perfect dress *sigh*

Wow, glad this week went by quick. I had everything packed & moved a day before closing date. I am so thankful my mother owns the largest van in the whole regular-car-driving-world & was willing to help me do dump runs, salvation army runs, & letting me convert what was once her office back into a temporary bedroom for the week. 

I bought a new bathing suit.. not the zebra one in my last posting.. similar style.. but hot pink. oh yeah, it's a keeper.

I have 5 days left in Barrie, my hometown, where everywhere I go atleast 2 people know me.. to go to a place where I don't know anything & no one knows me either. It'll be really fun though, making new friends, learning new things. When Lucius came here, it was so fun showing him around, introducing him to my friends, & spending a lot of time with him enjoying life. I know I'll have a fun time doing those things with him too in St Lucia. He's my best friend. Life would be boring & very dull without him :)

Speaking of life.. I found my perfect dress. Wedding dress that is. & I bought it! I love everything about this beautiful floor length greek style gown. (doesn't hurt that it's listed in the top 10 wedding style dresses for tropical weddings either!). The last dress I had gotten I only bought cause I wanted to rush.. which is why I sold it a few months ago. But this one perfect dress came @ a perfect timing, & I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! We were waiting for the best time, & I'm sure we've found it. No date set in stone, but an ideal month. I'm just waiting to pick the date when I arrive in St Lucia. It must be a date that my mommy can fly there that works around her business times. I do not care about anything else as much as I care that my mom can make it there.

I WILL fit into it.. & I WILL post photos when I do

Yesterday I had fun @ a friend's place in Angus, makes sense.. as soon as I'm about to jet the country, I meet an awesome friend! Isn't that the way it works? Boooooo! Lucius tried 4-wheeling for the first time also.. & loved it!

Today I made a trip to the lawyers for final paper signing & matching numbers. I thought it was going to be a long process.. but taa daa! All done! I didn't expect it to feel THIS good. Then a quick phone call to my agent I listed my home with (Peggy Hill) & MORE good news from her. She is one of the nicest women I have ever met. & she did an amazing job selling my home. There is not another agent on this planet who comes close to Peggy.

I recieved my USANA reset kit today & my AM/PM vitamins.. They came early enough that I could start my 'reset' 5 day program right away. 

I also saw the CUTEST bathing suit @ Victoria Secret online. I'm going to buy it before I leave to St Lucia. I WILL fit into it.. & I WILL post photos when I do ;) That's my blogger promise to you.. If you don't have my facebook, where they'll be, ask me & I'll give it to you.

Ok, so the bathing suit.. it's zebra print, halter tankini-style. It would be a far cry from someone who never has worn shorts since like, the age of 8. Last time I wore a bathing suit was when I was in elementary school and I HAD to in the younger grades. Even then I remember feeling mortified.

I'm going to continue going through my clothes & parting with some.. packing others.. it's came down to the stuff I'm wearing every week. Dun dun dun...

Donatella1

A new day

My brother just told me I must give him 1/2 of the money I make off my house. PPffttt... What part of 'the house sales are really low, I sold for less than what I paid' does he not understand?! I kept a full-time job & ran my own business to not only -put $ into the house- but also to keep a nice roof over my head, the house was not handed to me, nor was it free. A big down payment doesn't mean sheet when I must do everything on my own to KEEP the house. I worked very hard & put up with a lot of people's crap to pay my mortgage each month.. by my self. I'm so tired of people asking me for $, like, get a damn job & pay your own way. I had to beg him to wash his dishes @ my mother's house that came out of his room & in order to get him to clean up after himself I had to offer him $100. Someone shouldn't have to pay you to clean up after yourself. No wonder he can't get a girlfriend. We're twins, we're suppose to be equal.. what the heck happened. He seems to think I'm his dang mother.

ANYWAY. onto bigger & better things.

Oscar's last night was delicious with fabulous company! (Cheryl; you are awesome, & so is Dave)

I tried a new salon & a new dining place this week, & BOTH were a good turn out.. I think I'm on a roll..

I had the 'Daily Flatbread', it was topped with red pepper pesto & mozzarella cheese as an appetizer, & for my entree I had the Corn & Green bean Succotash with cucumber mint yogurt. Today, it's alllll I can think about.

http://www.oscarsrestaurant.ca

Right now I am taking a break from my daily activities & editing (my mind dreams about photoshop, I love it, it keeps me sane & outta trouble lol), checking facebook, e-mails, & blogging.

Today- A dump run is in order, & dropping some stuff off to a used place... & I have to move one of my new beds to my mom's home, my brother needs a new bed, & I really really don't need two huge beds. So out with his bed & in with a new one.. he will love it.

Monday I plan to have almost everything moved except my own bed. The piano is going today. That was one of my worries cause it's so huge, & my mom already has a piano @ her place, so she doesn't need two! I like mine though, it was almost the same as the one Bruno Mars plays on "Just the way you are". In the years I've had it, I think I only played it once.

On a different note, I'm excited & nervous all at the same time! A new place is natural to make anyone nervous. I was @ the travel agent yesterday. Westjet has way better prices than Air Canada right now. A ONE way is $1,200 through Air Canada. Craziness.

That's all for now

Donatella1

A little bit of juice in this one.

Today, as previously reported, was my day to visit Oxygen Salon & Spa. Mary-Catherine did a freaking AMAZING job on my hair. I was so afraid at first, since the last time my hair was this long & I let a hair cutter do my hair, I ended up with hair shorter than a mushroom cut.. but this.. this time it's perfect! She layered it very well to frame my face, touched up my bangs, & thinned it out. Then she blow dried it straight using a round brush. Bye bye headaches. Hello shapely hair style.

Oxygen gets a 5 star outta 5 star from me!

I got some great Elixer strings to re-string my guitar since this douchebag aka Chris Henderson I let rent a room (for exactly 2 nights before kicking him out) decided to unstring my guitar because he plays bass. I was like 'what the heck is wrong with you?!' freaking touching MY guitar. When his mommy came to move him out, I gave HER all the rent back since the cheque was from her (didn't even keep the 2 days) but said I wanted the $30 for my strings.. & she was like 'I'll give u a dollar for the the strings'. Pftttt... I told her to keep it since she obviously needed it more than me. Maybe she can use the $ to send her son to rehab & anger-management. (Don't think he's gunna be knocking on my bedroom door hammered in the middle of the night.. then calling me a b**** & telling me to shut up.. in MY house.. because I told him to go to sleep, that I'd talk to him in the morning... then scream insanities that I don't love him while he was in his room by himself... loool thank God Lucius was there to tell him to calm down...) Next morning I had him removed. *makes dance that my home is sold*. Everyone likes some juice in a blog, so there's some for ya. Normally I'd never post a name.. but no man'll get away with telling me to shut up. I was raised by my momma right! :D

Tomorrow is Oscar's night. This = good.

Donatella1

Rear in Gear!!

I have roughly 8 days to have everything completed. It's time to get my rear in gear. Tomorrow.
Yesterday was a busy busy day.. which is why I didn't end up posting... so I'll make this post extra-informative.

Yesterday, I took a dump. Just kidding. Well not really. I took a load of stuff to the dump. Carpet that we had ripped up to put in the new flooring had to be taken, a bed that a tenant had left behind (thanks a lot.), a tree that I cut down in my front yard... lol my garage is pretty well empty! Thanks Morgan for alllll your help & humour :)
I also had a visit from my friends Briana & Josh. I was nice to lounge & not do anything.

Today I just helped my mom.. spent an hour going round and round in Orillia since the highway exit was closed, then we drove in the wrong direction. BUT we did find cheap gas & a Tim Hortons. Score. By time we actually found the other entrance to the highway 400s, we looked to see if that exit was still closed as we drove past it... & it was open.. All that great expedition for no reason... atleast it made a little excitement.
Like @ the gas station.. I swear the pumps were so antique. I tried shaking the nozzle to make it work (since thats how my iphone works, I figured why not?) until a guy in a big silver pickup looked at me strange & lifted up some leaver to make it turn on. I learned something new. (next time turn around & shake the crap outta the nozzle so no one sees).


This week is going to be a list of experiences.
Tomorrow I get my hair thinned out & layered @ Oxygen Salon & Spa.
First time ever @ that salon. I know a few people who go there who absolutely LOVE it.
Friday is dinner night @ Oscars! Very excited. Also never been
A couple photoshoots as well.
AND I should be recieving my USANA package!


I shall give you all reviews on how these things turn out! Donatella styled reviews. heck yes.

SPEAKING of reviews! I got ANOTHER email letter from a bride I did photos for. I love the letters I get. I do a lot of weddings, a lot of nice comments, but I really do love my letters. Esp when it the subject line has many '!!!!!!' in it :)


Love!


Donatella1


Ps. deers are called deers when they are small, & when they get big they are called Reindeer.. true or false?

10 Days left!

I can't believe November has arrived so quickly. We've had teases of snow falls, suggesting that soon we'll be getting a huge dump of snow to stay until May. However, I hope we don't have snow to stay until November 23rd.. where I will be far, far away from it. & If you dare try to send me some inside of an envelope, it will melt, so don't even try.

On another note, for those who are close to me, I will be giving you a new St. Lucian contact number where you can reach me at directly. My local Canadian cellphone will be set up to recieve messages for business purposes & I will return those phone calls.

What did I do today?

Well... I helped my mom @ her house.. I decided it would be nice to make my brother a fresh sandwich with his favorite toppings in it as a surprise while he was locked in his room playing on his computer as usual. So up the stairs I went to deliever his sandwich to his door... when he finally opened it a crack, I said "your favorite sandwich!" with a big smile.. then he looked at me like I had 10 heads, took it from me, & shut the door. Typical day of me seeing my brother. If he atleast came out of his room & offered to help my mom with annyytthhiinnggg it would be a huge improvement... but since he doesn't, I go to my mom's house every morning to help her do whatever it is she needs done for the morning.. sometimes it's helping her with her business stuff, sometimes it's cleaning.

Speaking of houses... @ my house...
Lucius & I have almost the whole house organized now. The only thing really that's left is our bedroom closet & the kitchen cupboards.  We'll do those a few days before closing since we will need to use the things in them.

Since I was so fed up with kijiji, I felt bad throwing out all those DVDs & CDs I no longer have an interest in... One of my friends told me about The Hock Shop where you can give them & they sell them... & even get $ back... so I brought a small pile, & I got $20 back... that's cool... I was just gunna throw them out :) So now I have organized my DVD collection & kept the ones Lucius & I like, the rest I'm gunna take there tomorrow. It's like FREE MONEY! (Aparently the hock shop is nothing new... I had no idea though).

I went to the lawyers today too, brought them all the paper work they needed to seal the deal for the house sale. I feel like the days are passing by quick, but surprisingly for the time-line I thought I was so behind, is moving along very nicely!

10 days left!

Donatella1

having or doing a photoshoot? Read :)

Hey guys!

I started the morning off with a GREAT photo shoot with some fantastic people. 

So if you have a photo session coming up, & your infront of the camera- take note. 

GREAT list for a GREAT photo session. Here it goes...

1- GREAT Appearance

a) Every single person has the ability to be goodlooking. Having clean clothes, groomed hair & a little bit of make-up goes a long way in a photo.

b) If your natrually goodlooking already, that's an extra bonus! But photographers understand that not every person is a supermodel... & not only supermodels have relationships & families. (ok that's just a poke at photographers who chose their clients on looks, lol not anything else). A good photographer can make an ordinary person be extraordinary in a photo by the way they capture the image.

2-GREAT Attitude!

a) This has an even bigger impact than appearance. You could look like a million bucks, but if your an ass; it'll show in the photos.

b) Being happy is key to an awesome photo. Confidence also doesn't hurt. I said confidence (not cockyness).

3-GREAT open mind

a) A photographer's job is NOT only to click the camera to make it capture the photo. A great shoot includes a photographer who is willing to suggest -sometimes strange- ideas, & -strange locations- and you may have to move around more than once to make a perfect picture. Why do they do this? Because a photographer's job is to IMAGINE what a photo would look like & re-create it in their photo. This sometimes includes things a client would normally not see. Also, they scan you before they click the image to see if your collar is sticking up, your lipstick is smudged, & yes, if your FLY is undone. A good photographer has guts & is not afraid to tell you. (that's why they hire a photographer, cause anyone could buy a camera & a tri-pod & take their own photos, doesn't mean any person can make a great photogrpaher.. If you take 300 photos & only 1 turns out-it's a lucky shot, not cause you know what your doing. Harsh I know, but true! >*love*not hate*<) 

b) with an open mind, the possibilities could be endless. If it's your wedding day, & your uncle's cousin's best friend is saying 'over here would be better' or 'this is the only way you'll get a good photo'... it really doesn't matter, because as a hired photographer, we will listen and consider your suggestions, MAYBE even try it your way to make you happy, but when we're the hired photographer, besides the bride/groom; we wear the pants. (If we listen to everyone's ideas cause they think they're better, we could be there all day) & also, that's why a family member who is not normally paid to shoot weddings should NOT be hired as the photographer for a wedding... Even if they have a 'nice camera' They have grudges, they have stories, they have allll the reasons in the world... most the time they won't take your wedding serious.. & When it comes down to it, that's all they have; a nice camera. A nice camera does not mean skill or personality to make people comfortable, or to do whatever it takes to get the job done..(If I have $1 for everytime I put my knee in duck crap or dog poo, I'd be a millionaire. lol)

 4-GREAT feeling

A) When a photographer leaves feeling apart of the family & the fun. Vice versa.

Ok, that pretty much sums it all up. Just a view from the other side of the fence. A little bit of a rant in there too I think? Sorry about that! 

Nothing better than doing what you love with really good clients. That is my full-time job & I LOVE it.

Thanks for reading guys & I hope each of you reading have something extra special to make you have an awesome day tomorrow!

:)

Donatella1

Another day done.

So I went to take a huge load of my things to the salvation army & they said they weren't taking anything & either would goodwill because everyone is full of things... he suggested I take my beautiful things to the dump. What the heck? I even had like, a $400 area rug.. Nooo I was not taking my things to the dump when there could be a family with cold floors this winter because they can't afford to buy it new. (It is a reality). So my mom knows a guy who owns a thrift store, so away it went. Thank God. I know it doesn't really matter if it were to go to the dump or to the thrift store... In fact, going to the dump would have been easier so we didn't have to place it in certain spot, we coulda just thrown it in.. I am getting rid of it, not like there's money going in my pocket either way right?... WRONG. Some people can really use those things! & Knowing that, makes a *cha-ching* in my heart.
I tried to sell some things myself.. but oh my gosh... to those who have dealt with people off Kijiji would understand. I am not in the mood to send 50 emails back and forth.. lower a price, and wake up extra early because it's the only time 'u can come into town'... & then wait for u and have u not show up! Then.. on to the next person who says they're interested & comes.. then offers u $15 for something listed as $50... (like this morning) and ur so tired of dealing with the shananagans that u actually settle. If they need the extra $35.. then they can keep it, but they officially made themselves look like a jackass. No more Kijiji for this one! they can keep the $$ since aparently need it more than me.. I'll save the stress, & lose the $... & I'll give it to someone who needs it. If they go to a thrift store to find something for less, than they deserve it.. not someone who just wants to scam someone cause they're so dang cheap.

I made delicious vegetarian patties that look like falafal for diner with some boiled sweet potatoes. It was so good! Lucius didn't seem to think the same way.. so he made hamburgers.. now the whole house smells like cooked cow, he thinks it smells great. lol

That is all for today.

Donatella1

A late night fiesta!

ok, maybe not exactly a fiesta, but a lot closer to it tonight compared to this morning & afternoon's events.

Oh ya, me & Lia did a 2 week challenge.. the week's not over yet, still had 3 days, but I had to check this morning.. down 9 pounds.. total of 5 inches gone so far. (Sorry Lia, couldn't resist the temptation of the scale right infront of me).

I packed a total of ONE box. One box & a little bit actually. Which means I am one step closer afterall, does it not?

I booked a photo job today, as well as one other booking a couple days ago. I also have one to shoot this Sunday for a very special client of mine. I love when my clients become my friends. Especially this one in particular since she's extreamly cool & down to earth.

I FINALLY watched the movie 'The Last Song', (with my Lucius, Sarah & Tony) based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks. Great movie, but sad.. one of those ones I will watch only one time, but never again because of it's tear-jerking action it caused me throughout the entire movie.

Tomorrow's going to be a big day.. moving a van full of things to goodwill. I ended up having a lot of my mom's storage in my garage... boooo... so it's going to goodwill... extra stuff she doesn't need but would do someone good instead of going to the dump. The big items went to some families who needed it (which is awesome), but the small nicnaks shall be going.

I also plan on getting my hair thinned out in the next few days. For u Christians out there- pray for me. For the ones who believe in other things- wish me luck! I don't trust many with cutting my hair since last time a hair dresser chopped my hair that was down to my rear into a mushroom looking-like cut... when I had asked for it to be a little below my shoulders. YA, wasn't impressed. 

The headaches from the thickness of my hair is when I know it has to be thinned out.. & the chances of me being able to do it myself is a biigggg zero! Therefore, the probability of someone else doing what's suppose to be right out weighs the worst case senario (me doing it myself.. don't judge, I know YOU have atleast thought about it, if not-done it! lol )

Goodnight bloggers, family & friends.

Donatella1

Good afternoon

Hey!

  So far today, I have done nothing. I really wish I could tell you I did something extraordinary but I have not & that'd be a lie. I was suppose to go to my mom's & help her with a few things... even get boxes to start my packing... it's been changed til tomorrow. Let's see how that goes! Procrastinator 1.0.1 right here.

  I bought these soy chilli veggie-dogs last night. They're so gross. I love veggie burgers though. Especially the one from Harvey's. It's even served on a little whole-wheat bun. 

I'll be back later to post something. It's only 3:15pm so u never know if anything exciting will happen from now til then!

Donatella1

Day 1 of getting my blog-on.

Hey guys!

   So, this is my new blog, where I will keep in touch with family & friends. I'm an internet junkie & love sharing my thoughts & ideas! And since I am leaving Canada my beloved country in less than 1 month, this is a great idea to share what I am up to on the caribbean island of St. Lucia.

   On my mind right now is this new exciting things I'm starting called Usana. I ordered the pre-packed vitamins in AM/PM packets, & the Restart cleanse kit that includes shakes & nutritional bars to jump-start my lifestyle change. I met with a rep the other day, I suppose she is called that. She's stinkin beautiful, a good inspiration. She reminded me of my cousin, so I liked her right off the bat & was very comfortable with her... If anyone were to meet my cousin Rosie, they would understand. Def my number one missed family member right now. I remember visiting & she'd be on her way to & from the gym, & when we use to hangout I was her little long brown-haired barbie doll she'd use all her makeup on. I could swear Rosie belongs on the cover of magazines. Since I just bunny-trailed I may as well add that in there. 

   For those who don't know me.. Here's a bit of history. I lost 120 pounds, then gained a bit of it back.. aka 'the love chub' that happens to the best of us. Now I'm ready to kick it once again. I don't do drugs, nor am I an addict of anything... (ok besides pita pit), but fitness, health, new clothes, hair products... gives me an ultimate high.

    I WAS up to a size 28 for a long time, size 4x-5x shirts, my highest- almost tipping the scales at 400 friken pounds. Disgusting, I know. BUT I starting gaining weight at a young age so I didn't think anything of it. I thought it was normal to be f-ing huge when I was only 16. Luckily, I didn't die of a heart attack.

  When it comes to health, I've done it alllll... oh man. Low-carb, low-fat, gluten-free, raw, counting points, counting calories, eating to much, eating to little, and not eating at all. It's crazy sometimes the things we do to ourselves to achieve what we believe is 'the best'. & as God knows, I'm QUEEEEN of the attempt to 'be the best'. I know what I want, & I'll attempt what ever it takes to get there.
  I got down about 30 pounds just from aging I suppose. I really dropped when I was going to the gym every day for sometimes 3 hours. I had cut down on my carb intake, wasn't eating fast food but pretty much ate what I wanted.. bingo, dropped 120. Crashed car & gym was too far... met an incredible guy = love chub! 45 pounds of my 120 chunk of weight loss came back. I hadn't even noticed over the year. I've made a choice though- I'm doing something about it now before I end up gaining back what I busted my butt for before. Weight loss truely is a lifestyle change.


   Besides being totally stoked for that.. I sold my house, closing date is coming soon! I have 14 days to pack my house & get rid of a lot of my glamourous things. That I'm actually HAPPY to get rid of. Goodwill is gunna be thrilled. I hope people who really need it actually get it though, not the workers who call dibs on it if they really could afford to go buy... unless they can't, that would be a different story.

Enough blog for now.

Donatella1