Thursday 27 June 2013

TRAVEL: And Now I Make My Descent Into A Fabulous Summer Of Traveling North America & Such

So,

the last exam was finally written, and I am now free from the shackles of eleventh grade and all it's bullshit. 

Now starts the shenanigans I've been ever so patiently awaiting all year.  

Since I may not have proper time (or computer access) for the next few weeks, I'll just do a breakdown of the trips and events I've got going on.. so here we go! 

FIRST OF ALL, I must mention as a bit of a side note that I had a job interview to work in the box office at my school and help to set up events and shows my school holds during the time school is not in session. Thankfully, I had some connections and it all went well! I start in August, and I can't articulate how stoked I am to be able to quit Boston Pizza. It makes me feel like I'm turning the page to the old chapter of my life that's become very one dimensional and boring. So hoorah for that. 

As far as the rest of this week goes, I've got a lot on my plate. Not a bad a lot, but a good a lot! Returning to the beach (as I did last Saturday) with a bunch of people in my grade this Saturday. Boy, is it fun getting to know them further. I kind of regret not spending as much time getting to know them last year, but can't go back now I guess! 


Then my great friend Makayla and I have plans to go camping with our friends Jared and Tamara. I don't know what it is about hanging out with those two, but we really mesh well together! They make me feel alive and youthful, which is something I haven't really felt in a while even though I'm only 17. I don't know, we're just a good group together. 

On Sunday, a grand celebration for Canada Day will be had. Simple Plan, Mother Mother and Dan Mangan will be doing a show in a field downtown, and I'm so excited for it! Not too much for Simple Plan, but Mother Mother and Dan Mangan are going to be WICKED. There'll be a large group of us attending, and hopefully it'll be relatively rain-free. It would be cool if the bands come out into the crowd again this year. Because last year, Hey Rosetta! came with Joel Plaskett (thank goodness!!!) and once Joel started playing, the band members of Hey Rosetta! came out and I got to take photos with them. It was such a dream. I suppose living in such a small town has its perks sometimes.


Monday, my nanny is flying in from Nova Scotia to accompany my immediate family and I on a road trip down the west coast, and up through the states. I have good feeling this road trip is going to be top notch. The photos I'm going to take.. oh boy! The countless hours spent sitting in the car probably won't be that awesome, but other than that, I'm stoked. I have a list of things I need to get, so fingers crossed that I cross all of those things off that list! One of those things being my prom dress for next year. I'd really like to find one while on my travels, just so I can see it in person and try it on rather than getting one online, not knowing what'll arrive in the mail. Most of this trip will be focused around California as well, which excites me more than explainable because I've always wanted to travel there. I hope we get to see my main points there though, which consist of: Salvation Mountain, the Rose Bowl flea market, shopping at Wasteland, Venice Beach, eating some Pho and some other small things I wouldn't get to see/partake in here.

After 18 days on the road, all of us will return home for a week where I will despise my life for one of two reasons (or probably both): a) I miss civilization again OR b) I ever so painfully have to return to work full time for those 7 days. But have no fear, future Jaime, we will then embark on another adventure, this time being to Nova Scotia to see everyone we miss so dearly. Within those two weeks, I hope to see all of my friends and family to have so so so much fun with them to make up for all of the missed time. I have yet another list of things I'd like to get done while away. This list includes: so many beach days, beavertails galore, getting my first tattoo, so many days spent downtown, maybe seeing if I can drop into my former dance academy, and stuff like that. Thinking about going home honestly makes me tear up so badly. It's the only thing that's ever on my mind. It's not that I regret moving, because sometimes you have to take one for the team, and in this case I took a big one for my family by sucking it up, and agreeing it would be okay for us to come. But it does hurt so bad to think of the life I would be living if I never would have moved. I don't know. It sucks. Especially missing prom and graduating with everyone I grew up with and ahhhhhh. ANYWAY, I can't wait to go home and see everyone and do everything that makes Nova Scotia cool.


After arriving home from NS, I will most likely be exhausted to shit, and still not ready to go back to school. But a couple short weeks, and I'll be walking though the doors of Trin Trin on the first day of school for the last time, and boy will it feel great.

So that's pretty much the skeleton of plans I've got up my sleeve for this summer.

In case I don't get a chance to check in, I hope you all have a super rad summer, go out and diminish all of those "what ifs", be infinite (and tacky), and make this an unforgettable one.

Rock on,
Jaime 

Thursday 20 June 2013

JGD: Where Is My Mind?

SO, 

I've got one more exam to go until eleventh grade is ready to be locked in a box and thrown into the ocean.. 

and there are so many choices I've got to make in the next year, it's reDONKulous! Although I marvel at the fact that within the next twenty four months I will have finished all of high school/middle school/elementary, and I'll be living on my own, I'm still pretty scared to take the plunge. 

I mean,

then all of this work will have payed off, right?

Just the thought of finally living in a city with exceptional culture, and being surrounded with people who share the same interests as me makes me as giddy as giddy can be. Being able to study things that I enjoy, and dedicate all of my time towards it, ahhhh. The nightlife, the concerts, the sights, the people, the food, the everything excites the living shit out of me. To be able to buy my own food, make my own meals, exercise whenever and however I please, decorate my apartment how I'd like, explore the wonders of the city, meeting dudes who are there for the same reasons who would be interesting to get to know.. I daydream for hours about it!

But

that scared feeling is still lingering there deep deep into the back corners of my thoughts. I don't want my lack of motivation throughout high school (in regards to the classes I take no interest in) to rub off onto me if actually do get into a fashion merchandising program, or whatever I end up choosing. I'm scared of the new encounters I will have to endure, and all of the new surroundings I'll have to warm up to. I'm scared of failure. I'm scared of being away from my parents without any direct help. I'm scared even to think of all the lonely nights there are to be had, missing, wishing. 

But these are all things to be excited for as well!

It all depends on the general outlook and attitude.

ANYWAY, this year is definitely going to be a doozer as far as choices and events determining what I'll end up doing post-secondarily goes. However on the other hand, it's going to be SUCH an amazing year to spend getting pumped and getting close to my grad class. I just can't wait.

Which brings me to my final point. This summer, IF I DON'T CHICKEN OUT, I thought of a great tattoo idea. I feel I've thought up a tattoo idea that would really be relevant in regards to this stage in my life, and all of these scared feelings I'm having. That in itself is scary/exciting, 

but

I love it. 

And that's all I really have to say. So, I'll leave you with this. 


Stay cool, 
Jaime 

Tuesday 4 June 2013

FAVORITES: June '13

First week of June is here,


and these are the things I've really been diggin'!

First off, I've been reading reports and interviews about/with Sophia Amoruso (founder of the online store Nasty Gal) and the rise of the success of her store. It's incredibly inspiring, I feel, to know that just an eBay store can turn into an empire. The hard work she, and all her team, put into it is amazing, and completely evident in the quality and service Nasty Gal offers. It also makes me excited for my future of perhaps owning a (much smaller) store! As a side note, her haircut is SO fierce. I've made a bullet on my bucket list to make sure I book a hair appointment to get a sassy black bob on my 20th birthday. I suppose to celebrate not being a teenager anymore, and to bring some sophistication to my look! So much excitement, so little time!

Next on the board, we've got films I've been watching. Nothing new, but still as great as the first time I had turned them on. Ghost World is so beautiful in it's subtlety. It's a film I find a lot of teens could relate to in my opinion. Enid's blunt personality is something I always found amusing as well. I don't know, it's just a classic. The Truman Show is another classic. The entire concept of having your life be on show for the entire world to see, and never knowing it is mind blowing to me. Although I don't seem to know a lot of Jim Carrey fans, I'd say he's among my favorites! He adds a certain je ne sais quoi to his movies.

Then we have my two favorite Mac products: the fragrance "Turquatic" along with lipstick in the shade "Media". I use these products religiously for many reasons. Reason one being that the color of media is perfect for adding that vampy look to any outfit, which j'adore. Also, I feel as though Turquatic is the perfect fresh scent for spring/summer! It's light, not too overpowering, and if this makes any sense, smells exactly like the color turquoise would smell! I absolutely recommend them both. 

Not only is Sky Ferreira's music awesome, but the girl has some killer style to pair with it! Each of her songs has its own sound,  some being more on the electronic/dance side while others are very soulful and done acoustic. It's great to have that variety. Her style is so sweet as well! Definitely what I aspire to be when I grow older and mature even further. She's just an all around cool gal. Songs of hers I would check out would be Ghost and Lost In My Bedroom.

Lastly, I've been thinking a lot (as I always do) about where I'd like to go after graduation. I'm completely sure it's going to be a coastal city. I'm just unsure as to which side of Canada it'll be. I call Halifax home, and I love it there so much, but when I travelled to Vancouver last October, I found it such a rad place to live. There's so much culture and so many events and opportunities. So it got me thinking. Might it be beneficial if I were to go to Vancouver before I went back home to bring something new to Halifax? Ahhhh, decisions decisions. 

That's all for my moodboard this week. Now go out and try something new!
Jaime 

Monday 3 June 2013

FOR YOUR EARS: Songs I Had On Repeat (This Past Weekend)

Saturday: The rediscovery of Com Ocean
On a morning run through the woods with one of my closest gal pals, misty air lingering, bugs creeping, ipod on shuffle with the speakers fully blasting, we made the rediscovery of our old summer jam "Com Ocean" by Outlands. This song has perfect eighties-esque vocals and a flowing beat, mixed with the ability to make you feel funky as hell. Which, in my opinion, makes for a song that could be on repeat for months at a time (as you can see). Alongside those things, it brings back those youthful summer stories I'll continue to tell until my grandkids have grandkids. 
 Sunday: Post-workout chill sessions ft. Andrew Bird
I have always, and will always be in love with Andrew Bird and the masterpieces he calls his songs. Not only are they beautifully composed and well written, but another level of appreciation is added when you are able to see (on youtube or even in concert) how he does it all himself! I mean, he does have some assistance, but I don't know. Everything he's about just strikes me as incredible! In regards to this song, it just fills me with a feeling I can't quite put into words.
And that's that!
You all should totally go out and give these a listen to! 
TTYL,
Jaime

Saturday 1 June 2013

LIFESTYLE: Juicing


Around two months ago, I came across the newly popular way of healthy eating (or drinking in this case), which is making freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice! Although this may not be for everyone, I quickly took a liking to it. There's just something so invigorating about gulping down that brightly coloured, super healthy concoction, and then going out to do some physical activity, or simply going out and getting some errands done! Not to mention, the possibilities are endless as far as combinations go. You can go with something more fruity and light, which can contribute to a mega refreshing start to your day, or you can load it up with veggies to fill yourself with the proper energy before a work out.

I do understand that making smoothies is much better as far as waste goes, because when you make juice, all of the fibre comes out of the fruit and into the waste bucket, however juicing may be a good start for someone who hasn't ever been into making smoothies, and who'd like to start! It could be a great stepping stone into a healthier diet. Who knows!

So far, my favorite combinations would have to be:
1. Strawberry, lime, lemon, green apple, banana, orange and spinach
2. Kale, mango, green apple, banana, spinach and arugula
3. Carrot, cucumber, ginger, and green apple
4. Watermelon, strawberry, green apple, kale, banana and orange

I tend to lean to a much more fruit based juice, with some greens added in, but that is just my preference.

For more information on the benefits (because I barely listed any), I suggest perhaps checking out some other websites or youtube videos that really go into depth about how it all works!

Anyway, I hope this inspires someone to go out and try to incorporate this into their lifestyle! 
Later days, 
Jaime