Healthy choices

Starting to realize that these wonderful bodies God gave us are a lot of work! Mine has been on vacation for quite some time. (I blame Europe, with all of its delicious wine, cheese and bread!)But vacation is long over and no one but me, is going to take care of me! I started sessions with my trainer tonight, to try to pick up where we left off before I went drinking my way through Greece and Italy! Working out with a PT is a lifestyle choice for sure, its one that I love, because they are your backbone and your support for making healthy choices, eating well, and excercising to achieve your personal goal!
If only there was someone like that who would manage my bank account!! This is a tough time of year, and most people around me are feelin the stress of not having enough money to go around. I am up to my flippin eye balls in bills. But just like your body, no one will take care of your money cept you! I need to stop pretending like money grows on trees and start saving like a responsible adult!
So those are two areas of my life that I am actively taking control of, which will hopefully bleed into other areas of my life that I am not entirely satisifed with but have been too complacent to act on.... Here's to making healthy choices.

peace and love

Sorry Im Not Available Right now.

That is phrase I would like to use more often, in response to the many demands I have of my time from 9am to 5pm. I was never stressed out about work before and now I am always stressed out. No bueno! I can't let the work week get to me anymore its just a job!
So im taking a break, chillin out, and doing the most dreadful of all household chores...laundry. Its the worst, and because my laundry basket is so big, its a shit load of dirty clothes, pardon me. The guy doing laundry with me in the apartment reeks of liquor and cigarrettes and keeps trying to initiate awkward laundry room chat. No, gracias.

peace

Abandoned but not forgotten!!

I kept thinking, wow I should write a blog, its been a minute. But I always found something else to do! And for that I apologize. My mom decided she was going to start a blog for an amazing project, which I won't put on blast just yet, and maybe thats what re-kindled my blogging spark!
For me, blogging is so selfish because it is my theraphy, my self help tool! Writing and re-reading what I have wrote totally motivates me into action, simultaneously increasing my mental health! It may sound crazy but its just totally soothing for my soul!
I have recently started learning Spanish through an amazing program called Rosetta Stone. It really is fantastic and makes learning fun and easy. I have an affinity for languages and have been interested in Spanish for a few years. Its such a beautiful language and I could sit and listen to it for hours. When I returned from a vacation in the Dominican Republic in '08 I was convinced I wanted to move there, live on a beach, and learn Spanish. My mother was not thrilled with the idea, but I still think it would be fab. For now, Rosetta Stone will have to do :)
Check it out http://www.rosettastone.ca
Thanks Jose :)

Peace and love

Ciao! European Observations...

Observations from Italy>
1. Italians actually USE such phrases as: "Capesh?" And "Mamma Mia!" And "Ciao Bella!" I have heard every phrase at least twice a day
2. European women bring an extra bikini to the beach, now at first sight this may seem high maintence, an outfit change at the beach? But no! Its practical, after a dip in the ocean the women change into bikini number 2 so they dont sit in a soggy bathing suit and bathing suit number 1 is dry before they leave the beach! Brilliant
3. Mosquitos love me in Italy!! I am getting eaten alive I have bites all over my body, had no idea there would be so many mosquitos!
4. Instead of whistling at women, European men make a "ssss" noise, its apparently a sleazier version of "Hey Baby" or a whistle, creepy

Ciao ciao!

Life is all about the journey!

YO!
My travels have commenced, and so far= fabulous! Ive been travelling for 11 days. (feels like longer for some reason) 1st stop was Athens Greece. Unfortunately my hostel was in a pretty shady area, but have no fear, Canadian boys were there! We ventured to the beach on the coast of Athens together and had a great time. Sun, sand, and henieken? It was lovely, tasted some delicious souvlaki. The next day I took a walking tour, a 6 hour walking tour! And saw alllll of Athens and learned all about its history, pretty cool. On the tour I met an Argentinian girl who was also planning on hitting the islands next so we decided to go together so after 3 days in Athens I headed to Mykonos. We got on the ferry and were promptly told our seats were in the first class lounge! BALLIN! It was nice because it was quite a long ride. We got bombarded by people who want you to stay at their hotel/hostel when we got off the ferry which was really annoying. We picked, "Paradise" on Paradise Beach. It was a pretty cool place until we saw our "beach cabin", BARF. it was a shack with 2 cots thrown in and mosquitos everywhere. So we upgraded for a hefty fee and belingering decided we would only spend one night. The next day we headed for Santorini and met 2 beautiful, amazing, wonderful, hilarious (I liked them, can you tell?) Chillean girls. We tagged up with them and headed to a hotel called Pension George. Now that place was paradise!! 4 beds, a kitchen, bathroom, access to private pool, and beautiful location. I adored it there. We rented ATVs and scooters and saw the whole island in 4 days, visitng a new beach everday. Then yesterday it was back to Athens for one night so I could catch my flight out of the Athens airport to Rome for noon. While I was getting on the bus to the airport I caught this chick pretending to be a tourist pickpocket a man in front of me! She stuck her hand right in his front pocket and pulled out his big wallet. So I yelled HEY what the fuck are you doing! HEY excuse me she just stole your wallet!! The girl gave me the evil eye and said SHHH- Ya right, like im going to let you get away with that. But unfortunately the man didnt even react and the chick went about looking at her map with a confused look, tricky bitch, and the bus rolled away. The man and his family didnt even seem fazed, so I guess they are loaded and dont mind?
I flew Alitalia into Rome, it was short and sweet, and here I am. Tomorrow I plan on seeing the Vatican City and attending mass, it promises to be a moving experience- I hope this update with satisfy my hungry blog readers! (I only know of one, love ya Abria!)
So now, a few observations about Greece and the Greek:
1. Feta cheese really is everywhere, and Greek salads are the bomb, I think I had 15
2.The Greek people use their phones to double as music players, no ipods, and surprisingly no Blackberries!! (i only saw a few business ppl using blackberries at the areoporto)
3.Greek women are violent with their children. For instance, I witnessed this one chick slappin her super cute daughter around on the Tram.
4. Greek people randomly break into making the sign of the cross repeatedly...really not sure of the reason behind this one.

Peace and LOVE, from Italy :)

Ps. Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who has let me borrow something for this trip!
Sabrina, thanks for the sweet ass bag I will be hauling around Europe and the purse that will hopefully keep my valubles safe from harm!
Emma, thanks for the cute mini size backpack and awesome neck pillow that will have me sleeping like a baby on the plane!
Yvette, thanks for the comfy capris that I pretty much stole and forced you to be ok with! You rock.
Ian, thanks for the book I'll be reading. err ya the one you lent me, Im bringing it! Thanks!
Dad, thanks for the swiss army knife. I know its your pride and joy and hopefully I will make good use of it (at the very least, the corkscrew!).
Mama, thank you for lending me Granddaddy's rosary. I know it means a lot to you, and I will remember that my grandparents are always with me, and will pay special homage to both him and Granny when visiting the Vatican City.

Myself and all bags are decked out with Canadian flags so nooooo one could confuse me for those other North Americans!
Thank you everyone,
Love Lainie

Leaving on a jet plane!

It is 31 degrees in Athens!
I have a long day of travelling tomorrow, 16 hours in total with connections. Lots of time to read, and sit, and think! Maybe tomorrow it will seem real!
I already made my first travel faux pas... I realized I booked my hostel a day too early because I didn't take into consideration that my 11 hour flight= the next day arrival in Greece. Oops, so I had to call the hostel and change it. The dude seemed totally unfazed and was like "cool, as long as you get here! Its no problem". Wicked. I've said good bye to (most of) my friends and family and have heard every travel tip people have to offer. Some Im sure are going to be very helpful, and others have solidifed my decision to travel alone! I'm tired of explaining my story of why Im travelling alone, and responding to "are you crazy!", I hope when I meet other travellers they will have different questions to ask. Just kidding, it hasn't been that bad, most of my people are super proud of me! I think my trip is going to be the bomb, because for one, I really have no expectations. I am ready to go with the flow, see the world, and truly experience. I have butterflies in my stomach and am so excited to get on that plane!
I will try to blog whenever I can and share pictures... See you in Greece!
OPA!

peace and love kids, wish me luck ;)