A New Look
With my upcoming work conferences and the big trip to NYC, I decided my wardrobe needed a little update. So, after I worked Saturday morning, Jenn and I headed to the Trainyards Shopping area in Ottawa where you can find a bunch of outlet stores including Ricki's, Esprit, Fairweather, Tommy Hilfiger, Aldo, etc. I have avoided shopping there up to this point but it is a great area to find clothes.
After indulging myself at Ricki's and Tommy Hilfiger, I was all set with some trendy and work-appropriate new outfits. But, that wasn't enough... a few days later, I found myself with 3 new belts and 2 new pairs of shoes to compliment these great clothes. To finish off the whole look, I then went to the hair salon and got a new color and cut for my hair! Talk about a total transformation and indulgence...
Definitely worth every penny - I feel ready to take on the Big Apple and make a good impression at the upcoming business endeavours!
After indulging myself at Ricki's and Tommy Hilfiger, I was all set with some trendy and work-appropriate new outfits. But, that wasn't enough... a few days later, I found myself with 3 new belts and 2 new pairs of shoes to compliment these great clothes. To finish off the whole look, I then went to the hair salon and got a new color and cut for my hair! Talk about a total transformation and indulgence...
Definitely worth every penny - I feel ready to take on the Big Apple and make a good impression at the upcoming business endeavours!
Like a Small Child Being Tortured...
Last Friday night found the Jenns and I at our neighbour and friend Melody's place (literally down the hall) having some cocktails to prep the girls for a night on the town. I was not partaking in the bar action due to a 7am work start the next morning... So after the girls left, Oliver zonked out on the couch and I headed to bed.
Around 1:30am I was woken up by the most terrifying sound I had ever heard in my life! It sounded like there was a small child being tortured by something right outside my bedroom door. I'm not very brave when I get woken up by something you are talking to the girl who crawled in with Mom and Dad every time there was a thunderstorm until she was about 10 years old). It doesn't help that I can't see past about 10" in front of my face (thanks Al & Cheryl for the crappy eye genes) so I just lay there with my blanket pulled up to my chin and my heart pounding out of my chest while this god-awful noise continued on...
Finally, I worked up the nerve to get out of bed and see what was going on and out in the dining room area I find Oliver howling his little head off. How the dog ever made a sound like that is beyond me, but I did not think dog when I heard that noise and I don't know what possibly could have set him off!
Not knowing what else to do, I hustled him into my room and up on the bed (this never happens - my bed is off limits under any other circumstance) - the howling stopped once I talked to him and he quieted right down. I texted Jenn to tell her that something was going on and the dog had been howling and was in with me so please get him from my room when you get home. I didn't sleep until I heard her come in around 2am - I was so freaked out that he was going to start again and someone was going to call the cops on me. Luckily, he stayed quiet after that.
When I told the whole story to Jenn in the morning - we hadn't actually talked in the middle of the night - she had never heard him howl like this before but has heard from her neighbours downstairs at the place she used to live that the dog had an appalling howl. You think??? Jenn just about died laughing when I imitated the sound and I hope she gets the privilege of hearing this horrifying sound at some point so she can truly understand just how frightening it is. Good think I have grown to love that dog or he may have been evicted.
As you can see by the picture, Oliver spent a good chunk of the next day recovering from his sleep-deprived night - can't say I had the same luxury...
Around 1:30am I was woken up by the most terrifying sound I had ever heard in my life! It sounded like there was a small child being tortured by something right outside my bedroom door. I'm not very brave when I get woken up by something you are talking to the girl who crawled in with Mom and Dad every time there was a thunderstorm until she was about 10 years old). It doesn't help that I can't see past about 10" in front of my face (thanks Al & Cheryl for the crappy eye genes) so I just lay there with my blanket pulled up to my chin and my heart pounding out of my chest while this god-awful noise continued on...
Finally, I worked up the nerve to get out of bed and see what was going on and out in the dining room area I find Oliver howling his little head off. How the dog ever made a sound like that is beyond me, but I did not think dog when I heard that noise and I don't know what possibly could have set him off!
Not knowing what else to do, I hustled him into my room and up on the bed (this never happens - my bed is off limits under any other circumstance) - the howling stopped once I talked to him and he quieted right down. I texted Jenn to tell her that something was going on and the dog had been howling and was in with me so please get him from my room when you get home. I didn't sleep until I heard her come in around 2am - I was so freaked out that he was going to start again and someone was going to call the cops on me. Luckily, he stayed quiet after that.
When I told the whole story to Jenn in the morning - we hadn't actually talked in the middle of the night - she had never heard him howl like this before but has heard from her neighbours downstairs at the place she used to live that the dog had an appalling howl. You think??? Jenn just about died laughing when I imitated the sound and I hope she gets the privilege of hearing this horrifying sound at some point so she can truly understand just how frightening it is. Good think I have grown to love that dog or he may have been evicted.
As you can see by the picture, Oliver spent a good chunk of the next day recovering from his sleep-deprived night - can't say I had the same luxury...
You Can COACH Me Anytime!
I arrived at work Friday to find a package on my desk from Rheem - the company that is taking me to NYC this week. I opened up the cardboard box and on top was a portfolio with our itinerary, including the dinner menus and shopping guide for our free time in New York - pretty awesome! But, that was nothing. Underneath the folder was a gift bag with COACH on the front. I opened the bag to find a gift wrapped COACH box and a thank you card. I was now getting a little excited about this mystery present and I quickly pulled off the ribbon to find a COACH CLUTCH purse inside!!!! Amazing! Because the company isn't really doing enough by wining and dining us for 3 days in NYC, they felt that a token of thanks in the form of a COACH PURSE was necessary...
Wow is all I can say. Wow. If I wasn't excited about the trip before, I am so pumped for it now!
Wow is all I can say. Wow. If I wasn't excited about the trip before, I am so pumped for it now!
Taking our new Kiwi friend to The Works
Nicole Blair's friend Phil from New Zealand recently moved to Gatineau to find work and live with their friends Erin and Gavin. I have met Phil a couple of times when I was in Thamesford this summer and I had wanted to introduce him to my friends here. He said he loves burgers so the most appropriate place to go was The Works of course! Pam(my friend from work) and her boyfriend JP, Jenn, Phil and myself all went to The Works in the Glebe to indulge our taste buds in the best burgers, onion rings, poutine, and sweet potato fries in the world. Phil enjoyed a bison burger I believe and a poutine, I had the portobello mushroom burger with havarti, roasted red peppers, avocado, and the beechhouse sauce (a Works special that is just creamy and delicious). Mmm mmm good!
On a side note, the next morning's A Channel top news story was that The Works had officially been sold and new management was taking over as of that morning. So, we were at The Works the last day that it was owned by its original creators - kind of cool! I hope they don't franchise it out too much though or change anything about it because it's an awesome niche restaurant and commercializing it would take away from the uniqueness. We'll see what happens in the next few months.
On a side note, the next morning's A Channel top news story was that The Works had officially been sold and new management was taking over as of that morning. So, we were at The Works the last day that it was owned by its original creators - kind of cool! I hope they don't franchise it out too much though or change anything about it because it's an awesome niche restaurant and commercializing it would take away from the uniqueness. We'll see what happens in the next few months.