I sort of want to be.....

As I slap clapstick (note I didn't say lipstick with any color) on my face, just before jamming a hat on my head and running out the door for the bus. I realize, yet again, I am not a girly girl.  I will complete the picture with my hiking boots, jeans, top and fleece ensemble.  Lovely.

I love my blogging community and the fashion and beauty bloggers are incredible and I am frankly in awe of them. They give excellent tutorial and review products with integrity. Plus they always look great. You really do ladies. I feel like if we were friends (where we could reach out and touch each other friends) and I was younger I'd have a handle on this.

But no. Hence I am sitting in a coffee shop with no makeup on. The thing is I go to work with no makeup on so this isn't as bad as it seems.  I do put lipstick on - even red lipstick. Just putting that out there.

I guess this post is about embracing who you are. The good and the  bad.  I think we should be open to new experiences and I love seeing what everyone is up to and their creativity.  Just don't be too hard on yourself and no comparisons.  Try out different tutorials and products you are getting good advice and honest opinions.

Realize we are all coming from a different playing field and that is okay.  All these incredible bloggers will tell you beauty comes from within and there is a radiance that shines when someone is kind, authentic and compassion to everyone. No matter what color lipstick they have on.

Perfect Hostess Gift

Please, please way in on this as we are somewhat all over the place. Discussing hostess gifts - taking wine off the table - and it gets tricky.  Consensus was knowing your hostess' likes and dislikes is a starting point. Our top six in no order are......

1.   flowers or a plant
2.   coasters  (a few of us were what? if you know your hostess you know her theme or maybe  seasonal coasters). 
3.   cheese and crackers  (isn't this for a potluck?)
4.   napkins and a candle (majority nodding for this one)
5.   speciality coffee and/tea
6.   baked goods (only if you bake and have something everyone wants)

One of us, who will not be named, said AA batteries.  This did not make the list, but in retrospect it should have as within 24 hours X was looking for some.  So think outside the box.  What is your go to hostess gift?

How many Mondays before.........

Unless you live under a rock it is that time of year when you have "friends" sharing X many Mondays before Christmas, X many pay cheques before Christmas and/or X many weekends before Christmas. We are sure these people with their Xs are individuals who started their Christmas shopping and preparing in July.  The rest of us are in denial or we don't have time to X anything unless it is crossing something off the growing holiday list.  Or worst yet we haven't started the list.

So please be gentle with your sharing of Xs. Not all of us appreciated the remember.

Halloween and Christmas! Maybe we should rethink this.....

Coffee conversation centred around when do you think it is the appropriate time to put Christmas items out for sale.  In some stores, in our area, they were out the same time the Halloween items were being sold.  Hmm…. That doesn’t even take us into November.  

One individual felt Christmas items shouldn’t be displayed until after Remembrance Day (November 11).  It was acknowledged that there are only so many pay cheques before Christmas but really if you are that concerned start picking up items in July. Can you really not focus on one event at a time? Not dilute it with the next big thing? 

It was anonymous that October was too early to be putting Christmas out there at the shops.  Also why not wait until November 12^th and then make a big splash that says Christmas/Holidays are now approaching! Enjoy!

Okay, we have now officially rolled into Autumn.  Summer clothes are being packed away with regret and "oh I didn't wear this enough or at all".  The coffee (well not really....) discussion was starting to take a downward turn over the cooler temperatures, regrets over not getting to the beach and I didn't squeeze enough summer in to begin with.

To turn this around we decided to talk about what we are looking forward to this season.  It was an unambitious decision we were all looking forward to getting our boots (NO NOT WINTER BOOTS) out or purchasing new ones.

To go along with our boots we will be tackling our sweaters.  You know some might have gotten worn around essential areas during the summer so you will need new ones. Look closely for wear and tear. You see it. New sweater needed.

One of best things about Autumn is trying out the new Autumn shades of lipstick. We are so done with light and neutral shades for summer.  It is now deep, dark and bold lipstick.  Own it.

So we actually ended our get together on a more positive note.  Let us know what you are looking forward to this season. Or better yet, good deals on sweaters, boots and of course your favourite Autumn shade of lipstick.

Weekend coffee share - summer over !!

If we were having coffee I would be ranting that I was NOT, absolutely NOT, ready for summer to be ending.  I have sleeveless tops I have not made the most of, cute short skirts I have hardly worn and well, shoes I am still enjoying. My nails are still looking reasonable good and I do NOT want to have to encase when in shoes. I am not ready for summer to be ending.

Yes, I have sweaters and boots I enjoy, but not yet.  I want another month of summer to truly feel I have made the most out of my summer outfits.  That being said - I always feel I have made the most out of my winter clothes. I am usually tired of them before the end of winter, which seems never ending.

So please give me few more weeks of summer weather. I will wear the sweater to work in the cooler mornings, but let it be hot and sunny by 9 am and I swear I'll not complain this year about winter. I will actually embrace my cords and bulky sweaters. I swear.

Hmm.....art is subjective

We are trying to get back into the swing of things after summer so off we headed to an art opening.  After grabbing a glass of wine we did the walk around.  The gallery itself has cement floors, white walls and an outdoor patio. Nice.  This is a post where we (who attended) all agree. It doesn't happen often but it did at the gallery.  None of us would purchase or hang the paintings we saw. So yes art is extremely subjective. Considering some of the pieces were over $4000.00.

This goes back to purchasing what you love - regardless of whether anyone else likes it or will appreciate it.  If a piece of art works - be it a card, print, tile or original resonates with you that is the deciding factor.  Price, artist, being shown in a gallery does not matter if the piece doesn't speak to you.  So yeah art is subjective and we are okay with that.

Summer - set dates now and make plans

August! You can't be serious!  Now that we are rolling into the second week of August a few of us are in high alert trying to squeeze what is left of summer into our schedules. We have "I haven't been to the beach yet" "Why didn't I rent a cottage this year?" "I'm missing everything"  Very high drama.

Summer is flying by even with all our good intentions to squeeze in festivals, beach days, family and friends in the two months we consider "truly summer". One of us got away but that was planned months ago.  We just get caught up in other stuff or crash on the weekend after an exhausted work week. Even the blog has suffered. The decision is to plan and set dates for events. SET DATES. That means Friday we are having a BBQ. Someone else is going to the beach on the weekend and another is looking into camping.

We have to take action if we want things to happen. Sitting and moaning are not going to get us to the beach, camping or those summer reads. Set a date and DO IT.

Pet Peeves

Well, there is nothing "pet" about them.  Over something a little stronger than coffee we ended up discussing pet peeves.  It started over discussing bike lanes or lack of.  A major pet peeve we all agreed on were bikes jumping the curb when the road was no longer convenient and driving on the sidewalk.  Total unacceptable. Yes there are often no bike lanes and cars and bikes have to co-exist as vehicles on the road.  Bicyclists - you wanted to be consider a vehicle - well stay off the side unless you get off your bike and walk it.

This of course lead to other peeves.  At meetings or gatherings when a question is asked and answered only to have someone else ask the same question 5 minutes later.  Is it so that they can get their name in the minutes?  Asked and answered should be the response to the second time.

A scent free environment means.......scent free.  If you love your scented products fine but be aware hospitals and other community buildings as usually scent free. Be part of the community not the problem.

Get your arse up when a senior, physically challenged or pregnant woman gets on public transit and move. Having your head down, earphones in and texting away "didn't see them" is not an excuse. Another point is if you are not a senior, physically challenged or pregnant DO NOT sit in those seats. Lazy is our polite word for you.

Staying on your surroundings as a peeve.  At the bottom of the escalator is not the place to try and figure out where to go next.  The individuals trying to back up, jump or not plow into you as the escalator carries them to the end would appreciate you knowing the world doesn't revolve around you.

We decided we had to end this discussion here as a few of us were starting to see red.  We would love to know your pet peeves.

Are long weekends enough?

For the majority of us the first of June means the start of summer.  Some of us had to have our vacation requests in months ago, others are more flexible.  Over coffee we were discussing summer vacations and what constitutes a break.  Here is the take.

Two weeks away from work.  It takes me almost the first week to unwind and start enjoying myself.  Plus if you are travelling any distance anything less than two weeks is a waste of time and money.  Okay we agree if you are travelling, say to another continuent, two weeks at least for vacation seems reasonable.

If I am not going away I usually only take a week as don't want to waste it. I like to save a week in case I go down south in the winter.  I find a week is a good break and if I'm home I feel rested when I come back.

Long weekends in the summer.  Take a Friday when you have a holiday Monday.  That way you are only working four days weeks for the summer.   Hmm....we all like a long weekend but are we really getting a long enough break to re-energize?  No, need more than four days off majority thought.  Take a week and rent a cottage.  Do some of us look like "cottage" people.  That is another post what "cottage" people look like.  Since I'm typing I say tanned and healthy.

Let us know what you think constituents a summer break - enough time to recharge.  May the hot lazy days of summer begin!

    

Weekend Coffee Share!!

We have gotten out of sync with posting.  One of us whose main habit is reading blogs, pinning pins and crafting found #weekendcoffeeshare over at Nerd in the brain.  Coffee! Well no brainer.  We love coffee and sharing so here it does #weekendcoffeeshare.

Life is currently busy with transitioning over from winter to summer clothes.  Always a bit of purging taking place with what NOT to put away for next winter and also why am I keeping THIS for this season.  Bag on floor for goodwill.  One of us found a full slip and thought what the #&*( ! She doesn't think she ever worn it - into the bag.

All the gardening centers are now up and running so talk is where to get deals on certain plants.  We have some balcony dwellers here so that entails looking at how much sun the plants need.  Also is it cheaper to buy all the plants separate and do our own pot or buy a pot already made up? Remember to check your Farmer's Markets for plants not just the large department stores with the plants section set up in the parking lot - you know the ones.

We are looking at summer reads so let us know any recommendations.  You know that book to take to the beach or cottage. Nothing too heavy.  So thanks Nerd in the brain for weekend share!!

Facebook etiquette? Is it needed?

A few of us have many “friends” on Facebook and some of those friends post a lot; to the point that if you are not checking your Facebook at least once an hour you are missing posts.  You don’t want to unfriend these people but what is the etiquette on posting?  Do you really have to post you are at the cinema or the mall?  Do I need to see a picture of your frolicking on the beach on numerous occasions?  How many fabulous meals can you have in one day?

This conversation came about because someone posted an event on Facebook and a few of us missed it.  Okay, one of us doesn’t check their Facebook daily even but still.  This was an interesting event that ended up way down the page because of well, posts about celebrities’ look-a-likes, selfies, pictures of meals and what you scored on a quiz about Star Wars.  So what do you think about establishing Facebook etiquette?  Should we have a maximum amount of posts per day per person? Should we be setting up separate pages for Facebook addict posters? Or just a page for events only?  

We decided if the event or information was that important or time sensitive to email it not just post on Facebook.  But seriously think before you press that publish button. Not everyone is interested in you flooding their feed. 

What unites us in Spring ! !

We all agreed (surprise) that certain seasons are pretty well locked in.  Summer is warm, beach weather and gardening.  We are using are BBQ s in full-force, sitting on outside patios and taking the world in. Life is good. Autumn rolls around and some of us are ready for it if the humidity was bad in the summer. Plus in certain areas it is beautiful with the leaves changing colours. We are enjoying our warm days, cooler nights for sleeping.  Winter is cold and snowy.  Christmas holidays happen so everyone is full on in high speed preparing for that.  January through March can be long and often harsh with snow and freezing rain. That is winter. Then it happens for some of us and not for others but the calendar says SPRING.  

Some places note the tulips peeping through the earth.  The earth is softening and temperature inching into the double digits. Others are still in their winter coats and thinking “when is the snow finally going to be gone?” Spring is the one season we agreed that is not locked in.  It can be a few months for some and maybe three days for others. Seriously, if you live there you know what I mean.  So mulling this while we enjoy our coffee (during any season) we think what unites us all in spring.  Rubber boots. That is it.  No matter where we are or how short spring is rubber boots unite us. 

So to rubber boots in all shapes, colours, patterns and sizes.  They are our spring fashion statement.  Get out there and rock those rubber boots this spring no matter where you are!

Are you upright? Posture a good thing.

We all agree that we struggle with posture. Research is saying with Smartphones and other devices people's posture is getting worse as our necks are down and shoulders hunched accessing our devices. Even just sitting a few of us always cross our legs. We complain about being stiff but don't do anything about it but the occasional head to the side.

If you have every taken yoga when the instructor says lower your shoulders you are like oh I didn't realize they were up.  And they are up all the time! Bring them up to your ears right now, drop them and push them back. Do it as you read this and see where they land. Not where they started.

We are challenging ourselves to be more aware of our posture.  Maybe when you walk through a door you lower your shoulders and slightly push them back. Also suck in your stomach. Find a short routine in the morning to do some stretches. There are two links for you to check out. If we get into a routine now we will be flexible as we age and who doesn't want that!

5 stretches you should do every am

Morning stretches from Pop Sugar Fitness

Your horoscope - or not......

We managed to pull together a coffee date (read liquid date) over the weekend. There was some catch up. Nothing earth shattering as no one is planning any big events in the next few months. Not even a vacation.

We got to talking about horoscopes. The day before had been "right on" for one of us. That brought the discussion around to did you read it before the day started or after? If before did you maybe subconsciously make stuff happen or see things in a different light due to what you read? We all know hindsight is a wonderful thing and at times NOT helpful if you telling someone what they should have done in a situation you were not involved in at the time and feeling superior. Hmmmm. bit of a personal rant there. Sorry.

So we decided to write out our own horoscopes for the next week. The first one is for birthdays with an even number. The second horoscope is for birthdays that fall on odd numbered days. So here it goes. Feel free to interchange if you want!!

Even number birthdays - your week will be full off potentially exciting events. Just keep an open mind and don't say no automatically. Treat yourself to that magazine you have been eyeing as it will give you a burst of inspiration. This is the week for you to dress up your dining room table with a new or old runner. Be creative and don't go for the obvious. Burlap can be your friend.

Odd number birthdays - your week is about reflection. If you don't know anything about mindfulness. Google it. This is the week for you to slow down and just sit with yourself. Something special could happen. Treat yourself to a latte at that funky coffee shop you have been walking by. Realize you don't have to do it all and be all to all people.

Favorites Pins from Pinterest

People are spending hours on Pinterest.  We think it might be the easiest way to suck-up an evening.  I'll just pop in for a minute and look for XYZ.  Three hours later we haven't found XYZ but we have added at least ten pins to our various boards.  Time just seems to get away from us. You know you have been there and done that.  So we thought we'd add to your evening of pinning by sharing some of our favorite pins.  Here it goes:

Oh we should add that these pins were not unanimous. The decision was we could all add our own favourites to the mix. In no particularly order.

1.  Sparkle in her suitcase - travel gifts reason - just because. Their pretty. 
2. A Wandafulthing jazzing up candles actually a few of us thought this was a cute idea and cheap.
3. Mason jar crafts love one of us is obsessed with mason jar crafts. Enough said.
4. Atta girl say how to fold napkins pinwheels okay after this was included a few of us were "Oh, maybe I could do that".
5. Crafting with Joanie Christmas card with scraps from the person with the most free time on their hands.
6. Fine craft guild eco friendly bath mat diy again too much time on hands. 
7. The zoe report - how to organize makeup vanity ideas few of us were okay with this.
8. The jet setter diaries - how to afford travel every month how you can okay good with this too.

Let us know your favourite pins.  Remember to hydrate while you are pinning.

52 weeks in 52 words writing challenge !

Check out Sacha Black writespiration 52 weeks in 52 words.  Here is my attempt for this week. 

It’s been a long time since Norma was this mad.  Her smile is tight but she is determined to keep it on until she makes it out the door. She only has herself to blame – she should have known Ashley was setting her up.  Norma is choked she is feeling this way. 

The story of you can't be complacent

Conversation over coffee drifted into internet service or providers to be more exact. Here is the story of what you should not do (well not the first sentence).

Once upon a time you purchase an internet/cable/phone bundle for six months to a year which is a good deal.  After the time frame you pay the "regular" price. You see deals enticing new customers after your deal is completed and you call to see if you can get a new deal or even a slightly better price. Being the loyal customer you are. No, you have a great deal. Nothing for you. Oh.

So you go along with life and make the occasional call or drop into the store when in the mall, you know just to check to see if you can get your price down. Nope. You got a good deal. Then it happens, you receive a good deal in the mail from a competitor.  You head over and sign-up. You don't bother checking your current provider as for the past year deals have come and go and you just couldn't access them.  You are happy and saving money. Then they call. Yes, your old service provider "why are you leaving us?" WHAT! Now there is a deal - too late as new guy is here.

We realize you have all heard and lived this story. The big guys want us to be complacent - they count on it no profit on it! So have a good look on what you currently have. Can you get a better deal? What items i.e. cable? home phone? could you get rid of?  Don't be complacent - they don't care and won't do anything for you.  Only you can take care of you.  Our rant!

#Loveuary Challenge

We are participating in  But I Smile Anyway Loveuary Challenge.  Pop over to her site and get the low down on love for the month of February or Loveuary!!  

Is love too strong a word to use for an inanimate object?  Before that decision was made the definition of love was discussed at nausea. Summary is love should invoke a rush of warmth for starters and are you willing to fight for this love? That discussion brought out yes I’d fight for the last piece of chocolate or good coffee, but in the end it was decided no. We might say we love coffee/chocolate and yes we might get a warm feeling when we are enjoying it, but fight for it?  Hmmm…….not in the way we would fight for a loved one or even a sense of justice.  

Are we too casual about tossing the word love around?  We quickly check a Thesaurus and came away with adore, fancy, like and appreciate for other words for love. Final decision was we appreciate good chocolate and coffee and might go as far as adore it when it is melting in our mouth, but we’ll save the love word for something more substantial.

Pinterest or burst. Are you actively using your Pinterest Account?

We are well into winter now. No going for leisurely walks after supper or sitting outside while you BBQ (we realise die-hard BBQ all year long). 

We started discussing what everyone was up to over coffee. Pinterest came up. How many boards we have and what we pin was put on the table. There are a wide variety of boards from travel, beauty tips, fashion, DIY, crafts and more. So, with all this pinning is anyone actually doing anything with the ideas? Or are we just accumulating ideas on our boards and for what? One person said their travel board was for retirement. Really? This person, who will remain nameless, does get vacation time so…… Someone had tried a few beauty tips but admits she hasn’t popped into that board for a while. A few of us have craft and DIY boards, but have been lazy. There are so many great ideas just sitting there waiting to be tackled. 

The decision. Winter is the perfect time of year for purging and organising. We agree to go through our Pinterest boards and pins and clean up any that are no longer relevant. Second part is to actually do some of the projects we have pinned and report back. Do you have Pinterest boards you haven’t opened for a while, but continue to just randomly pin ideas to? Think about sitting down one evening and start to go through them. Seriously look at your pins and if you know you will never tackle that. Delete it. For others write down what you need for supplies and go for it. We would love to hear what your plan of attack is for Pinterest.  

PS we all love Pinterest just in case it didn't come across in the above!  xo

Having your coffee table your own way

We thought we’d tackle the coffee table.  Or aka the dining table, craft table, sort your crap on table or just put your feet up table.  Any of the above – you know what table we mean. There is a variety of opinions at the current table (which is not a coffee table but coffee shop).  

One of us is a bit of a décor diva (no names) so her coffee table, the majority of time, is styled. What we mean by this is it has the remote on it, maybe a current read and a candle, but you can see the majority of the coffee table and you don’t have to move anything to place a cup of coffee or beverage of your choice on the aforementioned table. A few of us said that is not realistic. It doesn’t look “lived in”. Big sigh. Not that we don’t appreciate having a place for our glasses when we visit, but please don’t expect it in return. The crafter at the table takes care of her mess by having a basket which she can quickly toss her papers, scissors and glue in when someone arrives.  The rest of us, well – the supper dishes have been taken to the kitchen before quests have arrived – a start. 

Yes, to having a beautiful decorated coffee table but really is that practical all the time? No. Okay, if we were having a photo-shoot we could pull something together (maybe).  People have lives and the coffee table is a working piece of furniture in a home.  Don’t beat yourself up if your coffee table doesn’t look like the stylish ones on Pinterest/magazines – those are styled that way and maybe by professionals.  Look close at the stack of books, tray of beautiful knick-knacks and you will often see NO room for a coffee cup. Really. We are all for doing what we can – yes to having a tray and/or a basket to place items. We want to enjoy our homes and coffee table. Make it yours with all your stuff that makes your life easier and happier.