jac of all trades

how does it feel?

2013-04-22T11:42:00.001-07:00

I get asked this question a lot lately.

How does it feel...

...to finish a degree you've worked your butt off to get for the past 6 years?

...to leave Kamloops and move back "home" to Williams Lake?

...to transition into a new life where you're no longer a student?

...to accomplish something you've dreamed of since you were a little girl?

So, how does it feel?

AMAZEBALLS!!!

It's been a journey, filled with highs and lows. Moments of sadness and joy. Frustration and ease. A journey that leaves me with debt that makes me anxious, but a degree and job prospects that leave me hopeful.

All these moments make up my story. A story that is still being added to. A story that wouldn't have the same ending, whatever that ending may be, without the moments I've had. A story that makes me, me. Through it all, one thing has remained true. A verse that I continually come back to that reminds me how I got here, and how much more is still in store for me....

To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask for, think of, dream up, or imagine according to His power that is at work in me. To Him be the glory, forever. Amen - Ephesians 3:20-21 {paraphrased by moi}

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey. To those who have housed me, fed me, prayed for me, cheered for me, proofread papers for me, shared tips and tricks and ideas with me, took me out for coffee, laughed with me, cried with me, and everything else in between. I'm thankful for each and every one of you.

she reads truth: fresh start

2013-01-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across this site a while back. I had a look around, liked what I saw, said "this would be cool to do one day," decided I was too busy, and then went on with my life, ultimately forgetting about this site.

Shame on me.

If you know me, or have been following my blog for any length of time, you know that I love Jesus. But as any twenty-something gal living in this world, I get distracted. Really distracted. I'm often too busy, too stressed, too overwhelmed to sit down and spend time with God, reading the word, and learning about Him. HA This is laughable, because really, what in my life is more important than my creator? The fact that I try to take control of my own destiny, and "grab the bull by the horns" is hilarious. Yet, I do it time and time again.

Thankfully, I serve a loving God who is relentless in welcoming me back with arms wide open.

January 1st brings many a great idea to revamp things and start fresh. Whether it's exercising more, spending more time with your family, worrying less, eating healthy, etc, etc. the New Year warrants starting over. On January 2nd, I stumbled on this blog again.

She Reads Truth is women all over the world, reading the Bible together in a 21st century way: online! There are numerous "Plans" created to follow along with that provide a daily scripture reading, and thoughts, questions, and comments, written along to go with it...for women, by women. There are a few things I like about this format:

It's straightforward and easy to follow along with: a daily plan laid out. So often I'm overwhelmed by the enormity that is the Bible and I don't even know where to begin. This plan gives me a day-by-day plan and guides me through, prompting further reading, questions, etc.
There's a little box that you click when you've done the reading for the day. This keeps me accountable. I love crossing things off lists. If I miss a day, I have a visual reminder that I've done so. I need to be babied like this!! As pathetic as it is, I need little tricks like this to keep me on track. I want to WANT to read the Bible. I'd be lying if I said this comes easy to me: it doesn't.
You have the option to click a button and have the scripture read to you!! This really keeps me on track because I'm like a child and love it when I can follow along with the words on the page as I hear them being read to me. How often do we read the same line over and over again because we are distracted and not really soaking any of it in!? This helps with that.
The devotions are AMAZEBALLS! I'm on day 4 and I've been blessed and encouraged and challenged so much already.

If you are interested in checking this out, click on the following link:

I'm currently following the "Fresh Start" plan: a few weeks searching the Bible for fresh starts - the kind only God can provide. What a great way to start the new year!

ps. If you have any questions about this, send me a message ~ I'd love to chat and have you join me on this journey!

goodbye 2012, hello 2013

2013-01-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

2012 was an amazing year. It was full of so many great moments and I thought it would be fun to recap some of these through photographs. Get ready for a 2012 photo overload!

In 2012.....

I drank a LOT of yummy coffee

I celebrated finishing my first year of the BEd program with these lovely ladies. Then we celebrated starting our second, and final year. LOVE these ladies! So thankful to be studying alongside them.

I got to go on my first transcontinental flight where I saw Hudson's Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, Iceland, and other really cool sights from my squishy Lufthansa flight window.

I lived in Heidelberg, Germany for 3 weeks, and got to wander around streets like these on a daily basis.

I got to attend my first German soccer match complete with bratwurst, beer, and cray cray fans. And I thought Canucks fans were crazy....pfft.

I got to sit on the banks of the Neckar River, and take in the breathtaking sights of Heidelberg Castle at night.

I visited castle after castle after castle. And each time, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor.

And the gardens, oh, the castle gardens in the spring....

I ate meals fit for a queen... some of the best food I've ever had in my entire life. Those Germans sure know how to cook. This is white asparagus with hollandaise sauce. A specialty in the region.

I experienced "May Day" ~ a national holiday in Germany, where everyone comes out to the streets and has one giant party across town. Beer and Bratwurst a plenty.

From the streets to the banks of the river, it's merriment and beer all around.

I saw all the tombs I never knew I wanted to see. As equally eerie as beautiful.

The sights of this city never ceased to take my breath away...

And as normal as it was to drink beer in the streets in the middle of the day, it still felt weird, albeit wonderful!

I went to France with my new bestie and we explored the cuteness that is Strasbourg.

I had my first French Macaron, and my life will never be the same.

Yeah, we pretty much ate our way through Strasbourg and had to roll ourselves back on the train. Crepes, bonbons, macarons, wine, creme brulee, french onion soup.....

I had the pleasure of visiting many schools throughout Baden-Wurttemberg, learn about the German education system, and share about our Canadian education system.

I ate a lot of delicious schnitzel and spatzle.

I discovered Radler (German beer mixed with lemonade). It was cheaper than water...soo... ya know....

And then I discovered Kasespatzle (cheese spatzle). And then my heart never beat the same again. Literally and figuratively speaking.

I spent many a time in German Hauptbanhof (train stations). I don't think I've ever gone on so many trains in my life. It's the transportation of choice in Europe.

I met these 12 weird and wonderful people and got to experience Heidelberg with them.

I took way too many self portraits. I annoy myself. But can you blame a girl fro wanting to see her reflection in an old German Palace mirror!?

I spent 10 days in London and had high tea any chance I got. Scones and clotted cream...be still my heart.

I got to see my first legit musical in London!! Front row seats to WICKED with Lauren!

I saw the Crown Jewels. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds the size of my fists. I was the crazy lady who rode the little walking sidewalk again and again and again.

I saw all the sights of London I ever dreamed of seeing, like the Tower of London and Tower Bridge...

and Big Ben, to name just a few.

I drank wine in an old London CAVE....

...with the lovely Jen (who also graciously hosted me in her flat for the week). I have her to thank for introducing me to my first British cider, proper Sunday Roast, and many other fun London experiences.

I visited the store where.... a girl stood in front of a boy, and asked him to love her.

I visited many amazing London museums, like the V & A, where I got to see the British Dress Exhibit...and gowns worn by everyone from Princess Diana to Sandra Bullock.

And I spent my last night in Londontown at Singin' in the Rain.

I turned 27 and it was the perfect birthday weekend. It started with a bouquet of peonies and a surprise French-themed birthday lunch with my bestie, Leslie, and ended with a fabulous birthday dinner party thrown by my sister....it's so special when she cooks for me!!! And...the movie Magic Mike came out on my birthday. Happy Birthday to me! ;)

I baked a lot of cupcakes. Baking makes me happy.

And since it was a slow fire season, I got to spend my weekends galavanting around the Cariboo and enjoying the sun with some pretty fabulous people. This picture of us at Barkerville needs no explanation. I mean just look at us! HA.

Summers spent at music festivals, in the sun, by the river, with some of the loveliest ladies I know...that's what dreams are made of.

And I wore probably one of my most talked about and favourite ensembles ever. A floral dress from Germany and a big sun hat. Off to the races.... I mean... Justin and Christine's Wedding! Man I have good looking friends.

I purchased 2 of my most favourite pieces of furniture: these powder blue antique chairs for the deal of the century!

I started my final practicum with a fun grade 3 class

And after 5 years of back and forth between Kamloops and Williams Lake, I'm happy to call the Puddle my permanent home.

My mom welcomed this little munchkin, Abbi, into our lives.

And as the year came to a close, I got to spend lots of quality time with 2 of my favourite people in the world. Life just wouldn't be the same without my Momma Bear and Sissy Croc.

And just like that... it's 2013.

What will it hold? I have only one guess....more wonderful things. You see, if I know one thing to be true it's that my life has been a roller coaster, but time and time again, God has blessed my socks off. He gives me what I need, and what He wants for me. In the middle of me making grand plans for my life, God always gives me a good shake and says, "here you go, what I have is better". I've learned that better is not always what I want, but it's always what I need. This song has been on my heart. I think it perfectly sums up what I'm feeling about this past year, and what I want for this next year.

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger

Your name is great, and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Wishing you and yours a blessed year.

come thou long expected Jesus

2012-12-24T22:22:00.001-08:00

Christmas. My favourite time of year for many reasons including, but not limited to: eggnog, christmas lights, wrapping presents, hallmark commercials, the yuletide fireplace channel, the smell of pine needles, frost, ginger cookies, stuffing, coffee with friends, etc, etc..... but the real reason why it's one of the most precious times of the year to me is because it is the day the world celebrates the birth of Jesus.

This video was played at my church Chirstmas banquet a few weeks ago and I fell in LOVE with it. It depicts the story of how all of creation, all of us, long for Christ's coming, and how all of history culminates in the birth of Jesus. Come thou long expected Jesus. It's one of my most favourite Christmas hymns, and I am brought to tears almost every time I listen to it. Watch this:

This Christmas, may you know the hope, love, peace, warmth and joy that only comes with knowing Jesus. And may you find rest in Him.

Merry Christmas!

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

- Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

Born thy people to deliver,

joy of every longing heart.

born a child and yet a King,

born to reign in us forever,

now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit,

raise us to thy glorious throne.

DIY peacock feather boutonnieres

2012-11-15T12:03:00.002-08:00

I'm the kind of girl who sees something, usually something expensive, and thinks "I could totally make that, but a better and less expensive version!" You can call it cheap, but I prefer saavy. This was pretty much the case for everything surrounding my sister's wedding.

She wanted simple but chic peacock feather boutonnieres for the gentlemen. We found various versions on Etsy, but of course I was all "but I can just make them myself!" Sissy also loves a good craft project, so after collecting all the supplies we needed, Sissy, Momma and I had a boutonniere crafting day. And like most things, we turned it into a competition. We each made a boutonniere, and then Kris chose which one he wanted to wear - without knowing who made each one. He picked mine. Obvs. What can I say, I'm the craftiest one in my family! ;)

Here they are....

To make these badboys you'll need:

peacock feathers
florist tape
antique twisted copper wire
an additional sprig of greenery, branches or buds, etc
pearl straight pins

*All supplies can be purchased at Michaels, or at most craft stores.

To assemble:

Cut the peacock feather to desired length.
Cut sprig of greenery, branch or buds to desired length.
Hold the two pieces together and wrap the ends with a bit of florist tape to secure.
I added a bunch of extra little feathers from the bottom of the feather that I cut off. I just bundled them up, wrapped them in florist tape, and secured the bundle to the sprig and feather.
Wrap additional florist tape around your little boutonniere bundle to reinforce and bulk up the base.
Cut a decent length of antique twisted copper wire and wrap haphazardly around the base. Wrap your little heart out until you think it looks pretty. There is no rhyme or reason to this - we want it to look homespun and rustic, not perfect. Tuck end of wire under another piece of wire.
If desired, you can curl a few of the feather pieces for a more whimsical look. To do this, gently pinch a few pieces between your thumb and index finger nail, about mid feather. Gently pull the feathers between your nails until you reach the end. Feel free to do this a few times until you get the look of the curl you like.
Attach a pearl straight pin or two so it can be attached to a suit jacket.
Now admire your handy work and pour yourself a glass of wine. YAY YOU!!! Look at you being all crafty and saving money!

*Photography by Leslie Rowse Photography

found object snowflake prints - grade 3 art lesson

2012-11-14T18:11:00.000-08:00

For those of you interested in what I'm doing at school right now, here is one of my latest assignments for my Art Class. My usual lesson and unit plans are in a boring TRU template format, so I jumped at the chance to create this Art Lesson assignment in a visually appealing format. We all know how much I love colour and pretty fonts....

Found Object Snowflake Prints.

A note for teachers: I love the idea of using what you have laying around to create authentic pieces of winter art! It's also great for teaching the concept of radial symmetry. I've designed this lesson for my Grade 3 practicum class, and I've listed the BC Prescribed Learning Outcomes for this grade, but you can adapt this lesson to suit pretty much any primary grade.

the twitter

2012-11-07T23:35:00.001-08:00

Yes, I'm still here. I've neglected this here dear blog of mine. I've been busy completing 22 credits in 11 weeks. NO. BIG. DEAL. After teaching for the month of September in my grade 3 practicum class, it sure was hard to get back into the school swing of things. Thankfully, I'm more than halfway through and the end is in sight. ~~I'm looking forward to~~ I cannot WAIT until I'm back in the classroom come January. I sure do miss those munchkins. It's going to be great to put everything I'm learning into practice, and try some really cool and exciting things I know/hope they'll love. 8 year olds are a tough crowd!!

Anyway, I'm back on here for a wee moment to tell you that you can now find me on "the twitter." Every time someone says twitter I can't help but think of Betty White in the movie trailer "You Again."
{Skip ahead to the 2:15 mark if you have no clue what I'm referring to}

I've never wanted to join twitter. Nope, never. The idea of condensing a thought into a 140 character tweet didn't really seem like my thing. Lord knows I'm not a short winded kind of gal. However, after a convincing presentation on technology during one of my TRU BEd classes, I am convinced that tweeting will be a fabulous way for me to connect with other educators and smartie pants around the globe. Since I spend most of my days in a small town, a link to the outside world doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

You can follow me on the twitter (haha sorry, I can't help myself) to keep up with the latest and greatest in my world as a teacher. I'm keeping in strictly professional. You will not be hearing about what I ate for breakfast. Instead, you'll be invited into my classroom, and my crazy little world as a Teacher Candidate. If that sort of things interests you, give me a follow @misslahaise

ramblings from a third grade practicum teacher

2012-09-17T15:22:00.002-07:00

I've been teaching grade three for just over a week and a half now. My kids are so much fun and I enjoy spending my days getting to know them and getting back into the swing of teaching. September start up is a busy, exciting, and exhausting time! But time is flying by and in just one short week, I'll be back in Kamloops for 2 months of my own classes at TRU.

All this stress, fun and change of pace has taken a toll on me, and today I'm sick at home. I've wanted to share some of my experiences with you, and now I finally have a few moments to share some words from my students that might make you laugh.

We are working on an "All About Me" poster where they get to share all kinds of things about themselves. As a lesson wrap up (or in the teaching world we like to call it a "ticket out") I asked my kids to write one of their most favourite things about themselves on a post-it note. Here's what they had to say:

myself
my ipod
my ability
my ears
my insides, my heart, my body
I love everything
laugh, smile, nose and mouth
I like hockey
my smile and my heart
my laugh
I'm cool, I'm fun to play with and I'm good!
I love drawing
smile and eyes
gaming
my hat
my hair
my life
I like to cook and art and animals and family
being positive and respectful

As you can see, I have a funny, sweet and diverse class. What a fun bunch!

And because all posts are better with a picture, here's a clock I made for my classroom to help my little munchkins tell time a little easier. Thank you Pinterest for the idea. LOVE Pinterest. If you want to follow my boards, click on the "P" on the lefthand side. :)

Happy Monday

happy birthday sister

2012-08-25T23:58:00.001-07:00

Today is August 25th and it's a special day because it's my sissy's birthday.

Most of the best moments in my life were spent with her by my side. She annoys me to no end, but at the end of the day I can't imagine a life without her.

I mean really. This girl claims to 'hate chocolate' yet asks for chocolate desserts for her birthday TWO. YEARS. IN. A. ROW. She's impossible. But I LURRRRVE her. So I made her this:

Last night, we had a lovely girls night at Trattorias with all of her favourite ladies, then went back to our place for Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova and champagne, or 'champs' as she likes to call it. Then today, her request was to drive to Quesnel and shop at Edgewood Farms and have a mocha milkshake at Granville's. So that's what we did. Here's sissy momma and me waiting for our milkshakes:

Her next request was to go to the Garlic Festival at Lac La Hache. So we zipped back to the puddle, picked up Jacqueline, and to the Garlic Festival we went! We perused the booths, ate delectable garlic burgers, listened to live country bands, and burped smelly garlic burps all the way back home. A perfect day if I do say so myself.

I love birthday's because they are special days where you get to celebrate the people you love and tell them how much they mean to you. Most people would do this in a birthday card, but since I have my blog, I figure why not do it here!?

Sister, it's no secret I think you're the bees knees. No one else can do gymnastic balance beam routines in a parking lot, burn rubber on a uhaul, bunny hop and honk the horn at the same time, and make me laugh quite like you do. My life would be pretty lame without you. I'm really glad you were born.

I made this slideshow for J + K's wedding last year. I think it's pretty awesome, so I thought it should make a reappearance to celebrate this special day and just how awesome sissy is. You'll probably want to get a good look at the fab hair-dos and outfits we sported while growing up, so you should just go ahead and click the little box on the bottom right corner and turn this bad boy into fullscreen view. Enjoy. And.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISSY!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOXOOXO

deer whisperer

2012-08-19T20:42:00.002-07:00

They were like magic.

Covered in spots, the two siblings pranced across the fence and into my Momma’s backyard. “shhhhh” Momma said, “you’ll scare them away.” We stood still, watching them through the window like wax museum statues. The siblings munched on branches and leaves and then they noticed me. “Don’t move” momma demanded. As baby deer and I made eye contact, I slowly moved to see if he’d follow my movement. He did. He crept closer and closer to the window and gave me a head side tilt. You know the one. All animals do it. Our little Daisy Dog always did it. Momma and I continued to watch as they fed off the foliage in her yard, and Mom concluded that it must be my necklace that the deer loved. I laughed, “sure Momma, it must be my necklace...or maybe it’s my shirt? Maybe they think I’m a zebra!? “ I joked. I wore a white and black striped shirt and a glitzy coral and gold statement necklace. Those deer had good fashion sense.

I decided to go out to the yard to see if they still liked me, uprotected from the safety of a pane of glass. “NO!!!!! You’ll scare them away!!!” Momma was sure of it. I opened the door and slowly walked outside towards them. Their ears perked up and their doe eyes followed me once again. And because I felt like I could calm them and lure them with the sound of my voice, I softly spoke to them like they were humans. “Hi baby! How are you? You’re so cute. It’s okay, I won’t hurt you.” And Baby came, slowly and a little uncertain, he came towards me. Just call me the deer whisperer. They must have heard momma dear rustling in the bushes because off they went, giving distance between me and Baby.

And momma and I stood there smiling. Momma loves animals. Whether it was just the pure cuteness of those babies, or the fact that it reminded her of when Daisy would chase them, it was a special moment and it made her smile.

She was having a bad day and they were the magic she needed. The magic she deserved. That special magic moment God wanted to give her.

An old pic of Daisy and Kris checking out where the deer went, after they scared them off.

Public Safety Notice: Did you know that deer can attack you? That wouldn’t have been fun. Those things are feisty little buggers. So I was on my guard and ready to high tail it back in the house if momma deer were to show her face. Just so ya know I'm not a dumb dumb who chases deer. And also, if you're reading this, I like you and don't want you to fall victim of a deer attack. Always practice safety people! ;)

"Welcome to London" ~ a favourite moment

2012-06-28T22:14:00.003-07:00

You know that Friends episode where Joey goes to London and does every single cliche touristy thing, including going on a bus tour, all by himself? Well, a few weeks ago that was me. Because I'm cool like that.

I had 8 days in in the land of the Royals, cute accents and red buses, and I was determined to DO London! I wanted to see everything in the most convenient way possible, so a big bus tour was the obvious choice.

On a cool and rainy day in May, this country gal set out to see the sights, on a red double decker bus. Despite the crummy overcast weather, I was determined to sit up top in the open roofed bus and not let anything rain on my parade. Apparently other tourists were not as hardcore as me, because 98% of the time I had the top floor all to myself. My own private bus tour.

As the bus came to a stop at an intersection, my attention was grabbed by a strapping British businessman, who spotted me sitting all alone at the top of the bus. He raised his arms and spread them wide, and with a great big grin plastered across his face he shouted, "WELCOME TO LONDON!!!" Obviously, in that oh so sexy accent that made me swoon.

LOVED that moment.

Germany - Exploring Heidelberg

2012-06-26T22:45:00.003-07:00

You know when you plan a trip, and you look at the scenery photos on the websites and wonder what it will be like? Well, I did that. I even blogged a few photos of Heidelberg that I borrowed from a website when I found out I was going. I daydreamed about what it would be like, and my expectations were high.

And then I got there...

And it was everything I expected... and more. Way more.

Heidelberg is an idyllic little city, rich with history and dripping in cuteness.

I still can't bring myself to sorting through all my photos, nor do I know how I am ever going to choose which ones to share. Trust me, even I don't think it's fun looking at thousands of pictures, so I want to pick special ones, ones that really tell a story of my time, and only show you those. So for now, I thought that a few photos and stories from Instagram are better than nothing.

Ready to board my first flight across the Atlantic.

On our first day in Heidelberg, we attended a free concert in the old university hall. And when I say old, I mean OLD. Like 1300's old. As I sat and listened to the beautiful melodies in this majestic hall, I had to wipe tears from my eyes. I don't know if it was the music, the setting, the jet lag, or a combination of it all, but in that moment, Germany became my happy place.

For a 360 degree tour of this amazing space, head on over {here}

For all you history buffs who want to read about Germany's oldest university, which is super interesting, click {here}

Our hostel was near the newer part of the University of Heidelberg campus. Note all of the "Klinik" markers. To me, this basically meant 'hot doctors this way'!! The perks of staying near the med school.

This is the Padagogische Hochschule (University of Education) where we took our German language classes. Such a beautiful campus.

This post was supposed to be solely about Heidelberg, and technically this isn't in Heidelberg. It's the Palace in Schwetzingen. But it was, by far, my favourite castle we visited. What I wouldn't give to be strolling around these gardens again.

I have a few things I would like to point out about this photo, because I know you're going to ask...so...

Yes, those are beer bottles in our hands.

Yes, we are on the street drinking while we wait for the bus.

Yes, we are all teachers.

In Germany it's totally cool to do this. And by cool I mean legal. I also mean normal. It's the norm to drink in public places in Germany. Feel like throwing back a brewsky on the bus, fly at er! Want to sip champagne at the park, be my guest! Drinking is just such a part of their culture. I had a hard time wrapping my brain around that, and I think I giggled every time drank outside. I felt like a rebel, except for the part where it was totally legal, and therefore not rebellious at all.

PS. Yes, half of us are wearing stripes. Stripes are totally in right now. The Germans say so, and damn those Germans know how to dress!

And this, my friends, is the view of Altstadt (Old Town) Heidelberg, Germany from up in the hills on a lovely path called the Philosopher's Walk. This view still takes my breath away. A definite 'pinch me I'm dreaming' moment.

Germany - Where do I even begin?

2012-05-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

I'm back home. I've been back for a week now, but last night was the first night I slept all the way through the night. After a month away living in a 8/9hr time difference, it sure is hard to get back into the west cost time zone and swing of things. And now that I'm back, and finally on normal sleeping patterns, I've been neglecting my 2000+ photos and blogging because it overwhelms me. I have so much I want to share, and I want to do it in a way that makes you feel like you were there with me. I feel that because I was chosen to go on this amazing adventure, I should take you there with me, in spirit and memories, so you can have just a taste at what it was like for me. It was an unreal experience, and over the next month I plan on sharing the many stories and photos with you, right here on my bloggity.

Stay tuned...

A day in France...

2012-05-10T12:59:00.001-07:00

Traveling with 11 other people you don't know is interesting, to say the least. I love different things about each person I am traveling with, and the bonds and experiences we all share are priceless. I am so thankful for this experience! That being said, being with 11 other people every waking minute of each day is a bit much at times, so I was thrilled to get away this past weekend with a new friend.

Lauren and I became fast friends, as the two of us are quite similar....basically the same person LOL. The two of us gals got up at the crack of dawn, and took a train (or 3) to Strasbourg, France. We went on a boat tour, saw the sights, shopped around, and ate, and ate, and ate... and then ate some more. Seriously, we ate so much food you basically had to roll us on the train!!!

I'll blog more about this fabulous day once I'm home, but here are a few pics.

And to all my faithful blog readers, sorry I haven't been blogging much on my trip. I've just been too busy enjoying this lovely country!

"Le Petite France"

Creme Brule - before

Creme Brule - after

If I were a princess...

2012-04-29T14:09:00.001-07:00

The Palace

Today we visited Schwetzingen Palace and Gardens. I have no words. Well, I do, but none of them would suffice. It was unreal. The Palace gardens spanned the equivalent space of 98 football fields. We went on a guided tour of the summer quarters inside the Palace and then had the afternoon free, to roam around the town. I chose to separate from the group and explore the palace gardens by myself. I’m pretty sure my jaw was on the ground the entire time. I kept thinking, if I were a princess, where would I sneak away to? I found lots of neat spots, and my camera is full of great bits of eye candy, but I’ll wait until I get home to post those. {It takes forever to upload pictures here} I also visited the Turkish Mosque and the Palace Bath House. After my afternoon in the Palace gardens, I met up with the rest of the gang for dinner, where he had white asparagus, a local specialty. It was yet another dreamy day in Germany.

Although I’ll blog extensively about my trip with lots of photos when I get home, a post wouldn’t be the same without a few pics, so here ya be.

My trip roomies and I in the Palace Gardens

The 11 other crazies I get to spend 3 weeks in Germany with ;)

In front of the Turkish Mosque in the Palace Gardens

Hello, Germany. You're lovely!

2012-04-28T14:05:00.001-07:00

April 26^th {ramblings from the day I arrived}

My feet are on a different continent. I’m just about 27 years old and although I’ve travelled to many obscure places, I’ve never been outside of North America. Europe has always been a dream, and now I’m here. It feels surreal. It’s absolutely beautiful here. My first thoughts upon landing in Frankfurt and driving to Heidelberg went something like this:

It natural landscape looks surprisingly a lot like Vancouver. Very green and wet.
It’s humid like Ontario.
They don’t drive on the left side of the road. Am I the only dumby who thought that all of Europe drives on the left. Well if you thought that, you’re not alone, but you are mistaken. They drive on the right side of the road, just like us. Whoops.
It’s absolutely stunningly gorgeous here. TAKE. MY. BREATH. AWAY.
I don’t speak the language well enough to have in depth conversations with the locals. I could ask them directions, but then I’d have a hard time understanding their response. That poses a problem. Thankfully, many Germans speak English and are happy to practice their skills by communicating to us in our mother tongue. However, I was proud when I made a purchase fully in german. J
While I’m speaking about language, there are so many words that are similar or the same. Muffin = muffin… in case you were wondering.
Wifi isn’t as readily available here as it is back home. It’s 2 Euros an hour at the hostel, and you only have access in the lounge, and not your room. As it turns out, I’m quite addicted to text messaging, Facbooking, checking my email, checking the weather, google mapping, etc. This really puts a kink into my ‘staying connected to the world’ plans. That being said, I discovered a few coffee shops that have free wifi that aren’t too far from where I am.

I’ve learned a whole bunch more, but I’m tired as heck and I must go to sleep. I’ve been up for over 26 hours…and I’m running on…? Lord only knows.

April 27 {yesterday’s thoughts}

Today was a whirlwind of a day. After being up for over a day strait, I had every intention of having a great sleep. I fought sleep all day, and following the directions of other travelers, stayed up as long as I could, so not surprisingly, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I thought for sure I’d sleep all night and wake up today feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed, and on German time. What happened instead was that I woke up at 4am and couldn’t fall back asleep until about 6. I even contemplated just staying up, but finally opted for doing everything I could to go back to bed, knowing that my day was jam packed. When my alarm rang at 7am I cursed the world for a brief moment, until I remember that I. AM. IN. GERMANY!! Besides, a few cups of coffee was sure to solve my problems.

I ate breakfast at the hostel, which provided quite the spread. Everything from buns, 3 types of fresh bread, with jams, honey and nutella, cold cuts, cheese, muesli, yogurt, fruit, and coffee. I wasn’t all about the cold cuts for breaky, that’s too lunchy for me, but I did have a chunk of Brie cheese with my toast and jam, apple, banana and muesli.

Then it was off to Old Town by bus. We were met there by Anke and a University Tour guide named Valerie. We were all in awe of the beauty and rich history bursting from every corner in Heidelberg. We saw the Old lecture hall, the oldest University in Germany founded in 13--. Then we moseyed through the streets, seeing the old Cathedral and where the Vicar lives, and the oldest Church in the city from the Gothic time period. Walked along Philosophers Bridge and we’re all snapping pictures like crazy, because off in the distance, perched in it’s perfect ruin form, up on the hill, overlooking the city is the castle. So up we went on this cute but steep tramcar to the castle grounds. I’ve never seen a real life castle before. Walking the grounds, taking in the sights, running my hand along the archways and ancient stonework, my mind is in another place, wondering about the history. Who stood where I stood. I got teary. Because that’s what happens when I’m really, REALLY happy. Again, HOW IS THIS MY LIFE!?!?!?!

April 28 {today’s thoughts}

I slept through the night and am finally feeling back to myself. It’s supposed to get up to 28 degress today, so I’ve got my sundress and suncreen on and I’m about to head to Hoffenheim to catch my first German soccer game: Hoffenheim vs. Nurnberg! WOO HOOO

But, before I got I thought I’d leave you with a few glimpses of my first few days here.

Ready to board Lufthansa flight 493. This was when I had great intentions of sleeping the whole flight. HA

Because I couldn't sleep, I got to see some pretty great sights. I was way up in Northern Ontario this summer but never got to see Hudson Bay.

But that's to my large flight neighbour who made it impossible for me to sleep, I got to see it in all it's frozen and eerie glory!

Half the gang upon our arrival in Heidelberg. At this point we'd been up for over 20 hours and needed coffee.

My {swollen from the flight} feet on German soil...err...cobblestone.

This is what most of the streets, homes and buildings look like in Heidelberg. GORG!

The ruins of Heidelberg Castle.

One of the castle fountains.

Doesn't it take your breath away? I mean, I know it's a picture but its just so beautiful.

The Old Bridge on the Neckar River.

My view of the old city from the boat ride on the Neckar River.

Okay, I could tell you a million stories and show you over 200 pictures but the internet is slow, and I've got a beautiful city to explore. I can't believe this is my life right now. So blessed.

xoxo

wine and laughter

2012-04-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of excitement and stress. I've been spending my days teaching, and my nights prepping for lessons. I am teaching a wonderful grade one class and boy are they rambunctious. Teaching has been my life the past few weeks and I must say that despite the bags under my eyes, the stress, butterflies, early mornings and never ending lesson planning, I absolutely LOVE IT! I'll share some of my most memorable moments, and some of my lessons with you later on, but for now, I'm posting a few pics from a much needed night out with my BEd girls.

We treated ourselves to dinner and wine, and of course we ordered dessert, at my favourite restaurant in the city: Felix on Fourth. We exchanged stories of our practicums, and laughed a lot! It was a wonderful evening with my favourite gals and I can't believe we all won't be together again until October! I'll sure miss them. LOVE these ladies.

Laurel, Kerry, Lesley and Jacquie

The whole gang!

Me, Jamie and Lacey

Lacey excitedly telling us about her grade 2 class!

My favourite people in my favourite restaurant, I couldn't ask for a better way to end this school year.

My new German Friends

2012-03-31T19:19:00.000-07:00

This week, I had the privilege of meeting the exchange students from Heidelberg, Germany. I must say, I was excited about going to Germany before, but after meeting these awesome people, I am even more excited now!!! I can't believe I leave in less than a month.

Anyway, we had a fun week with a few small events. First up was language class: They came to our German language class and had a good laugh at our expense, listening to us try to speak German. I can't blame them though, we're not that good. Next up was a lunch at our campus pub, Heroes. A few of them got to try Poutine for the first time ~ a must on any Canadian visit! And lastly, we had an evening of fine dining at Accolades ~ TRU's culinary arts program restaurant. It was a lovely evening filled with good food, great people, and many laughs.

Here's a little slideshow of our day:

It was lovely to meet all of you and I cannot wait to travel to your neck of the woods next month!

March Luxe Box

2012-03-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

I always anticipate receiving my little black box of goodies each month. Here's what was in my March Luxe Box.

The 'made for Jacqueline' sticker makes me feel special.

Luxe Box provides a handy dandy brochure of the contents of your product, what the full size product retails for, and directions for how to use it.

This month, I received only 4 products and no bonus item.

First up was the mini OPI Base Coat. I included a picture of a full size polish so you can tell exactly how mini it really is. In the past, every time I received a polish, it was a full size one, so this was definitely disappointing.

A vial of the new Vera Wang Lovestruck fragrance. The smell is much too floraly for my taste. The packaging is annoying, too. The cap is a b$&%h to get off, and I ended up spilling the fragrance all over my hands.

This was a repeat item for me. I've received this product before in a previous Luxe Box. I don't love this product, and again it was a super tiny bottle.

A full sized tin of Cargo Eyeshadow was about the only item in this month's box that I actually enjoyed. And truthfully, the pinkish color is a bit too pink for me, but the brownish taupe is a nice contour colour for a daytime look.

Overall, I noticed a theme in the March edition of Luxe Box: MINI. Everything was a mini sized version of itself. I understand that a Luxe Box contains 'samples', and samples are usually on the small size, but Luxe Box boasts DELUXE sized samples and this month's box was lacking in that department. Couple that with NO bonus item and there was nothing overwhelmingly awesome about this box. In the past, I've got full sized polishes and treats, like coffee or chocolate or tea as a 5th bonus item. If I had to rate this box it would be a 6/10 with the only redeeming product being the cargo eyeshadow. A repeat product and 3 mini items brought the score of this box way down. What do you think of this month's box compared to the last few months? {Click here to review the products in previous boxes} Do you think this box is awesome, am I just being a brat? Do tell....

ps. Can you tell I used my new camera to take these shots!? I still have no clue how to use it but I'm loving it regardless.

catching up with instagram

2012-03-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

Blinding sun coming through the floor to ceiling windows on campus. I may spend my entire weekend at the HOL building, but you won't find me complaining on days like this!

Thankfully, I now have a few more items checked off my list. There's something about checking the box saying something is done that is JUST. SO. SATISFYING! Now if only ALL the boxes were checked.

Flights to Germany, London and back are booked! April 25th is coming up quickly! EEEK!!!

Also, sexy men.

"For one please." Sometimes it's nice to just take yourself out for dinner alone. A well needed breather from everything.

Jacqueline ~ 26 years old
Painted while participating in a "blind" social studies lesson.
And I thought I was doing so well....lol

My very first "Beertini"

Branching out from my usual Brie and Fig Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich, I discovered a new favourite at Earls: Tuna Poke Nachos. You MUST try them...if you're a fan of albacore tuna, spicy mango chutney, avocados and other yummy random things.

A cookie, a fire, and The Hunger Games

So...I got myself a little pressy with some visa points. The goal is to learn how to use it before I go to Germany so I take take lots of pretty pictures and share them with you.

catching up with instagram

2012-03-21T09:54:00.001-07:00

BUSY doesn't feel like a full enough word to describe my life right now. I'm just trying to take ~~one day at a time, one task at a time, one minute at a time,~~ one breath at a time. Yes, one breath at a time.

Because I'm the crazy person who takes photos of everything with their iphone, and I don't have a ton of time to blog, I thought I could at least catch up with some pics from Instagram. Have you heard of it? If not, you live in a seashell, or you don't have an iphone. But it you have, and are interested in following me, my username is jlahaise. Request to follow and I'd be happy to share my dippy little life with y'all.

Creating a mess at the WL Library with two fabulous ladies! This was a little 'under the sea' themed writing centre for Lacey and my Language and Literature class. Jac was kind enough to offer her mad cutting and pasting skills and snacks!

Ahh...this little man has my heart. I spent every spare moment I could over February reading break at Leslie's. Here, D didn't believe me when I said he looked like he had a santa beard.

Sister stealin' a lick of Kris' whipped cream from his Espresso Milkshake from Granville's in Quesnel.

I knew I had to take a picture of them in first place standings. I know they'll come back. I believe. Go Canucks!

'Aquadellic' from my February Luxe Box. Painting my nails always makes me feel a bit better.

Taking a night off from unit planning with my favourite BEd gals at the Noble Pig. Deep fried pickles are always a must!

Oh it's MARCH!?!? How did this happen!?!?

The 'tax man' was kind to me this year. And 'my' tax man was apparently on a nickname basis with me, never mind just a first name basis.

A new breakfast favourite. Cold oatmeal with coconut milk, walnuts, dried cherries, sliced banana, chia and hemp seeds. Sadly, I need to get my crap back in order and go grocery shopping...because the breakfast as of late has been coffee and a muffin. :s eek.

More Insta catch up tomorrow.....promise.

The Oscars

2012-03-03T15:55:00.001-08:00

The Oscars...le sigh....The dresses, the jewels, the tongue in cheek humour, the films, the tributes, etc. It's all just a grand time if you ask me. This year, Leslie and I hosted an Oscar's Viewing Party at her house which was just a blast! Head on over to {her blog} to check out the pictures of the details of our party, including some yummy, but tricky to make, macarons.

Today, I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the Red Carpet Fashion!!! I'm sure my sister will have plenty to say about my choices ~ she often disagrees with my top picks :) I was really impressed with the high caliber of style at this years Oscars. And for that reason, I have my top ten in no particular order, because I just cannot seem to choose who I like the best...

Jac's Top Red Carpet Picks:

Emma Stone

{This girl can do no wrong. LOVE her and her sexy red dress}

Jessica Chastain

{One of the most glamourous dresses there}

Gwenyth Paltrow

{Classic + playful with the cape}

Cameron Diaz

{Such a beauty}

Michelle Williams

{She was on my worst dressed list for the Golden Globes, but she turned in her 'flower child' ways with a dress that would make Marilyn proud!}

Natalie Portman

{I'll forgive her bad hair because her polka dotted dress is just too cute}

Kristen Wiig

{whimsical + stunning}

Ellie Kemper (From Bridesmaids)

{Sparkly + classy + fun...in a gorge color!}

Meryl Streep

{This woman...dresses perfectly for her body and age. She is the epitome of class in perfect Oscar's gold}

Sandra Bullock

{I said I didn't have a favourite, but I think I lied. I'm a sucker for black and white. Pair that with some glitz & glam and a sultry plunging back and you've got a WINNER!!!}

Honorable Mention:

Jennifer Lopez

{She sure knows how to play up her 'ass'ets (hardy har har) but I just wasn't too sure about the shoulder cut-outs}

Octavia Spencer

{She looks so stunning in this figure flattering gown, but I wish there were a bit more to the neckline. I'm all for showing off a little of the 'girls'}

Penelope Cruz

{Pretty dress, but it didn't WOW me. Maybe it was the 90's off the shoulder draping. Or maybe I just couldn't get past her really awful hair}

Misses:

Stacey Keibler

{This screamed BRIDESMAIDS in a "you can hem it and wear it again" type of way. Loved the gold hue but I just hated the swooshy rose!}

Angelina Jolie

{I can't decided if my dislike for her dress has more to do with the fact that I just don't like her or her awful 'look at my long anorexic looking leg' pose. Either way, two big thumbs down. The only great part about her look and her pose was the man who poked fun at her by copying it while he accepted an award she presented. Cracked me right up!!!}

Roonie Mara

{This is just awkward and weird. It washes her out, the neckline is bad, and her straight across blunt bangs are just not a flattering look for her}

Best moments:

Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy taking shots whenever someone said "Scorsese"

Cameron and Jennifer's playful banter and poses while presenting their award

Spotting a nun on the red carpet

Cirque de Soliel performance

Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig presenting the award for short action film "As my grandma used to say, it can be short and still make your toes curl. And I believe in my heart my grandma wasn't referring to weiners but short films."

Zach Galifianakis and Will Ferrell playing cymbals

Chris Rock's tongue in cheek speech about animated films and how easy it is to make a million dollars

In my opinion, these were by far the funniest and most entertaining Oscars ever {not including Ellen walking out on stage wearing a Swan dress like Bjork) which were made even better by watching it with fun gals at the party, while we ate too much delicious food and feasted our eyes on the best red carpet fashion!

So, I'd like to know who some of your top picks for fashion were? And who made your worst dress list? Do you agree or disagree with my picks??

Do tell.....

*Images courtesy of Getty Images for the UK Daily Mail (www.dailymail.co.uk)

Luxe Box

2012-03-02T17:19:00.002-08:00

I love trying new beauty products. Since I am a total product junky and spend way too much on products, I love sampling them before I commit to purchasing them. I am totally that girl who goes to the spa, beauty counters and drugstores and asks for free samples. When I worked as a manager for Elizabeth Arden, I was highly annoyed by the amount of ladies who came to the counter just to get samples. But I have since become that person. Really, can you blame me!? There's nothing worse than spending a hefty amount on a new product only to discover you hate the smell, texture, or even worse, you react to it! So I'm thrilled to share with you a fantastic little find that solves some of those 'try before you buy' issues...

Enter Luxe Box.

Luxe Box is a monthly subscription that delivers 4-5 deluxe beauty samples to your door in a chic little box. Products range from make-up to skincare to nail polish and hair products.

I've received 4 months of boxes now and I have been both thoroughly impressed, and extremely disappointed. I thought it would be fun to share with you what I've received, and tell you all about what things were total hits, and the others that were complete misses.

November Luxe Box

The classic black box packaging

November was my first, and still stands out as one of my favourite, Luxe boxes. Its contents included:

Lise Watier lip gloss {pretty pink and shimmery gloss that tingles as it 'plumps' your lips}
Benefit Moisture Prep Toner {gorgeous packaging, pretty scent, but I haven't actually used it}
Benefit Total Moisture Moisturizer {same as above}
Essie Nail Polish {love love loved this holiday shade, perfect for the season!}
*Bonus Item* Teaopia loose tea in Cactus Fig flavor. {YUM - loved the little bonus item that even came with tea filters!}

Overall, good box. I enjoyed most of the products, didn't use 2 of them, but loved having glitzy nails!

December Luxe Box

I forgot to take photos of my December Luxe Box, but here is the rundown of what was in the box:

Keratase Elixer {a hair shining serum which I absolutely love}
China Glaze Polish {in the most disgusting red and silver glitter chunk shade which I will never use}
DDF Advanced Firming Cream {which I gave to my mom for her aging skin - it just seemed a bit too intense for my 26 year old face}
2 Fragrance samples by Nina Ricci {which I was stupid enough to spray directly on myself without smelling them first. Bad idea. Not a fan}
*Bonus Item* a chocolate coin.

Overall, a lame Luxe Box considering I only loved one item in the whole box. My mom loved the firming cream though.

January Luxe Box

Again, I forgot to Document my January Luxe Box, but you can check out Leslie's Blog to see a similar box to the one I received. My general review of this box was mediocre. I received two boxes, one of which was a special "Bath & Body" Luxe box containing 'luxury' bath and body products. In this box was a razor and shampoo and conditioner samples. I was happy to receive a new razor, but do we really want to call a razor a 'luxury' item? The Fekkhai shampoo and conditioner was lovely, but the fact that the company added a second box, with tissue paper just seemed like a real waste. It also makes me think that this company is in no way environmentally friendly. I am a sucker for great packaging, but felt that an additional box (resulting in an even bigger cardboard box in which it was shipped in...total of 3 boxes) is a bit outrageous and wasteful.

Overall, the wasteful packaging, and the fact that the box showed up in Feburary which was 2 weeks late, all contributed to making me feel very MEH about this box.

February Luxe Box

This month's Luxe Box was a limited edition box as they partnered with Flare Magazine. The packaging was red and cute and filled with FLARE tissue paper. Oh the details...

The 'Made for Jacquleine' sticker makes it extra special :)

Contents of February's Luxe Box:

Moroccan Oil {my hair is super dry and coarse so hair treatment oils are a big LOVE of my beauty routine}
Redken Shampoo & Conditioner for colour treated hair (x3) {perfect little samples to throw in my gym bag. I've used these products before, and although my hair is not chemically treated, I really enjoy all Redken products}
China Glaze Polish in 'Aquadellic' {not a usual shade for me as I prefer neutrals, pinks, reds or deep burgandys, but this is such a fun color I couldn't help but polish my nails right away. I've already got quite a few compliments on my Tiffany-hued nails}
Mereadesso Beautiful Body Balm {in LOVE with the botanical, lemony natural scent and luscious texture of this product}
*Bonus Item* Mereadesso Face & Neck Toning Gel {have yet to try, but it retails for an absurd about so I'm curious to see what it's like. The problem with samples this size is you can't really see results after using such a small amount. Hopefully it gives me an idea of what it's like}

Overall, my favourite Luxe Box to date. Loved and am going to use every single product.

One of the things I really love about the Luxe Box is the written booklet they provide that tells you all about the products that are in your box, the price they retail for, and how to use them. It's perfect for even the beginner beauty product user!

I signed up for a year subscription which costs me $10 per month. I've definitely got my moneys worth - even if I haven't loved every single product. The good mainly outweighs the bad, and I sure love the anticipation of finding out what is in my Luxe box each month!

If you want to treat yourself to some fun goodies, or if you want to give someone a gift that keeps on giving (literally) I'd definitely recommend Luxe Box.

If you're interested in getting a subscription to Luxe Box, click {here}.

LOVE: simple pleasures

2012-02-27T20:05:00.001-08:00

Oh faithful blog readers, how I let you down ever so often :(

My lofty ambitions to post daily from Monday to Friday have failed, to say the least. You see, I've been planning units on themes like Under the Sea, creating math lesson plans on non-standard forms of measurement, cutting, gluing, and crafting project after project, and reflecting on everything I do....because that's what we do in the education program. FUUUN!!! But don't be confused, this is not me complaining! I'm enjoying almost every minute of this program, but would also love to have a little r & r, and obviously some more time to blog! But alas, the last half of the semester, preparing for practicum, and learning random bits of German in preparation for my exchange in April have kept be BIZZAAAY (That's 'busy' for those of you who aren't my sister, and can't decode my made-up words).

But today I'm here, to say I heart you, and to share a wee little simple pleasure of mine.

Simple pleasures: those small things in life that bring you delight. I have many of them, but today after a 14hr day, nothing beats coming home, taking out your contacts, getting into comfy pjs and lighting a new candle in a yummy scent. This soy candle actually comes from my favourite line of hair products: Awapuhi by Paul Mitchell. It was a gift with purchase and smells like absolute heaven....of the wild ginger kind.

Before I get carried away, I'd like to know: what are some of your simple pleasures in life?

I'm off to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet in my blissfully scented room before I doze off....zzzz

ps. Don't give up on me: please keep checking back here for new posts. I really do promise to share some fun stuff with you in the next little while.

LOVE: taking a moment to notice beauty

2012-02-16T16:25:00.000-08:00

Stories like these make me wonder. If we can't stop to appreciate one of the greatest musicians out there playing one of the most intricate and beautiful pieces of music ever written, what else are we missing?

I like to think I would notice. I think I would take a moment to stop and appreciate the beauty that was before me. I'm the kind of girl who almost goes off the road while gazing at a setting sun. I'm the girl standing next to you, smacking you on the arm saying look look LOOK, until you finally notice. I walk slow, often trailing behind others so I can notice small things like the glimmer a ray of sun makes as it catches a frosty branch, the perfectly ripple-less puddle mirroring the whimsical clouds, and the sweetly warm breeze dancing against my face, wafting notes of freshly cut grass. Maybe it's because I grew up in a small town where life was just slower: "cariboo time" is what we called it. I can't remember if I was like this when I lived in Vancouver. So maybe I wouldn't stop? I get busy, too. I often navigate throughout my day with a purpose, going from point a to point b as if I were wearing horse blinders.

This story made me stop and think about my pace of life.

Today I just wanted to remind you (and myself) to slow it down to a pace where you notice the beauty that surrounds you. Because life is just way too short to not notice the world renowned violinist playing in a subway station for free.

You can read the entire article from the Washington Post HERE.