Trip to Sports City.... or Chicago!

I apologize, it has been a very long time since I have written. It has been two weeks since my return from Chicago and I am only writing about it now. However, there is some justification in this post, and that is the fact that I travelled to Chicago last year and wrote about it then!

However, this time I want to talk about a different side of the stunning city. Last year, I posted beautiful architectural shots and photos of the lovely city's landscape. I believe I focused on how pretty, green, and magnificent the city is for a visit.

This time, I want to talk about what made me happiest while in Chi-Town... SPORTS.

Any sports buff would enjoy visiting Chicago, whether you're a baseball, basketball, or hockey fan! Since I enjoy all three, it was exciting to be in Chicago last year when the Blackhawks were playing Vancouver on their way to the Cup, and this year right after Derek Rose was announced NBA MVP.

Last year, I watched the White Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays, and this year I watched the Cincinnati Reds barely beat the Cubs. It was definitely the highlight of my trip to Chi-Town. The Cubs game was amazing! We went to watch a game the day after Cinco de Mayo, and we got shirts that said "Los Cubs" on it!

It is something magical to see so many DIE HARD Cubs fans cheer on a team that hasn't won in about a century! I must say, when the Cubs, and if, they ever win the Series.... I WANT TO BE IN CHICAGO! IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST PARTY at Wrigley Field EVER. I don't want to miss that! Even if I'm not a big Cubs fan... I want to be there!

When I wasn't watching the Cubs game or watching NHL playoffs on TV at a pub, I was revelling in pure shoppers delight at Nike Town and Sports Authority. Nike Town (as you see above) was four floors of HAPPINESS in shoes to shirts, to shorts. And Sports Authority (also above) was just... well... heaven.
It was 8 floors of everything sports. And the best part? BARGAIN BASEMENT! I could have spent a whole day in the store going from floor to floor!

Once again, Chicago was a great experience and I was blessed to have the opportunity to go with friends and peers on one last HURRAH before the working world takes over.

The Comfort of Rain

Now that I'm blogging on the most important piece of the puzzle of life, HAPPINESS, I figure I should change the design and title of my blog. But, I'm not going to because the other day I realized it's a perfect fit for my blog's theme. Let me explain.

Two days ago, some would say the weather was miserable because it was gloomy and raining all day. I tend to disagree. Maybe you don't feel the same, but I find a rainy day so comforting once in a while. The other day when it was raining, I woke up, poured myself a cup of coffee, grabbed a mindless book, and curled up on the couch.

There's just something about a rainy day, especially in the spring. It makes everything smell fresh and new! But, going back to the title of my blog, my favourite part about a rainy day is going for a drive (in the passenger seat) and watching the raindrops chase each other down the window in different directions. It has always been comforting and even fascinating to me.

"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring."
~George Santayana

I love spring, it is definitely my second favourite season next to summer. One of the reasons is that we get rainy days and then beautiful sunny days like yesterday and today. I love sunshine! It makes everyone happy! Today my boyfriend was taking garbage to the dump and I jumped in the passenger seat just to go for a drive (okay and to get ice cream after, another one of my favourite things!). It's one of the most freeing feelings to take a drive with the windows open on a bright sunny spring day, just love it!

John Ruskin says it best when it comes to weather, you always have to find the positive side!

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."
~John Ruskin

A Little Piece of Happiness

At 22 years old, I am finishing up my time in college and coming to a point in my life where I have to "grow up" and figure out my finances and career. I have come to realize that life isn't as peachy as it was when I was nine years old, roaming the countryside with my brothers all day long imagining we were pioneers and knights of the past.

However, life is good and I am blessed. I believe everyone should take a moment out of each day to find a piece of happiness. What do I mean, do you ask? Well, I think it's important for us to take some time to recognize something that made us laugh, shiver, cry, or just smile each day. In doing this, you will remind yourself that you are blessed, and it will keep you in a positive state of mind.

So... I will be modifying my blog to fit this theme. Since starting my own blog, I have struggled incessantly to come up with a specific topic I could focus on in each post. I have finally found it. Something I am very passionate about: HAPPINESS.

As Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

This is not the end, please come back for more inspiration and join my journey: an exploration of happiness!

Canyon Adventures

Since spring is just around the corner I figured I would pay a tribute to Winter 2010-2011. It has been a fine Manitoban winter, with an abundance of snow. I always say if we're going to get the brutal cold weather and some snow, we may as well get piles of it! This makes fun winter activities even better! But, I am so ready for spring. I just need to dig out my galoshes!

Instead of going through all of my winter adventures, I'm going to highlight one of my favourite adventures this winter: my trip to Canmore, Alberta to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and newborn nephew! While in Canmore, my mom and I visited one of our favourite spots, Johnston Canyon.

This beautiful hiking trail about 20 minutes from Banff is a must-see for anyone travelling there! I have only ever been there in the winter, but would love to hike it in the summer because I'm sure it's so different looking! The first time I went to Johnston Canyon, I was not prepared. To sum it up in three words: I wore Uggs. For those unaware of canyon hiking trails, there are a great many ups and downs (hills) along the way and if you're not wearing proper footwear you'll slip and slide the whole hike. Near the end my brother and boyfriend were practically carrying me out, it was that bad.

So, I learned my lesson and this time wore proper winter boots, and my mom who witnessed the tragic event last time, wanted to be extra prepared and went as far as wearing snow shoes! With a camera around my neck, I hiked up the canyon with my mom on a beautiful crisp, but sunny day. It was so beautiful and I would recommend anyone who is going to Banff of Canmore to check it out! Here are some pictures from this winter trip.


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The Development of Advertising

It's hard to believe that at one time you would see these ads for popular products, such as 7up and Coca Cola. The ads featuring the babies are appalling to say the least. You would never dream of seeing ads like this on billboards and in magazines today. This is a fine example of the development of advertising. And it's just plain humorous looking at ads like these, they are ridiculous!

Halls Doesn't Need a Pep Talk!

Pep talk:

n. Informal
A speech of exhortation, as to a team or staff, meant to instill enthusiasm or bolster morale.


The Halls Cough Drops Pep Talk
campaign is excellent! Brilliant! Engaging! I absolutely love Halls' new campaign based on pep talks. You've probably seen the ads on TV, but did you know it's interactive? You can go to the website and create a pep talk for the chance to win $25000!

You have to check the website out, it's hilarious! It's a great idea to get their audience involved and get some extra publicity! This campaign has already generated huge awareness to people that may have forgotten about Halls' existence, just because they have been around for so long.

I believe it's an awareness campaign to bring the brand back into consumers' minds. Halls: I'm impressed, you sure don't need a pep talk because you're on the top of your game! Here's one of my favourite commercials from the campaign:

Good Health is not a Right, it's a Gift

1 out of every 4 Canadians will die from cancer.

40% of women and 45% of men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

Another Canadian is diagnosed with this disease every 3 minutues.

Cancer kills another Canadian every 7 minutes.


Did those sentences almost make you choke? When I read them I had to shake my head and read them again. These statistics are real. They come from the Canadian Cancer Society.

These staggering statistics are a reminder to be so very thankful every day you are given good health. It's easy to wake up and think about the problem areas in your life, whether it be relationship issues or the fact that you don't have the bikini body you want for your vacation coming up.

Let us all remember that health is not a right, some of us are very fortunate. So please be thankful for the good health you have every day. And you'll be surprised at how trivial other things seem when you focus on the positives! That thing your boyfriend does that annoys you, is it really worth arguing about? And about that bikini body, get back on that treadmill and remember it could be a lot worse!

To find out what you can do every day to help prevent cancer from invading your life, download this PDF publication on eating well and being active and start today! It's never too late change your lifestyle, and most importantly, it's never too late to install the "Be Thankful Every Day" routine!