One More Week: Getting Closer!

Last week was another busy one. I've been fighting a flu bug and have not had my regular energy, which has made me get really panicky about going (I'm prone to panic attacks). Now it's time to start thinking about packing, which is a tough enough task for me for a week or two, let alone a whole year! How am I going to pick which shoes I love most to bring and which stay behind??? I was also starting to feel bad for leaving people behind. I worry that my parents will get lonely, I'm sad to sell my beloved car Wolfie, and that people will fill the gap I've left behind. I had a nice talk with my Dad and he helped calm me down. He said everyone can take care of themselves here and that there is skype and phones and texts and if he gets really lonely he can come visit. He said don't stress about everyone in Edmonton, just enjoy my time and adventure away. I'm still stressing about packing, but amazingly that little talk lifted a big weight off my shoulder.

I've also been saying goodbye to all my clients. Since we booked this trip so quickly, alot of clients have been getting surprise announcements that their appointment today is their last one with me for a year! Everyone is really excited for me. A few are sad and are trying to figure out if they can fly down to Australia for a haircut and write it off as a business expense! I am very lucky, my clientele is full of wonderful people who I always look forward to seeing. Here are two of my very favorite blondes, Amber and Robin (they are identical twins). They love my family and joked that they would adopt my parents while I'm gone.


On Sunday Mom threw a family "Bon Voyage" party for Joel and I. It was weird to say "see you next year" to people I'm used to seeing all the time! We had prosecco, appetizers, and Aussie colored cake pops, which were so good.

My Godparents, Greg and Barb.My speical boy cousins, Jeff, Will and Paul.
They are all younger then me but much, much taller.My cousin Larissa.

Two More Weeks: Last Winter Weather

In honor of Joel and I leaving, nature decided to give us a going away present- snow and minus forty degree weather! It lasted almost a whole week. The weather has been so mild this year that the drop in temperature was a big shock to everyone. My poor car didn't start Monday morning and I ended up having to get a new battery.

On Saturday I headed out to Wainwright to visit my long time friend Cherlynn and her kids, who are my adopted nieces and nephews. It was Taela's fifth birthday party on Saturday and all three kids were baptized on Sunday. I'm Nathans Godmother, along with Cher's brother Mac.

After Cher and Nick took all the Godparents and Grandparents out to lunch. I was really surprised- she made a nice goodbye toast to me and had a going away card for me signed by the whole family.
Skyla is two and a half and she always has to try on my shoes! She is so cute, but I can never catch her smile on camera. She is the comedian of the bunch and loves to sit on my lap.

Nathans is so sweet and cuddly. He's almost four months and is smiling and laughing alot. He loves to be held, especially if you walk around and rock him.

Taela is my number one fan. She always wants to be just like me and says I'm her "very best Auntie Vic ever!" When I stay over she always comes downstairs and wakes me up super early because she can't wait to play with me.
The girls were both so sad when I went home today. They cried and cried and tried to block the door so I couldn't leave. Taela was especially sad. I told her we'd talk lots on skype but she said that's not the same. Her reason? If she tries to give me an Eskimo kiss (our special thing) on skype she will break the computer screen with her nose!

Three More Weeks: Getcha Getcha Ya Ya Da Da!

This week was busy! I've been working some extra hours to fit in clients for their last appointments, but I took Friday and Saturday off for a rowdy weekend in Canmore. It was my good friend Jill's stagette party, so thirteen girls headed to the mountains for a rowdy girls weekend. Much drinking and dancing was involved.

On Friday we spent a few hours in the hot tub, which was overly chlorinated and everyone's swimsuits ended up bleaching to lighter colors! KK's was the best- it went from light pink to lilac.

After enjoying some drinks and aps we headed out to The Drake for some more drinking and crazy dancing. We owned that dance floor! Can't wait till the pictures surface from that...

On Saturday we all slept away the day. Then at three o'clock it was time to get our glam on. The theme of the night was Moulin Rouge so we had some great costumes!

After a fun surprise for Jill courtesy of the bridesmaids, it was off to Banff to party at Aurora. Our group was very popular- we had perve row sitting in front of the speaker where we spent most of the night dancing. Unfortunately we had one casualty. Poor Brad, our blow up hunk, was thrown into the crowd and trampled on. At least he went out with a bang!

It was so nice to have a weekend away from everything! The bridesmaids did a fantastic job planning and organizing and it was the best stagette I've been too. It was such a fun group of girls it makes me really sad that I'll be missing the wedding and party of the year! Promise I'll make it up to you though Jill-i-an...

Four More Weeks: The Goodbyes Begin

We're officially one month away- time for the goodbyes to begin! I joke that I'm on my Goodbye Tour because I'll be away visiting someone each weekend. The first goodbye I said was to Dewey, my baby sister. She's been in school/living in New York for the past five years, so usually it's me said to say goodbye to her. I don't know when I'll see her next, so for once it was her sad to say goodbye to me!

Over the weekend I flew out to Kelowna to see my grandparents. While waiting for my flight out of YEG I checked out all the upgrades that were recently unveiled and I was very impressed! Finally catching up with the world! There are tons of new stores and I found the Barbie version of me. Tempted, but no, I did not buy her.

My trip started with a free shuttle ride, thanks to some new friends I made on the drive. The driver said maybe he should color his hair blonde and he'd have such luck too! My Omi was so happy to see me! As my Opi has a bad hip and doesn't get out of the house much, she was so happy to have a girls weekend out with me. We did some shopping at Orchard Park Mall (where she treated me to a new dress from Guess, one of my favorite stores and I introduced her to the wonders of Sephora), went for lunch and wine, and she shared more stories from her childhood with me. I love when she shares her memories with me- she really had an interesting life and I feel like I understand her better after hearing more about her.

Right now I am busy, busy, busy! I have a giant to do list which is never ending and I'm constantly adding to.

The Countdown Begins: Five More Weeks

This year Joel and I are off on a big adventure- we'll be spending a year away living and working in Australia. We're going February 6 on a Work and Play Visa, which allows us to work as much as we want there to supplement our travel. We're starting out in Surfers Paradise, which is right on the Gold Coast near Brisbane. The plan is to find jobs, rent an apartment and live there for the first six months, with some side travel of course. From the on... where ever the wind takes us (and our wallets...)!
We started off 2012 in Banff with Dewey (my sister), Dean (Joel's BFF) and their respective dates. NYE in Banff was cold and busy. The main street gets closed off in the evening for pedestrians and everyone hoards there to watch the fireworks. We got there at eleven and didn't want to stand outside for an hour so headed to the only place with no cover- McDonalds. Before midnight we headed outside. It was so cool to be in the mountains and here the fireworks boom around us.

The first day of the year was spent snowboarding by Joel and Dean, sightseeing Lake Louise by the rest of us. While waiting for the boys to finish, we ended up having a two hour nap in the upper lobby of Chateau Lake Louise. Once they were done, it was a LONG, tired drive back to Edmonton.