It's all in the cards

Last weekend, before Christmas I was in the mall. I really only needed one thing from one store, but that one store happened to be in the mall. While I was there I asked on Facebook if anyone else was at the mall and if they wanted to meet for coffee. No one was, but a friend said she had to come to mall and would I wait for her. Sure...why not, two days before Christmas it was okay to hang out the mall.

I wandered my way over the Carlton Cards store, I had a couple of birthday cards to by for. Birthday cards? Do people still buy cards, in this digital, social media age we live in? Well yes, of course they do.

I was looking for a "friend" birthday. You would think that would be easy, but it was actually very challenging. Looking in the "male" section of the store, there were cards for Dads, brothers, uncles, nephews, grandsons. Where were the male friend birthday cards? There didn't really seem to be any. All the "friend" cards were mushy girly cards. The not so mushy cards, were just too generic and not really what I was looking for.

I couldn't find the right card. Well, then I remembered, I had found the right card, earlier this year. And I had actually sent it, about six months before the actual birthday.

In the summer I started on my photobook craze. I starting on a project that I was going to make a book of all the trips that B and I had taken over the nine years that we had been friends. It was going to be a birthday present. When it was done (July) I knew I couldn't hold onto it until December. Did I think I would be able to? Of course not. I had found a great card (can't remember where I bought it), and sent the gift. It was either six months late from last year, or six months early for this year.

Fast forward to today, B's birthday. Just yesterday I was out with a friend for the day and we talked about travel. I found myself talking about my birthday in Paris, my streetcar ride in New Orleans, my visit to the beautiful Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, my fish dinner at Mama's fish house in Maui, and so much more.

Realizing that all these great memories in mind were the perfect backdrop for a birthday card greeting.

Happy birthday to someone special. Someone who likes to travel to amazing places, loves to drive, and find the adventure in the little things along the way.

Happy birthday to someone that every year for the last nine years I look forward to seeing, whether it is coming to visit New York or now LA, and of course when our meetings take us to places that we haven't been (or Las Vegas where we both have been many times). 

Here's to 2013 - where it will actually be 10 years in October that we met. How could that be? I still remember when we met. I will see you in February, and then who knows where and when our next adventure will be. I look forward it!

Happy birthday friend,

Lisa

A year in the life

So, here we are again. December 30th, 2012.

52 weeks, 12 months, 365 days, 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year?

I always reflect at this time of the year. Last year, on December 30th, 2011 I posted my thoughts about the year of 2011. As I read that post, and remember last year, I do remember how I was feeling last year at this time, and how I feel differently this year.

In that blog post I wrote about not realizing my full potential and that I hope to see brighter lights in 2012. Wow, I think that was a premonition of sorts.

At the start of 2012 the only travel I had on the map was my trip to Hawaii with B in April. It has been planned since August 2011 and I was really looking forward to that trip. Who wouldn't be? It did not disappoint. Spending nine days on three different islands with one of my closest friends, awesome - and it was.

It was at my birthday/Oscar party that the year started to change...yes, that was only February, but that night, my year changed.

I was given an opportunity to apply to go to Israel on the trip that I wanted to go to in 2011 but it didn't happen. Going to Israel with JWRP and the Thornhill Woods Shul in June really had an incredible affect on my life. I have discussed my trip in great detail since returning, and I continue to discuss the things I am learning about all the time.

I had two more trips this year that were work related. Yes, work related. One was Orlando in October, and then I had the amazing chance to go back to O'ahu in December.

This year was rich in travel experiences, but also in life experiences.

I had some life lessons about the real estate market. I thought that maybe I would sell and look at a bigger condo in the neighbourhood.  It is not as easy as I thought. Bigger condos that are (somewhat) reasonable, all need work, so not so reasonable. Just like in travel, you do get what you pay for. And to top it off, there are about 20 units for sale in my building (and the attached). Staying put for now, and really appreciating what I have and loving my condo.

Since returning from Israel I have had a lot of amazing experiences with the Thornhill Woods Shul community and everything they have to offer. I have gone to services, classes, Rosh Chodesh Events, lunch with the Rabbi, Rebbitzen and their families. I was asked to speak at the last event about what the JWRP trip meant to me and how it has changed my life. I am looking forward to more learning and growth into the new year.

Just last night I had my two nieces sleep over at my house for the first time together. It is such a joy to be able to have time with them just us together, hanging out and having a good time. From sushi for dinner, to arts and crafts, to sleeping on the couch, to attempting to make snowman pancakes for breakfast, are moments that I will remember ending this year.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

I have seen this quote many times, and I don't know who said it, but I would agree with it in so many ways.

What is in store for 2013? I have no idea....but I am looking forward to finding out.

Happy new year to you and all the people you love. May you have good health and happiness in 2013!

There can only be one musical interlude for a blog post about a year in the life....

Sabbath Manifesto

This past friday night, our whole family attended a Shabbat B'Yachad (Gathering). It was put on by my nieces Hebrew School and the families were invited to come for a light meal, services and activities for bringing in the Shabbat.

It was nice to see some friends of mine there with their families, and all eight of us there in my family.

After we ate, we gathering for songs and Shabbat prayers, and I could see what my nieces were learning in the classes. It was really great to see both of them wanted to read along in the program booklet and my nephew wanting to get up and dance during the songs.

Rabbi Elyse got up to speak about Sabbath Manifesto. Their message is simple - "Way back when, G-d said, “On the seventh day thou shalt rest.”  The meaning behind it was simple: Take a break. Call a timeout. Find some balance. Recharge." This is exactly what we had discussed in our class a couple of weeks ago.

She gave us a hand out with the organizations 10 core principles and asked us to get into 10 groups and do a skit showing our interpretation of the princple we were each given. It was a great exercise because the adults and the children both participated in the activity.

Here are the 10 core principles of the Sabbath Manifesto:

• Avoid Technology
• Connect with loved ones
• Nurture your health
• Get outside
• Avoid commerce
• Light candles
• Drink wine
• Eat Bread
• Find Silence
• Give back

It doesn't only have to be Jewish people that participate in this Sabbath Manifesto. It doesn't even have to be on Friday night to Saturday night. It can be any 25 hour period that you choose to "un plug" and partake in some or all of the 10 core principles. Each principle can be interpreted in whatever way you want it to be.

It is funny, there are some very subliminal (maybe not so) messages going on in my life the last few months. Even the last few weeks. I had a class about Shabbat two weeks ago, then I attend this program, and even tonight during another class there was a discussion with a lot of similar subject matter.

I wrote in a few previous posts about my Shabbat in Israel. I wrote about how I chose to unplug from my electronics for 25 hours in Jerusalem. It was a very meaningful Shabbat. I haven't done it since I have been home. I have participated in some of these other core principles in unplugging, but not for the full 25 hours of Shabbat.
  

Travelling Zip locks

A couple of weeks ago I was at a friends house who was moving. While at her house and watching her pack, I saw the LARGEST zip lock bags I have ever seen. It was large enough to hold a duvet, or pillows, or clothes, and it had a zip lock on the top, just like the little bags, that we all have in our cupboards. That got me to thinking about all the different size bags and how we make use of them in our daily lives.

I am always trying to find new ways to pack more efficently. I've tried rolling my shirts (I don't think I saved that much room by doing that), I put my socks in my shoes to save space, but I think the one thing that I am sure a lot of people already know about it for packing - use Zip Lock bags.

I always used zip locks for my toiletry products, sunscreen sprays and stuff like that. I bought the PC exlarge bags which were a much better price than the named brand items. I used them for my undergarments as they fold nicely and you can get enough for 10 days in one large size bag. Once you flatten the air out of the bags, you can put much more in them. Similar to those bags that you see on tv.

The large bags can also be used for putting your electronical chargers, cords and plug ins for your different devices, DS games for your kids, even different lenses for your camera if you are not taking your full camera bag while you are travelling.

The smaller size bags have so many uses, most of which I am sure you are already doing when you travel.

Sandwich size bags - so many uses: obiviously, snacks that you have taken out of their original packaging - nuts, dried fruits, jube jubes, whatever you can buy at the bulk barn; your ear buds for your ipods; your passports if you don't have a passport holder (and even if you do, extra protection is never a bad thing).

The snack size ones (the little ones) - you can put extra memory cards; batteries; jewellery (keep it separate in your travel case).

So, the next time you are travelling either by car or by air, and you have to pack an overnight bag or for a two week vacation, make a stop at your local store for some different size bags.

giving back any way you can

There are a lot of ways to give back to your community, local and on a more global level. Of course there are always cash donations, there are time donations, giving your time as a volunteer in community events, just giving back any way you will help you as a human being and will help your community.

Every year during the High Holidays our Synagogue does a Kosher food drive on Kol Nidre night, which we always participate in. For the last three years I have been called and asked to participate in a food drive this time of the year where they come and pick up from the condo. I have said yes every time.

I went to No Frills earlier this week and loaded up a shopping bag full of groceries for the pick up today. The pick up time was to be between 9 - 12 noon today. I called down to my concierge desk about 930 and said I wasn't ready just yet, but if they come to call me and I will come down.

Shortly thereafter, I got a call that they were here. I asked my concierge to find out if they could come up to pick up the package. She replied "she said no". I said okay, I will be down in a few minutes. I hurried up and got dressed and went downstairs. When I got there, my concierge told me "she left". She left? I was very upset. I was called and asked to participate, went to buy the food, and she left. I left the bag downstairs thinking maybe she would come back.

After I came back upstairs I vented on Facebook, and the more I thought about it, I wanted to take the food back and give it to someone else that may need assistance.

There are all kinds of people that fall on hard times. I remember a friend of mine that works for the social services arm of the city's social work system. She works with many different kinds of people is many different life situations. She told me a story once that her supervisor told the team, "never judge or make judgements against any of your clients, we are all potentially one pay cheque away of maybe needed assistance". That has never left me.

On my way out to meet some friends I stopped by the concierge to pick up the package and it was gone. She told me that the lady came back. When the concierge gave her the bag of food, she replied "Oh, I would have gone up to get it if I had known it was food. I thought it was a cheque."

So let me get this straight - you are picking up for a FOOD DRIVE, and you thought I was asking you to pick up a cheque - MONEY, and you didn't want to come up the elevator - but for food you would have?

Does that make any sense to you? It didn't to me either....

Thanks for sticking with me, I appreciate it!

The art of food

A few weeks ago someone posted a status update on facebook that went something like this: "why do people always feel the need to post photos of what they are eating?"

There are many different answers to that question.

I can tell you why I like posting food pictures and why I like seeing other peoples food pictures.

Let's start with why I like seeing peoples food pictures. 

If they are posting from restaurants that they are eating at, it gives me ideas about where to go either in my own city, or when I am travelling to another city on vacation. There are several tv shows on the food network that serve the purpose about showcasing foods and food options at restaurants around North America.

Several friends I know have posted food options from diners showcased on Diners, Drive ins and Dives, and another friend posted from a diner in Hamilton that was showcased on the Canadian version of the show You've got to eat here! These same people travelled earlier this year and they were in San Fransisco for the day and they were literally on the food tour of San Fransisco. They were checking in on facebook wherever they went and posted a photo of everything that ate that day. I LOVED IT!!!

If they are posting about food they are cooking at their own home, it is always great to show a photo. People are always looking for new cooking ideas, different takes on the same old, same old. I have taken other people's ideas and made them my own just from photos I have seen on Facebook.

Everyone knows that I love photography. I am also a travel agent and that I like to take food pictures. Now that I am creating photo books for my different travel adventures, having a two page 'food' spread is becoming something that I include in every book.

For example - I blogged about my food experiences in Hawaii.  They were amazing. I received a lot of recommendations before going to Hawaii about where to eat, and one girl even said, "go to Cool Cat Burger, and order the Don Ho burger". How specific can you get for a recommendation. We didn't get there, but we went to many other places I ate amazing food - and have the pictures to show for it.

How else would you know that the molokini potato is PURPLE! Well, I have a photo of it! That is also macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi at The Fish Hopper restuaurant in Kailua Kona town, on the island of Hawaii.

Vodka Christmas Cake

I just read this on facebook posted by a friend of mine and it is HILLARIOUS!

Enjoy!! 
 

Once again this year, I’ve had requests for my Vodka Christmas Cake recipe so here goes. Please keep in your files as I am beginning to get tired of typing this up every year! (Made mine this morning!!!!) 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 cup water, 1 tsp. salt , 1 cup brown sugar, Lemon juice, 4 large eggs, Nuts, 1 bottle Vodka,  2 cups dried fruit.


Sample a cup of Vodka to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Vodka again to be sure it is of the highest quality then Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point, it is best to make sure the Vodka is still OK. Try another cup just in case. Turn off the mixer thingy. Break 2 eggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up off the floor, wash it and put it in the bowl a piece at a time trying to count it. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaters, just pry it loose with a drewscriver Sample the Vodka to test for tonsisticity. Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something. Check the Vodka. Now shit shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the Vodka and wipe the counter with the cat. ♥

Halleluyah La'Olam

I may have written this story in a previous post, or not. I know that I have shared this story with several people and I just thought I would share it here as well. I think it has more meaning to me today, considering what is going on in Israel right now.

We arrived in Israel early in the morning on our first day. The actual "trip" wasn't starting until later on that day. Our group took a bus from Tel Aviv up to the Tiberias to the hotel. It was too early to check into the hotel. We left the hotel, went for lunch and then went to a woman's only beach area to relax in the Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee).

After going back to the hotel, we were able to go to our room, take a shower and get ready for our first class and then dinner at the famous Deck's restaurant overlooking the Kinneret. I have already posted about the food from Deck's and the amazing meal we had.

After the meal, they had a DJ playing music and they officially welcomed us to Israel and the amazing 9 days that we had ahead of us.

They started with the song Halleluyah and then the hora's started. I was standing and clapping and started to cry. It was the first time that day that I really felt like I had "arrived" in Israel. It was such an incredible feeling it is hard to describe in writing. At some point I found a friend from the group and we just looked at each other and hugged each other. She was crying as well. It was everything, seeing 170 women from 5 different countries dancing together as one, that we felt like we had arrived.

I have been trying to post the actual video from Decks but everytime I try to copy and paste it to this post, it posts another video.

Here are the words to the song...it is such a beautiful song.

Have a peaceful Shabbat everyone!

Hallelujah to the world
הללויה, ישירו כולם

Hallelujah, yashiru kulam
Hallelujah, everyone will sing
במילה אחת בודדה

Bemila achat bodeda
With one single word
הלב מלא בהמון תודה

Halev male bahamon toda
The heart is filled with much gratitude
והולם גם הוא: איזה עולם נפלא

Veholem gam hu: eize olam nifla
And it also pounds: what a wonderful world
הללויה עם השיר

Hallelujah im hashir
Hallelujah with the song
הללויה על יום שמאיר

Hallelujah al yom sheme'ir
Hallelujah for a day that shines
הללויה על מה שהיה

Hallelujah al ma shehaya
Hallelujah for all that has been
ומה שעוד לא היה

Uma she'od lo haya
And all that is yet to come
הללויה

Hallelujah

Gushing at Gavna

Hey everyone,

Well, I couldn't do it - 30 posts in 30 days. I tried, and then on Monday night in the rain, my trunk crashed down on my head and while it didn't knock me "out", when I came home, I wasn't in any mood to write that night.

Last night I hosted the first of a new class taught by my Rebbitzen and then one of my friends stayed later and by that time, my head was still hurting so I didn't write.

So, it will have to be 28 posts in 30 days....I am back today.

I am still working on my office purge and came across a folded up piece of paper in my piles of "stuff". When I opened it, it brought a smile to my face.

On the last night in Israel we had a banquet at this restaurant called Gavna. It is a restaurant in the area of "the Gush" if you are Israeli, you may know of the area. It is an open air restaurant with amazing views. It is a dairy restaurant and the tables were filled with all kinds of salads, dips, and so much more. There was also this amazingly good lemonade, which of course the bees just loved to feast on. I guess that is what you get from an open air restaurant in the middle of the nowhere.

During the banquet Lori Palatnik, Ken Spiro and a few others had a chance to thank us for our participation on the JWRP TAG 12 trip, and then each city had a chance to thank Lori, their city leaders and each other for the most amazing 10 days that you can imagine.

Some of the cities sang songs and made up dances (the chicas from Mexico were good at the singing and dancing). One of the ladies in our group started putting a poem together and we all helped put it together.

Our group thank our Rebbitzen's with our own personal thank you, and then we had a chance to thank Lori and her team:

There once was a woman named Lori,
Who dreamed to spread the word in its glory.
A chance to explain the Torah,
To us she was the Morah (Teacher).
In all, an amazing story.

To take women from all over,
To Israel to stay over.
For us all to learn and explore,
Igniting a desire to learn more.

An experience beyond description,
Even with illness, we got a perscription.
The Jewish journey she wants to show,
to help us transform and grow.

With learning such a pleasure,
We are all taking this home to treasure.
To JWRP and Lori, thank you.
For allowing TORONTO to be part of the story.


There was this amazing woman on our trip named Suzie, and here is her story at Gavna:

We go together

Who put the bop in the bop shoo bop shoo bop? Who put the ram in the ramalama ding dong? How many times have you waited to change the channel when Grease was over to sing the finale, and watch Danny and Sandy fly off into the sunset together in Greased Lightening?

Just in case you forget the words or the moves....



Today it was Grease on television, and I have the movie on DVD and VHS (for real) and yet, every time it is on, I will stop to watch. I know you may not want to admit this, but people reading this blog probably did the same thing this afternoon or at some other time.

I tend to do this. It could be Dirty Dancing, American President, anything by John Hughes (but especially Breakfast club), and anything with Meg Ryan (LOL). Last week I quoted something from You've got mail at the office, and my co-worker said it was from another movie. I basically said to him, "yeah, I don't think so". 



Let's not forget Pretty Woman. That would be a big mistake - HUGE!



I like classic movies as well, but I have admitted before that I love the Rom-Com genre of movies. I am a child of the 80's and by definition love anything and everything by John Hughes.

Just to go off topic for a second, I am nostalgic, I can't help it. When I was recently in Orlando, we went to Universal Studios, the rep was talking about the rides that are no longer there and that a few years ago Back to the Future was replaced by the Simpsons ride. I, being a child of the era sighed loudly, to which she replied that the average age of people entering the park today, were not even born when that (and many other) movie was out.

AND...sticking with Universal Orlando resort, do you know the ONLY original ride left at Universal Studios???

Get ready:


There really are too many movies to list.

What movies make your list of ones you will watch over and over again?

Day 10: Musical bonus

Just thought I would continue on the Sesame Street theme, with some of the videos that are synonymous with the Muppet's!

Cookie Monster


Ernie



Big Bird


Elmo


I could post videos for hours, it is not Sesame Street, but it is the Muppets, and it is a classic...

Brought to you by the letter S and the number 10

Did you know that today, November 10th, 1969 was the first time that Sesame Street was on television? It wasn't something I was aware of, but now that I know, it is worth talking about.

It is funny, my nieces and my nephew (and so many other kids I know) are addicted to treehouse. Dora and friends, Toopy and Binoo, Max and Ruby, the Backyardagins and In the night Garden just to name a few. 

It is pretty amazing to me that Sesame Street has been on the air for 43 years. Even more amazing is that several members of the existing cast have been there since the start of the show. Bob McGrath (Bob) has been on the show since it started as well as Loretta Long (Susan). Emilio Delgado and Sonia Manzano (Luis and Maria) have been on the show since 1971. Roscoe Orman has played Gordon since 1974. Of course there was Mr. Hooper who was played by Will Lee from 1969 until he passed in 1982. The show chose to have Mr. Hooper (Mr. Looper as big bird called him) die on the show as well to teach children about death.



But those are the human characters - the real stars of the show (and there are hundreds) but the originals are: Big Bird and Oscar (played by Carroll Spinney since 1969), Cookie Monster (69), Bert and Ernie. Grover came in 1970 and many, many others followed. Snuffleupaguss came in 1971 as Big Bird's imaginary friend and stayed that way until 1985 when he became visible to the adults on the show.

Of course we all know about Elmo and all that he has done for children around the world. Kevin Clash is the amazing man responsible for Elmo. Earlier this year I saw a documentary of his life (Being Elmo - a puppeteer's journey)as a fundraiser for Zack's Dream Room and it is truly amazing to see how one little Muppet can help children (and adults) deal with so of life's hardest challenges.

The show has so many amazing messages that have taught children so many lessons over the years. They have introduced multi-cultural characters, differences and similarities, and historical events.
 
Special guest stars are always a hit when the come to 123 Sesame Street. The list is very long - just to touch on a few - Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Buzz Aldrin, Tony Bennett, Ron Howard, Michael Jackson - and the list goes on and on! Some came on to sing with the Muppets, or be a character or to explain one of the lessons of the day.


It has stood the test of time for the last 43 years and I hope it continues to go on for years to come!

What colour is your grass?

Through facebook re-connects, work friends, friends through different groups, I have had so many conversations about life, loves, loss, hardships. One thing I can say forsure, is that the saying of the "grass isn't always greener" has never been so clear to me than after these conversations. I have always believed that, but it is clear as we are getting older and living our lives and different experiences.

I remember one year after I went on a med cruise with my aunt I was having dinner with a friend and showing her all the pictures. She was happy for me, and envious at the same time, commenting on how great it was that I could travel and see different parts of the world with no worries other than myself. I agreed, but commented, you are married, you are expecting a baby and you have just bought a house. I don't have any of that. At that time, I wasn't living in my condo at that time. She thought the grass was greener in my single yard, and I thought her grass was greener in her married with children yard. I am sure that either one of us was right or wrong. It all depends on what side of the fence you sit on.

I know I am very lucky in my life. I have good friends, I have a job, I have a great relationship with my parents and family, and being an aunt is truly the most rewarding part of my life. Not everyone I know has the chance to see their nieces and nephew on a weekly basis. I am lucky enough to have them close to me and now the girls are old enough to call me on their own and want to see me and their parents can drop them off. It is the great joy in my life.

I have had a job that has taken me around the world (literally) and back over the last 22 years. The industry hasn't been as rewarding as it once was, but I am still fortunate to have been and seen as much as I have over the years, and will always have that. Wherever my life may take me, I will always have the trips that have I have taken, the memories from those trip and the knowledge of other places in the world other than the city/town I live in. What I have seen and learned over the years has been invaluable. I will never forget any of it. I consider myself very wealthy in the life experiences I have been able to have because of my job.

Never judge a book by its cover....we all learned that, didn't we?

Life changing....every day life is a roller coaster - some days we want to get off the ride and other days, we scream with excitement and want more. Tomorrow is another day - get back in the line to ride the ride again!

Staying clean

I don't know about you, but I know that when I have a trip planned there is always a trip to a drugstore or a Wal Mart run to the travel size aisle of products. I remember for years I used to always buy whatever shampoos, conditioners, body lotions they had in the travel sizes. I know I am not the only one.

Over the years, there has been a lot of changes in flying and travelling. More and more people want to travel with a carry on so that they don't have to worry about their bags getting lost (a huge deal in the US) and they can arrive at their destination and go. Also, in a post 9/11 world, if you are travelling with a carry on, you have size restrictions to the liquids you can carry on board.

Everyone knows that in the marketing world that is very important to create a "brand" for your product. When you say to someone "swish" they will automatically think of Nike, or of course just see an "apple" and we all know what that is about.

Hotels are no exception. And when you have a brand hotel, you want to have brand partnerships. This holds true with the products that are offered in hotel rooms around the world. 

Just by looking at the bin of hotel shampoos and conditioners I have, I can tell you that there are amazing brands that the hotel chains have paired up with - Crabtree and Evelyn, Bath and Body works, Gilchrist and Soames, bvglari, Miller Harris (from London) and more.

Before we went to Israel, there was a question someone in the group had about 'are you bringing full bottles of shampoo and conditioner' to the hotel? Heck no, hotels provide all of that. Which they did.

We were two to a room on the Israel trip - and every day the maid left 2 of everything - shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion. We were there for 8 nights. We just kept putting the "leftovers" in our bags every day. Imagine how many bottles we 

had at the end of the trip?

The same just happened to me on my trip to Orlando. I should stress, I was in a three bedroom, three bathroom villa. That means 12 bottles each day. I didn't take them all (used them while I was there). This hotel used Gilchrist and Soames as their provider. I don't think I have ever used their products, but my hair doesn't usually like going on vacation, but these products were good for my hair. I brought them home.

If you are going away for a few days, and want to bring some extras with you (in case you are not sure what you will get from the hotel you are staying at), send me a message, I am sure I can find something for you!

And don't be afraid to put the products in your suitcase, they will be replaced when you come back to the room!

The yearn to learn

I have talked about my trip to Israel in several post earlier this summer. As you know by now, the trip had a profound affect on my life, in more ways that I can really explain in a blog post. No, I have not become religious, I haven't traded in my jeans for skirts, but I have become more interested in learning about Judiasm in a way that I never had before.

One of the underlying twists and turns about the trip was the fact that everyone is on their own personal Jewish journey. It is something different for everyone. There were 10 amazing women that were on my trip with me (plus one Madricha and two Rebbetzins). Everyone had a different reason for being there. On one of our last nights in Israel, the group had a get together in the lobby of the hotel to discuss topics for classes that we would be part of when we came back to Toronto.

Tonight was the last night of our second series of classes. This one was called Judiasm 101. We went through the holidays during our holiday time, and went through them in a way that I never really learned before. As I am sitting here and typing this I think I figured something out. When I was a child and went to Sunday school and after school classes, I was a child. Learning the prayers and the holidays and traditions. This is totally different. This is learning as an adult, which is different.

Tonight we talked about Shabbat. I had discussed in a previous post about how Shabbat in Israel was amazing and meaningful to me. It was nice to sit around the table tonight and hear that the others were feeling the same way I was feeling in Israel.

The next series of classes will be at my house. I am excited to host amazing women, being taught by an amazing woman, about women. My course topic is Woman's role in Judaism - the Power of the Jewish Woman.

If you would like to come to the classes, please send me a private message on Facebook and I will give you the details. As my condo is small, I can't have everyone, but I know that my Rebbitzen loves to teach so I am sure there will be other chances to learn.

Opening Pandora's box

I went to the Bahamas in September 2010 and stayed at the Riu Paradise Island. They had a jewelery store in the lobby. I remember looking at these really pretty 'charm' bracelets that you buy the bracelet and then add all kinds of charms. I was going to buy one and took the brochure up to the room. I ended up not buying one.

Once I got home, I started to notice around friends and other people that they had these bracelets with all different charms. Similar to what I had seen in the Bahamas but not quite. People were telling me that these bracelets were called Pandora. The ones I had seen in Nassau were Chamilla, not Pandora.

My mom and I were lucky enough to be going on a cruise that December and I told her that when we got to Grand Cayman I was buying a Pandora.

When we arrived in Grand Cayman there we made a bee line for the Jewellery store. I saw the pandora logo and off we went.

My mother wasn't in the market for a bracelet, but as she looked at the charms, there was no turning back, two bracelets please.

We both started off with a few charms...and then a few more once we got home. It is a pretty safe thing to say that collecting Pandora charms was going to be one of those things....you just 'gotta have'.

For my birthday in February 2011 it was time to celebrate - and there was a party, with a lot of friends who were generous enough to buy me a lot of charms for the bracelet. A wrapped present, an airplane, a heart, a flower just to name a few. I think there were five charms added for my birthday.

Each charms started to represent either my favourite colour (purple in case you didn't know) or my job (suitcase and airplane) or my passion for purses. 

I was going to Vegas and I googled "pandora charms, vegas" and found out there was an exclusive charm just sold in Vegas - at the Forum shops, so of course I had to have it. When I went into the store, it felt like being on the Amazing race. I asked the girl, "do you have the charm?" she replied, "the exclusive charm"...it is a dice, so of course I had to have that.

That actually became something new to look for charms where I was travelling to. So, in New York, I bought the apple, and in Hawaii I bought the pineapple. At this point, my bracelet was full.

and then.....I saw it....and new I had to have it. The camera charm. But the bracelet was full....start a new one the lady at the store said....sure, not! But I had to have the charm. So, I took off a spacer and put the camera in its place.

I am sad in a way that the bracelet is full. Looking for new charms and then planning where each one would fit into its place was fun. Would I start a second bracelet? I don't know, you don't get multiple birthday gifts every single year. Maybe a necklace...maybe....we'll see.

For now, I have my very beautiful bracelet that I look at and smile when I am wearing it.

What's your favourite charm (if you have a Pandora)? What is on your wish list?

Dining with Character

Day 5 - today's post can be found by clicking here.

http://thestampsinmypassport.blogspot.ca/2012/11/dining-with-character.html

Thanks for reading,

See y'all tomorrow!!

Stars with the letter O

Today's blog post is on my travel blog and it can be found here.

http://thestampsinmypassport.blogspot.ca/2012/11/starts-with-letter-o.html

Thanks for reading,

see you tomorrow!

You've got mail

As you all know by now, I went to Israel in June of this year. I have blogged here on different occasions the impact of the JWRP trip had on me and my life. So many things have happened since returning, that it is hard to put into words sometimes.

On the second to last day of the trip, one of our excerises was to write a letter to ourselves. There weren't any 'guidelines' as how to write it, what to write. It was share with yourself what you are going through, feeling and hope and expect to go through and feel upon returning home. The letter would be mailed to you three months after returning from Israel.

Sounds easy enough...right?

So, here we are - 170 women sitting in the lobby and in classrooms of the Aish building in the Old City pouring out our hearts to ourselves on paper. It was very quiet (except for the sniffling that could be heard from around the room).

I didn't really know how to start? But at the end of it, I filled three pages. Signed it, wiped away my tears, sealed the envelope and put it in the box. Not to be seen again until sometime in September.

If you know me, you know that I don't get to my mailbox often. It is on the ground floor of the condo and I am hardly ever on the ground floor, I go from my suite to the underground and back. It was right around Rosh Hashana and I was in the car with my mom, and it occured to me that it was three months since I had been home from Israel. THREE MONTHS - my letter should be coming soon! So...what did I start to do - check the mail every day!

And then one day, there it was. I almost didn't recognize my own handwriting. Postmarked from Israel. My letter to myself. I went right upstairs to open it.

And what did I find in it? For the most part, exactly what I hoped to happen back on June 11, 2012 was happening. I asked a few of the other ladies from the trip if they had received their letters and how they felt about them. Everyone felt about the same as I did.

I actually left for Israel five months ago TODAY. I can't believe it has been five months. SO many amazing things have happened in my life in the last five months. I am very grateful for the opprotunities I been able to have and experience. I think it will continue for quite a while.

Thanks again for reading, I appreciate it.

Scanning the codes

I was in a clothing store in Florida last week and found a REALLY great top on a clearance rack (50% off). I tried it on, and loved it, so I went to purchase it. When the cashier gave me the total, I said to her, "that's not 50% off" to which she replied, "no, it is 30% off, is that okay?" Well, um, no it is not okay, I got it from the rack that was 50% off. I didn't pay right away and went back to show her where I got the shirt from, and obviously it was put back in the wrong place. The store gave it to me for the clearance price, I have a really nice shirt, all is good.

So....that always brings me back to the laws we have in Ontario and I think most of Canada. There is a scanning code of practice. Essentially what that means is that if the price at the scanner is wrong (scanning higher) and you catch the mistake, you can get the item free (max $10). If you are buying more than one of that item, you would only get the first one free and the additional items at the correct price.

It is amazing to me that so many people are not aware of this code. The next time you are at Wal mart for instance, look right below where the debit machines are, you will see a white sticker with the code printed right there. Right there, where you are checking out, and the prices are wrong all the time.

I would say that for me, it happens at the Loblaws brand of store most often. I have been the lucky recipient of free coffee, lettuce, melba toast, thank you cards, just to name a few.

Here is a short list (many more listed on the link attached above):
Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.
The Home Depot Canada
Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd.
Toys r Us
Shoppers Drug Mart
Wal*Mart Canada Corp.
Giant Tiger Stores Ltd.
The North West Company
Best Buy/Future Shop
Loblaw Company Limited
Metro
Sobeys

There are also many independent stores that participate as well. It all comes down to being aware of the code and what your rights are if the price is scanned incorrectly.

The bottom line is you need to be an educated consumer. Know what is in your cart because most likely you have put it in the cart because it was on sale. Don't be afraid to question the cashier, even if this make the people behind you pissed. You can do what I do - while you are waiting for the price check, educate the person behind you, because they could be the next person to pay more than you have to at the cash!

See y'all tomorrow!

Move over Mo-vember!

Halloween is over...we are changing the clocks this weekend. They put down the snow mats in my condo this weekend. It can't be avoided. It is November 1st. That means that many men that you and I know are going to trade their clean shaven faces for a month of Movember.

For bloggers, November is the anniversary of NaBloPoMo.That acronym is National Blog Posting Month. Last year I was on facebook and saw that a fellow blogger (and extended family member) was going to participate in blogging every day for a month and we challenged each other to do it. She did 30 posts in 30 days, and I did 28 posts in 30 days. This year, I am ready to post 30 posts in 30 days.

How can you think of things to write about, someone asked me the other day? The truth is, if you know me, you know that I always have a story to share. Something that happened during my travels, or just my life in general. Earlier this year, I started to write about my travel in my professional travel blog. I will be writing there as well this month. Please follow my travel stories here.

So, here we go, NaBloPoMo....hopefully my stories, anecdotes about life as I see it, and my travel related information will help you fill the grey days of the month of November.

I was getting in my car today and looked up at a tree, and all the leaves had fallen, and I started to hum, "all the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey"....

Musical interlude today is California Dreamin', because let's face it, after Superstorm Sandy, who isn't dreamin' of California!

Decluttering my messes

I am currently sitting in my home office/den/collector of all things that don't have a home in my apartment. I am trying to clean up this space, well, all the spaces in my home. I am starting to think about the next 'home' that may be in my future, and before I can do that, I have to fix up this space.

For some people, they don't have 'messes' in their homes. They have found a way to detach themselves from things that have happened in their lives, trips they may have taken, shows they may have seen, paperwork that perhaps they have should have kept, but no longer have. That is not me.

I am currently sifting through piles of 'stuff'. By trying to declutter, I have actually made a much bigger mess.

There are people that specialize in helping people 'clean their messes'. One of them is Peter Walsh. He is a tv personality from Clean Sweep and has his own show on OWN. He goes into people's homes and he helps them find their way out of their "messes".

I like to keep things because they remind me of the good memories associated with them - like programs from plays I have seen, like the map I just found from Pere Lachaise Cemetary in Paris, to birthday cards, thank you cards, invitations to events and celebrations. These are times that have made me happy, and I think that keeping them will allow me to remember that time. Is that silly? I don't know, it is all party of my history. The events of my life.

What about the Food and Wine magazines that I enjoy, or the newspaper articles in the travel section, or memorial sections, etc. I guess I could read them one more time and then put them in the garbage bag.

This is much harder than I thought. I haven't REALLY done this in a long time. I would tidy up here and there, throw out a few bags of garbage and just put the rest of the stuff back where it was. I think I need to really get rid of the 'stuff'....but how is the question of the day?

I guess I should get off the computer now, and back to the piles that have been creeping up around me tonight.

Maybe you are just like me, and have to go through your messes. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share what has worked for you in the past.

I am open to ideas.....

Until next time,

Remembering V

It is funny, I have been sitting here at my computer looking at the keyboard trying to figure out how to say what I want to say today. I hope that it comes out the way I intended.

Earlier this year, our community lost a shining star. Because of the world we live in today, the world of social media allowed all who knew Sy to express their feelings on facebook, in articles written about him, and so much more. There is even a "Sylebration" event that will be held this september in his honour to remember, share, and raise money for charity.

I was actually in Hawaii when this event happened, yet through the wonderful world of the internet, and social media I was connected to 'home' with comments from friends, and people who were writing, commenting and posting photos about the tragedy of the event.

Eight years ago it was a different world. People actually made phone calls to pass on news - good or bad. I remember my mom getting that phone call like it just happened.

Eight years ago a shining star was taken from our friends, family, world. I remember that day - what was going on, what happened in the days to come and how our community coped with the loss of Aviva. 

If you had the chance to have Aviva as your friend, you were lucky. She was amazingly smart, funny, caring and loving. She lit up a room. I had coffee with a high school friend last week and she told me that she was telling her husband that one of the things she remembered about me was my laugh. Well, Aviva had a laugh you wouldn't forget either.

This is not meant to be a eulogy for Aviva, but a reminder about who she was, and the kind of legacy that some people leave in your life. My brother brought Aviva into our lives when he was at York, and I know that we will be forever grateful. I will also always miss her - and what we didn't get to share together.

Take a moment today and remember someone you love - whether they are here with you or in spirit.

Luv you V,

Another brick in the wall

As you have probably realized by now, my recent trip to Israel had a very big effect on me. One of the places that I think had the most effect on me was the Western Wall - the Kotel. 

The first time we saw it was from the rooftop terrace at the Aish World Center.  We walked there from our hotel and were instructed to go right to the top of the building for our group pictures. We were told "do not take your own pictures, there will be time for that". The view is spectacular and it was hard not to start snapping away when you first see the amazing site of the Kotel in front of you below.

After our group photos we had to go back inside for our first class of the day. not before everyone went picture happy taking photos of the Kotel, personal photos with the Kotel behind you, beside you, etc.

Later that morning, we finally got the chance to go to the Kotel. At the ground level of the Aish building, it actually has a walk out right into the Western Wall Plaza.

I had only been in Israel one other time in my life, and it was through work and with a group of travel professionals and it was an 'overview' tour of the country, not an organized Jewish tour. The experience at the Kotel was different from the experience I had this time.

This time I went with 170 other women from my trip. You can't really see from the attached photos, but the women's 'side' of the wall is much smaller than the men's section. For obvious reasons of course, but when you are so many amazing women in such a small place, everyone wants their time to touch, feel, pray and connect with the history of this holy place, it was hard to get to have your moment in the space.

I had a talk with my nieces about writing special messages to Hashem and I would put them in the crevices in the wall. They each drew a picture and signed it, and I made sure that the messages were put there for them.
 
This past weekend we had Tisha B'av, which is a day of mourning the destruction of both temples and many other sad events of the Jewish people that happened on that day.

I was at a class on the weekend and we were talking about the fact that the Kotel is such a sacred place for the world and the Jewish people, and the truth is that is a wall of the courtyard where the temples once stood. It isn't even the wall of the temple, but it is the closest place to the temple that we will ever have a piece of.

That is good enough for me. I found the time I was able to view the wall from the Aish World Center and the time I was able to spend close it, something I will never forget.

Food - Israeli style - take one!

I have had a lot of opportunities to travel to amazing places, and being a "foodie", I always want to try local specialities and new things. In Greece I ate calamari, fresh feta cheese, freshly caught and grilled fish and authentic Greek salad (no lettuce). In New Orleans I tried gumbo, etitoufee, jambalaya and of course beignets and cafe Au lait. In Hawaii....I named it my "Hawaiian seafood fiesta" (you can read about that in my travel blog).

And now...dining in Israel. What can you say about the food in Israel? Once again, full of amazing dining experiences and tastes, flavours and options. Being in Israel, when you have to choose your food options you have to choose milk or meat because the restaurants are separate (we ate a lot of dairy options) and they were GOOD!

On the first day in Tiberias we walked to a very nice dairy restaurant close to the beach. They had a lot of very nice salad options. I chose one that had haloumi cheese. it is very similar to Saginaki in Greek restaurants, but they don't set it on fire with ouzo. It is salty, and tests best when served right from the oven. Here are pictures of the salad with the haloumi.

The opening program of the trip was dinner at Decks Restaurant. It is an open air restaurant overlooking the Galilee (the Kinneret). We sat in long tables by our city. The food is served family style across the table.

The opening was of course falafel balls, hummus and tahini, following up by an amazing fried onion loaf, salad, shoe string potatoes, and then the most amazing salmon you have ever tried. It came out on these 'hot plates' that had bbq'd sweet potato, grilled mushrooms and grilled lemons.

Here is what it looked like: (Pictures do not do the meal justice)

After the meal they started to play music and the party really started. It was the first night, and the coming together of 170 amazing women for the next 9 days of growth, self discovery and touring of our beautiful Eretz Israel. (the land of Israel)

As I was clapping, singing and dancing, the music changed and a song I have heard hundreds of times came on. I was standing there, and tears were streaming down my face. I realized that I was in Israel. We had already been there a full day, but it wasn't until that moment that I had really arrived, and my feet were planted firmly on the ground. A lot of people were emotional.

Here is that song:

My letter in the Torah

 

In one of my Shabbat posts last week I told you about our pre-Shabbat concert by Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser and the song Letter in the Torah and how it had an effect on me at the concert. The words spoke to me, and my reason for being on JWRP, and trying to figure out the who/what/where/when and why of my life. Everyone that goes on JWRP has their own reason for being there, and is on their own personal journey that they are taking. 

 

Yesterday I had the opportunity with my parents to have Shabbat lunch and my Rebbitzen's house. My parents and I attended services at Thornhill Woods Shul for the first time and it was such a nice experience. 

The talk Rebbitzen Rachel was having was about your "purpose" in life. Why are you here, which is your global mission, and your personal mission in life. How to find out what that is, and more. 

She discussed that every letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a numeric value and that if you add up all the numeric values in the Torah, it will come to 600,000. That same 600,000 relates explained that these letters correspond to the 600,000 Jewish souls that exist (and we can all have parts of Jewish souls within us (I hope I am explaining this right).

In any case, the class was very interesting to me specifically because I understood why the song had such an effect on me that night at the concert. The song is all about who you are, where you are going, and how do you get there. Which is exactly what Rebbitzen Rachel was trying to explain. That it is a life long process. 

Yesterday's Shabbat was a great day. I was able to show my parents a small taste of what I experienced in Israel by taking part in a couple of classes about Jewish learning. I know that they enjoyed themselves as well and will attend with me again in the future. We all had the chance to talk to others, listen and be a part of something.

Here are the words to the song, and then after that is a video where you can listen to the song yourself and see what you think. 

My Letter in the Torah
Who am I any way
Where am I going to
How did I get here
And what do I need to know
What am I supposed to do with my life

Can I start living
If I don't know which way to go
I heard somebody say
In the quiet of the night
If you close your eyes
You'll hear the answer

I just wanna find my letter in the Torah
I know it's somewhere out there
If I could only see

I just wanna find my letter in the Torah
The one that's written just for me

So many words
So many pages
I keep finding more
Every time I look

Sometimes I need
To take a little break
Sometimes to connect
I've gotta close the book

I heard somebody say
If you listen to your heart
You were born with all the answers

It's not about the goal, it's all about the soul
You use in every move you make
It's not the biggest name, it's how you play the game
When you're getting it together
Getting it together

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