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. ♥