New Years Eve!

Fave! Kind of. Though I always anticipate NYE so much that it always feels kind of like a let down, you know?

Anyways, I only have 30 minutes to get this out before rushing to this years NYE extravaganza, so here goes!

To take a page out of my bosses book... Look at us hitting a new decade!

With #10yearsago trending on Twitter, I wanted to take some time (now approx 24 mins. to look back on my last decade. Because twentyten is a big one. Not only is it a new decade, but for me? It's the big 2-5!

So here goes...

Ten years ago, I did not appreciate anything enough.

I did not appreciate the great family I have. The great friends I have. The opportunities that seem to fall into my lap.

Or my flexibility. And no, you're still looking at a pretty high maintenance girl. I mean, literally, my flexibility. If it has taught me nothing else, the past two months of yoga have taught me to appreciate how much easier it was to throw myself into a bridge 15, 10, even 5 years ago!

Ten years ago, I thought I could plan out my life. Complete with two point four kids, a white picket fence and the love of my (high school) life. Ten years ago, I hadn't learned how to love myself, or how to (properly) love others (come to think of it, I'm probably not completely there yet, but I've got some handy clues from the last couple break ups and the living life to the fullest that followed!).

If I could travel back, to ten years ago, with the knowledge I have gained from my past ten years, I am certain I would live life differently. But I'm glad we can't go back. Because I'm proud of the past ten years. I enjoyed the past ten years. I lived them. And I'm going to live the next ten in the same way. Not repeating the same mistakes, but ready to learn from every experience - small or large.

So yes. As always, I have tons of New Years Resolutions, and I am sure I will share them in the light of the new day (year). But for now, I'm just going to appreciate today. Or, more like, tonight!!

So have a happy and safe new years everyone!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Christmas Songs...

Favourite! (But only in December. I absolutely hate that retailers start to play them November 1st... Perhaps we need a new holiday between Halloween and Christmas?)

As I settle in to watch a White Christmas (family xmas tradition #1), in my new houndstooth pj's (fam tradition #2), in the glow of our christmas tree angel (who, by the way, drives me nuts with the sporadic blinking schedule) I am so brain dead from the last...well, weeks, months, years, that all I can think to do is share my top 10 christmas songs... because who doesn't love a top 10 list!?

10. (all right you Chipmunks! Read to sing your song? I'll say we are! Yeah! Let's so it now! Okay, Simon? Okay! Okay, Theodore? Okay! Okay, Alvin? Alvin, ALVIN? OKAY!!!

The Chipmunk Song - The Chipmunks

9. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. Just like the ones I used to know. Where the treetops glisten, and children listen. To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

White Christmas - Bing Crosby

8. Last night I took a walk in the snow. Couples holding hands, places to go. Seems like everyone but me is in love. Santa, can you hear me?

Santa, Can You Hear Me? - Britney Spears

7. I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus. Underneath the mistletoe last night. She didn't see me creep. Down the stairs to have a peep. She thought that i was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep...

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause - Jimmy Boyd

6. This is the time of year, that we learn to give. And the greatest gift is learning to forgive. We will have the best time, we ever knew. If you forgive me and I forgive you...

I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You - 'N Sync

5. And this is how I see you. In the snow on Christmas morning. Love and happiness surround you. As you throw your arms up to the sky. I keep this moment by and by.

Wintersong - Canadian Tenors & Sarah McLachlan

4. I won't ask for much this Christmas. I won't even wish for snow. I'm just gonna keep on waiting. Underneath the mistletoe. I won't make a list and send it. To the North Pole for Saint Nick. I won't even stay awake to hear those magic reindeer click...

All I Want for Christmas Is You - Olivia Olson

3. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Yuletide carols being sung by a choir. And folks dressed up like eskimos.

The Christmas Song - Michael Bublé

2. I really can't stay - baby, it's cold outside. I've got to go away - baby, it's cold outside. This evening has been - been hoping that you'd drop in. So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice. My mother will start to worry - beautiful, what's your hurry. My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar. So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry. Well, maybe just a half a drink more - put some music on while I pour...

Baby It's Cold Outside - Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschanel

1. Open your heart now. This is the time for us to give. The world needs love now. So live and let live, families all here. The spirit is good cheer, the song of carolers. Ringing sweet in my ear, everything is all fine. You know why? it's Christmas time!

Christmas Time - Christina Aguilera

So ... Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

(Hoping to sneak in a couple more posts pre-2010!)

x's & o's,

Leslie

Story Time...

I may be a little late to the game on this one... But here's one story I'm glad I didn't completely miss!

When I joined the work world and got my first mac, I fell in love. I thought I was 100% sure I would never go back to PC. But for the good of scanning the landscape, I occasionally put aside the fact that when I love a brand I am a crazy loyal drink-no-pepsi, wear-no-adidas, only-get-my-coffee-shop-caffeine-bux-at-sbux kind of girl... And I take a peek. And sometimes, I find a gem that makes me question my 100% certainty! (I mean, you do always need a work and a home computer, right?) Here goes...

Computers - We (okay maybe just me + some) carry them around everywhere. Whether they are PC, Mac, decorated, not decorated, designer, whatever! It's one more area where you can truly express your individuality. Your personal style. Enter Dell: The epitome of stylin' individuality? Dell meet OPI. OPI - the "renowned nail lacquer experts" (who have a storied history in predicting fashionable colours for upcoming seasons, according to those in the know!). A perfect match for the wide-ranging female target, from young girls stealing their mama's nail polish to pre-teens testing out their personal style through green, blue, sparkly and purple nails, to the teens who spend girls night trying out thousands of different shades of polish on theirs, friends, brothers (?) fingers and toes, to young women spending their hard earned disposable income on weekly mani/pedis, to moms - whose ten minutes of alone time painting their nails is a small slice of pampering heaven, to grandmas using only the best premium nail polish, was born. What easier way to show off your unique personality than your nails? Simple. Colourful. Customizable. And very cost effective.

Twenty-six nail polish shades, twenty-six Dell best sellers?

In my humble opinion, Dell has hit the nail on the head with this one. I can see, that with the right communication and engagement vehicles, here's an opportunity to hit one out of the park! And, considering I found this nugget of gold in Nylon - I think team Dell is doing just fine!

Looking forward to seeing the results of this story.

Let's just say that if I wasn't that brand loyal, in a month there would be a new Dell Smitten with Mitten computer, sitting in my soon-to-be-found first apartment!

So, to close it off, and to offer a tiny bit of peace of mind to my "mac supplier". I promise I will not paint my own MacBook with my own Lincoln Park After Dark. Polished Pinky Swear.

x's & o's,

Leslie

“Dell and OPI’s offerings are a fresh collision of style and power, color and technology,” said Rachna Bhasin, general manager, partnerships and personalization or global consumer. “OPI’s high style and Dell’s award-winning technology combine to offer people stylish options that deliver the ultimate combination of color and connectivity on the go."

“Beautiful nails really are the ultimate accessory to any look,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive Vice President & Artistic Director. “And now, with Dell laptops that coordinate with OPI Nail Lacquers, you can match your nails to your emails!”

Just Jump...

...new motto slash fave!

SO! In my yoga-fueled-zen-like-high, (C'est possible? Or is "zen" mutually exclusive from "high") ladies and gentlemen, introducing my new motto....

For the month of December and beyond... In preparation for the billions of New Years Resolutions that I will be sure to make... I am shouting a new motto at the top of my lungs.... JUST JUMP!!!!

Yeah you heard me. (Please note, what you are hearing may just be sleep deprived Leslie speaking. Half sleep deprived due to the crazy busy but also wonderful, exciting, awesome work happenings these days, but, maybe a little bit due to the fact that this twenty-something girl has reverted back to tween years and cannot put down the Twilight books if her life depended on it!!!) Ok, tangent aside...

Just jump!

Explanation:

Too often our lives are hampered by a blanket of fears & insecurities and, irrational or rational - they are not helping us! Not one little bit!

It's time to just jump.

Here goes...

Don't be afraid of love! I LOVE love. Dear cynical and bitter (and all the rest of you out there!), none of this non-prime time date night allocation because you're not sure if you LIKE someone. You shouldn't be going on a date with someone you're not sure you like. Trust us, when it's fun, it's right, and when it's right, you should stop making Tuesday night and Friday lunch rules! Jump! Jump! Jump!

Not sure where to start with a new work project? Afraid that it won't be creative enough? Or maybe you've got such a big, crazy idea that you fall it love with it but it's completely out of scope? Well my friend, we can't just sit there... Just jump! Jump into those ideas! Play around with them. Make some magic. Nothing's going to get done if you're too unsure of anything to know where to start! Let me tell you, it's always easier to build off of what someone does, than to sit there trying to figure out the perfect starting place!

And what about absolute physical strength? Whatever your challenge (I'm pretty sure that none of you out there are quite as challenged at chaturanga's and headstands as this girl) just jump! Not literally. Not always the best idea to throw yourself up in a headstand if your neck can't take it. But jump into the challenge. Don't be afraid of the baby steps it takes to accomplish whatever your personal challenge is. Just jump is not about being stupid and taking on things that you can't handle without the proper guidance or knowledge or support. It's about facing that challenge head on (no pun intended... well, okay... maybe a little pun intended!).

Now I must apologize for what probably seems like the rantings of a crazy girl! It's just that after being buried by deck after deck after deck, sometimes you've just gotta let out the personal thoughts!

And there it is. Take it as you like!

Now just JUMP!!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Given a chance, I'm gonna be somebody. If for one dance, I'm gonna be somebody. Open the door, It's gonna make you love me. Facing the floor, I'm gonna be somebody. Be somebody. Be somebody.

Be Somebody - Kings of Leon

Lovin' those Kings of Leon! =)

Stolen Words

A little something for your Wednesday (and my Monday!) morning...

Take a look at yourself in a mirror, who do you see looking back?

Is it the person you want to be?

Or is there someone else you were meant to be, the person you were meant to be, but fell short of?

Is someone telling you you can't or won't? Because you can.

Believe that love is out there.

Believe that dreams come true every day. Because they do.

Sometimes happiness doesn't come from money or fame or power. Sometimes happiness comes from good friends and family and the quiet nobility of leading a good life.

Believe that dreams come true every day. Because they do.

So take a look in that mirror and remind yourself to be happy, because you deserve to be. Believe that.

And believe that dreams come true every day. Because they do.

...OTH... Of course.

Happy Wednesday (slash Monday to me)!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Story Time...

Once upon a time there was a cute little airline who set up shop on the Toronto Island.

Porter was its name, and the perfect experience was its game.

Porter was the perfect host with its pick-me-up cappuccino's, lovely branded bottles of water and yummy chocolate chip shortbreads.

One day, a young lady with her overflowing suitcase and her mess of a carry-on took the quick (and might we add, complimentary) shuttle to the airport, and made it from a friendly check in to the taking-care-of-business lounge in T minus 20 minutes, pausing only to enjoy one of those great cappucino's (and maybe sneak one or two shortbreads!).

"What a great experience," she thought to herself, "why would anyone ever fly anything else!?"

And so she fell in love. And whenever she was flying to Montreal, or Ottawa, or Boston, or Chicago, or Halifax, or Mont Tremblant, or New York, or Quebec, or St. John's, or Thunder Bay (though not likely Thunder Bay for this girl!), or back to home sweet home Toronto, this young lady + Porter lived happily ever after.

And that my friends, is a lesson on exceeding expectations!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Three Times a Charm...

Fave!

I am a girl who knows what I want. And I want what I want when I want it. And, right now, I want... Life Threads Collection by La Prairie!

From the first article I read about them, the concept of this trio of luxurious scents spoke to the depths of my shopaholic self.

First, it was a want. And then I read a second article about this trifecta of perfumes, and they moved a little higher on the Leslie Wish List. But, let's not kid ourselves. With 60-something items on this List, it's not so hard to get lost, overshaddowed and left unpurchased. But yesterday, the scent got the Rachel Zoe stamp of approval. And with that e-blast, landed itself the coveted number one spot on Leslie's To Buy List! A List reserved only for items that must be acquired in the next month. Reflecting my slightly skewed want vs. need paradigm.

While they all sound yummy, seems to me that I am gladly falling in the silver thread category - fits my lifestyle and personal scent-o-profile perfectly!

Here's to the silver, gold and platinum moments of our lives!

x's & o's,

Leslie

PS. It's not just about the brand. It's about the story. Everyone needs a good story. It's what makes us fall in love. With a person, a product, a scent. So, brands - if you're out there and listening... This girl is ready for story time!

Currently Listening:

Is 'I love you baby,' second nature by now? 'Cause it sounds awful rehearsed when the words leave your mouth. I don't know why but it seems. That I'm not the first to have heard this speech. Is this a routine you just repeat? 'Cause I don't mean to presume. That you don't love me like you say you do. But, you're gonna have to prove that you're true. And you're not just talkin' smooth.

Talkin' Smooth - Kate Voegele

The Warm Glow of a Sane Couple...

Fave!

Not sure if you're anything like me, but if you are, I am sure you can relate to this...

Ever get caught up in the high flying dramatics of so called coupledom to the point where the bickering and the fighting, the jealousy and the crying yourself to sleep, the utter exhaustion of just being a"we" becomes synonymous with the term "relationship" to you?

And so, you rush down the roller-coaster of a breakup. And while it's hard at first, a couple of months down the line, you find yourself with the winning end of the stick - twenty + pounds lighter, with better friendships, loving every new challenge in your career and feeling more than perfectly content? Exactly where you wanted to end up? Almost like it all happened for a reason? That there really is a bigger plan for you out there?

And maybe, just maybe, you feel that with these new friendships, work challenges, and regular physical activity there's no room left for a so called "relationship" in your life? No time. No possible to way to shuffle boys into the mix? I mean, a "relationship" - really? What'd they ever do for you anyways, bitter one? Anything but an extra inch or two around the tummy and an urge to break into tears whenever you see a bud light lime or a crossword puzzle?

Or so you thought.

Then you hang out with the sane couple. The couple that doesn't bicker over dinner. The couple who splits new puppy responsibility equally. The kind of couple who probably holds hands sporadically in public but doesn't feel like they need to. The ones who probably love to go out together but completely understand the value of enjoying time apart.

The kind of couple that makes you stop and think. Maybe it's time to get back into the game. Maybe it's out there. And it's definitely worth it.

x's & o's,

Leslie

Girls + Guys

...Fave!

While most people are labeled as either better able to be friends with guys or girls... I love both my girlfriends and my guyfriends equally! =)

Here's to...

My girlfriends, who may not understand or approve of my decisions, but are 100% there for me! (Until they give me their real opinion the next day!)

My guyfriends who never fail to forgive and forget, live and let live!

My girlfriends, aka the ultimate wing girls!

My guyfriends, with their "older brother" protection hats!

My girlfriends, who have lasted through almost 25 years of my crying, venting, heartbreak... Oh the trials and tribulations of a dramatic little city girl! (thanks!)

My guyfriends, who can't make plans in advance if their life depended on it, but are magically always there when needed!

My girlfriends, who I can go months, even seasons without seeing and yet, when we do chat - it's like not a minute has gone by!

And so, in the post script, here's a little poem from the days of elementary school daycare!

Enjoy! ;)

x's & o's,

Leslie

Friendship

If you could have any ship, tell me, what ship would it be?

You know when it comes to choosing ships you must choose carefully.

You wouldn't want a sailing ship cause these ships rust away.

You wouldn't want an ownership cause what you own, you sell away.

You wouldn't want a membership cause memberships expire.

You wouldn't want a partnership cause partners turn to liars.

I guess you'd want a friendship cause friendships last forever.

And knowing you have a real good friend... That keeps good friends together!

Making Dreams Come True - Howard Lindo

Those Days..

Ever experience those days where you just feel more?

When the right person is standing behind you at the right angle of the reflection in a dark window, with the right song playing on your iPod, the right smell wafts around you and the right lighting above? They'll never know it. But your attention was captivated and the impact of that fleeting moment mesmerized you?

When you get caught in the blinding snow, fully prepared with your mittens, and your cute red plaid jacket, and your scarf... Except you've been dragging yourself around in uncomfortably (but super cute!) sky high 3' booties for the past 15 hours. You've barely eaten all day and you can't wait to make it home and crawl under the covers in pj's, with a Halloween candy sugar high after a yummy dinner of pizza + vitamin water. You may have started off feeling cold, and hungry, worn out and tired, but surprisingly, it melts away quite quickly to a warm glow of happiness, comfort, and true thankfulness.

So, here is to "those days." If this is as hard as it gets, we think we're pretty lucky!

x's & o's,

Leslie

That being said, I think that today, we are having one of "those other days." The days when you are bombarded by emails, phone calls, messages and interactions that just make you want to crawl back into bed and never come out...

Pretty Things...

Fave!

Call it a natural instinct to reach for all things pretty and shiny, call it a

child-like need to play a forever and always game of dress up, call it whatever you want... I love all things sequins!

So, lucky for me - sequins are coming back with a bang! And, for a stint that should last longer than my New Years Eve dance-til-you-can't-dance-anymore party + January 1st's stumble home from the confetti-filled, champagne-fulled celebrations!

On my current Loves'ing It List...

A true B. Waldorf-style 'special occasion' headband (consider this trigger - pulled!):

Alice + Olive sequin leggings, because honestly, how could a marriage of two fave's (sequins + leggings) not make the cut:

And a Coach Bag for all occasions!

Short + sweet! And that, my friends, is a wrap!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Currently Listening:

Rock-a-bye, my baby, don't be blue tonight, no. I'm on my way and I'm gonna make it right. 'Coz I have got the feelin' you'll be needin' love. And of all the lonely hearts you're the one I'm thinkin' of.

I Won't Disagree - Kate Voegele

You were always playin' hard. You never could let down your guard, no. Oh, but you can't win if you never give in. In to that voice within, it's sayin' pick up your chin, Baby let go of it, yeah. Don't look away, don't run away. Baby, it's only life. Don't lose your faith. Don't run away. Baby, it's only life.

It's Only Life - Kate Voegele

I Hope You All Have Days Like Today...

Days when even though your to do list is a mile long, you still feel like everything is perfectly achievable.

Days when that extra push at the gym is nothing, it's not just a good burn, it's a great one.

Days when you just know that what's in the past is in the past, and what's in the future is something great, waiting just around the corner.

Days when you can't help but smile to yourself, just cause.

Days when you want to stay up forever, because you never want to let go of that feeling of invincibility.

Days when you have patience for everything and everyone.

Days when the radio and iTunes seem to read your mind and every song speaks to your soul.

Days when life just makes sense.

x's & o's,

Leslie

Currently Listening:

Life's not what you take, it's not about the promises you make. It's not about the friends you might of made or the love that is gone. Life is what you give, it's not about the stupid things you did. It's not about the way things could have been, it's about moving on. It's all about you. So every morning when you wake, before the first step that you take, just think it's all what you make it, and you'll make it through. Life is all about, the things you'll never figure out. It's all about the people you love, and memories you keep.

All About U - Classified ft. Chad Hatcher