Question #12

Wow, I got off track with these questions!!! Time to get back to work on the project!

Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.

There is only one thing that I can think of that really wears me out. Women are mean. Especially to other women. Especially when looking at other women's appearances. Society is so based on visuals that we judge instantly based on looks. Even quick trips out of the house require a shower and a decent outfit. Work requires a ton more time to get out the door. Days at the spa sound relaxing but the only reason i'm there is to look nice.
My workplace has a semi-formal to formal dress code so most days i'm in dress pants, a dress shirt and heels. 8 hours a day in heels on walking around on cement is just mean. But even they can't really help it. Our store sells medium and high end products- we have to look the part. It would be hard to convince people to spend $5000 on a sofa while wearing grubbies. Since finding out about the baby I have been wearing flats (self preservation at it's best) and I have picked up some maternity dress pants but I still have to dress up.
Men have it easier in this one (as I've learned living with Jon) They will leave the house in almost anything. They will hang out with their buddies in their comfy clothes and not care. I think we should learn from them.
We have to be willing to look at people and see past their outfit. We have to see past their hairstyle. We need to see them. We need to learn to connect with people and embrace them for being themselves and being stunning inside. Maybe that's why I like blogging so much. I can connect with people while I am in my pj's (like today). I can start conversations with people that I may not ever talk to in person. I can get advice, criticism, kind words and honest answers without worrying about that that person thinks about my hairdo or outfit. I don't have to pretend to be anything other than me.
Can that happen more in our day to day lives?

Million Reasons

One of the million reasons I love our new city-

The hummingbirds are flying around my patio eating breakfast while I sit here and watch!!

Gluten hates me

I am stealing the lovely Marlow's blog title for this post!
I have been gluten free for 5 years now and have been amazed at how much better I feel. But gluten got me this week, it snuck into my fridge and attacked! Maybe attacked is too strong of a word...
We had a crazy weekend- Shannon came into town for a surprise visit on Friday and we hit up a karaoke bar with my cousin. Once the bar closed down we came home and played board games (yes, we're that cool!) We ended up climbing into bed around 5:30am. We slept in a bit and then Shannon and I hit downtown for some girl time and shopping (including trying on ridiculous sunglasses!) She had to be up-island for family dinner so once we explored the market and I brought her to my favorite places in Victoria she dropped me off and headed back.

I made a quick dinner and then had an early night. We had an amazing wedding anniversary....a nice relaxed day together. We went to Sauce for lunch, wandered through the Miniatures Museum, took a horse & carriage ride through Beacon Hill Park and then went to Blue Crab Bistro for dinner. Both restaurants were awesome- Sauce sources all their food locally so it's always really fresh and they are really conscious about gluten allergies. Blue Crab was also awesome, a bit pricey, but I had a gift certificate from the Tourism award and some anniversary money from my parents. We had a huge seafood platter for dinner along with a bottle of wine.

So much food! But it was so good and all Kelly friendly. The gluten monster got me on Monday night. I was still really tired from the weekend so by the time I got home from work all I wanted to do was order takeout. We decided on Thai and we searched online for a place that delivers. We ordered our two standards- Pad Thai & Tom Yum and then tried out a pineapple and chicken curry. It was all really good but I woke up feeling even sicker and more tired than on Monday. By Thursday I wasn't feeling better (but was diligently eating the leftovers which usually go bad in our fridge) It was only when I went to the Doctor and he said it looked like strep did it register that one of the first clues of a reaction for me is strep symptoms. I called the restaurant back and apparently they use wheat noodles for their Pad Thai (which is traditionally rice noodles) Today is the first day I've felt human this week...although I am still a bit wonky.
So that is my week. An amazing weekend and then an evil gluten ninja attack.

Happy Anniversary

Hi my love,
I know that you don't read my blog that often anymore but I think you will drop by today.
Thank you so much for doing everything that you can to make me happy. For making coffee in the mornings despite the fact that you don't drink it. For doing the kitty litter box. For accepting that being with me means having to clean the house every week so my neat-freak tendencies don't fire up. For loving me however I look, whatever size I am and whatever I am wearing. For going for walks with me when you are tired and sore from your day at work. For sleeping on whatever side of the bed is closer to the door. For eating whatever I cook. For not pinning me down to watch the Star Wars movies....Really, just thank you for loving me for who I am and not trying to change me.
I love you!
Kelly

One year

Wow, I can't believe how fast this year has flown by!
A year ago at this time I was at the salon getting my hair and makeup done in preparation to walk down the aisle. The years of planning and dreaming were all going to come together. I was finally going to marry my best friend.

Once we were done at the salon we went back to my parent's house to get dressed and I was laced into my dream dress. It was so perfect for me- despite the fact that I went to the shop asking for something completely different. As soon as I had it on I knew it was the right one (but still tried on a ton more...)

The boys got into their suits and posed for a few photos before heading down to the church.

We loaded up the limo with lunch so that we could eat between the ceremony and photos and then I figured out that my lip gloss could go down the top of my dress so I would be able to do touch ups between photos and kisses.

We arrived at the church and were surprised by the minister's Star Wars themed sermon. The boys were joking with him about it at the rehearsal dinner and he went through with it. He was talking about storybook endings and how they never show you what happens after the movie. Who do you do Christmas with? Who actually does the laundry?? We were all laughing so hard....

We did a rose ceremony in french for Jon's family. We knew that we were going to have guests who didn't speak any english and wanted to include them. Two of his cousins helped us by reading it in french and our english guests followed along in their programs.

We were  pronounced husband and wife and did our kiss. Then the photo spree started. We did formal photos in the church and then a great big group shot which is customary in Montreal.

We took some great photos on Whyte Ave that duplicated our engagement photos.

 We also got to add some new poses with the rest of the bridal party....

And then we went to the reception where we had speeches, drinks, dances and kisses all night. It was an amazing day and such an perfect start to our life together.

 Looking back a year later I am still so grateful for everything that people did to make our day special. We are just as in love today as we were a year ago and we still feel so blessed.

New look...again

The blue washed out look was driving me a bit nuts. Welcome to my new pretty colour scheme!

People are strange

I have had an incredible few days at work. Our clients are so much fun to work with and I really love finding them that perfect item. I have a few bridal registries on the go and 2 of the brides called my manager to compliment me. Our boutique manager is wanting to hand all of the registries over to me because the other girl who handles them has received complaints this week. Yeah! I love doing the registries- the couple comes in, gets to pick out goodies and I build a relationship with them. If I treat them right they will come back to me even after the wedding is past. Their guests get the same treatment and they will come back to me over and over again for good service. It is an easy way to make strong contacts and bond with people. Which makes me wonder, how do you screw it up? Why is the other girl getting so many complaints? I just don't get it! Maybe I should ask my biggest question....

Why are people who aren't "people people" working at a commission based store???

We all have to shop, and some people enjoy it more than others, but don't you understand that good customer service and a smile will make people come back? I would rather pay a bit more than deal with bad customer service. But that's maybe why i'm good at what I do. 

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