I lied...

Tumblr's sweet & simple - but I missed the original H & A.

I also miss blogging in general, so burnout or not - expect more to come!

So coffee in hand, I'm off to take on the world.

x's & o's,

L

Current Listen:

Check it out. Obsessed.

Waving Flag - Young Artists for Haiti

Au revoir!

Catch y'all at H & A 2.0:

http://msellebee.tumblr.com/

x's & o's,

Leslie

Lessons Learned!

Since I promised myself a blog for each day of my 26th year in this world (and I have currently failed at this 4 days straight) here's one for ya! And a belated happy birthday to myself!

So. I am consistently told by my mom. My dad. My friends. My boss... "One of these days, if you do not stop using your blackberry while walking, you are going to walk straight into traffic!" WRONG! But maybe not so far from the truth!

This afternoon, while at the Shopper Marketing Forum, I learned more than key trends and metrics in the in-store environment. I learned my lesson... Multi-tasking is not your friend!

While walking to the washroom (one of those washrooms with one door but a walk left for women's and walk right for men's) and frantically trying to get through multiple emails about soccer balls, vuvzelas and creative (oh my!)... I lock myself into the stall, and then my outside perception tunes in. And I hear men's voices. Men's voices that are way too loud to possibly suggest I could be anywhere but the men's washroom! Men's voices who are not so much talking, as laughing. As in, "did that just happen? Did this girl just walk all the way by the sinks (and the urinals!) in a washroom with more than 5 men, and not notice anything out of the ordinary?!"

Whoopsies.

But this girl doesn't ever hang her head in shame. So out I walk, with a smile (small cringe!) and a wave and a quick, "sorry boys!"

Oh, and an apology to my boss and colleague for their embarrassment at having to sit at the table with, "that girl." As in, "did you hear about the girl that was in the men's washroom?"

Lesson learned!

It's Friday, kids - and the stage is set for a big night! A night from which, I am sure, multiple blog posts will stem!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Share the Crazy Cheezy Dream!

So you learn a new thing every day, and today, my friends - I learned how to embed a video care of Mark Stewart!

Now ladies and gentlemen, Mark Stewart is on a mission. And, because I am exhausted from 5 days of Olympic'ing... I am going to steal his words. Because why change something that works!?

It may not have the most appealing name, but the mission of the DoRightos “Crazy Cheezy Dream” is simple.

The good folks at Doritos are once again promoting a contest to name their latest tortilla snack creation. And this year, they’re calling it Doritos Viralocity. Basically, you name their new flavour, make a video – and attempt to make it go viral (get watched by lots of people).

And that’s where the DoRightos “Crazy Cheezy Dream” mission comes in.

I want to win the contest in honour of my mom who passed away from cancer 3 years ago and donate the potential grand prize of $250,000 to Canadian charities that support cancer research, along with The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada – a charity close to my mom’s heart. How’s that for a contest you can feel good about helping someone win?

See a list of the charities the prize money will go to.

How can you help? Again, that’s pretty simple as well. Just watch my Doritos Viralocity “Crazy Cheezy Dream” video, share it with your friends, post links to the video on your social media sites of choice – like Facebook, Twitter, or Digg…basically, spread the word like I’m trying to do. Or you can check out the Doritos site and see what they’re suggesting for tips to make videos go viral.

And for the negative types, I’m happy to sign a contract to prove the prize will be going to these charities…but pretty sure that the public admission here of my motives should hold up pretty well in court Sure, winning the money and keeping it would be great, but that’s not what I want to do.

There’s basically a big bag of cash sitting there, and since an individual’s chance of winning are really small – by spreading the word about the DoRightos “Crazy Cheezy Dream” – we can all win by doing something right for Canadian charities and those in need of our help.

Thanks for making this “Crazy Cheezy Dream” come true – I really hope we can accomplish this together.

http://dorightos.wordpress.com/

http://www.doritosviralocity.ca/Gallery/VideoDetails.aspx?v=6435

So do it, do it right now. Great video. Great cause. Spread the word!

x's & o's,

Leslie

On the brink...

Fave? Maybe. Exciting? Definitely.

If I were to describe life these days, I'd only need three words. On. The. Brink. Sometimes on the brink of the next exciting project. Sometimes on the brink of a thrilling new adventure. Sometimes even on the brink of a breakdown.

Being on the brink may be tiring, it may be challenging and it may be (very very) fast paced. But I must admit, that when I stand up straight and look around, I could never say that it isn't stimulating.

So give me the choice between living on the brink, breaking down and then rising again or living life as a slow moving person?

Shoot me onto the brink any day!

x's & o's,

Leslie

It's about time...

For another post.
But lately, I'm all out of words.
Actually, untrue.
These days, I feel like I'm all out of public words.
These days, I could fill endless diaries.
But I want my blog words to be great.
Like I want to do great things.
Like I want to be a great person. Do great work. Live a great life.
I want to be a great friend. Be a great teammate. Be a great co-worker, colleague, employee, and manager.
I think lately, I have stressed out so much about these aspirations, stressed out so much about the destination, and stopped enjoying the journey.
So now, it's about time to enjoy the journey.
And share the journey.
So tomorrow, it's back to blogging.
But tonight? Well tonight, is for sleeping.

x's & o's,
Leslie

Currently listening (literally just came on the radio, but quite fitting I'd say):

When the day is long and the night, and the night is yours alone. When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on. Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes. Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along. When your day is night alone. If you feel like letting go. When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on. 'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends. Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh no, Don't throw your hand. If you feel like you're alone, no no no, you are not alone.

Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.

New Years Resolutions...

While I kept approximately 6 of 25 resolutions from 2009, I think twenty ten will have a way higher success rate!

So, since New Years Resolutions are a fave... Here goes!

In twenty ten I will...

...Be more decisive

...Ask more questions

...Be less defensive and more patient

...Read the newspaper daily

...Always have neat, polished nails

And for each week, I am going to make mini resolutions for each of the following:

Heart, Health, Family, Friends, Work

So, here is to a fantastic twenty ten. For one and for all!

x's & o's,

Leslie

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!”