Day 14: A picture of someone you can’t imagine your life without

My Family. I have the best family in the whole wide world. You make think I am just saying that, or that you actually have the best family. But really you are wrong. Sorry.

Day 12: A Picture of Something I Love:

Not including my family (that goes without saying) There are tons and tons of things that I love, here are just a few!

Small notes that make me feel loved. Arek made this for me at his work, and it’s been sitting in my bedroom ever since. I <3 It!

My TOMS. Ever since I got my first pair of TOMS I have been hooked! I think I have 4 pairs so far (?) and I plan on getting many, many more! TOMS are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. I wear them year round, even if my feet freeze. This picture is a pair of TOMS that I painted myself :)

Decorating cakes, cookies etc. One of my favourite shows is Cake Boss. I love how they use fondant and chocolate modeling to create people and cars and animals! If I could do this for a living I would love it. This is a cake that I decorated for the Black Belt candidates… It’s a Gi!

Day 11: A picture of something I Hate:

There are very few things in this world that I can say I truly hate.

First: Winter. Minus 40, blizzards, being snowed in, plugging in my car, wearing 15 layers of clothing, having my car not start, driving an extra hour to get to work, stupid road conditions, stupid drivers on those stupid roads, freezing my butt off for 7 months of the year, scraping my windshield = All the things I HATE about winter. I’m moving somewhere warm. Like Maui. Honestly I’ll paint seashells for a living if it means I never have to scape frost off my windshield ever again. Life is short, I don’t want to spend half of it being pissed off at the weather.

Second: The Green Bay Packers. I despise this team, right down to the last spec of grass on their stupid field. The color of their jerseys reminds me of a baby who puked up broccoli filled vomit, and their fans are the most arrogant losers in the league. If you want to wear a block of cheese on your head, then fill your boots. You are just further proving my point that the Packers suck. Go Bears!

Day 10: A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with

This is my loving, adventurous, kind and funny boyfriend, Arek. I am not the kind of person who is always out making trouble, so Arek is more the person I have the most adventures with. If someone were to clone me with male genes and give me more skin pigment, my clone would be Arek. Our personalities are so similar that at times it can be down-right creepy. I think that being so alike is a huge reason why we go together so well. Arek always pushes me to do things outside of my comfort zone, because of this I am a stronger person. We have been on so many adventures together and I can’t wait to go on some more!

Day 9: A picture of the people who have gotten me through the most

My mom and dad are the two people in this world who no matter what will always, always be there for me. Life hasn’t always been easy, but my mom and dad are always there to help me out and guide me.

Day 8: A picture of something that makes me laugh

This is a picture from AYEC 2009 when the Youth Leaders went bowling. Our names are classy and sophisticated, just like us. May I mention that none of us got to pick our own names; it was decided by the group. Therefor “Penis Wrinkle” was not my choice. Thank you, Kaycee Lunde.

The names are:
Tits Magee (Kaycee)
Badass (Alex)
Scrotum Itch (James)
Jordass (Jordan)
Penis Wrinkle (Me)

Day Seven: A picture of my most treasured item(s)!

Once again I don’t know how anyone could treasure just one item. I had to narrow down my picks to three and believe me, it wasn’t easy. I consider every object I own to be treasured! Why would I have it if I didn’t like it?

Chip the Cat:

I have had Chip since Valentine’s Day 1998. He is my favourite cuddly and I still sleep with him every night. He comes on holiday with me and everything.

My Grandad’s Paint Brushes:

I treasure the brushes and paint box that was once my Grandad’s more than almost anything I own. They are the only things that really make me feel like he is close by. My Grandad was the one who really inspired me to do art. Since the time I could hold a pencil he was showing me different techniques and was always encouraging me to try different mediums. Having his brushes and paint inspires me to get creative.

My ABBA Greatest Hits Vinyl Album (and Record Player)

One of my favourite bands of all time is ABBA. All of their songs are catchy and so easy to sing along to! Their music has been reinvented in movies like Mama Mia and on Broadway and each time someone adds their own twist to the song it only makes the ABBA experience better. I have listened to this record more than any of the other ones in my collection. Listening to a record the way it was MEANT to be listened to gives a whole new perspective on each artists work. You have never heard music until you have heard it played on a record player! There is something about the way the songs fill the room with almost physical personification instead of “noise” is life changing. I think a lot of the experience of music is lost over the computer and music these days is so altered that it’s hard to tell if a band has talent or if it’s just technologically created. You can’t fake talent on Vinyl. Some people like their music crisp… I like mine with scratches and soul.

Day Six: The person who I would love to trade places for a day with...

If I could trade places for a day with anyone it would be with my brother, Andrew. He’s got such an awesome personality, a great demeanour; he’s absolutely hilarious, and completely quirky. I haven’t met many other seven year-olds with his kind of flow. He is the bravest person I know and I idolize his strength greatly. I look up to my little brother and I don’t think many other 20 year-olds would admit that. Despite all the stuff Andrew has had to deal with, he still smiles every day, he doesn’t take life too seriously, he makes other happy and he brightens up every single room he walks in. I can’t imagine my life without Magoo, and I am thankful every single day that he is still around to make me laugh and bug me like a typical little brother. I would love to live his life for one day.

Day Five: A Picture of my favourite memory...

I don’t know how anyone can manage a picture of their favourite memory. Most of my favourite memories weren’t even captured on camera… those uncaptured awesome memories are stored in my head and my heart. Here are some pictures of memories that were actually captured on film! Lucky me! I’ll save my favourite family pictures for another time… :D

AYEC Camp!

Some of the greatest memories of my summers as a teen were at AYEC. The AYEC family is closer than any outsider could ever imagine!

Kelsey Day: The IKEA deathbed adventure!

One Kelsey = Crazy… Two Kelsey’s = near natural disaster craziness! Look at the video on Facebook if you would like a first-hand interview of the deathbed adventure.

Camping in Sandpoint!

Good friends, great company, fun times!

Gooseberry Camping:

Arek trying to chop wood… I have never laughed so hard in my life!

Troll Falls Camping with my adopted Pym family

So tiney, but awesome :)

Day Four: A Picture of my "typical night"

My typical night usually varies depending on the day. On the nights I have Karate I’m usually assisting or doing class at the Dojo. Afterward, Arek and I usually hang out at his place or mine. On the nights I don’t have karate. I usually hang out at home for a bit, catch up on my shows, play Wii with Andrew or read.

This is a picture of Arek and Andrew playing Wii. I like to play sometimes, but I find its more fun to watch them geek out together! You wouldn't believe the trash talk that these two have mastered. "You son of a pine-cone!"

This is a picture of me at my yellow belt grading. We had to do self-defence… poor Ryan picked the wrong girl to jump!

Day Three: A Picture of the Cast from my favourite show

The Office

The Office has to be one of my absolute favourite shows of all time. There isnt another show on television whos cast is put together so amazingly. Each character is so different, yet they all mesh together like peas in a pod. The writers of this show are brilliant, I don’t think that they get enough recognition. Throughout all the transitions of this series the show has never came close to “jumping the shark” or has lost its quirky charm. No matter how many times I’ve seen the reruns I almost never ever change the channel.

Michael Scott: “Guess what? I have flaws. What are they? Oh I donno, I sing in the shower? Sometimes I spend too much time volunteering. Occasionally I'll hit somebody with my car. So sue me-- no, don't sue me. That is opposite the point I'm trying to make.”

Day Two: Picture of the person I have been closest with the longest

There are very few people in your life who you are lucky to have from beginning to end: people you love, people you can’t get enough of, and people you can’t get rid of! I don’t have just one of these friends; I am blessed to have many! How could I pick just one? Below are a few photos of my closest friends, whether I see them a lot or not, I still treasure my friendship with them more than anything!

Hannah Pym: You are my sister from another mister. We have been best buddies since you were 4 and I was 6. Despite how many countries you got posted to, or how many times each of us moved you have always been in my life and for that I am incredibly grateful. You are a part of some of my fondest memories growing up. I wouldn’t trade our experiences together for all the money in the world. You are my beautiful, artistic, creative, loving, funny brilliant best friend and I absolutely adore you to pieces. The way you manage to capture everyday life so beautify in your photos leaves me at a loss for words. You are a master of capturing our world. I have never seen pictures like yours. My life has been blessed because you are in it. I am so grateful to be able to call you my sister and my friend. From the time we were small we were inseparable! Zig and Zag! Two peas in a pod. Dancing to Aqua at Suffield, being “kidnapped” by the biking Taxi man in Berlin, Grooving out in Colchester, dancing to Rocky Horror Picture Show in Dawlish, Elizabeth Taylor… the list goes on! Now you are an amazing mummy, and I am lucky enough to be an auntie to your beautiful girl. You went through so much giving birth and I can honestly say the most beautiful that I have ever seen you in your whole life was the first time I saw you holding Rinoa. It took everything inside me not to cry. I may not see you as much as I would like, but no matter what I am always going to be here for you if you need me. For Christmas one year you gave me a plaque with the saying “Friends are the Sisters that Destiny forgot to give you” Nothing could be truer for us. I love you Bins <3 I’m sorry that I don’t say that to you enough.

David Pym: You are my brother from another mother! Growing up you always made me laugh so hard at your quick jokes and sarcasm. You used to be so shy and only people close to you would get to witness your humor… now you have turned into such a social guy! More people get to experience you as a friend and see how amazing you truly are. The world is a better place if people are lucky enough to call you their friend. I know my life has been better because you have been in it. From Jumping in leaves in Suffield to being a kick ass debate team in high school, you have always made whatever we were doing a good time. I am absolutely blown away by your creativity. How designers, and printers haven’t found you out yet is a shock to me. One day, Davie, someone will come across your creations and it will be life changing. I can’t wait to show off your original works of art from when you were 12 and say “Oh this picture right here? You bet your sweet behind that it is a David Pym original! No you cannot have it! Do you really think I would keep it all this time to just give it to some Willy-Nilly fool?!” I still have your doodles in my book from the Ice Train in Germany, and several sketches you did on random pieces of paper here and there. I treasure them like I treasure our friendship. You are one of my absolute favorite people in this whole world Davie, don’t ever change who you are because you are already amazing. <3

Ashleigh Bailey: Another Suffield Army Brat who turned out to be one of my absolute dearest friends of all time. Who knew such a small town could create such wonderful friendships? I remember playing with our TY pets in your room, playing Zelda and being Spies in the park. Remember when we had to pick dog poo up in my yard? We were absolutely paralyzed laughing! When you left Canada I was devastated. One of my absolutely favorite memories of all time was when we surprised you in Germany. The memory of you opening the door is something I will never forget. The look of shock on your face will be tattooed in my mind forever! When people ask me who my best friends are I still always list you. Even though I have not seen you in ten years our friendship still means the world to me. We seldom talk anymore, a few messages here and there over the internet… but its ok, because I know no matter how long we go without seeing each other we can talk at any time and it would be like we saw each other yesterday. I’m grateful that our friendship has not slipped through the cracks throughout the years. I feel it just goes to show you how deep our friendship is. Seeing pictures of you, the pictures you take, they all just leave me speechless. You are so, so, so beautiful. I hope to see you again soon. It has been much too long since we had an adventure! You are amazing Ash! <3

Kelsey Snel: It must be a Kelsey thing… But I love you to death. Since grade 7 you have always been such an amazing friend. You have always been here for me. I love how simple and easy our friendship is. I know if I ever need you: you are just a phone call away. If the tables are turned it’s the exact same way! Kelsey I have told you every single secret I have ever had. You know who I crushed on, who I hated, who I hurt, who I loved and you never once judged me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Our friendship was created over the silliest things, love for Harry Potter, Traveling Pants and sour keys. Boy, can we down a packet of those fast! You are so amazing, you are absolutely stunning, and your heart is bigger than the oceans you will sail someday. I love hearing about your adventures, and am grateful that you still invest your secrets to me. You are the most honest person I know. You say it straight up and you don’t hide how you feel. I love that. We have shared so much and I love every part of our past. You were one of the very, very few people in my life who stood by me in Grade 9. That year was the absolute worst year of my life. Friends abandoned me like I was trash, seniors and people who were once my friends bullied me constantly, and worst of all was Andrew being in the hospital… the whole year sucked except for a few bright moments. Most of those moments are because of you. Screaming at each other in Miss Kasten’s Drama class, piggybacks in the hallways and trading books were the few highlights of my year. You are my anchor, which ironically enough is what you have tattooed on your wrist. A tattoo I designed! Don’t change who you are, you are wonderful! I love you Lena and I look forward to all the amazing adventures we will have! <3

30 Days of Me, Photo Challenge!

I’m sure you must have heard about this challenge on Facebook, it seems to be all the rage right now. My friends are about half way done it and it has inspired me to do my own. I haven’t decided yet if I want to Facebook it or not, but we will see how it goes…

Here is the challenge in case you would like to try it too!

So start off by making a photo album and naming it "The 30 Day Photo Challenge"
It's all about being creative everyone!

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

Day 04 - A picture of your night

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

Day 19 - A picture and a letter

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

Day 25 - A picture of your day

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

Day 31 - A picture of yourself (read less)

Day One:  A picture of myself with ten facts…

1.      I love when my birthday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday… I always have awesome birthdays, but there is just something about the two ‘T’s of the week that make them even better!

2.      My brother, Andrew, listens to “Puss in Boots” on tape at bed time and I can hear it through the bedroom wall. Due to my amazing ability to learn while snoring, I have successfully memorized the whole story, including musical intros and tones. I doubt this knowledge will ever come in handy, but you never know!

3.      I am a green belt in Goju-Ryu Karate Do. I have studied for almost a year and a half and I love it. I love the exercise, the tradition and I especially love my Dojo Family. I aspire to one day to climb Wudang Mountain in China, to do the splits, and to compete in a Karate tournament… Thank you Jaden Smith for pushing me to be a better martial artist! One day I will be just like you, except for the fact I’m a girl, older and lacking Jackie Chan.

4.      I love all the pets I have ever had the privilege of having… Bert and Big Bird my Budgies. Buddy the Wonder Cat who thought he was a dog. Jenner the most quiet and loving dog you have ever met. Casey the polar opposite, Crazy and Wild. Boomer the young pup who had a heart so big it’s amazing it didn’t explode out of his chest. Cleo the mare with a serious attitude problem who gave me confidence and friendship. Smokey the dog who never slowed down, who was a master escape artist and lover of her family. Bandit who had a great youth and is now happily retired living on the Ikea crib mattress in her own room, so sweet and so loving. Of course I wouldn’t forget Fang, although he technically was Grandad’s dog, that pup followed me from the time I was in diapers until the day he went to the big off leash park in the sky. When he died, I felt like I lost my shadow.

5.      One of my favourite memories is when Andrew was a baby… my dad used to spin a football on the ground by his feet and Andrew would just lose it, laughing like utter nutcase. It still makes me laugh to this day when I think about it.

6.      Some people say that they find joy in the little things in life… I always wondered if they were lying, because I feel that I truly, genuinely enjoy the little things, and my little things are probably things that those other little thing “lovers” have never even though about. For example: during Christmas time, there are a few crane companies in the city that put little decorated trees up on their equipment or trucks, and I absolutely love it. How thoughtful for them to do that! Another one is squeaky shoes on kids. I love hearing kids running through the mall with their fast little “Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!” I love even more when I hear the parents running after them cursing. I also love little toys, like kinder egg toys or the ones in the machines. I love how they make my office/bedroom more fun!

7.      I have always had a crazy, completely unrealistic feeling that I am meant to be famous; even though I wouldn’t want that kind of exposed life. Bizarre right? It makes no sense what so ever, but I always wondered that if the right record producer heard me sing, or an expert art collector saw my artwork, or a publisher read one of my stories they would instantly feel like I was the greatest thing since sliced bread with Justin Bieber jam on it. I feel like a ninja, master of my disguise. I may look like and everyday person but if you knew how crazy amazing I am at everything I’d be bigger than Oprah. Ironically enough the only kind of fame I would enjoy having would be: sports fame… Olympic fame. The kind of fame that Alex Bilodeau acquired when he won the first Gold by a Canadian on Canadian soil. National Pride making fame… that’s a kind of fame that’s worthy of the buzz.

8.      Even though I may not always speak the best English (you can ask my boyfriend, Arek, all about it) I tend to find myself editing books, newspapers and commercials of any kind. The improper use of “an” or lack of the “n” where it is needed in a word followed by a vowel drives me bananas. For example, I have a lunch box that says “Have a Orange Crush on me” and every time I look at it, the little literary gremlin inside my head throws a fit and starts throwing books around, yells gibberish profanities, and pulls out his hair. I’m looking at that lunchbox as we speak and he’s already going ape. My own writing may not be the best but at least it makes proper sense. Which is more than I can say for X92.9 radio, the online Calgary Herald, and George W. Bush.

9.      If I could have any superpower, it would be the power to acquire all super powers. Two birds, one stone! That way I don’t have to choose what one super power I am limited too. Really why pick just one? I figure if I’m going to be a super hero I might as well be SUPER and not mediocre. I would acquire my powers the good ole fashioned way too: being exposed to toxic waste, bit by a spider, born on another planet and shipped to Earth as my alien races last hope etc. etc.  You know the usual. Not, however, like a certain black caped crusader who had to hire a servant to tidy his cave. Being rich doesn’t make you “super”, it makes you a spoiled dork that spends their dead parents Will on toy gadgets as opposed to funding orphanages or saving monkeys in Africa. Having gadgets make you a super hero about as much as me standing on the road makes me a car. I could express my feelings on this subject further; however I am becoming worked up on the topic and feel it would be best to just move on…

10.   I suck at making cookies. All I want to do I make some nice tasty cookies and I cannot, despite every recipe I have tried, manage to accomplish the perfect cookie. Heck, I cannot even manage an “ok” tasting cookie. This week I tried making sugar cookies and they taste absolutely disgusting! In my cookie baking career, I have failed at making: sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate Toblerone cookies, Valentine’s Day cookies. In the midst of my failure, I have discovered that I am really good at icing cookies and decorating them! Maybe if I make them look pretty they will taste better? Fingers crossed!

Oh how I LOVE a good book!

I just finished reading the book: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and I am absolutly in love. I think I may have just found my new favourite novel!

This was one of the most refreshing books I have read in a very, very long time! There was so much care and investment into the charachters, the setting and the story it made me absolutly fall in love within the very first chapter. It is very rare you find a book that you enjoy so much that upon finishing it you turn it over and begin reading it all over again. The magic surrounding the era of the depression, the dirty thirties and especially the train circuses is so beautifuly portrayed in this book. The fact that Sara Gruen used real life history and stories as a foundation to this creation is marvelous. The book plays like a wonderful movie as you read it, and I HIGHLY reccomend this book to anyone. I myself will lend this to all my friends, once (of course) I re-read it again myself! If you havent read it already: Buy it, don't borrow it because you will never want to give it back!

This book is being made into a movie thats due to hit theaters in 2011. Robert Pattinson is set to play the main role of Jacob... and quite honestly I cringed when I found out. Personally I don't think he is a good actor at all. His so called "brilliance" is a manifestation brewed from the gagging lust of vampire-loving teenage girls. To be frank, I can't picture anyone other than my friend, Travis Nelson, playing the role of Jacob. Unfortunatly Travis has yet to be cast in a movie where critics have really seen him (he did play the back double of Zac Efron in Charlie St. Cloud!)  Reese Witherspoon on the other hand will do an amazing job of playing Marlena, Jacobs love interest. She has the depth of personality to be able to accomplish and fill a role like this. She will loved in this movie as was Rachael McAdams in The Notebook. Im torn between seeing this movie or skipping out all togehter... Hollywood has a bad reputaiton of turing amazing novels into pathetic movie portrayals with absolutly retched casting. Case's in point: Miley Cyrus playing the lead in The Last Song, Kirsten Stewart as Bella Swan. (A corpse can act better than her!)  I would hate for me to dislike this book at all due to the poor quality of casting in a movie! Of course these are just my peorsonal opionions. Regardless of how you feel about the casting... Go and read the book!

Blanket Drive!

My Dojo has started up a new program called  Karma Kids and my Sensei asked me to help out if I had some spare time... well I saw an episode of Pit Boss on t.v. about a balnket drive for the local animal shelter and immideatly fell in love with the idea! I thought that a blanket drive is so easy to do, and so involving that it would be the PERFECT first Karma Kids activity! We will collecting used/new blankets and bath towels for our friends down at the Clagary Humane Society at our Second Annual New Years Kick Off. So far we have heard back from a ton of Dojo families who have already dug through thier clossets for a donation! Hurray! Did you know that shelter animals who have a blanket/ towel to lay are are more calm and relaxed bacause they can nest? This relaxed behaviour makes the animals more likely to be adopted! Which means more animals find fur-ever homes, and less are euthinized! Every animal deserves a loving home <3 If you have any old blankets or towels lying around your house, the perfect place to donate them to is your local animal shelter!

Kelsey

Love Bomb





  "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.

Without them humanity cannot survive." 

Dalai Lama

      

       For the the past 5 months I have been volunteering, along with hundreds of other people around the world on with a website called dropalovebomb.com. Every thurdsay the Love Bomb crew (volunteers) recieve an email about someone who is down on their luck, struggling through death, illness, debt and the crew will visit this persons blog and leave encouraging comments to show there are people everywhere wishing them hope. The stories of these poor people always hits home. At a time when someone is at their lowest low its heartwarming to see so many people jump to the oppourtunity to say a few words to make that persons day.

         

             The blog post from the recipients are hard to forget... like Vee, a mother of 2 (and one on the way) who's husband passed away from a heart attack in his early thirties. This Valetines Day, the day "bean" is due to arrive,  I will be thinking about her and wish her to keep strong as she welcomes her third child into the world. http://veronking2003.blogspot.com/2010/12/bittersweet.html

         Or the Blogger "Lovlie Lupie" who recently passed away from a long struggle with Lupus. Her husband, now raising their two young children by himself still ocasionally blogs on her site, writing her letters about his life now that shes gone, his struggles as a single parent... I cry every time I read the posts. http://lovelylupie.blogspot.com/2010/11/andys-update.html

        ... or Lehua, who lost her father and her grandfather within the short span of a few months, and is now dealing with the reality that her other grandfather is very ill and may not get better. Her creativity and passion for her family are expressed on beautiful scrapbook pages she makes. Her strength and expression of love for her life and all things in it inspire me. http://www.thegirlandboy.com/2010/12/on-life.html

             

            These Love Bombs are one of the biggest higlights of my week, every week. I encourage you to join the Love Bomb team and send some hope to people when they need it the most. You dont need to blog to be a volunteer, all you need is an email address and a heart <3 Visit www.dropalovebomb.com to register, and if you are really feeling the love: Love bomb has partnered with Love Drop, which will be accepting donations and giving money raised to 12 families throughout 2011. Anything from a dollar a month to corporate sponsorship is available. Visit www.lovedrop.us to get involved.

 **If you are outside of the US, keep in mind the money donated is in US dollars and goes toward American families. If you are located outside of the USA and like the donation idea, maybe try and create your own way to make a difference for families in your community if you want your money to stay local.**

Please become a member of the Love Bomb Team!

There is nothing more human you can do than be empathetic, express love and show compassion!

Kelsey