Wrapping up the year

December 31/11.

The last two days sped by too quickly.

So much to do, so little time. (what else is new?) My son, Max, took this shot (wearing my favourite Christmas gift - my new coat and scarf, from Sam). - Actually, I picked it out and TOLD him it was his gift to me this year and he agreed!  I was heading out to finish the last errands of the year. In a way, can't really believe I actually survived 2011, which was the most challenging and saddest of my life. Strangely though, there were many unbelievable highs thrown in for good measure, and I'm thankful for all those who made them happen. (I will write about you in the next entry).

In the past two days, hit The Bay,

drove by the old house we bought 20 years ago at Dundas & DeGrassi and wondered who lives there now,

made it by car to a far off hotel - (courtesy of Bossy GPS woman) for a Christmas spa session, courtesy of a friend. (Had a facial exfoliation & mask. - Sorry, NO pics!  NOT a pretty sight!) But as Jerry Lewis
says in The Nutty Professor,

"Oh, THAT'S invigorating!" Felt GREAT afterwards! Was a blast of a day.

Later, off to the local mall, Gerrard Square.

and the ever-exciting Food Basics store. The shopping trip was made more bearable at the front cash in a long lineup when a nice man behind me offered to help pick up my pile of groceries from the floor. (I didn't get a basket and boy, were my arms tired!)

He took this pic for me. Then I turned the camera on HIM!

Jamie Laidlaw was buying a frozen pizza for dinner and was surprised to learn he would soon be part of a personal experience blog! He was even MORE surprised when a cashier came over to me and said she recognized me from the Global TV days. (I was kinda stunned too, since I left Global 9 years ago)! Gave Jamie the blog address so he can check it out. (always nice to have a new reader!) Thanks for your help at the store! I told Jamie, writing a blog makes everything more interesting. Always looking for an angle, no matter how weird. (even a frozen pizza!)

Next, on to the LCBO to stock up for New Year's Eve!

Kate (here with boyfriend, Damian), asked me to pick up champagne for the get-together she's having here at the house with her friends tonight.

So, I braved the long lineup and amused myself by writing my blog in a notebook while waiting to get to the head of the line. (no sense wasting time, right? Might as well do something productive while hanging out at the wine store)!

Now that it's New Year's Eve, trying to figure out what to wear out for dinner at The Friendly Greek (our usual new years haunt).

Think I'll wear my OTHER fave Christmas gift, this skin-tight H & M dress, given to me by sister, Carrie for Christmas. Thanks Carrie! LOVE it!

Wore it Christmas Day, even while making the famous "Grampa-lain" punch with Max. (age old recipe passed on to me decades ago by my late Grampa who created it. We still use his original punch bucket
and ladle. The glass pitcher I inherited from Mum, (as it is the "official punch pourer!")

Happy new year everyone!! Hope it's a happy, healthy 2012 ahead for one and all. (I could USE a year like that!)

"Bathing beauty" update....(LOL again)!!

August 11/11

So, after crushing bathing suit defeat at The Bay and Sears, Carrie told me to go this bathing suit shop at Lawrence Plaza. It's called Phantom Outlet. Drove there this afternoon.

What does it say about me that despite being sore, red, burned, in pain from radiation and effects, (not to mention, underweight, so nothing to hold a suit UP!!), - that I STILL want to look passable in a bathing suit at Fern Resort?? - Once a TV reporter who loves hot makeup and clothes, - always, I guess!!

Anyway, The Bay "sale suits" cost a fortune. This place? Excellent prices. Ended up with four different looks. What the hell. Why not? I wear these things for about a decade. (wonder what I'll look like wearing one as a senior citizen in the dark & murky future??) - Quick! Call for a body double!!

This suit replaces my favourite old one...closest I could get to the way it looked. Pretty colours.

My first-ever skirt-suit! - Hide all the imperfections!

A tankini! - Also a first ever! (quick! Somebody call Jaymz Bee! Alert him I need a Crantini immediately! Jaymz! Invite me sailing!!!)

Last suit...not exactly my usual colours. I mean, really, orange?? But, the ONLY suit available with "push-up" effect. - (Help me OUT here)!!!

I started writing months ago, to create a "personal experience blog". Maybe there aren't that many breast cancer patients commenting about buying bathing suits. I don't know. But I am! Ready for poolside!! Bring it on. Cheers!

Out with the OLD, in with the NEWWWWW!!

August 4/11.

It's a new day! (first day of the rest of my life? - Why NOT??)

No hospital visits scheduled today. No more crappy blue medical gowns!! (and no more looking for a non-existent hallway stylist!!) Finally got some of my old clothes into Value Village. Felt weird saying goodbye to so many things I've loved for years, but it's time. I've lost weight, moved on to other things, ideas, ways of thinking, modes of dressing and I crave a new wardrobe!

I need....no, WANT, tighter-fitting, hotter stuff. I know some people don't connect to this concept. But, surprisingly, my husband, Sam, relates! Having lost & gained weight numerous times himself, he told me tonight that no one understands me better than HE does, when it comes to dropping pounds. He can relate to what it's like to lose weight, how it makes you feel about yourself, your self esteem. He made me laugh, when he complimented me on the new form-fitting shirt/slacks I bought and then told me to look out, - being slimmer can be addictive. (& he's right).

After dropping/donating my old items, it was off to the Eaton Centre with Kate to find some NEW acquisitions.

Kate snapped this shot in the Smart Set dressingroom - you can see HER reflected in the background. I saw this mini-dress about a week ago and wanted it, but didn't think they had my size. (i.e. 8 or 10). Never thought of asking for a SMALLER size. Then, on this return visit, tried on size 2. Still too big! Then, finally, tried THIS one on - size 0. What the HELL? Never, in a million years did I think I'd see THAT day!! Kate told me the "zero" looks better! So, bought it. Looks like I'll be wearing it on vacation soon.

(***Note: Was shocked while changing into the dress, to suddenly see the "treated" area had changed rather drastically in the past few hours - now bright red, freckled, burned, hot, kinda sore, - and scared me. Can't beat radiation for surprises I guess).

Meanwhile, Kate visited The Bay lingerie department, bought a sultry black slip dress and took a pic of herself in the change room. So pretty!

Hit the MAC cosmetic counter, where I bought the long-awaited new blush - (GORGEOUS light pinky colour called "Dainty"), plus 2 fabulous lipsticks, (a lovely pink called "Chatterbox"), and a delicious mauvy shade - ("Impressive"), plus a lipliner, in my decades long fave shade - "PLUM". (Now QUICK! Somebody KISS me!!)

- Also bought a vibrant blue liquid eyeliner for Kate (called "Herizon Blue")! There is just NOTHING like new makeup!!

Then, on to the sunglasses department, where I picked out some GUESS "movie star shades" for Fern Resort holiday week. LOVE them!

Also got some new HUE black stretch Flared Jeggings. They are gorgeous.

So, all in all, terrific day.

Nothing in this world like retail therapy!!

P.S. - Table top Muzak...oh, right, forgot. That's not happening anymore! Instead, nothing but Bryn Christopher blaring in the car. (however, lost my car in the Queen/Yonge parking lot for about half an hour. Finally found it, with Kate's help!! Never a dull moment!!)