Images From the Eaton Centre

Okay so I am at the Eaton's Centre this week and I saw this couple:

They were helping out Lush with a promotion, which is cool. I am going to facebook the bride so that she can get a copy of the above photo.

So I keep walking and I see this guy:

He was not helping anyone out with a promotion, he just likes dressing up as Little Bo Peep. This may sound like an easy hobby for a grown man to have but it is not. He has, he told me, his own dress maker, which is awesome because if he tried to fit into an off-the-rack Little Bo Peep dress, he would just end up looking stupid.

So I then go outside and walk around the Eaton Centre a bit and what do I see? This guy:

He is dressed up like an army figurine. Remember those little plastic ones you would try to melt with a magnifying glass? That is what he was dressed up as. Which was awesome and people loved him so they gave him all of their spare change.

This got me to thinking, if the bride, groom, and Little Bo Peep stood outside the Eaton's Centre instead of inside, I bet they would have a much more lucrative day. Which of course means that I am once again missing the point.

WOOFSTOCK THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!

Katyanna Performing in DownTown Toronto This Weekend

Saturday, May 10th8pm-12midniteJoin us for fantastic food, ambience and the sounds of Jazz

Katyanna – Vocals
with Stacey Macgregor- Keyboards
Sly Juhas- Drums

http://www.oneup.ca/130 Dundas Street West(Bay and Dundas)416-340-6349

Book an intimate get together, dinner, a night out after the theatre for dessert…or?The menu is available to peruse, as well as the owner has promised wonderful 3 or 4 course dinners for your enjoyment as well at varying prices.Perhaps you would like to come for dessert and drinks or specialty coffees.

or
If you would like to just come for music and drinks there is a $10 cover at the door.

Tim Hortons Roll Up The Rim To Win: Are you feeling lucky, punk?

Roll Up The Rim is back (until May) at Tim Horton's. The coffee vending machine guy has not even bothered to stop in and refill the machine since the Roll Up The Rim campaign started up again. No one is complaining, really. Everyone just takes turns going to Timmy's

How many free coffees have you won? I have won 4. I am currently drinking an extra large Tim Horton's coffee as I write this so that number may increase once I have reached the bottom of this cup. Another question, do you use your teeth or fingers to roll up the rim? I will not use my mouth becuase I feel sorry for the poor server being paid mimimum wage to take a section of my used coffee cup in exchange for coffee. My bf on the other hand does not seemed to be bothered by her predicament.

Actually, thinking on that, I hope she washes her hands between orders. Ugh.

photo courtesy of Ending Joy EveryDay blog...because she can.

Vacation Can Not Come Fast Enough!

I am SO looking forward to my vacation to Florida in just two weeks. I plan to visit Disney World and Dicovery Cove. I am also looking forward to spending time with Mark's family so I will not be able to do too many tourist activities in Orlando. I have the feeling, though, that I this will not be my last trip to Florida.

Believe it or not, I believe my mother is looking forward to us visiting Mark's parents as much as Mark's parents are. It is because we will be leaving both Stella and Nellie at her house while we are on vacation. Both my brother and mother love Stella and Nellie, and take every opportunity possible to spoil them rotten. We will, of course have to do some extensive re-training with Stella but, whatever. Why worry about that until after vacation. :)

Happy New Years

I spent my New Years 2008 with friends at the Madison (Bloor/Spadina). It is a collection of houses, I don't know, like three or five, converted into a multi level, multi patio bar. I have not been in forever so I decided that this was as good a place as any to spend the bringing in of the new year AND my birthday. Gawd, I am so old.

Predictably, the place was packed and there were a lot of girls dressed very hoochie. The ceiling over the dance floor in the basement had a huge leak so there were all of these people crowded around the edges of the soaked floor, dancing cautiously to avoid the steady stream in the centre. A worker came out with the intent to mop up a little but, seeing that it was a lost cause, abandoned the mop and went back to his regular duties. So now, I was dancing around a leak and a mop. I did not really care though, I was quite tipsy and I was having a lot of fun.

Happy New Year, everyone!

I am a workoholic nut. It is official.

It has recently come to my attention that I am completely nuts. Loco, off my rocker, out of my tree, stone cold crazy. A while back, I volunteered the services of both Mark and I for a fun thing called Operation Red Nose. Basically we work as a team to drive tipsy people home from the bar or club in their own car. One drives the person's car, the other drives her own...in other words, Mark drives the other person's car, I follow. I have offered our services for tonight, tomorrow night, and Saturday night. I will be dead tired at work tomorrow and on Sunday, I am sure..yes, I also got roped into a shift at the ACC this weekend for a Raptors game. Basically I work today 8am-5pm, tonight 7pm -2am, tomorrow 8am-5pm, then 7pm-2am, and then Saturday 7pm-2am, Sunday 10am-3pm. Then back to regularly scheduled programming on Monday.

Yep, I am bent.

On the upside, if you happen to be imbibing and partaking in merriment this weekend in the Distillery district, feel free to look up Operation Red Nose. We will give you a ride home, free of charge (if you have your own vehicle for us to drive you in).

My Dog is a Bat

Here is a photo of my Stella Bella in her bat costume on Halloween. With her big giant ears, her bat outfit is not much of a stretch but oh how cute! Besides, it really was last minute.

Stella loved being out with the kids (her favourite kind of people) and the costume did not seem to phase her. She just sort of pranced around in her cape and cap and mingled with whomever she came across on the sidewalk. My family and I went trick or treating around the beaches area. I am betting that there are a lot more kids trick-or-treating there than arond the Harboufront where I live. They really seem to go all out in the beaches on Halloween. Houses done up with moving dragons and strobe lights, crazy haunted lawns...very cool. Unfortunately we had to cut the night short because Mark and I had company.

The leash is a reflective leash with a ghost and spiderweb pattern that my mother bought for her. I will probably continue using it on really dark nights. Especially after my near miss with that car on Monday night!

The Sultan's Tent on Front Street

Some friends and I went to the Sultan's Tent on Front street this weekend. Our dinner reservation was for 11pm, so it was a late dinner.

The food was very good but not fantastic, with the exception of the pistachio creme brulee, which was amazing. So many people told us that the food was incredible, maybe I just has my hopes up too high. The atmosphere and the show was sultry, exotic and memorable, and that is probably more important than the food. Especially considering that one person in our group was an out of towner.

Here are a couple pics of the belly dancer who danced for about four or five songs. She really was great, we were all thoroughly entertained.

This would be a great place for a date, but the setting also works well for a group.

Toronto Vegetarian Fair

Okay so this pretty late in being posted but here are a few more pics from the 2007 Toronto Vegetarian Fair.

Zen Garden has the most amazing vegetartian food. Even my meat & potatoes boyfriend is a huge fan. Definitely worth the drive to London if you weren't lucky enought to catch them at the fair.

Heart on Your Sleeve hand makes vegan shoes. I personally think that they are better quality and more stylish than a most leather shoes and shoes that are bound together with the aid of animal glue.

A small collection of their many shoes.

I can't wait for next year. Hopefully I will have my schedule clear enough to participate in 2008.

Visit a new blog and win a free 8GB ipod touch

I have added a new blog to my blog roll: Impressionable Youth. My friends little sister is writing most of the entries and I think she is doing great. She is writing mostly about cool Canadian bands.

She is tryiing to win a really cool new 8GB ipod touch and I clicked on the link a couple of times, entered my info and then was given the code to post the contest on my blog. So if you feel like trying to win a new, awesome ipod touch, click on the ad below or visit her site and click on her ad.




What a fun and busy weekend I had.

The Birchcliff Village market was pretty much rained out, the car wouldn't start and that was a fun and wet challenge. We got it started eventually but there is something wrong with a sensor switch....I love having a mechanic as a boyfriend.

The Withrow market went well the next morning, though and there were a bunch of adorable dogs there, as usual.

I worked the Toronto FC match this weekend and it was cold and a drunk fan yelled at me for not giving him my beer coozie (long story) but it was still pretty enjoyable. Oh, with the exception that the streetcar tracks are torn up and I had to catch a bus from the fairgrounds to the streetcar to the subway so by the time I got to the Eaton Centre it was closed. Ah well, it ended up that one of the girls I was working with was going the same way and we had a fun chat about pretty much nothing!

Boxing was cancelled last weekend because the trainer got called in for a shift at his day job so I went for my first lesson yesterday. Guess what? The trainer didn't show for that lesson! Not a good sign, I think. But it turned out okay. I knew pretty much everyone in the class and we hung out and bounced on Yoga balls, practised our stance, timing, and punching. It was a good time. I am looking forward to a real lesson.

This Weekend for Me

I know I know, I've been very bad this week! Other than paid posts, and the one about how I discovered Auction Ads, I haven't written very much at all. In my defense I just started a new semester of night classes (three of them). I have had to fit in baking, too. I sold out last week, not that I am complaining. Also, because of the long weekend, I have been playing catchup since Tuesday at my day job.

Anyway, I am really looking forward to the weekend. I have the farmers markets of course, a bbq at a friend's, and I am going to take a boxing lesson this weekend! That is right, my very forst bosing lesson. I hope I don't get beat up! I am so out of shape, I have the feeling I will feel beat up by the end of the session, regardless of whether or not any contact occurs.

Let's Go To The Ex, OOh Baby!

My Boston Terrier pup, Stella Bella has her ear infection/rash back. The earliest I could get her an appointment for was Tuesday, the poor girl. The dog walker also noticed what may be a rash on her side, too. I will have to check when I get home. I think Stella picked up the rash when she was at the vet for her stomache issues.

Tomorrow I am going to the Jays game. I have decided to give them another chance despite their dismal and incredibly un-entertaining performance the last time I saw them. Then it is off to the EX, ooh baby! Hopefully I will not be too tired to go to the Lantern Festival at Ontario Place after that but since I will be working the farmers market at Withrow Park tomorrow, 8 AM, I have the feeling that the Lantern Festival might have to wait.

I tried to skip the Ex this year, really, becuase it is so expensive and I always end up eating food that is bad for me. I used to get stuck bringing home cheap toy prizes that I did not want, too but a couple of years ago I wised up and just started giving them to random kids before I left the Exhibition grounds. Most of the parents do not look too thrilled with me but, to be honest, that part pleases me the most. Despite my objections this year, all of the forces were against me and I am going to the Ex with the boyfriend and another couple. I am betting we will have a great, albeit fattening time!

Sunday Night Live at the Diesel Playhouse

A few of us went to see Sunday Night Live at the Diesel Playhouse (formerly Second City, which has now moved to King Street) this past weekend. I think it is only $10 to get in, which is totally worth it although we managed to score free tickets.

Sunday Night Live performs all new material each and every Sunday and some of the sketches are really pretty funny. The funniest sketch for me was the news updates. One of the first news stories that the actors brought up was Michael Vick and I cringed and held my breath. Vick is a real sore spot for me because he is such a big giant ass but I actually stopped cringing and started laughing over their jokes about the story.

So, here are some notes from my experience at the Diesel Playhouse, Sunday Night Live:

1. Anand Rajaram was the host this weekend and all I can say is that that guy has really pick nipples. That is an image that will be burned in my memory for a while!

2. The bartender looks like a bad ass but is actually very friendly. And patient. And great at coming up with sweet, girly concoctions when I can't make up my mind because the bar does not stock Sloe Gin or Galliano.

3. As typical, the fat guy is the funniest cast member.

4. The Diesel Playhouse is also showing Evil Dead, the Live Musical. My friend saw it and loved it, and now I want to go.

5. There is a free Evil Dead photo machine in the bar area. You can take a million photos of your self and still will not find one good enough to post on your blog.


After the show, we tried to go to BuskerFest but it was too late and we missed it. Ah well, it was a pretty fun end to an otherwise busy weekend. This weekend, the long weekend, I hope to finally go see the Simpsons!

My Boring yet Jam Packed Weekend

I am SO glad it is Friday! With that said, I have a very busy weekend in store. I am working the Toronto FC match on Saturday night, which is of course going on during the CNE. I worked the CNE last year in a different capacity and I was able to get my bf and younger brother in for free. My mom also worked the event so the four of us had such a great time after our shifts were over. I have the feeling I won’t be able to get anyone in for free this year. Sigh.

I have friends coming over tonight and one of them is bringing a dvd, I think it is called 13 Days. I have the BirchCliff Village Farmers Market tonight and the Withrow Park Farmers Market tomorrow. I am hoping to sell out on treats. Wouldn’t that be great? Anyway, other than a dentist appointment and the obligatory 3 hour weekend walks with Stella I think that about sums up my weekend plans. Gosh, for someone who does so much stuff, I sure lead a boring existence!

Stupid Girl on Centre Island, Toronto

I had too much to drink this weekend over at Centre Island and fell in Lake Ontario. In my defense I was on a stupid contraption that was supposed to be "untippable" . It was some sort of a bicycle operated pontoon that had a bolt loose. Looking back, it was that lost and a bottle and a half of wine that eventually led to my downfall. I may or may not upload pics later, I haven't decided.

Centre Island is so much fun. Mark, Stella and I go over all the time and I am sure we will eventually have a boat over there. We have a couple of friends who have boats over there now and we love visiting them for barbeques. The view of Toronto at night from Centre Island is amazing and I will definitely upload photos of that later.

Busy Weekend, Two Farmers Markets!

Am I ever excited that the weekend is here! It is going to be a pretty busy one, really. The boring stuff includes cleaning out and organizing the storage locker and apartment, the so-so stuff involves baking more treats and writing some text for a client's website, and the fun stuff involves going to Centre Island to celebrate my mother's birthday and participating for the first time at the BirchCliff Farmers Market.

I will be sharing a booth with a really cool girl who sells amazing home made granola. It will be hard not to spend all my earnings on her creations. Last time I visited the market, I spent $20. I would've spent more, I am sure but it was all that I had in my wallet at the time. I baked a bunch this week so I would have enough for both the Withrow Park Farmers Market (Saturday) and the BirchCliff Farmers Market (Friday) but I received a rather large order in the middle of the week so now I will only have about 10 bags for each market. Not that I am complaining. Hopefully I will sell out!

There are so many great Farmer's Markets in Toronto. If you have the time, visit one (or both) of the ones I have mentioned. Here is a link to info about the the Withrow Park Farmers Market. I will update the info about the BirchCliff Farmers Market soon.

Nikki Payne to Air Her Own Show

I had managed to fanangle some tickets to the taping of Nikki Payne's pilot last night but I unfortunately had to pass my ticket on to a friend. Stella, who seems to have gotten over her tummy problems after just a little under $1000 in vet bills, has a terrible rash all over her ear and chin. I just could not bring myself to put the miserable little girl back in her crate while I went off and had fun.

Ah well, the tickets went to good use and my bf told me all about it when he got home. I am not going to give any spoilers but the he described the show as "disturbingly funny" and, from what he told me about the sketches, I am pretty sure this sketch comedy show will not be aired in the daytime.

Nikki Payne is a hilarious Canadian comedian, one of my boyfriend's favourites.

Here is a video of her stand up routine.

The Toronto FC

As anyone that has been following my blog for a while knows, I have a part me job at an event staffing company here in Toronto. It is a poorly paying job but we all aware that I am not in it for the money. I am in it so that I can work cool events that I otherwise might not get into or *gasp* have to pay to get into. Also, sometimes I get to see movies before they are released in theatre. Last year I actually got to see, about a month in advance. the film that opened te Toronto film festival.

My latest assignment is working the Toronto FC matches. How cool is that? I have worked two of them so far and will probably be working another three. The last match I worked was this weekend (yes I worked the infamous game that featured a benched Beckham) and the next match I will be working is during the CNE.

As far as assignements go, this one is pretty darn cool. The Toronto FC fans are crazy! The matches are really high energy and believe it or not, the BMO field is really clean. Even the washrooms were in good shape half way through the game. A lot of the fans I have talked to are season seat holders and definitely plan to hold on to that status for next season. I hope they have already purchased though, I hear there is already a waitlist for that privelege.

I have the feeling that soccer mania is going to hit Toronto hard next season. Frankly, with Leaf ticket prices so high and the Blue Jays lukewarm performances, we need a new sports team to cheer.

For more info on the Toronto FC, click their logo.

We Will Rock You!

My Boston terrier, Stella Bella, is feeling much better these days. All it took was four types of medication, about $800 in vet bills and two weeks time. I, on the other hand have a yucky head cold. Who, besides me would have a nasty cold in the middle of summer? Actually, now that I have asked it, I think I can answer that question. My boss, that's who. My boss gave me his horrible cold.

The bf and I were visiting my mom last night, borrowing stuff from her for our camping trip this weekend, and she asked me how I managed to get a summer cold. I told her my boss gave it to me and she replied "well, stop sleeping with your boss!" I, of course answered back "I knew the hazards before I took the job". We both had a good laugh at the absurdness but my bf did not get the humour. The look on his face made us laugh even harder. Poor guy!

Speaking of my bf, I bought us both tickets for the Musical "We Will Rock You". There was a Civic holiday special going on so I got both tickets for just $50 + taxes and fees. I knew my bf secretly wanted to see this musical, based on the music of Queen, and I could see he was pretty pleased when I presented him with the tickets. Of course all he said was "Sure, I'll go see that with you, if you want". Mr. Cool.

My bf thought the musical was great. I thought it was ridiculous and silly and thoroughly entertaining.

I seem to have some sort of understudy-inviting karma about me because whenever I go to musicals, at least one understudy ends up filling in. I thought I had ended my understudy streak with Chicago in Spokane, WA a few years back but then two understudies came out for the second half. We Will Rock You was no different. The role of Killer Queen was played by Kelly-Ann Evans instead of Alana Bridgewater. I thought Evans was a great fot for the role. She had such and amazing voice.

I think the $25 per seat special will be back for labour day weekend so, maybe we will go see it again with some friends.

Photo Courtesy of: I'm a Happy Little Vegemite