I am a dreamer, a thinker, a creator. I am constantly thinking up business ideas and how I can put them into action. Thus far, other than the occasional handmade craft, I have never actually put any of my ideas into action...until now.
Very recently, at my current job, a lady walked in and asked my advice on selling her business. I could hardly believe the feeling that came over me, all at once. It was like I was having a full body reaction to what I was hearing. This business is a gym and I am a Registered Holistic Nutrition Consultant. I have been a member at this gym before and often fantasized about all that it could become if I was able to get in there. I would turn it into a Wellness Centre, with elements that would be applicable to the whole community. It would be more than a gym and more like a destination for health and happiness. I feel so strongly about this en devour that I struggle to put it into words, but anyone who talks to me about it sees and feels the passion I have for this new adventure.
But here's the kicker. Since I am currently seasonally employed, banks don't want to give me a loan. Since my idea isn't an advancement in technology, an export or about mass job creation, the centre doesn't fall into any grant's criteria. Now, if I was established in my business, for at least two years, then grants apply and then banks will give me a loan...but how am I ever supposed to get to that stage?!
As an educated, hardworking, mother of three I am not a good risk for the bank...apparently. My business plan is in place and so solid. My ideas are the right ones. My vision will benefit many...but that isn't enough. My current job is only six months of the year! My new business would keep me employed all year long!
Where I live, the people who succeed are the ones who make success happen themselves. There is very little job opportunity, unless you create it yourself, but how can you do it without money?! Whoever created the concept of money anyway? All it does is create problems, hold us back, separate the classes, create poverty and greed... I'm getting off track here.
To make a long story short. I have a dream and I am working so hard to make it my realty, but it sure isn't easy!
To learn more about my story, check out my Go Fund Me campaign here . I am asking for prayers, vibes and/or monetary contributions. People with dreams and ambition should be able to make them come true!
Friday, October 28, 2016
Friday, February 19, 2016
My Gluten-Free Girly
For the past few years, my daughter has complained of belly pains. At first we thought it was normal kid complaints, until it became something much more than that.
What started off as seemingly minor belly aches, developed into something so painful that my daughter would thrash around in her sleep, crying. It was awful. This landed us in emerg, with bloodwork, x-rays and nothing more than a note to give her Restorolax daily, until things improved. Her pains were always written off as constipation, but not once did a medical doctor suggest what might be the cause of the problem.
The routine of her being "ok", then minor pains starting, then the pain getting worse and then ending up back in emerg, became a regular routine. Every single time, the emerg doctor, our family doctor and a pediatrician, all said "give her Restorolax and she'll be cleaned out in a couple of days". This was true, but then the problem would start all over again and STILL, no one would get into what might be causing this.
After dealing with this serious problem, for longer than I would like to admit, I took matters into my own hands...since we weren't getting anywhere otherwise. I decided to do a food elimination with her. The first obvious choice was to remove gluten and see how she made out.
Initially, we were going to try two weeks completely off gluten and really closely monitor her reaction. Her biggest concern was, "What will I do at birthday parties?! I won't be able to eat any cake!". It struck me as funny that this could be her biggest concern, but at the same time, I felt sad that she was sad.
Do you know how many things gluten is in?! Even things like bouillon has gluten! I discovered this while making her a list of what she could and could not eat, just to make sure we were completely avoiding gluten. Anyway, in only a few shorts days of going gluten-free, her belly pains were gone. Not just improved, but gone. This stupid ingredient had been the culprit for causing my little girl so much pain for years.
My daughter is about a month in to being completely gluten-free. She goes to school with a smile on her face, not a frown because her belly is hurting. She stays in school every day, all week long, because she doesn't have any pains. It feels like such a weight has been lifted and other than bringing her own gluten-free cupcake to parties, there have been very few frustrations for her along the way.
If I have learned anything from this experience, it is this- medical doctors would benefit greatly from taking Holistic Nutrition studies during their medical degree. If their solutions to problems were more than just a band-aid approach, I feel confident that we would have a much healthier, happier population. Finally, mom sometimes DOES know best.
What started off as seemingly minor belly aches, developed into something so painful that my daughter would thrash around in her sleep, crying. It was awful. This landed us in emerg, with bloodwork, x-rays and nothing more than a note to give her Restorolax daily, until things improved. Her pains were always written off as constipation, but not once did a medical doctor suggest what might be the cause of the problem.
The routine of her being "ok", then minor pains starting, then the pain getting worse and then ending up back in emerg, became a regular routine. Every single time, the emerg doctor, our family doctor and a pediatrician, all said "give her Restorolax and she'll be cleaned out in a couple of days". This was true, but then the problem would start all over again and STILL, no one would get into what might be causing this.
After dealing with this serious problem, for longer than I would like to admit, I took matters into my own hands...since we weren't getting anywhere otherwise. I decided to do a food elimination with her. The first obvious choice was to remove gluten and see how she made out.
Initially, we were going to try two weeks completely off gluten and really closely monitor her reaction. Her biggest concern was, "What will I do at birthday parties?! I won't be able to eat any cake!". It struck me as funny that this could be her biggest concern, but at the same time, I felt sad that she was sad.
Do you know how many things gluten is in?! Even things like bouillon has gluten! I discovered this while making her a list of what she could and could not eat, just to make sure we were completely avoiding gluten. Anyway, in only a few shorts days of going gluten-free, her belly pains were gone. Not just improved, but gone. This stupid ingredient had been the culprit for causing my little girl so much pain for years.
My daughter is about a month in to being completely gluten-free. She goes to school with a smile on her face, not a frown because her belly is hurting. She stays in school every day, all week long, because she doesn't have any pains. It feels like such a weight has been lifted and other than bringing her own gluten-free cupcake to parties, there have been very few frustrations for her along the way.
If I have learned anything from this experience, it is this- medical doctors would benefit greatly from taking Holistic Nutrition studies during their medical degree. If their solutions to problems were more than just a band-aid approach, I feel confident that we would have a much healthier, happier population. Finally, mom sometimes DOES know best.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Anxiety? Me?! Well....ya.
Last week, while wasting way too much time reading junk on Facebook, I read something that has completely changed my perspective...of myself.
It wasn't so much the portion about depression, it was the part about anxiety. As much as I know I'm a worrier, I never stopped to examine just exactly how much my worrying, or anxiety, effects every single element of my life.
I care so much about everything and everyone. I'm a people pleaser, in the extreme. I'm a perfectionist. I function best when things are tidy, uncluttered and chaos-free...which is hilarious, since I have three kids. I'm indecisive...well...ya....I'm indecisive. I'm cautious, to the point where I let it hold me back. I embarrass easily, but I'm an excellent public speaker. I want friends, but when people try to befriend me, I'm standoffish. I'm definitely my own worst enemy.
I have had more business ideas over the past 10 years than a whole family could ever come up with in a lifetime, yet I do nothing about them...and then inevitably, six months later, someone has seemingly stolen my incredible idea and become an instant success. I'm creative, imaginative, thoughtful and am over flowing with common sense.
All of that said, this stupid anxiety holds me back! I don't use my French very often, because I hate the thought that people are judging my lack of French accent. I don't join Zumba (which I LOVE) because I'm not very coordinated and hate the thought of people making fun of my klutziness. I have wanted to take singing lessons for years, but the idea of singing one-on-one with someone makes me feel uncomfortable just thinking about it. I don't start any one of my business ideas because I'm afraid of failing...I also need a huge loan, that I'm afraid of getting rejected on. Geesh.
The sad part is, unless you have anxiety, you'll read this and think that if I just worked up a little courage, I could push through all of this crap. If only it were that simple. I can't stress enough, that anxiety is at the very root of my being. It is there, all the time, even when it seems like it's not.
They say the first step is acknowledging you have a problem. Thanks to some post on Facebook, that I was clearly meant to read, I've at least acknowledged that I'm not simply an excessive, over the top worrier...there's more to it, and sadly, it runs in my family.
I'm sitting here, staring at the computer screen, trying to think of a "second step" to working on my anxiety and have to laugh at myself. I thought about heading out and trying something new, to challenge myself, but got concerned the roads might be icy (it's sunny and above freezing) and decided to stay in. Ha! Well, I guess it'll be harder than I thought.
To those who can relate, even a little to this jumble, at least we're not alone.
I care so much about everything and everyone. I'm a people pleaser, in the extreme. I'm a perfectionist. I function best when things are tidy, uncluttered and chaos-free...which is hilarious, since I have three kids. I'm indecisive...well...ya....I'm indecisive. I'm cautious, to the point where I let it hold me back. I embarrass easily, but I'm an excellent public speaker. I want friends, but when people try to befriend me, I'm standoffish. I'm definitely my own worst enemy.
I have had more business ideas over the past 10 years than a whole family could ever come up with in a lifetime, yet I do nothing about them...and then inevitably, six months later, someone has seemingly stolen my incredible idea and become an instant success. I'm creative, imaginative, thoughtful and am over flowing with common sense.
All of that said, this stupid anxiety holds me back! I don't use my French very often, because I hate the thought that people are judging my lack of French accent. I don't join Zumba (which I LOVE) because I'm not very coordinated and hate the thought of people making fun of my klutziness. I have wanted to take singing lessons for years, but the idea of singing one-on-one with someone makes me feel uncomfortable just thinking about it. I don't start any one of my business ideas because I'm afraid of failing...I also need a huge loan, that I'm afraid of getting rejected on. Geesh.
The sad part is, unless you have anxiety, you'll read this and think that if I just worked up a little courage, I could push through all of this crap. If only it were that simple. I can't stress enough, that anxiety is at the very root of my being. It is there, all the time, even when it seems like it's not.
They say the first step is acknowledging you have a problem. Thanks to some post on Facebook, that I was clearly meant to read, I've at least acknowledged that I'm not simply an excessive, over the top worrier...there's more to it, and sadly, it runs in my family.
I'm sitting here, staring at the computer screen, trying to think of a "second step" to working on my anxiety and have to laugh at myself. I thought about heading out and trying something new, to challenge myself, but got concerned the roads might be icy (it's sunny and above freezing) and decided to stay in. Ha! Well, I guess it'll be harder than I thought.
To those who can relate, even a little to this jumble, at least we're not alone.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Leave Your Problems at Home
I work in customer service. In one way or another, I have worked in customer service since I was 15 years old. Part of my job, and actually an important part, is to leave my personal problems at home and put on my game face for the people I serve. The people who visit my work are on vacation and they don't need to be burdened with my bad day/mood. Is it too much to expect similar treatment when I'm out shopping, eating at a restaurant or even dealing with a realtor? No.
I'm sorry you're having a bad day, week, month or year, but when you come to work, you put your best foot forward and provide a positive experience for your guest/client/customer. When people are out and about, they are often escaping their own problems for a few minutes, so don't burden them with yours. Help make their experience an enjoyable one and hopefully others will do the same for you.
I am not a heartless person. In fact, I am quite the opposite. If anything, I care too much, but if you can't provide quality customer service everyday that you show up for work, you are in the wrong industry.
Life is hard and work can be challenging, but no customer should be punished for your bad day. Be kind. Be patient. Good customer service goes a long. The word of bad customer service spreads like wild fire.
I'm sorry you're having a bad day, week, month or year, but when you come to work, you put your best foot forward and provide a positive experience for your guest/client/customer. When people are out and about, they are often escaping their own problems for a few minutes, so don't burden them with yours. Help make their experience an enjoyable one and hopefully others will do the same for you.
I am not a heartless person. In fact, I am quite the opposite. If anything, I care too much, but if you can't provide quality customer service everyday that you show up for work, you are in the wrong industry.
Life is hard and work can be challenging, but no customer should be punished for your bad day. Be kind. Be patient. Good customer service goes a long. The word of bad customer service spreads like wild fire.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
My Favourite Restaurant
For 22 years, I have had a favourite restaurant. At a quick glance, you might not be able to tell how awesome it is there, but as soon as your server greets you, something becomes quickly clear: You are in the presence of greatness.
It has changed in décor from when I first started going. In fact, it has shortened it's name in that time as well. It used to have all wooden furniture and a classic laundromat board on the wall for the business, The Missing Sock, that used to be downstairs. Now, and for many years actually, the downstairs in an extension of my favourite restaurant and the retro laundromat board is no longer there. So really, I can't complain about my favourite restaurant having more seating than it used to.
What do they serve at said restaurant, you ask? Beautiful salads, award winning, creative burgers wraps and so much more! For 22 years, with possibly 2-3 exceptions ever, I have been ordering The Original Pita Club and in 22 years, it hasn't changed a bit. It may sound like a simple dish, but let me tell you, it is absolutely perfect! Real roasted turkey, bacon, romaine lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese and mayonnaise, all rolled up in a whole wheat wrap. I usually order their special potato wedges, but regular fries, sweet potato fries and side salads are an option as well. Mouth is watering...
22 years ago, I first stepped foot into this restaurant almost by chance, as my Mom and I were out for one of our great walks. We didn't know at the time that it would prove to be a restaurant we would go back to for years to come. Years later, I would eat there with my university boyfriend, while our laundry washed and dried downstairs. Now, married with 3 kids, we go as a family. It has become a meeting ground for my family and friends and I do not step into the city without eating there. I couldn't. I would feel like my visit was incomplete.
I must not forget to mention their staff. Although there has been some turnover of course, in the 22 years I have been going there, one thing remains as true now as it was then: their staff is excellent! They are genuinely friendly, patient and kind. Whoever does the hiring there does an incredible job on finding these talented people to join their team.
Another kind of neat fact about Darrell's is you never know who you might bump into when you eat there. It happens to be a favourite spot for Big Brother Canada Season 1, couple Emmett Blois and Jillian MacLaughlin. They even bring other cast members there when they visit.
So, now, the big finale!!! This perfect restaurant, aka Darrell's, and formerly known as My Other Brother Darrell's, can be found at 5576 Fenwick St., in Halifax, Nova Scotia. If you haven't been, make a point to go! Everything they serve is delicious, but promise me you'll start with The Original Pita Club. You will not regret it!
#darrellsresto #halifaxresto #theoriginalpitaclub #foodie
It has changed in décor from when I first started going. In fact, it has shortened it's name in that time as well. It used to have all wooden furniture and a classic laundromat board on the wall for the business, The Missing Sock, that used to be downstairs. Now, and for many years actually, the downstairs in an extension of my favourite restaurant and the retro laundromat board is no longer there. So really, I can't complain about my favourite restaurant having more seating than it used to.
What do they serve at said restaurant, you ask? Beautiful salads, award winning, creative burgers wraps and so much more! For 22 years, with possibly 2-3 exceptions ever, I have been ordering The Original Pita Club and in 22 years, it hasn't changed a bit. It may sound like a simple dish, but let me tell you, it is absolutely perfect! Real roasted turkey, bacon, romaine lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese and mayonnaise, all rolled up in a whole wheat wrap. I usually order their special potato wedges, but regular fries, sweet potato fries and side salads are an option as well. Mouth is watering...
22 years ago, I first stepped foot into this restaurant almost by chance, as my Mom and I were out for one of our great walks. We didn't know at the time that it would prove to be a restaurant we would go back to for years to come. Years later, I would eat there with my university boyfriend, while our laundry washed and dried downstairs. Now, married with 3 kids, we go as a family. It has become a meeting ground for my family and friends and I do not step into the city without eating there. I couldn't. I would feel like my visit was incomplete.
I must not forget to mention their staff. Although there has been some turnover of course, in the 22 years I have been going there, one thing remains as true now as it was then: their staff is excellent! They are genuinely friendly, patient and kind. Whoever does the hiring there does an incredible job on finding these talented people to join their team.
Another kind of neat fact about Darrell's is you never know who you might bump into when you eat there. It happens to be a favourite spot for Big Brother Canada Season 1, couple Emmett Blois and Jillian MacLaughlin. They even bring other cast members there when they visit.
So, now, the big finale!!! This perfect restaurant, aka Darrell's, and formerly known as My Other Brother Darrell's, can be found at 5576 Fenwick St., in Halifax, Nova Scotia. If you haven't been, make a point to go! Everything they serve is delicious, but promise me you'll start with The Original Pita Club. You will not regret it!
#darrellsresto #halifaxresto #theoriginalpitaclub #foodie
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Divorce
Over the past couple of years, I have started to see some of my friends get divorced. Divorce is nothing new in my life. My Mom and Dad divorced when I was four years old. My brother divorced...probably 20 years ago. I'm all too familiar with the ramifications of both staying together for the wrong reasons and finally divorcing for the right reasons.
None of my friends/family members took the decision lightly. In fact many of them spent years being unhappy together for their kids sake before making the decision. I don't think I agree with staying together "just for the kids"...although I completely understand it.
The dynamic of a divorced family is difficult at the best of times. There are few exceptions, of course, when a divorce is so amicable that the family unit stays a unit in some sense. The adults are able to see the bigger picture and act in a way that is advantageous to the children. I have so much respect for people who can rise above their bitterness and act in the best interest of their children. It took my parents 10 years to get to that place.
It has been for many years now that my parents act friendly towards one and other. We can all have a sit down meal together and everyone is friendly. On a good day, they'll even reminisce about the "good ole days" and talk about how amazing their grandchildren are. Those days are very special. It makes me sad that my kids will never know their grandparents as a unit. They are Grampa and Nana, separately, but that doesn't bother my kids any.
I am so grateful to have parents who love me and love my kids more than I could have ever imagined. I am so grateful for parents who will come together for grandkids birthdays, graduations, weddings and celebrations and there are no harsh words or angry stares. There is just love. Maybe not for each other, but for their shared loved ones.
All of that said, I have many examples in my life of couples that should have never, ever stayed together. I don't believe that people should stay together if they are miserable. Marriage is hard. Marriage takes work and the desire to make it work. In this day and age, although expensive, divorce is way too easy and often taken too lightly. We are raising today's generation to think that marriage isn't forever, it's just for now. We are raising them in a time where a divorce can be granted by a few simple clicks of the mouse. Marriage is supposed to mean more than that.
So to all my family and friends getting divorced in 2014; I think you are very brave. This was not an easy choice, but I know you have tried to make things work, in some cases for a very long time. You deserve happiness.
Much love.
None of my friends/family members took the decision lightly. In fact many of them spent years being unhappy together for their kids sake before making the decision. I don't think I agree with staying together "just for the kids"...although I completely understand it.
The dynamic of a divorced family is difficult at the best of times. There are few exceptions, of course, when a divorce is so amicable that the family unit stays a unit in some sense. The adults are able to see the bigger picture and act in a way that is advantageous to the children. I have so much respect for people who can rise above their bitterness and act in the best interest of their children. It took my parents 10 years to get to that place.
It has been for many years now that my parents act friendly towards one and other. We can all have a sit down meal together and everyone is friendly. On a good day, they'll even reminisce about the "good ole days" and talk about how amazing their grandchildren are. Those days are very special. It makes me sad that my kids will never know their grandparents as a unit. They are Grampa and Nana, separately, but that doesn't bother my kids any.
I am so grateful to have parents who love me and love my kids more than I could have ever imagined. I am so grateful for parents who will come together for grandkids birthdays, graduations, weddings and celebrations and there are no harsh words or angry stares. There is just love. Maybe not for each other, but for their shared loved ones.
All of that said, I have many examples in my life of couples that should have never, ever stayed together. I don't believe that people should stay together if they are miserable. Marriage is hard. Marriage takes work and the desire to make it work. In this day and age, although expensive, divorce is way too easy and often taken too lightly. We are raising today's generation to think that marriage isn't forever, it's just for now. We are raising them in a time where a divorce can be granted by a few simple clicks of the mouse. Marriage is supposed to mean more than that.
So to all my family and friends getting divorced in 2014; I think you are very brave. This was not an easy choice, but I know you have tried to make things work, in some cases for a very long time. You deserve happiness.
Much love.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Student Loan Rant
Student loans...where to begin?
For my husband to go to university, he had to get student loans. He did a year of French Immersion, his Bachelor of Arts and his Bachelor of Education. He is now a permanent French teacher, which in Canada Student Loans minds means that he can afford to be in repayment of his loans. I understand that they want their money back, but can't they wait until he has been permanent at least a year before demanding payment? It took 5 years for him to get permanent. It took 5 years of supply teaching and working a second job to get permanent. It took a lot of patience and moving out of province for him to get permanent. We are in debt up to our eyeballs because of the journey it took to finally get here...and after all this hard work, we're going to be worse off financially than when he didn't have permanent because of his student loan. Ugh!
Why does university have to be so darn expensive?! The cost of university is ridiculous! We will be paying off his student loans for our entire adult lives. There is no end to them in the foreseeable future. There is something very wrong with this picture!
I, on the other hand, have very little student loans. I was fortunate to have my father pay for most of my education, but that said, I'm working for near minimum wage because there are very few decent jobs in the area we live in...which we moved to solely for my husband to get a permanent teaching job. Double ugh!
Feels like we just can't get ahead! I know we're not alone on this. What a mess of a system we live in. I'm so tempted to move somewhere in the deep North or far West just to get ahead financially.
So, just so we're clear...if we make more money, our student loan repayment increases by a lot, which means that we actually have even less money than we do now. So making more money would actually be a financial burden. Yup...that's right. Figure that one out!
End rant.
For my husband to go to university, he had to get student loans. He did a year of French Immersion, his Bachelor of Arts and his Bachelor of Education. He is now a permanent French teacher, which in Canada Student Loans minds means that he can afford to be in repayment of his loans. I understand that they want their money back, but can't they wait until he has been permanent at least a year before demanding payment? It took 5 years for him to get permanent. It took 5 years of supply teaching and working a second job to get permanent. It took a lot of patience and moving out of province for him to get permanent. We are in debt up to our eyeballs because of the journey it took to finally get here...and after all this hard work, we're going to be worse off financially than when he didn't have permanent because of his student loan. Ugh!
Why does university have to be so darn expensive?! The cost of university is ridiculous! We will be paying off his student loans for our entire adult lives. There is no end to them in the foreseeable future. There is something very wrong with this picture!
I, on the other hand, have very little student loans. I was fortunate to have my father pay for most of my education, but that said, I'm working for near minimum wage because there are very few decent jobs in the area we live in...which we moved to solely for my husband to get a permanent teaching job. Double ugh!
Feels like we just can't get ahead! I know we're not alone on this. What a mess of a system we live in. I'm so tempted to move somewhere in the deep North or far West just to get ahead financially.
So, just so we're clear...if we make more money, our student loan repayment increases by a lot, which means that we actually have even less money than we do now. So making more money would actually be a financial burden. Yup...that's right. Figure that one out!
End rant.
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