Chelle Belle

The results of my 2011 "Yes" year...

2011-12-31T00:19:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the last day of my "Yes Year" and so I wanted to recap this year and tell you about a life lesson I learned from this process. At the beginning of the year, I wanted to do something different, so I dubbed 2011 the "Yes Year", where I would say "yes" to things I usually wouldn't. I would try new things, get around to doing the daredevil things I've only just talked about, say "yes" to simple things, or grand things. I knew I'd have to be up for spending some money this year, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do this to the fullest I could.

What happened as an end result surprised me. It was not what I had expected to happen at all.

Hawaii
At the beginning of the year, it started off with a spontaneous trip to Hawaii with my friend Kristi. I had just come back from a month-long trip to Europe four months earlier. Usually my financially-sound self would say, "you just went on a trip, you shouldn't be throwing more money away on another trip so soon after your last one!" But from past experience, as a single traveler, it's hard to find 1) the time to travel, 2) the money to travel, and 3) someone to travel with. At that point I had all three, so I went for it. And am I glad I did!

Trying China Man's hat on for size.

Hang Gliding
Shortly after I returned from Hawaii, my friend Alex approached me with an idea. He had seen a Groupon (WagJag) voucher for hang gliding, and he knew I'd usually be someone who'd be up for doing something crazy like that. And he was right. Hang gliding is actually one of the things I've always wanted to do, ever since I was a little girl when I heard that my Uncle Rich had done it. So Alex and I, and four other friends bought vouchers for it. Because the hang gliding season didn't start until May, we had to wait to book our flights. We booked our original flight for June 18th, but due to inclement weather, it was cancelled (would rather be alive than dead!). We rebooked the next flight date to July 25th. We even got so far as to reach Langley to find out it was cancelled on us again. So instead of turning around and going back home, we decided to make a Day-of-Fun out of it, starting off at the "Castle Fun Park" in Abbotsford, followed by lunch at the Olive Garden, and ending with paddle-boating on Deer Lake. The third and final booking day arrived on September 19th. When I woke up that morning, I found out it had been cancelled again. Because there were no more days left to book flights, I was hoping to get our money back. But then good news came - the weather had improved enough and we were clear to go! We jumped into our vehicles, drove out there as soon as we could, and proceeded to have one of the most exhilarating experiences!

The Hang Gliding Group - Hope Regional Airpark, Sept. 19th, 2011

Met Elder Oaks and Elder Cook
I blogged about this earlier this year, but I was so fortunate to meet Elder Oaks and Elder Cook in April when my dad was getting released from the Stake Presidency, and my Uncle Dave was called into the Presidency and received the position my father just vacated. One of the experiences that Elder Cook shared with us on the Saturday evening session was to "Look Up". I was thrilled to hear him share his experience again at the October 2011 General Conference.

My dad is standing next to Elder Oaks in the back row, with my mom sitting in front of him in white. Elder Cook is on the far right.

Time Out For Women
Another thing I was able to do this year was attend a "Time Out for Women" event with the girls in my family at the end of April in Seattle. It was the first one I'd attended, and it was so nice to spend time with my mom, Lindsay and Meagan. I have been blessed with some amazing women in my life. :) Nothing like taking time out with the important women in your life.

Time Out For Women - Seattle, April 2011

Change My Hair Style - Twice
Another thing I did on a more spontaneous whim was cut and dye my hair. Earlier in the year, I dyed it a dark copper brown and loved it, but then after having my long dark locks for awhile, I decided to change it up. So at the end of May, I cut it up to my shoulders, added some surfer streaks, and loved it! But I'll admit, I do miss my long dark hair sometimes, so I'm in the process of changing it back, but that's ok, it's fun in the meantime. :)

Hair cut and surfer highlights, May 2011

Attend Two Web Design Conferences
As another part of my "Yes Year" I was able to attend two web design conferences. I blogged about them previously this year, so I won't write much more about it, other to point out the fact that my amazing boss not only provided the opportunity to attend my most coveted design conference, "An Event Apart", but also was able to provide funds to attend a new conference in Vancouver in June.

Speak at the Calgary Mid-Single's Conference
In conjunction with attending the Interlink Web Design Conference in June, I few weeks before that, I received a message from an old friend of mine in Calgary - who asked me to give a talk at the Mid-Singles Conference they were having, which turned out to be on the same weekend as my web design conference in Vancouver. Usually I would have said no, but I realized that 1) I wanted to do it, 2) it'd be nice to see my friends in Calgary again, 3) wouldn't hurt to up my options in the dating world, and 4) it's my "Yes Year" might as well! The only downside was, I'd be missing the entire conference, except for the Saturday night activity and the Sunday Sacrament meeting because of the conference in Vancouver. Nevertheless, I said yes and proceeded to prepare my talk and booked my flight to arrive in Calgary on the Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, I spoke on "Pride, Patience, and the Process of Time", and was able to relate a lot of analogies from my work in web design to the topic. The sacrament meeting was held at the University of Calgary in one of the lecture rooms - not intimidating to say the least! But it was an amazing experience, and I am happy I did it - albeit it was stressful preparing and delivering the talk. Several people came up and told me they enjoyed my talk which was nice to hear (because you never remember what you said), but one young man in particular complimented me and we ended up chatting a bit later in the day. This lead to us becoming Facebook friends, followed by him asking to take me on a date - when he was in Vancouver in July! So he came out and we spent some time together in Vancouver. I had fun getting to know him, but it did not go further than that. But I was impressed it all happened. And I also got to see my close friends that still live in Calgary. Nothing like catching up!

Attended General Conference in October
In October, I was able to attend General Conference with my friend Laura! She had never been before, and I hadn't been in years, so we decided we wanted to take a break and go have some fun. It was a wonderful weekend, where her dad spoiled us, we were able to attend two sessions in the Conference Center, including seats down near the front! I was also able to meet up with some friends who had moved to Provo to attend school, and even meet a pen pal of mine who I had met through my friend Rachel.

Operations Manager for the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive
And another big thing I said yes to in May - agreeing to helping out with the first annual BC Thanksgiving Food Drive by being the Operations Manager on the Provincial Committee. I also blogged about it earlier this year, so you already heard a lot about the preliminaries of how it came to be, but I haven't updated you on the results. So I spent a full summer of working on the website, while balancing my vacation, and busy work and volunteer schedules with being Relief Society President and this huge new responsibility - and it was both exciting and exhausting. I was also overseeing the call centre the day of the food drive, which everyone on the committee was not prepared for. We had a goal of collecting 100,000 pounds of food this first year. We ended up collecting over 250,000 pounds of food! We far exceeded our goals in every way possible, and far exhausted every volunteer on that day. It was a huge success and I am so happy to have been a part of it this year.

The Unexpected Life Lesson Learned...
But after this food drive was all over, an interesting thing happened. I realized I couldn't do it all. I couldn't hold down a full-time job, be Relief Society President, a good friend, a good sister, a good daughter and then assist with the food drive, and expect to have a social life in there somewhere. After much deliberation, prayer and consideration, I decided it came down to one solution: I needed to drop one of my responsibilities. Obviously I couldn't drop my job, otherwise I'd become a bum and bust on the streets, which wasn't an option in my case. I couldn't resign from being RS President, as it was a calling and I felt that was where the Lord wanted me to be. So it came down to the final decision: I can either keep working on the Food Drive, and have no social life, or I could step down, and allow myself to have the time to do the simple things, such as grocery shopping, doing laundry, and visiting with friends. So with a heavy heart, I resigned as the Operations Manager from the Food Drive. As hard as it was, as time has passed I have seen that it was the right choice for me at this time.

So the lesson I actually learned was: All this saying "Yes" this year actually taught me how to say "No". This was the side-effect of the focus of the year I did not expect. I thought saying "Yes" would just broaden my horizons, help me step out of my comfort box, allow me to give myself permission to let loose and have fun. It did do all of that, but I did not foresee this other important life lesson I would learn.

I usually have a hard time saying no because I feel like I'm going to let someone down, but I've learned that it's okay to say no when it is appropriate and the right decision for you. After I had this realization, I had an experience where I learned that I actually was capable of saying no.

I was at the temple attending a session. I ran into a woman I had served with years ago for a Cultural event. She asked me if I was still helping with the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive, to while I replied that I had stepped down. She proceeded to tell me that she had submitted my name to help with the new Canada lds.org website that is being worked at the present moment. If she had asked me earlier this year, I probably would have said yes, but instead, my response to her was open and honest, "Thank you very much for thinking of me. At this time in my life, I am busy with a full-time job and a time-consuming calling being RS President. I am 29 years old now, and will be leaving the YSA in just over a year, so that means that's the longest I will continue to have this calling for. After I am released, I am fair game." The woman quickly agreed that my decision was fine with her, and that it made sense. And I couldn't have been more proud of myself at that moment. I had finally said no, and you know what happened? Nothing. The world didn't end. They found someone else to help them out in the meantime. And I can now happily say I have a social life, I feel more balanced, and am looking forward to the new experiences and life lessons I'll learn in 2012.

So you never know what'll happen when you set a goal to do something, you will probably be surprised with some unexpected results.

86. Try Bikram Yoga

2011-08-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I can't actually do the posture in the picture, yet, but maybe someday...soonish.

My friend Laura and I signed up for a Groupon for five classes of Bikram for $25 at a new Bikram Yoga studio in Burnaby. Laura had done Bikram before, but I hadn't. I had heard of the cardiovascular benefits to Bikram from another friend of mine, and since I like cardio, I thought I'd give it a try.

My first class was a Saturday morning, at 8 a.m. I was impressed by the studio the moment I walked in. The high ceilings and modern amenities made me feel relaxed and excited. When I entered the hot room, I was impressed to note the room wasn't as stifling hot as I had imagined it'd be, and I couldn't smell a whiff of sweat. We placed our mats in the back corner, that way I could could watch other people and learn from them. I enjoyed sitting on the mat before class, relaxing, enjoying the sauna-like feel of the room. A perfect way to warm up my muscles on an early Saturday morning.

When our instructor, Amy, came in, she walked up to the front of the room and instructed us to begin. I soon learned that Bikram has a sort of militant style to announcing the postures, but it was in a positive way. Because Amy knew I was a beginner, she offered me specific help throughout the class, which I appreciated. After doing the first two poses, we leaned into the third one, where we have to grab our heels. When I did this, I was surprised to note that there was already sweat on my legs beading out. At that point, I knew I was in for a good workout. I was surprised to find out that I could do most of the postures, except for two of them. But I hope that as I continue to go back, I'll eventually be able to do them. After class was over, and drank all the water in my water bottle, it had felt like I had run for an hour, then swam for half an hour. My clothes definitely felt like I had just gone swimming!

I went back for a second time on the following Monday, however it was at 8 p.m. at night. The class was a lot more brutal this time, as the room was hotter than the first day I did it on, and I hadn't drunk enough water before class. It's also harder to do exercising at the end of the day, after you've spent the whole day expending energy in other ways. I found I got a little nauseated. However, I'm going back Thursday morning for a 6 a.m. class, in hopes that I can have a similar experience as when I went the first time.

I didn't know what to expect from Bikram, but I have found that I enjoy the cardiovascular benefits to it. Even though our main activity is doing the postures, the combination of the hot room and strength training get my heart racing. I also like the fact that we sweat toxins out of our bodies, a healthy benefit. I am hoping to continue to take classes after my Groupon runs out, as it's a great stress reliever from all my responsibilities. It's something I can do for myself that I enjoy, and that helps keep me healthy. So if you're looking for more of an intense workout, but enjoy yoga, Hot Yoga or Bikram might be something fun to try!

19. Bike to work at least once

2011-08-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

Don't know why it took me so long to do this even once – should have done it years ago! But I guess the most important thing is, I've done it now. I've biked to work more than once now. It's a great way to start the day and get my daily workout in. It only takes ten minutes longer to get to work than if I drive - so no big deal. The only thing is, there is a long and steep hill on the way home, so it takes about 30 minutes longer on my way home. But once I crest that hill, it's an easy ride home. The weather's been a bit colder this summer, so it's perfect biking weather. I used to bike all the time when I was a kid, so whenever I jump on my bike now, my inner child pops its head up with excitement. Funny how some things never change.

What am I up to lately?

2011-08-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

Spending a little time at Shuswap with family and friends. A little taste of heaven on earth. Had my best wake-surf ride a couple of weeks ago, I'm getting the hang of it!
Creating, updating and maintaining the website for the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Visiting with cousins at my uncle's wedding in Victoria. So good to catch up with them and bond at my Grammie's (grandmother's) house. Nothing that a little family time and a lot of food can't cure.
Going to the "Castle Fun Park" in Abbotsford, The Olive Garden in Langley, and paddle-boating in Burnaby to make up for canceled plans. A great DOF (day-of-fun).
Learning the ropes on how to properly "tweet" on Twitter and post on Facebook for the BCTFD. It's been a lot more interesting than I thought it'd be.
Getting ready for the new school year with many new members of Relief Society moving in to our Branch and plans on how we can help each other and those in need. Another year of new friends and adventures ahead.
Celebrating birthdays and weddings, attending farewells...
Testing the toll-free number for the BCTFD, and coming up with a plan on how it'll all work. Considering I have no experience in this area, I'm leaning heavily on my call-center volunteer. If he ever gets back from his vacations, haha.
Attempting to go hang gliding. The weather's been too windy, so we've been canceled on twice. Third time's the charm, right?
Organizing the photographers for the BCTFD event.
Biking around Stanley Park, visiting the Vancouver Aquarium, watching the Celebration of Lights firework show in English Bay.
Going for runs or playing weekly volleyball.
Oh, and working too, of course.

Now, I have to get this graphics package put together to send out to all the Public Affairs across BC... Peace out for now!

13. Try 5 new dinner recipes: Mango Bean Southwestern Salad

2011-07-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

This year I'm trying to cook and bake more often, and I am enjoying it. The hardest parts I find about cooking for me are 1) having the energy to make anything after work, or 2) cooking for just one person. But these possible road blocks aren't show stoppers, and I've come to realize that I just need to make it more of a priority, instead of putting everything else ahead of it. Plus, I get some great leftovers that feed me for the rest of the week!

I don't have a list of the five recipes I've tried (I honestly can't remember all of them), but I wanted to share one with you that I "created" last night. One thing I like about cooking, is once you are familiar with what spices/foods can be combined together - you can start to experiment. This one below wasn't too out of the ordinary, but it was delicious.

There are some days when I crave eating Southwestern food (I blame it on my experience with eating at Cafe Rio in the States a few years ago), and the words "cilantro" and "lime" come to mind. There is this mango and black bean salsa recipe I got from Martha Stewart that I love, so I thought I'd play around with turning it into a summer salad for dinner.

First I made the Beastly Bean and Mango Salsa recipe (minus the jalapenos, olive oil, and cheddar cups), mixed everything together, and set it aside. I like to add more lime juice and cilantro than the recipe calls for because it gives it more flavor. Then I chopped up some lettuce, put some jalapeno ranch dressing on top and mixed it together (I think it would also taste good adding red or green bell peppers to the mix). After that I put the mango bean salsa with some crushed tortilla chips on top and mixed it in. Then I savored every bite of it.

This is a quick salad, and so long as there isn't too much jalapeno ranch dressing or tortilla chips put in it, it's pretty healthy. So when have a craving for a simple summer Southwestern Salad, this is one I'd definitely make again.

Now to eat some leftovers for dinner.

New Web Design Blog

2011-06-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

To keep up on new things in the industry and to share neat little tidbits I find interesting in the web industry, I've started a blog to capture my findings. If you want to see the "geeky" side of me, come visit me at http://thisistmi.tumblr.com/.

Screenshot of my tumblr blog

85. Register to be an organ donor

2011-05-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have one of those things that you have full intention of doing, but then think to yourself, "Oh, I'll get around to it"? I kept putting the intention to sign up as an organ donor in the back of my mind until I thought about it when I was in front of the computer. Problem was, I never remembered when I was in front of a computer.

Finally, one Saturday morning in April while I was lounging around my house I remembered! So I picked up my health card, Googled "register organ donor BC" and found the BC Transplant website I needed. I filled in the online form, and Bam! Done. It is now official. It didn't take long at all.

Of course I hope that I won't ever need to be an organ donor, but just in case... I think that if I was in need of a kidney, heart, eye, etc. and someone donated me theirs, I know it would either save my life or prolong my life or help me have a better quality of life. Kinda a big deal. So if I can do that for someone else, then I am pleased.

Another thing I should do is donate blood again. Apparently they are in great need of blood right now. It's in me to give, right?

8. Have brunch in between General Conference sessions.

2011-05-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

Due to a work deadline, I couldn't go to General Conference this April when everyone else in my Branch went. So instead, I did something I used to do when I lived in Calgary - had people over for a brunch in between the sessions on Sunday.

Nothing that a little Belgium waffles, Nutella, ice cream, fruit, bacon, sausages and whipped cream can't cure. Except give us heart attacks and diabetes.

3. Go somewhere hot & Yes, I went to Hawaii

2011-05-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

I thought it was a bit cliché, going to Hawaii. It seems as though everyone goes there, so I was just following the crowd. But after going there, I found out why everyone goes there - it's hard not to fall in love with Hawaii!

This post covers both a 101 list item and a check mark next to another item that I said "yes" to this year. I went with my friend Kristi and had a wonderful time falling in love not only with how beautiful Oahu is, but also with the Hawaiian people. They really are such welcoming people. It's more than the fact that they are nice, but that it's like once you meet them, you're immediately a part of their family. For that reason, I fell in love with Hawaii - like everyone else who has ever been there.

I had a great time basking in the sun on the beach in Waikiki (living in Vancouver and going in the middle of the rainy season was perfect!), going to the Polynesian Cultural Center (even met a cute Polynesian dancer there), seeing the Hawai Temple, getting caught in a rainstorm and drenched walking home from church, driving around the island, eating shaved ice, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, and taking in all the beautiful scenery.

It was a perfect break during a cold and wet winter, and I can see why people do it every year. It wasn't that expensive actually, so it's something I'm actually considering doing again next year. That is, if I don't go to Europe again, which I'm thinking about doing...

On the bus after getting caught in the rainstorm walking home from church.

The view from our hotel. Loved the Hawaiian mountains.

Ooo. Umbrella.

First walk along Waikiki beach.

Apparently looking at my toes was more important than looking at the camera.

Coconut ice cream. Delish.

Hanging loose.

Fresh leis at a luau.

Hanging loose on the beach.

China Man's hat.

Hawaii temple! Hmm... destination wedding maybe?

Coconut shrimp. Yum. So fresh they get the shrimp behind me in the fields there.

Big shrimp in Hawaii.

Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. I could only do it for a few mins though.

Road runner.

Sigh.

Sigh again.

"How do we feel about leaving?"

Until next time!

BC Food Drive

2011-05-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

I had my first meeting with the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive on Sunday night. Mistakenly thinking the meeting would only be an hour, four hours later I was saying good bye to the other committee members. I'm excited to be a part of this, but I am now realizing how big of a part I will be playing on this committee. For the most part, there is only four of us running the entire organization, offering direction to the rest of the Stakes in BC. A lot of the feedback and decisions I make will impact the areas I am responsible for and the decisions we make as a committee will impact how well this turns out its first year. Yikes. No pressure or anything.

I pray everyday for the Spirit to guide me as I move forward. I have never done something like this before, and need all the help I can get. I struggle with the desire to also meet the needs of my Relief Society calling, but I also want to ensure this new endeavor gets the attention it needs as well. For each season there is a purpose. Again, I feel blessed to be living in a part of the world where I have opportunities to serve in the church I otherwise would not have had. I am being greatly stretched, taught, and sustained through these different responsibilities I have been asked to help with. I hope that my efforts pleases the Lord and bring me closer to Him. That's one thing I love about service, how it brings me closer to my Savior and those I serve. I love those few sweet moments that come in amongst the hours of service. Those are the moments I remember years down the road.

You know, the man who started the original way of doing this type of food drive in Calgary is actually my friend's dad, Jeffrey Jacob. He recently passed away, and I thought to myself, "What an amazing legacy he has left." What he started out in 1997 in Calgary has now passed on to all of Alberta, and this year, all of BC. You just never know how much of an impact your actions can have. I don't think that at the start, he thought it would expand as much as it has. I know he was truly inspired by this idea. Because of him, he has given many individuals an opportunity to participate in food drives in Calgary and now here in Vancouver - and has help feed thousands of people. Being able to be a part of it has greatly blessed my life. Brother Jacob has a soft spot in my heart for another reason. He was the one that taught me how to use iMovie to do my sister's wedding video ten years ago, which in turn helped me find the career that has brought me much fulfillment in my life today. You can never forget the person who gave you that first tool, and in my case, he gave me the first tool to my career.

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." - Matthew 25:40

How did I get into this mess?

2011-04-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

I blame it on the fact that this year is my "yes" year. Well, no, I don't think I can blame it on that. I think I just don't know how to say no. Or, maybe I'm actually brilliant in knowing what opportunities to take that will help further me in life. Or make me more insane. Probably the latter.

I was extended an assignment last week. In our church, we're having a "Day of Service" where all members of the church will participate in some act of service on a specified day. The church has suggested it to be on a ward or stake level - but why do it at that level when we can go bigger? They are doing a Thanksgiving Food Drive for all of British Columbia. In this endeavor, there will be tons of people in different Branches, Wards, and Stakes running the food drive in their areas. We will pattern it after the Interfaith Food Drive that happens in Calgary (which I participated in when I lived there). So when I received the call from the Director of the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive for of all of BC, I thought, "Well, I already am Relief Society President in my branch, perhaps they will ask me to help out on a Ward or maybe even a Stake level. Nothing more than that surely."

They asked me to be the Operations Manager for all of BC.

Maybe I shouldn't have picked up the phone that night.

But in all seriousness, I am honored they feel that I would be the best fit for the position. As far as I understand it (I'm sure I'll gain a better understanding when I attend my first meeting with the committee members) I will be in charge of designing and developing the website (hence one of the reasons I was a good fit for the position), operating the distribution of the bags, and operating the "Call Center" the week of the Food Drive. Easy peasy, right?

Just a little something to add some spice to my life. I am a little concerned about it conflicting with my RS calling, but I will do my best. I just don't want to be overwhelmed, which I have a tendency to do to myself, hence the part about me being insane I first eluded to. One of the questions I asked the Director was, "Will this be as time consuming as the Temple Youth Celebration?" He laughed and said that it wouldn't be. That brought me some relief.

So, how did I get into this mess? I said yes. I may question my decision later but I am looking forward to all the things I'm going to learn and experience, and heck - it'll look good on my resume, right?

Elder Oaks found my cell phone

2011-04-19T00:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, it actually wasn't missing, but he wanted to make sure that whose ever it was, didn't leave without it. Now before I get ahead of myself, let me start from the beginning.

***

As some of you know, my dad has been serving in the Stake Presidency in the Vernon stake for the past nine years, and the presidency was told they were getting released on April 16-17th. I had originally not planned to go, but then the closer it came to the date, I realized that I wanted to be there to support him, as it had been such a large part of his life for the past while. He was called into the Stake Presidency when I lived in Calgary, and since I've lived away from home I think I've only been able to attend one Stake Conference where he spoke. In my limited experience in serving in the church, I'm coming to realize how important supporting family members is.

So last Sunday, when I informed my RS counselors of my planned absence for the following weekend, I found out at that time that everyone else in our presidency was planning to be away as well. Since I seemed to be the last one to make plans to leave, I decided to stay home and keep RS running. But to the sweet nature and sacrifice of one of my counselors and secretary, they fore-goed their plans so that I could be there for my dad. Their sweet understanding and sacrifice means so much to me, I am so lucky to have such wonderful women like them in my life. Because of their sacrifice, I was able to have a weekend with my family that I probably won't ever forget.

Although my brother was heading up to the Interior as well, he was leaving on the Friday, and because I couldn't leave until Saturday afternoon, we drove up separately. On the Saturday morning, I had the wonderful opportunity to be an escort for one of the members of my Relief Society as she attended the temple for the first time. It brought me back to the first time I went through and I've realized how much I've learned in the past couple of years. I guess as you go each time you don't really notice how much you learn, but it's been a wonderful two years and I'm looking forward to many more years of learning and growing from the teachings found in the temple. To be able to help someone attend the temple is one of the best honors I have had so far. I am so deeply touched by the sister who went through and am excited for her next stage in life. Even though I don't have a family of my own, it's nice to know I can help someone else along the way... even if it's just a little thing.

After attending the temple, I drove up to Vernon where I met up with my family. It's always nice to go home and be surrounded by people who know me so well. I ran into a lot of people from my home ward as well as some people in the Stake who I hadn't seen in awhile. It was so neat to see my dad in action. I am so very proud of him, and my mom for supporting my dad all these years.

It has been a long nine years, and my dad has never complained about the sacrifices he had to make for his calling, I can see how much he loves people and serving them, as well as the brethren he served with in the presidency. He's a great example to me. My mom is also a great example of a woman who supports the priesthood. I am sure there are many women in the church who have husbands who serve in the church for many years, and it takes them away from their families. Of the 33 years my parents have been married, my dad has sat on the stand for 25+ years of it (my mom probably knows the exact number, haha). So I grew up with a father who was busy on Sundays and other times during the week. My dad apologized for not being there for us as much as he could have growing up, but you know - it all works out okay because I know he loved us, and loved the gospel, and his example has taught me a lot and has helped shape me into who I am today. My mother probably felt alone a lot of the time, with my dad gone a lot, but she never complained. My parents are amazing people. I thought about how at Stake Conference, we had Elder Oaks and the newly called Elder Cook come to reorganize the Stake, and how they are away from their wives, but because of their sacrifice, they were able to strengthen, teach, and change our lives and bring us closer to Christ. I hope their wives are blessed for this sacrifice of bringing us children in the Vernon Stake unto Christ. I can't imagine how tough it must be to have a calling that takes you away from your family so often, but like it says in the scriptures (I'm paraphrasing here), "Those who lose their lives for my sake, shall find it."

I really enjoyed the Saturday evening session of the Stake conference, everyone was cracking jokes and having a great time. Even Elder Oaks and Elder Cook were right in there on the fun. I really enjoyed Elder Cook's remarks. He had only been called to be a member of the 70 a couple of weeks before and his first assignment was to come and reorganized the Vernon Stake. He told of the story of after he had received his training, he was riding the elevator down. When the elevator stopped at one of the floors, someone came on. Because Elder Cook was feeling overwhelmed with his new responsibilities, he was looking at the floor and didn't know who had joined him in the elevator. Then a friendly voice popped up, "What are you looking at down there?" Elder Cook looked up to see Pres. Monson looking at the floor to see what he was looking at. Then Pres. Monson looked up at the ceiling and said, "Look up!" Elder Cook's message was, "Look up" which was good for me at this point in my life. It's important to not look at the floor and feel overwhelmed, but to look up to God and he will guide, strengthen and support us in our lives.

One thing that was cool for my sister at the conference is she conducted a choir and conducted the hymns during the congregational songs. I hadn't realized it, but it was her dream to do so - and not only did she get to, but she did on the day an Apostle of the Lord was there to witness it. He enthusiastically shook her hand and gave her a thumbs up. She did a wonderful job. Elder Oaks is so gracious, He always thanks people for everything they do, whether it's provide the music, say a prayer, give a talk, anything. (Pres.) Burnham said that Elder Oaks said "Good job" and "thank you" everytime he came back from doing something, but when he would get up to do something else, Elder Oaks would say, "Good luck!" Elder Oaks is a very energetic, loving, appreciative and strong Apostle of the Lord. I am grateful for his service he is doing on this earth. I am sure he is changing the lives of people all around the world, whoever he comes in contact with.

After the Saturday session, my siblings and their spouses and I grabbed some food and had some fun hanging out. I'm so lucky to have the siblings I do. They are such kind and loving people - and goofy like me. I think we get that from our dad. It was funny on the Saturday evening session, one of the ladies from my parents ward, who I knew growing up, leaned over to me after my dad cracked a joke, "Haha, your dad is so funny. He is goofy, and we love him for it!" I'm glad some people appreciate his humor, I seemed to have inherited some of it from him - albeit how cheesy the jokes can be sometimes. :)

Sunday was another amazing day. We met at the Vernon Rec Centre, where they released the old presidency, thanked them whole-heartedly, and also the wives. My mom was deeply touched by that gesture, as it's probably been a long nine (or even 25+) years for her, having a husband away so often. My dad mentioned that in his talk, and he told me later that he was just beginning to realize the sacrifices my mom made with him gone so much. It's funny the lessons we learn in life, sometimes it takes us years to see it.

After releasing the old Stake Presidency, they called the new Stake Presidency, and to my delight, I found out that my Uncle Dave was called into the new Stake Presidency, as the first counselor - taking over the calling my dad just vacated! And what's even more ironic is - before my dad was called, my uncle Terry Smith was the the first counselor in the Stake presidency, then when he was released, my dad was the first counselor in the Stake presidency, and now my uncle Terry's youngest brother, David Smith is now the first counselor in the Stake presidency! What are the odds? In the past 20 or so years, I've had some family member serving in a stake presidency somewhere! My uncle Brent in the Victoria Stake, my uncle Al in the Surrey Stake, my uncles Terry and Dave and my dad in the Vernon stake... wow! An my aunt Jan is currently serving as the stake RS president in Surrey. This is just all so surreal!

After Stake conference was over, I had the honor of shaking Elder Oaks' hand (he was shaking everyones) Then I went to congratulate my Uncle Dave on his new calling, when he invited me to attend his setting apart! So all of us trekked up to the chapel where I was able to sit and listen at the feet of an Apostle teach us about the conferring of the keys of the offices of the church at the head of the church level. He shared some amazing stories with us, what a remarkable, awe-inspiring and surreal moment that was. After they were set apart, the outgoing and incoming Stake Presidencies took pictures with Elder Oaks and Elder Cook, and my family also had the opportunity to do so as well. I don't have that picture yet, but below are the ones my brother took on his cell phone.

The outgoing Stake Presidency.
Elder Oaks, my dad, Pres. Burnham, Pres. Sloan, Elder Cook

With their wives: my mom, Sis. Burnham, Sis. Sloan.

So now the part where Elder Oaks found my phone. After our family got our picture taken, I was talking to my cousins, when Elder Oaks held up my iPhone, which I had left on the table at the front of the room. He asked whose it was and my sister grabbed it for me, knowing it was mine. My sister then called out to me and said, "I have your cell phone, Elder Oaks found it for you." Elder Oaks then turned to me and said, "Yes, you don't want to lose that!" So that is how it came to be that he "found" my cell phone. :)

After that remarkable experience, I said goodbye to my family, after us siblings briefly commented on how blessed we felt to be a part of such an amazing weekend. It seems so surreal, yet I feel so empowered and blessed. I felt that a lot of the concerns or questions I've been having in my life lately have been given direction, and I feel that the words spoken at the conference has changed my life for the better.

And what better way to end the conference weekend, than with my nieces requesting to ride back home in my car. When I asked them why they wanted to come with me, they said, "Because we love you." They melt my heart and make me laugh every time. I am so blessed with such an amazing family.

Of course, one last tidbit for the weekend - it was snowing when I was driving home, so I decided to go to Kamloops for the night instead of coming back to Vancouver because I was afraid my car wouldn't make it through on its bare tires. The good news is - I finally replace my bare tires with new ones. It was a smooth ride home today.

Now, to get back to regular life and carry forward with a new resolve to be better than I have been in the past.

Yes, I'm going to Wicked

2011-03-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

It seems like I'm saying "yes" a lot lately. Good thing it's my theme for the year!

Today I bought my ticket to see the musical "Wicked". I actually attempted to see it when I was in London in September, but due to jet lag I missed half of the show and was so upset as it was one of the ones I most wanted to see! But good news, it's coming to Vancouver in June and me and my family and a few of my friends are going to see it! Now I'm just trying to convince my sister to come with us!

Yes, I'm Going Hang Gliding

2011-03-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

Well, this is my "yes" year, and so it seems fitting that I'm going hang gliding! With the wake of all these "Groupons" and deals coming up, a group of friends and I bought a coupon to go hang gliding. We're upgrading our coupon so that we can launch off a mountain, instead of just going behind a winch tow - I'm so excited! It's going to be at Mt. Woodside, just in between Chilliwack and Hope. The view looks amazing. It's strange, I know I have this shy and tentative side to me, but then I have this kamikaze side of me that loves riding motorbikes, amusement park rides, skiing, wakeboarding, and hang gliding. Opposite ends of the spectrum — weird, hey? But it's gonna be awesome.:)

View from launching place at Mt. Woodside

So much to look forward to this year!

84. 2011 - The Year of Attending Web Design Conferences

2011-03-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago I attended the Web Design World in Seattle and had a great time. Nothing like attending a conference to be inspired by the people in the industry and networking with other web designers. It was there that I found out about Dan Rubin, Jared Spool and Cameron Moll, who have become a few of my favorite people to follow in the industry — and on Twitter. :) Sometimes working as the only web designer in an organization makes it difficult to stay up on the industry, so attending these conferences is like a feast on inspiration of what is going on in the web design and usability world.

At the beginning of this year my boss told me that our association's web team would be attending An Event Apart in Seattle at the end of March. I was so excited to find out about this because I've been wanting to attend this conference for the past three years - and now I actually get to go! I am looking forward to meeting new people, networking (a skill I need to improve on), and finding out more about the industry's talent out there. One thing I love about this industry I am a part of is the types of personalities designers usually are: laid back, creative, look for ways to push limits, solve problems and make things easier to design and beautiful while staying functional.

Last week, while watching my Twitter feeds, I saw that Dan Rubin had tweeted about the Interlink Conference happening in Vancouver that he was running a workshop at and I just knew I had to go! As most of the conferences I read about are all around the United States or the UK, this was exciting to see the lineup of speakers and talent coming to my own nesting grounds. As I knew that I was already attending the conference in Seattle, I figured that my company wouldn't consider paying for me to attend another conference, as I'm lucky to even get to go to one at all this year. However, I sent off an email to my boss anyhow, telling her of my interest in attending, and to see if there was any possibility they could fund me going. She of course replied that there were other people within our department that would also like to attend different conferences this year, so that odds of them paying for it was low. I completely understood and started working out my finances so that I could pay for it myself. It was an opportunity I didn't want to let pass regardless of whether or not my company paid for it or not. However, much to my surprise, on the following Monday my boss excitedly came up to me and told me that our VP just approved funding our attendance at the conference - and so we both get to go! So not only do I get to attend a conference I've been wanting to attend for years in Seattle, but I also get to attend the one in Vancouver for free! How did I get so lucky???

Some of my work...

2011-03-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

I know most of you follow me on facebook, but I was looking at this website I designed, developed and then launched at the beginning of this year and realized I didn't write about it on my blog. It was a small but fun project. I was asked to redesign and develop our CGA Referral Site. I relied heavily on the branding our association has, and came up with the following (click on image to go to site):

I love playing with the tab bars that scroll up and down. It was a little tricky finding the code and altering it to function how I wanted it to, but once I got it working it was perfect. I am currently working on some other projects and am looking forward to launching them in the next few months. It's going to be a busy month, but I like the challenge and look forward to all the new things I'm going to learn. And by "new things" it usually means "things I get frustrated with until I figure it out but once I figure it out it's awesome". Oh the life of a web designer. I love it.

Personal Theme for 2011: Yes

2011-01-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

Yeah, we all have new years resolutions that we start and sometimes finish, or forget about until the following year and add them on the list again. I thought that instead of just doing the typical "eat healthy" "be happy" sort of resolutions, I would have a theme where all my resolutions fall under it - that way I'll be more likely to keep it in the forefront of my life.

This year my theme is "Yes" or "Go Big or Go Home". That second one I stole from my friend Rachel who had that theme for herself last year. The "Yes" theme means: I'm going to do things that I'm usually cautious about doing. I'm going to take opportunities by the horn and run with them. If I want to do it, I'm going to do it. Of course, all of this falls under financial ability and whether I have the time to do it, but all in all, by the end of the year, I want this to result in "Michelle-being-great-with-Michelle". A year where I not only do my duties in callings and work, but to create more opportunities within those realms and outside. That way I develop not only myself, but have experiences that will shape me and allow me to be who I am. Sort of a "self-discovery" year. I know, being almost 29 and I'm still learning about myself. Oh well, better late than never.

So far, this year has started off with a great start. I'm heading to Hawaii this weekend. Yes, I realize I just got back from a great trip to Europe, but like I said - no holding back. Usually I wouldn't do this because of limitations I would put on myself, such as "I just went on a trip, I shouldn't just go on another one" or "what if I need the vacation days for later in the year?" I realized, I don't know what later this year will hold or whether or not it's ridiculous to go on another trip so soon after my other one, but heck, Yes, I'm going.

Other things I have planned for this year are: attending a Web Design Conference in March with my coworkers, attending Time Out for Women with my mom, sister and sister-in-law in Seattle in April, going hang gliding with friends in the Spring, possibly going down to Conference in April or seeing the Broadway musical "Wicked" when it comes to Vancouver... and this is just the beginning.

Here's to 2011 and holding nothing back.

Top 10 Memories from 2010

2011-01-11T15:12:00.000-08:00

So many extraordinary things happened in 2010 that I wanted to do my top ten memories from the year (in chronological order):

Attending the Vancouver 2010 Olympics
The free events, shows, zip-lining across Robson Square, attending the ski jump event and cross-country skiing, seeing Canada win gold in hockey = priceless.
Attending the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics
Watching sledge hockey was awesome.
Vancouver Temple Open House
Being able to help out during the open house was amazing. My favorite part was going through the temple after the tours were done because it was so quiet and peaceful.
Meeting Sister Barbara Thompson
In April she came to the Lower Mainland and trained the RS Presidencies and a group of us from the RS in my branch were even privileged to meet with her privately. She is a remarkable woman and it meant a lot to know that the RS General Presidency care so much about the women throughout the world, and even our small branch.
Temple Youth Celebration
What can I say about this event that took over my life for four months? I met some really wonderful people, learned a lot about how productions are put together, learned how to manage a group of counselors, watched the youth perform the amazing show and got to see the prophet. What an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Attended two sessions of the Temple Dedication
As luck would have it, I was able to not only attend the temple dedication inside the temple, but able to attend it both the Terrestial and Celestial rooms. What an amazing experience it is to be in the presence of such remarkable leaders in our church, including Pres. Monson.
Attending the Canada-wide Broadcast in my own Stake Centre
As if having the temple dedication wasn't enough, a few weeks later the Canada-wide broadcast was shot from my Stake Centre. It was such a privilege to shake the hands of Pres. Uchtdorf and his wife, and Elder Pace. It was a wonderful meeting.
Shuswap Lake
My heaven on earth. I always consider myself lucky to be able to spend time there over the summer.
Trip to Europe
The fact that my dream to go to Italy was realized in the Fall of this year, marks this is one of the most interesting and fulfilling trips I have been on. London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Salsburg, Munich, Switzerland.... how I long to go back! But it was amazing to be there and see the sights.
Skiing at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Over the Christmas holidays I was able to stay at my uncle and aunt's place and go skiing at a the newly updated mountain. The snow was beautiful and it was fun to spend time with my parents while my siblings enjoyed the holidays with their in-laws.

15. Go tubing down a mountain again

2011-01-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

Nothing like tubing down the mountain to bring out the inner child in all of us. A group of 12 of us went to Cypress Mountain on New Year's Day for a fun afternoon of tubing, games and we even got to see a beautiful sunset while we were there! Zingeber uploaded some videos of us going down the hill, which I posted below. Enjoy!

All of us at the bottom of the hill, with an amazing sunset.

Our first ride down:

Second ride:

Final ride!

82. Do a piano/organ duet

2011-01-04T12:51:00.000-08:00

The first time I did a piano/organ duet was with my sister when we were teenagers. I've always loved the sound of piano duets with different instruments like the violin, cello and organ - to name a few. When I lived in Calgary I attended church at an institute building that didn't have an organ so I didn't have a chance to do any when I was there.

When I moved to Vancouver I was happy to see that I would be attending a church building with an organ in it! Unfortunately it took me four years before I actually took the initiative to do one. So this past Christmas, for our branch's Christmas Sacrament meeting, my friend and I did a piano/organ duet with Sally Deford's Joy to the World. We recorded the song while we performed it using my phone (I love smart phones!). I posted it below if you'd like to listen to it. It's nothing fancy, but it was fun to do. Hopefully I'll have another chance to do it again, as one of my new years resolutions is to play the piano more than I have in the past few years. Ever since I got my Grade 10 Royal Conservatory Diploma ten years ago, I've lost some of my training and it'd be nice to get it back again and maybe even improve upon it.

Enjoy!

Link to listen to duet

37. Donate clothes for a worthy cause

2011-01-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

After going through my clothes I ended up with three garbage bags of clothes to donate, then the idea came to me: we should do a clothing swap in our Relief Society! It was fun seeing all the clothes the girls brought to share, and entertaining seeing the girls try them on! The ones that were left behind were taken and donated to the BC Children's Hosptial Thrift Shop - thanks to Diana who organized it and suggested the location for the donation! Since I had to go to the Children's Hospital when I was younger for a check for cancer (thankfully they didn't find anything), it felt good to give a bit back.

Below are some photos from the fun evening!

20. Play tennis

2010-12-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

Played tennis a few times this past summer. I'm still not very good, but it's still fun. Looking forward to doing more of it next year!

56. Buy new glasses

2010-12-26T20:00:00.000-08:00

After leaving my previous pair of glasses on the cruise I went on last year I finally got around to replacing them in the summer. And I'll admit, I kinda love them. :)

58. Buy new jeans

2010-12-25T10:48:00.000-08:00

Everyone needs to own a pair of skinny jeans. Just kidding. I fought the skinny jeans craze until this past summer. Then I gave in. And I'll admit, they're pretty fun - AND they fit inside my boots without having to wrap the bottom of my jeans around my calves. Win-win. I tested them out at our family photo shoot at my grandparent's cabin.

54. Buy a new bed spread

2010-12-24T10:52:00.000-08:00

Since my last bedding cover was my sister's when she was a teenager (over 13 years ago) I thought it was high time I bought a new duvet cover for my bed. After looking at a few from different stores I came to realize they were actually a little pricey, so I decided Ikea was my best bet. I found a cover there that I liked that looks similar to this (except it's grey and navy blue):

Courtesy of Ikea.com

I feel that it suits my personality better than the other one and am quite enjoying it!

10. Learn how to make sushi

2010-12-24T10:23:00.000-08:00

I've now learned how to make sushi twice, so I should be a pro! The first time was when we had a sushi making party at my house, the second when we had a year-end party at work. Both fun and delicious! Here are some photos from the sushi-making party below.

First you spread the rice on the seaweed.

Lick excess rice off of fingers as Sarah is doing. ;)

The rice is a bit sticky.

Be sure not to squish the rice, otherwise you are a horrible sushi maker.

Place desired food about 2/3 from the bottom.

Using bamboo mat, roll sushi - first cover the food, then roll the rest of the way.

Use water to "glue" if needed.

Cut and enjoy immediately!

Let your creativity go!

Then make more!

The end. Once all the prep work is done, it's pretty easy to make. You can find sushi rice recipes online and the seaweed sheets at most grocery stores, otherwise you can find it in Asian food stores.

I'm back!

2010-10-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

I am back from gallivanting across Europe and am looking forward to updating my blogs! I will be writing most of my travel information on my Wanderlusting Meanderings blog, so keep an eye out for it. I will also continue to work on my '101' list and continue to blog about that.

Let me just say, though. Crossing off 'Go to Italy' off my list has been the most fun item to cross off so far! It was such a great trip, and a much needed break from life. It's been a busy year, so it was nice to get away for a few weeks and enjoy the splendors of Europe. Stay tuned!

My Wanderlust Travel Blog

2010-09-08T16:33:00.000-07:00

Three years ago I started a travel blog when I was planning my road trip to Utah with my friends Kristi, Jenn and Marisa. Unfortunately, I didn't keep up with all my travels on the blog after I left, or include any of the places I've gone since, like Mexico, Oregon, Alberta, Whistler, the Olympics/Paralympics, etc. But I have now revived it. I have added my last road trip to Oregon on the blog, and have started discussion my plans for my trip to Europe in two weeks. I wish I could bring my laptop with me and make comments each night as I know I will be doing so much, but I will keep a diary and update it when I can.

So, in addition to my everyday life blog, I will continue to update my travel blog and share my experiences, tips I've learned (or wish I had learned earlier), and musings about travel. So when you're wanting to leave your hectic world for a little while, come travel the world with me, and read up on my 'wanderlusting' meanderings!

Random Cool Finds: "Still Alive" from Portal, slowed down 800%

2010-08-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile you randomly find something interesting. Today I found the song "Still Alive" from Portal, slowed down 800% (with the help of Twitter). The slow, haunting and mystical music was awe-inspiring. Made me wonder what other songs sound like slowed down. I listened to the original song too, and liked it as well, although it was polar opposite compared to this slow and strikingly beautiful song.

"Still Alive" from Portal, slowed down 800%

Original song, "Still Alive" from Portal (YouTube)

79. Go kayaking

2010-08-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Last year I went kayaking in English Bay at Jericho Beach in Vancouver and it was one of the coolest things I've ever done. The view of downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park from your kayak is breathtaking. Even those freighters sitting in the bay are magnificent and absolutely enormous when you kayak up beside them. This year I took it a bit easier (and cheaper) and went to Deer Lake by my house and paddled around the lake. I've been a few times now and it's so relaxing and therapeutic. One time when I was there I saw a Huron on a log, along with a turtle who seemed frozen in place, probably thinking, "Don't eat me, bird." Who knew such beauty can be seen in the middle of the city? One thing I would like to do is go kayaking in Deep Cove. The scenery there is gorgeous as well. Item 79, done.

77. Go ziplining again

2010-08-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

If you can see through the blurriness, yes, that's me strapped up and ready to go ziplining! During the Olympics and Paralympics they had FREE ziplining across downtown Vancouver's Robson Square. I went after work during the Paralympics with some friends and waited 3.5 hours. It was cool because by the time we got to the top it was dark and all the lights were on. I'll post some more pictures below so you can see it. I'd definitely do this again, I love, love, love ziplining. Too bad they're not longer! Maybe I should try Whister....?

Matt and me right before jumping off the ledge!

The view from the top with all the lights!

Bbad's ready to go!

We survived and it was EPIC!

76. Buy a smart phone

2010-08-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

Since my old phone got run over (yes, it actually did), I realized it was time for me to buy a new phone. Since I work in the web industry and find myself designing for mobiles, I figured I should get familiar with using one. I looked at different phones, but decided on getting an iPhone 3GS just because they're the top in the market and has the most RAM. (For those non-geeks that means: they're the best selling and fastest phone - which I'm sure some people would want to debate that statement, but I don't care, it's my blog and my opinion- ha.)

And yes, I LOVE my phone. No need to go home and check my email. No need to print out any maps. Can Google or surf the web at all times. Endless entertainment of apps and games (and yes, my first app I spent money on was Tetris). Able to take notes in meetings and email them right away. No need to print recipes. Everything is connected on my phone. I'm always accessible. Saved my bacon at TYC.

As for the story on how my old phone got run over, it goes something like this: I had my phone, and then I didn't have it. Couldn't find it in my purse, tried calling it (it was shut off, went straight to voicemail - which when I found that out I knew something was terribly wrong), searched all over the parking lot for it, then my friend Rachel found it inside the building on a table, smashed to pieces. Had scrape marks on it - clearly run over. End of old phone.

59. Get a haircut

2010-08-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

This post is a bit delayed, as I'm already planning on what to do for my next one, but a few months ago, before the big TYC event, I got a haircut to tame the long mane. As for my next hair cut, I'm wanting something a bit edgy, but still long. If you have any ideas, let me know! I know most of the shorter haircuts are the more edgy ones, but I'm not ready to cut it all off just yet! It took too long for me to grow it this long in the first place! Watch out for another posting of #59 in the near future...

75. Watch Season 5 of Lost

2010-08-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to renting Season 5 of Lost and proceeded to watch it in its entirely in a matter of 2-3 weeks. Most people I've talked to have "lost" interest (pardon the pun), stating that it was too confusing or hard to figure out. But as for myself, I still enjoy all the little subtleties and new revelations that pop up each season. I also enjoy the memorable characters in the show. I figured I should stop trying to figure everything out and just let myself ride along with the show. It seems to be working as I still enjoy it. Although the final season has already been aired, it's coming out on DVD on August 24th, and now I'm glad I don't have to wait long to watch Season 6 - the finale of Season 5 left me hanging! I'm going to add another item to my list now... Watch Season 6 of Lost!

More of my design work launched!

2010-07-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

CGA-Canada Discussion Board
Last year I worked on creating the process for the online Discussion Board CGA-Canada wanted to incorporate on their main site. I also researched the usability, created the design and mock-ups of the pages, and assisted the developers with the CSS for the project. And finally today, almost a year after it was completed, the first discussion was conducted and so it is now able to be viewed!

So check out the "Discussion Board" (and yes, the spacing differences between the image and the title bothers me, but I didn't do that part): http://www.cga-canada.org/en-ca/MediaCentre/DiscussionBoard/Pages/ca_discussion_sme_paperwork.aspx

1. Go to Italy — Eat. Play. Love.

2010-07-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm actually going to Italy! Flight is booked. Travel books bought. Planning begins.

Eat. Play. Love.
Eat delicious Italian foods: pasta, pizza, gelato.
Play in the wonders of Italy.
Love Italy.

The busy-ness of 2010

2010-07-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

Wow, when I think about all I've done since the start of 2010, it amazes me - and I'm only half way through the year!

Temple Youth Celebration (TYC)
It all started with me being asked to be a part of the Temple Youth Celebration for the new LDS temple being built in the Vancouver area (Langley to be exact). I was asked to be on the committee for recruiting, training and managing the counselors for the youth. It was a lot of work, designing and distributing the cards and getting the YSA to sign up, but by the end of the evening of the deadline, while sitting in a very long 6 hour meeting, we reached the goal of the amount of people we needed to be counselors. Next was the step in approving the applicants, but in the end, everyone that applied was able to be a counselor. Right from the get go, they were so awesome to work with, always willing to do whatever we needed and always had cheerful attitudes. I won't ever forget their selfless service and their examples. It was also so exciting to see the youth perform for the prophet, they did such a good job.

Practicing their "We will rock you" mock version of the song for the youth.

Performing the song for the youth - they rocked it!

A little clip of them practicing their song... before I tripped over the cord and stopped the music... oops!

All the counselors and youth playing games the first night - what a party! Unfortunately the party was hampered by all the marshmallows stuck to the floor, but we know for next time!

Here's a clip of the video that my friend's brother made for TYC. He came all the way up from Utah to help us out with it!

Vancouver Canada TYC from Sean Slobodan on Vimeo.

It was also covered by the church news and KSL from Salt Lake City:

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/59293/Vancouver-youth-celebration-One-member-one-family-one-branch-one-testimony-at-a-time.html

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=10623046

Temple Open House
In amongst all the last minute preparations for the TYC, we also had our temple open house, which I was also able to volunteer at the open house for. It was a wonderful experience being able to serve during that time and be a part of it. How amazing it is that I live here at a time where a temple is built and dedicated. I remember my first Sunday I moved to Vancouver they announced the new temple and I knew I was in the right place. Four years later, it is ready for us to use! And it's just beautiful. To have a temple so close is a wonderful blessing.

Temple Dedication
At the temple dedication, I was so lucky as to be able to be inside the temple in the Terrestrial room in the first dedication session, and also be in the Celestial room with my family at the second session. It was a great experience being able to see Pres. Monson, Pres. Utchdorf and Elder Christofferson speak. I was also able to attend the session where Pres. and Sis. Burnham, from my home stake, spoke. They are such wonderful people, and it's so nice to see them when I go to the temple - they're always there when I am!

My family outside the temple after the second session!

Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympics
Also, for the rest of the world, we also celebrated the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympics here in February and March! And what a party that was! I was able to attend a few events! I saw the Nordic combined at the Olympics, no Canadians in the event, but it was pretty exciting to see, and Sledge Hockey at the Paralympics! I also enjoyed many of the free events happening all over Vancouver, and even got to ride the zipline for free! It was a great time and it doesn't hurt that we won so many golds, especially in hockey!

First time seeing the torch lit up! Go Canada!

Got to hold one of the torches!

Waited a ridiculously long time to see these, but glad I did!

At the ski jumping event!

Even my parents came to visit!

My dad totally kicked my butt in cross country skiing!

Sledge hockey game!

Go Canada!

You gotta be here.

Right before ziplining across Robson Square at night - so cool!

Meeting Sister Barbara Thompson of the General Relief Society Presidency
Another amazing experience I had in April (I know, as if TYC, Open House and Temple dedication weren't enough!) was that I got to meet with Sister Barbara Thompson of the General Relief Society of the church. She came to Vancouver to train us in Relief Society, but she asked for a focus group to join her to discuss RS in YSA and I got to be a part of it!

She wanted to know what struggles we have in RS and how they, as a presidency, could help us. I felt touched by her concern and love for us. She gave us some great advice. I was sad when our time with us was over, but I am so glad I was asked to be a part of it.

Canada-wide Broadcast from my Stake Centre
And if that wasn't enough - we were also blessed to have the Canada-wide conference broadcasted from my stake centre! I was lucky enough to sit in the chapel and had the opporunity to shake hands with Pres. and Sister Uchtdorf and Elder Pace. It was a wonderful conference, and I felt that I learned some things there that will have impacted me for the rest of my life.

Moving forward with new adventures...
And last, but not least, I had a change in my calling in church. I have been serving as the first counselor in the RS presidency in my branch for over a year, and so now that our current RS president is getting married, I was released on Sunday and then called as the new RS president. I am very excited for the call and look forward to working with my two wonderful counselors and secretary.

In looking back, I remember at the start of the year I prayed and said, "Heavenly Father, I have a lot of time... if you need me to do some work in the church, feel free to use me." And ever since then, my life has become hectically busy! But I love the growth and strength it has given me, and I know that He will always support those He calls. I feel so blessed to have worked with so many wonderful people this year, and feel so much closer to those in my branch, stake and temple district. What a year this has been - and like I said before - it's only half way done. Still have a lot more to go!

16. Go snowboarding again

2010-04-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

It had been awhile since I'd last gone snowboarding, and so I wanted to make sure I went this year! I am now comfortable wakeboarding and am familiar with the feeling of wearing a board instead of skis. So one Monday night, my friend Brian and I went up to Mt. Seymour (just 20 mins outside of Vancouver) where they have girls ride free nights (poor Brian had to pay for himself). Brian took me down the bunny hill first and I felt confident enough to go on the main hill off of the larger ski lifts. I'll have to admit that the hardest part about snowboarding for me is getting off of the chair lifts. I have a habit of falling quite often! But this time I managed to only fall once, much to my relief. Brian was a good snowboarding buddy, he taught me some snowboarding skills and waited for me while I took my time going down the hill. It was a fun evening and can't wait to go up again!

14. Take a yoga class.

2010-04-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

I took advantage of my free yoga class at work for a day and thoroughly enjoyed it. It helped me relax my tense muscles and take a break during the day. Usually I just work as hard as I can throughout the day and don't stop to take a break. It's definitely something I would do again. It was a fun one to try!

48. Watch Season 7 of 24

2010-04-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

This one was an enjoyable one to do. I watched it all within two weeks! It never ceases to entertain me with the smart story lines and unique camera angles. Oh, and a modern-day super-hero name Jack Bauer. Looking forward to watching Season 8!

Now I need to watch Seasn 5 of Lost.

Answers to prayer...

2010-01-25T12:53:00.000-08:00

Last night I attended a fireside where Elder L. Whitney Clayton spoke to us. I felt of his love for us as he answered questions from the congregation. One of the questions that was answered at length was about receiving guidance and answers through prayer. At one point he mentioned that if we look back a few years to a talk given by Elder Richard G. Scott about prayer, it would answer a lot of questions about receiving answers. So today I found the talk he told us about, given at the April 2007 Conference entitled, "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer". I'm sure each of us have said many heartfelt prayers and have wondered about those that remain unanswered - I know I have. I found Elder Scott's prayer to be of comfort to me and have copied some of it below. The part that impacted me the most was when he said,

"It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result. The Savior taught, "Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you." At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good."

I liked the emphasis on how sometimes our prayers aren't answered how we'd like them to, but that the answers are for our eternal good. I don't know what my full potential is, but my Heavenly Father does, and I trust that He knows and sees way more than I do. "Doubt not, because ye see not." Just because I don't see an answer or what my potential is, it doesn't mean it's not there or that I'm capable of reaching it. But I know that through the Lord I am capable of reaching it.

If you'd like to read the rest of the talk, you can find it here on the lds.org website.

52. Fix Brake Pads on Car

2010-01-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

You know how you have those things that you know you need to do but you just put it off until it's absolutely necessary? I put this item on the list because I knew it would force me to put it foremost in my mind. Sure, fear of my life or the possible 'ruination' of my car should probably be enough for me to want to take my car in... but yeah, apparently not. Since I'm taking my car on a bit of a trip this weekend with passengers in my car, I thought it would be wise to get the brake pads fixed in respect of other people's lives. Funny how the motivation kicks up with other people are involved. I'm sitting in the car shop as I'm writing this and waiting for the brake pads and rotors to be put on the front of my car and then I'll be clear of conscience for a few months before I'll need to do the same for the back. Number 51. Check.

What should I do with my life?

2010-01-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

Found this quote from designer Jessica Hische that I thought was a good way to determine what to do with your life.

“The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life.”

Here's the link to the video of her giving the one piece of advice she'd give to anyone looking to find out what it is they probably should be doing in their lives. http://www.humblepied.com/jessica-hische/

11. Learn how to make a decadent dessert

2010-01-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

While I was on the cruise last month, I ate the most delicious warm melting chocolate cake. The other day I had a sudden desire to bake something decadent, and remembered the cake from the cruise. Out of curiosity I searched online to see if I could find the recipe, and lo and behold, I found the cake I had on the cruise. Whether or not it's the same recipe, I don't know, but it's still pretty amazing, and thankfully, so easy to make. It's so delicious and to die for! Will definitely be making this for my next dinner party! The more decadent the chocolate you use, the more decadent the cake will be!

Here's the recipe:

Carnival Cruise Line Chocolate Lava Cake

Chocolate lovers sailing on Carnival cruise line, always fall in love with the warm chocolate cake they serve.

Ingredients:
8 oz semi-sweet chocolate
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
7 eggs
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan at low heat; cool 10 minutes. In separate bowl, mix four eggs with sugar. Whisk. Add flour and whisk. Add remaining three eggs. Add egg mixture to chocolate mixture. Pour in individual ramekins. Bake until just done, about 15-20 minutes (interior will be melting).

Serve with vanilla ice cream. Makes 8 servings

http://www.tasteforcooking.com/dessert/carnival-cruise-line-chocolate-lava-cake/

My New Website

2010-01-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been meeting tons of people in the web and media industry, and they always ask me if I have a website. I had to answer that I didn't, and the reason being is because I work for a company and don't need to promote my skills outward at the moment. But I got thinking and since there will be a few projects coming up this year, I thought I should have website to host my projects on. And besides, it'd be fun to see how far I could go creatively!

Last year I didn't renew my http://miche.ca website domain registration and I'm kicking myself that I didn't because I loved how short and sweet it was. It's registered until some other company now, so I decided to use http://michelleherrington.com. It was either that or http://themiche.ca, but I thought it'd be more professional to use my name. I just created it today, so there isn't much on it, but at least it's pretty to look at. Maybe down the road I'll move my blog over to this site... Enjoy!

30. Redesign my blog.

2010-01-11T14:26:00.000-08:00

So as you can see, I redesigned it. Or rather, I changed the template. If I had the time and patience I'd create an original one, but for now, this'll be my 'redesign'. Nothing fancy, but I like the grunge, artistic, minimalistic look about it. You like? It's a little harder to edit my blog using this template, so I might look at changing it to something like this.

Currently working on...

2010-01-11T13:38:00.000-08:00

Since some of my items on my list take a longer period of time to accomplish and check off, I thought I'd mention some of the items I'm currently working on from my '101 things to do in 1001 days' list...

Take a yoga class. My company provides yoga classes and they start tomorrow. First I just need to buy a yoga mat and I'm ready to go. Should be interesting to see if I like it or not.
Go snowboarding again. Free girls night lift passes at mountain near me. How can I not pass that up?
Run in another 10K race. It's coming up in March, gotta get training!
Watch season 7 of 24. Got it for Christmas and going to waste some time watching it. That is, if I have some time to waste watching it. Might take awhile as I've got a few things starting to keep me busy...

72. Go ATVing

2010-01-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

So I finally went ATVing! It was a blast. My friend Rachel and I went in Ensenada, Mexico last month while we were on the cruise.

This is us on the bus heading out to the ATV place. We're ready for some extreme fun! It was neat to see what the Baja was like in comparison to Puerto Vallarta, which is further south. To me it seemed like a mix of the Mexican culture and SoCal.

After about a 30 minute ride we reached the ATV/dune buggy place where they gave us explicit safety instructions... by telling us to read a board with the information on it. Since it didn't look like they were going to say anything more about it, I read the board. It seemed pretty straight forward enough, but their lack of concern did bring the thought of "I hope I don't die" to my mind.

They gave us our helmets and we picked out our ATVs and we were on the road!

I'm not sure what my expectations were of ATVing, but I was thoroughly pleased. They took us down a road that lead to some back country hills where we went over rocks, mud puddles, up and down steep hills. It was more intense than I thought it'd be, and had a good group that liked to keep a fast pace. There were a few times I feared for my life when we'd go down steep hills with huge rocks and crevasses, but we all made it out alive! This is something I'd definitely do again. It's like snowmobiling, except without the snow and I don't get stuck and have to dig myself out of snow drifts. Much easier.

Number 71 now completed. Check.

Crusin' before the holidays... part two

2010-01-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

So after we left the cruise ship, we met up with two of Rachel's mission buddies and did some sightseeing around San Diego.

First we went to the beach by UCSD.

Then we headed over to Balboa park... this is us getting up the energy to fight the rain.

Balboa park was beautiful!

Us doing our 'fountain' poses.

We even went to see the gorgeous San Diego temple!

I got initiated into the yummy pizza at BJ's.

The next morning we all went to the San Diego temple again for a session. Afterwards we rented a car and drove up to L.A. because we couldn't think of anything else to do in San Diego. We first went to the L.A. temple and got some pictures, then we went to the Getty Museum, but because it was so rainy, windy, and cold, we couldn't stay up there long as we had to move from building to building outside. We wanted to go see the Hollywood sign or the walk of fame, but the weather was just too cold and rainy. Note to self: go to L.A. when the weather's nice.

Driving up to L.A. in our rental.

The L.A. temple is also beautiful!

That "fog" you see is actually the reflection of the flash against all that water in the air! This was when we were at the Getty museum. Would love to come check it out another time on a beautiful day!

After we went to the Getty museum, we met up with Adam at a YSA ward in L.A. where his improv group was performing. Rachel ran into some friends from BYU there. I met one of Rachel's friends who is in the design industry and had a good chat with him. It's nice to talk to other people who are in the same industry as I am, to hear their perspective on things.

After the ward dinner, we all went to McDonalds (we didn't eat anything at the ward dinner) then Adam wanted to take us to this awesome ice cream sandwich shop by UCLA. They were delish!

So after that we said our last goodbye to Adam and drove back down to San Diego as we were flying home the next day. It was a fabulous trip and I'm really happy Rachel and I were able to go! Who would have thought that we'd do all the things we did? It was really worth it and I'd definitely do it again. But next time in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean!

Crusin' before the holidays...

2010-01-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

If you want to eat all the time, not clean up after yourself, relax and meet fun people, do what I did: find a super cheap cruise and book it! Except make sure you go somewhere warm and sunny. Well, that's what I thought I would get when I booked the cruise from San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico in December. You know, South Cal's always supposed to be sunny and warm, right? But apparently they get rain too... and lots of it.

My friend Rachel and I flew in to San Diego on the Sunday night and ended up getting the best shuttle driver ever. We were the only ones in the shuttle, so Bill (our shuttle-driver-extraordinaire) took us on a tour of downtown San Diego and pointed out the best spots to us, restaurants, shopping, tourist attractions, you name it. He then dropped us off at our hotel where we then walked around and got some shopping in.

The next morning we woke up to heavy rain. And cold weather. Even though we had just come from Canada, we didn't bring any warm clothing with us (the warmest thing I had brought was a long sleeved hoodie that was as thin as a t-shirt), or any rain gear - not even an umbrella. So we decided to go shopping and get a jacket... but we soon realized that San Diego 1) only has outside stores because it never rains there, 2) doesn't have any rain jackets because it never rains there. We walked in the pouring rain, and seriously - it was like I was standing in a shower all day. We didn't find any waterproof jackets, so I ended up buying a down vest and wool hat from The Gap because I was getting desperate. Then it was time for us to walk to the cruise terminal, which was only a few blocks away. The rain got even worse at this point. I don't think I've seen it rain that much, even in Vancouver! While we were walking, a bus driver felt sorry for us walking in the rain so he invited us on to the bus and drove us the last couple of blocks to the terminal. People in San Diego are so nice! It might help that we were two young girls traveling... haha.

So we got a little wet...

So the first night the boat rocked a lot because of the wind/rain storm, so we watched a couple of shows and did some touring around. The best part was the food of course!

While we were walking around the first night, I saw this guy and immediately recognized him from the independent movie, "Charly." I didn't have the courage to say anything to him at that point. I hissed at Rachel, "Rachel! It's the guy from Charly!!" but he was gone before she could see him. We saw him once more on the way to breakfast the next morning but Rachel missed him again because she was cleaning her glasses and didn't get them on in time. At lunch time we saw him again - and this time Rachel saw him and we decided to see if we could sit near him to start talking to him. We started to follow him to see where he was sitting, but then he sat with his mom and sisters, so we decided not to try and talk with him at that point.

The next day we went to Catalina island and walked around. It was fun to do some sight-seeing and doing some hiking.

We found some funny hats in a store...

There was a bunch of cactuses on our hike up the hill...

Oh look, a girl in a tree...

Yeah, we literally tried to eat everything. As if there wasn't enough food on the cruise!

The following night Rachel and I were sitting in the karaoke room waiting to see if a lady we had met at dinner the night before was going to sing when I feel Rachel poke my arm. I looked at her just as she pointed up behind us at someone. I turned and came face-to-face with the "Charly guy". I thought Rachel had already said something to him, so I said "Hi!!!" And he said, "Hello!" He had come up behind us and asked us whether or not we were going to go up and sing. We started chatting, found out that he was in fact the guy that played Mark in the movie Charly, and his name was Adam Johnson. We chatted and hung out that night and he told us about these other movies he was in and we compared notes on iPhone apps, or whatever else you talk about until 2 a.m. in the morning. Hey, we're on a cruise, it's not like we had anything else planned to do!

The next morning we arrived in Ensenada and met up with Adam and his sisters, mom and nieces to walk around the town. Rachel and I had to get back to the cruise terminal for our ATVing excursion, but we made plans to have Adam meet up with us after so he could take us to this fish taco place he recommended. I'll go over the ATVing in another post as it's one of my 101 things to do in 1001 days, but here are a couple of pics.

Us waiting for the shuttle to head out ATVing.

Yup, we're tough.

We were a bit late coming back from our excursion, so on our way to meet up with Adam we see him walking away from the terminal back into town. Once we got off the bus, we ran towards town. We looked for him but couldn't find him and by that point we hadn't eaten since breakfast and were starving so we decided to get something to eat since we couldn't find him. It ended up working out fine because while we were eating, Adam ended up walking by the restaurant we were at. So we hung out in town a bit longer, did some window shopping, took some fun pictures and then headed back to the cruise ship.

Us in front of our cruise ship.

Adam bought us flowers.

What's a night on the town in Mexico without a token picture?

Hmm...what are these two up to?

The three amigos.

We had a fun last night on the cruise, ate some pizza and ice cream at midnight (just because we could) and prepared for leaving the next day. We said our goodbyes to our new friend Adam and his family (who went back home to L.A.) and bid farewell to our lovely cruise.

Part two of this trip will be in the next post.

Finding our passion

2009-12-22T15:26:00.000-08:00

I consider myself one of the few lucky people in the world that get up in the morning and am actually excited to go to work. How I got here, I don't know, but I think it was a collection of many small steps along the way. I was reading an article about finding our passion and liked the advice it gave. Here's a small excerpt of it:

"Some people ask, "What if I haven't found my true passion?"

It's dangerous to think in terms of "passion" and "purpose" because they sound like such huge overwhelming ideas. If you think love needs to look like "Romeo and Juliet", you'll overlook a great relationship that grows slowly.

If you think you haven't found your passion yet, you're probably expecting it to be overwhelming. Instead, just notice what excites you and what scares you on a small moment-to-moment level.

If you find yourself glued to Photoshop, playing around for hours, dive in deeper. If you keep thinking about putting on a conference or being a Hollywood screenwriter, and you find the idea terrifies but intrigues you, it's probably a worthy endeavor for you." - Derek Sivers

I like how it talks about what the small moment-to-moment things that excite you. I think that's how I found my own passion. If someone told me when I was a kid that I'd find one of my passions in being a web designer, I probably wouldn't have believed it. Partly because it wasn't even a career when I was a child, but also because on the surface, it doesn't seem like I'm contributing much to society, and isn't that what we want to do when we get older? Change the world?

The journey on how I found my passion in web design came through little choices I made along the way that have led me to where I am. I would say that it all started when I was in high school when I decided to change my focus from drama classes and take art instead. I always enjoyed art in elementary school, so it made sense to me. I loved those art classes in high school, which in turn led me into taking more classes when I was in university.

I also always had an interest in computers and business growing up. I remember my first computer class in elementary school. I loved the green turtle on the screen when I would tell him how many degrees to turn and how far to go. Luckily I had parents that invested in a computer at home when I was young, it allowed me to become quite proficient with them early on in my life. Also, being the daughter of two entrepreneurs, I love business. I loved the entrepreneur class I took in high school, and always keep my eyes open for business ideas.

When I graduated high school, I had no idea what career I wanted to do, so I decided to take General Studies which allowed me to try all sorts of different classes to see where my interests lay and see what career path I should go down. I took everything from Art, to Biology, to English, to Sociology, to Psychology, to Anthropology, to Technical Writing, to Spanish, to Computer Science. I even took some philosophy classes. I found that I enjoyed the arts and sociology the most - but again, I didn't think I'd be able to make much money as an artist or psychologist. At the end of my first year I resigned to being a teacher, since I didn't know what else to do.

Halfway through my second year, my sister got married and for her wedding I decided to create a slideshow for her and her husband. Along with pictures, I added a video interview of them into it. And I loved every moment creating it! The long hours sitting in front of iMovie, editing, writing, I was in my own world. From then on, I was hooked with the media industry.

I soon looked into programs available for school and found a tech school where I could further develop my multimedia (as that's what it was called back in the stone ages of 2001). I completed my General Studies degree, and then went on to the tech school to learn more about video editing, photography, web design, Flash, web development, graphic design and music. I went into the program wanting to focus on graphic design and video, and left the program still wanting to do the same thing.

Luckily the company I was working for at the time was willing to utilize my new found skills and created a job for me as their web designer. I hesitantly agreed to do it, even though I still wanted to work as a graphic artist and videographer. A year later I left the company and moved to Vancouver. I looked for work in the industry, but since I didn't have much of a portfolio, I felt underqualified for a lot of the jobs out there. Luckily I found a position at a not-for-profit organization as their multimedia operator, and a few years later, they too created a position form me within the company as their web designer.

In the time between graduating from tech school and starting as a web designer the second time, it seems as though the web design industry just grew in leaps and bounds. Social media was becoming way more prevalent, CSS capabilities were growing and the design industry was pushing the limits of what they could do on the web.

Since being a full-time web designer this second time around, I have found my passion. I am able to utilize my artistic/creative side in designing sites, I get to work in a business, and recently, I realized that through the focus on User Experience (UX), I get to study people - which uses my interest in sociology I had when I was in University.

So how did I find my passion? Baby steps, a little luck, and doing what I love to do. I guess I noticed what excited me and went with it. So if you're looking to find what your passion is, so that you are excited to get up and go to work in the morning, I echo the words from above, "notice what excites you and what scares you on a small moment-to-moment level. You grow by doing what excites you and what scares you everyday." Don't worry if you don't find it right away, but if you look for it in the small things - I'm confident it'll come to you.

49. Go to a Canucks game

2009-11-28T10:29:00.000-08:00

My cousin Jen is awesome! She got me tickets to see a Canucks game this week and so I was able to go! I brought my friend Rachel with me.

We sat up in the higher section, right next to 'Fin' the Canucks' mascot! Rachel got a picture taken with him, I probably should have too. So far, each time I go to a Canucks game, they win - so I say I'm their lucky charm. It's not their hard work or training that helps them win, it's just having me there that does. How does it explain their wins on days I'm not there? Hmm... it doesn't. Oh well, I'll just believe that for now. They won against the LA Kings 4-1, with the last goal going in at 5 seconds left of the game. Luongo did a great job blocking like always, he's my favorite Canuck player this year. Here he is preparing for his next block.

57. Go tanning - beat the blues with a cruise

2009-11-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

It's November in Vancouver and that means we're in the rainiest month of the year. I've lived in Vancouver for over three years now and have never once complained about the rain (I'd take it over cold weather any day) - until now. A month of solid heavy downpour can dampen anyone's spirits - so what do Vancouverites do when this happens? They go tanning. Oh - and they find a really cheap deal on a cruise. My friend Rachel found one and we decided to go! Gotta love spontaneous trips. It's a 5 day/4 night cruise and we were able to find a cheap flight down there. Both flight and cruise cost less than $400! Nothing like a cruise to beat the rain blues right before the holidays.

2. Have a girls weekend/ 66. Go to a play

2009-11-28T09:34:00.000-08:00

So last weekend my sister left her two girls and husband at home and came for a weekend away in Vancouver! It was great to spend time with my sister like we used to when we lived together in Calgary. There's nothing like solid girl time!

After picking my sister up at the airport, we started off the weekend with a foot massage at this really cheap place that my friend found - such a great deal! If you ever want a massage while you're in Vancouver, I recommend this place, so cheap and they do a pretty good job. Wish I could get one every week! In fact, while we were there getting our foot massages, they convinced us to come back the next day for body massages. So we booked a time for right before Lindsay was flying home. Nothing like starting and ending a weekend with massages!

After that we went checked out a music store and bought some Christmas music books and then we went out for dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant, where I ordered the Pad Thai and my sister ordered a red curry dish - delish!

After the dinner we headed over to the Stanley Alliance theatre to watch the play "White Christmas", which we thoroughly enjoyed! Going to a play was also one of the things I had on my list of 1001 things to do, and it's my sister's favorite Christmas movie, so it was perfect! There's just something about heartwarming Christmas movies or plays that get me into the Christmas season. It was great to share that experience with Lindsay.

The next morning we headed off for a day of window shopping at Metro-town, then we went back and got massages at the place, and then Lindsay had to go home. Of course it wasn't enough time together (it never is), but we did a ton of fun stuff while she was here! I think we should do this every year.

68. Buy a purse

2009-11-28T09:21:00.001-08:00

Okay, so apparently I'm really excited about my new purse.

Got it on sale. It fits my massive wallet in it. And my gloves. And my hat. And my camera. All at the same time. You know, I might as well buy a backpack for the amount of stuff I put in my purse. It's ridiculous. But until I do, this is my newest accessory.

Follow up for 66. Subscribe to .net magazine

2009-11-27T14:32:00.000-08:00

Today I got my first issue of .net magazine in the mail today! It's amazing. I feel like I'm in my own niche of geeky-ness when I thumb through the pages. Ah, finally something that speaks my geeky web design language. I quickly bond with the editor when he says that he doesn't own an iPhone either. Whew! It's good to know I'm not the only one. And he hates it when people "don't engage, and spend hours glued to a tiny screen." I have to agree with him that I think it's rude when people check their phones while we're eating dinner or chatting over hot chocolate. I'm not saying I don't do that ever, but I am saying that I try not to do that, because it's just common courtesy, that's all. Now all my friends will hold me to this - especially Becky, because she caught me being disengaged when I was texting when we went grocery shopping and I ended up ignoring her. But in all fairness, she was right.

With this new magazine, I feel like my mind is opening up to what's going on in the web industry, just like when I attended the web design conference in the summer. It's funny that it came in the mail today, I had been feeling a little out of the loop lately. Okay, enough of this mindless babbling, I've got some serious reading to do!

51. Buy renter's insurance

2009-11-04T16:34:00.001-08:00

Not very exciting, but yup, finally bought renter's insurance. I've had my house and car broken into in the past, so now that I have this, I probably won't need it. Isn't that how it usually goes? :) The guy who sold it to me was quite a character, though. If I ever write a book or a script for a movie, I'd definitely use him as one of the people in it. Wish I could describe him so you'd know what I mean... but let's just say that he loved to talk, was a total salesman, would tell me his personal life while filling out forms, and I wouldn't trust him with my life - but I'll trust him with my house insurance? While I was meeting with him he took several personal phone calls, one where he took a guy's credit card number and expiry date and I heard every number of it and knew the guy's name (good thing I'm not a criminal!), and another call where he proceeded to ask the girl out on a date in which I could tell she was trying to decline politely after several attempts by the guy. So yeah, I'd definitely use him as one of my characters, because frankly, I've never quite met anyone like him before. But at least I have renter's insurance now. :)

9. Make a seasonal treat

2009-10-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Every month at work I organize a month-end gathering for a bunch of people in my department. Starting last year when we moved into our new building, we decided that for our party in October we'd invite the rest of the organization to get everyone together to mingle. This year we stepped it up a notch with decorations and even a costume contest! It ended up being a tie between our very own Sarah Palin and a flemenco dancer. It definitely makes things more fun around the office! I figured if I was hosting a Halloween party I'd better dress up too! So as you can see here, at the suggestion of my three-year-old niece, I dressed up as a bumble bee.

For the seasonal treat, which I brought to work for the party, I delved back into a childhood treat my mom used to make: Dirt in a cup. It's amazing how Oreo crumbs looks so much like real dirt! And the gummy worms just add to the fun of it. Here's the recipe should you be interested in making it: http://kidscooking.about.com/od/desserts/r/dirt_dessert.htm. Instead of crushing the cookies myself I just buy the crushed Oreo crumbs used to make dessert crusts. Much easier!

Baking has always been fun for me, so I'm sure I'll be making seasonal treats again! Christmas is just around the corner! Hmm...what to make?

67. Subscribe to .net magazine

2009-10-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

As a web designer, a lot of our inspiration comes from online research, attending conferences or expos, taking classes, researching tutorials, following big-name designers on Twitter, or just sitting outside on a park bench at lunch. Inspiration can come from anywhere at any time.

So for months I've been meaning to subscribe to .net magazine, which is a web design magazine produced in the UK, but due to cost I had been postponing it. But today I realized that although I enjoy online research, there is something satisfying about being able to hold something tangible in my hands and take it home with me. As great as online bookmarking is, I find that usually once I bookmark a site, I rarely go back to it unless I use it daily. So this will allow me to see it right in front of me, and not miss it! So today I bit the bullet and signed up for it, only to discover that I could pay for it in quarterly payments, which was the same as a year's subscription, just broken down into smaller bits. Sweet! Can't wait to see the first issue!

4. Make pumpkin pie

2009-10-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

In honor of the Thanksgiving season, my friends Robyn and Matt invited me to make pumpkin pie with them - from scratch! They had gotten a pumpkin from Robyn's grandparents who had grown it themselves, so it was going to ben an authentic homemade pie! None of the "getting it from the can" kind. Before preparing the pies, we realized we needed a few ingredients from the store, so we ran to the store to pick up the items. I when I say we "ran" to the the store - we literally did! We put on our running shoes and clothes and ran all the way there! It was really fun.

After returning, we made the pie shells and filling and put them in the oven. I liked the recipe we used because it called for honey instead of sugar. On top of the usual spices in the recipe, we threw in a little cloves and all spice for extra measure. :) While waiting for the pies to be cooked, we played some Rummy, tried a new flavor of chips (Chicken Tao something) and chatted. I always have a great time hanging out with Robyn and Matt, they're gems.

After an hour the pie was ready, and we had some warm out of the oven with whipped cream! Delicious! Nothing like homemade pumpkin pie! Thanks Robyn and Matt!!

Since I was going home for the weekend, I didn't want the pie to go to waste so I shared it with my coworkers who enjoyed the little treat before the weekend! This is something I definitely want to do again. :)

18. Get a massage

2009-10-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

On Monday I finally went in and got a massage! It was really nice and relaxing. If only I could afford to do this every month! Sigh.

55. Do a musical number in church

2009-10-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

Ever since I've posted this list, I've had so many people offer to help me accomplish some of these goals! I had no idea that would happen when I posted this list. I love it! It's so nice to have the support of my friends and family, it makes it so fun! So keep an eye out for my upcoming posts as I continue to do my 101 things in 1001 days!

So this one is for: 54. Do a musical number in church. I got a call from our ward Mission leader this past week, and he asks me if doing a musical number at a baptism counts as this item on my 101 Things To Do list. I was surprised that he had read my list and thought to ask me! So today after General Conference we had the baptism of Derek, and for the musical number I played a favorite hymn of mine that was arranged by Marvin Goldstein, "I Need Thee Every Hour". I was a little nervous playing, but people said they enjoyed it, so that's good! It's nice to be able to share my talents, and help people in the process. Makes it that much sweeter. :)

61. Get eyebrows threaded

2009-09-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

So, the first item off of my 101 Things to do in 1001 days is: 60. Get eyebrows threaded. When I was in Victoria with my friend Becky, her and I got them done. Thanks Becky!! Here's a picture of Sophie and me at Nautica Nellie's in Victoria shortly after we had them done. And the one below shows off Becky's hot eyebrows and Sophie's cute smile!

101 Things to do in 1001 days

2009-09-29T21:39:00.000-07:00

Alright, here it is. Here is the start of my 101 things to do in 1001 days starting September 28th, 2009 and ends on June 29th, 2012. I only have 64 things on my list today, but I'm sure as time goes on, I'll be able to add more to this list. I'm excited to write down things I have thought about doing, been meaning to do but never got around to, and things I've dreamed of doing. Now that it's written down, it's no longer a thought, but a goal - in a short time frame. The idea of these goals is that they're measurable and can be attained. So saying "read my scriptures everyday for an hour" is a good goal, but saying "read the Book of Mormon in 6 months" is better. So when I'm looking for something to do, I can refer to this list and cross them off as I go. So here it goes!

Travel

Go to Italy
Have a girls weekend
~~Go somewhere hot (i.e. Mexico, Hawaii, etc.)~~

Culinary Arts

Make pumpkin pie
Make cinnamon bagels
Make a loaf of bread from scratch
Make a fondant cake
~~Have a brunch between General Conference sessions~~
Make a seasonal treat
Learn how to make sushi
Learn how to make a decadent dessert
Learn how to make salsa
Try 5 new dinner recipes

Health/Lifestyle

Take a yoga class
Go tubing down a mountain again
Go snowboarding again
Drop in at a swimming pool and go swimming
Get a massage
~~Bike to work at least once~~
Play tennis
Run in another 10K race

Creative

Create a font with my handwriting
Write a song on the piano
Do an acrylic painting
Write a short story
Create a website for a friend or family member
Learn how to play guitar
Sew an article of clothing
Make an item of jewelry
Redesign my blog

In the interest of others

Make toques for babies and give to a hospital or orphanage
Babysit for someone's kids
Surprise someone with an unexpected gift
Volunteer as a study buddy with Big Sisters
Make cookies for my neighbors
Make a treat for a friend
Donate clothes for a worthy cause
Buy/make a card and send it to someone
Visit someone who is sick
Donate blood again
Take my nieces out on a play date

Career and Education

Take a CSS class (web page styling code)
Take a project management class
Take a class (painting, drawing, dance, etc.)

Entertainment

Go to a WhiteCaps game
Make a list of 10 movies I want to see and see them
Make a list of 10 books I want to read and read them
Watch season 7 of 24
Go to a Canucks game

Home and Car

Finish decorating my suite
Buy renter's insurance
Fix brake pads on car
Have a dinner party
Buy a new bedspread

Self

Do a musical piano number in church
Buy new contacts/glasses
Go tanning
Buy new jeans
Get a haircut
Get a facial
Get eyebrows threaded

Spiritual

Read a book by a General Authority
Go to General Conference in SLC again
Read the Book of Mormon again

Fun things to do

Go to pumpkin patch
Go to a play (i.e. Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, White Christmas, etc.)
Subscribe to .net magazine
Buy a purse
Go sailing
Go deep sea fishing
Drive to San Francisco
Go ATVing
Go snow-shoeing
Get motorcycle license
Watch Season 5 of Lost
Buy a smart phone
Go Ziplining again
~~Watch Season 6 of Lost~~
Go kayaking
Hike Garibaldi Lake to the Black Tusk
Go to a session in the SLC temple
Do a piano/organ duet.
Go hang gliding
~~Go to a Web Design Conference i.e. "An Event Apart" in Seattle~~
~~Register to be an organ donor~~
~~Try Bikram Yoga~~
Buy a laptop

Easter Adventures

2009-05-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

Last month Adam and I went up to Kamloops to spend Easter weekend with my family. We drove up late Friday night, which was adventurous because, as Adam studied all the way up I popped in my iPod earphones and listened to the tunes as I drove. In order to "talk" to each other, Adam would make gestures and I would simply nod my head or smile. Too funny! For those who don't know, he's studying dentistry - so he has a lot to learn for his finals, which are all worth 100% - hence the need for him to ensure he gets all the studying in he should. I'm glad I never had finals like that! And that I'm done school... well, full-time school. In the web industry, I guess I'll always need to learn and update my skills as it's an ever-changing industry. For example, I'm learning how to program in ASP.NET (sorry for the geek talk), so my design skills are slowly shaping into programming skills - who would have thought? Since graduating from SAIT, I think I've taken 3-4 courses... maybe it'll be enough for another degree someday!

Anyhow, back to the weekend. On the Saturday morning, while Adam studied, the rest of the family and I went to a carnival (you know, the ones that travel around and set up in your town for a few days at a time). It was lots of fun, and it was neat to see that my niece Maya enjoyed them as well. Guess she takes after her mom!

This is Maya on the airplane ride at the carnival.
She has this cute new thing she does with closing her eyes when she smiles:

Josh, Linds, Maya and I went on the bumper car rides. I don't think Maya enjoyed this as much.

Looks like Linds enjoyed it though!

Dad and Sybella had fun going for many walks. Sybella had this funny thing in walking up and down stairs by lifting her legs to each step like she was an adult. And she doesn't even crawl yet, just 'scoots' around on the floor. Too funny!

The gang watching Maya on the car ride! Excuse their hair, it was windy out.

After the carnival, we all went home and relaxed. I ended up watching two movies... lazy weekend, hey?

My mom and Maya have a "Movie and Popcorn Night"

On Sunday morning, we dressed the girls up in their Easter dresses (as instructed by Linds) and headed off to church.

It is always nice to see old members of the ward that I knew when I was younger. It was funny at one point because my parents were taking care of my two nieces while Linds and Josh went to their ward in Kelowna, and one of the leaders in nursery comes in to where I am in Sunday School and asks if I'm Maya's mom. I just laughed and said that I wasn't, but that I could help her if she needed me to. Just funny when it happens to you when you don't even have children of your own. :)

After church we went back to my parents house and got ready for dinner. After the weekend was over, I realized I didn't get any pictures of Adam and me together... silly me! But as least there's one of him and my dad. As my dad was talking to Adam he turns to me and says, "You know, I just found out that Adam and I have the same sense of humor!" I affirmed that he did. For those that know my dad, he can have quite the dry sense of humor - and I seemed to have inherited it from him.

Here are the boys hard at work peeling potatoes...

My momma and me playing hooky on the kitchen work...

After that we had our Easter Egg hunt. It's fun how little kids bring the magic of the holidays back.

Sybella showing off her stash of chocolate:

Looks like Maya found a chocolate egg!

Spectators from the other side of the room:

Linds and Sybella chilling out after a long 15mins of searching:

After the hunt we had a nice dinner with my family and Meagan's parents who were in town for the weekend. It's always great seeing them. Sunday night was full of movie-watching, cleaning and visiting. On the Monday, Adam studied in the morning, then we headed down to Vancouver in the afternoon and decided to take the scenic route home. It was quite the windy road, but there were lots of cute little towns to look at and beautiful scenary to see. Hence it looks like my road-trip "itch" is coming again! Where to next....?

Runnin' and funnin'

2009-03-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I ran in my first 10K race with my sister Lindsay in Abbotsford, BC. It was a cold and pouring wet day, but it was a great experience to be able to run with my sister! We ended up running together most of the way (although I had to keep catching up with my speedy sister), and ended up running it in 1hour, 9mins. I'm not sure if that's good or not, but hey, it was my first race so I'm happy I was able to do it! I'm planning on running in a 5km with my friend Robyn next month, so that'll keep me invovled in running.

Josh had a seminar to attend in the lower mainland the same weekend, so it worked out perfectly to have everyone come down together and stay with me. I took the Friday before off work and went to the the Vancouver Aquarium with Lindsay and the girls. They had a good time, we even had the little baby Beluga come up to us and try to spit water at us!

Like always, it was great seeing the adorable girls, they just melt my heart every time I see them!

Sybbie pointed at everything she saw.

The girls checking out the sharks and turtles.

Also, another update, last month I went to the Seattle Temple for my endowment. It was a great day as I had a lot of my family and friends there with me. Unfortunately my friends Jacinta, Jay, Robyn and Matt had to leave earlier so I wasn't able to get pictures with them, but I was able to get some with my family and Adam. It was a great experience, and I was even able to participate in some family sealings afterwards! It was my first time doing family names, so it was a special experience to be able to do that for my first experience in sealings. I'm looking forward to going back again!

Shuswap & Vancouver Island Coastline

2008-07-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

Yet again I've been off to different places each weekend. For the Canada Day long weekend I went to my family's cabin at Shuswap lake and had a great time catching up with all my cousins that I grew up with. As we got older, we all went our different ways, but since it was my cousin's wedding, we were all there. Felt like old times again. It's funny how most of us moved away, but now we're all moving back. Here are some photos of the weekend:

The following weekend I decided to go over to Victoria for a day to visit my friend Becky who was spending some time with her family before heading back to far away Calgary. Here are some photos of the coastline from the ferry and from the weekend:

After all these weekends in Oregon, Washington, Shuswap, and on the island... I think I'm going to stick around Vancouver this month and enjoy where I live! I went down to the Spanish Banks beach last night and sat on the beach, listed to my iPod and suntanned. I really do live in such a gorgeous city! As much as it's a "big" city, I feel like I'm finally home. I absolutely love living here!

Larrabee State Park and Out of the Darkness Walk

2008-06-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went down to Seattle to meet up with my good friend Becky and her family who were down there to do an "Out of Darkness Walk for Suicide" in memory of her sister Jodi. I was going down to babysit her daughter while they were doing the walk.

On my way down there, I took a detour and stopped at Larrabee State Park to enjoy the coastal scenery. Although the day was cloudy, it was still very beautiful and was able to get some interesting shots of the mist rising off the water. Although it looks cold, it was actually quite warm that day.

The Northern part of Larrabee State Park.

The mist makes it look really cool.

This is more towards the Samish area. I love the ice-capped mountains in the background.

I thought it would be fun to be a tree-hugger for a day!

After the little detour, I headed down to Seattle and met up with Becky and her family. It was so nice to catch up with her and see her adorable little girl, Brielle! They got things organized for their walk and then we had a lovely dinner together. After dropping Brielle and I off at the hotel, they were off for a long night of walking 20 miles! They started at 7pm and walked until 5am the next morning! They each raised $1000.00 for suicide prevention.

It's sad, that in our culture, suicide has a negative stigma, and people have a hard time talking about it. I've learned that we need to not be afraid to talk about the hard stuff. I think it's not that people aren't willing to talk about suicide with those who have lost loved ones to suicide, but just the fact that they don't know what to say. I understand that feeling. I've learned that it's okay to talk about it and that those who have lost loved ones need more support than they get now. I don't think it's something you ever get over...

After the walk was over, Becky and her husband met me back at the hotel. They were surprisenly alert after all that walking and staying up all night! After a quick breakfast, we were out the door and heading home. It was a great weekend!

Becky, her daughter Brielle and I the morning after Becky and her family did the "Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide" in memory of her sister Jodi.

I love her face in this picture!

Trip to Oregon!

2008-06-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I took a trip to Oregon to visit my old roommate and close friend Allison and her family! It was so great to catch up on old times, quote movie lines and reminisce about the old days! She introduced me to The Office and I vow to finish watching Seasons 2 and 3! Her daughter Lizzy and I had a lot of fun playing together, she's such a little cutie!

Us eating macaroni! Yum!

Isn't she adorable??

On Saturday, I went to Allison's tap dance recital which was so fun! She did a great job! Afterwards we went over to Pacific University where her husband, Adam, was doing a music video for the Veralux Optometry Superbowl. His band, the Near Triad, wrote a song explaining the rules for the "superbowl" and were getting filmed the weekend I was there. So we got to be extras! It was super fun singing and dancing in the school and in the makeshift "club" they created! The band was really good! I wish I had pictures of it, but I don't... :( But you can view some photos Allison took by going to her blog: Allison's blog. Hopefully I'll see the music video someday! I probably didn't make it in, but it was super fun to do!

Hey....
We're at the Veralux.... Optometry Superbowl!
Will you get the ware?
Hey....
We're at the Veralux.... Optometry Superbowl!
Will you get the cash?
Hey....
We're at the Veralux.... Optometry Superbowl!
Will you get the rights?

After church on Sunday, I started heading home, but since the day had turned out so nice, I decided to take a detour route home and go and see the beautiful Oregon coast! I would absolutely love to live there! Here are some photos I took:

Cannon Beach - gorgeous!

Coast view looking south towards Rockaway Beach

Hug's Cove - cool splash!

Rockaway Beach - looking South

Hug's Cove

I tried to find a "Welcome to Oregon" sign, but couldn't find it! But this is good too!

On the way home, I stopped to take a photo of Mount St. Helen's! It was gorgeous!

It was a great weekend in Oregon, and I look forward for another chance to go back down and spend a day on the beach!

New Car!!!

2008-05-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

After finally succumbing to the realization that my life was in my hands each time I rode in my 14-year-old two door hatchback "Pocket Rocket" Geo Metro, I started looking at different options of cars I could buy.

At first the only requirements I had for my new car would that it have air conditioning, four doors, power windows, power locks and keyless entry. At first I looked at the Toyota Corollas because of it's dependability, good gas mileage and cute design. I test drove a few and thought they'd do, but the pricing of them was a little too high for me, and even those in my price range didn't have everything I really wanted.

My brother is an avid Honda/Acura fan, and those that own Hondas know that once you own one, it's hard to break away from them! He suggested I look at the Honda Civic Si's which are the sporty versions of the Civics. In looking at the prices, they were cheaper than the Toyotas with way more amenities such as power windows, VTEC engine, moonroof, and more saftey features. I found a couple on Vancouver island, and since my brother was visiting his in-laws one weekend, I decided to take a trip over there to check them out.

Luckily, before I headed over to the island, I ended up talking to one of my friends, Mark, who used to sell cars. He gracefully agreed to come with me and help me out. We left at 6am, took the ferry over to Nanaimo and stopped at the Honda dealership there. The car I was looking at online wasn't there, but Mark got me to test drive a manual Honda Civic Si-G coup. I loved the feel of it! Mark was trying to help me find out what I wanted in a car, but since I didn't really know, it wasn't until he drove my Geo Metro later that he figured out what I wanted: a sports car. Although my Geo Metro was small and older, it still had a lot of power and sporty feel with its sunroof, manual transmission, and spoiler on the back. After testing a Mazda 3, a Honda Accord and the Si, we headed up island to see my brother in Campbell River. We checked out another Si up there, this time an automatic which I didn't like as much. I also tried the new 2009 Honda Civic, but it was too big for me. In a time where gas prices are soaring, I wanted to keep things small.

After looking around in Campbell River, I decided that I still wanted to look around at other cars so Mark and I said goodbye to my brother and his wife and headed back down to Nanaimo. We checked out some of the VWs - which are nice cars, but out of my price range because they're German cars! We also stopped by the Hyundai dealership and tested the Accent, which surprising to me, had more power in it than I thought it would. I also saw the Elantra there, but because the dealership was closing, I couldn't test drive it - but what drew me in is that it had a sunroof and leather seats!

After the full day of driving and looking at cars, Mark and I headed back home without any success in purchasing a car, but I had more of an idea of what I wanted. Mark was just awesome in helping me out, I don't know what I would have done without him! Once back in Vancouver, Mark kept suggesting different cars for me, but I kept going back to the Honda Civic Si's. Whenever I was out and I'd see either a Honda or an Acura drive my, I couldn't help but stare at it and wish I could have one. I didn't consider getting an Acura because they are more expensive and out of my price range.

After looking around online at different Si's and comparing pricing, mileage and amenities of the cars, out of curiosity I thought I'd just check out the Acuras and see what prices they were selling them for. To my surprise I found the Acura 1.7 EL's to be about the same price as the Si's I was looking at! This caught my attention as the EL's had everything I wanted plus leather seats, disk brakes on all four wheels, seat air bags, moonroof and a nice interior. I found a 2005 one in Surrey and asked Mark if he could come with me. Luckily the dealership had both an Acrua EL and a Honda Si so I could compare them. Once I sat in the Acura in it's leather seats, I couldn't help but think that it was too good to be true. It rode smoothly, everything worked and had a great feel about it. Afterwards we tested the Si and felt that it ran just as nicely, but the cloth seats didn't give it justice!

We both thought the Acura was a better deal so I went in to talk to them about financing. Luckily for me they brought the price down enough for me and I purchased the car a few days later! So after all that work, research, help from Mark and my brother, and patience, I found the car of my dreams! I couldn't believe that I would be able to own an Acura in my life! It's a beautiful car and I'm in love with it!

As a final note, I do want to pay a tribute to my other car for sentimental reasons. It's the only car I've had since I turned 16 and got my driver's license for the first time. So for ten years this car had seen me through a lot! It got me through the end of high school days with countless fun with my friend Becky and I going places in it and me teaching her how to drive standard in it! We even got "pulled over" by a police officer after Becky successfully got the car from first to second gear because we were honking the horn to celebrate her success in a deserted Costco parking lot late at night! He just wanted to make sure we were okay... :) It saw me through moving away from home and going to school in Calgary. It survived six cold and harsh winters in Calgary and two of my graduation ceremonies from post-secondary education. It survived many trips between Calgary and Kamloops and trips to Edmonton or Medicine Hat or Cardston - and even many trips out to Banff to go hiking or spend an evening with Becky when she lived there. It survived many moments with my roommates and I rocking out to "You Don't Own Me" and early morning temple trips. It provided a safe haven for many late night talks with many close friends over the years. It also survived my move back to BC into Vancouver where it started to really show its age. It lasted just long enough until I had the financial means to purchase the Acura I did this past week. What a blessing this car has been in my life and I am grateful for all the memories I have had with it, and been able to make because I had it in my life. Now, it is time to turn it over to my sister and I just hope it lasts long enough until she gets the mini-van she she wants! A thank you to my little "Pocket-Rocket" for seeing me through the years. You done good. :)

Now I can take "buy a new car" off of my "Things I want to do" list!

Long time away!

2008-05-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

I'm back! Sorry for the little disruption in my blogging! I've been up to lots of stuff since I last wrote!

Spent an afternoon in Whiterock with friends from the Lower Mainland:

Lona came to visit me:

Last fall I went on a great trip to Southern Utah, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada with my friends Kristi and Jenn! We had a blast! Here's some pictures from our trip:

Robyn moved in with me:

Went to a Canucks vs. Flames game: (Canucks won!)

Went to Mexico with my family at Christmas:

Hung out with great people:

Had another niece born:

And I had another birthday:

So that's a basic overview of all the fun I've had the past year! I'll have lots more to add, but this about brings it up to speed for now!

Weekend of fun in Calgary

2007-06-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

So this past weekend was a blast! First I arrived in Calgary via the lovely Westjet on Thursday night and stayed at Becky and Nathanel Noblet's for the weekend! They were so great! They let me eat their food, mess up their living room and play with their adorable baby Brielle! Here's a few pictures of her:

On Friday, Becky took me to see my old friend Tiff where she cut my hair cute and made me look good again! After that we went for dinner and Joey's seafood and ate too much greasy fish and chips - they were so good at the time, but later that night we were both feeling the effects of eating too much grease!! After lunch we went and did some shopping at the outlet store and bought some clothes - super fun! Brielle was such a good baby all day, she didn't complain once about us taking her places!

After our shopping stint we came home and helped Yancey by making some goody bags for the workshop teachers at the Mid-singles conference I was attending this past weekend there in Calgary. Then Becky helped me get ready for the "mix and mingle" night of the conference by proceeding to make me look HOT!! Here are some shots she took that night, I think they're great because they show a side of me that I don't show very often!

At the mix and mingle I spent the whole time catching up with all my friends in Calgary and had a great time! It was great at this conference because I was able to have all my Calgary friends there as well as my Vancouver friends - I finally got to have my cake and eat it too!! I thought the mix and mingle idea was great because I didn't feel any pressure - actually I didn't feel any pressure all weekend, which is really good for me, because I usually freak out in situations like that!

On Saturday, I attended some workshops in the morning (including belly dancing!! - without the belly, of course!), then had lunch, then more workshops. They were all spectacular! After the workshops and the keynote speaker a group of us from Vancouver decided to walk to Safeway and get something to drink and some fruit to eat. Then they went back to the hotel while I went inside the church to see if I could help in any way.

At dinner they had us mingle with some other people and had some really great musical skits - there are some really talented people out there! After the dinner they did a huge round of "speed dating" which included 4 long rows of chairs and 45 seconds per guy. It was really fun because it was too short to make it ackward, and so it was sort of like an organized mingling - which is good for someone who can be shy like me... ;)

After the speed dating the dance started which was a lot of fun because I got to dance again with my calgary friends, which I hadn't done in a long time. I met a few people that night, but I can't remember their names... oops! Oh well!

After the dance Robyn, Amber, Scott and I did a run to 7-11 for old times sake to get slurpees - oh the good times! Then they dropped me off at Becky and Nathanael's.

The next morning I ran to church and made it just in time. The sacrament meeting was good, and the RS/Priesthood meeting was good as well. They had a joint RS/EQ class and had some teachers team teach - which was good for me to see how team teaching could work other than the way I do it now - really there are no rules, just as long as you teach together! Here are some photos of me and my Van group after church:

This is Mike sporting his pink tie:

After church I went over to the Institute building where I was lucky to be in town on the same Sunday as Luiza Kulchetscki's mission farewell talk!! It was fun to see her reaction when she saw me because she didn't know I was in town! Her eyes got really big and I could help but cry - I'm such a baby sometimes! But she gave an excellent talk and I know she'll make a wonderful missionary! I can't wait to hear how things go for her! Because Luiza was speaking, I was also able to run into some people that wouldn't normally be there like Kelsey and Leticia, and Ammon. It was great to see them and to see Leticia's exciting news of having a baby!

After church I walked home and stopped by my friend Robyn's place and we visited for a bit.

Then I went to Becky and Nat's for one last visit. We took some more pictures, including a drunk Nathanel and a beautiful Becky:

After that they dropped me off at Nikki and Ross Melchin's where I had a great dinner with them and with Sharlee and Lamont Giles. It was great to see them again, it felt like nothing had changed! I love those girls so much! I feel SO lucky to have so many wonderful friends as I do, the Lord has blessed me immensely! Here are some crazy photos we took when Amber and Robyn and Lona showed up at Nikki's! Gotta love our randomness!!

After all the fun and games, Scott came over and I got a picture of him smiling. It was funny because before this picture was taken he was saying that he doesn't smile well in his photos, so I poked him to make him laugh, so that's why his smile is so big - or else he was excited that I was leaving, one or the other!

After that Brenna was able to stop by and we were able to make plans for her to come out to Shuswap this summer! It's going to be great!! I'm so excited!

And at long last it was time for me to leave for the airport. Scott dropped me off and I then went in to meet my friends from Vancouver who were on the same flight as me.

All in all, it was a spectacular weekend, and I am so glad I was able to go! So many memories to reflect back on and so many blessings to be reminded of! I am so lucky to live where I live and to be surrounded by the people I am surrounded by. It's been a great experience, and if I'm still single next year, I'll be there!

Springtime Update

2007-05-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess it's been a long time since I've written anything on my blog. I'm going to blame facebook for taking up all my time over the past month! But I'm here now.

The Tri-Stake Cultural event turned out very well (after many sleepless nights and stress) and it was a great experience! And the performances were spectacular, costumes were bright and colorful, performances dazzling and the overall spirit of the event was great! They video-taped the shows, so I'll be getting a copy of it to show my posterity or something as whimsical like that.

The month of May just flew by! It's starting to get a little warmer now that all the blossoms on the trees have gone now. I'm now starting to remember how beautiful Vancouver can be when it's sunny out!

This month at work I was made permanent in my position as a multimedia operator at CGA-Canada. Although this means I'll now have vacation time and benefits, I recieved this after I was turned down for another position withint the department. But perhaps it's for the best, as this way I'll be able to work on my interactive design skills, which is what I'd prefer to do more than developing - each are challenging in their own ways.

I'm looking forward to this summer, it seems like every weekend is booked already! In June I'm heading up to Kamloops to celebrate my mom's birthday, then the following week I'm heading over to Calgary for a mid-singles conference, then later in the month I'm going to Seattle to attend a YSA conference there. I'm excited for the one in Seattle because Jon Schmidt and Greg Simpson will be performing there on the Friday night - how cool is that? For those who don't know, Jon Schmidt composes lively contemporary piano music and Greg Simpson is a well-known lds music composer... and being a muscian myself, this is heaven!

Also this summer I plan on taking a week off work (I haven't done that during the summer since I was about 16) and relaxing at Shuswap with my family and maybe some of my friends as well! My goal this year is the learn how to jump while wakeboarding - fun times!!

So all in all, things are going well for me in my life. I'm still enjoying my calling as a Sunday School teacher, and with the other teacher getting married, there will be changes in who I'll be teaching with. I'm excited for that because it'll give us an opportunity to try and improve the setup we have going now.

Peace out until next time!

This is me wakeboarding last summer (2006)

What does my birth date say about me?

2007-05-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

Your Birthdate: March 23

You're not good at any one thing, and that's the problem.

You're good at so much - you never know what to do.

Change is in your blood, and you don't stick to much for long.

You are destined for a life of travel and fun.

Your strength: Your likeability

Your weakness: You never feel satisfied

Your power color: Bright yellow

Your power symbol: Asterisk

Your power month: May

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

I am loved!

2007-04-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

So my friends Kristi and Jacinta were out on a lovely stroll on Monday and decided to be rebels and proclaim their love for me by writing "I love you Michelle" on a wall.

Well, I guess the truth is, they didn't actually write it, but hey, it's the thought that counts!

March Madness

2007-04-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

March has turned out to be a pretty hectic month, but it was full of fun things to do. The day after I was "anti-lamed" I had Kristi and Tanya over for our usual Sunday dinner... and what started out as an innocent night quickly turned dangerous...

First I had to tackle Kristi to the floor before she stole my bananas...

Then we had to do our stealth Model Shot. Aren't we a good lookin' group of gals?

Then just as I thought all was going well, Tanya and I decided to take a picture, only to have Kristi finally get at my bananas in the background. She denied the truth, but we have it documented, so she cannot even try to weasel her way out of this one...

Later on in the week we had our Woman's Rally for Enrichment night for Relief Society. Of course Kirsten and I had to get pose for the camera, it was an important moment.

I'm looking forward to this month of more parties, going home for Easter, and preparing for the tri-stake cultural event that I will be doing the backdrops for. It's going to be amazing. Hopefully I'll have some pictures later to show how everything turns out.

Happy 25th and Tanya's hair show

2007-03-26T23:03:00.000-07:00

It was Tanya's final week of school and so we went to her hair show to see her work in action. It was fun to see Jacinta and Jay in their dress and suit. Because I was attending my brother's wedding in Toronto, I missed Jacinta's wedding so it was neat to see them all dressed up - even though I saw their great pictures. Here's the four of us girls doing what we do best: laughing.

On Friday it was my 25th birthday! It was also Tanya's last day of school this week, so that was incorporated into the festivities with a helium inflated balloon too. Apparantly every candle on the cake represented five candles... just to clear up any questions any of you may have had...

This is Kristi, Kirsten Badesso and I before leaving the house. We didn't plan our shirts to match... it just happened that way - isn't that weird when it happens?

We all met at the Noodle Box to eat our noodles... out of a box! Now, for some reason, when I saw movie stars and tv shows eat chinese food out of a box, I always wanted to do that too. But growing up in smaller towns in BC and then going to Calgary, there isn't much opportunity to do that. They just give you a styrofoam box and it just isn't the same. A couple of weeks ago, Tanya told me of this place that sells noodles in a box! I just had to eat there for my birthday, so that's what we did. We all ordered our food and then headed back to my place to revel in our noodles.

My sweet friends all chipped in and bought me a gift certificate to a spa!! I think that is the awesomest present a girl could receive! I've never been to one, so I'm very excited to use it!! I'll have to let you know how it goes! After a night of funny stories, surprises and lots of laughs, we called it a night. Below is a picture of me, Angela Backenburg, Kristi and Jacinta "leaving Kirsten out." Poor Kirsten, she feels unwelcome in my home!

Sometimes getting there just isn't easy

2007-03-26T22:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend a group of us girls decided that it would be fun to go to Seattle for a Gold and Green Ball, some shopping and then head over to the Temple on the Saturday. We'd stay over in a hotel and have a blast! Kristi and I rode together to the hotel and got there shortly after all the other girls in the other car got there. We hurriedly got ready for the dance, then busted our way over there.. only to get catch in a momentary traffic jam. A couple of wrong merges later we were on the I5 heading to the dance. We arrived in style and danced (or sang) the night away. There were tons of people there and everyone was friendly and didn't mind that we were from Canada.

Kristi and I enjoyed our stay at the hotel a lot because we each had our own bed and a massive amount of pillows - we each had four. Needless to say, we were very comfortable in our very own queen sized beds.

The next morning we slept in (after a late night of going to the other girl's room for food they scrounged up from the dance and watching some random shows on tv). We ate a quick breakfast, got ready, then wisked out the door to head over to Pacific Place Mall to the JCrew store for Kristi to buy a bridesmaid dress for her friend's wedding. Finding her exact size in stock (which is always awesome to see when there's only 4 dresses avaiable) we unfortunately heard bad news from the other girls.

Apparantly during the night, someone tried to steal one of the girls, Carolyn's, car but because it had an immobilizer, it was still there in the morning. So the only dilemma is how do you get 7 girls to the temple in a 4 seater hatchback Metro? Well, you leave two behind and cram the other five, and all their luggage into it somehow and take off towards the temple in the heaviest rain possible. Barely seeing outside the car, we miraculously made it to the temple unharmed (I'm sure there were some angels helping out - my car has seen me through a lot!). If you ever had a bad day, going to the temple makes it all better.

This is Kristi being sassy in front of the temple. I kept trying to tell her "this isn't the right place or time" but then again, I did take the picture... so maybe I wasn't telling her that.

After a lovely time in the temple, and getting things organized for our trip home, including Christel coming with us and ensuring the other girls' ride was coming soon to take them home (as the car that was almost stolen needed to be taken to a dealership and had to stay there to get fixed until later in the week), we set off for the bookstore, ate some dinner, then headed home... but before we reached the border we found this outlet mall and spent and hour and half shopping and too much money before heading across the border. Oops, I mean, Kristi wisely slept in the car while Christel and I shopped. Now, if you stay over night in the States, you're only allowed to bring $50 each home... $300 later, the border guard waved us through and we were back in Canada. Whew! You always wonder if you're going to be the one they make you pay duty on...

Even though it was a pretty adventurous weekend, and getting there wasn't as easy as we thought it would be... everything ended up working out fine... Although a few people's nerves were a bit frazzled after the whole experiece. But now we all have this moment to remember, and know that we shouldn't stay in downtown Seattle again - or else our car might actually get stolen.

2007-03-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

I was going through some pictures that my friend Kirsten had on facebook and I found a whole bunch from this night we spent together. Yes, we're weird, but hey, we're having fun!

Me - new hat. Kristi - hew hair.

"Blue steel" - Zoolander

"Yo, yo, yo"

We're getting moldy.

"Oh, you are just too funny! Oh, stop, my sides hurt!"

"Let's be best friends forever, kay?"

Did you know Canadians hunt beer?

2007-03-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

So I was over at my friend Kristi's house for dinner last night and we got on the conversation about how the Hudson Bay company got bought out by a US company and how if the US go down we will have to learn to be self sustaining. I mean, the Hudson Bay company started out with the fur trading company in Canada way back in the day, so to have an American company buy out something that is so branded as Canadian is an insult.

So my response to this conversation is that we Canadians "should all know how to hunt beer."

Now I have to explain why that came out of my mouth... for those who know me, I tend to mix up my words a lot when I'm speaking and instead of saying "bear" or "beaver" (I was still deciding what I wanted to say when it came out of my mouth), what came out was "beer."

So did you know that as Canadians, to promote our self-sustainability, we should all learn to hunt beer?

There is my deep thought of the day.

Brenna on TV

2007-03-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

For those who know Brenna Melchin, she was interviewed by Andree Lau from CBC News about her mission. I think it's great coverage and Brenna did a wonderful job!

Brenna on CBC

If the above link doesn't work, try going to http://www.cbc.ca/newsatsixcalgary/soul.html and click on the "Mormon Missions" link.

Personality Test

2007-03-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

I think this is a pretty good synopsis of me... Click on the link below if you want to try it yourself.

My Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion:
You have low extroversion.
You are quiet and reserved in most social situations.
A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you.
You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people.

Conscientiousness:
You have medium conscientiousness.
You're generally good at balancing work and play.
When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.
But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it.

Agreeableness:
You have medium agreeableness.
You're generally a friendly and trusting person.
But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism.
You get along well with others, as long as they play fair.

Neuroticism:
You have low neuroticism.
You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.
Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.
Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure.

Openness to experience:
Your openness to new experiences is medium.
You are generally broad minded when it come to new things.
But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it.
You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

The Five Factor Personality Test

Celebrity Lookalike

2007-03-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

I did this celebrity lookalike thing and here's what they came up with. I don't know some of them, but it's kinda fun! I think it's funny that Ellen DeGeneres is in there as the 2nd one closest to who I look like, who would have thought? If you want to try it, go to http://www.myheritage.com and click on the "face recognition" link. It would be interesting to see what everyone comes up with!

Life Lists

2007-03-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun to have some Life Lists on the side of my blog so I could keep track of things I want to do as well as things I've done. It will change periodically as I do things on my lists or come up with new things! It should be interesting to see how things change over time.

I was trying to think of things I enjoy doing and travelling is one thing I hope to continue do a lot more of! There is so much more of the world to explore and I can't wait to see it! My top two right now are Italy and Hawaii. I'm going to Mexico this coming Christmas, so that'll be fun!

Also, I think it's handy to have a list of things I want to do while I'm alive. I think that life's little joys comes from enjoying the little things as much as possible, and doing the fun things! Right now the top two things I want to do is learn how to jump while wakeboarding and to go sailing. I guess because springtime is getting closer, I'm ready for the summer activities!

I Believe My Heart

2007-03-07T13:58:00.000-08:00

This song is from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Woman in White." Duncan James and Keedie do a nice version of it. I just bought the music book for this musical a few weeks ago and it has some great songs in it. I'm sure Jacinta would sound great singing some of them!

Vancouver Aquarium

2007-03-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

This past weekend my parents were in town visiting (or rather, my dad attended a tax conference while my mom shopped) and we had fun checking out different restaurants and debating on what to do while they were in town (we never did really figure out what to do...). While my dad was in a stuffy hotel learning about changes in the tax rules for audits (or something like that) my mom and I, along with my two charming friends Tanya and Kristi, headed over to the Aquarium for a morning full of interesting sea animals.

The first stop was the beluga whales. Whenever I think of beluga's I get that song in my head... "Baby beluga in the deep blue sea..." That song brings back memories of me and my brother and sister sitting in a hot car travelling to my uncle's wedding in Idaho singing along to that song at the top of our lungs! Raffi is a classic. I also did this project on beluga whales when I was in elementary school and found them fascinating, so the fact that I finally got to see one was surreal. They are very majestic whales and a gorgeous color of white. Oh, and for all those women who are constantly dieting, belgua whales have 50% body fat!

Here we have Tanya, our lovely biologist! And for those who feel sorry for Kristi, it looks like she needs a friend!

As for the cute seal I met while at the aquarium, I couldn't resist, he was just too adorable to pass up! Who wouldn't want to kiss that cute little guy?

Here's a picture of my mom, Tanya and me! It was a lovely spring morning with clouds, sprinkling rain and lots to do and see there.

And here is the lovely Kristi and Tanya! Aren't they just precious!

Needless to say, it was a fun day and it was neat to see all the sea animals such as dolphins, sea otters, sea lions, seals, alligators and the biggest fish I have ever seen!

Beautiful Vancouver

2007-02-24T09:28:00.000-08:00

So on Thursday afternoon after work, I burst into the house and grabbed my camera and dragged my roommate Julie out with me to Jericho Beach, which is a few minutes away from our house. The sun was setting, and the blue skies were out, so I wanted to take some pictures and smell the ocean air. This is a view of English Bay, right next to downtown - isn't it gorgeous? Yup, this is where I live.

This is my roommate Julie and me being serious. In the other pictures we took, we're not so serious. We don't want people to think we're strange.

This is me. Again... it was a nice day out, but a little cold, hence the winter jacket I'm wearing.

This is the downtown Vancouver skyline. Isn't it gorgeous? If you look really hard, you can see the top of the building where I work. The sun was setting and it was really pretty!

So that was our little excursion for the afternoon. After our hands had frozen off, we dashed back to the car, drove home and drank hot chocolate underneath some very warm blankets. I can smell spring coming! I'm excited to see all the blossoms, I bet it's going to be really pretty.

This is Becks and I when I was visiting in Calgary. She just had the most adorable baby earlier this month! This is pre-baby times, where she could still sleep at night. Love ya Becks!

Welcome to my blog!

2007-02-16T15:17:00.000-08:00

Hello there fellow bloggers!

I felt like I should share my world with others. Even though I don't have as much exciting news to tell people these days, it always helps to stay in touch with friends and family. For those who don't know, I moved to Vancouver to escape the long and cold winters of Calgary and have embraced the rainy winters of Vancouver. I thought I would have a hard time adjusting to the climate change, but to my surprise, I learned that I would happily take the rain over the cold any day! Who wouldn't enjoy the fact that it's January 5th, and I'm wearing a light jacket and no gloves on my way to work? If I can't convince anyone from Alberta to move to beautiful BC, I tell them that they at least have to visit me. Karli has already taken me up on that offer, and it was a great time! Bright and sunny, although a little chilly, we had a lovely day of walking along the beach gazing at the view of city, ocean, beach and mountains - all in one picture! Breathtaking, I know! I need to take a picture of it so you'll believe me!

Here's a picture of me and my friend Tanya on a Sunday morning:

Also, last November, my brother got married to the lovely Meagan Marr and it was a great time. I have posted a picture of me and my sweet neice, Maya, from the reception in Kamloops. It only took three tries to get this picture, but she's smiling!

I'm doing well here in Vancouver, shortly after moving here from Calgary, I got a job at CGA-Canada (Certified General Accountants) in their multimedia department. I enjoy the atmosphere and the great staff in my department. Hopefully I'll continue to develop my skills here and gain a better strength in my design skills.

I'm serving in the YSA branch in Vancouver as a Gospel Doctrine teacher. It's been a blast so far, I love studying the scriptures and learning every week. It's been a good challenge for me! I'm also loving the branch, everyone is super friendly and very genuine. And of course, for those who remember Bro. Murley from Calgary, he's teaching institute in Vancouver, so we're blessed to have classes with him every week.

Here's a picture of my friend Kristi and me. Kristi and Tanya (from above) are the two girls I hang out with most! If you want a good time, come hang out with us, we'll laugh all night long!

I just realized that both these pictures were taken in the same place!! Whoops! Guess it's the "picture place"!

Anyhow, I should sign off here and keep you in suspense until the next time I post. Stay in touch!

Michelle

"Chelle Belle"