The Dreadful News Years Resolutions...

There is something about the official beginning of a new year that gets everyone excited about what the coming year has in store for them. We always set such high expectations for ourselves to only realize 365 days later that we (most likely 99% of us) did not fulfill our New Years Resolutions.

This year, perhaps we should all try to set goals that are easy and able to achieve by the end of 2009. Simple things that make you and other people around you feel better. I mean, setting a New Years Resolution of losing any amount of weight, will in fact make you feel better about yourself- BUT it can be hard to achieve with all of the temptations that are out there. Perhaps setting New Years Resolutions like:

• volunteer at a community function or a charity
• save a certain set amount of money by the end of the year
• organize some kind of get together with either all your friends or family or both!
• visit a family or friend who you have not seen in a while or have disconnected with
• apologize to someone who you have fallen out with
• learn a new hobby that you have always wanted to try- snowboarding, knitting, guitar
  
• And of course, if you do want to lose weight- make sure to make it a realistic target so you don't' stress yourself out throughout the year
  

And for those of you who are interested in astrology and what our "zodiac signs" have in store for us for 2009, check out this article to see what your sign has set out for you as New Years Resolutions for 2009.

Remember, whatever New Years Resolution you set, whether it be hard or easy to achieve, or big or small- try to stick to the plan you set on January 1st, 2009. Create a plan, Write the plan down, think "year round" and not just New Years, and remain flexible!

Good Luck and best of luck fulfilling your resolutions!

Christina

Move over Hills.. The City is coming!

The BIG premiere for The City is approaching us fast as it appears on MTV tomorrow night, December 29 at 10pm. I will admit, I was a bit hesitant to even watch this show seeing as I thought Whitney was probably the most boring person (meaning she was probably the most normal, drama free, least gossiped about person on the show). But, to my surprise, the trailer for the premiere actually looks somewhat exciting and maybe even a little promising for an even BETTER series than The Hills! I'm excited to see what excitement and trouble they can make out of a whole bunch of rich kids living in New York. We actually may see a whole new "Whitney"- and she may even have some depth to her this time!

Make sure to tune in Monday night and let me know what you think! I actually have some high expectations for this show.. so hopefully its good!

Christina

Sending my warmest wishes...

I wanted to take the opportunity to wish everyone out there a MERRY CHRISTMAS! It is such a beautiful day.. something we should all be very thankful for if you are spending time with family and friends. I wish all of you a beautiful holiday and all the health and happiness leading into the New Year!

Enjoy today.. and make sure to overindulge on everything! That is what Christmas is for :)

Christina

Hilarious Christmas Vacation Moment you MUST watch!

A Christmas tradition in my family is to watch the movie Christmas Vacation over, and over, and over throughout the holidays. The funny thing is that we seem to never get tired of Clark Griswald (Chevy Chase) and his antics. One of our favorite parts of the entire movie, where we always end up busting a gut laughing so hard, is when Clark starts yelling about his boss after he doesn't receive his Christmas bonus. My brother Ryan has this almost perfectly memorized right down to a tee- which makes it even more funny to listen to in person!

Check this clip out- it will make you cry laughing!

Happy Holidays!

Christina

My Christmas Wish List..

For Christmas this year.. I decided to make a very realistic Christmas wish list for my family/Santa to buy for me. Like a cheap University student would do, I made a list of all the things at school that cost the most that I don`t really want to spend the money on! I know, I know.. pretty pathetic but smart all at the same time!

For those of you who know me well enough.. you know my ultimate Christmas wish list would include a little guy like this one to the right, but realistically, my Christmas wish will not be fulfilled this year :( I guess I will just have to keep asking Santa (Andrew) year after year and maybe I will one day get him..

But in all seriousness, not only did I ask for things like a computer printer (wireless I might add!) and a laptop stand, I asked for things that I actually will use all the time- like a winter jacket, new boots, a Guess watch, and even movie gift certificates! I even asked for knitting nettles to knit a nice scarf and hat (in all seriousness.. the idea sounds nice but I don't know if I actually WILL get around too every knitting them!) Oh and I also asked for these beautiful pair of round-toed cowboy boots that I picked out at the Royal Winter Fair.

Now going on how nice I was this year (in my opinion anyways!) I think Santa will definitely be good to be tomorrow! Crossing my fingers I get everything I asked for :)

Hope you all get what you want from your Christmas List! 24 hours until Santa comes! WHOOHOOOOOO

Christina

3 Days till the BIG Guy comes!

Theres only three more (72 hours!) until Christmas is here and Santa Claus comes and delivers the goods! Hope you have been nice more so than naughty! I also hope you all have your shopping done as time is winding down. If you don`t, make sure to check store or mall hours before you head out for the big adventure of doing last minute Christmas shopping. It could be wild out there!

Sleep tight.. the big day is approaching fast!

Christina

There is nothing like a "Country Christmas"

Since arriving home to the farm and countryside from University and the stress of exams, I have did nothing but cherish the fact that I am one lucky girl. Lucky for many reasons- but one in particular. I had this same conversation with my parents the other day about how small towns in rural Ontario are so unique and such a rich part of what makes Ontario so beautiful. The small towns dispersed amongst the province in the beautiful countryside is something that I feel so foruntate to be a part of!


There is just something about celebrating Christmas in the countryside that makes it seem just a little extra special during the holidays. Of course living in the country has a few added benefits that makes everything at Christmas availiable at your fingertips when you need it. Decorating for Christmas is so much more festive because of all the `real green` that you can decorate your home with. Whether it is cutting down your own Christmas tree in the woods or making gardlands out of real cedar, the smell of cedar or pine in your country home is so beautiful! And of course the abundance of snow right outside your front door is never a problem! The fact that you can walk outside and go for a walk, go cross country skiing, snowmobile or go sledding whenever you want- wherever you want, are just more reasons to LOVE a country Christmas!

Of course there are a few negatives when you live out in the country- the distance from the malls and shopping centres, and the annoyance of piles and piles of snow- it can sometimes overwhelm the average student who has came back from the big city and had everything at her fingertips! Whether or not it is an inconvienance some of the time, I will definately appreciate my few weeks back here at home during the holidays and enjoy my Christmas in the country!

Twilight.... My New Found Love!

My housemate and a few other good friends had very high recommendations for not only Twilight but the whole Stephanie Myers "vampire" series- combine that with all the hype and craze surrounding the book/movie, I decided to divulge into the book. Thank heavens I did because I am absolutely mad about the book and of course about Edward Cullen! I read the book in a mere 48 hours (and that was during exam time!) and LOVED the book! And of course, Edward Cullen was just delicious as the main vampire character but truthfully, I wasn't as big of a fan of Bella's. Perhaps its because I jealous because I wanted to be here or maybe it was because I wanted her to be more excited throughout the book that she was dating the hottest vampire alive!!!! I heard on Ellen DeGeneres that the author of the series, Stephanie Myers got the idea for the books via a dream she had one night! Can you believe it!?! She happened to dream up the most perfect vampire ever!

Now... in watching the movie, I was a bit disappointed.
It didn't live up to the expectations that I had set so high for this book! But of course, like every other great book, the movie most of the time does not live up to its expectations. The movie forgot to mention all the simple details that made the book sooo amazing- and it skipped right to all the dramatic parts that of course, probably kept people on the edge of their seats. Don't get me wrong.. I still liked the movie but there was just stuff missing that I felt were so essential in making the movie all that it could have been! And of course, casting Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen was the best part because he played the role unbelieveable! The way he looked, the way he spoke and even his vampire ways made him so irrestiable! And like the book, I was jealous of Bella when Edward almost bits her in the neck to fufill his fantasy of her becoming a vampire.

All in all, I am excited to read the second installment of the series- New Moon- which I have been told just makes the reader even that much more jealous of Bella, and that much more in love with Edward! If your looking for an easy read, and you are a hopeless romantic like I am, then pick up Twilight and get reading!!!!

Christina

All this talk about Canadian politics..... Makes me wonder how cool these guys really are!??!

I can't help that everytime I turn on the TV or read a newspaper about the changes and issues that are taking place within Canadian politics, that I wonder how things would be different if the Prime Minister or ex-Liberal leader were even remotely exciting to watch or follow? With the American election hype over and down with, but the continued hope that Obama will be the new "cool" change that America needs, I often wish we had someone like Obama that could come and transform the way we, especially young people, view politics in Canada.

No wonder why people across the World think we are just boring people who live in Igloos and say "eh" all the time. With a guy like Stephen Harper as our Prime Minister, a man who seems to lack excitement in him.. and Stephane Dion who seems to be the usual "class act nerd" that was definately chosen last in gym class, it makes me wonder whether things would be different for young people if we actually had "cool" leaders running our country?

My only hope with Stephane Dion stepping down as Liberal Leader, and Bob Rae (finally) bowing out as a possible Liberal Leader, is that Michael Ignateiff can bring some spunk, charisma, and excitement to what is becoming a very boring government. Hopefully he can renew in us, the excitement that we have longed to see since Trudeau was in power (even though I wasn't born back in those days, I heard it was an amazing time in politics!) And hopefully someone can point out to Stephen Harper.. that unless he gets a new hair do, opens his eyes a little wider and starts speaking with a little more enthusiasm, he may continue to find that youth here in Canada aren't interested in politics if things don't change.

And finally.. a call to action for all young people... take a renewed interest in politics here in Canada because the government DOES and WILL CONTINUE to have an impact on us as we get older! It is up to our generation to become more keen into what our government is doing and take note of things in Canadian politics that have recently taken place like "prorouging the government" and the "Liberal-NDP-Bloc Quebecois Coallition" because these event have a major impact on the future of Canada and its people! So don't complain about the government and what they aren't doing for us. Get interested and involved and bring about the changed that we need!

Christina