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Friday Favourites for 20/4/12

Posted on 20/04/2012 | Leave a comment

All that stands between myself and the end of my first year is one exam on Tuesday – I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. University has been quite an experience academically. I learned quite some bit and am hopefully prepared to do much better in second year. However, I’m ready for four months of no classes and am on a hectic search for a job (if you live in Ottawa and you’re a hiring business … please contact me)!  My posts will be much more frequent once I’m completely done, so make sure you’re coming back!

But because of my final journalism exam, I have to make sure I’m not relaxing too much this weekend. Either way, here are some of this week’s favourites!

My aunt back home in Serbia posted this photo of their golden retriever on Facebook. Had to put it as a favourite – he’s adorable!

I’ve been playing Dark Paradise by Lana Del Rey on repeat all week. Absolutely in love with the song and lyrics. Hopefully she puts out a music video for this song next.

NARS released their Spring 2012 line earlier this week. I checked out their new items on Temptalia a while ago and if I had the money, I probably would have purchased the majority of the products. I’m especially loving the shadow pencil!

I’ve been watching so many haul videos from IMATS NYC as it went on last weekend. Makes me super excited for Toronto IMATS in November; seems like people got some amazing deals!

As someone who worked in customer service and retail, these 12 Tips for Working in Retail Without Killing Everyone Around You are a hilarious read.

Poli Sci Ryan Gosling is a dream come true.

I’m excited to finally have time starting next week to try all the recipes collecting on my Pinterest board. Especially this , spinach and mushroom quiche. It looks delicious!

Finally, I have to include this weeks episode of Glee. It was adorable. I couldn’t stop squealing. Saturday Night Glee-ver was just too good.

Hopefully your weekends are much more relaxing than mine!

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Two wheels are better than four

Posted on 20/04/2012 | 1 Comment

The return of warmer days and higher gas prices mean it’s time to switch up your wheels (that doesn’t mean taking off your car’s winter tires and replacing them with summer tires). Unlock the dusty bike that’s been stowed away and embrace the road and fresh air!

If I didn’t live in a city that was covered in snow and ice for the winter months, I would probably be biking year round. Unfortunately, I can’t switch my wheels on my road bike or equip them with tracks to make biking on snow less dangerous (I have an old road bike … it’s safer not to tamper too much with it).

If you hardly ever use your bike, or need some convincing to purchase one, continue reading to see why two wheels are better than four!

Cheap transportation. Unless you’re buying a $1500 Trek bike that you intend on doing major tune ups to, most bikes are fairly cheap. If you intend on using your bike simply to get to work or the store, find a second-hand/trade-in bike shop in your city! You can get a decent bike for relatively good prices (mine was $160). Filling up your car with gas just two or three times in a month can add up to the cost of a cheap bike! With gas prices soaring, your wallet will be much happier.

Easy navigation. Many people really don’t realize the amount of short cuts you can take on a bike than on a car. It can also cut down on your travel time, despite if you drive or take  public transportation. I know that it takes me 45 minutes to get to campus when I bus, however, biking takes ten minutes!

Good for the environment. You saw this coming. How could you not? Biking cuts down on emissions that are produced by dirty cars and busses in cities. Plus you get a nice view and get to be  outdoors before work/class, which can elevate your mood!

Fitness! Depending on the distance you’re biking in a day, it can be considered a daily workout! If you’re biking a good 45 minutes twice a day, it does add up. Even if you’re doing shorter trips, it’s still benefitting your health much more than sitting in a car.

Short trips to the store. If you need to make a quick run to the store, don’t bother with the car unless you plan on buying more than you can carry. Otherwise, grab a backpack and/or a basket for your bike, and just load in your groceries!

Now what’s your excuse for not switching up the car for your bike?

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Passing Thoughts: Music and Memory

Posted on 15/11/2011 | Leave a comment


Photo Credit

Music is the language of memory.

That’s a quote from the book I’m reading at the moment, Jodi Picoult’s Sing You Home. Another quote, from Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen, deals with the same thing:

“Music is a total constant. That’s why we have such a strong visceral connection to it, you know? Because a song can take you back instantly to a moment, or a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in your or the world, that one song says the same, just like that moment.”

What’s caused this sudden urge to list quotes related to music and memory? Well, I was having breakfast alone several hours ago eating breakfast and listening to my music, when a certain song came onto my shuffle.

At that precise moment, it’s amazing how many memories flooded in. While it was playing, I could vividly see when I first heard that song and when and why I listened to it on repeat. Continuing from there, it was as if my Shuffle had a mind of its own, because the next couple songs also had a place in my memory.

These songs released some memories that I haven’t reviewed in a long time, making me feel extremely nostalgic this morning.It made me pause for a long moment. My gaze was transfixed somewhere outside the window.


Photo Credit

I hate when I get nostalgic. As soon as that happens, I start getting scared. I get scared about the future and what lies ahead. In a way, it’s exciting, going into the unknown. Most of the time, I love the idea of being independent and grown up.

Then there are times, like right now, where I can’t help but feel terrified for what lies ahead. I’m constantly worrying over the fact that I’ll make nothing out of a career – some people have told me that my journalism degree will be useless and that I’ll hardly make enough money. They tell me I should have stuck with science and medicine.

A future career isn’t the only thing that bothers me. Then there are thoughts that involve my family back home in Europe. How many more times will I be able to see them? Many people have the luxury of being relatively close to their extended family. Unfortunately, I do not.

My thoughts keep rushing at this point and now it’s about something that will involve my career and potential family. I’m (hoping) to get into a profession that will take up a large chunk of my time. I won’t have a nine-to-five schedule like most people. I’ll be all over the place. Will I ever be able to settle down with a career like that? How long will that take?

Sometimes I just want to go back when things were simple. I want the world to stop moving so fast. As much as I love university, every new day kind of scares me. I look at the pile of work I have to do, glance at my packed schedule, reread all my emails … and I think, Where is my time going? What’s happening?

My parents are always telling me that I have time and I need to slow down. I don’t know how to slow down. I’m constantly in a race against time. Whenever I look outside during a nice day, my heart breaks a little. I’m stuck in here, studying away for exams and working on assignments, while life is still happening out there.

As much as I love my program, and I hope I make the cut for second year, sometimes I wish I had taken a year off. To travel. Or to even continue my training. Or both; I could have gone back home to Serbia and just trained there for several months.

I really hope that eventually, all of this hard work will pay off and I’ll be able to see the world and not feel  like it’s passing me by. If I could make a career out of traveling and writing, that’d be ideal.

To end of this post, I’ll quote Sarah Dessen in another one of her novels, Lock and Key:

“It’s funny how a beautiful song can tell such a sad story.”

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My Experience at Disney’s Broadway Production of the Lion King

Posted on 03/08/2011 | 1 Comment

Author’s Note: This is my recent submission for Ottawa’s “Centretown Buzz” newspaper. Hopefully some of you will see this in print!

            For several years now, I have been anticipating the return of Disney’s Broadway production of the Lion King, to return to the stage of the National Art’s Centre. Sunday night, I finally had the opportunity to applaud through my dream musical; if possible, it was more astonishing than I had expected.

My first musical experience opened with The Circle of Life, one of the many songs from the original Walt Disney movie. The vocals boomed throughout the auditorium, as a theatrical sun rose on the stage. The various colours that emerged and the set work of the stage was brilliant. At last, the different animals took their place on the stage.

Prior to watching the show, I was concerned with what the costumes might be like. The reenactment of Lion King should feature as little human character as possible. My worries were put to rest once the antelope, giraffe, cheetah and elephants set foot. For most of the show, I would forget that these were humans acting out the animals – all the actors did a splendid job bringing their characters to life.

Young Simba was played by the rambunctious nine-year-old, Zavion J. Hill, who magnificently captured Simba’s curious and adventurous spirit. Sade Phillip-Demorcy, who acted as young Nala, portrayed the charismatic character’s energy. Despite the lack of a lion head (that all the older cast members sported), both actors did a splendid job of reenacting Simba and Nala’s mischievous personalities.

From the various musical numbers, He Lives in You and He Lives in You (Reprise) had to be the most powerful performances. Although Mufasa (Simba’s father) was unfortunately not present for the reprise, his memory was revived to its fullest. Both scenes were emotional and captivating, and the stage setup added to the mystery of the scene.

Several other actors also did a wonderful job of depicting their characters’ personalities. J. Anthony Crane, who played Scar (Mufasa’s power-hungry brother), was perfectly sarcastic and menacing – definitely a character that made me shiver with fear. Older Simba, played by Jelani Remy, acted out his character’s identity crisis and inner torment well and displayed how Simba grows to accept his fate as he discovers the truth.

The last couple scenes, with the fight between Simba and Scar, followed by the Circle of Life (Reprise), ended the musical dramatically and with complicated emotions. We watch Simba avenge his late father’s death and then celebrate the newest addition to the circle of life.

The Lion King is being featured at the National Art’s Centre from July 14 to August 7 this summer. If you did not have the chance to see it while it’s in Ottawa, take the next opportunity you have to view it. There is a reason that The Lion King has become Broadway’s most popular musical.

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10 Things to Say to Someone You Don’t Want to See

Posted on 23/04/2011 | Leave a comment

If you’ve fallen into the unfortunate scenario of being a back-up friend, I know what you feel all the way. Being called up out of know where and expected to be able to hang out? I hate that too. What’s terrible is that whenever you try to see that same person, they are somehow never available when you need them. Sick of their BS? Annoyed of getting a text message at 10:30 PM saying “Come over now!” without any warning? Can’t say anything too blunt because this friend sometimes does come in handy? Here are some responses you can give them:

  1. In bed, sleeping. Can’t. A reply as blunt as that will most likely make it seem as if you’re drowsy and have just been woken up by the annoying ring and glow of your cellphone. Just make sure if you’re faking this, that you’re not signed into Facebook and not updating your Twitter. Because then you’re not sleeping.
  2. Now? If you texted me earlier when I didn’t have plans I def would have come over! I’m out at some crazy party right now! Don’t give away a location. She might try to come and find you. Or she might just happen to say “OH! I’m heading over to so-and-so right now as well! See you there!” That might take some explaining….
  3. Not home, at another friend’s house. Hopefully she doesn’t ask which friend and whether or not she knows them. Don’t try to make up a friend either … she will most likely try to FB stalk that girl.
  4. With the boyfriend for the night! This works if you have a boyfriend and whether she’s aware of that. Making up a boyfriend is too much and if she didn’t know before, then she might want details. And that’s just too  much of a conversation to try and maintain.
  5. I’m on a date! This one is easier to make up. Say it’s your friend’s boyfriend’s best friend’s cousin or something and you met him at a party. Thankfully, this lie is very easy to get away with. Hopefully she doesn’t question you too much.
  6. I’m piled up with homework and assignments! I can’t make it or I’ll get way too far behind! One of my favourites. No one ever bothers to question this lie because no one cares enough about your assignment to hold up an entire conversation on your essay concerning major themes in Hamlet.
  7. Out with the family! Only use this one if you’re not family friends and your parents aren’t BFF with hers. Otherwise, using this excuse can be bad.
  8. I’m sick in bed. Just hope she won’t try and come to you if you can’t come to her. If she does try and come over to see you, tell her you’re highly contagious and delusional and you have been quarantined.
  9. I have no way of getting to you! Say you lost your bus pass. Or your car is in for its six month check up. If you’re a walk away from this friend….stick to anything else.
  10. Just don’t respond. This is easy to get away with. If she confronts you at a later date, just act clueless. Tell her you didn’t get her message/call.  ”My phone’s been acting up lately and the service has been crap! Nothing is coming through lately!” Always works. Make sure your phone is on silent at this point. Just in case.
What excuses have you used?

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