot in the arm after our seven month long winter. Oh, and the food! Just thinking about the delicious things we're going to eat is enough to keep me from sleeping for the next two weeks.

We're staying at the charming Zero George - a boutique hotel recently named to Travel + Leisure's It List: The Best New Hotels. Usually, we're not too fussy about where we stay as long as it's clean, comfortable and not too spendy, but this is our 10th anniversary getaway so we decided to splurge. I'm looking forward  to drinking sweet tea on that gorgeous veranda (:

Have you ever been to Charleston? Any advice on what to see, do and eat? We'd love to hear! Thank you so much for any tips!

p.s. Charleston has been on my mind since February. Grazie to everyone who weighed in way back then!

Photos by Zero George and hanneorla.

When two people are meant for each other

?~"When two people are meant for each other, no time is too long, no distance is too far, no one can ever tear them apart. Falling in love is like jumping off a really tall building. Your brain tells you it is not a good idea, but your heart tells you, you can fly.~ ?

Distance Means So Little When Someone Means So Much

?~"Everyone is different, and though sometimes people are able to make it through extended periods of time without seeing each other, doesn't mean that all couples will last. When both parties in a relationship remain committed to long distance relationships equally with fire, the relationships usually tend to last, at least much longer than most long distance relationships seem to. Couples in long distance relationships must make clear what they expect from the other party, and hold each other accountable to these expectations. Also, both parties have to be willing to express their emotions in a non-draining fashion, in order to continue to build upon the relationship. If a relationship isnt a relationship that is growing, then it is more than likely dying a little bit at a time. If both parties simply remain dedicated to growth, the relationship will not only be sustained, but it will also be better than ever when both parties are reunited again.~ ?

It takes a real man to handle you

?~"It takes a real man to handle you, embrace your imperfections, tell you the truth no matter how brutal it is, never give up on you no matter how hard it is, pleasure you, treat you like you�re the only one, and give up the game.~ ?

Sometimes We Are Only Given A Few Minutes To Be With The One We Love

?~"Have you ever had the one you love take their love away from you, so quickly, and so suddenly, that it truly caught you by surprise? Dealing with unique situations such as these isnt always easy, but we must learn to look in the good in each situation. Even when we can no longer be with the person we love, we have to remember to cherish the time that we spent with them. What did you learn from them, and the situation of your relationship? What memories will you take with you, and what advice will you be able to give yourself when it comes to dealing with other people we love in our lives. Sometimes it will feel as though you miss someone so much more than you ever really loved them, and sometimes you will feel alone, even when you have people all around. Keep thinking positive, and allow the hurt that you are experience to be your inspiration for finding the best way through the situation!~ ?

Soul mates are those one in million who have perfect chemistry

?~"Soul mates are those one in million who have perfect chemistry. They know what makes their partner cry and what makes them smile. They bring joy to each others life because they see best in each other. They are each others voice and strength. They have immense faith in their relationship and they stand firmly in their toughest time.~ ?

Why waste your time getting hurt....

? ~"Why waste your time getting hurt over and over by the same person when there�s someone else out there that�s better� waiting to make you smile."~ ? .

Success is connected with actions

?~"Success is connected with actions. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes along the way, but they never quit.~ ?

style: my first guest post!

Hey friends! Today you can find me guest posting over at blah blah birds. The ladybirds (Dyan, Toni & Jennifer) asked me to participate in a special series which follows a pretty pink Cambridge satchel (yup, the one in the pic!) on its North American travels. The bag is a regular jet setter and has already visited bloggers in New York, Atlanta, DC, Jersey and LA before making its way to me in Edmonton. Cool, right!?

Hop on over to their blog to check out how I styled the Cambridge satchel!

p.s. didja hear? all kinds of lovely is now on facebook. hope to see you there (:

I may not be the most beautiful woman

I may not be the most beautiful woman in the world. I may not be the best buddy on your list. I may not be the best at giving you what you need. I know I am not flawless and I can work towards improvements. But I know that my feelings for you are genuine and my passion for you is invincible. I am real and I can be an amazing lover�

Every woman wants a man who can

Every woman wants a man who can love her mind, body and soul. A man who respects her values, virtues and ethics and believes in the strength of her character and personality. A woman does not want her man to bring her expensive gifts or promise to give her an entire world of luxuries. She wants a man who can support her, spend a lot of time with her and stay connected to her soulfully. She doesn�t want commitments and promises she just wants to be loved to the core� .

Although every woman wants a guy..

? ~"Although every woman wants a guy who shows interest in her life, appreciates her on ordinary days and loves her with all her imperfections. But deep in her heart she wants a guy who is completely faithful to her and who is not scared of commitment and marriage. A guy who can promise to give his best to hold her hand for the rest of her life�"~ ? .

A woman that knows her worth doesn�t measure ....

? ~"A woman that knows her worth doesn�t measure herself against another woman but stands strong, calmed and self confident. "~ ? .

Spend quality time with your children

?~"Spend quality time with your children to make them feel loved, wanted, worthy and build their self-esteem up so they go out into the world with confidence!~ ?

Never beg people to stay against their will

?~"Never beg people to stay against their will. Sometimes the gift of goodbye opens another door for you. Move on, and create the next chapter of your life.~ ?

We were put on this earth to discover our purpose

?~"We were put on this earth to discover our purpose, each and every one of us. And those who know their purpose, they are the ones who are truly free.~ ?