This is 30

I'm a couple months into 30 and I've decided it really is just a number. All the cliches about you being as old as you feel are true! I hope you'll all forgive me for my chronic absence but its been hard to sit and post about my to do list when life is in front of me demanding to be lived.

One important thing I did want to say is that even though I didn't finish everything on this epic 29 bucket list, I am about to embark on the one trip that made the top of the list...I'm under an hour away from flying out to Europe! 3 days and nights in London then a whole 10 days traipsing around Italy! Whoever said that everything goes downhill after 30 clearly wasn't even trying to enjoy the little things.

Youth maybe wasted on the young that don't know how to take advantage of it but I'm definitely done sitting back and waiting for things to happen. Here's to 30 and all the great things to come!

Autumn in Vancouver

How fitting is it that I'm am posting my Fall To-Do List just a few weeks before it's over?  I'm keeping this short and sweet since it's long overdue (as usual)...* denote those awesome activities that I've never done before =)

1. Attend one of the many Christmas themed fairs in Vancouver*
2. Go see Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge*
3. Visit Bright Nights in Stanley Park
4. See the Festival of Lights at Van Dusen Garden*
5. Watch the Santa Claus Parade*

There's so much more to be done around town, especially now that everyone's getting into the holiday spirit but I figured I shouldn't bite off more than I can chew since there are still presents to buy, treats to bake, and cards to write!  If I've got time, I might attempt one (or more) of the following:

• Skating at Robson Square*
• Watch a Christmas themed show (i.e. VSO's Traditional Christmas, The Nutcracker, The Santaland Diaries, It's a Wonderful Life)*
• See Luminesence at The Vancouver Aquarium

Summer To-Do - Update!

Since I adjusted the 30x30 list, my last seasonal To-Do list didn't get completed as planned.  Here is what the list was at the start of the summer:

1. Experience Hastings Racecourse*
2. Watch a Vancouver Canadians game
3. Bike the seawall*
4. Watch Titanic at Theatre Under the Stars
5. Watch a movie at a Drive-In*
6. Find a new job

And here's what I actually accomplished:

1. Watch a Vancouver Canadians game - we were massacred 11 - 6 but still managed an in the park home run that bagged 3 of our 6 points
2. Ran/Walked the seawall* - I had to bypass the bike since I had the dog with me.  This experience affirmed the truth that I am not a good long distance runner. 
3. Watched Taming of the Shrew on the last night of Bard on the Beach - This was a great night but I really do wish I had caught Titanic just to see how they managed to sink the damn thing!
4. Watch a movie at a Drive-In* - it was a rainy night but still fun.  Note for next time - pay better attention to the exit signs on the drive there and bring snacks!
5. Find a new job - one of the best moves I made all summer =)
6. Road trip to Portland - knocked 2 things off the 30x30 list in one weekend

Now that we're a month into Fall, check out my latest list =)

30x30 2.0

As promised, here is the updated list!  Is it alright to claim 'better late than never?'  I didn't think so.  In my defense, even though it's now been over a month and a half since my last post I am happy to report that my absence has been the result of having a life (and approximately 10% laziness).  Now that the cold, wet weather has returned, I'm recommitting to the list that has stayed buried for months.  Let's take a look at 30x30 version 2.0:

1. Get rid of at least 1/3 of my current possessions(ongoing =))
2. Plan my Dad's 60th Birthday Party (happened June 2nd)
3. Watch at least 1 NHL playoff game live (Game 2 of the LA series sweep)
4. See some relatives I've never met before (happened in May/June)
5. Attend at least 3 industry networking/educational events
6. Move into Vancouver
7. Plan my trip to Italy for 2013
8. Start learning basic Italian 
9. Take a creative writing class
10. Read at least 5 books from my 'must read list' (Finished: The Hunger Games, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Attempting: Moby Dick, Great Gatsby, On The Road)
11. Get my Serving it Right certificate
12. Go to Vegas
13. Visit a US city that I've never been to before (Portland, Oregon)
14. Cook a meal I've never made before from scratch
15. Take a bar tending or cooking class
16. Watch a movie at a Drive-In (Watched Brave at the Twilight Drive-In)
17. Go on a road trip (hello Oregon Coast!)
18. Eat at 1 restaurant listed in the Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants in America (2012) (#12 - Pok Pok  Thai Food)
19. Volunteer at a fundraising event (Canucks for Kids Telethon)
20. Finish either one of my short stories or 3 complete chapters of one of my currently unfinished books
21. Finish posting all my old photos (2010 - present) on Facebook
22. Guest Speak at an educational event (happened in July)
23. Watch a BC Lions or Vancouver Whitecaps Game
24. Actually complete a Pinterest DIY project
25. Attend a local Tradeshow/Market/Fair or Festival
26. Share a secret through Postsecret
27. Create and complete 4 seasonal To-Do lists for Vancouver (minimum 3 items/list that I've never done before) - 2 down, 2 to go!
28. Host at least one holiday party 
29. Plan my 30th Birthday bash!
30. Find a new job =) (Joined the A&B Partytime Team in July)

So I'm almost half way done which isn't that bad with 3 months to go.  On to the next post!

I'm alive!

I figured I'd lead off with the obvious just in case anyone was wondering =)

I know it's been a horrendously long time since my last post but am happy to report there are a handful of new ones on the way!

First up this weekend will be the finalized 30x30 list which I've just realized never made it up here. Then I've got some pics and stories from my road trip to Portland, OR.

Special thanks to anyone still reading/keeping an eye out for new posts. I'll try and make sure there are more regular updates from here on out.

Enjoy the last long weekend of the summer!

Summer To-Do's

First day of summer means it's time for a new seasonal to-do list!  Vancouver summers are always full of things to do so here's my take for 2012:

1. Experience Hastings Racecourse*
2. Watch a Vancouver Canadians game
3. Bike the seawall*
4. Watch Titanic at Theatre Under the Stars
5. Watch a movie at a Drive-In*
6. Find a new job

Bring on  the sunshine Vancouver =)

Unemployment vs. Vacation

Does it still count as a vacation if you don't have a job to vacation from?

I'm closing in on my first full week of unemployment and I have to say I'm torn between enjoying a bit of time off with summer finally upon us, and the panic of not having a job lined up yet.  After coming to the realization that I haven't taken an actual vacation in about three years, I've decided to go ahead and soak up the sunshine for the next few days before giving into the control freak in me that's fighting to get out.  Unemployment, or Hobo Life, as I've taken to calling it, has yet to turn it's ugly head but that probably has something to do with the fact most of my bills aren't due until the end of the month =)