Happy *Galentine’s Day! February 13, 2012
Posted by brandy in happiness, hello universe? I love you, here is my heart, it's a long one (twss), lists, mindful happiness, other people say it better, people i like, so sappy it hurts, something I won't forget, this one is about you.16 comments
I am forever amazed at how fucking awesome the people I know are. I mean it. I’m not sure how I was able to cultivate friendships with such a talented, brilliant and gifted group of women but I am glad I did. My life is marked by the fingerprints these women leave, through their writing and word, kind acts and calls for action and I am better for it.
They are talented moms and friends, wives and daughters, runners and photographers, big idea people and get it done people. They are the women who write essays that can leave me aching for more words, design websites that leave me swooning and manifestos that re-wire my brain. They are the women who challenge me to be better, who add sparkle to the internet, to life– not through gimmicks or games but by diving headfirst into their passions and being brave enough to share their lives with us. This is my valentine to the women who sparkle.
Adele– Have you heard of her? No? Okay, talk to me when you’ve come out of the cave. (She may not realize we are friends yet– but after she hears how I sing “Set Fire To The Rain”, we are obviously going to be exchanging BFF bracelets).
Amber– Besides sharing the dream to one day own a cuddling zoo for all the adorable animals and if you forget that she’s one of the rare writers that can leave me thinking on a post for days, just know this: Amber is the person who will see you and give you a hug the second she meets you. For the first time. When a roomful of people just stare at you, she will reach over, introduce herself and give you the kind of hug you haven’t got from anyone in a long time. She’s that person. I wish there were more of her.
Andrea– Um, I adore this woman. She combines the best of wit and heart on her blog (IF YOU ARE NOT READING HER BACHELOR POSTS, TWO WORDS: FRIENDS OFF). When I’m having a tornado hate day or the sads start creeping in or I am having a “WHAT THE HELL IS EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT?” Lifetime movie-esque breakdown, I re-read the manifesto she wrote on her blog and feel the kind of reassurance you last felt when you were 7 years old and your mom assured you that the Tooth Fairy wasn’t going to steal your shit. Andrea is basically the kind of person you want to be. See also: the prettiest hair.
Bri– Bri is a young new mom and wife who is balancing everything with a level of grace that I admire. Her love for her son, Miles (ONE OF THE CUTEST BABIES EVER), is palpable and I smile anytime she *writes about him. And when she’s nervous? She writes about it. When she’s happy? You know. Her blog is nothing less than an amazing dive into her life that she shares with two adorable dudes. Bri is just that woman you want to be friends with. The. End. (I also realized I “like” every photo that she posts of him, which sort of looks creepy when you look at my “photos you’ve liked” section and it’s all pictures of Andrea’s hair and Miles with the cheeks!)
Dowager Countess of Grantham– You better know who she is.
Erin– Last weekend I napped with my dog and sorted socks. Obviously sorting socks is exhausting, which required another nap. While I was busy trying to squeeze in a yawn between the napping and sock sorting, Erin ran 126.2 miles with a team of girls. Sorry, didn’t catch that? I SAID SHE RAN ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX POINT TWO MILES. I don’t even know how to muster that kind of strength from inside and Erin did it. Her positive attitude, her will to achieve great things through dedication and skill inspire me.
Hillary– Hillary is one of my favourites. She’s beyond dedicated to her adorable baby (In my dream world, I imagine than Grady and Bri’s baby are neighbours and grow up to be best friends. That’s weird right? Right. It’s just they both look so cute and happy, I just like the idea of them finding each other, you know? ANYWAY) and she’s back at work doing an amazing job. I have no idea how she handles it all, but she does. She does it every damn day and I’m in awe. I wish we lived closer because I want to hug the crap out of her.
Katelin– Few people reach the level of awesome that this woman has reached. A happily married, hard working lady who routinely kicks my ass in Words With Friends. Katelin is just one of those people I think it would be impossible to stay grumpy around. Last year in Vegas, she was one of those people I always felt I could just start a conversation with and later, she and I created epic moves on the dance floor that I can’t wait to re-enact this year. If you don’t have Katelin in your life, make some changes. I adore the hell out of her.
Laura– My love for this girl is ridiculous. Just click her name to see what kind of change one person can make in the world. Laura takes all the ideas we have after watching old Oprah episodes about Being Kind and CHANGING THE WORLD and actually acts on them. She’s inspired over 1,800 people to join her cause and create kindness. 1,800. Amazing. AMAZING.
Nicole– A tornado of energy, a life force that has immersed herself in living an authentic life. She doesn’t describe herself that way, that would a) be weird and b) maybe a bit douchey to talk in third person?- but when you spend time on her blog, you can feel it. She radiates the DO ALL THE THINGS AND EVERYTHING CAN BE AMAZING IF YOU WORK YOUR ASS OFF feeling. She organizes blogger multi-day meetups and took up running with a fierce determination last shown on the face of Lance Armstrong in old Nike commercials. She’s the person that you want to spend time with at a party because you know that’s where you are going to see something you’ve never saw before, have a conversation that will stick with you or eat some goddamn good food because the girl has an amazing new food site. Any of those are an automatic win.
Renee– Listen. I’m not going to go all “I’m so crazy smart because I read all the time and did I ever tell you I was the youngest person to teach at the college”, because that would a) be annoying and b) a tiny bit misleading since I only taught Intro To Drama which consisted of me instructing 40 year olds to pretend they were ANGER. The point is, I actually consider myself to be smart. Unless I’m around Renee. And then I quiver, shake and turn into a starry-eyed school girl who wants nothing more than to follow Renee around and ask her opinion on EVERYTHING because the girl is wicked smart. And smart with the facts to back it up. Her views on the treatment of women in media prompted me to re-think everything, including Superbowl commercials. I feel smarter after reading her tweets and blog posts. How many people can you say that about?
Shaba– This girl is the one who deals with my emails that all start with “I AM A HORRIBLE PERSON” or “I HAVE A CONFESSION”. Basically, she’s like my parole officer or the Fred to my Barney. She asks me questions no one else does and has the guts to say the things that no one else will say. And I love her for it. Besides that, her emails are also often the best part of my day. The girl can describe an outfit in ways that would put Anna Wintour to shame. Love doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about this woman.
That’s only the beginning of what would be a very long list. I am ridiculously grateful for what each of these ladies has brought to my life and I am even more grateful that there are so many MORE who I could easy add to this post. Damn, I love the world right now.
Celebrate Galentine’s Day by letting me know- who are the women who add sparkle to your life?
(via)
* google it.
Macy. Kim. Me. November 6, 2011
Posted by brandy in 1/2 funny 1/2 serious 100% important, a possible regret, anger and I have sat down for tea, Annie Lebowitz is so jealous, confession of the day, famous people make for good gossip, i can't believe i said that, i should be a cheerleader, i think this would make her proud, i wrote this just for the picture, note on a non-scandal, people i like, the one that nobody reads because of the title, wedding season is kicking my ass.25 comments
So first of all, if you break out into hives when someone whispers the word “Kardashian”, this post is not for you. But here, look at my cute puppy before you go:
You want to see how adorable Macy is in her harness she wears because her walking speed is Mach 5? Okay! One more:
Now that you feel that you’ve swallowed a rainbow of happiness, you may leave.
Kardashian time.
Let’s just get it out in the open- I like Kim Kardashian. I think she’s a smart business woman and is ridiculously talented at knowing how to market herself. Of course, she has an entire team helping her (like any other celebrity in Hollywood) but anyone who has clothing stores, jewelry lines, cosmetic products, and book deals to manage along with endorsing a slew of products and having every move recorded for her television show, (while accepting movie roles) has to know what’s going on.
So of course I was sad when I heard that her marriage was ending. I assumed that the natural reaction to humans hearing the news would be sadness, because let’s face it- divorce sucks. Divorcing after 72 days probably sucks more. Which made the comments I heard and read about the news pretty disheartening.
Co-workers laughed, rolled their eyes. Tweeters blamed Kim Kardashian from everything to ruining the dreams of little girls everywhere to ruining the sanctity of marriage. Facebook became a place where people stopped playing Gem Share or Diamond Minefield or whatever those games are called and spent an entire day suddenly caring about the marriage of someone they continually deemed too ridiculous to care about in the first place.
Dudes. Get a grip. First of all? Yes. I am aware that her wedding cost roughly a gazillion dollars. And yes, I’m aware that she got a metric shit ton of stuff for free. But here’s where we get real- if you were getting married and someone offered to provide you with the flowers/dress/invitations OF YOUR DREAMS, would you say no? Of course you wouldn’t. Or maybe you are one of those really selfless awesome people I will never be and you really would say no, but ask the person beside you. They will say yes. I will step forward and say, I WOULD ACCEPT FREE THINGS TOO. Word on the street is weddings are expensive.
And what’s wrong with saying yes? Anyone who is obsessed with E! network programming knows that the girl works her ass off. Even her haters have to give her credit, they complain about her ‘over exposure’, which is only really possible when YOU ARE WORKING TO PAY THE BILLS. So if she’s able to get free stuff? I say awesome. Just throw some free stuff my way next time.
(This is when you say “If I had the opportunity to get so much free stuff, I’d make sure to give back to the community or help others”. And this is where I say, “how do you know she doesn’t?”)
The idea that Kim Kardashian is in any way responsible for ruining the sanctity of marriage is silly to me. Did anyone hear about a woman named Elizabeth Taylor? That minx was married more often than I changed my socks, yet she’s not considered a poster child for ruining marriage like Kim. Elizabeth Taylor has just been deemed ‘a romantic’. No one blamed Dennis Rodman for destroying the meaning of marriage when he was married to Carmen Electra for NINE days. I didn’t hear people protesting Renee Zellweger/Kenny Chesney’s 4 month marriage. I suspect this relates to the fact that unlike the screen goddess Elizabeth Taylor or that talented Renee, many people just simply dislike Kim Kardashian. Which? Is completely fair. But to act like she’s the poison that has ruined the sanctity of marriage is as smart as marrying anyone in Hollywood without a prenup.
Another common comment that I’ve heard so frequently that if I hear it again my eyes might get stuck as they roll into the back of my head is the idea that she married for publicity/money/fame. Again, I’ll try to be respectful here- but that opinion is stupid. In case you missed the first rant paragraph, the chick already runs her own game. She has Birkin bags full of money. She’s already on a television show (more than one actually), has been cast in a new Tyler Perry movie and has various body parts plastered over a million different cosmetic products. Besides- is there anyone who really believes that someone would be willing to have their ENTIRE wedding broadcast to the world with over 4.3 million people watching it just to divorce a few months later and look like a fool?
Just think about that.
Remember when you first started dating that dude and you loved him and you swooned to all your friends about how great he was and then after you broke up you were mortified that you ever told anyone anything great about him because, HELLO? YOU WERE BROKEN UP NOW, OBVIOUSLY HE WASN’T THAT GREAT. Now take that mortification and multiply it by 4.3 million. Does that sound like something you (OR ANYONE?!) would sign up for?
I didn’t think so.
In the end, I suppose Kim Kardashian doesn’t need me in her corner. I mean, the chick has a pretty fierce family, a great brain and a strong work ethic but when I adore a person- I’m going to bat for them. Even if they have no idea who I am. And I guess my frustration doesn’t come from one of my favourite E! stars getting trashed on social media- it’s the idea that ANYONE getting a divorce should be trashed on social media.
Lesson learned: If all your tweets are nasty, bitter and full of illogical sentiments regarding one of the hardest working reality stars in Hollywood, I will be unfollowing. Ditto Macy.
Halp June 29, 2011
Posted by brandy in adventure, Oh Canada!, people i like, when i ask you to do things for me.26 comments
Okay.
So I can teach you how to figure skate. I can clean a closet like a boss. You want a book recommendation? I’m your girl. But when it comes to booking airplane flights and hotel rooms, I’m a quivering, confused mess. I log into twitter and everyone is constantly tweeting about their great deals on flights (granted, they don’t live in Canada- aka: THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE), but I’m always panicked I’m missing out.
I need to fly into Norfolk airport for the August 12th weekend (hi Steph Tanner!) where my internet little sister and I plan on wearing lots of sequins and reciting lines from Full House. I also would like to go to Chicago when everyone is going to be there for the 20sb summit (which is August 19-21st). Obviously it is far more cost effective to stay in the states and fly from Norfolk to Chicago and then fly home after. I’m just wondering, where should I start in terms of airfares? (I will be flying out of Edmonton). Also, does anyone have a good hotel recommendation for Chicago? (I plan on setting up a blogger shantytown at Renee’s for a few days but if I fly into Chicago on the 15th, I still have days and days before the event actually starts, I thought I’d be a proper guest and not take over her place. I’m thoughtful like that.)
Anyway. Any help or insight into this would be appreciated. I plan on rewarding you all with advice on how to organize your closet. I know what you are thinking, WHAT AN INCENTIVE.
(Also, if you are going to be in Chicago, let me know so we can squeal and jump around in person and if you are very lucky, I shall fake a Canadian accent to delight you. Ask Nic, she’s heard it.)
“Sometimes I think about whales and just about lose my mind.” June 27, 2011
Posted by brandy in advice, charm, games we play, hello universe? I love you, is it weird this makes me cry?, it's a long one (twss), other people say it better, people i like, school, teaching, this one might be my favourite, youth.32 comments
One of the absolute best parts of teaching young kids is that you are there for all those quotes and stories that come out unfiltered. Young kids don’t always put the words in the right order, they don’t care what others think and they are never politically correct. Which makes conversations with them one of the highlights of my job. So whenever we had downtime, whether it was eating at lunchtime or riding on a fluorescent orange school bus coming back from a field trip, I always liked to ask my third grade class questions. About love and books and reality television.
Recently while coming back from a field trip where we went hiking, one of my students asked me why I asked so many questions. My answer is the same no matter who asks it- I just like talking to people who are funny and thoughtful and kids are always both. That seemed to satisfy the group. We drove on a few more miles before the same student turned to me and said “So basically kids are better than adults?”. I nodded yes. He turned around and rode the rest of the way home with a happy smile on his face. I did the same.
Here are just some (!) of the most memorable quotes and quips I heard in my classroom this year…. (and thank you to everyone who suggested I start keep track of these-typing them as they said them while trying to stifle my giggles made for a fun way to spend a few minutes of class time).
On Facebook
“My mom talks to me all the time unless she’s on Facebook. That’s a whole other story.”
On perfume
“I’m never going to wear perfume. I like my aromas.”
On handwriting
“God, this feels good!”
On vacations
“They are good until I get carsick every time. Last time my mom made me puke in a rubber boot.”
On math
“I’m bored. This is too easy. Let’s talk about angebra. ”
On reading
“Every minute I do this I feel closer to being smarter.”
On learning about whales
“Basically, human babies are made of whale blubber”
On mental health
“Mental health probably means you take your brain for a walk when you get upset. Like you go on a brain vacation.”
On Lady Gaga
“Basically…. I don’t know for sure what it is, I think a girl but my sister has her cd.”
On koi fish
“This gold-fish looks like grandma! It’s got little whiskers like my grandma. We call her Whiskers sometimes and my mom gets angry.”
On hockey
“I will cheer for the team that wins the Stanley Cup.”
On sign language
“I don’t think blind people would find sign language really good to learn unless you were like, so smart you were in university when you were 25.”
On explaining what “Fox trot” means
“It’s a dance where you go around and get to yell to your friends as loud as you want.”
On lunch time
“Sometimes it feels like we all we do is learn and then finally it’s lunch time and my brain stops learning and my mouth starts.”
On their parents hobbies
“My dad just plays Halo and my mom talks to her friend Jen on the phone about my dad only playing Halo.”
On farting
“I’m so glad you don’t make us hold it in like how I have to do at church. That kills.”
On the Mona Lisa painting I have in the room
“I think she’s famous because no matter where I stand in the room, she’s looking at me. She’s fake but her eyes are real.”
On me killing our class sunflowers
“It’s okay, you are good at other things. Like making handwriting J’s and not scribbling.”
On the rainbow color order
“I wonder who decided Red got to be first? Probably God. Or his teacher.”
On talking about what they are reading
“Sometimes I tell people. sometimes I keep it private. I don’t have many secrets except the ones in my book bin.”
On being smart
“Being smart is basically one of the best things I have in life.”
On spelling tests
“There’s not enough brain fuel in the world to get me to spell ‘especially’ correctly.”
On the internet
“I think the best way to explain it is that it’s everything in the world rolled into one thing.”
On explaining “Survivor”
“It’s a show about these people who go away for a year and don’t get any new clothes and they have to eat only just about nothing, probably dirt and sometimes they do obstacles and they have friends and people who don’t have friends or don’t do any work have to go home when they have their fire gone. Also, if they win they get a necklace or a trophy but if they lose usually they are surprised.”
On saying “basically” all the time
“Basically, – wait. Okay. So the word just means that I know what I’m talking about. And that you should probably listen because I got my answer from a real place, like a book or something and it’s not made up in my mind or probably not in a dream. Basically it means I know things. Basically.”
This is what happens when you say YES. June 19, 2011
Posted by brandy in 1/2 funny 1/2 serious 100% important, Annie Lebowitz is so jealous, because I can't do report cards 24/7, brookem is awesome!, earning my dork badge, i wrote this just for the picture, if you're shallow and you know it clap your hands!, it's a long one (twss), lists, mindful happiness, people i like, pretty hair makes me happier, self improvement, teaching, top 10.15 comments
Yes to big ideas. Not to marriage proposals. So just… get that thought of the way. (If you listen quietly, you can hear my mom weeping).
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about saying Yes. I wrote about branching out and creating a list of 10 liberating and slightly irresponsible choices and using the month of June to jump into the deep scary end of the ocean of living. Here is the list and what I’ve done so far…
1. Instead of skipping out on the bill (which was suggested in the original list- which? Is too dodgy for me since I had so many friends working in the service industry when I was in university), pay for someone else’s meal. Not their Starbucks order- their meal. DONE. Although, I have to admit, it felt strange. I didn’t want anyone to think I was picking them up, or that I was going all Single White Female on someone so I waited for the perfect set up- a frazzled looking mom and her kids. Sure it was only a dinner at a quick take out place but the look on the waiters face when I told him my plan was priceless.
2. Spend a weekend eating only what looks absolutely delicious. Disregard proper meal times and caloric intake. Instead of fretting over fat grams and workout plans, really enjoy eating and give luscious foods a home in my body. Not Done- YET. I blame this on just not feeling good lately.
3. Email 3 of my co-workers (that I’m not particularly close to) and give them each a compliment. DONE. Holy shit this one was tricky. I regularly give verbal high fives to the co-workers I’m friends with, but randomly sending an email to someone I’m NOT close to? It felt as comfortable as my last pap smear. I thought it would be less awkward to do it in person, so I spent time stalking classrooms and then jumping in with a random work question before casually throwing in the compliment I had spent a stupid amount of time crafting. The best part was how good I felt after I talked to these people. And each of the three I complimented looked genuinely happy after. Win!
4. Get patio drunk before noon. On a weekday. Not done- YET. I’m still teaching for another five days. (HOLD ME) Although, I’m sure I could make spelling review far more interesting if I incorporated tipsy rapping and balloon hats. I would also be later unemployed after…
5. Get rid of 50% of my clothes. AT LEAST 50% of my clothes. Donate them to the neighbor’s kids who are currently wearing flood pants and paisley snap shirts. DONE. AND YES, IT FEELS SO GOOD. Getting dressed in the morning is actually FUN when you have a closet that is similar to this (I even bought an ottoman with storage.)
6. Spend an hour outside reading poetry with my class. Do not worry about where this fits into the curriculum, or what we could be doing instead. Soak in that hour and let the words of Elizabeth Bishop and Shel Silverstein hang heavy in the air. DONE! And it was easily one of the best days of the year.
7. Do not give a single further ‘hello’ in the hallway to the co-worker who made May miserable. DONE. Except change the words ‘hello in the hallway’ to ‘a thought’. I can’t cure politeness and not saying hi would be roughly 10,000 times more awkward than just saying hi and moving on.
8. Hold another contest and give away something I love. DONE and DONE.
9. Buy a plane ticket. Not DONE -YET. But it’s happening. I’m finalizing plans to visit so many of my favourites this summer. A blogger shanty town in Renee’s living room? Yes please!
10. Get up an hour earlier, whip out the hot rollers, liter of hairspray and invest a morning in creating the hair I caress on magazine covers but am always too lazy to attempt to replicate. Not DONE- YET.
So all I have left is to get ridiculous drunk at noon, eat my weight in deliciousness, buy a plane ticket and create a kick ass hair day. I like my odds.
What have you done this month that you are proud of?
Because These Are The Best Days July 15, 2010
Posted by brandy in are you there God? It's me- ripping off Judy Blume, fingers crossed this works, friends, happiness, hello universe? I love you, here is my heart, i should be a cheerleader, I'm yoda. Everyone else is a grasshopper, it makes sense to me, just do what i say, lists, love harder, people i like, so sappy it hurts, the title says it all, when I go all Dr. Phil on you, your vote matters here.18 comments
Oh hi blog!
When summer vacation started, my summer plans list looked something like this:
1. get up at 7am everyday
2. learn a new language (preferably something useful like Mandarin)
3. blog a few times a week
4. go for a morning run
5. become a domestic goddess worthy of her own show on TLC.
6. PREPARE FOR HARRY POTTER WORLD!
Summer vacation is half over and so far this is what my list has morphed into:
1. get up before noon-ish (Like that ‘-ish’? I don’t like putting serious limits on myself. My body reacts badly to boundaries)
2. master English (so I don’t say things like ‘why come?’ and ‘interstanding’ and think those words/phrases make sense)
3. remember I have a blog
4. try not to break a sweat while eating popsicles outside
5. wear shirts without stains when meeting friends for patio drinks.
6. PREPARE FOR HARRY POTTER WORLD!
I know. Life is hard. 11 days until I enter the MAGICAL WORLD OF POTTER. I’m excited to take pictures and get a new wand have fun with my friends.
I thought I would use this post to highlight a few really awesome things going around the internet. Because unlike STD’s, love is good to spread.
1. The lovely Amy got the job of her dreams. As someone who spent MANY BLOG POSTS fretting about the lack of a job, I cheered like a fan at the World Cup when I saw that Amy landed a gig that made her so happy. Her excitement is absolutely charming and it couldn’t have happened to a better person!
2. The gorgeous Kyla Roma joined an awesome team and is now designing blogs/websites. Anyone who has spent 2.3 seconds at Kyla’s site knows she has a talent for making pretty things prettier, so this news made my day! On behalf of the internet, I thank you for the steps you are taking to make it a more beautiful place!
3. FreeandFlawed is having a hard week. On the plus side, she’s got the most gorgeous flowers OF ALL TIME, but it sounds like this week has been on to make a girl crazy. So if you have a spare second, head over there and give her a bottle of vodka some kind words. Chelsea has been through a difficult time and yet she continues to radiate gratitude and positive energy and methinks that if the rest of us were half as strong as she is right now, we would give up watching reality television and hold ‘who can lift the most trucks with just our arms’ competitions for fun. My hope for both of you lovelies is that tomorrow is better than today, and the next day is even better than the day before. You both deserve it.
4. Erin and Jess are both expecting! After following Erin’s journey trying to get pregnant, I have no shame that I cried and did multiple fist pumps when I found out. Getting to see how funny and wise these ladies are through their blogs makes me fully confident that each of them will handle motherhood with grace. Visit their sites and squeal reading all about baby prep.
5. Lastly, have you heard of someone called LivitLuvit? No? Doesn’t ring a bell? Didn’t think it would. PLEASE NOTE MY SARCASM, BECAUSE THIS CHICK IS TAKING OVER THE INTERNET. And? I couldn’t be happier. She’s in the running to become MTV’s first TJ (twitter jockey for those of you not wise to the hip) and she’s currently in the lead. Go here to learn more, or follow her on twitter (@livitluvit) to join in the fun as she battles to take over the twitterworld (Kutcher, watch your back). And if you STILL need a reason to take 2.3 seconds to vote for her? Just remember that this is the same girl who organized THIS:
And anyone who can do this? Well, in my books they can do anything. Vote for her. And? If you have the resources, donate here to keep the www.loveharder.org movement going. And let’s keep the trend of good things happening to good people going.
Have a good Thursday universe!
How could you not love this? June 3, 2010
Posted by brandy in adventure, and then i laughed out loud, because I can't do report cards 24/7, i need to spend more time on spelling, other people say it better, people i like, the one that nobody reads because of the title, youth.75 comments
Today I gave my grade 4 class a writing assignment. They were to write a persuasive letter to anyone- on any topic. Some of my students wrote to their parents wanting an increase in allowance, some wrote to the school principal- begging for school to be extended (yes, I have THOSE students). But one student wrote to me. He didn’t write the most articulate letter, nor did he ace the spelling, but it made me smile like a lottery winner, so I thought I would share it with you.
Dear best teacher.
I am writing to you to tell you to go on a summer adventure this summer. You should go on an adventure because you can experiance things you have never experianced before. You helped me go on adventures with the books we read this year so now it’s your turn for something exctiting!!!
First you will need all the suplies. You will need with you a backpack to put stuff in. And you will need stuff to put in it. I’m used to boy adventures but for a a girl, I think you should add a couple things. Like a hairbrush because you have long hair and I know girls use those things. And probably more clothes or shoes and maybe some mackup because girls like that too. But not too much because your pack will be heavy.
Second you need a place to go on an adventure. This is the most important step you cannot forget this step. DO NOT FORGET THIS STEP. Probably pick a place you’ve never gone before, that’s going to help make it most excititing. And make you have one of those whoa moments that you need.
The next step is to be brave and not give up and you will need to have a partner. You should take H.A.D. (the kids know his real name, since H.A.D made comics for the class and sent them gifts from the Olympics) because at first adventures are fun alone but then they get either lonely or boring so take him because you are friends with him and he can draw you comics when you are waiting and stuff. It’s also dangerous to travel alone.
The final step is pretty long but you will need some hunting tools to get food and use as protection. Probably at least a knife or something, so you can hunt, unless you are going to an adventure with a room service but even then, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Miss V i hope you go on an adventure this summer and have as much fun as you can and get a lot of outdoor experiance.
Sincerely,
*Kevin
*Not his real name. I protect the clever.
“Everything seems impossible until it gets done” January 24, 2010
Posted by brandy in H.A.D gets his own tag- that's love, hello universe? I love you, is it weird this makes me cry?, it makes sense to me, it's a good thing, lists, love harder, love or something like it, people i like, the title says it all, this one might be my favourite, when i ask you to do things for me.29 comments
That’s one of my favourite quotes. It’s one that’s been ringing in my head since last Wednesday when the internet ROCKED MY WORLD and showed me just how much people care. And how much people can do. Because internet? You are getting it done.
You really are on fire right now. Not “what’s that smell?” sort of fire, but “Whoooo! LOOK AT US GO!” sort of fire. As of today, YOU have raised over $3,000 for multiple myeloma research. THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Cue confetti!
Not only that, the loveharder shop is selling stuff at a rapid pace and the loveharder blog is up and running! Seriously, I’m exhausted and I’m not doing any of it. Laurie deserves heaps of praise for tackling this project. Also, Lilu’s video? Over THREE THOUSAND views on youtube. (*Probably a thousand of them are from me, I’m seriously addicted to watching it over and over and spotting everyone!)
So here’s the thing. Last week was amazing and we don’t want this to stop. Here is what you can do to keep this going:
– Submit a video! Answering the question: “What Inspires You To Love Harder?”. This is open to everyone, but 20sb’ers especially? I know you love vlogging. So show the world what inspires you. (Extra points if it involves cheese products, bubble baths or movies starring Colin Firth. ACTUALLY- extra points if you combine all three of those somehow. Oh Colin. Swoon). Videos due Sunday, January 31st, submit to : [email protected]
– Stop by the Shop. Valentine’s Day is coming up, spread the love by shopping for something special here that’s going to help an amazing cause. (I bought the hoodie and a t-shirt- and just tried to think of some clever way to work the phrase ‘my heart is on my sleeve’, but I really just don’t have it in me right now. I’m not that creative on a Sunday night).
– See if you can volunteer your web designing services. (Sadly, I cannot volunteer to do this, since the idea of changing my header causes me to break out into hives. Speaking of- I WANT a new blog design. Of course I’m willing to pay- in cash or salt- whatever is preferred. Who do you recommend?).
Thank you again for everyone who has participated in making our difficult time into a reason to work for change. H.A.D and I are both incredibly grateful.
Also? The Secret Project won the 20sb award for “Best Blog Project” so keep your submissions coming! I will be posting new secrets up tomorrow. And to the person who emailed me tonight with their secret involving rootbeer? Let’s get married.
Oh! Also, a huge thank you to everyone who voted for me here. Best Twitterer. Seriously. This makes me giggle. I have no freaking clue even how to link my twitter site to my blog, so for those wonderful people who found me on twitter and voted- virtual internet high fives! (@brandyismagic) is my twitter name. Find me and we can be friends! That last sentence made me sound like I was 7 years old. And also clearly illustrated my fear that my excessive use of exclamation marks makes my IQ appear to be lower than what it is. Ahh, the burdens I face.
I think that’s it. If I was going to re-title this email, I think I would call it “THE ONE WITH ALL THE LINKS AND EXCLAMATION MARKS”. The Colts won today, H.A.D. started chemo and is feeling good and the braid I put in my hair today looked a little more LC and a little less 7 year old, so I’m declaring today a win for the universe. Have a good Monday universe!
And if you are camera shy, have a broken camera or believe the only time you should see yourself on camera is if you are child in a ballet recital- and can’t submit? Tell me in comments: What makes you love harder? And if you need more time to think on it, just tell me what the best part of your weekend was. I’m on a happiness roll right now and want to hear what made yours great.
* I gold medal in writing creepy sentences today
Things I know this year, that I did not know last January 12, 2010
Posted by brandy in and now you might know everything, beauty can get ugly, because "guilt" is a dirty word, because US health care makes me sad, boy band mania!, confession of the day, earning my dork badge, H.A.D gets his own tag- that's love, here is my heart, i know- we all LOVE him, i should be a P.S.A., I'm yoda. Everyone else is a grasshopper, it makes sense to me, italics make it appear more thoughtful/interesting, life lesson, lists, people i like, the last line is my favourite, things I don't say outloud, top 10, when I go all Dr. Phil on you.49 comments
I know. I knoooooooooow. We are only 12 days into the new year and already I’m going to bust my enlightened self all on your ass. But you know, I’ve had entire years where the total learning experiences has culminated in learning:
1. The darker the liquor the more likely you are going to want to stab yourself the next morning
2. When your stack of jeans is almost taller of you, it’s time to stop buying
3. Using your student loan to buy jeans will result in you wanting to stab yourself for 5 years after you graduate.
All valuable insights (especially the first one. 365 days of regret is worth having #1 cemented down and firmly imprinted in my brain) but like I said, it’s 12 days into the year and methinks the lessons I’ve learned so far might outshine lessons of the past.
So here we go!
10 Things I know this year that I did not know last
1. Battlestar Galactica is THE MOST AWESOME THING IN THE HISTORY OF ALL AWESOME THINGS. Yes, I know this makes me sound like a dork, but I also own a Harry Potter wand, own the Dwight Shrute bobblehead and know elaborate dance routines to maaaany Disney songs and pop tunes (Doni? I’m not kidding when I say I know a dance to “Getting Jiggy Wit It”. Teaching children’s musical theatre had definite perks). I wear my dork badge with pride.
2. I know what an M- spike is. How much a stem cell transplant costs. Who to call when my world collapses.
3. I know that if I toast gluten free bread, throw on some sandwich stuff and close my eyes- it almost tastes like the real thing. The secret is in the toasting. It transforms bread that tastes like a dirty sock to crunchy bread that almost tastes like a dirty sock. This transformation has been widely celebrated in my life.
4. I now understand how fear can grip your heart and squeeze. How no feeling can compare to that of helplessness- give me anger or depression or jealousy or sadness or hate. I can deal with those- I can punch things and swear a stream of profanities that would make any frat boy blush. I can weep until I feel like I’ve poured my insides out through my tear ducts, I can give stink eye, consider making a voodoo doll, I can lay in bed and wonder how long it would take before someone realized I was gone. But helplessness? Helplessness? That is a feeling I do not do well. I have learned that.
5. I have learned that as much as I love “Countdown”, if Lawrence O’Donnell is filling in, I have to shut it off.
6. I’ve learned that H.A.D. thinks $30 mascara is a colossal waste of money. (Actually, I’m prrreeettty sure I could have guessed his feelings on this and been right about it last year, but his feelings “$30!?! That’s two cases of beer!”, were confirmed last night).
7. I have learned that as funny as I find Jay Leno, my heart belongs to Conan.
8. I have learned how comforting it is to have people to be there for you. I know that sounds silly, but despite the fact that I have a blog and like announcing my celebrity obsessions and views on Obama to the world, I keep parts of me very private- especially any struggles. I’m surprised at how an email from a friend saying that they are checking in, a friend driving 5 hours to talk about how big Mrs. Duggar’s vagina must be, a received text with a ridiculous emoticon attached, comforts me in ways I had not expected or prepared for. I’m surprised at how much I relish these moments, how I can replay them in my mind when I’m not sleeping and how much comfort a small gesture can bring.
9. I have learned that I want to be Heidi Klum. Okay, I’ve always wanted this, but again- this one has just been re-established lately. I’ve been thinking about role models a lot (and yes, me turning to a Victoria’s Secret model as my role model is about as healthy as eating a cigarette sandwich and a lard milkshake for lunch), and she just seems like a person with a bright, positive attitude. Of course, methinks I should focus on more locally grown role models (who are not supermodels, with rockstar husbands), but for now,- for today, I wish to be Heidi. Or just you know, have her legs.
10. I have learned that in the worst of it- in the very deepest parts when the day is bleakest,the hour darkest, when the conversation has made your eyes raw and your voice hoarse, that it is possible to laugh. And laugh until you hurt. Laugh until you forget what you are laughing about, but you keep doing it because damn, it feels good to do something other than cry.
2010 is still young at heart, but tell me- what have you learned this year that you didn’t know last?
* Inspired by this.
From The Hot Awesome Dude December 31, 2009
Posted by brandy in a possible regret, AHHHHHHHHHHH!, and then i laughed out loud, conversation of the day, earning my dork badge, find the dorkiest sentence in this, games we play, i can't believe i said that, i laugh when i say "balls", I sound drunk but I assure you I am not, I'm yoda. Everyone else is a grasshopper, it makes sense to me, it seemed like a good idea at the time..., it's a long one (twss), love or something like it, man I'm such a girl, men, p.s. i love me, people i like, relationships, the last line is my favourite, the title says it all, this makes me sound dumber than i am, when i say it anyway.20 comments
Hello internet! So, it’s the last day of 2009, and I thought I’d lighten the mood.
A few weeks ago, the ‘hot awesome dude’ (aka: H.A.D) decided he wanted to share with the internet things I taught him in 2009. I was overjoyed with this idea. Of cooourse I wanted a list that showcased how life changing and awesome I am. Instead, he decided that he should cull allll the ridiculous things I said in 2009 and make them into a little list for him to re-read and giggle over like a school girl asked to prom. (He’s going to protest that I called him a school girl, life is hard). Anyway, so here is his list. All things in black are his. I’ve had to make some clarifications in blue. We hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful New Year’s Eve!
This originally started out as a list of things brandy taught me in 2009, but in my quest to put this list together, I had found bits of our conversation that really showcased her ridiculous-ness and made me laugh. Of course I thought, these are way more fun and I’m going to share those instead (much to brandy’s dismay) ( no seriously, there is some dismay over this but? I’ll shall let him publish it how he wants- I’m cool that way). So without further ado…here they are!
1) (We were talking about what we would do if we were stranded on an island – that had electronic equipment and it quickly segued into what websites we each would go on to pass the time.)
Brandy: The ones I go to aren’t weirdo sites. A fetish isn’t a weird thing to be interested in learning about.
H.A.D.: I don’t even wanna know
Brandy: I’m kidding
H.A.D.: Uhhh huh. She’s “kidding”
Brandy: Shut up! You know I’m kidding
H.A.D.: Right. I know you’re “kidding”
Brandy: I “hate” air quotes. Wait
(For those of you confused on what H.A.D finds so funny, check out the last line again. I teach children how to read but for the first 27 years of my life, misused air quotes. Fail.)
2) (We were getting ready to watch “Fired up” (which is better than you think a movie about boy’s becoming cheerleaders just to nail chicks is going to be) when this happened…)
H.A.D.: This is how I determine if a movie would be something you’d love. I just ask myself one question. One. It goes like this
Brandy: Would a 13 year old girl like it?
H.A.D.: Self, if you were a 14 year old, adolescent female, would you like this movie?
Brandy: Man I know you so well
H.A.D.: You are such a RUINER
3) (On blackberry messenger…)
Brandy (at 5:12am): Who read yahoo finane in the middle of the night?! *finance
H.A.D. (at 5:12am): Go back to bed sleepyhead
Brandy (at 6:31am): No thank you
(I especially loved how she said that an hour later like she was up the entire time.)
(Do I get points for being so polite before 7 am though?!)
4) (This one is self explanatory…)
Brandy: You should get a tattoo of me (was I joking or serious? Internet, you will never know)
H.A.D.: Oh man
Brandy: lol you should. My face right by your heart. You’d have to shave that part of your chest though
5) (Talking about brandy’s gluten allergy – there’s a good chance this one might get edited out) (In a perfect world, this would be edited out. I would also have Tina Fey’s wit and Salma’s boobs.)
H.A.D.: Do you poop more or less when you have gluten?
Brandy: I don’t know!?
H.A.D.: Reason #462 why you love me: I ask the questions no one asks
6) (My girl has a healthy ego.) (this has been routinely documented on the blog but apparently the H.A.D. needs to give you another example of how awesome I think I am).
Brandy: So, I just re-read the post I wrote after you asked about Joe Biden? Two things. 1) I’m hilarious and 2) I can’t wait to watch the next democratic convention with you
H.A.D.: Did you just say “I’m hilarious”?
Brandy: Yes
H.A.D.: Man! How does your ego even fit inside your room?!
Brandy: Hey!! Stomach hurts! Be kind!
H.A.D.: Okay okay. Cheap shot though
Brandy: Oh and your ego comment was the height of witty banter?
7) (While watching an episode of the Office – the one in which Michael dates Pam’s mom)
Brandy: You should be Dwight in your work
H.A.D.: Very funny
Brandy: Your lady friends would love it
H.A.D.: They are not my lady friends. Her (Pam’s) mom is kinda foxy though
Brandy: I think they are. Foxy?!
H.A.D.: lol I said that just to get a reaction. Your mom’s name is Pamela right?
Brandy: Please don’t make a “Pamela is foxy” comment
8 ) (Talking about spending her summer vacation at my place)
H.A.D.: You’re going to play housewife for two months?!
Brandy: Well, no. But I don’t mind cleaning. I don’t plan on JUST cleaning though
H.A.D.: Oh good. There’s cooking and laundry too
(For the record? H.A.D. would fight me to the death if I spent all my time cleaning and cooking for him. He would also start convulsing if I made him eat anything I cooked. He continually teases me that my cooking is edible- though he did manage to scarf down cookies at Christmas. Maybe because I laced them with crack.)
9) (While we were watching “The Amazing Race”)
(H.A.D. didn’t clarify- we are Amazing Race nerds. So anytime there present a challenge, we give ourselves roughly 3.2 seconds to decide what task we would pick. We usually do the task that seems less likely to result with me having a mental breakdown.)
H.A.D.: Llama or basket?
Brandy: Llama. You?
H.A.D.: Basket, but I wouldn’t mind doing Llama, are you good with animals?
Brandy: Of course. I’d be like a Llama whisperer. (who wouldn’t want to watch THAT reality television show?!)
(After a few minutes of watching the contestants do the challenge)
Brandy: I made a bad choice.
H.A.D.: Llama snot? I think you made a great choice
Brandy: Llama SPIT?! Yuck. You know, even if that one was the slower one, I could totally see you wanting to do that one just for the chance to see animals snot on me
H.A.D.: You know me well
10) (I had a dream in which brandy insisted I call her “Elmo” and if you know brandy, she takes her dreams seriously, but apparently mine don’t count) (This is true. I may have spent a few morning irate with H.A.D over something he has done or said in a dream. Including one vivid dream where he ripped my band-aid off. I’m STILL smoking angry about that one).
H.A.D.: Howdy Elmo!
Brandy: Hot Awesome Duuuuuuuuuude!
H.A.D.: Yes, Elmo?
Brandy: Elmo is not good.
H.A.D. Why isn’t Elmo good? Is Elmo feeling sick?
Brandy: lol wait. Geez. Anytime I say it, it sounds like I’m speaking in third person
H.A.D.: Excellent
11) (This year was the first year brandy participated in a fantasy baseball league with my friends and I, and she kicked our asses. However! It might have all been a fluke because…) (Not a fluke. I’m awesome. Proof? See #6)
Brandy: Can we just take a sec and marvel at the fact that I just a) brought up baseball on my own b) used baseball words and it made sense and c) correctly spelled a baseball players name without looking it up?!
H.A.D.: What baseball words did you use? And Joe Mauer is on your team. You’ve been looking at his name for months now
Brandy: DO NOT RUIN THIS MOMENT
(A few minutes later)
Brandy: I would really like to be in your baseball game next year
H.A.D.: It’s not a game
Brandy: You know what I mean
H.A.D.: It’s a league. A fantasy baseball league.
12) (I can’t quite recall why we were talking about monuments…)
H.A.D.: Your monument is probably gonna consist of a picture of this (it’s a picture of a constipated kid sitting on the toilet – I know, weird sense of humor, just go with it) with the tagline: “I miss you so much, I can’t even make poop.”
Brandy: You have no idea how scared I was to open that link
H.A.D.: lol did you?
Brandy: Yeah! But I sort of covered my eyes and then I was okay (he also finds it to be the height of hilarity to send me pictures of cold sores. I swoon ladies, I swoon).
H.A.D.: You have trust issues. We need counseling.
Brandy: You sent me a picture of projectile vomit. (that’s another story altogether) (it may have been the grossiest thing I’ve ever seen. Ever. Well, no- the cold sore one was worse.)
Clearly, I’m the cooler one out of the two of us.
(He’s not, but we pretend he is.).
(Except he actually is.).
It's like I'm... mmmagic! 
