I haven’t been posting lately because I’ve been either super busy, sick, or in the middle of feeling down and didn’t want to bring my negativity out for everyone to see. I’m back now, though I feel bad that I’m posting this before a scheduled Weekend Wrap-Up tomorrow. It won’t stay at the top long but at least it’s a way to be sure nobody thinks I’ve abandoned writing about my life altogether.

I have a lot of thoughts that I want to get out, so bear with me, this may be long. Those of you reading this on LJ, sorry if it ends up taking up a whole page! Forgive me?

Alright, so my first thought is the seasons changing. I bought cider and donuts the other day and it was a great idea. Bad for my “diet”? Perhaps. But good for my mind so I allowed myself to do it. Cider and donuts has always been a special autumn thing for me. My family and I would go to the apple orchard every year when I was young and pick some apples, and then buy a few big jugs of cider and some plain donuts for dipping. Nobody here seems to understand that cider and donuts go together. It makes me a tiny bit homesick, but it’s nothing that I can’t handle. I have to just remember that just because it’s not already a common thing here doesn’t mean that I can’t bring it here to share!

I want to go out to the apple orchard/cider mill/pumpkin patch this year. I want to see a haunted house. I want to have a pumpkin spice Blizzard from DQ. I want to take a bunch of photos of the painting that nature is providing me with, so I can look at them and remember that autumn really is amazing and less depressing than just a segue into winter. I told Matt that I want him to take me to one of the above (orchard/mill/patch) this year since we have a new car and can get there without worrying about my car. I don’t know yet if we’ll go but I’m hoping we do.

Yes, we have a new car. Well, technically Matt does (since I don’t “exist” in Canada still) but it’s ours anyway. It’s gorgeous and wonderful and I love it. Matt needed it for the winter because my car doesn’t handle the snow properly and I really don’t need him to be in an accident. For those of you that don’t know, most of Halifax is on a hill, so in a rear wheel drive car on ice and snow, there’s pretty much nothing to do but close your eyes (as a passenger, not a driver!) and pray. For those wondering what kind of car it is, it’s a 2008 Pontiac G6. We got it from a dealer who slashed the price WAY down (yay!) and it was brand new - only 36km on it when we bought it (double yay!) so with the warranty and all the included options it was really a no-brainer. So far, we’re absolutely loving it! I don’t have any photos right now because the weather’s been pretty gloomy lately but I’ll share some when I have them.

As for what I’ve been up to these past few weeks, here’s some insight. I’ve been volunteering with Frontier College. I’m finding it to be rewarding in many ways. I’m helping our coordinator get on her feet (it’s her first year and so she’s pretty much trying to get everything started again!) and tutoring a young woman who is struggling to get her GED. She’s not been the most reliable for getting ahold of me but I’m trying to show her that I’m not giving up on her. I think that’s what these learners need - someone to rely on and someone who believes in them. Anyway, I’m going to volunteer training (my second session, even though I’ve attended one I figured another couldn’t hurt) today from 12-4. I’m liking the volunteering thing because it’s got me out of my comfort zone. I take the bus almost daily to get to the university (it really entails taking TWO buses, which was terrifying at first) and I make phone calls/attend meetings with people. I’m thinking the more I do and the more people I talk to and the more I get out of my comfort zone, the more valuable I feel, even to myself, and the more my confidence will start going back up.

Do you ever feel very blah? I do. It’s not necessarily when I’m in a bad mood, but rather when I just don’t feel like I’m at my best. I’ve found that doing things that make me feel pampered puts me in a good mood right away! Here are a few tips that I’ve come across that always make me feel more gorgeous and content.

• Paint your nails. Such a simple task, really - about five minutes and you’re done! Grab a shade of pink and go crazy. Of course, if you have a bit more time, take it a bit further and give yourself a full manicure! Videojug has a great tutorial for this! Have even more time? Give yourself a pedicure, too!
• Take a bubble bath. Showers and baths are something that really relax me, no matter how horrible I’m feeling that day. I usually take a very warm bath and use some bath salts (Green tea is the one I’m using now, and I love it!) and light some candles and/or incense. Then I just lay back and read. It’s my time away from the world and the water puts me completely at ease. This also softens your skin so you can do the next tip!
• Shave your legs. I don’t care how often you do it, because that’s none of my business. However, I do know that if you shave your legs (properly - not just a quick run over with the razor) you will feel feminine and beautiful. Well, at least that’s how it works for me. I know most people’s daily routine in the shower probably includes “run the razor over my legs so I don’t look like a wild animal”, however, this time, take the time to do it right. Soften your legs (with the aforementioned soak!), use shaving cream (or soap, if you have sensitive skin or problems with shaving cream) and run the razor over your legs until they feel completely silky smooth. Sometimes it takes more than once, and sometimes in more than one direction! After you get out of the tub, put on some moisturizer and rub it in completely. You’ll feel refreshed, and you’ll have a little piece of knowledge that nobody else knows - unless you walk around telling people “I shaved my legs today!”
• Match your bra and panties. Speaking of secrets that nobody knows, this is a big one. I’ve read it in multiple articles about confidence boosters, and it works! Knowing that your undergarments match makes you feel sexy and put-together, and being confident is well on your way to feeling glamorous!
• Tune out the world. Log out of those instant messengers! Close your email! Get off those social networking sites! Chances are, someone is bound to be negative, and you can’t be your best when you’re absorbing that negativity. Give yourself some time to just be you and live for you. The world will still be there when you get back, I promise!

Honestly, I’m sure there are millions of things that everyone who reads this can come up with that aren’t on this list. That isn’t the point, though! The point is, you deserve to feel glamorous. You deserve to be happy, healthy, content, and really proud of who you are. There’s nobody else in this world that is just like you. So smile! It’ll make the whole day look better - even if you just happen to catch a glimpse of your goofy fake-smile.

I feel so relaxed and happy today. I don’t know what it is. Right now, I feel refreshed. That really is the only word for it.

Two nights ago, Matt’s sister Jane came into town for Christmas. I didn’t know she was coming this early, but I’m glad she did! We don’t see her often and I definitely wish we could, because she’s fantastic! When she got here, she started getting ready, and said she was going downtown to see Janelle (her/Matt’s niece) and so I figured I’d tell her that if she wanted company, I definitely wouldn’t mind going. Well, she didn’t mind company, and invited me along! I made sure she wasn’t just doing it to be nice, because I didn’t want to be a charity case, and then I got ready and we went out! We drank, danced, talked… generally had a fantastic time. After the bar, we went to Janelle’s place, because she lives right around the corner. We slept there on the couch and went out for breakfast in the morning before coming home at 11. It was really a great night, and I’m so glad I had the nerve to ask to go. I would have missed out!

Yesterday was spent being a complete and total bum. Being out in the cold so much on Saturday made me a bit sick, and I was probably a tiny bit hung over, too, so we were totally lazy. It was nice, though. Matt’s on vacation time right now so it’s awesome having him around all the time! Even if we’re just sitting on our computers, he’s here and that’s what’s fantastic.

Today, I was still feeling like death warmed up, but I decided that since I didn’t feel up to going to the gym I would go out with Jane and her mom instead. Walking is exercise, right? Right. Anyway, we went to see Matt’s brother and his fiancee, and to see Matt’s other sister at work. He’s got a huge family, if you can’t tell. After that we headed over to Walmart and I bought a few things. One of the things I bought was face cleanser and moisturizer. I used it a bit after I got home and I feel seriously refreshed. Isn’t it funny how pampering yourself even a tiny bit has such an effect?

I need to get back to reality. I need to start working out again, because my leg is finally healing. I need to get motivated. I need to bring my confidence level up. I need to do a lot of things.

Right now? I need to put on some Friends (Season 7, for those interested) and go to bed. I’ve had two Smirnoffs and a pretty rough night and now I need some sleep! My eyes are swollen, my head hurts, and I’m just plain tired! Enough whining, though. You don’t come here to read my whining!

I’m starting to really love photography. I don’t know if I’m that good, but I like what I do, anyway. Every day I pick my favourite picture and post it at Unwritten. I don’t have it set up so you can comment on the pictures over there, but feel free to tell me what you think! I’d love some feedback, really!

Today’s picture was from outside a restaurant that Matt’s mom, aunt and I went to for lunch. I was a good girl and had a salad, and the bad girl in me had some garlic bread. First thing I’ve eaten with butter in almost a month! But I only had the garlic bread because it came with the salad. No harm done, right? I was still within my limits for the day!

I’ve decided that if I reach my goal this month, I’m going to get a haircut. Nothing drastic, probably just a trim and a bit of a styling. I could use it. I feel pretty blah about myself right now.

I’m getting in the habit of eating healthy and exercising now. I’m kinda on a roll, to be honest. I have done some form of exercise (either a walk or Turbo Jam) every day since last Sunday. I’ve done strength training for the past three days. I’ve stayed within my food intake limits every single day this week. I’ve drank upwards of 8 glasses - usually around ten! - every day. And today, I started a multivitamin.

I’m seeing progress, too. I’ve lost yet another pound, which puts me down 4 pounds from my starting weight. Slow progress is better than no progress, in my opinion.

So, since all my poor friends have heard about for the past few days is my diet/exercise/whatever, time to talk about other things!

Last night, my raiding team took on Void Reaver for the first time. What a fun fight! I was very scared, reading the strategy, when I saw this:

Threat is an issue for high-threat generating classes, particularly shadow priests, so be careful: your threat will also be increased by healing your group members that get hit by Arcane Orbs.

However, I was able to maintain my threat and survive! Well, until the tank died. Y’know. But things happen. We got him to, like, 36% or something on our second try. Sadly, the amount of trash there is and the difficult pulls only gave us two tries on Void Reaver. By the time the second time came around, we had respawns all through the instance and couldn’t go any further. Regardless, it was fantastic fun and I was so excited to see something different for a change!

Kim, my shadow priest, is doing rather well in the gear department. She needs a few more things from Karazhan and one item from Heroic badges, but she’s starting to look pretty good!

Anyway, I think I’m going to play The Movies. Haven’t played it in a while, and decided it sounded like fun!