You're Ok, You Can Stay

Hi there.

While I did say to myself when I decided to start blogging, that I wasn't going to get all preachy personal, I think that's going to happen today. So get ready. Or just close the window and go on with your day (no, don't really do that. Keep reading!).

In case you didn't know, I am a big fan of Jenna Marbles. I think she's hilarious, and she has a cheeky mixture of vulgarity, sass and tell it like it is. I was lost in a black hole of her videos yesterday and I came across one called "Why Girls Hate Each Other". (It's posted at the end of this post, I didn't want her to steal my thunder.) This is something that really gets under my skin, so I thought I'd just blab about it for a moment and see what you all think.

Basically, I think girls are better than boys. Boys are good too, don't get me wrong, but us girls are so much better. HOWEVER, we spend so much time on silly things that we let the men take things over, and that is just not ok with me.  While I wouldn't consider myself a "feminist" in the traditional sense, I definitely have a large predilection for girl power.  

I've been lucky enough to spend some time at some very girl power filled places in Hamilton, like White Elephant and Cake and Loaf Bakery, and it was brought to my attention recently that a TON of new businesses in Hamilton are girl-centric. (Cannon Coffee, Sweet Ice Snow Cones, Needle Work, Cupcake Diner, I know I'm forgetting some...). That's pretty awesome if you ask me. 

However, it makes me mad/sad that, as women, we spend far too much time on two things that are very negative and detrimental to our ass kicking and taking over the world. 

#1- Worrying about how we look.

I won't get too much into the logistics of all the media, but basically, we are being told that we are not enough as people unless we are thin and tan and pretty and perfect. We waste so much time worrying about our thighs and our hair and how we look in this dress or that bathing suit. I myself have definitely struggled with a major body image issue for years, and at this point, I'm SO SICK OF IT. 

It is such a dirty waste of my fabulous time, and I just want to smash it. 

#2- Worrying about other girls.

Now, I know a lot of fabulous females who have moved past this, and are sweet and nice and accepting of the other fabulous females they come across in life. But I also know a whole lot of ladies who are still carrying around this high school GARBAGE of being mean to other girls just because they happen to have vaginas. (YES THAT'S RIGHT I SAID IT). It's ridiculous, just cut it out and knock it off. We all have amazing skills and beautiful attributes and you just need to stop worrying about that other girl, and be yourself and live your life. 

I could ramble on about this for days and days, but I won't. I just wanted to bring it to your attention, and maybe a small part of you will take it in, and consider it, and it will make your day and your life a little easier. Just do your own thing, I can guarantee it's awesome. And be nice to other girls! They are having just as much trouble as you, even if their hair is nicer or their boobs/waist are bigger/smaller. 

I think you are pretty, and that thing that you do is really awesome, and you should keep doing it.

Now watch this Jenna Marbles video. 

Ps. I'm not drunk. 

Welcome Conner!

Yesterday, Friday May 25th was a very special day. It was the day that Conner James McIntyre Horsman joined my family.

My cousin Craig, and his (lovely, lovely) lovely wife Caley had their first baby.  It's actually the first baby in our family since myself, my brother and my cousin Craig and his sister Andrea were babies. So it's a pretty big deal.
I was over the moon when I found out they were going to have a baby, and I've been impatiently waiting for this little guy to come into our world. After many, many hours of thinking "this is it", and having it, in fact, NOT be it, Conner finally decided to join us at 4:30am on Friday.

I went to visit the happy Mom and Pop today, and meet my new little cousin. Although, I'm dubbing myself an unofficial "auntie" because "second cousin" is really no fun.  Although this little guy already has some pretty amazing real aunties lined up, I still want to be a part of the auntie action.

If you can believe it, I can't think of a time when I've ever held a newborn. Well, I know I held my brother when he was born, but I was like 4 years old so I don't think that counts. Holding this new little person in my arms immediately made me cry (I knew I would).  I've always thought using the term "miracle" in reference to pregnancy and childbirth was a little hokey, but when I met Conner today I ate my dirty, dirty words. His perfect little hands and feet, and his little ears and his squishy yawning face....oh my. This perfect little man, brought into the world by some pretty awesome people, is a total miracle. Excuse me while I cry again. They made a person. A teeny tiny, perfect person.

I love him so much already, I can't even imagine how Craig and Caley feel about him. Watching my big cuz hold his little guy in his arms and just stare into his tiny face like it was the most important thing he's ever seen was just a lovely moment.

Ok, gush gush gush. He's AWESOME, people.  And he smells good. I cannot wait until he's a little bigger and does and says hilarious things. But no rush on that, for right now, I just hope he sleeps through the night.

Congratulations time a million, Craig and Caley. You are going to be amazing parents.

Rock Point Camping

This past weekend was one of the best Victoria Day long weekends I can remember. Usually everyone gets so excited for the first long weekend of the summer, and it rains and it's cold and no one has fun. But not this year! It was amazing and hot-hot-hot all weekend long.

Rich and I love to go camping, and this weekend was our five year anniversary, so we decided to go for an impromptu camp at Rock Point Provincial Park, about an hour from here outside of Dunville. We usually make a few day trips up there throughout the summer, but we've never camped there. Rock Point is named because of the limestone shelves that run along the edge of the park. The whole area used to be coral reef, about 350 million years ago. When you walk along the rocks at the very end of the park, you can see some really amazing fossils of plant life from the reef. That doesn't sound very exciting, but I swear it is. The fossils are huge, and you can really picture what the area would have been like when it was a reef.

We had a great day on the beach, and we discovered some little spots in the park that we'd never seen before. I was shocked at how beautiful the sunset was on Sunday night over Lake Erie. The water was perfectly still, and all the gorgeous colors of the sun set were reflecting in the lake. You couldn't tell where the sky stopped and the water began.

We managed to score a pretty great camp site, right next to the sand dune lookout, and the beach trail. (And not too far from the flush toilets, which is kind of a must for me.) We usually go much further north for our camping trips, and are used to being a bit more secluded at our campsites, but all in all, Rock Point was a really great place to camp, and would be especially good for families with little ones in tow

Rich went swimming like a crazy person. The water was freezing.

Beach art installations

Camping rule #4: one must always wear a hat while camping.

Exploring some cliffs outside the park.

Seriously beautiful sunset on Lake Erie

Dune trail lookout point.

The view from the top.

You can't drive through Dunnville without stopping to visit Muddy the Mud Cat. He even has his own line of souvenir clothing.  

Ps- I promise to get a real camera soon. 

Long Weekend Update (get it?)

Just popping into say Happy Victoria Day! (For those of you non-Canadian readers, Victoria Day is the last Monday before May 24th - also known as "May Two-Four"- to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday!) I can't wait for our first summer long weekend.
The weather has been amazing around here this week, and the forecast says it will be continuing into the weekend.  I have so many fun things planned. This weekend is Rich and I's anniversary, five years! How did that happen?
Saturday I'll be working at White Elephant so come by and say hello! There's tons of new stuff in the store. Long weekend present anyone?
Sunday, Rich and I are heading up to Rock Point to spend the day at the beach. It's a bit of an anniversary tradition, weather permitting. If the nice weather holds, we may bring the tent and camp for the night.  We are planning to go out for a nice dinner as well.
My entire family is also patiently waiting on the arrival of my cousin and his (lovely) wife's little bundle of joy. He's due any minute and I cannot wait! Hurry up baby!

So, I'm taking a long weekend hiatus from blogging to enjoy the arrival of summer/love/family! I'll be back Monday or Tuesday with a post about the weekend's activities.
Do you have any long weekend traditions? I'd love to hear them.  Have a good one :)

(Rich and I at my cousin Craig and his wife Caley's wedding in 2010).

Happy 5 year anniversary Rich! You are the best fella any gal could ask for. Dear Marciano dress I wore, you are also awesome. I can't wait to wear you again. 

A is for Accessorize

Accessories are a girl's best friend! One of the lovely ladies I work with said to me the other day "Linds, you always wear so much color" (true fact), "I wish I could wear color, it just doesn't suit me" (FALSE fact). My motto is "everyone can wear color". Nothing makes a dreary Monday better than a lovely yellow dress, or a coral trench coat. A pop of color really says something about you, and I think everyone should step away from the black, especially for spring.

I know not everyone wants to walk around looking like a cartoon character, so you can easily add a pop of color and sparkle to your everyday look with a great pair of earrings, or a fun ring.  I think accessories make an outfit a 10, so I though I'd share what I've been accessorizing with this week to give you some inspiration.  (Honestly though, try some color in your wardrobe. It'll make your world a better place).

Monday

Earrings: Aldo

Sunglasses: DLR (Westdale) 

Necklace: White Elephant, by Stone & Honey. (Also available online here)

Tuesday

Earrings: Le Chateau (people mistake them for vintage all the time)

Necklace: Same as Monday. (It's new and I'm obsessed with it.)

Wednesday

Sunglasses: DLR

Bracelet: Thrifted in London (UK! Woo!)

Necklace: Victoire (From the 2011 Field Trip Pop Up Shop in Hamilton )

Thursday

Earrings: Birthday present from Jana (from Pure)

Bracelets: Recycled glass bead bracelets, present from Rich. From the Distillery District Market, Toronto.

Friday

Earrings: DLR 

Bracelets: Another present from Jana. Because she has amazing taste. (They say "believe in yourself" and "L'amour" which I think is "love always").

Saturday*

Pink Bow (top left): Aldo

Sparkle Flower: Present from my mom

Beige Sparkle Band: Aldo

Lace tie (bottom left): Thrifted

Black Flower Clip: Birthday present made by the fabulous Natalie Rose

Yellow Hair Pin: White Elephant

Red Hair Pin: Ardens (So shameful, but true).

*Ok, I didn't really wear ALL of these hair things on Saturday, but I wanted to include hairbands as accessory options and this picture was so pretty

Sunday

This is a very special accessory, and while I don't usually believe in "special occasion" jewelry, this kind of falls into that category. On Mother's Day I visited my maternal grandmother, and she gave me this necklace as a gift. It used to be her mother's, and it is so special to me to have this. 

So go forth, and accessorize! Be bold, make a statement! Take pictures and share them with me.
[Craving some more accessory goodness? The lovely Jane of White Elephant posted about some they just got into the store today. WHAT A COINCIDENCE.  Check out her awesome poses here.]
I think this accessory goodness may be a new recurring feature here on At Ten Paces. Love it.

(This post made me realize that a ton of my jewelry- costly and not- have been presents, and that makes them even more special and awesome.)

Doors Open Hamilton 2012

This past weekend was Doors Open Hamilton 2012.  "The Doors Open program seeks to celebrate, educate and inform citizens and visitors of the importance of the architectural, cultural and historical sites in Hamilton by allowing visitors free access to properties that are either not usually open to the public, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Many locations organize guided tours, displays and activities to enrich the visitor experience." (Taken from Doors Open website).

This year featured over 50 sites throughout all of Hamilton and there were over 25,000 reported visits for all the sites across both days.  It's an amazing event in Hamilton and you get to see some amazing buildings you pass everyday, but up close and personal.
On Sunday, Rich and I made a beeline straight for Auchmar House.  We spend a lot of time over there, and I've posted about it before.  I was so excited to see inside, and Auchmar didn't let me down.  

From the minute we stepped inside, I couldn't look around fast enough. The inside of this house is even more beautiful than the outside.  I can only begin to imagine what Auchmar would have been like in its heyday. 

We saw the library, with it's amazing shuttered bay windows and the beautiful fireplace. There are over 20 fireplaces in Auchmar!

Some amazing details from the original design, such as the bathroom tiles (note: that blood-like stain was not on the tiles when I took this photo. Hmm. Spooky.), some original wallpaper (the palm pattern at the top of the photo) and the beautiful window panes.

Check out these closets! I just imagined hanging beautiful dresses in the white one.

I love checking out the Dovecote when we walk around the grounds. I've never seen this picture of what is was like originally, and this picture is pretty darn awesome. 

Being inside Auchmar was truly a treat, I couldn't have been more excited. We checked out the Mountain Trail School House Museum, and the Go Station Museum as well, and they were both a great look into the history of Hamilton.  I'll do another post later this week about them.  
Thank you SO SO SO MUCH to all the volunteers who made this amazing Hamilton event happen. Seeing inside Auchmar is something I've waited to do for so long, and it really meant so much to me. Not to get all gushy, sorry, but it couldn't have happen without all those fabulous people.


Did you check out any other great sites on Door Open? I'd love suggestions of other places to see next year.  I'm thinking about volunteering at Auchmar next year too.  


Hamilton Heritage Foundation is an organization formed in 1977 that looks to preserve our local heritage and historical buildings.  They have formed a Community Restoration Project for Auchmar in which they will match, dollar for dollar, the contributions of the community up to $25,000 for the preservation of Auchmar House.  Imagine what they could do with $50,000! Please help preserve Auchmar (or any Hamilton building you love) and donate if you can.

Doggie Baking

This isn't a recipe post, it's more of an activity post that happens to contain baking. Baking for dogs! I decided it would be fun to spend some time making some dog treats for Hunter and Iris. It's much more wallet friendly, and I know exactly what they are getting. No scary, random, unpronounceable ingredients.  I made 3 types, chicken and honey, beef and vegetarian. They all turned out really well, although some of the dough wasn't cookie cutter friendly, which I was sad about because I bought some adorable Martha Stewart Doggie Bone Cookie Cutters. That Martha, she thinks of everything.
 They are Hunter, Iris and Zooey approved for now and I'm testing them out on some lovely Hamilton dog owners. So if all goes well, I'm going to start making them for sale!

These cookie cutters couldn't be any cuter!

All natural, healthy ingredients. And some baking tunes.

Mix number one. Beef. Mmm, doesn't it look delicious?

Beef treats, finished. 

Mix number two. Chicken and honey.

This dough rolled out so nicely and was fun to cut into bone shapes.

Cooked and ready to roll.

Waiting for tummies.

Aren't they pretty? Don't you just want to taste one? 

Let me know if you need any treats for your furry friends. I'd be happy to oblige.