Blah Blah Blair

Remember when you were a little girl and you got all dressed up for a tea party with your best friends (real or imaginative)? Well, the Tea Party is back and hotter than ever. Ladies, dig out your beautiful dresses, pretty heels and stunning hats/hairbands because it is time for tea!

Last Monday five of us got together at the Hotel Vancouver for “Princess and the Tea” which happens every day from 2:00pm until 4:30pm. Afternoon Tea is offered daily in the 900 West Lounge at Hotel Vancouver. With your Traditional Afternoon Tea you get exclusively blended Fairmont teas, finger sandwiches, tasty pastries, and house-made scones and fresh strawberries with Devonshire cream.  Trust me, this was to die for and over the top yummy.

The dress code is smart casual and allows you to dig out your fun outfits that don’t get worn as much as they should.  I was swept away by an afternoon of catching up with old friends, making new friends and planning our next tea party.

This is a great way to socialize, grow your business and do something different. The afternoon was very inspiring and I’ll be sure to try and make this a monthly ritual.

Note: There was no Mad Hatter- he stayed away because he knew he was not welcome!

We are Canada’s unbeatable, online elite coupon community partnered with companies that reflect a fun and healthy lifestyle. We showcases Canada’s best health and wellness companies and provides you with elite coupons to open up your eyes and mind to inspire a healthy lifestyle. Five dollars from each membership purchased is donated to Ovarian Cancer Canada. It’s easy to use and all you have to do is select, print and experience your elite coupons of choice. Does this sound like a company you want to work for?

We are looking for Advertising Representatives. Our Ad Reps are our community members who help spread the love and knowledge of our online elite coupon community to merchants and members and help inspire a fun and healthy lifestyle. We would like to offer you the position to become a part of our team.
We are looking for a Representative in your community to help us grow.

The tasks and duties of a Representative are (and not limited to):

• You MUST have at least 3 years of experience, preferably with selling advertising with a proven track record.
• Maintaining target sales, tracked on a weekly basis.
• Able to have weekly meetings with CEO every Monday morning (where applicable) via phone or Skype.
• Responsible for representing our community and will reflect such image and lifestyle.
• Services existing accounts, obtains orders, and establishes new accounts by planning and organizing daily (weekly) work schedule to call on existing or potential sales outlets and other trade factors.
• Focuses sales efforts by studying existing and potential volume of customers.
• Able to answer merchant emails, questions and be a leader to help maintain and grow the community.
• Keeps management informed by submitting reports to CEO (TBD during training).
• Monitors competition by gathering current marketplace information on pricing, products, new products, delivery schedules, merchandising techniques, etc.
• Is open to give and receive feedback.
• Must be a self-starter and can work with minimal supervision and go above and beyond!
• Maintains professional knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies. All tradeshow door (entrance) fees |(and any other event fees) to be covered by us (This is a VERY fun part of the job!).
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

We want to invite you to be a part of our family because you represent what we stand for. You are outgoing, unique and will help spread the word about us. Our community exists because of people like you.

This is a contract position and for the right candidate will evolve into a full time management position. This position is meant for someone who has experience and already has a little black book of contacts!

Please send a brief cover letter, resume with how you have an active mind, happy heart and loving soul to blair@livingfreecanada.com. In the subject line please put the name of your city and “LFC Representative” NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

We are rapidly growing and need to bring the right person on to help us manage your community. Position available starting when we find the right person.

Namaste.

What does that mean anyway? Moving. Too. Fast.

Well, first off, where am I going and what is the speed limit? This is a silly statement that people may ask me if I’m doing something in my life that is not the same as what the “social norm” is.

Too fast? Running…..I’m not running through my life and I do believe that everything happens when it happens and mostly for a reason. I rarely run…..only for the bus.

I truly do believe that life’s all about the journey AND the destination…. but you have to know where you are going first!

So, where am I going? Well, I don’t really know yet…..I do know that I am very much enjoying the journey and I don’t even know if I will “get to my destination.”

You control your own life. If you are not happy with something-change it (but don’t change in public because you may get a ticket for indecent exposure).

The time has come for me to move. By August 1, 2010 I will no longer reside in the circus that I have created- but will move 20 minutes away. Maybe this will be a traveling circus….but who knows?

Maybe I will have an office?

Maybe I will like the North Shore?

My life changes with a blink of an eye and I suck in everyone around me. 828, you have been great but now it’s time to go.

These are 2 things that make me laugh and think:

1. I was at a wedding this past weekend and I wanted to know how the hell a bride goes to the bathroom in the big, princess dress. Well, first she needs an entourage (so the bride best not be shy or she will stain her dress). We proceed to the “Handi” stall in the ladies room. I think this room needs to be renamed becuase it is not just for people in a wheelchair but also for groups of girls “peeing together” and brides and I’m sure a lot more. Next, we line the seat with TP. No germs for this bride. Third we must lift the dress…… woa. So, note to self, no drinking a lot of liquid at my wedding in the far far future.

2. What is with smokers who don’t have lighters? Do not tell me you spend $12 on a pack of “smokes” and have to have them, without having fire. If this is you (on an ongoing basis) you may as well quite because the “cool” factor is tossed out the window while you ask for a “light” on Robson.  Like I said, what is with smokers who don’t have lighters?

3. Homeless people in Vancouver have bikes. I do not. Something is wrong with that…….

I’m currently in Winnipeg and have had the rude reminder of the downside to a hot Winnipeg Summer. Mosquitoes.

itch swat itch

What the hell are they doing here or anywhere? I’m itchy in weird places but found 40 ways to “help” with itch relief. Thank you Tipnut for these:

Here are more than 40 mosquito bite itch relief tips organized in one neat file, each bullet tip is a single method:

Household Items To Relieve Itching

1. Rub a bar of soap over the itch. I just tried this (Ivory soap) and the relief was near instant. I used a dry bar of soap directly on the skin, but I also have notes that you can spritz bite with water and then run bar of soap over area–or use a wet bar of soap.
2. Place a piece of scotch tape on the bite; or dab rubbing alcohol or ammonia on the bite first then stick on a piece of tape.
3. Hot water: Take a hot shower, or a hot bath, or apply a hot compress. As hot as you can stand it without burning you.
4. Ice cube, ice pack or very cold water

Dabbers For Itch Relief

The quicker you can apply one of the remedies below, the faster the relief. These are topical suggestions, apply directly to the bite area.

1. Nail Polish
2. Strong tea mixed with rubbing alcohol
3. Toothpaste (works for me)
4. Mouthwash
5. Vinegar (apply directly to bite or take a hot bath with 2 cups of vinegar in the water)
6. Honey
7. Underarm deodorant (solid or roll-on) – apply directly to bite area
8. Rubbing Alcohol
9. Ammonia
10. Bleach
11. Tea: Use a hot tea bag or a cotton ball soaked in hot tea to dab on bite area

Paste Applications

Mix these fresh then apply to bite as soon as possible. The consistency should be nice and thick so it won’t run, yet will still stay in place on the affected area. You could also spritz bite with water then apply grains/powders directly (generously) and rub them in.

1. Baking Soda & Water (works for me)
2. Meat Tenderizer & Water
3. Salt & Water (works for me)
4. Epsom Salt & Water (could also do this as a foot soak if it’s the ankle/foot area affected)
5. Tums Tablets: crush and add a few drops of water
6. Aspirin: crush then add a few drops of water
7. Aspirin – crush then apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol

Commercial Product Lotions, Creams & Applications

*Apply directly to mosquito bite area.

1. Calamine Lotion
2. Benadryl Cream
3. Orajel
4. Anbesol
5. Caladryl
6. Vicks VapoRub (works for me)
7. Preparation H (works for me)
8. Lucas Papaw Ointment
9. Tiger Balm
10. Bag Balm
11. Gold Bond Medicated Cream (or the Gold Bond Medicated Powder)
12. Mylanta (heartburn relief product)
13. After Bite

Essential Oils For Itch Relief

Apply full strength directly to bite area. Edit: There are concerns about using essential oils on children and pre-teens, especially repeated use.

1. Tea Tree Oil
2. Lavender Oil
3. Witch Hazel (astringent)
4. Cedar Oil

Leaf Applications

*Crush the fresh leaves roughly then apply to bite area

1. Basil
2. Plantains (Plantago)

Fruity Applications

*Use fresh fruit & apply directly to bite

1. Lemon Juice
2. Lemon Slice
3. Lime Juice
4. Lime Slice
5. Banana Peel (rub inside of peel on bite)

Whew! Big List! If I’ve missed your favorite remedy for mosquito bites, please add them below.

Notes

• If a remedy doesn’t provide fast relief, don’t despair. Give it another try, sometimes it will take 2 or 3 applications before it kicks in.
• The itch from mosquito bites comes from the saliva of the mosquito that it injects into you as it feasts on your blood. There are several dozen different species of mosquitoes and you may react to some species bites more than others.
• If large swelling occurs (like welts), contact a doctor or pharmacist for suggestions (especially if it’s a child with a strong reaction). It could be an allergy to the bite. It’s important to watch the throat for swelling and get treatment asap.

Personally, I, Blahblahblair, think the best way is to not go to Winnipeg and avoid being bitten to start off! Where is the weirdest place you have been bitten?

Me-between my toes.

Hot Sauce- who would have thought?

Today I decided to eat toast, butter and hot sauce. Really?

hot hot hot

Recently, I have decided that I like to burn my face off with spicey foot like wasabi and hot sauce.

I have eaten it on sushi, perogies, toast (apparently), hasbrowns and I’m sure a whole lot of everything else.

Good thing I bought a bunch of different types of hot sauce in Mexico……I’m not read for 5 alarm yet.

What do you put hot sauce on?

Do you snore?

I snore!

Falling asleep is not a problem for me and once I am out- BOOM- I snore. Sexy, isn’t it?

Wikipedia says:

Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. In some cases the sound may be soft, but in other cases, it can be rather loud and quite unpleasant. Generally speaking, the structures involved are the uvula and soft palate. The irregular airflow is caused by a passageway blockage and usually due to one of the following:

• Throat weakness, causing the throat to close during sleep
• Mispositioned jaw, often caused by tension in the muscles
• Fat gathering in and around the throat
• Obstruction in the nasal passageway
• The tissues at the top of airways touching each other causing vibrations
• Relaxants such as alcohol or drugs relaxing throat muscles
• Sleeping on one’s back, which may result in the tongue dropping to the back of the mouth.

Statistics on snoring are often contradictory, but at least 30% of adults and perhaps as many as 50% of people in some demographics snore. One survey of 5,713 Italian residents identified habitual snoring in 24% of men and 13.8% of women, rising to 60% of men and 40% of women aged 60 to 65 years; this suggests an increased susceptibility to snoring as age increases.

So, I sleep on my back and I hope that there is no “fat” gathering around my throat- wouldn’t I look like a turkey? When I drink “alcohol” I DO NOT snore- I sleep more like a snore-less rock.

I know how those sleeping around me feel-I have a certain friend (nicknamed Inka) who snores like a MACHINE. It is loud and makes me nudge her. So- how do you stop us noise nose machines?

This is what I found on helpguide.com:

• Sleep on your side (try and move me)
• Elevate the head of your bed (haha-no)
• Limit alcohol and medications (I don’t do either)
• Clear your nasal passages (from boogies?)
• Lose weight (no matter my size I shall snore-and I’m not “fat”)

So…how do you stop a snore-er? NUDGE, PILLOW or MOVE TO THE COUCH?

“Integrity. We do what we say and stick by our words. We believe honesty is the best policy and that is what makes our community stronger.”  This is how Living Free Canada defines it.

I strongly believe in integrity…… and I always tell the truth!

Today I went into a used book store that looked like it was right out of Harry Potter….piles and piles and stacks and piles…. I loved it. I love books!

I had the idea last night of buying a few used books of art and redecorating me casa. So-why not pick up some used books of art?b

used book fort tim!

I went into the store….with a big smile on my face….and told him it was my first time there and that I loved the smell. He asked what I was looking for……and so I told him:

“I’m looking for books of art, like Picasso. I want to decorate my place with beautiful art for a lower cost!” -I was honest and excited for my new project.

The man responds, “WE DON’T DO THAT. WE PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF BOOKS HERE!”

He then pushed me aside (gently) and walked away.

“Well, have a good day,” I said……and no response.

ASSHOLE. Really? There are about a thousand different ways to respond to that. I value his merchandise and what he stands for, but if I buy a book and have the art on display and not in a bookshelf…..isn’t that better?

I PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF ART, MISTER!

I feel like I was scolded by a teacher or old man….and was insulted. So, next time should I wear my hair different and not tell him WHY I’m buying a book….

Will there even be a next time for him….. probably not. He suggested to “go to Value Village.”

So. I. Will.

PMS…..I can be a:

PRETTY MOODY SISTA

PATHETIC MANIC SADDY

POOPY MAD SICK

What does PMS make you?

Seriously, why the hell do we get “PMS”? NOT cool.