So new album from my all time favourite band. Can’t say enough about it. Over the last 10 years I’ve loved these girls and feel like they have evolved as I have. The lyrics always hit home with me. This album is the poppy rock we’ve come to expect from the duo. Its got a bit of an edge with some songs on the punkier side, but then its got soft complexity as well.

Go out and get a copy of Sainthood. You’ll thank me for it!

I’ve attached a you tube link for one of my favourite songs The Ocean and the video for their first single Hell

So over the past few years I’ve lost some friends and gained new friends.. was in love and lost it, started to fall in love again and well that is a whole other kettle of fish why that isn’t/hasn’t worked out. I have however fallen in love with some more recent friends. Particularly the gang at school, and one special girl online who has steadily become one of my best friends, and one guy who was becoming a best friend that changed into more and then has returned to friend but still lingers in that horrid zone between friend and more.

I’ve listened to other friends who have lost close friendships and struggle to maintain friendships. Me, I know my issues.. both me and my sister are unafraid to say it how we see it. For her – she’s always had issues maintaining friendships with girls. For me, I’ve learned to edit a bit but I’m still not always the best at it.

The thing I have come to realize through all of this.. and well maybe its because I’m getting older.. true friends.. will be there.. through thick and thin. They will take words miss-said and brush them off or confront you and listen and understand. They will allow you to be out of touch for a while and when back in touch its like there was never a gap. They will recognize when you are falling and need a hand. They will listen intently and offer advice. They will make you laugh, cry, and boost you when you need it.

Its hard maintaining any kind of relationship. I know this. And it really does take effort on both parties to do it. One sided anything is never any fun. I really value them even though sometimes it may not seem so. I crave and need my friends. Living alone these past 6 months.. has really really illustrated it even though I knew it already.

Anyways I guess I really just want to say.. Thank you to all my friends, both new and old. You mean the world to me and really I’d go fucking nuts with out you.

Ok so.. I started this with high hopes then life got in the way. School started, I went on a mini-vacation, more school. Enough excuses. Life has been hectic. I had a room mate, then she moved out. Now I’m living on my own again for the time being. I really enjoy it most nights. Last night however.. sucked. Its been great being back at school. Hanging out with friends I didn’t get to see much over the summer, having weekly drinks at O’Grady’s, having people around again. Last night after a truly frustrating commute home via TTC (what should take 30 minutes stretched into 2 hours) and walking home cold and wet from the rain to a dark (my light-bulbs all decided to burn out!!) empty apartment with no dinner made was saddening. Somedays I relish in the solitude, last night.. not so much.

Anyways. I’m back. I’m going to attempt to kick-start my working out even though my sleeping is still majorly messed. My eating has been mostly not toooo bad. Been cooking and bringing my lunch more then not which is a change. Commitments.. lets see how it goes this time around. I’m only human after all.

One of my favourite easy 100 calorie snacks is chips and salsa. The key is.. its not the store bought chips that make this yummy snack low cal.

Buy a bag of small size tortillas – ensure they are each only 100 calories. Take one tortilla and slice into wedges. Place in-between 2 sheets of paper-towel on a microwavable plate. Microwave for approximately 35 seconds to a minute – you’ll have to test your own microwave.

You end up with yummy tasting crispy chips!

Eat with your favourite salsa for a yummy and filling snack.

Wheeeew.. what a crazy week or so its been. And really not great on the healthy train either. It was frosh week therefore that meant a lot of drinking.. and *cough*smoking*cough*. And much unhealthy food. Though I did manage to have a salad one day. But now that school has started.. its back to normal and back to a regular schedule. well for a week until I go on vacation to BC for a wedding. Which I’m super stoked about. A week on the ocean coast with a beautiful beach and view is exactly what I need to refocus on myself and get my brain in order. Been going through some personal life issues – which also does not promote healthy habits. Stress = bad everything. I have the zits to prove it after this past week as well.

So september rather then january is the time to pull up the socks, refocus and get back on track!

Since I have a pretty awesome job this summer. I had the pleasure of seeing one of my favourite bands Nine Inch Nails TWICE! However.. it also allows me the opportunity to discover some other great singers/bands/groups whatever when shows or fesitvals roll into town. One of the gems I found this weekend is a cute girl who goes by Coeur de Pirate. Shes a little tattooed rock and rollers who writes beautiful soft music with piano mostly in french as she is Quebequois

Here is a video for one of her own songs Together

Coeur de pirate || Ensemble from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.

and here is a link to her doing a cover of Rhianna’s Umbrella with Julien Dore

So this past weekend I worked 24 out of 48 hours. Needless to say yesterday I was exhausted. Which is also why you haven’t heard from me on here. Now that I took a day to recover school is starting up! Hopefully this year and I can make some more life style changes that I had intended to do last year. One of which is get up earlier to hit the gym with my friend in the mornings before class.

Now just to be clear.. I am sooooo not a morning person. As evidenced from my rolling into class usually just on time with a HUGE coffee. I rarely get to bed before midnight as it is. Now to drag my lazy butt to school for about 7am.. its gonna be a huge challenge. But Im prepared.. I have extra containers of the instand espresso I enjoy.. and I have my locker at school.

So september is for undertaking new challenges and to get on a schedule.

Come on motivation don’t fail me now.

I love love love Beth Ditto.

If I had her around when I was a teenager I’m pretty sure my life would be different then what it is. She is super inspiring to just say fuck everything else.. this is who I am.. I’m fat, beautiful, sexy and unapologetic. She recently even delved into the world of fashion creating a line for British store Evans.

The gossip are a bit punk, a bit pop and a whole hell of a lot of Rock and Roll. I look forward to seeing them when they play Toronto in October!

One of the most evil words I know – diet. While it used to mean plainly what we were putting into our mouths to eat. Now it has many more connotations. I personally don’t like to use it. To go on a diet implies that you are changing your eating habits for a period of time. This obviously isn’t really a long term solution. In order for long term weight-loss we must change our life style. Make conscious decisions and to not feel like we are denying ourselves of our needs and wants.

I tried weight watchers in fall of 2006 with a friend. We didn’t actually go to the meetings and such – just followed the points program on our own. It did work. I lost about 35 pounds over the course of 6 months. Then some major life events happened and I slowly crept up again.

This summer I’ve made the decision to slowly get back on the healthy train. Not diet.. but make better food choices – or mostly.. just stop being lazy and cook!!! I’ve lost a few pounds already (but starting the weight loss tracker at the bottom at my current weight). Just by cutting down on the amount of frozen easy to make stuff and taking the time to cook vegetables and fresh meat has made a big difference. Of course when I go back to school in the fall I’ll have to re-adjust but I’m looking forward to the challenge.

My roommate just moved in and she did the weight watchers thing as well last year and lost about 10 pounds. Now she has a lot less then I do to loose but we are thinking about trying to follow the plan again together. I think this will be motivating and good for us both as we can cook for each other and be supportive. Lord knows its good to have someone to do it with!

My snack for today:
SMORES!
100 calories for 2 graham crackers each with 5 mini marshmellows, 10 chocolate chips microwaved for 30 seconds.. mmmm yumm!

A song that has resonated with me this past week is a remix actually. I found it on the Drake mixtape number 2. It is a remix of Lykki Li’s A little bit. Now I love the original a lot. But this drake mix is just sexy. I was looking for some drake stuff after seeing him at work a few weeks ago with Lil’ wayne. And of course since he is a Toronto boy I gotta up him a bit, although from the crowd reaction it seems he’s doing well enough at that on his own. I’m usually not a huge hip hop girl but like I said this mix is just.. sexy.

Anyways.. here you go!