Favourites right now

Favourite mug

Favourite tea

Favorite smells

Impromptu Creation

My friend Eugene Draw (best known as Dr Draw) is an amazing musician and creator. A couple weeks ago he called me up to dance in a video he was working on for World Aids day. I brought some other dancer friends, we had an awesome director Desh Fernando and we weren't sure exactly what we were doing, we just dove in. Open, willing and creative people coming together with purpose, made this a success. I know its past World Aids day, but the final cut of this just came out and besides, its never too late to appreciate a good cause.

Click the link below and see what we made. I think it turned out really beautiful.

Voices

warm winter woolies

Classic wool socks, girlie wool socks, hand made hats and scarves or knit slippers, sweaters, tea cosies and more. Whatever it is, wool is the perfect way to keep warm when the frost sets in. 

This next on isn't all wool BUT its is a new, purple ruffle, throw I bought for my bed that I'm super excited about! It's soft and luscious and even though it's not 100% wool, it is still snuggly for the cool evenings. Thanks HomeSense. Love.

stay warm all.

cosy comforts...

Even tea with a friend seems extra special when it's the holiday season. Love festive baked goods, flavoured coffees and winter teas. I just love blogging in December.

Patience

pa·tience

   [pey-shuhns]  Show IPA

noun

1.

the quality of being patient,  as the bearing of provocation,annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss oftemper, irritation, or the like.

2.

an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness orannoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with aslow learner.

3.

quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence:to work with patience.

 As I sat down at The Tampered Press to blog this morning I couldn't get my Mac to connect to their wi fi. I tried multiple times, restarted my computer etc etc. It wouldn't connect, so rather than packing up my stuff and going, I sat with my coffee and I waited. Patiently waiting. 

This may sound simple, yeah, wait it out. Just give it a few minutes to connect. But in the past I have been the least patient person in the world. When I finished high school I didn't wait a minute before I flew off to Toronto, I would rush relationships, ideas and even though I grew up in the east coast I would get so bored fishing! No breaks, no vacations, no silence just go go go.

 Now a few years ago in theatre school I wrote in a journal I was going to 'practice more patience'. I continued to write this in journals and papers and whatever else, that I was going to 'practice more patience'. I recognized in myself that  I often want to rush and skip over important moments and steps. Whats that quote, its not about the final destination its about the journey? Well whatever it is, its true.

Even just now as I waited for the internet to connect (so I could sip my coffee, blog and read the news) I didn't mind. I didn't mind waiting. WHOA a revelation for me! And now writing this blog is that much more rewarding. Also, the other day I was teaching  group of adults at the circus school and afterwards one woman commented on how patient I was with their group. She didn't know, but that was definitely one of the best compliments someone could give me as a teacher and as a person.

  Now for fear of jumping to conclusions too quickly (and not taking my time to fully realize my revelation)  I will not say I have succeeded in practicing patience. But I do think patience has found a nice little place in my life and its making me a happier person :)

Ginger bread

Me and the other coaches at Cirque Ability decided to test our creative talents outside of the gym and had a gingerbread man decorating night with snacks and we even put up a tree! 

Perfect staff christmas :)

Snacks

Circus Santa

We're busy coaches so we used a gingerbread kit, BUT if you have time make the real ones!

Choose your gingerbread friend

Aw friends!

Made a new friend...

And ate him too!

The most stylish of the gingerbread people.

Circus family in gingerbread form :)

Time for the tree!

Lots of red to match Cirque Ability colours!

December festivities have begun!

Aerial Jam

Ahhhh, had such an inspiring day with some amazing aerialists.  I've talked a little bit about my life in aerials but this post is dedicated to just how much I love circus arts.

Today, a group of different aerial artists got together and we just played, we shared exercises and warm ups and we explored partnering on the silks. It was so fun and I felt so creative. Aerial arts is my latest skill but it quickly has risen to the top as my favourite. The women who were with me today were so strong, outgoing, fearless and driven. I always want to work with people like this no matter what he genre.

I also love how circus defies gravity, reality and what we think is possible. Even today when I thought something couldn't be done, I had a group of people who were all focused on making it happen and sharing ideas and tips. I think we came up with some awesome material I've never seen done before and I'm excited to see where it takes all of us as we train and develop new pieces. We laughed, we tangled, we fell, we climbed and we definitely succeeded. 

Its so important to have a passion, whatever it may be. But having a group of people who just...well, get it and get you feels even better. Now a moment for some cheese on my part (but sincere cheese) I hope you're all following your hearts..It will take you somewhere :)

Shout out to some companies/people you should check out if your interested in aerial (and some have fire too)

http://www.femmesdufeu.com/  (cool company and they organize workshop showings, jams and classes)

http://goodnessgracious.ca/about.htm (fire and aerial, I work with one of the co founder's Natalie on my last show, she teaches and performs)

http://www.cirque-ability.com/Cirque-ability_Toronto/Welcome.html (Training facility for aerials, hand balancing, acrobatics. West end, great people and beautiful space and you can register for classes for the winter now. We used their space today)

And this is one of my favourite silks routines on youtube I leave you with. Stunning.