How was your Christmas?

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays ... whatever you celebrate!). I know I did. I got to spent time with some family I haven't seen for a while. It certainly was nice.

Did you exchange gifts with your family/friends? One of my favourite gifts this year was a new camera from my dad. I've been out looking for a new camera for the past few months so I was excited to get one from him! He knows cameras very well so I'm sure he picked out a good one for me! I'm excited to start using it! Some other cool gifts that I got included a computer game, a movie, and some clothes. I gave out a lot of homemade calendars this year which was fun! I also gave out a couple tickets. I gave my boyfriend tickets to a concert later on this year (also one for me, so I can go with him!!). I got my parents tickets for a comedy show. They are really big on comedy. I can't say it's my favourite thing, but they enjoy it, so they will have a great time together. I promised my sister a shopping trip. Mostly because I'm the one of us with some style, and I'm hoping she'll pick up on it soon!

We also had some delicious food! My aunt made some turkey and mashed potatoes - it was amazing! I'm still full from the meal, and it's two day later!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas! I hope that you at least got to spend some time with loved ones.

Soon it's New Years Eve! Does anyone have any plans yet? I am hanging out with my boyfriend and we're probably going out clubbing or something (typical). I'm sure it'll be a good time. And I will definitely report back!

Merry Christmas ... and Happy New Year ... it's almost 2011! Feel free to post about how you spent your Christmas or your plans for New Years Eve!

Food and Activity Tracker - Amazing Site

I have just found an amazing website! For those of you who want to eat right, lose weight, gain muscle, etc., this is the perfect site for you!

http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov.

What does this site do? Well you can input what you ate during a day and what kind of exercise you did during the day. It calculates the health values. It calculates the nutriet values. You can see what nutrients you need to eat more or less of.

I love the ease of adding foods in and it just keeps track of everything and calculates everything for you. That way you can see what you need to improve on! I just found it a couple days ago and I plan to continue using it. I'm going to input all my activities at the end of every day. I'll see how I can improve my eating pattern! I'm just very excited about this and feel that it can really help me out in my quest to become fit and healthy.

Perhaps this will help you, perhaps not. I'm hoping you at least take a look at it because, well, it is an amazing and very helpful site!!

The Breach of Confidentiality

The reason for this post? I feel very violated due to something that someone very close to me did. It wasn't just a friend though. It was my own mother. It wasn't just anyone she talked to, but a police officer.

I'm not a bad person. I've made some mistakes in the past. Maybe pretty bad mistakes. I can't say what it is on here but it's something that I have fixed (made right) and also something that really only hurts me. It doesn't affect anyone else. It's not something terrible like murder or theft or anything like that - so don't think I'm a bad person!

I got really worried and scared one night so I called my mom, just because I needed to get it out. I felt a lot better about it after I told her and I made sure she knew that I was in the process of solving the problem.

Nothing stopped her from talking to the police about it though. The police can't charge me (thank goodness). But, if things go wrong, they could in the future. I have to be insanely carefeul now to make sure I don't do anything close to that again. I thought that my own mother would at least respect my privacy. Maybe even help me through this. No. She tells the police. I don't know if she wants me scared or in trouble. She definitely got me scared, but I'm not in trouble. I can't believe she would do this to me though. I thought we were close. She told me that I could always call her if I was scared or needed any help or anything. That is why I called her at that moment. But I certainly won't anymore.

Bottom line, be careful who you talk to, you never know who could turn on you.

How To Find A Perfect Last Minute Gift

Face it, Christmas arrives before you even realize it's coming up. I start planning for Christmas months early but there are always a couple of last minute gifts to get. The gifts I"m talking about here are more "a 'week before Christmas" rather than "a day before Christmas" ideas.

1. Buy tickets. This can be for almost anyone on your list. Remembert to buy two tickets though. He or she will want to go with someone! Unless you know this person's schedule though, make sure you book it for at least a month after Christmas, so he or she can book it off work or change plans if necessary. It works great for a boyfriend, giflriend, spouse, parent, or sibling.

2. Donate to charity. Giving $30 - $50 to a charity in someone's name is especially nice. You can often give specific gifts which are lots of fun. I donated a goat from CHF to my parents one year. It is nice to pair this with a small gift as well (so the receiver actually gets something). But it is a perfect gift for someone who has everything they need, like parents!

3. Purchase a spa kit. Spa kits are very popular around Christmas time and you can get them in most department stores. Everything is prepackaged and put together so you don't have to do any work. It is a great gift for almost any female.

4. Gift a bottle of wine. Or another type of alcohol that is preferred (maybe your dad loves Crown Royal? maybe your sister loves Jack Daniels?). Go for that. Wine is a safe bet though because, even if the receiver doesn't like that wine, it is still good for guests and dinner parties. Great for anyone of age and who enjoys a bit of drinking.

5. Pick up a gift certificate. It isn't too hard to pick up a $30 - $50 gift certificate to a clothing store, electronic store, or even a department store. For someone who is hard to shop for, it is a great idea because he or she will be able to choose her own gift. This is not a good idea for a boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or parent. It is recommended for a sibling, friend, child, niece, nephew, or grandchild.

6. Homemade cookies or chocolate. Yum! If you can bake, this is the way to go. Who can resist chewy homemade chocolate chip cookies? Fresh, rich chocolate mints? This is a great gift for anyone on your list but I have found that it is usually a winner for a boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse.

Happy Shopping!

November 2010's Best Songs

1. Rihanna - Only Girl

Incredibly catchy. Has some good remixes as well. Definitely a popular song these days - one that you should not miss out on!

2. Ducksauce - Barbra Streisand

Unique ... that is the most common word used for this song. Great beat. Definitely a club song. It makes you want to get up and dance! Still unique and random.

3. Wynter Gordon - Dirty Talk (Laidback Luke Remix)

It has to be that remix. I mean, the song is pretty awesome, but that remix is the best!

4. Keshia Chante - Table Dancer

Beautiful song. She has an incredible voice that fits this type of music for sure. It is a song that just catches your attention when you hear it.

5. Stromae - Alors On Danse

Wow, enough said! Amazing beat. It just makes you want to get up and dance! Personally, I can't get enough of this song! Perfect at a club or a party.

My Favourite Class

Have you ever had a class where you just wonder why? Why are you there? Why is it necessary? Particularly 8 a.m. classes ... perhaps you know I have an 8 a.m. class that I'm just not fond of ... thus the sarcastic title.

I went to class earlier today and we learned about English. Not bad, except it wasn't English class, it was a completely different class! The even more annoying thing is tha tI know this stuff already. It is stuff that I learned in high school, years ago. Totally unimportant. I have yet to figure out why my professor was talking about it for that dreaded hour of class. Why was I there?

There are often classes like this. I actually have two of them which is very annoying. Sometimes I just feel like I'm ahead of everything and everyone here. I mean, the people here are great, but I feel different. I am way too excited to graduate in five and a half months.

I don't really have any advice for those in a similar situation. Stick it out? I don't know. I just try and keep myself busy. I write (hey, when do you think I have time to write my blogs?). I do other homework. And, most of the time, I just daydream ... and, for those 8 a.m. classes, wish I was asleep!

For those of you with classes like this, just stick it out ... and look forward to the end. It's there!

Lazy Kids

Are kids really lazy nowadays?? I don't think all kids are. How ageist to say such a thing.

I heard these three older people (two men and one woman) on the bus complaining about how lazy young people are. I was sitting near them on my way to a friends to pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child after a long day of work and studying. Really ... I was being lazy?? Who do they think they are talkng about? I'm sure they were referring to me as they kept looking at me and I do look fairly young for my age.

What a stereotype. I'm sure I'll have more to say about this when something else comes up. We aren't all lazy, just like all old people aren't smart. Is that a stereotypical thing to say?

I just really hate it when people make stereotypes. People in general. I know that I get stereotyped sometimes. But it drives me crazy. I don't consider myself lazy at all. I'm a full time college student who has a ridiculous amount of homework (and who still manages to be the top student). I'm working two part time jobs at my college and another job outside of that. I don't volunteer a lot but I give money when I can. I try to be a good person and all that. I hate being judged though.

Younger people get judged even more. Especially high school students. I'm sure that, if someone looks at my younger sister, they would stereotype her as a normal high school girl who goes out and parties and drinks all the time. First off, this is untrue. She prides herself in doing well in school. She has two jobs and she volunteers at a senior citizen home. She also plays competitive sports and other team sports. She does enjoy hanging out with her friends in her free time though. And besides, is it bad to go out and party on the weekends if you have the time and can afford it? I would say not. But that is a different topic, really.

The point is ... not all young people are lazy. Sure, there are some. But those people will likely grow up and still be lazy. It's not a trait of young people. It's a trait of certain people in general.

Think before you stereotype!

Ready For Finals?

It seems like we have just finished midterms and now we have finals to study for? Ridiculous ... I know!! The school year tends to go by sooo fast! I'm never sure if that's a good thing or not.

My biggest piece of advice for finals - start studying NOW! They are going to come sooner than you think! Make sure you know your stuff now. Don't keep putting things off. I've been there and done that and it just doesn't work. Studying early pays off!

What I like to do to study is dedicate one day a week to each subject. It should work okay. You might take an extra day for a difficult subject or something but it should work well on average. For example, I have four subjects this term. So on Monday, I'll study for Subject 1. On Tuesday, I'll study for Subject 2. On Wednesday, I'll study for subject 3. On Thursday, I'll study for Subject 4. Friday is my "make up day". So that's used to study for one of the days that I missed. Saturday is my break day because I don't have time to study on Saturdays. And on Sunday I'll study for Subject 3 because it is the toughest class that I have. Good schedule. You can really make it work for you.

All in all ... final exams may not be starting right now but they'll be done in just over a month. So start studying, all! You can do it. And good luck!

Trying To Volunteer

I have been noticing lately how hard it is to get a volunteer position. I have contacted a number of organizations in my area in the past few months to see what positions are open. I have not heard back from any of them, even to say that they are not accepting volunteers at the present time.

I feel like organizations who have volunteers should be kind and respectful and friendly to those who want to help. I really just wanted to help out somewhere but no one contacted me. It is not like I am under qualified. In fact, I am often over qualified. But organizations being insensitive just makes me want to never volunteer for them or donate my money to them. What happens when they are looking for volunteers next year? I certainly won't volunteer. They couldn't bother with me before so they don't deserve me now.

I'm not going to list names or anything but there have been about ten organizations that I have contacted. Perhaps my message got lost once or something. That may be an excuse for one or two, but not all ten. Either way, I personally am not too pleased with those organizations although I'm not going to name them because they are still good organizations, no matter how poor their customer service is.

It just seems to me that not for profit organizations aren't very friendly to others. They think they are doing a good deed by helping but they aren't helping others help. I feel like I could make a difference if they would let me.

I want to be a good person. I want to make a difference. I want to help people who are less fortunate than me. But no one wants me to. Is that how this world works? They don't even talk to me to find out if I am qualified. They don't get checks on me to see if I have a bad background or something. There is no reason why I shouldn't be able to help someone. But I can't.

It also bothers me when people say that others should be volunteering. Maybe they would, if the organizations would let them. Willing volunteers are not going to bother the organization relentlessly (for the most part) because if the organization doesn't want us, that's the organization's loss.

October 2010's Best Songs

1. Ke$ha - We R Who We R

If you want to move, this is the song for you! I can't get enough of it. It really makes me want to go out and party and dance and just have a lot of fun. That is what Ke$ha's music is good for most of the time anyway - having a good time!

2. Girlicious - 2 In The Morning

I just saw them in concert a couple months ago so I'm still very into them! Their music is, as always, incredible. It is another one of those songs that you just want to dance to and go crazy.

3. Chris Brown - Yeah 3X

His songs are always amazing. It's such a nice song!! I absolutely love his voice, I fall in love with him every time I hear him. It's pretty new, so you should take a listen.

4. Will.i.am and Nicky Minaj - Check It Out

The moment I heard this song, I was like "Video Killed the Radio Star" ... then I wondered why it was on the radio station now. Great song based on a previous great song. These two work wonderfully together.

5. Danny Fernandes - Automatic

Danny Fernandes is, well, pretty amazing himself. If you haven't heard his previous songs (Fantasy, Private Dancer, Never Again), then you are seriously missng out. He is not someone to miss. This song has such a catchy beat.

Is The Grass Always Greener On The Other Side?

I'm mostly thinking of this in terms of relationships. Have you ever been with one guy (or girl) and been unsure of him or her? I have most definitely been in this situation before and it's hard. It's a matter of determining whether or not this other person is worth the risk.

Are you happy with what you have already? Do you feel like there is more out there for you? What do you want with the rest of your life? These are some of the questions you should ask yourself.

In my situation, it was a matter of changing how my perfectly happy and comfortable life had been for three years. I got a glimpse of something new, something different, something exciting. It intrigued me. I had to weigh the pros and cons to see what was the correct choice. As far as I know, I made the right choice. I chose to go with the grass on the other side. But it's not always the right choice. The right choice is to be determined by you.

Gobble Gobble!

Well, it is Thanksgiving for those of us up north (aka Canada - you know, the place with igloos and hockey, eh!). It's always an exciting time around Thanksgiving!

What's your favourite part about Thanksgiving? I absolutely love the turkey dinner!! Turkey is so delicious! With mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries on the side, and a nice pie for dessert. It really doesn't get much better than that!

Of course, there is the most important part of Thanksgiving. That is actually giving thanks! It can be easy to forget with all the delicious food. But it is important to remember to be thankful. First, be thankful for what you have. Family, friends, a job, eduction, etc. It varies on the person. Be thankful for all of that though. And then thank the people around you for helping you or just for being there. Make it a goal to say thank you to three people on Thanksgiving for something that they have done. It can be something small or something big. It could be thanking someone for bringing a pumpkin pie, for doing the dishes, or even just holding the door open for you. Thank them!

Sometimes you don't know how much you can impact someone's day just by saying thank you. I really do appreciate it when someone says thank you for something. Maybe helping them out with homework or giving them directions or, really, anything. It just makes my day. Thanksgiving is about thanking people and making them feel good. Start with your friends and family, and it can make a difference!

The Dreaded Muffin Top

I'm sure we all know what the muffin top is. If not, here is a brief description. It is when people are wearing too tight jeans, skirts, shorts, pants, etc. Because of some extra weight around the belly, it spills over. It is quite unattractive. If you want some images, Google it!

Do you blame the individual for their muffin top? Sometimes, yes. But do you know how hard it is for people, young women specifically, to shop for fashionable jeans or pants that don't cause a muffin top? I do have some extra belly fat. Sure, I'm working to get rid of it, but it doesn't disappear overnight! It is practically impossible to find stylish jeans that aren't "old lady" jeans. It seems that all the jeans I see in stores I shop at are low rise or extreme low rise. I don't want to wear low rise jeans, I would like a medium rise. But it is embarrassing to be shopping at the same store your mom shops at, isn't it?

I don't fully blame it on the individuals. I am sure that I have had this dreaded muffin top and I definitely don't want it! But it is hard to look nice and still fashionable. It's hard to find clothes that don't give you this.

If you have suggestions for stores dedicated to young women that don't have just low rise jeans, feel free to post it, and I'll update my article! As for now, I'll stick with searching hard for nice tops that aren't too tight and cover up the belly!

September 2010's Best Songs

1. Taio Cruz - Dirty Picture ft. Ke$ha
   The intro is a little slow but once you start listening to it, you can't help but love it. It just makes you want to move! The beat is incredible!

2. B.O.B. - Bet It ft. T.I. and Playboy Tre
   The second it starts, you just start dancing. It is one of those songs. I can't stop listening to this one, it is my favourite right now! It is just so catchy.

1. Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
   Amazing words. Who couldn't like the lyrics? And his voice is just incredible. The song is slow, not one of those "get up and dance" songs that I absolutely love. But it is something that everyone can sing along to and it's still fun!

4. Flo Rida - Club Can't Handle Me ft. David Guetta
   A club song (perhaps indicated by the name of the song). The beat keeps changing which makes it very fun and unique. A song that you certainly couldn't miss this September. It seems to be everywhere. The chorus is one of those "sing along" songs while the verses make you want to move.

5. Kaskade - Fire In Your New Shoes ft. Dragonette
   All I can say is - what a voice! You really fall in love with the both of them after hearing this song. It's unique and catchy. Her voice works so amazingly well with the music. Impressive.
   

Charity Work - Is It A Choice?

It is, of course, great to do charity work.  Donating both money and time are wonderful.  There is no doubt about that.  But if you do not do charity work and donate money, is that wrong?  Should you be punished or something?

I have been doing some reading of opinions on this site that I visit regularly.  One user said that people take the money they have for granted and they are careless on what they spend it on.  I believe that doing activities with friends and family are not a waste of money.  Going out for a nice dinner with a group of friends or family is perfectly fine.  People should not try to make me feel guilty for that!

I am not a terrible person.  I actually do try to help out with some charities even though I am just a college student.  But I don't think that everyone should be expected to do the same.  People have their own priorities.  There are other things that are more important to them.  I don't want them to think it's bad if they do not donate money to charity and they use it for something out.  It is your CHOICE.  It is very kind if you donate money to charity but it is a choice and it should not be forced upon you.

The generalization that I read was that everyone is becoming far too selfish and only thinking of "me, me, me".  Is this really true?

Should people not be able to make their own choices without being judged by people?

Supporting charities is great but people should be able to make their own choice about things like that!  I do not want myself or others being judged for supporting or not supporting something.  It is your own personal choice.

Why Are People Becoming So Selfish

How Do You Get Around The City?

When I moved away for college to a “big city”, I was very excited about the public transportation. I could just hop on a bus and go anywhere! I found (and still find) it exciting and convenient. It seems like if you personally are driving, you always have to know your destination, and you just don't get to be as adventurous.

So many times, I have just gone on a bus and ended up somewhere. Or tried to get home using a different route. It is just fun to explore.

You don't even have to go within the city. You can try intercity buses such as the Greyhound or the Go Bus or Train. I love knowing that I can just hop on the bus and go to Toronto or almost anywhere! I feel like public transportation gives me so much freedom.

Sometimes public transportation can be a bit irritating. It seems like it takes longer to get anywhere on Sundays. The bus that goes by my place only runs every hour on Sundays instead of every half an hour. And the bus that's a short walk from my place doesn't run at all on Sundays.

I also wish that the buses ran later. On Fridays, the bus near my place runs until midnight. I like to go out and party and it is always later than midnight. I feel that the buses would be used better if they ran until two or two thirty so that people are able to get home. Sure, taking a taxi is an option, but I definitely prefer the bus!

If you have not used your city's public transportation – I definitely suggest taking a look at it. You can usually find some information and bus schedules online. Happy bussing!

Virgin Mobile - To Sign Or Not To Sign

If anyone ever asks me advice about Virgin Mobile ever again - my advice is GET OUT!  First, they have terrible reception (I rarely get service).  Second, they have terrible customer service.  Third, they do not respond to you in the time indicated.

Let's start at the end of the list (because it can only get better from there).  I have send them many emails.  Once an email is sent, it says that they will respond in two business days.  As of right now, they are almost two weeks behind in a few messages.  They are definitely not doing what they say they are doing.  I also talked to a customer service representative on the phone a while ago.  He told me that he would have some tech people look into a problem with my phone and they'd give me a call in a few days.  Over a week and a half later and still no response.

Second was the customer service.  I am always talking to someone who leads me to someone else who can't do what I want them to do.  It's so frustrating.  Perhaps they just need to be connected together better or something.  But there should be better customer service.  I had to talk to so many people to try and get a question answered and finally the third one came up with something but I still had to talk to two others who had to talk to even more people.  And guess what - the problem still isn't solved because there was miscommunication.  With that many people, could you really guess that would happen?

The biggest problem of all - the service.  I don't get reception at my parents house, my house at college last year, when I'm moving around in my house now (going from kitchen to bedroom to living room or something), my school, etc.  I will receive texts hours later than they were sent.  I have given up making phone calls from it because I can never get through.  It is absolutely ridiculous.  My parents house is the only location where I would accept if there was not service (as it is in the middle of no where).  My school is in a city, I live in the middle of a city.  There is no reason why I should not be getting service.  There is no reason why this should be happening.

They have recently offered me some new products and a bunch of deals to keep me as a customer.  I'll probably stay for the rest of my contract but I am immediately switching to a better company after this (Rogers perhaps?).  I will keep you updated if I change my mind on Virgin Mobile (which I doubt will happen - two years or terrible service - do you think my opinion will be swayed?).

My recommendation: never get a plan with Virgin Mobile.

What Would You Do With Three Wishes?

I have given this quite a bit of thought. Three wishes, well wouldn't that be nice! Okay, I know it's not going to happen, but a girl can dream, can't she?

First, I've put some thought into how to divide these three wishes. Just as a template. I don't want them all of me. That would be selfish! Of course, I don't want them all to be for others because that's far too selfless. So here is how I decided to divide my three wishes. Wish One will be for myself. Wish Two will be for a close friend or family member (or a group of them). Wish Three will be for the world or a group, someone who I don't know. I think that is the perfect division.

I'm thinking about what else I want or need. I could ask for more money, to lose weight, for the hottest boyfriend, to be a pro athlete, so many things I could wish for! I finally came to the conclusion that my wish would be to find a career path that I truly enjoy. That's something that I'm having a tough time figuring out right now. It's hard to do alone so I could use some help. It would be nice if I could just get that over with and continue on my way, learning, and going down that career path.

Let's look at my close friends and family next. They actually have just about everything they could ever want or need. I would wish for money for my family. I would like for my dad to be able to retire. He is working mandatory Saturdays and he just doesn't have time to get out and enjoy life as much anymore. He does not want to be working Saturdays. If I could get enough money for him to retire and enough money for my sister to go go to university, my family would be quite happy. They could do more of the activities that they enjoy.

My third and final wish is for someone that I do not know. There are plenty of groups that I could aim this wish at. My choice is to wish that all children (18 years of age and younger) would have a home. A home, in this case, is defined as a shelter, at least one parent, and regular food and drink.

If you could have three wishes, what you they be? Would you follow this template? Let me hear your wishes!

Welcome, September!

It's the start of a new month.  I have mixed feelings on this.  You can take it as a new start or you can take it as the end of something great.  It often depends on how your previous month was.

My August was exciting.  I was working, in school, and enjoying time with friends and family.  It was a very busy month for me.  But there are lots of things to be excited about for September.  I am excited about starting school and moving into my new house up at college.  I'm looking forward to having freedom again (not living with my parents).  I'm also looking forward to seeing more of my friends.  I'm still not sure whether or not I'm excited about it or not.

I think the transition from August to September is one of the biggest ones.  Many people start school in September.  It's also the start of autumn and it means no more summer.  Often it is when people have to start getting serious and back to reality.

What are you looking forward to in September?

August 2010's Best Songs

1. Basshunter – Saturday
   First, who couldn't love Basshunter? It's different than his regular songs but it still has that Basshunter feel. I can't sit still and stay quiet when this song is on, I need to dance to it! There is something about his music that just makes it so unique compared to the popular music yet it still fits in. My number one song for sure!

2. 
   
   Swedish House Mafia – One ft. Pharrell
   I just can't stop listening to this. It's catchy. It just makes you want to dance! It's one of those songs that you will just love to hear in a club. It makes you excited, it makes you want to get up and move!

3. 
   
   Sean Kingston – Letting Go (Dutty Love) ft. Nicki Minaj
   It has one of those beats that you need to move to. Sean Kingston has an amazing voice too and it works so well on this track especially with a bit of Nicki Minaj in there. Most definitely one of the top songs of the summer!

4. 
   
   Usher – DJ Got Us Falling In Love
   Perfect for a dance, a club, any place where you need energy! It's about dancing, it's about music, it's about the energy. It's all about being in love with the music and the dance. Unbelievable amount of energy in this song!

5. 
   
   Benny Benassi – Spaceship ft. Kelis, Apl.De.Ap, Jean Baptiste
   Basically, it has an incredible beat. I have heard people say that it is repetitive but the beat is so catchy that repetitiveness is just not an issue to me. The singers have really cool voices and everything works well in the music.

If You're Not Happy, Get Out!

Is your career what you want to do and enjoy doing?
Does your significant other make you extrememly happy?
Do your friends encourage you to be the best you can be?

If the answer is "no" to any one of these questions, you need to get out.

No one is meant to be trapped in a career, relationship, circle of friends, etc. that is going no where. No one is meant to be unhappy, unfulfilled, or unsatisfied with their life.

Yet so many people are. Why? Because they are simply scared to get out. Scared of the unknown.

About a year ago, I was dating a guy and had a circle of friends who were not what I wanted and needed. The guy was great for a while but the supposed circle of friends came with him. I had to pretend to be friends with these people just to keep the boyfriend. I stayed with it for a while because I liked the guy and I was scared to be without him and the friends I had for a few years.

Then there was a chance to get out of it. I never realized how much I didn't enjoy them. I never realized that they did nothing for me. I never realized that they were the worst friends in the world. I never realized that I could be doing so much more. It was a scary experience. How do you get away from the guy you have been with for a few years and the friends you have been with for, well, forever? It's hard. It's especially hard if you have no where else to go. I'm out of that group now and I have never been happier. I didn't even know what else there was in the way of friends and just everything in general. My friends now are not the gossip type or the type that puts people down just to make themself feel better. My boyfriend does not want to just hang out playing video games all the time, he wants to go places, do things, and be with me. It's amazing the change.

It's the same with a career. If you are in a career or even heading in the direction of a career (via university or college) that is just not right for you, then make a switch while you can. Make a change while you're young. I went to university for a while for something that I just didn't enjoy and wasn't good at. I did a switch and I am loving what I'm doing now about a million times more. It was definitely worth it.

If the opportunity presents itself, go for it. If it doesn't, and you aren't happy, then get out. It may be scary but I guarantee that it'll be worth it in the end. You want to be happy. You want to be the best person you can be. Even if you don't know what you want to do or who you want to be with, at least give some more things a try. Get yourself out there so that you know what you do and do not enjoy. Make the most of your life!

Hotmail Is Not Facebook - No Chat!

I thought that this "chat" feature was left for Facebook only, but now Hotmail has to get into it now?  Well Hotmail has officially lost of of their loyal users.

Upgrades and improvements are fine, provided that they actually do improve things!  Adding a messenger does not improve Hotmail.  Is this messenger feature really that good?  What are the pros of this messenger?  Is it considered an improvement?  I certainly do not think so!

First off, it is practically impossible to get rid of the Hotmail Messenger.  It is not easy to figure out how to turn it off as I could not figure it out when I first logged on.  If I cannot figure it out, then it can't be very simple!

Second, it interferes with MSN Instant Messenger.  One of my first experiences with the new Hotmail was when I was checking my email on a regular web browser and talking to my best friend on MSN Instant Messenger.  In the middle of a conversation with my friend, I went to check my email and the conversation was on my web browser as well.  I certainly didn't want it there, so I clicked the "x" button.  I went back to open my MSN Instant Messenger window and, sure enough, it had disappeared as well.

Third, I enjoy checking my email briefly during lunch at work.  First day I had the new Hotmail, I just went onto my email to send a couple emails out.  I also got signed into the Hotmail Messenger as well.  I do not want to chat with my friends and family while I am at work.  I simply want to check my email and not be interrupted by messenger windows popping up!  Also, now people will know how often I check my email, for how long, etc.  That is a bit too much!  I have a tendency to leave up my Hotmail on while I am not on the computer.  I do not want people to talk to me then either.

I feel like it is completely unnecessary to add this Hotmail Messenger feature.  MSN Instant Messenger is it's own application.  It does not need to be combined with Hotmail.  Hotmail is for email.  I do not need instant messenging on both!

After ten years of loyally using Hotmail, I have officially switched over to Gmail.  I am still using MSN Instant Messenger but I'm not sure how long that will last.  Who knows what else MSN could come out with!

Summer Rush 2010

On Sunday August 8, 2010, I was one of the 17,000 people who witnessed one of the most amazing concerts ever - Summer Rush 2010 - Canada's Wonderland - Toronto, Ontario. It was absolutely incredible!

My favourite act was most definitely Basshunter. He has a way to just get the crowd going. Everything was just a million times better when he was on stage. He performed his new song Saturday which the crowd absolutely adored. By far the best performance of the night. Basshunter on stage is electrifying. The crowd was so pumped all during his show.

A very close second was LMFAO, the third to last performance. Performing hits such as Get Krazy, Shots, and I'm in Miami (of course switched to Toronto), they were also amazing. They had so much energy on stage as well. Many people were wondering about the robot on stage - but hey, it was cool!

The audience got very into just about all the performances. I can't think of an actual bad performance so the crowd had good reason to be excited about everyone. I managed to get a very good seat (yes, seat, I was one of the first 3,000 people there!) and looking behind to the grass during was incredibly. Especially during a few of Hedley's songs, the crowds swaying their arms back and forth. What an image! Definitely not something I'll ever forget. Throughout the whole show, you definitely had to be on the seats to see what was going on. Everyone in front of me (and behind me) was standing on their seats, trying to get a glimpse of these incredible performers!

One performance that surprised me was Blake McGrath. I actually had no clue who he was before but I found out that he had previously been on So You Think You Can Dance. No wonder his dancing was unbelievable! I enjoyed his songs as well but the performances - the dances - that was what blew me away.

My other favourite (I had four favourites - Basshunter, LMFAO, Blake McGrath and, last but not least, Girlicious). Of course, they are known for their dancing as well which was exceptional, of course! I knew their songs (unlike Blake McGrath's) so I could sing along to those. And those girls were looking gorgeous, as usual!

All in all, it was an incredible experience! I personally have never been to a concert before so I don't have anything to compare it to, but a second concert will definitely have some competition! I could tell by all the screaming fans that I was not the only one who enjoyed the concert immensely. If you haven't heard these artists and groups mentioned, I would recommend doing so immediately or you will definitely be missing out. I also recommend checking out Summer Rush 2011 - who knows what that will bring!

How To Make The Most of Your College Year

A lot of students are preparing for school right now, specifically, going to college!  It is a very exciting transition.  The whole summer before I started post secondary school was filled with a combination of emotions - excitement, nervous, anxious.  It was incredible.  Sometimes I would be completely ready to move on and other times I just didn't want to leave.

Through my experience starting at two very different post secondary schools, I have come up with ten tips on how to make the most of your college year, starting at the very beginning!

1. Meet everyone you can at the beginning of the school year. At this point in time, everyone is looking for new friends. There are very few first years who don't want to meet new people. You can usually tell that type right after you start talking to them anyway. But meet all sorts of different people. Don't just stick with the same types of people you hung out with in high school. In college, it's time to expand your horizons! Meet everyone and make sure to stay in contact with many of them.

2. Attend every class and do not fall behind. One of the biggest mistakes made in college is forgetting about the actual schoolwork. Sure, it's not that exciting. There are plenty of more fun things you can do instead of going to class. But the truth is, you need to pass. You should always be trying your best. Just because college is different than high school, you don't get in trouble for missing class, doesn't mean that you should miss class. Studies show that the students who attend class will get higher grades. Besides, if you go to class, that is a lot less time you have to waste trying to figure out the lectures by yourself!


3. Decorate and tidy your room. Before you move in, plan your room. Figure out the dimensions. Make a list of what you need to bring to college with you. Then make sure you have some room to decorate it. Buy a few cool decorations. If you have certain passions, use those to decorate your room. Some ideas: photos of you and your friends and family, famous athletes, celebrities from your favourite movies, pieces of art, maps, animal pictures, etc. There are endless ideas. Make it look comforting and inviting, not plain and boring. You are probably going to be doing your homework here and you may have some friends (or a significant other) visit, so you want to make it organized but cool looking! And keep it clean. You never know when you may have an unexpected guest. Make sure you can always make your room presentable in five minutes. You never know when you may need it!


4. Find a gym buddy and hit the gym a couple times per week. This is the time. You have always said you were going to start going to the gym, right? Well find someone else (or even a group of you) who have always said this. Then start going. You don't have to go for two hours every day. But start off by going a couple days every week for a half hour and try to make it up to an hour. Having people to go with gives you more incentive to go. And they will most certainly get on your back if you are not going to the gym.


5. Talk to your parents once or twice per week. You don't have to call them every single day and talk to them for an hour. That is not fun! But try to give them a call at least once a week, they will be very happy with that. Let them know how you're doing in school. Fill them in on some of the friends you have met and have been hanging out with. They might be interested in some events that you have been to. Also, try and send them a couple emails throughout the week. Just a quick email letting them know how your day went or something will make your parents very happy that they are still somewhat involved in your life. It is time to stop being so dependent on your parents but you need to maintain a good relationship with them!


6. Figure out your city's transit system. Figuring out the transit system is extremely important if you are planning to go anywhere besides your house and your school. Those are generally pretty easy. But you will probably need to go grocery shopping. You might want to go visit some friends. You might want to go out at night. You might want to go to a different part of the city just for an adventure. Not that many people have cars in college! So you should definitely figure out the transit system so that you do not always get lost (although getting lost can be fun). It can be scary for someone who is from a small town and has never had to use public transit before, but there are usually lots of city people around who are willing to help.


7. Don't get on the wrong side of your teachers. They are there to help you and to teach you. Listen to them and take their ideas. If you have a question, ask for help. Do not make them dislike you. Then it will be terrible going to their classes each day. It will likely lower your mark because they will be much more critical of your work. It will not make your classes enjoyable. Try to stay on the good side of all your teachers by attending class, handing in your assignments on time, and staying out of trouble in class.


8. Befriend some of the “smarter” students in the class. Obviously, it's good to have some smart friends for school. But keep in mind that smart students will want people who will work hard on projects with them. Even if you aren't a natural genius, as long as you will work hard, then they won't have a problem working with you and helping you. That can always be used as an advantage. But smart people are often social as well. Many people are intimidated by smarter students and don't always try to meet them. They can be just as outgoing, fun, and friendly as the average student. Being friends with this type can benefit you in many ways.


9. Eat healthy. You want to feel good and look good in college. If you are stuck with a meal plan and eating in the cafeteria, make sure you are eating proper food and not all junk food. Save the junk food for when you are just hanging out with friends. Grabbing a slice of pizza with friends is okay. But try to have real meals on regular days. If you are able to make your own food, learn to cook! It is very important! You do not want to be buying fast food all the time.


10. Get involved in events. Go to orientation or frosh week and then join a couple clubs or activities. This is the best way to meet people. Getting involved. People who join clubs generally want to meet people as well. It will give you more to do during the day or in the afternoons or evenings. It'll also help with your resume when you graduate and are looking for jobs (it will show that you can handle doing multiple things at once). Getting involved is a great way to have fun and meet people.


These tips will make your first year a very fun, successful, and memorable year!  Keep checking back for more college stories and tips.

About Me

Hey everyone!  I thought I'd just give a quick little introduction about myself after the first post.

I am currently a college student in Ontario, Canada.  It's the summer right now so I have a full time job at home and, in less than a month, I get to move back to college, which I am very excited about.  I have a couple part time jobs for when I am at school.  I am the type of person who enjoys being busy (thus why I'm a full time student, have two jobs, and have a volunteer position that I think will be about as much as the jobs!).

Some of my interests include friends and family, computers, current events, music, college, decorating, fashion, health and fitness, and food.  Quite a variety, yes, and I do plan to post about all of these!  Because it's August right now, I think I will stick to some posts about college and current events for now and then gradually move on to other topics.  I'll see what my readers would like!

I am very close to my family and friends. I feel very lucky actually to be so close to my family. I always keep in contact with them when I'm away at school. I just have one sister and she is awesome so I don't want to lose the relationship with her. I have some great friends. I will likely mention them in future blogs as well, perhaps without names, but they will be referenced. But friends and family are important to me.

I am always open to opinions - comments, compliments, criticism - whatever you have to say.  You can email me personally at blog.llama112@yahoo.com or comment on any of my posts. If you make a comment that I feel would go well in one of my blogs, I may use it. I will respond to you and ask if you would like your name attached to it. If not, I will reference you as Anonymous. If you would not like something posted, just let me know in the email, no problem!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask. I think this works for an introduction! Happy reading!

New Driving Law - Ageism

Have you ever had a beer at 9:00 and wanted to drive home at midnight? Have you ever wanted to have a tasty cooler with your meal at 6:00 then drive to a friends house at 8:00? Have you ever wanty to try a tasty meal or tessert at a restaurant and then driving to an event just after? Well now, if you're under 21, you can't be responsible like that anymore!

Every driver under 21 in Ontario, Canada must obey this law, started August 1, 2010, regardless of their level of licence.

I understand the zero per cent alcohol level in G1 and G2 drivers. I am a 19 year old fully licensed driver, I should get just as many rights as the 25 year old fully licensed driver. Is this ageism? Yes. It isn't "one year after you have your G". It's "until you`re 22 years old". Completely ageist. The person that got their full G when he or she turned 21 only has a year. With a few more years of driving experience, at 19 I don't have the same rights. I have been to parties before where I just have one cooler and sip it through the entire night. It doesn't affect me whatsoever. Why can't I drive home at 1 a.m. when I have been drinking that one cooler for the past few hours and that's all? A 25 year old can do that but not me, who has still been driving since the age of 16.

It is not extremely easy to got your full G licence. I believe that, once you get your full license, you should have all your rights. If the G2 exit test does not ensure that a driver is responsible and has good judgment, then change the test. Don't put laws on young people. Change the test so that you are only allowing good drivers to drive. Don't punish everyone.

Let's go back to this party. I'm at this party and so is another 19 year old named Sue. Sue is an irresponsible drunk and, regardless of everything we have told her, she has too much to drink and still drives home. Responsible people (like myself) can no longer drive after one cooler. Well, Sue doesn't care about the rules. She never has, so she still drives home. My friends need a ride home, guess who they will go with now that I can't drive. Becuse I will obey the rules. The same irresponsible drunk people will still not obey the rules. All this is doing is taking more responsible people off the road.

I definitely do not promote drinking and driving. In the above situation, I would definitely be discouraging Sue to drive. But people like that are still out there. People will still drink and drive. This law won't stop drunk people from drinking and driving. I am not sure what good this law is actually doing.

If there is a little bit of alcohol in your system, how does that affect people 21 years of age and younger but not affect people 22 years of age or older? Just because I'm 19 does not mean that I will be drunk after just a bit of alcohol. I will still have the same judgment when I turn 22 as when I was 21. It does not magically change.

If this is such a big issue, perhaps there should be a G3 licence implemented. It could be a zero per cent alcohol level waiting period between your G2 and G. But once I have my full licence, I should be able to keep my licence, not have them taken away due to "ageism".

Now that this law is implemented, realize that the irresponsible drunk people (of all ages, not just 21 and under) will still be on the road. All you are doing is taking off the smart, responsible, law abiding drivers.