Emily Is Thirty

Postponed.

Remember when I said I was going to challenge myself and attempt to quit beer for 21 days? Consider this challenge postponed. Surprised?  You shouldn’t be. There are too many activities,commitments and opportunities in the summer to even attempt this wholeheartedly. Randalin was correct - “It should be illegal to quit beer during the summer.”  What on earth was I thinking?  Apparently I wasn’t. There is nothing better than a summer patio and what’s a summer patio without the constant flow of pitchers full of delicious beer?  I could always opt for pitchers of water - but I’d rather not.

I am going to give this another go immediately following the September long weekend - when I am good and hungover and probably won’t want to go anywhere near an alcoholic beverage. 

Weather Forecast: Toronto, Ontario

Beer

Do you watch the program ‘Bulging Brides’? Well I do and I was appalled when I saw the repeat episode called ‘Tomboy Temptations’.  Talk about self reflection.  As I watched the hosts analyze the contestants monthly beer intake - I nearly wanted to empty out the can of beer I was drinking as well as the four full cans in my fridge (I didn’t).  I of course consulted Google and found out a shocking number.  There are 345 calories in one 500 ml can of my usual beer of choice, Carlsberg.  So what if I enjoy that they self proclaim that it’s “probably the best beer in world.”  You know what - sometimes I think it might be.  My second choice, Stella Atois, has roughly 250 calories per 500 ml can.  Now you must be thinking, BFD.  Well if I told you roughly how much I consume in a month, you’d wonder why I didn’t look like I was nine months pregnant - unless you already think that and in that case ‘you’re rude’. 

When I told a coworker about this today she reminded me of the 21 day rule.  In case you don’t know this rule - “experts”,and I use the term experts very loosely, have claimed that it takes roughly three weeks to /start or break a habit. I have decided to try it and break the habit.  I will not drink beer for the next 21 days. Gah that’s hard to say. But no I don’t plan on vowing to this forever - because if you know me you know that I have a serious (and probably unhealthy) crush on beer. The man at the corner store in Vietnam even referred to me as ‘Hai Lan Tiger’ (translates as two cans of Tiger beer). But I would like to drink less of it.  I would like to not feel guilty every time I open a can or bring the empties back.  I would really like to not have a BEER BELLY.  Yes - I am a 30 year old woman with a beer belly. 

So for the next 21 days I will not be doing this.

See you later old friend - I’ll try not to miss you too much.

I Choose You

I have now been engaged for three months and 10 days to the most perfect man. It’s still pretty exciting and sometimes still unbelievable.  However I haven’t really done much planning which is really weird because I am a planner.  Don’t get me wrong I have bought books, magazines, read blogs, browsed wedding forums, looked online at decorations, gowns, and venues but when it comes to making a final decision - I can’t. There are too many options, too many choices, how is one to chose?  I have changed my colour palette three times already and we don’t even have a destination.  OK well that’s a lie - we do have a pretty great idea on location but then will everyone we really want to be there be willing to attend?  How important is it if they can’t or worse don’t want to? These are the things that make planning hard.  I am sure that is a given but seriously it’s pretty effing difficult to plan a perfect day.  And I know it will be a perfect day regardless of the little things - I just really want to make sure.  

So far we are planning a destination wedding sometime in February or March. The reason you ask?  That’s easy.  Steve and I don’t have any real attachment to Canada.  I mean it would be easier for those invited to attend but a hell of a lot more expensive on our end.  And we aren’t rich - not even close.  We both love the ocean, and tropical destinations (who doesn’t really?)

I want this to be our backdrop

I want to have my wedding photos taken in a city/town/place like this

And most of all I want to do this

but mostly this

I think we might be able to work something out.

Bookworm

I am not a person who has a highly addictive personality - at least that is what I keep telling myself.  However I do admit that I have an addiction.  I wouldn’t say it’s a serious problem and I am sure my wallet would disagree.  I am addicted to books. I love buying them. I love reading them. I love looking at them neatly placed on a shelf. I like the new smell of a book not a big fan of the musty old smell but can still appreciate it. I like organizing them.  I like referring to them when I have a question.  Granted Google could probably answer any question I have - but it’s more gratifying flipping through a book especially when coupled with a nice cup of coffee.   

I like to keep my books in good condition and have a hard time lending them out since I know they will never be returned in the ‘like new’ condition I pride myself in keeping them.  I hate creased spines or dogeared pages - why on earth would anyone want to do that to a book? That’s what bookmarks are for. 

I mostly like non-fiction books. Books that I can learn from. I like books about food issues, cooking, baking, sewing and gardening.  These books are timeless. I enjoy the fact I can refer back to them at anytime and I don’t have to read them from front to back. 

I can’t go into a bookstore and not buy something or immediately go home and look for it online. Today was no exception.

The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Chinese Proverb