Cottage Life: Bonus Entry!

And for a little bit of fun... Straight from Mazengah Island, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, Planet Earth - Enjoy!

Suggestions

For the guidance of guests at Mazengah Island. Muskoka.

1. Remember that you are here to have a “Good Time” so do all you can to accomplish that end.
2. Canoeing is a delightful way of passing the time pleasantly. Especially when in the company of an “Eligible Companion.”
3. Wandering off in Couples is highly commended as a means of becoming better acquainted with each other and as leading sometimes to “Happy and Lasting” Results.
4. Bathing is always a refreshing pastime, and should be indulged in “Early and Often.” Bathing suits to be worn for bathing purposes only, and not as “Dress Suits.”
5. Sportsmen, and those having ‘Hunting Proclivities” will find great sport in hunting, hauling up and sawing logs for the fireplace.
6. Dancing, and all such “Innocent Amusements” should be taken advance of whenever the opportunity arises.
7. Fishing is a pleasant, if not always “profitable” occupation, but worms being scarce, they should be used as bait and not as refreshments.
8. Three persons occupying a hammock at the same time is a strain upon “two of them” as well as upon the hammock strings.
9. Engaged and Semi-engaged couples will find Mazengah a most delightful spot, where they will never be allowed to forget they are “The Happiest People on Earth.”
10. “Eat Heartily” for being late to meals in Muskoka is looked upon as the beginning of a “Weak Mind” and absence from same as Confirmed Insanity.
11. While it is permissible for Ladies to use rats in the arrangement of their toilet, it would be most wise to select any other animal for the same purpose in the country.
12. Newly married people are always a welcome addition to any home affording an object lesson in the uninitiated, a study to those of uncertain age and a source of amusement for the rest of us.

The Call

Boom-a-la-ka! Boom-a-la-ka! Bow! Wow! Wow!

Is the beginning of Mazengah call.

And Ching-a-la-ka! Ching-a-la-ka! Chow! Chow! Chow!

The next part you should bawl.

If you think these verses hazy, and those who shout them crazy,

Just try yourself to give our call.

You’ll be the craziest of us all.

Anonymous.

Not Copyrighted.

The Dock Side of Life...

Fave! Makes me Happy! Love it!

I miss the cottage already (and yes, I do know how ridiculous it is that I drove back to the city on the Friday leading up to one of the best weekends of this summer, but I do have a good reason. Many people are afraid of things like spiders, snakes, the dark, etc. I am also afraid of all of these things but I also have the unusual (I think) fear of missing a good party. And had

I not driven South when everyone else was driving North on Friday afternoon, I definitely would have missed out on great times!)

So back to the cottage. While I do consider myself the epitome of an uptown city girl, and cottaging is perhaps the closest I may ever come to camping (except for the odd Chaudiere field trip, of which all I can remember is the strong smell of Caesars...) I abso-freakin-lutely love my cottage!!

And here are my top 10 personal cottage loves (no particular order, all love!):

• I love waking up to the sun with absolutely no concept of what time it is!
• I love doing yoga on the dock, both morning and evening. Though to be honest, my favorite yoga is inspired by matchbox 20 and a little Britney rather than chants and the sounds of nature!
• I love floating just below the surface of water. You feel alone yet completely connected to the world. I am 100% pisces and I could live all day every day in the lake!
• I love diving into the water and letting the shock of cold water awake my senses! I hope I never become one of those "Ease it in/Wade/Ladder users!" ;)
• I love how at the cottage you never have to brush your hair but the combination of lake water, sand and sun makes your natural hair look a million times better than it ever does even after 2 hours spent at the hair dresser!
• I love the smell of Banana Boat tanning oil. (Though, lets be honest, that scent also gives me memories of Palm Springs '09!)
• I love cottage mirrors. Their reflection is, for some reason, always ten million times more flattering than any city mirror!
• I love reading a book a day. Only in Muskoka can I indulge my voracious appetite for all things chick lit!
• I love when a great old time song comes onto the radio while doing dishes (I do not so much love actually doing the dishes but there are only so many nights you can get out of 'em).

and lastly,

• I love QT time with my family! Friends, boyfriends, ex-bfs, acquaintances all come and go (from the cottage and in life) but FAMILY IS FOREVER!!!!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Last Week in Photos (also no particular order in case you're wondering)...

Taking Out the Trash!

Makes me happy?

This could be part rant, part lesson, part insights based on my "vast" knowledge of all things relationship (insert a lot of sarcasm here!).

Not sure why I was listening to them, as I am in a hate-all-breakup-songs phase these days, but while skimming my masterpiece of an iPod playlist a couple of days ago it sparked a couple of thoughts.

First Cut is the Deepest (Sheryl Crow - love the singer, not so much the song)

I would have given you all of my heart, but there's someone who's torn it apart, and he's taken almost all that I've got, but if you want, I'll try to love again, baby I'll try to love again...

- don't believe that.

Damaged (Danity Kane - don't even love the group, not sure why it's on the iPod!)

Damaged, damaged, damaged, damaged, I thought that I should let you know, That my heart is damaged, damaged, so damaged, so damaged, And you can blame the one before. So how you gonna fix it, fix it, fix it?

- even worse.

Maybe I've just learned from the worst case(s), but let's be honest. You don't bring the garbage from an old relationship and dump it on the new guy. Not smart! Where's the good in that? Learn from your garbage (ok, my metaphor may need a little work!), sort through your own junk. Recycle the good stuff and then throw out your own god damn trash and start fresh! Because the new guy certainly doesn't deserve that (and besides, he's probably got his own junk that you absolutely want no part of!)

That's all!

x's & o's,

Leslie

V to the a to the cation!!!

Short and sweet my friends. So short, that it probably belongs in a Tweet rather than a blog! But as Twitter is, unfortunately, letting me down today - here it is!

I am all out. All out of inspiration, meaningful thoughts, oh so tired (though surprisingly still quite positive!). Luckily, it is T minus 1 day until that lovely oh-so-fleeting vacation!

And much like Sick Days, let me tell you. Vacations are not just for you! In fact, in the client-driven business (and perhaps otherwise), they may not be for you at all! Vacations are not something you take just because the higher-ups tell you to take it! You NEED it! You must relax, renew, rejuvenate! You must check out so that you can come back stronger, more insightful, and more motivated than ever before.

So, other than the occasional dockside-twitterberry update, (though highly doubtful, since my father does not believe so much in 'cottage technology' and I would prefer that my blackberry remain a blackberry and not a skipping stone!) catch ya on the flipside!!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Currently listening (& abso-freakin-lutely LOVING!!)

Life's a game but its not fair, I break the rules so I don't care, So I keep doin' my own thing, Walking tall against the rain, Victory's within the mile, Almost there don't give up now, Only thing that's on my mind is who's gonna run this town tonight, heeeey, heeeey, heeeey, Who's gonna run this town tonight, Hey-hey-hey-heyyy...

Run This Town - Jay Z ft. Rihanna & Kanye West (quite the powerful trio, if I do say so myself!)

Things that make me happy...

Long Weekends!

Working Out, at the gym, at home, on the subway, everywhere!

Sunny Weather... Finally!

Blueberry Muffins made with love by my momma!

Exciting Work Challenges (even if they occasionally, from time to time, on a regular basis, infringe on my weekends)!

Lounging in Bed until 12:00 PM.

Roswell High books... yes, High as in about high school, which probably means written for middle schoolers!

Big Shiny Tunes II!

T minus one day until 30 days, which means T minus one day until a reward!

What makes you happy this long weekend!?

lots and lots of x's & o's,

Leslie

I believe in the sand beneath my toes, The beach gives a feeling, An earthy feeling, I believe in the faith that grows, And the four right chords can make me cry, When I'm with you I feel like I could die, And that would be all right, All right.

Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind

Lost Girls

More of a thought than a fave /not fave.

There's this ongoing memo in my blackberry where I write random thoughts that occasionally make it into this blog. And somewhere along the crazy, short-lived journey that I call "last night" I strung together a couple somewhat coherent words.

"Lost girls. Like lost boys. Like Peter Pan. But not really."

So, in the dawn of the new day, here's my take on it..."

Peter Pan's Lost Boys are "boys who were lost by their nannies in places such as Kensington Gardens. Having gone unclaimed for seven days, they were wisked off to Neverland, where they live with Peter Pan. There are no "lost girls", because (as Peter explains) girls are too clever to be lost in this manner."

Well, my friends, us girls may be too clever to be lost in that manner, but we sure know how to get lost. Life hits you hard. The good, the great, the not so great, the bad. Sometimes it gets overwhelming. Too many choices to make. Which by no means is a bad thing, choices are opportunities. But even opportunities can be scary. And when I'm scared, it makes me feel lost.

But enough with the whining! The reason for this post is the fact that I am thankful! Because I have amazing people in my life who make the fear go away. And bring the smiles. And the laughs. And the patience. And the love.

So here is to my girls who work hard, play hard, but are always there... To my boys, ditto... To my family, I could not ask for more...

You all make my life!

And to all your lost girls out there - you're not alone. And come on now, even the Lost Boys eventually grew up and everything worked out for them. Who knows what's around the corner for us!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Living & Learning

I may sometimes forget the necessity, but certainly a fave!

Admittedly, I occasionally struggle to understand why people (and by people, from time to time, I may mean myself!) make mistakes. Or struggle with things that on the outside seem so easy.

So I'm trying to get back to basics. What does that mean, you say? It's my philosophy* for both my personal life and my work life. If I am not learning a new thing every single day, it's not worth it. If I am not excited about what I'm doing? It's not worth it. And I expect this not only of myself, but of every single person I interact with. Because you've gotta have passion for what you're doing. So in the end, if you want yourself and the people around you to grow each day, you have also got to have patience. Because that's what it's about. Living & Learning.

Because in the end, you don't want to back to where you've been. Just keep pushing for what comes next. I have always had a funny feeling like there is something huge and incredibly exciting just around the corner.

But that being said, I do not think that it is unreasonable to expect mistakes that have already been discussed to be fixed moving forward!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Currently listening:

Because it fits, may have been my inspiration for this post, and definitely is one of the best CD's ever -

I recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone, I recommend walking around naked in your living room, Swallow it down (what a jagged little pill), It feels so good (swimming in your stomach), Wait until the dust settles...

You live you learn, You love you learn, You cry you learn, You lose you learn, You bleed you learn, You scream you learn...

I recommend biting off more than you can chew to anyone, I certainly do, I recommend sticking your foot in your mouth at any time, Feel free, Throw it down (the caution blocks you from the wind), Hold it up (to the rays), You wait and see when the smoke clears...

You Learn - Alanis Morrissette

*In case you're interested - my dating philosophy? Borrowed so eloquently from OTH:

"Here's my philosophy on dating. It's important to have somebody that can make you laugh, somebody you can trust, somebody that, y'know, turns you on... And it's really, really important that these three people don't know each other!"

Rewarding Myself

A Fave!

And when it's actually for something (something other than the fact that shopping just makes me feel good?)... Even better!

Not to say that I don't believe in living life to make yourself happy, and if that means buying the occasional trinket, or sporadic shopping sprees, all the better!

But I am also a big fan of setting goals and rewarding the achievement of said goals - whether small goals, lofty goals or anything in between!

So here are my personal (un-work related) goals for the upcoming months (along with their respective rewards!):

30 days! Never thought I'd make it, but it is within sight: Need some new makeup/perfume!

20 more pounds (and the right way, not the wrong way): Forget Me Knot Ring

60 days! So close, yet so far: SPA/Facial Day!

So, what are you rewarding yourself for? And more importantly, with what!?

x's & o's,

Leslie

And for today's currently listening to:

Step back gonna come at ya fast, I'm driving out of control, And getting ready to crash. Won't stop shaking up what I can, I serve it up in a shot, So suck it down like a man. So baby yes I know what I am, And no I don't give a damn, And you'll be loving it, Some days I'm a super bitch, Up to my old tricks, But it won't last forever, Next day I'm your super girl, Out to save the world, And it keeps getting better!

Keeps Getting Better - Christina Aguilera

Oh, Sunday

The day it all catches up with me.

The only day of the week that I do not completely over-plan, which never works in my favour.

Because I am a sucker for doing the one thing (or ten things) I shouldn't be doing.

Why do we girls make it so hard on ourselves sometimes?

But the good news?

Every day is another chance to turn it all around.

Here's to a brand new week. To our goals, to our dreams, to our mistakes, to our fun. Here's to the detox. Here's to the rest of our lives.

And last but not least, here's to doing the things that make us happy, not sad. Even if they're not the easiest things.

x's & o's,

Leslie

It's a Jewel kind of night.

Currently Listening:

And you could hurt me, With your bare hands, You could hurt me, Using the sharp end, Of what you say, But I'm lost to you now, And there's no, Amount of reason, To save me. So break me, Take me, Just let me, Feel your arms again...

Break Me - Jewel

As long as we laugh out loud, Laugh like we're mad, Cause this crazy, mixed up beauty is all that we have, Because what's love but an itch we can't scratch, a joke we can't catch, God, but still we laugh...

Good Day - Jewel

If I could tell the world just one thing, It would be that we're all OK, And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful, And useless in times like these, I won't be made useless, I won't be idle with despair, I will gather myself around my faith, For light does the darkness most fear...

Hands - Jewel

Short & Sweet

Lacking some inspiration today. Maybe due to the weather? Lack of sleep? Perhaps due to worrying about worrying? But mostly due to the fact that even though the cycle has become longer, sometimes your heart still smarts.

So here's today's thought that makes me happy.

Running into the old time high school boys and realizing that while they may have grown a couple of inches, they have really not changed! At all. And it's a good thing. Whatever the label: the crush, the best friend, the ex-boyfriend, no matter how many years have gone by, there is always that lovely, old time bond. And that, is a favorite.

x's & o's,

Leslie

And for the post-script:

I miss you, and you, and you, and you. Oh, and you.

And now off to see if my old time high school girls have changed!

Currently Listening:

Fave Three Summer of '09 Songs to Date:

I used to be love drunk, but now I'm hungover, I'll love you forever, Forever is over...

Love Drunk - Boys Like Girls

I know your type, Boy you're dangerous, Yeah, you're that guy, I'd be stupid to trust...

Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship ft. Leighton Meester

You say that I'm the only one, You say that I'm your number 1, Now you're gone and I feel numb, Tell me where do we go wrong. You were my best friend and my boyfriend, Now it seems like you're my worst friend, I gotta do soul searching, Without you I'm a whole different person. I ain't acting like I used to, I don't feel loved like I used to, It was your love I was used to, Why did I have to lose?

Alive - Black Eyed Peas