Vintage Christmas

No matter what the season, I adore the look of vintage cards.  Here are a few vintage holiday cards that I love.

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!" 

~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Tea-rrific

This tea is amAHHzing.  With ingredients like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, cloves and nutmeg, your senses will transport you to a spice market in a far off land. I feel it is quite perfect sans addition sweetening.  Get your tea on!

Two Peas in a Pod

My best friend, Chelsie is engaged!  

I am beyond happy for her and Jon and so ever 

excited for their June wedding.  I am honored to be 

a bridesmaid and can't wait to re-visit NoDak.


I am having too much fun looking  at colors and 
songs and themes and dresses...I want more friends
to get married!

                      "All you need is love"

                              - The Beatles

The Starfish Story

It is funny how the smallest things can sometimes make the biggest impact. I love life's "little things". In the last month, I have crossed paths with so many amazing people who have shared some inspiring stories and mantras. Here is a more recent one that really resonated with me...

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed 
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. 
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? 
You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, 
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…”
I made a difference for that one.”

Don't underestimate your power or undermine what influence you have over every moment here after. You make a difference...choose to do so.

Jackie O

I came along this quote a few days ago, and felt like sharing. Well said Jackie, well said.

"I have been through a lot and have suffered a great deal. But I have had lots of happy moments, as well. Every moment one lives is different from the other. The good, the bad, hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love, and happiness are all interwoven into one single, indescribable whole that is called life. You cannot separate the good from the bad. And perhaps there is no need to do so, either."

~ Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Somersault

Woke up to a fluffy abundance of snow this morning. Steamy coffee tendrils are slowly persuading me into today. My pilates mat is down. Here is a song I just heard by Decoder Ring...

I see your breath hanging there
Like snow clouds
Like snow clouds
Across the valley
The snow falls down
Onto my skin...

In my heart, you'll stay
In my heart, with me
In my heart, you'll stay
In my heart, in my heart.

I miss you when the
Air is still
And i can hardly feel
But with one breath
You are here

You are here
(in my heart, you'll stay)
You are here, with me
In my heart, you'll stay
In my heart, in my heart...

Out of all the breath in me
I keep yours in my heart
Out of all the breath in me
I keep yours in my heart

Now you will always be with me
In my heart
Now you will always be with me

Last Days in Whitehorse

I was asked to stay another day before departing for Whistler -- my wonderful friends threw a bon voyage party for me. It was a feast for a King (or Queen). White coho salmon, champagne, salads and lots o' lots of pie!! All in all it was a wonderful day. Anne, Harvey and I began the day on snow shoes. We took Kramer and Buddy for a last walk before my departure, down by wolf creek past the beaver dam and back up through the aspen trees.

I couldn't have asked for a nicer evening. I am constantly finding myself thankful for all the wonderful people in my life. Leaving Whitehorse was definitely bittersweet. I had re-kindled some amazing friendships and will miss everyone so...but can't wait for all that lies ahead. The Yukon will always be home, and I know I will be returning soon.

Last walk (snowshoe) with Anne, Harvey, Kramer, & Buddy

The gang!

JD apple pie (thank you LJ)

Champagne Toast

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

~ Maria Robinson

Quarter Century

THE PLAN: Spend my birthday in Vegas and PHX with loved ones and see anyone and all I possibly could. Possibly squeeze in some NAU homecoming...and LOTS OF SUN.

I am happy to say this was all accomplished.

I departed Whitehorse on October 16 at 8 a.m. There is something magical about watching the sunrise at 40,000 ft. I landed in Vancouver and had a seven hour layover before my connecting flight to Las Vegas.

Here is a word web and some photos of the 10 days that followed...

Sunrise . Carry on . Turbulence . Clinique . Dad . Vancouver . Chelsie . Maggie . Beattles LOVE . Revolution . UVA . UVB . Marco . Saguaro . Mom . PCL . Beth . Beyowulf . Emily . Flagstaff . NAU . Tequila Sunrise . Tire Pressure . Interviews . Baklava . Jon . Christian Louboutin . Kaleb & Dustin . Flip Flops . Pool Adventure . 25 . Sushi . Shopping . Bananagrams . Layover . Lunarglides . Eric . Verizon . Mirage . Whistler . Lance . Scarf . Sephora . Apple . Supper Club . VB . Pat . Sunset

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”

~ C.S. Lewis

Giving Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving in Canada. Sitting here at the kitchen table, I am presently thankful for the bright sunlight bursting through the trees on this clear and cold -8* c (17.6* f) morning. The glow is a wonderful sign of a much 'warmer' afternoon.

Thanksgiving is not as big in Canada as it is in the lower 49. I was invited to and attended a couple of dinners over the weekend, and am reminded of how thankful I am for a plate full of turkey, stuffing, and the rest. I made and brought a pecan pie to both suppers, which I found out is a very American tradition.

It has been over 10 years since I was here for this holiday. No matter the amount of time that passes or my proximity, I find there are a few things I am consistently thankful for; my family, friends and good health.

I am one very lucky girl, who knows that luck has little to do with it. You can't win loving parents by playing scratchers at the Seven Eleven or throw a healthy heart in craps. For this, I try not to take them for granted and remember that unlike poker, my family, friends and health are things I am not willing to gamble.

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.”

~ Oprah Winfrey

Turkey

I went to dinner on Sunday (the night before Canadian Thanksgiving) at a friends house. It was so delicious and I had such a great time that I had to share some photos. Amazing turkey, homemade eggnog, battle of the blades....so thankful.

Carpe Diem

"Courage is not the absence of fear , but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. "

~ Ambrose Redmoon

Good Morning Jack Frost

I took Kramer and Buddy for a walk this a.m. HELLO COLD. I left the house looking like a stuffed chicken: down jacket on top of sweatshirt on top of long sleeve, wool socks, wellies, and a touque. I returned home wondering if my nose was still on the end of my face. The sad thing is this isn't even cold in the Yukon. The thermometer reads -1*c right now. I need my cold weather clothing....STAT!

"In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer"

~ Albert Camus

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Life goes on! It is October. And it is cold. And it snowed today. A LOT. If my camera's battery hadn't been dead I would have a photo to share with you. I will have to upload one tomorrow.


So I am excited for the next coming weeks. Other than life itself, much is going on. More travels on the horizon. More adventures. But first...I need snow tires.

" The living moment is everything."
~D.H. Lawrence

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Since this is the case, my heart is bi-coastal and international. Having grown up in Canada and the US, my friends and family are everywhere in between. But first and foremost I have found that it is where I am. Where my head lays to rest and my dreams manifest.

You may think that after years away, there would be some sadness in returning to a childhood home that sat relatively unopened. Locked. After much time, harsh cold winters, and divorce....the house is oddly full of life. Of love. I remember being saddened the first time I returned 4 years ago after have been away since high school. But when I cross the threshold this time, there were no tears. Why cry over spilt milk? I am now comforted, calmed by a structure and by property that is priceless in my eyes. Rich with memories, not to mention water front views.

Returning now as an adult, I appreciate all the hard work it took to make that house a home. All the work my Mom and Dad did. I only wish that we could all return together to coo at someting that makes up a huge part of what we were....who we are.

I am so thankful for all that was done by my parents to make my childhood epic. Warm. Safe.

“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.”
~ Maya Angelou

Down the Great River

In passing one day, Anne invited me to partake on a river trip she and Harvey were planning for good friend, Ellen Davignon. Long time Yukon resident and author, Ellen had never made the long trek via agua to Dawson City from her once home of Johnson’s Crossing. Among many other sweet and savory delights, Ellen is hands down the best maker of Cinnamon Buns north of 60 (well, anywhere for that matter). I couldn’t turn down what will probably be for me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The four of us embarked on an amazing escapade up the Yukon River from August 13-17.

We put our boat in at Johnson’s Crossing and rode down river to Dawson City. An 8+ day excursion in a canoe, it took us 4 days by motorboat.

The first night we camped at Hootalinqua, the second at Minto, and the last night on Olgivy Island.

There are so many miles of untouched, unremarkable scenery --- sooo much history.

While there were countless moments of whit and wonder to write about….I want to share some info about the amazing waterway that carried us along.

Yukon means "great river" in Gwich'in.

The longest river in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, the Yukon River was one of the principal means of transportation during the 1896–1903 Klondike Gold Rush. The river passes through the communities of Whitehorse (where I am), Carmacks, (just before the Five Finger Rapids) and Dawson City in the Yukon Territory.

The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. Over half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska, with most of the other portion lying in and giving its name to Canada's Yukon Territory, and a small part of the river near the source located in British Columbia. The river is 3,700 km (2,300 mi) long and empties into the Bering Sea at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.


It was an opportunity of a lifetime, and for that I am forever grateful!

Camp first night at Hootalinqua

Paddlewheel @ Hootalinqua

Ellen, Anne and I :: Big Salmon

Yukon Sunset

Anne, Harvey, and Ellen :: Fort Selkirk

Last Campfire :: Ogilvy Island

M.I.A.

I know I have been M.I.A. in Blog-land (and in general for that matter)...but will return with a re-cap and update of the fun, fabulous, and fearless soon.

PROMISE.

"I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention. To not be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself. To cut yourself out of stone."

- Henry Rollins

The Way I See It #76

The irony of commitment is that it is
deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love.
The act frees you from the tyranny of your
internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself
up and parade itself around as rational hesitation.
To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.

Chelsie Marie

:: Happy Birthday CMD ::

It just so happens that two of my best friends birthdays are the day after each other...so in rhythm with yesterday, August 12 is Chelsie's birthday. A PA student in Las Vegas, I am sure Chels didn't take much of a study break. I admire her strength and dedication towards all aspects of her life. Like Erin, I miss Chels greatly and hope her day was just the beginning of an amahh-zing year.

Love you Miss You

xo

Erin Rose

Today is my good friend Erin Rose Campbell's birthday and I was just so inclined to blog about it. It may be because after calling her on the phone , I haven't stopped thinking about what an amazing individual she is and how much I miss her. The weather was quite gloomy today, but as the sun set tonight, brilliant hues of pink crested the horizon. Erin starts her third year of teaching tomorrow and I wish her all the best for the next 12 months ahead.

:: happy birthday erc ::

xo

J.

The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun

1. Stop hiding who you really are
2. Start being intensely selfish
3. Stop following the rules
4. Start scaring yourself
5. Stop taking it all so damn seriously
6. Start getting rid of the crap
7. Stop being busy
8. Start something

After all the energy spent, when all is said and done, it is sometimes the most simple of things that make the most sense or have the most profound affect on people. The link below is a great illustration of these eight principles.

Enjoy!

http://www.eightprinciples.com

To The Rescue

"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
it's at the end of your arm, as you get older,
remember you have another hand:
The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others."

~ Audrey Hepburn

621

Dad & I at the end

That was my number -- and yes, I will most definitely be an uber nerd and keep it tucked away in some book or chest forever. My first race. My team was creatively named Live Long & Perspire (only after another team stole our original "We'll Be Home For Christmas").

It went sooo well -- so much better than I had expected. Don't let me fool you though...it was a test of mind over matter and that finish line was warmly welcomed. My teammates were rockstars.

"Happiness is not in the mere possession of money;
it lies in the joy of achievement,
in the thrill of creative effort."

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Countdown

I 'enjoy' running - but have never run a marathon. So when someone approached me a month ago to join their marathon team, I thought what the heck, just another check off the 'ol bucket list. This summer has been full of these kind of personal challenges.

So I race TOMORROW! I am the first leg of four which starts at 9:00 a.m. I picked up my info package this afternoon. I am super excited and a wee bit nervous. I am an athlete but have never considered myself much of a runner. My sister was the track and field star. But I guess in the end it is all just about adrenaline and endorphins. I like my fix anyway I can get it.

La La La Life is Wonderful

On my run this evening, the song Life is Wonderful by Jason Mraz popped up on my iPod. I love the lyrics from this song and want to share my edited version with you...

It takes a crane to build a crane
It takes two floors to make a story
It takes an egg to make a hen
It takes a hen to make an egg
There is no end to what I'm saying

It takes a thought to make a word
And it takes a word to make an action
It takes some work to make it work
It takes some good to make it hurt
It takes some bad for satisfaction

It takes a night to make it dawn
And it takes a day to you yawn brother
It takes some old to make you young
It takes some cold to know the sun
It takes the one to have the other

It takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
It takes some tears to make you trust
It takes some years to make it rust
It takes some dust to make it polished

It takes some silence to make sound
It takes a loss before you found it
It takes a road to go nowhere
It takes a toll to know you care
It takes a hole to make a mountain

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life is full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is oh love
Ah la la la la la la love is all sorts of
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life is full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is holla holla
Ah la la la la la la next up bushwalla-walla
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la

Crowning King's Throne

I set out with 4 friends to Haines Junction yesterday morning to hike King's Throne in Kluane National Park. I thought I knew what to expect but totally underestimated it. It turned out to be an AMAZING hike!!

Kluane's backcountry has some of the tallest mountains in North America surrounded by glaciers. It is glorious during the summer months. A gem in the family of Parks Canada's national treasures, Kluane National Park and Reserve of Canada covers an area of 21,980 square kilometres.

The well groomed trail began through a forest of aspen, pine, and alder. We climed up past the tree line and into very rocky terrain. After about 3 hours of hiking we reached the throne. A small valley nestled in the center of the mountain, we were no way near reaching the top yet. The view overlooking Kathleen lake was spectacular. From that point on, the trail was more narrow and vertical. Shards of slate made our footing very unstable and heavy gusts of wind did not help either. It was no hike up Sugarloaf, but making it to the top was soooo worth it!

Kings Throne :: Kluane National Park

A Look Up At The Summit From The Throne

At The Top


“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes."
~ Marcel Proust