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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Come Quickly, I'm Tasting Stars

Good Morning Everyone! I hope everyone is having a great week so far and that, for you Montrealers, your lives haven't been disrupted by the protesters. There are many posts I still need to do about my trip to San Remo, Italy... including one on Cinque Terre and one on the food there, but since I have more recently been on our girls surprise weekend to Bermuda, I have decided to do a post on that first. I know my sisters have shared their pictures and stories, but I would still like to do my own. 


A week ago today, the five of us (T,B,K,D and I) piled into the car to take off on our surprise weekend. We met up with our other sister K in Toronto and then, the fun really began. K, K and I had NO idea where we were going. We arrived at the airport, checked our bags, went through security, grabbed something to eat... and we STILL had NO idea where we were going. It wasn't until we we literally about to board the plane that we found out we were headed to beautiful BERMUDA. 






Our first afternoon there, we walked around and got to know the city before heading out to an amazing restaurant called The Pickled Onion it was an amazing restaurant that later turned into a bit of a club with a dance floor and live music. We danced there a bit before heading off to Cafe Cairo for a full night of dancing. The next day, after a little verbal abuse from a boat captain, we spent the afternoon at the Fairmont Princess' stunning beach. We just lounged and laughed and enjoyed each other's company. 


Stunning beach at the Fairmont Princess. SB says she 'loves a dramatic beach like this'. 
The next day, it wasn't quite as nice out as the first, so we decided to visit the Bermuda Zoo and Aquarium where we got to see plenty of animals, some interesting fish, and even a squirrel! Afterwards, it was back to the rooms to shower and get ready for another night of dinner and dancing. 




























On the way in, Toronto K and I noticed a quote written on the wall above the door.




I had never heard this quote before, and it literally stopped us in our tracks. I think the reason why we loved it so much was not because of the superficial meaning of this quote, but the depth and feelings that lay behind it. It's not about tasting champagne... it's way more than that. Live life to the fullest, seize the day, surround yourself with people you love and who love you, live the good life; taste the starsIt truly encompassed the entire feeling of the trip because we were doing exactly that... we were tasting the stars. We ate and drank more than we should have, we laughed until our stomachs hurt and we danced until our feet couldn't take it any more


I tried so many times to live in the moment... be no where else but exactly where I was. On more than one occasion, I looked around, at my sisters, our friends, our family, and all I wanted was to remember that moment forever. I wanted to store this memory; tuck it away in a tiny corner room in my brain and bring it up any time I needed a boost. I wanted to remember the smells, the sounds, the song that was playing and the feeling I had in my heart because it filled me with such happiness, I could hardly take it. If I could have bottled that feeling I'd be a millionaire.  


Sunset view from our balcony




I know we can't just take off to Bermuda at the drop of a hat, I know we won't always get along perfectly, and I know life with throw us a few curve balls. But, without the downs, there would be no ups, and it's memories like these that will get us through tough times. Life isn't about vacations, or perfection... it's about squeezing every drop out of every day. Taste those stars baby!

With Love.
S

Monday, May 21, 2012

Home (For Now...)

I am sad that the Surprise Weekend is over but am happy that everything went so well.  Bermuda is a beautiful island and as we all agreed - I cannot wait to go back someday.





I hope everyone had a nice long weekend.

Tracy

We're back!

If you have kept up with recent posts, then you know that S, (Toronto) K & I have been kept in the dark about a trip which was planned in order to celebrate our 25th (S & TK) and my 30th birthday. It was beyond difficult to not snoop through stuff or bug people for hints but we managed to behave.

Organizers, T, B and D did an EXCELLENT job of keeping a secret- they spoke to the ticket agent and even security and asked them not to reveal where we were headed. They even marched us around the waiting area until our flight was boarding to reveal that we were going to BERMUDA!!




Literally at the gate, fellow travelers boarding the plane when it was revealed!
As it turns out, our destination was not the only surprise. Shortly after our arrival in Bermuda, while looking for a cab to bring us to our hotel (http://www.fairmont.com/hamilton) K spots another one our amazing friends/travel buddies, SB!!!


True to her word, T planned a trip to a destination none of us had ever been to before but I can promise you... we WILL be going back! (If the proper, calm, classy residents of the Island of Bermuda haven't black-listed us!!!)

Although I could recount ever moment of our trip (YES, I had THAT much fun!) I won't bore you to tears. Instead, I invite you to enjoy some of the beauty and fun I had the privilege of experiencing over the past few days. T, B, D (& the parents who certainly contributed to this phenomenal experience) you outdid yourselves. It means the world to me (and I know S & K too) that you would put this much time, thought and effort into an incredible weekend like this. There are no words for how grateful we are- WE LOVE YOU!!!

Ok- now enjoy!!!


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Love the colored houses!

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Amazing group of girls



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Sisters!!!

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Beach at our sister-hotel
DON`T be fooled by the clouds... we were :S

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Being in charge of our purses didn`t cramp his style at all
 
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Our little partiers...

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Good thing they are pretty cause boy, do they stink


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Like I said, don`t be fooled by clouds or you end up looking like us.
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The gardens at our hotel


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Heaven- just off our balcony

Really, it doesn`t get better than this!

Til next time Bermuda... and there will be a next time!

xoxoxo

A trip I HATE for a friend I LOVE

A little while ago, a girlfriend of mine (ASB) and I braved highway 401 in order to make it to Toronto for our dear friend’s Jack ‘n Jill. For those of you who are not familiar with the term “Jack ‘n Jill,” it is a combined bachelor & bachelorette party


 
Hitting the road

Supplies- anyone having had Bed Bugs knows you DON'T stay at a hotel without these bad boys!



35 seconds into the drive & we already have a ather gross casualty on my windshield

 Now, as a true Montrealer, Toronto is not on my list of favorite nor do I enjoy the drive there. Luckily, this time around I had ASB along for the ride to keep me company.



After 5 hours, just to get to Kingston, we were going more than a little nuts!

But we powered on for our soon-to-be-married friend! After a little over 8 hours in the vehicle, we FINALLY made it to our destination... unfortunately, after a quick BB check, ASB & I were too tired to make it out for a visit that night & rested up for the Jack 'n Jill the following evening.

Doing a thorough job of checking for unwanted roommates!

Now this is where my post gets a bit disappointing- due to the fact that I played the role of bartender on the eve of the Jack 'n Jill, it turns out that I don't have any pictures to post to show you what it was all about (apart from pics of ppls faces when they took shots.) Instead I can tell you however that the soon to be groom (who was put in charge of organizing the event) did a phenomenal job! From games, to a raffle (including a flat screen WHAT?) t-shirt making to the bar, AS clearly put many hours into the planning and it sure paid off!

Sorry for the anticlimactic post (mainly for the lack of pics) but MEGS- I love you. My intro to the idea of Jack 'n Jills was super fun & can't wait for your very special day... t-minus 33 days!

Bride to be (LOVE HER!)

And couldn't resist having a little fun on the way home!
Brought the MOH on board & had a little fun at the BK Lounge


xoxoxo