tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24058027684277187112024-03-05T13:33:32.289-05:00Evan's MumKarma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-34063442896086068502011-09-23T16:07:00.003-04:002011-09-23T16:07:43.650-04:00A sore shoulder and a roll of packing tape!So, I haven't been exactly diligent with my updates on my Dancing With the Starts progress. I apologize, but there hasn't been a whole lot to report!!! About 3 weeks into rehearsals, I pretty much had a meltdown (a private one!) because I just didn't seem to be getting "it"! I remember the first time I competed how awesome it felt as each week went by and I felt like I was learning more and more and getting better and better. But this time, it was just frustrating for the first little while. After that little meltdown, I had to take a step back, get back to basics and refocus. I have put so much pressure on myself to "defend my title" that I was psyching myself out right from day one. I've really had to remind myself that this event is not about me and the trophy, it's about raising money for a great cause and putting on a great show for the audience.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_EqDC1SG05ipQK9WwOodTGpl9HpILkIePVFmWX01tbRqGwuH2bMLeZzqMH0xXRfnqy7j3ZkmoKRIBs0HylvtVPrkACnWqSTbCZ31g1fqZNXccMQlAszvRIjgYDga0xU1v53YrZ2uUUU/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-09-23+at+4.04.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_EqDC1SG05ipQK9WwOodTGpl9HpILkIePVFmWX01tbRqGwuH2bMLeZzqMH0xXRfnqy7j3ZkmoKRIBs0HylvtVPrkACnWqSTbCZ31g1fqZNXccMQlAszvRIjgYDga0xU1v53YrZ2uUUU/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-09-23+at+4.04.54+PM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don and I practicing our quickstep!</td></tr>
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So, with that renewed focus in mind, I've been practicing my butt off and feeling more and more confident in the past couple of weeks. I have such an amazing dance partner who is so patient and our choreographer/trainer/mentor/amazing woman Trish, has been fantastic throughout this journey. So, I'm thinking I'll be ok! My dances are coming along nicely and we still have 3 weeks before the show. Now it's all about the finessing of the details and really committing everything to memory. Although, last night we did a complete run-through of the show to prepare for tomorrow's dress rehearsal. I did have a mishap and ended up falling and smashing my shoulder blade on the floor! I'm hoping that's just a one off occurrence that I won't repeat!<br />
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Which leads me to the real challenge I'm facing... I have a new dress this year for my rumba. Let's just say it's small! And let's just say I'm kinda wishing I'd laid off the chips and dip for the past 6 months!!! And let's just say I'm a tad worried about a possible wardrobe malfunction. So... I am now in possession of just about every brand of costume/dress tape and am armed with a brand new roll of packing tape, which I'm told works wonders!!! A little birdie told me that's what lots of dancers use under their costumes!<br />
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So, wish me luck tomorrow as I perform for about 100 seniors at the dress rehearsal. Hopefully there are no falling mishaps. And here's to hoping that the tape all holds up and I don't give any of them a heart attack! I'll report back to you tomorrow!Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-70094114628678344782011-08-17T15:15:00.005-04:002011-08-17T15:34:39.138-04:00Dancing With the Local Chick - Revisited!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7ZAkNH8A0d9g760K3Npw14IrgOU1b7sSBwSHC9EKAo2iGhmHgiJiFpH1ae84c48hnkrwgCDtbC_HHWNMiZ3VVny1D0GIOW05tTp9i-5Sx5QnPZvysGTeTTtaWQhMHLyY2bD4xTQyOKQ/s1600/Don+Karma+and+Trish+Awards.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7ZAkNH8A0d9g760K3Npw14IrgOU1b7sSBwSHC9EKAo2iGhmHgiJiFpH1ae84c48hnkrwgCDtbC_HHWNMiZ3VVny1D0GIOW05tTp9i-5Sx5QnPZvysGTeTTtaWQhMHLyY2bD4xTQyOKQ/s320/Don+Karma+and+Trish+Awards.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641910314217583058" /></a>
<br />So some of you may have been reading my blog 2 years ago when I participated in (and won!) a local Dancing With the Stars competition. If you haven't been following me that long, here's a recap of what happened: <a href="http://evansmum.blogspot.com/2009/10/what-now.html">http://evansmum.blogspot.com/2009/10/what-now.html</a>. <div>
<br /></div><div>Well, after that event was over in 2009, I was on Cloud 9! I was so thrilled to be a part of such an amazing night and thrilled I could, just by investing some of my time, have an impact on such an amazing organization. So, I agreed to Chair the organizing committee for last year's event. And even though I wasn't dancing, it was such an incredible night. We managed to raise even more money and the show was fantastic.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So, this year, when I was approached to be involved once again, in the final year of the show, I didn't hesitate at all to commit. However, this year, I'm not only on the committee, I'm strapping on the dancing shoes once again for the cause. It's a return of the best from the past 2 seasons. Meaning... I'm on the line to defend my title. I'll be dancing a Rumba and a Quickstep once again. When I signed up, I was told that my dances would be the same as they were 2 years ago and that we would rehearse for 2 months (just as a refresher), rather than the 6+ months we rehearsed the first time around. Well, after my first rehearsal on Monday, I am officially in panic mode. My dances are changing!!!! And I officially have 5 weeks until the dress rehearsal where we will perform for approximately 100 people! OMG!!!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So, stop by my blog once a week for an update on my progress. It should be entertaining if nothing else!!!! Oh, and if you want tickets for the event, please let me know. They're $50 each for a very fun evening and all money goes to <a href="http://www.hopespring.ca/">Hopespring</a>. The event is Friday, October 14.</div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-41983093534530509682011-07-14T15:13:00.008-04:002011-07-14T15:55:29.786-04:00The love for a child<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DACZiS3xmnl235Qd7byb6D_pkd3NssP8r6r8Lq4ZeLZItI2I1QMlfWe4DRnce1L6Es9F3ZNjJkZbFcOuv10aDr5010DmIkDU8jp90kSr2L0-jHT2_SVK-G_EjtiR19zMWwor7UcNEgk/s1600/IMG00224-20110501-1012.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DACZiS3xmnl235Qd7byb6D_pkd3NssP8r6r8Lq4ZeLZItI2I1QMlfWe4DRnce1L6Es9F3ZNjJkZbFcOuv10aDr5010DmIkDU8jp90kSr2L0-jHT2_SVK-G_EjtiR19zMWwor7UcNEgk/s320/IMG00224-20110501-1012.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629298108311380066" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWNyWD_pD4ljrBSKwZ6Z9h8vgMhx-30lJkLaGZY-gq_zj0kPZUW7jTaRR_56P_d_4EfdakeGpdYv82KiETZLbFrYXb9DB_jQCqPzeE8o2v_xa8Rqu5VOUjS57UyRdP_N78ULIsxmi6ng/s1600/IMG00296-20110601-1927.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWNyWD_pD4ljrBSKwZ6Z9h8vgMhx-30lJkLaGZY-gq_zj0kPZUW7jTaRR_56P_d_4EfdakeGpdYv82KiETZLbFrYXb9DB_jQCqPzeE8o2v_xa8Rqu5VOUjS57UyRdP_N78ULIsxmi6ng/s320/IMG00296-20110601-1927.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629297970084798450" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqJgJ_iEsWfEFq5LkYPmGKvoKJTIEjAYG8kQFlTa0q-sxcjtXpcv8iKMnfe5FDNpKBt-AE88FTZtW5_xYwc0R5iIzDR91ZOe29VTB7Qz0AJZN0OwsUSHEIpJ88cENf4RCU3O9MnbOf3g/s1600/IMG00325-20110614-1905.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqJgJ_iEsWfEFq5LkYPmGKvoKJTIEjAYG8kQFlTa0q-sxcjtXpcv8iKMnfe5FDNpKBt-AE88FTZtW5_xYwc0R5iIzDR91ZOe29VTB7Qz0AJZN0OwsUSHEIpJ88cENf4RCU3O9MnbOf3g/s320/IMG00325-20110614-1905.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629297691597869522" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br />Recently someone asked me how it was possible to love a kid, even when he drives you nuts!!! As a young, unmarried girl she was having a hard time understanding how it's possible to not let the "you're driving me crazy" feeling take over and become stronger than the "OMG you're the cutest thing ever" feeling. I struggled to explain and couldn't come up with much at the time, other than to say, "It just is that way!". But then it got me to thinking and maybe this will help her understand!<div><br /></div><div>It all started when I saw that little pink line on the test. First the panic set in... the "OMG, we can't take this back now, are we ready for this?" panic. But after a few weeks when I lost my waist (yes just a short few... by 10 wks I had already gained 10lbs!!!), the love started growing as well. When I felt that first flutter of butterflies in my tummy, it solidified that little feeling of love. But let me be honest. When I was early in my pregnancy I started thinking about what kind of baby I was hoping for. Obviously the main thing was having a healthy baby, but for me it was crucial that I had a girl. I only ever wanted a girl. I didn't have any brothers myself, didn't have any boy best friends... in short, I didn't have a clue what I would ever do if I had a boy. I didn't know how I would play with him and I didn't (and still don't) like talking about poop and private parts. I even joked that if I had a boy I might be tempted to give him up for adoption and try again!!! Ok, I was kind of joking, but in the back of my mind, I was also a little bit serious!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Fast forward to 3 1/2 weeks before my due date. I had an appointment with my midwife and she was concerned the baby might have turned and might be breech. She sent me for an ultrasound just to make sure. That day I saw the face of my baby and it looked amazing, not at all like the alien I had seen in the 2 earlier ultrasounds! Again, I felt that love growing. 4 days later I went into labour. 11 hours after my water broke I met the most amazing little baby I'd ever seen in my life. And it was a BOY!!!!! Funny though, as soon as I heard the words "it's a boy" adoption didn't even enter my mind! It was love at first sight. </div><div><br /></div><div>That first year was rough. Evan didn't sleep more than 3-4 hours at a time. Actually, that lasted for almost 2 years!!! (Ok, if I'm honest, it's only been in the last 6 months that E has been sleeping through the night consistently and he's 5 1/2 now!!!!) And, yes, I was exhausted and no, he wasn't always an angel, but the miracle of watching him grow and learn was enough to keep me going. </div><div><br /></div><div>And still now, that's what keeps me going and gets me through the not so perfect days. When Evan almost died the first time he tried a peanut, it also showed me how fragile this little life actually is. So, sometimes when he's driving me mental and I'm ready to say "go play in traffic", I close my eyes and think of how it felt to almost lose him that night almost 3 years ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>If I could explain this love to Sarah now, I'd say that the love of your child is truly unconditional and truly like no other love you could ever experience. I look at my child and think how amazing he is, how he's the smartest 5 year old I've ever seen, how he's the most handsome boy in the world and the most compassionate. And I truly believe all of these things. And every mother I know thinks that of their own child. It's a kind of love that makes you excited to be a hockey mom, even though you despise cold arenas! It's the kind of love that makes you dress up for Halloween even when you hate costumes. Really, it is a kind of love that takes over your heart and soul. </div><div><br /></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-53265427281224647682011-03-29T21:33:00.007-04:002011-03-29T22:46:26.401-04:00The frightening world of an allergy mama!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTpxp8p9Z6U1JhWP3LIqGEtQKSl_se6GZDHmJqCacJzpdTb7Tvlxh5ZZ6VGmxltQzNEjEAwO7ZS-ruRqFiQDF4xLoSh2sFqPLjoO9pTODzeN7tAwzrr6IpkqMMCjvMzOH8_x5DldSR5E/s1600/IMG00055.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTpxp8p9Z6U1JhWP3LIqGEtQKSl_se6GZDHmJqCacJzpdTb7Tvlxh5ZZ6VGmxltQzNEjEAwO7ZS-ruRqFiQDF4xLoSh2sFqPLjoO9pTODzeN7tAwzrr6IpkqMMCjvMzOH8_x5DldSR5E/s400/IMG00055.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589691039034577362" /></a><br />A few nights ago, I had the pleasure of "meeting" another allergy mama on Twitter (@castletonyoga). We bonded over the fact that we live in constant fear with our allergic children. It got me to thinking about it because sometimes, just for a brief moment, I actually forget that my child could die at any time. I decided to put that fear into words so here it is!<div><br /></div><div>A couple of months ago, I presented a lunch and learn presentation at <a href="http://www.mabel.ca/">Mabel's Labels</a> all about being an allergy mama. I wanted to reinforce to people the importance of Mabel's being a nut free work place. I've taken what I've presented and written it here for you all to enjoy! Note that when I was preparing my presentation, the stats that were most readily available were from the US, but I hazard a guess that Canadian statistics would be fairly similar.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Peanut allergy is one of the "Big 8" food allergies that account for 90% of those suffered by 21 million Americans.</li><li>Approximately 1% of the US population has a peanut allergy (that's approximately 3.1 million people!!)</li><li>Less than 21% of people who suffer from a peanut allergy will outgrow it.</li><li>Four out of every 100 people have a food allergy</li></ul><div>When I first read these stats, I was alarmed. Are you? As I'm sure you all know, the most severe reaction a person can have is anaphylaxis. For those who don't know, this reaction basically can cause the throat to swell to a point where the person can't breathe. And once a person has had an anaphylactic reaction, subsequent reactions can become more and more severe. Let me tell you... this is scary... super scary! An anaphylactic reaction can kill a person in minutes. </div><div><br /></div><div>So here's why I'm interested in this stuff... 2 months before his third birthday, my sweet baby almost died. (Wow... just typing those words makes me feel sick to my stomach and makes my eyes water and my heart race!) We were out for dinner one night at Moose Winooski's. We had planned to meet friends and when we got to the restaurant, we had to wait a few minutes for a table. To keep him occupied, my hubs took Evan into the bar.. the sports bar with peanuts in bowls on the table and peanut shells on the floor. Now, Evan had some sensitivities from early on so my doctor had advised that we introduce certain foods slowly. Nuts was one of those foods. Evan had never had a nut before this night. Hubs decided to let him try one that night. He took one bite and immediately started spitting it out and saying he didn't like it. Within minutes he got a rash on his face and got extremely irritable and started crying. Since I'd seen him have little reactions to things before I didn't panic immediately. The restaurant is close to our house so my hubs left to go home and get the Benadryl!!!!! In hindsight, I guess this wasn't the best idea, but honestly I had no idea what I was experiencing. (I have not stopped feeling guilty about this for 2 1/2 years!!) While he was gone, I realized that the situation wasn't good. I had our friend drive me to the closest walk in clinic because it was closer to the hospital (again... not the smartest decision)... the clinic was closed for the night! During all of this, poor Evan was alternating between freaking right out and being completely lethargic and dazed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally we made our way to emerg. They took us in immediately. In fact when we went into the emergency area, there were 5 doctors and nurses around a bed waiting for us to come in. They gave E a shot of epinephrine and hooked him up to an IV. According to them, Evan had about 20 more minutes. 20 minutes... that is NOT very long at all. That night I came very close to losing the most precious thing in my life. The doctor in emerg that night gave me our first prescription for EpiPens. He told me that if it happened again, that EpiPen would "buy us 20 minutes to get to the hospital"!!! I always thought an EpiPen was a cure... I learned a lot that night. We now carry an EpiPen where ever we go.</div><div><br /></div><div>So let me explain what this allergy means to me. It means that everyday things in life are super scary. I mean, imagine sending your child to a birthday party not knowing if they'll have a reaction while they're gone. Even if the parents are aware of the allergy, if they don't live with it daily, they might just think not serving peanuts is good enough. They might not think that if they've eaten peanuts and touch my child, that could be enough to trigger a reaction. </div><div><br /></div><div>Imagine how scary Halloween can be, and not just because of the ghosts and zombies!!! I personally can't believe they still sell Halloween packages of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers bars. And trust me, they're 2 of my favourites. But they could kill my baby.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now I'm considering sending my babe to sleep away camp. The camp that I REALLY want to send him to is <a href="http://www.kandalore.com/">Camp Kandalore</a>. It's the camp my dad went to and the memories he created there still impact him at 64 years old. But it's not a nut free camp so how can I possibly send him there. He could die there... away from home... without me! It makes me feel sick.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I know for people who don't live with this daily, "nut free" sometimes seems like more of an inconvenience then anything. I've heard other mums at Evan's school talking about what a pain in the butt it is not being able to pack peanut butter sandwiches in lunches. As a mother who's child could die from a peanut butter sandwich, this upsets me. I'm sorry if it's an inconvenience, but I also don't think those mothers would want to live with the guilt of their actions killing my child!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, there you have it... my reality. It's a scary one but we do what we can to make this world safe for little E.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">BTW... since that first reaction, I've had Evan's allergies tested several times. He is now allergic to shellfish, kiwi and coconut as well. I don't know the severity of these allergies, but since I have no intention of EVER going through that night again, I avoid those foods at all cost!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The picture above was taken in emergency about 5 hours after we got there. Evan's swelling had gone down and he was finally able to eat a snack of Cheerios. </span></div><div><br /></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-65863191238071582352011-03-21T23:03:00.010-04:002011-03-23T21:47:52.765-04:00Motherhood<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuThGJCTavB-ml_XumBxgkCa9K_Z4I3nvH8lM6k42ntK_uU-F81SjOV4dDNx-flLJv5dUyOb_Q0fKdff-qMkJ9IXHQshBN5IbEbu9tGBuDfUA7SIAtoyJsfEdeRV0m7H0P0Ba1EC5ww8/s1600/L1020772.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuThGJCTavB-ml_XumBxgkCa9K_Z4I3nvH8lM6k42ntK_uU-F81SjOV4dDNx-flLJv5dUyOb_Q0fKdff-qMkJ9IXHQshBN5IbEbu9tGBuDfUA7SIAtoyJsfEdeRV0m7H0P0Ba1EC5ww8/s400/L1020772.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587455140770496514" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Recently the <a href="http://yummymummyclub.ca/index.php">Yummy Mummy Club</a> held a contest about motherhood. Entrants were asked to write about 1 of 2 topics: How motherhood has changed you or How you have changed motherhood. I really wanted to enter this contest, but then I had a chance to read an entry that was submitted by a friend of mine. It was so perfectly written and literally brought me to tears. I knew I had no chance of winning against this entry, so I decided not to submit one of my own! But ever since the deadline passed, I've been feeling the need to write my entry down, just for myself (and whoever else wants to read it!) So here it goes... this is how motherhood has changed me.<div><br /></div><div>In order to tell my story, I have to take you back to who I was before my little treasure arrived! I spent about 12 years living the life of an ad agency chick! For those of you who don't know, this means long, long, very long days. All nighters. 3 meals a day eaten with your work "family". Weekends in the office. Press approvals at 3 a.m. Week long photoshoots away from home. And, on the flip side, lots of fun work parties and "fun days" out of the office. I met almost all of the friends I have in my life right now in those agency years. There's nothing like making a deck of cards out of scrap paper at 4:00 a.m. to create bonds with people!!! You know, back in those days, I worked so much that I honestly don't know how I managed to meet the man of my dreams and actually marry him! I think it may have had something to do with the fact that we met at work! </div><div><br /></div><div>When I think back, the worst part about it is that at the time, I didn't think there was anything wrong with my life! I absolutely loved my work to the point where I was pretty much obsessed with it. I was the ideal employee... I'd work 20 hr days and was actually happy to do so... all for the good of the company. Of course I felt guilty when I'd call home and tell hubs that I'd be home by 8:00, only to arrive closer to 10 or 11. But not guilty enough to make a change. It got to the point where I started talking to hubs about the fact that I didn't think I wanted kids. This is crazy... I had always wanted kids from the time I was a kid! But for a few years, my love of my work was completely changing my perspective. When I think about it, this is the ultimate in selfishness. I lost sight of who I think I was at the core... a giving, loving gal who had always dreamt of the perfect life... which of course included a perfect hubby, a perfect home and a couple of perfect children!</div><div><br /></div><div>After some soul searching, I finally made a decision to leave my agency job and save myself! I missed the work for the first few weeks, but gradually I was able to regain perspective. I spent 5 months at home being a stay at home wife and loved every minute of it. Then I went on to spend a year on the client side as a marketing manager. It was a one year mat leave contract and while I was on the contract I got pregnant! It was perfectly timed... I was scheduled to end work 2 weeks before my due date. But, my little man was anxious to meet me and I actually didn't end up finishing my contract!</div><div><br /></div><div>Let me tell you... when I set eyes on my Evan, it was love at first sight... a kind of love I never knew was possible. The kind of love that made me wonder how the heck I could have ever thought work was more important. And each day since November 20, 2005, I have felt that love grow stronger and stronger. Even on those challenging days, when I tuck him in to bed at night and give him his snuggles and smooches, my heart skips a beat and I can't ever imagine not having him in my life. All I want to do each and every day is make him happy. And at the end of a long day, when hubs and I are talking, not a single day goes by without us saying how happy we are with our amazing little family and how much joy Evan has brought to us both.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, you ask, how has motherhood changed me? The answer is: in so many ways... It has opened my eyes to the meaning of life. It has made me a less selfish and more giving person. It has taught me patience and taught me humility. And most importantly, it's taught me the importance of having and giving love. It's funny... now I realize that motherhood is the most important job I could ever, ever have.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">** None of this happiness would have been possible without having a super-deluxe hubs who stuck by me through all those years of agency life and still loved me at the end of it all. I love him to bits!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-33750209644061511632011-01-31T13:21:00.006-05:002011-01-31T14:46:33.307-05:00The little things in life!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXP-jOx5hyMbJJMywMcwpifRGZPYBOyK7WdOWjhIENDzVi355B3mYCXgfZd6oNCK2J3dLgCzDFO-sNB1IkbOkkGK8eKutVwZadukaoMv0QQsZ0URKtQR34tqmeYyI0GJ07_fcM7LfyXM/s1600/L1020708.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXP-jOx5hyMbJJMywMcwpifRGZPYBOyK7WdOWjhIENDzVi355B3mYCXgfZd6oNCK2J3dLgCzDFO-sNB1IkbOkkGK8eKutVwZadukaoMv0QQsZ0URKtQR34tqmeYyI0GJ07_fcM7LfyXM/s400/L1020708.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568437756257314274" /></a><br />So I've been dying to write lately, but have been coming up dry trying to think of something to write about. Seems that life is fairly routine at the moment. Nothing too earth-shattering happening. But it occurred to me today that in that routine are small, daily things happening that I should be celebrating and rejoicing in. So, here it goes... my daily, normal life, celebrations!<div><br /></div><div>1. Home Reading - Every mother with a kid in kindergarten is familiar with this phrase! Last week, Evan finally started bringing home those little home reading books in his mail bag. It came with a little booklet for me to use to keep track of the reading we do together and to communicate with the teacher about his progress. I love this! I truly love this!!! Here's my little man finally learning to read. And he LOVES it! He wants to read to me at bedtime now before I read to him. He's sounding out words all around us as we go through our days. The downside of this whole thing is that the secret code of spelling words when hubs and I don't want him to know what we're talking about is now becoming obsolete. We'll have to think of a new secret code! Perhaps it'll take him a while to figure out Pig Latin!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Patience and perseverance - Let me start by saying that my little lovey has always been pretty high maintenance. He's very sensitive and gets easily frustrated. And he has always given up easily if he doesn't do things perfectly right from the start. He's a perfectionist even at 5. He takes more time on his school work than any other kid in his class. His colouring is perfect. He will erase and start again if his letters aren't just right. And he puts a ton of pressure on himself to be good at anything he does. Hmm... not sure where he gets these traits! </div><div><br /></div><div>But in the past few months I've noticed a change. Perhaps it's a bit of maturity coming through, I'm not sure. He seems to suddenly have more patience and a better attitude about learning a new skill. Case in point... he just started Hockey Fundamentals. He's skating well but has never had hockey equipment on, nor has he ever played hockey on a team. The first time he went to hockey, there were about 40 or 50 kids on the ice. They did a skating drill to separate the kids into groups. They started them all at one end of the ice, blew the whistle for the kids to start skating and then blew it again to have them stop. The fastest kids went to one group, the middle kids went to one group and the beginners/slowest kids went to the 3rd group. This is great in theory, but my Evan doesn't know how to stop on his skates so he just kept gliding along till he stopped. This put him far enough down the ice to be in the middle group of kids!!! 99% of the kids in the middle group had team jerseys on, which means they all play on teams or have played on teams in the past and are there for more ice time and to perfect their existing skills!!!! This is not my kid!!!! I was immediately concerned. Evan was the smallest in the group (as you can see in the picture above!), the slowest in the group, couldn't stop on skates and couldn't skate backwards. I was worried that he would get frustrated that he couldn't keep up with the other (bigger) kids. In the past, one bad experience would equal giving up. But you know what... when he came off the ice at the end of the hour, he was smiling. He was so excited. His reaction was completely different from what I had anticipated. His words were "Mummy... did you see me trying to stop? Did you see me skating backwards?" I have to admit... I cried a bit that night because I was so proud of him. He's understanding that it's not about being the best on the ice... it's about trying hard and having individual goals and successes. </div><div><br /></div><div>3. Sloth Be Gone - Okay this one is about me... not the kiddo. It's not quite as interesting but it's still noteworthy for me!!! 2 years ago I started running. I'd never run before. So I set a goal and in October 2009 I ran my first 5k race. My goal was to simply finish and run the whole distance and I did it! I was very proud of myself. I never thought I'd be able to do it. 5k isn't a long distance, it's no 1/2 marathon, but for me it was a goal and I was happy I accomplished it. In the summer of 2010, I set myself a goal of doing a 10k in October. I trained hard for the summer and into the first week of September. Then it all fell apart... I went on my girls getaway to Vegas to celebrate my 40th birthday. Life got busy in the few weeks leading up to that trip and I fell off the training wagon. After the trip I never got back to training. I didn't end up doing that 10k. I felt very sad and even more disappointed in myself. I really let myself down. And then became a sloth!!!! I was miserable about being so lazy but I couldn't seem to get out of the rut. So, in January I thought I'd better do something about it. I signed up for boot camp with a friend of mine. We decided to sign up for one night a week just in case we hated it! But funny thing is we both LOVE it. We get out of the house for our kids' bath time once a week, we chat, we moan and groan our way through this hell class and we feel great! When this session is over, I will sign up for another session and likely do 3 days a week instead of 1. I am a sloth no longer!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, there you have it. 3 things going on in my life right now that should be celebrated. Sometimes (often) it's not just the big things in life that matter, it's all the small, seemingly insignificant things that matter the most.</div><div><br /></div><div>What are your little celebrations? Feel free to share them here! And enjoy this little video of my monkey at his first practice!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiRm_lrMWIQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiRm_lrMWIQ</a></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-35574899132408334332011-01-05T11:56:00.006-05:002011-01-05T12:18:40.424-05:00Are you a good mom?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOKZuJGZbQkvQ-fJdym7OL86NvdKxUlMKqdxJNm8KljaWz3KUwo2I-40hsErSHMgSRLL-yVwnXOocC7YOXu_EIsXZ-X9pfQvAv_krExZXovP1lxshXPdJNMecNUGTHgvZ5cezCpmdBVE/s1600/L1020532.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOKZuJGZbQkvQ-fJdym7OL86NvdKxUlMKqdxJNm8KljaWz3KUwo2I-40hsErSHMgSRLL-yVwnXOocC7YOXu_EIsXZ-X9pfQvAv_krExZXovP1lxshXPdJNMecNUGTHgvZ5cezCpmdBVE/s400/L1020532.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558751592609053938" /></a><br />So, I have this friend (I'll call her KK for short)... I think she's a great mom. But yesterday she emailed me and was very upset. It seems her 8 year old had just discovered packaging for a gift that was supposed to be from Santa. He started questioning her and in her haste to get out the door in the morning, she couldn't come up with a viable reason for why it was in her closet. The cat was out of the bag! She was feeling guilty for not being able to keep the magic alive for a while longer. I think she was also feeling bad because she was scheduled to work late last night and wouldn't be able to go home and have a good old heart to heart with her son to make sure he was okay with the news! She was also concerned about her 8 year old spoiling things for her 5 year old. She was not feeling like a good mom.<div><br /></div><div>But... let me tell you... this is the same friend who schemed and planned for months and months to surprise her 2 boys with a trip to Disney for Christmas. In the weeks leading up to their trip, she was giddy as a school girl. She couldn't contain her excitement. And it wasn't excitement about the trip itself, it was excitement over how the boys would react to the news that they were going on their first trip to Disney (including a Disney cruise!). To me, this is the sign of a good mom. </div><div><br /></div><div>I started thinking about this last night and wondering why we moms are all so hard on ourselves and why we don't take our own advice. When my little man is upset about not being able to do something perfectly, I talk to him about not being so hard on himself. I say things like "Just try your best. That's what matters!" Why do we not realize this is the same for us? As mothers all we can do is try our best for our kids. Things won't be perfect all the time and that's fine. We need to realize this and not get down on ourselves when things don't go as planned or when we don't have all the answers. We need to listen to our friends who tell us we're amazing and we need to believe them. I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but this one seems like an okay one to strive for!</div><div><br /></div><div>That's my pep talk for today! </div><div><br /></div><div>PS... I'm sharing the Halloween pic because for me, that's just a little example of me being a good mom... You see, I'm really not big into dressing up for Halloween but it made Evan happy to see me as a cat!</div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-25012047699132226752010-11-02T21:55:00.004-04:002010-11-06T23:47:04.286-04:00DWTS Wrap UpSo the last time I wrote was the day of the big Dancing With the Stars event. I was nervous, excited and terrified all rolled into one ball of stress!!!! So I thought I'd just share with you how the night went!<div><br /></div><div>If I had to pick a single word to describe the evening, it would be "amazing"! It truly was the best show of all 3 years this event has run. The dancing was fantastic, the hall was beautiful, our guest performers who sang brought me to tears, Everett Smith was simply breathtaking in his performances and incredibly insightful as our celebrity judge, and best of all, it looks like we've made significantly more money this year for <a href="http://www.hopespring.ca/">Hopespring</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have to admit, going into the evening I was feeling like I might be a bit sad that I wasn't dancing in the show this year. But honestly, it didn't matter. I was so excited to be there behind the scenes and had such an immense feeling of pride at my involvement in organizing such a well run, entertaining evening. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, to all of you who came out and enjoyed the show, thank you so much for your support. To those extremely generous people who donated their time and helped out that evening, know that your time is greatly valued and often means the difference between a highly successful event and one that is just ok! And to those who donated prizes to our auction or sponsored one of our talented dance teams, your generosity is so greatly appreciated and is the main reason we significantly increased the financial success of our evening. Because of you, many more people will have access to the wonderful services that Hopespring offers to cancer patients and their family and caregivers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a segment of my closing speech that I feel sums up the evening well. Thanks again to everyone!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usyl-jHN4Es">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usyl-jHN4Es</a></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-55763099507847178892010-10-15T09:01:00.002-04:002010-10-15T09:07:01.920-04:00Tonight's the night!Well, after 9 months of work by an amazing committee of people, tonight's the night for the big Dancing With the Stars show benefiting the HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre. I may not be dancing this year, but that doesn't mean I'm not a bit nervous!!! I'm so proud to be a part of this event. HopeSpring does amazing, wonderful things for so many people and I can't think of a better way for me to spend some of my time. If I've learned one thing over the past 2 years with this event, it's that donating my time is just as important as donating my money! <div><br /></div><div>So, wish me luck. I may have danced in front of 700 people last year, but I've never had to speak in front of that many before! Think great thoughts for us tonight and cross your fingers we break the records for money made on this event! That's my ultimate goal this evening!</div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-73509045683374144002010-10-11T20:46:00.003-04:002010-10-12T21:08:11.922-04:00Too much pressure?We all want something great for our kids. Some start them in hockey at the age of 3 with the dreams of their child being the next Gretzky. Some, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuFC5pP_FKM&feature=related">like this kid</a>, strive to be the next Michael Jordan. Despite what the clip says, I find it hard to believe that his parents aren't pushing him even just a little bit to practice those 4 hours a day after school! <div><br /></div><div>But I'm different.. I swear I am! Or at least I was until last week! I told myself when I had my babe that I would never pressure him into anything he didn't want to do. In fact, the hubs really wants little E to play hockey. Little E isn't so keen on the idea. So, I've gone to bat for him and I think Ronnio now agrees that as long as E can skate like a real Canadian, we're doing fine! </div><div><br /></div><div>But now something big has happened that has changed all of this. E has turned a corner and there's no turning back. Now the pressure starts from me... BIG TIME! Can you say "the next Lance Armstrong"??? You be the judge!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVKTsGz-EZ8&playnext=1&videos=mgHaUPz0r9g&feature=mfu_in_order">The next Lance Armstrong???</a></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-59094444180737907022010-10-08T22:03:00.004-04:002010-10-09T13:13:37.931-04:00The single life!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dR-mvkYkkN2tXaJjZ55_1dUyJffg75h070-RzVLFJqYvpAfJRcHlaOGaI-AAMyZbYUXXG3Jr5nwu9otknnlLW538jx9h3u6xI4JVs9qHnDoXSzqgqGJqhPvf6QJYrlqT6tKPO6Ey7fs/s1600/12167_206812706969_669636969_4557364_7127148_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dR-mvkYkkN2tXaJjZ55_1dUyJffg75h070-RzVLFJqYvpAfJRcHlaOGaI-AAMyZbYUXXG3Jr5nwu9otknnlLW538jx9h3u6xI4JVs9qHnDoXSzqgqGJqhPvf6QJYrlqT6tKPO6Ey7fs/s400/12167_206812706969_669636969_4557364_7127148_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525872290715785522" /></a><br />So, I've decided that I need to take my blog a bit more seriously! I started this blog in August 2009 just on a whim. I written a few times over the course of the past year but lately I've been feeling like I'd like to write more often. The challenge is always figuring out what to write about. <div><br /></div><div>So, thanks to my good friend Claudia for giving me the inspiration for this post! She thought it would be fun for me to write about what life would be like if I was single. Not just without a kidlet, but completely single. Not 25 and single, but the age I am now, with the lifestyle I have now, just on my own (never married, not divorced). Don't mistake this as an indication of me being unhappy with my current life. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm happy with my life... my hubs, my kidlet, my work... everything is good. I just think it's fun to surmise what my day to day life would be like on my own. So, here's what I think a typical week day would be like:</div><div><br /></div><div>7:00am - wake up well rested after a wonderful, uninterrupted sleep</div><div>7:15 - 8:15 - get ready for work, watching the news that I want to watch without the channel being flipped</div><div>9 - 5 (yes, in this fantasy day, I work only 9-5! Can't remember the last time this was reality!) - work a full day in the office (or in my home office depending on the day). At work, I'd talk about what I did the night before or the weekend before or what I plan to do tomorrow or on my next vacation!</div><div>5:30 - head to the gym to do either a spin class or a cardio pump class </div><div>7:00 - head home or meet up with a friend for Thai food for dinner. If I was heading home, I'd make myself some toast for dinner. Or on a good day, I might make myself some eggs!</div><div>8:00 - soak in a hot tub and watch my favourite shows and just think about what I might do on the upcoming weekend. Maybe call a few single friends to see about making plans for the weekend. </div><div>10/11:00 - head to bed. Read a book, and settle in for another perfect, uninterrupted sleep!</div><div><br /></div><div>Flip to a single girl weekend and it's all about me! I'd probably go to the gym or go for a run or 2. I'd do some grocery shopping, I'd do a bit of me shopping, I'd clean my house, I'd visit friends, maybe see a movie, go out for dinner, maybe do a bit of work and do a whole lot of relaxing!</div><div><br /></div><div>All this sounds absolutely wonderful, doesn't it! Imagine never having to worry about anyone else. Imagine not having to be at someone else's beck and call or having to adhere to someone else's schedule. Imagine not having to worry about picking someone up from school or about what to make a picky eater for dinner! </div><div><br /></div><div>Just 1 problem... if that was my life, I'd be missing out on everything I actually have now... I'd be missing out on the super-duper Evan snuggles, I'd be missing out on the feeling I get every time Evan says "I love you, Mummy", I'd be missing out on all of the laughs and love I have with Ron and I wouldn't have anyone to share my day to day stresses, joys and accomplishments with. So really, what fun would that be?</div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-36846682068964472442010-10-07T21:22:00.001-04:002010-10-07T21:25:13.543-04:00In honour of Oktoberfest!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqfQSZZde1gwJvSnQiVGp47MujRvQjWtSRT6ye2nSWVFxEaBHBc3kPu2nX7zdnril6IzOuq3lWA5UYsJiuVBPJZVuSoUhb7YbprcFh7MhsdBUBWwmWenfG-WWd4jmw6-KMt3tH2MEi-I/s1600/DSCN0526.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqfQSZZde1gwJvSnQiVGp47MujRvQjWtSRT6ye2nSWVFxEaBHBc3kPu2nX7zdnril6IzOuq3lWA5UYsJiuVBPJZVuSoUhb7YbprcFh7MhsdBUBWwmWenfG-WWd4jmw6-KMt3tH2MEi-I/s400/DSCN0526.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525480101796218866" /></a>Happy Thanksgiving everyone!Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-2673957629087248992010-10-05T21:39:00.003-04:002010-10-05T22:07:42.905-04:00Dancing With the Stars 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS7cTbo8XJYew3vUD5JVEf5KjBuMVxRYom9g4AtuLEK1MjQwyhOBb6gkOqSZXxQGNiFq3P9UShTiOJpziZUpQJ8C502y14ZatKA_gIw6F8uMf0IpyvHh-YMKR82NRnVfoMC3y2zRmSvE/s1600/DSC_0902.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS7cTbo8XJYew3vUD5JVEf5KjBuMVxRYom9g4AtuLEK1MjQwyhOBb6gkOqSZXxQGNiFq3P9UShTiOJpziZUpQJ8C502y14ZatKA_gIw6F8uMf0IpyvHh-YMKR82NRnVfoMC3y2zRmSvE/s400/DSC_0902.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524748611719034082" /></a><br />So this time last year, I was sweating bullets. I was one week away from making my public dancing debut as a "star" in the Dancing With the Stars fundraising event benefitting the HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre. I originally got involved as a challenge for myself. I don't like being the centre of attention and I really felt the experience would force me to confront that fear. I also happen to think that HopeSpring is a charity worth supporting. They provide amazing services free of charge to people going through cancer, as well as their caregivers. All this with absolutely no government funding!<div><br /></div><div>I have to admit though, it wasn't until after the show was over and the money was counted, I really felt the impact of what my involvement meant. Being involved in that show meant that many more people could have free wigs as they lost their hair to chemo. It meant more people could reap the benefits of one on one and/or group counselling sessions.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, when I was asked after the show last year if I would help organize the event for this year, I didn't hesitate to say yes. This year, I'm the chair of the organizing committee and am once again, so proud to be involved in this event. This year, for the first time, we've gone after, and found corporate sponsors for each of the couples competing in the show. This means the event will raise so much more money for such a terrific cause. I'm proud to be a part of this committee who has worked so hard for the past 9 months to organize what promises to be a great show. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also for the first time ever, we have a celebrity judge and guest performer. Everett Smith from So You Think You Can Dance Canada will be there to critique the dancers as well as wow the audience with 2 performances. We've got incredible prizes up for grabs in our live auction as well. I really think this year promises to be the best show yet and I'm so excited to be a big part of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, if you're looking for something fun to do next Friday (October 15th), get a ticket. I promise you won't be disappointed. Tickets are still available from <a href="http://www.hopespring.ca/">HopeSpring</a> but they're going fast. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and wish me luck... I may not be dancing this year, but I may have to make a speech in front of the 700 people in the audience!!!! YIKES!!!!!</div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-48317258042108546852010-10-04T21:27:00.004-04:002010-10-04T22:15:23.615-04:00The Power of Music<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As some of you may know, before I started my career in advertising, my dream job was to be a flautist with the National Ballet of Canada. I had always dreamed of being a ballerina as a little girl. I took ballet for several years and as a child I idolized Karen Kain and Frank Augustine. But honestly... I wasn't that good a dancer! So when I started playing the flute and then went on to study flute at university, I thought what better way to fulfill my childhood dream than to play my favourite instrument in my favourite setting. Of course, this dream was cut short by a car accident after my first year of university. I continued to study flute for second year, but then my neck and shoulder just couldn't sustain me for the number of hours of practicing that were required to really perfect my craft. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I continued my music degree, but instead of focussing on performance, I switched my major to music history. I went on to do my coursework for my master's degree in Musicology at McGill. After 2 years of coursework, I moved back to Ontario to work and to complete my thesis. I got </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">my first job in advertising and sadly, my thesis remains unfinished to this day!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I guess the reason for me explaining this background is so you understand that I know a lot about music. I know the history of music. I know the technical aspects of music composition. I know all 9 Beethoven symphonies. I can tell you that in the movie Die Hard, Beethoven's 9th symphony is used to increase tension and make the viewer more agitated at certain points of the movie. But what I can't explain to you is why music has such a powerful emotional effect on people. I Googled this when I was thinking about writing this post. Here's what I found:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"As for music's emotional impact, there is some indication that music can affect levels of various hormones, including cortisol (involved in arousal and stress), testosterone (aggression and arousal) and oxytocin (nurturing behavior) as well as trigger release of the natural opiates known as endorphins." (This is extracted from an article by Michael D. Lemonick for Time Magazine).</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'm sure everyone would agree that there are certain songs that evoke strong emotional reactions. Music also has the ability to transport you to another time and place. Music has the power to bring memories flooding back to you so you are re-living incidents of years ago. I'm going to give you a few examples of songs that do this for me! Maybe you'll chuckle when you read some of these. Maybe you'll have memories of your own that get stirred up by some of the same songs! Or maybe it'll get you thinking of some special pieces of music you have in your own life!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here's a good one! I clearly remember walking with my best friend Kristen to our first high school dance in Grade 9. We had a single can of tonic water which was 1/2 tonic and 1/2 gin. We shared this cocktail on our way to the school. We also had 1 Sony Walkman that we shared. Kristen had one headphone, I had the other. On the cassette tape side A was the Psychedelic Furs "The Ghost in You" album. On side B was an album by Ultravox. Whenever I hear this song, I am reminded of that walk and how much fun we had that night and how excited we both were to be going to our very first dance! </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aMHL1lEQBk"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aMHL1lEQBk</span></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fast forward a year or so... I had a boyfriend in high school named Mark Champagne. He sang in a band and looked like Jack Wagner from General Hospital!! He was dreamy! One night Kristen and I snuck out of the house to meet up with Mark and his less dreamy brother (sorry Kristen!!). We walked down to the canal and sat on a bench talking till the wee hours of the morning. At one point that night, Mark the dream boat, started singing this song to me. I'm reminded of that night every time I hear it!!! </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eT464L1YRA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eT464L1YRA</span></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eT464L1YRA"></a>And finally, whenever I hear anything by Erika Badu, I'm reminded of my second date with my Ronnio. He picked me up at work one night and we drove to Toronto for an amazing dinner. I brought my Erika Badu CD to listen to in the car. I think he thought I was trying to seduce him. I think he may have been right!!!! 2 years later, we were engaged. 8 months after that, we were married! Guess the EB worked! </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CPCs7vVz6s"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CPCs7vVz6s</span></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CPCs7vVz6s"></a>So, today I'm having a hard time shaking a couple of songs. Both are stuck in my brain and are reminding me of my fabulous Vegas getaway. They're songs we heard in the clubs and danced to until dawn. They're reminding me of the amazing group of women I bonded with over those 4 days. And they're making me realize that just because I'm turning 40 doesn't mean that I don't still have the ability to have fun and let loose sometimes! After all, as my friend Kristen says, 40 is the new 20!!!! Enjoy these 2! </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-dvTjK_07c&ob=av2n"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-dvTjK_07c&ob=av2n</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjZD63BWKgA&ob=av2n"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjZD63BWKgA&ob=av2n</span></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, I'm curious to know about what songs spark memories for you. Surely there are some good stories out there. Don't be afraid to share them here!<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /></span></span></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-89187731344986773592010-09-30T08:50:00.005-04:002010-09-30T21:33:27.378-04:00A healthy dose of fun!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJR0iaxTlHN7sAefQnbOwf4RfRgVrFjnZbOjbdhcEjwR8a-rCOywrYs4OyPWhT4vTUioGY-HONx5oLzUiAT3DnjaAIdATEN-kCWSJv2udveUFo67nDrw7IF-6eNyIbZbFTie1GWUP9OQ/s1600/girls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJR0iaxTlHN7sAefQnbOwf4RfRgVrFjnZbOjbdhcEjwR8a-rCOywrYs4OyPWhT4vTUioGY-HONx5oLzUiAT3DnjaAIdATEN-kCWSJv2udveUFo67nDrw7IF-6eNyIbZbFTie1GWUP9OQ/s400/girls.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522867610932767410" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9-wsw1X42HJqZATatEbfM-Xx4OV69aeLWfq41syisnjSEB3w9o9kHRwe1DzPwX2I6HcK3uT1mfGPJCQAdC-ROtXmyRXwmEfRs-r4A9hVUMlzZJ3YvQTBbgqBnCBefQDFrXRpp7W_w-g/s1600/IMG_7168_2.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><i>I'm writing this blog in response to many people saying "So, how was Vegas? What did you guys do?"</i></span></a><div><br /></div>Well as most of you know, this past weekend was my big Vegas girl's getaway. The reason behind the trip was to celebrate my upcoming 40th birthday. I started planning this trip a year ago when I casually mentioned to 5 of my friends that I wanted to do something special to celebrate. After all, 2 years ago when Ron turned 40, he took off to Vegas, stayed in a penthouse suite at the Palms and did the booty shake with Jessica Alba at a club!!! So surely I deserved a celebration of a similar caliber!<div><br /></div><div>When I started thinking about my birthday getaway there were several options I considered: a weekend at St Anne's spa, a spa getaway to Scottsdale, AZ, a Caribbean getaway... all great options. But the one that stood out and won out was obviously Vegas! A total escape from reality!! So the planning started...</div><div><br /></div><div>Since we booked the trip 6 months in advance, we had a ton of time to plan out exactly what we wanted to do once we were finally in Vegas. We got together a few times over the course of the 6 months just so everyone could get to know each other a bit better before we left (the common thread in the group was me so a few of my friends didn't really know the other friends that well). The week before the trip we got together for some drinks and pedicures and we watched The Hangover. We were certain our trip would rival the one the guys took in that movie (minus the missing tooth of course!!!!) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); "><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=162PBJp1akg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=162PBJp1akg</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Our limo picked us up at 4:45am on Friday. We started the journey by having a couple of mimosas on the way to Toronto. Everyone was so excited that the trip was finally upon us. We survived the flight and got to Vegas at 11:30am which meant we had the entire day on Friday to have fun. We checked in to our GORGEOUS hotel (<a href="http://www.palazzolasvegas.com/">The Palazzo Las Vegas</a>), got settled, had some lunch and just walked around a bit. We had an early dinner that night at <a href="http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/olives.aspx">Olives</a> at the Bellagio and then we were off to enjoy front row seats for <a href="http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/o/default.aspx">Cirque du Soleil's O</a> which was by far the best show I've EVER seen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Saturday was all about shopping... SHOE SHOPPING! If you missed my tweets while I was down there, the news is all Louboutin, all the time! Bought my first pair as a special Happy Birthday to Me present (thanks to a very generous birthday card from Ronnio). Yes, you heard me... it's my 1st pair... 1st of many!!!! Saturday night however was all about a great dinner at <a href="http://www.lavolv.com/">Lavo</a>, followed by an amazing evening/morning at the club. When was the last time I danced in 5" heels from 10:30pm until 4:00am???? Not sure if that's ever happened to be honest. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday was a day of low key recovery by the pool. To say we were all tired would be a bit of an understatement. But still, starting the day with a champagne cocktail seemed completely appropriate at the time!!!! Sunday night we ended up at a club at Bellagio which we didn't really like and then back at our hot spot from the night before, Lavo Nightclub! All I can say about Sunday night is that I tried to get a good night's sleep that night, but it just wasn't meant to be.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which brings me to Monday. Monday was all about the shopping. Shopping, shopping, shopping. We caught the red eye home at 11:30pm so we had a full day of fun before we had to get our tired butts to the airport. </div><div><br /></div><div>I like to describe this trip as 4 days of being awake with 3 hr catnaps in between. I literally didn't sleep more than 3hrs a night for the entire time. It was amazing. We had such a great time. So much so that we're all up for making this an annual trip! And you know what that means... if Vegas is an annual trip, so is the Louboutin boutique! Better start saving my pennies right this minute. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks so much to my wonderful, amazing group of ladies who agreed to come on this adventure with me and celebrate with me. You are all truly the most incredible women and friends. I'm so lucky to have you in my life. And thanks to all of you around me who indulged me with listening to every last detail of the planning leading up to trip. I know I've been driving people mental! And to the husbands who stayed at home with the children and never questioned the need for us ladies to make this journey, we love you to pieces. It is because of your love and support that we actually came home and welcomed the re-entry to our reality!! </div><div><br /></div><div>So, there you have it... the trip in a nutshell. May not sound too exciting, but let's not forget, this blog post has been edited and re-edited because after all:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"!!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span></div></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-3052203189666603522010-08-12T20:57:00.005-04:002010-08-12T21:23:47.474-04:00Dealing with fear!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxsHMi_OZ_TAuNulxzY-0pSWIhrr4HoNsvroYKvBQqRtG-uHEmVPKGtlkuamSye99aZuYPP6e2OrJp5OwyNDQLUoQxgfpG5LkJ_2DG2YG8I7O0n8KGk_1NHzB40YHW__e2JSTXjJpdi8/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-08-12+at+9.21.54+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxsHMi_OZ_TAuNulxzY-0pSWIhrr4HoNsvroYKvBQqRtG-uHEmVPKGtlkuamSye99aZuYPP6e2OrJp5OwyNDQLUoQxgfpG5LkJ_2DG2YG8I7O0n8KGk_1NHzB40YHW__e2JSTXjJpdi8/s400/Screen+shot+2010-08-12+at+9.21.54+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504698719837689906" /></a><br />A couple of weeks ago my husband and I decided to take little E out for an afternoon of good, honest (and cheap) fun. We gathered up some butterfly nets and a bug catcher; we packed a few drinks, a few snacks and his Bugs of Ontario book and off we went. Our little guy loves bugs and all things creepy crawly so for him, this was the best idea we'd had in a while. We found ourselves the perfect meadow out behind Langdon Hall that was full of milkweed and monarchs... a prime bug catching location. <div><br /></div><div>Our first find was a tiny little tree frog. We scooped him up and put him in our catcher. Things were moving along nicely and little E was getting more and more excited. When we found a big leopard frog things got even better. Then we started walking through the tall grass of the meadow in an attempt to catch ourselves a monarch, or better yet, find ourselves a caterpillar so we could bring him home and "grow" our own monarch butterfly. </div><div><br /></div><div>E and my hubby went one way through the meadow and I decided to go off on my own... BIG MISTAKE... HUGE! After being on my own for a few minutes, I decided to go and join up with my 2 guys. I was walking along and suddenly stopped in my tracks just shy of walking through a big spider web. I saw the web and thought to myself "wow, that's a big web... I'm glad I didn't walk through it and get it all over my legs". At that point, I looked once more at the big web and realized that sitting right in the middle of it was the biggest, blackest spider I've EVER seen in my life. I can only compare it to the size of the base of a cupcake. It was huge. The body alone was about the size of a quarter. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've always known I was afraid of spiders, but that day in the meadow, I realized I was more than afraid. I have a true phobia. For a moment I was frozen. Everything started spinning around me. I thought I was going to either throw up or pass out. And then the screaming started. I literally screamed and started crying hysterically and running through the meadow like I was being chased by an axe murderer. The whole time my little boy was yelling "Mummy, what's wrong? Mummy, what's wrong?" </div><div><br /></div><div>I think my "freakout" session probably lasted no more than 10 or 15 seconds, but it was just long enough to really make my 4 year old scared and upset. When I stopped, I realized that I had done something that I have always promised myself I wouldn't do... I've always said that I would try my absolute best not to relay any of my fears onto my child. I don't like spiders or snakes or roller coasters, but there's no rational reason why he shouldn't. I can quite honestly say that I felt a ton of shame that afternoon at my behaviour. The last thing I want to do is make my son afraid, but I can also tell you that I couldn't help it. Fears are irrational and our reactions are often uncontrollable.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did do my best to calm little E down and make him not afraid. I did a lot of talking about how Mummy is afraid of spiders but that I'm just silly and there's no real reason to be afraid. Hopefully our talks did the trick because the last thing I want to do is instil my silly fears in him. I'm curious to know how other people deal with this with their kids. Did I do okay with it (after I calmed down)? Ideas/suggestions are always welcome! In the meantime, I'm just going to stay out of the meadow and enjoy the monarchs from the peace of my backyard!</div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-79487843646231053822010-07-23T11:24:00.003-04:002010-07-23T11:46:11.023-04:00The problem with kids...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6VEF_-G313Rpg9BulkYmO8IM7FMP7BvMZkzGz70sSo6-niSSKaXxXN6GHekLJz3hXc0tVLoAs8-k471rmZuAPd-kk4Hha8V-FIVhSZAPucXMCS37LOZW7REOj7nRlV9csOiglXreEeg/s1600/IMG00153-20100718-1546.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6VEF_-G313Rpg9BulkYmO8IM7FMP7BvMZkzGz70sSo6-niSSKaXxXN6GHekLJz3hXc0tVLoAs8-k471rmZuAPd-kk4Hha8V-FIVhSZAPucXMCS37LOZW7REOj7nRlV9csOiglXreEeg/s400/IMG00153-20100718-1546.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497127956294054418" /></a><br />For those of you who know me, you know that I am a mother of one amazing little boy. I only have one child for a few reasons:<div><br /></div><div>1. I am turning 40 this year and for me personally, I feel I'm too old to start all over again with a new baby. (I know this may not be how everyone feels and I don't mean any offence to anyone reading this... it's a very personal decision for everyone.)</div><div><br /></div><div>2. I honestly don't think I have the patience to raise more than 1 child.</div><div><br /></div><div>and my most important reason...</div><div><br /></div><div>3. I truly can't fathom feeling the same way about a second child as I do about my first. He is my world... my everything. He's what I think about first thing in the morning and as I close my eyes at night. I knew from the moment I saw him on my first ultrasound that I loved him to pieces. The first time I felt him move inside me was the most incredible feeling ever. I remember constantly rubbing my belly and talking to this little one inside like we were already best friends. The moment he was born my entire life took on new meaning. Each and every day I look at him with wonder and amazement. So, I wonder... how could you possibly feel this way about a second child???? I know, I know... all of my friends have told me that it just happens. That as soon as the second child enters the world, all of these same feelings start to take shape. But for me personally, I just can't even imagine it happening. Again, I don't mean to offend anyone with this comment, I'm just telling you how things are for me. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, this leads me to the real point of this post...</div><div><br /></div><div>This past Tuesday, my little wonder had a sleepover at his little buddy's house. Now this may not seem like a big deal, but for me it was HUGE. Little E has had sleepovers before but always at his "Auntie Claudia's" house. He has known Auntie Claudia since the day he was born. She has a daughter 5 months younger and the 2 have grown up together. Her daughter has spent lots of nights at our house and it was Auntie Claudia who took care of little E for a whole week last year when my husband and I had a wedding to attend in Mexico. In short... he knows her well and I trust her with my life (and obviously his as well). </div><div><br /></div><div>So, this week, when E's buddy wanted to have E over for a sleepover I was nervous. I wasn't nervous about his safety or well being, I was just nervous that he would be okay without me. He's not good with change, he can be super-duper shy and in general, he's a bit of a high stress kid. I fully expected to get a call at 10:30 that night with him crying in the background begging for me to come and get him and bring him home. But guess what.... IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!! I didn't get the call. In fact, I got emails from his buddy's mom telling me how awesome he was doing and how he hadn't even mentioned home once!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>I went to bed that night feeling mixed emotions. I was so happy that he was okay, but I was a tad sad that he didn't seem to need me any more!!!! I got up the next morning to an email telling me he had slept all night and was in a great mood. Again, mixed emotions came over me. I want him to always need me and always want to be with me!</div><div><br /></div><div>So... the real point here? </div><div><br /></div><div>The problem with kids, the way I see it... is that they grow up! And I don't like this one bit.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-87992884989423276162010-07-14T12:05:00.004-04:002010-07-14T16:04:01.770-04:00Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnrEylM9WMZ0czBbHdOJSZyqzYIVABsGww2budRZoFX7ZKT2UnAE89gSP79DsU49-_sGRbWS3pZIujPsk8QWXwOzuCf9B3CZJipH1PA5L_xA89TQadQuWgDay_GQPe4DPBTplrjL_jTc/s1600/IMG00189.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnrEylM9WMZ0czBbHdOJSZyqzYIVABsGww2budRZoFX7ZKT2UnAE89gSP79DsU49-_sGRbWS3pZIujPsk8QWXwOzuCf9B3CZJipH1PA5L_xA89TQadQuWgDay_GQPe4DPBTplrjL_jTc/s400/IMG00189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493794695561643426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvBPUJRSHUv48mU0zY_okOCuNixD3_qbu9XNdpoOMwX60S1NYuFV73h_5kEd6_J8y2mmkYv6EXDFJGIIOqVw0vJdrY-5Gz3IQDS4Ag17oUIVK29b4-z6bLcfa7JSXyBtvC2zfS3ydC4A/s1600/IMG00304.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvBPUJRSHUv48mU0zY_okOCuNixD3_qbu9XNdpoOMwX60S1NYuFV73h_5kEd6_J8y2mmkYv6EXDFJGIIOqVw0vJdrY-5Gz3IQDS4Ag17oUIVK29b4-z6bLcfa7JSXyBtvC2zfS3ydC4A/s400/IMG00304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493794317929345522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBtEBSwo1sTLqowrnqEfl_l8sZmNf7BWacinIs0hhPrT43ivtS5kDYh1_kOzvSl-XXGrpvQiuC-7ZdBYz_i1jtnKXjqNpyG4rHQoJY_9h57WIez8YBF0TnuBbBEZSZZZTzHhF24oBpcQ/s1600/IMG00075-20100710-2101.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBtEBSwo1sTLqowrnqEfl_l8sZmNf7BWacinIs0hhPrT43ivtS5kDYh1_kOzvSl-XXGrpvQiuC-7ZdBYz_i1jtnKXjqNpyG4rHQoJY_9h57WIez8YBF0TnuBbBEZSZZZTzHhF24oBpcQ/s400/IMG00075-20100710-2101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493794301143413298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ySMqO2iB99HWCn0m6CLLQ44_bXdY-N8xs6VqGd0f4ISotKXGsGdm6M_GjhgE7nGqBnRJWXspHcHhRe05ikHxlmcwaiD3ytb5J7t2EywLmB3VW4rf-Zb9csZ1uD6Wxbk_d6D1NNznELo/s1600/DSCN1839.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ySMqO2iB99HWCn0m6CLLQ44_bXdY-N8xs6VqGd0f4ISotKXGsGdm6M_GjhgE7nGqBnRJWXspHcHhRe05ikHxlmcwaiD3ytb5J7t2EywLmB3VW4rf-Zb9csZ1uD6Wxbk_d6D1NNznELo/s400/DSCN1839.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493794285154893346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PwDweKgUGCx8w-nVke8tsXcym9nJKFwfXsW3iKmjLXgxm56R2Z9KVgiT4gCFU3C_AUgQt4X5Mm9qwyvf7xd_-LgTmkAjg-BwO5dO88yNaDGcKZyqQ00H-3qWOZnD9f6rZ6LA7pPoEek/s1600/DSCN2188.jpg"><br /></a>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-24301914726965766742010-04-17T15:31:00.006-04:002010-04-21T10:54:17.114-04:00Vacation or kid's birthday party... you pick!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7IO9vHQWwBTPRksTP0klfz_Yb8lwtutVWBzEt2_TJbEZd6i-K-rdZKx10KDiDzD5N1xbQbRU1sYXFIRDbBn8K4j52fSIGYgamJskDz065vFTEMUNf_QnEKpV6r7j_yTro9TtJU3kiPw/s1600/L1010940.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7IO9vHQWwBTPRksTP0klfz_Yb8lwtutVWBzEt2_TJbEZd6i-K-rdZKx10KDiDzD5N1xbQbRU1sYXFIRDbBn8K4j52fSIGYgamJskDz065vFTEMUNf_QnEKpV6r7j_yTro9TtJU3kiPw/s320/L1010940.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461195165438481970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_RWp_vJrOQQisbHlGqXw9kR7ISTqOELBtX2F70KkqF929EOyvcF7nYkvEOf1C8dz66QaXRrKh7fkKbv1aSfYtRoVGhyhU_oJmQiG81iIyhYIz3f1eG2LBZAOMkqERl-j5g9UwzgkgYc/s1600/DSCN0607.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_RWp_vJrOQQisbHlGqXw9kR7ISTqOELBtX2F70KkqF929EOyvcF7nYkvEOf1C8dz66QaXRrKh7fkKbv1aSfYtRoVGhyhU_oJmQiG81iIyhYIz3f1eG2LBZAOMkqERl-j5g9UwzgkgYc/s320/DSCN0607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461195159573358434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VMrWKlht9y0cZu_qNE4Txq7cUwmIsjrNS12cPDAwK7gd_HgVlYEJOpzo9Jk4kVs9gKSuOUFeS3GJ85ZtMLfHLgmzswgno3kHVppDXW2zFI1gHGQiv-4vNHWpCsZxLGxChqwbnizSYdE/s1600/IMGP0039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VMrWKlht9y0cZu_qNE4Txq7cUwmIsjrNS12cPDAwK7gd_HgVlYEJOpzo9Jk4kVs9gKSuOUFeS3GJ85ZtMLfHLgmzswgno3kHVppDXW2zFI1gHGQiv-4vNHWpCsZxLGxChqwbnizSYdE/s320/IMGP0039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461195147138826690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGF9nnpQ9Fog4rC9L5nxu_JmLtRzUUeT1T19T9GOg17l9SkI2M68GvfW6BkNjbiCEw8H2EDmtDherOKzF0rv_W4JLVohiKTjwF77DSazms7WQuVvt2Xa8ouV8meHlt9Q4VmEuclVhL9o/s1600/DSCN2057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGF9nnpQ9Fog4rC9L5nxu_JmLtRzUUeT1T19T9GOg17l9SkI2M68GvfW6BkNjbiCEw8H2EDmtDherOKzF0rv_W4JLVohiKTjwF77DSazms7WQuVvt2Xa8ouV8meHlt9Q4VmEuclVhL9o/s320/DSCN2057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461195139140004306" /></a><br />I was talking to my friend Claudia the other day about my addiction to social media. She loves Facebook but has not embraced Twitter or blogging! She was asking me about my blog and whether I've written lately. I shook my head in shame and said I hadn't written for a while. She gave me a great idea for a blog post so today's content is brought to you by Auntie C!!!<div><br /></div><div>For the month of April, little E has a birthday party to go to every single weekend. It's a really great thing for a few reasons: 1. It gives me a little break of a couple of hours on a Saturday where I don't usually have one. For some reason, I've been finding the time useful to do more work!! (When I really should just be getting a pedicure and massage!); and 2. More importantly, it means that my little guy has made friends. This is a huge deal for us in the Ingle house because after Christmas E started being really upset a lot and saying he had no friends and that no one wanted to play with him. So for me, each time that birthday invitation has come home in his school back or been left for him in his daycare cubby, I've just about broken down in tears I've been so happy for him. I haven't minded the slow decline in my bank account to fund all the gifts I'm having to purchase!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>But what I really wanted to write about was not the fact that E is coming out of his shell, it's more about the parties themselves and the pressure I feel as a mother to always throw the biggest and best parties of anyone! It seems to me that gone are the days of having a few little friends over to the house to play Pin the Tail on the Donkey and bobbing for apples! Now it seems that each year, we have to throw the shindig of the year. I could quite easily fund my entire trip to Vegas this September with what I've spent over the past 4 years on E's parties. (And I mean flight, hotel, limo to the airport, food, shopping, shows!!!!) And now, I've become my own worst enemy because I've set the bar high and the expectation is there each year to see what the party will entail and what the theme will be.</div><div><br /></div><div>The pictures above show his last 4 parties (from top to bottom): </div><div>1. When he turned 4, we rented the entire ice rink at the Cambridge Centre mall for a skating party. The thing about this is that my mentality was "hey, we have the whole ice, let's invite everyone we know"!!!! So all of a sudden we were preparing 20 loot bags, instead of 6 or 8 and we were feeding 20 kids plus 30 or 40 parents. It was a great party and we all had a blast.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. When he turned 3, we hired a company called <a href="http://www.reptilia.org/">Reptilia</a> to come to the house for a reptile show. They come from Vaughan with a crate full of creepy crawly things (tortoise, lizard, big snake, alligator). We had 10 kids and their parents in the house! Again... a fantastic party, complete with personalized, themed lootbags courtesy of me, and a ton of food!</div><div><br /></div><div>3. When he turned 2, we rented the caboose of the Waterloo-St. Jacob's train and took all of our friends and a clown to St. Jacob's and back. The train itself was fun (Evan was addicted to Thomas at the time), but we decided to have a clown to entertain the kids on the journey. Everyone had a great time!</div><div><br /></div><div>4. And finally, when E turned 1, we had a party at Gymboree. Again, it was one of those "heck, we have the space rented, let's just invite everyone we know" situations!!!! Evan was really into a specific dumptruck at the time, so everyone took home a "lootbag" which was actually a dump truck filled with little toys and treats!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, you can see that I really could have paid for a vacation or some special Tiffany jewelry or something with the cash I've spent on 4 birthday parties! Don't get me wrong... I absolutely LOVE throwing these parties. E LOVES them and so it's all worth it. I just wonder if I should be taking things back to basics and giving him an appreciation for all of the simple things we used to do as kids. I guess that'll have to wait until birthday #6 since I've already promised to have a superhero come to the house for #5!!!!!</div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-42543545101000239832010-04-07T10:37:00.007-04:002010-04-16T21:06:00.430-04:00Karma x 2!<div style="text-align: left;">As you all know, part of my life is devoted to doing some pretty cool stuff for a pretty cool company called <a href="http://www.mabel.ca/">Mabel's Labels</a>. I was lucky enough to start working with Mabel's several years ago when I first started freelancing after Evan was born. For the past year, I've been working on a contract with them doing mainly project management, including helping with the launch of all of their fabulous products in full colour (check them out <a href="http://www.mabel.ca/products/label+out+loud&a=www">here</a>... they're super cute!).</div><div><br /></div><div>But the real point of my quick blog today is to tell you a pretty cool story so here it goes! One of the founders of Mabel's Labels is Julie Cole (check out her awesome blog <a href="http://http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/julie_cole_the_baby_machine">here</a>... she's a mama of 6 and has lots of interesting stuff to say!). She once sent an email to someone that was intended to go to me. Turns out, Julie Cole has 2 people with the same name in her email address book! Now this may not seem strange to you if your name is Lisa or Julie or Mike, but for someone named Karma, this is crazy! So, long story short, Julie Cole has now introduced me to my new friend, Karma Brown! (So, not only are we both Karmas, we're both Karma Bs!!!)</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure how crazy it is for the "other" Karma, but for me, this experience has been surreal. After all, I've spent almost 40 years of my life as the "only" Karma! But now, the "other" Karma has become my close Twitter friend. And not only is she super nice, with a super cool name, she has an amazing life story that relates perfectly to my last blog post about inner strength. She is an inspiration for sure. Check out her story <a href="http://bit.ly/9KDzZJ">here</a> and you'll understand what I mean.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I definitely think karma was at work that day that Julie Cole made her email mistake!</div><div><br /></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-66403467240725917602010-01-15T12:18:00.008-05:002010-01-15T12:56:33.160-05:00Inner Strength - Where does it come from?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This past weekend I spent Friday night at home watching TV (okay... who am I kidding... that's how I usually spend Friday nights... This one was only different because I didn't have my laptop with me on the sofa!!!!). I tuned in to 20/20 and caught the most incredible story of human strength I think I've ever heard. It was the story of a British girl named Katie Piper. She was a model, and a beauty queen with her whole life ahead of her when she was viciously attacked by a boyfriend. Basically after he attacked her, he then coordinated having a stranger attack her by spraying acid on her face as she walked down the street. Her incredible story of recovery can be found here: </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/2020/katiepiper">http://abcnews.go.com/2020/katiepiper</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After you read her story, I'm sure you'll agree with me... she is an absolutely incredible woman with strength and determination not often seen. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When I hear stories like this, I always wonder how I would fare in a similar situation. I often wonder where people draw the strength from. Is it something all of us are capable of having if we need to? I don't know that it exists in me... I tend to really draw away from any difficult life challenging situations. There are a few examples of this strength that I've witnessed in my life that continue to amaze me. Here's one example:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I have a dear friend who about 3 or 4 years ago, when she was in her early 30's, was diagnosed with cancer. If it had been me, I likely would have curled up on the sofa and let myself be consumed with the illness. But not my friend... she faced the battle head on. When the doctors gave her the option of a big surgery or chemo and radiation, she chose the more invasive surgical route. When they told her after the surgery that the cancer was still there and she'd have to face the treatments as well, she did it. And now, my gorgeous, strong friend is alive and cancer free and has years and years of fun ahead of her. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So, I'm curious... does anyone know where this kind of strength comes from? Do you have stories of strength you'd like to share? I find them so inspiring and always love to hear them.</span></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-57962916293673634352009-12-16T10:14:00.004-05:002010-01-15T12:59:59.069-05:00Hanukkah vs Christmas!<span style="font-family:georgia;">So way back in my first blog post I mentioned that one of the reasons that I didn't completely change my name when I got married was because I had a great family history behind the "Bryan" name. Well, each year, around this time, I am reminded of what that history is and what it means. So, I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you all about it.</span><br /><br /><br /><br />My family name is actually my paternal grandmother's maiden name. You see, my paternal grandfather was born and raised in Czechoslovakia and was Jewish. His last name was Loewenstein. His family were quite successful owners and operators of a small fine china factory. When WWII broke out, my grandfather and his entire family were sent to Auschwitz. My grandfather was lucky enough to escape, the rest of his family parished there.<br /><br /><br /><br />When my grandfather escaped, he fled to England where he met my grandmother. In an effort to hide his identity, he married my grandmother and took her last name. After the war was over, he and my grandmother settled in England and maintained the Bryan name. So, you can see why I wouldn't want to give that up!<br /><br /><br /><br />Now, this leads me to my topic at hand... if I had been raised a Loewenstein (imagine that mouthful... Karma Jennifer Loewenstein!!!) I would likely have been raised celebrating Hanukkah, not Christmas (or maybe I would have been lucky enough to have been celebrating both holidays!!!). So, I wonder what would be better... what would be more fun.<br /><br /><br /><br />Hanukkah Pros<br /><br />1. You celebrate for 8 days, not just 1. That to me says presents every day for 8 days!!!! How can you top that?<br /><br />2. You don't have to pretend to be comfortable with the idea of a big, fat man in a red suit creeping around your house in the middle of the night!!!!! I mean really, who came up with that Santa guy anyway???<br /><br /><br /><br />Christmas Pros<br /><br />1. You have to also look at the positives associated with that creepy fat man... I can't imagine anything better than a 4 year old in a Santa hat. Oh, yes I can... I think 60 4 year olds in Santa hats is better than just 1 (can't wait for this afternoon's Christmas concert!!!!!)<br /><br />2. I don't know what happens for Hannukah, but Christmas dinner certainly rocks my world!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />So, I think either way, I would have done alright. I'll leave you now with one of my favourite Adam Sandler songs ever! We certainly don't have a Christmas song that matches this one!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />Happy Holidays everyone!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrd9p47MPHg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrd9p47MPHg</a>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-42740973519648238882009-11-19T20:21:00.002-05:002009-11-19T20:24:39.742-05:00How did this happen?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOJltJNEOesvJWxFf_1yq2pGgUmjptuDLybUvi9RYKa4KKz1y_wKlmZdRGbA8f5Mvcef9q3qZ_l6iUxIf1YgBjEik-VKpM-Iiwz_R1VeM9AoKcg23ZIPvpRabK0ZFzd2cbp82fET0okc/s1600/Screen+shot+2009-11-19+at+8.23.31+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOJltJNEOesvJWxFf_1yq2pGgUmjptuDLybUvi9RYKa4KKz1y_wKlmZdRGbA8f5Mvcef9q3qZ_l6iUxIf1YgBjEik-VKpM-Iiwz_R1VeM9AoKcg23ZIPvpRabK0ZFzd2cbp82fET0okc/s320/Screen+shot+2009-11-19+at+8.23.31+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405990576801494066" /></a><br />So, I can hardly believe it... tomorrow my "baby" is turning 4. How did that happen? I guess I blinked!Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-42504287598331893802009-10-20T14:35:00.006-04:002009-10-20T15:06:58.333-04:00What now???<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTakmMLnegkuFLBbPDyuhdNBggm0FNiI3KTlt0HC18Vwgb854GUY4GSXKWPZS4KTMB9BmGc3UZ-C-WVKCdKCl3ImgUZrvOjchMfXJskkrxeUIgDkGK0W_SQgLCyrXuRQxNK1qAOjoXkU/s1600-h/DSC_0892.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTakmMLnegkuFLBbPDyuhdNBggm0FNiI3KTlt0HC18Vwgb854GUY4GSXKWPZS4KTMB9BmGc3UZ-C-WVKCdKCl3ImgUZrvOjchMfXJskkrxeUIgDkGK0W_SQgLCyrXuRQxNK1qAOjoXkU/s320/DSC_0892.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394757799670904562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDsT58gqcyx7EI0xm6-j4G0E58NMByFqfBwNSetoS-qegJQMjRmaavl-lHh8MEH7OxHdGibTAc2e5IGEUJOa8FJfBOtIx-rK4R9-HTzEdFLp1x9sTxea6ZqQkkDV0sbHSJyM70q2rGIw/s1600-h/DSC_0859.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDsT58gqcyx7EI0xm6-j4G0E58NMByFqfBwNSetoS-qegJQMjRmaavl-lHh8MEH7OxHdGibTAc2e5IGEUJOa8FJfBOtIx-rK4R9-HTzEdFLp1x9sTxea6ZqQkkDV0sbHSJyM70q2rGIw/s320/DSC_0859.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394757788860667570" /></a><br />Well after 6 months of training and preparing for the big night, it's now done!!! Last Friday night, I danced my little feet off in an effort to win the title of HopeSpring's Dancing With the Stars Champion 2009 (and of course to raise money for an excellent cause). And, just in case you've been sleeping since Saturday, I did just that!!! Not only did I win the huge trophy... I was also part of raising $22,000 for HopeSpring. I can't even tell you how great it feels to know that I was a part of an event that did so well. That's the real reward (okay... so it did feel pretty good to win too!!)<div><br /><div><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div>It truly was a great night. I danced well (only made one mistake in my rumba) and my partner Don didn't drop me on the dead man's drop!!! All of the people who are closest to me (with the exception of just a couple) were able to be there to cheer me on. And trust me... I could hear them loud and clear as I spun around the dance floor!!! Even my sister and niece made the trek all the way to K-town to witness it! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>So, it begs the question... what next? How will I fill my Monday nights and Sunday afternoons? I'm afraid I just don't know. I'm thinking of starting a post DWTS support group so what better times to meet? Hopefully Trish doesn't mind us crashing her place twice a week. I for one know that Don and Marie would definitely join me, as would Bryn... just to name a few. So, to my dancing family (as Linda calls us), I hope everyone is enjoying the fame that came with Friday night and I'll see you this Sunday at Trish's from 11 - 5!!! (Trish... leave the key under the mat when you leave for Cuba!!!)</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuS_hmhav4dhDxfO-Yp3gLC5BOiXI_coXtkh8ywpdtnZ2v52rze5th6IgP45scU8mnWQ7_ai8cJO6eMLpNwQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2405802768427718711.post-54696256433414327372009-10-15T23:42:00.003-04:002009-10-15T23:49:18.786-04:00It's finally here!!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_xHpIFIGxTbUanOiMHhXwAoRU8xBETYoFrGXx3dIoxHbCP_1YzPp2HIsmNjkQthhqD0M9T3B55tAcsWXDc9Pa-ZglFhUdcvF4da9JubyYJ4ZOE9h3v0V2E17UshFfTShhvWSgXQPPlk/s1600-h/091001_DWS_dressrehearsal-002798.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_xHpIFIGxTbUanOiMHhXwAoRU8xBETYoFrGXx3dIoxHbCP_1YzPp2HIsmNjkQthhqD0M9T3B55tAcsWXDc9Pa-ZglFhUdcvF4da9JubyYJ4ZOE9h3v0V2E17UshFfTShhvWSgXQPPlk/s320/091001_DWS_dressrehearsal-002798.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393039468398845122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLR99-poUSj6yDKVehcfEITHuSF496w5NeipDfPIUu1L6YeaOFb6S3lRFlcldunKLnUjrfcNHFWQdtz-lzOsHB3vau7grTKoEAtxLFFM2RySB38FvX0Ezvtg7JU6g8DO4AD5DSXxuZAA/s1600-h/091001_DWS_dressrehearsal-002790.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLR99-poUSj6yDKVehcfEITHuSF496w5NeipDfPIUu1L6YeaOFb6S3lRFlcldunKLnUjrfcNHFWQdtz-lzOsHB3vau7grTKoEAtxLFFM2RySB38FvX0Ezvtg7JU6g8DO4AD5DSXxuZAA/s320/091001_DWS_dressrehearsal-002790.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393039464683170146" /></a><br />Well after almost six whole months of training, the big day is finally upon us!!! We had our final rehearsal tonight and everyone looked great. Although it is partly a competition, we are all so truly dedicated to raising money for a great cause. Here's hoping we match or even exceed the $22,000 that was raised by last year's show. <div> </div><div>So, until tomorrow... I'm off to try to get some sleep. The primping is starting bright and early with my nails at 9:00am, right after I put Evan on the school bus! Then it's off to Trish's to start hair and makeup. </div><div> </div><div>I hope everyone who is attending enjoys the show. It truly is amazing what all of us have accomplished. I'm so proud to be a part of the show and really can't wait for it to begin. </div><div> </div><div>Nite nite!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>PS... the images are from one of our rehearsals about 3 weeks ago. Me and my amazing partner Don are rehearsing our Rumba!</div>Karma Bryan-Inglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800554167301240449noreply@blogger.com2